earth-friendly luxury
Can you be earth-friendly and luxurious at the same time? There was no doubt in my mind about the answer as I headed over yesterday to cover the Eco-Chic Body Experience at the Fairmont Hotel. The newest luxury hotel in Newport Beach, the Fairmont just finished a $32 million remodel which includes the addition of the 8,000 square foot gold-themed Willow Stream Urban Spa.
There are seven different Willow Spas within the Fairmont Hotel group, each with it's own theme. The Newport Willow Stream Spa is tastefully decorated with accents of gold that represent the California Gold Rush and old Hollywood glamour. I'm probably partial being that my own company's logo is gold, but I really appreciated the thought that went into the Newport motif and its nods to gold as the symbol of the master healer as well as sunny positive energy, confidence, courage, and prosperity.
The Eco-Chic Body Experience uses only products made from organic ingredients and pure plant essences. An added bonus is that all the products used are biodegradable, non-polluting and chemical-free. After a tour of the retail store at the front of the spa, which is filled with all sorts of beautiful spa treats, I was given a tour of the facilities. There are seven treatment rooms and it's very male friendly due to the proximity to the Fashion Island business park. The M. Room is a male haven where men can enjoy a private pedicure while they enjoy a flat screen TV and wireless headsets--a far cry from the way men are often made to feel that they've invaded a woman's boudoire.
I went into the women's room and changed into a robe and slippers (oka b.--my fav!) and then sipped on fresh strawberry juice and chose the appetizer and entree of my choice from the spa menu before my massage therapist greeted me and took me to my room. After choosing a lovely jasmine tea from the Fair Trade teas, I slowly started to unwind while my feet soaked in a Tara Rejuvenating Foot Soak: an organic blend of Peppermint, Sage, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Clove Bud, Peru Balsam, Arnica Flowers, White Willow, and Lemon Balm Leaves.
Next I enjoyed a wonderful warm scrub. Bit by bit, my skin was gently rubbed with Tara Spa Organic Unscented Massage Oil mixed with Tara Bath Therapy Body Purifer Bath Salts with essential oils of Grapefuit, Juniper, Lavender, Lemongrass, Cedarleaf, Fir, and Peru Balsam along with herbal extracts of Dandelion root, and Burdock root. Each handful of soothing salts was followed by warm wet towels to smooth away the excess.
After rinsing in a hot shower, I enjoyed one of the best massages of my life--btw, the massage tables are made up like the coziest of beds with beautiful linens, a heated mattress pad, and plenty of cushy padding. It was truly relaxing and my masseuse used Tara Spa Organic Unscented Massage Oil with 8 drops of Tara Organic Lavender Essential Oil. Heavenly!
If it seems like things couldn't get better, I was treated to the Fairmont Newport Beach Bento Box. Usually spa food is pretty bland, so I was quite surprised by how delicious it was. The presentation itself was gorgeous--a lacquered red bento box was brought to me along with silverware and a bottle of water. Inside the box was a beautiful avocado, grapefruit and candied ginger salad with lime splash, a beet and goat cheese appetizer, followed by a grilled mini vegetable panini with fresh mozzarella cheese and the most delectable chocolate mousse with raspberry compote. Yum!
If you are ever in Newport Beach, I highly recommend the Willow Stream Spa. The Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel is located at 4500 MacArthur Blvd in Newport Beach, CA. For more information or for hotel reservations, please call 1(949) 476-2001 or 1(800) 441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com/newportbeach.
There are seven different Willow Spas within the Fairmont Hotel group, each with it's own theme. The Newport Willow Stream Spa is tastefully decorated with accents of gold that represent the California Gold Rush and old Hollywood glamour. I'm probably partial being that my own company's logo is gold, but I really appreciated the thought that went into the Newport motif and its nods to gold as the symbol of the master healer as well as sunny positive energy, confidence, courage, and prosperity.
The Eco-Chic Body Experience uses only products made from organic ingredients and pure plant essences. An added bonus is that all the products used are biodegradable, non-polluting and chemical-free. After a tour of the retail store at the front of the spa, which is filled with all sorts of beautiful spa treats, I was given a tour of the facilities. There are seven treatment rooms and it's very male friendly due to the proximity to the Fashion Island business park. The M. Room is a male haven where men can enjoy a private pedicure while they enjoy a flat screen TV and wireless headsets--a far cry from the way men are often made to feel that they've invaded a woman's boudoire.
I went into the women's room and changed into a robe and slippers (oka b.--my fav!) and then sipped on fresh strawberry juice and chose the appetizer and entree of my choice from the spa menu before my massage therapist greeted me and took me to my room. After choosing a lovely jasmine tea from the Fair Trade teas, I slowly started to unwind while my feet soaked in a Tara Rejuvenating Foot Soak: an organic blend of Peppermint, Sage, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Clove Bud, Peru Balsam, Arnica Flowers, White Willow, and Lemon Balm Leaves.
Next I enjoyed a wonderful warm scrub. Bit by bit, my skin was gently rubbed with Tara Spa Organic Unscented Massage Oil mixed with Tara Bath Therapy Body Purifer Bath Salts with essential oils of Grapefuit, Juniper, Lavender, Lemongrass, Cedarleaf, Fir, and Peru Balsam along with herbal extracts of Dandelion root, and Burdock root. Each handful of soothing salts was followed by warm wet towels to smooth away the excess.
After rinsing in a hot shower, I enjoyed one of the best massages of my life--btw, the massage tables are made up like the coziest of beds with beautiful linens, a heated mattress pad, and plenty of cushy padding. It was truly relaxing and my masseuse used Tara Spa Organic Unscented Massage Oil with 8 drops of Tara Organic Lavender Essential Oil. Heavenly!
If it seems like things couldn't get better, I was treated to the Fairmont Newport Beach Bento Box. Usually spa food is pretty bland, so I was quite surprised by how delicious it was. The presentation itself was gorgeous--a lacquered red bento box was brought to me along with silverware and a bottle of water. Inside the box was a beautiful avocado, grapefruit and candied ginger salad with lime splash, a beet and goat cheese appetizer, followed by a grilled mini vegetable panini with fresh mozzarella cheese and the most delectable chocolate mousse with raspberry compote. Yum!
If you are ever in Newport Beach, I highly recommend the Willow Stream Spa. The Fairmont Newport Beach Hotel is located at 4500 MacArthur Blvd in Newport Beach, CA. For more information or for hotel reservations, please call 1(949) 476-2001 or 1(800) 441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com/newportbeach.
posted by Mary Jo Matsumoto at
Thursday, October 25, 2007
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home