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Take Me Away: Stress-Relieving Beauty Products
By Erin Donnelly
Sure, you know allllll about April Fool’s Day, especially after Bob in accounting’s “hilarious” prank about losing your paycheck. But did you know about the other holiday April honors?Unfortunately, the folks at Hallmark don’t make a card to commemorate National Stress Awareness Month, though they probably don’t need to, given the million little reminders the universe—and your high-maintenance boss—keeps sending your way.
So now that we’re aware of our stress, what can we do about it? SingleMindedWomen turned to spa professionals across North America to round up their tried-and-true beauty secrets for showing stress the door. (And if all else fails, a couple of margaritas should do the trick.)
Jamie Ahn, Spa Director of the elite Townhouse Spa (http://www NULL.townhousespa NULL.com/) in New York City, unwinds by booking some naptime with a twist. “I like taking Zents Concreta (http://www NULL.zents NULL.com) shea butter (shown), adding water, and putting a little on my forehead and temples before I take a 15-minute nap,” Ahn says. 
Kinara Spa (http://www NULL.kinaraspa NULL.com/) in Los Angeles may be renown for its A-list crowd and luxurious treatments, but co-owner and skincare expert Olga Lorencin-Northrup relies on a simpler pleasure to get her through a hectic day. “The only anti-stress essential that I believe in is a good bath oil or foaming bath,” she says.“I like Pure Fiji’s coconut milk soak (http://www NULL.purefiji NULL.com/) (shown) because it is hydrating and relaxing at the same time and has a great scent that most people really like.”
Baths also go a long way for Shana Ominsky, Director of Spa and Wellness at the luxurious Barton Creek Resort and Spa (http://www NULL.bartoncreek NULL.com/) in Austin, Texas. “I take a warm bath and exfoliate my lower legs with BodyCoffee scrub (http://www NULL.bodycoffee NULL.com/Coffee_Scrub_Body_Polish NULL.asp) followed by Epicuren’s Vanilla Bean lotion (http://www NULL.beautynhealth NULL.com/),” Ominsky reveals. “Then, if I’m really stressed, I steam my face in the sink and apply Astara’s Golden Flame Mask (http://www NULL.dermstore NULL.com/product_Golden+Flame+Hydration+Mask_9933 NULL.htm). I feel like I have been to the spa.”
The Great White North has its own secrets for dealing with the Great Big Stress. Pam Ouellet, Spa Director of Willow Stream Spa at The Fairmont Banff Springs (http://www NULL.fairmont NULL.com/banffsprings) in Alberta, Canada, cites Kerstin Florian’s Aroma Akta Calm Mind (http://www NULL.spalook NULL.com/) as her favorite go-to remedy. “I add a few drops onto my fingertips and massage it into my clients for a scalp massage,” Ouellet says. “The combination of basil, lavender and peppermint oils is great for stress, tension headaches, and clearing your mind.”
Cleo Londono, co-owner of Metamorphosis Day Spa (http://www NULL.metspa NULL.com/) in New York City, also relies on botanical oils for peace of mind. “Most of our products contain pure, essential oils—chamomile, lavender and peppermint—that have calming and soothing properties to give you a de-stressing feeling,” Londono says. “I use Emerge Skin Care’s Optimum Lift Cream (http://www NULL.emergeskincare NULL.com/Optimum_Lift_Cream NULL.htm) because it always keeps my skin looking firm. After I cleanse my skin, I use Emerge’s Intensive Hydrating Serum (http://www NULL.emergeskincare NULL.com/Intensive_Hydrating_Serum NULL.htm) to lock in moisture, and then I apply Moisture Defense SPF 30 (http://www NULL.emergeskincare NULL.com/sun_care NULL.htm) for optimal sun protection.”And what of those nagging aches and pains that take a stressful day from bad to worse? “After a long day on my feet, I love and need Creme Defatigante from Biologique Recherche (http://www NULL.beautyhabit NULL.com/product2851 NULL.html),” Sandra Hobbs, Spa Director of White Tea Spa (http://www NULL.whiteteaspa NULL.com/) in New York City, confides. “When you’re on your feet all day your lower legs and feet tend to swell with excess fluid. This cream is filled with essential oils that increase your circulation with a coolness on your skin afterward. Bonus: By regularly stimulating your circulation you decrease your likelihood of developing broken capillaries.” 
Joanie Bowden, Director of Spa at the St. Regis Resort in Fort Lauderdale (http://www NULL.starwoodhotels NULL.com/), has her own special remedy. “For stiff, tight and fatigued muscles and joints I highly recommend De-Stress Muscle Gel from Aromatherapy Associates (http://www NULL.eskinstore NULL.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd NULL.asp?idproduct=5399&idcategory=1055),” she says. “With key ingredients like lavender, ginger, black pepper and rosemary, this product will alleviate muscle aches and pains due to physical stresses.It also helps to maintain effective circulation and when used on pulse points will revitalize the senses. It starts to work within 10 minutes and can be used up to twice daily.”
How do they tackle stress south of the border? Emmanuelle Arroyo of the Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Mayakoba (http://www NULL.fairmont NULL.com/mayakoba/Recreation/SPA) near Cancun says her staff swears by the Tara Aromatherapy Herbal Ease Neck Pillow (http://www NULL.taraspa NULL.com/index NULL.cfm/herbal_ease_neck_pillow_9 NULL.htm) for stress relief. “It’s two products in one, helping to relieve neck tension andtaking away stress thanks to its natural herbs,” she says. “When it’s put in the microwave it spreads away the benefits of the aromatherapy. It’s great if you travel a lot because you can wear it and relax everywhere while you are watching TV or reading your favorite book.”
Finally, sometimes you just have to open your mouth and say “ahhhh.” “Like most New Yorkers, I’m always on the go, which can be very hectic,” says Alexandra Argyros, Spa Director of the Gansevoort Spa & Lounge at Manhattan’s Hotel Gansevoort (http://hotelgansevoort NULL.com/). “My favorite quick fix for those stressful situations is Sprayology’s StressLess (http://www NULL.sprayology NULL.com/?page=shop/restores_flypage&product_id=25&category_id=536ec26a5a390ae2dfd807f5cb9ab1a7&PHPSESSID=7760fb041d4b1d3291937cd1ca08ac77).
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