Your Daily Bionic Beauty Touchup

Posted: 05 Oct 2009 05:05 AM PDT

I was recently introduced by an internet friend (thanks Jessica!) to a cool new site called Oyster.com. I love it!

Basically Oyster has professional journalists who scout hotels and take real photos and write honest reviews. So unlike some hotel review websites out there (eh hmm… Trip Advisor?!?), you don’t get reviews from employees trying to be incognito and writing stellar reviews for some extra cash.

So how does this relate to being a Bionic Beauty, you ask? Well… Oyster has done some pretty neat roundups of the top spas in some US cities. This week, I’m sharing Oyster’s list of Top Spas in the Miami, Florida area! And over the next two Mondays, we’ll cover the top rated spas in New York City and Oahu, Hawaii (sounds like a nice trip, right?).

1. The Standard Miami (South Beach)
The famous Lido Spa features a Turkish hamam and playful treatments like body painting with mud. The hotel also offers daily yoga and meditation programs.
Top Spa - The Standard in Miami

2. Hotel Victor (South Beach)
While its notorious coed, clothing-optional hamam was epty the day Oyster visited, its locker rooms are South Beach’s classiest.

Top Spa - Hotel Victor

3. Fontainebleau Resort Miami Beach (Mid-Beach)
The Lapis spa sits between the pool and the beach. A spa pass gets you into the locker rooms, Jacuzzis, cold pool, steam room, Fontainebleau Resort Miami Beach (Mid-Beach)
The Lapis spa sits between the pool and the beach. A spa pass gets you into the locker rooms, Jacuzzis, cold pool, steam room, sauna, and gym.
TopSpa-Fontainebleau-Resort

4. Marriott Doral Golf Resort And Spa (Suburban Miami)
The spa offers private and group fitness classes, in addition to all the standard spa services. There are also three beautiful pools, one of which is accompanied by a hot tub fed by a mini waterfall.
Top Spa - Marriott Doral Golf Resort and Spa

5. The Regent Bal Harbour (Northern Beaches)
The hotel’s 10,000-square-foot Guerlain Spa is a destination unto itself, with a full range of face and body therapies.
Top Spas in Miami - Regent Bal Harbour

6. Canyon Ranch Miami Beach (Mid-Beach)
The Wellness Spa features a number of innovative treatments. The most amazing is Aquavana, a European thermal suite with a Finnish sauna, a crystal steam room, a foot spa, an herbal laconium, an igloo, and Experiential Rains treatments.
Top Spas - Canyon Ranch Miami Beach

7. Acqualina Resort & Spa (Mid-Beach)
The treatments, from holistic facials to a 90-minute maternity massage, don’t come cheap. However, a number of the spa’s beautiful facilities, including Finnish saunas, crystal steam rooms, and experience showers, can be used for free by hotel guests.
Top Spas - Acqualina Resort Miami

8. The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne (Key Biscayne)
This beautiful, 20,000-square-foot spa features a full range of treatments from a 30-minute Vichy Rain Massage to a Deliciously Sweet Pedicure Sundae.
Top Spas in Miami - Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

9. Delano Hotel (South Beach)
Agua, offers treatments ranging from a Mother-to-be massage to a White Cloud Algae Body Mask. The spa’s beautiful top floor sundeck allows topless sunbathing.
Top Spas - Delano Hotel

10. Conrad Hotel (Downtown)
First-time guests receive a footbath and massage as they fill out paperwork. Spa Chakra offers a full range of treatments from chakra balancing to specialty facials.
Top Spas - Conrad Hotel

Being a Florida girl myself, I can say I’ve driven by some of these hotels and spas and was just dazzled by the exteriors. I can’t even imagine spending a day inside one!

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Live from ISPA – Sunday Night

Posted: 04 Oct 2009 05:39 PM PDT

So here I am in Austin, Texas- the night before ISPA 2009 begins! I’m settled in temporary Bionic Beauty headquarters (i.e. my hotel room).

Not too many updates tonight, but I thought I’d write a bit while I’m waiting for my pizza (from Austin’s Pizza! It’s supposed to be yummy…).

A shot of the buildings outside the hotel I’m staying in…
Bionic Beauty live blogging - ISPA 2009 Austin Hotel View

The pool at the hotel! I’m hoping to get some time in there, even though the water is a little chilly.
Bionic Beauty live blogging - ISPA Austin hotel pool

And finally, I got a surprise goodie bag delivered to my room! I guess all the ISPA attendees get them as part of our conference registration fees.

Bionic Beauty live blogging - ISPA Goodie bag night 1

Contents:

A sample of RevitaLash Eyelash Conditioner. I’ve been wanting to try this brand since I tried the DeaBella version earlier this year.
Aromatextil “euphoria”. This is a “textile” spray for spas. I just spritzed it on my pillow, and it’s so fresh! I could even wear this as a perfume!
Aveda Vintage 1978 Clove Shampoo – I have tested and reviewed this shampoo before… it’s not my favorite and definitely didn’t work for me. But I know that there are some gals who adore it. So I’m thinking maybe this would be good for an upcoming charity auction or giveaway.
Rain Organics Red Grape Hibiscus vodka – If I could drink vodka, this would probably be delicious. Anyone want? (Just kidding, I’m not gonna be responsible for getting anyone tipsy.)

And some quick facts… there are about 1660 registered attendees and 153 companies exhibiting. So I’ll be the busy bee trying to chat and cover them all!

Have a wonderful week everyone.
Stay Bionic,

Bionic Beauty