Unique herbal teas and beverages to help you relax

Dear readers,

We had the chance to discover two truly wonderful brands of herbal teas and beverages, perfect for your moments of relaxation or to enjoy throughout the day. Innovative, natural, and high-quality, discover these herbal teas modern and beauty drinks, true gems from the heart of How To Spa.

Herbal Drinkers Club: for more modern and sophisticated herbal teas

Created by an enthusiast, Thibaud Bergasse, the Herbal Drinkers Club is designed as a club for herbal tea lovers. We love their funny and offbeat approach, which clearly reflects their ambition to make drinking this beverage cool again:
“No more shame, no more lies. Let’s hold our heads high, come together, and stand up for ourselves. Let’s shout to the world who we are. No more need to hide to live life to the fullest. No more need to live at night, sheltered from the gaze of others. Be proud now. We are men, women, young people, active adults, in our thirties (give or take), and we love herbal tea.”

You’ll discover an innovative concept through six modern and bold herbal teas. “The Champion,” “The Prodigy,” “The Calm One,” “The Party Animal,” “The Irresistible One,” and “The Sociable One” are all quirky names meant to illustrate the effect you’ll feel after drinking your herbal tea.

Whether you’re looking for a concentration boost with *Le Prodige*—made with yerba mate, sage, mint, pepper, and cardamom—a post-party pick-me-up with *Le Festif*—made with green yerba mate, coconut, and ginkgo—or a moment of calm with *Le Tranquille*—made with verbena, Chinese cinnamon, and cloves—there’s something for everyone!

To learn more: http://herbaldrinkersclub.com

Evoleum: For Delicious and Effective Beauty Drinks

To improve your well-being in everyday life, Evoleum offers a range of delicious and high-quality products. Four themes for four needs: Radiant complexion, Detox, Immune System Boost, and Weight Management. Beyond an effective formula, these drinks are also delicious for the palate!

For a detox, try a regimen featuring birch sap, concentrated apple juice, and lemon juice. For an immune boost, enjoy their drink made with Rhodiola rosea, vitamins B8, B6, and C, as well as trace minerals. If you’re looking for a regimen to brighten your complexion, you’ll love their formula made with Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract, hyaluronic acid, and wheat lipid extract. Finally, for weight loss, try a blend made with ash, dandelion, and fucus.

We love the aesthetic appeal and quality of their beauty drinks, which come in glass vials, as well as their gift set offerings. In fact, Evoleum is breaking new ground by offering gift sets that include vials for a 14-day treatment, along with a beauty product (oil, scrub, or slimming body gel).

For more information: https://www.evoleum.fr

“Expectant Mom” and Baby Massages

Dear readers,

Did you know that there’s a whole world of wellness centered around pregnant women and babies?

The “Expectant Mom” Massage

More and more spas are offering massages for expectant mothers that follow a very specific protocol. Whether you’re lying on your side with a pillow between your legs, sitting up, or lying on your stomach on a special table designed to accommodate your belly, you’ll enjoy massages designed to relieve lower back pain, swollen legs, and fatigue.
A much-needed break to rejuvenate both mom and baby. In fact, the baby senses its mother’s relaxation and will also be soothed by this shared moment of well-being.

Here are a few tried-and-true spa recommendations in Paris:

Comme dans un cocon au Spa Six Senses

For a reasonable budget at Spa Thémaé

For the ultimate experience at the Spa George V ot the Spa Mandarin Oriental

Massage your baby

You can if you want to extend this world of well-being after birth, by massaging your child. You will discover the benefits for the health and the development on your child, their development, and your relationship with them. Beyond just relaxation, massages are known to relieve the aches stomach aches and the lack of muscle tone in the baby. There are some very good books on the subject, including “Baby Massage,” by Wendy Kavanagh.” Don’t hesitate either to take your child to see a pediatric osteopath, very good for gently relieving her symptoms, after a long few weeks of being stuck in belly and a turbulent birth.

Our absolute favorite brand:

To take care of of your skin during pregnancy and massage your baby, we can only highly recommend the brand Skinhaptics. Organic and free of preservatives, this brand is often recommended in most of maternity wards. You can also find it in some Parisian spas (such as Six Senses, mentioned above), in the form of oil for massage as part of the treatments for expectant mothers.
Body & hair shower gel, massage oils, facial cleansers, but also oil and cream for the face, Most of the products are designed for the whole family. Made with vegetable oils from cotton, from plum and from sunflower, all extracted by cold pressing, the products taste divinely good and offer a truly special moment of sharing with your child.
The little extra we love? Skinhaptics goes even further with the creation of an easy-to-use baby carrier and some classes on baby massage, available on their website.

To learn more: https://www.skinhaptics.com/fr/accueil/

So don’t wait any longer—treat yourself to a wellness experience for you and your baby!

Listening to oneself

Hello, dear readers,

Do you know that feeling of KNOWING you need to take a moment for yourself, but then brushing it aside in a matter of seconds, only to forget about it right away?
It happens to all of us. We get caught up in the frantic pace of our lives and sometimes forget that we need those precious few minutes or hours to reconnect with ourselves and recharge.

But how can we manage to step away from this routine for a few moments?

After talking with clients and professionals, one key point emerged: it’s up to us to cultivate this “lifestyle discipline” and take this time for ourselves. It’s up to us to seize the moment, press the “pause” button, and take a genuine moment to reconnect with ourselves.

We can start with some simple actions and thoughts, accessible to everyone.

First approach: practicing “mindfulness.” Have you ever tried it? It simply involves appreciating and experiencing those little things in life that help us put things into perspective and make us smile—things we tend to forget all too quickly. For example, it means looking up and marveling at the beauty of our surroundings—such as the sky and its clouds, the architecture of a building, a bird in flight, the smell of a bakery, a ray of sunshine, and so on.

Second tip: deep breathing. A few minutes of slow, deep breaths can really help you release tension. You can do this in the shower, on your commute, or even before bed.

Another very common practice is meditation. People often misunderstand its true purpose. Meditation is, above all, about accepting your thoughts—not about emptying your mind. While focusing on your breath, you let your emotions and thoughts come and go with complete confidence and a sense of fulfillment. If you can’t reach this state at first, that’s okay. It’s actually completely normal. Meditation should be a tool for rejuvenation, not frustration.

Taking care of yourself shouldn’t be a chore, but a pleasure.

It was with this in mind that How To Spa was created. Through our tutorials and kits for relaxation, we want to invite you to recharge and find joy through spa rituals, wherever you are. The introduction to our guides always begins with this sentence, which encourages you to listen to yourself: “If you’re unable to follow the tutorial due to a lack of time, space, or experience, that’s okay. The goal is to listen to your body and your desires.” ”
The goal is indeed to find the right balance between what we need and what we can do to fulfill that need, taking into account each person’s individual circumstances.

So listen to your body and hit “pause,” even if it’s just for a few minutes 🙂

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Lima, some soaps that are 100% vegan and handmade

Hello, dear readers,

We wanted to share with you a wonderful discovery of a 100% vegan cosmetics brand: Lima Cosmetics.

Márta Akpinar-Lele, the Hungarian designer behind the brand, was introduced to us by one of our collaborators, The Rebirth Style, during Berlin Fashion Week. High-quality and 100% vegan, Márta’s products promote an ethical and eco-friendly approach.

Lima Cosmetics was founded in 2016 and offers handmade cosmetics. Beyond their beautiful values, we were impressed by their surprising range of face and body soaps.

What Makes It Unique

No two cosmetic products are exactly alike. Because they are handmade, each soap, body butter, and lip balm is unique.

Free of oil from palm, free of parabens, free of oil mineral, silicone-free, sodium- and sulfate-free, free of artificial fragrances and dyes, the ingredients are pure. It contains butters, oils cold-pressed and cold-pressed oils essential oils entirely natural.

Tested in independent laboratories, Lima products are of the highest quality and gentle on the skin.

The LIMA Line and Our Favorite Pick

Available for purchase on its website, the brand offers a variety of products tailored to your needs. Facial soaps, moisturizing or exfoliating body soaps, as well as nourishing body butters and lip balms, are LIMA’s flagship products. You can also purchase a sample set or gift boxes.

Recently, LIMA has taken things a step further by offering 100% biodegradable accessories for your bathroom!

Our favorite? Their Verdana Facial Soap, for healthier skin without drying it out.

Made with green clay and bergamot, this soap gently removes makeup and cleanses your skin, while detoxifying it thanks to the benefits of montmorillonite green clay. Its ingredients—such as extra virgin olive oil, creamy coconut oil, and high-quality essential oils—nourish your skin.

To learn more: https://limacosmetics.com

5 Hidden Gems of the Spa Experience You Never Knew Existed

Dear readers,

In the world of spas, there are hidden gems you never even knew existed. These little extras are part of the reason we’ve fallen in love with this world.

When you enter this wellness space, all your senses are stimulated to let you enjoy a unique experience. That is, in fact, what we we share with you through our relaxation tutorials, the goal being to provide you with the key elements that promote a state of total relaxation.

THE SMELL

In most of the spas, special and particular attention is paid to the olfactory signature of the place. As soon as you enter the reception area, you will be able to smell a pleasant scent, perfect for a relaxing atmosphere right from the start. You will be able to smell some scents recognizable as such as citrus fruits or such as flowers, but also scents perfumes created specifically for the spa, in harmony with the atmosphere of the center for wellness.

Throughout your experience, you’ll encounter scents that help you relax—not only through the treatments and products used, but also through the teas and herbal infusions offered.

In our tutorials, these are some home fragrances, such as candles, such as cosmetics, some teas and herbal teas that we recommend so that you can recreate a28> recommend so that you can recreate this atmosphere of total relaxation.

MUSIC

Of course, music is an integral part of your relaxation experience. Just like with scent diffusion, music is often played starting in the reception area. Soft and soothing, it’s designed to immerse you in a world of relaxation, helping you leave your stress behind. During your treatment, most spas allow you to choose your own music: nature sounds, Zen Reiki, or even jazz. In some areas, you can even play your own music.

Our tutorials let you discoveralbums to download or free playlists to help you relax.

CUSTOMIZED MASSAGE

The treatment you came for—the massage—may also prove to be much more effective than expected. While the treatment menu is the same for everyone, the massage itself is tailored to each individual.
In fact, the massage therapist will pay special attention to your preferences. Whether you prefer a light or deep massage, with massage oil or specific music, or more pressure on a specific painful area, you can ask your therapist to tailor the treatment as long as it stays within the scope of the package you’ve chosen.

Thanks to our tutorials, discover some self-massage techniques for the face and body to practice depending on the result you want to achieve: pampering, detox or energizing, with products tailored to this need.

THE TEA AND PETITES SERVICE

It’s the service that makes the spa such an exceptional place. The entire staff is there to assist you and help you relax. You’ll find a selection of teas, herbal teas, and petits fours to enjoy before and/or after your treatment.
This little extra gives you a true sense of complete relaxation after your treatment, thanks to beverages with calming, energizing, or detoxifying effects, for example.

Check out this selection of teas and herbal teas of high quality by watching our tutorials

THE RELAXATION ROOM

Finally, this space is what really makes us “fall in love” with a spa experience: the relaxation room.
Whether it takes the form of a small tea room or a full-fledged room with beds, blankets, and reading material, this space is a haven of peace designed to help you rest after your treatment and gradually return to the world.
It’s a true transitional phase that, in our opinion, is essential to a unique wellness experience.

Once again, our tutorials offer suggestions and ideas for decor and home linens, reading, as well as tips for recreating your own relaxation room or transition space, just like in a luxury spa.

So don’t wait any longer—treat yourself to the spa experience!

A Sense of Spirituality in the Air

Dear readers,

Since the beginning of its creation, How To Spa has regularly drawn inspiration from the world of spirituality: meditation, wellness, reconnecting with oneself and with others, positive thinking, and self-acceptance of oneself.

It’s a path that guides us every day, and so it was only natural that we became interested in other brands inspired by this way of life.

Among them, we had 6 favorites. Gift boxes, jewelry, home decor, cosmetics… check out our selection in this article.

BOXS

La Spiritual Box

Founded in 2017, this unique brand offers you a monthly selection of 100% natural, handmade products designed to enhance your daily well-being. From accessories and ready-to-wear clothing to healthy food… these items will help you achieve mindfulness so you can fully embrace the present moment.
A bonus we love: they also offer a wellness program featuring yoga, meditation, art therapy, and much more!

To learn more: https://www.spiritual-box.fr

Mixed martial arts

We’ve fallen in love with this wonderful brand. Sophie Keller, the astrologer who curates your box, uses your birth chart to offer personalized advice and tools to help you live your everyday life more positively. Whether you believe in the stars or not, it’s a beautiful idea and creates positive karma!

To learn more: http://www.karmabox.fr/

JEWELRY, ACCESSORIES, AND DECORATIVE ITEMS

The Tree of the chakras

L’arbre des chakras is an online store offering jewelry and home decor items to create a spiritual and Zen atmosphere in your home. Beautiful bracelets and pendants, keychains, Tibetan singing bowls, wall hangings, lamps…it has everything you need to surround yourself with a modern, healthy environment full of positive energy.

For more information: https://larbredeschakras.com

Zen Vibe

You’re sure to find something you love in this well-stocked online store: rings, bracelets, pendants, earrings… as well as Zen-inspired decor and yoga accessories.
We really love their “Tibetan Mala” bracelets. This Buddhist or Hindu prayer bead is used for reciting mantras and aids in meditation.

To learn more: https://www.allurezen.com

COSMETICS AND ACCESSORIES

Inner Light

This wonderful brand has won us over with its authentic and passionate approach. Their store offers healthy products to help you take care of yourself: whether it’s for your body, face, or hair, their selection is unique and beautifully presented.
Inner Light also offers infrared sauna sessions to help you relax and detoxify your body.

Our favorite: their “Dream” gift set to help you get a restful night’s sleep.

To learn more: https://www.innerlight-wellness.com

GIFT IDEA

The Night Sky

If you are looking for an idea for a gift that’s a little different, The Night Sky is just what you need! Ciara, the creator, wants to make you dream with her innovative concept.

So, you can create your own “Sky of Night,” with a location and a date. The Night Sky will then provide you with a magnificent map of the stars, at the location and on the date you’ve chosen. You can also customize the layout (colors, with or without meridians, with or without a short message).

So keep your feet on the ground, but keep your head in the stars!

For more information: https://thenightsky.com/

Les huilettes: 5 oils that are 100% natural, thoughtfully crafted, ethically produced, and portable

Hello, dear readers,

In this article, we would like to introduce you to a brand-new cosmetics brand that we particularly love : Les Huilettes.

The concept? Five natural skincare serums—for day and night facial care, facial cleansing, the eye area, and the body—designed for travel so you can take them with you wherever you go.

Inspired by “slow beauty,” these oils are 100% plant-based, 100% active, organic, vegan, and made in France.

Who are the founders? Pascale and Claire, two friends who met 20 years ago in Indonesia.

These two passionate women decided to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, one after a career in the health and beauty industry and the other after a career in fine dining.

Living in Morocco, Pascale fell head over heels for the scents of certain aromatic plants that grow naturally in this beautiful country. After training in aromatherapy, she decided to launch a socially conscious and 100% natural brand with Claire’s help. Alongside their “tribe”—the “oil addicts” ”—Pascale and Claire spent over a year developing oils for the face and body. This tribe includes Juliette, founder of Oh My Cream; Hélène, creator of YUJ; and Sophie, founder of Pharm O’naturel; as well as avid fans of “green beauty” and “slow beauty.”

You can learn about the principles of aromatherapy with some essential oils pure whose origin is certified, and some oils virgin cold-pressed without refining and without hydrogenation.

Their scents—“energy,” “letting go,” or “lightness”—allow you to experience a genuine sense of well-being, in addition to their anti-aging benefits.

We really appreciate their commitment to ethical practices. The brand holds the #LABESSENTIEL certification, a charter that attests to the ethical quality and effectiveness of its products. This includes dermatologically tested products that ensure skin tolerance, vegan and organic quality standards, as well as a commitment to environmental conservation and respect for human rights.

Our favorite product is their roll-on eye contour cream. Enriched with essential and plant-based oils: Helichrysum, Cypress, Patchouli and Calophyllum, it drains and restores radiance. We love the idea of the 5-ml bottle, which we take with us everywhere and which lasts for at least 4 months.

Impressed, just like our team? Why not check out their website to learn more: https://www.leshuilettes.com

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

An Interview with Aurélie, a Massage Therapist at Shangri-La

Dear readers,

Have you ever wondered who is behind these golden hands that make you feel so much good? We’re talking of course about the massage therapists, also known as spa practitioners who bring you happiness when you spend a moment of well-being at a spa.
Since its creation, How To Spa has been collaborating with the experts in this field, and it is with pleasure that we present to you an interview with Aurélie, a massage therapist at the Chi-Le Spa at the Parisian Shangri-La hotel.

Hello Aurélie, and thank you for your welcome.

You are currently a massage therapist at the Shangri-La Spa. How did you end up in such a beautiful setting?

With passion, patience, and the good fortune of having previously worked with Ms. Colette Audebert. She once again placed her trust in me by inviting me to join her team at Le Chi, Le Spa, and giving me the opportunity to work at the most romantic hotel in the capital.

Pouvez-vous nous en dire un peu plus sur votre parcours ?

When I was 15, I caught the bug of wanting to bring well-being to others, in my own small way.

In 9th grade, I told my mom, “I want to be a cosmetologist.” She looked at me a little strangely, thinking it was just a phase that would pass with my teenage rebellion.

It has been sixteen years since then, you had to have an excellent application to get into a beauty school. So I repeated my 9th-grade year, so that I could be accepted a year later into the only school of aesthetics in Southern Brittany. But at the last minute, I decided not to go, preferring to start a new school year at a high school with a general curriculum and enroll in the program STT with the “Commercial Action and Communication” track.

Trois ans plus tard, le bac en poche, je rentre à l’école IFOM à Nantes pour 1 an en classe préparatoire au BTS esthétique-cosmétique. Après obtention de mon CAP esthétique-cosmétique, je n’ai pas poursuivi le cursus BTS, car je voulais “MASSER”!!

Ten years ago, the state-recognized CQP Spa Practitioner certification didn’t exist yet. A vocational high school diploma was an option, but it wasn’t right for me. So I found the “Body and Spa” program at the Chantal Le Cozic School in Rennes. This program introduced me to massages and rituals from around the world, as well as to what a spa is and helped me understand this multisensory environment.

This profession offers so many of opportunities thatI wanted to dive right in and experience every aspect of it. So, I worked as a beautician and a beauty consultant at a beauty salon specializing in beauty and perfume salon, or even a brand ambassador for select perfume brands.
I worked as a spa practitioner on a seasonal basis for Cinq Mondes and Clarins. The off-season allowed me to travel and to train in other techniques, such as for example a trip to Bali where I was able to learn the traditional Balinese massage.
I also had the chance to conduct some awareness-raising wellness -well-being among young teenage girls with visual impairments who are visually impaired.

I have been working as a spa therapist in Paris since 2014. I started out at The Peninsula Paris Spa, where I worked for three years and was fortunate enough to also serve as a hands-on trainer, and for the past six months I have been working at Chi, the spa at the Shangri-La Paris Hotel.

Having met many massage therapists, I’ve always been deeply moved by the passion with which they practice their craft. They all share the same goal: to help people feel better. I imagine it’s the same for you. What do you enjoy most about your job?

Yes, that’s right—I love taking care of people. What I enjoy most about my job as a spa therapist is knowing that I’m giving my clients that little extra something that will make their day better—so that they leave feeling much better than when they arrived. This involves wellness and massage, but also conversation. I listen to them without judging them, and I do my best to offer advice so they feel relaxed after their treatment. I enjoy connecting and sharing with my clients. I have a lot of kindness and love to give.

A massage is very demanding, both physically and mentally. We often hear that during a massage session, a genuine exchange of energy takes place, and that it all comes down to the practitioner’s intention. How do you ensure that every client gets the best possible experience throughout your day?

There really is a genuine exchange of energy taking place. With some clients, even before giving them a massage—just as they walk through the door of the treatment room—you can already tell whether it’s going to be pure bliss or, quite the opposite, an energetic nightmare!!
To ensure every client gets the best experience, I never give the same massage twice. I never get bored, even if the appointment schedule lists the same massage. I often tell my clients, “This is your massage. Even though I’m the one giving it, it’s YOURS.” It’s essential to ask our clients about their preferences or how they’d like to feel after their massage. It’s up to me to adapt. So I vary the techniques and movements, or adjust the pressure, while staying true to the original concept of the massage.

On a side note: I give massages without shoes on to feel more grounded. After a massage, I wash not only my hands but also my entire forearm up to the elbow with lukewarm or cool water. I also wear an amber stone that protects me and absorbs negative energy.

At the beginning of a massage, I ask the client to take three deep breaths because that allows me to breathe deeply with them. That way, I remember to breathe while I’m massaging—to really breathe. In fact, massage therapists too often hold their breath while massaging, and I still do that sometimes.

After a massage, while waiting for the client to leave the treatment room, I do a few stretches for my back and arms.
Finally, while it’s not always possible, it’s a good idea to air out the treatment room to refresh the air, clear away any lingering energy, and be ready to start another massage as if the first one hadn’t happened yet.

Throughout your career, you’ve developed in-depth expertise not only in the skin’s cosmetic needs but also in the healthy lifestyle necessary for everyday well-being. Do you have any tips and tricks to share with our readers? Whether it’s a daily routine, a wellness idea, or a great tip.

Breathe!! This has been a real eye-opener for me since I started working in Paris. I didn’t know how to breathe properly. It was a physical therapist—who also has a degree in Chinese medicine—who made me aware of this. Breathing correctly helps reduce stress and anxiety. I also recommend the “RespiRelax+” app, which I use myself. I make it a point to do this every night so I can reconnect with myself. My mantra: our bodies aren’t meant to suffer!

I’m also mindful of what I eat, because what we put into our bodies can affect us both inside and out. These days, it’s hard to know what’s actually good for us on our plates… That’s why I use the “Yuka” app, which “scans” your food to help you eat better and make the right choices.

Finally, I’ve recently become interested in “Face Mapping,” which helps identify the causes of skin imbalances: poor diet, smoking, stress, pollution… I could talk about this passionately for hours! Why not come see me at the spa for a consultation? Otherwise, you can check out Pinterest and find facial “maps” to get started. From now on, whenever you have a pimple, redness, or any kind of skin imbalance, you’ll have a better understanding of why 🙂

What kind of massage would you recommend to our readers?

Facial massage. This small area alone contains about twenty muscles (face and neck). The face is constantly under tension and is the part of our body that is in constant contact with the outside world. Many meridians pass through, begin, or end on the face and skull. This area is therefore connected to the rest of your body and to nearly all your organs. The face also needs to be relaxed, stimulated, and oxygenated. In fact, nine out of ten clients let go and relax during a facial massage. You’ve got to try it right away!

What are your future plans?

At age 30, I went back to school in October. I’m in a work-study program at the Shangri-La Paris Spa and attending the Catherine Sertin School. Next April, I’ll take my Spa Practitioner VAE exam, and in October, I’ll earn my Spa Manager diploma.
My goal is to become an Assistant Spa Manager, then a Spa Manager, and eventually a teacher so I can share all my passion and knowledge about this wonderful profession and all its possibilities with future spa practitioners.
I’d also like to improve my English even more and take up yoga someday…

A big thank you, Aurélie, for this warm interview. We wish you all the best for the future!

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Natural candles for your moments of relaxation

Dear readers,

Because we’re always on the lookout for ethical and eco-friendly products, we’ve put together a selection of 100% natural candles for your moments of relaxation.

Most candles are made from paraffin, a petrochemical derived from petroleum. That’s not ideal for us or our planet. Fortunately, there are more and more brands striving to create 100% natural candles that are just as attractive and effective in terms of scent and burn time.

By Rosie Jane

Cette marque américaine a été fondée par Rosie Jane Johnston, Make Up artiste reconnue, en 2012.

Trois collections à base de trois odeurs différentes vous sont présentées. Vous y trouverez des bougies bien sûr, mais également des roll-ons, des eaux de parfum et des produits de maquillage, tous naturels.

Leurs trois bougies – Leila Lou, Tilly et James – sont conçues à base de cire de noix de coco.