Hi, there and Happy New Year! What better way to start off 2020 than to talk about a spa treatment you need to consider this coming year. 

I just wrote about a New Year’s Resolution list from your very own personal stylist, but being in confident in what you wear means you need to take care of that body of yours. 

In this post, I am back talking about my second spa treatment at 21c Hotel and Spa. The first spa treatment of the serene routine package I experienced was for the Fall season. It was the Shine Body Mask and Wrap. This service got me prepped and ready for the dry winter months, and was absolutely incredible. 

A couple weeks ago I got to experience the Winter Serene Routine treatment. The winter treatment is the Aroma Touch Therapy. This spa treatment was very relaxing and much needed going into the crazy holiday season. 

If you didn’t read my previous blog post, you may be wondering “What is a Serene Routine?”

The Spa at 21C Serene Routine

The serene routine is a Cincinnati spa service designed to cater to our skin’s ever-changing needs, the Serene Routine creates a self-care regimen that’s easy to stick to, even at home. 

This membership is a seasonal spa membership program that makes sure you get in the spa at least once per season. Detox after summer with a renewing body mask and wrap service, or wind down after the holidays with an AromaTouch treatment and activate your inner glow with an Alpha Beta or Lactic Acid Facial Peel. Then, your customized box of skincare essentials will take care of the rest until it’s time for your next hour in paradise.

One size does not fit all, either — The Serene Routine can be customized to cater to your skin’s unique needs, ensuring that you leave the spa glowing, rejuvenated and well-equipped to handle whatever life has to offer, year-round.

Pricing:

Based on your preference, you can pay a one time fee of $850 for an annual membership, $75/month (12 months), or $275/ quarter for your Cincinnati spa service. For a small monthly charge, you will receive all of these awesome discounts and gifts. This package will surely make you feel like a queen.

• A luxurious 21C robe
• 1 predetermined complimentary spa service
• A spa box to take home each season
• 21% off all spa services
• 21% off meals at Metropole
• 21% off 21c hotel rooms
• Complimentary valet parking day of service
• Private access to cocktail terrace
• Private art tour with museum manager

The Spa Treatment: AromaTouch Therapy

The winter spa treatment is meant to help you “Relax and reset after the holidays with an AromaTouch Ritual from the Spa at 21c. Maintain lightness and balance at home and create your own sanctuary with a doTerra essential oil. Round out your at-home spa moment with a gentle, exfoliating scrub from Tasha & Co.”

This treatment was truly the best for this time of year! Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to rest and replenish. This treatment is extremely relaxing. With the use of oils and aroma touch therapy, you will automatically leave feeling your best. 

To be honest, I’ve heard of AromaTouch and Aroma Therapy before, but I didn’t really know wha to expect before going into my spa treatment. 

AromaTouch Therapy

So what exactly is AromaTouch Therapy? “AromaTouch Massage Technique is a clinical approach to applying essential oils. Dr. David Hill, a leading expert in integrative medicine and therapeutic application of essential oils, developed the AromaTouch technique.

Unlike traditional Aromatherapy Massage, the AromaTouch Massage Technique utilizes eight specific essential oils and blends to promote relaxation and stress relief, offer immune support, decrease pain and inflammation and elevate mood. Essential oils applied along energy lines and on reflexology points stimulate homeostasis and balance in the body.”

The first set of essential oils used during this process is for stress management (aka why this is the best for holiday time)

Balance 

“Balance essential oil blend offers an enticing fragrance and has a calming effect on the central nervous system, promotes a sense of balance, relaxation and reduces anxiety. Frankincense has anti-inflammatory chemical compounds and stimulates the emotional center of your brain which creates an overall sense of wellbeing.” – Narayan Wellness 

Lavender 

“Lavender flowers and essential oils widely accepted for their calming, soothing and relaxing qualities. Studies have shown that Lavender essential oil is an effective calming agent, mood regulator and anxiety reliever. Lavender essential oil can also aid in healing wounds and tissue damage.” – Narayan Wellness 

The second set of essential oils is used for immunity. 

Melaleuca

“Melaleuca essential oil can treat infections. In fact, scientists have begun to investigate the effectiveness of melaleuca against different types of pathogens and microbes including MRSA. During the AromaTouch™ Massage technique, it’s used as an immune support and aids the body in returning to homeostasis with its cleansing properties.” – Narayan Wellness 

On Guard

“On Guard is a blend of essential oils including Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary. These oils are anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti-viral to support the immune system.

Additionally, Eucalyptus and Rosemary are powerful for respiratory health and support. Clove is known in medicine (both ancient and modern) for its cleansing properties due to its high content of eugenol. Clove alleviates colds, digestive disorders, nausea, neuralgia and toothaches.” – Narayan Wellness 

The third set of essential oils is used to help with inflammation. 

AromaTouch

“AromaTouch essential oil blend can increase blood and lymphatic circulation while calming and relaxing the muscles and joints.” – Narayan Wellness 

Deep Blue

“Deep blue is a soothing solution to the stresses of a long day of work or physical activity. A perfect blend of essential oils including wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Blue Tansy, Blue Chamomile, Helichrysum and Osmanthus work together to provide a cooling effect. Deep Blue is a deeply comforting part of aromatherapy massage providing anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.” – Narayan Wellness 

And finally the last set of essential oils is for homeostasis. 

Wild Orange

“Wild Orange essential oil is cold pressed from orange peels. It is excellent for energizing and revitalizing. This essential oil is also an effective tool for uplifting mood through its wonderful sweet and citrusy aroma.” – Narayan Wellness 

Peppermint 

One of my personal favorites and an oil I keep at my home is peppermint. “As an essential oil, it is beneficial internally and externally. Peppermint is especially useful to ease breathing and improve respiratory health and used as a natural digestive aid. Peppermint essential oil also amplifies the effects of the other oils used in your AromaTouch massage or aromatherapy massage.” – Narayan Wellness 

Now this is probably much more info than some of you care to know, but when you go into the treatment room your masseuse will run over what all of the essential oils will do for you in a much quicker way. 

70 Minute Massage 

The AromaTouch process takes about 30-40 minutes. Essentially the masseuse is dripping the essential oils down your spine and rubbing them in. After that process is complete, you will receive a 70 minute massage. This treatment is the real deal because you basically get two spa treatments in one. 

After the 70 minute massage is completed, you have another 10 minutes or so to enjoy a nice steam shower. I left this treatment wanting to stay forever and not go back to work. Make sure you schedule this treatment on a day when you can set aside a couple hours since it does last longer. 

Serene Routine Box

If you’re new to this Serene Routine membership, one of the best features is that the spa treatment doesn’t end when you leave the spa. Everytime you visit the spa for your treatment, you get to leave with a box of products that allow you to take the spa home with you. 

The winter box includes:

Grapefruit And Orange Blossom Cream Body Scrub

This body scrub by Tasha & Co allows you to condition and detoxify your skin. This gentle salt and sugar scrub is made with salt from the Dead Sea, and is formulated to effectively exfoliate and remove dead skin. Helps leave your skin smooth, shining, and invigorated. It’s also Gluten free, paraben free, and vegan. 

It’s also 9oz so it will definitely last you through the entire season. 

doTerra AromaTouch Essential Oil

In addition to the Body Scrub you get to take home your own AromaTouch Essential Oil from doTerra. 

“AromaTouch combines our essential oils of Cypress, Peppermint, Marjoram, Basil, Grapefruit, and Lavender essential oils in a perfect blend that adds many important benefits to various massage techniques. This popular blend is a vital part of the doTERRA AromaTouch Technique, a proprietary method for applying essential oils to produce a profound whole-body wellness experience.”

According to doTERRA, you can use this essential oil by: 

• Applying to neck and shoulders to promote feelings of relaxation and lessen tension or use with a carrier oil for massage.
• Give your loved one a hand massage using the AromaTouch Hand Technique and AromaTouch Massage Blend.
• Add to Epsom salts and enjoy soaking in a hot bath.

Circle Circle Necklace

And last but not least you get a gorgeous Sterling Silver Circle Circle necklace. Sometimes the holidays can mean thinking about other people and shopping for other people, but this necklace allows you to leave the spa feeling like someone thought of you. 

This necklace is very simple and elegant and is a piece that you can wear with just about any outfit. 

Wrap Up

Hopefully by this point you’re completely sold. Who wouldn’t want a year long spa membership where you get to leave with complimentary gifts? I couldn’t think of anything better. Your VIP experience doesn’t need to end after your spa treatment either. Spend time continuing to relax with lunch at Metrople and enjoy 21% off of your meal. 

If you’ve had a rough holiday season, or even a great one, but you need to rewind and relax, now is the time to sign up for this! Pay on a monthly, quarterly or even yearly basis and make sure that you’re spending the time taking care of yourself. 

If you have any questions, 21c’s  spa consultants are standing by to schedule your Winter service and can design add on treatments that would pair well with your complimentary service. Add on treatments are 21% off since you’re a VIP member. Call them at 513-578-6603.

After having been into Dr. Krummen’s office for multiple facials, I wanted to try something new! I had heard that fall/winter was the best time for hair removal because it gives you plenty of time to go through the process and be ready just in time for summer. Hair removal is something I had always considered, but wasn’t sure if it was for me. I was also wondering is laser hair removal safe? I mean doesn’t everyone consider it at some point or another? I’m sure all of us remember that one specific situation where we forgot to shave our armpits and were mortified the entire time or simply had to skip out on something for that reason.

I specifically remember planning my day around this workout. I was actually dreading showing up because I had just completed a long shift at work, but I pushed my butt to the gym and was really proud of myself when I got there! However, once I started getting ready for class I realized I forgot to shave my armpits.

I was stuck with two options. Option 1, push through the embarrassment and stay for class to get my workout in. However, I would know that the entire hour I would be self conscious and not want to do the exercises that involved raises your arms. Option 2, just head home to save myself the uncomfortable and embarrassing one hour workout class, after working so hard to get myself there in the first place. I went with option two because I refused to ever be known as the girl who doesn’t shave her armpits.

That is simple one example that I vividly remember and just really wished my armpit hair didn’t exist in that moment. If any of you have ever felt that way too, this is the blog post for you.

Common Laser Hair Removal FAQ’s

It’s about time I officially talked about my laser hair removal journey! I’ve done a lot of behind the scenes Instagram stories and have answered many questions on that platform, but who wants to dig through someones highlight reel to find all of that information?

My job is to make your life easier, to give you everything you need to know, and make it easy for you to find information.

Most peoples want to know “is laser hair removal safe?”, “where did you get it done?”, “how much does it cost?”, and “does it hurt?”. Today I will be answered these most commonly asked questions.

Q: “Where did you get your laser hair removal done?”

I got my hair removal done at Dr. Donna Krummen’s Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery by Harper’s Point in Cincinnati. I first began coming to Dr. Krummen’s office to get routine facials. I absolutely love the staff there, and specifically my doctor, Christie who is pictured below.  Everytime I walk into the office, the entire staff greets me, they are very friendly and everyone knows my name. I am not sure if that is a big deal to you, but that’s important to me!

Q: “Does it hurt?”

A simple, but important question. I would say the two reasons people are hesitant about hair removal would be #1 cost and #2 and pain. Some people cost is the most important factor and for other people they are like I’ll pay whatever but beauty isn’t pain for me!

I am totally willing to suffer any pain for long term results, however for me I was hesitant about the cost. We’ll discuss that next!

So, the pain. Let’s just say it definitely was painful but it was 100% bearable. For those of you who have gotten tattoos before, I would say it was a very similar feeling. I have only gotten one tiny tattoo so I would say the hair removal was a little bit more painful, but that’s just because we were covering a larger area.

Have you ever gotten a shot, or stitches or anything that was painful, but you were having a great conversation with your nurse or your friend who came with you and it just made it that much better? That’s how it is when I see Christie. She is so friendly, and we have so much fun talking to one another that it definitely helps take my mind off of the pain.

“Q: What is the cost?”

For those of you brave souls out there who are willing to take on the pain, but are more worried about the cost, I’ve got answers for you. So the cost isn’t pocket change, I’m sure you didn’t expect it to be. However, I am such a long term thinker, so I thought about how much money I would save down the road.

If I got this laser hair removal done now, at the age of 24, I would save so much money on buying razors, I would save time shaving my armpits, and I would never have to leave a workout class again due to embarrassment. This was worth it to me!

This treatment costs $350/treatment and they recommend 3-6 treatments depending on how you respond to the treatments. They offer discounts if you buy a package of 3 services and then for every additional service it’s only $100. I ended up needing 4 services total.

The darker your hair is and the lighter your skin is, the less treatments you will most likely need. I didn’t see 100% no hair until after the fourth treatment, but I did notice significantly less hair after my first treatment.

 

Q: “How long does the treatment last?”

It is a lifetime treatment which is why it’s so worth it to me! However, I have heard that some people may or may not need touch ups treatments down the road.

Q: “How long does the full treatment take?”

As I previously mentioned, a full laser hair removal treatment takes 3-6 sessions depending on the person. You are supposed to wait about 2 months in between sessions.

“Q: Can you shave afterwards?”

You are recommended not to shave right afterwards and to wait as long as you can after the treatment, for the best results. If you wanted to I’m sure you could shave the next day even though you wouldn’t need to!

Q: “What does the healing process look like?”

They give you ice packets immediately following your treatment. I usually don’t need to use them for very long. I would say there isn’t much of a healing process. Your under arms may feel a little bit irritated immediately afterwards, but other than that they are just like normal!

Q: “How long does the treatment take?”

The treatment can last around 30-45 minutes total. It doesn’t feel like very long which is another huge reason I think this service is so worth it.

Final Words

This is hands down one of the best beauty decisions I’ve made thus far! Dr. Krummen and her staff is incredible (especially Christie) and they made this hair removal journey so fun and fulfilling. I highly recommend them and this service. If you stop on in, tell them I sent you!

For more self care spots and treatments around Cincinnati check out the rest of my blog.