Happy New Year! Welcome to 2015! The last few months have certainly been full of activity! I am sure you enjoyed spending time with friends and family. As much fun as it has been, it's time to get back to our regular schedules and plan for the year ahead.

To help you map out a healthier lifestyle this year, be sure to check out this month's articles, as well as the delicious spa cuisine recipe. We have some wonderful tips to get you started on the path to health and wellness in 2015!

And don't miss out on the amazing products and treatments we have planned for you this month! You will definitely want to take advantage of these spectacular values!

Happy New Year from your spa team! We are excited to kickoff the New Year with you!

Love this newsletter? We are always striving to improve. Please let us know what else you would like!

- Amy Hahn

Conquer Dry Winter Skin!

Expose a radiant, healthy-looking complexion

Now that winter is here, flaky, dehydrated skin is a widespread condition many of us have to struggle with. Anyone can suffer from dehydration. Just as you update your wardrobe to fit the cold season, you must also adjust your skin regimen to prevent dry, lackluster skin and promote glowing, healthy skin all season long.

First and foremost, slather on the sunscreen every day. Winter UV rays are just as harsh as summer UV rays and contribute to wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer. Be sure to apply moisturizer daily and top it off with a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.

To have beautiful skin this winter, it is important to work closely with your esthetician to hydrate and prevent damage. Once you and your esthetician have decided on the appropriate in-spa skin care regimen, it is crucial to adhere to an at home routine to continue proper care of your skin between spa visits.

Beware of over-the-counter hype!! Do you have a graveyard under your bathroom sink where department products you no longer use are laid to rest? There's a reason for that. Over-the-counter products, no matter how expensive they are, do not deliver the results that cosmeceuticals provide. The main differences between over-the-counter and cosmeceutical products are the active ingredients being used, their amounts, and the level of penetration into the skin.

Some of the benefits of professional-grade products are:

- Manufacturer's process
- They focus on results instead of mass production and selling.
- Cosmeceuticals offer an extensive product selection to accommodate varying types of skin conditions.
- They use high-quality ingredients with proven results.
- They incorporate high SPF into their products to further protect delicate skin.

To get desired results, you need to use skin care products that you trust that are recommended by licensed estheticians. To effectively improve the appearance and health of your skin, it is imperative that you commit to both the in-spa and at home care regimen your Spa Essence Retreat team designs for your specific needs.

Are you ready to get started on the path to beautiful, healthy skin all year long? Call Spa Essence Retreat at 772-221-3389 or visit us online to reserve your complimentary consultation. Here's to great skin!

Feeling the consequences of an indulgent holiday season?

Reserve one or more of these result-driven treatments to detoxify and renew!

Total Detox

Receive three detoxifying treatments to cleanse and purify your body. Reserve an O2 Lift Facial, 60-Minute Massage, and Pure Fiji Body Glow, and receive a complimentary Pure Fiji Body Butter from the spa boutique. $200 ($245 value)

Instant Renewal
Take a few minutes out of your hectic day to unwind and renew! Experience a 115-Minute Signature Facial and a 90-Minute Swedish Massage, and receive a complimentary Warm Stone Enhancement on your next spa visit ($20 value). $190($215 value)

A New You in 2015!
What a perfect time to assess your skin and the products you are using! Reserve a consultation and bring your current skincare products to the spa so we can design the appropriate plan for you for 2015! Receive a complimentary consultation with product assessment.

Did you receive Spa Essence Retreat gift cards over the holidays?

Use your spa gift cards during the month of January and receive a complimentary Pure Fjji Coconut and Honey Foot or Hand Sugar Glow.

Space is limited so reserve your appointments today!

"Loved my experience at Spa Essence Retreat! The atmosphere is very relaxing and the team is so welcoming. Desirae was my massage therapist- She is fantastic and has a healing touch. Thank you!"

"Amazing customer service. Massage therapists are really professional and skin care specialists as well. We are coming back!"

And we're okay with that

All you fashion-forward, take the bull by the horns, gotta look my best men out there...this one's for you!!! We know you're tired of all the great spa products and services being geared toward women. Now it's your turn!! Want to start the New Year off looking and feeling fabulous? Check out what's trending in male grooming at the spa...just for you!

Well-groomed, great-smelling men are all the rage these days...in and out of the boardroom. Men are being judged more by their looks, just as women always have been. As a result, they are seeking grooming habits that have previously been reserved for women. Men are visiting salons and spas, and even boosting their morning routine to compete against the fairer sex for those high-dollar corporate jobs, as well as to promote themselves personally.

Until a few years ago, a man was considered well-groomed if he shaved on a daily basis and sported a clean-cut trim. Not anymore! That antiquated ideal is out the window! Enhanced wellness and grooming routines are now the norm among the masculine species. Grooming rituals have drastically changed and men are negotiating with their female counterparts for extended mirror time in the morning.

Men-friendly services and treatments are quickly emerging within the spa industry. Facials, manicures, and massages...men are joining ladies at the spa to take advantage of the wellness benefits women have known about for years. And it's about time!

But there's one grooming ritual becoming quite popular among men that no one saw coming. Yep...you guessed it! We are talking about manscaping!! It's out there and it's a big deal! Waxing isn't just for women anymore.

More and more men are hitting the spa to remove hair on their back, chest, arms, and they're taming that unibrow. They're even getting their "mankini" on! Hair removal in strategic areas such as legs, groin, and other private regions is becoming prevalent among men because it makes them feel cleaner and smoother. And the ladies certainly aren't complaining about it!

Today's guy is manicured, massaged, groomed, and manscaped! Watch out, ladies!! The competition has arrived and he looks fabulous!!

Tilapia with Oranges, Tomatoes and Toasted Garlic

A light, healthy dish to spice things up this winter!

Ingredients

1/2 cup(s) whole-wheat couscous
1 large orange
3 teaspoon(s) olive oil
4 small tilapia fillets (about 1½ lb)
Kosher salt and pepper
2 clove(s) garlic, thinly sliced
1 1/2 piece(s) fresh ginger, very thinly sliced
1 pint(s) cherry tomatoes, halved
2 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

1. Cook the couscous according to package directions.

2. Cut away the peel of the orange. Cut the orange into segments, adding them to a bowl along with any juices.

3. Heat 1 tsp oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.

4. Season the tilapia with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper and cook until opaque throughout, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

5. Wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 1 minute.

6. Add the tomatoes and cook, tossing occasionally, about 3 minutes.

7. Add the oranges and any juices. Gently toss to heat through. Serve with the tilapia and couscous and sprinkle with the scallions.

For an extra added zing...
Try the orange and tomato mixture with sautéed shrimp, seared chicken, or broiled steak.

Q: I really want to obtain overall wellness by the summer months. That's my goal for this year...to have glowing skin and to feel great inside and out! Do you have any suggestions for getting started?

A: Drink half your body weight in water. It will hydrate the skin, giving it a supple youthful glow. It will also clear toxins from your body for overall health.

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