Sometimes it’s almost impossible to read the nutrition information labels on the prepackaged food in the grocery store. Even my favorite, seemingly healthy, cereal lists ingredients like tocopherols and calcium carbonate. Not being able to pronounce these ingredients is worrisome. Not knowing what they are is downright frightening. What am I eating every morning anyway?

If you’re worried about the ingredients in your favorite foods, then you might want to invest in the “Don’t Eat That” iPhone app. With the app, you can search questionable ingredients, find out what they really are, and see if you should be avoiding them at all costs. (Really bad stuff gets highlighted in red.)

As it turns out, tocopherols and calcium carbonate are actually not too terrible—tocopherol is a form of vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, and a preservative, while calcium carbonate is a white dye and acidity regulator. Neither makes the “Problem Ingredient” list in the app.

The app also gives you access to lists of ingredients that are known carcinogens, harmful to kids, bad for people with allergies, and bad for people with asthma. It’s a valuable tool—especially for parents who want to protect their children from all the scary things that can end up in processed foods—and makes it infinitely easier to feel like an informed consumer as you cruise the aisles at the supermarket.

If you want to see how the app works before making the $1.99 investment, this video will give you a quick tour:

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bchai/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

—Stephanie Kinnear, web editor

With only a few short weeks left until my wedding day, I am finally able to focus on some of the smaller, but very important, aspects of the planning process—hair, makeup, and nails. I had my hair and makeup trial last week at Pink Comb Salon in Nutley, NJ, and was completely thrilled with the look owner, makeup artist, and hair stylist Michelle Lo Conte gave me. Now I need to focus on my nails. While I’m not sure yet if I want the traditional French manicure or if I’d rather a very soft shade of pink, I’ve discovered that there are myriad nail color options out there for brides to choose from. Essie’s new 2010 Wedding Color Collection, for example, features six classically chic colors created to complement any bride’s look on her wedding day. The collection consists of Petal Pink, a creamy pink; BBF Best Boyfriend, a creamy mauve; Pillow Talk, a sheer nude; Walk Down the Aisle, a creamy white; Show Me the Ring, an iridescent pearl; and Main Squeeze, a shimmery lilac shade. “Every bride is in the spotlight on her wedding day and I wanted to give her the confidence she deserves with these new shades,” says Essie Weingarten, founder and president of Essie Cosmetics. “Weddings are full of colorful personal touches, from flowers to dresses and desserts. The perfect manicure adds to the originality of your special day in a way that nothing but nail polish can.”

What are some bridal nail trends you are seeing at your spa? How do you help clients choose the perfect shade for their Big Day?

Last week, I attended a Naturopathica event where I met founder Barbara Close, an aromatherapist, esthetician, herbalist, and massage therapist. Sharing news of the holistic brand’s evolution, she talked about the importance of using certified organic and natural products. Like most eco-conscious consumers, I’m a fan of products that rely on organic ingredients whenever possible, but as Barbara pointed out, organic is not always the greenest option when organic ingredients are in limited supply. For example, the company has opted not to go the organic route with sandalwood, so as not to wipe out the supply. Committed to supporting small local farms in the U.S., Naturopathica continues to provide natural solutions for those who want to look and feel their best. This spring, the company is introducing four new products and reformulations: Arnica Muscle Gel, Pear Fig Polishing Enzyme Peel, Vitamin K Brightening Eye Serum, and Sweet Lupine Cleansing Cream. And in April, the brand is re-launching its website, which will allow you to search by ingredient and personal preference. Now there’s no questioning whether a product is certified organic, gluten-free, or vegan. Finding your ideal product just got a whole lot easier.

For upcoming nuptials with British person with messy hair, Russell Brand, songstress Katy Perry may opt for the I Dream of Jeannie of wedding dresses: a spangly two-piece displaying her abs and torso as she walks down the aisle.

Reportedly Perry, like most brides, wants to have a traditional dress with a long train in the back and a Vegas showgirl look going on in the front. It’s not so much that Perry has always dreamed of sashaying to matrimony dressed up like an ice dancer – rather, she’s not ignorant of the entertainment value her wedding will command, and wants to create buzz. She has told friends and reporters that she realizes her wedding pictures will be picked up by magazines, blogs, and tabloids all around the world. Maybe a little cynical to commodify your wedding but eh, you can’t say the girl doesn’t have a head on her shoulders. And it is her day, after all.

She also tells the press, humorously, that Russell Brand is a bit of a wedding micromanager and has developed a startling addiction to bridal magazines.

Have you heard of ear candling? The technique has been around for more than 10 years in spas and wellness centers, but it seems as though it’s just burst to the forefront within the last year.

Ear candling purports to release excess wax from the ear using a candle-like contraption. The therapist holds a tube of rolled-up material coated in beeswax, inserting the narrow end gently in the ear, and lights the other end to draw out impurities. Some ear candling fans report better hearing and a stronger overall sense of well-being after the treatment. Because ear candling involves flame and hot wax so close to the ear canal, be sure you have the treatment at a reputable facility with experienced technicians.

The good news is this is the kind of treatment Spa Week® is MADE for – if you’ve never tried it before, at the $50 price point what is there to lose? Give it a try! For April Spa Week, ear candling is only being offered at two intrepid New York spas, but perhaps in October the treatment will have swept Spa Week by storm! In the meantime, visit the following two spas:

Tranquility Salon and Day Spa
Treatment: 50 Min Pressure Relieving Ear Candling

Hilde Demirjian Salon & Spa
Treatment: Ear Candling with Complementary Digital Skin Analysis

We’re a little frightened of this amazing yoga retreat. Frightened because we think that if we went, we might never come home again! Just imagine: six nights and seven days of yoga, Mediterranean cuisine, fine wine, and the beauty of an Italian resort island.

Space is limited to 25, so hurry!

Retreat: Yoga Retreat with Tom Morley on the Italian Island of Capri
Details: Hotel accommodations at Hotel Excelsior Parco, daily breakfast, daily maid service, three dinners, yoga twice a day, boat excursion (lunch included), free shuttle service from 9am-9pm, free internet access, private transfer service to and from Capri port to hotel (arrival and departure).
Dates: July 4 – July 10, 2010
Cost: $2,600 per person – sea view with terrace; $2,400 per person – garden view with terrace. (Both double occupancy)

For further assistance please contact: Season Cole, retreat organizer, via email: retreat2capri@gmail.com or call (415) 690-9901.

We’re a little frightened of this amazing yoga retreat. Frightened because we think that if we went, we might never come home again! Just imagine: six nights and seven days of yoga, Mediterranean cuisine, fine wine, and the beauty of an Italian resort island.

Space is limited to 25, so hurry!

Retreat: Yoga Retreat with Tom Morley on the Italian Island of Capri
Details: Hotel accommodations at Hotel Excelsior Parco, daily breakfast, daily maid service, three dinners, yoga twice a day, boat excursion (lunch included), free shuttle service from 9am-9pm, free internet access, private transfer service to and from Capri port to hotel (arrival and departure).
Dates: July 4 – July 10, 2010
Cost: $2,600 per person – sea view with terrace; $2,400 per person – garden view with terrace. (Both double occupancy)

For further assistance please contact: Season Cole, retreat organizer, via email: retreat2capri@gmail.com or call (415) 690-9901.

It’s no secret: If you want to lose weight, or maintain your current weight, but you don’t want to diet, then you’re going to have to exercise. We all know that. But how much will you need to exercise?

According to a recommendation published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), women who want to avoid dieting but also want to maintain their weight over time will need to exercise for one hour a day… seven days a week. According to JAMA, on average women gain 1.5 pounds a year between the ages of 25 and 55.

One hour! Seven days a week! It sounds like quite a time investment. Most of us are barely able to squeeze in 45 minutes at the gym a few days a week (plus a yoga class, or two, if we’re lucky).

Of course exercising regularly, even if it is less than an hour a day, still has tremendous health benefits—so don’t give up! But if you want to maintain your weight long-term and you can’t hit that ambitious 60-minutes/day mark, you’ll probably have to cut calories over time.

Want to try for an hour a day? We’ve got a number of exercises that you can start with. And you can do them all without a gym membership!

Via LA Times

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emples/ / CC BY 2.0

—Stephanie Kinnear, web editor

Chances are you’ve probably quaffed POM Wonderful in the past few years – the pomegranate juice (served in the reusable glasses!) is popular as a mixer and a standalone drink, and the company that produces it has pushed the juice’s healthy qualities with a passion. Pomegranate does contain a one-two punch of healthful vitamins, but there’s no evidence to suggest that chugging bottle after bottle of the juice is a magical cure for what ails you – but POM Wonderful might want you to believe otherwise!

The FDA has sent POM a public warning letter for making wild promises to the public about what drinking the juice will and will not do. Among the litany of diseases it professes to cure or curtail: artherosclerosis, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, high cholesterol, and more. One testimonial even claimed that POM cured her boyfriend’s prostate cancer…high claims from a juice.

Having been warned to knock off the crazy promises of magical and miraculous results, it remains to be seen whether POM will scale back its marketing…but the whole episode is a good reminder that while this is an unprecedently good time for wellness-focused food and drink, the old consumers’ adage still holds true: if something sounds too good to be true, even in this futuristic year 2010, it probably still is!

It’s easy to think of Spa Week® as a passive time – after all, if you’re heading to the spa for a massage, facial, or scrub, you’re probably not interested in being a terribly active participant in the process, not when it feels so good to just zone out. But active doesn’t have to mean not relaxing! Some spas are combining more active modalities to offer unique Spa Week® experiences.

Thai Yoga Massage is a great example of a fitness-focused spa treatment that’s also mind-meltingly relaxing. Thai yoga seeks to address specific muscular tensions by corresponding asanas (poses) that stretch and gently relax tense muscles and ligaments. It’s different than regular yoga because a therapist helps you move from pose to pose, supporting parts of your body in order to help you truly relax. Practitioners report feeling both energized and deeply relaxed after a session of Thai yoga.

Of course, if you love Pilates and Yoga fitness classes, you can also enjoy the opportunity to work with a personal instructor one-on-one – for just $50!

This Spa Week®, why not mix it up and try something really new? In New York, give Thai yoga massage a try for 60 minutes at Erika Bloom Pilates Plus (or opt for a 60 minute personal Pilates session!) or Tranquility Salon & Day Spa.

Have you ever wanted a destination spa experience, but with a little extra flexibility built in (so that you could explore a new city)? That’s what Dakota Mountain Lodge is offering in their brand new Destination Spa Week package—a destination spa experience and the opportunity to explore all that Park City has to offer.

Retreat: Destination Spa Week
Details: 7 nights in a one-bedroom suite at the  Dakota Mountain Lodge, breakfast, lunch, and dinner suited to your special dietary needs, access to the state-of-the art fitness center with a dedicated Kinesis studio, movement studio, and Pilates studio, access to  the Golden Door spa with 15 treatment suites, special wellness lectures, cooking classes and meditation workshops, custom-designed workout classes, full-body composition and wellness  analysis, daily massage and facial with options for acupuncture or hair and nail add-ons, and one-on-one nutritional counseling to design a 10-week customized program to help you maintain results long after you leave.
Dates: April 18-25
Cost: $8,000

Have you ever wanted a destination spa experience, but with a little extra flexibility built in (so that you could explore a new city)? That’s what Dakota Mountain Lodge is offering in their brand new Destination Spa Week package—a destination spa experience and the opportunity to explore all that Park City has to offer.

Retreat: Destination Spa Week
Details: 7 nights in a one-bedroom suite at the  Dakota Mountain Lodge, breakfast, lunch, and dinner suited to your special dietary needs, access to the state-of-the art fitness center with a dedicated Kinesis studio, movement studio, and Pilates studio, access to  the Golden Door spa with 15 treatment suites, special wellness lectures, cooking classes and meditation workshops, custom-designed workout classes, full-body composition and wellness  analysis, daily massage and facial with options for acupuncture or hair and nail add-ons, and one-on-one nutritional counseling to design a 10-week customized program to help you maintain results long after you leave.
Dates: April 18-25
Cost: $8,000

Today’s post is from Lori B. Rosen, who writes Spa’s Zodiac Therapy each month.

Monday 3/29: Libra’s full moon fuses with Saturn and clashes with the Sun creating an optimum opportunity for handling legal matters or personal/professional partnerships. Remember to use the power of creative visualization to guarantee a win-win outcome.

Wednesday 3/31: Moon in tantalizing Scorpio creates a magnetic energy that will help you meditate on matters dealing with love or finances. Be mindful of petty attitudes in yourself and others.

Friday 4/2: Sag’s moon spends the day multitasking with Mercury, Saturn, Venus, and Mars. Make use of this vibrant vibration to support your holiday preparations and travel plans.

Sunday 4/4: Happy Easter! Sag’s joyful moon inspires us to seek inspiration through joy, faith, grace, service, and forgiveness.

Lori is an astrologer and certified life coach life coach based in southern California. For zodiac reports and consultations, find her online on Zodiac Therapy’s Facebook Fan Page or her

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, which takes places April 22. But at Exhale Mind Body Spa locations around the world, the celebration lasts for two months. Guests receive a $10 discount on any $50 purchase of services and products from the spa’s GRN line throughout the months of April and May.

Grow. Restore. Nurture. (GRN) by Exhale is an eco-conscious, paraben-free skincare line designed to heal and transform the skin from the inside out. Each and every component was carefully chosen to embody Exhale’s dedication to health, beauty, and the sustainability of both their guests and the environment. These products extend beyond treating the outer skin by addressing the inner issues that contribute to healthy skin, and by embracing components of nutrition, exercise, and relaxation. The products are used in several signature treatments, including the GRN Facial, the GRN Manicure, and the GRN pedicure, and they are also available in all Exhale retail areas.

But Exhale’s efforts are just a small sampling of the spa industry’s efforts on behalf of Earth Day. Be sure to check out our April issue for more about what spas are doing to save the planet. Along with an article from the Green Spa Network that provides tips for greening your spa, we also highlight eco-conscious products, treatments, and more.

What are you doing to go green this month? Share your comments here.