Flowers. Those beautiful gossamer creations that afford us such pleasure in their appearance and scent and even taste! Who would suspect that within these tiny perfect packages lays the capability to heal our wounded psyches. While there are many ways to heal with flowers – tinctures, extracts or aromatherapy, Flower Essence Therapy takes a different approach. Read on to learn more about this amazing (and completely safe) alternative way to clear your mind, relax and find happiness – without a trip to the spa.

BN: What are Bach Flowers or Flower Essence Therapy (FET)?
GA: Flower Essence Therapy or Bach Flowers is a modality of Vibrational Healing that uses specific flowers to target emotional issues ranging from depression to phobias, traumas and shock, grief, excessive thinking, stress, aggression, obsessive thoughts, or fear to name a few.

Flower essences are prepared using spring water, the flower at its peak and usually sunshine. The vibrational signature of the flower is transferred to the water and this yields the mother tincture. This tincture is preserved with brandy. Advanced scientific techniques are beginning to be able to detect the presence of minute substance signatures at subatomic levels so one day maybe they will be able to measure what people treated with flower essences already know. They work! FET is an effective, non-toxic, non-allergenic therapy that produces lasting results on everyone from babies to adults and even pets.

BN: What are the primary uses of Flower Essence therapy?
GA: Emotional states are the primary target. I would not suggest FET to treat a broken leg although I would recommend Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy to deal with sudden trauma and shock.

Bamboo is known as a symbol of longevity, and rightly so. Used as a building supply in ancient times, the bamboo shoot has also been eaten throughout the years by Asian cultures and is speculated to be the instrument of choice in ancient Asian cave paintings. It’s still around today, with possibly more popular and diverse uses than ever — the plant is being used as flooring, woven wall coverings, textiles and more. And now, even New York spas have picked up on the trend, featuring bamboo-based treatments that impart some of the special characteristics of this versatile plant.

AMOREPACIFIC

Bamboo, Korean red ginseng and green tea are the main constituents of a plethora of AmorePacific’s skincare and spa product line. The spa’s Moisture Bound treatment uses a number of these products on a quest for healthy, moisturized skin.

Tucked away on Spring Street, guests of the AmorePacific Spa are welcomed into a cozy oasis and offered a cup of green tea by a warm staff. The bamboo influence is already prominent, as it’s used throughout the décor. Esthetician Alexandra Nagy will sell you completely on the benefits of the AmorePacific product line, as she leads you into a capsule- like treatment area. “It’s the first company I’ve worked for that uses nanotechnology and bamboo in their products,” she says excitedly. The nanotechnology breaks the product into particles that are a thousandth of the size of a skin cell, so it can easily penetrate. AmorePacific uses bamboo sap instead of water or mineral oil in many of its products, a deeply hydrating alternative.

The treatment begins with the Treatment Cleansing Oil and an exfoliator with green tea oil, which Nagy says is excellent for sensitive and dry skin. A steamer is then positioned above the face, and its water is infused with green tea leaves. A calming serum and a stabilizing serum is applied to the face, followed by a light green tea oil facial massage. Next, a mask is applied and the eyes are addressed with an Intensive Vitalizing Eye Complex, which helps reduce puffiness. Last, the Bio-Enzyme Refining Complex, a self-activating skin polisher, is smoothed on the skin. Nagy says this helps turn over skin cells and bring new ones to the surface. The result is a dewy complexion and fresh feeling skin, the product of the vitamin and mineral rich red ginseng and the powerful hydration and resilience offered by stabilized bamboo sap.

It seems obvious now, doesn’t it? We wash and condition our hair in the shower. Why didn’t it occur to anyone that we should create our own home spa treatments by washing and conditioning our skin in the shower?

Ted Gibson

Leave it to the man who is the hairstylist to many of the most beautiful people in the world– to create a product that makes our skin feel as luscious as our hair. Yes, Ted Gibson has extended his products from your hair to your body—with ted gibson body. And yes, he’s given us something that’s worth the wait.

Body Products by Ted Gibson

“As a luxury beauty company, we wanted to create products so that everyone can experience the Ted Gibson luxury lifestyle. By creating body care it gives people the opportunity to have experience beyond haircare. Product innovation is what drives ted gibson beauty. The products are inspired by my editorial and celebrity work and the needs of our salon clientele, who
represent an incredibly diverse range of women,” said Gibson.