The original spa was launched in 1998 and named after the building’s former occupants. Founded in the philosophy of premium 100% natural essential oils all ingredients are organic, wild-crafted and fair trade botanicals with minimal use of preservatives. The products do NOT contain any parabens, petrochemicals, sulphates or artificial dyes or fragrances. There are no animal products in the ingredients except for organic beeswax and wildflower honey. Every product’s ingredients are sourced from the original walled garden at the original Cowshed spa in Somerset. We also love the cheeky product names like “Moody Cow” and “Knackered Cow”.

Our favorite picks from the Cowshed (it was hard to pick only a few!) collection include: Cowshed Wild Cow Evening Body Wash. The Wild Cow Evening wash is made with a refreshing re-hydrating mix of lavender and rose infusions and pure essential oil of lavender made from herbs grown in the walled garden at Babington House. Other faves include “Moody Cow”- Balancing Bath and Shower Gel as well as “Udderly Gorgeous” Cooling Leg and Foot Treatment. Lastly, you’ll want to indulge in the Knackered Cow Relaxing Soap Bar which is triple milled to a smooth luxurious texture leaving skin soft and gently scented with the delectable Knackered Cow fragrance.

Guest beauty post from my friends at TheFind.

Posh

Amaretti Shower Gellee: If you’ve ever partaken in a sip of Disarono or inhaled the scent of amaretto coffee, you’ll know that this fragrance is both creamy and decadent. Mix in essential oils to soften your skin and jojoba beads to gently exfoliate and you may just fall in love.

Spa Soap: While it was slightly on the smaller side, this 6oz. bar of soap gently glided across my skin leaving the light scent of the Amaretti behind. It was non-drying and safe for the most sensitive of skins (ie. my 2 year old, Brody).

Whipped Butter Cream: Thick and rich, it deeply hydrates your skin without any oily residue left behind. It’s a combination of several butters: cocoa, macadamia and mowrah blended with the oils of rosehip, macadamia, avacado and hemp.

I definitely loved these products and the fragrance was strong without being overpowering–just the way I like it. Check out all they have to offer at www.PoshinClover.com

Ted Gibson is best known for the magic he works backstage at fashion week and on A-list actresses as well as his own salon clients. Yes, this magic is a result of Ted Gibson’s talent, but it takes the proper tools to create stunning healthy looking hair. To make everyday styling a cinch for women everywhere Ted Gibson believes that the right styling products make all the difference. “My clients are always amazed when they discover a great styling product and see the difference it can make,” says Ted Gibson. “However, I’m not exclusively talking about the final result. The right products make styling so much easier, and that’s important to so many women who find it difficult to style their hair.”

Lucky for us time-crunched girls that he has created his own line of easy-to-use signature hair products to help us look just as good as when leaving the salon. Many of Ted Gibson’s styling products are now available at Target. In particular we love the build it™ blow drying agent, fix it™ gel and tame it™ shine lotion. The trio of products is inspired by the antioxidants in red wine known as polyphenols. This ingredient helps to prevent dryness and split ends and restore hair to look healthy, shiny and easier to manage. Ted Gibson’s other signature ingredient is wild orchid extract.

“Build it” is a blow drying agent that helps to build volume for as well as leaving it smooth. Simply mist over damp or dry hair to add body, bold movement and intense shine to your hair. $22.95

“Fix it” gel helps to add texture as well as shine. Pour desired amount into hands and apply to wet hair. $22.95

“Tame it” shine lotion combats the frizzies which can be brutal during summer humidity. This product also blocks humidity and tones and conditions the scalp. Apply pea-sized amount through wet or dry hair. $22.95

All of these products and more from Ted Gibson are available at Target.com

Guest beauty post from my friends at TheFind.

Guest beauty post from my friends at TheFind.

So, as Shannon is a friend and I’m a total product whore, I thought who better to write it than me? But, I also thought “wait, I ain’t gonna do this in my real name” so I’m doing it in a pseudonym: Zeke Samuels. Yes, there is some thought behind the name. No, I won’t share it.

What’s first for the A Guy’s Gotta Spa section? Clarisonic. I had been eyeing the Clarisonic product for the past few months, and finally took the plunge after a friend kept harassing me about it.

I love this device. While it’s not a travel product, I don’t care – I go everywhere with it and use with my wide range of soap. And, I use it also as a shaver – and I have a terrible beard.

Why do I love it so much? It deep cleans my skin. With its sonic technology and stuff, the revolving head does its little spin on my face with my chosen soap. I take it into the shower, lay it down in my shower caddy (one drawback – where’s the little hole and string on the end, so I can hang it in my shower?), and charge it up once a week. The whole routine is like 30 seconds, I do the little circular wash like it says to in the instructions, and wash my face and neck.

And, it’s had an effect – my skin is clearer, women have told me the pores are smaller, and overall I look better. But, what’s better for me is that they also recommend that you use the Clarisonic as a shaving brush – and I have. I bought a higher end shaving cream, and have begun using the Clarisonic as a shaving brush. As I have a thick beard – and ingrown hairs – I hate shaving. And, while I still hate shaving, Clarisonic has made it a MUCH better process. I have a much closer shave, and while I still only shave every other day (I tell my bosses it’s per my dermatologist, which is true … 20 years ago), the shave is a lot closer than with other shaving balms and processes that I did prior.

That’s part of why I travel with the Clarisonic – the plus for the shower face wash, but it was the shaving that pushed me over the edge. I just won’t shave without the Clarisonic shaving set-up.  It’s just that good.

Overall, if you’re looking for a product to buy your guy – or you’re a guy looking for a great product – you can’t do better than the Clarisonic. It’s a must-have for a man or woman.

Glue. Paste. Gook. No, I’m not talking about your summer camp or back-to-school supplies list. I’m referring to the type of hair products many guys have turned to over the years to achieve the over-the-top hairstyles that tend to look crunchy, flaky and gunky; not flattering. In fact, in a survey of more than 2,000 women, they reported that these grooming mishaps can be a major turnoff.

“I’ve been working with guys for more than a decade and I’ve found that many need help with their hair, since not all guys have someone like me to make them look great,” said celebrity hair stylist and grooming expert for AXE Hair, Diana Schmidtke, who styles some of Hollywood’s most notable leading men.

So, maybe us guys don’t know as much as we think we do - when it comes to hair - which is why AXE recently launched their collection of “girl-approved” hair care products to help men fix their hair errors.

I recently had a chance to try the line - it’s actually in my shower now - and loved it from the moment I opened the first bottle of AXE De-Glue Shampoo + Scrub. Not only is the packaging modern and masculine - the shampoo/conditioner bottles have hydraulic-like caps that slowly rise open when you push the button and the tubs of styling products fit perfectly into a guy’s hand making it easier to open - the formulas are perfect for achieving a more natural style. Another neat packaging feature are the styling tips on the underside of each tub lid, so guys need never worry again about making another hair snafu.

The complete AXE Hair collection includes:

Shampoos

· AXE Just Clean Shampoo provides a fresh scent and invigorating feel for a clean she’ll notice

· AXE De-Glue Shampoo + Scrub features rock crystals and removes the gunky product build-up blocking guys’ game

· AXE De-Poof Shampoo features a hydrating Kukui blend and deflates poofy hair to inflate guys’ appeal

· AXE Anti-Dandruff Shampoo + Conditioner offers zinc-based dandruff control because girls don’t dig flakes

· AXE 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner combines cleansing and conditioning to speed up guys’ clean and their game

Conditioner

· AXE Just Soft Conditioner leaves hair so soft she won’t be able to keep her hands out of it

AXE Styling Products

· AXE Messy Look Paste gives hair a messy, just-out-of-bed look she’ll want to run her hands through

· AXE Spiked-Up Look Putty gives hair hold without all the hard crunch of gel that girls hate

· AXE Clean-Cut Look Pomade gives guys a girl-approved polished look without appearing wet

· AXE Shaggy Look Cream gives longer manes an easygoing look for hair she can’t resist

AXE Hair shampoos and conditioner are available at mass retail outlets for $4.99 for a 12-oz. bottle. AXE Hair styling aids are available at mass retail outlets for $5.99 for a 2.64-oz. jar; enough for 75 uses. You can find out more on their website www.axecrisisrelief.org.

NEW CLASSICS TRADITIONAL STYLES WITH A MODERN TWIST
Classic ’dos including French twists, chignons and menswear-inspired quiffs are returning to the runway. Far from being retro, these looks are thoroughly modernized with unexpected, softly subversive touches.

TIPS:
• Revolutionize the classic French twist with height and texture worthy of Marie Antoinette, as seen at Louis Vuitton. Apply thickening lotion 06 body builder, rough dry, curl, backcomb and then pin into a messy French twist.

• Defined shapes require maximum hold. At Marc Jacobs, Guido used forceful 23 super strength finishing spray to keep his ’80s-inspired ’dos in place. Layer it on for the extreme, over-lacquered finish seen on the runway.

• The newest chignons feature a strong side part, with one side swept over the eye and the other tucked behind the ear. Mist on vinyl glam 02 mega shine spray and quick dry 18 instant finishing spray for the look seen at Miu Miu.

HEIGHT OF FASHION EXTREME LIFT AND VOLUME FOR BOLD STYLE
From modern pompadours to extreme updos, there’s nothing shy about the exaggerated fullness seen on the runways this season. Fortunately, adapting these looks for everyday is simple—just turn down the volume.

TIPS:
• Achieve the extreme height seen at Pollini with NEW rootful 06 root lifting spray. Mist on damp hair, blow-dry upward using a paddle brush, backcomb and pin into a twist.

• Full-volume updos need a strong foundation. The look created for Jean Paul Gaultier was achieved by dividing hair into two sections, top and bottom, to maximize lift. Hair was sprayed with spray starch 15 versatile ironing spray, crimped and sculpted into place.

• Want a less extreme take on this season’s high-volume looks? Mist NEW layer lift 07 length elevating spray-gel on damp hair, then air-dry or rough dry for tousled, full-bodied layers.

MASCULINE/FEMININE A CHIC PAIRING OF TOUGH AND SOFT
Think of it as dual-personality hair: Classically feminine styles toughened up with a slick finish, or a mixture of sleek and soft textures on the same head of hair.

TIPS:
• Seen at Versace, the cheeky combination of sleek up front and wild in the back was another nod to the ‘80s. Slick on hardwear 16 super strong gel from roots to above the nape of the neck, curl and backcomb the remaining hair to add fullness, then mist on quick dry 18 instant finishing spray.

• Jet-black feathers gave a tough edge to the slick ponytail seen at Lanvin. Start by applying the appropriate straightening product for your hair type—NEW sheer straight 06 lightweight straightening gel for fine hair, align 12 protective straightening lotion for medium hair or NEW power tame 16 intense straightening balm for coarse hair—blow-dry smooth and pull into a low ponytail.

• Create a high-shine knot that’s decidedly un-demure, like the one seen at Roberto Cavalli. Apply glass 01 smoothing serum, twist hair into a sleek knot at the nape of the neck, and layer on vinyl glam 02 mega shine spray for extreme gloss.

TEXTURE VARIATIONS MODERNIZE ANY STYLE WITH A FRESH FINISH
Whether hair’s natural texture was enhanced or extreme texture was created with the help of products and tools, this season’s looks featured unique finishes to complement every style.

TIPS:
• The disheveled cloud of hair seen at Prada was created by “rick-racking” the hair: Wind sections into figure-8 shapes around a hairpin, mist on fabricate 03 heat-active texturizer for heat protection and added texture, and lightly press with a flat-iron. Unwind and brush for fluffy, airy finish.

• Try a textured knot, like the one created at Calvin Klein. Apply blown away 09 protective blow-dry gel, blow-dry hair straight, then create a ponytail. Backbrush the tail to add texture and pin into a knot, leaving some strands loose. Add a black headband to emphasize the minimalist effect.

• Loose, textured waves like the ones seen at Chloé are flattering and easy to create. Apply full frame 07 protective volumizing mousse to damp hair, rough dry and curl section by section. Gently brush through and blast roots with your blow dryer for added volume and texture.

Guest beauty post from my friends at TheFind.

I put the brush to my lashes and pressed the button. Tickle-city! The weird sensation of my eyelashes buzzing made me want to blink right away, especially when trying to get those tiny lashes closer to the inside corner of my eye. One application and I barely noticed any difference in my lashes. Two applications and it was slightly more noticeable, but not the amount of coverage that I typically like. I did notice, however, that it easily separated my lashes. Three, four, five…finally my lashes were more noticeable and dark…yet very clumpy. They didn’t seem to separate as well either. And no you can’t see the mascara wand vibrating, but you sure can feel it.

I would love to hear if you had better luck. I’m willing to give Maybelline’s Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara a few more tries and if I get different results then I will update this review. So what do you think when you look at these pictures? Too clumpy? Or do they look Ok to you?

Twitter is one such social media platform that everyone is buzzing about. Twitter is a free micro-blogging service where you send out “tweets” in 140 characters or less. Everyone from celebrities to consumers to brands are “tweeting” not only about what’s on their minds, but about products and services they love. It’s become the hub for word of mouth, brand interaction and customer service.

On June 16th at 10am EST I am doing a webinar on “How to Effectively Utilize Twitter for your Spa Business” over at Spa Clique’s Spa iUniversity. In the webinar spa and salon owners will learn:

* Why use Twitter to promote your products and services.
* Who has been successful and why.
* Best practices for engaging followers.
* Why some brands fail on Twitter.

A little plug about me: Shannon Nelson has been a resource that many in the beauty industry turn to for consultation on their social media strategies. She has been a guest speaker at the HBA Expo, ICMAD’s tele-seminars and this July she will be speaking at two seminars for Cosmoprof North America.

I can be found on Twitter @agirlsgottaspa and @ShannonNelson