Raspberry Moon Skin Therapy

A Sassy, Saucy Skincare & Waxing Studio in Greenville, SC

864.271.2710

1211D Laurens Road Greenville, SC 29607

Health

Korean Spa Day in Atlanta

I have been wanting to go to the Korean Spa FOREVER! I finally got to go for my 43rd Birthday! Yes I know that was at the beginning of the year and I went in September but hey that’s just what happens. I went with one of my dear friends who is always up for an adventure.

The JeJu Sauna

JeJu Spa is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You pay a $25 entrance fee, are given Korean PJ’s (basically a tshirt and shorts) and you can use the 9 different treatment saunas, the pool and the saunas and hot tubs in the locker rooms all for the entrance fee!

Inside the Korean Spa
Inside the Korean Spa

The spa is super clean and well designed. You have 9 different sauna rooms to choose from in the co-ed section (everyone is wearing their Korean PJ’s). So the hardest thing for most Americans to get past is that there are no chairs, benches or lounge chairs; you are simply sitting on the floor. They have mats and these block things for head rests. I don’t mind sitting on the floor or you can just lay down in savasana.

I love to have services done so I had a Full Body Shampoo – oh if I could have taken pictures! That was hilarious. This service takes place in the ladies locker room. Women work on women and in the Men’s locker room there are only male attendants. In the locker room everyone is pretty much in their birthday suit. You need to shower (you have 2 options: traditional standup Western shower or Asian style sitting down). And you have to soak in the Hot, Warm, or Cold tubs before your service.

My Korean PJ's!
My Korean PJ’s!

Then you enter the “zone”! There are 6 or 8 tables and those ladies worked nonstop while we were there. They for sure work you from head to toe and trust me they “miss” nothing! I thought I was going to slide right off the table several times. I kept giggling. My lady was super nice. So basically you get soaped up, exfoliated (the amount of dead skin that came off my body was just gross!), rinsed, oiled, massaged and then I got a facial treatment mask and then she did a head shampoo and massage.

I think the whole service was close to 2 hours. I felt like a marshmallow afterwards.

A one hour Chinese Foot Massage was also on the agenda! I love having my feet worked on. I stand all day long, dance in heels, walk barefoot a lot, and just walk really heavy. So I never pass up an opportunity for a foot massage. This is in the coed section so everyone has their PJs on in this room! If you have never had a Chinese Foot Massage done before, it is basically a 20 minute soak and then they work on your feet for 20 minutes on each side. It also includes massage up to your groin basically (you have clothes on so don’t freak out) and then shoulder and scalp, sometimes upper back. It is heavenly.

One of the things I have been wanting to try is an Herbal Steam Bath for your lady bits! This is supposedly great for the health of your vajayjay area. They use 19 different herbs and spices.

The herbs for vajayjay steaming
The herbs for vajayjay steaming

Basically you sit on a wooden chair with a large cut out. There is a warmer under the chair where the technician places the bowl with hot water.  There is also the magical ingredient – Salt.

Vajayjay steaming at the Korean Spa
Vajayjay steaming at the Korean Spa

According to the ladies that were sitting beside me, this is what helps shrink your “bits” up a little! They were big believers. You are wearing this pink shower curtain-like cloak to keep the steam in and man does it get steamy in there! The aromas coming from the herbs and spices are heavenly. You are steaming for about 30 minutes I think, watching some kind of ridiculous show on TV. I would have rather had a quiet place to have this service done to just relax and enjoy the aromas.

There were also massage treatments, but that creeped me out a little because those are in the co-ed room and you are pretty much back in your birthday suit and nothing to really cover up with. Not really my cup of tea (and I also thought it was the more expensive of the services).

Loved the look of the food area, again this is Asian style so you are sitting on the floor with your low table. They had some yummy Korean food–we had some kind of hot soup that really hit the spot, some ginger tea, and a fruit plate that was super yummy. All very affordable and healthy. They also had smoothies and juices. The kitchen is not open 24/7 but it is open most of the time. I think maybe closed from 2am until 6/7am.

JeJu Spa is totally worth the trip to Atlanta! Feel free to spend the night there or Uber it from a near by hotel. Better than having to drive because you will really just be out of it after your services. It is a super busy place so if you can go during the week it is better than on the weekend or during holidays.

We also went to a great place right down the road for Korean BBQ, buffet style. That blog post is coming soon!

Want to try it out for yourself?

JeJu Sauna – http://jejusauna.com/
3555 Gwinnett Place Drive
Duluth, GA 30096
678-336-7414

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I did not receive any compensation or free services for this review. I wanted to check out a Korean Spa and so I did! All opinions are my own.

The Power & History of Eucalyptus!

I was reading an article in September 2016 DaySpa issue called “Eucalyptus, Lift Us!” There were all sorts of interesting bits of info that I thought I would share with you!

  • The 1st botanical record of eucalyptus was recorded in the 1770s off the coast of Tasmania.eucalyptus
  • There are 750 different species and 25 of them are used for medicinal purposes.
  • The Aboriginals used the gum like sap to make their spears and fishing sticks and to treat wounds and burns.
  • The Australians introduced eucalyptus to California during the Gold Rush in 1850 and is an invasive species overtaking native plants.
  • Well cultivated trees can yield 100lbs or leaves per year and 1 acre can produce 35,000lbs of leaf material which yields 800lbs of eucalyptus oil!
  • It was widely used during infection outbreaks.
  • In the 1880s scientist planted groves of eucalyptus trees in the marshlands to stop the spread of malaria, the groves later turned the marshlands to dry land and took away the mosquito’s habitat.
  • In 1865 Dr Joseph Lister (yep the man that started Listerine) had the brilliant idea to use eucalyptus oil vapor to disinfect surgical rooms which drastically decreased the number of people dying from infection.
  • WWI used it to control the spread of meningitis and the influenza outbreak of 1919.
  • WWII French surgeon Jean Valnet used eucalyptus oil spray to reduce staph infection by 70%!
  • The National Center for Biotechnology Information says the waste after distillation of the oil is very effective at warding off mosquitoes.
  • India Pharmacopoeia has deemed it a mild expectorant and counter irritant.
  • Chinese Pharmacopoeia has said that it can help soothe nerve pain.
  • Ayurveda recommends its use for headaches and colds.
  • Germany recommends a eucalyptus tea to help sooth bronchitis and throat inflammation.

You have to be careful with the use of this oil or dried leaves as too much can cause drowsiness, severe diarrhea, hypertension, compromised kidney function, coma or even death. This oil should be used very carefully with children, seniors or people with a compromised immune system.

Here is a quick article on ways you can use Eucalyptus.

This is merely an information piece meant to share the info I learned that I found interesting. So remember to consult your Doctor; this use of this oil can hurt you; and all that other legal crap that no one reads and really you should just use some common sense but either way consider yourself warned and you are on your own.

 

How to use Eucalyptus

Here are some easy ways to use Eucalyptus:

  • Hang some branches in your shower or steam room (I really want to do this in the shower! I think it will smell heavenly and what a great way to make up in the morning!)
  • Add some leaves to a bath soakEnjoy a refreshing bath soak
  • Use leaves in bowls of hot water to release the fragrance
  • Use Essential Oils in your diffuser
  • Use in a Massage Oil/Cream or in Sugar/Salt Scrubs for sore muscles, sprains, tension, poor circulation, relieve decongestion

This is merely an information piece meant to share the info I learned that I found interesting. So remember to consult your Doctor; this use of this oil can hurt you; and all that other legal crap that no one reads and really you should just use some common sense but either way consider yourself warned and you are on your own.

Honey in Your at Home Facial Routine

Add a little Sweetness to your at Home Facial Treatment by using honey.

Benefits of Honey:

  • A clean face is important first stepIt is a humectant, which means it will attract and keep moisture inside your skin
  • It has anti-oxidant properties which play an important role in protecting your skin against damage from UV (ultra violet) sun light
  • It is effective in treating wounds – it accelerates healing, reduces redness and inflammation and can help to treat bacterial infections
  • It may also be effective in helping with eye infections/conjunctivitis – reducing discharge and swelling and helps speed up the healing process
  • It is a great alternative for healing minor burns

Facial Mask Recipes By Skin Type:

For Sensitive Skin

  • 1 tsp Aloe
  • 2 tsp Honey

For Dry SkinAdd honey to your skincare routine

  • 2 tsp Honey
  • 2 tsp Yogurt
  • 2 tsp Avocado

Skin Brightener and Hydrator

  • 1 Tbsp of Chickpea Flour
  • 1 tsp of Tumeric
  • 2 Tbsp of Milk or Yogurt (optional) (if using powdered milk use about 1 tsp, add enough water or rosewater to make a lovely paste)
  • 1-2 tsp Honey

Directions

Simply blend all ingredients well by hand or you can even use a small food processor. If they are the consistence of yogurt they will spread well.

Apply with a facial brush or your fingers.

Relax for 15 minutes.

Rinse and apply your serums and creams.

Enjoy your beautiful skin!

 

10 Steps to Performing the Best at Home Facial Treatment

Want to give yourself a nice glow? Here are the equipment and steps you need to do a fabulous at home facial treatment.

Items you will need:

  • Skincare Items – Cleanser, Toner, Exfoliator, Serum, Eye Cream, MoisturizerTowels
  • Mask that best suits your skincare type
  • 1  Headband or clip
  • 2 Hand Towels
  • 1 Sonic Brush/Manual Facial Brush
  • 2-3 Cotton Rounds
  • 1 Wash Cloth, Facial Sponge, Face Puff (not the scratchy kind)
  • 3-4 Small bowls
  • 1 Fan Brush
  • 2-4 River Rocks
  • Herbal Tea or maybe a glass of wine

The steps for a fabulous at home facial:

  • Soak your towels in warm water (you can add 1 drop of Lavender Essential Oil to the water if you like), wring out and place in the microwave to heat up, about 3 mins. Place in a closed container to keep hot.Use Saucy Chica Skincare for a fabulous at home facial
  • Place your river rocks in a bowl and add a few ice cubes, some cold water and set to the side for later.
  • Put on your headband or hair clip then cleanse your skin from the neck to the forehead – work your cleanser in a circular motion.
  • If you have a facial brush or sonic brush use this now – you may need to add more cleanser or some water.
  • Use an exfoliator to slough off dead skin cells OR if you have sensitive skin you can use honey.
  • If adding honey, simply add a little honey to a glass bowl and melt the honey just a little so it spreads easier. Also, it’s best to use a facial brush (art brush) to paint on the honey and later your facial mask.
  • If your skin is sensitive you will want to make sure your towels are cool otherwise you can add steam towels. Just leave them on for a few mins, breath and relax. As you take the towels off, simply wipe off your exfoliator OR remove with your sponges.
  • Choose your face mask; mix and apply with a facial brush or your fingers and rest for about 15 mins.

OPTION – If you want an added bonus, you can use the ice cold stones to massage around the eyes. Add your eye cream and use the stones to massage the cream into the skin; APPLY YOUR FACE MASK; then dip 2 cotton eye pads soaked in the ice water, wring them out and place on your eyes to help with dark circles and make your eyes feel lighter. Add a river stone to each eye.

  • Remove the mask with your sponges.
  • Swipe/Spray with your Toner.
  • Apply your eye cream, serum(s) and moisturizer – be sure to work all items in upward sweeping motions and circular, adding some tapping movements is a plus as well.

Seem like too much work? – Just call me at 864.271.2710 or contact me to schedule your Facial Experience today!

Ear Cleaning at the Dinner Table in China

This fall I had an amazing opportunity to go to China, Tibet and India for 6 weeks. I am going to finally be writing a few posts on my experiences! The first full evening in China we went to Sichuan Opera and Dinner. This was interesting enough all on it’s own let alone when you add ear cleaning at the dinner table to your experience!

 

First REAL Sichuan Food Experience

I love food and we had a smorgasbord of items to chose from. My friend Rachel (so helpful to have a friend of a friend in China! Made our trip so much easier!) wanted to be sure that we got to try a lot of different items.  According to her, any left overs can be taken with you or go to feed the pigs so nothing is wasted. That being said, if they feel you are ordering to much food they will tell you no and won’t let you order anything else!

 

So at first I said there is no way I am having my ears cleaned at the dinner table. My Mother would be horrified! BUT, I am in China and I do wanted to experience the culture so said “What the heck!!”  We called the guy over and he got to work.

Ear Cleaning Tools

He used several different instruments and had a rhythm to his procedure. It felt super strange – at times it tickled and other times it was kind of uncomfortable. He would twirl the metal pieces with like a little piece of fluff on the end around gently in your ear and then flick the wax on the floor! It’s China so everything gets flicked, spat or shoved on the ground.

One of the neatest elements though was when he had this metal prong like object that he placed near your ear and then tapped it so it gave off a vibration. I have had my ears candled before but I have never had my ears cleaned like this or at dinner but it was totally worth it.

 

I love having massage done. The head, shoulder and arm massage he did was greatly appreciated and much needed after such a long flight.

Head Massage – Aaaahhhh No More Headache!

He had large, strong hands so my headache was pretty much gone when he was done. I only wish I could have gotten a full body massage for like 2 hours!

 

So if you ever go to China be sure to experience ear cleaning at the dinner table!