If you remember, in a blog post earlier this year we alluded to some exciting changes happening here at the Spa Magnolia. Now is the time we can spill the beans!

We are really (really!) excited to share with you the news that we are now carrying a groundbreaking new line of health and beauty products known as Intelligent Nutrients®. This change we are sharing with you will reach far beyond our beautiful spa, and far beyond our gorgeous city of Victoria. This shift is indicative of very positive changes occurring in product development that reflects changing consumer awareness and values.

If this announcement has you thinking, “Hmmm, a new line of products… why should I care?”  Fear not- we are more than happy to give you lots of good reasons.

Intelligent Nutrients® is not simply a new product line, but marks the arrival of a bright new era in the evolution of personal care products.  Sound like an overstatement?  We don’t think so! Without further adieu, here are some reasons we think you will side with us on this one!

“Our mission is very simple. We believe that everything that we put on our bodies should be as pure and safe as the things that we put in our bodies.” – Melissa Christenson, Biochemist and President of Intelligent Nutrients

1.)  The Intelligent Nutrients® line has been developed by Horst Rechelbacher, the same visionary of the industry that created the Aveda line. Horst M. Rechelbacher is a spa and beauty  industry icon as well as the IN test salon’s toughest critic, so you can rest assured the products have been rigorously tested to meet high performance standards!

2.) This entire line has been engineered with the philosophy that it is entirely reasonable (and come on, it is!) for consumers to expect that the products they use on their bodies, their children’s bodies and even their pets bodies be both completely safe AND effective. Health, safety AND performance. Yep, you can have it all!

(And by safe, we mean truly safe. We’re talking hairspray so safe you can drink it! Here is a video of Horst Rechelbacher drinking the I.N. hairspray in an interview (watch 1:15-3:25 if you are in a hurry!).

3.) The heart and soul of the Intelligent Nutrients line is their nutraceutical Intellimune® blend a potent antioxidant supplement. In fact, according to info on the Intelligent Nutrients® main site,” One dose of Intellimune® is like thousands (yes, thousands) of certified organic seeds chosen for their extraordinarily high payoff and blended for a synergistically higher health potential [of] antioxidants plus omega-6 and 9 benefits.”

This Intellimune® supplement is in every single Intelligent Nutrients® product for skin, hair or body. Not only does this line avoid harmful and potentially harmful substances, it removes them and then adds in ingredients that are incredibly good for you!

4.) The products are made with food grade ingredients! And not only food grade but third-party certified organic. For more information on all the high standards these products are certified to (USDA organic, Cruelty-free, etc) click here.

And when you think about it, body care products should be made of food grade ingredients. Skin is not only the body’s largest organ, but also the body’s largest surface area for absorption. Which of course means that what we put on our bodies, ends up in our bodies. Ugh, lead-filled lipstick, anyone?

5.)    The Magnolia will be not only the first spa in Victoria to carry this very unique line, but the first spa in all of Canada. The first shipment of products have recently arrived and are currently available on our shelves!

6.)    Intelligent Nutrients® is designed as a lifestyle brand.  This means their scope of products will encompass not only skin, hair and body beauty products but also products like bug repellent, baby and maternal care products, and pet care products.

Overall, we think this is a very positive development for both the Spa Magnolia and you! Any thoughts on this blog post? Let us know!

Exfoliate and moisturize

Dry, lacklustre skin is often a product of the cold, dark, windy days of winter months. A solution? Gentle exfoliation to remove old, dead, dry skin cells and allow the fresh skin that is revealed to better absorb the rich moisture it especially needs this time of year. For your face, an exfoliator that uses Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA’s) is recommended by spa therapists to gently remove dead cells without being overly abrasive to this delicate area of skin. (*For more information on the concentration of AHA’s and specific products most effective for your specific skin type, please feel free to pop in and speak with our highly trained and knowledgeable therapists or send us your questions!)

To address the rest of your body, a salt scrub is an incredible way to exfoliate and invigorate your whole body. A full-body scrub will also removes tired skin cells, plus the gentle scrubbing motion enhances circulation to the treated tissue thus bringing in a fresh supply of nutrients. Scrub treatments also include an application of a moisturizer to hydrate your refreshed skin!

Hot bath and massage

Now for those tired, stiff muscles! What better way to stop “wearing your shoulders as earrings” than a soak in a hot bath to loosen you up and wash away your concerns (the hydrotherapy tub here at the Spa Magnolia has 144 jets of pure, tension-taming bliss) and then a massage to complete the relaxation process. If your muscles are so tight and tense that you get tension headaches or pain, you can book in with a qualified Registered Massage Therapist to have them address the source. Receipts for your extended health care coverage are available for treatments booked with an RMT.

Another delightful option for winter? Hot stone massages! There is nothing quite like allowing your muscles to melt into a plush table while having your troubles soothed away with smooth, hot stones.

Waxing

The winter is also a great time to started with waxing because it allows you to grow out the hair to be waxed in the privacy that winter clothing affords! Not sure how long your hair needs to be for waxing? A good guideline: the hair to be waxed should be approximately as long as your brow hair for optimal waxing effectiveness.

Winter Special

For the months of January and February, we are offering our Spa Magnolia Signature Treatment at the special price of $150 (normally $175). This treatment begins with our invigorating salt scrub and hydrotherapy tub session then enjoy a 30 minute facial and 30 minute massage to complete your care from head to toe! This is a wonderful way to experience several fabulous treatments in one session at a great price.

What is your favorite winter beauty treatment? We’d love to hear from you!

Hello and welcome to the newly revitalized Spa Magnolia blog. We’re excited for the chance to share all sorts of interesting and helpful spa-related information with you. Here’s a taste of what you can expect: a variety of useful tips for spa aficionados, interesting news and information about our spa and the industry itself, profiles and interviews with the lovely people of the Spa Magnolia, and more!

February is a beautiful time of year in Victoria. The winter months offer rich opportunities for personal reflection: shorter days, clear frosty mornings and warm kitchens. Like seeds nestled cozy in the earth, quietly and subtly preparing to unfurl into spring flowers, we can use the quiet times of winter to go inside ourselves, reflect, and grow.

On that note, the Spa Magnolia is growing in some exciting directions in the coming year. We look forward to revealing these new offerings to you as they unfold. Like the tiny seeds nestled in the earth, there’s not a lot visible on the surface, but behind the scenes all sorts of important developments are underway.

Check this blog for more info. We’ll keep you posted on the changes as they come to fruition!

We’d love to hear from you. Any questions, comments or suggestions for topics you’d like to see covered? We welcome your comments on any of our blog posts (our user guidelines are posted here).

Of course, profanity, racial and ethnic slurs, and rude behaviour such as disparaging personal remarks won’t be tolerated.

One final disclaimer- this is not the forum to address personal customer service issues. If you do have any individual concerns, we are eager to resolve them! Please call us at (250) 920-7721.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Do you have any questions? Did we leave anything out?

Here at The Spa Magnolia, we merge timeless natural lore in a contemporary welcoming setting, providing only the best service with highly trained professionals ready to serve your needs. We know that nearly every plant-based healing tradition –-Chinese, Native American, Ayurdevic—is based on the intrinsic balance of the five natural elements: infinity, air, fire, water, and earth.

When brought out of the balance—by toxins due to stress, diet, or environmental elements—skin can appear and become unhealthy. In balance, however, skin reflects health and vitality resulting, happily and inevitably, in a healthier and more vibrant you. At The Spa Magnolia, our approach is in healing the skin from the inside out

The health benefits of spa massage are at once immediate and long-lasting, multiple and simultaneous. A massage calms the nervous system, promoting a sense of relaxation and well-being; improves blood circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the cells; stimulates the lymphatic system and detoxifies our bodies; and prevents and relieves muscle cramps, spasms, and chronic pain. It can even lead to better sleep patterns and less sick days. The sense of touch is truly powerful: it has been proven time and time again to be therapeutic in its invigorating, relaxing, restorative properties, reducing stress and promoting overall wellbeing.

At The Spa Magnolia, located in Victoria, B.C., you can enjoy a unique sensuous journey around the world with our Asomasoul Massages. Four very different experiences with new techniques: Oriental, Indian, Arabian, and Mediterranean.

~ Oriental – The primary functions of this massage treatment are to drain the meridians (energy channels), thereby accelerating blood flow; regulate organs; unblock tendons; and to promote natural repositioning of the bones.

~ Indian – The first part of this treatment obtains a balance of the whole system and a normal flow of prana in the meridians. The second part consists of a relaxation phase stimulating 33 marma points to perfectly complete the focus on stimulation and rebalance.

~ Arabian – Warmth and movement harmonize in an exquisite massage that ignites the body’s natural energy and restores vitality. The Arabian treatment takes us back to our more fundamental human roots: deep, strong, and energized.

~ Mediterranean – A reflection of the Mediterranean cultures, enhanced with the essence of the ocean: fluidity, restoration, and relaxation. The fluid movement encourages a profound sense of enhanced well-being.

For the best spa treatments in Victoria, BC, look no further. At The Spa Magnolia, we combine the power of touch with the greatest healing resources that nature has to offer, to create a memorable and beneficial experience that will leave you absolutely refreshed, rejuvenated, and rejoicing.

We look forward to greeting you here soon!