Archive for May, 2011



Spa Development Is Alive and Well!

Published on May 9, 2011

2011 is off to a roaring start! Universal Companies’ Spa Development Division has been working on several new openings in the US and abroad. Our projects have sent my team and I all over the globe to help with brand development, service development, and technical specifications, working with consultants, architects, designers, and engineers to make sure […]


A European Mother’s Advice on Self-Care

Published on May 7, 2011

In the US, there’s an inherent fascination with European women. How can they be so thin despite eating so much cheese? How can they be so healthy despite drinking wine, often at lunch? How do they achieve their quintessential elegant look? How come they seem to age more gracefully? Perhaps these are questions that you’ve […]


Beauty Wisdom From Grandmothers and Estheticians

Published on May 5, 2011

I recall the beauty advice my grandmother gave me almost twenty-five years ago: 1. Stay out of the sun—carry an umbrella if you must. 2. Only wear mascara on your upper lashes and don’t use eyeliner. 3. Don’t smoke (even though, ironically, she once modeled for Chesterfield cigarettes).  At the time, I thought I knew […]


Why Music Is Vital to the Spa Experience

Published on May 2, 2011

Music is integral to the spa experience—it’s what differentiates spas from beauty institutes or gym clubs. At a spa, your clients expect an effective therapeutic treatment and a certain je ne sais quoi. Like aromatherapy, music directly addresses emotions and influences our mood in two ways: through memory association and through vibrations on the body. […]