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Everyone knows by now that juicing is all the rage – and why shouldn’t it be? It has been a proven way to intake your recommended daily nutrition in an efficient and delicious way. There are many juice brands on offer in the marketplace, but not all are created equal. Some varieties are as bad for you as blending-up a candy bar and consuming it for breakfast. Added sugar and preservatives is never good. What you want in a good juice brand is the pure, unadulterated juice with no added sugar, no preservatives and, ideally, drinking it raw, within 30 minutes of juicing. One of my favorite new brands is Rawpothecary. Rawpothecary is fresh-pressed juice created by art-dealer Stephanie Walczak. Stephanie always had a love for nutrition, so she created a company that would offer innovative juice blends like “kalefornia”, “sweet and spicy greens”, “lemon oasis” and “dandi detox”. There’s more in Stephanie’s juices than juice. She also combines extracts from dandelion, coffee, licorice and even maple syrup for a complete meal replacement at times. Rawpothecary is delicious and heavy in health bolstering ingredients. You can purchase it through their online store and even through large retailers like Whole Foods Market.

What does Beverly Hills, California and the pastures of New Zealand’s countryside have in common? Here’s a hint, it’s not The Lord of the Rings . The answer, is sheep placenta – and Beverly Hills (and the rest of L.A.) has a minor obsession with the stem cells derived from it. Robin Gray, the founder of Stem Cell Beauty Innovations, is pioneering the skin care market by offering a small selection of exclusive products that are made-up of natural ingredients like hyaluronic acid, chamomile, kiwifruit and a concentrated form of sheep (ovine) placenta stem cells – which she has called “O-Placenta”. Now, before you turn your nose up at the idea, you must understand that the stem cells found in the sack that sustains life inside a mother sheep during her gestation period are incredibly valuable. They have the ability to hydrate, nourish and protect your skin in a way other ingredients do not. Also, through independent studies, the stem cells have been shown to aid in the reproduction of collagen and elastin in the skin. It should be known that Ms. Gray is only interested in offering her customer the best. She only uses ultra-pure, natural ingredients and sees to it that the sourcing of her sheep placenta stem cells is done through the post-birthing process of the animal. No harvesting. No killing. Cruelty free. And, to boot, New Zealand has some of the strictest animal welfare and product labeling laws – so the intention and backing are in line. The products are produced fully in New Zealand. Of the handful of offerings in her line, I have been using the Gold Serum which is a light, non-greasy formula that smooths on the skin easily. The only ingredients found in the serum are: ovine placenta extract, hyaluronic acid, chamomile extract, grape seed extract and gold. After using the product for just two days I could see a difference in my skin. It was deeply hydrated, like someone was constantly pumping it with water. It also glowed, in part because of the gold, but, also, because the quality had simply improved. I was genuinely shocked. I’ve been using the moisturizer during the daytime and evening as well, which also adds an added layer of hydration through aloe vera and lavender. Really, to say the least, I am thoroughly impressed. Not only has my skin changed but I feel good about recommending a product that has both nature and science behind it. I also trust Ms. Gray’s commitment to the animals. Forget about dog being man’s best friend, I’d argue sheep any day of the week.

The spa at the Fairlawns Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg is a little slice of heaven in Sandton, a suburb of the city. Tucked away into the beautiful gardens on the hotel’s property, the spa springs up out of rose bushes, bamboo trees and bubbling fountains. Upon entering, you immediately take a breath of fresh air – naturally releasing any anxiety or worry you might have had. The lobby is reminiscent of a zen, Buddhist temple with statues, modern design elements and nature incorporated into every corner of the space. They even have a Balinese villa, separate from the main space, for couples to enjoy a private escape or spa day. Manicures and pedicures, massages, facials and body treatments are all on offer. Each therapist customizes the treatment to the guest’s preferences and they are all friendly and ready to make your visit enjoyable. If you’re looking for a place to spend the afternoon relaxing, whether you’re staying at the hotel or not, this spa will take you away and into a place of total comfort.

High tea at The Cape Grace Hotel infuses you with the spirit of England but, in a uniquely South African way. Deep inside the uber-luxurious and well-appointed hotel right on Cape Town’s beautiful waterfront, lies a cozy room where patrons can enjoy views of the marina while experiencing the signature afternoon tea. Delicate blends of rooibos, green, black and oolong varieties are available at the guests’ preference. Once you make your tea selection, tiers of picture-perfect finger sandwiches, homemade scones, pastries and bonbons are brought to the table. While chatting about the day’s activities or that evening’s plans, The Cape Grace has created the perfect environment and experience to relax and enjoy an afternoon of pure bliss. Be sure to sip slowly, you’ll want it to last forever.

Paris has never been short of incredible food. And, whenever I’m there, the difficulty always comes with deciding where to eat. Often, on a planned holiday, I’m running from patisserie to patisserie shoveling mounds of eclair and tarte aux pommes into my mouth like I’m in some crazed competition to find the crispiest, the stickiest and most decadent pastries in town. But, even through my foodie benders, I manage to make it over to the one michelin-starred La Cuisine restaurant inside Le Royal Monceau Hotel. The hotel, designed by Philippe Starck, has great atmosphere and the modern French menu is superb. And, lastly, you cannot leave without trying at least one of the beautiful creations by famed pastry chef Pierre Hermé.

There is no better spa in the world than the unparalleled Thermes Marins Spa in Monte-Carlo. A complex dedicated to beauty and wellness, the spa sits directly on the Mediterranean Sea overlooking the Monte-Carlo Yacht Club. It houses floor after floor of, shall we say, small bits of heaven wrapped in a stunning and newly renovated glass exterior? There is the hair salon, the exercise facilities, the steam baths, saunas, indoor pool, outdoor pool, treatment rooms, laser and cellulite-reduction rooms, boutique and fabulous restaurant, L’Hirondelle. This is a place you come not for a day, but for a week to unwind and rejuvenate every part of yourself. If ever there was a place where one could simply unravel and hunker-down into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to be your personal best, it’s the Thermes Marins. After having the most delicious lunch of Mediterranean cuisine on the terrace of L’Hirondelle, it’s essential to plan and plot your day to unfold in a way that keeps your beauty flow going and maximizes your time in the space. Start with an anti-cellulite salt bath which lasts for 30 minutes and uses ultrasonic frequency and strong water pressure in targeted areas of your body to help stimulate your lymphatic system. You can move-on to a salt scrub and body masque made from coffee and chocolate, the caffeine in both with help your skin detox and tighten – adding the perfect glow. You can follow all of this with a 90-minute massage to knead-out all of your kinks and help heal your soar muscles. After your body has been brought back to life, move-on to the beauty salon for the perfect cut and color – male or female – where you can work with the well-trained stylists on something that will help you make a grand entrance at the party you have later that evening. Simply put, you cannot get better than this spa. That task is nearly impossible in the region, and nearly impossible on the entire Mediterranean seaboard.

Some spas are good and some are great, but the latter isn’t often found – except at the spa at the River’s Edge Hotel in Portland. Deep inside this conveniently secluded hotel on Portland’s Willamette River, the spa is a haven for luxury and truly thoughtful and effective treatments. This spa is housed in a large space which offers beautiful amenities for its guests. Men and women will find large shower rooms with steam, sauna, jacuzzi and other offerings which make spending a day here easy. A room dedicated to pedicures and treatment rooms all fall within a maze of peace and tranquility. Full days, half days or individual treatments to help your body rest and rejuvenate after a long trip to the city are all on offer. Their extensive treatment menu includes massages, body scrubs, Vischy showers, manicures and pedicures, facials and varying “enhancements” to make your experience better. I started with a foot ritual which included a heavenly leg and foot scrub in a warm bath. I was then led to a treatment room where I had a 40-minute body scrub with sugar and botanical oils – incredible. The scrub was followed by a 90-minute massage, one of the best I’ve had in a very long time, conducted by spa favorite, Benjamin. For an hour-and-a-half, he worked-out every last knot in my body using innovative techniques. I was massaged with warm cacao butter which left my skin soft and smelling like chocolate. The entire three-hour experience was mood altering and left me in a state of bliss for quite some time. My only regret is not booking an entire day (or week). I guess that’s reason enough to return for a second time. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Skinceuticals, the science-based skincare brand behind many of the top-performing vitamin c products on the market, offers an effective grouping of age-reversing serums and creams that make the perfect cocktail for looking your best this summer. These products, when used together, ensure true change in your skin’s appearance and health. The first product, the “Skinceuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector”, targets sun spots and discoloration that can come with sun damage and age. The product penetrates those areas and lightens them, creating an even appearance and skin tone. Your coloring will appear more youthful and bright. Hyperpigmentation will be a thing of past after just a few weeks of use. The second product, the “Skinceuticals Neck, Chest and Hand Repair”, remembers the often-forgotten areas of the body that show age just as quickly as your face. Your face can be well-kept but your neck and hands will give away your age in a heartbeat. Don’t make the mistake. This product brightens and plumps the hard-to-treat areas and helps even the skin’s tone. The final product, the “Skinceuticals C + AHA”, is a combination of a potent 15% vitamin c as well as alpha-hydroxy acids to aid in your skin’s exfoliation. The vitamin c provides a strong antioxidant that penetrates deeply, repairing sun damage and protecting skin cells from further assaults from the environment. The AHA helps in the natural process of sloughing off dead skin, allowing your new skin to shine through. I trust Skinceuticals because their products have been well-researched and vetted. There’s no smoke in mirrors here. This triple-threat will be your saving grace well after the summer season.

Harry’s is one of my favorite new shaving brands as they take the middle man out of the process and deliver a high quality product at a lower price directly to their consumers. Their straight-forward and simple shaving kits, like “The Winston” and “The Truman” offer gentlemen an intentionally limited option when choosing their preferred shave routine. Each kit comes equipped with handmade razor handles, razor blades, shave gel and moisturizer. I recently received “The Winston” which included many new blades and a beautiful steel handle made by Harry’s partner craftsmen. The price of the entire kit, which also includes a bottle of shave gel, is only $25. It will last you a long time. I tried it out while traveling, using the straight razor to shave my chest and, ahem, nether regions. What I found was a superior product that left my skin soft and preserved, not bumpy and red. I recommend Harry’s as the perfect “on-the-go” or at-home shaving kit for any man who is serious about the maintenance of his body hair.

Clarisonic . What don’t they think of? The well-respected company known for churning-out innovative beauty and grooming tools, outfitted with the latest technology, has moved their attention away from the face to focus on an often-neglected area of the body, the feet. Now, we can all go and sit for a lovely pedicure from time to time, spending the 90-minute duration waiting in line and hoping that the basin in which our feet soak has been washed thoroughly enough to kill the bacteria which has made a home of it. But what about the time between these spa and salon visits? Turn to the Clarisonic PEDI. The PEDI, as its called, comes well-equipped. A larger body has been introduced for the tool, along with a fast running motor which powers the smoothing disc. The disc buffs away dead skin, callases and edges around your nail beds. After using the buffing disk, snap on the other brush head which is a wet/dry buffing device. This switch will allow you to benefit from short rigid filaments and longer, flexible filaments that effectively exfoliate and buff scaly feet. Between uses, Clarisonic has included three products: Pedi Balm, Pedi Buff and Pedi Boost – all with specific focuses – exfoliation, cleaning and moisturizing – added benefits. Overall the experience with the Clarisonic PEDI is very worthwhile. In less that 15 minutes, your feet can be sandal-ready – especially for the beach vacation you’ve been planning. Why not travel with it to keep your feet in fighting form, always? This is one grooming tool any man should purchase – it’s absolutely worth the $200 investment.

Sanre Organic Skinfood , a small Florida-based skincare company, is churning-out some of the best organic skincare currently on the market. Of all the skincare products to choose from, moisturizers can be the trickiest. Does it truly moisturize? Will it be right for my combination skin? Does it have enough SPF to protect me from damaging sun rays? Luckily, Sanre has put a great deal of thought into their offerings, retailers like Whole Foods Market agrees and stocks them nationwide. Our favorite product from their line is the Sparkling Aloe Moisturizer with SPF 30. The perfect combination of moisture and sunscreen, this soft cream combines pure hazelnut oil, jojoba, safflower, aloe, beeswax, lavender, lemon and zinc oxide to create a skin-saving application for combination skin. The SPF 30 protects the epidermis while aloe and cypress heal and disinfect. I usually combine this product with a liquid bronzer, my favorite being from Dr. Hauschka, to concoct a creamy and glowing tan complexion. Without a doubt, this is one of the best moisturizers you’ll try this season, and you’ll use it all year long.

For years I’ve brushed with a standard electric toothbrush, happy with the results of my ever-so-clean mouth and the life of the product, which seemed to be forever. I didn’t give much thought to it, as it integrated itself into my morning and evening grooming ritual seamlessly. But, recently, I discovered something new and interesting – like an alien from outer space, Sweden actually, which landed next to my bathroom sink. The Foreo ISSA . My ISSA is one of four colors, Cool Black, offered through the company who took it upon themselves to redesign the electric toothbrush – a feat not attempted in 60 years. What is so revolutionary about this toothbrush is the fact that it is made of silicone, including the bristles. The silicone not only effectively cleans teeth, but also massages the gums – an important part of oxygenating the mouth and teeth. It also aids in safely removing plaque in a way that is not aggressive. The sleek, ergonomic and truly beautiful design is easy to hold and adjusts to your mouth perfectly. I was shocked at how the silicone and design helped in keeping the brush clean. There is no need to unscrew and clean the brush head or body of the device – extracting disgusting build-up common with typical electric toothbrushes on the market. And, the ISSA’s brush head lasts an entire year without needing to be replaced. I take the toothbrush with me around the world while traveling as it’s incredibly light and has no charging dock. The small device is charged through a short USB cable and, once charged, lasts up to 365 uses. I charged the device a month ago and never since – which is truly amazing.