Thursday, April 5th, 2012
My Favorite Place to Spa: Burke Williams
I’m not a person who relaxes easily or often. I have to schedule relaxation, and for me, it’s even better when I’m able to kill two birds with one stone by getting a massage. It’s a set time, both when and for how long, where I have no choice but to lay there, breathe deep and slow, and enjoy.
A year or so after I had moved back to the Bay Area after having attended college in southern California, I started looking for a good place to get a massage. Naturally, I used Yelp! to kick off the search. The first place I tried was Burke Williams (San Jose location, on Santana Row), and I had a Relaxation massage. It was amazing. The facilities are immaculate–clean, relaxing, well-done–and the therapist was equally good. That was some three or four years ago. Burke Williams is, unsurprisingly, one of the more expensive places to get a massage in the area, so I wasn’t willing to commit quite yet. I worked my way through five or six additional facilities, but no experience came close to how I felt about Burke Williams–so the next time I needed a massage, I went back to Burke Williams to see if it was as good as I remembered. It was.
What sets Burke Williams apart, for me, is the facilities. It is a full spa; it’s not a small facility where there are one or two massage rooms where you go in, strip down, and lay down–and then you pop back into daylight right away. Burke Williams has a general lounge, but then they have separate facilities for men and women that include jacuzzi, steam room, dry sauna, cool misting room, showers, locker rooms, and quiet rooms. In the women’s locker room, they have several stations for you to doll yourself back up–blow dryers, brushes, and the like. All of these amenities are for you to use before or after your service. Ultimately, these are the extras that bump up the price tag, and if you use them, you’ll get your money’s worth.
But… become a member, and the prices per service are very comparable to the rest of the Bay Area and you get the truly luxurious experience of a fully-equipped spa. This is what I ended up doing, and I spent nearly two years as a member of Burke Williams. Membership is $79 or $109 per month (the latter allows you to access the spa whenever you want, so not just before/after a service). When I signed up, you needed to commit for a year. The monthly fee is actually applied to your first service of either a massage or facial, and you’re allowed to rollover the payment once, so I usually went every month and a half to two months. As a member, you also get member pricing on any additional services (about 20-30% off), except waxing. If you’re not ready to become a member–like my fiance, who very much enjoys a massage but refused to become a member–Burke Williams typically has a coupon for one of their services every other month or so that brings the price near member price.
I didn’t use all their services, but these were the ones I have indulged in: Pure Relaxation Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Spa Style Facial, and Spa Pedi. I’ve also used massage enhancements in aromatherapy, hot stones, and detox. I will say that detox made me feel like I was being prepared for a Thanksgiving feast when they rubbed in the Himalayan salt, so that was not my favorite! Aromatherapy and the hot stones are both nice enhancements, but I don’t feel any less/more relaxed, so they usually weren’t something extra I’d spring for unless it was a member special.
I’m a deep tissue massage kind of gal. That’s my thing. When I first started going, I was all about the Pure Relaxation, because I love the long, fluid, relaxing strokes, but ultimately, I have far too many knots in my neck and shoulders. The lovely therapists are Burke Williams are very educated and knowledgeable, and what I liked was everyone had their own style. I went through many, many therapists before finding the one I really clicked with, but I never had a bad massage there–each one was good or great. Many therapists will help show and explain to you the different modalities so you can determine what makes sense for you.
As a now veteran spa-goer when it comes to massage, let me give you one piece advice: NEVER be afraid to tell your therapist that the pressure is too much or too little. The massage is for you, and frankly, you are likely paying a fair amount, so you should get an enjoyable experience out of it! We all have our own tolerance, and some of us want to be right up against that line of good pain and relaxation while others want just to relax. Communicate with your therapist–and I swear, every therapist has always appreciated me being more vocal about what is good/bad pressure.
If you’re able to visit the Burke Williams Spa in San Jose (they have locations all over California), I highly, highly recommend Nova as a massage therapist. She is absolutely amazing. As I mentioned earlier, it took me awhile to find the right person, but Nova is excellent. She’s knowledgeable, educated, and she is all about communication. If you like deep tissue massages, make an appointment with her! I was devastated that by moving, I wouldn’t be able to see her regularly any more. Ahh, so good! I felt like she really took the time to understand my needs.
Ironically, what really inspired me to write-up my experience with Burke Williams was that it was as good in the beginning as it was in the end. After we finished the move, I called Burke Williams last week to cancel my membership, and it took about two minutes. And in those two minutes, they put the remaining credit I had (which was two months of member fees) onto a gift card and had it sent overnight via FedEx, and cancelled my membership. It was such a pleasant experience, and I really appreciated having the credits onto a gift card, so I can use them when I am able to make the trek to the spa but don’t have to worry about when! Just to put it into context, when I called my cable/internet provider to cancel because they did not provide service in my new area, it took me an hour to cancel and they kept trying to convince me to stay!
Even the Tech Guy agrees…
Tech guy here! I will have to concur with what the Christine-ator has to say about Burke Williams. The price is truly the one sticky issue and I could only indulge myself once in a while. I would generally need to view the receipt while standing in front of a bed so I could faint without cracking my skull. Here are some guy tips for all the men who read Temptalia:
First, there’s total nudity allowed so keep your gaze towards the ceiling at all times. Don’t worry, they cushioned all the wall corners so if you run into one while you’re admiring the ceiling you won’t hurt yourself. If you can get off work early or go in the afternoon, you literally have the men’s area all to yourself. I rarely ran into anybody while attending the facility so I was left without permanent brain scarring due to unfortunate nudity. They give you some sweet moccasins to walk around in, but apparently they think one size fits all because my feet were pushing the limits of their expandability. To really get the full experience, make sure to take advantage of the spa, hot tub, and crazy cold water room. This room has a seat where you pull a chain and have a torrent of cold water land on top of you. You know, just in case you want to have a heart attack at an expensive spa. I wanted to use it once just to see my life flash before my eyes, but it wasn’t functioning at the time. Lastly, if you think massages are for wimps, then try a deep tissue massage. If you ever wondered what your spleen tastes like then this is a good way to find out because they can press so hard that your organs tend to jump into your mouth!
Bottom line: Burke Williams Spa offers not just an excellent service but an excellent experience from the minute you walk in the door. You’ll never feel rushed or stressed. It’s calming, inviting, and relaxing. You can stay awhile and enjoy their spa facilities (love the sauna). There are only a few places I really miss since moving, and this place is one of them. (The other is our favorite sushi restaurant–Sen Dai Sushi in Milpitas.)
Disclaimer: Every single service at Burke Williams was paid for by me. I never volunteered information that I was a beauty blogger or that I had any intentions of writing about them on the blog (and as far as I know, nobody knew!). Only recently (as in, this past week) did I actually receive an email from their PR team about a Mother’s Day special–go figure it’s after I’ve moved!
Thursday, April 5th, 2012
Guerlain Quand Vient l’Ete (141) Rouge Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Quand Vient l’Ete (141) Rouge Automatique Lipstick
Guerlain Quand Vient l’Ete (141) Rouge Automatique Lipstick ($35.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a coral-orange with soft tangerine shimmer. Benefit Saucy is similar but with more shimmer. Dior Versailles is pinker. Cle de Peau Leonardis is a touch lighter but very similar. MAC Crosswires is close, though it doesn’t have the shimmer. MAC Viva Glam Cyndi is darker, more vibrant.
The shade yields mostly opaque color coverage, but the color does bunch up somewhat in random places, so the coverage isn’t perfectly even. It’s not as noticeable as Guet-Apens, though. Quand Vient l’Ete had a soft, creamy consistency that glided across lips with ease and no tugging or pulling whatsoever. There’s a healthy dosage of shimmer, enough to be noticeable but not enough to give it a frosted finish, plus a natural sheen. When I tested out this shade for wear, it hung on for four hours, which is about average. For more packaging photos, please see this post.
Where to Buy: Nordstrom, $35
It's a lovely shade of coral for the summer that should flatter warmer skin tones in particular. It has a fair amount of orange in it, so it may not be the ideal coral for cooler complexions.
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals The Alter Ego Eyeshadow Duo
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals The Alter Ego Eyeshadow Duo
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals The Alter Ego Eyeshadow Duo ($20.00 for 0.10 oz.) won’t be available until May, but hang onto your seats, because it’s such a lovely duo. This is one of the best eyeshadow formulas on the market, and bareMinerals didn’t let us down with their expansion of their Ready line-up. Alter Ego consists of two shades: Wicked and Daring.
Wicked is a springy yellow-tinted green with a frosted finish. It has excellent pigmentation and goes opaque with very little product needed. Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone is darker, more olive green. MAC Juxt is yellower, a bit darker. Inglot #364 is very similar but a matte variation. It’s a warm, yellow-based green, but subtly done–it’s not as yellow or as warm as other shades that might be similar.
Daring is this rich, smoky purple with subtle red undertones and almost bluish tint. The color payoff is amazing–I couldn’t believe it–it was so soft, smooth, and rich. MAC Indigo Noir is similar but matte. MAC Imaginary is purpler and brighter. MAC Starless Night is similar but more shimmered, less muted.
What makes the formula impressive is the pigmentation; both shades in this duo were intensely pigmented with a soft, smooth texture that was dense and buttery without being so soft it was crumbly or powdery. This texture and payoff translates seamlessly to the lids during application. They’re soft and blendable. Without a primer, it wears for over eight hours with no noticeable issues–after ten, there is the faintest fading around the crease. With a primer, I have no problems even after ten hours. The price point is palatable, too–two full-sized eyeshadows for $20.
Where to Buy: bareMinerals, $20.00 -- May 2012
What makes the formula impressive is the pigmentation; both shades in this duo were intensely pigmented with a soft, smooth texture that was dense and buttery without being so soft it was crumbly or powdery
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick
Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick
Illamasqua Apocalips Lipstick (£15.50 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “teal” with a matte finish. It’s an opaque blue-teal with a matte finish. It’s certainly not the shade you think of when you hear the word “everyday.” I’m sure it doesn’t come as much of a surprise when I say I don’t have anything quite like this. The closest would be Illamasqua’s Gender, which is a bluish lipgloss. I haven’t swatched or used it yet, but perhaps OCC’s Chlorophyll will be similar (but it looks more like a green-teal).
The formula is very dry, though it will slide over lips well enough to deposit opaque color without too much pulling or dragging (but there is some). The finish is entirely matte. It’s unscented, and there was no discernible taste when I tested it. Apocalips will wear and wear and wear–and it will stain, too. The stain is almost like frostbitten lips, to be honest! This shade wore for six hours with little fading, but because of the drier texture, you’ll want to ensure that you absolutely have perfect, moisturized lips prior to application. My lips felt a little dry after wearing this for six and a half hours. I wouldn’t describe the formula as drying, just dry, and naturally, lips without any hydration, will need some after several hours. My lips weren’t chapped or cracked, though–and that is how my lips react when a formula is truly drying.
Where to Buy: Illamasqua, £15.50
Bold, unconventional color that applies neatly, stays in place, and goes on entirely opaque (no streaking!)--wear it with confidence!
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
NARS Coeur Sucre Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Coeur Sucre Larger Than Life Lipgloss
NARS Coeur Sucre Larger Than Life Lipgloss ($26.00 for 0.19 fl. oz.) is described as a “shimmering vibrant pink.” It’s a medium cotton candy pink with blue undertones and a silver-white micro-glitter/shimmer. I couldn’t think of too many shades that came close to this. MAC Vanity Fair is much lighter and has no shimmer (more like a liquid lipstick formula). NARS Angelika would be much closer, except it’s not as opaque and applies fairly streaky. MAC Sassy Lassy is darker and brighter.
The Larger Than Life formula is designed to give “intense color” with “brilliant shine” while being long-wearing. It also has moisturizing ingredients and “natural lip enhancers” that will plump lips. The consistency of Coeur Sucre isn’t too thick or too thin, and it’s not a gloss I’d call lightweight, but it doesn’t feel thick and goopy either. It has a gel-like texture initially, which is non-sticky, but after a half hour or so, it delivers a tackiness that gets rather sticky after an hour and a half (much as I experienced with Giorgio Armani Gloss d’Armani). It delivers semi-opaque color and applies surprisingly evenly for a gloss in this color–there is some minor settling into lip lines that is barely noticeable because of the high-shine finish.
Coeur Sucre wore for five and a half hours, which is longer than the average gloss wears (three to four hours; as little as two for lighter shades). I found the formula to be hydrating–sometimes when you wear just gloss all day long, your lips can easily show signs of dehydration, but even after twelve hours of wearing the Larger Than Life formula, my lips felt lush and lovely. I don’t see (or feel!) any plumping effect; the glossy shine does give lips a larger, more luminous appearance.
Here is what I loathe about this product–and I don’t use the word lightly–the applicator. It is like applying lipgloss with a toothpick, or nearly so. It’s just absolutely miniscule, and if you have very thin lips, I think this may be the applicator you’ve been looking for, but even you may find it takes several pumps of gloss to get enough product to cover your lips. I get that NARS is hoping this applicator will give you the precision you want, but it’s unnecessarily small. You can maneuver around the lip lines with something double the size. In order to cover my lips, I had to go back five times for color.
It's not quite the "intense color" that NARS promises, and the applicator is too small--it makes applying this a more painstaking process than it should be. I think there is a happy medium available; something slightly larger (perhaps wider), that's still a bit tapered and smaller than a doe-foot gloss, could still achieve precision without taking so much time.
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
Tom Ford Wicked Cheek Color
Tom Ford Wicked Cheek Color
Tom Ford Wicked Cheek Color
($55.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a soft raspberry pink with a rosy pink shimmer and sheen. For better or for worse, Tom Ford’s blush range (from the three shades I’ve seen so far) is very core, which means the shades themselves are more basic, so you may have similar shades in your stash already. At the same time, they’re the kind of shades that become go-tos, because they work with a variety of looks. MAC Pink Tea is just a little softer, while MAC Lovecloud is a touch yellower–mix the two together, and you’d get pretty close. Tarte Dollface is lighter, more pastel. MAC Feeling Flush is a hint darker.
More and more, as a reviewer as well as a consumer, I really, really appreciate consistency. I’d rather a consistently poor performing product than one that is sometimes good but other times downright awful–and the very best is when you find a product range that is consistently excellent. Right now, I’m finding this to be true with Tom Ford’s blush range. First with Lovelust, now with Wicked. It has that same soft, smooth, buttery texture that’s dense and ultra finely-milled, so it melts against the skin and looks effortlessly natural. That silky smooth texture enables superior blending–you won’t need to worry about buffing for days; feather-light strokes will gently soften the edges of any application. I love that it can be applied softly or more intensely, but it’s never a shade you have to pack on.
The real reason that I am truly in love with Tom Ford’s blush formula is how well and long it wears. I thought perhaps it was a fluke or restricted to the shade, but Wicked wears a solid ten hours and looks nearly immaculate. I can’t think of a blush that wears longer at the moment! The texture, color, blendability, and wear are all fantastic. I don’t even know if there is room for improvement with the formula–it’s that good.
A little disclaimer or note, as this is a luxury brand and product: each person has their own rationalization process to justify whether something is worth it or not. What is affordable to you may be a luxury for someone else and vice versa. Price never affects quality; it affects whether it’s worth buying to you, but price doesn’t indicate a higher or lesser degree of quality (in an ideal world, it might), which is why the rating system specifically excludes it.
Where to Buy: Saks, $55
The texture, color, blendability, and wear are all fantastic. I don't even know if there is room for improvement with the formula--it's that good.
