December 13, 2019

My insane floatation therapy experience, my stylist's favorite flat iron, a mascara worth trying, being faced with a melasma diagnosis and my guide for test-driving workout pants.

I tried floatation therapy and here's what happened...

One of my oldest friends from growing up now lives in Mexico City, so whenever she comes into town we try to do something really fun. There’s been vintage shopping, concerts and the most pee-in-your-pants-hysterical musical revue with Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, George Michael and Michael Jackson impersonators. But for this year’s pre-Thanksgiving adventure we decided to take more of a Zen route and try Salt Floatation Therapy at the Carillon Hotel spa in Miami Beach. Neither of us had ever done it before, and we were really, really excited.

I wish this was my body, but in real life you’re naked for this treatment.

To dive in (no pun intended), the experience begins similar to any other fancy spa treatment with stowing your stuff in a locker and slipping into a plush robe and slippers. After sitting in the relaxation room for a bit, I was retrieved by a therapist who took me to the area of the spa that houses the more high-tech treatments like cryotherapy and LED therapy. I had to sign a lot of waivers—the scariest one being that I agreed to pay $1,500 if I contaminated the water. And then I was escorted into a room with this:

OK, this pod is filled with water (duh) and 800 pounds of Epsom salts. Even saltier than the Dead Sea, this insane amount of salinity renders you completely weightless—like zero-gravity weightless. You have to shower and wash every square inch of your body (including your hair) before getting in—and if you have any cuts or scrapes you’re advised to apply an ointment to prevent burning. (Don’t shave immediately before floating either.) Then you put in earplugs, slip on a shower cap and climb in. You can fully enclose yourself or leave the pod a bit open if you’re claustrophobic, but I’m telling you it’s roomy in there. (You can also schedule a couples treatment and both go in at once.)

I’m not going to lie—it was bizarre. But it also might have been one of the best hours of my entire life. Surrounded by soothing spa music and chakra lights with your head resting on a foam ring, you literally float in water that I’m willing to bet is deliberately set to womb temperature. Since you’re weightless, you might find yourself bumping around the tank (similar to how astronauts repel around the space shuttle in zero gravity), but once you go with the flow, you’re in for a truly incredible experience. 

The best way I can describe it is that your mind disassociates from your body since you can’t feel any gravity or weight. Without the burden of your body (or aching muscles or stress-related tension) you’d be surprised how quickly your consciousness takes over—and how it’s nearly impossible to think about anything negative or the list of tasks you have to complete by the end of the day. You know it’s time to get out when the music turns off, and I was so sad it was over that I almost started to cry. There’s a reason they call it floatation “therapy,” and it’s so incredible I wish I could do it every day.

For the record, the spa at the Carillon is bananas—and you can basically spend the entire day there lounging by the pool, sitting on the beach and meandering through the various plunge pools, saunas and steam rooms when you book a treatment. Unfortunately the trek is a bit too far for me to make the Carillon’s floatation therapy a regular part of my wellness regimen, but I did find a much closer place in Deerfield Beach that I’ll definitely be hitting sooner rather than later. In fact, I’m going to go see if they have any openings this weekend…

The only flat iron my hairstylist will use

I honestly can’t remember when I got my current flat iron. It could have been more than 10 years ago but it’s still going strong, probably because I don’t use it all that often. Yet every time I do bust it out, I can’t help but think about the smooth, sleek result I only get at the hands of my stylist, L.A., at Boca’s Peter Coppola Salon—and although she’s talented beyond compare, I think my straightening appliance has something to do with it.

So when I got a haircut last week, I had to ask the brand and model of her flat iron, and it turns out it’s BaByliss Pro’s Nano Titanium Prima 3000. Beyond sounding very high-tech and sophisticated, it actually is. With floating titanium plates for optimal tension, super-fast heat-up, ionic technology for extra shine and curved edges that let you use it to curl as well, it’s basically the Rolls-Royce of flat irons—and I really want one.

I actually regret not spending more time to find a good deal over Thanksgiving weekend (since I was too busy shopping for Chanukah gifts), so if anyone spots one on sale, please let me know!

This mascara is beyond major

I’m one of those people who will not leave the house without mascara—even if that’s the only makeup I put on. It’s not because I have short, thin or sparse lashes (actually quite the opposite, with no extra effort at that). I simply feel naked without it. I’m loyal to Glossier’s Lash Slick for day because it holds up to whatever may come my eyes’ way, but I recently came to the end of my NARS Climax Mascara (which has served me quite well for evening and more “formal” occasions).  

Always one to look on the beauty bright side, I finally had a legitimate reason to try Pat McGrath’s FetishEYES Mascara and it was love at first swipe. Actually, I was smitten upon opening it for the first time. You know how it usually takes a little tugging to get the wand all the way out of the tube? The Pat McGrath wand glides out effortlessly, without that annoying blob of excess at the tip of the brush that either needs to be scraped off or blotted with a tissue. 

And then I actually applied it… After one light pass I couldn’t believe how separated my lashes were. It’s like I could see each and every one. The fluffy brush easily coated every lash from root to tip with nary a clump in sight. A second coat yielded more thickening, lift and length without looking overdone. I’m sure I could even go in for the third layer without worry if I really wanted to make a major lash statement.

Bottom line: I give this mascara a 10 out of 10 (and frankly, wouldn’t expect anything less from Pat McGrath since every product I’ve tried has been a winner).

A crazy thing happened when I went to the derm last week…

As we all know, I’m pretty on top of my skin. Beyond a comprehensive skincare routine and the occasional in-office treatment, I see my medical dermatologist every six months like clockwork for a full-body check. My visit last week resulted in two biopsies (which is pretty much the norm) and a cortisone injection for one of last year’s biopsies that didn’t heal all that well.

Once I put my clothes back on it was time for a few skincare questions. My first inquiry was about the retinoid I’ve been using. I asked if perhaps I should step up from the over-the-counter Differin I’ve been using for several years since I’m seeing more white spots (also known as hypopigmentation) on my lower cheeks—and nothing could have prepared me for the answer…

Apparently, these white spots are acne scars from years ago (that’s not the shocker), and the reason they’ve become more visible is because (wait for it) I have MELASMA. In case you don’t know what this is, melasma presents as dark patches (usually on the cheeks, upper lip and forehead) and it’s predominantly caused by hormones. I definitely had it when I was pregnant, but it resolved soon after giving birth. But having my IUD removed in April must have changed the balance of estrogen and progesterone in my body, which is now showing up on my face. In a nutshell, the white spots are more noticeable because they are surrounded by darker skin caused by melasma. 

I was reeling, but immediately asked what we can do about it. I’ve been writing about melasma for almost two decades, and I know it can be very difficult to treat. My derm wrote me a prescription for oral tranexamic acid, which I need to take twice a day for one week, beginning when I get my next period. She also told me take a break from the retinoid, use a vitamin C serum every morning (already do), apply plenty of sunscreen (already do) and gave me a vitamin A mask to use three night a week—and to come back in a month to see the results.

I have a hard time believing that a week of medication and a mask could actually do the trick—but my derm said it usually works (but in some cases it may be necessary to take the pills for a bit longer). Stay tuned for updates…

xoxo,
Melasma Girl

This “test” makes shopping for workout pants easier

I like cute, colored workout pants—but I hate it when they show sweat (especially in the crotch area). For the most part, I can judge which fabrics and hues are safe, but I’ve definitely been caught off guard during a Pilates class (and disappointed since I generally can’t return them once they’ve been on my body for a workout).

I bought these only to discover that I looked like I peed in my pants half-way through a Pilates class. (Now I wear them for “off duty” days.)

When I got my last Wantable box, there was a pair of space-dyed leggings that looked and felt great—but I wasn’t sure if they would be perspiration-proof. Then it dawned on me to run the bottom of the leg under water and see what happened. Alas, the fabric darkened so I knew they would be sweat-revealers.

This simple hack has saved me so much money (and embarrassment) that I wanted to share it with you. I just wish I had thought of it sooner!