Wednesday, June 4, 2003 | 8:25 a.m.
Crisis? What crisis?
Forget foreign affairs, global warming or the lackluster economy. Sometimes life is just about feeling good.
There was no place better to leave your worries behind than the International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference.
The exhibit was in town Saturday through Tuesday at Las Vegas Convention Center.
While the event was not open to the public, 35,000 in the pampering industry attended the show, which featured 1,100 exhibits of skin care, makeup, cosmetics, spa services and equipment.
New-age music blared from hidden speakers. Bikini-clad models eagerly showed off their faux tans. And everywhere you looked, someone was offering a key to a prettier, healthier you.
Comdex it ain't.
While the products offered generally aren't for the public and are sold mainly to spas, following is a sampling of the more interesting products and trends perhaps coming to a spa near you:
Bronze god
Sporting a tan is important. After all, no one wants to look as if they spend all their time indoors at a computer no matter how true it may be.
That's why several booths at the conference featured products devoted to achieving the fake tan.
Among them:
Results should appear in three hours or so. The TanTowel is not a stain or a dye: "It works with the proteins and sugars in your skin to help achieve a "natural-looking color," as stated in the TanTowel brochure.
There's also the TanTowel Plus, for those wanting that George Hamilton look.
Although the tan should last from five to seven days, when fading occurs simply repeat the process.
For more information, go to tantowel.com.
Airbrush tanning can also be spotty, giving you a checkered look. For more information, go to bodyinvest.com.
Rock 'n' roll
Nature's Stones Inc. was only too happy to provide hand, arm, face, neck and back hot-rock treatments for the curious passers-by.
The rocks are all basalt (meaning volcanic) in nature and have been scrubbed, washed, oiled and smoothed down by hand. They're also heated for the massage -- up to 120 degrees.
"The benefit is that the rocks heat muscle all the way to the bone, which provides the most relaxing massage and is the most therapeutic," said Pat Mayrhofer, Nature's Stones president and owner.
There's also a mystical property to the stones, she said.
"The American Indians call them 'Stone People,' " Mayrhofer said. "They believed they had an energy all their own, and they do indeed."
Mysticism aside, the massage was very soothing.
As for the hot-rock treatment itself, Mayrhofer said not all massage therapists are alike.
"There are a lot of people out there who do stone massages," she said. "Some people believe in just placing the stones on the body. We believe in massaging with the stones."
Nature's Stones also offers the Nex Auna (neck sauna), which is a hot stone drape, along with booties and mittens, all of which can be fitted with hot stones.
For more information, go to naturestonesinc.com.
Salt of the Earth
The Salt Lamp by Folioe (pronounced "foli-aye") makes for a unique gift.
The lamps are composed of salt crystals that are hollowed out and fit over a standard lightbulb. Their benefit is that they generate "healthy negative ions," as opposed to the unhealthy "positive ions" created by TVs and computer monitors, said Urszula Bogdal, company spokeswoman.
"The longer the lamp is on, the more healthy ions you'll get," she said. "It's like taking a walk on a beach after a thunderstorm and breathing the air."
OK ... regardless, the Salt Lamps are very cool, providing a "soft apricot glow" bound to liven up most any room.
For more information, go to saltlamp.com.
Desert skin
In the Las Vegas Valley, dry skin is commonplace. And feet often bear the worst of it.
While there are many lotions out there, Gilden Tree could be the answer for those plagued by dry or scaly feet.
There is the healing foot cream, the exfoliating foot scrub, the revitalizing foot soaks and the footscrubber, all of which feature an exotic blend of ingredients: shea butter, which is extracted from a nut in Africa; aloe vera; jojoba oil; and something called the "Zen Forest Essential Oil Blend."
"We use things that have not come from a lab," Ann Thariani, president of Gilden Tree, said. "Our ingredients come from experience -- from any culture in the world."
Whatever it is, after having a dab put on my hands, it does seem to work.
Gilden also offers the traditional lotion and a shea butter balm.
For more information, go to gildentree.com.
All shook up
The Spinal Exerciser from Body Care claims to provide healthier skin, lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, weight loss, calmer nerves and reduction of back pain.
All this from a small air mattress that vibrates, shakes and rattles the spinal column through a light exercise workout.
"It massages and loosens the spinal column so it can relax," said Dr. Y.M. Chen, who helped design the Spinal Exerciser.
And that, he said, leads to stress relief, which in turn leads to better mental health and, eventually, overall fitness. Consider it the Trickle Down Theory of the Spine.
For more information, go to bodycareonline.com.
Full cheeks
Cheeksleekers is a novel -- and inexpensive -- approach to a younger-looking face.
Unable to have plastic surgery because of a blood-clotting disorder, Patty Byers tried to use Kleenex stuffed in her mouth to elevate her sagging jowls.
The result was a mess, she said. This problem led her to create Cheeksleekers.
"Vanity will do it every time," Byers said.
Cheeksleekers are almond-size, nontoxic plastic ovals that fit easily enough on both sides of the top of the mouth. Once in place, Cheeksleekers elevate the cheeks, eliminating wrinkles and sags.
The result is the look of plastic surgery without the cost or pain involved.
For more information, go to cheeksleekers.com.
If the shoe fits ...
Flappers by Perfect Image Footware Inc. takes the one-size-fits-all approach to disposable slippers.
Each shoe comes with perforations at the bottom, which can be torn off to tailor-fit the wearer. The sizes range from a men's size 12 to a women's size 6.
"It took four years to get a patent," said Mike Goulden, vice president of sales for Perfect Image Footware Inc. "They wanted to make sure it's unique -- (but) it's a flip-flop, for God's sake. It's not going to cure cancer or create world peace."
But it will come in handy at the pool.
For more information, go to flappers.org. It's not going to cure cancer or create world peace."
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