Organic Spa Magazine's 2015 NYC Organic Beauty & Lifestyle Highlights

On April 27th, Organic Spa Magazine hosted the 3rd annual NYC Organic Beauty & Lifestyle Media Event at the Mandarin Oriental. This year's platinum sponsors included Nubian Heritage and Jhana Center/Spa4thePink and gold sponsors AK Wellness: "Gluten-Free Mediterranean Gourmet Cuisine Invaluable Recommendations for a Healthy Immune System" and "Health and Beauty Home Remedies Natural Recipes-Recommendations", Aura Cacia, Ananda-In the Himalayas, Chiva-Som Health Resort, Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, Jade Yoga, NaturallyU, LLC/NAPZ, NeoCell, Parissa Labs, Inc., Reserveage and SheaMoisture. 

Take a look at the recap from this year's event, as I met with new and familiar brands. 

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa is a destination health spa combining European spa philosophies with California concepts of fitness, health and nutrition. Cal-aVie is located in Vista, CA, just north of San Diego, offering spa packages that include gourmet spa cuisine, fitness classes, hiking, beauty and spa treatments, mind-body awareness programs and lectures on health and nutrition. 

Ananda-In the Himalayas is a luxury destination spa located in the Himalayas, with a focus on Ayurveda and Aromatherapy. Ananda features a 24,000 square foot spa, hydrotherapy facilities, a beauty institute, sauna, steam rooms and a fully-equipped fitness center. 

Chiva-Som Health Resort in Thailand focuses on greater well-being and vitality, with extensive fitness, spa and holistic health retreats to restore, rejuvenate and redirect. 

It was great to see NeoCell again this year, known for their award winning and innovative products that promote vital collagen health. NeoCell's featured products included my favorites: Beauty Bursts (in Fresh Mint Chocolate and Super Fruit Punch) and Biotin Bursts (Açai Berry), Collagen Beauty Builder tablets, and the new Beauty Infusion - a Collagen drink mix (in Tangerine Twist, Appletini, and Cranberry Cocktail) infused with essential beauty nutrients that work to strengthen hair, skin, & nails, and hydrate the skin. 

SheaMoisture is one of my go-to hair and skin care brands! SheaMoisture sources their shea butter from seven women's co-ops in Northern Ghana and invest in over 2,500 women entrepreneurs. The newest SheaMoisture launch is the Community Commerce Zanzubar Marine Complex Replenish & Rejuvenate Collection exclusively available at Target.  

Nubian Heritage is SheaMoisture's sister brand, featuring a number of hair and skin care collections including Evoo & Moringa, Indian Hemp & Tamanu, and Patchouli & Buriti. Highlighted products include infused shea butter and 24 hour all-natural deodorants. I can't wait to try some of the Coconut & Papaya, Ivorian Cocoa & Hazelnut and Olive Oil & Green Tea products!

Reserveage Nutrition offers a number of supplements in the form of capsules, chews, powders and whey. During the event Reserveage served up some healthy drinks and smoothies, including Bergamot Iced Tea, Resveratrol Sangria, Purple Protein Smoothie and Collagen Faujito.

Parissa Labs, Inc., featured their at-home hair removal Organic Wax for legs, body & face. 

Since I never get enough sleep and wind up taking a nightly nap here and there, this is definitely a product that I need to try. Napz is a short term sleep aid solution that is all natural, non-habit forming and does not have the side effects of many prescription or over the counter sleep aids. The combination of herbs in Napz allows you to wind down, prepare for rest, and leaves no hangover feeling when you wake up. 

Aura Cacia is my go-to for essential oils when I'm working on creating a DIY body scrub or bath salt. Aura Cacia, are also known for their aromatherapy products, such as Chakra Balancing Aromatherapy roll-ons, Yoga Mist and their newly launched Revive Body Cloths! These are great before or after a workout, while traveling or before you go to bed. The cloths are available in 12-count packs of wipes available in Essential Calm (lavender & lavandin), Essential Charge (spearmint & peppermint) and Essential Focus (rosemary & mint).

This was my first introduction to author Aslihan Koruyan Sabanci, author of both "Gluten-Free Mediterranean Gourmet Cuisine Invaluable Recommendations for a Healthy Immune System" and "Health and Beauty Home Remedies Natural Recipes-Recommendations." I look forward to trying out some of her recipes, reading up on food sensitivity and allergies, and rejuvenating with essential oils. 

LATHER offers everything from exfoliating body scrubs and hydrating crémes to advanced facial treatments and aromatherapy candles, available in four retail boutiques and at the world's most exclusive spas and hotels. I hope they decide on opening up a location in NYC!

MyChelle Dermaceuticals was the first to use anti-aging peptides, plant stem cells and clinically-proven, dermatological ingredients. I can't wait to try their Refining Sugar Cleanser! I'm all about versatile skin care products, and this one is a 3-in-1make-up remover, cleanser, and exfoliator. 

Kimberly Parry Organics products are USDA certified organic made in the USA. The product line looks incredible, and even offer an Age Well Skincare Kit which is a great way to try out some of their top sellers and is also travel-friendly.

Boiron, a world leader in homepathy, featured Arnicare Gel for temporary relief from muscle pain and stiffness, swelling from injuries and bruising, Calendula Cream for alleviating new shoe blisters, cracked heels and sunburn and Oscillococcinum which takes care of flu-like systems. 

Everclēn's products - cleanser, toner, face cream, eye cream body lotion and hand cream are clinically tested for the unique needs of sensitive skin. 

EMANI Vegan Cosmetics don't contain skin-irritants or harmful ingredients

It was great to see IMMUNOCOLOGIE again! IMMUNOCOLOGIE uses cold pressed, all natural and sustainably sourced ingredients, with each of the products ionically balancing the skin, reducing the negative effects of free radicals, while also reinforcing its immune response. Checkout a previous feature I did on IMMUNOCOLOGIE here. 

Jade Yoga makes eco-friendly yoga mats and plants a tree for every mat sold. Jade mats come in fun, fashionable colors and have incredible grip for comfort. The mats are made sustainably with natural rubber tapped from rubber trees, and are made in the US. 

Rona Berg, Editor-in-Chief of Organic Spa Magazine, with the rest of the Organic Spa Magazine team

Thank you so much to Organic Spa Magazine and participating sponsors for another great media event! 

- Kim Weling