Our partnership with German-based Primavera Life Skincare company could not be a more perfect fit. Their certified natural skin care and aromatherapy products for the skin, face and senses, with specialized lines for beauty, wellness, and home complement one another, working synergistically for an individual’s needs, moods and lifestyle. Primavera began over twenty years ago and was founded by Ute Leube, Kurt  L. Nübling and their group of friends who shared their passion for nature and its holistic benefits, becoming one of today’s best known names in aromatherapy. Primavera brings a sensibility that is aligned with Glen Ivy’s own legacy, with a philosophy that every day is a chance to bring nature closer, to discover balance with the both outside world and the world within—their mission, to simply share the benefits of healing plants to the skin and senses.

Executive Spa Director Danny Silva on the new partnership: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Primavera—the preeminent organic skin care line from Europe, and the first skincare company to receive NATRUE certification. We have been working closely with their knowledgeable team to create an exclusive menu of facial offerings that we know our guests will love, not only for the benefits of their plant based products on their skin (our body’s largest organ), but also for the harmonizing Primavera aromatherapy ritual that begins and ends each treatment.”

We can’t wait for you to meet our friends at Primavera, so we are celebrating with “5 Days of Primavera Giveaways!” Fans will learn more about Primavera and have a chance to win some wonderful prizes. Every day next week we will be highlighting 5 of our favorite Primavera products.

How do you win? Make sure to check our blog daily next week, wait for the Primavera product review and details on how it can be all yours! If you need a hint, our first product includes the ingredients Organic Grape Seed and Organic Sage Essential Oil which are prized for their skin clearing and softening benefits.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs is proud to offer Primavera organic skin care products in their spa facial treatments and for sale in the Glen Ivy Spa Lifestyle Store. Primavera was started over twenty years ago in Germany by a group of friends to become one of the most well known names in aromatherapy. From there Primavera took this great start and expanded it into an exceptional organic skin care line, based on the brands heritage with essential oils. Their mission is to create products that are not only natural and plant based, but also perform outstandingly and are a pleasure to use.

An environmentally and socially conscious company, they have established a worldwide network of fair trade partnerships with organic and biodynamic farmers to provide them with the pure ingredients used in their products. The company practices great care and respect for the environment every day with efforts to minimize the use of packaging wherever possible, recycling the warm air from their plant room to heat the warehouse, and have installed energy efficient movement detected lighting throughout their facility. And of course they recycle all glass, plastic and cardboard.

Today Jennifer and I took a walk over to our Spa Lifestyle Store at the Hot Springs to check out the new products (one of our favorite things to do!). Our goal today: experience Primavera, a new product line of organic skincare and aromatherapy products.

The first thing that caught our eyes while we browsed the testers was the beautiful packaging and display – and that was only the beginning. We could hardly contain ourselves as we opened all of the testers to smell the different scents. Being a bit obsessed with nail care, it didn’t take long for Jennifer to shout “I found my favorite!” There she stood, grinning ear to ear with a bottle of Primavera’s Hand and Nail Cream. Shortly after, I found Primavera’s Lip Balm – a sure addition to my ever-growing lip balm collection. Needless to say, we spent quite some time perusing the entire line!

Next time you’re at Glen Ivy Hot Springs, be sure to try the Primavera Pure Facial (description below) or stop by the Spa Lifestyle Store to smell and sample these products – they’re amazing!

Stay tuned, we’ll have more information about Primavera from an expert.

Primavera Pure Facial

This revitalizing facial uses effective, natural products including restorative Rose Essential Oil with antioxidant-rich Pomegranate Seed Oil to naturally enhance skin’s youthful radiance, ease fine lines and wrinkles, and boost firmness and elasticity. (50 minutes) $89
Upgrade to the 80 minute Primavera Pure Facial that includes a double mask along with a harmonizing facial massage accompanied with a hand and arm massage. $149

Shop for Primavera products online.

Call 888-GLEN IVY to book now!

Summer is officially here! Warm weather, bathing suits, vacations, and of course—plenty of sunshine. Between the beach trips and family barbecues, it’s easy to get caught up in the season but we want to make sure you’re well equipped for the months ahead. We’ve put together a few tips on how to stay healthy, relaxed, and looking your best all summer long!

Don’t Skimp on the SPF
The most important thing you can do this summer is to  stay protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Start by lathering on the SPF every day. Try the organic sun care collection by COOLA (now available at Glen Ivy Spa Valencia). These outstanding SPF products for your face and body protect your skin, plus nourish it with vitamins, natural phyto-protectors and age-defying antioxidants.

Keep you Skin in Tip-Top Shape!
No doubt your summer schedule is packed with gatherings with family and friends and you’ll want to look good from head to toe. From body scrubs to lip balms, Primavera’s organic skin care line has everything you need to look your best. Their aromatherapeutic products contain only the highest quality essential oils and smell oh-so delightful. (Read about our first Primavera experience  and some of our favorite products here).

Create the Perfect Summer Wardrobe
From pool side to picnics, you can find everything you need to create fun and fabulous summer wardrobe at the Spa Lifestyle Store at Glen Ivy Hot Springs. Come check out ou wide variety or hats, bathing suits, lounge wear, sunglasses, and more for your perfect summer ensemble!

Don’t Forget to RELAX
Sometimes planning vacations, dinner parties, and various outings can take it’s toll. Take some time for yourself to relax and renew. Enjoy one of the treatment specials that Glen Ivy Hot Springs is offering throughout summer or get the VIP treatment in our newly renovated Cabanas. Be sure to try one of the many fun and relaxing events and activities that the Hot Springs is offering all season long. However you choose to unwind, taking some time out to relax will help you to stay energized all summer long.

We are proud to welcome Mistral Luxury French Soaps and Perfumes to Glen Ivy Spa, Valencia!

Mistral features the finest French soaps which are crafted according to a time-honored French soap tradition. Scented with the highest quality, original fragrances, Mistral Triple Milled Shea Butter soaps are recommended for everyone, even those with sensitive skin. With fragrances like South Seas and Summer Citrus, they are guaranteed to delight your senses and leave your skin silky smooth. Mistral Perfumes capture their most treasured scents in their purest form and then are beautifully bottled for you to enjoy. Ranging from ripe fruits, highly coveted botanicals and rare flowers, their wide variety of scents are sure to take you on a fragrant journey to be cherished.

“The true test of any personal care product is its power to transform you. When you apply one of our nourishing body care products, bathe with our exquisite soaps, or inhale one of our signature fragrances, your skin will soften and beautify, your mood will brighten, and your spirit will be soothed. It is this journey, both sensory and experiential, that guides our research and product development team in their quest.”

The Story of Mistral

Their story started when Matthew Tilker, Mistral’s founder and president was visiting Provence, France and met a seventy year old master soap maker who, in a family factory, still crafted soaps according to a three hundred year old traditional triple milling process, always using the finest natural ingredients. The soap maker’s artistry, love of his craft, and extraordinary knowledge and experience in soap making, left a lasting impression on Matthew. After completing his studies and returning home to California, Matthew imported soaps directly from Provence and sold from his mother’s home.

The soaps were so popular, that within months, Matthew opened the first Mistral boutique on a quaint street in his hometown of Solana Beach, California. Over the next several years he returned often to the South of France experimenting with different fragrances and unique formulas as he worked with the best perfumers in Grasse. Matthew’s talent and passion for fragrance, as well as his background in natural healing, encouraged him to create and develop an extraordinary line of soap scents, which continues to be embraced wholeheartedly by Mistral customers. In 2001, a second Mistral boutique opened in Los Angeles, and has since been featured on the pages of Vogue, Town & County, Better Homes and Gardens, and Real Simple, to name a few.

Visit Glen Ivy Spa Valencia and pick up a few bars of Mistral’s luxury soaps or a bottle of perfume for yourself or as a gift!

Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday, April 27! Not sure how to celebrate their hard work and highlight their importance? We’ve made it easy for you and are sharing our favorite finds that they’ll be sure to love!

For the spa-goer: Hard work deserves rewarding relaxation. What could be better than a spa day? Shop for Glen Ivy Gift Cards online, call 888-GLEN IVY, or swing by any Glen Ivy Spa in Brea, Corona or Valencia. Need it NOW? Try our Instant Gift Certificates that you can print or email in a few clicks!

Spa-at-Home Gifts: Pick up the perfect products so they’re ready for summer! Visit The Spa Lifestyle Store at any Glen Ivy and you will find great gifts for relaxing at home, from cushy robes to aromatherapy body care, like Crabtree & Evelyn’s La Source Spa Luxuries nourishes and revitalizes the skin while leaving a clean, fresh scent.

For the nature lover: Give them a mini garden at home or in the office that will last all year! “Year of Seeds” from Redenvelope.com includes 12 packets of easy-to-grow seeds and candy colored earthenware pots. They just plant, sit back, and watch the flowers come to life!

For the book worm: Do they love a good book? How about this fun and heartwarming novel The School of Essential Ingredients, and they can even enjoy it with the upcoming “virtual” Glen Ivy Book Club.  More on the Book Club coming soon!

For the foodie: Recommended by Glen Ivy’s Executive Chef Bill Wavrin, The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution is the perfect addition to any food lovers kitchen. With everyday recipes and  helpful techniques, this cookbook is the perfect gift!

Want the same golden sun-kissed look as your favorite celebrities? Take a tip from Jessica Alba and Brooke Burke, and indulge in an Infinity Sunless Tan!
Glen Ivy is proud to announce the availability of Infinity Sunless tanning at our Glen Ivy Brea Day Spa location. The first antiaging and all natural sunless tanning is a safe alternative to harmful UV rays. This sunless tanning formula is enriched with antioxidants, vitamin A and E, to leave your skin feeling hydrated and looking sun-kissed. It takes only minutes for a trained professional to use a specialized hand-held sprayer to evenly and accurately apply your tan. Best of all you can expect your Infinity Sunless tan to last about 7-10 days!

Available at Glen Ivy Spa, Brea, call 888 GLEN IVY for treatment reservations. Trying it for the first time? Take advantage of the low introductory rate or save with an endless summer series of 6!

Did you know? A sunless tan application helps minimize the appearance of imperfections and evens out tone, and creates a healthy looking glow.

I must confess that my idea of getting in the Super Bowl spirit is painting my nails with the new Texas Collection colors from OPI.  (Hey, lots of people see your nails when digging into that bowl of salsa!)  My favorites are the daring “Austin-tatious Turquoise” and the lovely lavender looking “It’s Totally Fort Worth It.”  The new lineup is available now at Glen Ivy Spa in Valencia – stop by or call 888-GLEN IVY to make your appointment. 

 Check out the colors and let us know your favorite picks for this weekend (nail color or football team!).

Maybe everybody doesn’t know Chule, but I would bet just about any Glen Ivy Hot Springs guest who visits regularly does.

Dimitrije and Vera Cülevski first came to Glen Ivy in 1968. Better known as Chule, for more than 40 years he has been Glen Ivy’s most enthusiastic promoter and frequent guest. You may know him as the aging European cherub of  the mineral baths, an ivy leaf on his nose held in place by thick glasses. All who know him love his zeal and zest for life. Many of us have experienced his springing out of a mineral bath to greet us with a wet hug and kisses on both cheeks.

The Cülevskis are from the city of Bitola in southwestern Macedonia, just north of the Greek border. The land is naturally beautiful and the people are tenaciously cheerful in character. These are Chule’s roots.

Chule and Vera met during World War II and married in 1947. Having mastered the traditional skills taught to him by his father and grandfather, he had his own small shop in Bitola about 1940. In addition to weaving, he also spun his own wool into yarn and dyed it in homemade vats. After the war he moved to a larger shop along the Dragor River in Bitola, and became locally known as the master weaver in a town of master weavers. Weaving was and is his passion. It’s in his blood. Chule is the 5th generation of weavers in his family, who altogether produced rugs and blankets for a century and a half.

Living in a socialist society entrepreneurship was discouraged. Private business owners were disapproved of by the government, taxed heavily, sometimes forced to fail so the state could take over the enterprises. Unwilling to continue under these conditions, the strong-minded Chule applied for and obtained a visitor’s visa to the United States. He left Macedonia alone in 1966. Vera, daughter Lidi, and son Niko couldn’t join him in America for nearly two years. In the meantime Chule was granted a permanent visa as an artisan, and could stay in the U.S.

He worked hard to start their new life, learned English, and saved all he could to later realize his vision of having his own business, free from the oppression of the past. In 1968 he brought his family, his entrepreneurial drive, and his Macedonian weaver’s skills to California. He was finally able to set up his first weaving shop in 1974, in a rented garage in San Pedro.

Literally thousands of times over the years, Chule, often with Vera, visited Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa. He thought nothing of making the hour’s drive each way, even if just to stay and soak an hour or two. Glen Ivy was their break, their relief from work. The healing waters soothed their bodies and salved their souls. Chule attributes his longevity to Glen Ivy. “Without Glen Ivy, I would have died from stress. Here is where I relax. I am happy here. I love it!”

Weaving is an ancient textile craft in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads, called the warp and the filling, or weft, are interlaced to form a fabric. The way the warp and filling threads interlace with each other is called the weave.

The fabrics of our lives are woven of the warp of our character and the weft of our choices. Every day – indeed, every moment – our behaviors, how we express ourselves, pass like weaver’s shuttles left and right, revealing patterns in our fabrics. Like all of us, Chule is more than a weaver of blankets. Across generations he and Vera weave an old world and a new in the warp and weft of their lives. Their love and their blankets touch many people. The colors are vivid, the patterns rich, the results lasting. Chule’s blankets are both facts and symbols of a life’s work.

From its 1970s beginning, “Chule’s Wool Blankets” has been a family business. Chule wove. Vera hand-tied the wool fringes on both ends of every blanket. Lidi and Niko, adults with families of their own and full time jobs, displayed and sold blankets as many as 30 weekends a year at art shows and festivals all over California. After Vera tied tied the fringe, every blanket was washed to pre-shrink it, hung in the shop to air dry, and brushed to fluff it up and to remove excess wool fibers, before folding and storing. For 20 and more years the business grew. Chule added looms and other equipment, bought wool by the ton, worked endless hours, and visited Glen Ivy to get away. Through all those years the Spa was growing too, and Chule often remarked on the entrepreneurial parallel: “Give a good product at a fair price, and you’re happy. I’m happy, everybody happy.” His vision for his business was “to warm the world with blankets.” He saw Glen Ivy’s as “to warm the world with water.”

This year during the holiday season, Chule blankets will be for sale in the retail shop at Glen Ivy. With each blanket comes a measure of history along with the touch of two special spirits, woven together through time.

-John C. Gray, Glen Ivy Founder

Updated: In loving memory of Vera Cülevski

We would like to introduce you to the Clarisonic Face Brush Pro, a revolutionary skin care tool now being used in all facial treatments at Glen Ivy Spa, Valencia.

What is it you ask? This gentle cleansing brush with sonic technology is proven to gently yet efficiently loosen dirt and oil to clear your pores. With 300 movements per second with micro-massage action cleans more than TWICE as effectively as manual cleansing! Skin looks and feels softer, smoother, and absorbs products better.

One of a few Valencia-Santa Clarita retailers with this new product, Glen Ivy Spa, Valencia is selling the Clarisonic Face Brush Pro and replacement heads in their Spa Lifestyle Store. Add this to your daily beauty regime and it’ll be like having a daily facial! The Clarisonic Face Brush Pro also makes a great gift as the ultimate beauty tool!

Learn more about the Clarisonic Face Brush Pro on their website: http://www.clarisonic.com/shop/sonic-cleansing-systems.php

It’s a cold world out there and right about now  your toes could use a little cheer. Luckily, we have just what you need this holiday season. The blend of coppery and bold colors that make up OPI’s newest collection, the Burlesque Collection, is the perfect fit to any winter festivity.

The collection is inspired by the new film “Burlesque” featuring Christina Aguilera and Cher and is set to release this Thanksgiving. With leading ladies like these, the colors in the collection are nothing less than fabulous!

Take “Tease-y Does It” for instance. The tiny specs of gold dust gave my nails the right amount of sparkle to make me feel like a star! My personal favorite though, “Bring On the Bling!” With this gold glitter polish, who needs accessories!? Not only will it match that perfect New Year’s Eve dress but you, and your nails, won’t go unnoticed!

First things first–you can’t have the perfect polish without perfect nails. Also debuting this season are some amazing nail treatments dedicated to this time of year. Our leading lady at the Hot Springs is our Harvest Glow Pedicure and it’s sure to put a little color back into those cold toes of yours. Taking center stage at our Day Spa Brea and Valencia is the Pumpkin Spice Delight. It’s a manicure and pedicure combo that will have you ready to show off those nails in no time at all! So treat those toesies and make sure to pick up a bottle or two from the Burlesque Collection (available at all locations) for yourself of even as gifts for your favorite ladies!

Let us know what shade you like best for the holiday season! Leave a comment below sharing what special color you like to wear!