Photo by PINGGOT ZULUETA

When Nikki Ang-angco was pregnant, she still wanted to look pretty and be pampered.  Her search for a nail polish that would be safe enough for pregnant women to use soon gave way to another kind of birth.  Ang-angco teamed up with Katrina Armamento, a friend from college, and established Organic Rituals Spa.

Tucked into the mezzanine of a building in Greenhills, “More than just a regular spa, it’s a lifestyle of environmental consciousness,” Ang-angco says.  “We believe beauty should be in harmony with nature at all times.  We offer a broad range of soothing earth-friendly services.”

To this end, Organic Rituals uses natural and organic essential oils, soaks, scrubs, and lotions in their massage and body treatments.  Even the aroma oils used in the reed diffusers in their treatment areas are all natural.

Vegan and non-toxic

For better looking and hydrated hands and feet, Organic Rituals uses only vegan and non-toxic nail polishes for their manicures and pedicures. 

They carry the Zoya line which does not contain toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate—chemicals that are harmful to the body.  And, yes, this brand is safe enough for pregnant women to wear.  They also carry the Sparituals line which uses organic vegan ingredients and are naturally colored and free of synthetic dyes.

Clients have a variety of choices for colors that range from sheers and pastels to dark, vampy tones, in matte and glossy finishes.  They also get to bring home the single-use mani-pedi implements for their own personal use.

Waist loss

The spa has a “Waist-Loss” program that promises a loss of up to three inches of the waist while reducing body fat and weight, banishing belly bloat, and polishing dull skin.

The spa owners commissioned this exclusive detox program from a US-certified fitness nutritionist and weight loss specialist.  The program is comprised of a week-long diet that culminates with a whole day at the spa to relax and rejuvenate the body.

For four to six days, clients go through a nutritionally balanced, additive-free and hypoallergenic diet plan filled with foods rich in phytonutrients (to aid in flushing out toxins) and antioxidants (to reduce inflammation and bloating).

“Then you escape for a whole day at Organic Rituals where you are lavished with detoxifying and slimming body treatments while being served yummy and nutritious meals and drinks in between treatments,” Armamento says.  “Isn’t that a great way to lose weight?”

Science-based

The day begins with a detox steam in a personal mini-tent that leaves the arms free for reading magazines or even surfing the web using the spa’s free wireless internet.  A coffee scrub follows, where the scrub’s caffeine and antioxidants help slim and detoxify the body while exfoliating the skin.

A Puff Buster Facial is followed by a hot shower using the spa’s organic shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.  Then, to stimulate the liver and gall bladder to release toxins, the Belly Buster Coffee Enema is performed.  “The caffeine stimulates your intestines to contract and loosen any waste that’s accumulated along the walls of the colon,” says Ang-angco.

Concluding the series of treatments is their Bloat Banishing Massage, a lymphatic drain massage that stimulates the lymphatic system into eliminating metabolic waste products, excess fluid, and bacteria.

“Clients usually take the ‘waist-loss’ program prior to a big occasion like a wedding or a photo shoot or any public appearance for a special event,” she adds.  “But anyone can do it any time just to detox.  It can also be used to jumpstart a weight-loss program or break a weight-loss plateau.”

Sparty

For those inclined to just drop in for a quick escape from the stress of daily life, the spa’s most popular massage is its signature Dream Weaver massage.  It combines four styles and disciplines: Swedish, Shiatsu, Hawaiian lomi-lomi, and Sports Massage.

“Our nail technicians and certified massage therapists follow international spa standards and procedures,” Armamento says.  “They are well-educated in analyzing skin and nail conditions and will recommend the best treatment fit for each client.”

Of course, it’s more fun to get pampered when friends or family are doing it together, which is why the spa offers sparties in its spacious living room setting.  The high white walls provide an expansive, airy atmosphere while several oversized specially designed couches, lounges, and ottomans anchor the room. Three body massage cubicles maintain privacy with swathes of ceiling-to-floor gold curtains.

The sparty packages includes three hours' exclusive use of the spa, 20 nail spa and massage treatments, souvenir gift items for all guests, as well as food prepared by The Sexy Chef, the catering service run by singer Rachel Alejandro and her sister Chef Barni.

There are four different themes to choose from. The Zen package features food such as California maki while the Oriental package includes Shanghai chicken meatballs.  Veggies with hummus dip are served for the Mediterranean package, while the Continental package serves healthy mini-burgers.

Organic Rituals Spa is located at Atlanta Centre, 31 Annapolis St., Greenhills. Call 661-3101.

7 easy fixes for your nails

• To remove stains from your nails, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice in a cup of water and soak your nails in this liquid for a few minutes. Then, wash off with warm water and apply a hand moisturizer.

• Try to stay away from acetone polish removers as much as you can and stick to the one that makes use of acetate. Still, try not to use a polish remover more than once a week.

• In case you wear nail polish, make sure to give your nails a break from time to time. In other words leave them without polish for a few days, every now and then. Otherwise, they will develop an ugly, yellow tint.

• If you want to give a natural sheen to your nails, just like the colorless base coat, rub petroleum jelly on your nails and then buff them, with the help of a soft cloth.

• Whenever you wash your hands, while bathing as well as otherwise, make sure to dry the nails properly and apply a hand cream or lotion, using it on the nails as well. This is because soap makes the nails dry and brittle.

• The best time to file your nails is when you are already wearing a polish. This will prevent splitting or breaking of nails.

• If you have brittle nails, it is advisable to wear a nail polish, or at least the colorless base coat, as much as you can.