LA's Fave Derm Clinic Facile Launches Effective, Affordable Skincare Line

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Facile Skincare is a new, simplified skincare line designed by one of LA’s most innovative dermatologists

West Hollywood dermatology clinic Facile Dermatology + Boutique has launched a line of clinical skincare essentials for all skin-types. This is the first national launch from this LA dermatology clinic known for its design-driven, luxe atmosphere and celebrity following that includes Mandy Moore, Lucy Hale and Dove Cameron. Facile’s skincare line is meant to encapsulate its brand philosophy that “good skin should be easy” at an affordable price point. Each product is dermatologist-designed and can be used on its own or in tandem with the menu of medical and esthetician services offered at Facile’s Melrose Place flagship clinic. 

Made with nontoxic ingredients, each of Facile’s new products are designed to be, “clinical, kind, conscious and sustainable,” according to the brand. The four core basic products include a Bare Necessity hyaluronic acid gel cleanser, a Barely There moisturizer made with Vitamin B5 and green tea, a Dew You hyaluronic Acid serum for lightweight moisturizing with peptides and a Lip Jelly lip moisturizer made with Vitamin E and peptides. The four Super Skin Serums include a Brighten brightening serum that gently exfoliates with tranexamic acid and niacinamide, a Clear acne serum made with lactic and glycolic acids, a Destress calming serum with anti-inflammatory properties and a Reverse anti-aging serum to brighten and smooth with retinol and chamomile. All of the four core basics and four serums have been created for use on all skin types. 

According to Danielle Nadick-Levy, Co-founder and CEO of Facile Skincare and clinics, “We really took our time when developing our line of products. We wanted to create what we felt was missing from an oversaturated market.” Each offering in the new line is, “fragrance-free and gentle enough for sensitive skin types but still make a difference in all skin types. Our Core 4 is the perfect simplified regimen for morning and night and the four Super Skin serums are aimed at tackling the four most common skin concerns.” She continues, “you don’t need to break the bank to get great skincare,” pointing out that Facile Skincare products start at $12.

In addition to offering gentle-yet-effective skincare at an accessible price, Nadick-Levy shares that, “It was really important to us that the line had a very low footprint so all of our packaging - including shipping materials - were made with that in mind. Our glass droppers are made of 50% post-industrial recycled glass, and are recyclable themselves. Our airless bottles are made of recyclable materials,” and all boxes are compostable, fluorocarbon-free and coated with food-safe pigments; and mailer boxes are made from 99% post-consumer fiber.

Facile is available for purchase now at Facileskin.com.

California Resorts Doing Wellness Well, According to Arizona Foothills Mag

Ty, Suzanne and Arizona Foothills Mag! Travel writer Suzanne Koch of Arizona Foothills magazine covered six California resorts that are offering new and interesting wellness amenities. Included in her list are our Well + Away Urban Sanctuary rooms at San Francisco’s Stanford Court Hotel. This is a collaboration we are so proud of, and includes a number of our favorite ways to feel good while in the City by the Bay.

Below is Suzanne’s take on our program at Stanford Court Hotel. To read about more California resorts doing wellness resorts well, read her full story at Arizona Foothills magazine here.

Stanford Court Hotel
San Francisco

Developed in partnership with San Francisco-based healthy travel startup Well + Away, Stanford Court Hotel has debuted its new Urban Sanctuary rooms centered on sleep, nutrition and fitness. A stay in one of these wellness-inspired rooms include a Well + Away VitalKits, packed with healthy snacks and drinks and energizing products; access to Gaiam gear; Aaptiv Fitness App access; Calm Meditation App access; a copy of The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide to Ancient Self-Care; Buddha Teas CBD Teas; and in-room oxygen-boosting plants.

For more information on our Stanford Court Urban Sanctuary rooms, and to book now visit Stanford Court Hotel and select Urban Sanctuary rooms.

As always, feel free to email us at hello@wellandaway.com to inquire about creating new healthy hotel rooms.

How The Millennial Founder Of Cool-Girl Med Spa GoodSkin Bootstrapped An Industry-Changing Clinic

Lisa Goodman is a former physician’s assistant to celebrity-dermatologist Ava Shamban, and now millennial-founder of GoodSkin medical spa (med spa), with locations in Los Angeles and New York. Wanting to offer a more holistic and subtle approach to medical aesthetics than what she was seeing, Goodman became the first on this side of the Atlantic to open a European-style med spa, offering patients her signature ‘Untouched Look’ (the ‘no-makeup-makeup’ look of the aesthetics world), inspired by the work of top medical professionals in France.  

Bootstrapping her business with savings originally meant for a house downpayment, Goodman grew GoodSkin from renting a small space on the upper east side to building out a design-forward flagship in the tony LA enclave of Brentwood, complete with secret VIP entrance. Here is how Goodman built LA and New York’s cool-girl medspa for the non-medspa-crowd.

How did you get your start in the world of medical aesthetics? Where did the concept for GoodSkin start?

I started my career at age 23 in Los Angeles working under celebrity dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban. At 31,  I had the chance to shadow Paris-based plastic surgeon Dr. Pierre-Alain Mayeux and Dr. Claude Ahaharoni, where my perspective on injectables completely changed. I was really inspired by the unique approach and technique that Europeans took to the cosmetic industry and wanted to deliver these types of results to clients in America. 

What haven’t LA’s existing medspas gotten right? Where did you see room in the market for a new kind of skin clinic?

I think for a lot of existing medspas, the treatments tend to be consumer-driven and not based on a diagnostic or consultative approach, and often medspas also follow beauty trends. One takeaway from my time in Europe is that our trademarked Untouched Look results must first be based on expert diagnosis and then a bespoke plan is made for the client. By combining treatment planning with advanced techniques, which includes advanced photo-taking capabilities, we are able to have no two clients look alike over time but rather look like a more rested, youthful and healthy version of themself. To elaborate on our advanced photo taking process, in addition to Vectra which I go into detail about below, patients are photographed in our in-house photo room that is designed to mimic natural light versus a standard medical office. Therefore patients are able to get the most realistic perspective during their consultation. On a separate note…our Brentwood office is… an intimate setting that feels warm, inviting, and elegant so you don’t feel like you’re in a typical clinical setting. 

From a technical and product point-of-view, when I studied in Europe I noticed that in comparison to the cosmetic enhancement industry in the US, Europe was following their own path that was quite different. With that in my mind, I went through a process of almost re-learning what I knew and researching ways I could bring these results stateside. Now, I have developed the trademarked Untouched Look, which is a completely personalized approach to anti-aging. When it comes to cosmetic procedures, especially, I believe that clients who are invested in anti-aging were ready to make a shift from the “quick fix” approach in the US to one that was tailored to them. Additionally, pre-COVID myself and my staff would take frequent trips to Paris and Monaco to attend cosmetic conferences to ensure we were staying up to date on the latest techniques and maintained that international influence at GoodSkin. 

How did you determine which market to open in, and what were the biggest challenges as a first-time business owner?

I grew up in Los Angeles and started my career here, so it was never a consideration to open elsewhere. New York came about because I was engaged for five years to a wonderful French man and made the monthly trip with my dear dog Henry. To break up the trip for Henry, we stopped in New York and offered to see some of our East Coast clients during the trip. We were renting space from someone else on the Upper East Side but clients started to refer other clients and soon we ran out of space. We had 10 suitcases full of products and tools on our last trip to New York before we made the decision to open the NYC office. My sister basically said if I ever made her pack like that again she would kill me, so the short answer is we let the market drive our location and buildout. Staffing clinics has always been a process that we take very seriously. We hire people that firmly believe and support the GoodSkin culture and aesthetic. 

What can patients expect, results-wise that might be different than a traditional MedSpa or dermatology clinic?

A diagnostic and scientific approach is really at the heart of everything we do at GoodSkin. We start by consulting with the client on what their aging/skin concerns are and utilize Vectra, a state of art 3D imaging system, to map a client’s bone, muscle, fat, skin and fascia (what we have coined the five signs of aging) to develop an extensive Healthy Aging Plan with treatments targeted to the client’s needs. This technology shows the exact results clients can expect to receive before any procedure takes place, allowing them to explore possible outcomes and understand any limitations. 

How did you transition from working for others to opening the first GoodSkin clinic? 

I made the leap because once I had seen the way other countries were utilizing this field I couldn't “unsee” it, so it felt as if it was just something that I had to take the risk to do. The process was scary actually. I was not unhappy working for someone else and rather became an entrepreneur out of sheer force and belief, but it was not my first choice. I sometimes even miss the benefits of being an employee but like I said, I can't unsee what I learned. I consulted with my parents who gave me the confidence I needed in myself to make the leap. 

You made the decision not to raise money in order to start the GoodSkin concept. How did you bootstrap the business and how did you come to the decision to bootstrap? 

I had been saving for many years to put towards a house. Instead of buying a house, I started a business and have always insisted on self-funding as we retain control over our brand and even the client experience. It took eight months from concept to open doors. 

What advice would you have for others looking to do something big and different either in a clinical or beauty setting? 

Find that something “big and different” that you wholeheartedly believe in. Even in the few first months when it was a small business with fewer clients, I still had no regrets even though I was still unsure of the upcoming success. I had no regrets because like I said, I could not physically go back to practicing the “standard American” way and so, for better or worse, it was the truth I had to follow. I was prepared to take on a second job if this one failed and although none of us ever want to fail, I was mentally ready because it was worth it to me to take this big risk and start my own clinic. 

There are some that may read this with a more business background and feel entirely different about the whole process. This is simply my viewpoint from someone who never took a single business class but rather had my head in all medical studies. 

What does the future of GoodSkin look like?

We recently launched the GoodSkin App so we can connect with patients all over the world who can apply our techniques to their own face and learn their own individual Healthy Aging Plan.

Lisa Goodman of GoodSkin

Get Ready To Sweat - The New SoulCycle At-Home Bike Is Available Everywhere

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Starting last week, SoulCycle riders in all 48 contiguous states can bring the sweaty, high-energy, in-studio experience into their home with the national launch of SoulCycle’s at-home bike. Initially released to a small set of markets in March, this national launch coincides with the co-launch of Variis mobile app. SoulCycle’s live and on-demand classes stream to the at-home bike’s screen via Variis, Equinox Media’s digital fitness media platform. In addition to powering the digital SoulCycle experience, the standalone Variis mobile app also launches today, powering digital access to a variety of Equinox’s other notable digital fitness and mindfulness modalities.

Not surprisingly given the current climate, demand for SoulCycle’s at-home bike skyrocketed after safer-at-home orders were issued earlier this spring, necessitating a change in rollout plans for the greater launch. According to Equinox Media and Variis CEO Jason LaRose, “We launched this March to select markets and had planned to test and iterate before going national. With the pandemic, it felt critical to accelerate our roadmap and give our members and riders the ability to pursue fitness from wherever they are. On the first day we started taking SoulCycle at-home bike orders, consumers from 47 states and 11 countries were reaching out to us asking when the bike would be available to them.” 

SoulCycle’s at-home bike experience now includes both on-demand and a growing schedule of live classes. Class length ranges from 20, 30 and 45 minutes, and difficulty from beginner to advanced. Riders can filter by instructor, and peek at class playlists before committing to a ride (something never possible with the in-studio experience). Following rider demand in test markets, SoulCycle and Variis accelerated the addition of live classes. These live rides have been a major hit. According to LaRose and member data, “We’ve seen tremendous reception to the launch of our live rides last month—97% of riders have shared positive user satisfaction ratings, and live riders now ride an additional class per week. We are also building in community features that enable riders to see where others are joining from, and how many people they’re riding alongside—so wherever they are, they’re part of the pack.”

Plans for the standalone Variis mobile app launch were similarly expedited, based on Equinox member demand and a spike in at-home usage. Initially intending to introduce the app in a phased rollout in the spring, Variis accelerated the launch by more than six months and expanded from one market to 14 in less than two months. According to Equinox member data, since Variis’s pilot launch in March, those members who use the app are working out nearly 20% more per month compared to last year. Approximately 2.5 of these workouts each week take place via the app, across 2.3 types of classes. The Variis app now offers, via a monthly subscription, unlimited classes across Equinox’s own roster, as well as SoulCycle, PURE Yoga, Precision Run, HeadStrong, and now [solidcore], Rumble and TB12. LaRose hopes that, starting today, Variis can offer, “an unrivaled streaming experience... classes that best suit each modality, and translate each brand’s deeply engaging real-life experiences—from SoulCycle to [solidcore] to Rumble—to the world of digital.”

The SoulCycle and Variis at-home fitness experiences continue to show the demand for, what LaRose calls, the, “first 360 digital-meets-physical experience on the market.” Since launching in mid-March, LaRose shares that, “Demand for the bike has consistently outperformed forecasts, and sales have increased 115% week-over-week upon our recent introduction of financing and live classes, all of which drove us to double production heading into the tail end of the year, while allowing us to maintain an industry-leading delivery window of 1-3 weeks.” He continues, “Through our partners at Equinox and SoulCycle, we are uniquely positioned to deliver on this hybrid model, and have accelerated our reach and rollout since our March launch to meet the overwhelming demand for premium content and quality instruction that is currently unmet in today’s fitness landscape. Scaling access rapidly, market by market leading to today’s national availability, this is a watershed moment for our brand to continue the forward momentum.”

With this launch LaRose would like, “To inspire and equip you to pursue fitness every day—whether that’s through movement, recovery, meditation, or whatever your, his, her, or their body needs to be ready for today—and we hope this release helps our members and riders achieve exactly that.” Next up for SoulCycle and Variis? Riders looking to multitask will soon be able to “free ride” while streaming entertainment from Netflix, Amazon and Disney+.

The SoulCycle at-home bike is now available for $2,500. The Variis app is available to download as a monthly membership for $39.99/month. Eligible American Express cardholders can enroll in and receive statement credits of up to $25 per month, beginning October 9. Exclusively at launch, Variis app memberships include four Equinox day passes, as well as a virtual or in-person fitness assessment on your first visit. A monthly Variis membership of $40 powers the SoulCycle at-home bike and gives riders unlimited, on-demand access to content from SoulCycle and and other, leading fitness partners.

The Best Streaming Workouts For A Quarantine Sweat

Sculpt Society

All of my favorite irl studios are now streaming virtual classes, perfect for offsetting my extra wine consumption and giving my sheltered-at-home brain an endorphin boost. Many classes don’t require kitted-out home gym set-ups, and instead rely on either plain, old bodyweight or household items from chairs and soup cans to towels and bottles of wine. Ranging from dance cardio to bootcamps to barre, here are the top streaming workouts I’m relying on to keep my abs, buns and sanity intact, to the other side of the safer-at-home wine fest. 

Barrys

Barry’s

Barry’s virtual Red Room is offered just about on the hour, every hour throughout the day. Workouts are abridged to 35 minutes per class to suit at-home attention spans (just me?) and conducted over Zoom. Schedules are organized by region: east, central and west, in order to provide familiar instructors and time slots. As in traditional Barry’s Bootcamp classes, different muscle groups are the focus on different days, with classes offered in a variety of prop and bodyweight options. Currently, Barry’s is offering a 28-day Social Fitness challenge. 

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The Sculpt Society

Megan Roup’s Sculpt Society is a dance cardio fitness method popularized by supermodels and celebs (fans include Elsa Hosk and Sofia Richie), with classes ranging from 5 to 50 minutes and most clocking in at around 35. Megan’s classes are easy enough to follow along with for non-dancers, sweaty, modifiable to always be prop-free and new sweaty routines are offered each week. During shelter-at-home orders, Megan is offering a two-week complimentary trial to new Sculpt Society members.

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Tone It Up

Tone It Up has been offering complimentary access to its robust fitness app during the pandemic. Workouts appear in the app, and range from HIIT and kickboxing to yoga sculpt and barre. Classes range in time commitment from a breezy 9-minute HIIT class to 35-minute yoga flows. 

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Aaptiv

Throughout every new and notable fitness app launch, I always go back to Aaptiv. All-audio workouts, meditations, runs and recovery sessions led by a variety of talented instructors range from beginner to advanced and from short to marathon (marathon-training is in fact one programming option in the app). Workouts can be filtered by level of difficulty, instructor, music and a multitude of other options - making it super customizable. Currently, Aaptiv is offering 30-days of free membership to new subscribers.

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Healthified Life

The newest option on this list, Healthified Life’s dance-cardio classes are taught by current assistant coach and former captain of the Warriors Dance Team Amira Mourad. Offered a handful of times each week via Healthified.co, Amira’s classes are fast-moving, incorporate dance cardio and strength movements and are prop-free.  

Remedy Place, The First Social Wellness Club, Opens in Los Angeles

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The first ‘social wellness club’ is now open in Los Angeles’ West Hollywood neighborhood. Called Remedy Place, the facility opened its doors on November 21 at 8305 Sunset Boulevard, intended to become a ‘gathering place for those seeking to achieve a state of balance,’ according to the brand. 

The new club, which is open to the public, is the vision of Founder Dr. Jonathan Leary, a concierge wellness doctor with a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences and a celebrity following. Meant to help its members achieve balance throughout seven elements of balance, according to Dr. Leary’s philosophy, the club encompasses treatment areas, a members’ lounge, a meditation room and a nutritional bar. These are, “Mind, oxygen, movement, nutrients, cold, heat and compression.” Treatment-experiences range from infrared sauna, to ice baths, to cryotherapy and hyperbaric chamber oxygen therapy. 

Of the opening, Dr Leary shares, “Remedy Place is the manifestation of my life’s work – which is to radically change the way society integrates education into wellness. Our current healthcare model is dependent and reactive, but I believe people should be independent and proactive. This can only be done through education. I want people to take back control, to utilize incredible technologies that exist today to keep their bodies in a healthy state of balance through preventative care that counteracts these stressors, so they don’t build up and push their health over the edge. To do this, I wanted to create a place that was communal in nature, so that one can incorporate wellness into their social life – because the two can and should go hand in hand.”

Treatments are meant to be fast and accommodating to busy schedules of members, and include both group fitness classes, group meditation classes and recovery treatments, such as lymphatic drainage massage and movement therapy. Curated pairings of recovery treatments are also available to members, and include items such as a “Post-LAX, designed to reset and rebalance after the travails of travel utilizing hyperbaric chamber oxygen therapy, infrared sauna and an ice bath with breath work,” and a “Morning After, to combat a hangover using cryotherapy, infrared sauna and a lymphatic drainage massage.” Additionally, all services can be paired with auditory meditation journeys designed in partnership with Master & Dynamic. 

Remedy Place is now open to the public and services and classes start at $30. 

Well + Away Holiday Gifting 2019: The Ultimate Wellness Gift Guide

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Welcome to the gifts we can’t wait to give this year:

For the Health-nut Who Needs A Day Off

Nobu Go Facial, Caesars Palace (Las Vegas)

Source: Caesars Palace

Source: Caesars Palace

Launched to celebrate Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace’s five-year anniversary, the 100-minute Nobu Go Facial combines five luxury spa experiences in one over-the-top treatment. Meaning “five” in Japanese, the Go Facial starts with a VR meditation experience (yup), then moves into a hydrating facial treatment that includes a gold face mask and topical Botox called the “Cinderella Lift”, followed by masks on hands and feet, and finishing with a full-body moisturizer application.

Ultra-Fractional Treatment, Skin Laundry (Multiple Locations)

Source: Skin Laundry

Source: Skin Laundry

Best known for its signature, no-down-time, 15-minute laser and light facial, Skin Laundry has stepped it up this month with a high octane (but still no down-time) Ultra Fractional Facial. The new laser facial is a non-ablative fractional resurfacing laser that does all the things we like lasers to do: target pigmentation, reverse sun-damage and improve texture through stimulating collagen. Post-laser, medical-grade serums customized for skin type are applied.

Balance Wellness Package, Four Seasons Westlake (Westlake Village)

Source: Four Seasons Westlake Village

Source: Four Seasons Westlake Village


The Four Seasons Westlake Village property is just outside of LA city limits, but feels like a far-flung resort. The spa itself is adjacent to a full-scale medical wellness clinic that shares the grounds with the hotel, so naturally its treatments are going to pamper in a clinically sound way. A 225-minute Balance package includes a 50-minute Tranquility massage, a 50-minute Signature Facial, a 50-minute Ginger Lime Sugar Glow scrub and a 30-minute Classic Manicure and 45-minute Pedicure.

Sugar Peppermint Scrub and Wrap, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel (Los Angeles)

Source: Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Source: Beverly Wilshire Hotel

This 90-minute, signature Sugar Peppermint Scrub and Wrap is basically the Beverly Hills, 60-minute spa version of Christmas. Starting with a cooling, whipped sugar peppermint scrub, a hydrating peppermint butter wrap is applied to the body, followed by a scalp massage and application of a rich, firming body lotion.

For the Hostess

Natural Wine Subscription, Dry Farm Wines

Source: Dry Farm Wines

Source: Dry Farm Wines

For those of us who drink, nothing beats a delicious wine that happens to be llow-sugar, toxin-free and naturally made. All of the wines included in Dry Farm Wines’ subscriptions are biodynamic, organic, sustainably produced and small-batch. Gift a monthly subscription that include monthly shipments of six wines, selected from small producers around the world.

Champagne Eric Philippe Extra Brut, Tayson Pierce Estate Wines

Source: Tayson Pierce Estate Wines

Source: Tayson Pierce Estate Wines

The Champagne Eric Philippe is produced by renowned single-estate producer Tayson Pierce Estate Wines, and contains 93% less added sugar than most commercially available extra brut bottlings. As far as calories go, it can take two glasses of dry Champagne to equal of the calorie count one glass of non-sparkling wine, perfect for making room for a second slice of pie.

For the ‘Always on the go’ City Dweller

Grocery Delivery Gift Card, Hungryroot

Source: Hungryroot

Source: Hungryroot

The best non meal-kit-meal-kit of them all. Why? Each meal takes only ten minutes to prep, sauces come prepared (and nearly all are vegan-friendly), and there is so much less packaging than those guilt-inflicting, first-wave kits. Each week, depending on the size of subscription, Hungryroot curates a selection of meals and snacks or desserts for the week ahead. Upon delivery, you can visit the site to review recipes and in ten minutes be treated to super-easy, healthy and yummy meals for two.

Healthy Meals in a Cup, Daily Harvest

Source: Daily Harvest

Source: Daily Harvest

Daily Harvest’s single-serve, meal kits in a cup range from superfood smoothies to warming soups to hearty grain bowls. All meals arrive frozen, with meal ingredients prepped and ready to be warmed or blended into filling vegan meal on-the-go. This season’s new items include a limited edition Chocolate and Peppermint CBD Latte, and a new, gift-able ‘Gift a Nine Box’.

For the Beauty-obsessed

Carte Blush Membership, Blushington

Source: Blushington

Source: Blushington

Blushington’s unlimited makeup application service is called Carte Blush, and includes your standard full-face makeup application, plus decadent add-ons including airbrush foundation and lashes at no charge. The Carte Blush membership now also includes dry hairstyling, making it the handiest beauty hack since DryBar launched.

UFO by FOREO

Source: Foreo

Source: Foreo

We are obsessed with FOREO’s crazy combination of Korean sheet mask and infrared light therapy. The UFO device is a hockey-puck shaped little device, inside of which can be placed a series of single-use, mini Korean-designed sheet mask formulations. The FOREO app reads the mask and determines which combination of red and blue lights, heating and cooling cycles and T-Sonic pulsations are most appropriate for that type of mask, then it starts whirring away and 90 seconds late, DIY spa treatment complete .

For Anyone

A Massage at The NOW

Source: The NOW

Source: The NOW

LA ‘everyday-luxe’ massage studio The NOW offers the best way to chill out, in a jiff. For anyone on your list who is not within stone’s throw of The NOW studios, the brand now ships their dreamy, chill Cali vibes candles, new body oils and lotion nationally. This is the gift of turning a home bathroom into a chic little LA sanctuary.
























































The Five Best Cold Weather Hotels Anywhere

Source: @Balmoral

Source: @Balmoral

As long as I’m not driving anywhere, I love a cold, gray, rainy day. At home, I turn on the fire, brew up a hot cacao and dig into the latest self-care-ish book I’ve been meaning to tuck into. This evening, I will be doing just that: whipping up a Buddha bowl in my air fryer alongside that hot cacao, courtesy of this handy Well + Good roundup, cracking open the gorgeous Lonny Home book and parking myself right in front of the fireplace. What’s even better than a cozy night in is a cozy night in some of the coziest hotels I’ve visited. Think plush couches, massive fireplaces, endless horizons and warm vibes. Here are the five hotels I wish I could transport myself to right now, rain, book, and all. 

Source: @CentralHotelogCafe

Source: @CentralHotelogCafe

Central Hotel & Cafe, Copenhagen, Denmark

This tiny hotel is as teeny as my teeny tiny dorm room was once upon a time. At just 12 square meters it’s certainly one of the smallest hotels anywhere. It’s coziness factor, or hygge as the Danes might say, comes from dark wood details and rich emerald wallpaper. The sole guest-room room on-property contains a double bed and sits above a cafe. A lovely sound system, views of the neighborhood bustle outside and Geismar linens make this a perfect cozy stay for a happy shut-in.

Source: @Sohohousenewyork

Source: @Sohohousenewyork

Soho House, New York, New York

Sitting just above the members’ areas, Soho House New York’s 24 guestrooms, categorized as small, medium or large are all cold-weather friendly, with residential-feeling, bleached wood flooring and paneling, oversized armchairs, a fully stocked bar cart and massive and beautifully tiled showers. The coziest rooms might be the property’s Medium Rooms, with plush seating areas, high ceilings and, most importantly, a claw-footed bathtub smack in the middle of the room. If a fireplace is what you’re after, pop downstairs to the private members’ club restaurant and bar area (hotel guests have access as if they were a member, and can bring one guest) and grab a table right in front of the roaring, wood-burning fireplace.

Source: @Balmoral

Source: @Balmoral

Balmoral, Edinburgh, Scotland

With almost 200 days of rain each year, there’s more than a 50% chance that if you’re booking the Balmoral even in May that you’ll get a gray day, perfect for cuddling up inside. Opened in 1902, and renovated with contemporary finishes in 2018, modern creature comforts like heated bathroom floors meet old world detail like intricate plasterwork and a massive clocktower. Fireplaces throughout the property are lit 24/7 during holiday time, and the daily breakfast buffet and famed afternoon tea in the Palm Court are vegan-friendly, making it way too easy to never step foot outside after check-in.

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Lough Eske Castle, Donegal, Ireland

Dating from the 15th century, Lough Eske stands apart from the other castle-hotels in the region that often feel awkwardly split between time periods - with stately bones but mismatched furnishings. Not so at Lough Eske, which is the castle-hotel of our winter wonderland dreams. Multiple fireplaces, tapestry-covered walls, reading nooks and soaring ceilings make the public spaces the real draw here. The property’s 43 acres of manicured gardens and walking paths (bundle up!) make for a beautiful afternoon meander when clutching a mug of hot coffee. 

Source: @pjhavel

Source: @pjhavel

Tutka Bay Lodge, Tutka Bay, Alaska

Located at the entrance of a seven-mile fjord, accessible only by float plane or local water taxi, Tutka Bay Lodge is one of the most customized, high-touch luxury lodge experiences anywhere. Just six cabins onsite (some with wood-burning fireplaces that can be lit as part of turn-down), and a truly world-class culinary program mean that your version of a five-star, cozy af, off-the-grid experience with some of the best food you’ll ever have are just what they do. There is nothing like sitting in the outdoor hot tub after a day of privately guided hiking, looking at the stars, with nobody and no light pollution for miles. 

How I'm Having My Best-Ever Thanksgiving


Source: Country Living

Source: Country Living


I am not away this holiday weekend. I am very much at home, ¼ of the way through a Thanksgiving menu prep list and so thankful to get to celebrate with family for the first time in my new home. As I prepare to gather my family for a totally plant-based Thanksgiving, complete with some delicious desserts by my favorite local vegan bakeries, I wanted to share some of my favorite resources for luxuriating in being at home, no planes, no trains, no traffic, probably not even any shoes. 

Tablescaping
Tablescaping is my new mindfulness exercise. After years of tiny-apartment living, I have a dining table (like, not just a couch and coffee table). I am 100% enthusiasm and 0% on experience, so have been relying on these gorgeous tables, including one by Well + Away friend Abbye Churchill.

A 2017 Classic
This post by The Atlantic from 2017 is my go-to for anyone who thinks that ditching plastic straws is really doing all that much for the climate and water waste. Hint: it’s not. This investigative style report on water waste and animal agriculture shares how much of a change we can make by swapping beef for beans.

Just move. 
I am preparing my body for a feast to end all feasts by kicking off Thanksgiving morning with a SoulCycle session to get my metabolism revving and ready to eat and drink. My goal for after dinner is to get the family on an easy 15-minute walk, probably with drinks in hand, to break up all the sitting (and because I have no interest in football). 

Cut out some of the booze
More and more people are not drinking, going either sober, ‘California sober’ ie just cutting booze, or just being mindful of what their alcohol intake is. I’m making it easier to still feel festive and not drink by offering a sparkling cranberry punch. And there will be plenty of cola-flavored LaCroixs. 

Give plants center stage
I am not a blogger. I am not up-to-date on what is happening in the blogosphere, I don’t know who is winning blog awards and I when I write it is either for our Well + Away VitalGuide guidebooks or for traditional media outlets. As amateur a blogger as I might be, what I do know is that blogger Stacey Homemaker and her complete ‘how-to’ guide for a vegan Thanksgiving is the most useful blog post ever written. Enjoy



SoulCycle Launched Its Own Retreat Program (Answering All Of Our Fitness Prayers)

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Those who enjoy both luxe travel and premium indoor cycling should take note that Retreats by SoulCycle has launched this week. In partnership with luxury tour operator Black Tomato, SoulCycle fans (and their friends, because no doubt us fanatical SoulCycle devotees will tell everyone we know) can now find their center through Black Tomato-organized, SoulCycle-inspired experiences over the course of a handful of days. Retreat itineraries will be curated by SoulCycle’s top instructors and filled with activities that, like their signature classes, focus on community and fitness; with ancillary spa and wellness programming. When not sweating together, rider-travelers will be guided through local experiences reflective of the local culture and nourishing food. 

According to SoulCycle CEO Melanie Whelan, “SoulCycle classes are physical, musical, emotional and community-based - some of our riders say we create a sanctuary, therapy and release as the experience gives them space to connect to themselves. Our retreats have been designed similarly. Each retreat is multi-dimensional and offers participants the opportunity to find their center through one-of-a-kind experiences in amazing destinations - while also connecting with a like-minded community. The experiences are specially curated by our incredible, top instructors and include activities that focus on community building and bonding, movement, nourishing food, and, of course, SoulCycle.” 

The first retreat took place last week in Texas’ Hill Country and led by Master Instructor Melanie Griffith and Senior Instructor Bevin Prince. According to SoulCycle, this itinerary included mindfulness exercises led by Melanie, breathing workshops with acupuncturist and Reiki Master Erin Telford, healing workshops, morning movement sessions, SoulCycle classes, and stargazing. Hospitality partners for this retreat included The Kimpton Van Zandt and Lucky Arrow Retreat, and will include others in the future. 

According to the brand, “the first official Retreats by SoulCycle trip open to the public will take place in Winter, 2020 and will be available for purchase in the coming months (those interested can sign up for more intel here). The cost of the trips will vary based on the destination at hand and length of the trip. The first trip will accommodate 20-30 participants with quantities varying moving forward based on the destination at hand.”