Insider's Guide to Spas

09/02/2026

Somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic, between Barbados and Tenerife, the ship slowed beneath a full moon.

On the bow of the Scenic Eclipse II, a sound bath unfolded against a phosphorescent sea—a rare moment when wellness, place, and a little bit of magic converge.

Mary Bemis crosses the Atlantic aboard the inaugural Scenic Wellness Retreat and discovers what happens when a repositioning voyage becomes something else entirely . . .

Read our September spa feature on Insider’s Guide to Spas; link in bio.

📸 photos courtesy Scenic Cruises

08/14/2026

The Power of Touch

It took nearly a decade of determination for Josanna to bring the oncology esthetics program of the Ricardo Fisas Natura Bissé Foundation to the States.

Today, the growing nonprofit provides no-cost oncology esthetics services to people navigating cancer, while training beauty & wellness professionals in a form of care that goes far beyond the skin.

What surprised Gaither most? The emotional impact.

“Again and again, people tell us they finally feel seen—not as cancer patients, but as human beings.”

For Insider’s, Mary Bemis talks with Gaither about persistence, raising the standards of oncology esthetics, and why, even as treatments and technology evolve, the power of touch remains true.

Read “A Decade of Determination” at the link in bio.

08/03/2026

"Montegrotto Terme may be among the most prominent spa towns you’ve never heard of," reports roving wellness expert Laura Powell. "Sitting in the Euganean Hills region of northern Italy, this was the spa town to soak in—about 2,000 years ago. During the Roman Empire, the upper classes flocked here to relax, hobnob and heal at this luxurious spa resort, featuring grand bath complexes, gardens and cultural venues like theaters and libraries. The ruins of some of these structures can still be seen today."

Discover Terme Preistoriche Resort & Spa in Montegrotto Terme, where ancient Euganean thermal mud, healing waters, and modern wellness meet.

08/03/2026

"The brainchild of celebrity makeup artist and former Armani Beauty VP Tim Quinn, and holistic wellness coach and author Mark Turnipseed, Halo42 is a tightly edited collection of luxe elixirs for face and body that owes a heavy debt to copaiba, an oleoresin tapped from Copaifera trees indigenous to the Amazon rainforest," writes Contributing Beauty Editor, Dana Wood Schoenbeck.

More on copaiba in a bit; the backstory of this brand is too compelling to not dive into:

Discover how Halo42 combines luxury skincare, Amazonian copaiba, and a story of recovery, resilience, and ritual to redefine self-care.

06/12/2026

For 15 years, has encouraged people around the world to make wellbeing a priority.

This year, the focus is on something beautifully simple: Joy.

In our latest conversation, founder explored why expanding our joyspan may be one of the most important wellness goals of all. 💖

Link in bio.

06/05/2026

What happens when a founder decides his company should never be sold?


After more than four decades building sanctuary, Michael Stusser has taken a remarkable step to ensure that the values at the heart of the business—healing, sustainability, community & purpose—will endure for generations to come.

In this exclusive interview, Michael shares why he transferred Osmosis into a Perpetual Purpose Trust, a groundbreaking ownership model designed to protect the mission rather than maximize profit.

It’s a powerful story about legacy, stewardship & reimagining what business can be.

Read the full story at the link in bio.

Photos: the lovely Zen garden; Michael Stusser; the cedar enzyme baths; an historic shot of Michael in practice 🪷

06/05/2026

Belgin Aksoy discusses the theme, the concept of joyspan, and why joy is essential to wellbeing.

04/15/2026

Sensitive skin isn’t really a category anymore—it’s where most people seem to land. A meta-analysis associated with Johns Hopkins University puts global self-reported sensitivity at around 71 percent of adults, with nearly 40 percent describing it as moderate to severe. Not long ago, that number hovered closer to 40 percent overall—now it feels like a different landscape entirely.

Blusonil Comfort Zone Laurel Skin

Sensitive skin is now the baseline. What’s driving rising reactivity—and how to restore balance in today’s skin.