Bring the Hammam home with you with the Moroccan Hammam Kit!

Moroccan Hammam Kit - $42 - helps you turn your own bathroom into an exotic hammam with four essential  products including:

Black Soap - 180ml - made up from a paste of organic soil, olive pits, hash, olive oil and salt for strong and effective exfoliation that's not too harsh on the skin with a smooth application that helps soothe irritation and redness.

Just keep in mind that it doesn't foam much so don't keep waiting for it to do that and over scrub yourself! It's easy to use - just apply evenly on moist skin during a bath or a hot shower. Let the product act for 5 minutes, then rub vigorously with the:

Kessa Glove - made of granular tissue indispensable for a deep skin scrub for purification and blood circulation activation - and can be used everywhere except the face.

Rassoul - 180ml - can be used on the body and hair - a natural mineral clay rich in nutrients such as silica, magnesium, iron, potassium, and sodium - its high mineral content makes it an ideal toning treatment for the whole body. It acts as a wick, instead of repelling the dirt, it absorbs impurities - does not attack the protective film of the skin or protective sheath of the hair and therefore makes it an ideal treatment for sensitive and allergic skin and is even suitable even for dyed hair.

After the exfoliation with the black soap and the kessa glove, apply a thin layer on the whole body while still wet. Relax and let dry about 10 to 15 minutes. When the clay dries, you will feel the absorption on the skin and will see the color of the rassoul becoming paler. Finish by rinsing thoroughly with water.

Or if using on the hair - apply it to the scalp and on its whole length while showering. Wait about 5 minutes without contact with water then rinse and follow with shampoo.

Argan Oil - 70ml - 100% organic and chock full of vitamin E - it's particularly great for dry skin as a moisturizer or as a powerful natural anti-aging. The perfect finish to your Hammam treatment, can be used on the face, neck, body and hair.

Available online at www.moroccan-hammam.com - they ship to Canada, USA and International so you can get your fix no matter where you are. My only complaint is going to be that shipping is expensive - $19! But that is typical for the way that Canada Post screws you over - with what they charge for shipping I find it hard to believe they are having money problems...

- Lisamarie -

Hammam Spa - tranquility awaits you in the heart of Toronto!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I would make an excellent rich person. There would be none of that keeping my job and going to work stuff, I would spend all my time at the spa - really, there are enough spa services out there that I could get something different done every day!

Hammam Spa is one of the spas that I will be sure to visit often - fashioned on a traditional Turkish bath and even includes an authentic Turkish Steam Room! Just bear in mind that the steam room is co-ed and that during TIFF you might find Colin Farrell hanging out there - either of these things could be construed as negatives, you make up your own mind.

Upon entering Hammam, I could immediately feel the peace and tranquility, and the smell - wow, it just smells great - there is just something about the smell of a spa that just makes me happy!

Services available include: facials ($130-$175), peels ($70), microdermabrasion ($125), massage ($75-$195), body treatments ($120-$140), epilation ($15-$100) - and always my favourite - manicures ($30-$60) and pedicures ($45-$75) - so of course that's what I went for!

As you can see in the pic above, you sit on a throne-like chair for the pedicure - great for having a pedicure party - you can all just sit in a row and chat, or if you want solitude the curtain can come down to separate the stations! The lovely Morgan made quick work of my winter-abused feet and she didn't even roll her eyes when I changed my mind about polish colour and made her hunt down the perfect turquoise! I left with hands and feet that you wouldn't know had ever done a day of work!

I heard that some of our crazy lovely readers do not enjoy spa-ing, I won't pretend to understand it but I will give you another reason to check out Hammam - beauty products of course! Shop lines like Juara (an amazing botanical line), Naturelle D'Orient (an organic Argan oil line), Altru and faves like Dermalogica - maybe the atmosphere will inspire you to get something done too!

You'll find Hammam Spa at 602 King Street West in Toronto - 416-366-4772

- Lisamarie -