Clarins Life in Balance Spa at Miraval: Brings a European Flair to the Southwest

I recently had the privilege of being invited to the renowned Miraval Resort & Spa on behalf of Clarins, to indulge in a first hand experience of their recently opened Life in Balance Spa and it was nothing short of spectacular! Ever since Oprah took a group of viewers to this destination spa and showcased how amazing it was on her show, it has been on my bucket list of places to see in my life. Clarins invited me and a handful of other amazing bloggers to experience the magic of this special place and most importantly to immerse ourselves in their gorgeous new Spa at the resort.

First, let me tell you a little bit more about Miraval. Miraval is a top-rated all-inclusive destination resort and award-winning spa, located in Tucson, Arizona on 400 acres of idyllic desert land. Miraval is a dedicated to opening eyes, minds, and hearts, centering around the concept of Life in Balance. Mindfulness is the core of the Miraval philosophy, and guests are encouraged to live in the present moment, conscious of the unique intersection of mind, body, and spirit. Miraval is so much more than just a spa or getaway, it is a life-changing and life re-affirming place that totally transforms  you.

Upon arrival, it’s easy to see why Miraval is one of the world’s top destination spa resorts

The property is first class luxury, the grounds are gorgeous, serene and really capture the beauty of the Southwest landscape and the service is personal, pampering and top notch. Upon arrival, I was greeted by my own personal concierge who confirmed my schedule (and seamlessly fixed a scheduling glitch) and took me on a personal tour of the property then escorted me to my room. The room was cozy and well appointed and I was greeted with this lovely welcome gift courtesy of Clarins and Miraval

This was such a classy touch and I loved that Clarins gave me travel sizes of some of their cult fav products which perfectly enhanced my stay like Beauty Flash Balm (My latest obsession), One Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, HydraQuench Cream, Moisture Rich Body Lotion and UV Plus Day Screen SPF 40. And then a copy of the new Mindful Eating from Miraval Spa so that I could take their beautiful and healthy food suggestions home with me to enjoy (FYI Their healthy peanut butter which is half peanuts and half carrots is kinda addictive!)

After settling into nirvana, we had a meet and greet gathering with the Clarins team and other bloggers on the trip, and then I enjoyed my first of many meals at Miraval. The foodie in me loved the meals at Miraval because they maximized flavor, texture, seasonality and health! Here I am dining with two of the FABULOUS bloggers on this trip: Patrice of Afrobella & Julia of Brush Beauty Love

After my belly was satiated, it was time for some relaxation and pampering at the Clarins Life in Balance Spa for a Miraval/Clarins 80 minute Signature Facial and I adored every second of it. From the moment it started with a Eau Dynamisante Invigorating Fragrance wipe down, I knew I was in for something special. This refreshing aroma moisturizes, firms and tones with essential oils of Lemon, Patchouli, Petit Grain, Ginseng and White Tea and immediately transported me to luxurious European spa. From there, the esthetician used a multitude of Clarins products to hydrate, revitalize, lift and rejuvenate my skin. Honestly, it was a slice of heaven, my skin loved the products and the service was exceptional. My skin was glowing afterwards, take a look

I slept like a baby that night! The next morning we got a personal tour of the Life in Balance Spa with Simon Marxer, Spa Director. I have to say that the Life in Balance Spa is lovely, beautifully appointed and insanely relaxing. Here is the beautiful walkway leading into the spa

And the front entrance perfectly decorated with a tribal Southwest aesthetic

And a glimpse of the artwork and decor in the lobby of the spa

The highlight of this gorgeous spa is definitely the Quiet Room, which Simon told us was redesigned and elevated to maximize the view of the breath taking Southwest Mountains and landscape. I could have sat there for hours, it is a gorgeous space

And this is the full view you get while you basque in the quiet room

Simon also showed us the spa suite which was a lovely private space for VIP guests. Our group of bloggers was kinda fond of the spa suite shower, How many bloggers can you fit in a shower?

Me, Simon, Tami of Fete a Fete, Julia, Amber of Beauty Blogging Junkie, Patrice & Julie of xoJane.com

The Clarins Miraval Spa really is a fantastic space which really embraces Southwest decor with a modern touch and treatments that emulate a European flair. After our spa tour, our two lovely hostesses from the Clarins PR team shared the history of the brand, the brand image, the hero products and some of the new products coming out this Fall.

Clarins is French Spa brand that initially started with three oils. The products are all based on plant extracts enhanced with scientific research. While Clarins has European roots and has been around for a while, I learned that they truly have a magnificent range of products which address the skin related concerns of the modern woman (take Beauty Flash Balm for example.) We also got sneak peak of the Fall 2012 products which includes a loose mineral powder foundation, pretty mineral eye shadows and these gorgeous Rouge Prodige True Color & Shine Lipsticks

One of the most memorable experiences that I had a Miraval was our It’s Not About The Horse Experience with Horse Whisperer Wyatt Webb. Wyatt expertly took us each through an intense transformative experience where a horse  was used to help us identify and break patterns of learned behavior that we have carried with us throughout our life and limit  us in some way. Wyatt is an intense, candid, no bullshit shaman-like man who immediately saw through my crap and with his expert guidance and a horse named Elvis, I gained some powerful insights about myself and experienced a tremendous breakthrough

After my therapeutic experience with Wyatt, an indulgent spa treatment was a welcome reprieve and I relished every moment of my Outdoor Mountain Berry Clay Renewal Ritual. This indulgent outdoor body treatment took place in a climate controlled spacious outdoor tent and included a full body exfoliation with mineral infused bamboo, then I was covered in a yummy layer of an anti-oxidant rich blend of arctic lingonberry, raspberry and soothing white clay. While I was wrapped and cocooned, my masseuse rubbed a basil geranium oil into my scalp. Then I rinsed in a divine outdoor shower and the treatment was topped off with a deeply hydrating peach tree milk massage. I truly felt that this Clarins treatment also embraced the French Spa vibe and transported me to another place.

When I had some down time, I took some time to enjoy one of the gorgeous pools at Miraval and catch up on some click flick reading

The final two highlights of this bucket list trip were first, an up close and personal Chef’s Table tasting dinner in the Miraval kitchen with Executive Chef Chad Luethje.

We got a behind the scenes glimpse of the kitchen and all that goes into running this exquisite restaurant, the top notch seasonal ingredients and culinary inspirations that go into making this a healthy and coveted place to dine. My favorite dish of the night was this stellar seared scallop with a marinated kumquat that Chef Chad created especially for us, deelish!

And the final memory of Miraval that I will leave you with is a Swing and a Prayer. This transformative activity is centered around trust and the act of letting go. It is reminiscent of being a child on the swing set and is also a metaphor for letting go of our emotional blocks and moving forward into new healthier ways of living. Here are the wonderful group of bloggers and Clarins women that supported me on this exhilarating journey

Here I am all suited up and ready to take the plunge

And here I am enjoying this joyous release and freedom of letting go of all of my fears as I swung carefreely from 35 feet in the air = Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

What an amazing trip, indelible memories, beautiful treatments, amazing women and a transformative experience that I will never forget. Thank you Clarins for this amazing opportunity, I feel privileged to have been included.

Disclosure: Clarins invited me on this 3 day Miraval Press Trip for editorial consideration.