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THE BRIDAL ISSUE: YOUR HEAD-TO-TOE GUIDE FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY

THE ART OF SEDUCTION • WHAT’S IN OUR DATE NIGHT BAG?OUR NEW LUXURIOUS SCALP TREATMENT

AKARI SPRING 2015

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CREDITSLayout & Design Elizabeth Margolis-PineoEditor Jenny McEdward

FASHION SPREADPhotography Ben KrebsHair & Makeup Peter JohnModel Meg

AKARI195 Middle StreetPortland, ME 04101207 772 9060

Online www.akaribeauy.com Facebook Akari.wellness.beauty.style Twitter @akaribeauty Email info@akaribeauty.com

INSIDE

4 Getting a Grip on Your Wedding Nails

5 Making a Plan: Get a Grip with Your Nails

7 When to Start Your Pre-Event Skin Regime

9 Nurse Laura Clears Up All Of Your Medi-Spa Questions

10/11 What’s In Our Date Night Bag?

13 Our Chhoeun Balances Tradition and Reality Planning Her Cambodian Wedding

14 Couples Massage

15 The Art of Seduction

16/17 Cover Shoot & Medi-Spa Opportunities

20 Let The Fairytale Begin

What'’s NEw?Every year around this time the eternal optimist in me kicks in; I start getting an early dose of Spring fever. Birds are starting their migration, days are longer, on the sunny side of my house life starts popping up from the ground, trees are sprouting their buds, etc. Hopefully mud season will turn into an early Spring. So life goes in Maine.

At the House of Akari we welcome Spring in so many different ways. Our customers are ready to shed away their winter coats, scarves and sweaters. Our new spring and resort cloth-ing lines are arriving, as we write this article. During your stay, take a few minutes to browse through the store and meet our Buyer/Personal Shopper, Kristen, formally of Helene M.

New at Akari this Spring is our Scalp and Hair Treatment room located in the Spa. This treatment is perfect for this time of year. We think of this new treatment as a facial for the head. The treatment incorporates a scalp and hair analysis and a customized plan provided by one of our hair specialists. The treatment is applied to the scalp and hair by one of our talented Massage providers along with a neck, shoul-der, and arm massage, all done on our custom chair, manufactured in Italy. We can’t wait for you to try it!

Allan Labos Jenny McEdward

Kristen

The Akari Spa at the Westin is now offering luxurious spa treatments and in-room treatments at Akari’s satelite location at

The Westin Portland Harborview 157 High Street, Portland, Maine 04101

207-517-8879

Our New Scalp and Hair TreatmentIntroducing our luxurious scalp treatment room, chair, and service. We are now offering this restorative spa service which focuses on balanc-ing, hydrating, and repairing the scalp and hair. Our specialists start with a thorough consultation including scalp and hair analysis, to create a customized treatment plan. This effective treatment uses the industries most advanced products, for exfoliating and rebalancing the scalp and deep conditioning the hair. Indulge in botanical essential oils and soothing scalp massage, while experiencing our state of the art treatment massage chair. This service is completed with a polished blow out, leaving your hair and scalp feeling beautiful, light, fresh, and rejuvenated.

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NAIL STYLENAIL Style

Making a Plan: Get a Grip with Your Nails by Anna

As you envision yourself as a bride, you consider every detail, down to the tips of your toes. You want your hands to look soft and healthy, with beautifully manicured nails. The Akari Nail team is here to pamper you and have your guests ogling at what really matters, that ring! There are a few things to consider — when to book, natural versus acrylic, length, shape and color.

If you are a nail-biter or just don’t pay much attention to your hands, we recommend starting weekly manicures about three months before your wedding date. If you are traveling or don’t have the time to make it in, your appointment should be the day of your rehearsal dinner. Don’t forget we travel for weddings as well!

The majority of brides today gravitate towards tradition — oval shaped, mid-length and barely-there pinks and creams. Nail art can be both fun and subtle for the more adventurous bride. Trying a tiny heart on your ring finger is a fun way to jazz things up. We also have paraffin hand treatments that can have your hands looking soft, youthful and healthy for your big day. And as always, when you get your Akari manicure, we will steam-clean your ring to sparkling perfection, complimentary.

Of course, don’t forget your toes. Our pedicures are meticulous and luxurious. Even if you are wearing closed toed shoes, you will want your feet soft and touchable for your wedding night. Come in for a consultation to design your wedding day nails! Bridal nail packages available.

Good bye winter drynessHello buttery soft skin and Long-lasting hydration

Ask us about our Akari Paraffin Treatment today

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Medi-Spa Medi-SpA

Plan it out: When to Start Your Pre-Event Skin RegimeBy Jay

With Spring finally approaching, it seems that love is in the air and on everyone’s mind. Love leads to weddings. With that being said here are some tips for preparing any bride for her most important day.

Facials: First and foremost on her wedding, a bride wants her skin to look the best it ever has. There is no amount of make-up that can mask a poor complexion. Book a complementary consultation with one of our aestheticians three to six months in advance, in order to create a treatment plan for your skin. My recommendation would be to book our customized micro/peal package. This package can eliminate pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles; and improve overall texture and tone. This will give you the breath-taking glow every bride wants when walking down the isle. Waxing: BROWS ARE IN! Flipping threw magazines and scroll-ing down our news feeds, women everywhere seem to have the “perfect brow” - full, bold, and face-shaping brows. Unfortunate-ly, these brows come with time and patience. Growing them out may take longer than you expect. That’s why booking in advance is crucial. Thankfully there is a product that can save the day. For those of you who have heard of latisse, the Allergan product, you know it is used for growing eyelashes. What you might not know is it can also be used on the brows. This allows your aesthetician to create the “perfect brow” for you. Make sure your last wax treatment is booked one week prior to your wedding day.

Make up: On your wedding day we want to bring out your natural beauty. When a bride brings in an airbrushed photo of a celebrity, their expectations become unrealistic. Instead, try bringing in a picture that you love of yourself. This will help us create the look you want. Creating this look involves a trial run before the final application. I recommend doing this at least one month in advance.

© 2013 SkinMedica, Inc., An Allergan Company. All rights reserved.

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Nurse LaurA: BRIDAL Preparing for the day you’ve been waiting for ever since you were

a little girl is a big deal! The dress, the venue, not to mention the

perfect mate! It takes a lot of planning and decision-making and

of course you want to look flawless. That’s where Akari’s Medispa

comes in!

Acne scars, sun-damage, brown spots, large pores… all of these can

make you shy for that wedding day close-up photograph. Once-a-

month regular Microdermabrasion facials can really exfoliate and

smooth your skin. Have more spotty brown or sun-damaged skin?

Photorejuvenation treatments will render your skin flawless- begin

treatments about 4 months before your date to allow 3 treatments

with healing time. If texture, pitting or scarring is a concern, our

Laser Resurfacing treatments are the way to go. These treatments

will literally peel away layers of damaged skin, revealing the peach-

es and cream you want on your wedding day. These treatments do

require well-worth it down time, about 5 days, and should be spaced

about one month apart. I recommend beginning treatments 4 -5

months before your date. If your skin is acne-prone, Chemical Peels

are a good choice. Not only will your skin purge and be much clearer,

you’ll also tighten, tone and decrease brown discoloration. To achieve

maximum results with peels, we recommend 6 peels spaced one

month apart. Allow about 7 months if this is the option you choose

for flawless wedding day skin. And don’t forget the décolletage! Most dresses are cut to expose your neck and décolletage- all of the

above treatments can also be performed on those areas to have everything flow and glow, head-to-toe.

One month before your wedding day is the best time to have your Bridal Botox. Botox takes about 3-5 days to begin working and

maximizes at two weeks. That will give you the time to make any adjustments necessary to achieve your most relaxed, desired look.

Pelleve Skin Tightening treatment can give you instant radiance and is a great treatment the day before or the morning of your big day.

Pelleve gently heats your skin to stimulate collagen production overtime, but results immediately after the one-hour treatment are so

ideal, you’ll want to capitalize for your wedding day photos. Hollywood actresses have their Pelleve treatments hours before walking

the red carpet- you should have yours before walking down the aisle!

Finally, let’s talk about the honeymoon. Sandy beach, new bikini- get your Laser Hair Removal in advance so you don’t have to pack

that razor and deal with bumps and razor burn. Be beach-ready in moments, or silky-smooth for your unmentionables. Laser hair

reduction requires 6 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart so allow yourself about 8 -9 months pre-wedding to get smooth. Popular

areas to address are underarms, naval, bikini/Brazilian and full leg. We have special package pricing and bridal packages to suit your

every need!

Don’t forget to pack your SPF!

n Feel free to book a complimentary consultation with Nurse Laura to address any of your skin concerns.

Tattoo removal laser treatments Tattoo removal laser treatments can safely, effectively and comfortably re-move ink from your skin. Tattoo removal requires multiple treatments and the number of treatments is determined by the color, complexity and size of the tattoo. During your consultation, your treatment area will be evaluat-ed and the number of sessions and cost per session will be determined.

Tattoo removal works by breaking up ink deposits with laser energy. Laser energy is absorbed by the tattoo ink and it is broken up into smaller particles which are carried away by the body’s immune system. With suc-cessive treatments, the tattoo gradually disappears.

Topical or local anesthetics are an option to provide a pain-free experience. Call for your consult with Laura today.

MEDI-SPA Medi-SpA

Introducing your Bb Dry Hair Dream Team:Bumble and bumble Brilliantine is the perfect frizzy hair fixer.

Work a pea-sized amount on your mid-lengths and ends to tame your poofy tresses.

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Bumble and bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil PrimerAs winter progresses and we are forced to use our blowdryers more often, having a conditioning heat protectant is especially important. This primer is the key to having soft, silky, and manageable hair. It helps with tangles caused by big cozy scarves as well as tames winter frizz and protects against breakage.

Bumble and bumble DryspunDryspun creates a texture that makes hair look airy, weightless, and effortlessly full. After wearing a winter hat this is exactly what every gal needs to keep her tresses feeling big and sexy. It also comes in a convenient travel size, making it a perfect fit for your clutch when attending all those holiday parties.

Carolina Amato GlovesHave a difficult relative to shop for? Everyone can use at least one pair of warm gloves. Carolina Amato gloves are not only warm because of their wool and angora blend, but they’re stylish too! With plenty of bright colors to choose from, they are an amazing gift that will stand out in a crowd.

Smashbox ‘Be legendary’ Lip Lac-quer in BordeauxWith the snow comes beautiful berry stained lips. I love rocking a dark, bold lip

color for winter whether I am at work or a fancy holiday party. ‘Be Legendary’ Lip Lac-quer in Bordeaux is my go to this season. It goes on as a glossy lacquer, then adjusts to a stain that lasts up to eight hours, which leaves me more time to prance around in the snow!

Airelle Eye & Lip TreatmentTis the season….. to be tired, stressed, and lets face it a little dehydrated from one too many glasses of wine at the company party. Airelle’s Eye & Lip Treatment is a perfect pocket sized go to for all your skincare needs. When feeling super tired or puffy around the eyes, this will be your best friend. And if you’re concerned with shopping locally and sustainably, this prod-uct is handmade with natural ingredients from Maine!

Plaid Scarf by YarnzNot sure what to get your fashion con-scious nieces or nephews? This winter will be filled with big, bold plaid prints, from pants to scarves. This vibrant scarf by Yarnz is not only chic but it is comfy as it’s made of a wool and cashmere blend. While it makes for a perfect gift, I would rather keep it for myself!

D. Harris Silver Feather NecklaceGreat for wearing alone, or for layering with a few different pieces, the detail of this tiny leaf delivers a fun, spirited vibe that I love!

Tortoise Hair ClipSometimes...well...lots of times you just need to twist your hair up and throw it in a bun! Forego your usual elastic for a fun clip like this and you’ll get a look that is effortlessly chic, yet still functional on your busy days.

Cocobelle Elastic BeltEasily cinch your waist with lovely gold-hued beading. This belt will instantly fancy up any simple dress. It also works wonders when worn overtop a long, thin cardigan worn open, or any top that you always wanted to wear but couldn’t because it was too billowy. Problem solved!

Bumble and bumble Flat BrushBy far our favorite paddle brush! Boar and nylon bristles promote scalp’s blood circulation and distribute your hair’s natural healthy oils from root to tip. Great for creating sleek, straight styles.

Toss Design’s Black and White WalletBlack and white will never, ever go out of style. The tasteful design of this starkly neutral clutch is simple, chic, and timeless. Leather adds the luxury factor. Perfect for carrying all you might need for a night on the town!

Cocobelle Anouk WrapThis wrap bracelet delivers a polished bohemian vibe with its delicate winding threads and gold beading. It’s the perfect accessory for your favorite boho-chic wardrobe pieces!

Kabyco Aqua Quartz EarringsLocally designed, these shimmering drop earrings will add a delicate sparkle to any ensemble. The cool blue facets beautifully catch and reflect light, easily making these blue-on-gold baubles a conversation piece.

You won’t have any embarrassing smudges with the Smashbox Full Exposure Waterproof Mascara. We always love black for a night out!

Spray de Mode is the perfect workable holding spray to refinish your hair after a windy walk or hot make-out sesh.

We love this Smashbox Hydrating Perfecting Powder for touching up your red spots or oil.

Smashbox, Be Legendary Lipgloss in “Caroline” is a beautiful shade of peachy pink to go over your lipstick or later in the night when your touching up.

Jane Iredale Handdrink because you work hard but your hands should stay soft.

The black Toss Designs Clutch is

the perfect size to stash your goods but not get in the

way when your date’s arm goes

around you.

This leopard and Royal Blue scarf by Ronen Chen is both sexy and flirty and will help with those date night jitters.

DATE BAG Must-haves

Smashbox

Waterproof Mascara for when he

makes you laugh so hard you cry.

Living Proof Flex Spray

(travel size) to tame the beast if it’s

windy or you rendezvous on his

Vespa.

Vespa.

Jane Iredale

Pressed Powder because composure

is key and we can’t let him see you

sweat.

Jane Lip Fixation in a flirtatious pink

stain that won’t budge mid-kiss.

Jane Iredale Handdrink

because you work hard but your

hands should stay soft.

These beautiful genuine leather, 100% silk lined gloves in Butter are so soft and warm.

Deborah Lippman’s Rich Girl hand cream is a luxurious paraben free formula enriched with shea butter, avacado, and jojoba oils leaving your hands super soft to hold!

Smashbox Be Legendary lipstick

in “Pretty Social” is the perfect, natural

shade of pink with a touch of shine.

Jane Iredale’s D2O Hydration Spray is perfect for a mid date face refresher. Spray it right over your makeup to refresh your look.

Jessica's Top Picks

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style

This will be a big year for me, and I am looking forward to all of the excitement to come! First, I will be walking with my fellow class of 2015 at University of Southern Maine’s Commencement ceremony on May 9th as I receive my BA in Psychology! I had taken eight years off from college and decided to go back two years ago to finish my de-gree. I completed my last semester in December and am now officially a college graduate! This is major deal for me, as I am the first in my family to have earned a college degree. Then, one month later, I will say, “I do” to my loving fiance, Kevin. We celebrated our seven years together back in December. After a two-and-a-half year engagement, we are finally tying the knot!

Kevin and I are both of Cambodian ethnicity, with very traditional parents. Cambodian weddings are long, intricate affairs that consist of multiple ceremonies and songs. A traditional Khmer wedding is one of the most joyous occasions for a Khmer family, and typically lasts from three days to an entire week. It is a grand affair, full of color and festivity, and steeped in tradition. Family, friends, and other members of the community come together to share in the celebration. Musicians play throughout the day on traditional instruments, and the couple is dressed like royalty — the bride may wear several outfit in one day.

Cambodian weddings traditionally last three days and three nights. Three is considered to be an auspicious number by Cambodians because of its association with the “three jewels” of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Sangha (brotherhood of monks), and the Dhamma (the Buddha’s teachings). Due to the demands of modern life, however, the ceremonies are usually completed in one day. Culture and family are things that so many of us value. We hold these things very close to our hearts — some even wear the heart of our culture on our sleeves for everyone to see. In the Cambodian culture, family, community and wedding rituals all come together in one of the most beautiful things you may have the chance to see.

As much as our parents would like for us to have a traditional Cambo-dian wedding, we both agree that it is not for us, primarily due to the costs for such a production. With three kids, a house, cars, and shortly, student loans, we simply cannot justify spending tens of thousands of dollars for just one day. The largest part of the budget in a Cambo-dian wedding is the reception, which consists of a multi-course family style dinner, complete with a Khmer band. Don’t get me wrong, I love Khmer weddings! Great food, great music and dancing...what’s not to love? For Kevin and me, it’s the hefty price tag that comes with the

large number of guests. You see, in our culture, there is no such thing as an RSVP (which I find ironic since Cambodia was colonized by the French). Generally, invitations are given to each household. This means that for each invitation, guests can bring their whole family, and/or friends. Essentially, if you get an invitation, you can bring whoever you want. There is no way to know who or how many will or will not attend. This could easily run the number of guests up to 500 or more. There is no way we are having 500 people at our wedding!

After months of discussion, we came up with a compromise. We decided to skip the Khmer ceremony and do a simple Western cere-mony at home on June 5th, followed by a modified Khmer reception the next day at the Rochambeau Club in Biddeford, Maine. To us, the most important part of a Cambodian ceremony is the monks’ blessing. To fulfill that tradition, we will go to the Buddhist temple the morning of our wedding and be blessed by the monks and our parents. Our re-ception will maintain Khmer tradition, but will have Western influences as well. I have decided to eliminate the traditional Khmer wardrobe. Besides, I love my gown and want to wear it for as long as I can! We are honoring tradition by serving traditional Khmer food and the signature alcoholic beverages, Hennessy and Heineken. Why Cambo-dians love those drinks is beyond me. The greatest modification will be capping the number of guests at 200. Even so, I am still nervous about the possibility of extra people showing up! Oh well, we would just have to wait and see.

We have come to find that in the end, it does not matter what other people want, it is what we want. We want to uphold our cultural traditions, but we also want to enjoy ourselves and have a memora-ble time with the people we love. The best solution for us is to keep some traditions, and change others. Our wedding will be a fusion of both Cambodian and American cultures. It will be different, but it will be fun and exciting. Besides, we have three children who may decide that they want to continue the cultural traditions. Regardless of wheth-er they wish to or not, we will be supportive of their decisions.

I am so used to being on the other side of the wedding industry, working with brides on their wedding day, that it seems surreal to me that I soon will be walking in those shoes myself. June is right around the corner! With the love and support from my family, friends, and Akari family, I am ready, and look forward to embarking on this new and life-changing journey!

– Chhoeun

CELEBRATIONS

Balancing Tradition & Reality

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Couples Massage Celebrate the season of love with a couples massage. Come and relax in our couples suite as two massage therapists massage you and your partner. It is a wonderfully relaxing, shared experi-ence that encourages bonding between two people. Unlike traditional massages, during a couples massage you can experience a therapeutic session with someone you hold special to your heart. Couples massage is a great way to introduce your partner who has never received a massage, to a genuine healing experience.

Having a partner in the room makes the session less intimidating so you and your loved one can relax more fully and receive all of the benefits

that massage therapy has to offer, including alleviated pain, enhanced immunity, improved circulation, a relaxed state of mind, and a general overall state of well-being .

Although couples massage may certainly bring a romantic spark into your relationship, couples massage is also suitable for friends and family. Mothers and daughters have especially been known to become closer during a dual massage therapy session. Best friends can also experience their stress and worries slip away during a therapeutic massage.

Finding time for a loved one can sometimes be difficult with a busy lifestyle. With couples massage, you can feel relaxed and refreshed while spending quality time with one another. It is a wonderful way to enhance your relationship while at the same time enhancing your own well-being. It is a great way to connect with your partner on a new level and is an experience that you will never forget. Couples massage treatments are also especially special, as well as convenient for special events such as weddings or other celebrations.

#AkariMomMother’s Day is coming. Please join our selfie celebration! Three lucky moms will win their choice of 5 out of 7 services including Botox, Massage, Microderm Abrasion, Manicure, Pedicure, Shampoo Blowdry, and Make up after they post their selfie on Instagram with #Akarimom. Ask our staff how you can enter to win!

Art of Seductionby Jessica

With Spring upon us, love is in the forefront of everyone’s mind. Whether you’re single or in a relationship, you may be wondering how you can

jazz up your life by making your look more seductive. Some people seem to carry off the seductive vibe effortlessly — the key is that it should be subtle. The moment that seduction is spread on too thick is the moment it feels contrived, and a bit tacky.

We transformed our model Claire, right, from appearing a bit bland to more alluring with a few subtle alterations. We balayaged her otherwise boring brown hair with sunkissed pieces, and styled it with messy waves to emulate bedhead. We kept Claire’s make-up natural, but we added false lashes to her eyes for drama, and paired that with a pink, flirtatious lip. To keep her look subtle, we put Claire in a soft, oversized, touchable sweater. At the end of the day, seduction should not be obvious, because if you’re a lady, nothing is obviously guaranteed!

Pucker Up Your LipsFuller lips are always a plus...

Get a natural, voluptuous, soft and kissable look in a short, comfortable appointment.

Get your old lips back — experience Juvederm with Nurse Laura.

Call or email for more information and to book your appointment!

SPA Style

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Botox

Pelléve Lids

Lip Augmentation Filler

Pellefirm

Parrafin ....?

Photoregeneration

Laser Hair Removal

Pellefirm

Laser Hair Removal

our cover shoot & medi-spa Opportunities:WHERE WE CAN FIRM, FILL, SMOOTH, LIGHTEN & TIGHTEN

Charcoal Peel

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Akari consultations—Always thorough. Always complimentary.Call us to book yours at 207-772-9060.

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Signature Bridal PackageHair, Makeup and Nails for Rehearsals & Weddings

Travel and In-House Services

Medi and Day Spa Parties

195 Middle Street

Portland Maine 04101

207.772.9060

Toll free 877.890.0772

www.akaribeauty.com

Let the fairytale begin