Like teen queen Marie Antoinette,you are the diva of fragrance.

And just as she dreamed upher own exotic elixirs-made up by her court perfumier Jean-Louis Fargeonat Versailles-any old off-the-shelf spritz just won't do for you.

Vancouver's own Escents Aromatherapyat your service, with their new Blending Bar. Divine an exclusive fragrancerecipe of essential oils, and have it made into your own signature bodycream or bath oil in a pint-sized mix-master.

Our favourite is the newcherry blossom fragrance (a huge hit in Japan). Or perhaps you are agardenia girl?

Fragrances start at 12 centsper drop, base creams and bath oils start at $9.95. And who said customwas expensive?

Escents, 1172 Robson St.,604-682-0041.

Shop and find storelocations at www.escentsaromatherapy.com

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

Kinked neck? Sore back? Permanentcomputer hunch? Us too.

Sometimes a new spa is justthe incentive we need to book that long-overdue rub-down.

Designed by the proprietorof home furnishings haven Koolhaus, Yaletown's new Spruce Body Lab isall cool white and crisp green, with great décor magazines andsleek, white leather chairs in the waiting room.

Notice the tiny LCD lightsguiding you down the corridor, inspirational quotes stenciled on thewalls, and tiny glowing clocks that change colour in the treatment rooms.

Spruce plays subtly on thescience theme (flowers are set in oversized lab beakers; employees wearlab coats), so make like an animal and get tested on.

For a complete listof services and rates, including massages, facials and microdermabrasion,see: www.sprucebodylab.com

Services for first-time customersare 20 per cent off until July 15. Ask for Registered Massage TherapistChristine Fantuz, or our publisher's fave Dave Butt (will be officialRMT this fall and is a godsend).

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

dear vitamin v,
I had a great salon experience in Tokyo last month-the service! Whenyou are seated at the sink, your knees are covered with a heated throw,a hot towel goes under your neck, and a lightweight cloth is gentlyplaced over your face.

A Japanese friend suggestedI check out Ark Hair Studio in Vancouver (810 Homer St, 604-688-7768),and I was surprised to receive a similar service. The clientele is mostlyJapanese, and with my blow dry I got the BEST shampoo and neck massageI've ever had. They also do hair straightening for about half the priceof elsewhere.

I hope this helps. I enjoythe vitamin v emails.

Keep up the good work,
Kasey

Dear Kasey,
We think getting your hair professionally blowdried is the absolutebest relaxer and confidence builder ever. Next time we ask for a raise,we'll definitely head to Ark Hair Studio first.

Thanks for the great tipand we hope you keep enjoying your daily dose of vitamin v.
Sarah Bancroft,
Editor-in-chief

Got a hot tip? Sendus your scoop at editor@vitaminv.ca

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

It's too early forjust tinted moisturizer, but your wintry make-up is starting to looka tad like spackle now that the hydrangeas are in bloom.

Enter Clinique'snew Skin Smoother pore minimizing make-up. Just like its name, it feelssilky smooth going on, yet the mousse formula has medium coverage todisguise the spots and dots left over from winter.

Perfect for oilier skin types,it has a slight matte-fying effect due to its four different powders.

It comes in a spill-proof,smash-proof plastic squeeze tube, and it's been vitamin v tested-meaningthat by the end of the day, your cell phone won't be wearing more make-upthan you.

Skin Smoother arrives atClinique Counters July 2005 ($30, 12 shades).

www.clinique.com

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

Just like in New York and London, it's the tiny, tucked-away hair salons where all the cool girls go to get their Sienna Miller bed-heads.

There's just something about being buzzed in that makes a girl feel extra special.

The new Satellite Salon at the back of Gastown's Victory Building is just such a secret spot. It's a gorgeous little space, all robin's egg blue and chocolate brown, with the most luxe Italian leather salon chairs you've ever sunk into.

The swish design was done by modern furniture designer Matthew Quetton (founder of the Hom line). Custom vinyl window treatments let in natural light (so you can actually see your new highlights) and there's a pretty little outdoor courtyard, where you can drink tea and read Utne while your colour sets.

Extras include aromatherapy hand or scalp massages (ahhhh) and all-natural hair products from fast - growing line Pureology.

During June, the salon is offering free services to the person with the best answer to the proposition "Why I deserve a Hair Makeover" at info@satellitesalon.com

("Because I had a serious, post break-up run in with Miss Clairol, orange," is a good place to start)

Satellite Salon, #130-319 W. Pender St., 604-696-5353.
www.satellitesalon.com

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

The sun on your back, the sea breeze in your face, the grass between your toes, lots of deep breathing: now that's what we call an amazing session-of yoga, that is.

Colin Farrell look-alike Eoin Finn expands his insanely popular yoga repertoire to Kits Beach this week, launching his annual summer yoga schedule at the outdoor Show Boat site.

Dubbed the "Blissologist," Finn's energetic, approachable and humour-filled teaching style can be adapted for any level.

For class schedules, locations and prices, visit www.vancouveryoga.com

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

Remember Biore pore strips? Ever since, we've been obsessed with the nitty gritty, especially in the nooks and crannies of our visage. And now we've found the next revolution in space-age smoothifiers.

Dermalogica's new Daily Resurfacer exfoliating pads have an ingenious (and award-winning) design whereby you pop a tiny pack to release one dose of product onto an attached cleansing pad, then guide the tiny pad over your face like a little Hotweels racecar, unclogging pores with ingredients like rice and apple, and hydrating skin with rooibos tea.

Now if only flossing our teeth were this much fun....

$97 for six-week supply at Dermalogica retailers, such as Vida Wellness Spas, www.vidawellness.com

For more information on this product, visit www.dermalogica.ca

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

You're smart, you're savvy, you're connected. And you love sending us your secret Vancouver scoops. *Here is the first of our favourite shopping tips from vitaminv.ca readers:

Dear vitamin v,
I discovered your bulletin through the Courier newspaper and enjoy your daily emails, thank you! Here's one you may look into: StriVectin SD, the stretch mark reducer that is quickly growing in popularity in the U.S. as a face cream. I showed a tube to my esthetician and she said that the ingredients looked excellent. It has become so popular they are now making an eye cream. It must work, because people think my granddaughters are my daughters!

Regards,
Suzanne

Dear Suzanne,
Indeed. Klein-Becker StriVectin SD is so popular, the Toronto Sephora store was sold out and now has a waiting list. The line-ups alone almost gave us stretch marks. But you can still buy it (US$135/ 6oz) through www.sephora.com(free shipping to Canada for orders over US$120). Shopper's Drug Mart carries a similar cream called Dermaglow NuVectin, $120/6 oz. www.shoppersdrugmart.ca

Thanks for the great tip and we hope you keep enjoying your daily dose of vitamin v.

Sarah Bancroft,
Editor-in-chief

*letters are edited for length and verified for the writer's independence.

Got a hot tip? Send us your scoop at editor@vitaminv.ca

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

We've all woken up on Sunday morning to see Saturday night's excess next to us.

Or imprinted on our pillow, complete with mascara, bronzer, and the last kiss of lip gloss.

Believe us, there are worse things to wake up next to after a big night out.

Benefit cosmetics has you covered with its new Not On My Pillow make-up remover, new this month.

A clear liquid in a clear bottle, the chamomile-imbued cleanser does the job in seconds flat-make-up is instantly dissolved, no rinsing required.

So now you'll wake up with a pillow as clean as your conscience.

$24 at The Bay (downtown and Guilford Centre).

www.benefitcosmetics.com

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.

A $25 facial, a $6 eyebrow shape, a $25 body wrap....

Think you've entered some kind of parallel universe where women run the economy?

Actually, you've entered the world of professional aesthetics schools, where student-performed services are a fraction of the prices elsewhere.

One of the most reliable (and conveniently located in pretty offices in City Square) is Blanche Macdonald Centre.

The next Spa Days are May 30, May 31, June 6, June 7, June 22, and June 23.

Appointments are at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. in a communal lounge. At these prices, you didn't expect champagne and strawberries, did you?

Contact www.blanchemacdonald.com(or 604-685-0347 ext 220) to be added to the private aesthetics client list and receive a price list via email.

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It's the only addiction you won't have to justify.