It's a Margarita Spa!

Happy National Margarita Day Everyone! What ever your preference is, frosted or on the rocks, everyone likes to have a yummy margarita from time to time. The main ingredient used in margaritas is of course lime juice. Lime is not only found in margaritas, the oil extracted from its peel or skin is extensively used in body oils, cosmetics, hair products, beauty soaps, disinfectants, skin care products, nail care products, & lots of other products. There are many benefits for your hair, skin, & nails when it comes to lime juice, it has been used to protect skin from several infections, as a bleaching agent, & its disinfectant, antibiotic and antioxidant properties aid in skin rejuvenation.

Where do you usually keep your limes? In your fridge, in the kitchen, so after cooking up a meal with a really intense aroma like seafood, sometimes it’s hard to get rid of the smell from your hands or they just don’t feel 100% clean. Try using lime juice, its disinfectant properties can be used as a hand sanitizer or deodorizer.  Put it in a small bowl & wash your hands with the lime juice, then rinse your hands with water. The disinfectant properties in limes can also be used in the your bathing regimen, sweat & body odor can be tackled easily by mixing lime juice in bath water. Lime juice can be used as a last hair rinse for adding shine to hair & for removing the grime left behind by shampoo as well as conditioner. This is especially good for those that have trouble with dandruff, an oily scalp, or easily get build up from hair products.

Lime juice & oil is a natural beauty aid to having beautiful, healthy skin since it is full of vitamin c & antioxidants. Vitamin C is key to the production of collagen, a protein that aids in the growth of cells & blood vessels & gives skin its firmness & strength. It also rejuvenates the skin when applied externally as its acids scrub out the dead cells (a natural exfoliator) & giving your skin’s appearance a youthful glow. Lime juice can also help with breakouts (pimples) & is known to help control oily skin, improve dull & greasy complexions, improve rough dry skin spots, relieve tired eyes, & lessen the appearance of sunspots, age spots, & light freckles.

Here are just a few things that you can maybe use with all those extra limes after celebrating National Margarita Day.

Hope these remedies help. Cheers!

Homemade Margarita Body Scrub:

Things You'll Need:

1 cup fine sea salt 

2 oz. olive oil 

Juice of one lime 

3/4 oz. white tequila

1. Mix ingredients in a waterproof container. If mixture is too gritty, add a little more olive oil. 

2. While showering, rub mixture into the skin in a circular motion. 

3. Rinse until all of the salt mixture is off your skin. 

4. Apply lotion after getting out of the shower.

A very easy recipe that works well because lime & tequila are natural antiseptics, so they detoxify the skin & help improve tone & texture.

Try this at home with your loved, it will fun & the both of you will have soft, smooth skin. 
:-)

Facials: The Many Benefits...

The 7 Golden Rules of Facial Care: How marvelous it is to look in the mirror and see a healthy, radiant glow emanating from your reflection. The secrets to a vibrant complexion lie in the golden rules of facial care. 

They include (1) focusing on proper skin care (cleanse, tone, moisturize topically, massage and protect), (2) enhancing proper circulation, (3) enjoying adequate sleep, (4) following a nutritious diet and taking supplements, (5) avoiding toxins, (6) keeping negative stressors to a minimum, and (7) receiving regular facial massage sessions. These are key ingredients for maintaining a vibrant, glowing complexion.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS - Facial massage reduces the appearance of fine lines, puffiness, dark circles and wrinkles; relaxes the face; calms the nervous system; diminishes tension headaches; stimulates circulation; assists in reducing sinus congestion; helps the skin absorb hydrating lotions; accelerates the lymphatic flow; and nourishes, hydrates, detoxifies, and tones the skin.

MENTAL BENEFITS - Facial massage assists in mental relaxation, enhances the capacity for calm thinking, redirects the focus of attention from stress and worry to relaxation, rejuvenation, and refreshment. Excess cortisol created by stress harms collagen and elastin production, thus making stress one of the major causes of premature aging. What are the benefits of receiving facial massage as part of your self-nurturing and ongoing well-being? The benefits are three-fold: physical, mental, and emotional.

EMOTIONAL BENEFITS - Facial massage calms emotional activity and contributes to a feeling of relaxation. It creates a feeling of well-being, reduces levels of anxiety, restores energy by stimulating blood flow, increases awareness of the mind-body connection, and satisfies the need for caring and nurturing touch. What can you do to maintain healthy skin in-between facial massage sessions? It is essential to give your skin daily attention. 

Suggestions for nurturing self-care between facial massage sessions include: drinking more pure water (think of it as moisturizing your skin from the inside out); using sun protection; managing stress; scheduling sufficient sleep; easing up on alcohol, caffeine and sugar; eating a well balanced diet; taking daily supplements; exercising regularly; eliminating smoking; changing your pillowcase often; avoiding touching your face; and cleansing your face before going to bed.

Skin: What Type Are YOU???

When it comes to looking younger, nothing may be important than taking care of your skin. A beautiful, healthy glow makes you appear radiant and youthful while a dull, dry, or flaky complexion can add years to your face. But before you spend money on skin products that promise great results, it is important to know what type of skin you have and
what kind of care it needs. 


What Is Skin?
Your skin is aliving organ that constantly regenerates itself. The outer layer, called the epidermis, is as thin as a pencil line. It consists of a protective layer of skin cells that continually shed and give way to new cells. Below the epidermis are the dermis and hypodermis, two layers that produce the oil, collagen, and elastin that give your skin support, elasticity, and shine.


What Are The Different Types of Skin? 
There are three basic skin types: oily, dry, and combination.

Dry Skin 


Dry skin occurs when the dermis does not secrete enough oil, or sebum. The result is tight, drawn, flaky skin and a dull complexion. In more extreme cases, dry skin lacks elasticity and can be extremely sensitive to the sun, wind, and cold temperatures. 


How to Take Care of It: 
Wash your face once a day with a rich, creamy cleanser and warm water. Rinse with cold water and pat your skin dry. Use heavy, oil-based moisturizers and makeup. Avoid toners and makeup that contain alcohol as alcohol-based products have a drying effect on skin. 


Oily Skin 


Oily skin usually has a lot of shine to it and the pores are generally enlarged. It is more prone to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads than other skin types and is coarser in texture. 


How to Take Care of It: Oily skin tends to attract more dirt than dry skin, so wash your face several times a day with a light, non-greasy liquid cleanser soap and warm water.Rinse with cold water. Use toners and astringents containing alcohol to help dry the skin. Buy water-based moisturizers and make-up and use powder to minimize shine. 


Combination: Normal to Oily


Normal to Oily People with normal to oily skin generally have normal skin on their cheeks and oily skin with enlarged pores on their T zone, the area that stretches across the forehead and down the nose and chin. 


How to Take Care of It: The trick with normal to oily skin is to find products that will keep your skin hydrated, while minimizing breakouts and shine in the oily areas. Look for cleansers designed for combination skin and use a water-based moisturizer, applying it less frequently to oily skin. Products that contain alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin A
retinols can help balance combination skin. Use oil-absorbing makeup to reduce shine. 


Combination: Dry to Oily 


This skin type is marked by oily skin in the T zone and dry, taut skin on the cheeks.

How to Take Care of It: Wash your face with cleansers that are designed for combination skin and when using a toner, dilute it with water before applying to your cheeks. Apply moisturizer more frequently to dry skin. Use oil-absorbing makeup to reduce shine. 


Sensitive Skin


Sensitive skin irritates easily and is often red and blotchy. This type of skin can have allergic reactions to beauty products and is usually sensitive to the sun, wind, and cold weather. 


How to Take Care of It: Look for soap, makeup, and moisturizers that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Wash your face once a day and avoid using skin exfoliants. Use a hypoallergenic toner on oily areas, but discontinue if it causes irritation.


Now you have a better idea of what types of products you should purchase next time you go shopping for your skin care regimen & how to keep that skin looking youthful. 

Cucumbers on Eyes

Identify the cause of eye bags

The number one cause of dark circles and eye bags are allergies. Learn to study your body's reaction to products or foods that you suspect as the real cause of your eye bags. If you found your allergen, try to avoid it at all cost to prevent dark circles under your eyes. Dark circles and puffiness can also be hereditary and from lack of sleep. 

Decreases Puffy Eyes

One of the best known beauty tricks associated with cucumbers is their ability to decrease puffy eyes. Research has found that cucumbers contain a high amount of ascorbic acid, which help to prevent water retention. More than 90% of the cucumber consists of water and are helpful both in keeping your body hydrated, as well as preventing the signs of dehydration from popping up on your face. When fresh slices are placed over your eyes, it is the cooling effect of the water in the cucumbers, together with increased humidity, that reduces the swelling. Some products contain extracts of cucumber, which in high concentration may help to improve the hydration of the skin. Gentle massage also helps.

Apply cool tea bags

A good alternative of cucumber is to apply cool tea bags to the eyes. It can imitate the coldness of cucumber and can help reduce the puffiness of your eyes. Just put a cold water to the tea bag and place it to the affected area before sleeping.

Don't rub your eyes

Rubbing your eyes can trigger allergies. Rubbing irritates the skin which results to more redness and darkening of the skin.

Load up on Antioxidants from your Thanksgiving Desserts!

This time of year brings many seasonal ingredients full of antioxidants that are great for our skin. Thankfully there are three seasonal fruits that can help your skin get through the winter months; pumpkin, pomegranate, and cranberry.


Why are antioxidants so important? Every day, our skin is under assault – from UV rays, pollution, or cigarette smoke, for example. That damage causes free radicals, which are oxygen molecules that have lost an electron. As a result, those unpaired molecules try to steal electrons from other molecules, including vital skin components. The result is visible skin damage, in the form of lines, wrinkles, and redness. Luckily, antioxidants can supply those missing electrons, calm attacking molecules, and prevent damage.
In a nutshell, antioxidants are among the most important preventive ingredients in the skin care arsenal. They can effectively prevent (and minimize) redness and inflammation, and are essential for slowing the signs of skin aging.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin offers plenty of benefits when applied topically to the skin, and a number of cosmetics and beauty product companies are making skincare products that contain pumpkin enzymes as a leading ingredient. The enzymes found in pumpkins dissolve dead skin cells, which makes it a great chemical exfoliant. Plus pumpkin is full of beta carotene and is a good source of anti-aging vitamin A.
Pumpkin is also a rich source of nutrients and antioxidants that can help your skin achieve a healthy glow throughout the winter season! From facial treatments and moisturizers, to invigorating body treatments and wraps, pumpkin and pumpkin extracts can be used in a variety of indulgent treatments at the spa!

Pumpkin Spa Treatments


Some spa treatments make use of pumpkin masques, body wraps, and even extracts combined with a pumpkin and spice oil. These are just a few ways to try pumpkin in a new way, and it’s a simple treat that you can enjoy on a regular basis. Pumpkin facials make use of a pumpkin enzyme mask that can soothe and protect your skin; the essential nutrients can reach deep within your pores and absorb quickly. Combined with a moisturizer and basic toner, this is a great treat for your skin and body—without the extra calories!
Body wraps and massages that use pumpkin ingredients are another way to indulge during the season, or any time of year. Pumpkin nourishes tired or dry skin instantly, giving you a healthy glow anytime your skin needs a boost! Colder weather can make your skin especially dehydrated, and the brisk fall and winter breeze certainly doesn’t help. You’ll also find pumpkin treatments in many anti-aging therapies, but you can still enjoy it as a basic skin soother and moisturizer. Pumpkin peels can also help with breakouts and acne problems. The nutrients can help soothe and reduce inflammation naturally, helping skin recover from acne-related damage.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate contains a big-deal antioxidant called punicic acid, so it helps the skin defend itself from free radicals, which cause premature aging. The oil supports and maintains immune, reproductive, circulatory, digestive, metabolic, and skin health. It has the ability to soothe, protect, and moisturize dry, cracked, and irritated skin, as well as to improve skin elasticity and promote cellular rejuvenation.
Pomegranate seed oil is the only known plant-based source of Omega 5 essential fatty acid. While fish oil (an Omega 3) has been widely touted over the last few years – and is even commonly prescribed now as the essential fatty acid that protects the body from a myriad of diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes – it should really only be taken orally due to the fact that it is a large molecule that is not readily absorbed by the skin. Omega 5, on the other hand, is highly compatible with the dermis due to its small molecular size, meaning it is absorbed almost instantaneously and even becomes a delivery system for nutrients to cells.

Cranberry

Cranberries may be a perennial source of debate at Thanksgiving dinner – love ‘em or hate ‘em, fresh or canned – but in the dermatological community, the verdict is clear: Cranberries are a wonderful source of antioxidants, so don’t hold back when they come around the table this year.
Cranberries are actually a type of acidic berries that are rich in vitamin C and believed to contain excellent infection fighting properties. A source of pythochemicals known as condensed tannins; these berries are powerful antioxidant and natural antiseptic with anti-inflammatory effect.

Skin Care Tips for Traveling

Whether your traveling buy plane, train, or automobile to celebrate Thanksgiving, we all know that our skin gets takes a beating or totally ignored while we are on vacation. 

Here are some travel skin care tips for you.

       Pack light & Take the Essentials:

• Cleanser: Wash away impurities, dust, & excess oil.
• Moisturizer w/sunscreen: Keep the skin hydrated and healthy looking.
• Lip balm: Lips should be moist when giving all those holiday kisses.
• Floral water spray/Elixir water: Spritz on a nice drink of H2O, your skin will look dewy and be happy!
• Eye Gel/cream: Jet lag can bring on puffiness and dark circles...we do not want those appearing!
• Hand & Body lotion: Moisturize your body from head to toe to keep climate changes from drying your skin out.

       All these items typically fit into small cosmetics bags...Dont leave home with it! :)

Dry Skin Tips

Do not use hot water. Hot water removes your natural skin oils more quickly. Warm water is best for bathing.

Use a gentle cleanser. Soaps can strip oils from the skin. Stop using deodorant bars, antibacterial soaps, perfumed soaps, and skin care products containing alcohol, like hand sanitizers. Look for either a mild, fragrance-free soap or a soap substitute that moisturizes.

Limit time in the bathtub or shower. A 5- to 10-minute bath or shower adds moisture to the skin. Spending more time in the water often leaves your skin less hydrated than before you started. Do not bathe more often than once a day.

Moisturize right after baths and showers. To lock in moisture from a bath or shower, apply a moisturizer while the skin is still damp.

Before you shave, soften skin. It is best to shave right after bathing, when hairs are soft. To lessen the irritating effects of shaving your face or legs, use a shaving cream or gel. Leave the product on your skin about 3 minutes before starting to shave. Shave in the direction that the hair grows.

Change razor blades after 5 to 7 shaves. A dull blade bothers dry skin.

Use a humidifier. Keep the air in your home moist with a humidifier.

Apply cool cloths to itchy dry skin.

Soothe chapped lips. At bedtime, apply a lip balm that contains petrolatum. Other names for this ingredient are petroleum jelly and mineral oil.

Cover up outdoors in winter. In the cold, wear a scarf and gloves to help prevent chapped lips and hands.

Be good to your face. If you have very dry skin, cleanse your face just once a day, at night. In the morning, rinse your face with cool water.

Blackheads...Yuk!!

What the heck are those tiny black dots on my nose, chin, & forehead?!?  I bet there has been a time or two when you have looked at your skin up close in the mirror & noticed them. Well my friends those little black T-zone polka dots are Blackheads!  Almost everyone gets blackheads at some point in their lives. They most commonly show up on the nose, chin, forehead, and often occur in clusters. Blackheads form in partially blocked pores & get their name because as the oil, dirt and dead skin trapped inside the pore slowly drains to the surface, the pigments in the skin will turn black due to oxidization.

Some of the most common causes are not drinking enough water, an excess of dead skin cells or facial oil, scrubbing the skin too often or too hard, not properly washing the face, and harmful makeup. So please wash your face before bedtime and in the morning, especially if you wear makeup!

The best way to get rid of Blackheads is through extraction.(Get extractions from a licensed esthetician & go get a facial soon!) Extractions are probably not the most pleasant part of a facial, but they sure do get rid of all that yuckiness. What are extractions? Extractions are manual removal of blackheads and congested pores. After cleansing the skin and softening it using steam, your esthetician will wrap his/her fingers in tissue and gently try to squeeze out the clogged blackhead. It’s actually the most important part of a facial for those that are heavily congested with blackheads. Thinner, more sensitive skins can feel the pinch and especially those with a lower pain tolerance.  Beauty is pain, right!? It’s so worth it…your skin is deeply cleansed, your pore size shrinks, plus if you maintain your skin between your facials, you can really minimize the return of the little black dots.

For home care, look for a facial exfoliant, a pore reducing mask, a cleanser with a bit of salicylic acid, and definitely buy a Clarisonic. (I love this thing!) Ok…enough skin talk tonight…time for bed…but first…gotta wash my face! J 

Here's a before extraction & after extraction pic for ya!

Brrrrrr!!!!

It’s a bit chilly this morning here in SA! I had no clue this was rolling in! (My fault for not being a news watcher) Know doubt when temperatures drop, there is less humidity, more wind, we are cranking up the heater, and it’s like the moisture in our skin just vanishes. It’s no fun putting your makeup on dry, flaky skin. It feels rough, looks dull, and doesn’t glow. To help keep that skin nice and soft in this cooler weather, here are some tips for ya. These are the things you’ll need (think of it as your “winter skin” kit):

Skin brush-You can get these anywhere! Give yourself a nice brushing from the neck down before you shower, this will loosen up the dead skin cells and any flakiness you may have. Give a few more strokes to your knees, elbows, & shoulders. It also increases circulation!

Body scrub-Use this in the shower 2-3x weekly, it’ll keep the dryness from reoccurring.

Moisturizing soap-Body wash, bar soap, what ever you prefer, be sure to switch over to a moisturizing one.

Cream cleanser-For your face, use more of a creamy based cleanser. Foamy cleansers usually have something in it for clarifying the skin that would dry you out even more and make your skin feel very tight.

Lip balm-Don’t forget your lips, they need attention too! Who wants to kiss peeling, flaking lips? I know I don’t! You can even exfoliating them with your toothbrush when you brush your teeth also helps.

Water-Increase your water intake, this will help your skin feel hydrated and of course it’s good for you!

Moisturizer-Lather up your body when it’s still a little dewy after your shower, pores are still open and will drink that moisturizer right up. Don’t forget about knees and elbows either, those can get pretty dry if neglected too.  As for your face, be sure to tone, and then moisturize.

Keep that skin looking fresh and smooth all day! Stay warm! J

Rise & Shine with Beautiful Skin!

CLEANSE: 

Not cleansing or taking care of your skin in the morning? Yes, I know...snooze about 3x, then off to work you go! Think of about it this way, during the night your pores accumulate natural oils and no telling what other debris. It could come from a soiled pillow case, your cell phone, or whatever else you put close to your face in the evening. Each morning, if your face is not cleansed before applying skin care products or makeup, the oils and debris from the previous night will be covered. This could be the beginning of some very yucky skin problems. Every morning your face should be cleansed to prepare it for your moisturizer, sunblock, & make-up. Save time by keeping your cleanser in your shower. 

TONE:

After cleansing your face the pores are open. If left open, moisture can leave the skin, which leads to dehydrated skin.  Applying toner will also remove any other residues & help 

close the pores to prep your skin for a moisturizer. Closed pores has another benefit, it stops dust & other air born particles from settling in the pores which can cause breakouts or blackheads. Have your toner set on your sink next to your brush, itll take about 15 seconds to apply it.

MOISTURIZE:

Moisturizer leaves the skin feeling soft, smooth,  and helps minimize fine lines & dryness. Apply moisturizer after the toner, while your skin is still damp. Gently massage the moisturizer into your skin with smooth upward strokes. (great for your elasticity) Have extra-dry areas? Then use a little extra moisturizer in those spots. Think of your moisturizer as your primer before your makeup.

Morning skin care is not time consuming at all. Simply keep your products by the things you use on a daily basis. Before you know it, it will all be part of your everyday regime! 

Remember...Cleanse...Tone...Moisturize!