RUB AWAY THE WINTER

Looking for some good DIY body scrubs?  Michelle Pino, spa manager at Skana in upstate New York knows her stuff.  She’s graciously agreed to share her insight and delicious sounding recipes:

Let’s face it — it’s been a cold, dry winter.  You may find yourself with some dry skin left over and now that spring is here you’re ready to rejuvenate and re-vitalize.  One of the best ways to do so is with a body scrub but buying one or taking a trip to the spa might be a bit out of your budget, especially if you are still paying off those credit cards for all of your kids’ holiday presents.  Plus, who has the free time to visit a spa?

So what’s a busy modern woman to do?  Will you be forced to suffer the indignities of ashy elbows and flaky skin?  Not at all!  You can create and apply your own body scrubs using easy-to-find and inexpensive ingredients, many of which you are likely to have around your house already.

THE SPICY SUGAR SCRUB
This scrub sounds delicious, but it’s for your skin not for eating.  You will need to gather a few ingredients first.

3/4 cup suger
2 teaspoons of ground cloves
1 tablespoon dried rose petals
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 1/2 cups sesame oil

Now that you have everything, mix it all in a large bowl.  Once everything is well mixed, the scrub is ready to use.  This will make quite a bit, so you can store it for up to six months in a cool, dark place.  You will want to use this scrub twice a week on damp skin, rubbing it on with a washcloth or your hands in small circular motions.

HONEY SCRUB
If you want something a bit sweeter, try this simple scrub.  You will need the following:

1 teaspoon of pure honey
1/4 cup of light olive oil
1 cup of raw sugar
2 teaspoon of citrus zest

Mix everything together well and keep stored in a jar.  This mixture will keep for a very long time.  The honey works to draw water into the skin, and the sugar helps to remove old, dead skin cells.  The citrus zest is there for pure aesthetic reasons as it makes the whole thing smell delightful.

Michelle Pino, is a Spa Manager at Skana, a spa in upstate New York at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY.  She enjoys DIY projects, healthy recipes, exercise, and all things related to skin care. If you have any comments or questions feel free to contact Michelle via email at michellepino@turningstone.com

WEDDING VIDEO FEATURE

Wedding season is approaching again (can you believe it?) and the DIY wedding makeup video is featured on Inspired by This as their video of the week!  Click below to see the video and the rest of their super cute site with inspirations on everything from home to work to weddings and more!

MONTHLY OBSESSION

I’ve heard rave reviews about Clarisonic from friends and colleagues for a long time, so I decided it was time to try it.   And I have to say, it’s pretty awesome.  My skin feels softer and smoother and through hormonal skin changes with my pregnancy, it has really made a difference these last few months.  I even got my husband one and he loves it too.  If you’re unfamiliar, basically, it’s a facial brush that uses pulsating sonic frequency to get your skin cleaner then you ever could with your hands.  I also love that you can use any cleanser you want as long as it’s not gritty (the little granules in an exfoliating cleanser will clog up the brush).  There are a few versions – I have the Aria, which is a bit more expensive. It comes with a drying stand and has 3 speed settings.  My husband has the Mia, which is their most basic model.  Both are great.  I like having the little extras, while my husband prefers the smaller size of the Mia.  Either way, we both end up with baby soft, clearer skin.  Yay!

HOW-TO: CLEANING YOUR BRUSHES

It’s time to clean!  Washing your brushes will ward off bacteria and extend the life of your makeup.  But for most people (including myself) we just don’t do it often enough.  You can use  a brush cleaner to de-gunk, but you should “deep clean” using soap and water about once every six to eight weeks.  Good brushes don’t come cheap and will last a lifetime if they are properly taken care of.  I store my personal brushes upright in a glass apothecary jar that I got from the Container Store.  An old mug or a toothbrush holder work just as well.  If you keep your brushes in a drawer or bag, just make sure the bottom is kept clean.

List of stuff you’ll need:

• Mild dishwashing soap or baby shampoo (I like Dawn or Johnson’s Baby Shampoo)
• Small dish
• Paper towels
• Clean hand towel or dish towel
• Warm water

Start with some soap in a small dish and add warm water.  Hot water can melt the glue that keeps the brush handle and bristles together.  Place the brush in the soapy water and swirl around.  Some brushes (usually synthetic ones used for foundation and creams) will take a little more “scrubbing”.  For those, add a couple drops of soap to your palm and swirl the brush to create a lather.  Remember not to push the brush directly into your palm.  This will bend the bristles and can cause more damage.  Instead, hold the handle at a 45 degree angle.  Make sure there’s no makeup residue left and rinse until the water runs clear.  Using a paper towel, gently squeeze the water from the brush and place on a clean towel to air-dry.  Try not to speed up the drying process by using a blowdryer, since the heat can also melt the glue on the brushes.  I find it easiest to clean before bed so they can dry overnight and are ready to use in the morning.

HOW TO: FULL BROWS

Bigger is better when it comes to brows.  I love a full brow and most people need a little filler to get them in shape (so to speak).  Try to let your brows grow to their full potential before shaping them.  It’s hard to let them go, but it will pay off!

When you’re finally at the stage where you can groom, brush them up with a brow brush or a clean mascara wand and pluck just under the arch, in between your eyes, and any random strays. If you have really long eyebrows, trim with facial scissors but be careful not to go too short.  When choosing a color, make sure to go one shade darker for blondes, and one shade lighter for brunettes.  Make small, light strokes, concentrating on the areas that need a little filler.  Brushing through with an eyebrow brush will help disperse and break up the color.  Finish with a little clear mascara or spray a toothbrush with some hairspray and lightly brush through to keep in place.

In this tutorial, I show you how filling them in makes a big difference even on my sister Rachel, who has naturally full, dark brows.

 

Thanks to Claire Thomas, Yayo Ahumada and Rachel Glaub for helping me make this video!

PRODUCTS FOR THE PREGGO

Back in August I did a post on baby products that can be used on adults.  Little did I know I would find out I was pregnant a week later!  Now that I’m expecting our little guy next week, I found it only appropriate to do a post on pregnancy products before I pop.  Now obviously, anyone can use products that are geared toward the expecting mama.  They are usually more gentle, free from harsh chemicals, making them perfect for anyone to use.  But if you happen to be expecting or thinking about getting pregnant in the near future, these products are especially perfect for you.

1.  Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil – I got this as a gift from my friend Jamie.  I have used it nearly my entire pregnancy and while I do think it helps with stretching your skin, I love it mainly because it soothes dry, itchy skin and smells great.  It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave you feeling super greasy.

2.  Bio Oil – Another great oil that isn’t geared specifically to pregnant women, this has been a staple of mine for years.  I use it on my hands and elbows almost every night and you can use it anywhere you’re feeling dry.  Like the stretch oil, this has a mild scent and absorbs nicely.

3.  Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter – Obviously it needs no introduction and if you’re a breast feeding mom, you probably know about it already.  But this great cream multi-tasks as a lip balm, hand cream, heel soother, etc.  It’s not only all-natural, making it great for nursing babies (no need to wash off before feeding), but it soothes dry, cracked skin on your lips, hands, feet, and ankles – the most common dry areas.

4.  Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath Soothe and Sleep with Lavender – Baths are great anytime, but are especially soothing when you’re in your third trimester.  The calming lavender scent and foam producing bubbles are amazing right before bed.  And the fact that it costs $5 for a large 34 oz. bottle makes it even more enticing.

5.  Mario Badescu Drying Cream – Due to your ever changing hormones, many pregnant women experience breakouts.  Most zit-zappers aren’t recommended because they contain salicylic acid (a no-no during pregnancy), but this cream contains sulfur and aloe, making it safer.  An added bonus – you can use it under makeup.
From left to right: Bio Oil, Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter, Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Stretch Oil, Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath Soothe & Sleep with Lavender, Mario Badescu Drying Cream

BRUSH IT OFF

Spring is officially here!  Yup.  March 21st marked the first day of Spring, (and my sister’s wedding!), so there’s lots to celebrate.  Everyone starts shedding their winter wardrobes and emerging their pale, hairy legs, ready for a glimpse of the sun.  As the weather warms up and bathing suit season approaches, it would be nice to shed some of that winter skin too.  After months of hiding, your skin could use a glowing boost.  Exfoliating is a great way to keep your skin fresh and ensure an even tan (or even spray), when you want to go a little darker for the warmer months ahead.  There are a few different methods and tons of choices out there, but here are my personal faves.

1.  GO TO A SPA.  Get yourself a fantastic treatment and have someone else do it.  It’s a great treat once or twice a year if you can afford it, and while it’s definitely more pricey then the do-it-yourself variety, it yields amazing results and feels luxurious.  Burke Williams has something called the Parafango Treatment.  Your body is buffed with a salt scrub and then painted with wax and you emerge with buttery soft skin.  Amazing.  Bliss Spas also offer an array of different scrub treatments that are equally as appealing.  If neither of these places are options in your area, check out some of the spas nearby and see what treatments they have available.

2. SCRUB-IT-YOURSELF.  Some gals scrub on the regular.  I’m not one of them.  I use lotion and I moisturize with the best of them, but I just don’t find the time to scrub more then a few times a year.  However, when I do, I am a little picky about what I use.  It has to smell good, feel good, and wash off easily.  Here are my favorite body scrubs:  Pure Fiji Coconut Sugar Rub,  Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish, Bliss Hot Salt Scrub.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS:

• Wet your skin with warm water and make sure haven’t recently shaved.  Shaving your skin right before is a bad idea.  It leaves fresher, new skin at the surface and can sting when you start to rub.
• I prefer to scrub in the shower versus the tub – I like to wash all that stuff down the drain.  Especially if you don’t scrub regularly, you’ll have quite a bit of dead skin sloughing off.
• Go in circular motions.  You can use mitts or your hands (just remember to rinse off the mitts well and let them air dry between uses to prevent bacteria), and gently rub your skin from shoulders to feet with the scrub.  If doing the bottom of your feet, be careful not to slip.
• Moisturize!  After rinsing off with warm water, immediately moisturize your skin with a good lotion, cream or oil.  Lock in all that goodness and your skin will be buttery smooth and glowing.