Little Luxury Review: Dr. Loretta FACE ERASE

March 7, 2012 | By

The Little Luxury: Dr. Loretta FACE ERASE Total Makeup Remover

Relationship status: Bedtime buddies for the past few weeks

How it works: With just one pump, a few circular motions and some warm water, this milky cream cleanser completely purifies my skin of dirt, oil and makeup after a long day.

Why I love erasing my face: Last Fall Spa Week I had a smart peel with Shannon at Exhale. She used a milk cleanser on my face instead of gel (Shannon told me gel cleansers are great for oily skin but can be super harsh on dry skin like mine). Ever since then I have been desperately searching both drug and department stores for a rich and creamy cleanser. About two weeks ago I found Dr. Loretta’s products and feel in love… so much so that I asked Dr. Loretta herself if I could interview her on Spa Week Daily and she said YES! Read all about my chat with Dr. Loretta HERE.

Does it do what it says it’ll do? Yes! This stuff works wonders on my dry, flaky skin, leaving it calm and clean without a blotchy or too-tight feeling.

Ideal for: Sensitive skin like mine or red or Roasacea-prone, sensitive eyes and contact lens users.

Sleep pretty darling: The lavender scent is a huge bonus! I especially look forward to washing my face before bed (before I used to skip on nightly cleansing and totally regretted it in the morning!). The aroma of lavender paired with the warm water helps me get ready for a good night’s sleep.

An unexpected moisturizer: This unique formula acts as a moisturizing conditioner for my eyebrows, lashes, and eyelids without leaving filmy residue. (Also: A reminder to apply actual face moisturizer after ANY cleanser.)

What’s up, Doc? Dr. Loretta is the first line on the market to provide broad spectrum antioxidant protection from nitrogen as well as oxygen free radicals. This means your skin is even more protected from harmful smog, smoke and environmental pollutants that can harm and age your skin.

Best of all: You get a state-of-the-art cleanser, developed by an award-winning dermatologist for just $19.

Hot Stone Scale (1-6): 6

This Little Luxury Report was brought to you by: Stephanie Cavataro

Filed Under: Beauty & Style, Little Luxury Review, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hot Mom Monday: 6 Cheap & Easy At-Home Beauty Escapes

February 6, 2012 | By

Another Hot Mom Monday is upon us, and Hot Mom Natasha Rao of Fashionalities is here for every single one of you – mom or not – who craves to make her daily life at home just a little more spa-like. Natasha is a mommy of a one-year-old daughter and a wife to an Air Force officer. She has exited the full-time fashion career path temporarily to be a stay at home mom.  But, she still works freelance doing what she loves in fashion occasionally and maintains her fashion blog, Fashionalities, that she has had for almost six years. Here, Natasha divulges six of her super simple beauty escapes around the house that make her feel wonderful in her spa-deprived life.

But Natasha – we have to say – a trip to the spa now and then does the mind and body SO much good, helping you tackle motherhood in the best of health! Your manicurist called, and she misses you.

By Natasha Rao

Ever since becoming a mommy, I’ve promised myself I’d still get some “me time.” However, I no longer get my nails done once a month, and I can’t remember the last time I got my hair trimmed. That being said, I try to find quick and easy spa treatment-like rituals I can do at home.

Here are a few to try that I love. I get these ideas from all different places, from the Martha Stewart Show and Whole Living Magazine to books like Passport to Beauty and an oldie-but-goodie Beauty Recipes: Cosmetics You Can Whip Up at Home; Over 100 Natural Beauty Aids at a Cost of Pennies!

6 Cheap & Easy At-Home Beauty Escapes

1. As mothers, we wash our hands all the time and our hands get dried out. It’s as simple as having a lotion or oil at every sink in the house. And, taking the time to (mini) massage and nourish your hands. It really goes a long way.

2. Martha Stewart made a great point recently if you don’t have time to steam your face. Get the dishwater really hot and open the washer and hold your face over the steam for a minute or so and relax. It’s like a mini-steam facial.

3. Every morning drink a cup of hot water with lemon. It’s great for your skin!

4. Take a 10 minute break: Dip a dish or hand towel in hot water with rose petals or chamomile, then cover your face with the towel and for 10 minutes. This will clean and open your pores and acts as an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory treatment. It’s great for treating stressed out skin and smells great! Wash your face before, and rinse with cool water afterwards.

5. I saw another great tip recently on TV – after your shower, put Vaseline on your feet at night and cover with plastic wrap (loosely). This really helps soften your feet.

6. Once a week, I have my husband massage my head and hair with coconut oil. You can leave the oil in your hair for an hour and then wash it out. Or, do like I do and keep it on all night and wash the next day for a deep conditioning treatment.

Have you tried any of these at home? Will you try one tonight? Comment below, and check back next week for more from our Hot Mamas!

Filed Under: Beauty & Style, Hot Mom Spa Squad Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Vice, Vice, Baby: Your Guilty Pleasures (and what cancels them out)

January 20, 2012 | By

We started the week singing Vice, Vice Baby (with Lose Weight By Accident by Sarah Jenks).

Now, we’re ending it that way too.

What’s your VICE? What’s your ANTI-VICE said?

We asked this to some of our friends around the web, and here’s what keeps them feeling slightly guilty, and the thing that keeps them feeling okay about it.

Nobody’s perfect. It’s all a balancing act.

Vivianne Lapointe from Live Fast Mag said:

VICE: Caviar. Very good things come in small (expensive) packages.

ANTI-VICE: Spiced almond milk with cardamom, turmeric and ginger. The sexiest way to get calcium.

Dina Fierro from Eye4Style said:

VICE: A girl can’t resist a little glitter, and regardless of how many bedazzled pairs of shoes I have in my closet, it’s never enough. My most recent acquisition? These Miu Miu Glitter Leather Sandals:

ANTI-VICE: It sounds a little pretentious, but I eschew processed foods and make it a point to integrate power greens – think kale, spinach and arugula – into my diet daily. It’s made a huge impact on my energy level! Try this Curry Kale Chips recipe.

Bryce Gruber from TheLuxurySpot.com said:

VICE: Sweets! I recently went gluten-free because of a wheat intolerance and thought I’d automatically be able to curb my sweet cravings from the total lack of cookies and cupcakes. Sigh, I was wrong. I’ve found fruit, chocolate, and candied nuts.

ANTI-VICE: Spa time. I’m literally obsessed with steam rooms and massages, and I think I can officially be labeled a “hammam junkie” at this point in my life.

PJ Gach from BettyConfidential.com said:

VICE: I recently met Purity Vodka in LA and well, hello!

ANTI-VICE: Disney gummy vitamins. They’re good for you and tasty too!

Shyema Azam from Beautyandthefeastblog.com said:

VICE: I’m sorry, I just can’t help being addicted to watching anything Kardashian. That family is truly my guilty pleasure.

ANTI-VICE: Beets. I’ve started hoarding them in my salads — they’re packed with antioxidants and are great for your heart (literally).

Ruth Staiman from Thefashionoffice said:

VICE: #twitter #twitter #TWITTER

ANTI-VICE: Giving up my vices! Last year I gave up soda, drinking (except for a on birthdays), red meat, and dairy products.

And from the editors of Spa Week Daily:

Michelle Joni Lapidos said:

VICE: My computer or iPhone at two in the morning. Call me a social media girl but I’m completely addicted to the internet, especially when I should be sleeping. (Case in point – this is me last night on Instagram, playing with my new PicFrame app and Foodspotting photos.

ANTI-VICE: Yoga. Every Monday, no matter how stressed I am or what is on my plate, I escape for an hour to Yoga To The People on St. Marks. It’s my ME time of the week to breathe deeply, stretch, smile, feel strong and forget about the rest of the world.

Stephanie Cavataro said:

VICE: Diet Coke. Since I gave up soda in September, Diet Coke has totally haunted my existence, creeping out from refrigerated section of deli-marts and peering at me from my friend’s fridge, screaming, “DRINK ME!” Once powerless to temptation, I now only have one or two cans a month (instead of in one hour) and save it special occasions like dinner with friends.

ANTI-VICE: Water with lemon (or lime) has helped me replace soda without drinking boring, plain old water. I actually look forward to drinking water now throughout the day instead of dreading it.

Tell us in the comments: What are YOUR vices and anti-vices?

Hammam photo from Trump Soho, Kardashian photo via, beets via, Yoga To The People via, chocolate/nuts via (YUM recipe)

Filed Under: Good + Happy, Health & Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Little Luxury Review: Kanshi Instantly Refreshing Foot Spray

December 22, 2011 | By

The Little Luxury: Kanshi Instantly Refreshing Foot Spray

Relationship status: Boot Buddies

How we met: After work I try to make it over to the gym to blow off some steam. Usually I slip off my leather boots and right into my sneaks – but the other day I noticed that my feet and ankles were a little swollen and, I am ashamed to say, a little smelly.  Not like your dad’s-work-boots-stinky, but more like I-wear-these-boots-everyday-stinky. I told a friend about my embarrassing observation and she recommended I find a foot spray that could freshen up my footsies in between work and the gym. That’s when I found Kanshi’s Instantly Refreshing Foot Spray.

To use: Hold the bottle 10-12 inches away from your foot. Give the nozzle a quick pump and spritz two-three times on the top and bottom. Let air dry.

How it works: After a good misting, my feet felt instantly revitalized and ready for my gym session. The refreshing formula is infused with triple mint to instantly perk up your pieds (that’s feet, in French). And, it has Horse Chestnut extract that helps to improve circulation. No more swollen feet!

Best of all… It ALSO has Lemon Myrtle that provides natural anti-microbial benefits. So feel free to spritz on your feet before you take your shoes off.

It might just be me but… I like to spritz a bit in my shoe to fight any lingering odors in my sneaks/boots plus the anti-microbial affect makes me feel better about myself and my shoes.

What’s more… It’s only $10! Hello stocking-stuffer (Get it?…stockings…feet…).

It might just be me (again) but… I tried spritzing this on my face as an impromptu toner, and I really liked the way it felt! It helped to set my mineral make-up too and it totally assisted in relieving my mini morning hangover when I misted it on my face to cool my hot, dehydrated skin after a long night out.

Hot Stone Scale (1-6): 6

This Little Luxury Report was brought to you by: Stephanie Cavataro

 

Filed Under: Little Luxury Review, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Little Luxury Review: Repêchage Relaxation Stay-cation Gift Package

December 16, 2011 | By

The Little Luxury: Repêchage Relaxation Stay-cation Gift Package (includes Sea Spa Mineral Bath Salts and 60 Eye Rescue Pads)

Relationship status: Bath Buddies

Nickname: Holiday Hangover Cure

Get in the mood: Sprinkle a generous amount of Mediterranean bath salt in your tub of warm water and slip into your own personal oasis. Pluck two Rescue Pads out of the convenient screw-cap jar and gently place them over your eyes. Sit back, relax and drift off into peaceful rejuvenation.

The moment I fell in love: The instant I closed my eyes and the second my tootsies hit the water.

How it works: The soothing little bath crystals contain the moisturizing power of seven essential oils to help revive your skin: Lavender, Grapefruit, Peppermint, Spearmint, Cucumber, Rosewood, and Mandarin Orange. These ingredients fight body acne and dermatitis, promote the tightening of your skin, fight inflammation and ease soreness. The plush eye pads are saturated with seaweed to replenish moisture and fight puffiness along with green and black teas that are rich in natural anti-oxidant polyphenols that act as powerful free radical fighters to promote anti-aging benefits.

Does it do what it says it’ll do? Yes! After a long night of high, high heel-clad partying and too much eggnog, just escape to your salt bath with your eye pads in tow and before you know it, you’ll be ready to do it all over again tomorrow night.

The thing you’ll love most: The smell… The aromatherapy blend of the essential oils from the bath salts and the light, fresh fragrance of the cooling eye pads will delight your senses and relax your mind.

Why it’s worth the splurge: Usually costing around $70 when purchased separately, this full-size gift set is a steal at just $55.

It’s the perfect gift because: It comes in a sleek plastic blue gift box and is adorned with an festive holiday bow – no wrapping needed!

You could be here: 

Hot Stone Scale (1-6): 6

This Little Luxury Report was brought to you by: Stephanie Cavataro

 

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Filed Under: Beauty & Style, Little Luxury Review, Skin Care Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,