Essential Winter Products Under $10

November 8, 2012 | By Noelle Chehab

Winter is fast approaching and we’re looking forward to the holidays, hot chocolate and nights by the fire. However, we aren’t so thrilled about the nasty effects that the harsh weather can have on our skin, nails and hair.

Luckily there is no shortage of moisturizing and repairing products on the market that can fix those winter woes in a flash. Here are our 10 favorite products at budget prices we all can afford: All under $10!

1. Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream $8.00 at Sephora, 2. Sephora by OPI Nail Treatment Hydrator $9.50 at Sephora 3. Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion $7.99 at CVS 4. L’Oreal Hydra-Renewal Continuous Moisture Cream $7.79 at Walgreens 5. Sephora Cuticle Care Pen $5 at Sephora 6. EOS Nourish Hand Lotion $3.49 at Target 7. Jurlique Love Balm $6.50 at Sephora 8. Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner $9.99 at Walgreens 9. MAC Fix+ $10 at MAC 10. Neutrogena Build-a-Tan $8.99 at Target

Spa Foodie: Karin Rose’s DIY Face Serum Recipe

December 15, 2011 | By Spa Week Daily

Who knew we had so many spa chefs among us? When we asked on Facebook what your winter essentials are, one of our readers, Karin Rose, was quick to share that she made her own little serum. Bravo! Thankfully she was willing to share her recipe so that we may all be able to salvage our skin this winter. No fancy tools needed – just some jars and your hands. You can customize the serum by adding specific essential oils to address your skincare needs. Let’s meet this wonderful woman.

Hi there,

My name is Karin Rose. I make my own face products.

I make my face serum a little different each time depending on the weather, my skin, and my supplies at the time. That said, I taught a class recently and here’s the recipe we used (all women in their late 30s to mid-40s).

Karin Rose’s Moisturizing, Anti-Aging Face Serum Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 teaspoons Virgin Coconut Oil This is one of the oldest and most trusted moisturizers
1 teaspoon Rosehip Seed Oil This promotes collagen and elastin levels for firmer, smoother skin.
1/2 teaspoon Apricot Oil It’s good for dry, dehydrated skin and promotes anti-aging.
1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil Vitamin E promotes the healing of blemishes and scars, and also fights against wrinkles.
2 1/2 teaspoons Jojoba Oil This oil is very structurally similar to human sebum, providing natural moisturizing protection.
Optional essential oils: Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender

Materials:

1 ounce Amber Glass Bottle with a glass dropper
Teaspoon measure
Clean baby food jar (or similar)

Directions:

Measure 1.5 teaspoons of virgin coconut oil (VCO). If it is solid (75 degrees and below), then place it in a clean small glass jar (e.g. baby food jar or smaller) and warm it in your hands or on a sunny windowsill while you gather the other ingredients.
Pour VCO into Amber Glass Bottle.
Add the Rosehip Seed Oil, Vitamin E Oil and Apricot Oil into the Amber Glass Bottle.
NOTE FROM KARIN: Add up to 5 drops of Essential Oils total (any combination). Use Frankincense Essential Oil to counteract dullness, Geranium Essential Oil to help restore naturally oily or dry skin back to normal) and use Lavender Essential Oil to stimulate healthy new cell growth.
Top off the bottle with the Jojoba Oil (leaving a little bit of space at the top for mixing).
Cap the bottle and slowly roll and turn end over end to mix.

To use:

Wash and rinse face as you usually would.
Spritz face with hydrosol or floral waters (see Stephanie’s DIY Rose Toner) (NOTE FROM KARIN: rose, geranium or carrot seed waters are quite lovely).
Apply 1-2 drops of the face serum to clean fingertips and lightly spread it all over face and neck.
NOTE FROM KARIN: Always use an oil-based serum on a damp face. The oil works by trapping the moisture. It doesn’t clog pores as long as you use the minimum amount your skin needs. I have “normal” skin (neither oily nor dry) and I only need 1-2 drops in the mild winter in San Diego.

Do you have a fun Spa Foodie recipe to share? Email it to daily @ spaweekmedia.com and we just may feature your secrets too!

Image via

Filed Under: Beauty & Style, Food + Drink, Skin Care Tagged With: DIY beauty, DIY recipes, dry skin, face serum, jojoba oil, skincare, Spa Cuisine, virgin coconut oil, vitamin E, Winter Skin Tips

Little Luxury Review: Clinique Body Butter

December 9, 2011 | By Kimberlee

The Little Luxury: Clinique’s Deep Comfort Body Butter

Relationship Status: Long-term commitment.

Application trick: Apply fresh out of the shower to lock in moisture.

Why it’s worth telling you about: For dry, winter skin, it’s a miracle in a jar. Actually, I told you about it yesterday too, in our roundup of 14 beauty bloggers’ favorite face and body moisturizers. (I really, really like it…)

I can’t believe it’s not butter! Yes, it looks delicious and spreadable, but in fact would taste terrible on toast.

Don’t be afraid to… Slap on as much as you want. It’s thick though, so it can also be used sparingly too with great results.

Why it’s better than drugstore brands: I’ve used a lot of lotions, but this one does the best job of making your skin feel like BUTTA”!

Butter yourself up: For $25 a jar, available at Sephora.

Hot Stone Scale (1-6): 6

This Little Luxury Report was brought to you by: Kimberlee Van Der Wall

Filed Under: Beauty & Style, Little Luxury Review, Skin Care Tagged With: best moisturizers, clinique, clinique body butter, dry skin, Little Luxury Review, little luxury review, moisturizer reviews, product reviews, skincare tips, Winter Skin Tips

Winter Essentials: 14 Beauty Bloggers’ Top Moisturizing Picks

December 8, 2011 | By Michelle Joni

“Dry”
“Very dry”
“Dry and itchy”
“Dry and ashy”
“Drier than toast”
“Fatter and dryer”
“Cold!”

Yikes! These were YOUR responses to our Facebook/Twitter fill in the blank on Monday:

“In the winter, my skin gets _________.”

Oh, winter, why must you be so harsh? What did our skin ever do to you? The winter’s pretty, but when it comes to our pretty faces, we are always desperately seeking the cure. So, after you indulge in your winter-ready facial, the key is to have the best possible face and body moisturizing products in your beauty arsenal to shield against the wind, the snow and the frigid cold. (Unless you’re down south, in which case we don’t want to hear a word from your lucky, ne’er-frostbitten self.)

Bloggers get to play with all the latest products, so to get the scoop on the best moisturizers on the market for the 2011-2012 season of freezing your tuchas off, we asked some of our favorite beauty bloggers:

What face and body moisturizers will you be using this winter, and why?

Sarah from Beauty Banter says:

Face: I am eternally loyal to Amore Pacific’s Moisture Bound Vitalizing Creme. Come winter – it is hydrating without being greasy and leaves my skin looking so healthy.

Body: It’s always changing but one of my favorite body lotions for the season is Level Naturals Body Butter. It’s a delicious shea butter concoction that is ultra moisturizing for even the harshest days of winter. Currently using the grapefruit bergamot but lusting over the lavender chamomile as well.

Jessica of Beauty Woo Me recommends:

Face: Mario Badescu Control Cream and Sophyto Multivitamin Facial Serum.

Body: Coconut oil, Weleda Calendua Oil and Emma Hardie Amazing Face Rejuvenating Cream. Yes, I use it on my body! All amazing. I have hideously sensitive, easily reddened, rosacea-prone, acne-prone, perpetually superficially dehydrated skin and these all work miracles for me!

Jamie from The Beauty of Life Blog loves:

Face: I’ve been in love with Lierac Creme Mesolift for YEARS. It’s hydrating and extremely moisturizing, which is great when falling temperatures wreak havoc on my skin.

Body: I’ve actually been using Johnson’s Baby Oil Gel! It’s done wonders for my ashy legs and parched, raw elbows.

Romy Raves about:

Face: The Serum & Shea Cream by Elizabeth Dehn. This is my dry winter skin fighting dynamic duo created by a fabulous beauty blogging sista! First, I apply one pump of the super-potent lightweight serum that contains a luxurious blend of plant oils and essential fatty acids that restore and rejuvenate my skin, then I follow it up with this yummy rich velvety soft cream that moisturizes and replenishes my parched skin.

Body: Votre Vu SnapDragon Crème. I adore this yummy tropical smoothie scented antioxidant-rich citrus body crème because it wonderfully hydrates my dehydrated winter skin and it’s infused with fabulous anti-aging ingredients.

Amber the Beauty Blogging Junkie recommends:

Face: I love 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer. It’s the only moisturizer that provides light coverage without clogging my pores and it comes in my exact vampire skin tone shade. Love.

Body: Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Lotion is a bargain, fragrance and preservative free and deflakes my sensitive skin like a dream.

Alexis of The Beauty Bean enjoys:

Face: I am using Estee Lauder’s Re-Nutriv on my face. It’s expensive, but WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY. It makes my skin soft and supple, prevents seasonal dryness and pretty much makes me feel like I’m seriously pampering myself every time I put it on. It’s luxury to the extreme.

Body: I’m using Eucerin Everday Body Lotion SPF 15 on my body – because just because it’s cold out, doesn’t mean you don’t need SPF! I especially love this one because it goes on smoothly like a regular lotion and doesn’t smell like sunscreen. And since melanoma runs in my family, I’m pretty much sun-phobic!

Chrissy from She Knows knows what she loves:

Face: I’m loving First Aid Beauty’s 5 In 1 Face Cream/SPF 30 this winter! I never go without SPF but some SPF moisturizers can be a little harsh on my acne-prone skin, so I love that the light, non-greasy feel of this moisturizer and the fact that it’s formulated without parabens or other harsh chemicals!

Body: I’ve been digging Avalon Organics’s Lemon Hand & Body Lotion since the summer and plan to use it throughout the winter! The light scent reminds me of summer but this is one moisturizer that is great for dry winter skin too.

Danielle the Style & Beauty Doctor says:

Face: Since it looks like winter won’t be as harsh this year, I may use my year-round moisturizer Perricone M.D. Face Finishing Moisturizer. It contains Vitamin C Ester, DMAE, and Alpha Lipoic Acid, is great for moisturizing the skin without feeling heavy, and leaves my skin with a soft radiance. If winter does turn out to be a little harsh, I’ll use Perricone M.D. Hypoallergenic Nourishing Moisturizer made with olive polyphenols for deep hydration and super soft skin.

Body: For my body, I’ll be using LUSH Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner. It’s like the perfect medium between a lotion and a body butter, gets the skin hydrated without feeling greasy, and smells INCREDIBLE.

Laurie of Product Girl enjoys:

Face: I’m relying on the multi-tasking genius of One Love Organics Skin Savior Balm. It’s a waterless balm made with cold-pressed plant oils, vitamin E, vanilla extract and chia extract –smells delicious and a total treat for my face.

Body: I’m all about J.R. Watkins Naturals Grapefruit Body Oil Mist. The spray nozzle makes this the easiest body oil in the world to apply and the subtle grapefruit scent is a perfect twist to your typical citrus! And it’s only $9!

PJ, the Senior Editor of Style + Beauty at Betty Confidential, says:

Face: This winter I’m using Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C Day Treatment ($40) for day and night. Well, until the bottle runs out, then I might try something else. Check out Michelle’s recent post on her obsession with Elizabeth Grant’s Vitamin C line.

Body: I’m pretty bad about this as I’m not consistent and I know that you really need a body moisturizer for the winter time. The closest that comes to a body lotion for me (right now anyway) is the Avon Moisture Therapy hand cream ($5). It’s amazing! It immediately makes my hands soft and happy, not dry or chapped.

Mildred of Beauty Logic Blog enjoys using:

Face: Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizer. I love that this leaves my super sensitive skin incredibly hydrated, but doesn’t break me out at all.

Body: Caudalie Vine Body Butter. This contains grape seed and shea butter which leave my dry winter skin feeling so moisturized and silky and I love the light citrus scent as well.

And now from your favorite bloggers of all…
the 3 of us here at Spa Week Daily!

Michelle recommends:

Face: My moisturizers are on rotation and I’m always trying something new! A few weeks ago I started on Sebamed’s Moisturizing Cream for Sensitive Skin and I love how light yet protective it is at the same time. Great price too.

Body: Since 2002 I’ve been addicted to Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion, and this winter will be no different. It’s inexpensive and keeps my skin soft and smooth, and a decade’s worth of friends think of me every time they smell it.

Stephanie likes:

Face: I have been using Neutrogena’s Healthy Defense Daily Tinted Moisturizer since high school and I love it! The tint helps add that soft glow back into peachy completions like mine. Plus, it has SPF 30 which protects me from sun damage and free radicals which can make you look older and harm your skin, even during the winter!

Body: This Eucerin Calming Itch-Relief body lotion is an Analgesic (pain/itch numb-er) which instantly stops itchy and flaky skin with a soothing combo of menthol and a moisturizing oatmeal formula. This cream is perfect because it’s non-irritating, fragrance free and great to slather on right before bed after a nice warm shower.

Kimberlee uses:

Face: I typically use Cetaphil’s daily moisturizer but really had to step it up for these cold East Coast winters. Benefit’s Total Moisture Cream has been working wonderfully for my sensitive skin.

Body: I have trusted Clinique’s Body Butter for so many years – wish I could buy it in bulk!

Featured photo via sweetestdarkness.tumblr.com

Filed Under: Beauty & Style, Skin Care Tagged With: 100% pure fruit pigmented tinted moisturizer, all-natural, amore pacific moisture bound vitalizing creme, avalon organic lemon hand & body lotion, avon moisture therapy hand cream, baby oil, beauty banter, beauty bloggers, beauty blogging junkie, beauty logic blog, beauty of life blog, beauty products, beauty woome, benefit total moisture cream, best moisturizers, betty confidential, Body Lotion, caudalie vine body butter, cetaphil restoraderm skin restoring body lotion, clinique body butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, dr. perricone, dry skin, Elizabeth Dehn, elizabeth grant skincare, emma hardie amazing face rejuvenating cream, estee lauder re-nutriv, eucerin calming itch relief, eucerin everyday body lotion, first aid beauty 5 in 1 face cream, hypoallergenic, JR watkins naturals grapefruit body oil mist, kate somerville, keratosis pilaris, level naturals body butter, lierac creme mesolift, lush ro's argan body conditioner, mario badescu control cream, moisturizers with SPF, neutrogena healthy defense daily tinted moisturizer, one love organics skin savior balm, organic, paraben free, product girl, romy raves, rosacea, sebamed moisturizing cream, sheknows.com, sophyto multivitamin facial serum, the beauty bean, The Style and Beauty Doctor, votre vu snapdragon creme, weleda calendua oil, Winter Skin Tips

Spa Foodie: 4 All-Natural DIY Treatments to Fight Fall Dehydration

November 3, 2011 | By Stephanie

With fall definitely in full swing and winter right around the corner (who else got stuck in the snow this past weekend?!), you may start to see changes in your body. In colder months, we tend to be more dehydrated and that dries out our skin, hair, hands and scalp. That’s because we are less likely to drink water on a regular basis during the winter like we do in the sweltering summer months. When our bodies aren’t hot, we forget that we need to be drinking water all throughout the day.

Not to mention, thirst is such a tricky sensation to measure and understand. Most of the time when you first notice you are parched, you are actually already dehydrated. And even more often, when you feel hungry, your body is signaling you that, in fact, you’re thirsty. Drinking water regularly throughout your day is a great way to stay hydrated and you will see a difference in the moisture levels of your skin, hands, hair and scalp. But for some of us, drinking water isn’t enough and we need some extra help from at home remedies with nourishing ingredients like honey, olive oil, vinegar and rosemary. Here are four, all natural, do-it-yourself, at-home treatments that you can make to help sooth these issues during the winter months:

Dry Skin: Honey and Vinegar Toner

Fill a spray bottle and spritz or dab toner on face with a cotton ball before applying moisturizer to lock in moisture and use less product. Then spritz a fine mist over your finished face to set your make-up, making it last longer. Apply toner throughout the day to refresh dry skin with a quick pick-me-up.

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons honey
½ Cup apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Mix honey and apple cider vinegar in a mixing bowl
Stir until completely dissolved
Store, covered in plastic wrap in refrigerator 3 days, stirring daily
Apply to face and neck with cotton ball or with a spray bottle

Brittle Hair: Hot Oil Hair Treatment

Use this intensive treatment twice a month to rehydrate dry hair and prevent dandruff.

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried rosemary leaves
1/2 cup olive oil

Instructions

Combine oil and rosemary in a small saucepan over stove-top low heat
Stir constantly and bring to a low simmer
Remove from heat and strain, to remove leaves from oil
Coat scalp and ends of hair with hot oil
Wrap hair in saran wrap and cover with towel to retain heat
Leave on 15 minutes
Rinse with warm water remove excess oil

Cracked Hands: Olive Oil and Almond Gloves

For best results, wear gloves overnight or for at least 15 minutes every other day. For added soothing, microwave oil mixture in a small bowl for 30 seconds then pour in gloves. Recipe and image via.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Teaspoons of almond extract
2 rubber gloves
2 rubber bands or hair-ties

Instructions:

Holding one rubber glove upside down, distribute 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of almond extract into each finger of the glove
Put glove on and secure around wrist with rubber band/hair-tie
Repeat with other glove and secure on opposite hand

Flaky Scalp: Herbal Shampoo for Dandruff Relief

Use once, every other week to sooth dry, itchy scalp. For first-timers, try this shampoo on a day that you wont have to style your hair right away. This allows the rements of the treament to stay on the scalp as long as possible without being disrupted by a blow dryer or styling products.