2013 Spa Week: Unmasking the Latest Treatments that Combat Common Skincare Concerns

Mask mania begins! Not only do they reach their full appeal during Halloween party season, but they gain even more popularity when fall Spa Week arrives. 

Starting today, hundreds of spas across the country offer discounted services for the entire week. Participating facilities reduce the price of two to three full-service treatments, such as facials, massages and scrubs, to $50 each. The promotion ends on Sunday, October 20. 

Spa Week also allows guests to address specific skincare concerns. If you've got dry or aging dermal issues, for example, a hydrating and healing facial that utilizes lots of vitamins and natural oils would work best for you. For oily or acne-prone skin, look for treatments that purge toxins while still regenerating new cells. In other words, they should say buh-bye to blemishes without causing excessive dryness or peeling. 

Check out the latest ingredients that help treat common conditions:

Acne--Salicylic acid, zinc oxide, alpha-hydroxy acid, benzyl peroxide, glycolic acid, aloe vera, green tea extract and licorice root.

Dry/aging skin--Shea butter, vitamins A, C and E, and avocado, coconut and sunflower oils. 

Sensitive skin--Oatmeal, cucumber extract, almond and jojoba oils, and chamomile.

Millions of Americans struggle with skincare problems on a daily basis. So, in honor of Spa Week, we've assembled the latest products designed to treat acne-prone, sensitive and dry/aging skin. We've also included revitalizing products for your body. Be prepared for spaaah-tacular results!

ACNE-PRONE SKIN

SHINE: Murad Acne Body Wash and Clarifying Body Spray. BEAUTY: Keep pores clean, clear and unclogged with salicylic and glycolic acids, green tea and licorice root extracts, and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Pevonia Problematic Skin Care Cream, Purifying Skin Mask, Problematic Skin Lotion and Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser. BEAUTY: Salicylic and glycolic acids, aloe vera leaf gel and grapefruit peel oil help to purify and protect skin, as well as prevent breakouts and bacterial growth. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, mineral oil, artificial colors and sulfates. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Acne Complex. BEAUTY: This advanced liquid form of benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria and prevents future breakouts without drying your skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Skin Authority Calming Mask. BEAUTY: Hydrate inflamed skin caused by acne with aloe vera leaf juice, algae extract, sea kelp extract, peptides and eucalyptus leaf oil. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, dyes and added fragrances. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Soy Doctor Acne Treatment Serum. BEAUTY: Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera leaf juice, and cherry bark and green tea leaf extracts help to reduce sebaceous glands and decrease the amount of sebum secreted. BEACON: Free of parabens, mineral oil and petrolatum.

DRY/AGING SKIN

SHINE: Beauty Without Cruelty Daily Facial Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 18 Sunscreen. BEAUTY: Shield and smooth your skin for a more supple looking appearance with avobenzone, aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of parabens, SLS/SLES and synthetic fragrances. 

SHINE: Coola Rose Essence Tint Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20. BEAUTY: Titanium dioxide, acai fruit oil, and cucumber fruit and sunflower seed extracts prevent sunburn and promote elasticity. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: NeemAura Naturals Concentrated Neem Cream. BEAUTY: Highly moisturizing, this face and body cream mends skin by replenishing and rejuvenating it with aloe vera leaf juice, cocoa seed butter, and neem and jojoba seed oils. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan.

SHINE: Refineé Firming Mineral Moisture Cream. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, red marine algae, and vitamins A, C and E maximize moisture retention, and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

SENSITIVE SKIN

SHINE: Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Lotion and Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion. BEAUTY: Calm redness and irritation, and soften and strengthen skin with sweet almond oil. BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives or raw materials derived from mineral oils. Supports Conservation International.

BODY

SHINE: Eight Skincare Ginger Lime Créme Body Wash, Ginger Lime Body Moisture and Ginger Lime Sugar Body Scrub. BEAUTY: Sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and jojoba and avocado seed oils revitalize your skin to promote more smoothness and silkiness. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: Sonoma Soap Company Citrus Medley Hand & Body Lotion and Citrus Medley Bath & Shower Gel. BEAUTY: Remove impurities and restore skin's natural moisture balance with vitamin E, aloe vera leaf juice, and orange and grapefruit fruit oils. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no parabens, gluten or artificial colors. Supports Clean the World.

Glow Gift Guide: Must-Have Mother's Day Skincare Sets & Kits

Photo by Gareth Simpson  

Mother's Day arrives on Sunday. This means you've got less than seven days to pick out one or more gifts for the special ladies in your life--your mom, mother-in-law and/or maternal mentor.   

No need to stress. We've compiled a Glow Gift Guide of skin/body care sets and kits. These serums, SPFs, eye creams and lotions serve to protect, nourish, heal and soothe--all the things moms typically do for us. They also help her maintain a youthful appearance. 

There's no better way to say thank you than with skin care. We hope you agree. Have a Happy Mother's Day!

SHINE: Apothederm Anti-Aging Skin Care System 4-Piece Kit (Firming Serum, Hydrating Eye Cream, Moisturizing Cream and Moisturizing Cleanser). BEAUTY: Quench thirsty skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce visible signs of aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, phthalates and fragrances.

SHINE: Caldrea Coconut Fig Leaf Body Wash and Body Lotion. BEAUTY: Reawaken radiant skin with chia seed oil and fig fruit extract. BEACON: Free of parabens and phthalates.  

SHINE: Gingi Eye Treatment Gift Box (Instant Eye Lift Mask and Instant Eye Lift Cream). BEAUTY: These eye care essentials contain hyaluronic acid and cucumber extract, as well as aloe vera gel and shea butter, to maximize elasticity, and minimize puffiness and fine lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Malie Organics Anti-Aging Facial Set (Anti-Aging Firming Elasticity Cream and Anti-Aging Cream Cleanser). BEAUTY: Hawaiian coffee fruit extract helps repair and revitalize skin to reveal a natural glow. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of petroleum, sulfates and parabens.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Myoxy Caviar To Go Timeless Renewal (Timeless Balm Cleanser, Timeless Repair Lotion and Timeless Repair Cream). BEAUTY: Promote regeneration, restoration and age-defying results with this travel-size trio. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Reishi Mushroom Serum and Reishi Mushroom Shield SPF 45. BEAUTY: This dynamic duo protects your skin against sun damage, and prompts cellular vitality and longevity. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Skin Authority Bright Skin Duo with Gift Travel Tote (Age Defying Moisturizer SPF 18 and Brightening Serum). BEAUTY: Lock in luminosity, shield skin and diminish existing discoloration. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: vbeauté Eye Never Eye Creme, Buying Time Everyday Creme and Undercover Agent Anti-Wrinkle Protecting Serum. BEAUTY: Utilizes Swiss Alpine Rose Botanical Technology to boost hydration levels and counteract the effects of aging. BEACON: Contains no parabens, fragrances, gluten, oats or nuts. 

SHINE: VenEffect Anti-Aging Lip Treatment, Firming Neck & Décolleté Creme and Anti-Aging Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Smooth, soften and supersize the suppleness of your lips, eye area and neck/décolleté with grape and grapefruit seed extracts, and peptides. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

Read in the Bathtub Day: Nourishing Body Care

If you haven't played hooky from work or school yet this year, today might be the time to do it. It's National Read in the Bathtub Day.

R&R stands for read and relax--with no guilt attached. So feel free to act like you don't have a care in the world as you curl up with a good book and soak in the tub with no time restrictions.

In your pursuit of peacefulness, consider the following bath and body products--and enjoy your home spa day.  

 SHINE: Babor Vitamin A-C-E Body Cream (Body Line Thermal). BEAUTY: Sweet almond oil and vitamins A, C and E protect against environmental stress and strengthen skin's elasticity. BEACON: Supports Dolphin Aid.

SHINE: Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Shea Butter Body Wash. BEAUTY: Replenishes moisture with non-fat dry milk and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.

SHINE: Elemis Tranquil Touch Creamy Body Wash and Quiet Mind Relaxing Bath Elixir. BEAUTY: The body wash utilizes sweet almond, cedarwood and patchouli oils, while the bath elixir uses eucalyptus leaf, lemon peel and patchouli oils to promote tranquility and skin conditioning. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of animal-derived collagen, synthetic perfumes and coloring, mineral oil, alcohol and silicones.

SHINE: Lather Yuzu Bergamot Body Wash and Manuka Body Butter with Grapefruit & Juniper. BEAUTY: The body wash features yuzu peel and bergamot fruit oils, as well as cucumber, green tea and rosemary extracts, while the body butter utilizes grapefruit peel and juniper berry fruit oils to cleanse and moisturize the skin, and uplift the senses. BEACON: Contains no sulfates or parabens.

SHINE: Malie Organics Body Cream. BEAUTY: Hydrates and soothes the skin with coconut, kukui and macadamia nut oils, and aloe vera leaf juice. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, sulfates and petroleum.

SHINE: Shea Terra Organics Ultimate Moisturizing Body Creme (Rubi Rose Hips). BEAUTY: Softens skin and reduces scaling with rose hips seed oil and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil and Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash. BEAUTY: The body oil utilizes pomegranate and jojoba seed oils, while the body wash features pomegranate, sesame and macadamia nut seed oils to promote skin renewal. BEACON: Free of synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives and raw materials derived from mineral oils. 

SHINE: Whish Body Wash and Body Butter. BEAUTY: The body wash uses aloe vera leaf juice, pomegranate oil and cucumber fruit extract, while the body butter features shea butter, raspberry juice and lavender oil to purify, firm and moisturize. BEACON: Free of parabens, sulfates and petrochemicals.

Face and Body Spring Cleaning

The devoted pursuit of personal cleanliness can be traced as far back as ancient civilization. In fact, the Romans elevated it to a fine art. Their rituals included disrobing, bathing, sweating, receiving a massage and resting--procedures most American spas follow today. 

Fast forward several hundred centuries, and our faces and bodies now contend with an assortment of undesirable factors. Dirt and debris from our environment, hair, clothing, bedding and even oils from our own skin wreak havoc. Plus, makeup, moisturizers and sunscreens produce added contaminants.


The latest facial and body cleansers purify and protect. They provide multiple benefits to minimize premature aging, clogged pores, inflammation, sagging skin and pigmentation issues.

BEAUTY: 100% Pure Pink Grapefruit Hydrating Body Wash nourishes with vitamins and antioxidants, and brightens with pink grapefruit, pomegranate and goji berry. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free.

BEAUTY: Eminence Organic Skin Care Lime Cleansing Masque repairs with antioxidant-rich green, white and rooibos teas, and revitalizes with lime juice. BEACON: The company's ingredient farm in Hungary is powered by solar and wind energy. 

BEAUTY: Goldfaden Daily Cleanser increases radiance and antiaging protection with red tea, and moisturizes with hyaluronic acid and seaweed extract. BEACON: Vegan, no animal testing, and free of parabens, colorants, alcohol, mineral oils, petrochemicals and silicones. 

BEAUTY: iS CLINICAL Cream Cleanser softens skin with safflower seed and coconut oils, and doesn't need to be rinsed with water. BEACON: An active duty female soldier inspired the company to create this product, so she and other military personnel could use it in the field where water isn't readily available.

BEAUTY: Luzern Laboratories Pure Cleansing Créme purifies and hydrates with lemon peel and cucumber fruit extracts. BEACON: Free of parabens, fragrance, glycols, colorants, mineral oil, petrolatum, alcohol, nitrates, dyes and formaldehyde releasers.

BEAUTY: MAYAWATER Facial Mist revitalizes and cleanses dry, tired skin with Norwegian thermal spa water. BEACON: For every bottle purchased, the company donates 1% to charitable organizations that support clean water projects.

BEAUTY: One Love Organics Foaming Cleanser softens skin with glycerin, organic quillaja bark extract and apple seed oil. BEACON: Cruelty free, and supports Care and Children’s Scholarship Fund.

BEAUTY: Saian Perle Replenishing Cleanser hydrates and calms with aloe vera, chamomile and azulene. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free, and contains no parabens, artificial fragrance, colorants or propylene glycol.