National Grapefruit Month: 9 Skincare Sensations Celebrate Citrusy Goodness for Your Face & Body

Photo by John Steven Fernandez

I developed my love for grapefruits from my paternal grandmother. She ate them for breakfast with her oatmeal and as snacks during the day. Not only did she possess youthful skin as she aged, but she ended up living a long, healthy life. I'm convinced that her obsession with the fruit had a lot to do with her radiant complexion and longevity.

Named after grapes since they grow in clusters, grapefruits have a distinctive citrusy taste--sweet, sour and sumptuous. They contain lots of minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients, which help reduce the production of cholesterol, and promote better digestion, weight loss and overall health. 

The pulp, oil and juice from these large globes of goodness also nourish and protect the skin. Grapefruit seed extract serves as an effective antibacterial ingredient, so it's commonly utilized in cleansers, masks and scrubs to refresh your face and body. Plus, its deeply moisturizing effects enhance the suppleness of your skin.

In honor of National Grapefruit Month, we present the following creams, clarifiers and cleansers. They utilize all aspects of the fruit to brighten and beautify your complexion. Enjoy the celebration!

SHINE: 100% Pure Pink Grapefruit Nourishing Body Cream, Pink Grapefruit Hydrating Body Wash and Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub. BEAUTY: Soften your skin and give it a healthy glow with pink grapefruit peel oil, and goji berry and pomegranate fruit extracts. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Also contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances or colors.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Pink Grapefruit Clarifying Masque. BEAUTY: Pink grapefruit juice, pulp and peel, kaolin clay, alpha lipoic acid, and vitamins A, C and E help rebalance your skin and banish blemishes. BEACON: No animal testing. The company plants one tree for each product sold through its Forests For the Future program.

SHINE (clockwise): LATHER Pink Grapefruit & Ginger Illuminating Creme, Manuka Body Butter with Grapefruit & Juniper, and Pink Grapefruit & Ginger Sugar Scrub. BEAUTY: Lock in moisture and smooth your skin with grapefruit peel oil, aloe vera leaf juice and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates and parabens. Also utilizes eco-friendly packaging.

SHINE: Veria Innerdosha Sheer Delivery Hand & Body Lotion, and Clarity Found Body Wash. BEAUTY: Grapefruit and orange oils, aloe vera leaf juice and neem seed oil aid in hydrating your skin without any heaviness to leave it feeling refresh and revitalized. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty-free. Contains no parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, artificial colors or GMOs.

National Bubble Bath Day: Come In from the Cold & Treat Yourself to a Warm, Soothing Soak

Happy new year! If you didn't enjoy enough bubbles during your New Year's Eve celebration, you get a another chance today. National Bubble Bath Day has arrived! 

Life offers us lots of choices. So, when it comes to personal preferences such as a cup of coffee or tea, still or sparkling water, cats or dogs, or a Mac or a PC, we need to choose wisely. The same goes for bathing methods. Most people develop a fierce loyalty to a bath or a shower--rarely both. 

Photo by Joanna Poe

Baths and showers provide their own unique benefits. However, baths offer something that showers can't. They allow us the opportunity to schedule quality time for ourselves. At the end of a long, hectic day, you can fill up the tub with warm water, light some candles and incense, read a book and relax your tired body. Plus, a bath helps take weight off of your feet, joints and muscles, which ultimately serves as a revitalizing way to relieve minor aches and pains.

With frigid temperatures gripping most of the country, the time has arrived to embrace National Bubble Bath Day. So start running the warm water and check out the following bodycare products. They're designed to soothe and soften your skin, as well as stimulate your senses.

We're stoked for a soak. How about you? Bubbles optional!

SHINE: Avalon Organics Bath & Shower Gel (Lemon). BEAUTY: Replenish your skin and uplift your spirits with aloe vera leaf juice, lemon peel extract, and lime, orange and grapefruit oils. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of parabens, synthetic colors or fragrances, phthalates or sulfates.

 SHINE: Jason Nourishing Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Creme. BEAUTY: Sunflower seed oil, cocoa seed butter and vitamin E help relieve dry, damaged skin apres soak. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan.

SHINE: MyBody Probiotic Bath + Shower Gel (Energizing Bergamot Lime) and Probiotic Body Lotion (Energizing Bergamot Lime). BEAUTY: Purify, protect and stimulate your skin's natural repair process with probiotic derived bioactives, and vitamins A and E. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of gluten, parabens, phthalates, sulfates and dyes.

SHINE: Phytomer Oligomer Well-Being Remineralizing Relaxing Bath. BEAUTY: Freeze-dried seawater and a green tea/jasmine scent help recharge your skin and your soul. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Skin Authority Well-Being Bath & Shower Retreat. BEAUTY: Turn your bathing experience into an aromatherapeutic adventure with lemon, lime, peppermint and pine oils. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, dyes and added fragrances. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.