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.

Sleeping Beauty: Nourishing Night Creams Take the Sting Out of Daylight Savings

We've all heard the fairy tale about Sleeping Beauty. She's the princess who falls into a deep slumber from which she can only be awakened by a kiss from her true love--the kingdom's dashing young prince. 

This fanciful tale comes to mind as Daylight Savings arrives on Sunday, March 10. Since we need to set our clocks forward, our beauty sleep will end one hour earlier than usual. In other words: You snooze, you lose. 

We wish we could offer you a dashing young prince to take the sting out of losing sleep this weekend. Instead, we've assembled a selection of top night creams. These products moisturize more deeply than their daytime counterparts, so it's lights out for fine lines and wrinkles, and dry or dull skin concerns.

May you live happily ever after with radiant skin!

 SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream for Face & Neck. BEAUTY: Tone and tighten the face, neck and décolletage while you sleep with monoi and argan oils, shea butter and argan sprout cell extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS. The company's newest eco-friendly initiative allows for a tree to be planted for each product sold.

SHINE: L'Occitane Immortelle Biologique Precious Night Cream. BEAUTY: Grape and sunflower seed oils, vitamin E and coconut oil help repair and regenerate your skin, so you look more refreshed in the morning. BEACON: The L'Occitane Foundation supports fields of action for visual impairment and women's entrepreneurship.

SHINE: Murad Age-Balancing Night Cream. BEAUTY: Hydrate and heal the skin with shea butter, avocado oil and clover flower extract to maximize elasticity and minimize the effects of hormonal aging. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Age Defying Hippophae Night Cream. BEAUTY: Avocado and jojoba oils, hyaluronic acid and green tea extract help transform skin from lifeless to luminous. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no parabens, artificial colors or fragrances. 

SHINE: Phytomer Night Recharge Youth Enhancing Cream. BEAUTY: Detoxify and revitalize your skin each night for a younger looking appearance with brown algae extract, vitamin E, and jojoba and sunflower seed oils. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: VB Cosmetics Abrioné Night Time Recovery Cream. BEAUTY: Aloe vera gel, and pineapple and grape seed extracts lift away dead skin cells and signs of aging. BEACON: No animal testing.

Milestone Stunners: Celebs Turning 40 in 2013

Portia de Rossi: January 31

Happy birthday to Portia de Rossi. The former "Ally McBeal" star, author of "Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain" and wife of Ellen DeGeneres reaches a milestone today as she turns 40.

Not only does she deserve props for her age-defying beauty, but we'd also like to recognize her fierce philanthropic efforts. She supports several children's charities, including Locks of Love, which provides wigs to needy youngsters who have lost their hair due to alopecia or other medical conditions, and The Art of Elysium, a group of actors, artists and musicians who volunteer their time and talent to terminally ill kids.

She's also an animal lover who dedicated herself to a vegan diet in 2008. As a result, she supports Alley Cat Allies, an organization established to protect and improve the lives of felines, and The Gentle Barn, which helps heal and nurture special-needs and at-risk children through its animal program.

As we celebrate de Rossi's milestone birthday, let's take a look at other celebrities turning 40 this year. We've also compiled several products designed to help your complexion look firm, fab and flawless as your skin matures.

Here's to aging gracefully!

Tori Spelling: May 16

Photo by Bob Bekian

Heidi Klum: June 1

Kate Beckinsale: July 26

Photo by Rachel Sklar

Kristen Wiig: August 22

Photo by Jeff Balke

Rose McGowan: September 5

Photo © Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com

Tyra Banks: December 4

SHINE: 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil. BEAUTY: Argan oil deeply moisturizes the face, eye area, décolleté and hands to repair and replenish the skin. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances and colors.

SHINE: CellCeuticals PhotoDefense Daily Skin Protector SPF 55+. BEAUTY: Photoplex technology provides protection against sun exposure, while pear fruit, green tea leaf and pumpkin fruit extracts strengthen skin's natural defenses. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of artificial fragrances, PABA and parabens.

SHINE: Clarisonic ARIA Sonic Skin Cleansing System. BEAUTY: The system utilizes sonic micro message action to facilitate gentle exfoliation for softer and smoother skin, while the Refreshing Gel Cleanser promotes cellular turnover with willow bark, kiwi fruit and green tea leaf extracts. BEACON: The cleanser contains no parabens.

SHINE: Kate Somerville Serum Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+. BEAUTY: Protect against damaging UVA and UVB rays, and prevent sunburn and premature aging with titanium dioxide, aloe vera leaf juice and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of oils, parabens and alcohol.

SHINE: Murad Age Reform Perfecting Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++. BEAUTY: Lemon peel and pomegranate extracts, hyaluronic acid, lecithin and vitamin E restore youthful skin. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Lift Perfection SPF 20. BEAUTY: Counter signs of aging and protect against environmental damage with titanium dioxide, green tea extract, peptides and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no parabens, or artificial colors and fragrances. 

SHINE: Naturopathica Cassis Ultra Replenishing Cream. BEAUTY: Shea butter, vitamin E, orange peel and black currant seed oils, and hyaluronic acid promote restoration and radiance. BEACON: Contains no sulfate detergents, PEGs, DEA, TEA, parabens, glycols and urea. Supports American Botanical Council and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. 

SHINE: Nude Skincare ProGenius Treatment Oil. BEAUTY: Achieve luminosity and long-lasting skin cell nourishment with omega 3, 6, 7 and 9, and sweet almond and macadamia nut oils. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing.

 SHINE: Transderma A by ProBios Labs Vitamin A Serum. BEAUTY: Olive fruit oil, and vitamins A and E absorb deeply to regenerate and renew skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of preservatives, fragrances, oil and alcohol. 

SHINE: Ren Clean Skincare Anti-Ageing Eye Cream. BEAUTY: Reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow's feet and expression lines with shea butter, lingonberry seed oil, peptides and vitamin E. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of synthetic fragrances and colors, petrochemicals, sulfates and parabens. 

SHINE: Somme Institute Serum. BEAUTY: Peptides, vitamins C and E, and orange and lime fruit extracts boost collagen and strengthen skin's elasticity. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

Get Madonna's Age-Defying Super Bowl Look

Did you catch Madge Madness at Sunday's Super Bowl? Madonna brought down the house during her comeback halftime show by performing classic hits, such as "Vogue" and "Like A Prayer," alongside her new release "Give Me All Your Luvin'." 

Fans say the 53-year-old pop icon looks better in 2012 than she did in 1982. She's fit, fabulous and, most of all, firm. No wrinkle would dare strike a pose on that face.

Madonna denies plastic surgery rumors. Instead, she credits her youthful radiance to anti-aging creams and a macrobiotic diet. This old school Material Girl appears to keep things fresh with the three Rs of skin care--repair, restore and renew. 

You can get the same look with the following serums, moisturizers and cleansers for the face, neck and bust. They're super smoothing and softening.

SHINE: VB Cosmetics Abrioné Face Lifting Serum. BEAUTY: Reduces puffiness, inflammation, sagging and wrinkles with Tibetan goji berry extracts and orange oil. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Dermelect Self-Esteem Neck Firming Lift. BEAUTY: Avocado oil, green tea extract and shea butter hydrate, firm and tighten sensitive areas of the neck and jawline. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Elemis Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment Neck and Bust. BEAUTY: Utilizes shea butter, and sunflower and macadamia nut seed oils to reduce skin crepiness by up to 33%, according to manufacturer. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no synthetic perfumes or coloring, mineral oil, alcohol, silicones or genetically modified crops.

SHINE: Fleur's Intensive Wrinkle Firming Serum and First Wrinkle Cream. BEAUTY: Shea butter and linseed extract help preserve skin's youthfulness by smoothing expression lines. BEACON: No animal testing.  

SHINE: Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair. BEAUTY: Designed to reduce depth, density and volume of wrinkles with macadamia nut seed oil, peptides and grapefruit peel oil. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Refineé Age Recovery Cream and Line Stop. BEAUTY: Utilizes peptides, green tea leaf extract and aloe vera to relax and diminish the look of expression lines, crows feet, furrows and folds. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Sanítas PeptiDerm Moisturizing Cream. BEAUTY: Peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and shea butter help restore skin’s natural elasticity. BEACON: Supports the Cinderella Foundation.  

SHINE: Stages of Beauty Harmony Daily Cleanser and Exfoliating Scrub. BEAUTY: Designed to combat free radical damage and encourage a balanced and glowing complexion with sugar cane extract, and orange and lemon fruit extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, GMOs, phthalates, fragrance and synthetic dyes.

The Power of Pomegranate Skin Care

Photo by johannrela

Pomegranate seeds look like precious rubies. They possess a vibrant garnet color, glisten in the sunlight and, most of all, make us feel good. You could call them nature's bling bounty.

Known as the "jewel of winter," the pomegranate has served as a symbol of romance, longevity and fertility in some cultures. Today, the oil and extract from this succulent super fruit appear as key ingredients in many skincare formulations to minimize signs of aging and promote youthful radiance. Vitamins B and C, polyphenols and anthocyanins provide more antioxidants than red wine and green tea.

Discover the hidden treasures of this natural gem. The following formulations improve skin health by utilizing pomegranate as a prominent ingredient. 

SHINE: Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion. BEAUTY: Pomegranate and wild yam root extracts, and sunflower seed oil help fight free radicals responsible for the breakdown of collagen and elastin. BEACON: No animal testing. Also free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Cranberry Pomegranate Masque. BEAUTY: Pomegranate purée and juice, cranberry purée and juice, gooseberry extract and sesame oil assist with moisture retention. BEACON: Supports the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and The Cinderella Project.

SHINE: Pomega5 Or de Nuit Illuminating Lifting Serum. BEAUTY: Pomegranate seed oil, aloe vera leaf juice, colloidal gold and blue green algae extract promote cell renewal and collagen production. BEACON: Cruelty free. Also contains no parabens, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances or dyes.

SHINE: Weleda Pomegranate Firming Serum. BEAUTY: Organic pomegranate juice and millet seed extract help strengthen and support skin regeneration. BEACON: Free of synthetic fragrances, colorants, preservatives and raw materials derived from mineral oils. Also supports Conservation International.