Fall Spa Week: Polish, Pamper & Protect Your Skin with Smoothing & Softening At-Home Protocols

Photo courtesy Witches Falls Cottages

The calm before the storm. That's what fall Spa Week feels like, as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approach. 

What better way to celebrate the start of the holiday season than with a soothing spa treatment--perhaps a hot stone massage? The service places warm and hot stones along specific meridian points directly on the body. The polished lava rocks, which are also used as massage tools during the treatment, increase circulation. Thus, many experts believe that they assist in removing energy blockages that may lead to the development of disease, illness and cancers.

During Spa Week, which begins today, the healing benefits of a hot stone massage and other services can be experienced at a discounted rate of $50. Although the offer only lasts until October 26, you can still continue the spirit of the celebration in the privacy of your own home with smoothing and softening skincare protocols.  

Take a look-see at the following products. They polish (cleanse and exfoliate), pamper (nourish) and protect (shield) your complexion to maintain healthy, glowing skin all year-round. Say "spaaah" and enjoy!

POLISH

SHINE: Altchek MD Daily Exfoliating Cleanser. BEAUTY: Remove impurities and revive dull skin with vitamins C and E, glycolic acid and calendula extract. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Apothederm Facial Enzyme Exfoliant. BEAUTY: Safflower and sunflower oils, vitamin E and papaya leaf extract help exfoliate dead, damaged skin cells. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, phthalates and fragrances.

SHINE: Basq NYC Rebalancing Face Cleanser. BEAUTY: Micro exfoliators prompt cellular renewal, while oat root extract serves to keep blemishes and dry, dull skin at bay. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and phthalates.

SHINE: DeVita Natural Skin Care Gentle Aloe Facial Scrub. BEAUTY: Aloe vera gel, jojoba beads and grape seed extract encourage healthy skin cell turnover without irritating your face. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no FD&C colors, lead, carmine, cochineal, gluten or parabens.

SHINE: Innovative Skincare Exfoliating Enzyme Treatment. BEAUTY: Restore radiance with micro beads and pineapple extract. BEACON: Free of parabens. Supports Stars For Stripes and the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

SHINE: LATHER AHA Facial Therapy with Copper & Borage Extract. BEAUTY: Shea butter, green coffee extract, and jojoba seed and borage oils help slough dead skin cells and even the tone of your complexion. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates and parabens.

SHINE: Murad Skin Smoothing Polish and Transforming Powder Dual-Action Cleanser & Exfoliator. BEAUTY: Gently clear and tighten your pores, and balance oil production with jojoba beads, hyaluronic acid and pumpkin seed extract. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser and Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser. BEAUTY: Jojoba seed extract, grapefruit peel oil and calendula extract eliminate dead skin cells and impurities. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil, PABA, formaldehyde, artificial colors and sulfates. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Refineé Exfoliating Fruit Cleanser. BEAUTY: Resurface, clarify and smooth your skin with jojoba and grapefruit oils, and glycolic and salicylic acids. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Robin McGraw Revelation Absolute Glow Purifying Facial Cleanser and Total Renewal Micro Polishing Scrub. BEAUTY: Sugar cane, and lemon and orange fruit extracts stimulate skin cell renewal and reduce pore size. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of dyes and parabens. Supports When Georgia Smiled. 

SHINE: Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care Epi-Peel. BEAUTY: This three-in-one exfoliator, mask and peel revitalizes your skin and smoothes your complexion with hibiscus and grape seed oils. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, mineral oils, petrochemicals, synthetic emulsifiers, and artificial colorants and fragrances.

PAMPER

SHINE: Altchek MD DePuff Eye Pads. BEAUTY: Castor oil, aloe vera extract, and vitamins A and E minimize puffiness around the eyes and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: DeVita Natural Skin Care Evening Rich Nutritional Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Deeply nourish your skin while you sleep with aloe vera gel, peptides and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no FD&C colors, lead, carmine, cochineal, gluten or parabens.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Stem Cells Phyto-Elite Intensive Cream. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamins C and E help increase elasticity and diminish fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil, PABA, formaldehyde, artificial colors and sulfates. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Erno Laszlo Hydra Therapy Skin Vitality Mask. BEAUTY: This hydrating mask refreshes and plumps your skin, and reduces the appearance of fine lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: iS CLINICAL by Innovative Skincare Youth Serum. BEAUTY: Peptides, beet root extract, and vitamins A, C and E help restore resiliency to loose skin. BEACON: Free of parabens. Supports Stars For Stripes and the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

SHINE: Yon-Ka Paris Alpha Complex Anti-Wrinkle Renewing Complex. BEAUTY: Brighten and tighten your skin to reveal a more youthful complexion with lemon and pineapple fruit extracts, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera leaf juice. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

PROTECT

SHINE: Altchek MD Daily Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 30. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf juice powder, oxybenzone, and vitamins C and E help shield, smooth and soften your skin. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: DeVita Natural Skin Care Moisture Tints Vegan BB Cream SPF 15 (Medium). BEAUTY: This three-in-one tint, moisturizer and sunscreen protects and hydrates your skin with zinc oxide, aloe vera gel and pomegranate extract. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no FD&C colors, lead, carmine, cochineal, gluten or parabens.

SHINE: Innovative Skincare Extreme Protect SPF 30. BEAUTY: Zinc oxide, aloe vera leaf juice and vitamin E provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and moisturize your skin to give it a gotta-have-it glow. BEACON: Free of parabens. Supports Stars For Stripes and the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30. BEAUTY: Prevent sunburn and premature signs of aging caused by UVA/UVB rays with zinc oxide, vitamins C and E, and green tea leaf extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil, PABA, urea, formaldehyde, artificial colors and sulfates. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Phytomer Sun Serenity. BEAUTY: Apricot kernel oil, vitamin E and citric acid help restore your skin from the damaging effects of the sun. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50. BEAUTY: Shield the area around your eyes from environmental damage, and prevent fine lines and hyperpigmentation with titanium dioxide, jojoba oil and zinc oxide. BEACON: Free of parabens. Supports the Melanoma Research Alliance.

Photo courtesy Witches Falls Cottageshttps

Happy Birthday Pink: How to Preserve Youthfulness with Vitamin C Serums for Women 35 & Older

High five! Pink turns 35 today.

The songstress has a style all her own. Her music gives her an edgy pop sound, while her acrobatic moves on stage make her a one-woman circus. Who can forget her high-flying performance at the Grammys earlier this year? She showed off her flexibility and strength by spinning and swinging upside down while suspended far above the audience in a daring aerial dance act.

Pink pursues bold looks, too. Known for her creative coifs, she's rocked short and sassy platinum blonde hair, fluorescent spikes, pink-streaked dreadlocks and a pitch-black skater cut. They bring to mind the unique styles of her two biggest musical influences--Madonna and Janis Joplin.

Born Alecia Beth Moore, Pink inspires fans with empowering songs such as "Try," "F**kin' Perfect" and "Raise Your Glass." She learned the importance of giving back early in her career and became a prominent campaigner for PETA more than a decade ago. Plus, she supports Human Rights Campaign, ONE Campaign, Prince's Trust, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Animal Protection.

Charitable endeavors not only make the world a better place, but the act of helping others in less fortunate situations also soothes the soul. So in honor of Pink's fierce philanthropy and motivational music, we've compiled good-for-you skincare serums, masks and creams that contain vitamin C. They allow women 35 and older to strengthen collagen, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, brighten skin and prevent premature aging.

Topical vitamin C makes a big difference--just like Pink. Happy birthday lovely lady!

SHINE: DeVita Natural Skin Care C 17% Serum. BEAUTY: Increase the elasticity of your skin, and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with aloe vera gel, green tea leaf extract, castor seed oil and vitamin C. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no FD&C colors, lead, carmine, cochineal, gluten or parabens.

SHINE: emerginC Scientific Organics Phytocell Cream. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf extract, shea butter, kombucha ferment and vitamin C help to hydrate your skin to improve its tone and texture. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of parabens, and synthetic colors and fragrances. Supports The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Black Currant C Serum. BEAUTY: Slow signs of premature aging with vitamins C and E, and black currant leaf and pomegranate extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of petrolatum, mineral oil, propylene glycol and parabens.

SHINE: Probios Transderma C Vitamin C Serum. BEAUTY: Vitamin C stimulates collagen production and skin cell regeneration to brighten and tighten your skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, fragrances, oil and alcohol.

SHINE: Vie Collection PHOTO-C Bright Radiance Mask. BEAUTY: Correct pigmentation flaws and restore radiance with vitamin C, and micro-algae and sea lily extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

Celebrate Spring Spa Week with an At-Home Facial that Utilizes Brightening & Tightening Formulations

It's one of those good news, bad news days. The bad news: Today marks the IRS deadline to file your taxes. The good news: Spa Week starts, so seize the day and soothe your soul--after you file your taxes, of course. 

Spas across the country now offer massages, scrubs and facials at a discounted rate of $50 until April 21. This means you can spend the day sampling various services at a participating facility or stretch out your favorite treatments throughout the entire week. Either way, it's the perfect opportunity to relax and rejuvenate in a tranquil setting at a significantly reduced rate.

Still, you may not have the ability to work a Spa Week treatment into your busy schedule. If this is the case, consider an at-home facial. It allows you to enjoy some much needed me time while also addressing concerns such as dull, dehydrated or sagging skin. The formulations below serve to brighten and tighten your complexion for a more youthful and radiant look. They contain results-oriented ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, peptides and anti-aging antioxidants, which restore and revitalize your skin.

Feel free to play some soothing music and light up a couple of candles. Spa Week awaits in the privacy of your own home.

BRIGHTEN

SHINE: Apothederm Bright Skin Serum. BEAUTY: Enhance skin's natural radiance with malic and mandelic acids, peptides and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, phthalates, fragrances and formaldehyde-releasing ingredients.

SHINE: L'Occitane Immortelle Brightening Face Mist. BEAUTY: Daisy flower extract, castor oil and vitamin E help refresh and illuminate skin, and keep makeup in place. BEACON: The L’Occitane Foundation supports women’s entrepreneurship and visual impairment fields of action.

SHINE: Naturopathica Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel. BEAUTY: Promote a smooth and bright complexion with sweet cherry seed oil, salicylic and lactic acids, and pomegranate extract. BEACON: Contains no sulfate detergents, PEGs, DEA, TEA, parabens, glycols and urea. Supports the American Botanical Council and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Ligne Tropicale De-Aging Mist (Mango-Passion Fruit). BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, aloe vera leaf gel and pomegranate extract awaken skin with a refreshing boost of hydration. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: LATHER 10-Minute Brightening Mask with Glycolic Acid. BEAUTY: Lactic and kojic acids and vitamins B3 and C improve the texture and tone of dull and dehydrated skin, and reduce hyperpigmentation. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates and parabens. 

TIGHTEN

SHINE: Dermalogica Skin Renewal Booster. BEAUTY: Smooth and soften the skin's surface with aloe vera leaf juice, lactic acid and lavender extract. BEACON: Contains no artificial fragrances or colorants. Championed joinFITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship). The Dermalogica Foundation also supports Skincare for Kids in Need.

SHINE: IT Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil Anti-Aging Primer. BEAUTY: This two-in-one serum/primer utilizes more than 50 ingredients, including grape, pomegranate and jojoba seed oils, peptides and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture, and reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and fragrances.

SHINE: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Apple and grape buds, lemon bark, shea butter and aloe vera leaf juice improve elasticity and encourage new cell growth. BEACON: USDA Organic certified. Free of parabens, petroleum, propylene and butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances.

SHINE: Kate Somerville Quench Hydrating Face Serum and DermalQuench Liquid Lift. BEAUTY: The serum utilizes hyaluronic acid, and vitamins C and E, to help increase firmness and elasticity, while the lift contains hyaluronic acid, vitamins A, C and E, and lavender oil to combat sagging skin and dryness. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: LashEm Picture Perfect Instant Wrinkle Reducer. BEAUTY: Boost cellular regeneration, and fill in fine lines and wrinkles with aloe vera leaf extract and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, fragrances and prostaglandins. 

SHINE: Luzern Laboratories Force De Vie Pure Oxygen Lotion. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf juice, algae extract and hyaluronic acid maximize suppleness and minimize signs of aging. BEACON: Contains no parabens, petrochemicals, formaldehyde, synthetic preservatives, colorants and fragrances.

SHINE: ProBios Laboratories Transderma C Vitamin C Serum and Transderma M Moisturizing Serum. BEAUTY: Transderma C contains vitamin C to enhance luminosity and firmness, while Transderma M utilizes olive fruit oil and vitamin E to repair and renew the skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of preservatives, fragrances, oil and alcohol.