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Daily Facial Care Done Right: Alba Botanica
Lately, my skin hasn’t been feeling or looking as great as it should. Who’s to blame? Winter in New York! I have been looking for a new cleanser to help draw out the dirt and oil while moisturising my skin. I also have very sensitive skin, so I needed something that didn’t cause irritation. If you have been having the same issue here is my top suggestion: Alba Botanica.
Alba Botanica is cruelty-free, made with 100% vegetarian ingredients and without harmful ingredients. Each collection delivers concentrated doses of botanical ingredients that detox and act as a fast fix for your skin and body. Each mask is saturated with its key ingredient (coconut, Camu Camu & more!) to target specific skin concerns (from wrinkles to acne!)
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Facial Care
Each product in the Hawaiian Detox facial care collection is formulated with Volcanic Clay, a mineral-rich natural substance that draws out dirt, oil, and grime from deep within pores before being washed away. This action helps clear problematic impurities which immediately brightens and refreshes skin. The clay’s unique physical texture also polishes away dead surface cells, leaving skin with a smooth, even, mattified glow. Each formula is powerfully effective, yet also hypo-allergenic.
Hawaiian Detox Cleanser (6oz., $11.99, Whole Foods)
Gentle yet effective daily detoxifier lathers away problematic impurities
Hawaiian Detox Scrub (4oz., $11.99, Whole Foods)
Distinctive black lathering scrub gently exfoliates, clears and brightens skin
Hawaiian Detox Sheet Mask (single mask, $3.49, Whole Foods)
Micro-extraction mask loosens stubborn impurities for intensive detox action
Hawaiian Detox Facial Towelettes (30ct, $5.99, Whole Foods)
Multi-tasking towelette whisks away makeup, detoxifies and tones without rinsing
Alba Fast Fix Sheet Masks (SRP: $3.49, Target, Wal-Mart, Whole Foods & natural food stores) Individually wrapped, serum-soaked fiber masks contour to your face to deliver concentrated doses of active botanical ingredients. In as little as 5 minutes, skin experiences a powerful beauty-enhancing treatment! 100% vegetarian ingredients, no animal testing, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors or parabens.- Coconut Water Hydrate Sheet Mask: an infusion of coconut water, cucumber and chamomile provide a mega-moisture oasis to return skin to healthy, hydrated happiness
- Camu Camu Anti-Wrinkle Sheet Mask: Camu Camu, cocoa, and caffeine fight the good fight to help firm, tone and tackle those pesky lines and wrinkles
- Papaya Anti-Acne Sheet Mask: the zit-zapping trio of papaya, lemon balm, and salicylic acid penetrates pores to give pimples their proper punishment
- Grapefruit Even Tone Sheet Mask: grapefruit, charcoal, and turmeric vanish visible pores, soothe redness and help lighten shadows, to give skin a soft, even glow
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Winter Care Tips: Protect Your Shoes
Winter can be tough on your leather shoes. I find myself replacing boots annually and tossing some one my favorite shoes after the season changes. I recently went on a hunt for an alternative to this problem and I saw a lot of articles online about this product called Galoshes. Galoshes are a type of rubber boot that is slipped over shoes to keep them from getting muddy or wet. One brand that people seemed to be obsessed with is SWIMS. SWIMS is a apparel company that developed the modern Galosh. The stylish solution to bad weather embodied the essence of practicality: Wear your favorite shoes, slip on SWIMS when the weather is rough, slip’em off when you arrive at your destination. I was lucky enough to try a pair for myself!
SWIMS Galoshes:
- Intelligent fit and great stretch
- Low friction when slipping on and off
- Durable and flexible
- TPU outer shell
- Unique inner lining and insulation
- Better grip on slippery surfaces
- Shock-absorbing heel
- Tear-resistant
- Waterproof
On the real, it not the cutest accessory but it gets the job done! You can wear your favorite leather shoes regardless of the weather and expect them to be in pristine condition once you slip off your Galosh. It protects your shoes against any weather to come and they are easy to carry. The New York City weather is very unpredictable, so I definitely suggest throwing a pair in your bag! Check out their product line for more great weather friendly products and amazing styles.
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Winter Skin Care Solutions
The winter can be quite brutal on delicate skin. The constant change between cold air and indoor heat can strip your skin of moisture and make you dry and itchy. Sigh no more! Here are a few great products to prevent skin cracking, dryness, and tightness this winter!
Wear SPF, from Head to Toe! The Nios Shield Leave-In Conditioner with SPF 15 is your all-in-one hair care essential that offers year round color and texture protection while combining SPF 15 sunscreen to help protect your scalp from sunburn! Formulated with Vitamin E and B5 to hydrate and nourish your hair, while Moroccan argan oil helps tame frizz, leaving you with a healthy, shiny glow and softer look with natural hold! ($26; NiosShield.com)
Moisturize Skin Daily! Ideal for severely dry skin, Curél Ultra Healing Lotion has been clinically proven to work two times better than the leading intensive lotion while healing skin’s moisture barrier so it can better lock-in and maintain moisture over time. It contains extra-strength, naturally hydrating agents so skin feels soft, supple, and restored. ($7.99, Drugstores and Mass Retailers)
Treat your feet to spa-like relaxation and conditioning with the new PediSpa Intensive Moisturizing Foot Mask! Kick up your heels as the treatment filled wearable socks noticeably smooth, soften and repair dry creaked, calloused feet and heels. With ingredients like Shea butter, apple extract and peppermint, this foot mask significantly improves the look and feel of even the driest feet. ($9.99 for two complete pairs; Exclusively at Target Stores in the Pharmacy Foot Care Aisle and Target.com) -
@Clayspray for Your Winter Skincare Routine
I’d love believe that with over half of February behind us, Old Man Winter is making his retreat… but these weekly (and sometimes twice weekly) snowstorms and cold weather tell a different story. So until I can start thinking about packing away the the heavy coat and switching to something light and springy, my winter skincare routine is in full effect.
Here are my top 5 winter skincare quick tips:
- Go easy on the heat.
Hot water dries out your skin, so suds up with lukewarm water instead. - Time the moisturizer.
Apply moisturizer immediately after washing your face while it’s still damp; it will absorb moisture better. - Don’t ditch the sunscreen.
There are less hours of sunlight each day, but winter sun combined with snow glare can still damage skin. - Switch to a heavier moisturizer.
The same light moisturizer that gets you through the summer might not cut it in the winter. Switch to a heavier cream to combat winter dryness. - Let your skin glow.
Shed that layer of dull, dead skin by using an exfoliating mask to smooth and add a natural glow.
Keeping those tips in mind, I recently tried out Clayspray, a clay mask in a spray. The Clayspray line consists of five different masks, each addressing a specific skin care concern: Pore Refining, Skin Brightening, Glow, Toning and Mattifying.
I considered the different options and decided on Glow because wheres my skin is oily in the summer, it tends to be dry during the winter.
It comes out like a gel shaving cream. I like that I didn’t have to fumble with a tube–it’s very convenient to apply.
After I sat with the mask on for a few minutes while it dried, I was able to easily rinse it off — and the results? My skin felt softer, refreshed and had a noticeable glow. Most clay masks have a drying effect because they work to draw out impurities and environmental toxins from deep within your pores. But Clayspray also deposits moisture and nutrients to your skin, which makes it different from regular clay masks. It’s awesome because that means I don’t have to follow up my clay mask with a moisturizing mask like I normally do in the winter.
The clay is sourced from the Irene Mine in Spain’s Iberian Peninsula where it has been protected from pollution and contamination for thousands of years.
To find Clayspray, visit: www.pharmaclay.com
- Go easy on the heat.
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GIF Box from @UniqloUSA
UNIQLO is excited to announce their “GIF Box” campaign just in time for the holiday season. Online deals don’t have to end with Cyber Monday now that UNIQLO is offering shoppers the chance to win a $500 gift card. With the help of seven animated GIF artists, UNIQLO.com visitors can submit their email address to open a GIF box. These festive animations contain great holiday prizes including coupons for $5 off their next $50 purchase or holiday gear.
Here is mine!
There will even be a $500 gift card for 100 lucky winners. This holiday promotion is now live at www.uniqlo.com through 12/31/12.
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Winter Glamour Party at J. Sisters Salon
Last Wednesday, Social Exposure Media kicked off 2012 with the Winter Glamour Party at the famed J. Sisters Salon inside the Limelight Marketplace. Guests were invited to experience spa-like treatments, hair-styling, makeup touch-ups, baked goods, sponsored cocktails and VIP gift bags.
The Winter Glamour Party is a part of the “Social Exposure Intimate Series,” which focuses on bringing people together to talk shop in unique environments while experiencing luxurious services, products and goods that are specifically targeted to their demographic.
The well-attended event was filled with beautiful faces, many of whom took the opportunity to add some glam with mini-makeovers.
Sweet treats were all around. The cupcakes tasted like marshmallows!
Next, I tried a Hypnotiq cocktail.
The red bottle is the newest Hypnotiq flavor, Harmonie. It has a great berry flavor and goes well with Champagne.
Kansas Clean Distilled Whiskey is a perfect for the new whiskey drinker, with it’s extra smooth and mild taste.
Other sponsors of the night include:
Mina D. Jewelry
Real Beanz Coffee
Voli Vodka
Soy Spacasso
Rain Africa
Perrier
Angela Angiulu Personal Training Certificates
Sophie Blake Jewelry Designs
Alzerina Gomes Jewelry
Jennifer King Style
