"Pretty in Pink" $31 Spa Treatments

A special tip for all my pretties!  In the continual effort to support Breast Cancer Awareness, spas nationwide are offering a special $31 price for select treatments during the month of October.  Visit Pretty City's website to see who's offering what in your city. 

Understanding the Ingredients in Skin Care Products

Be Informed! An article from the Cleveland Clinic about ingredients you should look for in your skin care products...

Understanding the Ingredients in Skin Care Products

Antioxidant Power! Essential for Healthy Skin...

Learn something you may not have known about the importance of Antioxidants in Skincare!  In short, Antioxidants protect our skin from free radical damage on the cellular level; the same damage that can lead to wrinkles, pigmentation and blemishes.  While it is essential to get antioxidants from our diet, our skin is the last organ to receive the vital nutrients we consume. Therefore, we should be applying this essential protection of antioxidants daily with our skincare products. Recommend: LucaBello's Antioxidant Daily Serum

Live Beautifully! It’s “Love You” Month = $39 Spa Treatments Nationwide!!

Spa junkies, it’s that time of year again to get your beauty fix on the cheap! The month of February has been named the “Love You” month to promote Heart Health awareness. Translate: Spas nationwide are offering select services for only $39!! Visit the link below and enter your city to find the spas offering huge savings on everything from facials, waxing & massage to laser hair removal, salon services and even teeth whitening!

Click Here To Find $39 Spa Deals

5 Simple Skin Care Tips to Survive the Winter!

If you are part of the large population that experiences extreme climate changes during the winter months, then fret no more….5 simple tips to keep skin hydrated and glowing!

1. First things first; take stock of your current skin care products because it may be time for a change. If you live in an area, where the climate changes, you’ll need to adjust your products accordingly. During the winter months, most of us struggle to keep skin hydrated. A good start is by switching to a cream cleanser (as to not strip the skin); if your skin feels tight and dry after cleansing, then the product you’re using is too harsh. If you’re using an astringent toner to wipe excess oil, then switch to a spray toner full of antioxidants. You may also need to ‘upgrade’ your moisturizer. Using a richer formula than the one used during summer months will add hydration and protect better than a lightweight lotion.

2. Exfoliate. Since our skin is our body’s first line of defense, part of its brigade is to hold onto dead skin cells during the winter months as a form of protection. Use a facial scrub up to 3x a week. If you’re using products containing chemical exfoliators (glycolic, retinol, lactic) then alternate between products every other night. Sugar and Sea Salt Body Scrubs formulated in a natural oil base are a great way to keep the rest of your skin glowing; after rinsing, apply nourishing body oil to slightly damp skin followed by a rich body cream. This is also a great time to reap the benefits of professional peel treatments. These multi-tasking treatments keep skin baby soft, erase fine lines, and help to reverse sun-damage.

3. Hydrate. As mentioned earlier, you may want to switch to a richer moisturizing cream. Another option is to add a nutritive serum to your routine. Look for products containing Hyaluronic Acid (holds 1000x its weight in water) and Shea, Mango, or Kokum Butters. Don’t be afraid of oils! Natural oils DO NOT clog the pores; mineral & petroleum oils do! Avocado, Rosehip & Evening Primrose oils just to name a few, contains essential fatty acids as well as antioxidant vitamins to nourish and hydrate the skin. For oily skin types, you’ll find the best results with Jojoba, Sweet Almond, and Hazelnut oils. Apply your moisturizer while your skin is still damp from cleansing or after your toner to lock in essential moisture. For those that participate in winter sports, facial balms or pure Shea Butter will provide a protective barrier as well as skin nurturing benefits.

4. Hydrate #2: Winter air is usually very dry – as is the heat in our homes. Those 2 factors plus going from in to outdoors are very dehydrating to the skin, as well as the body. You can increase hydration by adding room humidifiers, especially by bedside. And, as always, consume plenty of fluids!

5. Treat Pigmentation: The winter months are an ideal time to treat those pesky little freckles and other discolored remnants from the summer. Of course you can do this year-round but continuous sun exposure tends to cancel out all the work! You can start by getting lactic or glycolic peels, then treating hyper-pigmentation at home with products containing Vitamin C, Arbutin, Kojic Acid, & Licorice Extract. These are a few common natural skin lighteners w/o any harmful side effects.