In light of Veterans Day yesterday, I wanted to highlight a great skincare program with an even greater cause. Washingtonian Sara Damelio, founder of Skincando and creator of Combat-Ready Balm, has been donating care packages to the U.S. troops overseas since 2005. A multi-tasking cream, Combat-Ready Balm soothes sand flea bites, sunburn and dry skin for troops overseas. Also available in a lip balm, bug repellant and bar of soap, these gifts ($4.25-$12.50) do more than just offer immediate skin relief, it sends a sincere note of ‘thank you for serving our country.’ Donated jars are sent to a soldier in need, or a specific service member you may know, not to mention Skincando covers all shipping costs. For more information and how you can donate, click here. Here’s to our troops (and taking care of our skin)!
I think I spent a solid six months or so of my “tween” years going to bed with makeup on. If I could slap myself with a package of makeup remover towelettes back then, I would. Little did I know I my skin was aging, simply by lack of swiping a cloth or cold cream across my face.
“Your skin will age faster if you keep makeup on while you sleep. The skin replenishes and repairs itself during the night,” says Michele Marcelo, makeup artist at David Rios Salon & Spa. Needless to say, I will never ever go to bed with makeup on.
So how do you properly remove makeup without getting gook in your eyes and shedding any precious lashes? Marcelo breaks down the step-by-step process: “Use a cotton pad (I like to use quilted cotton rounds) and place over a closed eye; hold in place for a moment, then swipe toward the nose and go back and forth over the lid to catch the mascara first and then lift off, turn over the pad and repeat using the same technique.”
Shopping for makeup remover doesn’t have to be a high-end purchase, but it does need to be the best fit for your skin type. “If you have sensitive skin, go with a labeled sensitive product that is mild and gentle on skin,” says Marcelo. If you’re always on-the-go, makeup wipes are easy to use and travel with. “The formula is saturated in the cloth and if you’re mascara is waterproof, it gets the job done right from the beginning,” she adds.
With the end of summer, comes a fading tan line and perhaps some unwanted skin damage. While I frequented the beach this summer, I parked myself right under the rental umbrella while listening to throwback Taylor Swift tunes and reading my fashion glossies. But for those who may have spent too much time in the sun (and many years prior), I suggest you consider booking the newly debuted Vitamin-C Crystal Collagen Facial (50 minutes, $175) at The Spa at Equinox.
Using marine collagen and lemon extract, this treatment will help hydrate your skin, reverse sun damage while improving skin discoloration and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is quite the rejuvenating boost for the fall season and totally worth the splurge!
For those who book an appointment for the facial, enjoy complimentary access to the fitness club the day of your visit (don’t worry, they won’t judge you if you don’t).
When I think about skincare peels, I immediately cringe about a horrible past experience. Except, it wasn’t my own horrible experience, it was just an episode of Sex & The City. Ladies, you know what I’m talkin’ about. But when Alchimie Forever founder Ada Polla told me about this brightening peel, the latest addition to the beloved sensitive skincare family, I knew it couldn’t be anything like that Samantha Jones experience. I could go on and on about just how powerful (and gentle) this peel is, but I thought this sums it up best:
1. It works for every skin type.
“This professional-only peel has been formulated to yield immediate and visible results that is ideal for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin,” says Drs. Luigi and Barbara Polla, co-creators of Alchimie Forever.
2. The benefits post-peel are numerous.
This treatment is the ultimate multi-tasker. You’ll have to brace yourself as we list ‘em: immediate firming and tightening effect, anti-aging properties (think reduction of fine lines), antioxidant effect, evening out of pigmentation, refining of pores, exfoliation and smooth skin, minimization of breakouts and acne, facilitates extractions. Need we say more?
3. You won’t leave the spa looking like you just had a peel.
Unlike other peels in the market, Dr. Luigi Polla developed each peel’s five acids, including blueberry extra to ensure visible results and anti-redness properties. “The anti-inflammatory and anti-redness properties of the blueberries really help to quell these two side effects of any peel (inflammation and redness),” he says.
The brightening peel is available at LifeSpa (see locations here) and other leading spa locations in the District. Peel treatment only, 30 minutes, $75.
We all have different skin types, and while that can make choosing the right beauty product for your skin a little difficult, there seems to be a natural solution for just about any skin condition thanks to Mother Nature herself, that sassy little vixen. My love for DIY beauty masks has gotten a little out of control and I’ve tried creating different masks from just about anything I can find in my fridge. Some of them have not gone so well, but others, well, they were so good I had to write a post about them so you pretty peeps could embrace your inner DIY diva as well. And what’s even better about these masks is they taste amazing…not that I taste-test my face masks. Okay, I do. Let the tasting, er, DIY’ing begin!
The Anti-Aging Avocado Mask
What you’ll need:
1 avocado, mashed
1 carrot, cooked and then mashed
1/2 cup of heavy cream
1 egg, beaten well
3 tablespoons of pure honey
Once you have got all your ingredients mixed and mashed up in a bowl, simply apply it evenly to your face and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
What it does: Thanks to the vitamins and antioxidants found in avocados, the beta-carotene in carrots, and the protein in the cream, this mask will help to moisturize your skin, promote collagen production, even out your skin tone, improve your skin texture, and cause any age spots you may have to fade away. Not bad for a mask that costs under $2 to make!
The Acne Attacker
Ah acne, it can be such a pain in my…skin? Well, you know what I mean.
What You’ll Need:
1/4 cup of mashed strawberries (After I have eaten a few)
1/4 cup of plain yogurt
Mix the strawberries and yogurt until you have created a paste and spread it on your face. Let it soak for 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water and patting dry.
What it does: While there are some amazing acne solutions out there, many of them are so laden with chemicals that they can actually do more harm than good. Not only does this mask taste amazing but the strawberries are a powerful, and natural, anti-acne treatment thanks their salicylic acid content, a common ingredient found in the over-the-counter treatments many of us buy. The bonus? Not only are you effectively treating your acne but you are doing it in a natural way that won’t ravage your skin with a bunch of synthetic chemicals.
A Moisturizing Mask
I just had to save the best for last, and it’s not because I tend to eat half of this mask before actually getting it on my face, but because of how it makes my skin feel after washing it off. If you are similar to me and suffer from dry skin, especially during the cooler months, then this mask is straight up calling your name.
What You’ll Need:
1/2 of an avocado
1/2 a banana
1 teaspoon of honey
Mash ingredients into a paste and spread evenly on your face and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing off with cool water.
What it does: What’s great about this mask is not only is your skin being infused with loads of minerals, vitamins A and B, and antioxidant rich vitamin E, but it is also being nourished with healthy fats that will leave your skin with a youthful, radiant glow. Take into account the anti-inflammatory and humectant properties of honey and you have created yourself a tasty moisturizing mask that will help to hydrate your skin, keep it soft, and protect it against the damaging effects of dry weather.
Vanessa Roberts reviews popular beauty products as the chief beauty blogging babe for TopBeautyBrands.com where she reviews popular beauty products such as the best self tanner. The best part about her job? She gets to help her readers look and feel their very best!
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