DIY Spa Tips From Turnberry Isle Miami
Wishing for a spa getaway? To feel royally pampered in preparation for the summer months, therapists at the legendary Turnberry Isle Miami and its Forbes-rated Four Star Spa & Fitness Center suggest these at-home treatments using natural ingredients for those times when you can't make it into the spa: Mommy-to-Be Read more
NightCare Heel Treatment Kit Review
If you are a gal who tries to extend the life of a pedicure as long as possible, then you probably know the first thing that usually needs attention in between pedicures are your heels. I mean really, who has time to get pedicures weekly or even every Read more
Sun Bum Continuous Spray Sunscreen Review
With May being Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness month, now seems like the perfect time if any to talk sunscreen! As you may have read earlier this month, I was diagnosed with Melanoma just a couple of years ago. Life after Melanoma requires a lot more preparation when spending time Read more
Suave Moroccan Argan Styling Oil Review
Moroccan Oil is all the rage for the benefits of argan oil on both skin and hair. Suave's Moroccan Infusion line of hair care products aim to deliver incredible shine, softness and conditioning to your hair. I had the opportunity to try the new Moroccan Argan Styling Oil from Read more
EnvyDerm Lip Volumizing and Conditioning Plumper
As I get older I notice the collagen making a prompt exit from my lips leaving them looking lifeless and thin. The best way to combat thinning lips (or if you have thin lips to begin with) is to keep them hydrated and to use a lip plumper. When Read more
On this date, seven years ago, at the young age of 31, I began to find my voice. I heard stories of how when you turn 30, you really discover who you are. This was true for me.
I had long had a passion for writing, was obsessed with every beauty product on the planet, but also wanted to find a way to make a difference in the lives of others.
Can a beauty blog make a difference in someone’s life? It sure can when you provide them with a solution to their problem. Read more
I’ve found liquid gold…black gold to be exact. I was given a 1 oz sample of boscia’s newest face cleanser, Detoxifying Black Cleanser and I must say I’m glad I chose this cleanser over a lip gloss.
For those who haven’t heard or know anything about boscia, they are a preservative-free, botanically-based skincare line. “(boscia contains none of the 150 industry-recognized preservatives – not just parabens – that can irritate skin and cause blemishes, redness, eczema and more).” With the combination of cutting edge Japanese technology and active botanical ingredients, boscia’s philosophy is to achieve superior results without compromising skin health. Read more
My skin, for the most part, is pretty problem free but every once in a while…or more like once every month without fail…I tend to develop a serious case of acne that always seems to appear right before a big event or a photoshoot. As soon as I notice that tiny red bump or feel that all too familiar tender spot on my skin, I start to attack it with lotions and potions intended to treat and prevent those bumps from transforming into pimples. This plan of attack has resulted in one of two scenarios thus far; either it does not work and I just deal with a ginormous pimple for a few days…or a full week, or it works but also turns my skin into a dry flaky mess.
During this month’s battle of the breakouts, I used Rx For Brown Skins’ Clear Luminosity Acne Lotion and Precise Clarity Acne Spot Treatment as my weapons of choice and am ecstatic to say that I emerged victorious from this battle…finally. The Clear Luminosity Acne Lotion did not leave my skin feeling dry and flaky like every other acne treatment lotion I’ve used in the past. It was actually very hydrating and left my skin feeling softer and smoother, it also seemed to soothe my skin instead of irritating it. The Precise Clarity Acne Spot Treatment helped to clear up my pimples, and while it was noticeably more drying than the lotion it still did not leave my skin a flaky, irritated mess. With both of these products, the suggested application frequency is one to three times daily but I only needed to use it once a day and I generally used it at night, which worked out really well for me. Read more
Last year I tried eco-armour’s shave foams for the first time and although my first review of their products was less than stellar, after using them more than once I was absolutely hooked and needless to say HAD to give the shave foams an A+. Not only does the shaving foam double as a body wash but it’s also plant-based formula that acts as a first-aid to skin and razor blades and helps eliminates ingrown hairs, red bumps, razor burn, nicks, cuts and dull blades. I also love the foam because it is not a creamy, oily mess so there is less chance of me slipping in the shower…which has happened quite a few times.
Since this is now the only shaving product that I use, I was ecstatic to see that they have added an amazing new version of the foams which uses essential oils of pink grapefruit and bergamot…just in time for short shorts season. The foams are also now called “Shave with Benefits“, which I think is fitting since there are so many benefits to using this product. Read more
On Monday, November 21st I attended the red carpet premier of the reality makeover web series, “In The Chairâ€. This new docu-series highlights women who have not had the privilege of experiencing a full spa experience for a variety of reasons, ranging from negative makeover experiences in the past to heartfelt stories of personal tragedy.
Show host Stephen Marinaro (better known as TheSalonGuy) treats each woman to a head-to-toe makeover at award-winning spas and salons in New York and New Jersey, showing both clients and viewers at home the caliber of quality we should all expect from our salons.
Live Performances prior to the episode launch.
The event on Monday was packed. Both women and men came out to socialize as they enjoyed live performances, food, and support the show’s launch…but I don’t think many expected the impact this premier episode would have. When the episode aired, I was blown away by the courage of Donna, recipient of TheSalonGuy’s first makeover treatment and survivor of horrific domestic abuse.
Donna, a beautiful, soft-spoken woman spoke candidly about her abusive, tumultuous marriage – her husband suffered from various mental illnesses and she was constantly at the mercy of his outbursts. She was denied a social life, and each visit to a salon for a haircut or treatment ignited her then-husband’s jealous rage, and the abuse would begin. The abuse and outbursts escalated, and Donna finally gathered the courage to walk away after being shot in the face – the bullet was lodged in her eardrum and blew out her eye.
It was incredible to hear someone speak so openly about her past, and there seems to be no one more deserving of TheSalonGuy’s royalty treatment than Donna.  She and her daughter were taken to Vito Mazza Salon in Woodbridge, NJ (a place I have frequented myself in the past) and given a full spa experience, complete with
massage and hair treatment. The audience gathered anxiously around the screens, waiting for the premier. This was the first time Donna had been pampered in far too long, and her joy –undoubtedly paired with a hint of nervousness — was impossible to ignore.
After the episode ended, the event concluded with Donna walking onstage in front of our audience to roars and applause.
It’s refreshing to find a show that focuses on inner beauty just as much as (if not more than) outward appearances. Words alone cannot do the episode of “In The Chair†justice.
Watch the premiere episode of the online reality show on Youtube here.
It’s an exciting week around here at A Girl’s Gotta Spa! This Tuesday between 4pm-5pm EST, NEPA Blogs‘ Harold Jenkins will be featuring A Girl’s Gotta Spa! on PA Live (check your local provider for channel.)
NEPA Blogs is a clearinghouse of blogs that are either about Northeast PA or are written by people who live in Northeast PA (that’s me!) PA Live is Northeast PA’s newest live lifestyle show and can be seen on WBRE (an NBC affiliate.) I’m so excited for my local area to get to know me and my passion for beauty (and people!) And it couldn’t come at a better time with the SHAPE Magazine Best Beauty Blogger Awards going on right now! (I really need your vote!)
Even if you are not local here in NEPA (i.e. Scranton-yes home of The Office, Wilkes Barre-recently on the news for the flooding from Irene/Lee and the Poconos-I live by a beautiful spot known as Lake Wallenpaupack), you can still watch the live stream of the show on PA Live’s website.
Thank you to NEPA Blogs and PA Live for the press! I’m so grateful! xx
As I look to expand my contributors here at A Girl’s Gotta Spa!, I am very excited to announce that Marta Wohrle from Truth in Aging will now be contributing a post here on a weekly basis. Why would I be so excited about this you ask? Because I have long been a fan of Marta’s blog and how she provides real and truthful reviews of products. She definitely is a great fit here! Some of Marta’s team will also contribute posts from time to time as well.
So please help me in welcoming Marta and the Truth in Aging team to A Girl’s Gotta Spa!
Interested in being a contributor here as well? Please submit your request and where I can find your portfolio via my Contact page and I will get back to you with the details.
Guest beauty post from Prime Beauty Blog
Summer is in full swing and whether you’re having a picnic in the park, watching a baseball game or splashing with the kids in the pool, you want your makeup to stay put and not end up dripping down your face. Lighten up your makeup routine for the summer months with these waterproof products:
1. Ditch your regular foundation and opt for a tinted moisturizer. A tinted moisturizer serves a dual purpose providing much needed moisture and sheer color. It looks and feels lighter on your skin and eliminates the need for a separate moisturizer saving time for summer fun! Make sure to choose a tinted moisturizer with at least a SPF of 15. My picks: Urban Decay Urban Defense, SPF 20($30) and FusionBeauty Prime Results ($40). If you’re looking for for more coverage, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer can’t be beat!
2. Try waterproof eyeliner. There is nothing that can make your eyes pop and come alive like colored eyeliner. Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners ($23) come in 15 colors so you’re sure to find a shade right for you. Aqua Liners are available in three finishes; Matte, Diamond and Iridescent. Go from a classic matte black cat eye look to a bright purple sparkling eye. These are completely waterproof and last through heat, humidity and a dip in the pool. They do NOT come off until you take them off. The stiff pointed tip applicator makes eye lining easy-peasy!
3. Use a waterproof mascara so you don’t end up looking like Snookie. I like L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara for long length. Although I haven’t personally tried the new Urban Decay Cannonball ($20), it’s getting fantastic reviews–no more raccoon eyes.
4. Benefit Cheek Stains ($29) come in three smudge-proof, budge proof shades. I’m partial to the new Coral-ish Cha Cha Tint, (no surprise there), Posie Tint is a sweet pink and the original Benetint imparts a pretty natural red flush. The texture is a lightweight watery gel that gives yo time to blend. The packaging: a small jar with a brush applicator is the same for all three. Those who know me well know that I am a coral freak, however I really like the original Benetint for summer. It gives the cheeks such a nice natural glow–like you’ve playing beach volleyball/golf/tennis (insert your favorite sport here) in the sun. Pat several small dots along the cheekbone and blend with your fingers. These are supposed to be suitable for the lips too, but I find Benetint too thin for that. Right now, Sephora has an exclusive Feelin’ Cheeky Mini set ($15) that includes a mini Benetint, Posie Tint and High Beam–a shimmering pink highlighter.
5. A Waterproof Bronzer? You betcha! Although I don’t particularly advocate a full face of makeup for the beach or pool, but if you’re super pale like me or are watching your sun exposure, you may want to use a bronzer. Get the Bronzed Goddess look without the sun damage with Tarte Park Ave. Princess Matte Waterproof Bronzer ($29). This bronzer lives up to its claim, it truly is waterproof–I know I tested it in the shower! This is my favorite bronzer for fair skinned beauties like me so I was thrilled when they came out with a waterproof version last summer. For darker toned skin, Hourglass also makes a waterproof bronzer.
6. Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Pot($22.80). Currently these are only available at QVC and they nothing short of amazing! They last all day, absolutely do NOT crease and come in five gorgeous shades. My favorites are Beach Bronze, Moss, Seashell Pink, Slate and Shimmering Plum–oops that’s all of them! Again, while you probably wouldn’t apply a full face of makeup to go to the beach, but how about when you’re baking in the sun at a neighborhood BBQ? Or cocktails at a sidewalk bar? You may be melting in the heat, but your makeup will look fresh!
7. Stila Crush Lip and Cheek Stain ($24) these stains are fantastic! The texture is very thin, almost watery and they last and last. They come in 8 shades from the bronzy Coconut Crush to the bright Raspberry Crush. I love Mango or Raspberry, bright, summery shades that look great with a tan!
My Summer Beauty 5 minute face–A good tinted moisturizer with SPF, Tarte Park Ave. Princess Waterproof Bronzer on the high planes of the face, (where the sun would normally hit), a touch of Benetint blush, Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow in a neutral shades, Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in a bright shade, Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara & Stila Mango Crush Lip Stain. Now I’m prepared for summer heat, humidity and maybe getting throw in the pool!
As the weather warms up and we’re slowly but surely getting enticed to brave the sunny outdoors for summery activities, it’s always important to make sure to be adequately protected from the sun. And while it may be easy to remember slathering on SPF for all your vital exposed skin, it’s also important to give proper attention to extra-sensitive areas like your lips! Having chapped lips is one of the #1 summer beauty woes (not to mention that fact that it makes sipping salt-rimmed margaritas much more painful than necessary!), and lets face it — regular gloss often just doesn’t cut it when it comes to providing the moisturizing power you need.
My quick remedy is usually to layer balm and gloss to make sure I have my bases covered, but why not opt for a multi-tasking gloss-balm hybrid that shines while it soothes and protects? Perfect for girls who want a little sheen and color, don’t want to skimp on protection, and also want to lighten the load in their purse, these balm glosses are bound to be your #1 beauty must-have for the summer!
From left to right: Anastasia Hydrafull Gloss, Philosophy Kiss Me Very Emollient Lip Balm, By Terry Rose Balm Gloss, Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss, and Givenchy Gelée D’Interdit Smoothing Gloss Balm.
- Alex Gambardella
*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! from my friends at TheFind.com.
One of the reasons I get insanely excited about Spring and Summer…besides the obvious warmer weather of course, is that this is the time of year when I actually have multiple and very valid excuses to go shopping for not only a new wardrobe but also new makeup and beauty products. I mean you can’t really expect a girl to venture into Spring/Summer with products that are strongly scented and feel heavy. While they might have been great for Fall/Winter, when used in Spring /Summer they might attract some very unwanted attention (ever been chased by Bees?) and can also leave you looking a hot mess…literally. So I was looking forward to trying out a new line of bath and body products called Quench Bath & Body from Around the World (the around the world part comes from the fact that their formulations are based on beauty “secrets†from around the globe) that launched this month in the hopes that it would be my go to line for the warmer months. I also figured you can’t really go wrong with any beauty products that launch in Spring or Summer.
The products I tried were the Almond Sandal Facial Masque, the Saffron Herbal Body Wash, the Saffron Herbal Body Lotion, the Sandal Honey Body Butter and the African Black Soap All Over Wash. First off everything smelled incredible. None of the scents are overpowering or too strong for Summer, nothing was overtly fruity or flowery, and the scents were all unique and sophisticated but still very light. My favorite scent was the Saffron Herbal Body Wash and Lotion…the scent is feminine, pretty and soft, in fact I wanted to slip on a sundress after using both. A little bit of the wash does go a long way, which is always appreciated.
I absolutely LOVED the feel of the Sandal Honey Body Butter. I was skeptical about using body butter in Miami…it’s only May and temps have already hit the high 90s, but this body butter worked great. It moisturized without leaving me a sweaty, clammy mess. The Almond Sandal Facial Masque was great too, it left my face feeling clean without stripping any moisture…my face was also noticeably softer after using the masque. The African Black Soap All Over Wash however was not my favorite. The scent was great, but my skin felt a bit dry after using it.
So far my first round of beauty product testing for summer has been successful. I found a new body butter and body wash that I’m excited about, a definite plus that they not only make me want to bring out my girly side and wear pretty sundresses, but I also feel like I am doing my small part by purchasing products from Quench because the company employs small companies and co-ops, often from native communities and they also seek to foster fair trade. They never use animal based ingredients in any of their products and never test on animals. I have a few bridal and baby showers this summer so will most definitely be purchasing a few of the Quench gift sets so I can share the love with my girls.
