Happy Skin in Chicago

When traveling, some people enjoy finding good sales, great local food, or tours through history…I love all these adventures, but my favorite is finding a hidden local spa that can help calm and rejuvenate my tired skin.

While visiting Chicago this past weekend, I found just the place that could help me and my skin relax after a long trip north. Allyu Spa…their slogan says “a place for healing” and it truly is. This spa is healing mind, body and spirit!

My travel companion and I walked about a mile to the spa Saturday morning for our 10 am appointments. We both booked their signature facial which is designed around your specific skin type and needs.

The atmosphere in Allyu was great…peaceful, serine, tranquil…all things a spa should be. The motif was centered around a South American feel with earthy furniture and decorations…the most interesting aspect was the walls leading to the facial rooms were created out of rocks nestled behind iron rods.

The treatment rooms were softly lit and a calming CD was playing…and maybe I was just super tired but even the treatment bed was comfortable enough to take a serious nap!

My esthetician was amazing….professional, insightful, and friendly. She had a great touch (not to soft but not too hard…Goldilocks would have been thrilled!) and she really customized my treatments to help my skin get the most out of the facial.
I told her I wanted a really good deep clean because my skin felt so congested and gross. She started with a gentle deep cleanser then applied a papaya mask that helped open my pores and release any debris that was clogged.

After an amazing upper back massage, she began extractions. Extractions are never pleasant (let’s face it…you’re squeezing out all the stuff trapped under your skin) but she was gentle and didn’t force out gunk that wasn’t ready to go so the process was not unbearable.

Next she applied a calming mask to help my skin return to a nice balance and did a great hand massage while the mask was setting. Finally she removed the mask, applied a softening moisturize, eye cream, and lip balm and left me to slowly get dressed.

After my 60 minute facial, I joined my travel buddy in the “meditation area” which was a large space with several couches and pillows and beautiful curtains draped over everything in a way that made the space look like a Moroccan tent in an oasis.
While sipping some relaxing chamomile tea, my friend told me what an amazing facial she had received. She was thrilled with the results on not only her skin but also her mind and spirit.

Check out the Allyu Spa website and if you’re in the Chicago area, set up an appointment!

www.allyuspa.com

photo: allyuspa.com

A Beautiful Book

One of the most beautiful things about summer is being able to curl up with a good book on a stormy afternoon. My book of choice is usually junk-food literature…amazing locations, sexy characters, and a hereon that conquers all…I like the feel good, guilty-pleasure books!
I was drawn toward one at Barnes and Noble last week called Face Value by Kathleen Baird-Murray. The book follows a simple magazine writer from her lonely life in the U.K. to an exciting yet strange new world of beauty in New York City.
The book is written with a witty attitude that makes reading a cinch…this is a book you can finish over a long weekend. Although it is a light read, don’t let the British sarcasm and numerous product references fool you. This book opened my eyes to serious issues in the beauty industry.
One of the main issues in the book is plastic surgery. Has our view of beauty been completely skewed by constant bombardment of overly perfected celebrities?

Do we, as a culture, even know what beauty is anymore?

My personal opinion is no…we don’t know true beauty anymore. Differences are what make us beautiful because they make us unique. Although there are movements to broaden the beauty box we have put ourselves in, nothing will change until our minds change…until we can look at differences as beautiful.
So, with inspiration from Baird-Murray’s book and in honor of unique beauties around the world, I want to propose we end every day acknowledging a beautiful moment….be it a budding flower, a mother hugging her daughter, or you seeing beauty in your eyes!

photo: focusonstyle.com

Product Review- Spray Tans

My First Spray Tan

I love the sun! I love how it warms my soul, brightens my day (literally) and gives my skin a golden glow. However, the sun is not without its evils…it burns, blisters and can cause cancer if you don’t take precautions and wear sunscreen. It also causes less harmful but equally un-attractive issues like brown spots and dry patches.

Since I have chosen beauty reporting and all things involved as my future profession, I feel the need to stay on top of trends, information, and my looks….after all, I wouldn’t get my taxes done by someone who neglected their own.

I had heard a lot about the Mystic Spray Tanning System and how wonderful it is, so I thought I’d give it a shot. Let me just say, the first time can be a little over whelming. The tanning system is a large booth that you step into and follow the directions of the recorded voice. The machine sprays you head-to-toe with the tanning mist.

The booth is a little loud and the mist is cold, but once you adjust to the process, you will find this to be the quickest and easiest tan of your life. The tanning product is safe for every skin type and the color will adjust depending on your skin’s proteins (therefore, you will not be the same shade of bronze as a friend).

Once the cycle in the booth is complete, you simply air-dry for about 60 seconds and then pat any remaining product off with a towel. If any tanning solution gets on your clothes, it will wash out in the washing machine. The tan last anywhere from 7-10 days and if you moisturize regularly, the longer the color will last longer.

Dos & Don’ts

DO exfoliate before the tanning application (it helps the color go on smoothly)
DON’T shower, swim, or even exercise for at least 5 hours after the process (the color will wash off or get streaky)
DO use the blending cream LIBERALLY to keep palms and soles from tanning (go especially heavy on the soles of the feet because you are barefoot in the booth and the soles accumulate a lot of product)
DON’T wear heavy foundation, lotions, or even perfumes before application (heavy foundations and lotions will keep the tanning solution from reaching the skins and a lot of perfume can cause the color to end up splotchy)
DO remove all jewelry (you don’t want weird lines or bronzed jewelry)
DO go nude (you are alone in the room and booth and it helps give a flawless coverage)
DO wear lose clothing to the salon (you don’t want anything tight rubbing against your skin after the session)
DON’T use toners/ astringents or swim in chlorine (these chemicals will strip off the color)
DO wear sunscreen if you go outside (just because your skin is a bronze color, doesn’t mean you won’t get sunburned….you NEED sunscreen!)

Life

I am a slacker…I’ll admit it (but, mind you, this will be the first and last time). My last post was three months ago and the closest thing to an acceptable excuse is Life….
Life got in the way. I’ve noticed Life has a funny way of doing that sort of thing. One minute you have everything under control then the next you are thrown a curve ball or a fast ball or whatever you want to call it and things are sent spinning in every direction possible. Life can be a bitch!
Over the last few months I have learned laziness, anxiety, and self-doubt do absolutely NOTHING to help a girl’s (or guy’s) complexion. Instead it makes it dull, puffy, and bland….much like your goals, social life, body and personality after spending all that time sitting around being unproductive. But, great news, this CAN BE FIXED! How? Do something…anything…

My something is taking back control of this blog and, in theory, Life. For those of you grammar sticklers, I’m sure you’ve noticed and wondered why “life” is capitalized. Easy…Life is in essence a noun. It can get out of control if not tended to, it can grow when properly feed, and it can control us if we don’t learn how to control it.

So, take back control of your Life…and while you’re at it, try out something new. I think I’m going to try a new lipstick color!
Kisses (in Ruby Red)!

Spring Cleaning

Q: How often should I clean out my make-up bag?

A: The cleaning of one’s make-up bag is a personal affair. You find things you once couldn’t live without and things you didn’t even know you were missing.

I like to clean mine out at least twice a year. Now that spring is here, you can add your make-up bag to your spring cleaning list.

It’s important to keep your make-up and the bag you keep it in clean so it doesn’t store dirt and bacteria next to your favorite lip-gloss. The easiest way to start fresh is to dump everything out onto your counter.

Divide the contents of your bag into two piles, products that are still fresh and products that need to be thrown out. Here are a few ways to tell if make-up needs to be thrown away:

1- You don’t remember when you purchased it or where it came from.
2- The product, especially mascara, has a weird smell.
3- The original color has changed.
4- The consistency has changed.
5- The product is broken or crushed.

In addition to cleaning out your bag, be sure to clean your make-up brushes. Over time, brushes can collect dirt and bacteria that can be spread if not properly cleaned.

It’s a good idea to clean your brushes once a month to keep them fresh. After washing them, lay them flat to dry so water doesn’t drip into the handle and loosen the bristles.

Stores like Ulta sell brush cleaner, but you can also use baby shampoo to remove any build up.

After a good spring clean, your brushes will feel like new again and there will be more room in your bag for new products.

Choosing Cleasers

Finding a great cleanser is like finding a great friend. You may have to go through several until you find something you love.

Cleansing your skin is the most important step in a good skin-care routine, next to moisturizing. You have to find a product you enjoying using; otherwise, you won’t use it twice a day like you need to.

The best cleansers are gentle and remove all the dirt and debris from your skin completely without leaving a film behind. One of the best is Purity Made Simple by Philosophy. It removes not only dirt and foundation, but also eye make-up without irritating your eyes. You can find Philosophy products at stores like Sephora or at philosophy.com for around $20.

Another great cleanser is the Enzyme Cleansing Gel by Mario Badescu. This product is all natural and has a pleasant, fresh sent. It uses papaya and grapefruit extracts to breakdown debris in your skin. You can find this product at Ulta for around $15.

A third great choice is Origins Never a Dull Moment. This product promises to brighten your skin with fruit extracts. You can find this cleanser online or at department stores for around $20.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a cleanser is to choose one that you can’t live without.

Red Lips

Q: With Valentine’s Day coming up, I want a sexy evening look. What is the best way to choose a red lipstick?

A: A romantic Valentine’s date is the perfect time to unleash your inner movie-star. When looking for the perfect red lipstick, choosing the right shade is the most important step.

Girls with fair skin or pink undertones should choose a red with a bluish color. The blue tint will keep from washing out the rest of your face and will make your teeth look whiter.

For girls with tan or olive coloring, look for a red lipstick with warm tones like orange. On olive skin, the orange undertones will warm up your complexion.

If you have a deep skin coloring, choose a plum-red lipstick. The purple undertones look classic and sophisticated on your skin.

No matter which color palette you choose, be sure to pick a texture you like. Beautiful red shades come in stains, mattes, glosses, or moisturizing lipstick.

The stains will last the longest, but the glosses will look the sexiest.