Turn your home into a spa!

Lets face it: For most of us, stress is a normal part of life. When it begins to take its toll on your body and mind, try a mini spa day in your own home. Here are 3 easy ways to prepare your space for a relaxing spa day.

1. Whether you consider it de-cluttering or releasing negative energy, a relaxing environment is the first start to your spa experience. Begin by clearing out the clutter and tidying up your soon-to-be serene space.

2. Candles and incense can transform a regular bedroom or bathroom into a spa-like retreat in a matter of minutes. Choose your scent based on the desired result:
*To relax, use lavender or classic vanilla.
*To rejuvenate, choose clary sage or ylang ylang.
*To energize, select a citrus scent like lemon balm or grapefruit.
*If you’re feeling under the weather, try peppermint or eucalyptus.

3. To relax your mind, try a deep-breathing exercise and let go of the day. Sit cross-legged on the floor or on a chair, making sure to straighten your spine and sit upright. Take a deep breath, holding it at the top of the in-breath and slowly let it out. Continue this for a few breaths, until you’re feeling relaxed.

Money-saving advice!

So, if you're like me, you're not rich...but that doesn't mean that you need to compromise when it comes to your skin. Now I'm not investing that you break into a bank or take out a huge loan, but by investing in just a few skin care splurges you will notice a dramatic difference in the health and vitality of your skin. But which items are worthy?

Survey says, save by buying basic cleansers, toners and makeup removers. Since the primary goal is to gently cleanse and remove impurities, you won't be losing anything by doing so. Instead, spend your money one higher-priced serums or night creams. These items are left into the skin to soak in, so your skin will reap the full benefits of higher quality ingredients. When it comes to day creams, the choice is yours. You can go a little higher in price, but the real concern is to find a day cream that moisturizes (without clogging pores) and also provides sun protection. If it does both, you're in business.

Freckle-Free (How to be!)

A smattering of freckles can be cute, but for those of us who had to suffer "connect the dots" jokes, or developed these spots later in life, freckles often feel more obnoxious than adorable. But fear not! There’s a plethora of products and skin care procedures for removing those spots.

Freckles are just a high concentration of melanin in small areas of the skin, caused by genetics or sun exposure. No matter how you got those freckles, treatment options are pretty much the same. Natural options like lemon juice have been used for years, probably centuries, but there hasn't been enough research to prove whether these actually work.

Certain over-the-counter products can fade facial spots. Products like alpha hydroxy acids and retinoids work by exfoliating the top layer of skin, which removes the darker, more pigmented layers. Bleaching creams like hydroquinone are also helpful, but you have to be careful not to bleach surrounding skin.

Doctor-performed peels can smooth and firm your skin while gradually lightening freckles. The more superficial peels have almost no recovery time or side-effects, but deeper peels offer more dramatic results.

Laser resurfacing removes the outer layer of skin very effectively, but can cause some pain, redness and peeling. Its also quite pricey, and can be between $1,000 and $5,000.

Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL) uses intense, broadband light to treat the skin. Unlike with lasers, the outer layer (epidermis) of skin is unharmed, so there’s little to no recovery time or side effects. But treating freckles with IPL may take several treatments, while laser resurfacing can zap those spots in one fell swoop.

Vitamins A, B, & C...and your skin

Eating various nutritious foods provides essential vitamins and antioxidants — critical for your health and skin. But, which nutrients do what? And which foods contain these beneficial vitamins, antioxidants and fats? Find out and pile your plate with these tasty treats!

Vitamin A helps prevent free radicals from breaking down the skin's structure, and also fights acne. Find it in green and yellow vegetables like spinach, peppers, broccoli and squash, as well as low-fat dairy products, egg yolk, peaches, apricots and cantaloupe.

Vitamin B helps to smooth skin and prevent the formation of blackheads. It also helps to relieve dry, flaky skin by helping with oil production. Find it in proteins like meat, fish, eggs and peanut butter, as well as brown rice.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to repair and grow tissue, protect against free radicals and heal the skin from burns or wounds. It promotes collagen production to firm the skin. Our bodies don't produce vitamin C, so its crucial to incorporate certain foods into the diet: broccoli, berries, citrus fruits, fruit juices, beets, avocados, asparagus, tomatoes and peppers.

3 Top Tips for Applying Makeup

Sometimes I get so stuck in my makeup routine that it gets hard to branch out and try something new. Which is why its a good idea to comb the Web for bright new ideas that are simple enough to incorporate on a daily basis.

Create a canvas

If your skin is relatively clear and even, here are some tips on how to create a canvas sans foundation. Apply concealer anywhere that appears dark or red, including under eyes and around the nose. Look for a formula that offers multiple shades, so you can blend to create your perfect shade. If you have oily skin, dust on a little loose powder.

Keep it simple. The easiest way to define your key features with little makeup is to use a natural blush, a coat of mascara and some lip color.

*Cheeks: Choose a natural pink or peach shade that complements your skin tone in a gel or cream formula. Apply color to the apples of the cheeks with your fingers. Brush in a circular motion, blending towards the temples.

*Eyes: When enhancing your eyes, the most important step comes before you set the mascara wand to your lashes — curling. After a few seconds with the eyelash curler, wiggle your mascara brush horizontally to coat upper lashes from root to tip.

*Lips: For a pretty daytime pout, try a natural gloss. For a little more color, select a shade based on your skin tone. Darker skin tones can wear pretty much any shade from deep reds to light pastels. Medium skin tones should choose shaeds with brown undertones like mauves, reds and berry tones. For light skin tones, try pinks and peaches in sheer shades.

Add eye-catching drama

If you have a few extra moments, define eyes with a liner. Choose brown and smoky grays, which look natural on most skin types. Pull your lid taut, so you can easily trace your lid line. Start drawing pencil liner two-thirds into the corner of the eye. Keep the line as close as possible to your lid for the most natural look. For a smokier, sultry eye, line the entire lid and smudge with a cotton swab. Smoky eyes aren’t about precise lines, so you can still achieve this look quickly.

Guide to eye creams

If there’s a first line of defense to be drawn in the war against aging, it starts at the eyes. Because the skin around our eyes is so thin and lacks oil glands to provide natural moisture, it’s the first place on the face to show significant signs of aging. First of all, and most importantly: why can't we just use our face cream around the eye area, too? While it would be great if we had a multi-use cream that worked for everything, the reality is that the active ingredients in facial moisturizers are just too strong for the fragile eye area. There are tons of eye creams to treat everything from dark circles to fine lines--all it takes is knowledge about what ingredients to look for.

Dark circles: These can be tough to treat topically because the cause is usually beneath the skin, such as excess pigment or allergy/sinus symptoms. Look for products with peptides or retinol to build collagen and thicken skin. Vitamin K can also help, working to strengthen blood vessels.

Puffy eyes: These happen b/c of fluids that pool up as we sleep. Look for products with alpha hydroxy acids to regenerate surface cells, and ingredients that smooth skin and stimulate collagen production: vitamin C, copper and retinol. Caffeine is also helpful, working to constrict blood vessels and push fluid from the skin.

Fine lines/wrinkles: Look for formulas with retinoids or peptides to boost collagen and antioxidants to fight free radicals. These tried-and-true ingredients not only work to repair prior damage, but they also prevent future signs of aging. And of course, use sunscreen to prevent further aging.

Hydration: This is probably themost important element to any eye cream! Look for a product rich in humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. They draw water to the skin, giving it a softer, younger appearance.

How vitamin B helps your skin

By now, you've probably heard of many skincare products that contain either nacin (or vitamin B3) or pantothenic acid (B5). What exactly do they do?

Turns out, they do a lot. Both are helpful in retaining moisture and thus reducing skin irritation. B vitamins are also great exfoliators, helping to clear dull skin and even out skin texture. Topical niacinamide is actually great for every skin type--it prevents pigmentation and minimizes dark spots. Those with sensitive skin will find that niacinamide helps keep irritants from harming delicate skin. Sun damage is repaired, and when used with an SPF product, niacinamide provides excellent all-around sun protection.

Although the effects of topical vitamin B aren't as intense or noticeable as other vitamins (such as vitamin A), most people notice significant improvement in the general look of their skin within four to eight weeks. People who are sensitive to other products can safely use vitamin B without worrying about uncomfortable redness or flaking. Skincare products created with vitamin B can also help to clear up blemishes--a plus if you're experiencing menopausal acne.