Posts Tagged ‘natural skin care’

3 Best Organic or Natural Skin Care Products for Spring

Spring, is a fantastic time to examine your skin care routine. As the weather begins to change, your skins needs change with it. Instead of needing the intense moisture you typically need in winter. Look for products that offer hydration and revitalizing nutrients. Being inside during the grey wintry months can leave skin under nourished and dull. By choosing a nutrient rich moisturizer, you help to restore the natural beauty of your skin.

To celebrate Earth Day, this week I swapped out the majority of my cosmetics for natural ones. I have a tendency to accumulate samples and travel sizes, so I had quite a few available. As the end of the week is approaching, there are definitely a few that will be finding a permanent home in my Spring Skin Care routine!

Eminence Thermal Spring Whip Moisturizer

Spring in Vancouver tends to jump between incredibly cold and windy to bright sunny days with little warning. I still like a Thicker moisturizer, one that is going to help repair wind damage, and keep me feeling dewy soft. The scent is fresh and light, peppermint but not overwhelming.  One thing that makes this cream perfect for spring is that it offers both hydration and healing. It works with Sage, and anti-inflammatory  and Horsetail, full of healing, tissue strengthening, flavinoids, to leave skin smooth, clear and ready for what ever the weather.

Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser

During a recent interview with Cosmo, Emma Stone mentioned her love for Burt’s Bees, especially their cleansers. A relitively new line to Spa Boutique, I’ve been using Burt’s Bees since I was in High School. In fact, the shimmers and tinted balms were the only lip colour my mom would let me buy. (Lipstick was banned pretty much until prom!). Recently, they’ve started carrying a variety of natural skincare products, most of which are at least 90% natural, if not 100%.

The reason why I’m singling out this cleanser, other than Emma’s recommendation, is the natural exfoliation that helps clear away   the winter skin. This allows your fresh spring glow to shine through! Plus, it removes most makeup (except waterproof mascara).

GM Collin Bio Organique Energizing Mask: Masque Energisant

My midweek treat is to do a deeply hydrating masque. I find the weekend gets so packed, that I barely have time to get laundry done let alone fit in a little me time. Instead, I set aside an hour either Wednesday or Thursday while my husband gets dinner ready and sneak off to spa-land.

GM Collin, makes a fantastic soothing, hydrating masque that really focuses on restoring a healthy glow to tired and dull skin.  Winter always leaves me feeling drained and this masque helps brighten my skin. This week, I really enjoyed switching my regular masque (Laboratoire Dr Renaud Hydrascience Multi-hydrating Mask – Masque Multi-hydratant Hydrascience) for this one. It left even my skin glowing! I’m not sure if I’m ready to completely switch over, but it’s a fantastic treat when you really need that boost of nutrition.

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

Behind Beauty: How To Get Glowing Skin in 5 Easy Steps!

One look that never goes out of style? Glowing Skin! After a long, drying winter, it can be a struggle to restore your natural glow. With these 5 Skincare Secrets from our esthetics team, you’ll soon have healthy glowing skin. Discover the best things to eat for your skin. As well as how to exfoliate, moisturize and nurture yourself. Plus, the best ways to add a touch of tan and our biggest secret to staying a glow…

What To Eat for Glowing Skin?

Carrots, with their abundance of beta carotene (the nutrient that gives them that yellow orange colour) are fantastic for giving your skin a healthy glow. While eating bags can cause your skin to turn orange due to a beta carotene overdoes, adding a handful to your lunch will help to brighten your overall skin tone.  Also rich in Vitamin A, Carrots work to protect against sun damage. They help to keep skin and hair strong and hydrated.

Cold Water Fish, especially Wild Salmon. Filled with Omega-3 fatty acids that work deep within to strengthen your cells. By improving your overall cellular structure, Omega-3s help prevent wrinkles, acne and lock in moisture. They’re also thought to help decrease the risks of disease, help fight inflammation and even increase lifespan. While the science may not be in on all of these claims, swapping grilled wild fish, such as trout, salmon, sardines, herring, or mackerel is a delicious way to shake up your week.

Berries, Green Tea, and anti-oxidant rich foods work to counter the cellular stress from Free Radicals. Adding anti-oxidants to your diet helps to keep your skin, body, and mind healthy.   For more information, check out our post on antioxidants here.

Make Sure To Exfoliate!

Another great way to rejuvenate your skin is to opt for an exfoliating masque. A slightly more intensive treatment, a masque offers additional benefits, such as deep cleansing, improved skin tone, and tighter skin. It’s key to follow the directions laid out as different masques require different lengths of time. Try applying a masque during a long bath once a week. The warmth of the water helps to open the pores allowing for better absorption. I love  choosing a masque with an exfoliating element as it accomplishes 2 things at once!

Exfoliation is very important, especially in the Spring. Winter, dries out your skin, causing an increase of dead skin cells on the surface. By actively removing them, you bring the younger, fresher skin to the surface. An accumulation of dead skin cells can also lead to break outs. Depending on your skin type and sensitivity, you should be exfoliating between 2-3 times a week. Opt for a deep cleansing scrub for oily skin types and a lighter, sugar based one for sensitive types.

When it comes to facial exfoliation, a Clarisonic Mia can revolutionize your routine. With its gentle brushes, it easily removes makeup and leaves skin feeling refreshed.

Celazome Clinical Skin Care Enzyme Exfoliating Masque
Eminence Rosehip & Maize Exfoliating Masque
SpaRitual Look Inside Organic Scrub Masque
Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Mask

Moisturize & Nurture Your Skin

Canadian winters have been known to last through till June. Those spring snows and cold winds can dry out your skin just as badly in April as in December. Make sure to use a moisturizer that suited to the weather in your region. To keep your beauty routine from falling into a rut, choose a body butter with a light spring fragrance instead of the heavy winter spices. A shift in fragrance can help you feel like spring has sprung, even under 3 feet of snow. Skin feeling tired and dull after being cooped up all winter? Add a nutrient rich serum into your routine. Choose a serum that is rich in vitamin C, A, or E.  Serums work deep within the skin to improve the health of growing and newly formed skin cells. It takes around 28 days for a new skin cell to reach the surface. By treating those cells early, when they arrive on the surface they will be brighter and smoother. A skin cell will remain on the surface for about 12 days before sloughing off. This means a skin cell has a life of approximately 40 days. While turnover rate can slow as you age, if you continue to treat your skin through it’s entire life cycle, you can help delay the signs of aging.

VivierSkin C+E Repairing Antioxidant Serum with L-Ascorbic Acid USP & Vitamin E
Laboratoire Dr Renaud Omega-3 Lipid Replenishing Serum – Sérum relipidant Omega-3
Vivescence Nutri-Energy Revitalizing Vitamin Complex Yonka Hydralia – Hydrating Concentrate

Add A Touch of Tan

Spending most of winter indoors can leave yous skin rather pale making it such a challenge to resist that first sunny day… Sun damage is the number one cause of premature aging. Recent research has found that tanning beds can be just as dangerous as direct exposure. The darkening of your skin occurs when your cells are stressed by UVA and UVB rays. In order to keep from getting burned, your cells attempt to darken your skin tone by producing melanin. However, the chemical process involved in producing Melanin damages the cells and creates free radicals. This can accelerate the growth of moles, freckles, and skin cancers. Instead, opt for a touch of glow by adding a self tanner to your routine.

There are a variety of products available to slightly darken skin tone over time without the cellular damage. Looking for less of a commitment? Try the St. Tropez “Wash Off” line. These products are more of a “Body Makeup” then a true self tanner. Perfect for adding just a hint of colour to refresh winter weary skin.

Claim Your JOY!

Ever notice how much a Bride seems to Glow? There’s something magical about being happy.  It transforms wallflower into prom queen and Plain Jane into Princess Grace. Take some time this Spring to recapture your JOY by spring cleaning your life.

Between work, family, and housekeeping- it often feels like there’s no time for YOU. And it’s true. Take a moment to list the priorities in your life. Where do YOU fit? Did you make it ahead of cleaning the oven or fall somewhere below making sure you have ice cubes? Over time, you’re own hobbies tend to take a back seat to getting the kids to soccer practice or the pile of dirty dishes on the counter and YOU keep falling lower and lower on the to-do list. Women especially tend to choose the activities that will “better the household” over those that better themselves. By neglecting to nurture ourselves, we end up struggling to nurture others.

If your kids are active in lessons and classes, try booking something for yourself at the same time. Most community centers offer classes for adults as well as kids. Or, find a nearby coffee shop and dive into a good book or take 20 minutes to journal. High school students looking for a few dollars are eager to pick up an hour or two of after school babysitting, even on a weeknight. Give yourself a permission to hit the mall, gym, museum, or even an early movie with the girls. Try adding a “Me” stop to your errands.  Feel like you never get to that certain store? Plan it into your running around. It may seem like an indulgence to make a special trip to the bookstore, but if it happens to be between the dentist and groceries? Treat yourself a quick peek. Leave the office and have lunch out once in a while. Sometimes, even the smallest break from your routine can lift your spirits.

Almost as important as maximizing what makes you happy, is identifying things that are making you miserable. Is there something that is bringing you down? Be proactive about improving or changing your situation. Can’t stand the chair at work? Ask HR for a new one or buy one yourself. Feel like you haven’t had an adventure in a while? Start planning your next vacation. Sure, it might be 6 months before you can go… but there’s a lot of fun to be had in the dreaming. Hate being single? Ask a friend to set you up on a blind date or try out a new dating service. By seeking solutions, you’ll start to find yourself seeing the situation in a more positive light.

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

We’re Buzzing for Burt’s Bees!!!

Spa Boutique is excited to add Burt’s Bees Canada to our Natural Skin Care Section!

Full disclosure, I LOVE this brand! There was a summer I practically lived in their lip shimmer! With the majority of their Canadian line now available through SpaBoutique.ca, I’m really excited.

One of the most exceptional things about Burt’s Bees is their commitment to living their company motto, “Earth friendly natural personal care for the Greater Good.” Currently, they produce Zero Waste. One of their main sustainability goals is 100% Post Consumer Recycled and Biodegradable or Compostable packaging by 2020.  Burt’s Bees uses as many natural ingredients as possible. There are no Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates or Petrochemicals in any Burt’s Bees products.  Currently, the majority of the products contain 95 – 100% natural ingredients. However, they plan to produce 100% of the product line 100% natural by 2020.

With over 100 products landing in our warehouse, I’ve put together a quick guide to some of the most popular of these fantastic natural products:

For the Baby Bees

Moms are becoming increasingly concerned about the ingredients used in their products, especially when it comes to what they use on their little ones. Burt’s Baby Bees is ALWAYS my first recommendation. In fact the Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Getting Started Kit (5 pc) is my go to baby shower gift! Their Baby Bee line is natural, gentle, and safe. The star of this section? Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Multipurpose Ointment. A petroleum-free, multi-purpose ointment, it forms a barrier against dryness, moisturizes and smoothes the most delicate skin. All of the Baby Bee products are amazing and it’s been a bit of a challenge to narrow down my top picks… but I have to mention the Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Tear Free Shampoo & Body Wash! It’s an all-in-one that’s truly an ALL-in-ONE, great as a body wash and a shampoo. It’s a huge time saver for a babe who doesn’t like bath time AND can be used by a busy mom too!

Head to Toe Natural Care

It’s difficult to introduce the entire scope of their Face and Body care in only a few words as each product offers a variety of benefits. Some of the notable products include Burt’s Bees Radiance Day Crème,  Burt’s Bees Body Butter and Burt’s Bees Hand Salve  just to name a few! Whether you’re looking to add a few new natural products to your routine or switch over completely, they’ve got you covered.

Men’s Natural Skincare

Not to leave the boys feeling left out, there are a couple of really great products for men specifically. Especially popular are the Burt’s Bees Natural Skin Care for Men Bar Soap (110 g)  and the Burt’s Bees Natural Skin Care for Men Shave Cream (175 ml). I’ve given my boy both to try and, while reluctant at first, he’s really come around, especially since his skin is a little sensitive. Now that he’s one with the shaving cream, he doesn’t get nearly as much razor burn. In fact, the Men’s Natural Skin Care line was one of Esquire’s top pick

Lip Balms & More

Finally, to my favourite category, the lip products. Burt’s Bees was originally a lip balm, candle and honey company that grew into a leader in natural health and beauty products. So, naturally, their lip products are quite high on the AMAZING scale. From one plain lip balm, there are now 4 principle options in a variety of colours!  Tinted lip balms, Lip Shimmers, Lip Shine, and Lip Gloss .   Where is a girl to start?  The Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer is a must for my on-the-go makeup bag. With the protection of the balm, a hint of colour and a touch of shimmer- great for a mid afternoon Pick-Me-Up!

Burt’s Bees made a promise, “Earth friendly natural personal care for the Greater Good.”

And they’re keeping it!!!

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

 

Discover… Pangea Organics

Spa Boutique is excited to announce the newest addition to our growing organic family, Pangea Organics!  A natural line that believes beauty should be organic, cruelty-free and nutrient dense. Concentrated formulas eliminate filler so  your skin feels only the best botanicals, oils, and nutrients nature has to offer.

With so many award-wining products, it’s hard to know where to start! We recommend checking out the Italian Red Mandarin with Rose Lip Balm. The light rose and citrus scent is a perfect way to gear up for Valentine’s Day! This 2008 Natural Solutions Beauty With A Conscience winner, and Real Simple Magazine Pick is packed with essential oils. This Lip Balm protects and soothes while providing a deep level of hydration. Also available in Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom and Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange!

The Canadian Pine with White Sage Hand Soap is a fantastic way to begin introducing Pangea Organics into your home. Winner of The Healing Life Styles and Spas Earth Day Award, talk about a soap that is not only antiseptic but hydrating and refreshing too! Available as a Bar Soap or Body Wash, the pine scent leaves your sink or shower naturally fresh. 

Discover Pangea Discovery Kits! With a wide range of skin options, from combination, dry or blemish prone, there’s a start set for everyone.  Each 6 piece Pangea Organics Discovery Kit includes a Facial Cleanser, Facial Toner, Facial Cream, Facial Scrub, Facial Mask and Eye cream in a convenient sample size.  Each product comes in a different scent- a great way to get to know their entire line!

Oily skin? Try the Oily to Blemish-Prone Discovery Kit; hydrating without adding surface oil. The weightless hydration and sebum-control calms surface inflammation. As part of your morning, this kit provides a fantastic foundation for make-up!

Looking to renew dry, damaged skin?  The Normal to Dry Discovery Kit uses nutrients and botanicals to provide superior hydration as well as work some anti-aging magic!

Combination Skin? We’ve got you covered! The Normal to Combination Discovery Kit offers the best of both worlds. With nature’s best anti-aging, purifying and soothing ingredients, this kit replenishes dull, dehydrated or sun damaged skin.

Great news! Pangea Organics are considered safe for pregnancy (even the scented ones!) due to the concentration levels of their essential oils.  Pangea Organics produces their products with as many Vegan ingredients as possible. The products selected for Spa Boutique are Gluten-Free. All Pangea Organics products are cruelty free and have a shelf-life of up to 12 months once opened.

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

Back to School Skin Care: Get off to a Great Start with a Starter Set!

It’s that time again! Is it just me, or did the summer just fly by? While it’s sad to say goodbye to summer, I personally love this time of year.  The leaves change color, the weather gets cooler, we switch our frozen frapuccinos for yummy hot drinks, and fall fashion is great, isn’t it?  Our makeup changes, our nail polish colors change, maybe we even get a new hair style.  Oh yeah, and it’s back to school time!  Don’t you want to look your best for the start of a new school year?  What a great opportunity to start your skin off on a brand-new system!  For the month of September we are putting all of our skin care starter sets on for 15% off (code SAVEONKITS)!  Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Dear Acne, couldn’t you just go away already?

B.Kamins Clear Skin Kit $56

Kit Includes:

•Acne Wash – a non-drying cleanser that contains salicylic acid to gently exfoliate and dissolve clogged pores

•Blemish Gel 5% – a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment that kills bacteria and  heals breakout

•Matte Moisturizer SPF15 – a light, non-greasy moisturizer with SPF15

•Corrective Mattifier – a blemish and blackhead clearing, oil controlling treatment

•Purifying Mask – a deep cleansing, purifying, healing mask with seaweed

Obagi Clenziderm Acne Therapeutic System – Normal to Oily Skin $117

 

Kit Includes:

•Clenziderm Daily Care Foaming Cleanser – a gently foaming cleanser that kills bacteria and gently exfoliates

•Clenziderm Pore Rinse – a toner that heals blemishes and dissolves clogged pores

•Clenziderm Acne Lotion – a light treatment lotion that further combats blemishes and clogged pores

Au Natural

Jurlique Natural Beauty Introductory Sets $60-$95

 

•Natural & Organic skin care of Australia

•Each set comes with 3 products

•Available in Purely White (brightening, radiance), Age Defying, Age Prevention, and Redness Reducing

 

Eminence Organics Starter Collections $48-$118

 

 

•Natural & Organic skin care of Hungary

•Many different sets available for all skin conditions

 

We have tons of skin care kits to choose from with products for all skin types and conditions.  Click here to view all kits>>

Don’t forget to enter discount code SAVEONKITS at checkout!

Remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!