No matter your age, unwanted facial hair can become a true confidence problem. From genetics to mature skin, it can be difficult to feel beautiful when dark excess hair lingers around. Bleaching the hair is an option and if you haven't tried it before and are curious, read on. First, bleaching noticeable hair is actually pretty simple. There's not too much involved and it can be accomplished in about 10 minutes and last for up to 4 weeks - so it is definitely something you can squeeze into your beauty routine without having to put aside a large amount of time or use a plethora of products for that matter. Jolen, an at-home beauty staple for millions of women for the last 50 years, has an easy peasy Creme Bleach that not only lightens facial hair such as on your upper lip, cheeks, chin and even your brows, but it will also lighten arm and body hair, as well. Jolen Creme Bleach comes in an original formula as well as a sensitive formula with Aloe Vera, which is ideal for use on sensitive, more delicate skin. How to Lighten Excess Facial Hair: 1. Wash the area to be bleached with soap and cold water, then pat dry. 2. Measure one quarter teaspoon (with the spatula provided) of the Accelerator powder and place it into the cup (also provided.) 3. Rinse off the spatula and re-use it to measure one half teaspoon Creme Bleach into the cup and blend with the powder. 4. Looking in a magnifying mirror, such as the Conair Illuminated LED Mirror, apply the mixture with the spatula to the area to be bleached, covering all of the hair completely. 5. Wait 10 minutes, then remove the paste with the spatula and wash the area with cold water. That's it! The bleach is gentle to skin and leaves it soft and smooth and the whole process is practically effortless. Since bleaching can last up to 4 weeks, this is a process you only have to do once a month. It's less painful than waxing (doesn't hurt at all) and less messy/irritating than depilatory creams. Where's your trouble spot for noticeable hair -- lip, cheeks, arms, elsewhere? Jolen Creme Bleach formulas can be found in stores nationwide, including CVS, Harmon, Rite Aid, ULTA, Walgreens and Walmart, as well as online. They are also cruelty free. LIKE Jolen's Facebook page for glam, giveaways and beauty tricks from celebrity makeup artists! Now through November 14, 2014, enter the Jolen 50th Giveaway for a chance to win $50 gift cards to Jolen retailers, as well as Jolen Creme Bleach product. More than 50 winners! #GoConfidently Stay connected to Jolen for offers, giveaways and the latest in beauty tricks from celebrity makeup artists at https://www.facebook.com/jolen. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. I received both Jolen Creme Bleach formulas and a Conair 3X/1X Illuminated LED Mirror for my own personal use. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.

I'm always on the lookout for a BB or CC cream that not only matches my skin tone but also has SPF 20 and over, covers without feeling heavy or oily, helps to reduce the size of my pores and gives me a little glow. My skin could be described as medium to dark with green undertones and most BB or CC creams ends up making my face look slightly ashy or like I went crazy with a really dark bronzer. I find that mixing two of the several variations of medium colors that I have sometimes gives me the look I'm going for, but honestly with my busy schedule most days I don't have the time for mixing as I need something that simplifies my morning routine. I've never heard of nor used any products by nyakio, so I was excited when I received their ABC African Beauty Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen in Cinnamon. The founder, Nyakio, uses "naturally effective African ingredients", and combines them "with modern, result-driven formulas to deliver superb multi-tasking products." The best part? Her products are formulated without parabens or sulfates. The nyakio African Beauty Cream states that it provides a sheer coverage and natural radiance, wears for eight hours, reduces the look of fine lines and leaves skin smooth and hydrated. The following morning I smoothed the Beauty Cream onto my face after cleansing and applying a serum. As I still have a bit of my summer tan, Cinnamon wasn't too dark for me. The consistency is creamy but on my face it feels light and sheer; I felt like it melted into my skin to provide the coverage I'm looking for giving me a natural glow. Not only did it hide my imperfections, but it also moisturized my skin without feeling greasy. Even with the SPF 20 in there, my face did not have that ashy tinge. As I wanted to see how it would hold up for a day at the office, I didn't use any other make-up besides lip gloss. Throughout the day and until I cleansed my face before bed, my face still looked smooth and radiant and although it felt hydrated, I didn't feel like it was greasy or heavy. At the moment Cinnamon is working for me,  but I believe once my tan fades, I'll probably have to switch to a lighter color. I love that a little goes a long way and I know this will be a staple for me! If you're looking for a product to help simplify your daily beauty routine and one that "protects, perfects and primes skin while helping to prevent skin from showing the signs of premature aging and staying color-true throughout the day", this is it! akio ABC African Beauty Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen comes in five shades and is cruelty free: Macadamia (light) Honey (light-medium) Almond (medium) Cinnamon (medium-deep) Coffee (deep) It sells for $39.00 and will be available this month at HSN, HSN.com and nyakio.com. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: Press Sample

I upgraded my beauty routine with Lancôme Visionnaire Blur as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #PhotoPerfectSkin. All images and opinions are my own.

Large pores, skin imperfections, fine lines, wrinkles - these are just some of the things that come with age (thanks 40.) Throw in that I have combination skin and we're having a party! I'm always on the hunt to look younger (I wouldn't mind being carded, that would be considered success), minimize pores on my nose and chin and mattify the shine in my T-zone. Enter Lancôme Visionnaire Blur, their newest skin perfector. It's 1 minute add-on product to your beauty routine that will keep your face looking flawless for the rest of the day! This 1-minute blur literally blurs skin imperfections in a flash. While the formula provides 24-hour hydration, it is meant to be applied after your moisturizer and not in place of it. Proper hydration of your skin is vital in minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. Lancôme Visionnaire Blur is not a primer and doesn't have the consistency of one, although  it preps your skin for smooth makeup application. The texture is creamy, applies weightless and quickly absorbs into your skin. It's not greasy and doesn't leave a slick feeling on your skin. It does have a fragrance though and is scented like perfume (not heavily.) You only need a small amount of 1-minute blur to get instant results. Use it to target your most visible pores and unwanted lines and wrinkles with just a single application. I didn't apply it to my entire face, only to areas that I felt needed some extra help - like the line between my brows, some of my forehead (T-zone), crow's feet, under my eyes, nose and chin. So basically I didn't apply it from my cheekbones to my jawline and to parts of my forehead. What I loved is how quickly it made my skin look visibly smooth; from mattified the shiny areas of my skin to blurred wrinkles to taking the spotlight off my pores. The pores on my nose are larger than on my chin, so I'm very happy when they are not so noticeable. My hands are pretty wrinkled and I felt that closeup this image shows best how it blurs wrinkles. While I didn't need to re-apply it after my initial application in the morning, you can use it for touch-ups throughout the day should you need to. The oil-free formula not only minimizes imperfections instantly and overtime, but leaves your skin feeling smooth and hydrated. The bottom line? I've been using it for 3 weeks now and I love it! And because it works so effeciently, I don't mind adding another step to my beauty routine. Besides, it only take a minute! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

If you are part of the sisterhood that is combination/oily skin, then you'll want to learn more about Eumora, a facial bar made of moor and HmA. For as far back as I can remember, my skin has never been gifted as "normal" and transitions from combination in the Fall/Winter to oily in the Spring/Summer. This means I am forever trying out skin care products that will help keep my skin in check. Eumora comes in a small box that contains 4 facial bars. The bars have no fragrance to them and they are the average size of a traditional facial bar. The bar is comprised of moor clay, an ingredient they call HmA (hydration microAlgae factor), olive oil, chamomile extract and glycerin.  Eumora is natural, vegan and cruelty free. However, it does contain wheat, so if you have a gluten sensitivity, ask your dermatologist before using. The ingredient label is very straightforward and the ingredients themselves are few (less is always better!) With my understanding of skin care, I could tell that this facial bar would not only absorb oil, dirt and impurities via the moor clay, but would also be replenished with moisture from the olive oil and glycerin, provide antiseptic qualities (read: aid in decreasing acne) due to the algae and soothe skin with the chamomile. A deeper look into the two main ingredients: Moor and HmA: HmA (Hydration microalgae factor) is formulated and derived from microalgae cultivated in the fresh water lakes. It includes a component that is similar to the structure of hyaluronate 3D mesh structure, which aids in moisture absorption. With a unique concentration of natural active ingredients, extracted from the essence of microalgae, it is an effective hydrating agent and why your skin won't feel stripped after using it. HmA doesn't irritate, so it is safe for sensitive skin. Moor is a rare form of nutrient-rich peat from Austria created by the gradual transformation of herbs, plants and flowers which have been permanently submerged under water or underground. Free from the decaying effects of oxygen and in the correct climatic and biological conditions, the plant matter undergoes a 'ripening' transformation process over thousands of years to produce a homogeneous dark substance called Moor. Moor is an antiseptic, which is why this facial bar is great for those who suffer from acne or the ocassional blemish,  it's detoxifying, an anti-inflammatory and hypoallergenic. To use Eumora, simply wet your face, work the bar into a lather in your hands and apply the lather to your face. Let the lather lie on your skin like you would a mask, for about 3 minutes and rinse. I noticed right away how clean my skin felt (without that completely stripped of moisture feeling) and how soft it was. While the Eumora website says you won't need a toner, serum or moisturizer when using the bar, I don't really buy into that because you always need a second method of hydration. Bars are meant to cleanse, and can hydrate, but not in the same way a moisturizer would. Regardless, you always need to cleanse your skin, and I do like how this facial bar was effective for my skin type. Despite the bar's small size, it seriously lasts a long time when stored properly (aka don't let it sit in water.) Only needing lather to get the job done, each Eumora bar lasts about 6 weeks+. While I have combination/oily skin, Eumora is good for all skin types and can be used as part of your morning and evening beauty routine. If you go to TryEumora.com, you can request a free product sample, just pay shipping and handling ($4.95.) For a limited time only, visitors who request the free trial will also have the ability to get a 30% discount off their first box ordered of Eumora Classic plus get free shipping. Have you tried this product? Let me know in the comments! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Shannon on G+

As a beauty blogger, I'm inundated in the months leading up to and during Breast Cancer Awareness Month with pitches for all sorts of beauty products. Each brand aligns itself with the goal of raising funds by donating a certain percentage to the cause.

I'm often discouraged when I see 10% assigned, or a vague statement and you're not really sure which charity the money is going to, or better still, that the money is going to a charity that spends more money on administrative costs than it does research and supporting the local community.

I get further disgusted when brands don themselves in pink ribbons with no identifiable percentage going to charity. It's all for the fanfare and targets uneducated consumers who will toss money at something in the name of a cause.

I recently watched a broadcast on my local TV station which was promoting the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure. The spokesperson said, quite proudly, "100% of 25% of your donation goes to research." You got that, right? In other words, 75% of your donation does not support research for breast cancer nor does it go to support local women battling the disease.

As someone who knows plenty of women who have had breast cancer, as I'm sure you do too, it is disheartening. While I understand that administrative costs need to be paid, and 100% of your donation never goes directly to research, how can you find those charities that get very little promotion yet do the most for women with breast cancer?

I decided to dig deeper and came up with a list. This list is based on Charity Navigator's scores of the most highly rated. Highly rated means they are fiscally responsible and the majority of monies received go to research and supporting local branches. 

National Breast Cancer Foundation

Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation

Breast Cancer Alliance

Of the few listed above, I know that many have a love-hate relationship with BCRF as it was founded by Evelyn Lauder, who coincidentally passed away from ovarian cancer but was a champion of women battling breast cancer. Many lament that Estee Lauder products have toxic chemicals in them that contribute to cancer and other illnesses. However, I think the brand and the charity are two separate entities, in my personal opinion.

As far as purchasing products that donate a portion of the proceeds to a breast cancer charity, I'm not really a fan. Again, a brand may align themselves with a charity like Susan G. Komen promising 10% of the purchase is donated to them. If what my local Komen representative said is true, then that means only 25% of 10% is then designated for research. I'm no math wiz, but I'm pretty sure that equals pennies. Wouldn't you rather take 100% of your money and donate it to charity?

That said, if you just so happen to be in the market for a new lipstick anyway and the charity is one of the ones mentioned above, then go for it. Why I won't be spotlighting BCA beauty products. I personally like to support my local community when it comes to breast cancer.

While the above charities are national, there are many worthy charities and support centers on a local level that do so much for people living with cancer. For example, The Center For Cancer Wellness, Candy's Place, here in Northeast PA is one of them. I strongly encourage you to look within your own community to find such gems who are focused on the health and wellness of your neighbor battling the disease.

So as the magazines and the media gear up for BCA, I ask that you share this post with others so that they can donate and get involved with charities that do the most for our loved ones battling breast cancer. If we give a spotlight to the charities that are lesser known, but doing more, I can only hope it will help more women. I'd love to hear your opinion! 

This is sponsored post for Nexxus through Condé Nast. All opinions and amazingly vibrant hair are my own.

For those of us who color our hair, there is one thing we can all agree on - watching the perfect hair color fade away is a sad, sad experience. I've tried a variety of hair care tricks to make my hair color last longer; from washing with cool water to washing my hair less in general to using sulfate-free products. Now Nexxus has developed a color-safe hair care system to take the guess work out of the fading hair color mystery and retain hair's vibrancy. The Nexxus Color Assure system includes a Pre-Wash Primer, Shampoo, Conditioner and Glossing Tonic. There are a few things about this system that make it different from the typical sulfate-free and color-safe hair care lines. For one, the key to this entire line lives within the Pre-Wash Primer. While yes, it does add an extra step into your hair routine, and yes, there is a learning curve, it does seem to make a lot of difference. The shampoo and conditioner, while sulfate-free, are also oil-based like the Pre-Wash Primer and Glossing Tonic. The Glossing Tonic is like the icing on the cake, providing a healthy and weightless shine to your hair. The Nexxus Color Assure Pre-Wash Primer is a pre-treatment to shield hair in the shower. It helps to repel water, so color stays longer and more vibrant. The Pre-Wash Primer is sulfate-free and infused with a blend of clear oils, including almond, coconut and argan oil. • Almond oil is known to lock in moisture, nourish hair and reduce breakage. • Coconut oil is known to provide softness and elasticity. • Argan oil is known to improve shine and vibrancy. • White Orchid Extract is known to provide moisture and works to seal and protect hair by repelling water from humidity and keep it from entering the core. To use the Pre-Wash Primer the directions say to use 5-7 pumps and work through hair starting at your ends and working up to your roots. You shouldn't saturate your hair or else you'll be overdoing it. Think of it more like a serum that you would use for styling or to prevent frizz - you only lightly apply it to your hair and sparingly. Now that I've chopped most of my hair off into a bob, 5-7 pumps is way too much. In fact, the most I could use was 1 pump or else my hair would be really greasy. In addition to my hair being short, it is also very fine. If you have fine hair, you'd probably want to use a half pump. However, the Pre-Wash Primer is the most important step, so don't skip it! Once you've worked the Pre-Wash Primer into your hair, you then apply the Color Assure Vibrancy Retention Shampoo and Conditioner followed by the Glossing Tonic (once hair is towel-dried.) All of the products are fragrance free, which has been interesting since I'm used to having some sort of fragrance in my hair. The proof is in the before and after! I used this hair care line exclusively for a month and snapped a picture on the first day I colored my hair and 4 weeks after. As you can see, my hair is so vibrant, shiny and my hair even looks darker! It is kind of amazing. Not only do you reap the benefits of retaining your hair color longer using Color Assure, but shiny hair also gives the impression of healthy hair (even when you heat style it as much as I do.) Look for the Nexxus Color Assure Pre-Wash Primer, Color Assure Vibrancy Retention Shampoo, Color Assure Vibrancy Retention Conditioner and Color Assure Glossing Tonic in mass retailers, select drugstores and supermarkets nationwide. Nexxus is also cruelty free. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Shannon on G+

You deserve to be pampered. Do you believe that? You should! In this video I talk about A Girl's Gotta Spa! Energizing Citrus Body Lotion, including the ingredients, how it works and what I was looking to achieve in order to meet your needs when creating this beauty brand. This isn't your typical shea lotion and I truly believe it is the best lotion for dry skin (or any skin!) Watch the video for more info: Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Polysorbate 60, Citrus Paradisii (Pink Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Latifolia (Lime) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil. Facts: Vegan, 94% natural, certified cruelty free, and made in the USA. Where to buy: www.agirlsgottaspa.com/store, and Amazon.com. See our website for a full list of retailers. Sign up for our product newsletter and receive 10% off your first purchase: http://eepurl.com/ODuT1 (Can only be used directly on agirlsgottaspa.com) Please leave a comment if you've used it!

Two of the most luxurious colors out there - whether jewelry, accessories, home decor or makeup - is silver and gold. I'm not the matchy matchy type and firmly believe you can mix and match these metals. Here are my top ten drool worthy silver and gold makeup products and some nail polish for good measure. 1. Milani Jewel FX Nail Lacquer 2. NYX Studio Liquid Eyeliner - Silver 3. Butter LONDON Cream Eye Shadow - Randy 4. Rouge Bunny Rouge - Highlighting Liquid - Sea of Showers (White gold) 5. Smith & Cult Nail Polish - Bridge & Tunnel 6. Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon - Champagne Diamonds For Blue Eyes 7. Jane Cosmetics Cream Eye Shadow - Gilded Gold 8. Napoleon Perdis Luminous Lip Veil Gloss - Gold and Beautiful 9. Kre-at Beauty Silver Splash Lash 10. Too Faced Bulletproof 24-Hour Eye Liner - Silver Lining What are you favorites? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Shannon on G+ Disclosure: affiliate links

Continuing to prove that nail art doesn't need to be difficult, I asked Nidia from Lit From Within to recreate a nail look with a tutorial.  For this nail art how to, Nidia took inspiration from A Nail Addict Named Sonia @badgirlnails. First, paint your nails with a fun glitter.  Go as blingy as you like, but if it's textured, you'll probably want to put down a thick topcoat before moving on with this look. When you're using striping tape, you need to wait for your base layer to be *completely* dry.  You can't fake this step.  Use a fast drying topcoat if you want to hurry the process a little, but putting tape on wet polish means that the polish will stick to the tape. The key is patience! Next, apply the striping tape in the pattern desired.  I'm doing accents on my ring and thumb, so I put the striping tape in a fan pattern for those, and more of a diagonal pattern for the others. After you've secured the tape (especially in the corners!) it's time for the coordinating polish.  Apply it in one thick layer, making sure that it's in all the nooks and crannies of your design. As soon as you're done with one nail, gently pull off the tape.  Don't let that polish dry, or it will come off in weird chunks! I like to clean up at this point.  My trusty $1 ELF concealer brush dipped in acetone is perfect for this. A topcoat fixes most mistakes, smoothes out the layers, and gives you a sticky surface on which to stick your rhinestones.  Use a little on the end of a dotting tool to help you move the rhinestones into place.  If you want the stones to stick better, apply another coat of topcoat over the stones. And, you're done! This is a great technique that can be used to create lots of different looks.  Use a base of neons under a coat of black, and you've got a laser light show! Change the direction of the tape and add studs to the center, and you can create a quilted look. If you liked this nail art, please feel free to stop by Lit From Within's Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, or check out her blog, Lit From Within. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Shannon on G+

My addiction of a good scrub goes beyond just body and facial scrubs. I adore lip scrubs and Treat Beauty's newest organic sugar scrub is one you'll want immediately. First and foremost, I love that this scrub comes in a handy tube. This makes it easy to bring with you when traveling, and even easier if you are using it in the shower because your fingers won't get messy and slippery. It also means there's basically no chance of getting water into the tube as you would with a jar. This lip scrub is also pretty big! It's jumbo in size and not your typical small lip tube. To use, simply twist up a little scrub (don't worry, it won't fall out), press to your lips with your mouth slightly open and rub in a circular motion. If in the shower (which I found easiest), simply rinse your face. If at the bathroom sink, just use a wet washcloth to wipe away the sugar. It doesn't leave any greasiness behind, just super soft lips. Aside from exfoliating well, this lip scrub smells and tastes delicious! Not that I am one for licking scrub off my lips when I just exfoliated the dry skin, but at least when I first apply it, if it happens to get in my mouth it's no biggie. Stop by www.treatbeauty.com and get one for yourself! Treat is cruelty free. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Shannon on G+ *Disclosure