Copper has many skin care benefits including the promotion of collagen and elastin production, as well as acting as an antioxidant. Copper peptides help to firm, smooth and soften skin, and it's said that copper can accomplish it in half the time compared to most other anti-aging skin care ingredients. Copper peptides are also beneficial when it comes to treating scars, as well. NEOVA has a Copper Moisture Mask as part of their Treat line of products. Skin care products in this collection aim to reduce the signs of photoaging, rejuvenate the skin and soothe irritation. The NEOVA Copper Moisture Mask has the consistency of a thick gel, which is lightly tinted blue and has a light fragrance that I can only describe as sweet almond in nature. Prior to applying the mask, cleanse your skin. The sample I was provided with came with a ceramic spoon, however I'm unsure if that was extra or if it comes with the mask. The reason I mention it, is because it's important not to stick your fingers into the gel to prevent bacteria transfer. Use a spoon or spatula that you can clean with hot water after using. The gel has a cooling effect and due to its thickness, it won't slide off your face. You really don't need a lot of product to get the job done. Leave on for up to 20 minutes, however you might find that you need to remove it sooner as the gel begins to dry and makes your skin taunt. (I chose to remove mine after 10 minutes.) Use warm water and a cloth to remove the mask. (I used my Swisspers Cleansing Cloth.) Removal is a little tricky, as the water to remove it seems to reactivate the mask from thin and dry back to gel. It took a few swipes of the cloth to remove it. Once you've removed the mask, apply your toner, serum and moisturizer as usual. Your skin will feel incredibly supple. Hydrated skin always improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. After about a month of use, I did notice a slight fading of the photodamage on my face. Would love to  hear if you've used this mask or have a question! 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!

When it comes to skin care, I am very picky with what I put on my face. Since there's no hiding imperfections should a reaction to a product happen, I always do my research on ingredients and check out my fellow beauty blogger reviews. One of my favorites types of skin care product are facial masks. Maybe it's just me, but I love the feeling of rejuvenating my skin. Some of my favorite facial masks are: Renee Rouleau Triple Berry Smoothing Peel: Hands down, this is my absolute favorite chemical exfoliant mask. By chemical, I mean smoothing fruit AHA's, BHA's and enzymes. It smells insanely delicious and leaves your skin with an amazing glow. Sundari Gotu Kola and Asparagus Mask: This is a "tingling" type of mask and targets all skin types. It has a gel consistency, to which you add an antioxidant-rich oil and stir before applying. I love it. Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Facial Polishing Mask: I still get acne at 40 years old, which is no fun. This MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator dupe is the perfect way to use a physical exfoliant that uses charcoal to target impurities. Sometimes I get carried away using this around my nose and chin to target blackheads. Natural Facial Mask by Ashieda: Paper masks seem to be all the rage lately. Despite my scary appearance wearing the mask, the collagen-infused mask plumped my skin to perfection. Gail also loves paper masks - check out her reviews of Perfective Ceuticals and Kaunis. Bernard Cassiere Chocolate Mousse Mask: Unless you can make it to The Spa at The Hotel Hershey, this mention is basically a tease. Bernard Cassiere only sells this product in the US at this spa. This highly decadent mousse is whipped to perfection, will make you daydream of a trip down a chocolate stream then swimming in a chocolate fountain, while revealing a brighter complexion. What are some of your favorite facial masks? Leave a comment and let me know! 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!

As much as I have enjoyed summer and am sad to see it come to an end, I was not enjoying how dehydrated my skin looked and felt thanks to a lot of time spent outdoors celebrating summer in all of her sunny glory.  I want to welcome fall and all the polished perfection that accompanies her with skin that looks and feels perfectly hydrated, soft, glowing and dewy.  I love wearing darker lip colors during the fall months and I feel like an amazing complexion is the best complement to a dark red or wine colored lip. In an effort to get my skin fall ready, I have been exfoliating regularly and started using Perfective Ceuticals Divine Brightening Mask once a week.  The Divine Brightening Mask is a paper mask that contains skin brightening ingredients, such as Licorice Extract and Mulberry Root Extract, to name a few and Hydrolyzed Collagen.  Based on its ingredients, the mask is meant to even out skin tone and discoloration, hinder the formation of melanin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, provide suppleness to the skin and protect  skin against free radicals. The mask feels like a cooling serum on my skin and after letting it sit and absorb into my skin for the recommended 3o minutes, my skin looks and feels absolutely gorgeous.  It looks supple, hydrated, bright and glowing and feels insanely soft. The paper mask is saturated with product so there is always an abundance of extra product to massage into the back of my hands, my décolleté and even my feet sometimes.  I am now on my third week of using the Divine Brightening Mask and my skin is most certainly looking and feeling fall ready. I would highly recommend giving this mask a try before an important event or if you've put your skin through the ringer this summer and want to get it back on track. Have you tried it? 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

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+

We all know that nutritious foods are good for our overall health, but did you know that it can also help you achieve glowing skin? Fellow beauty blogger, Alexis Wolfer of The Beauty Bean, has written a book complete with DIY beauty treatments, as well as recipes that will be your true Recipe for Radiance. Alexis was gracious enough to share two, simply delicious recipes, which should serve as the perfect appetizer to wet your palate for more from her book! Age-Reversing Wine Mask Good for: All skin types In much the same way that red wine is anti-aging from the inside out, the antioxidants in red wine (including resveratrol) make it a great anti-aging skincare treatment when applied topically. Mixed with egg whites to tighten fine lines and retinol-rich egg yolks, this mask takes happy hour to a whole new level—albeit, one in which you may not want to leave your house. 1 egg 1 egg yolk 3 tablespoons red wine Whisk all ingredients together until well combined. Use a pastry brush to apply a thin layer to your face, neck and décolleté, avoiding your eye area. Let dry before washing off with warm water and a washcloth. Roasted Watermelon Gazpacho Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free Lycopene, found in cooked tomatoes and watermelon, helps defend against sun damage—and might even help both prevent and treat skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Keep this gazpacho in your refrigerator all summer long for a skin-healing soup that’s as refreshing as it is healing. Serves 2 to 4 3 vine tomatoes, chopped 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 3 cups watermelon, seeded 1 clove garlic 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1/4 cup roasted almonds 1/2 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika 1 medium cucumber, peeled and divided Salt, to taste Cayenne pepper (optional) 2 tablespoons diced sweet onion On medium heat, sauté tomatoes in the oil until fork-tender. Transfer to a blender. Add watermelon, garlic, lime juice, almonds, paprika, and half of the cucumber. Blend until smooth. Add salt to taste and cayenne pepper, if desired. Refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve. Stir in the diced onion. Thinly slice the remaining cucumber. Top the soup with the cucumber slices. If you try either of these recipes, I'd love to know! And don't forget to grab Alexis' book Recipe For Radiance: Discover Beauty's Best Kept Secrets in Your Kitchen on Amazon! 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

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

Skin cancer has been on my mind a lot lately. My aunt died at the age of 29 from Melanoma, family members have caught skin cancer early, and my friend, Amanda, constantly battles skin cancer daily.

Amanda is a Melanoma survivor, but just because they caught it early doesn't mean she is in the clear. Over the past few years, Amanda has repeatedly found new moles and marks on her body, and even though some of them appeared completely normal and not within the ABCDE's, each time she has been told that what her dermatologist scooped was found to be in the stage just before turning cancerous.

Being able to transform my shower into a spa-like experience is my idea of absolute bliss, so one can only imagine my elation upon hearing the words "aromatherapy shower kit." Immediately upon hearing those few words, pictures of a completely relaxed, zen-like me began dancing in my head. Needless to say, I could hardly wait to get my hands on this magical product that would allow me to turn my boring old shower time into an invigorating spa time. This magical product that I speak of is the Essio Aromatherapy Shower Kit.  The kit includes a shower arm and essential oil pods and is exceptionally easy to use...honesty it took me less an a minute to attach the arm to my shower and insert the essential oil pod. Best of all? Set up required zero tools.  After setting up was compete, all I had to do was turn on my shower water and tilt the pod into the stream of water and the essential oils began to diffuse into my shower. The first Essential Oil Pod that I tried was the Breathe blend, it was minty, refreshing and soothing and contains a blend of Cedarwood Atlas, Peppermint, Lemon, Eucalyptus.  I am currently using the Unwind Essential Oil Pod, which is more of a citrusy floral scent containing a blend of Orange Sweet, Bergamot, Petitgrain, Lavender, Patchouli, Vetiver and is utterly relaxing.  Even after I get out of the shower my entire bathroom still manages to smell positively delightful. The Essential Oil Pods last for about 3-5 showers each and when you're out, refills can be ordered at Essio Online.  The Essential Oil Pods are 100% organic, pure and sourced from the finest oils in the world.  They do not contain any harsh chemicals, synthetics or additives and both the Essio arm and essential pods are also 100% recyclable and disposable. I am not quite sure how Essio managed to create Essential Oil Pods that do not leave my skin or hair with an oily residue after I get out of the shower.  This is one of the most genius products that I have tried in a very long time.  And now that I have given Essio a try, I honestly do not think I can go back to taking showers without my daily dose of Essio Aromatherapy!

.@essioshower Aromatherapy Shower Kit #review: http://t.co/CN0C5hPPkY #beauty

— A Girl's Gotta Spa! (@agirlsgottaspa) January 15, 2015

Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. 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

What is Cellulite? Millions of people around the world deal with the skin condition known as cellulite. If you are unfamiliar, cellulite is the bumpy, unattractive skin that is commonly seen in the thighs, buttocks, and hips. It is a structural issue within the skin that occurs when pockets of fat cells are entrapped by unnecessary connective tissue bands. These pockets of fat then bulge out of the skin, creating that bumpy, uneven appearance. This condition is most common in women and is often influenced by factors such as: aging, genetics, and poor blood circulation. This condition can lower self-esteem due to the presence grotesque looking skin. Thanks to revolutionary treatments like Venus Freeze, cellulite does not have to plague your skin for life. Venus Freeze^TM Treatment for Cellulite Reduction Venus Freeze is a non-invasive treatment that uses radio frequency and magnetic pulses to stimulate collagen production and restore healthy looking skin. The procedure is FDA approved and viewed as a quick and painless way to treat cellulite. It is also used for circumferential reduction and skin tightening. How Does the Procedure Work? On treatment day, a lotion will be applied to the area of the skin being targeted. Venus Freeze applicator will then smoothly be moved over the surface of your skin. The applicator causes a slight heating sensation and is often described as a hot-stone massage. Within the applicator is advanced technology that uses both magnetic pulses (MP)², as well as radio frequency energy to help reduce cellulite. As the applicator is moved over the skin, a magnetic field is generated from the (MP)² component to release growth factors that lead to the development of new blood vessels and fibroblasts. While this occurs, RF energy penetrates deep within the skin leading to increased collagen content and elastin synthesis, as well as triggering enzyme mediated lipolysis. As all of this occurs, the skins structure is reformed and the overlying skin becomes smoother and more attractive. What Happens After the Treatment?  After 15-40 minutes of quick and easy Venus Freeze treatment, patients are free to return to normal activities right away. While patients may experience slight warmness and redness of the skin, there is no downtime nor any harmful side effects. Results may not be visible immediately and often do not show until three treatment sessions have been performed. In order to achieve optimal results, a series of 6-10 treatment sessions within 5-7 day intervals are typically recommended. 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+ Dr. Gaurav Goswami is a board certified physician specializing in cosmetic and endovascular procedures. He is founder and owner of Precise Care with locations in Newport Beach, CA and Fullerton, CA. Dr. Goswami’s practice focuses on minimally invasive, targeted treatments, which use various forms of imaging for guidance during procedures.