Little did I know when growing up on the beaches of Rhode Island, that the wavy hair that came naturally among the sand and surf, would be a hairstyle I would try so hard to achieve as an adult. While my hair does have a slight natural wave to it, it's not really the kind that magazine hair is made of. Pinterest is full of how to get beach wavy hair tutorials that include curling wands, flat irons and braiding your hair before bed... but let me be honest with you, I prefer to do some things the easy way. Who has time for all of that? Enter Mitch Stone Essentials Texturizing Spray. I'm already used to adding a hair treatment to my hair before styling it, so it's not something I had to go out of my way to do and it didn't add another step to my beauty routine that I didn't already have in place. I simply spritzed it at my roots and then throughout my hair. Then I would either blow dry my hair until it was damp or I would just let my hair air dry. Either way, curls and waves would begin to emerge. Sometimes, later in the day I would spray it a few more times on my dry hair to give it a little more volume. It would wet my hair at first, but quickly absorb and plump up the waves within minutes. Mitch Stone Essentials Texturizing Spray is the concept of celebrity hairstylist, Mitch Stone. Not only does the Texturizing Spray include mineral-reach sea water, but it also contains hydrolyzed wheat protein and silk to make hair strong and shiny, and papaya extract for healthy hair. Typically salt water can be drying to your hair, but it seems that it's all balanced out with the other nourishing ingredients to prevent this. I've been using it for 2 months now in addition to Mitch Stone Essentials Lustre Shampoo and Conditioner, Lustre Drops and Session Spray and my hair hasn't been dry or brittle at all, in fact, it's the healthiest its ever looked. If you have long hair, I bet this would work amazing for you. And shorter hair? It will give you some volume. Try it and let me know what you think! 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 samples

The holiday travel season is officially upon us so I've decided to share some of my favorite travel friendly beauty products in hopes that it will make this holiday travel season a bit less stressful...and germ free. 1. Farmaesthetics Cool Aloe Mist This spritz is ideal for air travel because it is hydrating, refreshing and purifying. The cool aloe mist soothes dry skin and doubles an anti-bacterial, which is important in such an enclosed environment where air is re-circulated. Just spray it around your personal space prior to boarding for a relaxing scent and to ward off those airplane germs. 2. Yuni Instant Shower Sheet I love having these in my purse just in case of delayed or canceled flights.  I have been stranded at the airport enough times without access to a shower and these wipes are the next best thing to a shower. They cleanse, deodorize and refresh with neem and peppermint. 3. Glossier Coconut Balm Dotcom Leaving home without this salve is not an option.  First off, I adore the smell of coconut as it just puts me in a great mood no matter what. The smell of this mutli-tasking skin salve plus the fact that it is uber hydrating, makes it an absolute must-have travel beauty product for me. 4. Super Booster Teeth Whitening Pen  This pen is fast-acting and easy to use, plus it has a minty flavor so it also freshens that dreaded airplane breath. 5.  Pixi Glow Tonic This is another product with a super addictive scent. It's fresh, clean and pretty.  It also has 5% glycolic acid, aole vera and ginseng and gently exfoliates skin for a bright, glowing complexion. I love using it right before I land. These products definitely help to make my time on an airplane a lot less stressful and hopefully they will make your holiday travel season a bit more merry. What are some of your favorite travel friendly beauty products? 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: Some affiliate links

Disclosure: Thanks to RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 I’m getting my skin ready for the holidays as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #WomenWhoRoC

The holidays are finally here, which seems a bit unreal, especially here in the Poconos where it hasn't had accumulative snow yet, making it still feel like September. (There's something about snow that really gives you that holiday feeling.) As everyone reaches for their camera to capture the season's memories, now is the time to have a winter skin care regimen going in full force. Did you begin back when we began talking about holiday skin prep? Since I know my family will be snapping lots of photos, especially since it is my youngest son's first Christmas, I really want to look my best. And to be honest, I'm super self conscious about those photos going up on Facebook and my friends from high school secretly judging how I'm aging. (Admit it, it's something you think about, too.) In addition to the RoC® Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream I mentioned using in my last post, I'm also incorporating RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 into my skin care arsenal. The moisturizer contains an exclusive combination of pure retinol and the latest sunscreen technology that is specifically engineered to deliver very broad and photostable UVA and UVB protection with an SPF 30 (which is the minimum SPF you should be using on your skin at all times.) Since exposure to light is known to degrade the effectiveness of retinol, I like that RoC's stablized retinol is kept intact with the addition of broad spectrum sunscreen. Sunscreen should be part of your daily skin care regimen anyway, since what's the point of using anti-aging skin care if you're going to let the sun continue to age you? (Am I right?!) This moisturizer is clinically shown to visibly diminish wrinkles after 8 weeks of use and after 12 weeks of use, even deep wrinkles are visibly diminished. I've only been using it about 4 weeks so far and my wrinkles have definitely softened in their appearance. I especially dislike this one deep set wrinkle I have that is between my eyebrows.  As you can see in the photo, it is still visible, but it's not all in your face. (Do you see what I just did there?) At least not to me. It looks softer and more like a fine line than a wrinkle. The fine lines I do have are less noticeable. Retinol is said to be drying, but I haven't found that to be the case so far. I do have combination skin and I've found that it has a mattifying effect for me. Do I look 41? (You can say no.) I'd love to hear about your experience if you've used this product! Leave a comment! 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!

National day(s) of complete diet obliteration ...also known as "the holidays," is almost upon us. As much as I am looking forward to unlimited pumpkin pie and stuffing, I know that beginning the day after Thanksgiving, all I am going to want to do is detox. This year I am one step ahead of the game with Teami Skinny Tea. Teami Skinny Tea combines a blend of natural ingredients meant to boost metabolism, improve digestive problems and help to suppress cravings to help achieve weight loss goals. Teami Skinny Tea is a loose-leaf tea that contains Oolong, Yerba Mate, Lime leaf Extract, Lotus leaf, Ginger Root, Dandelion leaf, Rhubarb Root and is gluten free, GMO free, dairy free and sugar free. Unlike a lot of detox/weight loss teas that I have tried, Teami Skinny Tea does not have a laxative effect nor does it make me feel jittery or over caffeinated. I drink this tea first thing in the morning and have definitely noticed a decrease in my cravings for sugar and carbs, as well as feeling and looking less bloated after meals. I would highly recommend getting the insanely cute Teami Tea Infuser to go with your Teami Skinny Tea. The infuser has really small holes so that your tea leaves do not end up floating in your cup. Genius. Will you be including tea into your daily detox and weight loss plan? 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 Twitter. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: press sample

I partnered with AVEENO® on this post. All opinions are 100% my own. I participated in the #AveenoDailyChallenge for three weeks.

For the last three weeks I participated in the #AveenoDailyChallenge using both AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Body Wash + AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Lotion. The goal was to follow a daily cleanse + moisturize regimen with both products every day in order to accomplish two things - a healthy habit and softer, hydrated skin. Healthy habits don't always come natural to all of us. As an admitted chocoholic, I can tell you that I am more likely to reach for some cocoa deliciousness over a healthier alternative. However, habits don't just happen overnight and it takes consistent repetition over the course of about 21 days to create something you'll stick with. So during the 21 day #AveenoDailyChallenge, I not only challenged myself to stick to a daily cleanse + moisturize regimen, I also consciously made the choice each day to do something healthy when my inner voice would whisper chocolate. For example, putting honey in my tea instead of straight up sugar. (The honey pictured is insanely good and seems to satiate my sweet tooth.) I also added some extra vitamins and supplements like Vitamin D, probiotics, biotin and cranberry in addition to the multi-vitamin I am already taking. If you haven't yet tried AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Body Wash, it's a pearl-colored body wash with a thick texture that smells incredibly fresh. It's the kind of body wash that will stick to your shower puff, not slide through it, and create a rich lather on your skin. AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Lotion is fragrance free and has the look of a thicker cream with the application of a thinner lotion. It absorbs quickly and is non-greasy. In addition to the natural colloidal oatmeal, this lotion also has dimethicone. Dimethicone is known for its moisture retaining properties that helps prevent and protect skin from cracking and drying in cold weather. After 21 days my skin feels great. I also love that these products are safe to use on my sons, especially my newborn. Did you take the #AveenoDailyChallenge yet? 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 Twitter. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

I'll be honest, I was not very familiar with the world of cosmetic ultrasound treatments when I decided to try the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device. Upon doing my research, I learned that ultrasound is a non-surgical/non-invasive treatment that counteracts the effects of time and gravity on your skin.

Ultrasound uses the body's own regenerative response to gently and gradually lift skin on the eyebrow, under the chin and on the neck, and smooth lines and wrinkles on the décolletage.  It can improve the appearance of moderately loose or sagging skin by depositing focused ultrasound energy below the surface to stimulate the body’s creation of new collagen.

The Mira-Skin Ultrasound device promises the benefits of a professional cosmetic ultrasound spa treatment in the comfort of your own home whenever you so desire and at a fraction of the price. 

After receiving my Mira-Skin Ultrasound, I used it for a month before writing this review. The issues I was aiming to treat with this device were dry dull skin, acne scars and skin that just seemed tired looking.

The Mira-Skin Ultrasound device is extremely easy to use. After cleaning my face, I just followed the simple directions and applied the Mira-Skin Hyaluronic Serum to my skin. The serum helps skin to retain moisture, which lends to a plumping effect in the skin. 

After applying the serum, I then applied the Conductive Gel to my face and glided the ultrasound device across my skin. It's the ultrasound waves that help to break up and lift dead cells and boosts the performance of the anti-aging nutrients in the serum.

I then just applied my regular moisturizer, as usual. Serum's role is to help bring your moisturizer deeper into your skin as well, allowing for both products' ingredients to work to their full potential.

After the first use my skin immediately looked more hydrated.  After about a week of using the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device for about ten minutes three times per week, my skin looked rejuvenated, hydrated and smooth. 

After one month of using the ultrasound device, a lot of my acne spots have faded and I am hoping with continued use they will fade even more.

My skin looks brighter, feels more supple, I have noticed my face is a lot less puffy in the mornings and best of all, except for one or two minor pimples, my acne issues seem to be a thing of the past.

I have to be honest and admit that I was really skeptical about the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device, especially after using it for the first time.  Because I didn't feel any vibrations, or tingling...or really anything. It seemed too easy and I didn't think it would work, but I have seen a huge improvement in my skin in the past month.

This device is definitely worth investing in and the very minimal time it takes to use it just a handful of times per week to see such a difference.

Disclosure: Press sample

Although I absolutely love this time of the year with the brightly colored leaves and crisp fall air, I dread it at the same time. It seems all of my time is spent trying to prep all the livestock for the winter, insulating the house, cooking and freezing all my produce from the garden and splitting wood, lots of wood. When the temperature drops, it’s not just the wood that gets split, my hands do too. My daily routine consists of: Feed the animals, wash my hands. Wash out the poultry feed containers, feed poultry, wash my hands. Come inside to make breakfast, wash dishes. Start meal prep for the day, wash produce, wash dishes. Wash my hands, make lunch, wash dishes. Split and stack wood, wash my hands. Daily chores, wash my hands, make dinner, wash dishes. Take a shower, go to bed, repeat! Do you notice a pattern yet? Before I even get to lunch time, the dermatitis on my hands (which seems to be concentrated in-between my fingers) is flared up and burning. With the winter time coming, our wood stove will be going and our house is going to be super dry, which means more components to play a part in my severely dry skin. After trying so many different remedies, I took the opportunity to give Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Moisture Jelly Cream a try. I know, it’s a mouthful, but the name really does say it all. Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Moisture Jelly Cream has the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, which is really what piqued my interest. With my dermatitis (the most common form of Eczema,) most lotions irritate my hands with a burning sensation. This cream not only contains micro-droplets of Vaseline Jelly, is infused with vitamin E, and hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores,) but it actually HEALS my hands! The texture is a rich, smooth cream that doesn't feel heavy and is non-greasy. It really gives your hands a smooth as silk feeling. Other products I have used always wear off so quickly, but my severely dry hands immediately soaked up the moisture and stayed soft and supple for longer than most lotions I've used. Vaseline says it will moisturize for up to 18 hours - I didn't exactly keep track by the hour, but let's just say it was noticeable when I didn't need to constantly re-apply several times a day. I am so excited that I finally found something the works, doesn’t burn, and feels good to use. I even have my husband using it. Being a carpenter, he is constantly working outside, even in the cold, so his hands are always drying out and cracking. He loves that it’s unscented and non-greasy. Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Moisture Jelly Cream is gentle enough to use on my children too, who are 6 and 8 years old. Their hands get very chapped this time of the year too from all the times they wash their hands at school and use hand sanitizer. There’s nothing worse than seeing those red little hands when they come in from playing in the snow! This year when they come in from the cold, I can give them their nice warm cups of hot cocoa and soothe their hands with this cream. Do you get severely dry skin each Fall and Winter? Will you be giving this new cream a try? 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 Twitter. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Vaseline. The opinions and text are all mine.

Toner is one of the biggest misunderstood skin care products out there. And to be honest, at one point when I was younger, I also believed some of these myths. What about you? 1. Toner is a cleanser. This one bugs me the most. I've read blogger reviews where the person clearly didn't understand the role toner plays in a skin care routine. They'll say, "It worked great removing the makeup my normal cleanser leaves behind." Yes, you may see remanents of your makeup on the cotton pad you just applied your toner with, but that's because anything wet applied to a cotton pad and rubbed on your face will do that if you didn't do a good job of cleansing in the first place. 2. You don't really need toner; it's a marketing ploy. If you don't understand how toner plays an important role in the line up of skin care products recommended for your skin type, then it is easy to write it off as one of those add-ons or up-sells at the cosmetics counter. This isn't the case though. 3. Toners are intended to tighten skin/shrink pores. NOPE. First off, pores do not shrink. I repeat, there is no way to shrink your pores (now THAT is a marketing ploy.) Second, if your toner is making your skin feel tight, then it is possible that you may be using one with too much alcohol or it's one that is not suitable for your skin type. So what is the purpose of toner? It balances the pH level of your skin, preps the skin for your serum and moisturizer, and when left damp on your skin, it allows your moisturizer to seal in the water (toner is mainly water) and keep your skin hydrated. So why not just splash your face with water if that's the main ingredient in toner? Because most toners also include a variety of special ingredients that target specific skin care issues. For example, I love Paula's Choice Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner because it includes licorice root. Licorice root fades hyperpigmentation, which I have quite a bit of due to poor skin care choices in my youth (i.e. not wearing sunscreen.) Renee Rouleau Elderberry Toner is another alcohol-free toner that I love that has anti-inflammatory properties (and you HAVE to grab her Toning Cloths, which are amazing.) So please don't skip the toner, your skin will reap the rewards. 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 Twitter. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

As soon as the season changes and the temperature gets cooler, my skin starts to get dry and feels tight. I have my favorite moisturizers that I switch to this time of the year, but it's always fun to try something new. I've been using Bolden Butter Mint Shea Oil for a couple of weeks and have noticed a difference. This Shea Oil is 100% natural and is made from ethically-sourced Shea nuts picked and processed by local women’s groups in Burkina Faso, West Africa. There's just three ingredients in this product; Vitamin E, shea oil and essential fragrance oil. That's it! Unlike some products with a mint scent that overpowers, this one is very light and relaxing. I've used it all over my body especially those areas that's prone to dryness like feet, knees and elbows. Although this oil is light compared to some and absorbs quickly, I prefer using it at night. I use it on my arms and legs and massage it into my feet right before bed. In the morning my skin feels soft and moisturized. I haven't use it as a moisturizer on my face (I would prefer to use an unscented oil), but have used it for a spot treatment on dry areas like my cheeks and chin and I am pleased that it helped and didn't make me break out. A couple of drops rubbed between my palms to warm it up does wonders for the ends of my hair and best of all it doesn't make my hair greasy. This is a product I would definitely keep using during the cold and drying Minnesota weather! Bolden Shea Oil is ideal for dry skin, hair and aging skin. It comes in three fragrances; Unscented, Butter Mint and Sweet Vanilla. Have you tried it? 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 Twitter. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: press sample, affiliate link

I partnered with AVEENO® on this post. All opinions are 100% my own. I’m participating in the #AveenoDailyChallenge for three weeks.

When it comes to my skin and incorporating healthy habits into my daily life, I can sometimes get into a rut. Whether busyness gets me distracted, the stressors of daily life keep my sidetracked or sometimes, dare I say it, pure laziness gets ahold of me - it all wears on my skin. As we begin to delve into the colder months, it's not only important to begin incorporating healthy habits into our lifestyle, it's imperative. From colds and flu to dry skin and eczema, it seems Fall and Winter are frought with ways to bring you down. So how can stay on top of it without slacking off? Why, using the buddy system of course. It's proven that when you work things in pairs, you have greater success at whatever you are trying to achieve. Of course, you'll want to naturally pair things that make sense like delicious raw honey to sweeten an indulgent tea as a healthy way infuse antioxidants into your diet and to destress. And no, pairing ice cream and your weight loss plan are not a natural pair. (Sorry.) Another way to ensure that you maintain a healthy routine is to make it a habit. Whether it's doing something at the same time every day or pairing the same items together when you use them, "association" is a great way to commit something to memory so that you maintain it. For the next three weeks, I’ll be participating in the #AveenoDailyChallenge, using both AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Body Wash + AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Lotion every day. This nourishing duo contains colloidal oatmeal, which is soothing for dry, irritated skin. It's also blended with rich emollients to help replenish skin's moisture barrier. I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of dry, itchy skin regardless of the season. Will you join me on my journey to healthy, beautiful, nourished skin? To participate, follow me on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and be sure to tag me and use the hashtag #AveenoDailyChallenge. I'd love to encourage you during this 3- week challenge! 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 Twitter. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!