Throughout history, women have always coveted longer, fuller lashes. Heck, it's one of the reasons we're all on the hunt for that holy grail mascara. Over the years, mascaras have gotten better at helping women fake incredible lashes and the fiber mascara trend is one of them. I had the opportunity to test out cruelty free cosmetic brand, Physicians Formula, newest innovation - Eye Booster Instant Lash Extension Kit. The kit includes a mascara with a slightly curved brush and a separate bottle of fibers with a wand to apply them. There are 3 steps involved, with an additional 2 steps that are completely optional. Step 1 (optional): Curl your lashes. Step 2 Apply Lash Boosting Mascara to prep for fibers. You'll want to apply about 3-4 coats. Don't let them dry in between coats. Step 3 With the Lash Extension wand, brush on fibers while your mascara is still wet. Fibers will spill onto your face, so it's best to lean forward slightly to avoid any fall out near your eye. Step 4 Reapply Lash Boosting Mascara to seal and set the fibers by tapping on the mascara. (Brushing may cause some fibers to come off, so tapping is best.) Step 5 (optional) For even more length and volume, repeat steps 2 and 3. There is no fragrance to the mascara or fibers. The mascara didn't clump, but the fibers do tend to spill onto your skin. They didn't stick to my skin though, and were easy to wipe off with a tissue. I found that tapping the mascara on for step 4 kept more of the fibers on my lashes vs getting caught up in the mascara wand if I combed on the mascara. I also liked the extra volume and length Eye Booster Instant Lash Extension Kit gave when I repeated steps 3 and 4. Another bonus about the mascara is that the mascara formula contains the same lash-boosting peptide (myristoyl pentapeptide-17) that's found in the original Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum to visibly enhance natural lash growth and appearance of lashes! It also effectively conditions and nourishes lashes, so they don't feel dry or brittle. The Eye Booster Instant Lash Extension Kit didn't clump or smudge. The fibers never flaked off. It claimed to last for up to 24 hours, so I committed a beauty sin and wore it to bed and woke up with my lashes looking exactly the same. Definitely try the new Physicians Formula Eye Booster Instant Lash Extension Kit for easy DIY ultra-glam lashes in just two minutes! I think you'll love 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 G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Physicians Formula through Condé Nast. All opinions and glamorous lashes are my own.

When it comes to cleansing my body, I never did like using a bar of soap, I have always preferred body washes, gels or shower oils. I have rarely found a soap that I enjoy using. They tend to leave a filmy residue that leaves my skin dry and itchy, especially during winter. So of course I was skeptical when I received a bar of Milky Rose soap from Osmia Organics. Their soaps are made with organic oils, organic and natural plant butters, organic and wildcrafted herbs, organic milks, and organic or wildcrafted essential oils. They avoid things like synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, parabens and phthalates and there is no animal cruelty involved. Also their soaps are wrapped in 100% post-consumer, recycled paper and hemp twine which is biodegradable and compostable. Skepticism aside, I absolutely love their packaging! Seriously, this soap was way too pretty to open. And when I did eventually open it, I was definitely not expecting rose petals (organic), on top of the bar. The scent is light, fresh and clean.  It's all so very lovely! When using this organic soap I found that it lathered really well and there was no overwhelming rose scent. It didn't feel abrasive or tacky. It's very creamy and gentle. However, after rinsing I did feel like there still was a bit of soap residue left on my skin, but it also left my body moisturized and feeling soft. My skin did not feel dry and irritated like it normally does with bar soaps. I won't be giving up my body washes anytime soon, but a soap like this that has all natural and nourishing ingredients is definitely worth a try! To peruse other natural, organic, quality products besides this lovely soap please visit www.osmiaorganics.com. 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

Sometimes getting to the spa for a deep cleansing facial isn't always an option. Thankfully there are plenty of beauty tools out there that can help your skin look its best regardless of your budget. The Michael Todd Soniclear and many of their skin care products are perfect for at home skin care when you can't make it to the spa. They now have some pretty cool designs with their Soniclear, adding a little pop to your vanity. (The one pictured above is called Pink Lady.) I've used the competitor to this brand, the one with the spinning brush head, but I wasn't a fan. I found the competitor to be too rough on my skin and the brush heads would get dirty fast. What I like about the Michael Todd Soniclear is that the antimicrobial brush heads DO NOT spin, but instead use sonic-wave powered technology to micro-massage away dirt and other impurities and gently exfoliate at brush speeds in excess of 300 times per second. I still move it in a circular motion, but it is all within my control. It also has 3 brush speeds for the facial brush and 3 brush speeds for the body brush. Pictured above is the body brush, which is a decent size and larger and firmer than the facial brush. I tried all 3 speeds for my face and found that the slowest speed works best for me, especially on my nose to tackle those blackheads. I tried it at the fastest speed and it felt like it was tickling my nose and kept making me sneeze (it was hilarious.) I didn't take very good care of my skin when I was young, so the pores on my nose are pretty big (and unsightly) and unfortunately for me, as I age I lose collagen and the elasticity in my skin, which means the pores get a little bigger. For the record - you CANNOT open or close pores (I honestly hate that myth), but you can minimize their appearance by dissolving the hardened oil and debris (otherwise known as blackheads.) If you are in your teens or twenties reading this - PLEASE take care of your skin. Your older self will thank you. To use the Soniclear, you have to first charge it for a full 24 hours. Then with each charge it's good for about 12 uses until you have to charge it again. That's something I love as well, so that I don't have to charge it daily. To begin, you use the Soniclear for a set time for each quadrant of your face and so that you give equal attention to each part of your face and neck, the Soniclear will beep to alert you that it's time to move on. To clean your brush heads (and don't do it while you have the Soniclear turned on and running), you can either run them through water while still attached to the Soniclear or take them off and rinse them. They're antimicrobial, so that means you only need to change them every 6 months and they don't harbor bacteria the way other cleansing brushes do, which means you aren't reintroducing the bacteria to your face with each subsequent use. Michael Todd offers a range of cleansers and scrubs that you can pair with your Soniclear and I tried two for the face and one for the body. First, Cleanse and Tone which is for normal to oily and combination skin. It utilizes charcoal to gently remove dirt, oil and other impurities without the drying effects of alcohol, as well as essential oils and antioxidants. It has a clean scent with a hint of citrus. The texture is thin and whether you use it with the Soniclear or just with your hands, it's gentle and works great. The Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub utilizes fruit acids to gently dissolve dead skin to reveal a brighter complexion. As you can see from the picture, the texture is thick and it literally smells like a pina colada. It doesn't irritate my skin and I love how refreshing it feels. Although it says "without scrubbing," I do use this with my Soniclear and don't find it to be overdoing it. I find that with this scrub I tend to concentrate on my nose and chin, where I tend to breakout the most or have blackheads, and have been really happy with the results. I only use this scrub once a week (but I need more products in my life that smell this way.) The Walnut Grapefruit Polishing Scrub is a body scrub that is liquidy thin but with a fine grit. The scent is like a Ruby Red grapefruit. I typically use a salt scrub as my body exfoliant, so the fine grit of this scrub was different for me. Not different in a bad way though, and when used with the body brush on the Soniclear, it worked remarkably well on my winter dry skin. And that's what's awesome about the Soniclear - it is waterproof, not just water resistent, but waterproof so I can bring it in the shower with me. (Naturally, wait until your Soniclear is dry before putting it back in the charger.) Other benefits of the Michael Todd brand is that they ship internationally, use organic ingredients and are cruelty free. Have you tried the Soniclear or any of the cleansers mentioned? 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

Are you in search of a facial exfoliant that can tighten, brighten and smooth skin? More importantly, one with the least amount of ingredients - yet the most effective ones? Since I'm now in the mature skin category (that makes me feel old), my skin is in need of something that will exfoliate my skin while helping it to regain its youthful glow. I'm also a big believer in less is more, which is something you'll rarely find when reading product labels. So I was pleasantly surprised when I received SILK Therapeutics Silk Renewing Peel. The ONLY ingredients in this peel are: Water, silk, glycolic acid, lactic acid, and lemongrass essential oil. The end. Additionally, the silk in all SILK Therapeutics skin care products is real silk in liquid form. That's important to mention because most brands use hydrolyzed silk, sericin or silk powder, but these are actually silk waste byproducts or genetically altered proteins that don't render the same skin care benefits like pure silk does. Did I mention that this is a US brand and that their products are not tested on animals? That's just as important to me. The Silk Renewing Peel is considered an intense treatment that is for once a week use. The fragrance from the lemongrass essential oil is revitalizing and invigorating - I love it. The texture of this peel is a gel that isn't sticky or tacky. It comes with a small spatula to scoop the gel out with (you don't want your fingers introducing bacteria into the jar.) While the box says to use a dime size amount, I had to use a little bit more in order to cover my entire face and neck. Your skin will experience a tingling sensation with this peel, but it's not painful. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to patch test this product before applying it to your entire face (and don't worry - they have a no questions asked full refund policy should it be too much for you.) This skin renewing treatment should be left on the skin no longer than 10 minutes. For me, I found around 6 minutes to be good as the gel began to dry a little on my skin. Rinse off with water and pat dry (I used a wash cloth to make sure I removed all of the peel), then apply your serum, eye cream and moisturizer. I loved how utterly soft my skin felt after rinsing off the peel and how the glycolic acid dissolved the hardened oil in my clogged pores. The glow was apparent. I recommend doing this peel at night when you do your evening beauty routine, so that you get the max benefits while your skin is repairing itself while you sleep. Silk Therapeutics Professional Use Only products are launching in select spas across the country. The full skin care line is available for purchase online at www.silktherapeutics.com. Have you tried this peel yet, or other products from SILK? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 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

Burns are the worst. Depending on how you got burned and how deep it goes, also determines the healing time involved (and the pain. Oh my, the pain.)

A month ago I was doing something I rarely like to do - cook. It's like seeing a Yeti in your backyard, but on the nights my husband works late, you'll find me in the kitchen. It really is my least favorite thing, although I am the first to drool over gorgeous foodie photos on Pinterest.

So while checking on the progress of our meal in the oven, I burned my arm. It was not my best moment. (But dinner still turned out great.) I immediately put my arm under cold water, but that did not stop the stabbing pain, the blistering, the inflammation or as the days progressed, the itching.

Having worked with InviCible Scars in the past, I knew the exact steps to take to insure that my burn scar did not result in a permanent red mark on my arm. (and I strongly encourage you to check out their blog because it is chock full of great scar healing tips for all types of scars.)

First and foremost, you need to properly take care of the wound. Mine blistered, got a little slimey with puss and hurt like hell. (Thankfully it was not very deep.)

After applying an ice pack after the burn happened, I also made sure to apply an anti-bacterial cream and cover the burn with a band-aid. This is so important, because how you intitially care for the wound determines the outcome of your scar. Infection = a larger scar.

Second, once the blistering has stopped, you can remove the band-aid. It's important to keep the area moisturized (it plays an important part in scar healing) and also protected from sun damage with a sunscreen and SPF of 30 (UV rays can permanently darken a scar.) Itching is totally normal as your scar begins to heal (it's still a pain in the butt though.)

Third, apply a scar treatment twice daily, making sure to massage the scar as you apply it for about 2 minutes. The first few times that I massaged my burn scar, it was still tender under the skin and was a little painful (not wincing pain, but more like a 2 on the pain scale.)

Massage helps to break up the fiberous bands that are forming under the skin and those bands are what makes a scar feel firm instead of soft like your surrounding skin.

I've used InviCible Scars for about 4 weeks now and the difference is no joke. Not only is the scar noticeably smaller, it's not firm, and has faded considerably to almost flesh-colored. The before and after picture are taken just as close using my cell phone camera - so, yes, my original burn was that big. The difference in the appearance of my scar is amazing and I am thrilled with the results.

Now, scars take 1-2 years to fully mature. That means the scar healing process isn't done for me just because it looks practically gone on the surface, there's still healing happening under the skin. I'll continue to use InviCible for about another 4 weeks, but will continue to use sunscreen with SPF 30 on it for up to 2 years so that the work done this far by the scar treatment is not undone by UV rays.

UPDATE: I continued to use InviCible Scars over the past year and now my burn scar is almost undetectable! InviCible Scars is available via Amazon.

Disclosure: affiliate link

March marks National Nutrition Month, and a great time to ramp-up healthy eating (and drinking!) habits. Stephen Coe, executive chef at Mirbeau Inn & Spa at The Pinehills (Plymouth, Mass.) has whipped up five delicious detox smoothie recipes to help sneak in superfoods, even when strapped for time.

Brain Fuel
2 cups spinach
1 cup coconut water
1 ripe pear
½ cup frozen mango
½ avocado
2 tbsp. hemp hearts
1tsp. acai powder
1tsp. camu powder
1 banana, frozen
1 tbsp., chopped cilantro, fresh

Carrot Cleanse
5 carrots, peeled
1 apple, seeded
½ cucumber
1 celery stalk
1 tbsp. ginger
1 cup of ice

Post-Workout
1 tbsp. honey
1 banana
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup almond milk
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1 cup ice
1 tbsp. chia seeds
4 ea. dates

Funky Monkey
1 banana, frozen
1 cup almond milk
¼ cup almond butter
1 tbsp. coco powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. agave
1 cup ice

Sunday Morning
2 cups spinach
1 cup frozen pear
1 cup mango frozen
1 banana
1 cup strawberry
1 cup almond milk
2 tsp. honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup of ice

Enjoy!

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I am an absolute devotee of beauty products that are able to multitask. For me multitasking beauty products are an absolute godsend, so whenever I catch wind of one of these products I HAVE to try it, which is why I had to try Spongellé Body Wash Infused Buffer and Pedi Buffer. The Spongellé Body Buffer is infused with a shower gel containing  skin care ingredients to cleanse, exfoliate, stimulate circulation, and moisturize skin. Each buffer has its own one-of-a-kind fragrance blend. In addition to body buffers, Spongellé also has pedi buffers to prevent dry, rough feet by buffing away calluses. I tried and am still using the Bulgarian Rose Flower Body Buffer and the Mandarin Mint Pedi-Buffer.  The Bulgarian Rose Flower Body Buffer has a really pretty floral scent that leaves my skin and shower smelling amazin,g but still manages not to be overpowering.  The buffer felt a bit rough at first, but once I ran it under water and squeezed, the texture became a lot more gentle and felt great on my skin, not at all abrasive.  My skin definitely felt softer and smoother after using the body buffer.  Each body buffer, depending on the size, can be used for 10-14+ washes. The Mandarin Mint Pedi Buffer also has a great scent that's minty and citrusy at the same time...a very rejuvenating and energizing scent.  The Pedi Buffer feels a lot more textured than the body buffer and definitely did a great job of exfoliating my feet.  I think that using the Pedi Buffer on a daily basis, especially after a professional pedicure, will extend the life of my pedicures and have my feet sandal-ready year round.  The Spongellé Pedi Buffer has up to 30 uses. The Spongellé Body Buffers are going to make great travel companions because even though they also come in travel sizes, the regular sized body buffer can be easily  transported in my carry-on and is definitely TSA approved.  I only wish I would have known about this multi-tasker  last year when I was on an airplane more than I was at home! Spongellé is made in the USA, is cruelty free and uses only premium skin care ingredients. Have you tried any of their products 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 G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: Press sample

Detoxing and cleansing have now become a normal part of healthy lifestyle, and since I now live in Los Angeles it seems almost mandatory! I am all for a good cleanse/detox program, but I personally am not a fan of all juice cleanses or not eating.  I'll save you my laundry list of reasons, but I prefer eating actual solid, clean healthy foods, drinking a lot of water and green tea and taking my necessary vitamins and supplements. This is why I LOVED the Hum Nutrition Cleanse to the Rescue 21 Day Cleanse. Cleanse to the Rescue is a 21 day system designed to optimize digestion through the removal of toxins and assisting in the breakdown of nutrients.  The set contains 21 packets, each containing 4 capsules; 2 detox blend capsules called Daily Cleanse and 2 Flatter Me capsules that contain an enzyme combination for digestion and a flatter tummy.  Daily Cleanse combines botanicals for clear skin, organic chlorella algae, bladderwrack kelp, beetroot and milk thistle work together to detox and protect your skin as well as liver, bowels, kidneys, lungs, and lymphatic system. Flatter Me contains an enzyme blend that supports all major phases of nutrient digestion. Optimized to breakdown protein, carb, fiber, and fats, Flatter Me helps relieve indigestion.

The Cleanse To The Rescue 21 Day Cleanse is super easy to use, just take one regular sized capsule before your two main meals. I took mine right before I sat down to eat lunch and dinner, then took the two larger capsules between meals without food. There is no weird aftertaste with these capsules, they actually smelled and tasted a bit like pineapples and I loved how convenient the packets were...no large bottles of juices to lug everywhere.  I never felt tired or fatigued or had headaches or any of the other negative side effects associated with most cleanses and this is one of the least expensive cleanses I have ever done.  Just $42 for the 21 day supply. My skin also cleared up and my belly bloat all but disappeared on this cleanse. One very odd thing that happened during this cleanse is that I could not stand the smell or taste of seafood or meat. I am not sure if this was due to the cleanse or if my body just decided it was tired of meat and seafood. I finished my cleanse yesterday and I still cannot stand the thought of seafood or meat and I've never felt better. Even though I've completed the Cleanse to the Rescue 21 Day Cleanse, I fully intend to purchase and continue taking the Daily Cleanse Capsules, I may also give Ripped Rooster, Pimp My Calcium and Beauty zzZz a try! The Hum Nutrition Cleanse to the Rescue is available online or at Sephora. Have you tried Hum Nutrition 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 G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

The Carlsbad Plaza Hotel is a jewel in the center of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, one of the most famous spa cities in central Europe. In this well-known spa and wellness hotel, treatments in one of their many luxurious medical spa suites aim to heal gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders, diabetes, obesity, locomotor system diseases, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and biliary tract diseases, neurological disorders and many more. The Carlsbad Plaza is a five star hotel and a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. It offers all all you can desire under one roof. From the time of your arrival in a limousine of your choice to the luxurious well-appointed accomodations, you'll feel pampered and relaxed during your stay. Hungry? Try Sorrento with its international cuisine or La Bohème, which offers exclusive and delicious French dishes. If you only crave something small, you can enjoy a snack in one of the many different hotel bars. Looking for entertainment? Grab a seat at the hotel's Old Times bar where you can enjoy a glass of sparkle accompanied by the tunes of live music, or maybe enjoy a litte adrenaline rush at the Carlsbad Casino. But since your stay at the Carlsbad Plaza Hotel is geared towards relaxation, improving your health and getting pampered as never before, you might enjoy a day at the spa, which covers a massive 37,000+ square feet. The spa offers 7 different types of saunas, several pools, a relaxation room and much more. When it comes to health and spa treatments, The Carlsbad Plaza offers not only doctors in more than 14 medical specializations, but they provide classic spa treatments with modern equipment for the best results. You can enjoy full diagnostics and treatments like baths, massages, oxygen therapy, or maybe the cryotherapy with its -110 degrees celsius. Most of these treatments can be enjoyed alone or as a dual treatment with your partner or best friend. If you are in search of something a little more, you can visit the Carlsbad Clinic adjacent to the hotel. There you can undergo surgical procedures, visit the gastroentrological center, the beauty salon or maybe even enjoy a Thai massage. Before you leave don't forget to buy something for your loved ones at home from one of the many different boutiques at The Carlsbad Plaza. There really are so many different activities to enjoy during your stay, which are ready for you to explore! Have you visited the Carlsbad Plaza Hotel? 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!

Skin feeling incredibly dry? This Coconut Body Whip, made with Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil, is a silky, light-weight moisturizer that's perfect for everyday use or as massage oil. Hydrate your skin and have some fun concocting this DIY body whip! Coconut Body Whip Ingredients 3/4 cup Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil 2 Tbsp Shea Butter 35 drops Orange Essential Oil 30 drops Pine Essential Oil 15 drops Lemongrass Essential Oil 15 drops Lemon Essential Oil Directions 1. In a double boiler over low heat, gently warm the coconut oil and shea butter. Be careful not to melt the oil and butter - heat just enough to blend easily. Once incorporated, transfer the oil and butter mixture to a bowl. 2. Use an electric mixer on low speed to blend the coconut oil and shea butter until well mixed, 1-2 minutes. 3. Increase the speed to medium for several minutes, then high for several more minutes until  the mixture has a lovely, whipped consistency. Remember to keep scraping the ingredients down the sides of the bowl, so they get fully incorporated. 4. Add the essential oils and blend to incorporate. The whole mixing process should take 8 to 10 minutes. Yields 8oz. Transfer to a container like a wide-mouth canning jar for easy scooping. Unlike coconut oil that has not been whipped, this product is easy to scoop even at cooler temperatures. Let us know if you try 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 G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!