Give yourself a sensory experience while softening up your feet in preparation for an at-home pedi. Erika Katz, beauty expert and author of Bonding over Beauty, has created a DIY Strawberry Peppermint Foot Scrub that is the perfect mix of delicious fragrance and skin-softening ingredients! Just follow these simple simple steps and you’ll have a soothing foot scrub in no time – now sit back and relax! Strawberry Peppermint Foot Scrub Ingredients:

• 2 cups pureed strawberries
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons of granulated white sugar
• 4 drops peppermint essential oil

To Make:

Mix all the ingredients well and put into a pretty jar. It’s great to use strawberries in this recipe because they are rich in salicylic acid which helps dead skin shed more easily. The sugar granules also help to exfoliate skin, but are super gentle on delicate skin. You can also keep this recipe in the fridge for up to one week. To use your scrub, simply rub your feet gently in a circular motion, rinse with warm water, and enjoy the results! Just try not to eat 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: affiliate link

Last spring and summer while in Southeast Asia, I became intrigued by cushion compacts. Cushion compacts, like the BB cream, are the beauty brainchild of Korea...I really would like to go on a beauty passage through Korea. They seemed to be everywhere and I made mental note to myself to grab a couple before heading back to the states.  Well sun, sand and sea took priority over everything else and on my last day there I was preoccupied with trying to figure out how to fit the gazillionth sarong into my suitcase and forgot all about getting my hands on a cushion compact.  I had yet another opportunity on the plane to purchase one duty free, but the color swatch wasn't much help so decided to pass. Well since then I have been obsessed with finding them, I've noticed them slowly making an appearance here in the US in the last few months.  I was FINALLY able to get my hands on a cushion compact from IT Cosmetics and I am so utterly in love and obsessed! The IT Cosmetics CC+ Veil Beauty Fluid Foundation SPF 50+ is unlike anything...and I really do mean ANYTHING...that I have ever used.  I do not wear foundation, tinted moisturizer or powder unless I am attending a big event or doing a photoshoot because no matter the brand, I can always feel it on my skin and I absolutely hate that feeling.  Well the IT Cosmetics CC+ Veil Beauty Fluid Foundation SPF 50+ is so  incredibly light that I forget that I am wearing it.  It covers imperfections, but does not hide my skin so my skin still looks really natural, glowing, bright and flawless...how they've managed to accomplish that must be some form of beauty voodoo. The IT Cosmetics cushion compact contains CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ UVA/UVB, which is a physical only sunscreen that protects against the rays that both burn and age your skin. The CC+  improves skin texture, brightness and increase skin hydration by 79%. The  formula is  infused with Peptides, Niacin, Algae, Vitamins A, C, B, E, Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrolyzed Collagen along with Antioxidants and natural botanicals for long-term brightening and color-correcting benefits.  This cushion compact makes it amazingly easy to build the level of coverage you want, for someone like me who likes a really thin layer of coverage, I just press on the cushion once for the perfect amount of product. The color I am wearing in the picture is "Rich." This past week has been the first time in my life that I have worn any type of "coverage" product on my face every single day, this may not sound like a big deal to most, but for me this is HUGE!  The fact that I actually WANT to wear this product speaks volume about how life changing it is.  For once in my life something was actually worth the wait! Let me know if you've 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 G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: Press sample, affiliate link

If coffee, cigarettes, red wine and food have left their mark on your teeth, you’re not alone.

Sometimes with my dark skin tone, it can be a bit hard to find the right lip color, especially when it comes to pink. So I was super excited when I received several different shades of pink lip glosses and lipsticks from NARS, Mehron and Uslu Airlines. I'm pretty sure a lot of you are familiar with the cult favorite NARS, but for those of you who has never heard of Mehron or Uslu Airlines, here's a teeny bit about these brands. Uslu Airlines is a Berlin based brand that was created by a Turkish makeup artist and German entrepreneur. The most advanced components are used and their products and colors have fun airport names using the global aviation 3-letter-code system. Their high quality products are largely used by international professional fashion makeup artists.  Mehron "represents an artisanal approach to creating quality cosmetics that are high impact and versatile." With long lasting coverage and a built in hydrating cream I can see why Mehron is widely used by professional artists working in fashion shows, productions, movies and performers. All three of this beauty brands are cruelty free. Mehron's L.I.P. Day Palette ($43.95), is absolutely amazing! It consists of eight rich and creamy colors that feels like a lip butter and would flatter any skin tone. Plus I'm able to blend some of the colors to create  different shades. The colors are buildable, hydrating and will leave a lovely stain that you can slick some gloss or lip balm over. In the morning before leaving for work I would barely dab a bit on my lips using the brush or my fingertips and although the hydrating properties would be gone after a few hours, the color would still be there and I'll just apply some lip balm. It goes on smooth and light and there's no scent nor is it tacky or sticky. I love all the colors and it was fun wearing a different color every day of the week, but my favorite pinks from this palette are Bubble Gum, Sun Burst, Natural and Fiesta. If you don't want to get the complete palette you can purchase individual pots for $7.95. They also have a Night Palette and the colors are gorgeous!

Colors, top, left to right: Cotton Candy, Bubble Gum, Sun Burst and Zinnia. Colors, bottom, left to right: Autumn Sun, Natural, Petal Pink and Fiesta.

These are swatches of the top colors.

And these are swatches of the bottom colors.

I've always been a fan of NARS Cosmetics so getting some goodies from them was lovely! I've never been disappointed using their Lip Pencils and the Satin Lip Pencil ($25.00), I received lives up to its name. The intense color combined with a long wearing, moisturizing, vitamin enriched formula is everything you've been wanting in a lip pencil! It goes on satiny smooth, has a great finish and the compliments you receive will be well worth the splurge. The color, Yu, looks a bit intimidating at first, but once I saw how great it looked on my lips, I wanted to wear this every day.  These lip pencils can be used as a liner, all over color or paired with other colors to create an intense, Instagram worthy pout.

NARS lipsticks: On the left Michiyo and right is Claudia.

The Lip Gloss ($26.00), Priscilla is a shocking fuchsia pink and Angelika is a cotton candy color with gold flecks. Both are enriched with vitamin E and are moisturizing and long wearing. I found that Angelika was a bit too light for my skin tone, but works good over a darker or brighter lip stain or lipstick. I absolutely love Priscilla! With this lip gloss, the only other makeup I needed was some mascara and light blush. The pop of color on my face instantly brightened it and it's not sticky or heavy, it feels creamy and moisturizing. The applicator for the gloss is soft and glides on smoothly. Although this formula is meant to be long lasting, if you eat or drink while wearing, reapplication is a must. Which is fine as it gives me another chance to look at my pretty Priscilla decked out lips! Last but not least, I also got to try a couple of NARS Audacious Lipsticks ($32.00).  The colors, Claudia and Michiyo, these babies are bold! I love both colors, but Claudia like Angelika was too light for me. It's a cool pink that looked more lavender on me. I didn't like how chalky it made my lips look. Michiyo is a shocking pink that reminded me of the lip pencil Yu. They're pretty close in color so this one I really liked. The texture for these lipsticks is soft and smooth, almost satiny and it has amazing staying powers! I love the pigmentation and my lips didn't feel dry. Just one swipe is all you need, but a couple more wouldn't hurt! I drink a lot of liquids throughout the day and just needed a little touch up after lunch and that lasted until I got home that evening and washed my face. I've also dabbed a bit on my lips when I didn't feel like going all "glamour" and applied some gloss on top for a low maintenance look.

Left NARS gloss Priscilla, middle gloss Angelika and right Satin Lip Pencil in Yu.

Now, seeing as this was my first time trying the brand, Uslu Airlines ($25.00), I wasn't sure what to expect. Boy was I surprised! The colors TEM and HAV are both flattering to my skin tone. These can go full coverage or sheer, feels like a lip balm, smooth texture, moisturizing and long lasting. All of their lipsticks have vitamin E and are NOT tested on animals. HAV looks like a dark red, but does have pink undertones; this shade can go from a girls night out to a weekend play date, it's that versatile. TEM is more of a dark coral, but oh so pretty! Perfect for everyday wear, this little number can also work as a sheer coral just by dabbing a little bit on your lips. These lipsticks are light and oh so hydrating! Did not need to use a gloss or lip balm while wearing them. Perfect for the most drying time of the year!

Uslu Airlines lipstick swatches: left is TEM and right HAV

To sum it up, my favorite color would have to be Yu by NARS. The vibrant pink works so well with my skin tone and it's so versatile. Plus I love that this lip pencil can pretty much fit anywhere. I just adore the hydration of the Uslu Airlines lipsticks and the colors. As much as I would love to carry the Mehron Day Palette with me at all times, alas, my daughter's "things she has to have," pretty much takes up all the space in my purse. It was fun trying a new lip color everyday for about two weeks and I'm glad I was able to use different shades of pinks to find out which one would be perfect. Lucky for me almost all of them did the job and all are now my perfect pink! Have you tried any of these? 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

This past Saturday night all I wanted to do was stay in and have an at-home spa night. Spa as in facial, hair masks, mani and pedi as well as total body exfoliation.

Luckily, I had most of the ingredients for my perfect at home spa night with the exception of a body scrub. Since there was no way I was leaving the house in the midst of my at-home spa experience to go out and buy a scrub, I decided I would try to whip something up with whatever I had in my kitchen....which was not a lot since I was overdue for a grocery run.

What I did have was coffee grounds, baking soda and lemons.  I have used baking soda and lemons before as a face scrub/mask and teeth whitener and have also used coffee grounds with other ingredients as a body scrub, but I have never used all three together.

Not only did they work well to gently exfoliate my skin, but my skin also felt extremely clean, thanks to the cleansing power of baking soda. My skin was also glowing due to the brightening power of lemon and baking soda together.

The exfoliation benefits of all three natural ingredients made the dry skin melt away revealing softer skin. (Don't forget to apply body lotion right after for maximum hydration.)

This scrub is so incredibly easy to create, just combine coffee grounds, baking soda and lemon juice together and mix until it forms a paste then apply to skin and gently massage. 

After exfoliating, I left the scrub on my skin for about ten minutes to let the ingredients do the work on their own, then rinsed. 

Be warned that this scrub is really messy in the shower, but rinses away very easily and is completely worth the mess.

No time to DIY it? Try A Girl's Gotta Spa! Energizing Citrus Body Scrub. It is a mix of uplifting grapefruit, orange, lemon and lime essential oils and Dead Sea Salt.

The Spa Director at The James Royal Palm’s renew the spa in Miami Beach has shared with us an at-home beauty treatment that we think you will love! At renew the spa they have a wonderful Oat and Coconut treatment, perfect for restoring your skin’s PH levels, and Spa Director Vivian Villamizar has shared how to make this at-home: 1.)    To begin, mix Epsom salt with pure virgin coconut oil to exfoliate any dry itchy areas on the body. The combination of the Epsom salt with the coconut oil replenishes the skin with trace minerals while hydrating it at the same time. This exfoliation can be done gently or vigorously. 2.)    Following the exfoliation, mix 2-3 tablespoons of oats and 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil butter cream together and place them in a poultice bag. Heat the poultice in the microwave for 30 seconds or until you create a nice thick paste inside the bag. 3.)    Once it is heated, this poultice may be massaged, rolled and compressed all around the body. Not only do you get a nice heat coming from the poultice, but the paste will start spreading around your body which will heal and nourish your skin. The active ingredients from the oats and the coconut oil will help restore your skin's PH levels leaving your skin exfoliated and silky smooth. 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!

There are some beauty mistakes that are often overlooked. I'm not talking about excessive contouring (although I may or may not wish someone could contour me to look 20 lbs thinner), or that you shouldn't wear white eye liner on your lower lid (flesh colored is better.) I'm talking about the really simple ones that we forget are important and can lead to acne, infections, damage, etc. Are you making any of these beauty mistakes? Not Adhering to Expiration Dates on Your Beauty Products For the most part, beauty products now have expiration dates listed on them. Additionally, if your beauty product has a batch code listed on it, you can always reach out to the brand's customer service to ask the expiration date. (For our natural bath and body products, we have both the expiration date and batch code tagged to the bottom of each product.) An expiration date is not a "suggested" date for maybe tossing a product, it's a pretty firm ingredients will be less effective or go sour (if they are natural/organic) by this date. Of course, some products can go bad sooner, such as natural ingredients being subject to sunlight/heat/cold or if you get pink eye, that eyeliner and mascara should be tossed immediately. Not Cleaning Your Makeup Tools Bacteria builds up on that Beauty Blender, those makeup brushes, heated lash curlers, etc. Make sure you are cleaning them regularly. All the dirt and crime of your face combined with skin and makeup build up can lead to blemishes when you re-swipe that makeup brush across your face. Yuck. I just got a heated lash curler and it is amazing how quickly the mascara can clog it up! Makeup brushes and your beauty sponges simply need soap and water for cleaning, but for your other tools, be sure to follow directions for each product on how to clean it properly. Setting Your Styling Tools Temperature Too High Remember that YouTube video where the girl was curling her hair and a huge lock simply burned right off? Don't let that be you. The best temperature for curling and flat ironing your hair is 350 degrees. While most styling tools go much higher, you are taking the chance of really damaging your hair if you go above 350. Obviously adjustments in temp can be made if you have much finer hair or thicker hair. But the general rule of thumb is 350. (And always use a thermal protectant styling aid!) Not Applying Moisturizer at Night A very long time ago I used to think this was simply a marketing ploy. However, it is a fact that we lose the most amount of moisture in our skin at night. You don't need a special nighttime facial moisturizer and can always just apply what you use for daytime use. However, some people prefer to use something without SPF for their night beauty routine. Please don't believe the hype that your skin "needs to breathe" as that is more applicable to giving your skin a break from pore-clogging makeup than hydrating lotion. Sharing Makeup It's not 1987 and we know better now that sharing makeup, especially eye makeup like eye pencils and mascara, can transfer bacteria and cause problems. When my sister tells me that my niece steals her makeup daily, I cringe. Are there other beauty mistakes that should be on this list? Leave a comment and let me know!

5 Beauty Mistakes You May Be Making http://t.co/CDfdEH7pDh #beauty

— A Girl's Gotta Spa! (@agirlsgottaspa) January 11, 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!

One of the worst offenders of dry or dehydrated skin is when it comes to cracked skin on your hands. So painful and it feels like a neverending cycle of trying to keep germs at bay with repeated handwashing, which totally dries you out, and then moisturizing to try to combat the dry skin.

A few years ago I learned this simple trick you can do at home that really helps to get rid of the dry skin and hydrate it leaving those cracked, painful hands behind.

What You'll Need:
A bowl Hot water (but not scalding)
4 paper towels
1 cotton towel
Plastic wrap
Scrub
Lotion

How- To:

• Pre-cut plastic wrap in a large enough section that it would cover a 13x9 dish (do this twice) and place to the side.
• Fill a bowl with hot water and putting it aside.
• Break off 4 paper towels all as one, but then split in two (so that you have two sections that are two paper towels connected.) Place them in the bowl of water.
• Over the sink apply an exfoliating scrub, like A Girl's Gotta Spa! Salt Scrub, to dry hands. Be sure to massage the scrub thoroughly getting in between fingers and paying attention to the cuticle area, too.
• Rinse.
• Before drying hands, remove the two sections of paper towel from the bowl and ring out the water and lay them flat on the counter.
• Use the cotton towel to pat hands dry, leaving them slightly damp.
• Applying an uber hydrating lotion, like A Girl's Gotta Spa! Energizing Citrus Body Lotion, to your hands generously (as in, more than you would typically apply to hands.)
• Wrap one hand in one section of warm paper towel and then wrap with the section of plastic wrap. For your remaining hand, you'll need to enlist some help to do the same for this hand.
• Relax and wait 3-5 minutes, then unwrap and if hands are still damp, gently pat dry.

Sometimes I apply a little more lotion once I've unwrapped my hands. It really depends on how bad your hands are.

Repeat this twice weekly until you see a marked improvement in your hands. In between this DIY hand pampering, always apply your lotion as you normally would.

I can say I always notice a difference after the first time I do it, but I've had friends who are mechanics or work in construction that the cracking is really bad and while they notice some definite softening and hydration right away, it takes repeat treatments before the cracking completely resolves.

I love great brand stories and the cause behind Lasting Smiles lip balm is one of them. Not only is it amazing to me that the Founder and visionary behind Lasting Smiles is only 21 years old, but that she began her company - whose main goal is to provide the funds for life changing mouth surgeries - by selling door to door. That's passion for a compassionate cause. That's something I can get behind. Lasting Smiles, which recently launched nationwide in Nordstrom and Whole Foods and online at Walgreens and Drugstore.com, is the only US FLO fairtrade certified cosmetic brand. They work to support organic small scale farming communities around the world. Lasting Smiles is also 100% vegetarian and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free. For every 1000 lip balms sold, one child receives the gift of a cleft lip or cleft palate surgery in the same countries Lasting Smiles sources their ingredients. Lasting Smiles is partnered with Smile Train, the world’s largest international children’s cleft charity. This is such a worthy cause and it's amazing that something so simple as lip balm can help transform the life of a child. Lasting Smiles lip balm comes in 5 flavors: Simply Moisture - which is flavor-free Passionfruit Mango Pure Pomegranate Peppermint Creme Peach Blossom I've been using them all frequently, because during the course of a normal day I am wearing neither lipstick or lip gloss, but instead opting to hydrate my lips with these cause-worthy lip balms.  They are hydrating and taste delicious. Let me know if you've tried them! I'd love to see this brand really take off! 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

Preventing dreaded winter skin can be a challenge, and harsh climates do little for the appearance. However, those looking to stay radiant this season can turn to ESPA at Vdara Hotel & Spa. This relaxation destination houses several beauty experts, including Lead Aesthetician Alisa Vidaurri who comes withan arsenal of beauty tips, whether it’s within the luxurious Las Vegas spa or from the comfort of your own home. Below are some winter care remedies, including both sophisticated treatments available at ESPA and do-it-yourself home regimens to protect and invigorate the face, scalp and immune system from winter’s winds: Face: · Indulge: ESPA’s Advanced Enzyme Facial, an exfoliation and anti-inflammatory treatment, uses organic elements to sustain the skin’s natural glow. This gentle peel won’t irritate the skin and includes all natural ingredients, including Australian wild lime species and sugar cane, to reveal a smooth, illuminating glow. · DIY: Alisa’s top tip for brightening winter skin? Exfoliate! This can be as simple as using a washcloth to wipe away dead skin, or trying natural products such as pumpkin, which is the main element infused in the Advanced Enzyme Facial at ESPA. Scalp: · Indulge: In the absence of humidity, the intensive Pink Hair & Scalp Mud at ESPA leaves the scalp feeling refreshed and hair soft and shiny. ESPA’s signature conditioner’s key ingredients include red clay and apricot kernel oil to soothe and nourish the scalp. · DIY: Snow isn’t the only white flake that comes around during the winter. If a trip to the spa isn’t an option, Alisa says treating these flakes at home can be done by combining coconut, olive and tea tree oil. After mixing the three components together throughout damp hair, leave the treatment in for 20 minutes and rinse with cool water.The scalp will be thoroughly conditioned to prevent dandruff. Immune System: · Indulge: The common cold doesn’t only bring the sniffles, but can leave the brightest face looking lackluster. ESPA’s Resistance Bath and Body Oil is a non-medicinal blend of tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils in an almond base used to heal dark eye circles and brighten dull skin. This balance of ingredients not only cures ailing skin, but also supports and strengthens the immune system. · DIY: To boost the immune system and create cold-resistant skin, Alisa suggests home ingredients such as almonds, which are filled with vitamins to prevent inflammation. Another remedy is indulging in a daily dose of red wine, packed with antioxidants to fight off sickness. If you felt these tips were helpful, be sure to Like, Tweet and Pin this post! 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!