How to get this look from Sam Villa

Thin hair, fine hair, medium hair, thick hair...we all have one common enemy: frizz. However, those with thick hair get a double whammy, frizz + an overly full looking coif. A Girl's Gotta Spa! Facebook fans asked, "What types of hair products work best on thick hair to make it smoother, less frizzy and not looking overly full?" Expert hairstylist trusted by celebrities, Sam Villa, responds: For thick hair in need of moisture and slimming down, products that contain cationic conditioners, ceramides and Shea Butter are essential. The go-to product line is Redken Real Control. The entire line nourishes and improves the appearance and health of the hair. Real Control Slim Supreme Hair Slimming Serum reduces excessive volume and adds sleek smoothness with all-day humidity resistance and luscious shine. Got a question you want answered by an expert? Leave a comment and let us 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! Shannon on G+ *Disclosure

Being part Italian, olive oil was always a staple growing up in my childhood home. As a child, I never knew the health benefits my parents and grandparents were passing on to me, all I knew is that it added delicious flavor to my food.

Once I began to work in beauty, I was mesmerized by all of its benefits to skin, as well. Olive fruit oil is high in Vitamin E, which we all know is fantastic for its anti-aging properties. It's high in oleic acid and is a good skin cell regenerator. It works to attract external moisture to the skin, while still permitting the skin to properly release sweat, shed dead skin and release sebum.

Olive oil is rich in antioxidants like Vitamin E, but also includes vitamin A, polyphenols, phytosterols and avenasterol. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals and combat environmental pollutants and aggressors that we all deal with daily.

These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate cells and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state. In order to craft the best lotion for dry skin, olive oil is one of the main ingredients in A Girl's Gotta Spa! ® Body Lotions. This natural moisturizer will keep your skin hydrated and nourished. I've long been using soaps, lotions and body washes with olive oil and have seen for myself the profound affect it can have to keep skin healthy. If you use skin or body care products with olive oil, rest assured, you will kiss dry, itchy skin goodbye! 

Tomato and Herb Stuffed Pork and Black Bean Fusion (This dish is naturally gluten/casein free)

Ingredients Stuffed Pork Pork Loin Halved 2 Tomatoes Sliced 4 Garlic Cloves Sliced 1 Bunch of Cilantro Chopped 2 Tbsp of Lemon Juice ¼ cup White Wine (if following a gluten-free diet, be sure the brand is such) ½ Tsp salt ½ Tsp paprika ½ Tsp dried Italian seasoning herb mix 1 Tbsp Avocado oil Black Beans 6 cherry tomatoes halved Cilantro Several sprigs of Cilantro 1 Can Goya Black Beans Cooking Instructions *Health tip: Trim the fat off the pork before diving in to ensure the least amount of saturated fat for this dish. Preheat oven 375 f

Tomato and Herb Stuffed Pork Halve the pork loin, cover the bottom half with sliced tomatoes, 4 garlic cloves, and cilantro. Place the other half of the loin over top, poke holes in the top of the loin then stuff with pieces of fresh garlic, and sprinkle on the dried Italian herbs, paprika, and salt. Drizzle a small amount of avocado oil over top and a small amount in the bottom of the pan, add lemon juice and wine to the bottom of the pan along with the stuffed loin. You're ready to put your pork masterpiece in the oven. Cooking time will vary according to the weight, but a good rule of thumb is to cook it 15-20 minutes per pound. Note: About 2-3 times through the cooking process take some of the juice at the bottom of the pan and pour it over the top of the loin (it helps to add flavor.)

Black Beans Place the can of black beans in a pot over medium heat for approx. 3-5 minutes, (start cooking the beans approx. 15 min before pork loin is ready.) Add halved cherry tomatoes and cilantro, let simmer on low for approx. another 5 minutes, then cover to keep warm.

Nutritional Scoop 1 serving (3.5 oz of meat, ½ cup Black Beans) Herb Stuffed Pork contains 130 calories, 22g of protein, 5g of fat, 0g fiber Black Beans contains 90 calories, 7g of protein, 0.5g of fat, 6g of fiber Interesting nutritional information According to www.nutritonadata.self.com pork is good source of Riboflavin, Potassium and Zinc, and a very good source of Protein, Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Phosphorus and Selenium. It is an awesome source of protein and is also has a good fullness factor. Cilantro is a good source of Thiamin and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Manganese. Garlic is also a good source of Calcium, Phosphorus and Selenium, and a very good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Manganese. It also has a strong anti-inflammatory property. Addtionally, according to www.whfoods.com garlic has cardio-protective benefits, may improve iron absorption, and there is some recent research (still in the early phase) that suggests that it helps to regulate the number of fat cells that get formed in our bodies. It also has anti-bacterial/viral properties, and cancer prevention qualities. (Besides the taste, now you know why I use it in almost all my recipes.) Tomatoes are a good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium and Manganese. According to www.whfoods.com the phytonutrients contained in tomatoes are also fantastic for women’s bone health, and state that, “Fresh tomatoes and tomato extracts have been shown to help lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. In addition, tomato extracts have been shown to help prevent unwanted clumping together (aggregation) of platelet cells in the blood - a factor that is especially important in lowering risk of heart problems like atherosclerosis.” Black beans are a good source of Protein, Thiamin, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber and Folate. Great for digestive health, blood sugar regulation, cardiovascular health, and overall contains a good number of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant phytonutrients. My hope is that you find the Faccia Bella Recipes delicious, informative, and use them as a tool to enhance your health and beauty! Post a comment, we’d love to hear from you! Read more healthy recipes and health tips. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! 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! Courtney on G+.

How to get this look from Sam Villa

Got a beauty question? Be sure to let us know and we can find an expert to help you! This hair care question is from our Facebook fans and we enlisted the help of celebrity hairstylist, Sam Villa, to answer. "Over-processed hair: What can be done for hair that is now fragile and seems to have a lot of breakage due to bleaching and coloring for so long?" Sam answers: For really fragile hair that needs extra strength, use a product that replenishes protein like Redken Extreme Hair Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner. Then apply Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Distressed Hair Treatment on a daily basis, while once a week applying Redken Extreme Builder Plus fortifying rinse-out hair mask. Extreme is a top seller because it delivers protein to the core of the hair fiber to restore strength and prevent breakage. Oils like Redken Diamond Oil Shatterproof Shine and Redken All Soft Argan-6 are also great for maintaining softness and shine. Place a couple drops in your hands and rub briskly to warm up the oil when applying for even application. Apply from mid shaft to ends on damp hair as a pre-styler, treatment and/or heat protectant. Add to mid shaft and ends after styling for extra luster, polished texture, conditioning and frizz control. Tip: Stay away from the scalp area unless the scalp is very dry and in need of treatment. Always use Redken Iron Shape 11 to protect and preserve color when using thermal tools and always use the color treated setting on heat appliances to minimize the amount of heat applied to hair. The Sam Villa Sleekr® iron protects the integrity of hair with Targeted Temperature Technology that ensures consistent temperatures for specific hair types. Temperatures are represented by LEDS so you always know your working temperature. LOW (Green) 375°F for fine hair, COLOR TREATED (Amber) 392°F and HIGH (Red) 410°F for resistant and virgin hair types. Lastly, the integrity of fine, fragile hair can be compromised when cut with a razor, ask your hairstylist to use a blending shear for high lift, as this will reduce stress on the hair. 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+

Your brows are an essential part to framing your face. Having the right tools is a necessity.

There are plenty of products out there - from brow gels to brow tints, to brow pens and brow markers and so on. What I've noticed lately is that there have been three brow products that I always seem to reach for.

NARS Brow Perfector ($22): This brow pencil has a velvety feel as you fill in where hair is sparse and shape where necessary. It blends perfectly, not making my brows too dark (I used Brown) and filling them out without looking "sharp" in their appearance. This pencil doesn't budge once blended in.

Boom Boom Push-Up Brow Highlighting Pencil ($18): Created by Malynda Vigliotti (aka Boom Boom), brow extraordinaire, this double sided brow highlighter is a hands down, must-have. Apply the matte side of the pencil along the brow bone, use it on the inside of the lower lid and then apply the Sparkle side to the inner corner of the eye. These three little tricks will make your eyes appear wider and uplifted.

The Sonia Kashuk Essentials Brush Set for Meaningful Beauty (Free with Meaningful Beauty purchase):  The Lash Brow Groomer brush in this Meaningful Beauty collaboration set, is one I cannot put down when it comes to my brows (the Foundation Brush is pretty fabulous, too.) I use the bristle side to blend the Boom Boom highlighting pencil into my brown line, while also using the bristles to blend the Nars Brow Perfector while shaping my brows. The comb side is pretty handy when trimming your brows back into a uniform length (there are always those random stragglers that seem to want to grow longer than others!)

Do you use any of the products mentioned? What are your brow essentials?

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*Disclosure

Women learn at an early age (teens and pre-teens) that healthy skin is of the utmost importance, particularly when it comes to the upper body and face area—it’s an idea or notion that’s instilled within women probably from the time of birth. Have you ever noticed how soft a baby’s skin is? TV commercials and magazines are inundated with images of women with healthy, glowing skin, and that beautiful, aesthetically pleasing look that every woman strives to obtain. Some women that fall short of that radiant look, as seen on television, simply use a lot of makeup to achieve that every woman strives to obtain. Women who are naturally blessed with that glowing look don’t use makeup at all, however, they still look for alternate solutions in an effort to compete with other women who are blessed with perfect skin, much like the ones in the TV commercials—it makes you wonder what these people to make their skin look so good. Dermatologists will always tell you that you need to take care of your skin every day, which is everyone’s goal. Obviously it’s a good idea to take care of your skin, after all it’s the only skin you have, and whether you’re a woman or a man, you want to appear healthy and young (just like everyone else.) The sun and its ultraviolet rays can be one of your skin’s worst enemies, and we’re all exposed to it on a daily basis. Of course, your skin is also affected by other elements, such as your job, lifestyle, stress level, and many other factors. If you are the outdoorsy type, for example, you probably need to protect your skin even more than others do. For the most part, women tend to use a lot of cosmetics, makeup, and powders that need to be washed off every day. To some extent, a daily regimen will help maintain the health and youthfulness of your skin. It also prevents skin conditions, ranging from like acne to skin cancer. At the end of the day, you can keep you skin looking youthful and healthy with a daily regimen of scrubbing, cleansing, applying makeup and moisturizer, and then repeating the process all over again. You can maintain the youthful, healthy, elasticity of your skin by following a strict regimen that involves a lot of maintenance. However, in this day and age, everyone wants immediate results, especially in the areas of health and wellness. With major advancements in medicine and technology, people can actually obtain the quick results they want. More recently, scientists and cosmetic surgeons have come up with a more immediate and permanent solution. It’s called vitamin injection. As you can imagine, intravenous vitamin injections are popular among celebrities. Dr. Oz describes them as “cutting edge,” and several advocates say that vitamin injections can benefit serious conditions like cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Fibromyalgia, depression, and a host of other diseases. They’re also touted as helpful for preventing illness as well. A search for vitamin injections brings up a lot of hits and dozens of advertisements as well. Since the concept is so new, it’s difficult to say whether or not injectable vitamins are a cure-all for all of these diseases, however, it may still provide you with healthier skin. One of the more popular forms of vitamin injections is referred to as VitaGlo. VitaGlo is fairly new to the market, and the reviews vary greatly, depending on who writes them. Perhaps the biggest problem that exists today is that providers of vitamin therapies claim that their product can help fight life-threatening illnesses like cancer, which is simply not true. There is no question that vitamin injections are popular. Despite all the hype and all the endorsements, there is still no credible evidence to prove that routine vitamin infusions are necessary or even offer meaningful health benefits (like healthier skin). Just keep in mind that vitamin injections (or injections of any kind) should be done through your doctor or physician. About the expert contributor: Dr. Jeffrey Klein is a dermatologic surgeon based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Dr. Klein is listed a Diplomat for the American Board of Dermatology, the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. 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+

Green tea contains the highest amount of antioxidants of any tea. The tea polyphenol catechins provides anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects, it helps to eliminate free radicals in the body and also reduces inflammation.

I first became acquainted with hot yoga 2-3 years ago, but did not begin a regular practice until last Spring. I have been absolutely hooked ever since. I've noticed that practicing hot yoga regularly has made me less stressed, increased my strength and flexibility, more toned, more energized and quite a few of my family members swear that I look taller. Did I also mention that my skin is usually supple and glowing after practicing? (Must be from sweating out those toxins!) I know that hot yoga might not be to everyone's liking, but I absolutely love it and am grateful for the positive impact it has had on me. If you have been considering giving hot yoga a try this year, here are a few benefits that may propel you into your nearest hot yoga studio ASAP!

• Hot yoga helps to reduce stress; it increases blood circulation which stimulates the heart to strengthen its contractions, which is exercise for the heart muscle itself. As a result, the heart pumps efficiently thereby lowering blood pressure.
• Hot yoga also improves flexibility and strength. The heat aids in detoxification, increases blood flow to speed up metabolic processes of vital organs, glands, and mobilizing toxins for elimination.
• The heat of hot yoga (105 degrees with 40% humidity) also stimulates fat receptors, activating fat stores and facilitating fat loss and releasing these fat-soluble toxins. Additional responses of the heat include the stimulation of white blood cell production, boosting the immune system, promoting relaxation, and an increase in healing injuries and disease symptoms.

Overall, the body’s response to heat strengthens, detoxifies, and heals, which in turn creates a sense of health and well-being.  I usually feel pretty euphoric after my practice; mostly because of all the amazing benefits that I experience because of my practice, but also probably because I got through my 60-90 minutes class without sprinting for the door.  I will admit that it took me a while to get used to the heat and every once in a while it still gets to me, especially if I am not hydrated enough (an easy fix.)  Hot yoga has actually motivated me to drink enough water throughout the day. Like I said, perhaps hot yoga will not be to your liking, but you won't know until you give it a try! I'd love to hear about your experience with hot yoga, leave a comment! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Blackheads. Simply put - they are the bane of our existence. Our teen years are when our pores become defined, which is dependent on using the right skin care products and using them consistently. How we take care of our face during our teen years determines how large or small our pores will be (mainly just how much they'll hold tightly to dirt and debris as we age), but yet it is during these same years that we seem to lack the knowledge (and motivation) to implement a preventative beauty routine that will save us the grief from our older selves.

Since I can't turn back time, all I can do now is learn how to properly extract and remove blackheads, and try to minimize just how often those little skin pockets fill up with gunk. If you are younger and reading this, take heed now and do yourself a favor: keep your skin well-maintained.

Want to warm up this fall and winter with some healthy comfort food? Check out these delicious recipes from certified nutritionist and fitness trainer, Franci Cohen. I can't wait to make them myself! Yum!