I love wearing pink lip color. Bright, natural, glossy, matte...it doesn't matter, I just love different shades and textures of pink lip color. I just wish pink lip color loved me back that easily. Finding a pink lip color that works on darker skin tones is not always a simple process.  Even with help, I have ended up going home with shades of pinks that looked ashy, clownish, like I had a weird mouth disease or like I was on death's door.  So after trying a ton of different shades and textures of pink lip color, I thought I would share my favorites just in case you have a similar skin tone and face similar issues. My favorite natural, matte lip color is NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita.  I positively love the smooth, matte texture of this lip pencil.  The coverage is amazing and the color is really pretty on my skin tone and does not look at all ashy.  I love wearing this lip pencil during the day with just a bit of mascara or at night with a smoky eye. For a bright pink matte lip color I am addicted to NARS Velvet Matte Pencil in Never Say Never.  The texture is the same as the Dolce Vita Lip Pencil, but I love wearing this color when I want to get more playful with my makeup.  It's a bright pink that does not end up looking clownish on my skin tone. For a full coverage pink lip color that's more of a natural pink, but glossier than the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, I adore Tarte Maracuja Divine Shine Full Coverage Lipstick in Cherish.  This lipstick is a liquid lipstick that has a creamy texture and almost feels as lightweight as a gloss, but with more intense color and coverage.  The color is gorgeous on my lips and I love the minty, cooling sensation that this lip color leaves on my lips. My favorite natural pink lip gloss at the moment is Bite Beauty Honey Lip Laquer in Chianti.  The consistency of this lip laquer is much like that of honey, very thick but uber moisturizing and shiny.  I have actually worn this lip laquer to hot yoga and after 90 minutes of intense sweating my lips were still moisturized with just a hint of color. Although I absolutely adore the lip colors that I've listed here, I am always open to suggestions and would love to hear from you about the shades of pinks that have worked for you.  I am currently on the hunt for a bright pink lip gloss and would appreciate any suggestions you might have! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure

Wondering which lip colors are on trend this Fall? Some of the top beauty bloggers (yes, including me!) decided to get on camera and dish about their favorites.

Yes, that's me standing in the woods! And how can you not be distracted watching Clumps of Mascara's gorgeous daughter trying to snag her lip gloss?

Everyone has some great lip color picks! My favorite lip color for Fall is Three Custom Color's Lip Gloss Pot in Simply Beautiful. It looks brown-ish in the pot, but I assure you that it's a neutral color and looks great on all skin tones. I apply with a lip brush and you only need a small amount to make your lips pop. Three Custom also sells this color in a lipstick, gloss and even as a cream blush.

Watch the video below and a big thank you to Phyrra for putting this together!

Beauty Blogger's included:

Gouldylox Reviews Clumps of Mascara Beauty and Fashion Tech My Beauty Bunny Beauty Info Zone Raging Rouge Phyrra We Heart This A Girl's Gotta Spa!

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+

Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious, and often painful skin disease that causes the cells of the dermis, or skin, to reproduce more rapidly than normal. The condition causes reddish, round scaly skin patches to develop on the knees, hands, feet, elbows and scalp.

My favorite smoothie is the one that I frequently have in the morning. It gives me the energy I need to start the day off right, I feel good that I've consumed something for breakfast and the ingredients in the smoothie contribute to radiant skin and hair.

You go to apply your favorite lipstick, only to have your dry, peeling lips magnified by like 100. Your sexy pout is no longer so sexy. Been there, done that. Nothing adds more life and vitality to your lips than giving them the rub down with a good sugar scrub. We have our favorites, do you see yours among them?

Beau Bain's lip scrubs rank high for me. My favorite is their Mint Mojito. I love it so much that I literally licked it off my lips post-scrub. While sugar, of course, does the scrubbing, shea butter, avocado oil and Vitamin E do the softening. Their scrub comes paired with a lip balm, which is great to apply before bed, or to wear when you simply want to keep your lips moisturized. Walking into a LUSH store is like driving without navigation...you are bound to get lost for HOURS. This deliciously scented lip scrub is another one that can be licked off without fear of ingesting anything nasty. Sugar and jojoba oil will take your lips to the next level of hydration.

Not so much into the whole "mint" lip scene? Bliss has Fabulips, which is a vanilla and orange flavor. The dirty work is done with almond and walnut shells, while jojoba seed and olive oils, shea and cocoa butters and vitamins A, C and E nourish. Our lip scrub recommendations wouldn't be complete without The Lip Scrub from Sara Happ. She has so many decadent scents to choose from, like Red Velvet, Brown Sugar and Creme Brulee that it may be difficult not to hoard them all. (We promise we won't confront you about your "problem".) Sugar, jojoba and grape seed oils will get your pout pretty once again. Which lip scrub do you swear by? 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

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a type of depression that happens during the same time each year. While it can happen at any time of year, it is most often associated with Fall and Winter (you've heard the term winter blues, right?) This is due to lack of sunlight which of course results in a Vitamin D deficiency. It's getting darker sooner, which throws off your internal clock, remaining indoors due to cooler or bad weather (hello cabin fever!) and what I call a "lack of an interesting landscape"; in other words everything lacks the color, vibrancy and fragrances of the warmer months. I'm bringing this up because in the last few days I kept remarking to my husband, "I feel so tired all the time," and "I feel like I have no energy," and wanting to eat every carb in sight. Personally, nothing has changed for me to bring this on. I'm very happily married, am passionate about my career, enjoy my sons and so on. He then brought it to my attention that since the weather has gotten colder, I've been outdoors less; it's getting darker earlier, etc. And then it clicked. During the days of getting my degree in Psychology, I had learned about SAD and recognized the symptoms.

SYMPTOMS OF SEASONAL DEPRESSION:

Beginning to feel the same as I am? Here is a SAD check list (as listed by the MAYO Clinic): Depression Hopelessness Anxiety Loss of energy Heavy, "leaden" feeling in the arms or legs Social withdrawal Oversleeping Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates Weight gain Difficulty concentrating While it is always recommended to talk to your doctor, there are some things you can do to help combat Seasonal Affective Disorder at home.

TIPS TO DEAL WITH SEASONAL DEPRESSION

Hydro Chromotherapy: Light therapy has been used for a while to combat SAD. I love light therapy incorporated with the relaxation of water. Whereas some hydro chromotherapy systems can be very expensive, there are others that simply involve LED Showerheads that are completely affordable.  Prices do range from under $10 to upwards of $150. (Plus it may encourage your kids to actually want to bathe.) Aromatherapy: The power of scent can be mood altering. You know this the moment you walk into a spa, light a candle in your home or apply your favorite perfume. Bergamot, frankincense, geranium, chamomile, lavender, marjoram and citrus-derived oils are the most effective for treating SAD. There are some amazing products out there now that add essential oils to your shower head, as well. Essio uses essential oil pods that attach to your shower head. While you shouldn't attempt to wash your hair while the oils are being dispersed, it's just another great way to lift your mood (and soften your skin in the process!) You can read Gail's review of Essio for more details! Sidenote: Try A Girl's Gotta Spa! Energizing Citrus Body Wash while showering - it's made with citrus essential oils. I also love my aromatherapy diffuser from Gurunanda. I use it during the day to keep me focused and at night to help me sleep soundly. Exercise: A great way to boost serotonin and dopamine levels is with daily exercise. If you can get outside and enjoy the Fall/Winter landscape, even better, as you take in some Vitamin D in the process. Vitamin D supplements: I love Nature Made VitaMelts because they come in delicious flavors. Yum. You can take 1 tablet 4 times per day. And the Vitamin D supplement is great for bone and immune support too. Phototherapy at the spa: It's obvious, I truly believe that the spa is more than just a place of escape, but a necessity for a more balanced mind. Many spas offer phototherapy and are worth booking a treatment for!

DEPRESSED? CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL

Of course, none of this advice should be supplemented for speaking with your doctor. While I have my degree in Psychology, my tips should never trump that of a doctor. If you feel depressed in a way that is unrelated to the seasonal change, please consult a professional local to you. Have you ever suffered from SAD? What tips would you offer? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram.

Fall is upon us! It's that lovely season when the kid’s return to school (YIPPEEE), the temperature drops enough to save our electric bills from the high cost of air conditioning (another hooray!), apple pie al a mode drops into bellies, pumpkins and mums decorate our door steps, hayrides ride, fall festivals engage, and beautiful colors pervade our natural habitat. Mmm, oh and I forgot to mention the not so fantastic party-pooping germs that also love the fall, and/or that love making us take a fall from good health. Yes, it's that time of year that the Flu likes to make its grand entrance, along with some other nasty "bugs." Give or take a few weeks in either direction, the various strands of Flu like to arrive sometime around October and stick it out until about May. The CDC reported that 2012-13 was one of the worst flu seasons in about a decade. After a fresh reminder that we are not invincible knocks us down a few notches, we tend to prepare better the following year. Dr. Swanson recently wrote an informative article in the Huffington Post to keep us up on the need-to- know info regarding the Flu and www.flu.gov has everything you could ever dream of to help keep you fully prepared for the 2013-14 Flu season. The good news is that something as simple as proper and frequent hand sanitation is one of our primary defenses against the spread of the flu...and against almost all communicable diseases. Did you know that Florence Nightingale, the mother of modern nursing, dropped the death toll of the soldiers during the Crimean War from 42% to 2% just by implementing proper and consistent sanitation strategies, such as hand washing? That fact is always such a wow-factor to me on the significance that simple hand sanitation plays into stopping the spread of potentially deadly illnesses. Everyone (EO) is a brand that is all about helping us to love life and stay clean. They have formulated two new fantastic scented hand sanitizers, Peppermint + Citrus and Coconut + Lemon, that are 99.9% effective against most common germs. The nearly equally fab facets of these products, are that they are made with natural plant-based ingredients and contain essential oils. This means that Everyone hand sanitizers will leave your hands supple and clean, instead of cracked and mean. They come in easy to pack hand sprays and gels that are super-affordable. I recommend that you buy a ton of them and throw em’ in your kids school bags, throw em’ in the car, and throw em’ in your purse. Please implement the use of Everyone hand sanitizers frequently this coming season to help make our world healthy, happy, and clean. I assure you that you will unknowingly save a few lives doing it, and perhaps your own. Happy Fall all, now pass on the good news and let the festivities play on! 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+. *Disclosure

While we can't shrink pores, we can definitely minimize their appearance and prevent them from getting worse. Follow these 5 tips and you'll be on your way. (Take it from the girl with large pores.) 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

While summer may be just about over, those of us who live among the deer and tall grass know that we still need to be vigilant about Lyme Disease. I happen to live in the Pocono Mountains where deer abound.

Pictured about is my very active, hilarious and animated 6-year old son, Brody. He loves to play and get dirty (often.) A few months ago when returning from a weekend visit with his dad (who also lives in the woods), he complained that there was something stuck in his ear. When we arrived home, I looked in the inner corner of his ear to find a slightly bloated tick. My husband was able to pull the entire tick out with tweezers, and since it didn't appear to be a deer tick (I looked it up online), we didn't give it another thought.

About a month later, Brody was in the ER because the back half of his head began to swell and ooze on the exact side where he had been bitten. The ER told me he had cellulitis, prescribed an antibiotic and steroid and sent us on our way. The swelling went away about a week later and we thought nothing more about it since the antibiotic appeared to have treated the issue.

Just short of two weeks from that ER visit, Brody woke up with the same side of his face looking a bit swollen under his eye. I asked him if his head hurt again, but he blamed his brother Duncan for hitting him in the face, and since that was a completely reasonable answer, I scolded Duncan for hitting him. Later that morning when I dropped him off to his dad, his face seemed redder. I mentioned it to his father and told him what Brody told me. By that evening when I went to pick up my oldest from camp and bring him to his dad, Brody's whole side of his face was swollen and very red. He also felt like he had a fever. I then noticed a bullseye on his arm and asked his father to call the doctor immediately the next morning to schedule an appointment for him to be seen. My ex-husband quickly grabbed his laptop to look up images of Lyme Disease and we knew that this was very likely what was going on with Brody.

By the next morning when I met Brody and his dad at the doctor's office, his face looked worse, and he had not just one bullseye, but a total of 5 between his arms and legs (this indicates it's been in your system for more than 30 days.) I was nervous since Brody is my youngest and such a tiny guy. The pediatrician confirmed just based on the presenting symptoms that he had Lyme Disease and prescribed a 3-week dosing of antibiotics.

Thankfully Brody appears to have responded well and he is back to his normal self. My ex-husband had brought up using Avon's Skin So Soft on him (and his brothers) to help protect them from further tick bites. Thankfully Avon had great timing, as they offered their new Skin So Soft Bug Guard for review just after Brody's diagnosis.

All products are DEET-free and reviewed and approved by the EPA. The collection’s Skin So Soft Bug Guard formulas contain one of two EPA-registered active ingredients, IR3535® or Picaridin. The entire collection includes: Bug Guard Plus IR3535 Expedition SPF 30 ($14-$16) – Available as an Aerosol Spray and Pump Spray, and travel size this Vitamin E-enriched formula protects against sun damage while fighting off bugs. Bug Guard Plus Picaridin ($14-$16) – Ideal for protection during dusk/dawn, which is when bugs are most active, this formula provides long-lasting protection against deer ticks that may transmit Lyme disease and mosquitoes that may carry West Nile virus. Available as an Aerosol Spray, Pump Spray and travel-friendly Towelettes. Bug Guard Plus IR3535 SPF 30 ($14) – This dual-purpose repellent wards off bugs and defends against UVB rays using an Aloe and Vitamin E-enriched formula. Available as a Gentle Breeze Lotion and Cool 'n Fabulous Disappearing Color Lotion. Now these amazing pump sprays are also available in convenient travel size so you can take them anywhere you go, which is great since we love to hike, hang out by the lake, etc. Just like sunscreen, these are a necessity and apply just as easy! Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard is available through Avon.com and your local Avon representative. 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+

Summer is at an end, which  means that Fall, with all of her sophistication and polish, is officially upon us.  I, perhaps like a lot of you, look forward to the process of transitioning my wardrobe, beauty products and makeup bag to a fall state of mind.  While I absolutely relish this process for the most part, when it comes to transitioning the contents of my makeup bag to Fall, I can do with a little...actually a lot of help.  I am absolutely clueless as to where I should even begin the process of Fall Makeup Transition, which is why I sought out the expertise of  uber talented Los Angeles-based Celebrity Makeup Artist Stacy Rosas.

Stacy Rosas is a Texas born, Los Angeles based Makeup Artist who started doing makeup for the love of art. Her career began eight years ago after meeting a celebrity makeup artist who pushed and introduced her into the world of makeup artistry.  Seeing the face as a 3 dimensional canvas, Stacy loves the many possibilities that texture, color, and effects that makeup can create.  I was introduced to Stacy's work for the first time about a year ago after I saw published images and videos of the makeup she did on Hope Dworaczyk. The makeup was flawless and beautiful, but the model did not disappear behind the makeup, which I found to be just brilliant.  I was an instant fan and was excited about consulting Stacy for some of her expert tips and suggestions for achieving great Fall Makeup looks.

A Girl's Gotta Spa!:  How can we begin the process of transitioning our makeup from summer to fall? What are some products that we can start with? Stacy Rosas:  Transitioning your makeup to a fall look is easy. Spring and summer had us wearing bright colors and bronzy bronzers all through. You will want to darken your lipsticks, add in more cool tones (depending on your skin tone) that you have been itching to use after those seasons. By now, you should have your bronze tan from the summer! So ditch the bronzer for fall, and if you still like some contouring, you could purchase a concealer that is one or two shades darker than the one you use for under eye and blemishes. Put it under cheek bones to define the bone and above brow this will give a lift to the eye and cheek bones. I tend to leave the eye more clean especially if you have a long work day and don't have time to mess with your makeup creasing or fading. I do a cat eye, fill in your brows ( I'm hooked on Kevyn Aucoin's Pencil Brow Pencil), and waterproof mascara, nothing expensive (you can't go wrong with Maybeline mascara's).  But first use an eyelash curler then apply the mascara (the waterproof mascara will keep your lashes curled!) I used to dislike waterproof mascara...until I found a great eye makeup remover by Neutrogena.

A Girl's Gotta Spa!: What are some of your favorite makeup trends for fall? Stacy: The trends for this fall are to be bold! Don't be afraid to use bold colors! A Girl's Gotta Spa!: What are some bold colored products that you would suggest? Stacy:  I have to rave about a favorite makeup line I love! That is not everywhere YET. Face Atelier is a Canadian based makeup company. Many celebrity makeup artist's use their makeup products in their kit, but it's for the every day woman as well! First favorite is the ultra foundation. It's silicone-based emulsion that floats on top of the skin, doesn’t crease, clog pores, or flake, and lasts all day long. It hydrates the skin and you get that dewy look that you will definitely need for the cold dry weather to come. Also check out their facades in Godiva and Livid! Façade is liquid-to-powder cheek/lip. It's highly pigmented, so start with a light hand and build as needed. It delivers beautiful, silky-soft color, that also stays all day because it's silicone based.

I cannot wait to begin transitioning my makeup to fall with Stacy's awesome suggestions, I am now on a mad hunt for Face Atelier's facades! For all things Stacy Rosas follow her on Twitter @MUAstaceface, Instagram @Makeupstaceface or online at www.wix.com/muastaceface/start. 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! *Disclosure