My favorite beauty treatments are those that I can create myself with ingredients from my own kitchen.  Creating my own beauty treatments makes me feel good about what I am putting on my skin because I know exactly where the ingredients came from and I know that they won't harm my skin.

This morning my sister greeted me at her door with bright, glowing, soft skin sans makeup.  And since my sister is a walking  beauty encyclopedia, I had to know what got her skin looking so amazing.  Turns out it was her own concoction of coffee grounds, honey and lemon. The coffee grounds exfoliates the skin, functions as an anti-inflammatory and contains antioxidants.  The honey is a really great  moisturizer and leaves skin feeling soft and supple.  The lemon brightens skin and minimizes the look of pores while getting rid of oil.  I applied the exfoliating mask to my skin and left it on for fifteen minutes.  When I was ready to remove the mask, I applied a bit of water to my face and gently massaged my skin in a circular motion to exfoliate with the coffee grounds, then rinsed my face.  The mask rinses away easily and cleanly.  My face immediately felt softer and smoother and it looked great.  It was clearer and brighter and best of all the mask took about two minutes to make and all of the ingredients can be found in the kitchen. Have you tried making a DIY mask at home? I'd love to hear your recipe! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!     *Disclosure

If you are a chocolate addict, then there is nowhere greater to be than The Sweetest Place on Earth: Hershey, PA. Now imagine being both a chocolate AND spa addict. That would be me and I got to mix both pleasures at The Spa at The Hotel Hershey recently. A chocolate lovers dream come true.

If you've been looking for a makeup remover that isn't greasy, doesn't sting your eyes and leaves no residue behind, then you'll want to read this review! Renée Rouleau Soothing Eye Makeup Remover ($19.50) was created by celebrity esthetician and skin care expert, Renée Rouleau based out of Dallas and Plano, Texas. As an esthetician for 25 years, Renée is well-versed in skin care, especially in regards to listening to what her clients are looking to get from their skin products. I know that for myself, I always look for a product to live up to and deliver on its claims. If it does, price is never a sticking point for me.  What I love about this makeup remover is that it is weightless. When using it to remove eye makeup, especially the waterproof mascaras I've been reviewing lately, it feels like I am simply using water on my face. I use this makeup remover with Renée Rouleau Toning Cloths (which are AMAZING and I also use them to remove my nail polish, as well.) The reason I point this out is because the Toning Cloths aid in using less product than if you were using it with a cotton ball or pad (which would simply soak up all of the product and make you waste it.) By pairing the Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with the Toning Cloths, I've been able to make this 4oz bottle last well over 6 months. Another benefit is that the makeup remover looks after those with sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. While I don't fit into either category, I do appreciate that the formula is meant to be similar to your own tears...another reason why it feels weightless. There are no oils in this product either, so your face won't feel like an oil slick after. Believe me, I've used makeup removers that do; have you? There's no fragrance either, which is another bonus. You can only find this makeup remover online at ReneeRouleau.com or in Renée Rouleau Skin Care Spas. Have you used it? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure

As an avid hair coloring fiend, I was nervous upon hearing January Jones revelation that her hair is falling out in clumps. Since I literally just colored my hair over the weekend, I decided I needed some expert advice from my friend and celebrity Master Colorist, Jason Backe of Ted Gibson Salon. He's also the Celebrity Colorist for L’Oreal Professionnel, so he definitely knows color! Q: January Jones revealed that her hair is falling out in clumps from all of the hair coloring she has done in the past year. Is what is happening to her normal and something that others who color their hair should worry about? Jason: The question in whether or not the hair is falling out at the scalp OR breaking off in clumps. If the hair is falling out at the scalp I would seriously doubt it is product related. In my entire career I have never experienced hair color to cause bald spots at the scalp (and believe me, I have women who color their hair from brown to blond every 12 days). I have however seen bald spots appear because of diet or stress related issues and although I wouldn’t consider this common, it is not unusual. If the hair is breaking off in clumps then it is most likely a hair integrity issue. Excessive coloring can lead to damage and ultimately breakage – no matter how expertly talented the colorist. If you are a girl who loves to change your color frequently, look for the signs of extremely dry, brittle and breaking hair. This will let you know to pump your breaks and run to the salon for weekly treatments (I am obsessed with the Fiberceutic treatment by L'Oreal Professionnel – it REBUILDS the hair from the inside out – MAJOR) to restore health and integrity before your next color. Q: How often should women go between colorings?  Jason: As a general rule I suggest 3-4 weeks. That being said, there are exceptions to every rule. It's not terrible to color more frequently as long as you are not going overboard. Remember, hair is a fiber – the more you manipulate it, the more fragile it becomes. I love using as much AMMONIA FREE COLOR as possible. INOA and Dia Light from L’Oreal Professionnel have completely changed the way I think about hair color and how to avoid compromising the integrity of the hair. Q: What is the max amount of times per year someone can color their hair without it becoming overly damaged? Jason: That is a tough question to answer – it really depends on the individual, her hair texture and type, how frequently she shampoos and heat styles. There are too many variables to really say. Q: Does the damage occur more with dying your hair blonde and highlighting, than coloring your hair with darker colors? Jason: Generally, lightening the hair is more damaging than going darker. However, anytime you use hair color you are going to alter the hair shaft. The more it is altered them more damage is likely. Again – this is why I choose ammonia free colors and lighteners. They leave the hair softer to the touch, shinier and ultimately much stronger. Q: Are there products you can incorporate into your daily routine to help prevent your hair from falling out? Jason: Again, falling out may be more related to diet, stress and overall wellness more than a topical product. Breakage on the other hand has some products that you can use at home to help repair. The Fiberceutic by L'Oreal Professionnel has a shampoo and condition masque for at home maintenance. The Mythic Oil by L’Oreal Professionnel just had a line extension to address dryness and color treated hair – it's AMAZING stuff! Q: Any other tips for those of us who LOVE to color our hair? Jason: Always trust a professional. Stay away from box color. When your colorist says – if we do that today your hair will break – believe him! I hope this is helpful to everyone who colors their hair! If you are in New York and are in need for a color, definitely give Ted Gibson Salon a call to book an appointment with Jason! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

l'oreal

Review by Courtney Smith “You should get a facial,” I would hear my sister-in-law say to me over the past few years, “they are so great, so relaxing.”  It sounded nice, but other than imagining mud plastered over my face, I really did not know what a facial was or what kind of benefits to expect from getting one.  Low and behold as I made my daily drive past Breathe Salon and Spa of Lansdale, PA I noticed a big sign that hung promoting anti-aging facials. Weeks away from thirty-five and with enough fine lines on my face to show it, anti-aging sounded fantastic to me. I have had the pleasure of enjoying Breathe Salon and Spa’s knock out cut and colors in the past and thought this would be a terrific opportunity to explore one more, of the many, self-care aspects that the salon and spa has to offer.  Per usual the staff was friendly and welcoming, the environment was creatively inspiring and offered a sense of serenity, and upon meeting Maureen Barnes, Breathe’s premier certified Esthetician, who is filled with 20 years of cosmetology wisdom, I was provided with a tour of the room where my facial would be done, as well as educated on what to expect from our time together.  Maureen displayed confidence, professional and practical knowledge, and her presence emitted calm energy that placed me in a mood of ease for the hour we spent together. She was able to answer all my questions and then some and offered me some simple tips to assist me in dealing with the season’s harsh effects on my skin and for my my anti-aging  (appearance) journey.   The facial was so much more than mud on my face.  It was an investment into myself that I am seeing positive effects weeks later. Since I write from the every day woman’s/mom’s perspective, as well as with the eye of a healthcare professional as an RN, I feel it is pretty realistic to say many everyday woman have NO idea what a facial has to offer or what is involved. With that said I want to equip you with some well rounded know-how and encourage you to go indulge in a facial!  Yes ladies, just because we are tired and perhaps a little worn from all of our daily duties does not mean we have to look it, and when we begin to take even a little time for ourselves we can get some release from feeling it too! My view of the top 10 benefits of a facial:

1. Relaxation
2. De-stressing of skin, emotion, and over-all mind, body, spirit
3. Increased circulation to the skin on our face (this has enormous health benefits)
4. Decreased sinus pressure
5. Release of toxins from our skin (if you only could have seen mine, whoa!)
6. Minimize the appearance of pores
7. Decrease in fine lines and wrinkles
8. Increase in moisture balancing
9. Decrease appearance of age spots
10. Firmer skin with an added glow

Maureen Barnes 10 steps to an awesome and effective facial: 1. Cleanse. Facials are different from regular at-home cleansing because they deep clean, removing toxins caused by pollution, grease and dirt found in your everyday environment. 2. Analyze.  This tells what skin type you are working with or any concerns. i.e. large pores, sun damage, dry patches. oily patches. 3. Exfoliate. This gets rid of dead skin and improves the look of the skin. It also helps any product you use work better. 4. Steam the skin and loosen the debris in the pores. The oxygen helps the immune system and heat from the steam help the hardened, clogged oil in the pores to soften therefore becoming easier to extract. 5.  Extraction.  Is the removal of whatever may be clogging pores. 6. Massage. This increases circulation and helps products to sink into the skin, It helps soften the look of lines, and has emotional benefits of touch. It also assists with digestion and metabolism. It de-stresses you period, which has a long list of health benefits. As part of the facial, the scalp (which helps with hair growth), face, chest, shoulder, arm, and hands are massaged. 7. Mask. There are the highest amounts of nutrients and minerals in this product and designed to work with different skin types. 8. Skin booster. This is a potent serum (there are a variety), which give a strong boost to the skin and assist in alleviating skin issues. 9.  Mini massage with the serum. 10. Moisturize.  Moisturize, moisturize and your done! Now go get your facial and reap the benefits! Book your facial with Maureen Barnes at Breathe Salon and Day Spa by calling 215-362-1277. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure

For the last month I have been giving serious consideration to cutting my hair.  Maybe it's just me wanting a drastic change for the new year, or perhaps I, like so many others have been tempted by the slew of celebrities that have been sporting shorter and edgier do's in the past couple of months, whatever the reason, shorter hair is really appealing at the moment. I've mentioned the desire to go shorter a few times to my hairstylist Pearson Knight, but he's been pretty hesitant, which is understandable especially considering that I have been known to ask for a drastic change without considering my lifestyle and hair texture, then regret my decision a week later.  (Can you relate?!) Instead of giving into my pleas to just chop it all off, Pearson suggested that I try wearing my hair in a faux bob, similar to the shorter length I was considering. He told me to try this for a few days to a week to see if I really liked the way I look with shorter hair or if I just wanted to be a part of the latest hair trend.  So I did as he requested and tried a faux bob, which was accomplished by pulling my hair into a loose, low ponytail at my nape and securing with a binder, I then left the ends of my ponytail in the binder.  I then slid the binder down my nape to gain a bit of space so that I would be able to roll the ponytail under and secure with pins to the base of my scalp.  When securing my hair with the pins, Pearson suggested that I criss-cross the pins so that it would be more stable and have staying power.  I then pulled the desired amount of hair over my hair and towards my jawline to create the desired length and fullness and lo and behold I had myself a faux bob! At first I loved how much lighter my hair felt.  It was also weird how naked my neck felt and my features stood out a lot more with shorter hair.  After trying the faux bob a few times, my faux shorter hair lost its novelty and I kept thinking about how much I loved my top knots, side braids and ponytails.  Needless to say I decided against going with shorter hair and instead went with shorter layers, which I LOVE.  If you are considering going shorter I highly suggest trying a faux short hairstyle before taking the plunge! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Last month, thanks to my beauty guru of a sister, I was introduced to the amazing exfoliating properties of coffee grounds, which I of course just had to pass along to you, our awesome readers.  And today, thanks to a serious case of boredom, I have found a way to make the Coffee Grounds Scrub even better, by combining it with my Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Verbena & Sage Deodorising Shower Foam.  I am absolutely in love with these shower foams, which unfortunately were discontinued, but I have been able to find them on Amazon (as I seem to be able to do with a lot of other hard to find beauty products).      By combining the coffee grounds with the shower foam, I not only created more of a paste version of the scrub that was a lot less messy, but I also created an exfoliating body cleanser, as well.  As I mentioned above, the Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Deodorising Shower Foams might be a bit tough to find as they have been discontinued, but I am sure the scrub would work just as well with most other shower foams.  Happy cleansing and exfoliating at the same time! Have you tried our DIY Coffee Scrub yet? If you know of a great shower foam, please let us know! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Great news for those of you that love your Gel Manicures! Sally Hansen recently introduced an easy to use, economical, at-home Gel Manicure Nail Polish Kit that costs less than $65. When you get a gel manicure at a salon, you can pay anywhere from $30 to $50 and up PER manicure. With this at-home kit, you can do up to 10 manicures that will last at least a week or more. Now, admittedly, I had never had a gel manicure before this, so I didn't have a lot to compare it to. That said, it wasn't as hard as I anticipated it would be. It took me about an hour from start to finish and I don't think it would take me nearly as long the second time around. The first 15 minutes was reading the enclosed instructions to make sure I knew what I was doing before I started. Always best to venture into these things well prepared!  I started with very clean, freshly washed and dried, naked nails. I then read the enclosed, easy to understand instructions one last time before I began. Then I placed everything out on the table to make sure I had everything easily accessible. You don't want to be digging around in the box with wet nails! Before you begin, you have to clean your nails with the enclosed Nail Cleanser Pads that come with the Gel Manicure Nail Polish kit to make sure your nails are totally and completely clean. You want to get into every crack and crevice and make sure that you cuticles are well moisturized (previous to this step) and do not have any loose edges. First, you put a thin layer of "Step One" bottle one each finger nail on your left hand. You then promptly place it under the UV lamp to "set". It leaves your nails looking like you put on a shiny top coat, but don't let it fool you. Nails are still tacky at this point and you do NOT want to let them touch anything. Second, you put a thin layer of "Step Two" bottle (the actual color - in this case it was "Red My Lips") on the same hand and put it under the UV light for 30 seconds. Repeat with another thin layer on the same hands and put under the UV lamp for an additional 30 seconds. At this points, nails are still tacky and you want to be super careful with them! The final step is what hardens and "sets" the manicure. After you apply a thin layer of "Step Three" bottle and dry it under the light for 30 seconds, you are left with an INSTANTLY touchable, totally hardened gel manicure. After you finish your left hand, you then repeat all the steps all over again on your right hand. Then you're done! You are left with a mirror shine, no dry time and indestructible, chip-free manicure that will supposedly last for up to two weeks. Mine lasted for 8 days before 2 of the nail edges lifted and got caught on stuff and ripped off. After that it was one nail after another that the edges lifted up, got caught on something and that was it. I attempted to repair one of them with the "Step three" bottle and 30 seconds under the light, but that only worked for a day. It warns not to get it anywhere near your cuticles. I made every attempt not to get it near my cuticles, but I thought perhaps I had put the polish too close to the edges and that's why it failed before it's alleged 2 week lasting power. My friend came to visit and I asked her if I could try the Sally Hansen Gel Manicure Nail Polish kit on her and she was more than happy to oblige! So I got a second shot at trying the whole process and it was slightly easier since I wasn't doing my own nails. I stayed far away from the cuticles and edges. The process from start to finish only took a little over half an hour this time. Much more reasonable. However... her manicure only lasted 5 days before all the edges lifted up and she ended up ripping them all off out of frustration. (I don't recommend doing that because it can take a layer of your nail off.) She said that if it had lasted longer that she would have loved it and totally bought one of the kits for herself. Overall, I would probably recommend this kit. It certainly lasted MUCH longer than regular nail polish does on me. It took me about the same amount of time to apply as the Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips, but didn't last quite as long. So the nail polish strips from Sally Hansen would still be my number one preference, but this would definitely be a runner up. It's on par with COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss that lasted the same amount of time with a finish that was just as glossy as the gel manicure. Basically, it lasted more than a week, it had a high gloss finish the entire time and it never chipped. When the edges started to lift up, it wasn't visible, it was just disconcerting if you ran your fingers through your hair. I'm sure if I didn't play with it, I could have made it last a tiny bit longer, but as soon as the edges started lifting, I just couldn't leave them alone. Also, I was doing a lot of demanding activities like floor scrubbing, bathing two dogs, vacuuming, laundry, baking, cooking, washing 2 children, putting up Christmas lights outside, etc. I'm sure for someone with an office job, this Gel Manicure Nail Polish kit would easily last the proposed two weeks. You can purchase Sally Hansen Gel Manicure Nail Polish at Target, Walmart, chain drug stores such as Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, food stores and mass retailers nationally. The kit retails for $64.99 and it would make a great Christmas gift for someone who loves nail polish! For more information, visit SallyHansen.com Check out our other nail posts over at TheFashionableHousewife.com and our favorite nails on Pinterest! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure

As indicated by the title of this post, I tend to lack any sort of motivation when it comes to styling my own hair.  Don't get me wrong, I will definitely spend time on improving the health of my hair with deep conditioners, but as far as styled hair I tend to stick to three insanely easy styles that require the minimum amount of effort. These include either a ponytail, loose bun/top knot, every once in a while a braid or I just simply leave it down...like I said, not a lot of effort.  This suits me just fine all year with the exception of the holiday season.  I, like most others, tend to get sucked into the sparkly glamour that seems to define the holiday season and I feel the need to do something a more with my hair, but I just do not have the skill, knowledge, patience or motivation to go all out. So I decided  to stick with what I already know but just add a bit of sparkle.  I figured that this would be a great time to make use of some of the barrettes I ordered from France Luxe and have never used.  Just in case you are unfamiliar with France Luxe, the site is utterly addicting!  They have the most amazing selection of hair accessories, perfect for transforming a "lazy girls" hair into holiday ready hair!   No matter how much or little effort your hairstyles require, just try adding a sparkly, fun barrette to give it an instant holiday feel! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

This past summer I had the opportunity of traveling to the city of Cebu in the Philippines to shoot a show for Fashion One Television. While there I was fortunate enough to work with an amazing makeup artist by the name of Beatriz Lopez.  Beatriz is a  London based freelancer, who provides makeup and hair styling for a broad range of clients from fashion and advertising to private commissions. Fully certified in all aspects of makeup, including special effects and body painting, she is also experienced in styling natural and synthetic hair.  Bea is just downright super talented and I absolutely loved my hair and makeup whenever she worked on me on set, so I was readily accepting of any beauty suggestions/tips she was kind enough to offer.  The instructions for creating Beatriz Lopez's DIY Face Spritzer/makeup refresher are as follows: Combine the following ingredients in a small spray bottle that is bag size (100ml)

• 95ml of spring water
• 1tbsp of pure aloe vera gel
• 6 drops of lavender pure essential oil or 6 drops of sweet orange/orange/mandarin pure essential oil
• 1-4 drops of virgin olive oil (or coconut oil) - depending on how dry or oily your skin is (if very oily-leave out)

Give it a good shake and you have your very own face spritzer. Beatriz suggests throwing it  in your bag and spritzing whenever you feel like you need a quick pep-me-up, some hydration when you need cooling off... or you can even use it to freshen your makeup. One word of caution: she does suggest that if the spritzer is going to be used on sensitive or very fair skin which will directly exposed to sun - it may be best to only use one drop of the orange oil or completely eliminate from the ingredients as it may cause photo-toxicity. You can find out more about Beatriz Lopez by visiting her page at www.beatrizlopez.co.uk. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!