Personally speaking, why do I only get eczema in the spring and summer? My husband and teen-aged son also have an onset of eczema at the same exact time as me, yet two of my younger sons only get eczema in the winter. But why?

I decided to go to the experts for answers because I can't imagine I'm the only one plagued with wondering why spring sets off two seasons of itchy bumps taking up residence on my elbows, inner corners of my arms and my hands - and the more I scratch, the more it spreads.

It was only in the last few years that I suddenly began to have eczema flare-ups and once the summer is over, my skin returns to normal... like it never even happened. Does this happen to you?

"In some ways, eczema is a bit of a mystery. It can pop up in all seasons for many reasons. Causes run the gamut from genetic to an auto-immune issue. In general terms, eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a non-contagious, recurrent inflammation of the skin. It is different from a true allergy, but eczema can get worse if a person is exposed to irritations." says Dr. Barney Kenet.

Fayne L. Frey, MD, FAAD of Dermatology & Dermatological Surgery tells me that to date, there is no cure (although plenty out there say they have the miracle cure.) Eczema is often found in individuals with asthma and hay fever. The exact cause of seasonal outbreaks is also unknown.

However, there seem to be many "triggers" that cause eczema to flare.  According to Dr. Frey, they are:

• Dust mites (that hot forced air may blow around a home in the winter.)
• Pets (cats & dogs)
• Pollen (some people flare-up in the spring when pollen counts are high or in the fall when ragweed pollen counts are elevated.)
• Hot weather (may cause summer flareups)
• Low humidity (causes more water to evaporate from the skin which may lead to flare up in the winter)
• Certain foods, like nuts, eggs, soy products, may trigger eczema flare ups (possibly a particular food is eaten seasonally to cause a flare up)
• Hot showers or many showers (could account for flare-ups in the winter or summer for some.)
• Wool in blankets and clothing

When it comes to my younger sons and their eczema onset every winter, it was clear that it was due to our wood stove and thermostat zapping the moisture from our house. It was easy enough to treat by eliminating baths (when they were really little), limiting their showers to every other day and making sure I kept their skin moisturized daily.

However, it wasn't until Dr. Frey mentioned pollen as a culprit that I realized that it must be the trigger for my eczema each spring. Like clockwork when my oldest son, who has severe seasonal allergies, starts with his allergy symptoms, my eczema seems to also appear. I have seasonal allergies, but just not as bad as my son. It all makes sense now that pollen is my trigger. Liz Fuller of Makeup Artistry Inc. brought up the idea that eczema could be triggered by dairy, as well. She had suffered from eczema since she was a baby, but at 43 decided to go dairy-free and within two weeks her eczema was gone and has not returned for over a year now. (I'm not ready to give up my ice cream and frozen yogurt just yet.)

As a side note, dairy is also a culprit when it comes to cystic acne. Now that we know some of the possible triggers, I wanted to find out some of the ways in which we can treat eczema to either help minimize it or at best, prevent the itching that can lead to it spreading to more areas.

Dr. Elizabeth Rostan of Charlotte Skin & Laser suggests using a humidifier in the winter to add moisture back into the air to prevent the skin from drying out. She says that severe cases are helped with soaks in diluted bleach baths and with wet wraps overnight.

My one son and I are going to try AD RescueWear sleeves, which you can wear for wet wrap therapy. (Update: We LOVE this product, read our review!)

Dr. Chynna Steele of Steele Dermatology's recommendations for combatting eczema are: "It is best to keep the skin well moisturized year round to keep eczema flares at a minimum; also, to keep the skin covered (long sleeves and long pants) during the changes in season when environmental allergens are at their highest.

Taking an antihistamine during "allergy season" also helps keep the inflammatory cells in the skin under control and prevent eczema flares. Use gentle, moisturizing soaps and fragrance and dye free soaps, detergents, hygiene products to keep skin calm."

Dr. Barney Kenet says to look for products that say "emollient" and "fragrance free" when it comes to moisturizers. According to Debra Jaliman M.D., Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, you can also apply moisturizer containing glycerin, Shea butter or hyaluronic acid. Again, make sure they are fragrance free, as it can be irritating to your skin. Avoid all products with acid, such as lactic acid in glycolic acid.

When using a sunscreen, avoid chemical sunscreens and only use a physical sunscreen containing a high concentration of zinc oxide as this is more soothing to the skin.

Pregnant and have eczema? While an anti-histamine like Benadryl is considered pregnancy safe, you may not want to take any medications during those 40 weeks out of erring on the side of caution. Dr. Steele recommends pure shea butter as a moisturizer since it is an anti-inflammatory for the skin and completely natural.

She also suggests Vanicream, which has the seal of approval from the National Eczema Association, because it is also a great product that those with sensitive skin can use and they have some lighter weight options that are good for the summer.  (I couldn't determine if this was a cruelty free brand or not, though.)

Some other good cruelty free options are our very own natural body lotion, Waxelene (petroleum jelly alternative), Yes to Coconut Eczema Relief Spray and Nature's Gate Colloidial Oatmeal. I hope you found this article helpful! 

I couldn't have received these products at a better time. With the extremely cold weather and the flu making its rounds at my home, it's left my skin dry, flakey and tight. My usual skin savers weren't doing the trick and my face was starting to look a bit dull. I needed something with some serious hydration and wanted my glow back. The masks I received from Manuka Health provided exactly what I was looking for. All it took was one use for my face to become hydrated again! My skin felt soft and smooth, the few blemishes I was starting to have disappeared overnight. I have found my new addiction and I want everything from this line! Manuka Health is a New Zealand based company whose products are a combination of science and nature. They are committed to being a sustainable business as well as not testing these products on animals, being 100% natural, chemical free and no preservatives. Besides skin care, they also provide products for oral and wound care, among others. The high antioxidant levels in the Manuka Honey nourished and repaired my skin making it revitalized and radiant. The ManukaClear Intensive BB Gel is great for trouble prone skin; it smoothed my skin texture, moisturized and give it a healthy glow. For a more intense hydration and to soothe aggravated or dry skin, the ManukaClear Mask  works wonders! With some hydration masks you get a temporary relief, but after using both of these masks just once, my face still felt hydrated several days later. To get the full effect, I started using the Intensive BB Gel first for a week, every evening. If I felt I needed extra hydration, then I would use the ManukaClear Mask. They work best on a clean face so cleanse and dry your face first before application. I applied a thin layer and used my fingers to spread upwards and outwards. The consistency is like, you guessed it,  honey, and so is the smell. (Didn't taste too bad either!) Keep it on for at least a half hour to an hour; just don't fall asleep or try to blow dry your hair with either mask on. You'll end up with a sticky mess! (Don't ask me how I know.) Pin your hair away from your face or use a headband. Although the masks are sticky and thick, they are easily washed or wiped off with warm water, leaving your face nourished and healthy looking. These masks should be a staple in your beauty routine and for sure during the winter months when the weather can wreak havoc on your skin. Sometimes my skin can be very sensitive, but these masks didn't dry or irritate my skin. Neither masks left my face feeling dry or tight. Both of these masks can be used daily or as needed and can also be used on your hands (with cotton gloves), and I did try the ManukaClear Mask on my feet. I left it on for about an hour while wearing cotton socks and my dry, cracked heels were thanking me! I wish I can use it over my entire body, but that's time I do not have. These are one of the best masks I've used in a long time, they provide long lasting results you can actually see and feel and I can't say enough about them! Manuka Health products can be found on Amazon. 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, affiliate link

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

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

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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!

I love products; I love opening that new package, inhaling that "new product smell", putting it on my face or body and waiting impatiently to see the results offered! So I was very excited to receive a package of TULA products. It included the Purifying Face Cleanser, Hydrating Day and Night Cream, Revitalizing Eye Cream and Illuminating Face Serum. This I couldn't wait to try! We all know probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to maintain the health of the intestinal tract and aid in digestion so why not  use it in skin care? For those of you who are new to TULA Probiotic Skincare, here's a little bit of information about the product: TULA was founded by Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa, a gastroenterologist who believes in nourishing the body both internally and externally. "Each product is infused with a probiotic complex, which contains yogurt; green tea; blueberry extracts; and vitamins A, C, and E. Fruit extracts are also incorporated into the line. With TULA, she's introducing a simple collection of products designed to bring that sense of balance to every woman's daily skin care routine." Whenever using new products besides my old faithful, I always use it for at least two weeks in order to see any results. Anything less than two weeks I don't believe you'll see much of a difference. And this time I also had my Mom use TULA so that I can have two comparisons. We both started using TULA on the same day and did so for almost two and a half weeks. The Purifying Face Cleanser ($25.00, 6.7 fl. oz.), is lightly scented and we both agree that it left our face smooth, soft and did not strip our skin leaving it feeling dry or tight. It does have a rich lather so you'll probably use no more than a dime size and that's enough to cleanse the face and neck. With the change in weather and drier air, I believe this cleanser is a must for these long winter months. After cleansing we used the Illuminating Face Serum ($75.00, 1.6 fl. oz.), and before using any serums I always warm it up a bit between my palms then apply on my face and neck in an upward motion. It feels rich and creamy without being oily and absorbs quickly into the skin. Two pumps are enough and we used it day and night. This serum is also scented, but did not bother either of us, although we can be sensitive to smells. My face did feel smoother and looked a bit more even toned. On my Mom I could see a difference; face spots were fading, her face looks even toned and less lined and her complexion overall looks fresh. I'm very impressed with this serum! Next, we would apply the Hydrating Day and Night Cream ( $49.00, 1.7 fl. oz.). It's an intense hydrator that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and nourishes the skin. My Mom loves it! She said her skin doesn't feel dry in the middle of the day and she loves how soft her skin feels and how it looks. I did use this cream day and night and it does moisturize well and absorbs quickly. I like that even though it's a heavier cream (not oily), it doesn't "sit" on top of your face like some heavy creams do. I prefer using this product at night as during the day I like to use moisturizers that have SPF in it. If TULA can make this with SPF I would be sold! Lastly, we applied the Revitalizing Eye Cream ($49.00, 0.5 fl. oz.). It's rich, creamy without being oily and very hydrating for the eye are. We would gently pat around the eye area and wait for it to absorb before using any makeup. On me, I like the feel of it and aside from moisturizing well, did not see any reduction in fine lines or help with the occasional dark circles. My Mom's lines are improved and any dark circles or puffiness are hardly noticeable anymore. Overall I would say TULA would be perfect for someone who's skin is a bit more mature than mine (thirty something), as I did see some improvements on myself, but on my Mom it was dramatically noticeable. Her face looks nourished, smooth and toned. The products are luxurious and we both love that it did not irritate our skin, make it dry or cause breakouts. The cleanser and serum do have stronger smells than the other products, but this did not bother our sensitive noses and I love these two products. A little goes a long way with TULA products so they will last for a long time. Love that the creams and serum are easily absorbed with no oily residue and all of TULA products includes their signature probiotic technology  which features omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids; rice proteins; vitamins A, C, and E; and fruit extracts. And best of all they do not contain mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates, or parabens. TULA is available on www.qvc.com and for $49.00 you can get the sample kit with all four products to try. Happy indulging! 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!

I'm paying for the skin sins of my youth in hyperpigmentation and an abundance of dark spots from both acne and lack of sunscreen usage. Over the years I've learned how to best conceal them with makeup in order to fake a great complexion. However, when the makeup comes off nightly, reality sets in and it is not pretty. There are plenty of times when I am simply makeup-free (due to lack of time, exhaustion or simply not feeling it) and I'd really rather not have my face look like a leopard. Or, as they say, "Showing my age." Your skin is your canvas, if it looks great, you'll need much less makeup in order to conceal imperfections. I think of my skin as an investment and makeup should be just to dress it up - not to fix it. Now there's nothing out there that will completely undo all of the photodamage, acne scars and marks, but there are skin care products that will do a substantial amount of work to help minimize the appearance of the damage done. Designed to be layered onto the skin for optimum efficacy and integrated into any existing Dermalogica regimen, the PowerBright TRx Trio are silky-smooth, peptide-rich formulas that work around the clock for the brightest, most even skin tone. In the trio are the PowerBright C-12 Pure Bright Serum, Pure Light with SPF50 moisturizer and Pure Night overnight treatment cream. I've been using it for over a month now to treat the dark patches on my skin and the ruddiness I tend to get around my nose and across my cheeks. There's nothing I want more than to even out my skin tone and spend less on cosmetics. C-12 Pure Bright Serum: This is an odorless, lightweight serum that isn't greasy and quickly absorbs into the skin. Use it twice a day after cleansing and prior to the day or night PowerBright skin treatment. Pure Light with SPF50: This daytime skin treatment is a creamy white moisturizer that has the initial scent of Noxema, however that scent disappears once applied to the skin. For the first two weeks of using this moisturizer my skin would tingle, but then I noticed it stopped happening with repeated use. The tingling didn't hurt, it was just noticeable as my other moisturizers have never done that. This treatment isn't greasy, is of medium weight and has a strong SPF of 50, which is great as UV rays are what activate melanin production and cause the photodamage to begin with. (This is why in the Summer months when you are outdoors more, your age spots get darker.) My skin felt super soft and supple using both the Pure Bright and Pure Light together. Pure Night: This overnight treatment has the consistency of a gel-cream mix with a citrus fragrance. I love how hydrating it is while containing potent dark spot fighting ingredients to really combat the signs of aging while you sleep. So did I see a difference? Yes! Mind you, it was not immediate and nor should you expect a miracle transformation from any product right away, but there is a definite noticeable difference in my face after a few weeks of using it. Typically I have to use both a liquid concealer and CC powder just to make my skin look even-toned. However, since using the Dermalogica PowerBright TRx Trio, I've been able to skip the concealer entirely and only use a minimal amount of CC powder. To me, this spells improvement. Not to mention, the big Melasma patch on my forehead has faded significantly. I'm happy with the results and will continue using it. Have you tried it? 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: Sample and affiliate links

Subtle Green, a Montreal-based luxury skin care company, recently caught my attention. Much of what they stand for is something I have been saying for years - "The best moisturizers do not have to contain 'miracle ingredients' developed using 'breakthrough technologies' in a remote secret laboratory." There are tried and true ingredients that are effective for skin, most of which can be found in nature. Subtle Green is botanically-based with an upscale feel in their packaging, which serves a dual purpose for the overall aesthetic of the brand, as well as retaining the freshness of the product inside.

Subtle Green is unique, as they believe there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to your moisturizer. While they have products available based on your basic needs, they also offer you the ability to customize your moisturizer. This is a 3-step process that is pretty straight forward and is implemented via a questionairre to help determine the right ingredients needed to address all of your skin concerns. This is a great approach and I love the idea of a made to order moisturizer. I had the opportunity to try Vienne Restorative and Regenerative Lotion. While I hate the thought of now being in the "mature skin" category, ignoring it isn't help me treat my skin in the most effective way possible either. This particular lotion targets aging, dry and sallow skin. For the most part, my skin has a split personality. One day it will be incredibly oily and in the next breath it will be dry. Finding a skin care product that can help balance out the skin is a priority for me. First let me say that I adore the packaging. It comes in an elegant glass bottle and really stands out on my vanity. Subtle Green uses the science of biophotonics in order to preserve and enhance the botanical properties of their ingredients through their violet glass packaging. Second, I loved how quickly this moisturizer absorbed into my skin, almost like my skin was drinking it up. The texture is very light and thin and has a clean scent to it. There was absolutely no greasy residue left on my skin and, in fact, this was the first time that a moisturizer actually gave my skin more of a matte look (as compared to being shiny and greasy looking.) My skin felt incredibly soft to the touch and reminded me of how my skin used to feel back in my younger years. The ingredients in this lotion (and in all of Subtle Green's skin care products) are food grade, containing essential oils, using only natural preservatives, made in small batches and are cruelty free. (Learn more bout their approach to skin care.) Subtle Green ships to both Canada and the US. If you haven't tried their skin care range yet, I highly recommend it! 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: Press sample

With the busiest season of the year upon us, sometimes caring for ourselves (and our skin) sadly ends up at the bottom of the to-do list. (Please don't let it.)

Fortunately, facialist Cecilia Wong has designed a seasonal at-home, DIY facial scrub that requires little time and effort, which can guarantee that your skin glows before the turkey hits the table. Pumpkin is an amazing exfoliant as well as nourishing to the skin.

This sounds like a decadent dessert for your skin! Let us know if you try it.

Avocados offer amazing skin and health benefits; avocado oil even more so, which is why this natural skin moisturizer is included among the ingredients of A Girl's Gotta Spa! Energizing Citrus Salt Scrub. Some of the benefits of avocado oil include: It's rich in anti-oxidants, which counter the skin's natural aging process and helps fight free radicals. Among these in avocado oil are Vitamin A, C and E.

• Vitamin A: This anti-oxidant exfoliates and makes skin smooth, improves hydration and soothes irritated skin.
• Vitamin C: One of my favorite anti-oxidants for so many reasons, some are which include it's ability to fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation, it helps increase collagen production (necessary for smoother skin and reducing wrinkles), and strengthens your skin's barrier response.
• Vitamin E: In skin care products, Vitamin E protects you from UV damage, helps prevent water loss from skin which can lead to dehydration (dry skin) while strengthening your skin's barrier. It also protects the skin oil balance when cleansing.

Avocado oil also contains omega-9 fatty acids, which are beneficial to skin health. They aid in hydration, combatting dry, flaky skin and often improves symptoms of eczema.   Bottom line? If your skin is dry, you want to use a product that contains avocado oil! Some posts to check out: DIY Skin Care Recipes Homemade Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment (includes avocados) DIY Avocado Hair and Face Mask 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!