It has been a dream of mine to spread my wings internationally when it came to retailing my natural bath and body products. It is my belief that every woman deserves to be pampered. Thanks to one of A Girl's Gotta Spa!'s retailers, Lock & Mane, that dream is coming true. As the official and exclusive retailer for A Girl's Gotta Spa! on Amazon, Lock & Mane, has launched our products in Canada under their subsidiary, Beauty Slam. Our mission at A Girl’s Gotta Spa! is to empower women to believe – You Deserve to Be Pampered™ – and we do this without harming any animals, without toxic ingredients and without harming the earth.  Know someone in Canada that could use a little pampering? Please share this post! Go sneak a peek at Amazon.ca! Are you a retailer interested in more information about A Girl's Gotta Spa! wholesale opportunities? Please contact us today!

I'm one of those people who truly enjoys working out. I absolutely love how I feel after a workout and actually dread missing my gym time. There are those times though, when life happens and my hectic schedule just does not allow for driving to the gym and putting in an hour plus long workout.  During those times I still try my best to incorporate some form of fitness into my day, which is where the Zobi comes in very handy. The Zobi is a total body tool that helps you to condition muscles, burn calories, and work your core.  The ergonomic shape of the Zobi makes it is easy to grip. Due to its versatility, I can use the Zobi for a total body workout, including cardio, or on days when I am targeting specific muscle groups. The Zobi also comes with a workout DVD for those days when you want to mix it up by incorporating new workouts into your routine or if you do not have a routine and need some ideas. Don't be fooled by the look of the Zobi - it is 7lbs and absolutely works those muscles! It's just the right size and weight to be effective while also not being difficult to travel with. When I'm on the road for my modeling shoots, sometimes finding a gym is easier said than done. Taking the Zobi along with me means I can squeeze in a workout from the comfort of my own hotel room. Using the Zobi is an afforable way to incorporate fitness into your daily life. Just set aside 30 minutes a day and you'll be amazed by the results! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: Press sample

Disclosure: Thanks to RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Eye Cream I can fake 8 hours of well-rested sleep. This is a sponsored post for Socialstars #WomenWhoRoC, but all opinions, and sleepless nights, are my own.

Whether you have a baby in your 20s, or you are still expanding your family into your 40s, the image of sleepless nights all look the same. Under-eye puffiness, dark circles and looking like you could be an extra on The Walking Dead... But there is also a big difference in that 20 year gap. In your 40s you're also dealing with wrinkles and mature skin (dryness and dullness.) So basically, yay me. Close friends and family know that my sweet baby boy is not much of a sleeper. At 7 months old, he still wakes up a few times a night. Throw in teething, and well... let's not talk about that. The bottom line is that I lead an incredibly active lifestyle due to my family of 8. With having such a large family, comes lots of appointments and activities. I'd rather look put-together when out and about than like I could use a nap. Whether you're a mom like me and lacking sleep, or you have had one too many late nights, there's a way to fake looking well-rested. You may be feeling sleep deprived on the inside, but you'll look like you've slept 8 glorious hours on the outside. So here's what you'll need: Eye cream (RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Eye cream) Flesh colored eye pencil Brow highlighter Brown pen Eyeliner Eyeshadow that complements your eye color Eye primer Mascara Step 1: Using your pinky finger, gently pat RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Eye Cream on the skin under and surrounding your eyes.  RoC®'s 5 in 1 Eye cream improves the look of dark circles, puffiness, dryness, dull tone and wrinkles with breakthrough HEXINOL® technology. With consistent use, you shouldn't need a concealer. Step 2: Apply your favorite eye primer to keep your eyeshadow intact without creasing. Step 3: Using short strokes, apply your favorite brow pen throughout your brow hair, following the natural shape of your brow. Be sure to blend. Step 4: Along your brow bone under your brow, apply a thin line of brow highlighting pencil, then blend. This will create the illusion of lift to the eye. Step 5: Using a flesh toned eye pencil, line your waterline. Pat with your pinky finger to blend it. This will conceal the redness and make your eyes look bigger and more wide awake. Step 6: Apply and blend your favorite eyeshadow that enhances your eye color. I like to use hues of purples and rose for my hazel eyes. This will make your eye color pop and detract from any look of tiredness. Step 7: With your eyeliner, create a cat eye. This winged style also gives the eye the look of being uplifted and wide eyed. Step 8: Apply mascara - voluminous or for length, whichever your lashes need most. That's my little rascal who only allowed me 4 hours of sleep when this picture was taken. Even if you don't have kids, these tips can work for you, too. Have anything to add? Leave a comment and let me know! 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!

Coffee, sugar and body scrubs - my 3 favorite things. There is nothing better than java to wake you up - and that goes for your skin, too! Self-tanning brand, Svelta, knows the key to an even tan without streaking, is exfoliation. So it's no surprise that in addition to their sunless tanning product, that they offer a heavenly scrub to make sure you look your best. I'm pretty much obsessed with scrubs, and this one is no different. First off, it is a whopping 16oz. So it is pretty sizeable. The rose gold detail makes it look luxe. When you take off the cap... it is literally a close your eyes and take in the delicious fragrance kind of moment. No joke. The raw sugar is noticeable in medium sized pieces. I took a spoon and stirred the coffee, sugar and oil mix as it had separated a bit from the oil (totally normal.) Be prepared that this is a seriously messy scrub. Coffee will be everywhere and the bottom of your shower will be slippery from the oils, so be careful. But every scrub addict knows this is just par for the course with your obsession and you just push on through. I've found that most sugar scrubs have finely ground sugar in them, but since this is raw sugar, it has the same level of abrasiveness as a salt scrub. Again, totally fine with me, and I think that's to the benefit of this scrub since it is meant to be used prior to a self-tanner. Meaning, you really want the dry skin to come off, especially at your elbows, knees and feet where the sunless tanner may end up looking darker if not exfoliated properly. This scrub has a delectable cardamon fragrance, the moisturizing oil in this is olive oil, which I am a huge a fan of (it's in my hydrating body lotion after all.) It also contains Vitamin E and grapefruit extract (grapefruit has a brightening effect on the skin.) Other things worthy of noting is that this luxe coffee sugar scrub is 100% natural, does not contain parabens, phthalates, sulfates, petrochemicals, triclosan, dyes or synthetic fragrance. It's also cruelty free. Honestly, try it for yourself. I bet you'll become just as obsessed as I am! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: Press sample

This post was sponsored by Amopé™ as part of an influencer activation for the #AmopeCrowd and Socialstars™. I received a complimentary product to facilitate this article, but all opinions are my own.

A set daily beauty routine didn't really become a habit until I was in my 30s. When I was a teenager, I didn't really think long term about caring for my skin. I certainly didn't look at cause and effect either (not washing your face = congested skin.) In my 20s, it was much of the same with a few adjustments (I knew moisturizer was a must.) Back in the "olden days" (as my kids like to say), skin care was no frills. We didn't have sonic cleansers or electronic pedicure files. Paper masks weren't a thing and SPF definitely wasn't part of your beauty routine. Something else I recall is that most advertisements and magazine articles focused on facial skin care while the rest of your body suffered the consequences. (I cringe thinking about what my heels looked like for too long.) Once in my 30s and now in my 40s, I love to take care of my skin and view it as a form of wellness and self-care. So here's what my daily and weekly skin and body care look like: Daily A.M. Face Care: Cleanser, toner, 2% BHA treatment, serum, eye cream, Vitamin C treatment, moisturizer with SPF. Daily P.M. Face Care: Makeup remover, sonic skin care tool with cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, night cream with Retinol. Weekly Face Care: Exfoliator, mask (paper/mud etc.), 4% BHA treatment Daily Body Care: Body wash, lotion (both day and night) Weekly Body Care: Exfoliator (sugar or salt scrub), Amopé™ Pedi Perfect Wet & Dry Rechargeable Foot File (3x week) I have to say that exfoliating is my favorite part of my routine. Not only does it give your skin a mini-massage, but it's kind of mesmerizing to exfoliate away dry, dead skin to reveal skin that is healthier. It's kind of like erasing a few years off. Where my skin care routine in my 20s only included a few items and was mainly focused at the beginning of my day and on my face only, it now includes anti-aging products and body care. I used to only throw some polish on my toes and call it a day. Now I can pamper my feet a few times a week with my Amopé™ Pedi Perfect and watch my skin soak up my lotion, keeping my feet touchably soft. How has your daily beauty routine evolved through the years? Leave a comment and let me know! Follow Amopé™ on Facebook! 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'm trying to be OK with this aging thing. I'm trying not to care about every new wrinkle that emerges (which literally feels like it happens daily.) I'm trying not to notice the loss of elasticity in my face when I see drooping in places that didn't droop yesterday. But here's the thing - with social media basically demanding selfies, it's hard NOT to notice. Especially over time. We're all used to looking at ourselves in the mirror daily, but when you suddenly have a papertrail of photos that basically full-on detail how you're aging, all I can say is UGH. So when new "revolutionary" products come to market that claim to combat the signs of aging, I'm always intrigued. Skeptical, but intrigued. The latest being collagen drinks and supplements. I mean, it makes sense... loss of collagen contributes to the wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin, so why not drink it to replace what you've lost? Oh if only that was how it works. First and foremost, you should know that the supplement industry is unregulated... so they can make claims without providing proof. Yes, yes, much like the cosmetics industry, but less so which makes it a little bit scarier. According to an article in the New York Times regarding the Attorney General sending a cease and desist letter to major retailers carrying supplements, "The F.D.A. requires that companies verify that every supplement they manufacture is safe and accurately labeled. But the system essentially operates on the honor code. Under a 1994 federal law, supplements are exempt from the F.D.A.'s strict approval process for prescription drugs, which requires reviews of a product’s safety and effectiveness before it goes to market." This cease and desist stemmed from a finding that many supplements don't contain the ingredients they claim to have, such as collagen, and that many unlisted ingredients were fillers (many of which were in the legume family - something that would be deadly to those with a peanut allergy.) Of course, I'm not saying that all supplements do not work or that all supplement brands mislabel or mislead. I know that probiotic supplements work for gut health, but do probiotics work in skin care? Not so much. So I again reached out to trusted friend and fellow beauty blogger, Perry Romanowski for his insight... because I really wanted to delight in some of these collagen drinks that have been sent to me in an effort to look much younger.

"There is no evidence that drinking collagen will have any impact on skin or joints. It doesn't even make sense from a biological standpoint. When you ingest something like collagen your body has enzymes in your digestive system that breaks down the molecule to component amino acids. So from a chemistry standpoint eating collagen protein is no different than eating a hamburger patty. It's just marketing smoke and mirrors. While the manufacturer claims collagen is in the product the consumer has no way of knowing whether it is in there or not. Often, what is claimed to be in a supplement is actually not in there. I would never recommend taking one that wasn't specifically prescribed by a doctor." - Perry Romanowski, The Beauty Brains/Chemists Corner

Sigh. While a healthy diet is still important for your overall health and an abundance of vitamins and minerals do have an effect on some hair and skin care issues, it appears that the best way to tackle anti-aging (temporarily) is still from a topical standpoint. Have anything to add? Leave a comment and let me know! 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 mud masks for my combination skin. Seriously, having an oily t-zone makes your skin feel so dirty already, so why not get messy and clean it up with a little mud? I've had the chance to try out ClarityRx Rehab Mediterranean Detoxifying Mud Mask for about a month now and my skin is feeling amazing. I'll be honest, when I received this 2oz jar, I really thought it was sample or travel size. To my surprise, this is full size. For $27 that's a little on the pricey side, but I'm hesitant to baulk at the pricetag because this mud mask really is fabulous. This mud mask jiggles like jelly in the jar and has a sponge-like feeling when you touch it. When you scoop it with your finger, it's gel-like. It's easy to apply it in a thick layer, and I highly recommend that you do, as it dries relatively quickly. Despite all the adjectives - it is indeed mud, and feels like that once applied. Upon opening the jar, your senses will be transported to the spa. ClarityRx Rehab Mediterranean Detoxifying Mud Mask has all of the ingredients that oily and combination skin types desire: Mediterranean Mud, Dead Sea Mud, Kaolin, Bentonite, and Dead Sea Salt. The very first ingredient is aloe vera gel, which explains the jelly-like texture. I slathered on this mask after cleansing my face. It says to wait about 10-15 minutes before rinsing, but the max I could do was 10 minutes. This mud mask dries incredibly quickly, and as it does, it gets very tight on your skin. I used luke warm water on a wash cloth to wipe it off and it did take a little elbow grease to do so. After rinsing my face, my skin felt baby soft and the oiliness was gone. Success! I then went on with my usual skin care routine, which seemed to amplify how great my skin felt. Instructions state that you can use this mask 1-2 times per week. I only do it once a week so as not to over-dry my skin, which would then send oil production into overdrive and it soon becomes a vicious cycle. I really like this detoxifying mud mask - I just wish it came in a bigger jar! Have you tried it? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: Product sent by PR, affiliate links.

It's been a while since I've changed up my makeup products, as I typically stick to the same brands over and over. With the exception of mascara of course, for that I'm always hunting down the next best thing. (Who isn't?) So when World Organics, a New Zealand based beauty brand, reached out to me to try their organic cosmetics extension The Organic Skin Co, I was game to switch things up. Especially since it has been a while since I've used any organic makeup. The first thing I noticed was the packaging. It's a mix of bamboo and plastic and absolutely stunning. Definitely items that stand out in my makeup bag. The organic eye shadow palette that I have is called Espresso Love. While it is pressed powder, it applies and feels like loose powder. It's not your typical mineral powder though, as it counts calendula and pomegranate seed extract among its ingredients. It's definitely highly pigmented, which I am always a fan of. I can't report if this shadow creases, as I always wear a primer. It did not crease at all with my primer. The Organic Skin Co boasts something they call "Supercritical Extracts," essentially this means they use an extraction method that utilizes the whole plant, not just isolating compounds of it. This means more purity in ingredients and potency. When it comes to blush, I prefer a natural glow, which is exactly what this organic blush in Tulip does. It's described as "peachy-pink" in color. It didn't take much product to create a natural flushed look, and it blended rather easily. You just gently swipe your finger across the top of the jar and apply to your cheek bones. It's a cream blush, but in the jar feels more like a lip balm. However, it doesn't feel at all greasy on your cheeks and quickly absorbs only leaving the color behind. The organic lipstick I tried is in Blossom, which is a fushia. It is definitely bright even though this picture doesn't appear that way. I've been wearing red for so long now, I almost forgot what it was like to wear pink. Most lipsticks dry my lips out, but I haven't found that to be the case with this one from The Organic Skin Co. It also seems to wear really well and for a decent amount of time. Without really eating or drinking too much, it lasted me about 5 hours before it really started to wear off. As for the organic lip gloss, I have Mist, which is also a pink hue, but definitely not as bright as the lipstick. It's more of a neutral pink. Some of The Organic Skin Co's lip glosses have a shimmer to it, but Mist does not - however, it does impart a glossy shine. I liked that it had a smooth texture and wasn't sticky or heavy on my lips. All of the organic makeup reviewed have 100% natural ingredients and 70%+ organic ingredients - each product page will tell you exactly how much. It also lists which Supercritical Extracts are part of the ingredients for each product. World Organics is also cruelty free. World Organics, while based outside the US, ships to the US! They also have a super easy way to get 20% off each order. It's called the Jasmine Club and once you've placed and ordered $150 worth of product or accumulating orders that equal $150, then each subsequent purchase for 1 year will be at 20% off. Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram and G+. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Disclosure: Products sent by PR

From October through mid-April there's one thing that is a constant in my mountain home - the thermostat and wood stove are always going. There's a downside to being toasty warm when the winter weather is here: dry skin.

You guys, it gets so bad you could often be confused between the flakes on my legs, the flakes from my scalp and the flakes of the snow variety. Thankfully I have a great body lotion I use to combat the dry skin and my beloved Keune hair products for my scalp. Something I'm more excited about that I've recently added into my beauty and health care, is the Venta Airwasher. I know. Who gets excited about a humidifier and air purifier? This girl. Since I typically use a humidifier that produces hot steam and is fairly small, I realized pretty quickly that the Venta Airwasher is different. Here are the things I took notice of right away:

• The Venta Airwasher LW45 will humidify and purify air in a room up to 800 sqft. - that means it's perfect for a large room like my living room.
• The water tank is huge - 3 gallons! It's not the typical small cylinder I'm used to with my steam humidifier. That means the water tank takes a full 1-3 days before it needs to be refilled (depending on the speed you choose; it has 3.)
• It has two large rotating disk stacks and a fan to create cold evaporation - so no hot steam or mist.
• It is incredibly quiet on speeds 1 and 2; speed 3 is just a low level white noise hum. We like white noise in this house, so it really wasn't noticeable or annoying to myself or my family.
• It doesn't require a filter to purify the air, but you do need to add a water treatment additive. For the LW45 size, it requires the water treatment to be re-added after cleaning every 14 days.

Since this system shouldn't be near a heat source, I set it up on a small table in our living room against a wall without a baseboard. This table is between the stairwell where the heat from the wood stove in our downstairs family room would make its way up and our front door/windows.

In Spring, this will be a great test in terms of how well it purifies all that pollen that makes its way in through the door. My oldest has severe seasonal allergies and I will be thrilled if this helps when he is indoors. (Update: it works amazingly for those with seasonal allergies.)

After the first two weeks of use, I noticed that if we only had the thermostat running and the speed on 1, the water tank didn't need a refill for 3 days. If we had the wood stove + thermostat on, we'd bump up the speed to 2 or 3 and that meant the water would need to be refilled after 24 hours.

Both of these scenarios are much better than my steam humidifier that evaporates all of the water within a very short 8 hours. After 2 weeks, the disk stacks didn't appear dirty or have any build up on them, but the remaining water at the very bottom of the tank was pretty gross. Better at the bottom of the tank than in my air!
After 4 weeks of use, we definitely noticed a difference in terms of less dust floating in the air, no static electricity in the living room area, and the air feeling comfortable and not dry or humid. It was at this point that I noticed mineral buildup on the disks, which are easily cleaned. If you blow up the picture above, you can see it!

We've been using the Venta Airwasher for about 2 months now (update - we're STILL using the Venta 9 years later and it still works as good as day one - and even bought the LW25) and I'm really happy with how it has helped to decrease dry, itchy skin, chapped lips and even the frequency of nose bleeds my sons tend to get due to the dry air.

We're so happy in fact, that my husband and I are considering purchasing smaller versions for each bedroom and my home office (update: we bought more, it works that well.)  I seriously love this thing. A humidifier is probably the last product you're thinking of when adding to your beauty regimen - but it should be one of the first!

Disclosure: Product sent by PR

This post was sponsored by Amopé™ as part of an influencer activation for the #AmopeCrowd and Socialstars™. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review, but all opinions are my own.

The key to a long-lasting relationship is scheduling time together 1:1. It can be really difficult to do, especially when you have a large family like mine. For my husband and I, spending any quality time together typically means sleeping soundly in the same proximity in 2 hour increments until our baby wakes up for his feeding. So when we have the opportunity to actually go on a date OUT OF THE HOUSE? I am all about making sure I look great. (When you look good, you feel even better after all.) When I know that date night doesn't include renting a movie and eating take-out (because my fellow moms know this is usually the case), I take full advantage of using my arsenal of beauty products and giving myself some extra me-time in the process. My typical process for getting date night ready includes: A relaxing bath to get my mind re-focused: Having 6 kids and working full time can equal quite the frazzled brain. Soaking in the tub for even just 15 minutes literally melts away the stress. A fragrant bath bomb added to the mix helps to declutter that internal conversation in preparation for an evening out with my man. Indulging my hair with a hair treatment: Most days you can find my hair in a ponytail or looking unruly in the tiny fist of my 6 month old. In other words, I totally have the mom look down. During my bath time ritual, I typically use a hair mask or leave-in treatment to repair any damage to my hair. The result is touchably soft locks that make me look like I have a good hair day every day. Pampering my feet: If I'm going to trade my sneakers for heels for a night, there's some serious work that needs to be done on my feet. To smooth dry spots, rough patches and callouses, I use the Amopé™ Pedi Perfect Wet & Dry Rechargeable Foot File. I like this for two reasons - it's waterproof so I can use it while in the tub (so I can basically multi-task as usual), and it does a better job than using a manual foot file with its two-speed roller head. Moisturizing my skin: After my bath I make sure my face and body are hydrated with my favorite body lotion and facial cream. Skin always imparts a healthy glow when it's nourished! Finishing touches with hair and makeup: From the best hair styling products that reduce frizz and impart shine to using makeup that spotlights my best features (my eyes, hello!), this is where most of my time is spent getting ready. There you have it! While it may sound pretty simple, setting aside time for some pampering before your date will seriously do you a world of good. Self care is the best form of wellness in my book and it shows when you're out with the one you love! How do you get date night ready? Be sure to follow Amopé™ on Facebook! If you liked this post please tweet it!

Get date night ready with Amopé™! https://t.co/qKgAXRdmdb #AmopeCrowd #spon #beauty pic.twitter.com/7G7gzGW66k

— A Girl's Gotta Spa! (@agirlsgottaspa) February 18, 2016

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!