Disclosure: Thanks to RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Chest, Neck and Face Cream, I’m targeting the 5 signs of aging as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #WomenWhoRoC While the Summer wreaks havoc on my skin by aging it with damaging UV rays, the Winter is equally as brutal with dryness leaving my skin looking dull. And with every year I age, it seems a new wrinkle emerges. Fighting what ages you is a 365 day a year battle. You're only as old as you feel, right? Having a 6 month old at 41; I can tell you there are plenty of days when I feel youthful. It's like being 25 with my first one all over again. However, my mirror likes to promptly remind me that it's not 1999 and I definitely don't look to be in my mid-twenties. Hell, I don' even look to be in my 30's, either. Thanks to 4 decades years of living life, my skin is beginning to show its true age. I'm pretty good at keeping a consistent anti-aging skin care routine, but I like when I come across a multi-tasking product that targets more than one skin care concern. RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Chest, Neck and Face Cream is a new broad spectrum SPF 30 skin care product and is the perfect addition to your facial care routine. Taking aim at the 5 signs of aging in the chest, neck and face area - discoloration, sagging skin, dryness, dull skin tone and wrinkles - this neck and facial cream hydrates thirsty, dry skin while helping to restore elasticity and firmness. The cream is richly textured while not feeling heavy on the skin; it's not greasy and quickly absorbs into the skin. It is scented and the fragrance reminds me of damask roses; very light and very pretty. It eventually dissapates and you no longer smell it after a few minutes. I'll be honest, and I'm sure I'm not the only one - I often forget to apply cream to my neck, even knowing that your neck and chest area are one of the first places that shows signs of aging. For me, what helped me to get into the habit of incorporating it into my daily routine was the scent of this product and how soft my skin felt after applying it. I also like that RoC® MULTI CORREXION® 5 in 1 Chest, Neck and Face Cream has broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection so that I'm shiedling my neck from further UV damage.

Happiness is.... ♡♡♡

A photo posted by Shannon Smyth ? (@agirlsgottaspa) on Feb 7, 2016 at 3:14pm PST

Is a neck and chest cream part of your beauty routine? 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!

As a consumer, my hope is that when a product comes to market, it delivers information that is true. I mean, we're all so busy, who has the time to fact check everything? For a while, we all believed the mascara commercials and ads where the spokesperson/model had the most amazing lashes... until the FTC made them disclose that the lashes you saw were really lash extensions with mascara and a healthy dose of photoshop. And sidebar - prior to this disclosure I always thought something was just plain wrong with me because I couldn't duplicate those lashes using that miracle mascara. Every year there is a new fad ingredient for skin care and cosmetics. Some of them, like argan oil, truly deserve the praise and promotion. While others deserve to be looked at with skepticism. Enter probiotics. Now don't get me wrong, my whole family takes a probiotic and we eat yogurt with live cultures all the time. I know the benefits of probiotics because it has really helped us with gut issues. Probiotics are a good thing. However, I've noticed a trend with it being touted as a miracle skin care ingredient. I've seen claims that state that probiotic skin care offers a healthy dose of probiotics to help boost the skin’s immune system. That probiotic skin care is infused with healthy bacteria. Another brand says the probiotics in their skin care protects and strengthens the skin's microbiome. It all sounds amazing... if it were true. Whenever I hear these sciencey types of claims I immediately turn to my longtime myth-busting beauty blogger friend Perry of The Beauty Brains.  Who, if you are not aware, is a cosmetic chemist and scientist. In other words, he knows his stuff. Perry told me, "Probiotics in skin care will not affect your immune system. For probiotics to have an effect, they would have to be living and there are no skin care products on the market that have living probiotics (bacteria) in their products. It is marketing BS pure and simple." And the claim that probiotics in skin care can protect and strengthen the skin's microbiome? Perry explained,"The bacteria and other microscopic creatures that live on your skin (like demodex mites) are called the skin microbiome. If you took a microscope and looked at skin you'd see a literal zoo of microbes. The claim that the skin care line 'protects and strengthens' the microbiome is meaningless marketing drivel. That's like saying you protect and strengthen a zoo. It makes no sense, but it sounds impressive to consumers." So there you have it. Probiotics in skin care to boost your immune system or to protect/strengthen your skin is merely marketing hype; a buzzword. And while it's true, we've previously reviewed and raved about a skin care brand whose focus is probiotics, in hindsight it appears that the products worked well due to the other skin nourishing ingredients, not in relation to probiotics. So when you read or hear about "probiotic technology" (which I have yet to see any brand truly define what that technology is), don't fall prey to the claims. Or have you already? Leave a comment - I'd love to hear from you. If you found this article helpful, please share it!

Probiotic #SkinCare: Miracle Ingredient or Marketing Hype? https://t.co/QBkrKNHFqJ feat @thebeautybrains pic.twitter.com/rbQqtZbayl

— A Girl's Gotta Spa! (@agirlsgottaspa) January 29, 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!

I hate to break it to you, but eventually gray hair will rule your mane. Chances are, if you are reading this article, you already know this to be true. When we go gray, and how much, is a mix of genetics and lifestyle. So while you may not be able to avoid it, you can slow it down or simply cover it up. Slow Gray Hair Growth with Vitamins and Minerals: Eating healthy benefits you in more ways than one, and that includes gray hair! When you have a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals, it can not only affect the strength and sheen of your hair, but your hair color, as well. For example, low vitamin B12 and folic acid levels are notorious for causing loss of hair pigment. The production of melanin, which determines skin and hair color, slows as we age, so eating a diet rich in copper helps boost melanin production. This means that when your hair goes through its life cycle, you're less likely to have a gray hair replacing your typical color. I can attest to this myself! I'm 41 years old and had started seeing gray hair begin to emerge years ago. However, when I got pregnant with my 5th son in Nov. 2014 and began taking my prenatals, and even now still taking them due to nursing, I noticed something curious. I only have one singular, wiry gray strand. That's it. I wondered where all my gray hair went until I did my research and found out that I indirectly kicked it to the curb. I've even been asked lately what I use to color my hair (I haven't colored my hair in a few years now!) Stop Premature Graying by Quitting Smoking: Research indicates that there's a correlation between premature graying and smoking. While I couldn't find indepth details, the studies out there point to free radicals created by smoking as the culprit to damaging the cells that produce melanin. Smoking is bad for your health all around, so quitting is a no brainer. Use a Gray Root Concealer: If you prefer your regular hair color and only want to conceal your gray roots, there's an easier way than dyeing it every 6 weeks. GrayAway has a root touch-up magnetic powder that self-adjusts color to match yours and washes out with your regular shampoo. Simply apply the powder with the sponge applicator, only touching up where you need it. The color stays all day, and because it is protein-infused, it leaves your hair shiny and soft. A bonus is that because this gray root concealer is a powder and you are applying it at your roots - it should also give your hair a little volume, as well. GrayAway also has a fast drying, sweat-resistant temporary root concealer spray, too. Gray hair affects most people by the time they turn 30, so hopefully these tips will help you slow down the process or find and easier way to cover them up. 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: This post was sponsored by GrayAway. You can follow them on Twitter @grayawayeverpro, on Instagram @grayawayeverpro and Facebook @grayaway.

Do you have oily or combination skin? You may want to consider incorporating charcoal into your skin care regimen. Sure, charcoal is totally on trend right now and may seem like a fad, but it's for good reason. Charcoal absorbs oil and draws out toxins and bacteria from the skin. Those of us with this skin type know that excess oil leads to clogged pores, which leads to blemishes. Bacteria, transferred by way of constantly touching your face or even tampering with those blemishes, only leads to more blemishes. It's a vicious cycle my friends. I decided to give a few charcoal products a try (and my teen son's were also game to clear up their acne.) These are the current charcoal skin care products in my shower right now: Michael Todd Charcoal Detox Cleanser: With a black, semi gel-like consistency, this cleanser comes in a pretty large bottle with a pump. I didn't notice a fragrance to it, but what was noticeable was how amazing my skin looked after using this for a few months. Even my oldest son, who is always broken out with acne all over his forehead, had a large decrease since using this cleanser. Aside from activated charcoal, this cleanser also contains aloe, which will help soothe acne flare-ups; tea tree oil, an anti-bacterial; and sugar cane, maple and bilberry extract for retexturizing the skin. Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub: This gritty, black facial scrub doesn't really have a smell to it. It's not greasy at all and the texture is like a paste. This activated charcoal facial scrub uses jojoba wax beads to exfoliate, which are gentler on skin and won't scrape it up (like say a scrub with apricot kernels would.) So while you slough off the dead skin, the charcoal is taking care of the excess oil and bacteria. This scrub also contains tea tree oil like the detox cleanser. (The tube pictured is trial size; the full size is much bigger.) LATHER Charcoal and Tea Tree Cleansing Bar: When is the last time you had a black bar of soap in your shower? My kids were perplexed when they saw it. You can smell the tea tree oil in this soap, but it's not overwhelming. Keep the bar away from water when not in use, and it will last a ridiculously long time. I've been using it for about 2 months now and it looks like I've barely touched it. Simply rub the bar in your palms and then massage onto your face and then rinse. LATHER Charcoal Konjac Sponge: Get one of these STAT. I've never used a konjac sponge prior to this, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. It looks like a pumice stone - even feels like one when you take it out of the package. However, the moment water touched it, it immediately became this silky sponge. You can use it alone or with a cleanser. When I pair it with my Michael Todd Detox Cleanser, it makes it lather (so use only a small amount.) When you're done, keep it out of water. It'll dry back to it's hard, pumice-like state. It is literally amazing and I love it. Obviously I don't use these products all at once, but I do consistently alternate them daily to keep my skin blemish-free. Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to hear from you! 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 links

Little did I know when growing up on the beaches of Rhode Island, that the wavy hair that came naturally among the sand and surf, would be a hairstyle I would try so hard to achieve as an adult. While my hair does have a slight natural wave to it, it's not really the kind that magazine hair is made of. Pinterest is full of how to get beach wavy hair tutorials that include curling wands, flat irons and braiding your hair before bed... but let me be honest with you, I prefer to do some things the easy way. Who has time for all of that? Enter Mitch Stone Essentials Texturizing Spray. I'm already used to adding a hair treatment to my hair before styling it, so it's not something I had to go out of my way to do and it didn't add another step to my beauty routine that I didn't already have in place. I simply spritzed it at my roots and then throughout my hair. Then I would either blow dry my hair until it was damp or I would just let my hair air dry. Either way, curls and waves would begin to emerge. Sometimes, later in the day I would spray it a few more times on my dry hair to give it a little more volume. It would wet my hair at first, but quickly absorb and plump up the waves within minutes. Mitch Stone Essentials Texturizing Spray is the concept of celebrity hairstylist, Mitch Stone. Not only does the Texturizing Spray include mineral-reach sea water, but it also contains hydrolyzed wheat protein and silk to make hair strong and shiny, and papaya extract for healthy hair. Typically salt water can be drying to your hair, but it seems that it's all balanced out with the other nourishing ingredients to prevent this. I've been using it for 2 months now in addition to Mitch Stone Essentials Lustre Shampoo and Conditioner, Lustre Drops and Session Spray and my hair hasn't been dry or brittle at all, in fact, it's the healthiest its ever looked. If you have long hair, I bet this would work amazing for you. And shorter hair? It will give you some volume. Try it and let me know what you think! 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

The holiday travel season is officially upon us so I've decided to share some of my favorite travel friendly beauty products in hopes that it will make this holiday travel season a bit less stressful...and germ free. 1. Farmaesthetics Cool Aloe Mist This spritz is ideal for air travel because it is hydrating, refreshing and purifying. The cool aloe mist soothes dry skin and doubles an anti-bacterial, which is important in such an enclosed environment where air is re-circulated. Just spray it around your personal space prior to boarding for a relaxing scent and to ward off those airplane germs. 2. Yuni Instant Shower Sheet I love having these in my purse just in case of delayed or canceled flights.  I have been stranded at the airport enough times without access to a shower and these wipes are the next best thing to a shower. They cleanse, deodorize and refresh with neem and peppermint. 3. Glossier Coconut Balm Dotcom Leaving home without this salve is not an option.  First off, I adore the smell of coconut as it just puts me in a great mood no matter what. The smell of this mutli-tasking skin salve plus the fact that it is uber hydrating, makes it an absolute must-have travel beauty product for me. 4. Super Booster Teeth Whitening Pen  This pen is fast-acting and easy to use, plus it has a minty flavor so it also freshens that dreaded airplane breath. 5.  Pixi Glow Tonic This is another product with a super addictive scent. It's fresh, clean and pretty.  It also has 5% glycolic acid, aole vera and ginseng and gently exfoliates skin for a bright, glowing complexion. I love using it right before I land. These products definitely help to make my time on an airplane a lot less stressful and hopefully they will make your holiday travel season a bit more merry. What are some of your favorite travel friendly beauty products? 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: Some affiliate links

Disclosure: Thanks to RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 I’m getting my skin ready for the holidays as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #WomenWhoRoC

The holidays are finally here, which seems a bit unreal, especially here in the Poconos where it hasn't had accumulative snow yet, making it still feel like September. (There's something about snow that really gives you that holiday feeling.) As everyone reaches for their camera to capture the season's memories, now is the time to have a winter skin care regimen going in full force. Did you begin back when we began talking about holiday skin prep? Since I know my family will be snapping lots of photos, especially since it is my youngest son's first Christmas, I really want to look my best. And to be honest, I'm super self conscious about those photos going up on Facebook and my friends from high school secretly judging how I'm aging. (Admit it, it's something you think about, too.) In addition to the RoC® Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream I mentioned using in my last post, I'm also incorporating RoC® RETINOL CORREXION® Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 into my skin care arsenal. The moisturizer contains an exclusive combination of pure retinol and the latest sunscreen technology that is specifically engineered to deliver very broad and photostable UVA and UVB protection with an SPF 30 (which is the minimum SPF you should be using on your skin at all times.) Since exposure to light is known to degrade the effectiveness of retinol, I like that RoC's stablized retinol is kept intact with the addition of broad spectrum sunscreen. Sunscreen should be part of your daily skin care regimen anyway, since what's the point of using anti-aging skin care if you're going to let the sun continue to age you? (Am I right?!) This moisturizer is clinically shown to visibly diminish wrinkles after 8 weeks of use and after 12 weeks of use, even deep wrinkles are visibly diminished. I've only been using it about 4 weeks so far and my wrinkles have definitely softened in their appearance. I especially dislike this one deep set wrinkle I have that is between my eyebrows.  As you can see in the photo, it is still visible, but it's not all in your face. (Do you see what I just did there?) At least not to me. It looks softer and more like a fine line than a wrinkle. The fine lines I do have are less noticeable. Retinol is said to be drying, but I haven't found that to be the case so far. I do have combination skin and I've found that it has a mattifying effect for me. Do I look 41? (You can say no.) I'd love to hear about your experience if you've used this product! Leave a comment! 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!

National day(s) of complete diet obliteration ...also known as "the holidays," is almost upon us. As much as I am looking forward to unlimited pumpkin pie and stuffing, I know that beginning the day after Thanksgiving, all I am going to want to do is detox. This year I am one step ahead of the game with Teami Skinny Tea. Teami Skinny Tea combines a blend of natural ingredients meant to boost metabolism, improve digestive problems and help to suppress cravings to help achieve weight loss goals. Teami Skinny Tea is a loose-leaf tea that contains Oolong, Yerba Mate, Lime leaf Extract, Lotus leaf, Ginger Root, Dandelion leaf, Rhubarb Root and is gluten free, GMO free, dairy free and sugar free. Unlike a lot of detox/weight loss teas that I have tried, Teami Skinny Tea does not have a laxative effect nor does it make me feel jittery or over caffeinated. I drink this tea first thing in the morning and have definitely noticed a decrease in my cravings for sugar and carbs, as well as feeling and looking less bloated after meals. I would highly recommend getting the insanely cute Teami Tea Infuser to go with your Teami Skinny Tea. The infuser has really small holes so that your tea leaves do not end up floating in your cup. Genius. Will you be including tea into your daily detox and weight loss plan? 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 Twitter. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure: press sample

I partnered with AVEENO® on this post. All opinions are 100% my own. I participated in the #AveenoDailyChallenge for three weeks.

For the last three weeks I participated in the #AveenoDailyChallenge using both AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Body Wash + AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Lotion. The goal was to follow a daily cleanse + moisturize regimen with both products every day in order to accomplish two things - a healthy habit and softer, hydrated skin. Healthy habits don't always come natural to all of us. As an admitted chocoholic, I can tell you that I am more likely to reach for some cocoa deliciousness over a healthier alternative. However, habits don't just happen overnight and it takes consistent repetition over the course of about 21 days to create something you'll stick with. So during the 21 day #AveenoDailyChallenge, I not only challenged myself to stick to a daily cleanse + moisturize regimen, I also consciously made the choice each day to do something healthy when my inner voice would whisper chocolate. For example, putting honey in my tea instead of straight up sugar. (The honey pictured is insanely good and seems to satiate my sweet tooth.) I also added some extra vitamins and supplements like Vitamin D, probiotics, biotin and cranberry in addition to the multi-vitamin I am already taking. If you haven't yet tried AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Body Wash, it's a pearl-colored body wash with a thick texture that smells incredibly fresh. It's the kind of body wash that will stick to your shower puff, not slide through it, and create a rich lather on your skin. AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Lotion is fragrance free and has the look of a thicker cream with the application of a thinner lotion. It absorbs quickly and is non-greasy. In addition to the natural colloidal oatmeal, this lotion also has dimethicone. Dimethicone is known for its moisture retaining properties that helps prevent and protect skin from cracking and drying in cold weather. After 21 days my skin feels great. I also love that these products are safe to use on my sons, especially my newborn. Did you take the #AveenoDailyChallenge yet? 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 Twitter. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

I'll be honest, I was not very familiar with the world of cosmetic ultrasound treatments when I decided to try the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device. Upon doing my research, I learned that ultrasound is a non-surgical/non-invasive treatment that counteracts the effects of time and gravity on your skin.

Ultrasound uses the body's own regenerative response to gently and gradually lift skin on the eyebrow, under the chin and on the neck, and smooth lines and wrinkles on the décolletage.  It can improve the appearance of moderately loose or sagging skin by depositing focused ultrasound energy below the surface to stimulate the body’s creation of new collagen.

The Mira-Skin Ultrasound device promises the benefits of a professional cosmetic ultrasound spa treatment in the comfort of your own home whenever you so desire and at a fraction of the price. 

After receiving my Mira-Skin Ultrasound, I used it for a month before writing this review. The issues I was aiming to treat with this device were dry dull skin, acne scars and skin that just seemed tired looking.

The Mira-Skin Ultrasound device is extremely easy to use. After cleaning my face, I just followed the simple directions and applied the Mira-Skin Hyaluronic Serum to my skin. The serum helps skin to retain moisture, which lends to a plumping effect in the skin. 

After applying the serum, I then applied the Conductive Gel to my face and glided the ultrasound device across my skin. It's the ultrasound waves that help to break up and lift dead cells and boosts the performance of the anti-aging nutrients in the serum.

I then just applied my regular moisturizer, as usual. Serum's role is to help bring your moisturizer deeper into your skin as well, allowing for both products' ingredients to work to their full potential.

After the first use my skin immediately looked more hydrated.  After about a week of using the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device for about ten minutes three times per week, my skin looked rejuvenated, hydrated and smooth. 

After one month of using the ultrasound device, a lot of my acne spots have faded and I am hoping with continued use they will fade even more.

My skin looks brighter, feels more supple, I have noticed my face is a lot less puffy in the mornings and best of all, except for one or two minor pimples, my acne issues seem to be a thing of the past.

I have to be honest and admit that I was really skeptical about the Mira-Skin Ultrasound device, especially after using it for the first time.  Because I didn't feel any vibrations, or tingling...or really anything. It seemed too easy and I didn't think it would work, but I have seen a huge improvement in my skin in the past month.

This device is definitely worth investing in and the very minimal time it takes to use it just a handful of times per week to see such a difference.

Disclosure: Press sample