Fatigue Covering Secret Weapons

Hello, GCS readers! I hope everyone is enjoying summer!

I don't know about you, but it seems like almost all of my friends are constantly starting a sentence with the words "I'm so worn out..." And I will be honest, they have every right to be. Many of my friends are working full time, going back to school, chairing community projects, have a new baby (or two!) at home, or are traveling for work at a ridiculous and break neck pace. Of course these women are exhausted!


The only problem is, living a hectic lifestyle can wreck havoc on your face. Haven't slept in 2 months thanks to your adorable newborn? Your eyes look it. Just flew from Houston to Raleigh to Denver to set up for a conference? Your skin tone shows it. Stayed up all night studying for a Managerial Accounting final? Yeah, girl, we can tell.

So if you can't control how much is suddenly on your plate, what can you do to fake it 'til your next much deserved vacation? Well, luckily I've compiled a few of my fatigue covering "secret weapons" so that you too can look a bit perkier until you can get a chance to do the only thing that truly helps us all look a bit better... sleep! (For more on the importance of sleep and tips on counteracting stress, check back to a previous blog post of mine- "The Three S's- Stress, Sleep, and Skin").

Fatigue is often seen most prominently around your eyes. Bags, puffiness, dark circles. Here are a few products that I find really help perk up my eyes when I haven't had a good nights sleep or when that well meaning neighbor is about to drop off dinner and your baby hasn't napped all day...

1. Cosmetix Brand Opti Crystal Chirally Correct Eye Serum- I've raved about this stuff before, but it really will give your eyes an instant boost, and it just keeps improving eye skin over time. I've found the best prices for this on Amazon.com and recently snagged a bottle for around $55, instead of the $90 on retail. One small bottle lasts you a pretty long time, so though it might seem like an investment, it's one worth making! You only need a teeny, teeny little bit to get both eyes nice and covered.

2. Curl your eyelashes, and put on some mascara- Ok, so this sounds super simple, and it is. But if you're hopping off a red eye from Denver to Raleigh, curling your eyelashes and giving yourself a mascara boost (whatever your favorite may be) is a great way to perk up your eyes a bit! Eyelash curlers are not expensive, and you can get one at any local drug store for less than $12 or so.

3. Benefit's Watt's Up Stick- I don't normally recommend make up on my site, as I tend to stick to skin care, but a nice sales lady gave me a sample of this once when I was purchasing some benetint (good stuff!) and I have fallen totally in love with it! It's a simple little stick and by swiping just a small bit in the corners of your eyes, you will look instantly more awake and pulled together. It's pretty great! A full size stick is around $40 on Amazon.com, but I'll be honest, this is another product that will last you forever. My small sample tube has lasted me months! You can also swipe a little on your cheekbones for a nice glow.

We all know that forgoing a good night's sleep makes our skin look a little less than rosy and glowing, so here are a few products for an all over improvement.

1. Pevonia Botanica Lumafirm Repair Cream and Freeze Dried Disks- Two little wonder products so fantastic that a while back, I actually did an entire blog post on just these products. I won't repeat myself too much here, but will say that this is by far my all time favorite face lotion and skin care booster set. I have no idea how Pevonia Botanica discovered this, but after using the disk and the lotion, you do look instantly refreshed. It's pretty amazing. Sadly, this stuff isn't cheap, but I'll swear to it's worth and value all day long! If you're a frequent flyer, new mom, or just could use some instant glow, go online and order this stuff immediately! (Thank me later).

2. Water- Yep, drink water. Lots and lots of water. After listing a few expensive fixes, I thought I'd throw in this friendly and cheap reminder. Often when we are tired, we reach for coffee or a trusty Diet Coke. (I'm not saying you can't have a little caffeine, because I am totally not one to take a morning cup of 'joe out of the hands out a new mother who has been up all night!) But caffeine only has a short term effect, and can actually dehydrate you in the long run. So if you're zipping through the airport terminal or nursing a cranky baby at 3:30 am, grab a water bottle as a trusty side kick. Your skin will thank you! Sometimes if I'm trying to really give my skin a boost, I'll do the "gallon of water a day for three days" routine. You feel like you have to tee tee non stop, but by day three, you look like a new woman!

Now, let me be honest, a good nights sleep will help far more than any product or trick, but if it's not in your cards, then hopefully these tricks can help you boost your glow until you have time for some rest. Do you have any favorite fatigue busting tricks? I'd love to hear them, so please list them below, readers!

Maximizing Your Spa Budget

I know what you're thinking.... Did she really just put the words "spa" and "budget" in the same sentence? But yes, gals, I did! Because every once in a while all of us deserve a little spa time, and frankly, there is nothing like a good day at the spa. Too often we resign time at a spa to being "too expensive" and we don't even look into it. I am here to tell you that you deserve it and you can afford it!

So how does a budget-conscious spa-loving lady (like me!) make the most of her time at the spa? Here are some suggestions:

1. Pick a spa with the works and perks!

If you can find a spa that also offers complementary steam room and sauna features, you'll find yourself in heaven (without a fee!). This way, you can stretch out a $80 facial all afternoon by preparing for your treatment in the whirlpool or steam room. You may be paying a tad more for the treatment (massage, facial, what have you) but you're enjoying a lot of the perks (lounging in the robe, drinking the spa water, sitting in the whirlpool, etc) as a complementary bonus. How delightful! Another tip- arrive early to your appointment at these places and enjoy these features for a nice long while before your appointment time.

2. Opt for a polish change rather than a full manicure.

I know it's delightful to have someone give you a hand and arm massage, but a quicker polish change can be almost half as expensive with much of the same results. Your cuticles will still be pushed, your nails still trimmed/filed, and a fresh coat of color put on. You just won't get all the soaking/massaging benefits. The same, of course, goes for a pedicure. And you can always soak your hands and feet at home!

3. Make your own "package" deal.

A lot of spas offer specialty packages and may seem like you're getting a discount- but is it really a discount if you didn't need the service? Think about what your body needs and only book treatments that will work best for you. Need to shed that winter dull skin in preparation for summer? Book a body scrub and regular pedicure. Face broken out? Book a signature facial and skip the other treatments. By booking only the services you need most, you'll get a little more bang for your buck and control your spending. Let's face it, it would be lovely to have manicures, pedicures, facials, and lunch brought in- but do you really need all that?

4. Make it a girls weekend, at home.

Resort spas (aka where you go for the entire weekend) may not be interested in giving a discount to your party of five (after all, that's pretty typical for them), but a local beauty spot might be. So, before you opt to go away for the weekend, schedule a girlfriends "stay-cation" and call up your favorite local spa. When you're making your reservation for you and your friends, ask if you can get a group discount. They may say no, but hey, does it hurt to ask?

5. Schedule an appointment for extractions rather than a whole facial.

If your skin is broken out (hello PMS/stress/hangover/exhaustion) and you want some help from the pros, try making an appointment for extractions instead of for an entire facial. You won't get the relaxing rubbing and resting, but you will get a professionally cleaned face and professional extractions (which is far better than squeezing at home!) for a fraction of the cost. I find extractions typically only run about $15-$25 per appointment, which is far less expensive than paying for an entire facial.

6. Skip the "mani-pedi" in the upscale spas.

Often we fall back on a trusted "mani-pedi" when we go to a resort type spa, when in reality, you can get a great mani-pedi at your little nail salon next to the grocery store back home for half the price. It is delightful to have a real spa manicure and pedicure, and if you've never done it, then far be it from me to stop you, but save your real "spa" dollars for treatments you can't get anywhere else.

Now pick up the phone and make yourself that well-deserved appointment!

Birchbox

First and foremost, I've got to admit a little failure on my part. I got about 4 days into my New Year's detox and caught the most terrible cold. I was so sick! I broke down and had chicken noodle soup from a can and other cold-comforting foods. So, I apologize for my lack of update as far as the detox goes, but I didn't finish out the full 7 days. I'm promising myself another detox (I'm thinking I may do a pre-holidays detox, this year? To prepare for the puff?) later this year, so hopefully I can keep you posted on that. However, I will say, just 4 days of detox did help me shed a bit of weight and my skin looked quite good- so if you are motivated to try a detox, let me recommend Mark Hyman's The Detox Box to you!

However, I couldn't go another day without letting you all know about this awesome Christmas present from my sweet hubby! He, creative man that he is, got me a year-long subscription to Birchbox, which is this neat, monthly little gift package that comes in the mail with little beauty samples for you to try! January's package had some awesome Shi Umera Hair Oil and this fun Harvey Prince "Skinny Chic" fragrance sample, which were both lovely. February's package just arrived with some fun nail enamel and some great eye make-up remover from Lancome.

The Birchbox is a fun way to try new things without going to the expense of purchasing an entire bottle (you know I never shy away from asking for a sample!) and has some brands that you may not be discovering on your own! So, if you're looking for a great gift for a friend/mom/sister/bestie or just enjoy a little treat in your mailbox once a month, I recommend trying it!