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!

Preparing for Detox

Ho, Ho, Ho GCS lovers! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, and family time holiday! We had a great time with our family and friends, and it's been absolutely DIVINE to have a real vacation from work and school.

As I mentioned in my last post, I have set out to use Mark Hyman's "The Detox Box" for a 7-day detox beginning the first week of January. (I'm actually still debating on beginning on January 1 or 2, because I have a feeling tomorrow will bring a bit of a headache that may need a greasy sausage biscuit... if you catch my drift!)

Either way, I have begun preparing both my kitchen and myself for detox. Here are a few of the easy steps I have taken, that you can also begin today!

1. While I have stuck with my morning cup of coffee, I have eliminated Diet Cokes from my diet (save for that one I had at the movies the other night... but one in a week is a huge improvement for me!).

I'm pretty sure that the caffeine detox is going to be the toughest part for me. Actually, I'd put money on the fact that this may be the cause of a few recent breakouts, honestly. However, I am working part-time this week and don't have class, so I may be taking a few cat naps. Mark Hyman's plan suggests napping!

2. I've stocked up on my supplies from our local Trader Joes.

For those of you with a Trader Joes nearby, I STRONGLY suggest going there first, before Whole Foods. While I do love my WF, Trader Joes had several of the supplies I needed for a good price AND in a convenient, ready-to-cook fashion. Their frozen organic brown rice is going to be a life-saver--- who has 2 hours to cook brown rice? Mark Hyman may not appreciate this method, but I'm a working gal with time to budget, so I deemed this ok! I also picked up a few of my supplements there for a great price. I've still got to get one or two supplements from WF, but I saved a bundle by hitting up TJ's first!

3. I've set aside space in my fridge, freezer, and on my counter for "my" supplies.

While my husband will inevitably be subject to a few vegan/gluten free/alcohol free/dairy free dinners, I can't subject the poor guy to the entire detox without him being willing (and let me tell you, nothing is going to get that man to give up Bud Light and a good turkey sandwich). So, I have made two shelves in the fridge and a corner on our counter for me to keep my food items, supplements, herbal teas, etc. That way I don't even have to open our pantry or rifle through our fridge and be tempted by the Doritos, grits, Triscuits, cheese, wine, etc. By keeping tunnel vision on my three little spaces, I eliminate a bit of temptation.

4. I've begun to lightly incorporate a few detox-esque changes to my diet already.

Nothing huge, but just to get my body used to, ahem, a vegetable after a 2-week bender of sausage cheese balls, wine, beer, vodka, bourbon, fried fish, cupcakes, biscuits, cheese straws, casseroles, grits, bacon, and fried oysters (Don't give me that face- I'm from the South). I have begun taking some of the supplements and am currently sipping on my breakfast smoothie of strawberries, ground flax seed, flax oil, chia seeds (not on Mark Hyman's plan, but they are great!), spinach, coconut milk, Vitamin C Powder, and Greek yogurt. This isn't technically the detox smoothie, but it's a heck of a lot better than Frosted Mini Wheats and gets my body used to what's ahead.

5. I've dusted off the ole yoga mat.

I've also created a space in my house where I can literally have an entire room to myself, with great natural light (the sunlight kind, not the beer!), to have my DVD and yoga area. I've got a few other workout videos (thanks to a co-worker) and an exercise ball and resistance band. This creates a space in our house entirely dedicated to me and my relaxation which is amazing!

Ok, so Happy New Years Eve to all! Enjoy the evening, and I look forward to detoxing with you come tomorrow!

Detoxing for Good Clean Skin in the New Year!

Hello, GCS Readers! Please excuse my recent extended absence. A semester of Quantitative Methods and Financial Accounting had me under a bit of an academic rock. Let me tell you something else- it also had me totally stressed, messed up my entire exercise routine, and threw me for a good five pound weight gain. I know, I know- there is no good excuse for not exercising, drinking a Thursday night martini with classmates, and eating mini-twix bars for dinner. But let me tell you, getting up at 5 am to exercise, then working a full day, and then sitting in Financial Accounting until 9 pm without caffeine or chocolate- it's harder than you think!

All this to say, my skin has had it's own reaction to all this imbalance, and it has not been pretty. Blotchy coloring, rashing around the eyes, pimples on the jawline, dry spots and greasy spots. It got bad pretty fast, and unlike me, I let it go for far too long.

If you've read many of my previous posts, you know that I believe strongly in an "inside out" beauty routine. Your skin will mirror your lifestyle, and don't let any dermatologist tell you otherwise. Smokers, heavy drinkers, tanning bed lovers, overweight ladies-- your skin will show this long before you'd like for it to!

So, I've decided to get back to basics and go "Modified Paleo" for a while. I've recently ordered a few books from Amazon to help me- including a few from one of my favorite healthy book authors, Mark Hyman, PhD. I have purchased his "The Detox Box" and am looking forward to starting out my January with a good, healthy, NORMAL detox. No- this is not a "eat lemon rinds and drink strange asparagus juice for 2 weeks to lose 28 pounds" detox. This is a true, yoga-doing, healthy-eating, no alcohol, no caffeine detox and I am DETERMINED to do it right!

So, over the month of January, I'll be periodically discussing the effect this has on my skin. And, if the holiday over-indulgence has you feeling a bit puffy and pimply, perhaps you'll join me?! I'd love to have others try this with me and post about the effect it has on their skin, as well!

The Buzz on BB

Happy October, Good Clean Skin Lovers!

Unless you've been hiding under a rock these last few months, by now you've heard of BB Cream. Actually, this post has been a long time coming, as I had been planning on trying some BB Creams all summer, and then time got away from me.You may not have tried it yet (it took me a while to come around to the idea, myself) but you've at least seen the ads and commercials. So, what's the buzz?

BB Cream (which stands for beauty balm here in the Western part of the world) is a recent import to the beauty market from our Eastern friends and is touted as an "all-in-one" miracle cream claiming to be the replacement for moisturizer, make up primer, sunblock, and foundation. In other words, it's tinted moisturizer on steroids. Now, this may seem like a super new idea, but the concept actually dates back to a 1960s German dermatologist who was seeking a healing balm for her patients after mild surgical procedures. Of course, it's been perfected over the last several decades, and now wham! Thank you 2012, BB Cream has made it to America, and in a big way.

Almost every tried and true skin care and cosmetics brand has got a BB Cream by now, and the drug store brands weren't far behind (though I haven't tried it, I've seen the ads for Garnier's BB Cream, and the price tag is great!).

So- should you put a BB Cream in your make up bag? The answer is yes. For all you 5 am morning gym goers, busy moms on the go, working girls who skip lunch breaks to run errands-- this beauty product is for you. It's the busy woman's make up... and I've yet to meet a woman who isn't busy! I wear it alone on a day-to-day basis, or you can also use it as a primer for other make up if you're getting a bit more dolled up.

Now, which ones to try? Here are my current favorites, but I can't claim to have tried every BB Cream out there, so please post suggestions!

1. boscia's BB Cream SPF 27 PA++- This might be my favorite, but I'm also a tad partial to boscia's products because they paraben, sulfate, dyes and fragrance free, etc. Aka- they leave out all the things I can't pronounce, and that seems to make good clean sense! This BB Cream seems to give me a really nice natural look, which I like. And, for $38, this isn't a bank breaker, either.

2. stila's Stay All Day 10-In-1 HD Beauty Balm- Maybe it's because I came of age in the 90s, but stila has always been a favorite beauty line for me, and I love being able to find them at Sephora. stila's BB cream is great, and it's light weight, and it comes in a pretty tube. Like boscia's cream, this too is free of all things hard to pronounce, and it's $38 a tube. It seems to give me a little more "glow" than the boscia cream, and has a great light reflecting quality on my skin.

3. Dr. Jart's Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA++- I haven't tried this one yet, but it's next on my list because I've been reading all good things. It was a totalbeauty.com winner for 2012, and has gotten other great reviews, too. Apparently this is good for those of us drier-skin gals, and I like the added SPF, too! A great plus for those of us with fair skin. (When I do try it, I'll make sure to post!) This is $39, so like the others, right in that $40 range, which isn't too bad!

Have you tried any of these? Good results? Great results from some other BB Cream? Let me know!

Wednesday's Deals & Steals

Happy Wednesday, GCS lovers! I've got some great deals for you today, in the hopes that you will forgive me for my spotty posting lately. (I've just started Evening MBA school, so I've been a little nuts!)

However, here is your chance to stock up on four fabulous brands, all at a fabulous price. I've included how to get the discount (in some instances you may have to click a banner to get directly into the site), the coupon code (if there is one) and also products from each brand that you may want to try, if you're new to the brand.

Happy Shopping!

Burt's Bees

The deal: Click on the text link over to the right. I can't seem to make this work in the body of this post, so I apologize. However, this link will take you directly to Burt's Bee's Outlet, where you can get select products up to 60% off retail prices.

Why you'll love Burt's Bees: Burt's Bees was founded in North Carolina, and is a great company based out of Durham. Their products mainly center around bee and honey type ingredients, but also add other fabulous natural and organic ingredients to make healthy, environmentally responsible, and (most importantly) effective products that work great on all skin types. Even better- the prices for this line are very reasonable, and the products are of high quality!

Products to try: Their Radiance Serum ($18), Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream ($6), and Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment ($9)


Clarins

The deal: Click on the link to the right of this screen, you'll see a button that says "Up to 60% off." This is a private sale that can't be entered unless you click this link- so make sure to use it! Also, Clarins also has free shipping on orders over $75.

Why you'll love Clarins: Other than the wonderful feeling of buying a bottle with French all over it (Ok, I can't help it, who doesn't love to feel European!?), Clarins is a good line for those of you who want to specifically target certain issues. Their HydroQuench line is one of the best for Dry Skin that I've ever used- I love the Cream Gel and the Mask. For those of you with very sensitive skin, don't pass up the Skin Beauty Repair Concentrate. It's $60, but I promise you'll thank me after just one use!

Products to try: Their Cleansing Milk with Gentian in Luxury Size is great for you gals with oily or combination skin- and it's on sale for $40- grab it up! It's good stuff and their bigger bottles rarely go on sale. You may also want to try their Restoring Age Control Boosters Set- it's a steal at $144 and contains great products for those of you who are hoping to prevent and reverse the signs of aging.

Jurlique

The deal: Click on the link above, and use code BIRTHDAY to take 27% off in honor of their 27th birthday! The only catch- this link is good for 27 hours, so act fast! If you order over $35 you may also consider getting a free travel-size Purely Bright Radiance Serum when you use code RADIANCE.

Why you'll love Jurlique: This is a new product line favorite for me, and their Calendula Cream is currently in my beauty bag as a great after-sun moisturizer for summer. Jurlique's products are natural, and they are great for sensitive skin. They operate their own 153-acre farm in order to maintain the quality of their ingredients.

Products to try: Calendula Cream, Purely Bright Cleanser, Soothing Herbal Recovery Gel

Philosophy

The deal: A free 27 Wishes Multi Purpose Skin Nurturing Balm when you spend $35 or more with code MYWISH.

Why you'll love Philosophy: A cult favorite with great packaging, Philosophy's body wash products are in glamour girls showers all over the world. Their products smell good, feel good, and work well. While I'm not as versed in their skin care, I have been a long time lover of their signature scent Amazing Grace. A clean, happy scent that will instantly brighten your mood and leave your boyfriend thinking that you "just always smell good"!

Products to try: Their new Hope in a Jar is hot off the press, and I'm curious for a sample. However, my favorites from this line include their fabulous smelling body washes and lotions. Amazing Grace products are also on the list to try!

Good news for local Mario lovers!

Good news, Winston-Salem, NC ladies!

Hair Body & Soul in Thruway Shopping Center now carries Mario Badescu products. Their selection is limited, but I feel certain if the demand grows, so will the supply! So, pop on over to this great little beauty spot (that also carries some great hair care brands like Phyto, Big Sexy Hair,  and Alterna) and get your Mario Badescu fix.

While you're there, do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle of OPI's Nail Envy clear nail strengthener. It's $12 well spent!

Hair Body & Soul
312 South Stratford Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

The Dreaded Painful Pimple

Hello again, skin care lovers! I apologize for my recent break, but in the last few weeks my husband and I have sold our home, purchased (or are in the process of purchasing) a new one, have been raising a beagle puppy, and I've been studying for the GMAT. Needless to say, our household has been fairly chaotic. Yours truly has been under some serious stress and my diet, exercise, and skin care routines have all taken a hit.

So it shouldn't have been a surprise to me at all that when I woke up yesterday- and there it was. The Dreaded Painful Pimple. Right on the bridge of my nose. Oh, it hurt something terrible! Even the most devoted skin care pro can't avoid the occasional painful pimple. Stress, hormones, diet, getting off schedule- it can all add up. And sometimes, it will add up right on the bridge of your nose. Grrr.

So, what was a girl to do? Well, the first AND MOST IMPORTANT rule of Dreaded Painful Pimples (DPP) is simple- DON'T try to pop it! More often than not, you can avoid ever seeing (though unfortunately not feeling) one of these little buggers. If you leave it alone, it's quite possible that it will go away on it's own, never even breaking the skin.

Secondly, heat up your water (either by faucet, or in a stovetop pan) and using a wash cloth, make a warm compress that you apply gently to the DPP. Don't scald the poor thing! Don't try to burn it off your face. Just use tolerable, warm water and a clean washcloth. 10-15 seconds per application, and then give it a few seconds of air before applying the heat again.

Lastly, don't overload it with creams, potions, and drying agents. We all know what flaky, irritated skin looks like, and it's not pretty. You've already got a pimple, no need to dry out your skin like the Sahara. Use a gentle anti-zit cream (I like Mario Badescu's Anti-Acne Serum) and apply a thin layer to the DPP, and the area around it, after you wash with your regular cleanser. Don't forget to follow with a moisturizer! You will need it to help keep your skin in balance.

A few days of this treatment, and you should notice it begin to abate. And, in the meantime, drink lots of water and try to bring your stress levels down with some yoga, walking, or relaxation time!