Beauty Tip # 5: Face Masks

 

Facial are one of the most important procedures to have when wanting to have a gorgeous, luminous, and young looking skin. It is my belief that facials should be part of every woman's top priorities and followed through properly. I make sure to have a cleansing facial every month, and maintain my skin as best as I can by doing weekly mini face peels, detoxes and/or pore cleansing. By keeping your skin cleared of all daily impurities you can boost your anti-aging speed and overall health and beauty of your skin. There are countless spa all throughout the country, and with today's leading technology inventions and at-home spa-like treatments there is truly no limit to all the wonders that we can do to keep our skin looking fresh, young, and glorious.

 

 

xoxo

 

S.

Dior Institut & Spa

 

 

 

 

Among my many dreams and aspirations is to one day manage my very own luxury spa, and my inspiration first came from the luxurious Dior Institute and Spa in Paris at the Plaza Athenee. Below is a quick descriptions taken for the luxurious spa's website, of the little part of heaven that was somehow constructed rigth here on planet Earth.

 

"Because excellence, elegance and refinement never cease to intertwine and innovate, and because the two establishments bear the essence of the Parisian spirit in their very identities, it was only natural that Dior and the Plaza Athénée combine their values and know-how to create the most Parisian of beauty institutes.

Perfect combination of innovation, refinement and sensoriality, Dior Institut offers an exceptional revitalizing escape. In this inviting enclave, where time seems to stand still, the primary aim is to revive the youthful beauty of the face and body through a comprehensive approach, an interaction of the finest treatments and techniques to ensure optimal results. Reshaped by exquisitely precise gestures, the face and the body are toned, reoxygenated, rebalanced. A deep transformation that is reflected in the attitude and the features of the face. The bearing becomes more unbowed, true beauty is revealed.

Dior Institut addresses a large selection of face and body treatments to both women and men. Some treatments have been exclusively developed for the Plaza Athénée. While the Dior Institut at the Plaza Athénée features five treatment rooms (including a double room) and a relaxation lounge, a fitness center, hammam steam baths and saunas, are available to complete your well being experience."

 

It it my belief that every women deserves to enjoy the best that there is, and this facility is just that. And I hope to someday be lucky enough to visit it myself and enjoy a nice relaxing and pampering day at the Dior Spa in Paris.

 

xoxo

 

S.

 

 

Beauty Favourite: Amore Pacific Skincare

Among my many beauty obsessions, the one that is at the very top of my list is proper skincare and good quality, life changing products. The reason for this is because no matter how well you apply your makeup, and how wonderful you look with a painted face, what really matters the most is the quality and healthy of your actual skin. And if you do not have a good canvas to paint on, then there really is no point piling on all that makeup just to cover flaws and imperfections. When I say this, I do not refer to imperfections that could not be treated or that are out of our hands (more on that in a latter post), but those that could be diminished with proper skin care and treatments. Ever woman deserves a luminous, healthy, and almost flawless skin. And although makeup is God's gift to all women, no matter their skin type, color, or age, it is very important to take care of our most precious and most alluring  feature: our face!

 

There are thousands of beauty products on the market ranging widely in price and quality, which is why choosing the right product is more important that anything else. No matter your budget, you can always find good skin care within your own personal budget. Juts because one product is priced highly does not necessarily mean it is the best or the right one for you. Luckily there are so many alternatives that everyone can find something that suits his/her skin type and needs. However, what is important is the purity of the product, what I mean by this is that the less harsh chemicals in a product, the better the results and overall satisfaction you will get.

 

My personal skin care choice is from the Asian skin care line called AMORE PACIFIC, and is from the moisture bound and deep hydration line. Although a little pricey, I find that I works best due to the fact that it is mainly based on botanicals such as Green Tea, Bamboo, and Red Ginseng.

 

Keep in mind that I have dry skin, that is very sensitive and prone to redness. So my choice would not be suitable for those who have different skin concerns. It is an absolute gem of a product, and even though I sometime rotate between different brands and products, I always come back to this miracle worker for my skin.

 

This nature's gift to women can be easily found online, at luxury department stores such as Nordstrom, or the beloved one stop beauty retailer: Sephora.

 

I suggest everyone to take a sample on your next visit to the skin care aisle and give this beauty and skin care must have a try!

 

xoxo

 

 

S.

 

 

Clarisonic Mia

There are thousands of reviews on the breakthrough in the skincare industry know as the Clarisonic. This is my personal version and it's pretty simple: GET IT!

One of my all time favourite presents was for Christmas of 2010, when my husband gave me the greatest gift of all (well besides his love), he surprised me with a Clarisonic Mia! I had wanted to purchase one for years, but never truly believed in the hype and reviews that it had received. Little did I know, this single  device would change my life and my skin forever. It has been a year and a half since my first use and I cannot, for the life of me, cleanse my face without it. I use it once a day, mostly during my morning shower, and enjoy ever second of it. My skin feels refreshed, clean, smooth, and rejuvenated after every single use. With a touch of my favourite cleansing Milk (Lancome Comforting Milky Creme Cleanser), and water I am immediately transformed to a mini spa, where my skin is the guest of honour and my inner beauty addict delighted. The pre-programmed timer allows me to fully cleanse my face without over exfoliating. 

Now I am well aware that this luxury does not come cheap, nonetheless, it is worth every single penny and more. It is my belief that there is no price on beauty, and even though there are limits to everything a little self indulgence never hurt anyone. If you cannot afford to purchase it right away... then by all means save up for it. Remember, companies such as Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon are constantly running promotions that help even the savviest budgeter.  I promise it would be the best investment you ever make as far as your skin is concerned. 

xoxo

S.

Beauty Tip #1 - Exfoliate Daily

One on the most important and life changing beauty tips that I have learned in the past three years is the crucial role that proper daily exfoliation plays in the clarity, glow, and anti-aging of our face. Exfoliating helps get rid of the dead top layers of the skin, which then allows serums and moisturizers to better penetrate the skin. This simple task in my daily beauty routine has made a world of difference in my way my skin looks, feels, and most importantly delays the signs of aging. I am lucky and young enough not to deal with visible wrinkles, serious pigmentation, or excessive acne. However, I do have mild redness (not really rosacea) due to sensitivity and dryness. Our skin is know to repair itself at night, this is why during my morning shower I make sure to exfoliate my face using a Clarisonic Mia face cleansing system, along with a gentle cleanser (Lancome Comforting Milky Creme Cleanser). In the evening, once I completely remove my make-up, I wash my face using an gentle exfoliating face cleanser (Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser), and then continue with my nightly beauty regimen. Note that I only use gently exfoliants for daily use, however for a deeper exfoliation I use a stronger scrub with coarse and fine sea salt once a week for deeper cleansing (Lush Ocean Salt). This extra step in my beauty regimen is a priority of mine and an advice I give to every single woman I know, especially the one's who compliment on the clarity, elasticity and glow of my skin.

xoxo

S. 

P.S. I will review each beauty product I have mentioned in my upcoming posts. Keep in mind that there are multiple wonderful products on the market today that work with each individual's skin type and beauty concerns, these are simply some of my personal favourites which I find work great with my skin type and needs.