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Combat Dry, Winter Skin With These Winter Skin Savers

December 23, 2020/0 Comments/in Beauty, Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Product Reviews, Skincare /by Glasgow Skinner

As we enter into the season of cold, dry air, you may notice your skin gets drier, itchier, and looks and feels less supple. That’s because the cold will drastically affect your skin. The cold air has less moisture; the harshness of the winds will strip your skin of its moisture; and unless you have a humidifier at home, the heated air in your home will dry out your skin. All of these leads to your skin looking aged. It is a fact that your skin needs an extra level of love and hydration during the cold, winter months. Luckily, there are some wonderful skincare products out there to help and we’re highlighting them today. Let’s face it, we all want luminous skin for the holiday season and all winter long and these winter skin savers are here to help.

Whether you’re looking for preventative skincare or skin rescuing products, these winter skin savers are here to get your skin to its optimal state. You’ll love the handmade products from Black-owned organic skincare brand Choate Body; the effective, multitasking products from Clef skincare; the softening power of Beurre’s butters; the advantage of the science behind SNP Prep; the potency of Potency No. 710; the skin calming effects of Stone & Tumble; and the skin clearing mask from Ziri Skincare.

CHOATE BODY

Let’s face it, your skin can get angry. The stress of life (especially living in a pandemic), face masks, the dry, cold air, and other environmental factors can wreak havoc on your skin. Choate Body has a trio of organic products, $77.00, that are wonderful at calming your skin.

Their Matcha Peppermint Facial Cleanser boasts Turmeric, Honey, Matcha Green Tea, French Clay, and Castile Soap meant to help balance oils and your skin’s ph. Packed with antioxidants, this cleanser soothes sensitive, acne, and eczema-prone skin and helps to reduce signs of aging, dark marks, and scars. The Lavender and Honey Face and Body Scrub calms inflammation from dry itchy skin; restores moisture and softens dry, rough skin. It helps to release ingrown hairs, rids dead skin, dirt, and oil that clog pores and cause breakouts. After you slothed off the dry, dead skin, slather your skin in the rich, moisturizing, organic Body Butter. Prepare to relieve your itchy, dry, and inflamed skin, soothe eczema and psoriasis, repair elasticity, minimizes scars, and stretch marks. All of Choate Body products are handmade in small batches to give you the freshest, cleanest ingredients for your skin.

CLEF SKINCARE

For those of us trying to reduce our skincare routine to less than a dozen products (we’ve all seen those “Go to Bed With Me” nighttime skincare videos), say hello to Clef Skincare. Wouldn’t you love a skincare product that is an all-in-one solution?

The CLEF Skincare Hydrating Cleansing Gel is a multifunctional cleanser that delivers multiple benefits in a single step. It’s a moisturizer in a cleanser, formulated to deep cleans pores, moisturize, repair, and forms a protective layer to prevent loss of moisture. The Copper Peptide Mask has the benefits of nine masks in one convenient package. It brightens, repairs, increases firmness, reduces wrinkles, increases elasticity, fades scars, reduces pigmentation, minimizes pores, and of course, moisturizes. It helps to rejuvenate skin by stimulating your natural collagen boost; plus it’s the thinnest nighttime mask out there, and is great for treating “maskne.”

BEURRE SHEA BUTTER

Sometimes you can’t beat the classics. This is why we love the yummy shea butters from Beurre Butters. This wonderful line of clean shea butters are all handcrafted, cold-pressed, plant-based, and vegan. This New York-based shea butter skincare company has shea butter for whatever skincare ailment you might have, in delicious scents.

Their classic shea butter comes in raw, vanilla, lavender, and unscented. For those who suffer from Eczema, there’s a hand and body cream and a Calendula Balm. The brand also provides a Belly & Nipple Cream for moms, an unscented Chamomile, and Shea Butter Chamomile-Calendula Diaper Balm for babies.

SNP PREP CICARONIC SOS Ampoule

SNP Prep’s Cicaronic SOS Ampoules are filled with lightweight yet deeply hydrating 7-day skincare vials. The powerful hydrating skincare that’s in these vials will stop the dryness of winter skin dead in its tracks. These individually-packed ampoules combine two key ingredients, Centella Asiatica (Tiger Grass) and Hyaluronic Acid, to quickly soothe and restore skin within a week and provide intense moisture to help improve skin energy and vibrance. It helps heal irritated skin by drenching your skin in soothing and healing properties. Your skin will be restored within a week and provides intense moisture to help improve your skin’s energy and vibrance.

POTENCY NO. 710

Although the House has passed the marijuana legalization bill, CBD is still going very strong in the skincare category. Potency No. 710’s range of CBD products bring your the power of plants to get your skin to selfie-perfection. Their Gold Skin Serum is jam-packed with over 20 of the world’s most sought after plant oils. Blended with full-spectrum CBD, plant oils like blue tansy, frankincense, sandalwood, and rose oil makes this serum incredibly potent. Not only does it increase skin’s elasticity, but it also speeds up cell renewal, and is a true skin balancer for every skin type.

STONE & TUMBLE SOOTHING SERUM

Stress-induced skin conditions on top of dry, winter skin can sometimes get painful, so it pays to be preventative. If you suffer from dry skin, acne, rosacea, redness, inflammation, and/or irritation, you need Stone & Tumble’s NEW Soothing Serum. This clean, plant-based skin serum will soothe and heal stressed skin, no matter the skin type or skin sensitivity levels.

The Stone & Tumble Soothing Serum is an effective concentrate that contains active, plant-based ingredients such as Cardiospermum, Echium Plantagineum, Sweet Almond, and Sunflower Seed oil to help heal, repair, rebalance, and calm irritated skin to reduce redness and dryness. This serum strengthens the skin’s natural defenses while minimizing the skin’s sensitized reaction. The brand avoids harsh ingredients sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones, mineral oils, petroleum, artificial dyes, and fragrance. Founded by Brianna Gilstrap, Stone & Tumble is a cruelty-free company and never tests on animals.

ZIRI SKINCARE RED CLAY MASK

Over the summer we highlighted a few Ziri Skincare products, including their Moroccan Red Clay Mask. Although the winter air is drying, those with oily skin know, oiliness doesn’t stop in the winter. This mask is rich in iron and silica; it effectively absorbs both sebum and excess oil, unclogs pores and blackheads, restores skin elasticity, evens out skin tone, reduces acne and brightens skin, promotes cell regeneration, and improves blood circulation. It’s one of our favorite winter skin savers.

We hope you get to love these winter skin savers as much as we do. Let us know which ones you’re dying to try.

Gift the Beauty-Obsessed This Unique Gift from Baseblue Cosmetics

December 12, 2020/0 Comments/in Beauty, Coupons and Deals, Lifestyle, Product Reviews, Shopping /by Glasgow Skinner

When it comes to the beauty-obsessed, gifting can seem easy. For the most part, it is, especially if you’re gifting them their favorite products. But what if you want to give them something a bit more unique? Believe it or not, that’s easy too. It helps if you have a beauty brand like Baseblue Cosmetics to help you out. We were looking for unique holiday gifts to bestow on the beauty lovers on our list and we fell in love with their products; you will too!

Give the gift of adorableness and enjoy the response of oohs and ahhs with the very festive Holiday Snowman Makeup Sponge, $13.00. This limited-edition makeup sponge comes encased in a gold-speckled bauble which can be used as a protective case or hung to spread holiday cheer. It is the perfect stocking stuffer for makeup lovers; plus it makes an adorable Christmas tree ornament beauty lovers can enjoy to look at and use.

Sure to be a holiday collector’s item, this makeup sponge blends liquid and powder formulations into a smooth, streak-free finish that looks naturally radiant. It is designed to absorb water and expand in size when damp. The curved shape of the Holiday Snowman Makeup Sponge provides a cozy grip to improve application technique and control.

The festive beauty tool works well when dry and provides optimal coverage when wet to reduce product buildup. We love that it is basically three makeup sponges in one. Use the head of the snowman to maneuver around small crevices with precision; use the bottom to effortlessly buff while the snowman’s body is great to roll formulas into your skin.

To make this adorable gift even more amazing, Baseblue Cosmetics has a Buy 1 get 1 FREE sale when you use the Code: XMAS. Now is the perfect time to stock up on these cuties or their other wonderful makeup and beauty tools.

Giving Tuesday 2020: Celebrating Brands With Heart This Giving Tuesday

November 27, 2020/0 Comments/in Accessories, Alcohol, Beauty, Drinks and Beverages, Health and Wellness, Lifestyle /by Glasgow Skinner

As you enjoy the fantastic deals that are being offered on Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, don’t forget to check out the brands with heart and those that are giving back. Shopping with these altruistic will help bring happiness to someone who needs it and can help benefit all of us as well. Whether they are donating to a worthy cause or helping to save our planet, for Giving Tuesday 2020, we are highlighting companies that are helping to make our world a better place.

From coffee that’s fighting injustice around the world, soaps that help those in need, eyewear and water bottles that help reduce the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas, and a wine that supports Restaurant Workers as they remain out of work. It is our pleasure to celebrate these brands that are doing these wonderful things this Giving Tuesday 2020.

1. Generous Coffee Co.

Generous Coffee provides single-origin, traceable, craft-roasted coffee that exists to change lives in eight flavor offerings. Started by Former ABC Bachelor, Ben Higgins, and former President of Humanity and Hope United, Riley Fuller, Generous Coffee, which officially launched online in January of 2018, works closely with their roasting company to help farmers convert cocaine fields into coffee farms. This transition from coca to coffee creates a better life for the farmers and their families, who are then paid 80% more than the local price.

Generous Coffee believes if you’re going to buy coffee anyway, it might as well be quality, life-changing coffee. The for-profit biz sees themselves more as a FOR PURPOSE biz. They sell products, to make money so that they can turn right around and give that money straight back to nonprofits fighting injustice around the world. Today, Generous has two coffee shops, an apparel line, eight coffee selections, an online store, and an ambassador program of people fighting to end injustice together! What started out as a coffee company, has quickly become a community of people that have set out to change the world!

2. Soapbox Soaps

We highlighted this wonderful brand in our Love Your Hair: Products to Maintain Healthy Hair at Home feature. Each purchase of their products donates a bar of soap to someone in need and also funds hygiene education taught by the people in the communities we serve. Soapbox’s mission is to empower people to change the world through everyday, quality purchases. This year, Soapbox joins the Giving Tuesday movement by doubling its donations of soap that will reach vulnerable communities in the US and around the world. The company is also offering 15% off all items purchased through its website with the code GIVE2020.

3. HydraPak RECON

Hydrapak, makers of innovative hydration solutions has launched its RECON Series of outdoor bottles. These outdoor water bottles are made from 50% certified recycled content in both the cap and bottle. Vividly clear, and virtually indestructible, the RECON bottle is topped with a new patented twist cap that provides the perfect flow rate for a glasslike drinking experience. It was born out of the belief that outdoor gear can, and should, have a lower impact on the environment. RECON uses Tritan Renew technology, which uses recycled plastic as a raw material while reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas footprints. They use a variety of sources with the primary source being PET (polyethylene terephthalate) single-use bottles. To be exact, it takes x9 single-use bottles to upcycle into outdoor water bottles.

The new HydraPak RECON Series outdoor bottles are available in two convenient sizes, 750ml ($15.00) and 1L ($16.00), and are available exclusively through HydraPak’s specialty retail partners and online at www.hydrapak.com.

4. Smith CORE Sunglasses

The Smith CORE sunglasses, $129.00, boast frames made from 5 recycled post-consumer water bottles. They are available in three styles: Eastbank CORE, Shoutout CORE, and Lowdown 2 CORE. Each CORE frame is made with Evolve bio-based polarized lenses and uses an embossed logo to avoid the use of adhesives. The eyewear comes in a microfiber bag made from recycled PET water bottles and is shipped in 100% recycled packaging.

The gray lens tint provides true color perception for exact color definition. This lens creates a soothing effect on the eyes in bright and sunny conditions. They also include polarization to cuts glare, and they provide 100% protection from harmful UVA/B/C rays.

5. Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay 2018

Russian River Ranches Chardonnay is beautifully focused on the palate; it boasts flavors of crisp, zesty lemon, green apple, lime, and barrel spice. The wine rounds out with their signature citrus acidity and a nicely balanced long, flavorful finish. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russian River Ranches Chardonnay sales will directly support Sonoma-Cutrer’s $100,000 donation to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation (RWCF). This advocacy and action nonprofit was created by and for restaurant workers. Also, in the spirit of Friendsgiving, they announced a joint $50,000 donation to No Kid Hungry with Woodford Reserve. The 13.8% ABV white wine is available DTC via the winery website and retailers nationwide.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this list of companies with heart. Will they be a part of your Giving Tuesday 2020 shopping list?

Love Your Hair: Products to Maintain Healthy Hair at Home

November 23, 2020/0 Comments/in Beauty, Haircare, Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Product Reviews /by Glasgow Skinner

We don’t know about you but since the pandemic hit, we’ve been experimenting with our hair. Whether that’s cutting ourselves bangs, dyeing our hair the crazy colour we always secretly fancied or even trying out those harder straight weaves styles. Some of us are trying to get used to outgrowing extensions, roots and maybe even just trying to embrace the natural look. Somewhere along the pandemic timeline, everyone has been tempted to try something a little different with their hair. Sometimes out of boredom, but mostly because being stuck at home means we can safely hide any hair mishaps we may experience. Thankfully there are lots of wonderful hair care products to get us back to healthy hair, no matter how much we experiment.

If you are in need of some hair rescue, look no further than these incredible haircare products from Neutrogena, Healium Hair, Soapbox Soaps, Ecoslay, Mother Dirt, TO112 (to-one-one-two), VitaClean, ATTITUDE Living, and Kinkistry. No matter your hair issue, these hair products can get you back to healthy hair. Get to know them all below.

1. Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Haircare Collection

There’s a song from the old movie/play, South Pacific, called “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair”. In 2021, we’re going to be washing 2020 out of our hair with the Neutrogena Healthy Scalp Haircare Collection. Thankfully you don’t have to wait until 2021 to begin this cleansing process. The four healthy hair cleansers are currently available at Walmart and www.walmart.com, with a national launch next year. The four daily shampoos and conditioners, available for $11.99 each, are clinically proven to cleanse and moisturize your scalp without stripping your hair strands.

These haircare formulas are infused with powerful skincare ingredients, like gentle micellar water and hydrating hyaluronic acid. They treat your roots, hair, and scalp with the same love you show your skin, every single day. The collection includes Hydroboost with hyaluronic acid, Clarify & Shine with pink grapefruit, Gentle & Soft with micellar water, and Soothe & Calm with tea tree oil.

2. aihr Dry Shampoo from Healium Hair

Look no further for your new favorite hair (and time) saver. Use Healium Hair’s aiHr Dry Shampoo in the traditional way, to soak up or absorb extra oils on the scalp. Extend the life of your style without washing…again. Almost colorless, aiHr Dry Shampoo will add body and texture and give an irresistible sexy tousled look to your tresses. Healium Hair does not use any parabens or sulfates and each product has up to 25 botanical ingredients. Their healthy hair care products are made in the US and are formulated with natural sunscreen to protect your hair from harmful UV rays. All of the products and ingredients are cruelty-free and certified by PETA.

3. Soapbox Soaps Haircare

Loving our hair is a wonderful thing. Now imagine if loving your hair also made the world a better place. It can, thanks to the amazing hair care products from Soapbox Soaps. You can help get soap bar donations to those who need it, as you say goodbye to build-up, dry scalp, and frizzy hair and hello to healthy hair. That’s right, with every Soapbox Soap purchase, like the above Tea Tree Hair Mask, Argan Oil Smoothing Serum, or even a Shampoo Bar, one bar of soap is donated to someone in need locally or globally. Soapbox Soaps has been doing this since 2010 and they go one step further by allowing you to find out the specific project that benefited from your purchase through their Hope Codes program. We’ll definitely be sharing more from this inspiring brand.

4. Ecoslay Haircare

Dry, brittle hair is a no-no. Give your hair the love it needs to stay hydrated and healthy this fall and winter! Made from natural ingredients, Ecoslay’s hair care products are just what you need to give your hair and your senses the boost and nutrients it needs to maintain its natural beauty. Pick from their Orange Marmalade Curl Definer to help get those lasting waves; Matcha Boost to strengthen brittle, dehydrated hair; and Banana Cream to deep condition and add hydration during the dry, cold months. If you’re looking for a leave-in conditioner, try their newly released Rice Pudding Leave-In Conditioner and Moisturizer, to help keep your locks moisturized. The best part, all their hair concoctions (which have really fun names) smell incredibly yummy.

5. Mother Dirt Biome Friendly Shampoo

It’s been a while since we’ve celebrated this beauty brand. We previously wrote about Mother Dirt in our “Your Skin Needs Bacteria: Rethinking Clean with Mother Dirt Products” article. Preservative-free, fragranced-free, clinically-tested, and dermatologist-reviewed, Mother Dirt’s shampoo, $15.00, supports natural, healthy-looking hair. Users across all hair types notice their hair looks shinier, fuller, healthier, and feels softer and stronger. 62% of users are able to wash their hair less often, especially when paired with the AO+ Mist. Get this healthy hair must-have now on www.amazon.com.

6. Collagen Hair Mask from TO112 (to-one-one-two)

The TO112 Collagen Hair Mask, $65.00, is specially formulated with collagen to help restore damaged hair and give it the boost of strength, elasticity, and softness it needs. Whether the damage comes from a love of excessive color processing, heat styling, or simply the environment you live in; this mask nourishes to help hair feel new again. A consciously selected blend of oils, proteins, and ginseng root extract to infuse your hair with moisture, prevent breakage and promote shine, all without leaving behind any oily residue.

7. VitaClean Aromatherapy Shower Head

VitaClean is disrupting the beauty industry with its Vitamin C Aromatherapy Filtered Showerhead. The VitaClean Aromatherapy Shower Head, $69.99, is the go-to beauty secret for top celebrity hairstylists for its Vitamin C properties that brighten skin and hair. Easy to install, these showerheads remove shower water impurities and toxins to restore skin and hair to their natural luster. They’re the perfect solution to hard water; acting as a quick, easy, and effective way to neutralize chlorine, limescale, and bacteria build-up from your shower.

8. ATTITUDE Living

Attitude cares for your health and the environment. Now you can now stock up and refill your favorite shampoo at home with their new Bulk to Go containers. Carrying more than four times the quantity of products and using 81% less plastic than their original packaging, their Attitude Super leaves™ Shampoo – Nourishing & Strengthening formula combines the goodness of olive leaves with grapeseed oil, widely used for their healing and moisturizing properties. Ideal for dry and damaged hair, their natural shampoo is packed with healthy fats and antioxidants to restore and strengthen your hair. EWG Verified, hypoallergenic, and dermatologically-tested, their shampoo includes moringa seed extract, known for its anti-pollution properties. Their products range from $9.95-$29.95 and are available at www.attitudeliving.com.

9. Kinkistry Hair Extensions

If you’re looking to give their hair a much-needed break from all those experiments while homebound; we’ve got an easy solution for you. Learn to love and protect your every curl, kink, and coil with Kinkistry, the ultimate all-natural hair solution designed for women of color. From clip-ins and wigs to wefted hair and drawstring ponytails, their 100% Virgin human hair extensions are made to blend in seamlessly with your hair’s texture so you can achieve the style you want while indulging your inner naturalist. Shop for your favorite style at shop.kinkistry.com.

7 Ways to Reduce Your Wrinkles Without Surgery

November 16, 2020/0 Comments/in Beauty, Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Skincare /by Contributing Writer

No matter how much we try, we can’t escape the fact that time continues to tick on. And as the years go by, our bodies often start to show the signs of aging. But while the gradual development of facial wrinkles may be somewhat inevitable, that doesn’t mean you have to accept this fate when you’re still in your prime.

In other words, there are a number of things you can do to prevent and reduce wrinkles. What’s more, you don’t have to rely on surgical procedures to do it. Although there were 4 million cosmetic procedures performed nationwide in 2017, it’s not necessary to go under the knife to preserve your youthful appearance. Here are just seven tips that can help you fight the signs of aging — naturally.

Always Wear Sunscreen

Fine lines and wrinkles can often be attributed to sun damage, so it makes sense that you’d want to protect your skin from harmful rays. Aside from reducing your sun exposure altogether, you should always take care to wear sunscreen on your face — even during the winter, on cloudy days, and when you don’t plan on setting foot outdoors. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that offers an SPF of 30 or higher to properly protect your skin. One study showed that applying this type of sunscreen for a year improve skin texture, clarity, and hyperpigmentation by 52% for participants. Of course, wearing sunscreen can also prevent skin damage and potentially alleviate your skin cancer risk.

Apply Moisturizer and a Retinoid

Sunscreen isn’t the only facial product you should apply on a daily basis. A daily (or twice daily) moisturizer can help your skin retain moisture; since dry skin is more likely to show or develop wrinkles, you’ll want to keep your face hydrated. It’s also a good idea to use a retinoid, which is a vitamin A derivative. Retinoids can increase collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, encourage cell turnover, and create new blood vessels — all of which can improve your complexion.

Remember to Hydrate

You can’t rely on your topical moisturizer to do all of the work. You’ll also need to hydrate from the inside out. Drinking water can help with virtually every function in the body, including toxin removal, but it also makes a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. Studies have found that higher water intakes can keep the skin hydrated, and we know that hydrated skin simply looks better. If you really want to achieve that glow-up, you should focus on how much H2O you’re drinking each day.

Use a Jade Roller

You might have seen jade rollers on social media, but they aren’t a new trend. Jade rolling has been around for centuries and was originally used to balance chi or energy. But it also has a cooling effect on the skin, which has a lot of purported benefits. Jade rollers can reportedly brighten the complexion, promote blood circulation, and reduce puffiness. They can also make it easier for skincare products to penetrate more deeply into the skin, which can prevent wrinkles in a more roundabout way. Although they can’t handle the wide temperature range of a load cell and torque sensor unit (which can operate between -452 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit), these rollers can even be refrigerated with other skincare products to provide an even greater cooling sensation on the skin.

Get Lots of Sleep

It may not sound like brilliant skincare advice, but getting enough shut-eye can do wonders for your appearance. When you’re running low on sleep, your body will actually produce more cortisol. Known as the stress hormone, cortisol is also responsible for breaking down skin cells. That explains why your skin tends to freak out when you’re under emotional strain. If you prioritize your beauty sleep, however, you’ll see that it really does live up to its name. As a result, you’ll produce more human growth hormone (or HGH), which can strengthen and elasticize the skin, making wrinkles less likely to develop.

Cut Out Your Vices

Since we’re approaching the end of the year, it’s a good time to think about setting resolutions. If your main goal is to improve the look of your skin in 2021, you might consider cutting out some of your unhealthy vices — like smoking and drinking alcohol. Both of these habits will dehydrate the skin and make your wrinkles more noticeable. Plus, anything that attacks your system from the inside is bound to show up on your face. Keep in mind that this is especially important during the ongoing pandemic, as these habits can lower your immune system and make it harder to fight off infections!

Revamp Your Diet

You’ve probably heard the expression, “you are what you eat.” And while that doesn’t mean you need to completely cut out comfort food, it’s a good idea to turn to Mother Nature when you want to improve your skin. Make sure to add foods rich in omega-3s (like salmon and flaxseed) to your diet, as this can keep your skin looking its best. And since vitamin C is also a good source of collagen and antioxidants can help protect skin cells from toxins, it pays to focus on fresh fruits and veggies, like citrus fruit, bell peppers, melons, berries, Brussels sprouts, carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, leafy greens, and more. If you can eat the rainbow, you’ll start to see the effects on your skin! Foods that contain soy can also improve skin appearance for some people while swapping coffee out for dark chocolate can keep your skin more hydrated and improve circulation.

Now that you know how to prevent wrinkles with these simple and natural lifestyle changes, you may be able to avoid the need for more serious treatments. While not all skin issues can be solved with these tips, you may see a marked improvement — and may be able to keep those wrinkles at bay for years to come.

2020 Stocking Stuffers: Small Gifts That’ll Bring Joy this Holiday Season

November 15, 2020/0 Comments/in Beauty, Lifestyle, Product Reviews, Shopping, Skincare /by Glasgow Skinner

There is no doubt that gifts placed under the tree are the stars of Christmas morning, but stocking stuffers can bring the same amount of joy. Although they may not as big as the “main holiday gifts”, the small gifts are quite special on their own. We know lots of small gifts that will bring big joy and we’re highlighting them today in our first 2020 Stocking Stuffers gift guide.

You and everyone will love these small but mighty gifts from NatraCure, Baby Foot, Beekman 1802, Formula 10.0.6, ella+mila, Crep Protect, and Benefit Cosmetics. The best part about these 2020 stocking stuffers? They are essential; for selfcare, for joy, for wellness. Whether your routine has changed from being stuck at home or whether your day-to-day remains the same. Let’s get to know these wonderful holiday gifts.

NatraCure Intense Hydrating Gel Gloves, $14.99

We’ve all been washing our hands a million times a day, so it’s quite understandable that they can feel as dry as the Mojave desert. Thankfully you can combat the dryness by slipping on the NatraCure Intense Hydrating Gel Gloves. Your parched hands will thank you. These dermatologist-tested moisturizing gloves feature a SmartGel Technology lining that slowly releases moisturizing oils and botanicals into the skin. This gel lining soothes and softens dry, rough hands, fingers, and cuticles. Perfect for an at-home spa treatment, this therapeutic blend of oils includes jojoba oil, olive oil, grape seed oil, and boasts a relaxing lavender scent. The best part, you can use them over and over as needed.

Baby Foot Exfoliation Foot Peel, $25.00

Since we just showed you a great hand moisturizing product, it’s only fair we share some selfcare for your feet that’s vital to your wellbeing. As you age, partake in a lot of hot showers, hot baths, and foot baths, or endure prolonged standing, you WILL experience dry skin on your feet. Luckily there is a foot savior. Baby Foot Exfoliation Foot Peels are scientifically formulated with 16 types of natural extracts that exfoliate and moisturize your feet at the same time.

Its formula contains a fruit acid that penetrates the layers of dead skin cells and breaks it down. Don’t worry, during this process, the skin is undamaged. You’ll be amazed as dead, dry skin easily peels away from the fresh layer of skin that’s waiting to be free underneath. Even if you regularly get pedicures, you’ll be surprised how much dead skin might be present. The peeling process is quite something to behold. After peeling, you’re left with feet that are reborn, just like a baby’s foot.

Beekman 1802 Skincare Stars 7 Day Gift Set, $65.00

Next up on our 2020 Stocking Stuffers list is the luxurious benefits of milk. ‘Tis the season for healthy skin to shine bright and bloom. Pamper yourself (or a loved one) with a new product every day of the week. Housed in a star-shaped boxed, this stocking stuffer fits right on top of your tree. Each Skincare Stars 7 Day Gift Set boasts Beekman 1802’s Triple Milk Complex™: our proprietary blend of goat milk, milk probiotic, and colostrum. It includes travel-friendly versions of Milk Wash Cleanser, Buttermilk Cleanser, Milk Drops Serum, Bloom Cream, Dewy Eyed Serum, Milk Mud Mask, and Milk Foam Bubble Mask. For Black Friday, 11/24 – 11/28, Beekman 1802 is offering wonderful savings; 20% OFF All Bar Soaps, All Skincare, Caddy Sets, and Hand Creams (2oz + 3.4oz). On Cyber Monday, Save $15.00 when you spend $100.00 and $40.00 when you spend $200.00.

Formula 10.0.6 Merry & Bright Skin Care Travel Kit, $11.99

Give the gift of holiday cheer with the Merry & Bright Travel Kit Holiday Collection. This joyful kit has four of Formula 10.0.6’s best items to have your skin glowing in time for the holidays! The Self-care holiday bundle boasts gentle yet powerful products that harness the benefits of nature’s best ingredients. Included in the collection are Formula 10.0.6’s Best Face Forward Daily Cleanser, Pores Be Pure Clarifying Mud Mask, Three Times Sublime 3 in 1 Wash + Scrub + Mask, and Wipe Your Face Off Make-up Removing Wipes. Get this set and more at on www.ulta.com, www.kohls.com, and www.formula1006.com.

ella+mila Holiday Kiss Set, $26.00

Give the gift of holiday-ready nails with the 3-pc ella+mila Holiday Kiss Set. This set of non-toxic vegan, animal cruelty-free nail polish colors are perfect shades for the season. They are made without the 17 harmful chemicals that are usually found in most nail polishes. The chip-resistant, quick-dry, and high-shine colors include Holiday Fling, Kiss Kiss, and G-Old Money. It’s a great way for you and them to treat your nails with love and care. Grab these for your favorite nail polish addict instore and online at www.ellamila.com, Target, Amazon, and Ulta.

Crep Protect Cure Travel Kit, $18.00

Like jeans, sneakers have become more than just a classic staple. The more “crisp” your sneakers look, the better your look. Welcome the Crep Protect Cure Travel Kit, the ultimate when it comes to a shoe cleaning kit for at home or on-the-go. For any sneakerhead, it’s important for sneakers to look as fresh as they did when their first pulled them out of their box; this travel kit is the perfect way to achieve that. The travel kit contains Crep Protect Cure Ultimate Cleaning Solution, a Premium Hog Hair Brush, and a Microfibre Cloth, all housed in a Re-usable zip-up case.

Benefit Cosmetics Makeup Shakeup Holiday Set, $15.00

Last, but certainly not least, on our 2020 Stocking Stuffers holiday gift guide is the Benefit Cosmetics Makeup Shakeup Holiday Set. This set is one of many holiday gift sets from the beauty brand. This limited-edition set features Benefit bestsellers Gimme Brow+ tinted brow gel for fuller-looking brows, BADgal BANG! volumizing mascara for 36-hour volumized lashes and the iconic Benetint rose-tinted lips and cheeks stain. It all comes wrapped and ready to gift in a fun ‘n’ festive holiday cracker. For Black Friday, 11/24 – 11/28, they’re offering an amazing 25% off sitewide + free shipping. What better time to get those Christmas presents and stocking stuffers for the beauty lovers on your holiday list.

These are some of our favorite 2020 Stocking Stuffers. Would any items on our list bring joy to someone on yours?

New Season, New Scent: Fall Fragrances We’re Loving

November 12, 2020/0 Comments/in Beauty, Lifestyle, Product Reviews, Shopping /by Glasgow Skinner

The transition from one season to another is something we look forward to for so many reasons. One of which is the new product launches and items associated with that season. As we are deep into the fall season, we can’t help but be enamored with some of the must-have fall fragrances. Three wonderful scents have caught our attention; one whiff of them and you’ll smell why.

Join us in worshiping these three fall fragrances. Find your voice with the new Valentino & Lady Gaga fragrance, Valentino Voce Viva; yield to the seductive, unisex Rich Mess parfum spray; and celebrate your supremely mysterious and sensual edge with V&R’s latest launch, Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Midnight.

Valentino Voce Viva Eau de Parfum ($130, www.sephora.com)

A sweet floral fragrance that celebrates all things feminine. This harmonious scent combines couture orange blossom absolute and golden gardenia paired with colorful Italian bergamot and mandarin. An unexpected woody scent of crystal moss accord adds power and compulsion (you will find yourself continuously going back to breathe in the addictive parfum). This feminine perfume is intimate and personal, drawing a parallel between the sound of your voice and the scent of your fragrance. Created by the iconic Cool, Color, Couture fashion house, this fragrance celebrates every women’s voice. Fragrance notes include:

Top: Italian bergamot essence, mandarin essence
Middle: orange blossom absolute, golden gardenia accord
Base: crystal moss accord, vanilla, tonka bean

Rich Mess Unisex Parfum Spray ($120.00 www.richmess.com)

There are fragrances that simply make you smell good and there are those that push you to go outside of your comfort zone. One mist of Rich Mess aromatically whispers, “I dare you…” This bold, unisex fragrance was created in New York by creative director Ryan Richmond, a trailblazer within some of the biggest names in luxury fashion and beauty. The nose behind this creation is master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel. Notes of vibrant citrus and bubbly champagne stimulate your senses before new-found friendships breed skin salt familiarity. Lastly, you’re enveloped by sensual leather and woody notes.

Flowerbomb Midnight Eau de Parfum ($115.00, www.sephora.com)

If you love warm fragrances that are also dark and sweet, this is for you. This women’s fragrance unleashes a new sensuality without losing any of its timeless appeal. Unleash a new sensuality with Flowerbomb Midnight. You’ll never know what the night will bring. It boasts sparkling blackcurrant and night-blooming jasmine that is surrounded by intimate musk and pomegranate, along with sensual peony and vanilla. together, they create the most mysterious floral sensation. The beguiling notes include:

Top Notes: Sparkling Blackcurrant
Middle Notes: Mysterious Night-Blooming Jasmine
Bottom Notes: Sensual Musk, Vanilla, Patchouli

Any of these fall fragrances would make great holiday gifts. We invite you to discover them for yourselves and let us know your thoughts on each fall fragrance.

CLn Skin Care: Effective Dermatologist-Recommend Skincare

November 11, 2020/0 Comments/in Beauty, Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Product Reviews, Skincare /by Glasgow Skinner

So many things can affect how your skin behaves: stress, the environment, diet, etc. Unfortunately, as we’re seeing yet another increase in Covid-19 cases, we have to continue taking precautions. That means suffering from Maskne, dry hands from frequent hand washing, stressed skin, and dull complexions. The pandemic has made it difficult to make in-person dermatology appointments, and while telemedicine appointments are available, trying to clearly show your skin issues via computer or phone screen is not the same as in-person. The solution? Using skin care products that are recommended by more than 6,000 doctors. CLn Skin Care is a range of effective products to help sufferers of reactive skin conditions like Eczema, Acne, and Folliculitis (Razor Bump or Burn).

The colder season brings lower temperatures and drier air, both of which affect your skin. Today, we’re highlighting three of the CLn Skin Care products – CLn Acne Cleanser, CLn BodyWash, and CLn HandWash. CLn Skin Care’s sodium hypochlorite cleansers help wash away skin triggering microbes, bacteria, and allergens without impairing the skin barrier to allow the skin to heal itself.

Let’s face it (pardon the pun), with layers that may include primer, foundation and powder, finishing spray, and a mask with filters, your skin might have trouble getting enough fresh air to breathe. The CLn Acne Cleanser is designed to penetrate pores to stop new breakouts before they begin, yet avoids the drying effects of many topical treatments. Advanced cleansing is the first step to a healthy complexion. The CLn Acne Cleanser clears breakouts by eliminating clogged pores, killing acne-causing bacteria, and soothing skin. Thanks to this cleanser, we’ve stopped our breakouts dead in their tracks, even hormonal acne (a huge issue for us). We also noticed this acne cleanser doesn’t dry out our skin. We don’t have to follow this acne face wash with a heavy moisturizer as we did with others. Finally, an acne wash that doesn’t have side effects.

CLn BodyWash is a physician designed gentle formula for hands and body prone to infection, eczema, rash, redness, irritation, and folliculitis. With continued use, CLn leaves skin looking smooth, clear, healthy, and refreshed. As we mentioned above, hormonal acne is a big issue for us. Add in regular stress acne and the skin on our body gets angry. We used this body wash on backne on our upper left side and our regular cleanser on the right; almost immediately we started seeing results from the CLn BodyWash. Within 3 days, that side was clear; this is a definite must for body acne sufferers.

The CLn HandWash is formulated with sodium hypochlorite and glycerin, making it tough on germs, yet gentle on skin – especially for frequent hand washing. Designed by dermatologists, this non-prescription cleanser is tough on microbes but easy on the skin. It can be used for frequent hand washing that can cause sensitive skin to over dry and crack.

“One of the reasons I was drawn to CLn was its amazing efficacy for my patients suffering from eczema and acne,” said Dr. Sklar. “The far-reaching abilities of this patented sodium hypochlorite cleansers are astounding. I am very proud to be involved in the cultivation and success of CLn because I strongly believe in its ability to revolutionize skincare for everyone.” Jerald Sklar, MD, CLn Skin Care Board of Directors

Over the years, the team at CLn Skin Care has had several tests conducted for kill rates of their products; the results are below:

99.9% kill rate of P. Ances at 30 and 60 seconds
98% kill rate of S. Aureus at 2 minutes
99.9% kill rate of S. Aureus at 3 and 5 minutes
99.9% kill rate of Coronavirus at 15 and 30 seconds

If you’re battling Maskne, dry hands from frequent hand washing, or looking for a solution to treat dry, flaky skin, get acquainted with the products from CLn Skin Care.