Get to Know: Kiss My Face

I've long thought of Kiss My Face as being a crunchy, hippie personal care company.  After all, it was founded by two vegetarians who were on a mission to find healthy body care products.  Kiss My Face is committed to using natural, organic ingredients to create their cruelty-free products.  Because I've dismissed Kiss My Face as a sort of hippie-dippy company, I never really tried their products.

Silly me!  Kiss My Face has some really good products...and their eco-friendly, cruelty free stance is a huge plus.  Be on the lookout for their new line of skin care products in the start of the new year (available in January at Whole Foods).  Their Potent and Pure Organic Face Care line is worth a look.  It includes:

• Clean for a Day, $15: a creamy face cleaner that is soap-free and non-drying.  
• Startup, $15: an exfoliating cleanser that contains natural fruit alpha hydroxy acids for gentle exfoliation.
• Brightening Day Creme, $23: a cream that includes SPF to help protect from the sun's damaging rays.
• Night Creme, $23: a cream that provides extra moisturizing power along with detoxificaiton.
• Underage, $21: a "mega-moist" blend of organic botanicals and vitamins that will smooth lines and nourish skin.

Kiss My Face is a great brand to get to know if you're concerned about organic ingredients, animal testing, etc.  Their new skin care line will leave your face looking good and your conscious clean!  Check it out at Whole Foods in January.

Get to Know: Napoleon Perdis

Note: I'll start getting holiday posts soon enough...this week I'm going to introduce you to some brands!

Like you, I am always on the lookout for new beauty products and companies to try out.  Lately, I've been seeing fun looking products from Napoleon Perdis at my local Ulta and I was lucky enough to get some samples from the company to try out.

A little background first: Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics comes from Australia and the company bears the name of a self-taught makeup from Sydney who's come to LA to work his magic.  Napoleon believes that applying makeup should not be difficult--his goal is to demystify the process and to transform runway and red carpet looks to reality. Nice goal!  Napoleon further believes that makeup should enhance your natural look--not alter the real you.

The Napoleon Perdis line includes everything you need to get a full face of makeup.  Here are three of my faves:

• Palette Patrol, $15: This is a great product to introduce yourself to NP...and I personally love a good palette!  This one includes three eyeshadows, three lipglosses, a bronzer, brush, and mini-applicator inside a mirrored box.  The shades are ideal for daytime and the compact packaging is great for us gals on the go!
• Eyebrow Pencil, $18: A brow pencil is a beauty essential, but it's one that's easy to overlook.  I like the NP brow pencil because it has a great texture.  It's easy to use (a light touch is all you need) and it really fills in thin areas in a snap.  A finished brow makes a look that much better, and a good brow pencil like this can really do the trick!
• Auto-Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer, $39: This is a bit pricey, but most good primers seem to put a dent in your wallet!  A little goes a long way, so a tube should last you a while.  This is a lightweight primer that glides on effortlessly.  It helps to even out both skin tone and surface, making foundation application easier and better.  This is one of NP's top selling products for a reason!

Napoleon Perdis products are available at Ulta, online, and at Target (where they have a nice line of NP body products I have yet to try out).

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Wow!  We all survived Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and now Cyber Monday.  Yes, my dears, the holiday season is upon us.  I have a TON of emails to wade through and lots of holiday gift giving ideas in mind.  I also have a bunch of products to tell you about, so I'm going to be one busy blogger!

Before I begin all that, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your continued support of Kiss and Makeup!  There are times when I get overwhelmed and tired of the whole blogging thing (that's bound to happen after 4+ years!), but then I get comments, emails, etc. from you all and my blogging cells are restored.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Be sure to swing by tomorrow (Monday)--I'll be working through the product samples I've been trying out and will update you on some holiday stuff as well.  In the meantime, if you have any products you want to tell me about, if you have any questions, etc. be sure to either leave me a comment or shoot me an email.

Happy start of the holiday season!

It Starts

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, which means we're heading into the hectic go-go pace of the holiday season.  It seems like the rush to buy starts earlier every year.  Here in the Seattle area, not one but TWO radio stations switched over to all-Christmas music right after Halloween.  Geesh!  It's a bit much!

This week I am going to be a busy girl, but I'm focusing my attention on Thanksgiving.  Many of you (especially those of you who don't have to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner) might be using the abbreviated work week to get a jump on your holiday gift shopping.  Thanksgiving is now more the eve of Black Friday than a day of celebration.  And that's ok.

I'm too focused on cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my family to get up super early (or not going to bed at all!) to get in the Black Friday crowds.  I've done Black Friday shopping a few times in my life--years ago before it became such a big damn deal.  If any of you are planning an early-AM shopping spree on Friday, here are a few tips for surviving in one piece.  I've offered these tips before, so if you have anything new to add to the mix, you know what to do:  Leave a comment!

Black Friday Shoppers look a lot like zombies.

Get plenty of rest. All that tryptophan and alcohol you consume on Thanksgiving may make you sleepy. If you're planning on getting up super early to shop, adjust your bedtime so you get as many hours of good, solid rest as possible. You might also want to lighten up on how much you're eating today. No one wants to shop with a food hangover!

• Dress comfortably. I always find malls and shops a bit over heated, so I often leave my coat in my car and dress in layers. Comfortable shoes are a must! If you need to try anything on (not that you'd be buying a gift for yourself tomorrow!) try to limit the amount of makeup you have on--no one wants to buy clothes marked up with other people's lipstick or foundation!
• Leave your purse at home. Yikes! I know how hard this one is, but when you're buying tons of stuff and you have to carry a lot of bags, the last thing you need is to lug around a purse full of junk as well. Try to limit yourself to the essentials: your credit card(s), ID, cash, keys, and maybe a lip gloss. If you're smart, you can fit all this in your pockets, making the purse unnecessary. Remember: Black Friday is about deal hunting, not looking beautiful.
• Plan your attack. Make a list before you leave with all the gifts you need to buy, how much you want to spend, and what stores you want to go to. Check for online deals prior to your shopping trip, especially if you are in the market for a particular item.  Knowing who has the best prices will save you time and money.  Planning will keep you focused, keep you from overspending, and will make sure you don't forget someone. Plus, you can skip stores you don't need to go to to avoid mindless buying.
• Be careful. Make sure you know where all your stuff is and be sure to keep receipts. Also, stash your purchases in the trunk of your car so they are not visible to any annoying car prowlers. Don't leave stuff scattered all over your car--you'll just be inviting someone to rip you off, and there's nothing fun about that. One more thing: keep your receipts with you at all times. If someone breaks into your car and steals your stuff, you might need those receipts to deal with insurance, the police, and your creditors.
• Be nice and have a little patience. Before you start screaming about a line or start to vent on a salesperson, stop and breath. A little kindness goes a long way--think of it as good karma. Besides, Santa is watching after all and you don't want to be on the Naughty List.

To all my readers in the US (or ex-pat Americans elsewhere): Happy Thanksgiving.  Before you get into the Christmas hype, take some time this week to enjoy the ones you're with, to give thanks for what you have (and what you don't have!), and to stuff yourself silly on Thanksgiving dinner!

I'll be back next week with beauty news, but for now, I'm taking a little (much needed) break.

Psst...Here's a Chance to Win Some Awesome Mascaras!

You can never have enough mascara.  Especially since you're supposed to throw out your tubes of mascara every 3 months or so (you are doing that, right?!)  Well, if you are a fan of mascara and/or free stuff, head over to the Free Beauty Events website right now. 

For the month of November ten winners will win CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion, MaxFactor Limited Edition, MaxFactor Vivid Impact, Maybelline Lash Stiletto, and Maybelline XXL Pro! . Website visitors have until 11/30 to enter and winners will be chosen on 12/5/2010. Just go to http://www.freebeautyevents.com/contest to enter. Free Beauty Events also runs a contest each week with a smaller prize (but you have a better chance of winning!) Visit http://www.freebeautyevents.com/beauty-blog to check out the weekly contest.

Oh and looking for MORE freebies? This month, Prestige Cosmetics will be at college bookstores in Pennsylvania and Virginia with a free basket raffle for Prestige products, as well as free makeovers. In addition, in December Coty will be promoting their holiday fragrance gift sets at Rite Aid in New York and Pennsylvania.

DIY: Tips for Dying at Home

At the start of the week, I asked you about your dying habits.  Mine have changed over the years.  I used to dye my hair myself, in an attempt to save money and because I have only recently found a stylist I adore.  Now?  I go to my stylist (not as often as I should) for both a cut and a color.  But lately I've been toying with going back to my old ways, to dying my hair at home.

If you're an at  home hair dyer (or want to be!) here are some tips for getting the job done right.  I don't think home hair dying is particularly difficult or scary, but that could just be me...whatevs.  Here are some tips...as always, feel free to add your two cents in the comments!

1. Pick the right color.  Check out this cool site!  They give advice for finding the perfect shade.  Before you leave the store, take a second to make sure all the products inside the box match the color on the outside of the box.  I get paranoid that some prankster's going to put red dye in the blond boxes, blond in the black, and so on.  Just take a second to make sure you're buying the right product before you head home.
2. Make sure your hair is in good shape and is not freshly washed.  You'll want some of the natural oils in your hair present to help protect the scalp and to aid in even distribution.
3. Prep your area.  Make sure you read the directions and then read them again...before you get started. Take a few moments to gather all the necessary tools, towels, timers, etc.  You don't want to have to chase down a comb in the middle of the dying process!
4. Pick your dying location well.  I always dyed my hair in the bathroom.  I had the best light available, and a wall-sized mirror so I could see hard to reach areas of my head more easily, using a hand mirror and the wall mirror.
5. Follow all the directions.  Yes, ALL of them.  Take your time and make sure to saturate the hair as best you can.  Keep the dye on for the amount of time the instructions indicate.  Don't deviate from what the instructions are telling you because you think you know better.  You probably don't!
6. Don't panic if the dye in your hair looks dark...or funny.  You can't tell what the final product will look like when your head is soaked with dye.  You'll need to trust the process.
7. Rinse really, really well.  You don't want to leave any dye in your hair (it will be a total mess!) so be sure you take your time and rinse every strand free of dye.  You'll know you're done when the water dripping from your head runs clear.
8. Follow all after care instructions.  Use the deep conditioning treatment the manufacturer gives you and use it as directed.  Invest in shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair.
9. Enjoy your new look!

Before I close for the day, here's another fun (quick) poll for you:

Do you lie about dying your hair?
	Yes. Everyone THINKS this is my natural color.
	No. Why bother? Everyone dyes their hair, so why lie?
	I don't dye my hair.
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Never Have a Bad Hair Dye

When done right, dyed hair looks shiny, healthy, and compliments your overall look.  When done bad...well...I think we've all seen what happens when bad dye happens to good people.

Here are some hints for hair color from the Rita Hazan, hair maven over at Oprah.com.  Consider this the top 10 hair color screw ups, if you will:

Tip #1 You shouldn't over-highlight to blend gray. The highlights are an accent to the color, not a color themselves.

Tip #2 Colors that are too beige or ashy don't complement skin tones. Try using gold or warm tones, this gives the skin a more youthful, healthy glow.

Tip #3 Too solid of one color can look too dense.

Tip #4 Too light of one color can wash you out! Too dark can turn scary. Too red can be too clowny. So try to stay away from the extremes.

Tip #5 Don't forget the conditioner! There are very lightweight conditioners out there if you are concerned with weighing your hair down. Conditioner keeps your hair healthy and shiny.

Tip #6 Don't have the same hair color for years! Every season you need to change the tone a little bit, this way, you will never get stuck in a rut.

Tip #7 Following trends can be hard. Add a touch of a trend but nothing stripey or chunky.

Tip #8 Roots are simply never sexy.

Tip #9 Two-tone hair: Do not walk around with half your head one color and half another color. If you are growing out your hair, darken it first.

Tip #10 Don't get too creative with your color, less is more in hair color!

And there you have it!  My worst hair color disaster (apart from unnatural colors like purple, blue, etc.): dying my hair caramel.  The color was too wishy-washy and just faded away in a matter of a few washings (and it wasn't a cheap mistake, of course!).

Style Tips for Mere Mortals

I mentioned last week that I have a heck of a time styling my hair.  For my every day look, I just part my hair in the middle, dry it using a round brush, and let the hair fall where it may.  If I'm feeling fussy, I'll hit my locks with a flat iron.  When I'm working out, I throw it back into a messy ponytail (if I am feeling ambitious...I usually just let it flop around!).  But for me to attempt something more technically skilled than flat ironed hair takes hours of work, the uttering of countless curse words, and still...I never feel like my hair looks as good as it should. 

Yes, I can paint my face up like a pro, but when it comes to doing my hair, I am something of a spaz.  So...I've been searching all over the interwebs and have pulled together some hair styling tips that I think even I can pull off.  Here you go...if you have anything to add, be sure to leave me a comment!

• To give hair more body: blow it straight with a round brush.  Use large hot rollers and coil small sections of hair under, rolling them up.  Let hot rolls stay in several minutes before removing.  Use a paddle brush to brush curls into big waves.
• For sexy, messy hair: Scrunch up large sections of damp hair with your hand while blow drying to fluff up the hair (just don't burn your hand in the process!)
• Create a neat knot: Tease hair at the crown before gathering back.  Use a brush to smooth out the front and sides, and pull a few strands out to frame your face.
• Switch it up!  The easiest way to change your look is to change your part.  Try changing sides, or go for a center part for something new.  This will give you more lift at your roots!
• Use a bobby pin: Part hair on one side then slide a bobby pin at the opposite side at the spot that lines up above the arch of your eyebrow. Cover the pin with a little hair from farther back on the crown or look for a bobby pin with a little bling to dress up your look.
• Embellish it!  Slide on a fancy hair band, tuck in a sparkly flower or hair accessory and viola! Your hair is instantly flashier.
• Change up your ponytail: Either try a very high ponytail, a low side swept one, or wrap some hair around the elastic to cover it up.  You can also curl your ponytail or (if you're more skilled than I!) wrap it up into a chignon.

There you have it...a few quick and easy tips for hair styling.  If you have a favorite trick, leave a comment!

Curl Up and DYE!

A blurry photo of me and my crazy roots.  They look worse in real life!

If you saw me right now, you'd scoff at the idea that I'm a beauty blogger.  My roots are INSANE!

I haven't had a cut or a color since (at least) July, and I have no plans to get in and see my girl any time soon.  I usually have my hair bleached out to a perfect white-platinum shade.  This is a hair color that requires regular upkeep, but because I am trying to save money and haven't found the time to get into the salon, my hair has grown considerably.  My roots are taking over and any trace of platinum is long gone.  My hair is brassy at the ends, darker at the roots, and is a hot mess in general.

Ugh.  Sometimes I wish I never got into the habit of dying my hair at all!

Here's a quick poll for you since I'm curious and since I am contemplating dying my hair myself, something I used to do before developing the platinum habit!  Please take a second to answer.  Oh, and if you haven't noticed, yes!  Hair Week is continuing this week as well.

When it comes to dying my hair, I...
	Only trust my color to a professional.
	Do it myself! Why pay someone else to do it?
	Only go to the salon if I can afford it. Otherwise, I do it myself.
	Don't dye my hair at all. I'm all natural!
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Beauty Product of the Week: Keratin Complex Shampooo and Conditioner

What is it?  Keratin Complex Keratin Care Shampoo and Conditioner are "designed for customers to enjoy the benefits of a protein-rich keratin regimen on a daily basis.  Using these maintenance products prolongs your beautiful results long after a professional Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy in-salon Treatment."  Keratin Care Shampoo and Conditioner are designed for "damaged hair.  This shampoo is safe for everyday use and is formulated with a low pH-value and a light blend of essential oils that provide gentle cleansing and long lasting protection."  Available for $20-$37 each per bottle (price depends on bottle size) at salons.  See their website for a location. 

What did you think?  I haven't been to the salon in ages, and I haven't had a recent in-salon Keratin treatment.  I received samples of the Keratin Complex products to try out, and have been using this duo of haircare products regularly for the past couple of weeks.  Both products have light scents, but do leave my hair clean smelling.  The shampoo actually lathers (thankfully! It seems like pricier shampoos are oddly devoid of lather sometimes).  The conditioner doesn't feel too thick, but it does coat my hair.  After using this product for a bit, I think it makes my hair look shinier.  On the down side, I have noticed that my hair seems a tiny bit greasier, especially if I use Keratin's Shine, a product that goes on damp hair to help increase shine. With my hair type, this probably isn't the best product for me to use on a regular basis.

The final verdict?  For me, these products are a pass.  They're too expensive and leave my hair too limp feeling.  If I'm going to buy a salon brand, I'd just go for my all-time fave: Matrix.  But if you have regular Keratin treatments, this just might be the shampoo/conditioner combo for you.  Other people swear by this duo, and even though it's not the right product for my hair type, it wasn't a terrible product demo!

Tool Time: Turbie Twist

I blow dry my hair every single day.  I try to give my wet locks some time to drip before breaking out the hair dryer since I know that regular exposure to super hot products is not ideal for healthy hair.  Even after 30 minutes of drip drying, I still spend a considerable amount of time drying and styling. 

I just received a Turbie Twist to try out, but so far, I'm loving it.  The Turbie Twist says it's easy to use: you just place it over your head with the loop at the back, twist your hair like you would with a bath towel, and then loop it through the elastic band in the back and Viola!  Your wet hair is on top of you head, wrapped up in a super absorbent towel to help reduce drying time

I was a bit concerned that I would have difficulty figuring out how to use the Turbie Twist, but it was a snap to use.  My wet hair was tucked into a towel neatly, bundled out of the way on top of my head.  The towel is lightweight (unlike a bath towel!) so it's not awkward or heavy to wear.  I through on the Turbie Twist and easily did some vacuuming while my hair dried.

I still needed to blow dry my hair, but because the Turbie Twist absorbed some of the moisture, my drying time was cut down a bit.

Overall, I'm very impressed with the Turbie Twist and would recommend it.  You can get Turbie of your own from places like CVS, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.--they run about $10 for a pack of two.

Tool Time: BrushLab Black Label Hair Brush

One of the more expensive beauty products out there is this:

A Mason Pearson nylon and boar bristle brush.  A brush like this could set you back $100 or more easily.

But!  You can save yourself some big-time cash while getting a kick ass brush.  Check out this:

A Black Label hair brush from BrushLab.  Like the Mason Pearson, the Black Label brushes feature a single nylon quill surrounded by tufts of natural boar bristles.  Brushes like this smooth out the hair making it ready for styling and finishing.  The nylon controls the shape and style of the hair while the boar bristles add shine and a polished finish. 

I received two Black Label brushes to try out...and I LOVE them!  They feel good on your scalp when you brush and they really do make your hair look and feel smoother...more finished. 

The Black Label brushes from BrushLab are a great alternative to the Mason Pearson brushes.  Better yet, the Black Labels will set you back about $20.  These would make a great gift for one of your fashionable friends!

Check out the Black Label brushes at www.brushlove.com or at your local Ulta.

Theme of the Week: Hair!

This week, I'm focusing on hair products and tools.  When it comes to doing my hair, I am a complete and total mess.  I know how to apply makeup and use skin care products, but there's something about doing my hair that makes me crazy.  I can never get my hair to look right, no matter how hard I try.  In fact, the harder I try the worse it often looks.  It's maddening!

Here's a question for you: What are your best hair styling tips?  What would you tell a person like me, who is completely useless and in major need of some hair help?  I'd love to hear what you have to say, so leave me a comment!

In the coming days, I'll be highlighting a few tools and products for your hair.  For now, I leave you with a few fun quotes:

If truth is beauty, how come no one has their hair done in a library?

~Lily Tomlin

Gray hair is a blessing - ask any bald man.

~Author Unknown

Experience is a comb which nature gives us when we are bald.

~Proverb

Get Shopping!

I've been doing a lot of coupon clipping lately, but now I have coupon for you!  CLICK HERE to get a $2 coupon to use on Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Beauty Serum at Target (coupon expires 11/14). 

No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Beauty Serum has been tested like no other cosmetic anti aging product in an independent 12 month trial. The findings clearly show that it has genuine, long term anti aging benefits. 70% of the volunteers using the product showed a marked improvement in the appearance of photo-aged skin after 12 months of use. This study is the latest step on Boots journey to provide further compelling proof of the performance of its products. It costs $22.95 ($20.95 with your coupon!) at Target or target.com.

Beauty Product of the Week: Cocoa Butter with Vitamin E

What is it? Palmer's Cocoa Butter with Vitamin E is made of, "pure cocoa butter enriched with Vitamin E, in a soothing fragrance free base. Heals and softens rough, dry skin. Smooths stretch marks. Tones skin. An excellent all-over-the body moisturizer and after tanning butter." Available at drugstores and big box stores for about $6 for 8.5 ounces.

What did you think? My skin is not yet dry and flaky, and I'd prefer to keep it that way! I received a bottle of this lotion to try out, and I think I'm hooked. The lotion isn't overly thick, but it does leave my skin feeling very, very moisturized. My skin seems to just drink it up! I like using this every morning, right after my shower...and after I shave (it really makes my legs feel soft!).

The lotion has a slightly chocolaty scent that tends to fade away after a few hours. The scent is yummy but it doesn't overpower or compete with my perfume.

I've tried expensive body creams, and this one is just as good as the spendier ones.  It can supposedly help reduce the appearance of scars and stretchmarks, but I haven't tried it out for this purpose.  For moisturizing skin, this can't be beat!

The final verdict? Why spend a fortune when you can get such a decent product for less than $10? Using this product makes my skin soft and smelling like yummy cocoa. It's the perfect product to help winterize skin at the perfect price!

Things I'm Loving Right Now

As a beauty blogger, I try out a ton of beauty and skin care products.  As a result, my favorite beauty products seem to change constantly.  Here are my three favorite products at the moment:

Revlon Matte Lipstick: this product's been around for awhile, but I've just recently started wearing this in "In The Red."  It provides an intense amount of color and lasts for AGES on my lips.  Since it's a matte lipstick, it does make my lips feel a bit dry, but it's not overly heavy, it's easy to apply, and I love the color.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil: this eyeliner just slides on.  I have it in both black (Zero) and brown (Whiskey) and it's easy to use and blend.  It also provides a great deal of concentrated color, so a little goes a long way.  As a bonus, it makes my eyes look awesome!

Almond Oil Daily Hand and Nail Cream by The Body Shop: this goes on light, leaving my hands feeling soft but not greasy.  And that's really important! I'm not wild about the scent, but it's not too distracting.  I use this at night to keep my hands feeling soft all day long.  It also helps keep nails from splitting--thank god!

So...what products are you loving at the moment?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Good Clean Fun!

Every day, I take a long, hot shower and clean myself off using body wash.  I don't have any loyalty to a particular brand--I usually just buy whatever is on sale, use it up, and buy something else.  I haven't used a bar soap in quite awhile...bars sometimes dry my skin out.

However, I recently received a new bar of soap from Wembe to test out.  Wembe makes some amazing products: their soaps are eco-friendly and are derived from natural products.  Their corporate vision is pretty awesome: Nature compliments the human soul and envelops it with health beauty and happiness.

The soap I received from Wembe is their Black Clay bar.  It's an exfoliating soap that has a somewhat medicinal scent.  It helps to stimulate blood circulation, improve smoothness, and remove impurities from the skin.  It's like a mini-spa treatment right in your own bathtub! And it's a perfect bar to add to your shower if you want to work on winterizing your skin (as I mentioned in yesterday's post!).

It contains black clay from Paraguay, a product that is rich in essential oils due to the vegetable clays origin.  This soap can be used on any skin type, but is especially good on oily skin and it works best as a body scrub.  Exfoliating regularly eliminates dead skin cells, cleanses the body and improves the complexion.
The makers of Wembe refer to Black Clay as a "little mud bath in a bar" and they offer the following suggestions on how to get the ultimate experience with this soap:

• Get the shower temperature hot (Not too hot !, Just warm enough to open up your pores).
• After this, make sure you scrub your body down with the black clay bar, enough to make a nice looking lather. Allow the your skin to really absorb all the good properties our soap has to offer.
• Once you are all lathered up, you take the final step and plunge into your reasonably hot/warm and steamy shower and rinse the lather off.

Results: Super smoothed and deeply cleansed skin, an experience like no other. For those who have acne, skin blemishes or scars, this treatment can't go wrong!


If you want to try this out for yourself, I highly recommend you head over to Wembe's site to check out Black Clay and their other nature-inspired products.  I like this soap quite a bit--it left my skin smooth and feeling good!

Winterize Your Skin!

Now that Halloween is officially over, it's time to think about what's just around the corner: the holiday season and cold, winter weather.  With winter comes dry skin and frizzy hair...fun, right?  Well, November is "National Healthy Skin Month" and it's a good time to start up a winter skin regiment. 

Here are some tips for getting your skin looking good as we head into the dark days of winter:

• Maintain year-round sun protection.  Just because you're not planning on hitting the beach doesn't mean that you should be skimping on the SPF.  The sun is out every day, all year long, and those UV-rays promote pre-mature aging at best, skin cancer at worst.  Find a product you like and apply it to all exposed skin every single day...no matter what!
• Moisturize more.  With the heat on, our inside air is very dry.  Going outside in the cold air and winter wind can lead to chapping.  Skin is starved for moisture, so be sure to moisturize in the morning, after your shower when your pores are open.
• Avoid super hot showers and baths.  This is impossible for me!  But hot showers do result in overly dry skin.  If you can turn the hot water back a bit, do it!  Your skin will be thankful.
• Exfoliate!  Using an exfoliating product regularly will slough off nasty dead skin cells.
• Add some fats to your diet.  Increasing omega-3s (found in fish like salmon) and flaxseed will help combat dryness from the inside out.
• Don't forget your hands, feet, and lips.  For hands and feet that are stubbornly dry, try applying moisturizer then a pair of gloves or socks before bed.  Lips should be exfoliated regularly...and try to find a lip balm that contains SPF.  You can get skin cancer on your lips, after all.

Those are my tips...if you have anything to add, be sure to leave a comment!