Spa Sonic Skin Care System Face & Body Polisher

The NEW Spa Sonic Skin Care System is available at Target.com!

Give your skin a luxurious spa treatment with this sonic skin-care system that contains 7 pieces and is priced affordably at $65.00.

The battery-operated unit includes several attachments to let you customize your skin-improvement experience, and the kit is suitable for use on your face and body. A perfect gift or the perfect at-home spa set! (Keep in mind for Christmas!!)

Spa Sonic Skin Care System Face & Body Polisher is an affordable, waterproof device that’s ideal for use in the shower, bath or sink and works to deep cleanse the entire face and body. It operates with 4 attachments (all included): a small brush for the face, a large brush for the body, pumice for rough areas, and a facial sponge for microdermabrasion and reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. The Spa Sonic’s dermal penetrating action promotes rapid absorption of skin care products and leaves skin toned and super smooth.

Spa Sonic tested comparably to the Clarisonic® Plus Skin Care System in an independent study conducted by the leading consumer testing laboratory (STR/Shuster Labs 2010).

Made with Clear Skin Technology, the Spa Sonic brush heads were specially designed by dermatologists, to deep clean while being completely non-irritating. I have tried it with all my normal facial cleansers including gels, creams and scrubs – all with fantastic results.


Four removable rotating brush heads offer a variety of benefits:

  • Small facial brush: cleanses the face by getting deep in to pores;
  • Large body brush: cleanses entire body deeper than loofah and body sponges;
  • Facial buffer: aids in moisture absorption and exfoliation to reduce fine lines and dark spots;
  • Pumice stone: smoothes rough areas such as elbows, knees and heels.

Features:

  • Exfoliates, smoothes & softens skin
  • Recommended by dermatologists
  • Can be used with favorite cleanser and moisturizers
  • Tightens & reduces size of pores
  • Supports the reduction of fine lines and dark spots
  • Eliminates dirt, makeup and oil
  • Safe & effective for all skin types
  • 4 bonus attachments included
  • Long lasting AA battery four pack – no need to charge

This thing works great! Just as good as my Clarisonic and at a much more affordable price. So yeah, now even YOU can afford to have great skin. And not just on your face either! This thing is super versatile and packed with power. I was impressed with how easy it was to change out the brush heads.

Includes:

  • 1 body polishing unit
  • 2 Small facial brushes
  • 1 Large body brush
  • 1 Facial buffer
  • 1 Pumice stone
  • 1 Battery four pack

The only bummer is that it doesn’t have a charger. It comes with 4 AA batteries but they do need to be replaced. I have been using this unit for about a month and it’s still going fine, so I don’t know how often exactly they will need to be replaced. I recommend buying Duracell Charger With 4AA Pre Charged Rechargeable Nimh Batteries (Only $14 on Amazon) so you can recharge your own batteries and then pop them back into the Spa Sonic unit.

Overall, I recommend this unit for EVERYONE. It’s versatile, affordable, effective and a must-have for anyone who wants a clearer complexion and smooth skin!

Price: $65

Availability: Target.com


* The product for this review was provided to us free of charge for the purpose of product testing. This does not effect our opinion of the products in any way. We only write about products we personally like and use, regardless of how they were acquired.

Summer Skin Savior: Suki Butter Cream Healing Salve

Want that healthy glow this summer? Start by healing and hydrating dry chapped skin and protecting it from further sun damage all while maintaining your gorgeous tan throughout the season.

suki® skincare’s Butter Cream Healing Salve

This non-greasy therapeutic botanical balm is infused with yummy organic coconut oil and all-natural ingredients such as organic lavender and chamomile extracts. These natural ingredients help to soothe and heal skin all while providing long-lasting moisture to thirsty skin.   It works especially well for alleviating symptoms of eczema, rashes, redness and all other kinds of irritation brought on by the intense heat that summer brings.

I use this on my feet, elbows, knees and on a small dry patch I have on my face (that won’t go away, damn it!) and this salve works GREAT to deliver fast and long lasting moisture. Plus I love that the ingredients are all natural. I’m nursing/breastfeeding so I really try to be very selective about what I put on (and in) my body. I’m almost exclusively using organic and natural products right now and this one is on my LOVE list!!

The suki Butter Cream Healing Salve is available at Whole Foods stores nationwide, specialty boutiques, spas and online at sukiskincare.com for $24.95.

 

Gel Manicures…5 Months Later…

Earlier this winter I wrote about Gel Nail manicures and the pros and cons of this new manicure technique.  Being a sucker for beautiful nails and a regular at my local nail salon, I began to tell myself, “…OK, just this time.  Next visit I’ll give my nails a break and go without polish…”  That mind set led me to 5 months worth of Gel Manicures.  I have to say that during those five months, once the manicure was set, my nails looked AWESOME!  They never chipped, split, tore or otherwise got ratty.

But I began to notice (OK, I couldn’t help but notice) that when I was in the middle of a manicure my nails were painfully dry and had ridges and nasty white spots, as if I had splattered White Out all over my hands.   But once those gels were on, my manicure was truly lustrous for a full two weeks.  Finally, last week, the girl who was doing my nails said that my nails were so dry and brittle that she could not in good conscience put any product other than oil on my nails.  Ouch.  

So here I am with dry, brittle, ridge filled nails, slathering oil on my nails every chance I get.  I have decided to wait a month before polishing my nails again.  Would I get another Gel Manicure?  Probably.  OK, definitely.  But I won’t get one every time, maybe only for special occasions.  If you are considering Gels here is a list of pros and cons:

PRO:

Your manicure will look fabulous for a full two weeks

Your nails will be like teflon, even when doing household chores

You will be able to fumble for your keys in the bottom of your purse before leaving the salon

CONS:

You have to soak in chemicals for about 15 minutes to get gels off and you can’t do it at home

Your nails become painfully dry

Extended use of Gels can cause ridges and white “bruises” on your nail beds

A regular manicure just isn’t as satisfying once you get going on gels because it won’t hold up as well as a gel manicure

Have you tried Gel manicures?  Are you addicted to them?  Leave a comment and let us know!

 

Julep Nail Parlor Summer 2011 Collection!

Summer is the time to let loose and experiment with bright, bold color and that means bright summer mani-pedi. Nail company Julep has come out with classically bold and sassy summer shades for you to add a splash of color to all of your fresh summer dresses and sandals. Check out the colors below:

 

 

 

The colors come in Niecy a bright and sassy pink color, Blake a warm and buttery yellow that will make your toes pop, and Jaime a fun and fashionable neon blue to add a spark of color to any understated white summer dress.

 

Worried about chipping your sexy summer pedi?

The founder of Julep, Jane parks has a special tip for those looking to preserve a fresh nail coat:

“When you have to dash out the door, especially after a DIY pedicure, you can ‘set’ your polish by dunking your feet in ice water for 30 to 60 seconds.  Then coat with cuticle oil (or olive oil works too in a pinch) to help protect your polish from chips and dings.”

 

I know I have had my fair share of fresh dings, hopefully this tip will help me out.

 

These colors would go great matched on both hands and feet or you could mix them up for a funky girls night out.

 

The Summer Collection retails for $42.00 USD

 

For more info on the set and fun add-ons like convenient and oh so covet-worthy Essential Cuticle Oil $8.95 USD (pictured below) visit the Julep website.

 

 

With a fresh DIY mani-pedi and beautiful flowy dresses, you’ll be all set for those summer BBQ’s!

 

What’s your favorite summer nail polish?

 

xox,
Andrea

 

 

Have You Tried Gel Nails?

I’ve always been slightly obsessed with my fingernails and have spent a king’s ransom in manicures over the years.  I love how clean and – well, polished – my hands look after a professional manicure.  I recently tried the new Gel Manicures that are becoming all rage.

CND Shellac - one of the many brands of gel polishes

A gel manicure is a type of manicure that uses gel to bind the synthetic fingernails to the natural nails. Unlike acrylic nails, another option for manicures, gel nails are stronger and less likely to chip. Gel can also be applied over natural nails. A gel manicure is often preferred over an acrylic one because gel nails are odorless. Gel nails do not consist of the same acid as acrylic nails. Additionally, a gel manicure tends to look more realistic, as the gel nails are more flexible and bond naturally to the real nail. Gel nails do not need lift, polish or backfills. These fingernails stay shiny and last longer than acrylic nails.

OPI's Axxium Gel Color Selection

What is great about Gel Manicures is A) The polish lasts for about 2 weeks and looks fresh the entire time,  B) Your nails are like kryptonite, with no chips or tears or splits, and C)  Because the polish is dried with UV lights you are totally dry after the last bake under the UV.  No dry time, no smudges, just beautiful, rock hard nails as you exit the salon.  Gel Nails hold up to any household chore you can throw at them: laundry, dishes, cleaning, manual labor…  The problem with gel manicures is A) They are expensive, B) You can only get the gel off in a salon after drowning your nails in chemicals for about 20+ minutes, and C) After 2 weeks and a long chemical soak, your nails look weak and unhealthy, almost compelling you to get another Gel Manicure to cover up nasty ragged mess left behind.  

I liked my experience with Gel Nails, and will probably get another one in a few weeks before I go on my ski vacation (because I always trash my nails when I’m skiing – go figure!), but all in all I think I’ll stick to natural nails and traditional manicures.  They just seem healthier, and better for your nails in the long run.

Have you tried Gel Manicures?  How was your experience?  Leave us a comment and tell us about it…

Texting Gloves…So You Can Stay in Touch and Stay Warm…

Texting gloves are the new hot thing, no pun intended!  Really, it’s just a new name for fingerless gloves, which have been around since Charles Dickens made them stylish and functional for his scrappy crew in Oliver Twist.  But as I froze my bajingies off this morning at the dog park while trying to tap out a few critical emails and text messages, I decided my fist order of business would be to find a pair that would meet my criteria:  A) Keep my fingers from turning blue, B) Look reasonably cute and stylish, and C) Hold up to a New England winter.  While I have not made an actual purchase yet, this is what I have found so far:

Agloves Touch Screen Gloves for cold weather use. According to their web site Agloves.com, “You can text with these gloves on! Agloves touch screen gloves are lightweight, soft, warm, stretchy and slightly fuzzy knitted gloves. Made in the USA, these seamless, knitted gloves have high quality workmanship. Agloves are compatible with any and all of your touch screen phones, cameras, multimedia devices, game systems, and eReaders.  Two unisex sizes S/M or M/L  Color is black with silver flecks to produce a charcoal grey coloring.  Hand washable in water. (XL’s available in January).  Agloves work on all touch screens including:  iPhone, Droid X, Samsung, Tom-Tom GPS system, Nook, ATM, iPad, iPod Touch, MP3 player, Palm Pre, Blackberry Storm, Zune HD, Flip HD and other cameras, and many more.

Agloves Texting Gloves $17.99 at Algoves.com

I like the fact that I wouldn’t have to expose my fingertips to the cold, but it seems like you might lose some accuracy while trying to use your touch screen device – which would make me nuts, especially while standing out in the cold!

These gloves from FreeHands look like they are warmer, and possibly a bit more functional, but there is the exposed fingertip issue and they seem a but bulky.  But I like the hot pink/black combination, and they look like they might hit the “C” criteria of holding up in a New England winter.

FreeHands Micro Fur Gloves $28.95 - $35.00

FreeHands Mirco Fur Glove in beige/black

If  you are skeptical and just want to add some functionality to your existing hand wear, Amazon.com sells texting dots.  The product description says texting dots “…  are made of firm polyurethane rubber with light adhesive on the bottom. They are the shape of a small blister on your fingertip, round bottom with a crowned top for precise contact when using a touch screen. It sticks to both fingertips and gloves. They work great with pressure sensitive touch screen cell phones: Samsung Rogue, Samsung Solstice, Samsung Mythic, Samsung Impression, Samsung Flight, Samsung Omnia, LG env Touch, LG Versa, LG Chocolate Touch, LG Vu, LG Xenon, HTC Imagio, HTC Pure, HTC Tilt, T-Mobile Tap, grocery self check-out touch screens, airport self check-in kiosks, picture photo kiosks, cashier touch screens, HP Touch Smart Desktop computer, TomTom GPS devices, Magellan GPS devices, Garmin GPS devices, Insignia GPS devices.”

Texting Dots $4.99 at Amazon.com

FreeHands micro fur gloves and texting dots are available at Amazon.com.  I’m going to Bloomingdales and Macy’s to see what they have.  Have you purchased a pair of texting gloves that you like or think work well?  If so, send us a comment and let us know!

Embrace the Holiday Spirit with Kiss My Face

Thanksgiving and Christmas are nostalgic times when the familiar scents like rosemary, peppermint and cranberry fill the air and tickle our senses.  For the Holidays, Kiss My Face presents unique product offerings that contain traditional holiday ingredients including:

  • Kiss My Face Peppermint Foot Creme and Peppermint Foot Scrub Peppermint Oil works to stimulate and exfoliate feet while moisturizing with Grapeseed Oil.  (Price: $8.99)

Purchase Kiss My Face products are available on kissmyface.com, drugstore.com and amazon.com.

What’s your favorite Kiss My Face product?? Mine is the new peppermint foot cream!