Travel Beauty :: Olive Oil Inspired

{This week: enter to win a gorgeous fleur de lis necklace, details here.}

I have a bit of an olive oil obsession, which started long before my trip to the Italian Riviera, and I go through a bottle at a frighteningly fast pace. Not only do I cook with it at every meal, I even bake with it {try this recipe for olive oil cake---it's fantastic}.

Olive oil is packed with nourishing ingredients like Vitamin E and Omegas 3 and 6, and has been a beauty secret women have relied on for thousands of years. You can rub it into the hands and feet to hydrate dry, cracked skin, use it as a rinse-out hair masque, and even apply it to the face directly for a natural, ultra-moisturizing anti-aging treatment. Or...you can indulge in new Olive Essence from Spa de Soleil---a Certified Organic, natural skin care line that is formulated with pure olive oil and nourishing 24K gold---another age-old beauty secret that Cleopatra is said to have used to stay young and gorgeous.

This USDA Certified Organic collection fights aging naturally with an impressive list of ingredients that really is chemical-free. My favorites include Organic Gold Healing Nutrient; a silky formula that infuses olive juice, fruit extracts and amino acids into the skin to help it recover from environmental stresses {and living in LA I have enough of those!} and Organic Gold Peptide Complex, which is an intensive formula with powerful antioxidants in a unique oxygenated delivery system to fight premature aging. The Organic Gold Facial Peel leaves skin feeling soft and glowing. All formulas are scented with a delicate, fresh fragrance and absorb instantly---definitely a must-try! All of my favorites come in travel-friendly sizes.

Olive Essence is priced accessibly, with the most expensive item being only $32.99. Available online at www.homespacollection.com.

{Want more travel beauty? Get your fill the third Wednesday of every month. Lauren, our travel beauty expert is already whipping up her next concoction post!}

Travel Beauty :: {Holiday Edition}

Beauty products make fantastic holiday gifts, not to mention their small size is ultra travel-friendly for those of you flying home or holidaying for the season. Here are some of my favorite beauty products that make great gifts and stocking stuffers, and easily fit into your chic little suitcase!

Smith’s Rosebud Salve {$6 www.beautyhabit.com} I was thrilled to see my favorite lip balm now comes in a tube (I’m not a fan of dipping my finger into product). The formula is ultra moisturizing, non-sticky and leaves the prettiest natural-looking glossy finish. I think this is one of the very best lip balms out there.

Bond No. 9 New York Perfumista’s Box {$260, Saks Stores & www.saksfifthavenue.com} Bond fragrances are incredible---each scent is so unique, lasts all day and comes in the coolest bottle. My absolute favorite is DNA For Her (which I wore on my wedding day). This set is such a fun way to try, mix and match their signature scents, and I love how the set is wrapped up like candy.

Shaffali Skin Rituals Body Scrub {$32, www.shaffali.com} I love body scrubs and have tried tons of them. I can honestly say that nothing compares to this delicious body scrub. With ingredients like Indonesian Mango, French Lavender, Turmeric, Papaya, Pineapple, Sandalwood and Almonds, this scrub doesn’t only smell heavenly, but really softens skin. Shaffali products are paraben- and chemical-free and are inspired by Ayurveda aromatherapy and Shaffali’s Indian heritage.

Alterna Professional Haircare Glitterati Shimmer Spray {$20, www.beauty.com} Everyone needs some sparkle (and Caviar) during the holidays and this gorgeous gold-tinted shimmering hair spray uses real diamond dust to give hair a stunning glow. With light hold and subtle shimmer, this spray is the perfect finishing touch to any holiday hairstyle.

Dior Vernis Limited-Edition Nail Color in Czarina Gold {$21, Bloomingdales} Continuing with the sparkle theme, this totally gorgeous nail polish by Dior mixes black and gold, and is the perfect holiday nail color. It’s slightly vamp-ish and very sparkly.

DuWop Venom Gloss Candy Box {$25, www.duwop.com} This adorable set of plumping lip glosses would make any girl happy. Using a natural blend of cinnamon, wintergreen and ginger to plump the lips, hydrating oils keep lips soft and smooth and natural-looking colors like sheer pink and nude are the perfect compliment to smokey eyes. This is the perfect lip set for the holidays.

Wishing you a beauty-ful holiday!

{Want more travel beauty? Get your fill the third Wednesday of every month. Lauren, our travel beauty expert is already whipping up her next concoctionpost!}

Travel Beauty :: The Beauty of Arcona

[trip style = spa]

TLC I was recently lucky enough to experience a facial at the Arcona Studio in Santa Monica, CA. I have to admit, I’m one of those people who starts a different skin care regimen every week. But my skin had been acting out and was in need of some TLC, so after hearing about Arcona from several friends, I decided to give it a try.

Radiant Complexion The studio itself is very intimate and tranquil with dim lighting, eggshell-hued walls, classical music, and with talking only at whisper-level---it’s no wonder celebs like Natalie Portman, Vera Farmiga, and Katherine Heigl are fans. The studio is more about serious skincare than ultimate relaxation, so if you’re expecting lots of bells and whistles, this place isn’t for you. But if you want a glowing, radiant complexion, don’t walk…run fly!

No Overcooking Arcona products are made without parabens, petrochemicals, binders or fillers, sodium lauryl sulphates, perfumes, or dyes, and are infused with healthy ingredients like enzymes, antioxidants, amino acids, plant lipids, essential oils, vitamins, and minerals. The key to their unique formulas is the ingredients are cold-processed in small batches at low temperatures, keeping them effective and active. They compare this process to how most nutrients are lost when overcooking vegetables.

Basic 5 Arcona is based on 5 simple products. You use 3 steps in the morning and 2 at night. The Basic Five Program aims to speed up, strengthen and enhance the skin’s renewal process. My Basic Five was for Normal Skin and included Cranberry Gommage---a morning exfoliant, Magic White Ice----a daytime hydrator, Desert Mist---a protective spray that shields skin from environmental damage, Toner Tea Bar---a nighttime cleanser, and The Solution---a lactic and hyaluronic acid-filled nighttime treatment. The Basic Five comes in a set for normal, sensitive, oily, dry, or aging skin and is available in full and travel sizes. I recommend the travel kits which are a great way to try the brand, and to take on vacation.

If you are in search of an eco-friendly skincare line that actually works, try Arcona. I am now a convert.

Editor's Note: I'm heading to LA in a few weeks and even though I have a love/hate relationship with facials, a trip to Arcona might be in order! Thanks Lauren.

PS - Men, there's also a specially formulated men's line.

{Want more travel beauty? Get your fill the third Wednesday of every month. Lauren, our travel beauty expert is already whipping up her next concoction post!}

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Travel Beauty :: Something to "Screen" About

[trip style = sun & everyday] Vacay in the Sun There’s nothing more relaxing than vacationing in the sun. Just the thought of it makes me want to take a nap. I agree that everyone looks better with a tan and don’t you always hear about how essential Vitamin D is? So just a little sun can’t hurt…WRONG! With skin cancer rates on the rise, a little sun can hurt. A lot. If that doesn’t make you nervous, I’ll appeal to your vanity: wrinkles! And don’t even get me started on sun spots.

So What To Do? Use sunscreen. Every. Single. Day. Especially while on vacation when you’re more likely to spend longer periods of time outside, but also on cloudy, rainy days and every day in between.

Not the Answer I haven’t been impressed with the sunscreens on the market. Many of them leave a thick white sheen and an extra shiny finish---definitely not the way you want to look while on vacation.

Enter Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunblock SPF 55. Wow. I applied this product on clean skin before moisturizer. The lightweight liquid formula absorbed instantly and left no residue, white sheen, or greasiness. You would never know that I had applied sunscreen that day. I didn’t even wear much makeup and my skin looked great. I was impressed! This sunscreen contains both UVA (aging rays) and UVB (burning rays) protection under the name Helioplex, which is Neutrogena’s proprietary complex (i.e. a marketing term) featuring Avobenzone and Oxybenzone.

Some Guidelines When buying a sunscreen, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you look for the following ingredients, which ensure broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) protection: Avobenzone, Cinoxate, Ecamsule, Menthyl anthranilate, Octyl methoxycinnamate, Octyl salicylate, Oxybenzone, Sulisobenzone, Titanium dioxide, and Zinc oxide. In addition look for something with an SPF of 30 or higher. This Neutrogena product has it all.

Did You Know? UVA rays can penetrate car windows! Just one more reason to wear sunscreen every single day.

{Want more travel beauty? Get your fill the third Wednesday of every month. Lauren, our travel beauty expert is already whipping up her next concoction post!}

Travel Beauty Month :: Double Duty

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Space is at a minimum when you travel, so jetting off with double duty clothing and toiletries is a must. For example, a long blouse can double-up as a plane outfit when worn with leggings, and a bathing-suit cover-up for the pool/beach. Similarly, there are a few beauty gems which double in the program as well.  Here are a few multi-purpose beauties for travel:

Double Duty Travel Beauty Face & Body Powder with SPF Jane Iredale's Powder-Me SPF™ Dry Sunscreen – SPF 30 is actually a triple-threat: face powder, body powder and sunscreen!

Shimmer & Scent Benefit's luxurious Bathina "take a picture it lasts longer" body balm gives your skin a light shimmer and a sultry scent. Leave an impression with an alluring sheen and fetching aroma!

All-in-One Colour Nars has taken their most popular selling blush "orgasm" and translated it into The Multiple, and all-in-one radiant peachy pink stick adding shimmer to the eyes, cheeks, lips and décolletage.

Dewy Glow Petroleum jelly is about as multi-purpose as a product comes. Use as a lip gloss and deep moisturizer for hands, elbows, knees and feet. It also adds some natural pizzaz to your peepers; apply a little onto eyelashes and eyebrows to help them stay in place, as well as to lids and contours for a dewy glow.

Ice, Ice Baby Ice from your hotel does two things: a) adds a burst of cool to your bevs, and b) reduces under-eye puffiness when placed in a washcloth and applied under the eyes.

{Don't miss this week's Travel Beauty Month Jane Iredale giveaway. Contest ends Thursday, September 2nd.}

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