Let's Talk Lavender!

Lavender is a purple flowering plant that is known to provide medicinal properties in a variety of forms. The scent of lavender can be calming and relaxing. The lavender essential oil is used as treatments. Adding lavender to topical skin creams will help soothe skin issues, heal dry skin and help with itchiness.

The Lavender Overnight Cream gives your feet intense, overnight moisture to make them feel soft and smooth. Lavender plus cocoa and Shea butters soften skin and relieve dry feet issues.

Lavender Clay Mask is a real, at home spa treatment for your feet. If your feet are in bad shape: scaly, peeling, rough or cracked, the lavender clay mask works to help severe feet issues. Apply the mask, allow it to dry, then rinse clean. The mask exfoliates with sloughing micro beads, leaving feet soft.

Lavender Softening Balm is an ultra emollient balm that smooths and moisturizes rough feet. The softening balm will massage into skin, hydrate dry rough patches, and leave feet feeling soft.

Lavender 3-in-1 Pampering Oil is an excellent oil treatment for hands and feet. This oil is great to add to a foot soak to help moisturize dry feet and relax tired foot muscles. It dilutes and disperses well in water. The oil can be used straight from the bottle as a cuticle oil for fingers and toes. Use for a foot massage to nourish skin and relax. Three uses in one: foot soak, cuticle oil, and massage oil!

Enter to win my June Beauty Giveaway, which includes the Lavender Overnight Cream, nail polish and a pedicure tool.

Giveaway: footworks Lavender Overnight Cream, Gel Finish and Pedicure tool.

Hair Removal Cream To The Rescue

For whatever reasons, many people choose to remove facial hair. Men typically shave their facial hair if they don't want beards, but shaving for women is often not the best choice. The other ways to remove facial hair are waxing, lasers, electrolysis and creams.

Facial hair removal creams are actually pretty hard to come by. I don't usually go to Google first thing, but I didn't know much about hair removal creams and wanted to see what was out there.

So I Googled "facial hair removal cream". Surprisingly, Avon Skin So Soft came up first with the highest review ranking.

There are other hair removal creams: underarm, bikini, and leg depilatories. But those are often too strong for the sensitive facial areas like the upper lip, where facial hair tends to be a problem. So choosing a hair removal cream that is specifically for facial areas - or even better! specifically for sensitive skin - will help reduce the sensitivity.

How To Use Facial Hair Removal Cream:

1. Apply a thick coat to completely cover the area where you want hair removed. 
2. Wait several minutes. (Test an area after 2 minutes and do not exceed 8 minutes)
3. Wipe the cream off with a bit of pressure, using a cotton pad. 
4. Rinse the remaining cream with water and pat dry.
5. Moisturize the area with a facial moisturizer.

Avon Facial Hair Removal Creams:

SSS facial hair removal cream

SSS sensitive skin facial hair removal cream

Avon Hair Removal Creams:

SSS body hair removal cream

SSS sensitive skin body hair removal cream

SSS sensitive skin bikini line hair removal cream

Body Beauty: Shower Gel, Body Lotion, Body Spray

Senses body care is the rename of what was called Naturals. While all three body care products are awesome, my personal favorite is the body spray! When all three are used in the same scent, the scent will layer to help carry you through the day; especially if you do not or can not usually wear perfumes.

Shower Gel

5 ounces, moisturizing lather with delightful scents. $6.00

Body Lotion

Luxurious moisture in a creamy formula, with added fragrance. $8.00

Body Spray

Wonderful scented spray to moisturize and layer body scents. $10.00

TIP! Senses is OFTEN on sale, such as Buy 1, Get 1 for .99, or Buy 2, Get 1 Free, or as a 3 piece collection for $10.00

Senses is available in the following scents:

• Playful Pink Daisy & Lemon
• Pretty Passionfruit & Peony
• Silky Vanilla
• Energizing Green tea & Verbena
• Juicy Pomegranate & Mango
• Fresh Cucumber & Melon
• Blushing Cherry Blossom
• Vibrant Orchid & Blueberry
• Sunny Strawberry & Guava

Special, limited time scents are often available, as well. Cherry Blossom and Fruity Yogurt are currently "in season"!

3 FootWorks Products That Actually Help Muscle Aches and Joint Pain

Every day, I push myself. From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, I push. I wake up with pain and stiffness. Often, my body doesn't want to cooperate. My joints ache, and sometimes my hands and fingers will involuntarily curl up in achy spasms. By midday, I am taking Tylenol just to get through the day. Fatigue sets in. And often, by the end of the day, my legs hurt and burn so much that my only choice is to lay down, exhausted. I push on. I am a teacher during the day, run my beauty business as a side hustle, and a full time mom. Plus, sometimes, just sometimes, I like to do things, like, hike, go out to eat or visit museums.

I don't usually share my physical issues, and I'm pretty sure 99% of the people that meet me don't think there is anything wrong. But I know, I KNOW, I'm not the only one. So many people that I care about push through their daily lives in discomfort or agony. So many people are exhausted, achy, in pain, or just not feeling able to fully enjoy life. And the whole time they pretend that there is nothing wrong. It took me a long time to realize that not everyone actually felt like this! I thought everyone had fatigue during the day. Nope. Most people actually go through their days without pain, without challenges. Who knew, right? :|

If you live with arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis or fibromyalgia, you know the constant struggle to make your body feel good.

There are many invisible physical illnesses that affect our ability to function, affect our daily health, and we need ways to combat the symptoms. Rheumatoid diseases, such as arthritis, lupus, and ankylosing spondylitis sufferers are also more likely to have fibromyalgia as well.

When I realized that FootWorks had products that could help soothe arthritis and muscle pain issues, I have to admit - I was skeptical. This was constant achiness. There wasn't a topical that could help!

First, let's talk about the active ingredients in some of these helpful products. 

• Methyl salicilate can bring some comfort for fibromyalgia.
• Glucosamine and chondroitin as a topical can relieve joint pain. * 
• Peppermint is an essential oil frequently used for both arthritis and fibro muscle pain for pain relief and increased circulation. 
• Lidocaine is a topical anesthetic (analgesic). 

* In 2003, there was a double blind study done, and the result was that "in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, a topical cream containing glucosamine sulphate, chondroitin sulphate, and camphor was more effective than placebo for relieving joint pain." Source: http://ebm.bmj.com/content/8/5/154.full

Three specific FootWorks products that can help with symptoms of arthritis, fibromyalgia and other chronic joint and muscle pain.

Foot Works Healthy Peppermint Reviving Leg Gel
Lightweight gel. Infused with Peppermint Oil. Revives, refreshes and soothes.

What I think: This product was released in 2015, and it has made a WORLD of difference! Nearly every evening (and some mornings) I have what I call achy legs: burning, aching, tired muscles that start in my thighs and work down to cramping in my feet. This peppermint gel actually, seriously, yaaasss helps! It truly does. If you have any kind of muscle achy type feelings, try this peppermint leg gel.

Foot Works Healthy Arthritis Achy Foot & Muscle Cream
Keep feet feeling healthy with this intensive cream that provides penetrating pain relief for sore muscles. Contains glucosamine & chondroitin to soothe arthritis pain.
METHYL SALICYLATE 25.0%
GLUCOSAMINE HCL
SODIUM CHONDROITIN SULFATE

What I think: This is a wonderful cream for joint flareups. Using this on a painful knee, shoulder or other joints can actually give almost immediate joint relief while you are waiting for the painkiller to kick in. This can be used anywhere on the body, not just on the feet as the name says! Any joint will benefit from the glucosamine and chondroitin ingredients, and the methyl salicylate ingredient is immediately soothing for muscle aches.

Foot Works Healthy Maximum Strength Cracked Heel Cream
Put the bounce back into your step with Foot Works Healthy Maximum Strength Cracked Heel Cream. The non-greasy formula repairs cracked and dry feet. Stop suffering from calluses by using this softening foot cream. This healing cream contains antiseptic and acts as an analgesic to soothe your pain and heel your feet even faster!
LIDOCAINE 4.00%
BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE 0.13%

What I think: I react to the lidocaine in this, so I have to rely on what others say for this one. This can be used on areas other than the feet, but because of it's strength it is recommended for thicker problem areas, like cracked heels. But I know people with arthritis in their hands use this as a hand cream and that it makes a huge difference!

Global Spa Treatments: Planet Spa

I. LOVE. PLANET. SPA.

Even better? Planet Spa is not just available exclusively online, it's also in the brochures!!

The Planet Spa line of body spa products has been one of my favorites since I joined Avon in October of 2014. In fact, it was one of my first product blog posts!

Avon has changed a few things... the delicious purpley Amazonian Treasures is not available, which is a bummer because it was my fave! However, good changes are here, too. The Campaign 10 brochure features Blissfully Nourishing and Perfectly Purifying quality body spa products!

Blissfully Nourishing

Two words: Shea Butter. Shea butter is a nut butter from the African shea tree. It is delightfully nourishing for the skin, providing moisture and healing properties. This pampering trio includes body wash, body scrub and a rich body butter.

Perfectly Purifying

If you have never tried dead sea salts, you must! To purify and cleanse for a refresh, try the body wash, bath salts, and body butter.

Treat yourself to a body spa treatment from all over the world.

Don't Be Chicken: Rid Your Skin of Keratosis Pilaris

Chicken skin. Called keratosis pilaris, but commonly known as chicken skin because your skin has little raised bumps.

A few facts about keratosis pilaris: it is caused by hair follicles building up extra skin cells, it is generally genetic, and it is aggravated with dry skin.

This annoying skin condition is harmless, but working to maintain your skin will help to keep your skin looking smoother.

When you are experiencing "chicken skin" symptoms, you can do two things to manage it: exfoliate and moisturize.

Use an exfoliating body scrub, like Derma Restoring Body Scrub, to loosen the keratin plugs on the hair follicle and get rid of the dead skin that is causing your skin to be bumpy without causing irritation. Severe outbreaks of keratosis pilaris can benefit from an exfoliant with salicylic acid. A gentle body scrub is a better choice than skin drying cleansers because harsh bar soaps will cause more inflammation.

Moisturize with a lotion or cream, such as Derma Restoring Body Lotion, which works to retain skin's moisture and alleviate flare ups caused by dry skin.

Derma Restoring has been developed to specifically target the skin condition called keratosis pilaris, or chicken skin.

Cleansing and Moisturizing is a Critical Daily Task to Manage Eczema

I sat down to begin writing a blog about eczema, and as I started looking for information, I found something very surprising: a LOT of people have eczema (30 million in the US), a lot of people have tried many things, and a lot of people are still suffering. Eczema is, in a word, complicated.

For starters, the medical community can't really pinpoint what causes eczema. There is a huge list of contributing factors, and those factors are all very clearly different for everyone.

The atopic dermatitis condition called eczema can be caused by:

• genetics
• allergies
• sensitivity to irritants
• sensitivity to temperatures
• photosensitivity
• "thin" skin that does not produce enough fats/oils to create a protective layer
• an immune response

Symptoms of eczema:

• itching, often intense
• red, dry patches
• severely sensitive skin
• rough texture or welts
• itching that leads to scratching and damage to the skin
• damaged skin may be raw, wound-like and might crust over
• pus filled blisters may form

Treatments are also diverse. Everything from over the counter, prescription topicals, diet changes, meditation, wet wrapping, medications such as antihistamines and steroids, even uv light therapy.

Cleansing and Moisturizing Every Day Is Critical

Cleansing and moisturizing are the first steps to take when treating eczema, and they should continue to be part of an eczema treatment routine. Bathing should be done with luke warm, not hot, water. Allow the skin to damp dry, patting, and not rubbing with a towel. Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing, and continue to apply moisturizer on eczema flare up sites throughout the day.

Moisture Therapy Derma Soothing Body Wash
Soothes dryness with vitamin E, aloe and chamomile.

Moisture Therapy Derma Soothing Body Lotion
Light cream moisturizes like an ointment. 

Moisture Therapy Derma Soothing products have been accepted by the National Eczema Association and carry the acceptance seal.

I have had bouts of eczema on my hands. The itching makes me crazy! I have itched my skin to the point of bleeding. I have sensitive skin that damages easily, sunburns easily, and a light fingernail scratch will leave a red mark on my skin for several minutes. I have tried everything from Aveeno to Cetaphil to hydrocortisone. The only products I have been able to use on my hands are the St Ives oatmeal lotions, and Avon's Intensive Healing and Repair. That Aveeno that is supposed to be for itchy skin, seriously makes my skin BURN when I use it. I threw it out.

Margo Young is an Avon representative in Missouri. She has been using the Derma Soothing on her young child's eczema, and shared this BEFORE/AFTER photo. This was from using the Derma Soothing body wash and body lotion for just a few days.

Photo courtesy Margo Young

Everyone who suffers from eczema has a unique situation. Different products are available, but everyone may respond to them differently. The Derma Soothing products may or may not work for you, but I have been seeing very honest reviews from many people with eczema that state these cleansing and moisturizing products work for eczema skin. What I can suggest is to try them out, and if they do not work for your eczema skin, Avon does have a 90 day return policy! But from everything I have seen, Moisture Therapy Derma Soothing is an excellent solution for the daily skin maintenance required for eczema, and at an affordable cost.

A Perfect Body Spa Gift Set

Still looking for the perfect body spa gift set? With so many options, it's hard to find just the right one. The Frosted Winterberry set has bubble bath for a soothing, relaxing soak, shower gel for everyday, a shower pouf, and body lotion to stay moisturized in the cold winter air.

Work Hard. Make Pretty.

I work hard running our little homestead. House maintenance, gardening, chicken care, fighting the forest, not to mention taking care of the family and working full time... it's a lot of hard work!

Today, I used the edge trimmer to cut back all the super high weeds growing all around our property. My hands are shaking now and I can't really lift anything fragile for fear of dropping it and breaking it.

Afterwards, getting clean and pretty was so very satisfying. There is something to be appreciated about working or playing hard, getting all sweaty and dirty and then getting clean and pretty when you're done.

DIY Spa Day

I could use a relaxing spa day EVERY day. The fact is, I can barely manage some spa treatment time for me every few months. If I'm lucky. And the planets align.

When I do have an opportunity for relaxing spa time, you bet your pretty petunias I'm going to take advantage of that! My problem is, there is no way I could afford GOING to a spa. I mean a facial alone can be well over $100. There is most definitely a way I can recreate the spa experience myself and for much less.

Be prepared to spend some time alone, bathing and pampering yourself!

	Spa Treatment	Products I Recommend
Face	Brightening Facial: A facial mask will invigorate and hydrate your face, bringing back a healthy glow and helping you relax and recover from stress.	Clearskin® Pore Penetrating Black Mineral Mask $6.99 OR Planet Spa Amazonian Treasures Hydrating Face Mask with Brazilian Acai and Berries $10 Spa Cost: $100+
	Facial Hair Treatment: Remove unwanted facial hair with a cream or a wax.	Skin So Soft Fresh & Smooth Moisturizing Facial Hair Removal Cream $6 OR  Skin So Soft Fresh & Smooth Moisturizing Facial Wax Strip Kit $12 Spa Cost: $15-$30+
Body	Exfoliate: Use a body scrub to exfoliate skin, and refresh your body.	Planet Spa Perfectly Purifying With Dead Sea Minerals Body Scrub $12  Spa Cost: $50+
	Moisturize: Enrich and restore your skin with a soothing moisturizer, like a body lotion or oil.	Skin So Soft body lotions and oils - so many solutions and scents to choose from! $5 to $15  Spa Cost: $50+

Hands	Manicure: File your nails, care for your cuticles and polish with a trendy color.	Nailwear Pro+ Nail Enamel $6 Spa Cost: $25+
	Moisturize: Massage a lotion into the dry skin on your fingers and hands.	My personal favorite! Moisture Therapy Intensive Healing & Repair Hand Cream $5 Spa Cost: $10+
Feet	Pedicure: Trim your toenails, and color them with a made to last gel polish.	Gel Finish 7-in-1 Nail Enamel $7  Spa Cost: $35+
	Smooth: Rub in a hydrating foot cream.	Foot Works Beautiful Deep Moisturizing Cream $5 &   Spa Cost: $20+

Total cost for all of that pampering at a spa? Starting at $320, and could be much more depending on the spa!

Total cost if you do it in the comfort of your home? $75, and you can use the same products again next time you need a spa day! Check out my DIY Spa Day Pinterest board.

Stressed? Take A Bath!

I'm not joking.

Do you feel stressed? How do you know if you are stressed? Life has a way of making too many demands of us. The result is that we feel stress, which can have pretty harmful effects!

Am I Stressed?

Dealing with every day life can make us feel pressured, moody, worrisome, anxious, irritable, depressed, achy, sick or nervous. The way we react to stressors can be mental, emotional, physical or in the way we act. Stress overload can push us to a breaking point.

In a cruel, ironic twist of fate, my life has been going fairly smoothly, yet today something extraordinarily stressful happened. I am shaky, teary, sad, and definitely feeling fight or flight instincts. Stress happens because things in life happen. So, yes, I am very much stressed!

How Do You Cope With Stress?

It depends on the type of stressors in your life. Certain jobs people have result in more complex things to deal with, for example. Events occur that can create acute or sustained stress. The degree to which you are personally able to deal with stress can also determine how you cope. I feel stress mostly through muscle tension, which can lead to severe headaches.

If you feel like you are strained to the point of mental or physical exhaustion, you need some stress relief!

• Take time for yourself. I'm a working mom. Time for myself is sort of an oxymoron. You have to actively seek moments to relax. Go for a short walk outdoors. Find a relaxing hobby. Have conversations with your personal support network.
• Get rid of the stressors. Clear away negative people and situations as much as you  can. Set realistic goals and cross a few things off your to do list. Eliminate the source of your stress.
• Change what you can and ignore what you can't. Sometimes things can't be changed. If you work in ER, the trauma will continue to walk through the door. If you can't change your job, find a way to be at peace with what you do. You cannot control certain things!
• Try meditation and aromatherapy. Find a quiet space where you can be alone. Breathe deeply and visualize the stress going away. Certain aromas can be calming and will help to melt stress away. Scents such as peppermint, lavender, jasmine, geranium and chamomile are known for their pleasant and stress relieving odors. 

Coping with the pressures of life is hard. there is no doubt about that! But to ensure stress doesn't take over your life, you have to actively week ways to manage it.

In fact, just taking the time to have a luxurious bath can help reduce stress by improving circulation, relaxing muscles, enabling the use of aromatherapy, and allowing for personal meditation.

Skin So Soft Aroma + Therapy Stress Relief combines eucalyptus and geranium scents in bath foam, body wash and moisturizer.

Eczema Relief

Eczema is skin that is chronically red and itchy. It can be so itchy that scratching makes it worse and the skin develops secondary infections. While it is difficult to identify the causes of eczema, certain triggers might cause eczema flare ups,  like specific products, allergic reactions, and stress.

Eczema can happen to anyone, from babies to the elderly. Red, patchy skin can itch like crazy. Of course, in the process of trying to relieve the itch, the skin can be further irritated. The result is raw skin, that swells, has little red bumps, can be scaly and tough, and might even have fluid oozing out. 

Skin issues like that can take over your life. It’s constantly hurting, embarrassing to look at, and trying to find solutions can be frustrating.

There are so many possible solutions for eczema. Benadryl, cortisone creams, moisturizing, even taking a diluted bleach bath! In fact, there are so many options it can truly become overwhelming. Trying every single option without relief can quickly become agonizing. 

However, two key things can help alleviate symptoms of eczema: washing with a gentle soap using warm (not hot) water, and moisturizing dry skin to reduce flare ups.

AVON Moisture Therapy DERMA is a mild, gentle formula to provide soothing relief for eczema. 

• STEP 1: Cleanse with scientifically formulated soothing body wash. The body wash cleanses while soothing dryness associated with eczema-prone skin and has vitamin E, aloe and chamomile.
• STEP 2: Moisturize with soothing body lotion. The lotion is a light cream enriched with Skin Lipid Complex. 

AVON’s DERMA products have been accepted by the National Eczema Association. 

 

Eczema is a skin condition and is not contagious. If you have symptoms of eczema, you should see a physician or a dermatologist. There has been and still is a lot of scientific research regarding eczema.

Exclusive Planet Spa

AVON has a delicious collection of Planet Spa body care. I am absolutely in love with these! They are exclusively online only, and each one is simply splendid.

Rainforest-inspired Amazonian Treasures Collection with scents of acai berries, exotic orchids and
delicate plumeria. This collection includes a body scrub to exfoliate and soften skin, super moisture for hands and feet, and a face mask to restore glowing facial skin.

 

Blissfully Nourishing has the richness of African shea butter. This collection includes creamy body butter, hand, elbow & foot cream for focused treatment, and hand & foot scrub to gently smooth rough skin.

 

Perfectly Purifying has valued dead sea minerals to help purify skin. This clarifying collection has a face scrub, a body scrub with mint and rosemary and a face mask.