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!

Signature Collection: Spring Fashion

Avon introduces new versatile styles that work together so you can build a wardrobe that works for you.

The Signature Collection features flattering looks, with pieces that can be worn with multiple looks so you can work your accessories! These fashion pieces feature highlights like dresses, and classics like pants and versatile tops. Mix in colorful shoes or bags, and your look is made.

Tops

Gingham Trim Chambray Shirt

Casual Crossover Top

Feeling Floral Anorak Jacket

Ombre Polka Dot Swingtop

Butterfly Drape Top

Dresses

Spring Sensation Dress

Laser Cut Little Black Dress

Modern Floral Maxi Dress

Colorblock Fit and Flare Dress

Bottoms

Curvy Flatter Flare Leg Jean

Curvy Flatter Cotton Pant

Curvy Flatter Skinny Jeans

Accessories

Mixed Media Chunky Heel Sandal

Classic Organization Crossbody Bag

Lace It Up Fashion Sandal

Cushion Walk Spring Fling Flat

Blurry-Dot Fashion Pump

Colorblock Drawstring Bag

Colorblock Easy Sandal

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.

Fierce Foundations: Primer, Liquid, Cream, Cream to Powder, Powder

Foundation is an important piece of our beauty routines because it creates a smooth appearance, where color and accentuation can be added. Foundation helps to protect our skin, especially if it contains SPF, and it can act as a base for contouring and blush color. The type of foundation you choose is based on a few factors: preferred look and feel, coverage, and makeup goals (for example, natural look versus full glam).

Primer

Why do we even use primer? Well, primer does a few very important things: it fills in lines and creates a clean surface to begin the makeup artistry, it smooths your skin and allows foundation to blend, tinted primers and color correctors can help reduce discoloration, and primer helps to lock in moisture.

MagiX Face Perfector is a colorless primer that smooths your foundation application, and offers SPF 20. Follow up with your favorite foundation.

Liquid

Ideal Flawless Invisible Coverage gives complete coverage while still feeling lightweight and natural. Contains SPF 15, and comfortable to wear all day. This foundation smooths skin texture, and helps skin feel moisturized. 21 shades and Invisiblend Technology make skin matching easy!

Anew Age-Transforming is a full coverage liquid foundation with the added benefits of Anew skincare technology. Using this foundation helps to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, pores and age spots. 14 shades.

BB Beauty Balm Cream is lightweight liquid foundation, almost like a moisturizer. The BB cream is hydrating, with lightweight coverage and SPF 15 protection. 5 shades.

CC Color Corrector Cream is perfect for pigment issues, including uneven skin tone, redness, or dark spots on your skin. The CC also has powerful sun protection with SPF 50. 5 shades.

Cream 

The Anew Age-Transforming 2-in-1 Compact has delicious creamy foundation, with added aging ingredients in a delightful swirl. Easy to apply, with medium coverage, this foundation is infused with Anew Serum anti-aging technology for younger looking skin. I do recommend a translucent powder to set for a matte finish. 8 shades.

Cream to Powder

Extra Lasting Cream To Powder Foundation is an amazing time saver. It is so quick and easy to apply this creamy compact which turns to a soft powdery matte finish. SPF 15, comfortable and lightweight. 21 shades.

Ideal Flawless Cream To Powder offers Invisiblend Technology like it's liquid counterpart, to help you find your perfect match. Medium to full coverage, that is easy to apply with the compact that goes on creamy and and finishes powdery. 21 shades.

Powder

Loose or Pressed, Ideal Flawless Powder is the perfect finish. Matte coverage to set your liquid or cream foundation, or use directly over your moisturizer. 10 shades.

Smooth Minerals is the best choice for an easy natural look. Use your daily moisturizer (with SPF, of course) and set with this lightweight, medium coverage powder foundation. Pure mineral pigments provide amazing color coverage, or choose translucent to set a liquid foundation. 12 shades.

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.

Retinol is the #1 Wrinkle Fighting Ingredient Recommended by Dermatologists

Retinol is an animal form of vitamin A. Retinoids are used in topical cosmetics and medications. Retinol can help skin cells act younger, work as an antioxidant to combat wrinkles and can increase collagen production. Yes, all that. That’s why retinol is one of the anti-aging skincare industries biggest workhorse.

Tip! When using a retinol skincare product, apply it before a layer of your SPF product to protect you and the anti-aging ingredients from sunlight and UV damage.

The Anew Clinical line has two new products with retinol.

Anew Clinical Line Eraser With Retinol Treatment uses retinol in an amino acid complex to fight wrinkles, and give the skin a youthful appearance. (Remember how I said that retinol makes skin act younger at the cellular level?)

Anew Clinical Line Eraser With Retinol Targeted Treatment focuses a targeted formula of Vitamins C, E and the A retinol to combat deep lines, especially in problem areas like the forehead and around your mouth.

You have heard this works, you may have even seen it works. But how? How does this work??

Well, retinol sort of has a conversation with your skin. I imagine it going something like this:
“Hey skin, nice to see you! How are ya?”
“Hi retinol, I’m feeling a little down.”
“Right then, let’s get to work clearing out the damage and we can perk you right up!”
“How’s that going to happen, retinol?”
“You can start by breaking me down with your enzymes, and I’ll take part in your molecular functions!”
“Will it hurt?”
“Maybe a little, but then you can get back to creating collagen and you’ll feel so much younger!”

I can’t believe I just wrote a conversation between skin and retinol.* But that’s basically how it goes. The retinol and the skin have a little conversation about how they will work together, and in the end, the skin cells feel refreshed and start making collagen.

Here’s the caveat: irritation might happen. Because of the nature of retinol, and how it’s really digging into the skin at the cellular level, irritation is a natural skin response. You will want to start your retinol treatment slowly, and build up over time. Eventually, you may even want to try a prescription strength retinol.

In 1986, Avon became the first to use stabilized retinol, an anti-aging ingredient, in its patented BioAdvance Beauty Recovery System.

Start with Anew Clinical Line Eraser with Retinol Treatment. Apply it all over the face, or to areas of your skin with signs of aging or sun damage.

* See the technical version of this convo, here.

Your Home is the Place To Be

Effortless Spring Style. Decor, Cooking & Baking, Dining & Entertaining, Kids, Gifts, Gardening. 



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