DIY BROWN SUGAR SCRUB

Photo Credit: Carlos Saqiid

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup of Turbinado Sugar
* 1 tbl of Almond Oil (or grapeseed oil, sesame oil, coconut oil)
* 8-10 drops of Rose Oil (or your favorite essential oil)

Mix ingredients together and place in a glass jar.  Store in a cool dark place.  Stand in your shower.  Before wetting your skin, massage scrub dry onto your body.  For best results use twice weekly.

While Sephora's store shelves are stocked with many different brands of brown sugar body scrub, some which we absolutely love like Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish and Archipelago Brown Sugar Scrub, it is really quite simple to make your own.  It only requires three ingredients, a glass jar and five minutes of your time.

Sugar may ruin your teeth, but it has many great benefits for your skin. First of all, sugar is hydrating.  It is a natural humectant, which means that it will draw moisture from the environment into your skin.  Secondly, sugar is an excellent exfoliant as it is a natural source of glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which dissolves dead surface skin cells to help reveal healthier, more youthful-looking skin.

Lastly, sugar can be more beneficial for your skin than salt as it is gentler.  Salt is too harsh, it can cause microscopic tears in the skin and can actually strip the skin of natural oils causing dryness.

When choosing a type of sugar for your body scrub, be sure to use turbinado sugar because it is naturally coarser than granulated brown sugar providing a more thorough exfoliation.

Our Top Product Pick of the Month

Photo credit: Carlos Saqiid

There is something new happening at Wholistic Skincare! We call it the "Me Time" Facial and we created it as a way to teach you how to properly use your home skincare products so that you reap the maximum benefits.

How often have you browsed the shelves in the cosmetic department in search of the best skincare to treat common skin conditions like adult acne, dark spots, dehydration, aging or sensitive skin only to feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of products available? You might choose a brand that seems right, but there is always that lingering question of will this product really live up to its claim? Let us help you navigate the beauty department and advise you on the best products to try.

We've even made a video for you to learn more about the process. As you'll see, we are featuring Botanics Skincare by Boots as our fave product pick for the month of October. If you haven't tried it, then you must. We purchased ours from Target in Uptown, bought it's also sold at CVS stores.

Botanics uses the power of plants to cleanse, soothe and heal the skin. It's packed with quality ingredients and sold at an affordable price. We like it best for its light pleasant scent and even better for their many fragrance-free options; we love their gentle cleansers, exfoliants and moisturizers with UVA protection. Also, Botanics has a great inexpensive line of lighteners and brighteners for those battling dark spotting caused by blemishes. 

See our video to learn more. Also, if you are a YouTuber, please SUBSCRIBE to our new channel as weekly we will be posting quick beauty/skincare tips, product reviews, and more.  

Relax, Renew, Release

Studio Within Salon and Spa in Lakeview
www.studiowithin.net

Looking for ways to improve your quality of life? Here's an idea, try visiting a spa. It doesn't matter if it's your local neighborhood spa, which will likely offer more cost-friendly services, or a high-end spa on the Gold Coast. Spas offer services that can help heal the body and nourish the soul. "Yes, yes ... that sounds great, but it's a luxury that you just can't afford." Oh, I hear you. Well, think of it this way, the health benefits that you get from going to the spa every once in a while is something that you can no longer afford to lose.


While we may think of facials, massage, and mani-pedi's as frivolous luxury, they are actually ancient forms of healing that connects us to an even deeper more meaningful human experience. There is healing power in touch. When we set aside time for ourselves to engage in one of those services, our bodies and minds benefit tenfold. Whether it's from a therapist or a loved one, a simple massage helps our minds and bodies stimulate their own restorative nature. Touch promotes healthy blood circulation, can help reduce high cholesterol, and relieve stress. You will be better able to move and think more freely. After experiencing any one of those services your muscles will feel relaxed and your skin will glow.


So forgo that Cafe Mocha from Starbucks for a week or take a pass on those new shoes that will have your feet crying for mercy after wearing them for an hour. Set aside some time and a few bucks a month to nurture your wellbeing. Isn't that just as important?

Custom Cleansing Facial

Custom Cleansing Facial for Julie.

Filmed by Vignette Experience

Custom Cleansing Facial

Are you doing what you love? I am. And it's a wonderful feeling.