bubbley bubble baths

Well I'm loath to admit this, but over a year ago I had a friend ask me for recommendations on bubble bath products. It's shameful that it's taken me so long to post this but truthfully, I wasn't a bubble bath person. That is, until I started taking bubble baths...

This winter has been atrociously cold in New England and bubble baths have been a nice way to get warm, relax and soothe my achey muscles from working out. I wanted bath products that were natural-ish and had a lovely smell. They also had to be bubbly... I mean, that's the main component to a bubble bath after all. 

I'm now obsessed with Library of Flowers Bubble Bath in Wildflower and Fern. The scent is a subtle, clean blend of flowers that comes in a gorgeous (large) container. It also bubbles fabulously.

So, even though I'm an amateur in the bubble bath department, I'm ready to try more brands and experiment. What are some of your favorite bubble bath products?

Purge baby, purge! De-junking your face

"We all wear masks, metaphorically speaking," (what movie?). Mud and clay are amazing ingredients at eradicating oil, dirt and clogged pores (sounds like they shouldn't be but alas they are) that's why they're the best for oily/combo skin types.

I mentioned some masks in this 20 minute Detox post but thought it was a category worth expounding upon. After all, there are so many options available with great ingredients it's worth delving into some other options:

~Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask de-clogs pores with charcoal and a White China Clay to draw impurities out. 

~Boots no.7 Beautiful Skin Purifying Mask contains a clay that heats up when activated with warm water- the heat helps open the pores making it easier for everything to come out. 

~Botanics Ionic Clay Mask is full of Willow Bark, a natural version of Salicylic Acid, so it's ideal for breakouts because it'll flush out the pore and treat inflammation. 

~WEI Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask comes in portable containers (perfect for travel!) and includes a luxurious brush to apply the mask with. Contains Kaolin clay and other herbs to rid the skin of any impurities. 

~Say Yes to Tomatoes Skin Clearing Facial Mask uses mud from the Dead Sea and contains Lycopene (from the tomatoes), which is a powerful antioxidant for protecting the skin. 

** A mud mask can be applied with a thin to medium thickness on your face (unlike the peel-off masks which need a thick layer). I personally like a heavy layered application... this goes back to my spa days, when during a facial, I'd apply a mask and then massage the clients hands and feet while the mask was working. I wish I had someone to do that for me now! Anyway, most of these masks you rinse off once they're dry, about 10-15 minutes later and use only 1-2 times a week. Your skin should feel really clean and soft.

Extra Tip: Because these masks draw impurities out, they are fantastic spot treatments for a blemish. After cleansing, spot treatment & moisturizing (and whatever else goes into your nighttime routine) apply the mask with a Q-tip type-applicator to the blemish. It doesn't have to be too thick of a layer, just enough to see it, and let it dry completely before going to bed. You'll may end up look like a spotted cheetah but it'll be worth it in the a.m. This trick is especially helpful if you can do this in the beginning stages of a blemish- like the ones you can feel coming and will turn into Mt. Everest if you let it have its way. 

I've personally done this mask spot treatment and seen so much success. I had a bad cystic-like blemish coming and did this 3 nights in a row. Each day I would wake up and it would be shrunken and less red. As I said before, it really works best though if you can nip it in the bud... but you may not see dramatic results if it's an older blemish. Still worth a try though!

Any mud/clay masks that you're crazy about?

Detox your skin in 20 minutes. How to give yourself a mini-facial.

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Are you feeling tired and a little puffy? Maybe you o.d.'d on too much of everything during the holidays? I know I indulged more than normal... but in all fairness I had to test many recipes for this blog (at least that's what I'm rationalizing to my scale). Regardless of weight fluctuations, chances are your skin could be acting out and it just needs a time out (sorry for the parenting-a-two-year-old reference, but that's where my head is). If you're experiencing more-than-usual breakouts and/or irritations such as redness and/or dry patches, than it's time to give your skin an SOS treatment. Follow this two-step mini facial for healthy, radiant skin that look will make your skin forget any damaging Holiday effects.

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Step 1: Steam
~ Heat and steam are great for detoxifying your skin- they open up your pores and let them breath (hence the reason sauna's and steam rooms are so popular). If you're claustrophobic (like my lovely mother) and the idea of putting your face down hovering above a bowl of steaming water, with a towel draped over your head, sounds like torture and brings out PTSD, then by all means do this instead:

---> take a wash cloth and soak it in very warm water (but not hot!) and place this over your face. You can move it around and just do sections at a time so that your nose and mouth aren't covered. Do this for 5-10 minutes (you may need to put the wash cloth under warm water again if it starts to cool). Once your skin feels warm, wet and pliable it's time for the mask...

Step 2: Mask

---> Here are two mask idea's, depending on your skin condition. With each mask, you'll apply a thin layer and leave on for 10-15 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Follow with your usual routine of moisturizer and such.

for breakouts: clay mask
Clay masks are a wonderful compliment to a steam- the steam did all the work of opening the pores so the mask has easy access to draw everything out that's clogging it.

Fresh/ Freeman

For irritation and redness (including eczema): honey mask
Honey is a natural anti-microbial and antiseptic. It's also very hydrating, so apply a thin layer all over, and leave on for about 10 minutes.

**Bonus points for anyone who actually relaxes during the mask application. Try to lay down, cut up two thin slices of cucumber and apply them directly to closed eyelids (yes this really works at temporarily relieving puffy eyes), take a bath or read a book... just de-stress and let the mask do the work.


Do you have any special masks or skincare routines that deep clean or calm your skin?