SUMMER WEEKEND GETAWAY

The summer calls for weekend getaways, perfect for relishing those warmer temps and soaking up the lingering sun.  With a little planning, you can make sure you have those must-have products in your getaway bag.  Following are products perfect for tucking into your weekender bag.  Enjoy!

~ SKINCARE ~

Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum ~ This is the perfect summertime skincare aid that delivers firming and hydration in one Serum.  I found that on warmer and more humid days, this was all I needed to carry me through the entire day.  The product was quickly absorbed, without leaving any greasy or tacky residue.  A few of the key ingredients include white hibiscus extract, apple extract, watermelon fruit extract, raspberry seed oil, lemon and sugar maple extract, and beet root extract; the full list of natural ingredients is quite impressive and can be found on their website.  The Renewal Intensive Firming Serum has a clean and fresh subtle aroma.  The Serum is also gentle, non-irritating, soothing, and calming; fine lines and wrinkles are noticeably diminished, and skin feels firmer.   http://www.burtsbees.com

~ BODY CARE ~

Burt’s Bees Sheer Body Lotion, Clementine & Calla Lily and Squeezable Beeswax Lip Balm ~ Since 1984, this iconic company has delivered products formulation with natural ingredients that are as gentle on the person as they are to the environment.  The Sheer Body Lotion comes in a pump spray that delivers a measured amount of this delicate and deeply hydrating Body Lotion.  The Clementine & Calla Lily fragrance was ideal for summer with its fresh and tantalizing fruity-floral overtones.  Natural ingredients include safflower oil, sunflower seed oil, shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E; quickly absorbed without leaving any greasy or tacky residue.  This handy Lip Balm drenches the fragile skin with moisture-rich ingredients that include protective beeswax, vitamin E, rosemary leaf extract, cocoa seed butter, castor seed oil, and peppermint oil; lips remained hydrated and soothed for hours.  http://www.burtsbees.com 

Lauren B Nail & Cuticle Balm ~ Too much time in the sun and water can lead to dried out nails and cuticles.  This Nail & Cuticle Balm is the perfect fix for this seasonal hazard.  Drench your nails and cuticles with this super-moisturizing product that has a twist-pen applicator; a few twists activates key ingredients like almond oil, mango and shea butters, and vitamin E to the brush tip applicator; leaves a waterproof barrier that protects the nails and cuticles.  After only one application, my nails and cuticles felt hydrated and were both healthier looking.  The product was quickly absorbed, and didn’t leave any greasy or tacky residue, and had favorable hydration properties.  http://www.laurenbbeauty.com/index.php

Molton Brown Replenishing Hand Cream, Rhubarb & Rose ~ This is another restorative treatment moisturizer après-water perfect for hands that are also over-exposed from sun and water.  Parched skin is drenched with moisturizing ingredients that include shea butter, meadowfoam oil, rose extract, and vitamin E.  This product has a beautiful subtle fragrance, made from pure extracts; top note, rhubarb extract; middle note, rose extract; and base note, yuzu and grapefruit extracts.  The product was quickly absorbed, and didn’t leave any greasy or tacky residue, and had favorable hydration properties.  http://www.moltonbrown.com/store/index.jsp

~ HAIRCARE ~

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self Heating Treatment ~ Too much time in the sun and water can also dry out and strip delicate hair from its moisture.  One ampoule is all you’ll need to restore any lost moisture to your tresses.  A few of the moisture-restoring ingredients include 100% Argan oil, jojoba seed oil, glycerin, and bergamot fruit oil.  Once the ampoule is applied to cleansed wet hair, it’s self-heating.  The individual ampoules makes for deal packaging, perfect for on the go.  http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com

~ MAQUILLAGE  ~

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette ~ Sun-kissed skin deserves a hint of color to accentuate that new glow.  This is the perfect all-in-one palette to pack in your weekender bag.  This beautiful self-contained mirrored Full Exposure Palette comes with fourteen universal eyeshadow colors in matte and shimmer, seven each; varying colors range from subtle and neutral to glam and dramatic; also included are a handy dual tip applicator brush, a tube of the dynamic 24 Hour Photofinish Shadow Primer, and a handy reference guide of various looks and how to achieve them.  http://www.smashbox.com

~ SUNCARE ~

SwimSpray ~ SwimSpray is the first product of its type on the market.  It’s an après-water treatment product that removes any residual chlorine on skin or hair, including chlorine's odor.  It’s simple to use…after swimming, thoroughly rinse off any chlorine residue in the shower, and then spritz SwimSpray to skin and hair to remove and neutralize harmful and drying chlorine from surface areas, follow this with normal showering.  The key ingredients in this unique product are water and two forms of vitamin C (sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid).  Using SwimSpray protects the skin and hair are protected from drying out; ideal for also protecting sensitive skin from itching or irritation; fragrance free.  Spray bottle is convenient take-with size.  http://www.swimspray.com

~ FRAGRANCE ~

0.2 Meet Your Destiny EDP Fragrance ~ Although this is a unisex latest fragrance, I found it to be predominantly masculine.  It had a metallic aspect and complex musky dry down; it’s top and middle notes were Italian bergamot, spearmint, white amber, French vanilla, and Tunisian amber; the base note was oakmoss.  Both the Tunisian amber and oakmoss over-powdered the other notes, making it edgy and masculine.  If edgy and masculine-influenced fragrances appeal to your nose, then you’re going to love this new fragrance.  The handy travel size comes in a 7.5ml spray, perfect for that weekend bag.  http://0point2.com

~ IN CLOSING ~

Take care of yourself during this time when sun can cause a lot of damage to the fragile skin.  Keep hydrated, wear sunscreen, and a nice wide-brimmed sun hat will not make a fashion statement, it’ll keep those damaging rays off of your face.  And, as a reminder...                                                                                             

STAY HYDRATED ~ Water is best, plain or infused with fruits or veggies is next best.

BE SUN-SMART, SUN-SAFE ~ Avoid the sun as much as possible, and use products that protect.

LIGHTEN UP ~ Food choices, color palette, fragrance, and skin, body, and hair care products.

That’s it for this edition.  Until the next one, remember to take care of yourself and those you love.

By Terry Herman

TERRY HERMAN is a recognized expert in the industry, and regularly covers issues that include business, management, operations, customer care, treatments, products, and trends. In the 1990s, she authored an extensive "Glossary of Spa Terminologies" and holds two copyright registrations.  Consumer and trade publications have also interviewed her as an expert.  She also conducted an extensive nationally broadcasted interview tour on aspects of creating an at-home spa, interior design, music, stress and time management.  Her work has been published extensively in print and digital in both consumer and trade publications.  In addition to writing, reviewing and being interviewed as an expert, she is also a management consultant and motivational speaker.  She also served on the International Advisory Board for the former EXPERIENCE | PREMCHIT Journeys In Retreat To Wellness; the Advisory Board was comprised of ten international experts in various fields of wellness and spa.  She also served as a Group Manager for the popular LinkedIn group, The Spa Buzz.  Her social media outreach includes Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Tripatini.  Be sure to read her food, wine and culinary digital magazine, TERRY’S SECOND HELPINGS.  Don’t forget to “Like” her Facebook Page, “Terry’s Second Helpings”.  You can email her at terrysspabeautywellness@gmail.com, or terry.herman@gmail.com.

ALL MATERIALS COPYRIGHT PROTECTED

(Introductory photo credit, www.adelinescorner.blogspot.com; all other photo credits as represented by the specific brand.)