A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

Seven Sunny Citrus Pick-Me-Ups

It’s mid-February, and spring is a month and ten days away. Roughly. Citrus-scented or citrus-based beauty products are one of the fastest and most efficient ways to feel a bit sunshiney, giving standard showers a bit of a spa feel- and offering a little reminder that even though there’s still (still!) snow on the ground in many places in the US, crocuses are closer than you think. Here are seven citrus options for facial skincare or bath and body:

1.) Philosophy Orange in Bloom Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath: Philosophy’s line of multi-tasking hair and body cleansers often come in limited-edition or seasonal variations, and the generous 16 oz. Orange in Bloom variety should last until flip-flop weather rolls around.

2.) Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF15: Blushy lip hues are flattering to all skin tones, and this citrus-flavored formulation also has a hint of rose- a natural foil for orange and lemon scents.

3.) Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist: Spray toners are a great way to freshen up, set makeup touch-ups or of course, bridge the cleansing and moisturizing steps of your skincare routine. In addition to essential oils of lemon and tangerine, Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist has witch hazel and marshmallow to balance and hydrate skin.

4.) Eminence Citrus Lip Balm: This spa favorite can pair up with any color of lipstick or stain and locks in moisture with shea butter. Citrus oil, lemon balm, lemongrass oil, papaya and pineapple are among a list of pure but comprehensive exfoliating and moisturizing ingredients.

5.) L’Occitane Citrus Verbena Sorbet Body Cream: Clad in L’Occitane’s French-farmhouse style packaging, Citrus Verbena Sorbet Body Cream is fluffy, luxe and fresh. Lemon extract, grapefruit and verbena are the plentiful citrusy elements here- apply after bathing for full skin-softening benefits.

6.) Cake Citrus Squeeze Sinfully Smoothing Brown Sugar Scrub: One of the legacies of winter is dry, flaky skin. Even if you religiously moisturize each time you wash your hands or take a shower, skin can still lose surface moisture at a frustrating rates. Cake Citrus Squeeze Sinfully Smoothing Brown Sugar Scrub comes in a super-sized 21 oz. jar and has hints of vanilla and a sweet turbinado brown sugar base- which smell heavenly and gently slough off excess skin cells.

7.) Simpatico Solid Perfume #45, Coral: A retro-style tin not unlike the classic Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Simpatico Solid Perfume #45 at Anthropologie is comprised of rich beeswax, jojoba and reparative Vitamin E. Vetiver, citrus and ruby pomegranate notes are tempered by balancing musk.

Which citrus products do you reach for when you want to feel springy?

Five Masks to Combat Winter Dryness for All Skin Types

When you’ve been out in the biting cold, aside from a hot shower, nothing feels as soothing as a treatment mask. Winter tends to dehydrate both oily and dry skin, predisposing the former to imbalance-related breakouts and compounding tightness or overall dryness in the latter. Being a treatment product (and not sitting on skin for super-extended periods like your moisturizer or foundation), your mask options are a bit more flexible. Here are five that will restore at least a bit of your skin’s summer suppleness.

1.) Eve Lom Rescue Mask: This British import from cult brand Eve Lom only hit stateside a few years back, and the facials are stuff of legend. (I was lucky to experience one back in 2008, and it seriously lived up to the hype.) The product is uber-creamy, and like the equally nourishing cleanser, leaves skin impeccably soft and smooth, even in the presence of arctic-blast temperatures.

2.) Dr. Hauschka Rejuvenating Mask: Dr. Hauschka is a bit of a polarizing brand, but something about chilly weather really brings out my love for crunchy, earthy products. Hauschka’s health food store vibe just feels like skin cuisine, and the products feel unrefined in a good way, like it could have been whipped up in the blender. Wheat Germ Oil and Quince Seed Extract are high up on the ingredients list, along with a slew of natural oils to replace moisture sapped by indoor heat and outdoor winds.

3.) Fresh Rose Mask: Fresh is another line that feels… well, Fresh. The products smell like fancy personified, and Fresh Rose Mask is no exception. The shiny, deep caramel-hued formulation contains Rosa Damascena Flower Water as the top ingredient, with Rose Hip Oil (a fantastic dry oil that’s full of vitamins) and Jojoba Seed Oil not too far behind. The 100ml container should last until the first crocuses make their appearances.

4.) Aspirin and Honey Masks: With a bevy of spa professional items at my disposal as a facialist, I spent one winter using these two masks almost exclusively on clients. Honey masks are sticky- I used a bulk powder and a brush- but this may just be the first treatment product used by humans, and honey is an amazing natural humectant. Aspirin masks are beneficial for all skin types- soothing irritation, exfoliating, and balancing both oily and dry skin. If you’re uninitiated, dissolving 4-6 tabs of uncoated aspirin and re-moisturizing the dry mask after 10-15 minutes creates a natural if slightly messy scrub.

5.) Kiehl’s Algae Mask: Seaweed is one of the most popular treatment ingredients, due to a super-high concentration of vitamins and minerals. This mask also contains Chamomile to soothe, as well as Calendula and antioxidant-heavy green tea.

Do you have a cold weather treatment routine? What’s your favorite elixir for winter dryness?

Just in time for the Holidays: Club Monaco and Fresh!

Club Monaco and Fresh have collaborated together just in time for the holidays.  Club Monaco will carry the complete Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Collection as well as a special limited-edition Sugar and Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment Duo. Fresh lip treatments give just a hint of color (or not) while nourishing the lips with hydrating butters and oils; they’re also lightly scented and smell pretty amazing!

So while you’re picking up a few gifts at Club Monaco grab the Sugar Lip Treatment Collection, it’s a great stocking stuffer for the lady in your life.

The Sugar Lip Treatment Collection (Sugar, Sugar Rosé, and Sugar Plum; $22.50 each) and the exclusive Sugar and Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment Duo ($45) are now available in select Club Monaco stores.