At-Home Hair Tips from Hair Rules Founder, Anthony Dickey

if only we all had the time and budget to indulge in the luxury and relaxation that going to a spa offers. spending four figures on a full day of beauty treatments may not be realistic for most of us, but sometimes, a few truly pampering at home tricks can be even better. after all… the service is practically free and you don't have to go anywhere!

"there are many wonderful essential oils for the scalp that we use for so many purposes from adding luster and shine, to fortifying the scalp and hair, to offering astringent or anti-bacterial properties," says Dickey, celebrity hair stylist & founder of Hair Rules. "that's why we offer several special essential oil "ting" treatments at the salon for the hair and scalp."

here are a few of Dickey's favorite essential oils for at home hair and scalp spa treatments:

almond oil is a wonderful moisturizer and scalp soother. not only does it contain protein and important minerals, but it acts like you own sebum, encouraging moisture retention.

eucalyptus oil has significant antiseptic and anti-bacterial qualities. its active germicidal agents prevent infection, and it leaves your scalp feeling cool, tingly and soothed.

comfrey is a powerful healing herb. it can aid in destroying bacteria and healing cuts and abrasions, and also contains a natural hormone called allantoin which is known for its cell-restorative properties and may also serve as a natural retardant for hair loss.


have you tried any of these treatments? i haven't yet. any of these oils would be great to use and will be an especially sweet treat considering we're in the middle of the hectic holiday season!

xo

Body Beautiful: When Do You Prefer To Workout?

it's my personal habit to wake up before my family to workout. it's not something i always enjoy doing (really, if i told you how early i wake up, you'd think i was nuts), but i love that i can get in a seriously tough workout before the sun comes up-- then i'm done and i can move on with my day!

do you exercise? if so, when do you do it? did you know there are benefits to working out at different times of day? yep, and thanks to my friends at Blush Media, i'm here to share them with you...



morning exercise benefits:

* a boost of energy. a morning jog can give you extra energy for the rest of the day. another bonus? it staves off hunger. so you'll be less likely to reach for munchies throughout the day because you won't need the energy boost.

* a clear head. your mental acuity improves, so you're able to stay sharp on your feet for whatever comes your way later on in the day (even three cups of coffee can't do it as well as a head-clearing run).

*you'll burn more calories throughout the day. if you kick-start your day with a trip to the gym, you'll raise your heart rate and metabolism, which will stay revved up throughout the day. another bonus? you're not dreading a workout after work. it's done. the only thing left on your calendar is relaxation.




midday workout benefits (don't feel guilty for relishing those extra 30 minutes beneath your down comforter):

* even a twenty-minute sweat session will leave you feeling refreshed and focused.

* a workout in the middle of the day can help beat that afternoon slump and deter you from reaching for a sugary late-afternoon snack.

* it will release any pent up tension and improve blood flow so you can renew your focus (and sanity) to help you get through the rest of your day.




benefits of working out in the evenings (some would rather have their feet up in front of the dvr, but for some this is the only time):

* this is the best time to clear your head of all the demands and to-dos hurled at you all day-- zone out and have some you time. you can focus the stress and aggression into your workout, using that to make your body go harder and faster.

* you're less prone to injury. your muscles are already warmed up and flexible from a day of movement.

* all that stuff that weighed you down today? you can sweat it out-- you truly can.


xo
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November is National Healthy Skin Month!

did you know your skin is your body's largest organ? it's also your first defense against disease and infection, and works to protect internal organs from injuries. skin helps with so many aspects of your well-being including regulating body temperature, preventing excess fluid loss, and helping your body remove excess water and salt.

keeping skin healthy is uber-simple. here are a few of my recommendations for doing so:

stay out of the sun as much as possible-- it may be difficult to always stay out of the sun, but wearing an spf everyday will definitely protect skin from premature aging.



use an spf daily to protect it-- to add to my thoughts from the last recommendation, i think spf 30 is great-- put it everywhere your skin will be exposed.

don't smoke-- cigarettes rob skin of its radiance by depleting it of moisture and reduces the amount of blood flowing to the skin, thus depleting the skin of oxygen and essential nutrients.

wash your skin gently--tugging and over scrubbing your skin can cause irritation-- be careful!

moisturize-- keeping skin hydrated will always make it look and feel better.

sleep-- there's a reason it's called "beauty rest"! getting an adequate amount of sleep will allow skin to rejuvenate and repair itself (short naps during the day are fabulous, too!).

and of course...



eat a healthy, balanced diet, drink plenty of water and exercise-- it's simple, really. eat healthier (more fruits and veggies), drink more water and get your body moving (sweat helps rid skin and the body of toxins), and believe me, you'll see a huge difference in the condition of your skin.

here's to healthy skin!

xo

Dr. Denese Shares How To Keep Your Summer Glow

the end of summer is upon us (can you picture me doing a happy dance? ha!), and i'm here to share some tips that i received on how to keep your fabulous sunkissed-glow from renowned skincare specialist and anti-aging expert, Dr. Adrienne Denese. she has four steps that will maintain your hard-earned radiance, and it's very simple-- all you'll have to do is exfoliate, moisturize, bronze and protect, and you’ll be looking like you just stepped off the beach for months to come!




step 1: exfoliate

"it is important to get rid of dead skin cells; they are what make your skin look dead and old. they have a rough texture so they block out skin’s natural radiance and that natural glow. if you self tan, you need a freshly exfoliated canvas. otherwise the self tan will come out to be blotchy. this applies for face and body alike. many of us use minimal make up in the summer so we can’t hide dull, sallow, tired looking skin anymore.

product suggestion: Dr. Denese Advanced Firming Facial Pads




step 2: moisturize

"in the summer it is very important to protect the skin from dehydration which kills skin cells. air conditioning is one of your skin’s worst enemies. it takes out the humidity in the hair and dries your skin. you must protect your skin from moisture loss which damages skin by moisturizing once a day."


product suggestion: Dr. Denese HydroShield Ultra Moisturizing Face Serum




step 3: bronze

few of us realize that every real sun tan we get during the summer will translate into several actual permanent lines on our face. try a non streak self-tanner. some self tanners are so advanced and so different from all other self tanners on the market that it truly gives you the look of an actual tan."


product suggestion: Dr. Denese Glow Younger Self Tanner



step 4: protect

"all dermatologists would agree that the single worst enemy of your skin is the sun. nearly everything that you do not like about your skin: lines, wrinkles, age spots, enlarged pores, loss of firmness, red capillaries on your nose and cheek, loss of elasticity, all has to do with cumulative sun exposure. Daily SPF 30 broad spectrum protection is imperative, even if it rains.

product suggestion: Dr. Denese SPF 30 Defense Day Cream

xo

StyleBakery.com: Establishing a Shopping Buddy

when it comes to things like sticking to a workout or diet plan, everyone needs a trusted friend to rely on for advice and encouragement. the same holds true when it comes to shopping. StyleBakery.com has a fabulous article about how to choose the right friend to shop with who will give you advice on what looks good (on you) and will keep you sane when sale psychosis sets in.

some traits for choosing the ideal shopping buddy are: honesty (you need the truth, no matter what), enviable style sense (she should be someone who has a wardrobe you'd love to shop through), and budget equality (don't shop with someone who can afford designer if you can't).

read the entire article here

xo
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