Black Friday Shopping Tips

The day after Thanksgiving officially marks the start of the holiday shopping season. To prepare you for the ultimate day of great shopping deals, coupons and more, we’ve rounded up our best Black Friday shopping tips so it’s your most successful one yet. 

First, do your research. Look for Black Friday in-store specials in your local paper, or check out Black Friday-focused websites like blackfriday.info or gottadeal.com to see where you can find the best deals for the gifts you’re shopping for. 

Sign up for e-mail alerts. Many retailers will use e-mail alerts to encourage store loyalty. Sign up to receive special coupons or discounts. 

Create a budget for yourself. Decide how much you want to spend and resist impulse buying in the store, especially if you don’t know how good a deal you’re really getting. 

Compare prices. Once you’ve done your research, check online or in the newspaper for a little comparison shopping. You may find that another store or online retailer is offering the same product for a better price. 

Check return policies. That doorbuster deal may be awesome but if it’s final sale and you have second thoughts, you’ll be stuck. Make sure you find out any re-stocking fees or return deadlines before you hand over your credit card. 

Dress comfortable. Bring a big bag to carry all your purchases so you don’t get trampled by other shoppers. Also, wear comfortable shoes in case you have to do a lot of walking.

Good luck this Black Friday!

3 DIY Chocolate Face Mask Recipes

Chocolate is good for your heart, your blood pressure and of course, your taste buds. But did you know chocolate is good for your skin? Rich in antioxidants, chocolate gives your skin extra protection against free radicals and can nourish the skin. We’ve rounded up three DIY chocolate face mask ideas for your next spa day at home. 

The Chocolate Mask:

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, heavy cream

Mix together a heaping tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder with heavy cream to form a paste.

Apply to clean, dry skin and leave the paste on for 15 minutes.

Wipe off mask with washcloth and rinse your face with lukewarm water and pat dry.

The Chocolate Yogurt Honey Mask:

Ingredients: 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon yogurt, 1 teaspoon of honey

Blend cocoa powder with honey and yogurt. Cocoa powder can be difficult to blend, so be patient with this step. Keep mixing until mixture looks like melted chocolate.

Clean your face with lukewarm water. Dab dry and then apply the mask evenly on the face except for lip and eye areas. Relax for 15-20 minutes.

Wash off with lukewarm water and dab dry.

The Dark Chocolate Brown Sugar Sea Salt Mask

Ingredients: 2 bars of dark chocolate, 2/3 cup of milk, sea salt, and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar

Heat dark chocolate in a double boiler for about 3 minutes.

Mix sea salt, brown sugar, and 2/3 cup of milk in a bowl.

Remove melted chocolate from heat. Mix melted chocolate with salt/milk mixture.

Allow to cool and apply to face while cool but not hardened.

Leave on until it hardens and wash off with lukewarm water. Add moisturizer.

The Truth About Dark Spots

What do you really know about dark spots (other than removing them is key to looking younger)? Today we’re debunking common myths about dark spots (and a few good tips on ways to fade them). 

True or False: Melatonin gives your skin its color.

False. Melanin, produced by cells in your body called melanocytes, is the pigment that gives your skin its color. While everyone has the same number of melanocytes, it’s your DNA that determines in which they function in your skin. 

True or False: Sun exposure is the most common cause of hyperpigmentation.

True! Not only does sun exposure cause wrinkles, but it can also lead to skin discoloration. That’s why it’s super important to wear SPF every day!

True or false: New small dark spots on your skin are most likely harmless sun spots.

False. No matter how big or small, not all all hyperpigmentation on the skin is a sun spot. If you notice new or abnormal sun spots, make sure you visit your dermatologist. 

True or False: Vitamins and botanicals help fade spots by interrupting melanin production.

True! We highly suggest loading up on lighteners during the day and at night to help correct skin tone. 

True or False: Any kind of irritation accelerates the production of pigment.

True. If your skin flares up, make sure you use a basic creamy cleanser and moisturizer with ceramides so your skin can recover. Simply put: keep calm and take care of your skin!

Enter & Win: The Facial-Flex Ultra Sweepstakes

There’s nothing we love more than sharing our love for Facial-Flex, the all-natural anti-aging device clinically proven to restore and lift the face without surgery. This holiday season we are feeling EXTRA thankful so we decided to celebrate with SIX WEEKS of Facial-Flex Ultra System giveaways! Yes, that’s right, six! 

Enter for a chance to win a Facial-Flex Ultra device simply by liking our Facebook page here and entering your contact info. We’ll pick a winner each week so they can experience the device and see the results for themselves!  Please remember to enter each week.

The Facial-Flex Ultra System includes:

·         Facial-Flex Ultra device

·         6 month supply of resistance bands

·         Discrete carrying case

·         Instructional DVD

·         Advanced Renewal Complex

·         Progress Chart

·         Clinical Background

·         1-year product warranty

If you’re not familiar with our device, it’s made of surgical stainless steel with comfortable plastic tips and it uses resistive exercises to make the face appear noticeably tighter and smoother with significant results within 60 days. 

This is the perfect alternative for those that don’t want to go under the knife or needle. Our anti-aging device is safe, easy to use and only requires just two minutes, twice a day!

Enter for a chance to win here.