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After that humdinger of a winter we just suffered through, the Travel Beauty team feels more than ready to shed some layers. Unfortunately, upon baring some body, we noticed that certain areas were not quite, erm, suitable for public consumption just yet. So just in time for sandal and swimsuit season, we’ve added some exciting new luxury body care products from Heaven Skincare, Mio Skincare and Alchimie Forever.
Thigh Hopes Courtesy of Mio Skincare
It happens every June: The bathing suit moment of truth. We don our two-piece for the first time in near a year, stand in front of a full length mirror and take stock of all that’s out of whack. After trying not to bawl in our bikini, we grab our favorite body products and get to work.
For those areas we’d like to tighten and tone (upper arms, abdomen, bum and thighs), here are two new products we seriously love:
The dynamic duo of Mio Skincare’s Double Buff dual action enzyme exfoliator and The Activist Firming Body Oil — both of which can be found in Mio’s Strong is the New Skinny Kit — is the perfect cellulite-pummeling one-two punch. You apply Double Buff on dry skin, which may seem a little odd for a body scrub, but actually makes the scrubbing action that much more effective. You can then rinse it off as soon as you get in the shower. We like to apply The Activist immediately after turning off the shower, while skin is still damp and warm. Once applied, we immediately see a firmer, smoother silhouette. The gel formula is great for summer too: it soaks in quickly, completely and weightlessly, so no heavy feeling on the skin in the hot, hot heat.
Another Natural Skin Firming Oil for Bikini Season
Heaven Skincare Firming & Stretchmark Oil is a luxe and lovely body oil that moisturizes and firms skin while breaking down cellulite and increasing collagen production. It is also chock full of anti-inflammatory, calming and healing ingredients (all organic!) to optimize overall skin health. It gives us gorgeous glowing nourished skin with reduced dimples and improved tone and elasticity. It also smells delicious.
If the summer usually means extra body breakouts for you, this oil is just the thing (we promise)! This oil is formulated with several purifying organic essential oils such as cypress, juniper and lavender that help release toxins from the skin. Instead of aggravating any body breakouts, this oil is fabulous for clearing blackheads and blemishes. And not just the skin on your body: due to the organic, pure and high quality oils used, you can use this oil to clear blackheads and blemishes on the face as well.
Derriere Double Whammy
Personally, I like to mix either of these oils with a body lotion (Mio Skincare strikes again: The A Cream firming active body cream is our top choice) and knead that concoction into my skin with my knuckles. Yes, my knuckles. Cellulite is a tough mother. Give her a knuckle sandwich! Just be careful on your upper arms if you are pale; get too feisty and you may bruise. True story.
Let Us Give You A Hand With Your Hands And Feet
If only the summer shape-up stopped there! No, in addition to the wiggly bits, we’ve got elbows, knees and feet drier than our favorite Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. These dry patches are not only unsightly but also make self-tanner application nearly impossible. We’re in need of a hard-working cream.
Nail Cream from Heaven Skincare
Heaven Skincare’s Black Label Vanilla Pod Hand & Nail Cream has come to our rescue. Dubbed “a mini-manicure in a jar”, this this all-natural, paraben-free hand and nail cream stays (and works) on hands and nails for 4+ hours, even in water, nourishing skin and strengthening nails. It deeply moisturizes while also reducing the amount of oil on hands, making it safer to touch the face without transferring pore-clogging oils. This intensive treatment also exfoliates: It contains the finest grains of sand that work to soften and exfoliate rough elbows, knees, heels, etc. Don’t worry, it doesn’t feel like you dropped the jar while at the beach. The grains of sand are so fine as to be almost imperceptible…but the effects are not! The skin is left deeply moisturized, softened and perfected. As with Heaven’s Cellulite Oil, the high quality organic ingredients used make this cream safe to use on the face. This little tub of wonderful comes with us everywhere.
Dry Skin Balm from Alchimie Forever
As frequent travelers, we downright demand all products we use to multi-task in some way; to be packed in our dopp kit, you better be performing double or triple duty. So it is not lightly that we say Alchimie Forever’s Dry Skin Balm is a skin care overachiever. It replenishes moisture to soften and soothe chapped, irritated skin. The shea butter and jojoba seed oil condition and smooth out skin texture for a silky, comfortable feel. Watercress and vitamin E infuse skin with antioxidants to nourish, hydrate and protect against damaging free radicals, giving skin an overall healthy and youthful look.
Dry Skin Balm goes above and beyond that, though. It also reduces swelling, minimizes brown spots and has anti-aging effects. We use it on any and all rough patches: hands, elbows, knees, and heels. Great as a body moisturizer as well. It is also safe and effective on our kids’ skin to help soothe and heal the non-stop irritations that the summer months seem to bring.