It’s getting cold and with the drop in temperature our body, hair and scalp can become dehydrated and more sensitive and unruly than usual. Recently we focussed on winter skin care tips for the visage. It is also important to modify our body care routine to protect ourselves from the cold, crisp elements that we suddenly find ourselves in the midst of.

Proper Shower Protocol

Let’s discuss a proper winter shower regimen. It is necessary to exfoliate the body at least twice a week during the colder months. The cold weather dries out our skin and leaves loads of dry, dead skin cells that need to be sloughed away. I use Mio Skincare Natural Dry Brush. Use it while skin is dry right before hopping into the shower or bath. Start with the bottoms of your feet and brush all the way up your body in clockwise circles. Focus time on your wobbly bits like the thighs, bum and side of the waist. Brush your stomach clockwise and then up your bust. Start at you hands and brush up your arms – make sure to get under your armpits. You want to brush towards your heart, in the direction of lymphatic drainage. Not only does this help with skin cell turnover but it helps your body expel any excess bloat or toxins that it might be holding onto.

Body Scrubs

Yu-Be Foaming Skin Polish and Mio Skincare Double Buff Dual Action Enzyme Exfoliator are two great choices for all natural exfoliating body washes. Yu-Be Foaming Skin Polish can be used daily and contains fine grains of rice bran and bamboo to gently cleanse and turn over dry, dead skin cells. It also contains ginger root and ginseng extracts to balance the skin. Double Buff can be used 2 – 3 times per week. Massage it into dry skin and then rinse. Both will even out skin tone.

Hair And Scalp

Despite the dozens of articles you’ve read claiming that you should only wash your hair three times a week, it’s just not true. Just like you wash your face (and hopefully your body) each day, you also need to wash the skin on your scalp. You can keep the shampooing concentrated on scrubbing the scalp area but the skin on your scalp gets dry just like the rest of the skin on your body and needs to be exfoliated and cleansed. I have dry, thick, curly hair that I bleach blond, so I use a leave in conditioner all year round, but during the winter all hair types can benefit from using a light leave in treatment. Caretrico After Treatment Enrich Milk contains hyaluronic acid that gives your hair the extra added moisturizing protection it needs to ward off the wind and cold. Apply it after showering just before your styling product. Wait – one extra layer: Make sure to use a moisturizing hair mask at least once a week. Philip Kingsley’s award winning Elasticizer was formulated expressly for Audrey Hepburn. This intensive moisturizing pre-shampoo treatment (hair mask) delivers elasticity, bounce and shine for everyone from fine to thick curly hair – Elasticizer is nothing short of a miracle worker and much needed during the cold winter months.

Aprés Shower

Mio Skincare A Cream Firming Active Body Cream is the Mr. T treatment of body care. I’m embarrassed to say that until I was introduced to Mio Skincare I was not a body care person at all and was extremely skeptical about body firming products. This moisturizer is the perfect texture – not too thick, not too liquidy. It’s powerful combination of moisturizing omegas, powerful antioxidant and vitamins create a soothing shield to combat dryness and the elements as well as boost elasticity. When used in conjunction with regular exercise and mindful eating – it makes a difference.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

Our hair has a huge impact on how we feel. No matter what clothes we wear, how our makeup looks, or shoes or handbags we accessorise with, if we are not happy with our hair, our mood can deflate. This applies to any time of year, but perhaps concerns over our locks peak around the holiday season when we are inundated with work events, holiday drinks and family gatherings. While I cannot alleviate holiday stress, I can certainly offer advice on how to make your tresses look their very best. Here are some lesser known tips on how to maintain healthy, beautiful locks throughout the season:

Eat And Be Merry

Many women I speak to stress about their diet during the holiday season. It can be, without doubt, a season of indulgence. However, while you might be wary of consuming extra calories, your follicles may in fact be rejoicing over the buffet of extra available nutrients; a lot of seasonal ‘delicacies’ are very beneficial to the formation of hair cells. For instance, beef stews and liver pates are excellent sources of iron, a mineral that helps to produce hair cell protein. Turkey, smoked fish, poultry and pecans are great sources of protein – the substance that your hair is made of. Almonds and pork provide the body with biotin, another hair essential nutrient. And those delectable devilled eggs served at many a soiree contain all of the above. So take advantage of these seasonal foods!

However, if you suffer from dandruff the holidays can have their drawbacks. Full fat dairy products, white wine and champagne can worsen flaking and itching in predisposed individuals. Instead, opt for skimmed or soy milk and enjoy your meal with a glass of red wine. If you simply can’t resist imbibing, keep a targeted shampoo and scalp toner handy. Philip Kingsley Flaky/Itchy Scalp Shampoo and Flaky/Itchy Scalp Toner work like magic.

Mane Management

Donning new hairstyles is part of the fun of party season. However, if your locks are dry and damaged, it can really limit your options. To improve the manageability and condition of your hair, apply a pre-shampoo conditioner once to twice a week. I sleep with our Elasticizer in my hair the night before a big event to ensure a shiny, bouncy blow-dry. It works after just one use, with benefits improving over time.

Immune Booster

Hair is incredibly sensitive to general health. Psychologically it holds vast importance, but physiologically it is dispensable. Basically, whenever we are unwell, our hair is often the first part of us to suffer the consequences. While I cannot offer a fool-proof method to ward off flus and fevers, you can help keep your immune system robust by eating well, getting enough sleep and keeping stress levels to a minimum. Not an easy feat I know – and I, myself, am often guilty of falling short! What I have found helpful is taking our daily multi-vitamin, Tricho Complex; a supplement we formulated with the unique need of the hair in mind. In terms of stress, gentle swimming and Pilates can be very helpful. And as for a restful night – try opting for a book before bed rather than checking your emails. The light from a computer is known to disrupt sleep patterns.

Fighting Frizz

Every time we step from cozy heated buildings into the chilly and blustery outdoors, changes in atmospheric moisture content cause our hairs to change shape. AKA to FRIZZ.  And at no time is this more common (and annoying!) than during the peak of winter. To diminish the likelihood of frizzies and flyaways, use products that prevent moisture in the air from penetrating the hair shaft. I love our Preen Cream– a lightweight leave in conditioning cream that keeps locks manageable and shiny without added weight.

The summer is over and autumn is upon us. If you’re anything like me, you spent countless hours outdoors, at the beach, pool and elsewhere braving the sun, wind, salt, chlorine, sweat and other environmental elements. While summer fun is good for the soul, it can wreak havoc on the skin, body and hair leading to overexposed and congested skin and dry, brittle, even burnt hair. There is no one-cure-fits-all or instant miracle in a jar that will keep us feeling and looking our best. A preventative approach including regular maintenance treatments, a commitment to a consistent beauty regimen, eating right and regular exercise collectively yield the best results.

Treatments

Fall is an excellent time to take stock of your state of affairs from a self care perspective. Have you seen a dermatologist in the past year? Now is prime time to have your moles catalogued. I can’t recommend Dr. Mitchell Kline enough. While he is tops in innovation and cutting edge aesthetic treatments, he is also one of the only dermatologists in New York City that specializes in skin cancer diagnosis and treatment. It is also an ideal time to treat yourself to a non chemical Power Peel Facial to exfoliate dry, dead cells and eradicate sebum deposits from the dermis. A visit to Philip Kingsley’s Clinic for a rejuvenating hair treatment is in order as well.

Eat and Drink Right

Think lean protein (animal protein is really the best) and dark, leafy green vegetables that are packed with iron and other nutrients. Drinking loads of water can’t be stressed enough. Skin is the largest filtration organ of the body. If you don’t drink enough water to flush out the toxins, not only is the dermis not able to perform optimally, but it results in visible side effects such as blackheads, sebum buildup and other forms of congestion, irritation and dehydration.

Exercise

We live such stationary lives these days. The trouble is our bodies were designed to move. If we don’t move enough, our muscles forget how to work resulting in a host of aches and pains. Additionally, exercise plays a key role in circulation throughout the body which regulates health and optimizes organ function and cellular activity. It also help to regulate mood. You don’t have to run a marathon but you need to move – even if you take half an hour for a brisk walk regularly – just get moving. You’ll reap the benefits physically and mentally.

Products

There is no magic bullet and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With that in mind, setting time aside to develop a regular skin, body and hair care regimen is paramount. Even if it’s simple and quick – a little goes a long way. To get you excited about diving in head first, I have teamed up with some of my favorite, skin, body and hair care lines to present you with a mega, best of the best, cult beauty overhaul worth $2,000. Full size cleansers, serums, moisturizers, masks and multi-taskers abound! we’ve got something for everyone. So don’t forget to enter our FALL GIVEAWAY NOW!

Here’s The Long Haul!

From France: Cosmetics 27

Cosmetics 27 is one of my absolute favorite skin care lines. An all natural apothecary style regimen tailor-made for your skin or as the French say sur mesure. The idea is to mix the products together to produce a formula that is right for your skin right now. It utilizes the Ayurvedic properties of Centella Asiatica to boost the skin’s ability to regenerate and heal itself. A life saver for those with sensitive and or dry or mature skin. We’ve included: Baume 27, Cleanser 27 and Essence 27.

From The UK: Mio Skincare

This line has made me a body care convert. Mio Skincare is a body firming, toning and tightening line that actually works and feels and smells so good you’ll be excited to use it. This line utilizes ingredients like caffeine to jolt the skin to attention and Arnica Montana to soothe aching muscles. It is also all natural and works best in conjunction with exercise and healthful eating. We’re giving away: Get Waisted Sculpted Body Shaper, The A-Cream Firming Active Body Cream, Workout Wonderball, BooB Tube + Multi Action Bust Firmer, Liquid Yoga Space Spray and Liquid Yoga Bath Soak.

From France: Institut Esthederm

Institut Esthederm is designed to preserve the beauty of the skin, this ultra luxe, cult french line has used cutting edge science and technology to innovate skin care. The Lift & Repair Absolute Smoothing Cream and Lift & Repair Absolute Tightening Serum are the dynamic duo if you are in need of effective anti-aging products, have sensitive skin and tend to present with hormonal breakouts. Another standout product that delivers on its promise is the Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches. Packed with caffeine, in just 5 minutes you will look bright eyed and bushy tailed even if you don’t feel it. We’ve also included Lift & Repair Instant Repulp Mask, and Osmopure Face and Eyes Cleansing Water.

From The US of A: Brenda Christian

Hollywood’s best kept secret! Brenda Christian has created some of the world’s leading cosmetic, skin care and brow and lash treatments used by top Hollywood makeup artists. You’ll receive the world famous, patented High Definition Perfect Brow Kit and the newly launched Mineral Hydrating Mist.

From The UK: Heaven Skincare By Deborah Mitchell

Used by Kate Middleton, Camilla Parker Bowles, Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and countless other celebrities, this all-natural organic range is famous for its multi-tasking, anti-aging Silver Bee Venom Mask. We’ve also included EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes, Black Age Defiance and New Edition Cleansing Cream. These products are excellent for those that experience hormonal breakouts and/or have sensitive or dry skin.

From The UK: Philip Kingsley

Formulated by the world’s foremost hair and scalp expert, Philip Kingsley, this line has been formulated to work. Period. Used by royalty, celebrities and politicians, these products are designed with specific hair and scalp issues in mind. It’s star product, Elasticizer, (we are including a huge 1000 ml Elasticizer) one of my all time favorites was formulated expressly for Audrey Hepburn. We’re also including: Body Building Shampoo, Moisture Balancing Conditioner and Maximizer.

From France: Bioderma

The cult French Pharmacie line that formulated the world famous Sensibio H20 Micellar Water – the cleanser, toner and makeup remover all in one. These products are specifically geared towards sensitive skin and includes, Sensibio Eye, Sensibio Light, Sensibio Mask and Atoderm PP Baume Ultra-nourishing Balm. Gentle enough for teens and those in their 20s yet effective enough for those with more mature skin.

From Israel: Lavido

A natural skin and body care line made with the best raw, plant-based ingredients and purified waters from the Sea of Galilee. This is Israel’s best kept skincare secret. We’ve included The Inspired by Nature Head to Toe Collection, a luxurious anthology of plant-based skin and body care infused with the ancient healing powers of the Sea of Galilee. My favorite products in this gift box are: Alert Eye Cream, Gentle Exfoliator Peeling Cream and Thera Intense Body Cream.

Final Tip

Remember to smile. Happiness always radiates beauty.

And sign up for The Fall Cult Beauty Haul NOW!

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

Big New Year’s Plans? *Now* is the time to prep so you look your absolute best as you ring in 2016. Here’s how Travel Beauty’s Claire McCormack gets ready for a big event.

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As a working mom, I spend very little time on my personal upkeep, so when I have an event that I’d like to look good for, I am forced to confront, en masse, all of the beauty appointments I’ve been putting off. As I feared, my pre-event beauty to-do list was soon longer than my waaaay overgrown bangs. To bring some levity to the situation, I decided to document all the beauty appointments I made to ensure I’d look presentable on the big day (and when I say presentable, I mean as Vogue cover-ready as I possibly can look).

Two Weeks Out

• Highlights & Bang Trim: In theory I could have done this a week before the event, but then I would have had to go about my life for another week with my hair as is, and it was in such a state that waiting even another seven days was not an option. Besides, my bangs always look their best when they’ve had some time to settle and grow a bit post-trim.
• Research Manicure Designs: I had this idea to do a negative space French manicure, so I took several screenshots of cool ideas. Thanks, Instagram, for the endless inspo!

One Week Out

• Body Scrub: Though I am always well-exfoliated, I take special care before an event. I did the first scrub one week out, then another a day before my spray tan (see below). This scrubbing includes using my Diamancel Foot File on heels almost every day.
• Face Scrub: Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads every day on face for the week leading up to the event. They are the best when you can’t get a pro peel!

Four Days Out

• Waxing: No, I wasn’t planning on wearing a bikini on the big day; this was really in preparation for my spray tan later in the week. Going in naked is your best bet. If you think tan lines are bad, spray tan lines from the disposable panties they will give you to wear are just pitiful! So do what you need to to feel comfortable (as possible) being nekkid for your spray tan.
• Purchase Outfit: I know, I know…this is down to the wire. I don’t usually procrastinate, though. As much as I love having new clothes, I HATE shopping. I try to buy as much of my wardrobe as possible online. However, a party dress/outfit was something I needed to try – and get feedback – on. Luckily, my bestie John owns International Playground and played stylist for me. We’ve done this many times before for other events and it’s always been a success. I highly recommend International Playground for your special event shopping.

Three Days Out

• Hair Mask: Doing at least one at-home Philip Kingsley Elasticizer hair treatment is a must, especially if the weather forecast is FRIZZ.
• Microcurrent Facial at SB Skin: Perfect for dewy, firm, smooth skin. Accentuates my bone structure in a way no blush, bronzer or contouring ever could.

Two Days Out

• Colonic: Nothing makes my skin glow like colonics and kickboxing. Also, I planned on eating a LOT of delicious red meat at the party, so a pre-party detox was a good idea.

Day Before

• Another at-home body scrub, in preparation for…
• Spray Tan: Perhaps this is not a pre-event necessity for everyone. My legs, however, are so pale, however, that people would have called Ghost Hunters on me without it. It is also the healthiest and easiest way to “lose” five pounds in 15 minutes.
• Nails: A pre-event given, right? What gal doesn’t get a mani/pedi before a party? My daughter and I went together, the night before, for a little girl time.
• Blowout: Since my whirlwind day started EARLY in the morning, I had to do my and my daughter’s blowouts the night before. Though I kept it simple and straight, I wanted that extra polish that comes from a professional blow dry/flat iron. And as I’ve said before, I don’t even own a hair dryer!
• Mini Touch Up Facial with SB Skin: The results when you cluster two treatments close together are remarkable! The second facial was half the time – just going over my facial contours.

And…that’s it!

What do you think? Too much? Too little? What is your prep routine for hosting a major party or event?

By: Claire McCormack Twitter & Instagram

The Perfect Beauty Gift? It’s in the Bag

Even the most devout procrastinators are starting to think about holiday gifts. Everyone has that one person…who’s impossible to buy for. Who seems to simultaneously be super-selective, yet have everything!

Travel Beauty has officially solved this problem. We’ve gathered some of the most unique—and most effective—beauty finds from around the globe (five different countries, to be exact) to assemble a one of a kind, ultra-luxe exclusive beauty bag, complete with skin care, hair care and body care cult favorites. Even an extra special little something that just might make your smile brighter. You will not find a collection of beauty like this anywhere else!

So what do we have in our bag? Just ALL THIS:

From France

Cosmetics 27 Huile 27: 100% natural multi-tasking face oil can be used on face, body, lips, hair and cuticles. Nourishes, softens, regenerates and protects skin. Provides essential nutrients to restructure the epidermal tissue and help rebalance skin functions.

Institut Esthederm Cellular Water Spray: A multi-tasking miracle spray that energizes the skin and boosts the effectiveness of subsequently applied skin care. Can be used as a toner prior to applying serum/moisturizer, or to set makeup. Also perfect for a quick refresh at home and on the go.

From Israel

Lavido Alert Eye Cream: Revives, hydrates and protects the delicate skin of the eye area. Lightweight formula contains plant-based hyaluronic acid, cold-pressed avocado oil, organic pomegranate seed oil and citrus extracts to brighten, moisturize and relieve puffiness.

From Japan

Binchotan Toothbrush: The Binchotan charcoal blended into each bristle of this chic toothbrush prevents bad breath and helps removes plaque. Activated charcoal also gives off negative ions to prevent harmful bacteria from growing within the brush.

From The UK

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm: This multiple-award winning balm is the most pampering facial cleanser you’ll ever use! Thoroughly cleanses and purifies, helps minimize the appearance of pores, plumps, softens and revitalizes skin while also calming the senses.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer: Originally created for Audrey Hepburn, this intensive moisturizing hair treatment delivers elasticity, bounce and shine to all hair types.

Philip Kingsley Moisture Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner: This duo strengthens and protects hair, leaving it shiny, manageable and lustrous.

From The US

Mio Skincare Double Buff Dual Action Enzyme Exfoliator: A non-abrasive, omega-rich body scrub containing spherical particles of pumice, lava and bamboo to slough away dead skin cells and reveal soft, supple skin with increased clarity and radiance.

Sapelo Skin Care Seaweed Enzyme Mask: Exfoliates and renews radiance with natural plant-based papaya, pumpkin and yeast enzymes. Increases circulation, rehydrates skin and improves mild acne. Leave on for 15–20 minutes, once a week.

Ursa Major Essential Face Wipes: Made with bamboo fiber and infused with Ursa Major’s 4-in-1 Essential Face Tonic, these wonder wipes cleanse, exfoliate, soothe and hydrate.

Travel Beauty Travel Bag: Our signature bag is sleek with luxe touches. You’ll be shocked at how much beauty it can bear!

This is very limited edition, so grab yours now.

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram