Ayurvedic skin care: the hot new way to achieve natural, gorgeous skin. A form of alternative health, ayurvedic products are becoming increasingly popular. And with the movement of incorporating natural elements into skin care and beauty routines comes a barrage of companies and products hoping to make their way into your bathroom.

I’m willing to try anything in the name of beauty, people, let’s face it. I love being able to run to Target and pick up a cheapo cleanser, but I also like the allure of using natural salon-quality products to achieve the best skin I can have. So when I had the opportunity to try the Sakala Ama Release Tonic by DoshaCare, I was all over it. Here are my thoughts:

What this tonic claims to do: Purify the pores of congested skin and combat blemishes. Sounds good to me.

How it works: This light liquid tonic (feels like you’re rubbing water on your face) is 98% botanical and organic. It gently exfoliates the skin (no little scrubbies or bursting balls here) to reveal a brighter, more even complexion. This is something those of us with acne scars or blotchy skin can really appreciate.

Key Ingredients: Of course, you’ll find the standby Salicylic Acid in this product, a definite must for any acne product. But in addition, you’ll find Ginger, which stimulates circulation and helps remove toxins, and Lime, which works as an antiseptic and astringent to clear oily skin.

It’s even good for the environment: You might look at this tonic as a “green” product of sorts since it is of a natural origin, contains many organic ingredients, is biodegradable, imparts no testing on animals and is packaged using recycled materials. Impressive.

Final review: All these benefits sure sound all well and good, don’t they? But the bottom line is that this product does live up to the hype. I’ve used it both as a spot treatment on a problem area (jawline) and as an all-over add-on (both are suggested uses by the company). What I found was, indeed, a brightening of my look overall and a minimization of the trouble area along my jawline. I am convinced that regular usage of this tonic would produce even greater results.

Where to find the Sakala Ama Release Tonic: You can snag this tonic for yourself for about $32. It comes in a 1.7 fl oz bottle, which, considering how little is necessary for use, is a great deal. Purchase this at:

• www.doshacare.com
• Apothia at Fred Segal
• Chopin Chemists in New York
• Laser Solutions in Beverly Hills

Of course, you can find a slew of products on the DoshaCare site that are completely customized to your skin type. If acne is not a problem for you, no worries. There are formulas for all types of skin. Enjoy!

Image: DoshaCare.com

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DO NOT pop those zits! Here’s help on how to deal.

As promised, this week I’ll be spending a lot of time on skin care tips for the cool weather. And also as promised, first up will be tips for acne-prone skin. Are you ready? Thought so!

Since cold weather can make your skin more sensitive to the harsh ingredients found in acne treatments that seem just right for summer heat, you’ll want to switch to more gentle cleansers and add protective ingredients to avoid irritating your delicate pores during the colder months. Some tips:

• For morning cleansing, try a gentle soap-free cleanser, lotion cleanser, or cream cleanser. My favorite? Clean & Clear’s Deep Action Cream Cleanser. At night (please don’t forget to wash your face at night!), you should use an acne-focused product that contains either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. If these products seem too drying, adjust accordingly, scaling back one use per week until you find the right balance.
• For moisturizing (yes, even acne-prone skin needs to be moisturized, otherwise it may naturally over-compensate by producing too much oil in an effort to hydrate itself) try an oil-free lotion in the morning which boasts an SPF of 30 or higher. This is important even in the colder months as our skin is always exposed to damaging rays to some degree each day. Not only that, but acne treatments can leave your skin even more sun-sensitive than non-treated skin.
• Blast your zits the instant they take root. Call it a sixth sense, but we can almost always detect a zit while it’s still in the brewing stage. Once you suspect you’ve got a volcano on your hands, go on the attack, since once it’s full-blown, spot treatments can only help dry it up (often leading to further irritation). Instead, try a treatment with 2 percent salicylic acid cream or a benzoyl peroxide lotion to stifle a disaster before it happens. One of my favorites: Persa-Gel 10 by Clean & Clear.
• If you’ve got more than just one mountain on your hands and several areas of your face are broken out, dilute an oil-free salicylic acid moisturizer with a regular moisturizer and apply it to your entire face each night. Also, apply a facial mask containing sulfur every other week (or every week, if necessary) to tighten pores and zap zits.
• If you still end up with a troublesome blemish despite all your efforts (you know it will happen), conceal the offender with a small, slightly pointed makeup brush dipped in an opaque concealer and dab it on the blemish only (not the surrounding skin).
• And finally, if you wear foundation each day, consider switching to a mineral formula which won’t clog your pores. As a devotee of the same foundation for years and years, I have always been fascinated with mineral foundations and plan to give some a try very soon. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. I’ll be sure to do the same for you as I go on the hunt.

Give these cool weather tips for acne-prone skin a try and let me know how they work for you – and if you have any other tips, please share.

*These tips come in part from the October 2008 issue of Allure magazine; the remainder come from personal experience and years of research.

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For some oddball reason, you guys are total slackers when it comes to winning free stuff! Crazy!! ;P

My Clean & Clear SOFT In-Shower Facial Contest was supposed to end Sunday, but since there were not even 20 entries (wha?!?!), I’m feeling kind enough to extend the registry deadline until Friday, July 11 at 11:59 pm Eastern. Nice, huh?

All you have to do to be eligible to win this fabulous product is leave me a comment at the original contest post telling me why YOU should be the one to snag this stuff. There are going to be a whopping 20 winners, so your chances are pretty awesome.

Interested? Then, go! Go comment with a valid email address and get ready for some amazingly beautiful skin! Bon chance!

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A fabulous summer cleanser, the Morning Burst Shine Control Facial Cleanser, is oil-free (oh so important during those steamy summer months), comes equipped with bursting beads packed with energy and vitamins, and smells all citrus-y and fresh – guaranteed to wake you up after last night’s all-hours movie fest.

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Shine Control Cleanser, $6.49

Enhanced with lemongrass and fruit extracts, this cleanser does the job removing dirt, oil and impurities, but also manages to leave your skin shine-free all day. Hallelujah for that!

And at only six and a half bucks, this cleanser is a steal. WTG, Clean & Clear.

Need a little extra shine control this summer? Try the Clean & Clear Morning Burst Oil Absorbing Sheets, too!

Image: Drugstore.com

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Image details: Young woman holding finger into bowl served by picapp.com

Happy Weekend, everyone! So this week’s Beauty Tip Friday just happens to land on…Sunday! Close enough, right?

Anyhoo, in our never-ending quest for fabulous skin, I have these 5 simple and fabby tips for you which you can do starting TODAY. Incorporate them into your skin care regime to get (and keep) great results and a gorgeous glow!

1. Washcloth = Cheap Exfoliator: We all know that removing the dead skin cells that build up and clog our pores is key to a beautiful complexion. And while there are a zillion great products on the market that will do the trick, try looking right in your very own linen closet for the cheapest answer. The fibers of a soft wash cloth will gently resurface your skin with whatever cleanser you have on hand. Just be sure to use circular motions and a wet cloth for best results.

2. Cool Glow: Think cool and crisp instead of warm and steamy when it’s time to rinse your face. Using cold water will instantly tighten your pores and make your skin appear more even and glowing.

3. Be a Smooth Operator: While it might be instinct to rub your face dry with a towel after washing, the friction caused by doing so may leave your skin irritated and blotchy. Instead, use a soft, fluffy towel and gently dab your face dry. Your skin will appreciate the pampering, I promise.

4. Left-Overs Be Gone: Ever emerge from the shower only to find that you resemble a certain nocturnal animal known for its black eyes? Avoid the raccoon look by removing your eyeliner and mascara before cleansing the rest of your face. Cleansers alone usually cannot handle the task unless you pull, stretch and tug the skin (which will lead to wrinkles later on), so reach for a good eye makeup remover or a jar of Vaseline to do the trick.

5. Give Skin a VIP Pass: Know how special you feel when you get to keep something indulgent all to yourself? Well give your face the same royal treatment by designating a towel meant just for it. Keeping things separate will protect your skin from the other pore-clogging contributors (such as body wash or hair products) that can be found on a one-size-fits-all towel. And after all the work you put in sticking to Tips 1 – 4, I know you don’t want to blow it now!

These great tips were found in a recent issue of Woman’s World magazine.

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Clean & Clear Soft In-Shower Facial

Contest time again here at The Lounge! And what an exciting bunch they are. YES, I said “bunch”. Because for the next four weeks, I will be running one Clean & Clear skin care contest per week, each contest with multiple winners. Woo-hoo! Man, this is gonna be fun! =)

First up: The Brand New Clean & Clear SOFT In-Shower Facial

The first time I tried this, I was hooked! How easy – a facial right there in your shower! The steam is what takes this from “cleanser” to a deep, purifying treatment. Hot water allows the solution’s ingredients to deeply cleanse your pores while infusing moisture into your skin – both key components of a soft, healthy complexion. Leaving this treatment on for at least one minute, then massaging the exfoliating beads into your skin, removes pore-clogging dead skin cells and extracts impurities. The Facial also leaves behind a specially formulated moisturizing complex that will leave your skin soft, supple, and protected from environmental free radicals. All this in one easy product!!

So now that I have you dying for this awesome stuff, let me tell you how you can get yours:

The first 20 people who leave me a comment with a good, sound reason why they should score a tube of the In-Shower Facial, will win. Easy enough, right? =)

The contest will end either after the 20 winners have registered their comment (one comment per person/per household, please – your IP will be checked) or at noon on Monday, April 14 (Eastern time).

So get to it. Enter to win your Clean & Clear SOFT In-Shower Facial today! Bon chance!

*Product image from Drugstore.com

*Contest open to US residents only

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