The Hot Mama Facial uses paprika sweet hot peppers and aloe vera to oxidize and lift the contours of your face. Some of their celebrity clients include Mandy Moore, Lisa Kudrow and Diane Lane.

Image: sxc.hu

For $155,your skin will be treated to an “organic-estrogen face-life” with nourishing placental protein supplements to reduce breakouts and slow the aging process, leaving your skin soft and glowing.

The company is named after founder Vera Kantor who has created a line of products and skin care treatments at her salon that are based on the kitchen recipes she observed while growing up in Russia. Her food and plant based recipes are well known among the Hollywood elite – but don’t think you can whip up your own Hot Mama Facial in your own kitchen. Think about it…do you really want to cover your face in chili peppers without a professional present?

While you can’t take the actual facial home, you can indulge in a Pumpkin & Papaya Mask ($35) or Oily Skin Goodbye Package ($125). But the next time you are in LA, consider stopping by Vera’s and treating yourself to the real thing.

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Get a Natural Glow With a Hot Mama Facial

Here are just some of the benefits aloe vera is said to have:

Reduction of scalp care, stings, sunburns, sore muscles, scrapes, scalds, psoriasis, acne, burns, arthritis, sprains, bruises, cold sores and abrasions.
Heals blisters
Removes the dark spots from the face.
Removes dead skin cells when applied like a moisturizer
Has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties

It could possibly be a ‘miracle’ ingredient! Below are just some of the products that use this miracle ingredient.

Crabtree & Evelyn Aloe Vera Hydrating Body Lotion

Crabtree & Evelyn Hydrating Body Lotion, $18
A light, fresh and citrusy lotion that helps to restore your skin’s natural moisture with almond oil, kernel oil and pure aloe vera extract.

Mario Badescu Aloe Moisturizer (Nordstrom)

Mario Badescu Aloe Moisturizer, $22 at Nordstrom
This moisturizer is formulated to protect your skin from UVA and UBV rays while also healing and relieving sun burnt and sun damaged skin.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray (Nordstrom)

Mario Badescu Facial Spray, $7 at Nordstrom
A great pick me up spray to refresh and rejuvenate your skin after a long day or long flight! Made with rose water, herbs and of course, aloe vera.

Kiehls Aloe Vera Liquid Body Cleanser

Kiehls Aloe Vera Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser, $16.50 at Nordstrom
Made from 100% biodegradable ingredients, this gentle body wash will leave your skin feeling soft and refreshed.

Johnson's Baby Lotion with Aloe Vera

Johnson’s Baby Lotion with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E, $5 at drugstores
We can’t leave out the babies! I’m a fan of Johnson’s baby products because they’re mild and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. This one is infused with natural aloe vera, vitamin e to soothe and soften dry skin.

(Images: Newscom, Crabtree & Evelyn, Nordstrom)

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The Miracle Ingredient Aloe Vera

Aloe vera contains the following:

Vitamin C – helps promote good blood circulation

Amino acids – help with building up protein in our bodies

Enzymes – help to rejuvenate and promote healthy skin

Germanium – a mineral that is said to have therapeutic benefits pain, cardiac disorders, eye and circulation problems.

Are you convinced yet? It wouldn’t hurt to try some aloe vera based products right?

Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Gel

One of my favourite products is Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Gel. This gel feels amazing on your skin after you’ve been out in the hot sunshine all day. It instantly cools you down and it effectively soothes and hydrates your skin. If you find yourself with a sunburn the Aloe After Sun Gel will work wonders! It goes on smooth and absorbs quickly so you don’t have to rub your already raw skin. What’s great is you get a huge bottle for mere pennies, $6 at drugstores or Drugstore.com

(Image: Newscom, Banana Boat)

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Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Gel

Image: sxc.hu

Think about going as green with your packaging as you are by making your own beauty products. Sustainable glass jars – which you can get from second hand stores, eBay or sometimes even Ikea – not only look beautiful in your bathroom, but they’re easy to clean, reusable and you’re more likely to use an herb-smelling goo from a vintage, lead-free crystal jar rather than from a disposable plastic container. The jury is still out on whether phthalates leaching into food and water from plastic containers, and aluminum making its way into products from aluminum tubes, but until the verdict is delivered, why take the risk?

One of the sticking points to making your own bath and body products is storage. Some of them need to be stored in the refrigerator, unless you find a way to include a mild, natural preservative. There are a few options, including  grapefruit seed oil or extract and silver.  Those will store for up to a month on bathroom shelves. No matter what, make sure to store your products out of direct sunlight as it breaks down the ingredients dramatically.

Keep an eye out for good health food stores to find some of your ingredients like vitamins in liquid form, witch hazel, organic sugars and salts, or essential oils. There are several online stores you can find aloe vera juice, borax, citric acid, essential oils and almond meal.

Be sure to ask the seller about the origins of their extracts and juices – plants grown in their ideal region contain the optimum amount of nutrients because their native region is where they flourish.

The more that I delve into the ideas of making my own bath and body products, the more I realize how much there is to know about the ingredients, the balance of the products required and such.

Next, we’ll start to look at some of the fantastic recipes so you can start making your own concoctions.

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Storing your DIY Bath and Body Products

Well, the same should be said for our hair.

Eufora is the first hair product I have come across that uses Aloe Vera gel as its base (vs. water). This intrigued me from the get-go. Aloe contains elements that are essential to cellular healing, renewal and growth and also delivers amazing antibacterial, anti-viral and antiseptic properties. Already, site-unseen, this made this a product I was excited to try.

The company has recently launched some really cool products, including a biodegradable clarifying shampoo that was developed with the help of an Elle Magazine beauty editor. And all are made to agree with your specific hair needs (frizzy? color-treated? dry? cranky?!)

Even better, I’m excited to say Eufora has agreed to be part of one of the first StyleHerHair.com contests: Three winners will each receive their pick of 2 care (shampoo & conditioner) and 3 styling products! Choose your cocktail (hehe) at Eufora.net

To have your chance to be victorious, please list three things you’ve learned from this blog in the last week. Winners will be chosen from correct entries (at random). Deadline is February 14. (Because we all deserve SOME reason to celebrate this Valentines Day!)

Photo credit: Eufora

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I’m euphoric about Eufora