The Neutrogena Wave Duo is a battery-powered massaging and cleansing device that looks kind of like a small computer mouse.  The Wave Duo Kit includes the Wave Duo, a AA battery (so appreciated!  I probably wouldn’t have used it if I had to go buy a pack of AAs), and 14 pads.  The device was super easy to use, which is great for someone like me who doesn’t like to read directions.  You pop in the AA battery and there are two buttons with icons for On/Off and Speed.  The pads are circular softly textured pads with moisture-activated facial cleanser already in them.  You place a pad onto the velcro end of the Duo, add a little water, turn the power On, and start massaging your face with the cleanser.  The cleanser lathers slightly to clean your face while also massaging away dead skin cells, makeup, oil, and dirt.

I am not one to gush about using a new skin product just once, but I can really say that after only one use my skin felt so soft!  I am a big fan of daily exfoliation as one of the best ways to keep skin smooth and healthy, so the Neutrogena Wave Duo is my new favorite daily exfoliating tool.  The vibrating massaging sensation felt really great on my skin.  I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t use my regular daily cleanser with the Neutrogena Wave Duo, but then I discovered that three have types of pads available:  Shine-Free Blemish-Free, Gentle Exfoliating, and Foaming.  The Wave Duo Kit includes the foaming pads, but I will definitely be trying the Shine-Free Blemish-Free next.  You also definitely need to use a moisturizer after using this product to protect and replenish your skin after being deeply cleansed.

If you are interested in trying the new Neutrogena Wave Duo, visit the Neutrogena website to get a $3 off coupon and $2 off on pad refills!  You can also find out more information about the Wave Duo and where to buy it online.

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Neutrogena Wave Duo Review

Image: Sephora

Unlike other scrubs that are really grainy, this one is actually more like a creamy polish. But don’t let the creamy texture fool you. Created with pumice and jojoba beads, this scrub removes dead skin cells and rejuvenates dull, dry skin, revealing soft, silky smooth skin beneath.

One of the best things about this sugar scrub is the scent. It smells good enough to eat and the scent is long lasting without being overpowering.  It also really moisturizes your skin. I found it’s fantastic to use right before you shave your legs.

You can find the Coconut Bon Bon Ice Cream Sugar Scrub online at Sephora for just $20 for a 12 oz tub.

What type of scrubs do you use? Leave a comment here and let us know.

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Coconut Bon Bon Ice Cream Sugar Scrub

Image: Clinique

This is a grainy scrub that isn’t too harsh, but also not too greasy or oily either. It comes in a jar, so you don’t have to worry about squeezing out the last bit from a tube. Best of all, it’s really effective. Soothing and softening dry, rough skin, this exfoliating cream leaves your skin feeling silky. It has a cooling, minty quality about it that gives you a refreshing boost.

If you use it right before shaving your legs, you’ll get an ultra-close shave that is unmatched. Wet your skin before applying. It’s great for heels, knees, elbows and anywhere else (outside of face, neck and sensitive areas).

I recommend using it at least three a week to remove dead skin cells and rejuvenate dull, dry skin. It’s priced at $20 for an 8.5 oz jar at Clinique.com, Nordstrom.com and your neighborhood Clinique counter.

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Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream

Image: LUSH

Using ground almond shells to slough away dead skin cells, along with cocoa and almond butters to hydrate and nourish your skin, this bar is ideal. It has a soft rose and sandalwood scent that is pleasant without being overpowering.

Rub the body butter bar in a circular motion all over your body, paying special attention to rough spots like elbows and feet. Your skin will feel smooth and silky — just use it a couple times a week.

You can purchase LUSH Aqua Mirabilis Body Butter online for $12.65 for a 3.3 oz bar. I suggest getting the LUSH body butter tin ($2.95) too because this bar will melt unless you keep it in a cool protected place. The tin is also perfect for traveling.

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LUSH Aqua Mirabilis Body Butter

The Dermafile tool seems simple enough to use and looks a little like the mirror that the dentist uses to see the backs of your teeth.  You apply your regular facewash and then use the circular diamond-covered plate to rub your skin in a circular motion.  The Dermafile can be used for facial exfoliation weekly or monthly.  The polishing effect is also said to help decrease the appearance of fine lines.

I was curious about the use of “diamonds” in the Dermafile, so I was happy to hear that sustainable practices are used in the making of this product.  The “diamonds” are created in a lab where carbon seeds are placed under extreme pressure and heat to create a carbon crystal.  The stainless steel is recyclable and does not rust.

You can find out more about this special exfoliation tool online at Dermafile’s website.  You can watch an informative video about how to use the tool and order a Dermafile online for $29.95.

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Dermafile Exfoliating Tool

In this video, they show how to make a homemade foot scrub using olive oil and sugar. The sugar is, of course, an excellent natural exofliant, while the olive oil has hydrating properties.

Another easy homemade foot scrub can be made by combining eggs and salt.  Beat two eggs lightly, then add just enough salt to get the scrub to the texture you prefer.

After using the foot scrub and rinsing your feet with warm water, apply a your favorite moisturizing lotion or petroleum jelly to your feet and put on clean, white cotton socks overnight.

If you use the scrub weekly and a the sock treatment nightly, you feet will be in shape in no time at all.

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Olive Oil and Sugar Foot Scrub

Image: Newscom

1. Get Below The Surface: exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. When you don’t take care of your skin, dead skin cells accumulate and make your skin appear dull, no matter how much lotion you slather on. Cleansers with glycolic acid help to stimulate resurfacing and Products with micro-resurfacing properties, like pumice, crushed almond, or even corn husk can make for a good all-over exfoliator.
2. Calming Cellulite: With itty-bitty bikinis in your future, you’ll want to smooth those bumpy patches. The appearance of cellulite can be reduced by using a body scrub with large exfoliators such as ground coffee beans, pumice or bamboo shoots to stimulate circulation. It’s also smart to use a scrub that incorporates caffeine to detoxify or release water from the surface layers of fat to make cellulite look smoother
3. Tan the Safe Way: Find a fragrance free self-tanner that incorporates AHA for a safe summer glow that doesn’t include the risks of tanning beds or lounging for hours in the sun. Skin Authority’s Knowledge Center has a great video on how to have a positive self-tanning experience.
4. Last Season’s Sunscreen is so Passé: don’t be so cheap that you miss out on the important stuff necessary to make sunscreen do the job. The active ingredients will inevitably deteriorate over time, so make sure you replace your sun screen every summer. Don’t just apply it once and forget either – reapply a new layer of sunscreen every 1-2 hours that you are in the sun. And make sure you have full UVA and UVB protection with a sunscreen that has more than just SPF 15.
5. Fancy Feet: For pretty toes you aren’t afraid to show off, apply a 20 percent concentrate of glycolic acid nightly to remove calluses and deep layers of dead skin. Scrub your feet with a pumice stone when you’re in the shower and pick up an at home pedicure kit for a little extra pampering.

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Tips And Secrets For Healthy Summer Skin

Image: Newscom

• Wash your hands first so you remove any bacteria on your hands.
• Always make sure the exfoliation products you are using on your face are specially formulated for your face.
• Take into consideration the type of skin you have – everyone has different needs, but you won’t be doing yourself any favors if you have dry skin and pick a product made for people who battle excessively oily skin.
• Try scrubbing with a handful of coffee grinds for an all natural, caffeinated exfoliation treatment.
• Limit scrubbing of one area to less than a minute (45 seconds if you know your skin is sensitive). Any longer than that and you won’t be removing dead skin anymore…you will be rubbing your skin raw.
• Products containing vitamin E are a good choice if you have especially sensitive skin that might overreact to abrasive exfoliation products.
• Follow up with a good moisturizer, or body butter to soothe your skin.
• Regular exfoliation is better than only exfoliating occasionally Try to schedule time at least once a week to maximize the benefits and always have beautiful glowing skin.
• But don’t exfoliate too often – your skin has to go through all sorts of natural processes to stay balanced and healthy. Over-exfoliation is worse for your skin than missing a couple of weeks.
• You can easily find a good exfoliator in the drugstore, like St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Or you could spend a bit more and try out some higher end exfoliation options.

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Top 10 Exfoliation Tips

Originally intended as a Holiday 2008 promotion, CND has extended the availability of this gorgeously scented set. It’s a difficult scent to describe – quite round, soft and almost full – like a good berry wine.

The lotion itself is quickly absorbed into your skin, leaving behind a delicate fragrance and no excess moisture. My skin – and I admit, I generally don’t moisturize enough – drinks this stuff in.

The scrub has larger granules of sugar so that it actually does the exfoliation rather than just glide around on your skin like I’ve found other scrubs do. Too fine and nothing happens… to chunky, and they’re hard to use. This is, like Goldilocks said, just right.

I just made my husband smell the back of my hand (test marketing in action!) and he sniffed for a good long time and then said,”I don’t know what it is, but I would totally eat whatever that is”, which seemed to me to be a pretty good endorsement. After all, the last one that we tested – I tried, he told me what I smelled like – was the Spa Sister’s pomegranate and he didn’t like that at all. I’d prefer my man to like the way I smell enough to want to nibble.

I would absolutely recommend the CND products, especially if they’re all of this quality. You can find a store who carries CND products on their site.

If you don’t want to go to the site to find a store near you, you can win a Winterberry scrub and lotion from SpaBeautifully! Same rules apply as last time, and if you’ve won anything from here in the last 60 days, you’ll have to wait before you try again.

If you want a set of the Winterberry products, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what your beauty resolution is for 2009. Make sure the e-mail address you provide is valid.

The deadline is Wednesday January 21, at 11:59:59 p.m. PST. Winner will be chosen on Thursday December 22, 2009.

The Fine Print

Rules and regs for the contest:

1. Comments like, “Give it to me!” or “I want to win!” ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. You have to answer the question.
2. One entry per person, and yes, I do check IP addresses to remove duplicates.
3. Guys are just as eligible to enter as girls. Me, my husband and any winner in the past 60 days are the only people not eligible to enter. Everyone else can enter and win.
4. Comments must be received by Wednesday January 21 at 11:59:59 p.m. PST.
5. I will use the random sequence generator at Random.org to choose one lucky winner, (who will be the first eligible entry in the sequence). The announcement of the winner will be FINAL. No arguing.

Good Luck!!!

(images supplied by CND)

Tags: nail care, skincare, hands, CND, lotion, scrub, contest, giveaway

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Review: Winterberry Scrub & Lotion

Clarins Skin Spa offers a complete range of facial and body treatments to address a variety concerns at their Toronto location.  With 5 treatments rooms, excellent customer service and their top-notch french products, you can expect to be well taken care of here.

Each facial treatment begins with a new four phase cleansing and exfoliation, incorporating the added efficiency of an innovative fruit enzyme powder, a gentle yet effective way to exfoliation. Whether it’s an age defying, hydrating or purifying treatment that your face requires, your skin is left super smooth and glowing with health after just one treatment.

The Body Treatments address the specific concerns of slimming, firming and ageing. If you want to streamline body contours and improve skin tone, try a Pro Body Slimming treatment, or if you feel your body is showing the tell-tale signs of ageing, book in for the Pro Body Renewing Treatment which rejuvenates the skin. For ultra results and pampering, combine the body treatments with their new top-to-toe Pro Exfoliation, using a body scrub, again enriched with the fruit enzyme powder which serves as an essential complement.

December sees a month long promotion that is perfect for all that Holiday indulging that I’ve done.

Refined Waist Treatment ($129)
This package includes a 200ml  Super Restorative Abdomen & Waist Body Care to take home and continue the benefits of the treatment.

CLARINS SKIN SPA
87, Yorkville Avenue
Toronto, ON
Tel: (416) 924-9124

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Clarins Skin Spa