slough it off

It is crazy to me when chatting in our dressing room how many people do not exfoliate!  Next to cleansing and moisturizing properly it is the most important thing for my skin.  Now, I don't mean scrub until you scrape off all of your healthy outer derma layers....that's just crazy talk.  I mean find the routine that's right for your skin (I like to do it 3x's a week in the summer and 1-2x's a week in the winter) and put it into action.  You'll see a healthier glow and minimized pores with less blackheads.  Who doesn't want that!

I personally use (and have used since high school) St. Ives Apricot Scrub.  It's not an Allure Favorite for no reason.  It's a great product!  I have also tried lots of other scrubs and microdermabrasion kits out there which were all great, but I keep going back to St. Ives Apricot Scrub because of the fab price point (like $3) and because my skin isn't extremely sensitive and really benefits from the product.  It comes in original, gentle, and medicated for acne prone skin.

I really love the Fresh all natural product line and quite enjoy their body polish ($38 for 7 oz, $65 for 14.1 oz).  Their face scrub is also great and would be my first recommendation after St. Ives.  Also look for their soy facial cleanser....I hear amazing things from gals with sensitive skin.

A few other products which I think would be great...

Korres Pomegranate Scrub ($21) - fab packaging and great product line.

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel ($44) - pricey, but I have loved every product I have used from this line.

Philosophy Microdelivery Peel Pads ($55) - super easy to use, and another great product line.

Other great product lines: Neutrogena, Oil of Olay, Boscia, Kate Somerville, DDF, Murad, Clinique, and Bliss.  No matter what product you decide to use, I think it wise to start helping your cells turnover gently.  Happy sloughing!!

the best e-mail I have recieved in weeks

I often enjoy "recommendations" for the blog. I never do anything for monetary gain...I just post things I find lovely, useful, or darn right amazing. Well, I recently received an e-mail from my Dad raving about a certain Sephora hand cream. It has his seal of approval...just read below to see for yourself:

Dear Erin {my most favoritist daughter.....ok, I added that},
While visiting Emily {my younger sister} last month I was looking for a hand cream to deal with my hands that were rough and cracking. I came across a Sephora product that Emily said no one uses. I tried it and my hands were soft and healing within 2 days. This is the best hand cream I have ever used! I had Emily go online and order me some. I think it was Coffe & Cream that I tried. I can't wait for it to come. It can be found in the Sephora line of skin care products for dry hands under Indulgences - Whipped Body Delights. Who would have thought....Sephora.

Love, Dad

Oh, that one made me chuckle! Apparently he has talked about nothing else for awhile now. Those man hands must have needed some TLC. Unfortunately it looks as though they might be discontinuing this product. If you happen to find any at your local Sephora...please let me know. I didn't realize this sports crazed, athletic guy would be getting his next gift from my favorite make-up store. Hey, he has 4 daughters...it was bound to happen at some point in time. Love you Dad and thanks for the info!!!

oh feet.

My feet take a beating. Between running around town in flip flops and then pounding around a stage nightly the feet are a little scary. I've gotten many a pedicure and just can't seem to get them as soft as I would like, so I wanted to try a new foot cream. My usual go to is Bag Balm, but that is in storage in NY {and I'm not so sure it would travel great} so while perusing the Nordstrom I came across Kihels Intensive Treatment for Dry or Callused Areas. Well, its working ok and I am fine with seeing progress over time but I'm not sure it is the cure-all.

Tell me, do you have the solution? What works for you!?!

tried it: GapBody eau de toilette

I just sprayed some of this on me at The Gap. I love that I smell like fresh laundry! All of the scents were actually very light and quite pleasant.

apple cider vinegar

My hair started to feel weighted down by build up of styling product and gunk in the air. I decided to do an apple cider vinegar rinse and voila, my hair was completely transformed. Weightless, shiny, smooth....lovely. I think this will become part of the grooming regimen!

Mix 4 cups of water {I suggest warm--learned this the hard way} with 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, shampoo hair and rinse thoroughly, tilt head back and rinse hair in vinegar/water solution, condition hair if you like {I did}. Find more about it here.