Silky Smooth Skin for Summer: Best Body Scrubs and Oils

It's that the time of year where we bare more skin so we want it to look it's best! The trick to achieving the softest, silkiest skin is to regularly exfoliate and then moisturize with a deep penetrating oil (this is how most celebs achieve youthful looking skin on the red carpet).

Below are some of the best body scrubs and oils to get your skin in summer-ready condition.

Summer-ready in Ramy Brook beach cover-up.
Using the products below, I exfoliate twice weekly and never bare my arms and legs without slathering on an oil.

Scrubs:

Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish

Brown Sugar Body Polish by Fresh is a wildly popular, all-natural scrub made with real brown sugar crystals and natural humectants that rid your skin of dry skin cells while preventing future moisture loss. The scrub blends four natural oils that deeply moisturize and nourish the skin so it's like having two products in one. I have been using it for years to keep my legs from looking like alligator skin and think it's one of the best moisturizing exfoliators on the market.

Kiehls Soy Milk & Honey Exfoliator 

Nothing is sweeter than Milk and Honey--this scrub included. Made of pure Honey and Soy Milk protein, this body exfoliator helps your skin feel it’s softest. Kiehl’s body polish is also infused with Shea and Jojoba Butters, Sweet Almond Oil, and Luffa Fruit for a nourishing effect.  It does not leave an oily residue on the skin so makes a great pre self-tan scrub.  I am obsessed with the amazing scent!

Buy Kiehls Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish, $11

L'Occitane Verveine Salt Scrub

L'Occitane Verveine body scrub contains salts from the Mediterranean Sea and pure extracts of verbena, orange, geranium and lemon tree. It's also filled with natural essential oils of grapeseed, apricot and sweet almond to nourish and moisturize the skin. This scrub has a citrusy scent and is a master at massaging away dead skin cells, leaving your skin silky soft. I like to use it in the morning because it's so refreshing. 

Buy L'Occitane Verbana Salt Scrub, $36

Oils: 

Teadora Dawn/Dusk Body Oil 

Teadora in Portuguese means ADORES YOU. The body care line offers natural and organic products made with ingredients from the rainforest such as Acai, Pitanga, Andiroba, Buriti and Cupuacu. I really love their products, especially the super moisturizing oils that come in two amazing scents, Rainforest at Dusk and Rainforest at Dawn. I have been slathering them on my legs and arms before going out, using dawn in the morning and dusk in the evening!

Fun Fact: Cupuaçu is the next big super fruit and is in every Teadora product. It's a strong moisturizer, rich in vitamins, anti-oxidants and essential nutrients. It also helps improve the appearance, elasticity and texture of skin. Poised to become the next big super fruit to hit the U.S., some nutritional food experts are saying that it will eclipse the popular Acai because it's healthier, has the same benefits, and is easier to grow without destroying rainforests.


Teadora Dawn/Dusk Body Oil

Teadora in Portuguese means ADORES YOU. The body care line offers natural and organic products made with ingredients from the rainforest such as Acai, Pitanga, Andiroba, Buriti and Cupuacu. I really love their products, especially the super moisturizing oils that come in two amazing scents, Rainforest at Dusk and Rainforest at Dawn. I have been slathering them on my legs and arms before going out, using dawn in the morning and dusk in the evening!

Fun Fact: Cupuaçu is the next big super fruit and is in every Teadora product. It's a strong moisturizer, rich in vitamins, anti-oxidants and essential nutrients. It also helps improve the appearance, elasticity and texture of skin. Poised to become the next big super fruit to hit the U.S., some nutritional food experts are saying that it will eclipse the popular Acai because it's healthier, has the same benefits, and is easier to grow without destroying rainforests.

Buy TEADORA Dawn and Dusk Hydration Elixirs, $40 

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil

This 100% Pure Argan Oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, and grown organically in Morocco. With its multitasking benefits, Argan Oil can be used for many areas including hydrating and nourishing skin, as a daily moisturizer, skin treatment, treating spilt ends, and softening cuticles. It's gentle enough to use on all skin types--I like to use it on my face, elbows, hair, and nails. Contains no parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes.

 

ESPA Soothing Body Oil

The soothing body oil by Espa is a wonderful way to hydrate and de-stress! It's an aromatherapeutic combination of Sandalwood, Rose Geranium, Frankincense, and Myrrh that helps to unwind, quiet the mind, and lull you into a peaceful state. I like to use this oil on my chest and arms before a stressful day. Also, the warm and woodsy scent is perfect for both women and men. My husband brought this oil home for me as a gift when returning from a business trip in London--I've been addicted to it ever since!

Get Beautiful Using Safe Beauty Products: Hello Beautycounter

Do you know what toxic chemicals are in your everyday beauty and skincare products? I certainly did not until I became acquainted with Beautycounter. This new line's skincare, body care, and beauty products are effective, toxin-free and safe. Beautycounter's mission is to get safe beauty and skincare products into the hands of everyone. Here's the 411...

Beautycounter's lip sheer in petal. These are super moisturizing and you can build up the color depending on how much you use. Necklace by Essie Collection, $100. Contact EssieLa@gmail.com to order.

Beautycounter products are sold in several ways. You can sign up as a brand consultant and set up one-on-one meetings or "socials" (small groups of women who get together to see and try the products). One of the perks of being a host of the social is getting some free and half price products.  Hosts can make commission on the products sold. Also, customers can buy directly from the e-commerce website provided by their host or at www.beautycounter.com. I love the concept as it empowers women to create their own small business by selling quality products that are truly safe!

 

Some of my personal favorites include the routine clean cleanser, the every night moisturizer and the lip sheers.

These facts can help give more insight to safer cosmetic ingredients: 

  • 80% of the 10,000 chemicals used in our every day products have never been tested for safety by a public agency.
  • 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
  • The European Union has banned over 1300 toxic chemicals from their products. The United States has banned 11. 

Beautycounter's NEVER LIST outlines the chemicals that would never be included in their products. Many of these ingredients make up our toiletries and beauty products stocked in our bathroom cabinets!

The lip sheer is one of my favorite Beautycounter products! Statistics show that we consume six pounds of lipstick in our lives and most are made with toxic chemicals including lead. 

Buy the Complete Lip Collection here, $175. Or, sold individually for $28.

If you are looking for that perfect, natural shade of pink, try the lip sheer in petal. 

Beautycounter lip sheer in petal, $28.

Their newest line of anti-aging products, Countertime, has been proven effective in clinical trials. This line consists of 6 anti-aging products that hydrate, firm and nourish skin.

Buy the anti-aging "Countertime Collection" here, $295. Products also sold individually.

Buy the anti-aging "Countertime Collection" here, $295. Products also sold individually.

Beautycounter has banned over 1500 chemicals from their products. After trying several of them, I think the quality is top-notch. I highly recommend them!

Michelle Nadel
Beautycounter Consultant

Michelle Nadel is one of the beauty consultants  who recently signed on and reached out to me. Michelle states, "the business, is partly to sell our fabulous products and partly to share the knowledge of the current state of the beauty industry, which is grossly unregulated. The two parts of our business are intertwined. Once we learn a little bit about what is in our products, we are happier to try a safe, but effective, alternative. Beautycounter was just named by MSN one of the Top 10 companies in the country which is "revolutionizing retail", along side The Container Store and Amazon."

Michelle Nadel 

Beautycounter Consultant
Truth - Beauty - Transparency
201-562-2231

www.michellenadel.beautycounter.com

Beautycounterbymichelle@gmail.com

Skin Cancer Awareness Month: Facts, Best Sunscreens & Chic UPF Hats

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and studies show that 52% of American Women grade themselves a C or lower on their sun care habits. Melanoma is easy to prevent if you are careful about sun exposure and protection.

“About 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 65% of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun,” says Perry Robins, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “Everyone, regardless of skin color, should make staying safe in the sun a priority and incorporate sun protection measures into their daily life.”

Now that the sun is finally shining, it's time to break out the protective hats and sunscreens. Read on for more...

We all know it's important to protect your skin to reduce cancer-causing sun damage so wear a hat when outside this Spring or Summer. Not only will you stay cooler, but you will protect yourself from the suns harmful rays. I really like the hats by Coolibar--they have a large selection, great prices and UPF protection of 50+. 

The Shapeable Travel Sun Hat style below looks good on most women and has the perfect sized brim that you can bend to best suit your style. It's packable too!

Coolibar Shapeable Travel Sun Hat, UPF 50+, $45 (shown in tan)

There are so many sunscreens to choose from so how do you know which ones are best? I have researched and tried just about every sun block product out there. Below are my top five picks in terms of sun protection and how they feel on the skin.

1. La Roche-Posay Ultra-light Sunscreen Lotion Spray goes on sheer white (blends right away), is fast absorbing and has a silky finish. I am obsessed with this water resistant sunscreen for the body--it feels moisturizing yet weightless on the skin. The combination of patented high efficacy sun filters and powerful antioxidants make it the ultimate in sun protection. It's also great for sensitive skin and fragrance free.

2. L'Oreal Quick Dry Sheer Finish Spray 30 goes on sheer white and is fragrant. This oil-free and water resistant spray dries super quick and delivers long-lasting, broad spectrum protection. A nice and effective sunscreen that can be found in the drugstore.

As part of the L’Oréal Paris USA partnership with the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), the brand has launched "It’s THAT Worth It™ - a global public health call-to-action that urges women of all skin tones to prevent melanoma by using sunscreen and to help save lives by supporting melanoma research for a cure.  The campaign features celebrity spokespeople Eva Longoria, Aimee Mullins, Lea Michele and skin cancer survivor Diane Keaton.

By joining the "It’s THAT Worth It™ Thunderclap, you can lend support and help stop melanoma through prevention and research.  As a thank you, L'Oréal Paris will make a donation to MRA of $1 for each supporter who signs up for the Thunderclap and $1 for each L’Oréal Paris Advanced Suncare product sold in the U.S.

Visit www.itsthatworthit.org to join the movement. Watch as everyone’s messages are simultaneously shared around the world on May 20th.

 

The Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Spray is perfect for on the go application and for using in hard to reach areas like your back. I use it while on vacation since it's water resistant, non greasy, and offers great protection and it's available in department stores and at Sephora

4. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen, SPF 55 goes on like a creamy moisturizer, is light-weight and leaves a non-shiny finish to your skin. I love that you can find the broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen in almost any drugstore (I like to buy it in bulk)! It's fast absorbing and water resistant for up to 80 minutes. 

5. SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 offers powerful broad-spectrum sun protection. It's lightweight and goes on transparent so it's perfect to use on your face. Contains 5% zinc oxide and 6% titanium dioxide and is gentle for sensitive skin. Dermatologists recommended.

According to the American Melanoma Foundation, here are some facts about Melanoma:

  • One American dies of melanoma every hour.
  • Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. The torso is the most common location for developing melanoma for females in this age group.
  • Besides breast cancer, young women under the age of 39 have a higher probability of developing melanoma than any other cancer.
  • Exposure to tanning beds before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 75 percent.
  • More than one million people visit tanning salons every day. Of these, approximately 71 percent are girls and young women ages 16-29.
  • One in 58 men and women will be diagnosed with melanoma in their lifetime.