25 Days of Christmas CoCo Style - Day 10: Elixir Beauty

Today's guest post comes from the beautiful Kelli Thomsen at elixir beauty. This time of year is prime for beauty tips. Parties, stress, diet all tweak with the skin and body. Below, Kelli gives some fantastic tips. I will be following these ASAP. Thanks Kelli!

HOLIDAY BEAUTY TIPS from elixir beauty…

First and foremost, we need to understand that everything comes from the inside out. Our skin is the best reflection of our health. We each want to have glowing skin, especially during the holiday season and dry winter months. With all the different types of foods, drinks and pictures taken, the stress of managing our flaws becomes more important, so we need to follow some key holiday beauty tips. You’ll notice the difference and you will see that having healthy, luminous skin is achievable if you start these tips now! 

1.  Start each morning drinking room temperature water, with a squeeze of lemon. This will act as a diuretic, in the morning on an empty stomach, along with a burst of vitamin C for its anti aging effects. Also, start eating avocado every day. Some good ways to add it in are in any salad, your morning smoothie or as a guacamole dip. Avocado hydrates the skin with healthy fats and phytonutrients, which will bring back your youthful glow. No coffee or caffeine in the afternoon when we are tired or need a pick up.  Any green juice blend or juicing greens will do wonders for the skin in place of this. Green juices help to get rid of impurities, bring in nutrients and oxygenate the skin for decreased puffiness in the eyes and will even improve those pesky dark circles.

2. We all know that stress can strongly influence the way our skin looks and that for most the holidays can cause it. This is why we must de-stress, maintain a happy spirit, meditate and oxygenate the cells by taking walks in the park and breathing fresh air daily. It’s also important to keep our digestive tract happy and one good way to do this is to add in a brewer’s yeast (capsules) each day, or yogurts containing acidophilus and bifidus. Bringing equilibrium to our intestinal flora and peace to our daily lives is vital in having the perfect holiday glow.

3. Our skin acts as the perfect barrier during the winter months, as long as we take care of our skin daily and commit to some additional steps to protect us from the aggressive external factors, such as pollution and cold. This is why it’s crucial to exfoliate two times a week with a mild scrub or exfoliating product in order to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores.  An added weekly mask geared towards our individual skin type will help with hydration and collagen building.  Cleanse every morning and evening and apply a moisturizer even if you think you don’t need it. Wear SPF daily even when it’s not sunny. This is the time to pay special attention to your skin care ritual and if you do, the result is a more luminous and clear complexion. 

4. Last but not least, don’t forget about our bodies.  They need maximum moisturizing as well. One week before the holidays, exfoliate with products that contain salts, seaweed and cinnamon, as they all help in removing dead skin cells.  Always apply a lotion or body butter daily and make sure it is paraben free and rich in nutrients, such as Vitamin E and Shea Butter that calm and hydrate the skin.

If you are going to a party that you want to look perfect for, please come see me prior at elixir beauty and mention this for 20% off. You get a complimentary juice-we know how important this is for the beauty of the skin! Book your service online at www.elixirbeautyandwellness.com

Facial - a week before pictures or holiday soirees.

Chemical peel - 2-3 days before or 2 weeks before, as to allow for any light peeling that follows 4-5 days after peel. 

Waxing - 1-2 weeks prior, to give ample time for any redness or irritation to subside.

Make-up Application – Day of $30 Holiday Special (December 2012 ONLY)

HEARTS