The sun has finally begun to shine, and the cold winter weather has broken! Around this time of year, we begin to fill our closets with sundresses and chic strappy sandals, but wait a minute–not so fast! Before you strut your stuff in those sassy wedges, take a good look at your toes: if you’ve neglected your poor feet during the winter months (as many of us do), now is the time to pamper those tootsies with a home pedicure.

Not only will a home pedicure save you a ton of cash, you’ll also have total control over the products you use.  This helps lessen the chance of any inhumane products slipping into the mix. For a cruelty-free–but incredibly luxurious pedicure– look no further than SpaRitual products! They’re not only humane–they’re also vegan and free of synthetic ingredients.

Here’s what you’ll need to make the most of your foot-pampering experience:

• First, remove any dead or rough skin from your heels with Let It Go Callus Remover.  This elixir smooths your feet and helps ease callus build-up with fruit acids, tea tree oil, sugar cane and aloe.

• Try some Sole Mate Hydrating Foot Balm next to deeply moisturize and soothe those tired feet; they’ll be most appreciative!  With a rich formula consisting of baobab oil and organic Fair Trade Shea Butter, this decadent cream even exfoliates with papaya extract and tamanu oil.

• Finally, after all your hard work, comes the fun!  Apply a fabulous shade of polish to show off those smooth, sexy feet! SpaRitual nail polishes are healthy, because they’re  free of commonly used chemicals such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde and toluene. Hot pink is the hot color for Spring/Summer 2010, so be sure to try Hope Springs Eternal.

Congrats–you’re all done! With just a few easy steps, you’re ready to hit the sand and flaunt twinkle toes worthy enough to be the envy of elite salons and nail enthusiasts everywhere.   Go ahead, you deserve it!

Editor’s note: Content provided courtesy of  guest blogger Amber McKinnon on behalf of Jolie Hair and Beauty Academy, a cosmetology school with locations in both MA and PA; to learn more, click here.

Then a few years ago my best friend and fellow Sun Goddess was diagnosed with skin cancer. So we both went from spraying tanning oil all over our bodies and baking in the sun to lathering on the highest SPF we could find all over our face and bodies and being sure to always wear sunglasses and hats.

With my new precautions, I lost my tan and missed having that color. Looking tan makes people look thinner and camouflages cellulite. Besides, how many pictures of celebrities are out there with gleaming white bodies in bikinis? Not too many, if any! I have tried several different sunless tanning products to get that golden glow without risking my health and have many horror stories, but Solerra Tanning Mitts are definitely not one of them.

Solerra Tanning Mitts are super-easy to apply. Even a beginner sunless tanner would get a great tan. And don’t worry about turning orange with this product. Instead, expect an amazing bronze color. I was surprised by how quickly it dried and how soft my skin felt after applying the product. My skin literally felt like silk.  Most sunless products also have a distinct odor that I personally don’t care for, but Solerra did not have this smell. As a sponsor of the Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation, Solerra understands the dangers of too much sun and has created a product that is a wonderful alternative. The best part is that a day after using the Solerra Tanning Mitts my friend commented on how tan I looked. So, Solerra passed the ultimate test and I will be using this product again.

Below are some tips that I use when applying any type of sunless tanning product:

• Apply at night after a shower. Be sure to shave and exfoliate and to dry off completely before the application.
• Immediately after the product has been applied, moisturize your entire body (where the product was used). I use whatever lotion I have in the house.  I find that moisturizing after the sunless tanning product helps to prevent any potential streaking.
• Always wash your hands! Even though the mitts protect most of your hands, depending on your hand size, the heels of the hands can get some of the lotion on them.

Guest blogger Ella is a makeup artist, former cosmetic counter maven, and lover of all things beauty. She loves trying new products and can’t resist a great deal. She prides herself in her closet full of beauty supplies, which is bound to make even the most obsessed beauty junkie jealous.

Of course, I realize the importance of applying a daily lotion. The skin on our bodies takes so much abuse. Not only is it losing moisture all day, but the sun, wind and pollution are damaging it too. Personally, my dry and scaly arms and legs having been begging for attention.

And Ella’s words were just the push I needed in the right direction. It was time for me to start taking more time for me, and believe it or not, body lotion was exactly what I needed. But it had to be the right body lotion. I decided to try Jergens Naturals Extra Softening Moisturising Lotion. It’s from Jergens’ UK division and it’s delightful.

It has a creamy, yet lightweight consistency with a sweet buttery fragrance. It absorbs quickly and helps my skin feel velvety smooth.

It contains 95% nautral ingredients, which make my skin feel soft, never greasy. Shea Butter relieves roughness and holds in moisture. Yogurt softens and restores the skin’s pH balance. Soy extracts contain vitamin E and provide antioxidant protection. It’s also paraben free.

I’ve been applying this lotion after my shower every day, as well as throughout the day, and my skin has never felt better. This is definitely a habit I can get used to. 

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I decided to try their Organic Lavender Shower Gel, an organic-based, paraben-free skin treat.

From first use, this product surprised me. Since it’s a sulfate-free product, I prepared myself for a low lather, but it actually had a rich lather that helped me feel like I was getting completely clean–without making my skin feel the least bit dry.

It’s skin-soothing ability is due to its organic oils, like coconut, jojoba and olive oil. These instantly absorb so they don’t make your skin feel greasy, only soft and comfortable.

Of course, with a name like Lavender, it does indeed have a fresh, calming fragrance. Lavender essential oil and rosemary extract combine to soothe and comfort, which makes it a perfect bubble bath as well.

Another Russell Organics product that I’ve been using with my shower gel is a body scrub called Lemon Jojoba Body Polish. This creamy exfoliant uses Jojoba beads to gentle slough away dead skin cells while Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, and Safflower Seed Oil soften even the driest skin. With each use, my skin feels smoother and looks healthier. Not bad, since the skin on my body usually looks rough and dull. It also leaves my skin smelling as fresh as lemons.

Yes, I think I’ve found the perfect combination to clean and beautify the skin all over my body. I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to that gross bar of soap. Not only does my body thank me, but my bathtub does too.

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Herban Lifestyle doesn’t just sell amazing products but 10% of the gross sales go to a variety of charitable causes and they have also made it their mission to be environmentally friendly. All of the products are made with all natural and organic ingredients and the containers are recyclable and they use soy ink to print.

The body balm is available in 2 different scents: Sensual Healing and Blithe and Balmy. Both balms include ingredients such as organic olive oils, beeswax and essential oils. Sensual Healing has more of citrus scent while Blithe and Balmy has a mixture of chamomile and lavender. I use Blithe and Balmy on my feet and hands at night right before bed and between the aroma and tingly feeling it instantly makes me calm, relaxed and ready for a wonderful night of sleep. I have rough and super dry skin on the bottom of my feet and the balm has really helped smooth out the texture. My only complaint is that I wish I could buy a bigger size!

The lip balm comes in 3 flavors: Mint Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Dreamsicle and Dolce de Limone. The lip balms contain various organic oils, essential oils and moisturizers such as cocoa butter and shea butter. The word that first comes to mind when describing these balms is yummy. They smell delicious, leave your lips feeling soft and looking shiny.

Herban Lifestyle has something for everyone including face masques, bath salts, soaps, scrubs, massage oils and even baby products.

Guest blogger Ella is a makeup artist, former cosmetic counter maven, and lover of all things beauty. She loves trying new products and can’t resist a great deal. She prides herself in her closet full of beauty supplies, which is bound to make even the most obsessed beauty junkie jealous.

These delightful moisturizers have the perfect amount of fragrance from essential oils. To me, they kind of smell like scented candles, which reminds me of cuddling up on the couch on a cold winter day. Cranberry Orange and Fresh Citrus are my favorite scents, but they also have Winter Vanilla and Island Rain.

Now I’ve tried lots of body butters before, but these are the first that actually have the consistency of butter. No extra cream fillers, just shea butter, beeswax, olive oil, almond oil, cocoa butter, vitamin E and avocado oil. Wow, that’s an extra emollient list, isn’t it? Of course, it feels just as good as it sounds. My dry knuckles soaked it up instantly, my heels and ankles softened, and my legs became silky smooth.

Now, if you’re looking for a product that instantly absorbs with no leftover greasiness, this isn’t that kind of product. But let me tell you why it’s important for the butter to sit on the skin a bit. By leaving a lightweight protection on the skin, your skin is protected throughout the day from dryness. I love to put it on at night and let it rejuvenate my body while I sleep.

It’s also important to realize that a small dab of this concentrated butter goes a long way. Less is definitely more. So, as long as you don’t overdo it, you’ll have more leftover softness than greasiness.

Just to give you a brief history of Plum Hill … the company was started by a woman in her kitchen who decided to do something about her dry skin. She concocted natural formulas that worked and decided to share them with the rest of us. In addition to thee body butters, the Plum Hill line also features sugar scrubs, bath and body oils, body washes, lip balms, and linen sprays.

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I decided to try some of their body products for my dry skin. The Super Moisture Body Balm is an intensive moisturizer that contains Olive Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Seed butter, Coconut Butter, Soy Oil and Vitamin E.

These oils are perfect for penetrating into the skin and restoring lost moisture and elasticity. The Cocoa Butter gives it a slight natural fragrance that will remind you of those lazy beach days as a child.

I loved the feel of this on my skin, but it is very concentrated, so you only need to use a little. Even then, it not only leaves your skin soft and comfortable, but leaves it with a smooth and silky sheen, kind of like Gwyneth Paltrow’s legs a few months back on the Tonight Show, although not quite so shiny.

If you’re someone who doesn’t want the sleek and shiny look, you might want to only use this product at night. But I personally think it makes my legs look smoother and prettier.

The cool part, since you only have to use a few drops, this product will last you a while.

Also, if you’re not used to using natural products, many of the oils and butters can tend to solidify in cooler temperatures (not so in my non-air conditioned residence). If you happen to be so lucky, heat the bottle in the microwave for one minute and shake well.

The next product I tried was their After Shower Spritz. This is a great product to use in the morning. Spritz is the key word here, it doesn’t quite spray on because of it’s heavier, serum-like consistency, but it does squirt on and then you can rub it into your skin. It contains Olive Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E.

I’ve been applying it all over after my shower and I’ve been really happy with how quickly it absorbs into my skin, yet keeps my skin feeling nice and smooth. When I use this in the morning, I usually don’t need the Super Moisture Body Balm, and so I reserve that one for night use. However, when winter comes I’ll probably layer them up for extra skin softening protection.

Another great product is their Niaouli Butter Stick. It contains Olive Oil, Sweet Almond oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Soy, Niaouli, Vanilla and Vitamin E. It’s perfect for applying to your elbows, knees and heels. I used it on the backs of my arms too. It was really easy to use and I was surprised how well it smoothed on without feeling greasy.

The best part about all of these are their prices, each priced below $13, you can feel smooth and silky all day long even on a budget.

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That’s why I was so excited to find Shea Terra Organics HoneyBush Peach Body Nectar Spray. Yeah, that’s a mouthful, but maybe it needs a long name because it does a lot of stuff.

Not only is this all-natural product a lightweight body moisturizer, it’s also packed with antioxidants, skin toners, and skin plumpers to keep the skin all over my body looking young and beautiful.

At first glance, this product looks almost like a body spray. In fact, that’s originally what I thought it would be: a moisturizing body spray. However, it’s actually similar in consistency to a serum. Think of it as a body serum that can be applied easily with its spray applicator, although once sprayed onto the skin you have to spread it and massage it in like you would a body lotion.

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I noticed right away its silky texture. It smoothed on easily and absorbed quickly, leaving my skin soft and supple. The cool part? It lasted all day. No dry spots or irritation, just smooth, beautiful skin. I applied it right after I got out of the shower and it was especially soothing to my just-shaved legs.

As far as fragrance goes, there is a very light, very natural peach fragrance. In fact, it’s so light you may not even notice it, which is perfect for me since my nose is extra sensitive.

I would recommend these body nectars for everyone. They provide a quick and easy way to moisturize and protect the skin all over your body, and they’re even light enough to wear on hot summer days. In addition to the Honeybush Peach Antioxidant Nectar, there are four other formulas and fragrances for  stretch marks, aging, dryness, and toning.

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