Solution: Three Steps To Help You Rediscover Your Summer Body

Though it's been frustratingly slow to arrive, spring is definitely in the air. And believe it or not, Memorial Day is just around the corner. But wait, wait, wait--what's this? Cellulite on the thighs? Skin like sandpaper? Overgrown, jungle-esque bikini line? Yikes. Ladies, it's time to start getting that summer body back. Don't don a swimsuit until you tackle these three easy body beauty tasks. Then, and only then, take a look at the swimsuits we think will make you look your best.

PEEL YOUR PEEL. Winter's tough; dry air and cold temps can make you feel like an elephant's foot most of the time. But that's no excuse to look like one--not in April, at least. Scrub those winter patches off your skin with Bliss Hot Salt Scrub ($36).

This NYC spa is legendary for a reason (or forty), and their oil-free, super-softening, self-heating scrub leaves the skin feeling stimulated, soft, and smooth, but not at all irritated. Try it on your legs before shaving, your elbows before bending, and your bum before thonging. Just don't dare put on a bathing suit before you scrub!

CLEAR THE FOREST. OK, so it was cold, you wore lots of layers, and maybe you let the well-trimmed plain become a grassy field become an abundant forest. I understand--been known to let nature take over before myself. But all Cancún doesn't need to see your cha-cha, so for Mexico's sake, hurry up and get a Nair Soothing Wax Kit ($7.80).

I recognize that this is strip wax, which can sometimes disappoint; but I used these ones last night, and in 30 minutes I had found my family-friendly bikini line. The included pre- and post-wax soothing pads helped immensely, preventing pain in the area, and tidying it up afterwards. Added benefit of strip wax - you can do it all in your room, without embarassing re-heating trips to the microwave.

FIRM YOUR DERM. Neutrogena Anti-Cellulite Treatment Retinol Formula ($15.19). Need I say more?

It's no miracle cream--those dimples are not disappearing completely in this lifetime. But most women do notice that cellulite appears much diminished. And when it comes to strutting around the sand in your bikini, a little firming goes a long way.   

Shower Vs. Bath: Which Kind Are You?

I've never been a big bath person. Stewing in my own juices just isn't my idea of the calming affair my pro-bath friends make tub time out to be. And ever since Mr. Bubble made me break out in hives as a kid, I haven't been able to sit still and let the power of the bath take over. I want to read a magazine (which, inevitably, falls in the bathwater) or listen to loud music (thus disrupting that integral bath state of relaxation). Bottom line, it would take some pretty enticing stuff to get me back into a tepid tub. These salts and soaks just might do the trick; they offer skin rejuvenating benefits my standard in-and-out shower just can't match ... but I'll still be listening to that loud music. 

For the global warrior: A far cry from a rambunctious hose-down with Fido, a bath in a tub filled with vonNatur's Sea Kelp and Mineral Detox ($30) is a calming, balancing affair. The certified cruelty-free and vegan line is all about putting you at ease, and skin-softening kelp and Dead Sea salts will help you take things down a notch or two while soothing tired muscles and warding off signs of aging.

 
For the insomniac: Are the million things constantly running through your mind keeping you awake at night? Slip in a soak in Kathleen Lewis's Lavender Bath Salts ($15) before hitting the hay and you'll be sawing logs in no time. The short and pronounceable ingredients list only has five items: epsom salts, sea salts, baking soda, lavender flowers, and lavender essential oils. Isn't it about time something in your life was this uncomplicated?


For the couch potato: Rise and shine, TV watchers! NG Apothecary's Pink Grapefruit and Neroli hydrotherapy soak ($20) is like that first refreshing sip of OJ in the morning. The crisp citrus scent comes from the organic grapefruit, mandarin, sweet orange, and lemon oils, which stimulate circulation and draw out the toxins that may be collecting beneath the skin. Loyal viewers, take note: your more sedentary lifestyle could use a therapeutic boost like this to stave off cellulite and ashiness. 

Fruity Body Lotions Let You Smell Like Summer Two Months Early

Fruit-scented products – particularly those that smell like fruits that are blended into cocktails and consumed poolside – just make everything seem a little brighter. Fruity body lotions, I find, have a particularly positive effect, since I chronically forget to apply moisturizer and tend to be left with scaly hands and cracked elbows. The three lotions below all smell just like their namesakes, encouraging multiple applications and leaving skin dewy and deliciously scented.

After Showering: Paradise Potions Hand and Body Crème in Juicy Margarita ($18) has as light, whipped texture that leaves skin velvety but seeps in quickly so you’re not too sticky to put on your pants.



At Your Desk: philosophy Body Butter in Old Fashioned Lemonade ($25) makes a great hand cream, since it’s extremely thick but not greasy. And it’s lovely to look at – just staring at that brilliant minimalist packaging makes me feel more zen.



Before Bed: Fruits & Passion Body Butter ($22) acts like a layer of skin-softening protection when you first slather it on, and letting this lotion do its moisturizing magic overnight may have more benefits than de-flaked elbows: the company claims the pineapple variety is slimming, too.

Solution: Time To Put Your Feet Through Sandal Season Boot Camp

It's never too early to start prepping your soles for sandal season. Winter can wreak havoc on your heels (and toes, for that matter), drying and cracking the skin on your feet and making them decidedly unready for their springtime debut. Prepare to put your best feet forward come warmer weather with these pedi-pretty tips. Treat yourself to a four-day foot spa regimen, or do the whole shebang in one spa-perfect day.

First, soak your feet in a warm bath with a few drops of tea tree oil ($9) for an antiseptic deep cleaning. Rub a lemon wedge over discolored nails—the natural oxidizing agents in lemon will brighten yellowed nails. Finish up by slathering on a foot cream with alpha hydroxy acid. Eucerin Plus Intensive Foot Repair Cream with AHA ($6) smoothes cracks and polishes rough heels. Let it work its magic overnight and see smoother feet by morning.

Next, get down and dirty by sloughing off dead skin with an exfoliating foot scrub. J.R. Watkins Apothecary Exfoliating Peppermint Foot Scrub ($8) has tiny bits of pumice in it, as well as tingly peppermint oil for a tingly fresh feeling. Put a Soapy Soles Elite pad ($30) in your tub for a massaging, exfoliating foot treatment you can do every time you're in the shower. The ingenious pad features a bristled surface and interchangeable pumice stone and massage disc that you can use without worrying about losing your balance in the slippery shower. Post-exfoliation, treat your feet with a tingly peppermint lotion like Bigelow Mentha Tingling Foot Cream ($14) to keep moisture in.

Finally, it's time for your actual pedicure. Invest in a Tweezerman Pedicure Kit ($15) with callus remover, foot file, clippers, nail file, and scrub brush (don't forget to get between those toes!) Clip and shape your nails post-soak while they're at their most supple, rounding the edges to prevent ingrown toenails. Remove cuticles with Neutra Nail 30-second cuticle remover ($3) and insert toe separators to keep polish where it belongs. Slick on a strengthening base coat, like the best-selling OPI Natural Nail Base Coat ($5), so your polish goes on smooth and lasts longer. Opt for girly, pearlescent pink polish as opposed to the harsh berries you wore in the winter. Lancome's Le Vernis Divine Lasting Color & Shine Nail Lacquer ($18) has one of the easiest-to-operate brushes on the market and comes in three spring-ready shades.

Post-pedi, keep your feet happy by soaking them once a week in True Blue Spa's Footloose & Fancy Fizz Bubbly Bath for Feet ($15), an effervescent pick-me-up for tootsies that energizes and moisturizes.

What are your favorite spring prep pedicure tips? Use the comments section to tell us all about the products and techniques you use to get your feet looking flip flop fab.

And once your toes are worthy to slip into something pretty, check out our Guide to Spring Shoe Trends for some hot new looks.  

Clumpy Mascara And Spoiled Lotion? Time For A Spring Clean

Ah, spring cleaning--that frenetic attempt to reduce your personal inventory. From the sour milk you find in the back of the fridge to the expired medicines that should never be consumed to the no-good dog of a man, spring is the time we finally get around to throwing out things we should have tossed months ago. This year, don't forget to include your cosmetic kit in the mix. After alll, you wouldn't eat old food--and you shouldn't use old make-up. Here's a guide to the expiration dates of common cosmetics--and some tips on how to replace the products you toss. 

Moisturizers
If you've ever slathered years-old lotion onto your skin, you know that moisturizer can go bad. Real bad. Keep your skin cream open too long, and you'll begin dealing with a goopy and rancid substance that smells something like death and wet socks, all in one.

Toss Time: Six months is about the limit here, so check the bottoms of your bottles, and if you see the half-year mark approaching, it’s time to toss your moisturizer.

Replace with: Peace Love Nature Baby botanical face lotion ($46), made with wildcrafted shea butter, safflower oil, sea algae, and extracts from organic and wildcrafted plants and flowers to soothe, is light enough to use even in the humid summer months. The five varieties (for normal skin, dry skin, combination skin, sensitive skin, and super sensitive skin) assure the right moisture for everyone.

Neutrogena Body Lotion ($14.50) is whisper light, absorbs instantly, and leaves your skin room to breathe--all of which make this sesame-oil infused lotion the best pick for right now, as humidity increases but dry skin can still be a problem.

Mascaras
Of all eye make-up, lash lengtheners go the quickest—you’ll notice when they get clumpy, dried-out, and absolutely ineffective.

Toss Time: Six months after opening.

Replace with: Lancome L'Extreme Instant Extensions Mascara ($23.50). I know you've seen the ads. And, yes, they are kind of creepy. They're like, "It's not mascara, it's FIBERSTRETCH." And you're like, "Umm, that doesn't sound like something I want happening to my eyelashes." But misleading marketing aside, this product promises to extend lashes by up to 60%--and it does. The mysterious "fiberstretch formula" and really intense "extreme lash brush" actually weave extensions--yes, like hair extensions--onto your lashes, even the teensy-weensy ones, creating an impressive effect of thickness and length. Get the waterproof version for longest wear in the summertime.

Sunscreens
That SPF 30 from last year has definitely turned into an SPF 4 by now (if that), the experts say. The active ingredients in sunscreen weaken over the winter as they sit in your medicine cabinet, so if you want to prevent sun damage, you must regularly replace this product.

Toss Time: Before the start of each summer.

Replace with: Philosophy Shelter Broad Spectrum Sunscreen for the face and body, SPF 30 ($25). Don't you just love this brand? They don't waste money on marketing, and so can spend it researching truly great products. The broad spectrum of sunscreens in this lotion will help protect your skin against burning from both sun and tanning rays--meanwhile the peptides are improving elasticity, firming skin, and preventing wrinkles and premature aging. 

Foundations
Your more likely to finish your liquid foundation than to have it go bad. But, if you use yours slowly—or your bottles have been exposed to heat or light—it wouldn’t be a bad idea to chuck them this spring. Two tell-tale signs that your foundation has expired: a nasty smell, and a separation of the oils.

Toss Time: Around two years.

Replace with: Calvin Klein Infinite Matte Oil-Free Foundation ($32). This new, medium-coverage foundation will leave your skin flawless and velvety, with a semi-matte finish that's perfect for our upcoming sunny seasons. Natural Asian botanicals, combined with vitamins C and E help to fight free-radical damage.

Toothbrushes
When bristles get bent and broken, they lose their efficacy. Change your toothbrush with each season to make sure your brushing is actually doing the trick.

Toss Time: Maximum of four months of use.

Replace With: Oral B's brand-spankin'-new Cross Action ProHealth ($4.50), with criss-cross bristles for better penetration of hard-to-reach places, soft gum stimulators to improve gum health, and a nifty tongue scraper (eww, I know--but really gets rid of morning breath like nothing else). 

For more information on product expiration dates, and on how to keep your cosmetics safe for as long as possible, check out this page from the FDA. 

Solution: Solidea + Patience = Beach-Ready Booty

It's getting to be that time of year — the time we all must face the music and look at ourselves in dressing room mirrors… wearing swimsuits. For some, it's an event that inspires chills, fits, and fidgets, due in no small part to the mother of all figure flaws, liposclerosis and lypodystrophy, or, in layman's terms, cellulite. We can be rail thin and still feel (and worse, see) the effects of cellulite due to bad eating habits, a sedentary lifestyle, and heredity (thanks, Mom!)

But with a little patience and a kit that promises "magic", we can spare ourselves the costly and painful trip to the lipo clinic. Solidea, the Italian pantyhose manufacturer, is extending its line to include a spa-worthy system of cellulite control. The three step Micromassage Magic set ($110) includes Magic Gel, a special exfoliating glove and one pair of patented micro-massaging Magic Fresh shorts that'll have us ready to bear our beach butts a little more readily.

The process is simple: Start in the shower, massaging problem areas with the natural fiber exfoliating glove, working in a circular motion moving upwards. The glove looks a bit like an industrial scrub brush, but it's a surprisingly gentle way of sloughing away dead skin cells and effectively "waking up" new cells below the skin's surface. This makes skin ripe for absorbing Step 2, the Magic Gel cellulite reduction treatment. The gel, which smells refreshingly spa-like, should be applied post-shower and at least twice a day to speed up visible results.

Finally, give the Magic Gel treatment an extra boost of slimming and cellulite draining power by donning a pair of Magic Fresh panty shorts (you can buy spare pairs for $33, or $41 for maternity sizes). The special wavy weave of the shorts increases circulation in your backside and constantly massages away fatty deposits that make for unsightly dimples. After six to eight weeks, skin feels smoother and looks firmer (read: swimsuit ready), but you've got to be vigilant about maintaining the Solidea regiment. Invest in several pairs of Micromassage Magic panties (they come in pantyhose, capri length and maxi length, too). They're not sexy — it's kind of like wearing a thinner version of a girdle — but the results are worth the potential strain on your social life. It's not often we can beat genetics with spa products, so when we can, we've got to jump at the chance.

Don’t Let Dirty Little Toxins Take Over Your Life

It's a toxic world out there. Especially if you live in a major city like I do.  Just walking to the subway is like a virtual (or actual) breeding ground of germs, pollutants, smog, and all the stress that boils up inside from trying to brave the hectic rush hour. And not to mention the toxins I willingly take into my body in the form of fast foods, sugary snacks, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks - it's a wonder I don't spontaneously combust. Well, before it's too late - for all of us-  SheFinds offers a few products that will help you rid your body and mind of those toxins that fill your life with everything yucky. From your hair down to your toes, learn how to detox, relax, and start from square one.

Ojon Detox Recovery Cleanser ($24) will rid your hair of nasty impurities - yes, your hair holds them too - and keep your locks and scalp feeling cleansed and refreshed. It also leaves a subtle scent of peppermint, rosemary, and sage.

Your face is subject to a barrage of pollutants on a daily basis, so give it the star detox treatment with MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel ($75). In two steps, your skin will begin to feel cleaner and more beautiful thanks to a blend of hard working Hydroxy acids and soothing plant extracts.

Take care of your lips with the Peter Thomas Roth Lips To Die For Lip Facial Trio ($60), which includes a Lemon Sugar Scrub, Super Smooth Lip Putty, and Pink Bombshell Lip Balm.

Drink your way to a healthy new you with Boots Feel the Difference Detox 5 Day Plan ($20). Unlike those bogus body flushes (um, cayenne pepper and maple syrup? no thanks) Boots comes in yummy strawberry and is sure to get your body back on track.

Your shower is the perfect place to relax, unwind, and of course, detox. So treat yourself to NG Spa Pink Grapefruit & Neroli Bamboo Salt Glow ($26) to exfoliate before you get in the tub. Then lather up with DHC Charcoal Shower Gel ($12.50)  - the charcoal actually sucks up unwanted toxins on the spot. For bath aficionados, try the Ina Crystals White Gold Detoxifying Crystal Salt Set ($85) and wave those impurities goodbye.

Okay, this might seem bizarre, but apparently your feet hold the key to the ultimate detoxification of your entire body. Gaiam's Body Purifying Footpads ($24) claim to suck out all the nasty toxins and impurities from your body when placed on the soles of your feet for eight hours when you sleep. They're all the rage in Japan, so it might be worth a try.

For more ways to help you get pure, and de-stress in the process, check out our SheFinds Detox Guide.

SheFinds Asks: Are Religious B&B Products Totally Tasteless or Just Tacky?

Awhile back, we asked you if racy cosmetics names got you all hot and bothered —or totally turned you off. Half of you said you're more likely to be attracted to products with sexy monikers, and half said you like to keep things PG, thank you very much.

Now cosmetics with religion-centric themes are under fire, as Singapore has banned sales of the Looking Good for Jesus line of bath and body products. Beauty loot with names like "Get Tight With Christ" lotion and packaging that boasts slogans like "Get His Attention" and "Redeem Your Reputation...And More!" have Catholics crying blasphemy, so products have been yanked from Singaporean shelves indefinitely. Representatives trying to get the products pulled cited disrespectful marketing, inappropriate sexual innuendo and trivialization of Christianity as tics in the line's minus column. Check out our review of the product when it first launched.

3D, the company that markets the line, has a stable of kitschy bath and body booty. No word on how Singapore feels about their Virgin/Slut soap duo ($8), Wash Away Your Sins towelettes ($6), Total Bitch body wash ($12) or Dirty Girl One Night Stand gift kit ($6), which includes everything a gal could need for a quickie—plus a tiny journal for keeping track of all those illicit affairs.

A good chunk of 3D's line falls into the good old "tasteless at best" category, but let's be honest: sometimes those tacky, overdesigned tchotchkes with a purpose make the best gifts. So what do you think? Is Singapore right to put the smackdown on products that don't live up to a certain moral code, or are they being too touchy? Sound off in the comments section and take our poll below.