Fall Beauty Haul!

Haute Couture Beauty goes the way of art & fashion with these picks for flawless skin. The perfect canvas for your fall look starts with proper exfoliation and moisturizing! PHOTO Dr. M's Coco-Rose Microdermabrasion Soap with Coconut & Rose Oils in a glycerine base.

This Fall Beauty Haul includes skin care products for your entire body such as Lisa Hoffman's Moisture Masque, Dr. Miczak's Coco Rose Microdermabrasion Soap and Coco Rose Lip Treatment Balm as home spa treats. Once you begin to realize that skincare doesn't stop at the neck, you'll be anxious to wear those lovely strapless dresses again. Did someone say, "Christmas Ball"?

It takes a bit of effort but the results are incredible with a few key products I've come to rely on.

Exfoliation:

NEW!!!! Dr. Miczak's Coco Rose Microdermabrasion Soap
I use my own Original Microdermabrasion Soap Line and just come out with two NEW products for fall. It's my Coco-Rose Microdermarasion Soap with exfoliating crystals set in a base of 100% Organic, Virgin Coconut and Rose Oil. Rich and highly emollient, it removes even the heaviest makeup, leaving your skin soft, polished and smooth. Use it everywhere you want to see fresher, younger looking skin.

Seal in Moisture:

NEW!!! Dr. Miczak's Coco-Rose Lip Treatment Balm
To go with my new Coco-Rose Soap, here's my signature Coco-Rose Lip Balm using high amounts of coconut & rose oils in natural beeswax. This balm is paraben free and can be used on lips, laugh lines and the eye area. After exfoliation, protecting your newly emerged skin cells is so important to keep them plump and fresh. The little pot container allows you to take your treatment wherever you go for smoothing applications during the day.



Nourish:

Lisa Hoffman's Vitamin A & C Serum
A very small amount of this product goes a LONG way. Antioxidants are integral to keeping free radical damage at bay, however they are destroyed by sunlight.

Tip #1: Apply your Vitamin A & C Serums and antioxidant products at night before going to bed. This way it will have a chance to reverse damage from the sun you've sustained during the day.

Tip #2: Do you skin a favor from the inside out by including salmon, avocados, spinach, blueberries, coconut milk and raw nuts in your daily diet. These foods will get your whole body in sync glowing, healthy skin from head to toe. Remember to get your 8 glasses of H20 too!



Renew:

Lisa Hoffman's Spa Moisture Masque
This product is loaded with marine botanicals, kaolin and natural ingredients to moisturize and brighten your skin with only one treatment. Another product that does not require a heavy application. Apply the liquidy pink masque to your skin and wait 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water and you'll see a brighter, more even tone after just application.

All of these products will give your skin an almost immediate lift in color, firmness and clarity. When used long term, they bring about faster skin cell turnover similar to what we had in our 20's. You don't have to spend a lot but you'll need to spend something on your skin's upkeep. My advice is not to skimp on this beauty basics. Order Dr. Miczak's Skincare Line products by clicking on the Microdermabrasion Soap banner ad to your right!

Goodies from Lisa Hoffman Spa, Erno Lazlo, Salvator Ferragamo, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Tote by Este Lauder & Vegas Pouches from Stephanie Johnson!

Birthday Alternatives

These scrumptious Red Velvet Chocolate Cupcakes are perfect for any occasion where a traditional layer cake would be welcome! Get the recipe for these goodies at GaveThat.

With my birthday quickly approaching this week, I began to muse over alternatives to the huge
layer cakes and even ice cream cakes I've had in the past. I even belong to the Baskin-Robbins Birthday Club, so that's how much cake has played a role in our celebrations!

Here I am with last year with my 80 lb birthday cake. I lift weights but thing was even giving ME trouble. Just a LITTLE too much really! What you shouldn't do is get stuck making and cooking an elaborate meal (and cake) while neglecting a chance to enjoy YOUR day. Yes, for once it is all about you and there's nothing fun about cooking and cleaning up for your own birthday. Here are some other fresh alternatives for your special day:

A Picnic in the Park "Frenchie Style"

Buy one large French baguette or loaf of French bread. Add Mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sliced turkey breast. Slice into serving sections and wrap in foil. Throw it in a blanket and pack a bottle of your favorite wine. Voila! A celebration "al fresco" with NO cleanup.


Accept an Invitation

If people know it's your birthday or another special occasion, accept any invitations for them to host a little get together for you. It can be at a friend or family member's home or where ever! You get to be surprised by the menu and arrangements while being waited on. This takes some advance planning though so let others know this is what you'd like if they ask what you want for your birthday.


Take Off on Your Own

If you've not had much down time and the first two ideas aren't in the plans, you may have to go it alone. Go see that museum exhibit, play or concert you've been aching to catch all year. You might just have to fly solo but don't let that stop you. We are somehow programmed to think that spending our birthday alone makes us some kind of social failure. Not true. Sometimes there just won't be others who share your passion to join in. That should NOT make you miss out on participating in something you'd really like to do on your special day.

ITNY 25th Anniversary Gala Honors Dorothy Hamill

The Ice Theatre of New York will host their 25th Anniversary Gala honoring Olympic Gold Medalist, Dorothy Hamill on Monday, October 25th, 2010. Known as the innovator of the "Hamill Camel" Dorothy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and remains a strong inspiration for all cancer survivors.

Come celebrate her life and achievements at this festive show and reception! The event will feature a special ITNY skating performance at the Sky Rink on Chelsea Piers, (curtain goes up at 7 pm), followed by a cocktail reception and dinner at the Lighthouse Restaurant. Dick Button, Paul Wylie & Vera Wang! Details and tickets, visit The Ice Theatre of New York's Gala Invitation

A Peanut Free Lunch

PHOTO: Sunbutter Sunflower Seed Spread in Natural Crunch on a slice of Arnold Oatnut, whole grain bread. A delicious alternative to peanut butter.

Ah, the summer is all but over and it's time to come up with some ideas for that brown bag. Whether you are commuting to work, working out or packing lunch for someone special, here's a NEW twist on an old favorite. Sunflower Seed Butter!

Many children, (and adults), these days have peanut allergies. Children often swap sandwiches at lunchtime for something they would prefer. I would be horrified to think that my child traded her PB & J to a child who shouldn't have it! However, this peanut butter alternative is SO delicious, I guarantee your little one will keep it all for himself.

I'm talking about Sunbutter. One taste of this scrumptious Sunflower Seed Spread and you'll wonder what you ever saw in "Skimpy" Peanut Butter! Sunbutter is all natural with no hydrogenated fats, (aka Crisco). They offer 5 styles Natural & Natural Omega with Creamy, Natural Crunch & Organic featured here in the photo. Specially selected sunflower seeds are roasted and ground to a consistency which will replace peanut butter in any recipe. Hello peanut butter cookies!

Better still is the fact that Sunbutter is made in the USA in a peanut free - nut tree free manufacturing facility. This is important because even residual amounts of nut oils can cause severe reactions for people who are allergic to them. Do yourself a favor and check out this nutritiously dense, high protein seed spread. You may never want to go back to peanut butter after you do! Find it locally at Wegman's and I believe most Whole Food Stores carry Sunbutter as well but you can visit them online for more recipes and ideas.

REMEMBER! The X - Training BLOG is doing a Polar Bottle - Eat Clean Diet Cookbook Give-Away so click this link and enter before Midnight, October 14th 2010!

Back to School Cool Skincare

These are the essentials that nearly every high school or college student needs! Going back to school doesn't mean having to bring acne along too. With this little "care backpack", you can face the new term with ultimate confidence. Here's our Teacher's List:


NEW!!! Polar Bottle's Half Twist Stainless Steel Water Bottle
We all know how important proper hydration is to beautiful skin. Water helps remove toxins that can show up as breakouts and rough skin. The best hydration begins within and these new Half Twist Stainless Steel bottles from Polar Bottle are just the thing! Since these are made of stainless steel, you can go beyond water and pack along your favorite green tea or smoothie. Either way, every drink adds to your water quota of the day which should be between 6-8 cups.
Right now the X-Training BLOG is doing a FREE Give-Away of a Thermal Polar Bottle & The Eat Clean Cookbook by Tosca Reno so click this link to enter!


NEW!!! BLUE Clarisonic Mia Ultrasonic Skincare Brush
Portable, blue and ready to go! The New Ice Blue Clarisonic Mia is the perfect gift for your favorite co-ed. Small but mighty, it offers the same benefits as its big brother, the Clarisonic Plus. Using ultrasonic technology, the Clarisonic Mia effectively removes, oil, dirt and makeup 6x more effectively than manual washing. The gentle exfoliation is perfect for acne prone skin, keeping it clearer and smoother. Better still, it does all of this in 1 minute! The smaller size also makes it easy to pack to take the school showers or dorm bathrooms. This allows the immediate removal of sweat and toxins after gym class which would usually get sucked back into the skin.


Retin-A (Trentinoin) Micro Pump - REBATE!
Retin-A is only available by prescription but has a 30+ year track record for its effectiveness in dealing with acne, fine lines and wrinkles. A new innovation in the Retin-A line is the Micro Pump. The pump allows for a metered amount to be dispensed so there is no guessing and less waste. The new microsphere delivery system means that the product is gradually released into the skin, not all in one shot as with the regular gel. The Micro Gel is in fact more of a creamy consistency and not irritating or drying. Worth taking a trip to the doctor's office! Even better is the above offer for up to a $50 rebate on your purchase of Retin-A Micro Pump, (0.04% and 0.1%)

NEW!!! Coconut Microdermabrasion Crystals Soap
One of the problems many us face with the fall is the dryer air + dryer skin = flakiness. I developed this new Coconut Oil Microdermabrasion Soap primarily for the newly discovered health benefits of this plant oil but found it to be very moisturizing! Highly emollient and rich, it is perfect for dry skin. Can be used on the face or body and removes mascara and makeup like a dream. The spa grade Microdermabrasion crystals in the "bumpy face" of this new soap gently remove dead skin cells revealing fresher, plumper, healthier ones underneath. It really is an all in one skin treatment bar for face and body that you will not want to do without. See all of my 4.5 oz full sized Microdermabrasion Soaps in Original Blue, Rose, Seaweed and now Coconut.

Eating healthy is also very important to beautiful skin so make sure to include a few of these beauty foods in your diet every day:

• Avocado

• Shrimp

• Kale

• Salmon

• Wheat Germ

• Yams

Eat Clean Cookbook & Polar Bottle Give-Away!

End of Summer Give-Away! Celebrate early fall deliciously with The X-Training BLOG's Clean & Green Give-Away! 1 US Winner will get:

• A New Copy of Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Cookbook with over 150 Recipes!
• A Thermal Polar Bottle, (BPA & Phthalate free), in Rave, pictured laying down in the photo above!

To Enter: Simply send an email to drmiczak@yahoo.com with Clean & Green Give-Away in the subject line. One US Winner will be chosen on October 25th, 2010 so enter now! Check out the X-Training BLOG for some fantastic "green" drink ideas for a healthy start to the fall.