Because You're Worth It!: Guerlain Spa at The Waldorf-Astoria

There actually is one other thing- aside from lounging- that I'd love to be doing this weekend and it's relaxing at the Guerlain Spa at The Waldorf-Astoria! After browsing the spa menu, I'm making plans to treat myself to the Sublime Deluxe treatment- which has to be nothing less then heaven on earth! Check it out and let me know if you agree...

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Mischo Beauty Loves Village Tea Company's Duo Oolong Ginger Orange & Ginseng Tea

I am so looking forward to the weekend! And guess what's on my agenda? Nothing- not one thing. I'm planning to lounge, lounge and lounge some more with a nice cup of Village Tea Company's Duo Oolong Ginger Orange & Ginseng tea. Now what I love about this tea, aside from it's amazing flavor, is that you're able to customize it.

You see it comes with a muslin bag of the Ginger Orange and another muslin bag of the Ginseng. This allows you to experiment with brewing your very own personalized cup- and what's more perfect than that! Love it. So what are your plans for the weekend?

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Loves Adora Fiji Soaps

I must admit that I really only use bar soaps to shower/bathe with if I'm exfoliating. But recently, I was given the opportunity to try a collection of handmade soaps by Adora Fiji and they've made life so much sweeter! My favorite from the collection would be the Massage Soaps, shaped with nubs (pictured above) that improve circulation and muscle tone.

The first four ingredients included in each bar are Fiji coconut oil, coconut oil, palm oil, and safflower oil- and we all know these nourishing oils work to moisturize and protect dry/dehydrated skin. This is just what my skin needs as I prepare to show it off during the warm spring/summer months! The entire collection is available at www.adorafiji.com.

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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What are your "hair plans" for the summer?

With summer quickly approaching (of course, not fast enough), I'd love to know what your plans are for your hair! Are you planning to cut, color or add extensions? Will you be wearing it curly or rocking a "no-fuss" style (if so, tell us what it is!). Whatever your plans might be, please share!

My new beauty editor, Ayanna, recently colored her hair (inspired by Queen Latifah's haircolor in the new CoverGirl Queen Collection ads! Click to see the before and after (click on her profile pic)!

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Mischo Beautyliciousness...

If you browse the Mischo Beauty archives, then you know we're huge Tracee Ellis Ross fans- yes, we've been blogging about her since just about day 1! When I saw this photo of her with the fabulous red coat, ring and her signature nude heels, I had to share. But really, it's all about her curls- always healthy, effortless and oh so very chic!

Don't you agree?!

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Burt's Bees Natural Toothpaste

If preserving and celebrating the essence of nature is important to you, you know it's just as important to protect and naturally care for the beauty of your body. Burt's Bees implements this concept in ways that are not only safe for us and the environment, but also feel good!

Of the products at www.burtsbees.com, my new favorite is, well, something that is all natural, goes in your mouth, and tastes like peppermint oil & cranberry. Can you guess? Toothpaste! Burt's Bees' new all natural toothpaste tastes like an organic pastry and feels like the squeaky clean finish of your last dental visit.

The cranberry extract is a natural plaque-fighting agent and the peppermint freshens. Silica, a form of sand or quartz, is the natural whitener. The line includes a variety formulated for your family: Multicare, Whitening, and Kids. Customize your Burt's Bees all natural experience at www.findyourburt.com. Enjoy and be well. -Ayanna Shamese

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Loves Balenciaga Paris

Balenciaga's newest fragrance, Balenciaga Paris, is quickly becoming my signature scent this spring! The fragrance's top note is best described as a "bouquet of violets" combined with underlying woodsy, peppery notes- which surprisingly I love! The chic bottle design also makes this a welcomed addition to my vanity - easily my new go-to fragrance!

What's your signature scent for spring?

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty: SensiClear Acne Treatment System

It's unofficially been "Healthy Skincare Week" on Mischo Beauty this week and I'm blaming it on the amazing advanced skin care class I took last week. I'm still so excited about all that I learned and plan to continue sharing it with you! And so for those of you with an acneic skin type (I haven't forgotten about you!) your key concern is making sure that you're using products that will kill the bacteria causing your breakouts. One key ingredient to look for is salicylic acid.

SensiClear recently released a 4-step kit to address acneic skin. Supposedly, you'll start to see results in 72 hours, but I'm not able to co-sign because I don't have an acneic skin type. I do love that the key ingredient in three of the products is salicylic acid, in addition to the fact that the steps for use are easy to follow. The kit includes:

- Purifying Cleanser
- Balancing Toner
- Acne Treatment Lotion
- Acne Spot Treatment Cream

My best advice is to include these products in a serious at-home skincare regimen in order to see the best results! If you're using or have used this kit, please share your experiences.

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Pick: Burt's Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser & Day Creme

So if you're a frequent visitor to my blog, you know how passionate I am about sharing everything I've learned about haircare and skincare (my passions!). I mean, the ultimate goal is to have healthy hair and skin, right? And so I'm still so excited about the advanced skin care class I told you all about yesterday, that when I started to examine Burt's Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser and Day Creme I immediately applied what I'd learned.

But, from a consumer point of view, you're probably wondering what the products' target skin type might be. There's nothing on the label to indicate a specific skin type, but after reading the product description (which included "gentle", "cell turnover" and "brighter and younger-looking") and the ingredient list (Royal Jelly, Jojoba Beads and Fruit Acid Complex) it's apparent these would be great for normal, dry and possibly sensitive skin types. And if you're trying to correct skin conditions such as dehydration, premature aging or any skin sensitivities, then you need to add these to your list of products to check out!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Pick: H2PRO Presto 1 1/4" Turbo Flat Iron

It's been a while since I've reviewed a flat iron and so when I received the new H2PRO Presto 1 1/4 Turbo to test, I knew I had to tell you all about it! The two most important features you should know about are- you can easily adjust it's temperature dial (between 140F - 450F), so it works for all hair types/textures without the fear of burning/damaging your hair.

And secondly, it's ceramic plates were designed with the "Nano Hi-Tech" technology, so the iron should easily glide through each section of your hair infusing shine and eliminating frizz. It did all this for my type 4 hair and more!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Zoya's Flash & Sparkle Summer 2010 Nail Polish Collections

How HOT is Zoya's new collection for summer 2010? Seriously, I thought there was no topping last summer's collection of sexy cream and metallic shades, but clearly I was wrong! This new collection again includes six metallics (top row, left to right):

- Ivanka (mermaid green)
- Charla (tropical blue)
- Mimi (royal purple)
- Alegra (fuchsia pink)
- Nidhi (rich red)
- Gilda (fashion pink)

Six new cream shades:

- Robyn (perfect turquoise)
- Perrie (soft lavender)
- Dana (american rose)
- Jolene (summer pink)
- Maura (electric crimson)
- Jancyn (soft tangerine)

And since we're celebrating Earth Month (but, we really celebrate Earth Day everyday, right!), please know that Zoya Nail Polish is free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP & camphor, and is vegan friendly.

So I must know your picks- do tell!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty: Ole Henriksen's Dry/Sensitive Skin Starter Kit

I love investing in myself! My focus last week (please accept my apologies for the unexpected blogging vacation!) was on a class I was taking at the International Dermal Institute called "International Skin Care Techniques". The class focus was on analyzing various skin types/conditions and then designing customized treatments. There was tons of theory to learn and of course, my favorite part, practical application techniques and routines to master! The class was amazing and the instructor was PHENOMENAL!

And so with that said, those of you with a dry and or sensitive skin type should check out Ole Henriksen's Dry/Sensitive Skin Starter Kit. As I've said many times before, the most important step in a successful skincare regimen is knowing your skin type and then using products specifically formulated to treat it! I love this kit because it includes:

- Apricot Cleansing Lotion
- Balancing Cucumber Tonic
- Skin Insulator SPF 15
- Nurture Me
- Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask
- New Beginning Scrub

So you see, you have everything you need to get started and be consistent with your skincare regimen- AND you have all the products you need to begin treating yourself to mini-facials at home. Don't you love it?!

Also, the winner of the Motions Hair Care Giveaway is:

- danabrown18

Please email me your mailing address. Thanks to everyone for entering!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty School: Skin Analysis 101

I've said this before and I'll probably say it a million more times, but I can't begin to name all the reasons why you should incorporate facials into your beauty routine! Not only are facials relaxing and pampering, but they are crucial to maintaining the health of your skin. In my opinion, and as a licensed esthetician, one of the most important steps in a facial treatment is the skin analysis.

An esthetician can't properly treat you unless they know the following:

1. Skin type
2. Skin conditions present
3. Skin texture

The esthetician should use a magnifying lamp/light during the skin analysis in order to properly see/feel your skin and perform detailed work. A proper skin analysis will help the esthetician know what products and services should be performed and which are contraindicated. A contraindication is a factor or reason that makes it inadvisable to proceed with a treatment. They include certain medications, contagious diseases, skin disorders, medical conditions and skin irritation.

At the end of your facial service you should leave knowing what your skin conditions are and what you should use to improve your skin's health. You should now be knowledgeable enough to know how to properly select products for your skin type/issues.

Any questions? Love your skin.

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Mischo Beauty Alert: AJ Crimson Welcomes Author & Founder of Hair Rules, Dickey at Cure Beauty Bar

I've been a fan of AJ Crimson for a while now- even before he launched Kissable Couture! I had the opportunity to see him at a Celebrity Makeup Symposium a few years ago in DC - and I was so impressed and inspired! And so based on my past experiences, I know this is one event you won't want to miss! And, Dickey- well I'm dying to meet him and have him do my hair! LOL. The event details are listed above, and if you decide to attend please let us know how it was!

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Mischo Beauty: Motions Hair Care Giveaway!

I love, love, love the reinvented Motions brand! The packaging has been revamped, the website redesigned and they've even brought celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen (Rihanna's hairstylist) on board. I'm excited, because if you knew me back in the day (well after undergrad), the only hair products I used were Motions. And in my opinion, the Moisture Plus Conditioner is definitely the brand's "hero product"!

So to celebrate the new and improved Motions, I'm hosting a giveaway! Here's what you can win:

- Motions Weightless Detangling Conditioner
- Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion
- Motions Oil Sheen & Conditioning Spray

To enter, simply join my Facebook fan page (let me know that you did!) AND leave a comment letting me know what celebrity you'd love to see as a spokesperson for the brand. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, and the winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday, April 12th.

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty: H2O Plus Sea Pure Collection

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of H20 products. And, in continuing to encourage you to make Earth Day- every day, you should know that H20's Sea Pure collection is 100% vegan and biodegradable. And because I love to spa (especially when I can do it at home for a fraction of the cost!) - I'm recommending you check out the Purifying Body Mud. The first time I used this body mask, I was sold. My skin loved it!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty School: Facials 101

I consider facials my "essential beauty product" because not only are facials relaxing and pampering, but they are crucial to maintaining the health of your skin. For those of you who've never had a facial, it's a service performed by an esthetician and usually consists of a professional deep cleansing, steam treatment, exfoliation, extractions, massage, mask, moisturizer and possibly other products and treatments.

Not only will facials improve and revive your skin, but they also help maintain the skin's health. You should definitely consider incorporating facials into your beauty regimen! If I haven't convinced you yet- here are a few of the many other benefits:

1. SLOWS DOWN PREMATURE AGING
2. Professional Deep Cleansing, Steam Treatment, Exfoliation, Extractions, Massage & Mask
3. Relaxing/Pampering
4. Increases Circulation & Detoxifies
5. Professional Skin Analysis, Product Recommendation & Custom Home Skincare Regimen
6. Stimulates Skin Renewal & Metabolism
7. Corrects/Alleviates Dryness, Oiliness & Redness
8. Softens Wrinkles & Aging Lines
9. Helps Clear Up Blemishes & Minor Acne
10. SLOWS DOWN PREMATURE AGING

Questions? Anyone had a fabulous facial lately? Love your skin.

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Mischo Beautyliciousness...

It's no secret that I'm a huge Nia Long fan! So my question for you today is- are we all in agreement that Nia doesn't age!?! Seriously! She was recently photographed at the 3rd annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon, and I can't believe she'll be 40 in October. Either she has great genes, or she has the best skincare/haircare/health regimen.

Which do you think it is?

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