back from vacation...

...and before I know it, I am back. Vieques was amazing and highly recommended for those who love to lounge at isolated beaches (above). I always have a great time whenever I travel to Puerto Rico. I stayed at a wonderful apartment on the water with my sister and her friends. I always pack light for the Caribbean, one carry on bag. All you need is a bikini, hat, book and large scarf. Oh and a dress for the plane. My bag and dress (pictured above) are from my friend Mona's beach line Float. She is kind enough to offer all Flawless Beauty readers a 20% discount on all orders through June 30th. Enter flawbeau08 in the discount code box. Click here to see the collection.
While on vacation, my sister and I explored the local fruit stands and discovered the amazing properties of fresh papaya! Papaya is a great natural exfoliant for the skin and very healthy for the body so eat half then make a mask with the rest. The enzymes in a papaya soften and heal by fighting free-radical damage while dissolving dead cells from the skins surface. Similar to pineapple. Just mash, apply directly to skin and leave on for 15 minutes or so then rinse.

Another thing Vieques had a lot of...mosquitoes (yuk). Tea Tree Oil is a great natural mosquito bite soother. I feel like it is a decent insect repellent as well. I always travel with a small bottle when going somewhere humid. Available at most beauty or health food stores.

guest blogger Amanda Martin...

Guest blogger Amanda Martin is co-contributer to 110 Sullivan. She is also better known to some as mother of the adorable Luna from Luna is My Dog (a must-read for pet lovers everywhere!).

Dear Flawless Beauty,
I know that you're, like, totally obsessed with facials, products AND celebrities. It's ok, you don't have to hide it anymore, I am too. Sometimes, I just need to know what Jessica Simpson wore to her birthday party and what size Ashley Olsen's coffee was today! Then I was thinking, how great would it be if someone blogged on Flawless Beauty not just about an amazing spa experience, but the celebrity action involved too!?

Thanks to my lovely Fiance, I was treated to my choice of spa treatment at the infamous Christine Chin Spa in the Lower East Side, which, I quickly discovered is the celebrity spa of choice. As soon as I walked in the waiting room I noticed on the coffee table there were portfolios of celebrity headshots. Three books worth of signed messages, including "thank yous," "I love yous" and "your a savour." Kate Moss, Padma Lakshmi, Carmen Kass, Karolina Kurkova, Eva Longoria, etc etc etc! Little ole' me has an appointment in the same secret beauty lair as Kate Moss?!

Upon arriving, I was greeted by Miss "Mean" Christine - a nickname given by a Vogue editor when Christine left not one pore uncleaned. Her Yorkie BeeBee was with her as well as her army of estheticians.The newly updated spa (moved from a smaller space on Rivington Street to Orchard Street below Delancy) was executed beautifully. I appreciated that it was not just about form, but about function. The waiting area was clean and relaxing. The lighting was dim except for underneath the cabinets where there were a mix of fabulous facial ingredients.The rooms were spotless and had a private bathroom in each.

For my treatment I chose microdermabrasion, something I have never had done before. Afterwards, I was given a green tea calming mask to soothe my skin and I am happy to report no peeling, redness, or any other bothersome side effects. I'm enjoying the softness of my newly discovered skin. Christine Chin's products give the results I need in the scents I like, only that of cleanliness. I was willing to purchase some after the treatment. I left with her signature Nourishing Toner (pictured above), I've used it everyday since and still love it! Overall the pricing was about right for the quality, service and location. I would return again for my next treatment.

My only disappointment of the day was not running into any of the aforementioned celebrities in her small waiting room. Next time I hope...

I also hope all of you can try Christine Chin and please report back to any sightings! Oh and service recommendations too!

XOXO,

Amanda "soon-to-be-Jemanda-officially" Martin

relax with Lulu...

Looking for an amazing facial? Expert skincare advice? I highly recommend LuLu at Scientifica. The space is private and calming. The experience uninterrupted. Lulu will make you feel instantly comfortable. She then works with you to develop a skincare plan, learning about your lifestyle and explains how it coincides with the glow and clearness of your skin. She developed and uses Scientifica products, my favorite is the Hydra-Pure toner, which contains properties that help skin resist water evaporation. For appointments or to order products click here.

leave skin glowing...

Ren makes a lot of amazing products that leave one with healthy and radiant skin. Surprisingly, I first discovered Ren products while staying in a hotel that was fully stocked with this wonderful brand. I was instantly hooked and have been ever since! My latest favorite from Ren is the Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask. A gentle fruit acid complex leaves you with exfoliated glowing skin in optimal health. Not suitable for very sensitive skin. Available at Renskincare.com.

get face-mask fabulous...

I love this I Am Plant Oatmeal Face Mask from Nature Girl. Perfect for normal to dry skin. It feels great on the face and left my skin soft and hydrated to the touch. The nutrient-rich exfoliating mask is made with nourishing oatmeal, wildcrafted ginseng extract to give the skin a boost, oils of jojoba seed, sweet almond and sesame seed and organic damascena rose water. If you are unfamiliar with Nature Girl, they have great products using ingredients that are all natural and organically grown. They have fun packaging in bold colors and donate a percentage of their sales to projects that benefit and improve the lives of women and the environment.

spa day in Miami at Agua...

Pool which is amazing and only available to guests of the hotel.

Interior of spa (although I don't remember it being quite so luxe & spacious.)

I went to Miami last weekend with some friends for a relaxing getaway of warm sun, good food and a spa day! I have been eagerly waiting to try the spa at The Standard in South Beach but they were booked, so my friends and I ended up at the Agua spa at The Delano in South Beach. The Delano, also known as "heaven on earth" aims to please and I can't say I have any complaints.

View from roof deck.

My friends opted for massages that they were very happy with and I received a 60 minute basic facial. My friend Susan booked the appointment so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised when the esthetician informed me that I would be receiving the signature organic facial. At Agua spa they only use organic product lines for the facials and do not preform any "skin-irritating" procedures. The whole experience is about soothing and relaxing the skin and body. The facial consisted of a good skin cleansing, a fruit peel and a mask or two. I was left to relax, then urged to apply sunscreen.
The spa is located on the top floor of the hotel so they have a private sun deck that we were welcome to lounge on. The Delano is always a must for the ultimate South Beach experience day or night, the convenient spa with organic product definitely adds to the "heaven on earth" appeal.

Fresh faced and pleased post facial.

Roof deck lounge space.

time for a mask...

I love this very affordable organic strawberry yogurt face mask, it hydrates and brightens the face while gently exfoliating the skin with natural fruit and lactic acids. This mask is a good option for people with sensitive skin because it exfoliates so gently. What I love is how hydrated my skin feels afterwards, I don't feel like I need to apply any moisturizer.

To do: Apply any organic ( face strawberry yogurt such as Stoneyfield Farms or Brown Cow) over your face and neck area, let sit for 15-30 minutes, remove with warm towel then rinse throughly. Amazing soft hydrated skin!