Exfoliating dead skin cells allows optimization of the effects of a body moisturizer. A body wrap can help bring the body back into balance. Try one of the bath rituals offered at La Bella Day Spa in Albuquerque. The baths are not only relaxing, but have therapeutic benefits. Dawn Davide, owner of La Bella, suggests clients come 30 minutes prior to the treatments to use the steam and sauna and soak in the Sea Water Baths. Sea water contains mineral trace elements that detoxify, replenish, and hydrate the organs. These treatments are absorbed into the skin and go directly into the bloodstream.

Keeping skin moisturized in the high desert is no small feat. We asked Kathy Garza, skin specialist at the Mark Pardo Salon on Coors Road in Albuquerque for some direction. “Every season, skin needs a resurfacing. We live in the desert. We need to slough off dead skin weekly. Imagine the smooth healthy layers you have beneath the skin. Having a facial twice a month can help to create a cleaner, more healthy look.”

According to Kathy, minerals are everything when it comes to skin care. Tourmaline infuses energy. Malachite gives the skin a glow and helps to fill fine lines. Aveda’s technology is very futuristic. The tourmaline crystal infuses energy that creates an “alive” feeling for the skin. Aveda has a tourmaline line that includes cleaners, masks, moisturizers, and eye cream. Pardo’s resurfacing facial involves manual techniques on the face. The tourmaline crystal sits on the skin, dries, and rinses away dead skin cells for a healthier, glowing look.

Aveda’s Caribbean Therapy Body Moisturizer and its Replenishing Moisturizer are also treatments for keeping bodies smooth and satiny. The Caribbean body cream is enriched with mango and cocoa butter and has a warm, island fragrance. The Re plenishing Body Moisturizer restores dry skin with a moisture-binding blend of vitamins, natural humectants, and oils.

For fashion makeup, berry tones are making a comeback. From deep blackberry to bright raspberry, these colors provide interest and pop to complement most any complexion. For women who enjoy natural makeup products, New Mexico WOMAN consulted Burt’s Bees representative Gabrielle Prohn. Besides continuing its soothing mint-flavored Beeswax Lip Balm (an essential for most any woman), four new glosses are coming out for spring—Nectar Nude, Sweet Pink, Pucker Berry, and Zesty Red—and all are 100 percent natural. The gloss is different from the subtle but beautiful colors of Burt’s marvelous Lip Shimmer. The new gloss is not opaque in color, but translucent. All of the elements that are in the lip balm are included, such as sunflower seed oil. The flavor of the gloss includes a citrus oil blend.

Aveda also has for spring a new lip glaze that follows the trend of rich looking berries and plums. This new color, called Rubisparks, is also translucent and has an interesting peppermint/ginger flavor that is certified organic. The gloss is made from ripe berry antioxidants and the moisturizing ingredients are plant-derived. The angled tip brush makes application easy and the tube is made from recycled materials.

Aveda’s new Petal Essence eye color collection features soft plum colors such as Moon, Dahlia, and Spark. The shadows are flower wax-infused and soft to the touch, very silky and crease resistant. They are talc and mineral oil free, and ophthalmologist tested.

For job interviews and other business occasions, it is always good to stay with neutrals. Liquid eyeliner smoothly and lightly applied in black, brown, or grey is always appropriate, followed with a matching pencil to subtly line the lower lid. Eye shadow should also be soft—in soft browns or greys. Lip colors look their best in delicate mauves, soft browns, or muted berry.

After receiving that hand and foot massage, it is time to repaint. Fashion experts are seeing colors like raspberry and fuschia in mani-pedi colors. Although it is still too early to invest in sandals, the time will be coming soon, so we’ll want to make sure our feet are in tip-top condition.

Berry tones work well with most skin types and can be found in a range of colors. Fair skin looks wonderful in frosted berries. Medium to dark skin can go with more dramatic blackberry, grape, and raspberry. Clean, refreshed, well moisturized skin is always in style. So, whatever your perfect berry color may be—have a berry wonderful spring!

For More Information:
La Bella Day Spa (505) 899-5557
Mark Pardo Salon (505) 298-2983
Burt’s Bees can be found in a variety of shops, health food, and drug stores, or visit www.burtsbees.com.