Desert Beauty

Arizona is hot, and dry, yet beautiful and alluring. A favorite story of mine takes place in Arizona. Jerry Spenelli’s “Star Girl” is a tale of a young girl with so much magic and love to share with those of whom have lost their own. What I love about this story is that it taught me that being different is a gift. I don’t need to be like everyone else especially if it means blending in and losing my own identity. Star Girl also taught me that while I may experience setbacks and feelings of defeat, that I should never give up.

Wait a minute, this is not a book report and my intentions are not to bore you, but to share with you a beautiful story and the wonders of beauty in Arizona.

Cactus, clay, and sunshine. That’s what I always find whenever I’m visiting the “Grand Canyon State”. I’ve got friends who live here so I drive over from Cali whenever I get the chance. But every time I’m here my skin and hair get so dry! It seems as if I put layers of moisturizer and sunscreen multiple times a day. How do the desert dwellers survive the dryness and the heat? I wanted to find out so not only did I make an appointment with a local- fellow esthetician for a friend and myself, but we also searched as consumers for some desert made and inspired skincare.

Ann, the owner and brilliance behind “Mindful Skin”, located just outside of Phoenix was kind enough to take Sarah, (My beautiful friend who lives in AZ) and myself in at the last minute. As a practicing esthetician myself, it was really important for me to find someone thorough, knowledgeable, and diverse. I’d say jackpot if you ask of my success in finding exactly what I was looking for. Ann, like myself really believes in sun protection. So much that she created her own SPF. It feels great and was formulated not to leave a film or texture on the skin. Both Sarah and I are satisfied with the results of our facials! If you are ever in town, please get in contact with Ann so that she can guide your skin for desert survival.

A short - day trip to Sedona was the perfect time for me to check out the boutiques. While the town is definitely known as a tourist trap, it also features a lot of items made locally. “Body Bliss” was one of the shops I was able to check out. This boutique has crystals and essential oils, trinkets and gifts, but my favorite find was the Body Bliss skincare. I purchased a few things that were said to help my skin acclimate to the climate here in the South West.

Heres A little of what I tried

Prickly Pear - Sacred Clay Face & Body Mask

After a long day in the heat and sun, of course your skin is going to experience a little bit of inflammation. I couldn’t wait to try this mask. Upon application, my skin immediately started feeling soothed and comforted. Prickly pear has extremely high anti- inflammatory benefits. This mask also includes other anti- inflammatory ingredients like sea buckthorn, and echinacea.I think it’s appropriate that Body Bliss would incorporate prickly pear and red Sedona clay in their formulation. It is literally having Arizona in a jar!

Prickly Pear – Age Defense Facial Treatment Oil

To add a boosting effect to my Sacred Clay mask, I used the age defense serum immediately following. Containing some of the same ingredients, this treatment oil offers much of the anti -inflammatory properties coupled with brightening and repairing of the skin. I applied it to my damp face with my damp hands to maximize the moisture absorption that my skin needed. My skin is now feeling refreshed and hydrated from the dry AZ climate.

I hope you get a chance to visit AZ soon. If you are in SO – CAL, it is the perfect road trip! Some of the other places we stopped in on the way were: Joshua Tree, Palm Desert, and Indio, home of Coachella. A road trip like this will certainly bring out the Star Girl in you! My beauty advice for the summer is to read Star Girl even if you’ve already read it once before. The message in this book will keep you young, beautiful, kind, and will inspire you to be yourself.

- Mila Grass