Mix until the product is a smooth and blended consistency, then apply to skin and leave on for 10 minutes

       
Remove with warm water or a warm towel to reveal a smooth, bright and glowing complexion 

This skin rejuvenating facial exfoliates and brightens the skin, cleaning the pores to rid it of dull, dry winter skin, and revealing a fresh face for spring.

Combining healing herbal products, a peel suited for guest’s personal skin care needs, and a Vitamin C mask to boost skin’s natural radiance and beauty, this facial helps even out skin pigmentations, promotes skin firming, helps fight breakouts and aids in moisturizing.  Spa-goers can enjoy a luxurious hand and foot massage while the mask is penetrating and replenishing the skin.

Let me know if you try the Umstead's beauty tips.

Updated: April 2019
Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links with Beautycounter, a product I use regularly. My thanks to Costa Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Ashburn, Virginia for being a HinesSightBlog sponsor. My sponsors allow me to keep at my desk writing bringing you the best in editorial content. 

Charlotte, N.C has a jewel in the heart of the city. It's close to every major tourist attraction. Think Carowinds, the Discovery Place, the Whitewater Rafting Center, and the Panthers stadium, but yet when you check into this luxury resort, you escape the hustle and bustle of tourism. It's peaceful at this resort. There is a resort pool, a championship golf course, and a luxury spa. It has everything you could ask for and more. 




Starwood's Luxury Collection, The Ballantyne Hotel and Spa, is a destination in Charlotte all of its own and it's ok to come here and never leave the property if you want. That's a play from my own playbook.  I did that this Spring with a girlfriend and guess what folks....we never left the grounds. Not once. And we loved every minute of it. 

Ballantyne Selfie with Kim Prejs, editor of Living Young and Healthy

• Bergamot is one of the essential oils that the Umstead Spa is featuring this month. Carolyn says this has a lemon/citrus fragrance and is perfect for relaxation. She says it has proven benefits to help one become calmer. Yes, we know the holiday season can cause us all to be anxious and stressed.  Bergamot is found in Earl Grey Tea, and they will be offering a great luxury pedicure which will be combined with a cup of tea. That's sounds like a spa treatment meant for me. 
• The Red Island Ritual is Carolyn's favorite spa treatment. This is a body treatment that enhances body exfoliation with orange and apricot fruit seeds, essential oils, spice and nourishing oil. It follows up with a relaxing body treatment with warm exotic essential oils that gets rid of tension and stress. 
• Moisturize. Moisturize. Moisturize. It's the best thing to do during the winter. 

Here are the new menu items at The Umstead Hotel and Spa.









If you love hotels, be sure to subscribe to my hotel newsletter or if you are only interested in North Carolina hotels and travel, sign up for the #OutaboutNC newsletter. Be sure to follow me on Periscope.


@Hinessightblog

I used to like to burn scented candles in the fall and winter. There is something about this time of year that makes me want to hibernate inside my home and take in pleasant aromas of nutmeg and pumpkin, Since I now own a diffuser, I rarely use candles now. Instead, I'm using my diffuser several times a day. The fresh scents in my home are now coming from essential oils. Here are seven great fall diffuser recipes I have discovered.

Bring Fall Into Your Home with these Diffuser Recipes


Essential oils have been a staple in high-end spas for years, and the use of essential oils have been very common in holistic family circles for quite a long time because of the oils therapeutic benefits to support overall wellness and health.  In today's world, the phrases "environmental-friendly, non-toxic and natural" are now huge buzz words for the mainstream population, including me.  We've been educated. We've read the research. We listened. Now, we are making changes in our lifestyle. I buy produce now from farmers via a local delivery service. I care about what I breathe and put into my body, and I care about what I give my children to put in their bodies. I care a lot more about them than me, honestly.

Young Living Essential Oils recently received a Better Business Bureau's A+ rating for its business practice, and I've been pleased with their seed to seal quality on the products I use regularly.


And yes, you can use essential oils that you buy at Whole Foods for these same recipes. It's just important that you know you are buying 100 percent therapeutic grade essential oils when you purchase so ask the clerk. Of course, I would love it if you purchased from me.  You can either do it at regular Young Living retail prices or at a basic membership price, which is always 24 percent off of retail prices. If you already own a diffuser or are only interested in wellness supplements then a basic membership for $45 may be the most economical. Once you are a member, there are no yearly renewals like at clubs like with BJs or Sam's Club. Members always receive 24 percent off prices, and there is a great Essential Rewards program where you earn free products back.



If you do not have a diffuser in your home or own any essential oils then I recommend the Premium Starter Kit with a diffuser and eleven oils, including the popular Thieves, Lemon, Lavender, Frankincense, Peppermint, Purification, RC, DiGize, PanAway, Copaiba, and Stress Away. 
($170 cost for $300 worth of products)  as the most economical way to get started as a member.



Once you order the starter kit then also order the Christmas Spirit essential oil at the same time. As
a thank you for ordering from me, I will send you a bottle of Clove Essential Oil as my gift to you.



 You will then be able to make the Thanksgiving Diffuser Recipe in time for the holiday. This offer is good until October 31, 2015.  It can take several weeks before a starter kit arrives after ordering so don't delay. 

EnjoyLifeOils.com has a great member Facebook page, and it's a great way to connect and learn about products.

Small Victories Sunday Linkup 

Be sure to check out Mom's Small Victories to see the most popular posts from our linkup, but you all know I like to pick out a few posts that caught my eye. 

Last week, I ate in a the Raleigh French restaurant, Coquette, and the person I was with ordered mussels. I'm not sure I know how to eat a mussel much less cook one. As a result, this post from Adrenne of Reviews, Chews, and How-tos on How to Prepare Mussels interested me. She makes cooking them seem very easy. 

Pure relaxation and luxury is about 15-minutes from my doorsteps, and it comes in the form of the prestigious Leading Hotel of the World, The Umstead Hotel and Spa. It's a five star, five-diamond heaven, and my visit to the spa is my focus for this week's Instagram Travel Thursday.