Beauty

5 Face Masks You Need to Try

July 5, 2019

I LOVE face masks. It’s one of my favorite things to do, if not my favorite thing. Imagine: a cool face mask, your favorite movie on, and the sensational feeling of knowing that you are getting some great R&R. I can’t get enough of trying different masks, discovering which ones I like best, and seeing all the great beauty ingredients out there. From sheet masks to clay masks, I have rounded up, in order, the top 5 face masks you need to try!

1. Dermovia | Lace Your Face Masks

Have you ever tried a face mask that is made of LACE?? Yep, you read that right. It’s so chic. Dermovia’s Lace Your Face masks are reusable (up to two times total) and use compression technology to help hold the mask up and in place. In addition to all these winning facts, they are also super moisturized and come in a great variety of scents and benefits. Their selection has been my favorite face masks thus far!

2. Timeless Beauty Bar | Up In The Clouds Sheet Mask

This is the most hydrating sheet mask I have tried to date. I love how my skin felt afterwards and could really feel the nourishment and plump! Timeless Beauty Bar advertises this mask as the perfect solution for frequent flyers and jetsetters.

3. Generation Clay | Ultra Violet Brightening Purple Clay Mask

I love that this clay mask is a light purple color! Made with plums, it smells pretty nice too 🙂 This masks dries SUPER fast and is great for purifying, illuminating, refining, and brightening. I noticed a glow right after using it!

4. Maskeraide | Beauty Rest’ore Sheet Mask

I have been a long time fan of Maskeraide Beauty, especially when it comes to their sheet masks. My favorite sheet mask out of the bunch has to be the Beauty Rest’ore. It smells like lavender, contains aloe leaf extract & hyaluronic acid, and SO. MUCH. MOISTURE. I love it.

5. Maëlle Beauty | Thermal Action Rebalancing Mask

Last, but certainly not least, is my favorite charcoal clay mask from Maëlle Beauty! I love this mask because it warms as you put it on!! Talk about some nice R&R. Receive $10 off your first Maëlle Beauty purchase with my ambassador code, ‘Alyssa10‘!

The Beachwaver’s Make Waves Launch Party

June 19, 2019

The Beachwaver’s Make Waves Launch Party

The Beachwaver has a new hair care line and I am all about it. The Make Waves Collection is women owned, cruelty-free, smells like a tropical vacation, and is for all hair types. Hallelujah. I was able to view the Make Waves collection first hand at The Beachwaver’s recent launch event, hosted at The J Parker rooftop bar in Lincoln Park. Talk about a party with a view! The event featured a Beachwaver-themed cocktail menu, a female-focused panel, cute photo ops, light bites, and the most AMAZING gift bags.

The New Make Waves Collection

You may know The Beachwaver brand for their hair styling tools, however their new Make Waves collection is worth trying! I love the smell of suntan lotion, palm trees, and coconuts – so the signature scent of the hair care products was something that stood out to me right away. Think instant beach getaway. With a great tan. And coconut oil.

My Favorite Products

I was most interested to try the Make Waves Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, as I was looking to help tame my recent hair dryness. Made with coconut milk, they both did the trick! I tried the products the day after the event and loved them. My hair felt silky smooth and smelled like a coconut haven. I also really liked their Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray, which is great for right after you curl your hair!

View me curling my hair using the 1” Beachwaver and Great Barrier Heat Protective Hairspray HERE!

Skincare Routine: Tea Tree Oil Benefits

May 8, 2019

A Guest Post by Ellis James Designs

Tea Tree oil is an amazing product with a long history of providing healing for the body, and an all-natural way to care for skin, hair, and so much more.

What is Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree oil is exactly what the name says: It’s the oil made from the leaves of the tea tree. However, the tea tree in question is Melaleuca alternifolia, a member of the myrtle family native to Australia, and not Camellia sinensis, the tree used in Asia to make black, green, white, and Darjeeling teas.

Tea tree leaves have been used medicinally by the indigenous tribes of Australia for centuries. They crush the leaves to release the fragrance of the oils, and inhale the scent to treat coughs and colds, or infuse the leaves to treat skin ailments and wounds. Following the native’s example, the use of tea tree oil has spread throughout the world, as more and more people discover the benefits of tea tree oil.

The Special Properties of Tea Tree Oil

As with all fragrant plants, tea tree oil is full of aromatic hydrocarbons called terpenes. These chemical compounds are all variations of natural isoprenes, the compounds plants create to protect themselves from environmental stresses and stabilize their cell membranes. We are just beginning to study and understand terpenes and their effects on humans.

The Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

As with many natural and alternative treatments, there are a lot of claims about the benefits of tea tree oil. Because its uses originated as tribal medicine, many of those benefits are anecdotal, and not backed by science. To this day, there is a lot of conflicting evidence about the uses and benefits of tea tree oil, but there are some excellent reviews of the literature and medical summaries that demonstrate the proven benefits of tea tree oil. Here is what we have proven so far.

Tea tree oil helps treat wounds

Tea tree oil is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. As an antiseptic agent, it helps to kill harmful bacteria and prevent infections in wounds. As an anti-inflammatory, it reduces swelling and sensitivity, helping wounds heal. Tea tree oil also helps to activate white blood cells and boost the body’s natural immune response, so it is an effective way to treat wounds and injuries.

Tea tree oil helps treat acne

These antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are one of the reasons that tea tree oil is so helpful for treating and preventing acne. In clinical trials, it has been shown to be effective at healing and preventing breakouts. Overall, studies show that tea tree oil is less effective and slower to work than benzoyl peroxide, but that it successfully treats acne with fewer side effects, less skin damage, and less skin dryness. For this reason, tea tree oil is a great acne solution for adult and mature skin.

Tea tree oil helps reduce dandruff

Tea tree oil is also an antifungal agent, and is remarkably effective for reducing dandruff, as well as preventing the itchy and greasy scalp we associate with dandruff, with no adverse effects.

Tea tree oil helps treat athlete’s foot

Because tea tree oil is antifungal, it is also effective at treating athletes foot. Generally speaking, it is not as effective as prescription medication (with an 85% effectiveness rate), but as a home treatment, it has been proven to be effective at causing improvement in 60-70% of cases, and completely curing athletes foot in 30-40% of cases, with few side effects.

Tea tree oil boosts oral hygiene

Tea tree oil should not be swallowed, but as a mouthwash it reduces harmful bacteria in the mouth, thereby reducing both gingivitis and halitosis.

One of the most exciting areas of current exploration in the benefits of tea tree oil is that, while it does cause skin irritation in some people, it is a remarkably effective antibacterial agent with almost no side effects and no bacterial resistance, unlike other antiseptics. This makes it extremely promising in medical and hospital settings, where bacteria and funguses are particularly dangerous.

Aire Ancient Baths Chicago

April 16, 2019

Spring is in the air!! If the idea of dipping in and out of pools of different temperatures and pressures sounds like a relaxing time to you, I highly recommend going to AIRE Ancient Baths in Chicago! I went for a girls day this weekend, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. I recently have been having major hip problems – talk about old grandma status – and an afternoon of relaxation and soaking was just what I needed! Read below for everything you need to know to make the best out of your experience.

The Basics

Chicago’s AIRE Ancient Baths is located in the River West neighborhood. The entrance is within an alley – don’t worry, there are clear signs to direct you – and features a cute photo op couch outside the main door. You will need to make a reservation ahead of time, online. There are different package options and time slots to choose from. We did the basic 90 minute Ancient Thermal Baths option, which consisted of having the freedom to dip in any of the pools during that time period. This service was $99 and is also the cheapest option available. There are no phones allowed in the bath area. You can only wear your swimsuit, provided robe, and provided water shoes outside the locker room!

The Baths

aire ancient baths chicago — Photo: AIRE Ancient Baths – Facebook

There are multiple different baths to try that consist of different temperatures, ingredients, and pressure. Some are really hot, some are really cold, and then there are also saunas to enjoy. You can go to any of the pools that you like, and stay in them however long you like, granted that it is within the 90 minute time period. There are hooks all along the walls to set your robe. We hung ours in the front to come back and get at the end. There are water stations throughout the baths – make sure to hydrate!

The “Dead Sea” Bath

We began our experience in a clockwise motion, starting with the “Dead Sea” bath. This pool of water has a high concentration of mineral salts, hence making it easier for you to float without much effort. It was fun to try and very relaxing! This was the first of the baths that we tried, and the one that we probably stayed the longest in. I’d say it was my favorite out of all of them!

The Saunas

If you love heat as much as I do, you’ll love the two saunas inside AIRE Ancient Baths. One sauna is hotter than the other, but both are super relaxing and so steamy that you can barely see your hand in front of you. In case you need a quick cool down, there is a small five by five dipping pool of what felt like 50 degrees inside the sauna. I tried this out and man it was cold! A good shock to the system, though.

The Salt Station

aire ancient baths chicago salt mound — Photo: AIRE Ancient Baths – Facebook

While I loved all of the baths and the saunas are always great, my favorite part of the experience was a salt station for exfoliation. As you can see in the image above from AIRE Ancient Baths’ Facebook page, the salt station at the Chicago location consists of a huge mound of salt on a round table that spa goers can rub all over their body before rinsing off with overhead showers. I really felt the benefits of this with my skin being super smooth afterwards and thought it was a great DIY perk. The salt station is a little hidden, so make sure not to miss it!

After Thoughts

aire ancient baths chicago harvest juicery

The experience at AIRE Ancient Baths was sooo relaxing. I’d say it is a great activity to do with a girlfriend, your mom, or even by yourself! For sure going back soon. Massages are not my favorite, but they do have a lot of different massage packages you can choose from and the Himalayan Salt Massage caught my eye for possibly experiencing in the future. I liked how they offered pressed juices for afterwards. It was the perfect full circle to a detox morning!

What’s your favorite way to relax? AIRE Ancient Baths is defiantly on my list!

Spring Self Care: 2019 Edition

April 10, 2019

The after effects of winter in Chicago can be brutal on your mind, body, and soul. It’s time for some spring self care! If you’re on the go like me, sometimes it seems hard to find time to relax and work on self love. Below I have listed some ways to decompress and get your groove back!

Hit the Spa

Whether you’re a body massage or body wrap type of girl, treating yourself to some you-time at a local spa is a perfect way to relax. Just being in a calming atmosphere can do wonders! Have you heard of Chicago Spa Week? Twice a year Spa Week offers select treatments in your area for only $50 each – a great way to treat yourself on a budget. Google spas in your area to plan your zen moment!

Check Your Aura

Is your aura out of whack? While this may seem like a bunch of hocus pocus – did anyone get that Disney Movie Original reference? 🙂 – getting an aura reading can help you see, in color, how you are currently feeling. What things you have control over, things that may seem out of reach. How could this help, you ask? Sometimes we feel in a funk or unsteady without understanding the root cause of it. Having a better idea of where the issue or feeling is coming from can help you get rid of the negativity faster and more productively. Here in Chicago, Revealing Soul has become a popular aura reading guru! She’s located in the Gold Coast area for those interested in scheduling an appointment.

Remove Daily Negativity

Speaking of getting rid of negativity, sometimes things that seem little are actually making a big impact in our day to day mood. Whether its holding onto a grudge or having a friend that makes you feel down, there comes a time that we must move on from everything. As Elsa said best, let it go. Once you do, odds are you’ll feel the weight of negativity replaced with relief! Removing daily negativity is perfect for spring self care.

Map Out Goals

Every successful individual has goals. Easier said than done, these goals need to be tangible and held accountable to. Writing them out can really help map out what they are, how you’re going to get there, and what to do next once you do. I like to map mine out by both individual months and the current year to visually see my progress. I bought By Laura Iancu’s Smart Blog Planner at the beginning of the year and it has done WONDERS for keeping track of my blog goals, posts, schedule, income, expenses, and more. If you are a blogger, I highly recommend purchasing and utilizing the 30+ templates it comes with. What are some of your goals you want to achieve in 2019?

Try Something New

Our minds are mind to continuously learn. Finding something new to try, whether it be a skill or hobby, is a great way to keep evolving! For me, one of my spring goals is to become better at speaking and understanding the Spanish language. I am also working on my networking skills and fear of attending events alone by signing up for blogger-specific conferences and events within the 2019 and 2020 year. Attending these type of events will be something new for me that, I believe, will better myself in the long run. What’s something new you want to try?

I hope these tips are helpful for you! Let me know which ones you try in the comments below!

The Dead Sea Mud Wrap at The Steamboat Grand Spa

March 27, 2019

Dead Sea Mud Wrap at The Steamboat Grand Spa

We recently went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for a weekend getaway. While Vince spent the trip doing group snowboarding lessons and hitting the slopes, the weekend was all about wanderlust and relaxation for me. The hotel we picked, due to its close proximity to the lifts, conveniently had a spa. I love a little pampering on vacation! It’s safe to say that spas have been my new interest. When looking at the different treatment options, I wanted to spend the whole day there, but decided to start with one body treatment: the Dead Sea Mud Wrap at The Steamboat Grand Spa.

Treatment Options at the Steamboat Grand Spa

Viewing The Steamboat Grand Spa’s treatment descriptions online was pretty easy. You can book online, however it only gives you date options, not times. For this reason I booked my appointment over the phone about two weeks before arrival to make sure I could get the time slot I desired. I recommend doing this as well before your arrival! There’s nothing I love more than a heated wrap, so I choose one of the Steamboat Grand Spa’s most popular body treatments, the Dead Sea Mud Wrap, for $150. Compared to other hotel spas, I thought this was a pretty standard price for a body treatment service. You can view all of the pricing options here.

What’s Included with the Dead Sea Mud Wrap?

The Dead Sea Mud Wrap lasted 75 minutes and included not only a wrap, but also time for a basic Swedish massage. I personally am not a fan of full body massages, and did not know that a massage was part of the treatment when booking. You’ll notice that the Dead Sea Mud Wrap description does not say this. I was willing to try the massage portion, but did not want to give half the time to it. For this reason, I asked to have more time in the wrap with only 10 min left for the massage.

The Dead Sea Mud Wrap body treatment starts off with the whole body being exfoliated from neck to toe, followed by the mud. Make sure to put your hair up in a bun to avoid getting it in your hair! The mud was medium thickness, slippery, super dark, and chalk-full of minerals. The application was cool to the skin at first, quickly regulating to my body temperature. The body is sealed and cocooned in a plastic layer, followed by a heated blanket on top. I was left to relax for about 15 minutes. Following rinsing off the mud in the room’s shower, there was about 10 minutes left for a light, Swedish massage. I still am not a fan of massages, however I am glad I tried it. I really liked the Himalayan salt squares used to massage the upper neck and back!

Next time I would defiantly add a face treatment and spend half a day at the spa. Read more about what to do in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in this city guide!

Full-Face Makeover at Sephora Beauty Studio

February 4, 2019

We all need a little R&R, and while the spa might seem like an obvious go-to, beauty makeovers are actually extremely relaxing. As a super thoughtful gift from one of my girlfriends, we had a glam girls day with Makeup Deluxe: Full-Face Makeovers at the Sephora Beauty Studio at Lincoln Park’s Sephora location. Each with our own chair and designated Beauty Advisor, we told what makeup looks we liked and what type of look we were going for. Brunch was on the agenda afterward, so we wanted fun day-time looks.

Per usual, my go-to besides neutrals is the color pink when it comes to makeup. Due to wearing my favorite dusty rose fuzzy sweater, I decided to go with a matching look. Using a variety of products handpicked throughout the Sephora store by our Beauty Advisors, our 60-minute full-face makeovers began. Nikki, my Beauty Advisor, narrated every item being added to my face, explaining what brand it was and the purpose for it’s use. This was very helpful as some of the items I had never used or seen before!

While it was great that my Beauty Advisor went through every item as it was being applied, it was of course a lot of items to remember. Luckily, all items used are scanned, including shades, and sent to your email post-session so you have a list of everything used to create your look. This was my favorite thing about the booking! So helpful. I was very thankful to have an easy clickable list to view later on. My favorite items used were Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara, Huda Beauty The New Nude Eyeshadow Palette, IT Cosmetics 3-in-1 Micellar Cleanser, and IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream.

All the items used for this look are linked them below!

Makeup Used in Makeover

I absolutely loved getting a full-face makeover and can’t believe I hadn’t tried it out sooner! I discovered new beauty products and was able to try them on first hand for a test run. It’s the perfect relaxing, and fun, girls day activity or a great way to get your makeup done before a night out. If you want more of a quick fix, rather than a 60-minute full-face makeover, Sephora also offers 20 minute bookings for lips, eyes, eyebrows, and more. Highly recommend trying it out!

Maëlle Beauty + XO Marshmallow Holiday Soirée

December 12, 2018

I love how the holidays really amp up your social calendar. So many festive events to attend! I have been a Maëlle Maker (influencers for Maëlle Beauty) for a little over a month now and have already attended three fabulous Maker events, the most recent being a holiday party with XO Marshmallow. The event was held at Maëlle Beauty’s HQ office in West Loop – aka the cutest, most picture perfect office EVER. Us Makers love their neon ‘Live Beautifully’ sign and the beautiful food spreads they always put together. Presentation is everything.

maelle beauty holiday party — Like this outfit? Shop it on my Shop My Instagram page!

The night kicked off with Holiday Mules and setting up shop at a Maker-style decorating table (custom Maëlle chef hats included). We chose from different assortments of icing, sprinkles, and shape cut outs to make our masterpieces on XO Marshmallow vanilla marshmallow squares. I’ve never been the best at arts & crafts, but I did like how my heart marshmallows turned out!

maelle beauty xo marshmallow holiday party

Attending these Maëlle Maker events has helped me branch out in the blogger world and meet some amazing Chicago bloggers along the way. Many of us have become quick friends! I think the blogging world is amazing for this reason. The night was spent bonding over similar interests and helping each other create the most perfect Insta pics and stories. My kind of night for sure.

Maëlle Beauty is a cruelty-free cosmetics company based here in Chicago. What I like most about Maëlle Beauty is that they are community-based and focused. The Makers influencer program is a huge part of the company that helps to shape future products, spread awareness, and bring like-minded beauty gurus together. It truely is a great group of women and I’m excited to see what other events are to come!

XO Marshmallow is one of the most fun, aesthetically pleasing, creative small businesses I have ever come across. Fun fact: they are the world’s first marshmallow cafe! You can actually go into their store front, here in Chicago, for some Instagramable marshmallow fluff drinks & treats. The brand exudes millennial livelihood, which is why I was so excited to be able to decorate some of their marshmallows for myself!

Want to shop Maëlle Beauty products and support Sweating Champagne? Use the previous link to shop under my account and give a little commission back towards building Sweating Champagne into the brand I know it can be! My Maker code Alyssa10 will also get you $10 off your purchase! My favorite products right now are the Thermal Face Mask and their Enchanted Eyeshadow Palette.

Almay Fall Makeup Look

November 5, 2018

Almay Fall Makeup Look

The leaves are turning gorgeous colors, the air is crisp, and PSL is back in season, baby. Featuring sultry reds, cozy bronzes and the perfect amount of shimmer, this Almay Fall makeup look using Almay Goddess Gloss matches Autumn to a T. What I loved most about this look is how I saw my grey-green eyes pop from the mix of warm tones. Try it for yourself! Read below for what makes up this seasonal makeup look.

This post is sponsored by Almay and Her Campus Media. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Sweating Champagne possible!

Almay Goddess Gloss™ from the Almay Cosmic Collection is a high-shine, holographic lip gloss that gives extra sparkle with added moisture. I used shade ‘Flame’ for for my Almay Fall makeup look. Fitting, right? This iridescent lip gloss is made with pomegranate, grape, and raspberry oils, yet remains fragrance free. No stickiness left behind! I loved the vibrant red this shade of lip gloss gave. Perfect for the fiery Autumn makeup look I wanted!

I used colors from Almay Palette Pops™ ‘Fabulista’ and ‘Naturalista’ for my eyeshadow. The ‘Fabulista’ has a beautiful burgundy shade, while ‘Naturalista’ contains all the necessary neutrals for browns, bronze, and whites for a buildable natural look. I used the burgundy as my main color, framing the eyes with the other neutrals and using Almay Multi-Benefit Mascara™ to top it off. For some extra illumination, add Almay Make Them Jelly Hi-Lite in ‘Unicorn Light’! The combination of colors, with just a touch of glam, reminded me of a stroll through Central Park in Autumn (one of my happy places). What makeup color combination reminds you of a perfect Fall day?

#Ad I will admit that my dimensional look needs some work as I have only recently began to experiment with different makeup looks and techniques. Luckily I can work at it this season with these Almay go-tos! What events will you be rocking this Almay Fall makeup look at? Comment below! #AlmayReveal #CollegeFashionWeek #InfluenceHerCollective

almay fall makeup look sweating champagne

Maskeraide Beauty Signature Items

April 22, 2018

Tell me, what’s better than pampering yourself on the weekend? I’ll wait.

I recently had the opportunity to test Maskeraide’s signature Hydrating Sheet Masks, Charcoal Bubble Sheet Mask, TELL ME POUT’ IT Hydrating Lip Masks and ALL EYES ON ME Hydrating Eye Gel Patches – and boy does my skin feel renewed (especially after Chicago’s crazy weather mood swings). Made with the purpose of providing a fun experience, Maskeraide’s products speak to both your skin and lifestyle. Wanting nothing more than a relaxing weekend, trying out the variety of products was the perfect lazy Sunday to get ready for the work week ahead.

The signature sheet masks were calm and cooling, the TELL ME POUT’ IT lip masks helped heal my chapped lips, and the Charcoal Bubble Sheet Mask was a unique experience, however out of all the products I tried I loved the ALL EYES ON ME Hydrating Eye Gel Patches the most. Compared to other spots on my face, under my eyes are a problem spot for me, especially when I feel stressed out. I usually break out in blemishes or feel my skin becoming puffy and dry. These gel patches have helped to tighten, hydrate and brighten my skin with its’ use of 100 Natural Herb Complex for intense moisture and anti-wrinkle benefits, Hyaluronic Acid for hydration and nutrition, and Ceramide 3 & Camellia Oil to help improve skin strength and elasticity. Free from parabens, free from artificial fragrances, and free from worry. All of Maskeraide’s products were great towards sensitive skin like mine and an asset to weekly beauty prep.

Maskeraide can be found at popular retailers worldwide including H&M, ASOS, and more. Shop all of their products online here!