Valentine’s Day is over – but that doesn’t mean you have a romance drought the rest of the year. I’m of the opinion that romance shouldn’t be celebrated one day a year, but we should focus on it all year long. This post is meant to showcase ways to be romantic and care for your skin at the same time – and this can be done whenever you feel the need for closeness with your partner. Don’t wait for an excuse to show your significant other what they mean to you.

Romance is a very important part of any relationship. It can bring you closer and help you appreciate the bond and love you have for each other. Romance isn’t just “Netflix and Chill” – it’s taking time to be alone and quiet together without TV, phones or other interruptions.
Here are some ideas for bringing more romance into your relationships, and using great skincare to boost the romantic feelings.

Baths
If you are lucky enough to have a bathtub that fits two people comfortably, great! Taking a bath with your partner is a great way to bring you closer together (especially if you only have a tiny tub). Add a bath bomb or bath salts in the water to create a more sensual experience. Scents can calm the over-stressed mind and create a feeling of peace and love.

MB Botanicals Bath Salts come in four different scents, so there is something for whatever mood you are in. These contain Epsom, Sea and Himalayan Pink salts blended with essential oils and botanicals to comfort your body and mind and spark those romantic thoughts.

Massage 
Massage can be one of the best ways to get closer to your partner. The act of gentle touching is rewarding for both people. Taking time to massage each other creates an intimate bond that will last for days.
Remember to communicate with your partner what feels good and what to avoid doing and be open to hearing the same from them. A massage is meant to feel good and to increase trust between you and your partner.

You don’t have to lie down to give a massage either – you can do it seated or standing, whichever way you are both comfortable and close to each other. This is meant to create an intense connection between two loved ones, so get into it and make sure your companion is comfortable and relaxed.

Try one of the three different scents of MB Botanicals Body Oil as your massage oil. They absorb into the skin quickly and do not leave a greasy feeling behind. They will make your skin feel as good as that massage did!  

Another great massage option is the Moisturizing Body Bar. It warms up with your skin and doesn't dry out as quickly so you're not constantly adding oil.  It also leaves your skin extra soft. 

Foot Rubs 
While feet tend to get a bad rap for being nasty – you should feel good enough about your significant other to suck it up and rub their feet for them. And don’t stop at the feet – give the ankles and calves a massage while you are at it. It feels divine and much like the massage, it will build trust and create a greater feeling of intimacy.

With a foot massage, you will want to use massage oil or lotion. Start with gentle rubs in a circular motion – beginning with at the toes and working toward the ankles. Once your partner has started to relax into the rub, you can increase pressure. Just make sure you are both communicating as to what type of pressure they are comfortable with.
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Try using Body Butter for sensual foot rubs. It is soft and creamy and will leave the feet silky and moisturized.
 
It doesn’t matter what type of thing you do to add more romance into your relationship, as long as you add it to your routine more than just on Valentine’s Day. Surprise your significant other with a bath or massage and I guarantee you will feel closer to them afterward. Keeping the spark takes time and attention to both partners. Enjoy each other!

I’m beyond excited to announce a new line of MB Botanicals products. I have quite a few runner friends and after listening to them complain about a myriad of ailments, I got the idea that I could help them with at least a few. Introducing MB Botanicals products for the runner!
Out of the complaints of runners comes the new product line for athletes. There are two new products that have been added to the online store. They have been tested by runners and the feedback was excellent.

This balm works great for preventing nasty chaffing. It can be used on any part of the body that is susceptible to rubbing and irritation. 

This balm also works well to prevent blisters. Just roll onto feet right before you put on your socks. 
Made with coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E, tea tree and lavender essential oils.  It not only smells amazing, but it moisturizes and protects the skin anywhere its applied.

Even if you aren’t a runner, this balm works wonders for keeping chaffing and blisters away.
The Ultra Body Balm comes in two sizes – a 2oz and a 0.5oz stick. It’s easy to apply and it holds up to sweating. The 0.5oz stick is perfect for your purse, gym bag or car. Have new work shoes? You can use it to prevent blisters from those as well.

​This salt scrub came about when a friend mentioned she was too sore to walk after an intense trail run. She wanted something that would ease her muscles but didn’t require her to spend a lot of time in the bath. 

This salt scrub is meant to be used in the shower to reduce muscle soreness and body aches when you are pressed for time, or even if you’re not. Simply rub the scrub into the sore areas with massaging fingers and let it sit without washing it off for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse lightly, leaving the oils on your skin – do not wash off with soap.

Relief Salt Scrub is made with Epsom, Sea and Himalayan Pink salts, menthol, peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, and grapefruit essential oils to pull toxins from the body and ease muscle soreness and body aches. It also contains coconut and olive oil to moisturize your skin while it calms the pain.
Both of these new products can be found at the MB Botanicals online store. Give them a try and let me know how they work!

We all have bad habits.  Some of them, like bad skin habits can age our skin and make us look older than our years. Or can cause embarrassing breakouts. Take charge of your skin health and learn how you can go about breaking bad skin habits.

Quit touching your face – Do you find yourself resting your face in a hand while in a meeting? Or playing with that zit on your chin numerous times a day?

Quit touching your face so much. Dirt, germs, and oils from your hands transfer to your face making breakouts worse. 

Also, being rough with your face can lead to undereye bags and can cause excess wrinkles. Touch your face only when necessary and with gentle fingers.

If you need help keeping your hands off your face, ask a friend or loved one to mention it to you when they notice you doing it. This can be annoying enough to make you stop.

Remove makeup at night – One of the most beneficial things you can do for your skin is to wash your face and moisturize at night. You not only wash off all of the dirt and grime (and makeup) from your skin, but you prevent clogged pores and allow your face to breath while you sleep.

By having a nighttime skin care routine you can go to bed with a clean face and you will reduce skin damage and aging. Sleeping with your makeup on and face dirty is a recipe for wrinkles.

If you need a reminder to wash your face at night, set a reminder on your phone each night. Or place a washcloth next to your toothbrush so you see it.  Make it pat of your routine.

Wash after working out – Not washing your face after working out will lead to breakouts and can increase premature aging in your skin.

While sweating is good for your skin – it releases toxins and grime from your pores, if you don’t wash it off right away, it will turn into bacteria and sink back into your skin.

Wash your face with soap and immediately moisturize to maintain hydration in your skin. This should be done as soon as you are done working out.

Improve your diet – What you put in your body can have an impact on on your skin.  Everyone's body reacts to food differently.  Some people have breakouts from eating too much oily food or sugar.  

If greasy foods are one of your triggers opt for healthy oils and Omega-3s. Healthy oils and fats can increase collagen in and improve the look and feel of your skin.

Pay attention to your body and note what triggers breakouts. 

Drink more water – Our bodies are mostly water, so it makes sense that staying well hydrated will have a beneficial effect on your skin. If you want a natural glow, drink more water.

Drinking adequate amounts of water will flush toxins from your body, ensuring you and your skin is healthy.
Do you have a hard time remembering to drink enough water? Find a water app for your phone or start carrying a water bottle with you wherever you go.

Stick with a beauty routine – This is fairly general, but it is a bad habit many have. Make sure you are taking care of your skin more than once a day. 

Set yourself up with a skin care routine and stick to it. You will see improvements in your skin within six weeks.

Sunscreen (year-round) – Many of us neglect to wear sunscreen during the winter. We believe that the overcast days will not harm our skin, but they can and they will. 

Break the bad habit of not wearing sunscreen outside. Most foundations contain SPF – look for ones that have the highest rating. And if you head outside without makeup on, make sure you apply a normal sunscreen half an hour before going out.

If you have a hard time remembering to apply sunscreen – try putting a tube in your car, your bag, by your front door, etc. The easier you make it for yourself, the easier it will be to break the habit.

Practice good pimple care - Quit picking at your pimples. It can be very tempting to pop that zit on the end of your nose, but when you do, you push bacteria into the now open pore which can lead to extra redness, swelling and/or infection. And if things get bad enough you can end up with acne scars.

If you want to reduce the appearance of pimples – you can use a little tea tree essential oil as a spot treatment, add toothpaste to the zit overnight, ice it, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, or use a concealer.

However, if you feel you must pop your zit before leaving the house, wash your hands thoroughly. You can attempt to use two cotton swabs to pop a white head.
 
For blackheads, you can use blackhead remover tools. They are inexpensive and can be found on Amazon. If you’ve ever watched Dr. Pimple Popper, you know what I’m talking about.

You can also use an allover facial serum as part of your skincare routine to help balance out the skin and prevent those breakouts from happening in the first place.
 
By breaking your bad skin habits, you should see an improvement in how your face looks and feels. Use quality skin care products and put quality food into your body.

A good healthy habit to have is a solid healthy skin care routine. Our skin takes a beating all day long, whether we are in an office with recirculated air or outside working in the sun, wind and rain. By caring for it with a daily ritual you will see improvements in not only how your skin looks but in your confidence too.

What makes a good routine? Consistency and a knowledge of what order to complete your routine. Order matters – you will want to complete the steps in succession to get the most out of each step.
 
AM:

1. Wash face – using a gentle soap or dedicated facial wash.
2. Toner – there are so many toners on the market. Just make sure you find one that is low in alcohol. Witch Hazel is a great low-cost option and most on the market contain a small percentage of alcohol.
3. Serum – Face Potion #9 or FP9 Advance are great options for acne prone skin. FP9 Advance may also  help with dry skin. Serums can help target skin issues. Applying them directly after a toner will help them absorb into your skin.
4. Eye Cream – Since you should avoid contact with your eyes when using most toners and serums, using an additional eye cream will help keep the fragile skin on and around your eyes fresh and hydrated.
5. Sunscreen – Using sunscreen on your face year-round is so important to protect your skin. 

 
PM:

1. Remove makeup – If you use a lot of makeup or even mascara, use a dedicated makeup remover to remove your makeup especially around the sensitive eye area.
2. Wash face – Use a gentle soap or dedicated face wash. Nighttime face washes can be more vigorous than your morning face wash should be. You want to remove all of the gunk that built up on your face during the day.  Just don't overdo it.  Face washes that are over drying can strip you skins natural oils making it work overtime and actually causing your face to be oiler. 
3. Eye Cream – Using an eye cream on the delicate skin of your eyes is so beneficial to keeping fine lines and wrinkles away. 
4. Serum – Another application of serum will help target trouble spots and moisturize your skin.  Serums are great for oily/acne prone skin.
5. Night Cream – If you have dry skin, a dedicated night cream will be heavier than anything you use during the day. You will want something that is thick on your skin so it soaks into your skin overnight, replenishing any moisture you may have lost during the day. MB Botanicals Soft & Creamy Body Butter works great as a night cream.

 
Occasionally:

• Clay mask – A brand new addition to the MB Botanicals line up! There are two to choose from Bright Clay Mask using Fuller’s Earth Clay and Radiant using Kaolin Clay. Clay masks work wonders for pulling dirt and toxins from the skin. 
• Hydrating Mask – If you are looking for a mask to hydrate your skin, look for ones with collagenor hyaluronic acid. 
• Sugar Scrubs –  Sugar scrubs are the perfect match if you want to exfoliate without chemicals. Use up to three times a week for a good facial scrub. It invigorates the senses while removing dead skin and unclogging pores.

 
It can take up to 6 weeks to notice a difference from a skin care routine. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t notice an improvement right away, you will. 

Remember, anytime you start a new skin care product, give it about a week for your skin to adjust to it.