Sponsored Post: Staying Refreshed on the Go

I’ve been learning a lot the last week as I complete each day’s Clairol Natural Instincts Daily Refreshment challenges. This weekend, I’m going to be headed off on a press trip to St. Thomas, and I’m ready to be in paradise — while braving the pros and cons of time in the sun.

Today, my beloved Paula Wade of Older Girl Beauty shared a daily refresher tip:

“In the summer we are actually pretty rough on our skin. As we sweat, we tend to wipe our face on whatever cloth we have around us—usually a rough beach towel. Keep facial wipes in your cooler or the refrigerator for a quick cooling clean.”

It’s such great advice that I’m going to take it not only in the sun, but on my flight.

My friends often laugh at me about my obsession with facial wipes – whenever I travel, I hate to have to check baggage, so avoid liquids wherever possible. The great thing about facial wipes is they often act as a two-in-one. Do you need to remove makeup? Clean your hands? Freshen up a tired/sweaty face? These can do all of the above – and I’ve even found some that include moisturizer and sunblock in the mix.

But as to Paula’s point, they are just awesome to have around — I don’t know about you, but every time I get off a flight, whether it is 3 hours, or 13, I feel the need to immediately freshen up — especially if I am minutes away from being picked up by a biz contact at baggage claim. I keep these with me, and often also bring them in place of face wash. It keeps me on my skincare routine, when all I really want to do is pass out in bed without removing my makeup. (Which, trust me, happens often, especially if I’ve had too much to drink that night!) As she suggested, it’s very easy to carry your own and avoid using the towel-approach (which we are all guilty of at times) and important as well — we sweat more when it gets hotter, and sweaty skin soon equals breakout-prone skin!

Making your own toning wipes to keep your skin fresh and clean from the accumulation of dirt and oils that collect throughout the day as the spring season starts to heat up is a wonderful way to provide your skin with a bounty of nutrients and antioxidants that will keep it healthy and vibrant looking all season long.

When I have time, I like to try this recipe —  it’s loaded with anti-aging and skin healing properties –

1 large sprig of mint or peppermint (At least 5 to 7 large leaves)
2 tablespoons of green tea leaves or 3 tea bags
5 crushed aspirin
1/2 orange: grate the rind, juiced
3/4 cup  mineral water

When you have all those goodies together, pretend it’s a soup and simmer them for a few minutes. Let cool completely. Then, soak cosmetic pads in the mixture, and store in a plastic baggie and freeze – If you take a few with you during the day, as you go about your plans, you’ll notice your face feels fresh and clean no matter where life takes you!

Extra tip: If you aren’t in a TSA-related sitch, try to apply a bit of moisturizer following refreshing with a wipe (if your wipe doesn’t already contain a moisturizer, that is) – this helps keep your skin luminous and hydrated.

On a related note, earlier this week, my good friend Anne Fritz (of the Jet Set Girls) shared a tip that week can make your own delicious and healthy-flavored “spa” water right at home.

“You already know you need to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. But, all that agua can get really boring. Create ‘spa water’ by adding in sliced fruits, vegetables or herbs, such as lemons, cucumbers, or mint.”

Let me tell you, this tip has CHANGED MY LIFE. Much like Paula’s cloths that I can carry with me, Anne’s spa water is a great carry-along as well. For years, one of my fave aspects of spa appointments has been the herb and floral infused spa water —  it has health benefits (beyond the obvious — healthy hydration), and is delicious. I like to throw some of my favorite fruits and fresh herbs in a water bottle in the morning, let the water chill, and carry it with me. I’ve been doing it the last few days, and it’s really helping me to stay hydrated on the go. (And, well, remember to drink water…at all…)

Disclaimer: I’m being compensated to write a series of blog posts as part of Clairol Natural Instincts’ Daily Refreshment Calendar for the month of July. Follow my progress here on MyGloss, on my Twitter at @alywalansky, and on the Clairol Natural Instincts Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/clairol?sk=app_232339983448870