Spa Girl asks are You a Midnight Hedonist?

It's after midnight and I am wide awake!  So instead of fretting, I'm heading to the Spa.

I once wrote about the city that never sleeps--of course I was referring to New York.  And now leading the way NY, Hollywood, London and Singapore (among others) are offering midnight manicures, late night Lomi Lomi massages and night owl facials for all of us hedonists.

I am devoted to being happy and going to the Spa is blissful, it is also relaxing and oh so good for you.  And no matter the time of day or night, having a facial relaxes me to the point where I fall asleep--you see, I have method in my midnight madness!

Flex hours are popular in any business as we continue to work all kinds of crazy shifts, fly hours into the future and of course for all those night owls out there.  Having spas join these dedicate service industries is fabulous! 

Spa fun..."Conan feels fried and visits a beauty/day spa to relax"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUeJxl-0-Nc

Whether it's a late-night Turkish Bath, a Russian steam , pedicure, manicure, or massage, here are some great late night Spas.

Red Market Salon32 Gansevoort St., nr. Hudson St.; 212-929-9600 This bright, 2,400-square-foot loft in a commercial walk-up is helmed by two Fekkai alums. The salon houses six stylists, a small bar stocked with free wine, products by Davines and Phyto, and a sound system manned regularly by local D.J.’s; you can get a blow-dry and a buzz till 10 p.m.

Homme Spa465 Lexington Ave., nr. 45th St.; 212-983-0033 This massive, 15,000-square-foot pampering spot is open till 3 a.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends. Hot-towel massages and Dermalogica facials are signatures, but the place also encompasses a full-service barbershop and couples' rooms with Jacuzzi s. 

Hair Party 24 Hours76 Madison Ave., at 28th St.; 212-213-0057 This Seoul-based chain offers a full pleather-bound menu of services 24 hours a day. The offerings include mani-pedis, waxing, massages, facials, cuts, coloring, makeup application, and even eyelash extensions. Conventional daytime hours are still the busiest, but deals are offered for appointments between 6 a.m. and noon. 

Cleo II Spa258 Third Ave., at 21st St.; 212-260-0600 This casual Gramercy-area nail salon serves customers until midnight every night except Sunday. The mainly Korean and Nepalese staff apply all-natural creams from Switzerland, and more than 350 Opi and Essie polish colors are on offer.

Osaka Health Spa50 W. 56th St., second fl., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-956-3422 One of the city’s best one-hour Shiatsu massages is at Osaka 56, which stays open until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Before treatments, many opt for a complimentary hot-cold hydrotherapy ritual using the spa’s steam room, sauna, and ice-cold baths. 

Tribeca Beauty Spa8 Harrison St, New York, NY 10013, (212) 343-2376
Exceptional manicure / pedicure experience last night at Tribeca Beauty Spa.

Links to late night Spas in the Big Apple, San Francisco and Singapore

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=late+night+spas&find_loc=New+York%2C+NY

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=late+night+spas&find_loc=San+Francisco%2C+CA

http://www.timeoutsingapore.com/wellandgood/we-love/late-night-spas

Spa Girl asks what are your Vitamin D levels?

 For those of us living in the northern hemisphere where the weather continues to cool  and  sunlight is dwindling fast, it's time to increase or start taking Vitamin D.

Known as the sunshine vitamin, we produce Vitamin D naturally in the summer months when we are exposed to the sun light, however as winter rolls in our vitamin D levels drop and we become more susceptible to viruses.

 

The immune system's front-line defence are T-cells, which are latent until they are set in motion detecting and killing infections caused by viruses and bacteria. A Danish study recently found that the first stage of T-cell activation involves Vitamin D.  When a T-cell detects a virus or bacteria it sends out a signal to search for Vitamin D in the blood. Without Vitamin D, T-cell activation is jeopardised.

I have my Vitamin D levels checked two or three times a year with a simple blood test. It's an expensive test, so you might have to talk your Doctor into it! My Vitamin D level in my last test was 154, the normal range is between 75 and 200.  The first time I took a Vitamin D test, it was in the spring after a long, cold, dark winter, my level was 27!  It took me almost a year to build it to 100. 

Why do we need vitamin D?

·       It is crucial for the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorous, which have various functions, especially the maintenance of healthy bones.
·       It is an immune system regulator.
·       It may be an important way to arm the immune system against disorders like the common cold, say scientists from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston.
·       It may reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is much less common the nearer you get to the tropics, where there is much more sunlight, according to Dennis Bourdette, chairman of the Department of Neurology and director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at Oregon Health and Science University, USA.
·       Vitamin D may have a key role in helping the brain to keep working well in later life, according to a study of 3000 European men between the ages of 40 and 79.
·       Vitamin D is probably linked to maintaining a healthy body weight, according to research carried out at the Medical College of Georgia, USA.
·       It can reduce the severity and frequency of asthma symptoms, and also the likelihood of hospitalizations due to asthma, researchers from Harvard Medical School found after monitoring 616 children in Costa Rica.
·       It has been shown to reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in women.
·       A form of vitamin D could be one of our body's main protections against damage from low levels of radiation, say radiological experts from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
·       Various studies have shown that people with adequate levels of vitamin D have a significantly lower risk of developing cancer, compared to people with lower levels. Vitamin D deficiency was found to be prevalent in cancer patients regardless of nutritional status, in a study carried out by Cancer Treatment Centers of America. 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161618.php

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, suggested in the March 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily along with 10 to 15 minutes in the sun and a healthy diet could reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer by two-thirds. The same authors found that breast cancer rates were 50 per cent lower in people with high levels of vitamin D in their blood, and suggested that the average person could maintain those levels by taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily and spending 10 to 15 minutes in the sun.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2008/05/16/f-health-vitamin-d.html

Vitamin D has acquired its health-cult status because many studies have found that people with more of the nutrient circulating in their blood have lower rates of some cancers. As well, other research – based on epidemiology or the study of disease distribution in large populations – has found that there is more cancer, diabetes, and other chronic ailments among those living at northern latitudes than among people living further south. 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/two-studies-hope-to-test-the-benefits-of-vitamin-d-once-and-for-all/article1490123/

Katie Couric speaks to Dr. Jon LaPook about the benefits of vitamin D and the best ways to get it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfxG7p9U3Kw

Spa Girl says "OH MY" feet

As I desperately try to hold on to summer, it's becoming painfully clear--as temperatures continue to dip--it's time to put on the socks and shoes and pack away my wonderful summer sandals.

My feet get cold very easily so most of the winter I am looking for solutions to keep these tiny tootsie warm.  I have wonderful handmade wool socks from Newfoundland, terry cloth foot warmers with lavender and sage fillers that can be heated in the microwave, and my favourite, a binder full of recipes for some great foot soaks.

In preparation, I had a spa pedicure this week.  I asked the esthetician to cut my nails nice and short (don't you just go crazy when your toes go through those expensive tights) and my favourite French pedicure polish.  Pedicures keep your feet happy and healthy and should be part of your regular overall body care routine.

One of the best foot soaks combines the cooling effects of peppermint essential oil with the soothing, relaxing and subtle sweetness of lavender.

Peppermint & Lavender Tender Tootsie Soak

 4 TBL dead sea salts

4 TBL baking soda

4 TBL citric acid

4 drops peppermint essential oil

4 drops lavender essential oil

1/2 teaspoon 

glycerine

Peppermint oil, which dates back from 1000 BC, contains menthol, which is great for skin as it nourishes dull dry skin and helps improve blood circulation.  Peppermint is native to the Mediterranean region, but is also cultivated in Italy, USA, Japan and Great Britain.

According to Greek mythology the nymph Mentha was hotly pursued by Pluto, whose jealous wife Persephone, trod her ferociously into the ground, whereupon Pluto then turned her into a herb, knowing that people would appreciate her for years to come.

Lavender is native to the mountainous zones of the Mediterranean where it grows in sunny, stony habitats. Today, it flourishes throughout southern Europe, Australia, and the United States--and in my garden!

The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means "to wash." Lavender may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths to help purify the body and spirit. 

One of the most widely used essential oils, lavender has many therapeutic properties which include healing, pain relief, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and many more. It is often used to treat minor cuts and scrapes, burns, acne, respiratory disorders and insomnia.

Spa Girl "From Cupboard to Face" it's all about Pumpkins

It's that time of year again, when witches, goblins, and ghosts prowl the streets basking in the glow of fabulously carved pumpkins. 

In addition to Halloween decoration, and so many wonderful pumpkin recipes, pumpkins can be used as a great spa treatment. 

Spa Girl just loves the power of this delightful fall produce.

The enzymes in pumpkins will remove skin cell build up and stimulate cell regeneration without stress or irritation to the skin. High in Vitamin A, which is great for the skin, Vitamin C, a well known  anti-oxidant, AHA's, beta-carotene, Vitamins E, Alpha-carotene, zinc, and lutein, pumpkin bitg soothes, and nicely moisturizes the skin.

In general, new skin cells require twenty-eight days to rejuvenate. As we age, this renewal process slows and is further hindered by environmental factors, stress, and lack of sleep. Fruit enzymes and Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA’s) help to increase the skins natural turnover rate.

Pumpkin makes an excellent face mask ingredient for all skin types, especially environmentally damaged or sensitive skin.

Pumpkin Pie Face MaskIngredients2 teaspoons cooked or canned pumpkin, pureed (see above for benefits)one-half teaspoon honey (humectant, regenerative)
one-quarter teaspoon milk (or soymilk)(alpha hydroxyl acid, enzymes digest skin cells) 

Optional Ingredients For Dry Skinone-quarter teaspoon heavy whipping cream (moisturizing; alpha hydroxy acid)
-or-
one-half teaspoon brown sugar (exfoliates, moisturizes, alpha hydroxyl acid)
For Oily Skinone-quarter teaspoon apple cider (tonic action promotes skin circulation; alpha hydroxyl acid; regulates pH).-or-
one-quarter teaspoon cranberry juice (high in antioxidants critically important to the utilization of essential fatty acids to maintain balanced, nourished skin. 

Directions 

Combine the ingredients for your facemask. Mix gently and apply to your face avoiding the eye area. Rest and relax for 10-15 minutes while your pumpkin pie facemask gently exfoliates, nourishes and conditions your face. Rinse with warm water and apply the appropriate moisturizer for your skin type. 

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/pumpkin-face-mask-vitamin-rich.html#ixzz1aI2fWFlb 

Pumpkin Facial Mask  

2 teaspoons cooked or canned pumpkin 1/2 teaspoon honey 1/4 teaspoon milk (or whipping cream, if your skin is very dry)

1. Combine ingredients and apply to a clean face with gentle circular motions, avoiding the area around your eyes.2. Allow mask to remain on skin for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water, pat dry, and apply your usual moisturiser. 

Pumpkin, Sugar, and Spice Scrub 

1/2 cup cooked or canned pumpkin, pureed1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1. Combine ingredients in a bowl.2. Stand in a tub or shower stall and use a damp washcloth to scoop some of the mixture up. Apply to body, starting with your feet and working your way up, but avoiding your face. Scrub gently using circular motions.3. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a linen towel. 

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/pumpkin-treats-for-your-skin.html#ixzz1aI2v9hLD 

Did you know... Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C.

More about pumpkins...

http://www.allaboutpumpkins.com/history.html

http://chuck.hubpages.com/hub/Pumpkins_-_History_and_Lore

Spa Girl salutes National Yoga Month!

Photo Credit: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa

Terraced high on Camelback Mountain above Paradise Valley is an exhilarating blend of serenity and vitality: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa is an extraordinary boutique resort with luxurious mountain and spa casitas enhanced by spectacular views. This 53-acre resort features the tranquility of an Asian-inspired spa, as well as Scottsdale's golf, shopping, and cultural temptations. Whether you're seeking solo rest and relaxation or a romantic getaway, the pleasing colors (soft moss green, sunset orange, periwinkle blue, slate) of this gorgeous resort are sure to set the right mood.

It has been such a busy month--everyone kicks off their fall events and programs in September--I have not had an opportunity to blog.  But it's National Yoga Month and I need to salute this age old practice which connects the mind, body, and spirit and has so many related health benefits.

Spas all over the globe are adding Yoga to their offerings as this ancient practice is experiencing an upsurge in popularity.  

Yoga helps to improve flexibility, strength, muscle tone, breathing, posture and mood  and can significantly  reduce stress, improve concentration and help you sleep!  And who doesn't need a little more sleep and less stress?

There are many yoga classes to select from, so you need to experiment and find which one works best for you. 

·       HATHA: You’re a beginner to yoga and keep hearing the word “hatha.” As you experiment with different styles of yoga, it’s helpful to know that most Western yoga derives from Hatha, one of the six major branches of yoga. Hatha emphasizes poses (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and relaxation to cleanse and strengthen the mind, body, and spirit. 

·       ANANDA: You believe in the power of affirmations. Silent affirmations during this practice’s physical poses help you channel your awakened energies, including those of the chakras. By practicing Ananda, you connect to a higher level of awareness. 

·       VINYASA FLOW: You’re past the beginner stage and want to sweat a little more. In this style, poses flow from one to another, transitioning with inhales and exhales, and creating a dancelike movement. Flow classes tend to be vigorous and are often not for beginning students. 

·       ASHTANGA: You like a Vinyasa-flow-style yoga but prefer the same order of poses every time. Ashtanga has become a very popular style, featuring a series of poses that promote the flow of energy throughout the body. It’s an extremely invigorating workout. 

·       POWER: If you do yoga in your gym, it’s most likely this style. The term was created so that an Ashtanga-style practice would appeal more to Westerners. Power yoga emphasizes the workout aspects of yoga, rather than its spiritual benefits. 

·       INTEGRAL: You love the idea of promoting the greater good through your yoga practice. Founded by the Reverend Sri Swami Satchidananda, this style introduced many young people in the ’60s to yogic philosophies. Gentle poses, sound vibration, breathing, and guided meditation are its cornerstones, but the greater goal is to radiate peace and tolerance throughout the world.
·       IYENGAR: You love precision and props. Founded by I.K.S. Iyengar, this style involves holding poses longer for greater intensity and concentration on proper alignment. Iyengar also emphasizes the use of props such as blocks, belts, and chairs. 

·       KUNDALINI: The more spiritual, the better. Using chanting, meditation, poses, and breath, a Kundalini practice helps you channel your energy from the base of your spine to your whole being’s energy centers, or chakras. 

·       BIKRAM: You like it hot and sweaty and practicing set poses. Since a warm body is a flexible body, Bikram is practiced in a room heated to about 105 degrees with 40% humidity. This challenging yoga comprises 26 Hatha yoga postures and two pranayama breathing techniques. The sequences work synergistically to improve health and well-being. More here. 

·       HOT YOGA: You like it hot so you can achieve maximum benefits. Some hot yoga studios employ some of Bikram’s techniques but choose not to buy into a franchise to go by this name, but many businesses that practice a variety of yoga styles now use “Hot Yoga” if their studios are heated for maximum flexibility and deeper poses. 

·       SIVANANDA: You believe in the power of positive thinking and want to relax into exercise. Based on several forms of yoga, this practice works five principles into every class, including breathing, relaxation, exercise, diet, and positive thinking. A regular series of poses, breathing exercises, and meditation get you to a very relaxed place. 

·       TANTRIC YOGA: You want to get closer to your partner. This style is all about intimacy with your partner, both sexual and spiritual. Like Kundalini, it’s based on the belief that the source of all your energy resides in the base of your spine. By practicing poses and breathing techniques with your partner, this energy will work its way through your entire body. 

·       KRIPALU: You like taking it off the mat. Originating from the Kripalu retreat in Massachusetts’ Berkshires, Kripalu promotes awareness of body, breath, and mind through poses, breathing, and relaxation techniques. The emphasis on thriving off the mat, and how connecting to that life force assists with the inquiry of optimal living sets this style apart. 

·       NUDE: You like taking it off! Sure, not wanting to spend 50 bucks on yoga pants is one motivation, but practitioners love how doing yoga naked allows them to accept their bodies as-is and makes them feel free. 

·       ANASURA: You believe it all comes from the heart. A relatively new style of yoga founded by John Friend in 1997, Anasura respects every student’s level of experience, promoting the divine in body, mind, and spirit. With this style, the heart is the force behind every action or expression of the pose. 

·       VINIYOGA: You want your current state to drive your practice. This style acknowledges that we are forever changing, and that one person is in a different place from another. Practice is individualized for optimum health and personal transformation.

http://clubspa.spafinder.com/wellness-week/yoga-style-guide-find-practice-suits/

Spa Girls top three favourite hand creams

Every Spa Girl wants smooth, hydrated, soft hands, but finding the right hand cream that works for you and your skin type is no exercise for the faint of heart. 

If you enter hand creams into your search engine thousands of sites come up extolling their virtues and claiming to be the best hand cream on the market.  They say their product will absorb quickly and promise to deliver youthful-looking, soft hands almost overnight. And these products come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, a variety of gels, serums, lotions, and creams with, in some cases, price tags the size of small mortgages.

What is important to know when selecting any skin care product is that skin requires collagen in order to stay firm and looking healthy. A hand cream that contains antioxidants which nourish the skin and fight free radicals will also go a long way to smoothing, hydrating and soften your hands. When choosing a hand cream also look for natural ingredients.

After many trials and errors, I have found three hand creams that I use on a regular basis. It might just help you narrow down that search for the perfect hand cream.

Pre de Provence

After studying in the south of France, almost anything French captures my heart, so when I discovered this amazing hand cream that worked wonders on my skin, I immediately bought several tubes and then blogged on this fabulous hand cream.

Here is what I had to say...

http://spagirl007.blogspot.com/2011/04/spa-girl-loves-provence.html

What they have to say...

In Provence, everything is influenced by herbs and flowers- from the fresh rosemary in their cuisine, to the petals blended in their perfumes. It is easy to understand why the Provencal way of health and beauty is commonly based on the ancient art of aroma therapy- the use of specially selected essential oils extracted from plants for the purposes of Homeopathic medicine and spiritual balance. Pre de Provence products reflect this ancient art.The Pre de Provence selection of products are produced from the purist botanical essences harvested in Provence using the aromachology principle.. These products are for those who appreciate the quality of these refined products and require the purist and finest in bath and hair preparations.

Perlier Olivarium Emollient Hand Cream with Pure Olive Oil

Produced in Italy this rich hand cream is made with pure olive oil from the Mediterranean.  Its rich emollient formula makes for a great non-greasy moisturizer leaving your hands velvety soft and smooth.  I love this product!

What they have to say...

With over 80 years experience in the area of scientific research, Italian manufacturing giant Perlier has long specialized in the development of therapeutic products derived from natural ingredients. However it wasn't until an expansion in 1972 that the company saw the introduction of their bath and body line, developed specifically to provide women with "high quality, functional and efficient products" that would address their individual skincare needs. The concept soared and helped the brand become the number one cosmetics company in Italy.
Located in Turin, their corporate offices, research lab, and experiment centre sit on 150 acres of land, free of pesticides and insecticides, where they cultivate all the plants, flowers, and honey from which their ingredients derive. The result is pure, scientifically formulated products whose results and effects can actually be measured.
Uniquely marketed in a straightforward manner, Perlier makes no promises of "miracles" to their customer but instead simply guarantees efficient results.

Adovia Mineral Hand Cream

Enriched with Dead Sea Minerals and Shea Butter this rich hand cream is formulated with natural oils including Calendula Oil, vitamins and essential minerals.  Like all my three favorite hand creams this product absorbs quickly into the skin leaving your hands feeling silky soft and smooth.

What they have to say...

Established in 2005, ADOVIA is the first skin care line to combine Dead Sea Minerals with the finest Natural Herbal ingredients nature has to offer to create a nutritious cocktail for your skin. ADOVIA's mineral-based products work to restore your skin's natural inner balance, allowing it to renew and rebuild itself to achieve visibly smoother, healthier and younger looking skin. Your skin cells are replenished with vital nutrients, resulting in a naturally smooth, rejuvenated and healthy complexion. Take your skin and soul on a journey to the world's oldest and largest natural spa - The Dead Sea - with ADOVIA Mineral Skin Care.

The next time you extend your hand out to someone make sure it is well cared for, soft and smooth, it will send out an important message, that you care about your own well-being!

Spa Girl says bring on the tomatoes, heirloom of course!

It's tomato season, one of my favourite times of the year.  Slowly each week at the market in my hometown the tomatoes are starting to appear, red ones, yellow, purple, black, green, all those delightful heirloom colours.  They were slow this year due to our chilly wet start to summer, but once again we are witness to a tomato renaissance.

Tomatoes are well known for their anti-oxidants, helping us to age more gracefully as they reduce the number of free radicals in our bodies. Tomatoes are great for both the skin and the hair, and there are many wonderful tomato facial masks and scrubs that balance soothe, refresh and brighten the skin.  They also help to preserve moisture levels in the body!

Here is a treat to get started...

Step 1Finely dice the tomato, using the knife and cutting board. Transfer the diced tomato to a bowl.Step 2Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl with the chopped tomato.Step 3Measure 2 tbsp. oats into the blender. Blend until the oatmeal is reduced to a fine powder. Stir the oatmeal powder into the tomato and lemon juice mixture. Mix well.Step 4Smooth the tomato, lemon and oat mixture onto a clean face. Avoid getting the mixture into your eyes. Lie back and relax and allow the mask to dry, 15 to 20 minutes.Step 5Rinse off the facial mask with warm water. Pat your face dry with a linen towel. 

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/176998-how-to-make-a-face-mask-with-tomato-lemon-juice-oats/#ixzz1Vid2fNq5

Over the last few years heirloom tomatoes have become the star of the culinary world, both for their amazing complex flavour and their beauty; and farmers are responding growing over 600+ varieties of these knobby multicoloured/multi floured gems.

This is a welcome reprieve from the large-scale commercial hybrid tomato breeding that took place after WWII which changed the face of the industry as they sought to create the "perfect" tomato for the mass market--large, red, disease-resistant and thick skinned.  Most of these tomatoes were picked early and force-ripened with ethylene gas.

So what is an heirloom tomato?

Pinning down an exact definition for what makes an "heirloom" can be tricky, especially as the tag heirloom becomes a marketing tool. Large seed companies have been known to "borrow" heirloom names (or at least something very close) to increase sales of hybrid. Most heirlooms have been passed down in families or communities, until they were discovered by the tomato community and preserved. The Seed Savers Exchange, a nonprofit organization created in 1975 in Iowa, has dedicated itself to preserving America's heirloom and heritage vegetable varieties. Similar seed exchanges operate throughout the tomato-growing world, and tomato growers regularly and enthusiastically trade seeds. Lately, commercial seed companies have also dramatically expanded their offerings of heirloom seeds—so it can be a bit confusing where the line between "hybrid" and "heirloom" cuts off. One good definition was offered by heirloom expert Carolyn Male in her book 100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden:

• Commercial heirlooms: Open-pollinated plants introduced before 1940 or tomatoes varieties that are more than 50 years old

• Family heirlooms: Tomatoes that have been passed down through a family for several generations

• Created heirlooms: Created by crossing two known parents (such as two heirlooms or a hybrid and an heirloom) and stabilizing the resulting offspring until they consistently reproduce true from seed

• Mystery heirlooms: Unknown heirlooms, often created by natural cross-pollination in the field

Spa Girl Tip:  pick your tomatoes carefully, handle them with tender loving care (heirloom varieties tend to be quite fragile) and above all never, ever refrigerate them!

Tomatoes have long been used in home remedies for oily and blemish-prone skin. They contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals, such as A, C, E, iron and potassium, which help nourish the skin. Tomatoes also provide an astringent effect on the skin to help remove excess oil and refine the pores.  Here are a few great sites to explore:

How to Make a Tomato Facial Mask | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2062798_make-tomato-facial-mask.html#ixzz1ViaoGk4t

http://localfoods.about.com/od/summer/tp/HeirloomTomatoes.htm

http://localfoods.about.com/od/tomatoes/tp/AllAboutTomatoes.htm

http://localfoods.about.com/od/tomatoes/tp/QuickTomatoes.htm