flickr user The Bees

Did you know that yesterday was a monumental day in the culinary world? One of the best holidays to occur all year? A day to rejoice and celebrate one of the most deliciously scrumptious foods there is. Yup, that’s right, January 24^th is National Peanut Butter Day! I know this is a day late, but I heart that gooey goodness so much that I think it should be celebrated all week long. Maybe I’ll even choose to celebrate all month long if it helps justify eating it by the spoonful at midnight. Not only is peanut butter delicious, but also chock-full of protein and healthy unsaturated fats which provide nutrients to the hair, skin and nails. But just remember—everything in moderation. Notice how I said “spoonful” in the singular tense? Oh, who am I kidding, we all know I have absolutely no self restraint!

Here is one of my favorite ways to celebrate National Peanut Butter Day and this glorious food:

The World’s Best Peanut Butter Cookies

½  cup granulated sugar

½ cups packed brown sugar

½ cup peanut butter

¼ cup shortening

¼ cup butter or margarine, softened

1 egg

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Step 1- Mix sugars, peanut butter, shortening, butter and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.

Step 2- Heat oven to 375

Step 3- Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten in crisscross pattern with fork dipped into sugar.

Step 4- Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

Step 5- Enjoy!

Several of the moms around the office have solemnly sworn that the Mustela products are among the best they have used on their babies—particularly when it comes to curing pesky diaper rashes and cradle cap. After reading all the rave reviews on DermStore (Mustela has 19 Shopper’s Choice products!) I settled on sending my friend the Mustela Newborn Set. For only $38.61, the set includes Foam Shampoo for Newborns which prevents and heals cradle cap, PhysiBebe to cleanse  the face and diaper area, Hydra-Bebe Body Lotion, Vitamin Barrier Cream to prevent diaper rash and Dermo-Cleansing Gel , which is a soap-free cleanser for the baby’s hair and body.

Even though my friend is destined to be one of those impossibly adorable, cute pregnant women who never even sets foot in the maternity section (think Miranda Kerr), I also sent the Mustela Stretch Mark Cream. With 50 reviews and an average of five stars, it seemed like a no brainer!

How to tackle the holiday party scene:

1. The number one healthy holiday tip? Never arrive hungry! Always have a healthy snack before you go to a party. Take the edge off your hunger by eating a few slices of lean protein, such as turkey breast, some fruit or vegetables before you leave. That way, your growling tummy won’t take you directly to the cheese platter and dessert tray.
2. Bargain with yourself. Make up little deals, such as allowing yourself 1 piece of pie after eating 5 healthy carrot sticks.
3. Count calories. I know, it’s annoying, but if you are aware of how many you’re consuming throughout the day, you will know how many you may eat at the party. If your friend makes the world’s best apple pie or you are planning on having a few cocktails, substitute your usual sandwich at lunch for a low-cal salad.
4. Chew gum. Several studies have concluded that chewing gum before snacking can reduce your cravings and hunger. Plus, it keeps you occupied.
5. Remember that the purpose of a party is to socialize, not to eat! Try making the rounds and talking to people first, instead of heading to the buffet table. You might find that you aren’t even hungry.

Other tips for a healthy holiday:

1. Don’t skimp on your workout! In fact, try to increase them during the week. Add just a little bit more cardio to your general routine so that you can have an extra glass of wine or a second helping without the guilt.
2. Sign up for a race. Lots of towns host races around the holidays, such as a 5k Reindeer Run or 10k Jingle Bell Jog. Participating in a race is a great way to stay active, get in the holiday spirit, motivate yourself to stay healthy in the coming days and even lose holiday weight.
3. Remember to drink water! Water is one of the best things we can put in our bodies—it flushes out all the toxins (one too many holiday-tinis? Chug some agua!), and keeps us hydrated, which minimizes hunger pains.

These aren’t just great tips for a healthy holiday, try and remember them year round as well!

The customizable kit is the ideal present for every person and price point. Because each kit is tailored to the specific individual and the products are ultimately selected by each Beautyfix user, it is a gift that everyone on your list is guaranteed to love, from girlfriends to co-workers to hard to please mother-in laws. Available for purchase by season, Beautyfix is a great stocking stuffer at $49.99 for one season or an even more elaborate gift when giving 2 or more seasons (buy 3 seasons for $149.97 and receive the fourth free).

The lucky Beautyfix recipient will be able to create her own profile by taking a brief beauty profile survey, answering skin care, hair care and makeup questions to help determine the best product matches. Once the quiz is completed, a list of panelist approved products will be suggested for the user based on the survey results. The user then picks 8 products to test, experience and fall in love with! So what are you waiting for Santa?

Elta MD UV Sport Waterproof SPF 50 and B. Kamins Lip Balm with SPF 20 are my favorite sun protection products. The Elta MD is a fantastic waterproof formula (i.e. sweat proof sunscreen) that manages to stay put, even on me- and during workouts, I sweat like a you-know-what in church! So you know it’s a great product. The B. Kamins is ultra moisturizing and helps to prevent wind burn on my lips.

Post run, I love love love to use Dr. Haushka’s Sage bath as a foot bath product. It is extremely soothing and relaxing, as is their Birth Arnica Body oil.

My all time favorite beauty indulgence post grueling workout? A pedicure! It may not be the nail salon employees favorite thing, but it sure is mine! If you can’t make it to the salon, check out Barielle’s 60 Second Manicure/Pedicure scrub. The yummy smelling concoction of oils, seeds, avocado, almond, jojoba and sea salts scrub away all the dry skin and calluses runner’s are known for. As for color, right now, I absolutely adore Butter London’s Royal Navy. Not only is the deep blue a gorgeous color, but it dries so quickly and does not contain any formaldehyde or parabens.

Do you have any favorite pre or post workout beauty secrets?

This online boutique is not only a fantastic destination for limited edition Breast Cancer Awareness products but also a unique concept from DermStore.com, as it allows for additional funds to support this well deserving cause.  In 2010, there were over 207,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in American women. With each passing year, science makes life-saving advancements and brings new hope to everyone affected by this disease. With the aid of charitable donations, much like DermStore.com’s and its participating brands’, we are a step closer to a cure.

What steps do you take to protect yourself from this deadly disease? Share your precautionary steps on DermStore’s blog and you could be one of the 5 winners to receive a goody bag from the Breast Cancer Awareness Boutique.

I must confess (I think I make some skin care blunder confession every blog post…) that I NEVER exfoliated before this—maybe the pedicurist occasionally talked me into a scrub, but that has happened probably twice in my life and hardly counts. Needless to say, I was due for a real exfoliation. After about a week of using Glytone’s Exfoliating Body Wash, I noticed a visible difference in my skin. I never thought that my skin looked dry or dead prior to using this product. However now that I have started using it I can see that my skin was most certainly lacking a healthy glow that it now has. Not only does the glycolic acid slough away dead skin cells, it also combats break outs, it hydrates and renews the skin, allowing for a brighter and more youthful appearance.

Like the 211 people that have reviewed on DermStore, I too am now a devoted Glytone user

Currently, one of the hottest topics in the health sphere is gluten.  If you asked someone a few years ago if they tried to avoid gluten, they’re answer would have been “glu-what?”.  However, now there is an entire aisle in most grocery stores devoted to keeping the g-word out of our diets. So what exactly is gluten and why are people avoiding it like it’s the new carb?

Simply put, gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Most recently, many people are attributing gluten to their tummy trouble and even weight gain. Researchers believe that there might be more than 3 million Americans with Celiac Disease, an immune response disorder that damages the small intestine and can cause abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and even headaches, skin rashes and neurological problems. Millions more that suffer from some form of gluten intolerance or sensitivity.  Regardless of the stomach pains, bloats and even rashes, it seems that cutting back on gluten laden foods such as pizza and bagels couldn’t be that bad right? Several people, including some in our office, swear that a diet low in gluten has done wonders not only for their stomach but for their skin as well. There are even several up and coming skin care companies, such as MyChelle Dermaceuticals, boasting gluten free products!  If banning gluten was good enough for Oprah’s detox and Chelsea Clinton’s wedding cake, there must be something to it, right?

Not so fast… some experts believe that there is a backlash to the gluten free uprising.  Gluten free does not equate to calorie free, sugar free or fat free. Without gluten to bind food together, manufacturers turn towards fats and sugar to add flavor and substance.

So should we all ban the g-word for our pantries? Unless you have been diagnosed with Celiac or have a seriously gluten intolerance, in my very uneducated opinion giving gluten the cold shoulder is not entirely necessary. However, anything that minimizes the chip eating and maximizes the veggie consumption sounds alright to me!

Denim blue nails are a major must for fall!

We’re constantly discussing beauty products in our office: the latest and greatest, the hottest trends and the newest ingredients. Right now, though, it’s all about fall nail polish colors! There are so many fun colors coming out for fall—think denim blues, shiny golds and rich reds. Much to the excitement of every girl in our office, DermStore just received the entire Essie collection, as well as the super coveted Butter London line.

Having heard the buzz surrounding Butter London, I was especially eager to try it out. I tend to pick bolder colors when selecting nail polishes. However, after assessing my current cuticle situation, I decided something a little more subtle would be a better choice. I selected “All Hail the Queen,” a shimmery beige that the brand describes as “holographic.” The gorgeous shade is a perfect hybrid of muted and glitter, making my nails look elegant without drawing attention to the fact I’m in dire need of a professional manicure. The glitter specks keep it fresh and not to matronly. The best thing about Butter London? It dries unbelievably fast and doesn’t clump! Three coats and 20 minutes later, I was carelessly fixing my hair with not so much as a smudge!

Below are a few of my coworkers’ favorite fall nail polish colors.

Liz, Editor of DermStore, loves all Chanel nail polish, but this season she’s obsessed with Chanel’s Peridot (more affectionately known to us as “Subdued Beatle”)-”I love this color because it’s out of my comfort zone. It allows me to wear something flashy without being in-your-face about it … and it fuses class with trend the way only Chanel can.”

Beth, Social Media Manager- “I love Turquoise from Pop Beauty. Some people tend to go darker for this season, but I adore this fun color for fall. It adds an awesome pop of color to every outfit!”

Devon, Brand Manager- “My favorite color every fall is a deep red. Reds are always so classic and sophisticated but the richer hues of fall add an edgier feel than the bight reds of spring. Right now, I am wearing Barielle’s  Glammed out Garnet.”

Sara, Copywriter- “My go-to color for fall is by Power Clutch by Essie. It’s a subdued khaki green that will give your fall wardrobe a touch of offbeat color.”

1-2 Months Before the Red Carpet

• Chemical Peels “A medium chemical peel can produce pretty dramatic results,” explains Dr. Magovern. “However, the actual peeling of the skin can last a couple weeks. Patients should have these procedures performed at least a month before their big event.” A light chemical peel can be done a week or two prior.

3 Weeks Before the Red Carpet

• Botox- Botox is one of the most commonly used and accepted cosmetic dermatology procedures on the market. “Botox, when used correctly and in moderation is a great preventative treatment,” states Dr. Magovern. “Recovery time is minimal, but I do suggest patients get Botox at least three weeks before an event just in case there is bruising or a touch up is needed.”

5-7 Days Before the Red Carpet

• Microdermabrasion- “Microdermabrasion treatments are great to have done a few days before a red carpet appearance. It makes skin look and feel smoother almost immediately and the results can last for several weeks after the treatment,” says Dr. Magovern.

48 Hours Before the Red Carpet

• Facials- Celebrities are known to indulge in extravagant facial before big events, including Mila Kunis’ $7,000 Golden Globes facial utilizing rubies and diamonds. “Facials are great because they are specifically designed and targeted to each person’s skin concerns,” explains Dr. Magovern. “Facials include extractions, cleansings and appropriate masks, which revives the dull skin and is a great quick pick-me-up. I do suggest discussing a client’s skin type and or concerns prior to each facial to avoid breakouts.”