Be Careful in the Summer Sun!
As much as we love the summer sunshine and lounging by the pool (cocktail in hand for those of us of age), we’d like to offer some tips from the Spa about how to protect your skin in the last couple months of summer. Here are a few tips from the spa to remain comfortable this summer:
- Don’t forget your hat! Based on personal experience, it’s not only hard to remember to apply sunscreen to your head, it’s hard to actually do. Hats help solve the sunburned, peeling scalp problem before it starts.
- Apply a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 before sun exposure and then reapply it frequently, at least every few hours, especially if you perspire or take a dip in our pool.
- Do not forget to wear your sunscreen on overcast days. The sun's rays can be as damaging to your skin on cloudy, hazy days as they are on sunny days.
- Some medications make you more sensitive to the sun’s rays—ask your doctor of pharmacist about any medications that you are taking that may make you increasingly sensitive to the sunlight.
- Be Aware of Reflective Surfaces! Sand, snow, concrete and water can reflect more than half of the sun's rays into your skin. Sitting in the shade does not guarantee protection from sunburn or sun damage because reflected rays can still reach your skin.
- Be extra careful during the sun's peak hours of 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Buttercream Cupcake Frosting
Our buttercream frosting recipe will add a little something special to your favorite cupcakes. With only 5 ingredients, we keep it to just the essentials: eggs, sugar, salt, butter, and vanilla. Feel free to add a little coloring for a little extra flair. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Makes about 5 cups.
- 5 large egg whites
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons, room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the heatproof bowl of a standing mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips).
- Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, whisk until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue mixing until the mixture is fluffy and glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl), about 10 minutes.
- With mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once all butter has been added, whisk in vanilla. Switch to the paddle attachment, and continue beating on low speed until all air bubbles are eliminated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl with a flexible spatula, and continue beating until the frosting is completely smooth. Keep buttercream at room temperature if using the same day, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth again, about 5 minutes.
- (Optional) To tint buttercream (or royal icing), reserve some for toning down the color, if necessary. Add gel-paste food color, a drop at a time (or use the toothpick or skewer to add food color a dab at a time) to the remaining buttercream. You can use a single shade of food color or experiment by mixing two or more. Blend after each addition with the mixer (use a paddle attachment) or a flexible spatula, until desired shade is achieved. Avoid adding too much food color too soon, as the hue will intensify with continued stirring; if necessary, you can tone down the shade by mixing in some reserved untinted buttercream.
From Tony Fountain of the Grand America Spa: Smooth Honey-Almond Mask
Back for more tasty, er, moisturizing facial treatments? This one smells as good as it feels! The honey, egg yolk, almond oil, and yogurt all combine to create a truly refreshing facial mask. Give it a try and let us know how it works out!
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 tsp almond oil
- 1 Tbsp yogurt
Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Apply layer to face, leave on 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, gently wipe residue with a damp cloth.
