To banish heat-induced lethargy, in-the-know Chicagoans are touting mint as the it ingredient to soothe tired minds and refresh the flagging spirit.
An ancient pick-me-up favored by Cleopatra and other venerable divas, mint is known to assuage tension headaches, improve indigestion and provide a blast of energy to the weary. Happily, beauty companies have harnessed mint’s freshening properties with products designed to refresh those dealing with August’s dog-day afternoons.
Here’s your chill-out recipe:
– Perk things up in the shower with Kiss My Face Organic Big Kiss Soap in peppermint, rosemary and wintergreen ($10 at www.kissmyface.com), followed by Blisslabs Mammoth Minty Glossy Wash ($32 at www.blissworld.com).
– After sultry nights out in the city, invigorate the face with Kiss My Face So Refined Jojoba and Mint Face Scrub ($12 at www.kissmyface.com), Decleor Cleansing Gel with mint ($28.50 at Nordstrom) or Benefit’s Fantasy Mint Wash cleanser ($23 at www.benefitcosmetics.com).
Dab the temples with Origins’ minty Peace of Mind On-the-Spot relief ($10 at www.origins.com) to relieve tension headaches and/or hangovers.
– Finally, freshen your lips and breath with Blisslabs Breath Freshening Lip Balm in Mint ($14 at www.blissworld.com), which is reputed to cool the lips and “clear the air.”
– And, if your tootsies require pampering, hit Ame Day Spa (1006 W. Armitage Ave., 773-929-4999) or Spa Emilia (21 W. Elm St., 312-951-7415) for a mint-infused pedicure.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi (dsottardi@tribune.com)
