A BEAUTY GIFT GUIDE FOR MOTHER’S DAY
Mom. Maman. Mum. ‘Ma.
No matter which part of the world you come from, chances are that your word for your mother is something heartfelt and meaningful. Mothers deserve respect everyday (take it from a new mom) but especially on Mother’s Day. Luckily, the beauty sphere is filled with precious items to show mom a truly great time. Here are a few gems sure to make mom smile and possibly even forget all the late nights, temper tantrums, soccer games, school plays, science projects, wedding jitters, late night calls, term papers………….
Korres Japanese Rose Body Wash and Body Butter ($19/$29 )
Photo Credit: Amazon.com
The Korres Body Wash is silky and sumptuous, and creates s a creamy foam that oozes luxury. Natural antioxidants are an added plus. The Body Butter is on the richer end of the moisturizing spectrum, and is nourishing to the skin, while restoring elasticity with shea butter and quince extracts. Of course, the rose is a symbol of romance, and has been for generations: give mom a modern twist of the classic with the Japanese version.
Sonia Kashuk Beauty Organizers ($24.99)
Lipsticks, gloss, jewelry, makeup palettes. All these add up and the last thing mom wants to see is clutter (didn’t all her years of nagging you to do chores get that point across?). She will be so surprised when you help her on the road to order with a beauty organizer, theoretically speaking. And practically, Sonia Kashuk’s little gems found at Target will do the trick, and they come in beautiful floral and yarn print designs.
ZO® Skin Health Level 11: Anti-Aging Program ($230)
Photo Credit: zoskinhealth.com
Give mom the gift of youthful skin with this anti aging skincare kit from the skin health master Dr. Zein Obagi. The secret weapon behind this program is the high concentrations of active ingredients including growth factors, retinol and enzymes. of retinol. The five-product system includes everything mom will need to fight lines, uneven skin tone, and loss of firmness—day and night. An added bonus: once she tries the Oclipse® Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30, no other makeup prep will do.
NARS Hearts New York City Limited Edition Palette ($75)
Photo Credit: NARS Cosmetics
New York City’s best-selling hues are all packaged in this incredibly detailed, artistic limited edition box. The set contains four eyeshadows as well as NARS’ must have Laguna Bronzing Powder and Amour Blush in a svelte, purse-friendly compact. It also contains lip gloss (Dolce Vita, a sheer dusty rose), and a blood-red nail lacquer (Chinatown) that will make mom’s look complete. It’s classic and thoughtful, and so very elegant for a very deserving woman.
mē Smooth Hair Removal Device ($395)
If you want to give your mom a gift she may not buy herself, try the mē Smooth. This is the first and only at-home hair removal device that has been FDA cleared to use on ALL skin types, a very big deal. It combines Intense Pulse Light with Radiofrequency energy to heat the hair follicle and inhibit hair growth. A full leg treatment takes only 10 minutes. Repeat for seven weeks in a row and then follow up once a month for smooth, silky legs. mē Smooth can be used anywhere below the neck; just adjust the treatment times according to the size of the targeted area.
LUSH Cosmetics Bath Bomb ($6.95)
Mom deserves a (cruelty-free) bath, so run to the store or order Lush Cosmetics’ Bath Bombs online. The Mumkin bubble bar is adorable and available exclusively for Mother’s Day: it features a fruity, raspberry fragrance, which crumbles under running water and is perfect for soothing away the day’s woes. There are also Cream of the Crop reusable bubble bath bar wands for mom, which are easy to swirl around the tub or in running water for scented bubbles. Group together a handful of the floral shaped wands for a lovely bouquet.
Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme Coffret Baguette ($95)
Right in time for Mother’s Day comes an elegant, refined yet edgy coffret from the Atelier. Rose Anonyme is all about being a seductress, with sparkling tones. In this beautiful fragrance, Turkish rose absolute sparkles beneath notes of ginger, velvet oud, Indonesian patchouli, mystic papyrus, and Somalian incense. The result is zesty sensuousness. The coffret comes with a scented soap, as well as liner notes, all packaged in a beautiful giftable box.
Ralph Lauren Big Pink Pony with Essie Set ($45)
Photo Credit: macys.com
This is one of the most fun beauty partnerships we’ve seen this year: a colorful kit by Ralph Lauren Fragrances and Essie means mom can look good and smell heavenly. There are four distinctive and colorful kits, each with its own coordinated drawstring pouch. Each kit has a unique fragrance and personality: Sporty (#1), Sensual (#2), Free-Spirited (#3) and Stylish (#4). The drawstring bags contain a Big Pony EDT (30 ml), a Perfuming Body Mist (50g) and a corresponding Essie polish. In-store nail specialists will be offering manicures with the Big Pony colors at select Macy’s and Belk stores.
Spa Sonic System Face and Body Polisher ($65)
An at-home, affordable spa set that gives mom a polished, exfoliated look? Sign us up! The new Color Collection from Spa Sonic is brand new and makes for a chic gift. The Face and Body Polisher is a waterproof device that is designed to work in the shower. But unlike similar systems, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. The kit comes with all the attachments you need to get the job done: a small brush for the face, a larger one for the body, pumice head for rough areas like elbows and heels, and a facial sponge for microdermabrasion. I’ve not seen a kit for this price give so much, and work so well. I’ve used both the Clarisonic and Spa Sonic and while the look of both is different, there’s no doubt that the Spa Sonic can perform comparably. The new colors are made for gifting!
Photo Credit: cremedelamer.com
LA MER JUMPS INTO SUMMER: SOLEIL DE LA MER REVIEW
Soleil de la Mer, the first sun care line from La Mer is bound to be ultra reparative and moisturizing, and I could not wait to try it before summer sets in. The collection includes everything you need to protect your skin while in the sun, and also to get a safe fake tan, including SPF 30 face lotion, SPF 30 body lotion, self-tanning lotion, and SPF 18 tinted fluid. Like all La Mer treatments, this line builds on the brand’s heritage. To boost the power of La Mer’s famous Miracle Broth, which was invented by creator Max Huber to heal serious skin burns, the sun range turns to algae to give it the nourishment and deep care needed for in-sun and post-sun skin repair.
Golden Algae Ferment is the star ingredient of the Soleil de la Mer products, and the idea behind this is to repair skin after time spent in the sun. The ferment is created with Laminaria Ochroleuca ( the official name for Golden Algae) as well as marine peptides and a blend of sea botanicals in a nod to Huber’s deep love of the ocean and its reparative properties. This type of algae is not your every day seaweed; it is found off France’s Brittany coast, and has the amazing characteristic of thriving in harsh conditions including intense sun and salty waters. By harnessing the resiliency of this ingredient, the Soleil de la Mer collection gives you not only sun protection, but anti-aging skin benefits as well, with the goal of reducing irritation, preventing moisture loss, and balancing pH.
Golden Algae actually works during and after UV exposure—think of it as an active ingredient triggered by sunlight exposure. In addition to providing protection powers, it is also a fabulous anti-aging ingredient and works to diminish fine lines and increase collagen production, which is a fab bonus in an SPF. La Mer has also infused the Soleil formulations with a blend of sea botanicals including red algae, and Restorative Waters, a mixture of leafy brown algae, lime tea extract, and other anti-oxidants including vitamin E.
How It Worked
For this review, I tried the Reparative Face Sun Lotion SPF 30 ($120). La Mer typically never disappoints and I loved the creamy texture of the lotion, and also its subtle fragrance, which is crisp and rich without being cloying. It goes on very easily, and sinks into the skin in an instant, with little rubbing. But as with any SPF, you need to massage it in gently. Use on the neck and ears, it has a cooling effect. The instant hydration and boost of moisture was hard not to notice, and it wore well throughout the day, including the peak hours in the punishing sun. Other products in the line include the Reparative Body Sun Lotion SPF 30 ($85), Face and Body Gradual Tan ($85), and SPF 18 Fluid Tint Broad Spectrum .
What I absolutely love about this line is the commitment to La Mer’s original standards, along with the generous anti-aging benefits. There are so many sunscreens available on the market today, in all sorts of strengths and application vehicles. While the aerosol spray option is very popular, many dermatologists still believe there is nothing like a lotion, especially for the face.
Few sunscreens provide the hydration level that Soleil de la Mer gives you, and for this and this alone it’s worth purchasing, and the anti-aging benefits are a superb bonus.
ARE YOU USING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS FOR YOUR AGE?
Are you so loyal to your skincare products that you’re using the same cleanser and moisturizer as you were ten years ago? Or maybe you’re so confused by the hundreds of new anti-aging products launched each year that it’s easier to stick to what you know?
As the body’s largest organ, skin changes over the years and certain changes are specific to each decade. With this in mind, it’s time to hear how the experts recommend tweaking our skincare and anti-aging regimes so we look—and feel—our best through every decade.
In Your 20s
What’s happening? Skin is settling down from its troubled years, and apart from the odd breakout or specific concerns, it will be firm with good elasticity thanks to an abundance of collagen and elastin. Skin also is more susceptible to external factors so now is the best time to minimize sun exposure and quit smoking.
Our Expert Says: “Sun damage plays a major role in adding years to the complexion and can cause anything from pigmentation to thinning of the skin, leading to premature fine lines and wrinkles so a daily SPF is a must. It’s also advisable to stay away from the ultimate age-inducing habit, which is smoking. The earlier you give it up, the better your skin will look in the future,” says Dr. Rita Rakus, a London aesthetic physician.
To Prevent: Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40 ($32), a protective day cream infused with skin-nourishing argan oil to repair and protect skin; Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free UV Protector SPF 42 ($30) for a shine-free finish that’s super-smooth to apply without any white-lightening streaks.
To Treat: For a deep clean, Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub ($6.39) is suitable for sensitive skins and La Roche Posay Physiological Micellar Solution ($20.99) removes make-up and impurities without dragging or irritating skin.
In Your 30s
Lifestyle habits from years ago will have caught up with your complexion so you might be noticing the first signs of fine lines around the mouth and eye area. Skin will be drier, too, due to lower levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin (the compound that keeps skin moisturized and plump). You may also experience pigmentation problems as a result of sun damage, pregnancy, lifestyle stress, or hormonal fluctuations.
To Prevent: Kate Somerville Quench Hydrating Face Serum ($65) is an intense moisture treatment for dry skins in need of an all-day glow. Sue Devitt Microquatic Lactic Renewal Facial Peel ($62) beautifully exfoliates and smoothes skin in just three minutes with marine extracts, not scratchy scrub particles. Use as a once-a-week treatment.
To Treat: “For new patients, Pellevé is a radio frequency treatment that differs from others because it can be used to treat lines on very delicate areas of skin such as around the eyes and neck line. It’s very effective and there is no downtime,” says Dr. Rakus.
In Your 40s
What’s happening? Skin is starting to lose its youthful bounce as collagen fibers (the proteins that act as the skin’s scaffolding) start depleting. About one percent of your collagen fibers disappear every year after the age of 25, which is why 40-something skin starts to look visibly less taut. As the dermis gets weaker, it’s also less able to fight off wrinkle formation.
Our Expert Says: “As well as a drop in collagen production, we also lose a lot of volume in our face due to fat loss under the skin, which means the fine lines and wrinkles we had in our 30s may deepen. You may also see a general loss of vibrancy,” says Dr.Rakus.
To Prevent: In vitro testing shows that the stem cell extract in Dr. Levy Intense Stem Cell Booster Serum (430 CHF) stimulated dermal stem cells, and works for all skin types. UK-based beauty acupuncturist Maggie Brown offers clients freshly-blended oils for deep skin nourishment through high-grade, organic oils (from £33).
To Treat: “Hyaluronic acid fillers are the cosmetic doctor’s choice for correcting the signs of aging from the loss of volume and collagen breakdown,” says Dr. Robin O’Reilly, an American practicing aesthetic medicine in the UK. She also recommends Intense Pulse Light (IPL) facials to counteract pigmentation problems and changes in skin texture by stimulating cell renewal and the deeper rejuvenation of collagen.
Top Tip: To ensure a safe and reputable treatment, IPL and laser treatments (including hair removal) should be done or supervised by a dermatologist, GP or plastic surgeon who has undertaken additional training in the procedure.
In your 50s
What’s happening? With falling levels of estrogen and progesterone during menopause, skin’s physiology changes dramatically: sebaceous glands start producing less and less oil so skin becomes much drier and more delicate. A reduction in muscle mass means cheeks lose their pillowy fullness and skin starts to slacken.
Our Expert Says: “Estrogen is integral to normal re-generating functions of the skin as it directly affects the production of collagen and elastin; it’s important for skin protection as it controls melanocytes, which are involved in skin color. It also helps to regulate hair production and the oil producing sebaceous glands and attracts and stores water in the dermis,” explains Debbie Thomas, Advanced Skin Treatment Specialist at Hari’s, London.
To Prevent: IOMA Youth Booster (£149) is an intense moisture treatment with a built-in LED device that indicates how much product skin needs each time you apply. SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer ($66) interrupts the inflammation process to combat redness from rosacea as well as protecting skin’s barrier from environmental damage.
To Treat: “Professional treatments including controlled peeling and laser rejuvenation will boost skin’s general health, radiance and appearance, and can target very specific concerns like rosacea, broken veins, and pigmentation. However, treatments are dependent on the equipment and skills and experience of the practitioner; nothing is a miracle or overnight wonder cure,” explains Thomas.
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