This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Lina.  Congrats!

This post was previously written and republished.

Up until Christmas Eve, my beauty regimen consisted of washing my face with soap and water. (period) But that wasn’t always my routine.  When I was single I spent a lot of time buying and using the proper skin care products so that I would age “gracefully.”  I enjoyed facials and made sure I found time for masks and exfoliation.  Somewhere between “I do” and “It’s a boy” I found it difficult to get in a shower, let alone a 45 minute skin care regimen.  I can’t believe I’m saying this but I often go to bed without removing my makeup.  And that sometimes results in breakouts even a teenager would shudder at.

What if I told you that you could achieve healthier, smoother skin in just sixty seconds a day?  I recently had the opportunity to test out the Clarisonic Skin Care System.  I cannot imagine NOT having this system now that I’ve been using it every day for two weeks now.

What is it?  Clarisonic is an innovative new product that is revolutionizing the definition of clean, healthy skin.  Developed by the creators of Sonicare, Clarisonic Skin Care System is the first oscillating face brush that deep cleanses, stimulates, and clarifies skin.  The brush creates over 300 movements per second (wow!) to elicit a gentle sonic micro-massage action which help to loosen sebum and dirt. It works with the skin’s natural elasticity to unclog pores for deeper cleansing without stripping the skin.  Clarisonic cleans your skin so thoroughly that it actually helps prepare your skin to absorb other skin care products like moisturizers.

How does it work?  Before you begin using the system, it must be charged 24 hours.  But…you only have to recharge it after 30 uses (or 30 minutes), which is excellent.  It is super easy to use and can even be used in the shower.  Just wet your face (or whatever part of the body you’d like to use the system on), rub on the cleanser of your choice (it comes with three sample sizes of varying cleanser types), turn on the power button, and move the brush gently using small, circular motions.  You can customize the settings on your system to achieve the best results for your skin type. The company also offers three different brush heads for varying skin types.  It is recommended that you replace the brush head every 3-4 months.

Does it REALLY work?  Studies have shown that Clarisonic cleanses twice as effectively and removes makeup six times more effectively than your daily soap and washcloth routine.  Some of the other benefits include healthier skin, fewer blemishes, fewer dry patches, decreased pore size, and softer skin.  In just eight weeks you’ll notice an improvement (and a reduction) in the appearnace of fine lines and wrinkles.

My Thoughts:  I have to admit that I was a tad bit nervous to use Clarisonic.  Would it hurt?  Would my skin be too sensitive?  Not only is Clarisonic safe to use on all skin types, it’s so gentle that it can be used on a daily basis (twice a day if necessary).  Even those who suffer from skin conditions such as acne, seborheic dermatitis, and rosacea can use Clarisonic.  I have been using this every day and one of the very first things I noticed is that when I dry my face after using it, there is no makeup residue on the towel.  My face feels a lot smoother and the pores on the bridge of my nose have gotten smaller (some have even disappeared).  I also haven’t had as many breakouts.  Every time I use it I feel like I’m getting a mini-facial.

The Clarisonic Skin Care System retails for $195 and can be purchased from the site or through retailers nationwide.  If you purchase the system directly through the site, you’ll receive a free gift which includes a 0.5 ounce Daily Renewal Serum, travel bag, and headband AND you will receive free personalization (either a name or short message)

Win It! One of you will win a Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System (ARV $149).  Simply leave me a comment with one main difference between the MIA and the other Clarisonic units. Comments will close on December 1, 2009 at 10 pm PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Amanda.  Congrats!

Last night we got back from being away for almost two weeks.  It’s been quite a whirwind between the blog events I attended and then our family vacation without a break in between.  I’ve barely had two seconds to process it all.  Why is it that coming home from a vacation feels like I actually NEED a vacation?  It’s not that it was stressful.  It was just…busy.

I can’t wait to tell you all about General Mills.  I have to quickly tell you that I’m a complete geek when it comes to museums.  When I found out that we were having dinner at the Mill City Museum and would have some time to tour it, I was over the moon (that’s a British phrase in case you’re curious. I lived over there for almost a year so some things never leave ya)!  Who would have guessed that the history of flour milling could be so interesting (I told you I’m a geek!)?  The presentation has won several awards (it’s that good!). But back to the point of all of this.

From Minneapolis, we headed to the South where my husband’s family lives.  We spent time in Alabama (I could tell you the name of the city but you would never even know how to find it), Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina.  See?  A whirlwind.  We got a little taste of everything (oh…and the food wasn’t bad either).  My husband made sure that I was able to have tea with my mother-in-law in Savannah and scheduled a massage in Charleston.  So I guess I did relax just a bit.

Traveling is always a bit stressful.  I’m not a huge fan of flying (don’t ask me why…it has to do with control…or shall I say LACK of control), hotels tend to be mediocre (except for the gorgeous min-suite in Savannah and the hotel on the beach in Charleston), the food, being that I’m highly picky and pregnant (bad combination), is always hit and miss, and I don’t enjoy living out of a suitcase.  I’m not the carefree type that makes do with what she’s left behind.  So I packed carefully this time, knowing I’d be gone for nearly 2 weeks. If you can believe it, I fit two weeks of my life into a small, carry-on suitcase.  Now that, my friends, takes skill (thank you Jason).  Whenever I pack for a long trip, I try to focus only on the essentials.  What can I do without? is a question I ask myself all of the time.  One of the things that made my cosmetic routine beyond easy was a Solavie Desert Hair Care duo pack I received to review. This eco-friendly line of hair and skin care products was designed to simplify your regimen.  It “addresses the body’s response to nature and the conditions within different environments”  as opposed to skin type (interesting).

I live in California, which is pretty much the desert, so it was only fitting that I should try that line.  The Desert Hair Duo Pack includes a combination hair/body wash and nourish/style product, which really equates to four products combined into 2 packages.  Living in sunny California means I’m exposed to dry heat and gusty winds (Santa Ana’s anyone?) which means my hair and skin are predisposed to dehydration, irritation and stress.  Can I add dryness and itchiness too?  The goal of the Desert line is to draw moisture into the hair and skin and keep it there.  As you may know, I have thick, curly hair that dries out easily.  I used to highlight and straighten it a ton, but now that I’m pregnant and have a toddler, there is no time for that.

I found that the hair and body wash left my hair soft enough that I didn’t have to use the nourish/style in the shower (although you can).  Instead, I used it afterward so I could comb through and style it.  It basically left soft curls and there was none of the “crunchiness” that often comes with using gels and mousses.  Oh, and it smells fabulous!  To me, it smells like roses, which makes sense since the first ingredient in the product is Rose Oil. None of the ingredients are unrecognizable (hooray!) and overall I was satisfied with how my hair looked and felt after using both products.

Right now, you can only purchase the products online (Whole Foods anyone?).  The Desert Hair Duo Pack retails for $24.79.

Win It! One of you will win a Desert Hair Duo Pack from Solavie.  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with the type of environment you live in and which of the 6 you’d most benefit from.  Comments will close on September 20, 2009 at 10 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Lily K.  Congrats!

Our summer series has primarily focused on helping your children have an active, enjoyable summer.  However, I thought that some of you moms would appreciate some pampering (I know I would!).  One of the things that always suffers in the summer is my skin.  The sun, sand, and chlorine wreak havoc on my senstive skin so I’m always trying to find a way to moisturized and looking good.

Sothy’s, a luxury French skin care company, is introducing an affordable, relaxing way to experience spa-quality products.  The Aroma-Sothy’s relaxation line features a three-step program designed to benefit the skin and the mind.  Now I will say that while I have not tried the products, they sound simply divine!  Here is a little more information about each product:

Refresh and cleanse with an indulgent bath

Aroma-Sothys Energizing Bath Essences Tablets are effervescent, playful, and revitalizing bath pebbles that will enrich your bath with their tonic and energizing fragrance ($26)

Pamper and awaken the senses with the beneficial virtues of essential oils

Aroma-Sothys Energizing Essential Oils Elixir is a magical experience of concebtrated essential oils that promises to restore and tone the skin’s natural essence ($26)

Seal and protect to keep your skin moist and glowing all summer long

Aroma-Sothys Massage Elixir:  Massage your body with a cocktail of ginger, nutmeg, orange, marula, and mandarin essential oils.  The elixir is sure to leave your skin with a satin-like gloss and perfume finish. ($38)

Win It! One of you will win the entire set!  Simply head on over to Sothys and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with your favorite product (besides the 3 mentioned above).  Comments will close on June 18, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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We’ve been dealing with diaper rashes since my son was born.  It’s been a frustrating endeavor trying to find out the cause for his chronic diaper rashes.  We’ve tried every brand of wipes and diapers on the market (except for cloth) and have used more creams than I can keep track of.  Apparently they weren’t effective enough to be memorable.    We’ve even gone so far as to try and identify potential food allergies or sensitivities, to no avail.  I’ve come to the conclusion that a combination of sensitive skin and the fact that his skin doesn’t like to be wet for any length of time results in frequent diaper rashes.

I’ve tried numerous creams, butters, pastes, and oils for my son’s diaper rashes.  Most of them either don’t work at all, or only work temporarily.  I recently had an opportunity to test out some products from TriDerma’s new baby care line.  Here is a little more information from the site:

Triderma MD Baby skin care features our unique AP4 Genuine Virgin Organic Aloe complex which naturally has over 200 healing properties, healing botanicals, and other specific ingredients to provide healing for the toughest skin problems.

The first product I tested out was the Severe Diaper Rash Fast Healing Cream.   The first thing I noticed about it was the texture and consistency.  It is definitely more of a cream versus a paste (which I prefer).  One of the things that bothers me about zinc oxide based creams is that they leave this pasty residue that becomes impossible to clean off skin.  The skin absorbs the diaper cream well (unlike “pasty,” zinc oxide based creams) and it does not contain any fragrance.  It leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized while working to provide a protective barrier against moisture.  I started using it after my son had a rash but I’ve continued to use it as a protective mechanism against future rashes.  With the initial use, it took about a week for the diaper rash to go away completely although I noticed an improvement after just a few uses.  To give you an idea of how bad my son’s rashes can get, his skin was bleeding when we first started using this.  I was a little concerned it would sting since his skin was so raw but I know it didn’t because he kept asking for more.  By the end of that first day, while it was still red, it had stopped bleeding.  The active ingredients are AP4 Aloe, Zinc, Beeswax, Dimethicone, Oat Protein, Shea Butter, and Allantonin, all of which are natural (I googled them all for you!).

The second product I tried was the All-Purpose Aloe Healing & Cleansing Gel.  I always keep Aloe Vera handy for our hot, Southern California summers since my husband burns even when he uses sunscreen. This gel, designed specifically for babies, is actually a waterless skin cleanser and protectant in one product.  It contains AP4 Genuine Virgin Organic Aloe and Allantoin and provides relief for irritated skin, cuts, scrapes, and burns.  It’s definitely a diaper bag must-have, particularly when children start to become exploratory and mobile.   I like to use it on my son’s cheeks which seem to get red and irritated with the wind, and under his chin where he drools when he’s teething.  It has the same cool feeling you’ll find in aloe vera and leaves skin feeling moisturized (and not sticky like some gels).  The gel is also fragrance-free.

TriDerma’s baby care line also includes the Extreme Itch & Dryness Fast Healing Cream, formulated for dry, irritated, itchy, chaffed skin.  If your child has a skin condition like Eczema, this is a great alternative to steroid creams.  I haven’t tried this product but I think if I had a child with a serious skin condition, I’d be willing to opt for a natural remedy first.

TriDerma’s baby care line is sold exclusively at Babies R Us and products retail for approximately $15.00.  This would make a perfect shower gift for an expectant mom!

True Confession 101:  I have beauty products in my bathroom that I never use.  While most of you are probably nodding your head in agreement, my hope is that the products I do show you, are ones that don’t end up wasting shelf space and collecting dust underneath your sink.  If you are looking for exclusive, top-of-the line cosmetics, be sure to check out the Los Angeles-based beauty boutique called The Beauty Closet.  I don’t often blog about local (or somewhat local) stores and resources, but as my blog evolves, I plan to devote an entire section to those in the Los Angeles and Orange County vicinity.

The Beauty Closet was started by former makeup artist, magazine editor, and Makeup411.com Beauty Director Shannon Levy out of her love for products and extensive beauty expertise.  Here is where you’ll find products by Paul & Joe Beauté, Scott Barnes, Kevyn Aucoin, Rosie Jane, Hourglass, Leaf & Rusher, and Beauty Blender.  These hard-to-find products are ones you’ve likely seen in magazines and on celebrities.  If you’ve ever walked into a department store,  confused by the sheer number of beauty and skin care products that seem to repeat themselves over and over, from counter to counter, look no further.  Shannon Levy has weeded out the good from the great and compiled them into one very chic boutique.  Product offerings include cosmetics, fragrance, skincare, and accessories.

I recently tried The Brown Sugar Lip Scrub by Sara Happ and the What Comes From Within Beauty fragrance.  My skin is generally dry which means I’m constantly moisturizing some part of my body.  When my lips are dry, I usually just cover it up with lip gloss (although that never fixes the problem).  Now I have exfoliated many areas of my body since it helps remove dry, flaky skin…my face…my legs…my back…but never my lips!  Just like any other scrub, the Lip Scrub eliminates dry, flaky skin leaving lips extremely soft and supple.  Try it for a week and you’ll definitely notice a difference!  And…the scrub smells good enough to eat (but I wouldn’t recommend it!).  It’s available in 6 yummy flavors and retails for $24.00.

I am not one that usually likes strong fragrances.  In fact, I only use splashes and body sprays because I’m so sensitive.  The problem I face with splashes and sprays is that they don’t last long (definitely not an entire day).  Re-application is always necessary but who wants to lug around a bottle of body spray?  Now you can have the luxury of an eau de parfum in the convenience of a portable, purse-sized bottle. What Comes From Within Beauty Purse Pen combines sweet lychee, pineapple leaf, tangerine, gardenia, stargazer lily, white rose, vanilla flower, meditative sandalwood, and warm tonka bean.  This eau de parfum is a bold fragrance that does not require much in the way of application (a little goes a long way).  I love the way the fragrance is described on the site.  Sarah Horowitz is the perfumer behind the product and strives to create fragrances that express the individuality of the wearer and entice those around them. You can layer the fragrances but I recommend sticking to one (I’m simple that way).  You can also choose from Peace and Light scents.  A 0.3 ounce bottle retails for $40.00.

If you’re looking for high-end cosmetics that are certain to make a statement, check out The Beauty Closet.

What woman doesn’t like chocolate?  Or going to the spa?  Or pretty, fun pampering products for the face and body?  I like them all, (as you can tell from my Mother’s Day gift ideas this month) and one company was smart enough to combine the two to create organic, Fair Trade Certified body treats that are good enough to eat (but don’t!).  Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, possesses antioxidants and may lower blood pressure and your risk for heart disease (WebMD).  Coco-Zen is THE place to shop for all things chocolate, edible or not!

Have you ever dreamed about bathing in chocolate?  I have (c’mon now…let’s just lay it all out there!).  The Spa At The Hotel Hershey is on my top ten list of places I want to see in my life.  But for now, I’m content to indulge in the Chocolate Brownies Salt Scrub I received from Coco-Zen.  I love scrubs…I love the way they make my skin super soft.  I like the feeling of exfoliating dry, dead skin.  It makes my skin feel rejuvenated.  The Chocolate Salt Scrub contains organic almond oil and organic aloe vera to soften skin while mineral-rich dead sea salts revitalize skin and remove toxins from the body and relax sore muscles.  And if that wasn’t enough…the smell of cocoa makes me crave dark chocolate and helps relax me!  I still want that chocolate bath!

I am always looking for all-natural, eco-friendly alternatives to products and I appreciate the company’s use of organic, Fair Trade ingredients.  The Chocolate Scrub is nicely complimented by the Chocolate Lotion and Chocolate Soap.  A 4 ounce jar of Chocolate Salt Scrub retails for $14.50 and you can choose from Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate Chai Spice, Chocolate Cappuccino, Chocolate Covered Coconut, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Chocolate Mint Bliss, and Chocolate Orange Blossom (I told you how tempting they are to consume!)  The company also puts together some amazing body gift sets, perfect for Mother’s Day.  Oh…and of course they have an entire chocolate shop with amazing edible truffles!

We live in a desert!  It feels that way sometimes living in Southern California.  While most of the country was freezing a few weeks ago, my husband, son and I were melting in 100 degree weather at Disneyland.  Needless to say, because the weather is so dry, my skin is always dry.  My hands and feet suffer the most.  As a nurse and a mom to a toddler, I am always washing my hands and using antibacterial gels.  My feet are constantly dry due to my daily open-toed fashion statement.

I have to use moisturizers every day to prevent my hands and feet from cracking.  I recently tried Baobab Body Butter and Sole Solution from Epoch’s line of face and body products made with botanical ingredients derived from renewable sources.  Nu Skin, a company dedicated to providing quality skin care with premium, wholesome ingredients, partnered with the world’s leading ethnobotanists to create the Epoch product line.  Here is a little more information from the site:

Utilizing ancient traditions of indigenous cultures, our Epoch face and body products feature skin beneficial botanical ingredients derived from renewable sources. These tried and trusted ingredients respond to skin concerns in a natural, comforting, and therapeutic way.

The body butter is amazing. I prefer body butters in general because they go on thicker and keep my hands moisturized longer, eliminating the need for frequent re application.  The main ingredients are Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil, and the fruit of the African baobab tree.  The site has a wonderful explanation of how these three ingredients work but in summary, here are the benefits achieved from using this cream:

• Delivers all day moisturization for supple, healthy looking skin.
• Contains high levels of antioxidants.
• Reduces dry skin.
• Promotes softer, smoother, and more toned looking skin.
• Enhances the resiliency of skin over time.
• Conditions naturally with skin beneficial ethnobotanicals.
• Moisturizes skin of all ages.

The cream goes on smooth and greaseless with a light, pleasant scent (which I really can’t identify).  The only way you really know the cream is still on your hands is how soft they feel (and the scent, of course). I find it works really well after working a 12-hour shift in the NICU since my hands are pretty wrecked from washing and antibacterial hand gels.

I was most impressed with Sole Solution.  My incredible husband gives me foot rubs after I work my long days.  But a few weeks back he told me that my feet felt like sandpaper…and they did.  My shoe collection consists primarily of open-toed shoes and heels because we live in Southern California and there is no real need for things like boots. The problem with always wearing open-toed shoes is that my feet suffer, particularly my heels.  I started using Sole Solution a few weeks ago and while I still have a few dry patches, they feel so much softer.  I like that the product addresses the actual problem (dry, cracked feet) as opposed to just covering it up.  It goes on smooth, rubs in well, and has no fragrance.  The main ingredients are Crushed Allspice Berry (Pimenta dioica), Urea, and Papain.  Again, I’ll direct you to the site for further information on those particular ingredients.  In summary, here are the benefits attained from using Sole Solution:

• Works on the underlying cause of rough, dry, and cracked feet, returning them to a soft, smooth, healthy looking condition.
• Delivers noticeable relief in the first few weeks of use.
• Softens and exfoliates dead cell buildup and calluses for soft, smooth skin.
• No added fragrance; naturally fragranced with allspice berry.
• Safety-allergy-dermatologist tested.

Nu Skin donates $.25 from every Epoch product sale to the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation—a nonprofit organization committed to creating a better world for children by improving human life, continuing indigenous cultures, and protecting fragile environments. If you’re looking for a gift to pamper that special mom in your life, check out the entire face and body collection!

While it’s still only Spring in most parts of the country, we Californians have had a taste of summer already.  Two weeks ago we had temperatures weigh into the 90’s!  I try to make it a point of at least wearing sunscreen or a makeup with sunscreen on my face every day to prevent sun damage and aging.  Last year there were over 1,000,000 new cases of skin cancer in the United States (National Cancer Institute).  May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and I encourage all of you to start engaging in regular skin exams and obtain a clinical skin exam regularly.  The Skin Cancer Foundation has an incredibly resourceful site that will help you learn more about how to protect against skin cancer.

You’d think with the wealth of available sunscreen manufacturers, choosing a sunscreen would be as easy as picking up the most popular or the one on sale.  However, just like other skin care products, how you choose your sunscreen is very important. I strive to only choose products that are made with natural ingredients for my family.  I try to avoid parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate.  Many sunscreen products on the market contain ingredients that may disrupt endocrine function, suppress the immune system, and cause reproductive problems.  I  use sunscreen on my face every day, which means that the potential for cumulative accumulation of harmful chemicals in skin care products could be causing damage.  There is a fantastic website called Skin Deep which allows you to search for the safest skin and body care products, according to the Environmental Working Group.

I recently tried Azur Advanced Pro-Cellular Natural Sunscreen, “the first medically non-disruptive, immune-friendly and non-endocrine disrupting sun block, designed to protect against the harmful rays of the sun without the long-term risk of skin cancer.”  Azur contains natural, mineral-based ingredients that provide protection against both UVB and UVA rays.  The two active ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.  When I looked up those two chemicals on Skin Deep (since I was not able to find Azur), they were both rated low to moderate hazard.  Azur also contains antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E) which helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

The sunscreen has a very mild scent that disappears once it’s rubbed into the skin.  It rubs in well and while it’s not greasy, it does make your skin feel moisturized.  I can wear makeup over the sunscreen without having that “caked” look to my face.  I really like the fact that it’s gentle since I have sensitive skin.  I have not experienced any breakouts from using it (which is common with many products I’ve tried in the past).  It’s hypoallergenic, tearless, and water resistant which means I can use it on my son with little effort.  We can also go out in the sun immediately after application. Water resistant sunscreens should be reapplied regularly since they are not “waterproof.”

Azur Advanced Pro-Cellular Natural Sunscreen is available for purchase on the site and retails for approximately $20.00.

I’m getting older.  I don’t feel it so much as I notice it. The changes are subtle and probably more prominent in my mirror.  As a busy, working mom, there are some things I’ve had to give up.  For example, I don’t sleep inm get facials, manicures or massages.  And, I often forget a key component of aging gracefully…skin care!

I have combination skin, which basially means my nose and cheeks are oily mid-day, and the rest of my face is normal to dry.  But I have no idea which product is right for my skin.  I get intimated by the mall beauty counters and their latest skin care fix.  How does one find the proper skin care treatment?  I like to get recommendations from friends and then try samples out since I have sensitive skin.

I recently tried Creme de La Mer “the most coveted cream in the world.”  I can describe the way my face feels after having used it in one word:  soft.  Here is a little more information from the site:

Inspired by the sea, Crème de la Mer was formulated by aerospace physicist Dr. Max Huber in an effort to heal his chemical burns. After 12 years and 6,000 experiments, Dr. Huber perfected the art of bio-fermentation, blending a mix of sea kelp with an array of vitamins and minerals, oils of citrus, eucalyptus, wheat germ, alfalfa and sunflower.

This cream is seriously amazing.  It has been proven to help skin become firmer, decreasing the visibility of aging lines and pores.  It’s also an incredible skin moisturizer.  It goes on smooth and greaseless and rubs in well. It also has a light fragrance.   I really like the way my face has looked and felt since using the cream.  Admittedly, it’s expensive at $130 for a one ounce jar.  However, a little bit truly goes a long way.  I anticipate you wouldn’t be buying it as often as conventional, store-bought lotions.

Be sure to check out La Mer’s entire skin care collection including The Exclusive Mother’s Day Collection, which includes a one ounce jar of Creme de la Mer and a 0.5 ounce jar of the Eye Concentrate.  The set is presented in a gorgeous keepsake box and retails for $295.00

I was talking to another mom from my  son’s playgroup about how clumsy I’ve become since having my son.  This, of course, was right after I spilled frozen yogurt on my shirt.  On any given day of the week, you’ll find some evidence of my toddler on my clothing…juice, milk, paint, markers, dirt…the list goes on and on.  There is a fabulous company called Miss Oops who knows all about the oops in our lives and they’ve come to the rescue!  Here is a little more information about the company from the site:

Miss Oops, manufactures and markets a variety of beauty-saving, problem-solving products for women.  The mission of Miss Oops is to provide affordable solution-oriented products for all types of beauty dilemmas and avoidable fashion faux pas for women everywhere.

This company is brilliant…the products are ingenious!  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put on a shirt only to find deodorant underneath my arms or makeup on my collar.  I’ve also been in situations where I didn’t know my bra strap was showing or my pants were cut lower in the back then I expected.  Miss Oops is for all of us women who’ve experienced life’s little mishaps.  I LOVE the names that founder and creator Jennifer Higgins gives her products.  Popper Stoppers cover belly buttons gone outie due to pregnancy, Boob Tube is the answer to necklines gone too far south, and Nundies are the answer to seamless perfection.  I received the Critical Care Kit for Moms-To-Be, a Lint Roller, and Mishap Tape.  I love the fact that each of the products are small enough to fit in my purse or diaper bag.  The Rescue Sponge works wonders on deodorant marks and it doesn’t even need to be wet to be effective.  I haven’t used the Popper Stopper because I’m not pregnant but I’m definitely saving it for pregnancy number two because I did have my innie become an outie for a short period of time.  The Mishap Tape is perfect for keeping bra straps in check which seems to be a consistent problem for me.  And…it’s clear!  Pedicure in a Bottle worked wonders for my dry, cracked feet which reside permanently in open-toed slip-ons.  It also has a really nice lavender smell which is much better than stinky feet! One of the products that I really want to try is Show Stoppers.  I’ll let you read all about it on the site…

The entire line of Miss Oops products are very affordable and range from $6.00 – $38.00 and are available online and select retailers.  I saw some of the products at Motherhood Maternity the other day.

Profuse thanks to Miss Oops and Mom Fuse for this fabulous review opportunity!