Starling Skincare Gift Sets are a must for Self-Care! Perfect for Tweens and Teens too!

Indulge yourself in some self-care with toxin-free, plant-based and organic formulations that will make your skin glow! The solution-focused formulations from Starling Skincare help to eliminate sensitivity and redness, bringing skin back to optimal health. What is great is that it is also great for teens! Created for those with allergies and sensitivities in mind, Starling Skincare has eliminated all common allergens, including nuts, gluten, soy, synthetic fragrance, and preservatives. The line offers an incredible array of balms, serums, cleansers, and deodorants for everyone, including tweens and teens. This Spring, one of their gift sets would make a wonderful gift!  (perfect for Easter Baskets too! You can find them at https://buystarling.com/collections/sets-and-limited-time-offers. The Kid’s Starter Set is sure to be a hit and it is on sale right now!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Beauty Stocking Stuffers!

Looking for a few beauty products to put in a stocking? Here are a few of my favorites!

August + Monroe’s NEW Calm Cream

Price: $44.00 (refill $30)

Affiliated with Amazon

Sensitive skin has a new best friend and your dermatologist approves. Introducing Calm Cream, a new face cream that gets rid of any blemishes, redness or acne scars. It’s a lightweight gel texture that soothes, hydrates and heals your skin all at once. Calm Cream also has anti-inflammatory ingredients such as willow bark extract and ginger to help with signs of aging. The brand has developed quite the following since launching its hero product, 3-in-1 Blemish Camouflage, frequently selling out several times each month. Calm Cream works in sync with Blemish Camouflage and any serums. Check out the wonderful benefits for yourself, all in sustainable packaging that’s super easy to refill! 

As with other Eco Lips products, Candy Cane Organic Lip Balms are made with certified organic beeswax combined with hydrating Fair Trade Certified™ coconut oil to nourish, moisturize, and restore lips back to health. They also come in the brand’s revolutionary Plant Pod, a patented 100% plastic-free, plant-based packaging that looks and acts like a regular tube. 

Candy Cane Organic Lip Balms will be available on Eco Lips’ website starting <DATE> and will hit retail in the weeks following its online release. Each set of 3 tubes will sell for $9.99.

Eco Lips lip balms are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Leaping Bunny Certified, and made from 100% edible food grade ingredients. The brand was founded on the premise of combining plant-based ingredients and the ultimate soothing and moisturizing experience to give everyone a lip protecting and regenerating product that does not harm the environment. To know more about them, you may visit www.ecolips.com

Suntouched is a beauty must-try!

Suntouched is sunshine in a bottle. All hair types can enjoy lighter hair and sunkissed highlights with this stay-in heat-activated lightener infused with natural extracts such as pineapple and lemon. It’s beloved by thousands around the globe in 30+ countries! To use it, just spray, comb through and apply heat (with the sun or a blowdryer). That’s it! Every application leaves permanent hair-lightening results. Suntouched offers two options for light or dark hair! 

Suntouched Hair Lightener

  • Formulated to amplify the sun’s natural highlighting effects and gradually lighten and brighten hair
  • Infused with pineapple extracts, rich in vitamin C for hair growth 
  • Features lemon extract (not the same as lemon juice) that nourishes hair fibers, helps retain moisture, and is rich in antioxidants
  • Includes glycerin to keep hair hydrated and healthy
  • Hydrogen peroxide (in safe dosing rations) included for an extra boost of hair lightening power
  • Gentle and effective formula with results visible within two hours, no rinsing necessary
  • Gradual and controlled effect for permanent results
  • Repeat until reaching the desired level of lightness, no more than three times per week 
  • Works with all hair types, natural and color-treated
  • Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
  • Free of parabens, alcohol, bleach, ammonia
  • Price: $24.99

Suntouched is now available on Amazon!

Amazon Link for Light/Medium Hair

Amazon Link For Dark Hair

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this holiday post. Images were also provided.

Back to School Beauty Must-Buy!

I am quite excited to share this new product with you! Eco Lips has a Pure & Simple lip balm line and they are perfect for the whole family! This back-to-basics Pure & Simple lip balm is made with just four ingredients-sunflower oil, beeswax, Vitamin E, and flavor. It is available in amazing flavors: Raspberry, Coconut, and Vanilla.

USDA Certified Organic and 100% edible formula made from food-grade ingredients. Yes, edible! Great for kids too. This back-to-basics Pure & Simple lip balm line is packaged in our new Plant Pod® Innovation – the first 100% plastic-free plant tube. Offered in a variety of flavors including Coconut, Raspberry, and Vanilla. Delicious, pure and simple. I like that this is great for the whole family, including kids and it really does moisturize and protect your lips!

Find out more at https://ecolips.com/collections/pure-simple-lip-balm

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post, Image was also provided.

Baby Skin Care 101: Tips to Avoid Skin Problems

Don’t we often dream of having baby-like skin? The secret is a white milky substance called vernix that coats the fetus inside a mother’s womb. But did you know that this substance wipes off as soon as the baby is born?

This is why taking care of a baby’s skin is of utmost importance. If you don’t, your baby might have to face issues like odd rashes, crusting, and bumps. Yes, they happen to crop out from anywhere out of the blue.

They are so dramatic that they might easily frighten you. This is why we’ve rounded up some of the essential skincare rules that will help you take care of your munchkin’s skin. Let’s start!

Skincare Tips For Your Baby

Like older beings, a baby doesn’t require any unique skincare regimen for your child. All you have to do is follow this rule “less is more.” For instance, keep bathing your child only twice or three times a week. If you keep on doing it, it will result in stripping the protective layers of your baby’s skin.

Of course, you wouldn’t want that to happen. Right? Besides this, you need to opt for products that don’t use fragrance ingredients. Remember, your baby’s skin is highly absorbent. So, opt for options that are hypoallergenic and free from any dyes.

But the baby’s skin is extra fragile. Their skin is unable to hold moisture. This is why you must opt for a baby balm that offers moisturizing properties. The ingredients will lock in the moisture, and further protect the skin from any dryness.

What else?

Yes, don’t forget about protecting their skin from harmful sun rays. Well! You can do it by avoiding sun exposure. You can include physical barriers like hats, strollers, and clothing. However, avoid sunscreens until they reach six months of age. Still, if you have to use something, go for products with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

That’s how you can avoid those irritating skin problems in your child from the get-go. To further help you, below are some general skincare tips that you can follow to take care of your baby’s skin.

Baby Skin Care Tips

  • Try and avoid exposing your baby to direct sunlight until six months. You need to protect them using long-sleeved tops, pants, and hats.
  • Only make them wear clean clothes. This is why experts recommend washing the clothes before your baby wears them. It softens the fabric a bit.
  • Your baby’s armpits, skin folds, and diaper area might accumulate sweat because of the hot environment. So, make them wear loose clothes and create a cool environment to avoid any heat rashes.
  • Avoid any chemical products at all costs. Otherwise, it might cause irritation, rashes, dryness, and whatnot.

Wrapping up

If you are a new parent, indeed you won’t have any experience with babies. You might think that they look like what you see in commercials. Much to your surprise, they might develop rashes, bumps, and sometimes even discoloration. But you can avoid this if you keep an eye on your baby’s skincare routine.

Beauty Stocking Stuffers!

Here are my favorite Beauty items this season and they would all make terrific Stocking Stuffers!

Hair ties, headbands, and scrunchies can be more than just an accessory! They can be fun! With Scenties, you can add a fun twist to your kids’ hair ties, headbands, and scrunchies. These accessories are fragranced with playful scents, which can be enabled by simply Stretching and Sniffing the product, just like we used to do with the Scratch and Sniff stickers!  Your kids will be able to wear these products as hair accessories or bracelets, while also choosing from 7 different scents, including Cotton Candy, Bubblegum, Vanilla Cupcake, Strawberry, Sour Apple, Watermelon, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie. These are sure to be a hit with kids of all ages!

Founder of Scenties and mom of 4, Kara Dahn, grew up in the 80’s and was obsessed with Scratch & Sniff stickers. She is also an accessories enthusiast that believes that you can never have too many accessories, which is why creating Scenties was the perfect way for her to put together two of her favorite things and create an incredibly useful and original product out of it.

In addition to the exciting new addition to the Scenties collection, the brand is also partnering with Child Mind Institute, which is an independent national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. As a mom with a history of anxiety, and now seeing her children struggling with anxiety too, Kara didn’t think twice about supporting this incredible cause.

All of Scenties’ fragrances have been created to comply with the International Fragrance Association Standards. Each scent lasts for at least 6 months, and all you have to do to activate it is stretch your Scenties product; It’ll almost feel like you’re wearing a new perfume every day!

  • Retail Price: $6.99- $21.99
  • Available for purchase via the website

Glitter Peel-Off mask from 7th Heaven blitzes away dirt and grime to reveal a radiant, fresh complexion. It’s the ideal detox for skin after a long day to cleanse impurities that can lead to breakouts! Featuring pomegranate, cranberry and biodegradable glitter, the fresh fruity scent and fun glitter helps uplift your mood! Available in single-serve pouches for $1.99, it’s a steal! 

Refining Sugar Cleanser from MyCHELLE smells like a sugar cookies and is so amazing, you want to eat it. Fantastic scrub for the face and body to get rid of dead skin cells and renew skin! I absolutely love this one! It smells terrific and you only need to use a small amount!

Piggy Paint is great as a kid’s stock stuffer – it’s a line of adorable super safe nail polish for kids that is made from the safest ingredients and come in the most fun colors! I love that these are safe for little ones to wear!


SOPHi
 makes great nail polish for adults (especially pregnant mamas because it is all natural and free of all the nasties!!) I love how this would be a great gift for those who are expecting!

GuruNanda Modern Diffuser provides 6 hours of aromatherapy Enjoy aromatherapy with the GuruNanda Modern Essential Oil Diffuser! This powerful ultrasonic oil mister is perfect for helping you relax after a long day or to help get you energized or motivated in the morning hours. Simply plug the GuruNanda Modern Diffuser in with the included AC adapter, add water and a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and turn on! This oil diffuser covers up to 200 sq feet with natural fragrance and has a run time up to 6 hours per fill! This stunning and elegant aroma mister also features rotating color lights and TURBO mode to give you a powerful stream of instant therapeutic mist.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the above items to facilitate this Beauty Holiday Gift Guide. Images were also provided.

MASAMI hair products are a beauty must-try!

Looking for hair products to try? MASAMI is the only clean haircare brand that harnesses the hydrating power of the Japanese seaweed, Mekabu.  After experiencing MASAMI just once you’ll be daydreaming of long walks down a sandy beach and leave with a spring in your step (and hair). Even if Winter is approaching, in sunny SoCal you can always walk at the beach. I really love the shampoo and conditioner in this product line up. You can find all their products here.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Beauty Must-Buy! 7th Heaven — Charcoal Peel Off Mask

Staying at home more for Spa treatments during this pandemic? I know that I am and I absolutely love the 7th Heaven Face Masks! The latest one I’ve tried is the Charcoal Peel-Off Cleansing & Detoxifying Easy Peel Mask. You don’t have to book a fancy spa treatment to treat your skin to charcoal’s powers.  The newest all-natural, high performing home facial treatment from 7th Heaven — Charcoal Peel Off Mask — comes in a single-serve sachet for just $1.99.

Mineral-rich mask features charcoal, which attaches to toxins and impurities then brings them to the skin’s surface. It is great for problem and oily skins and it is super easy to use.

  • To use:
    • Cleanse skin
    • Apply mask
    • Relax for 15 to 20 minutes (hint: use while bathing!)
    • Peel off
    • Enjoy fresh, clean, fabulous skin
  • Available for purchase at Walmart
  • Cruelty-free, member of BUAV/Leaping Bunny and PETA

For more information, please visit www.my7thheaven.com

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Summer Beauty Must-buys!

During this pandemic, many of us are doing our own manicures and pedicures! SOPHi allows health-conscious women to have a worry-free, yet long-lasting manicure! Non-toxic, virtually odorless nail polish that is better than 9 or 16 free, because it is free of ALL harsh chemicals! This water-based formula leaves nails healthy and doesn’t cause them to yellow or become brittle. Plus, SOPHi is cruelty-free + vegan. They also have a sister line called Piggy Paint (you may remember that I featured in the Spring!) for kids that is fun, bright and 100% safe for use! I love that there are no harsh chemicals in this nail polish!

If you want a whiter smile, you must try this!

True Minerals is first truly clean at-home teeth whitening system. The line includes a two-step Daily Teeth Whitening Kit and a three step Advanced Dental Whitening System. Both options gently and visibly whiten teeth without the use of harsh chemicals for a brighter smile and boosted confidence. Both are mineral-enriched, enamel and gum safe, with no sulfates, no artificial colors, fragrances or flavors. I like how simple this one is to use and that it works!

7th Heaven’s nourishing Peel-Off Masks

And, finally, while you are waiting for your nails to dry and your teeth to whiten, bring your skin back to life with 7th Heaven’s nourishing Peel-Off Masks! Their assortment of masks instantly purify and refine skin with natural goodness. Contrary to scrubs, peel-off masks are gentler and more effective in removing dead skin cells. Cruelty-free, vegan and EASY, 7th Heaven is the perfect way to pamper your skin! These really are my new favorite face masks!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the above items to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.