every day is mother's day: give her roses

Mother's Day may be behind us but moms still appreciate a little extra pampering every now and then. Lavera comes through with its Wild Rose Cleansing Milk ($18), a soothing cleanser that gently removes makeup, leaving skin feeling refreshed and youthful. Use it morning and night to cleanse and refresh. Another great indulgence: Wild Rose Moisturizing Day Creme ($25), a light, nourishing creme that gives dry, mature skin a radiant, healthy glow to dry plus lasting hydration. Once her skin is in great shape, she'll want to show it off. Treat her to Lavera's great makeup products. Try the super smooth (and fruity!) lipgloss, the long-lasting, columizing mascara and transparent Loose Powder in a convenient shaker tub. All available at select Target stores nationwide and www.lavera.com.

holiday gift guide: give goldfaden

This time of the year can take its toll. One morning I woke up at the crack of dawn (thanks to my two-year-old daughter) and was out late for a holiday party that night. By the time I got home, my skin felt the effects. I broke open my Goldfaden Red Tea Anti-Aging Starter Kit in search of healthier, younger looking skin. First, I exfoliated with a dab of the daily scrub. The pure ruby crystals felt a bit rough on my skin, but they were working to get rid of dead cells and renew my outer layer so the rest of the products could work more effectively. The daily cleanser, designed to clean skin thoroughly, felt a little soapy and I didn't love the scent. My favorite part of the routine was the Pure Power antioxidant complex, a gentle serum that creates a protective antioxidant barrier on the skin. It made my skin feel super soft. Ideal for layering under moisturizer, I followed up with the 3-in-1 Daily Moisturizer designed to hydrate, prevent and repair skin. The perfect finale as it left my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. I definitely recommend these products (if you have sensitive skin, you may want to use the scrub every few days to be safe). It's not too late to buy some last-minute holiday gifts so pick up a couple of kits at www.goldfaden.com.

holiday gift guide: give nude skincare

Good things come in small packages...especially in this case. The Nude Selection Box ($25) features all your skin care must-haves, at least according to beauty industry experts. These skin care products include a Cleansing Facial Oil, Advanced Smoothing Complex, Advanced Eye Complex, Age Defense Moisturizer, and Miracle Mask. The Age Defense moisturizing lotion is my favorite (anything anti-aging rocks in my book!); my skin has never felt smoother than it does after I use it (not even after a facial). But the collection makes a perfect stocking stuffer or one-night-of-Chanukah gift. Another great gift idea: the Nude Lips kit ($14), complete with organic cupuacu and Tahitian vanilla monoi lip balm that melts at body temperature for the prettiest gloss. All the more reason to stand under the misteltoe. Both available at Sephora, Barneys and www.nudeskincare.com.

feeling misty

Always on the lookout for help for my typically normal-to-dry yet sometimes sensitive skin, I recently discovered Sampar. The high-tech line is formulated with natural fibers to enhance your skin, so it's a great general beauty product or anti-aging treatment. Designed to protect against the environment and help renew and restore skin, it's made with an Urban Active Complex that includes shea butter, mint leaf extract, plant sugar and lactate extract. I tried the Skin Quenching Mist ($42)--a spritz on my face, neck and eyes in the AM and PM--and was pleasantly surprised. While it won't take the place of your trusty face cream, it leaves skin feeling soft and smelling like roses. Since it can also be worn over even the finest mineral makeup, it gives skin a refreshing lift when spritzed on throughout the day. The company also makes a roll-on Prodigal Pen ($21) with essential oils that zaps any zit in minutes, as well as the pretty popular Lift Me Up Bust Cream ($78), which naturally shapes busts while reducing stretch marks and reinforcing elasticity. They're available at Beauty 360 or www.3graces.com with the rest of the Sampar collection of skin care products.

beauty for a cure: Jurlique

I love finding products that not only work but make you feel good too. I've always loved Jurlique. The Purely Age Defying Day Cream with SPF 15 was once a staple in my beauty routine. The Citrus Hand Cream has a rich, nourishing texture and blends into skin to leave it feeling super-smooth. And the Citrus Purifying Mist--another must-have--comes in an adorable, mini, square-based bottle and offers a spritz of clarifying mist that refreshes throughout the day. Plus, the scent reminds me of a childhood favorite--Love's Baby Soft Lemon (that's because it has the tangerine, mandarin and lemon in it!) The best part: Now you can get a whole collection of Jurlique products at a specially discounted price and contribute to Breast Cancer research and awareness at the same time.

In conjunction with Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC), a program of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Jurlique is joining the fight against breast cancer, raising awareness and funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Jurlique will offer an exclusive Fashion Targets Summer Fridays skincare set online at www.jurlique.com. The set includes: · Jurlique Citrus Purifying Mist · Jurlique Sun Lotion SPF 30 · Jurlique Citrus Silk Finishing Powder · Jurlique Citrus Hand Cream · Jurlique Purely Age Defying Day Cream, SPF 15 *Total Retail: $185. FTBC price: $138. 25% of the proceeds of the set will be donated to Fashion Targets Summer Fridays campaign. Go to www.jurlique.com and make a difference.

happy mother's day: about face

Moms deserve the best Mother Nature has to offer. So Weleda created two specially designed facial care kits featuring travel-size skin care treats. The Weleda Wild Rose Facial Care Kit is designed to work with the natural rhythms of our skin, supporting cell regeneration and improving overall health. Weleda Wild Rose Facial Care Kit ($14.99) is rich in essential fatty acids to help reduce the visible effects of premature aging. The kit features Wild Rose Cleansing Lotion to gently remove dirt and makeup without drying the skin; Wild Rose Facial Toner, to strengthen and purify skin after cleansing; Wild Rose Moisture Cream to protect skin from dryness; and Wild Rose Night Cream to rebuild the outer layer of skin overnight. The Weleda Almond Facial Care Kit ($14.99) has similar products but is specially formulated to gently heal dryness and reduce redness. It even includes a specially formulated Almond Facial Oil to protect and soothe skin everyday (a bonus: it also gently removes eye makeup). No matter which one you choose, the scents are subtle...which my mom will definitely appreciate. Go to www.usa.weleda.com for more info or to order.

happy earth day: keep it simple

I don't know about you guys but whenever I've had a long day and just need to crash, the last thing I can think about is skincare. I mean, cleanser, toner, moisturizer, eye cream, etc... I just want to fall into bed and catch some zzz's. Which, of course, is no frame of mind to be in when it comes to protecting your skin. Leave it to Envision Beauty to come up with a solution, which is exactly what it's appropriately called. The Solution ($74) is an advanced anti-aging complex designed to restore, perfect and protect. It's a combination day cream, night cream, makeup primer and anti-aging cream in one (how convenient!) Packed with goji berry, acai, grapeseed and vitamins (A, B5, C and E), it smooths on easily and feels like a great base on your skin. But that's not all. THe Solution promises to reduce wrinkle density and the appearance of fine lines, and improve collagen production to promote healthy, radiant skin for all skin types. Founder Kimberly Snyder is not only trying to simplify your life, she's also on a mission to help others. At least 10% of the profits from Envision Beauty go to Project Concern International, a charity that focuses on sustainable, humanitarian projects around the world. So click on www.envision-beauty.com to order The Solution today. Make it an Earth Day gift to yourself.

get ekoh-friendly

Some beauty products are all hype...Ekoh Cosmetics' Skin Retreat is the real thing. It just feels good when you smooth it on and even better when it sinks into your skin. Set to hit stores next month, this all-in-one 24-hour moisturizer is designed to calm, soothe and hydrate your skin. And it smells yummy--thanks to all the fruity ingredients (wild blueberry, raspberry, cranberry, cherry, strawberry, among others). What's not in the formula: sulphates, parabens, petrochemicals, polymers, synthetic fragrance and colorants--and there's no animal testing used to get the end result. The lightweight cream is the perfect way to end a day. Just apply to your face, neck and chest areas, then drift off to a peaceful sleep as it does its duty. Before smoothing on Skin Retreat: Try Ekoh's Pre-Party Prep Exfoliating Facial Scrub. Apply to skin, let sit for three minutes, scrub lightly, then splash off to give skin a healthy glow. For more info or to find out where to make your purchase, go to www.ekohcosmetics.com.