expert advice: bath basics, from Patricia Pol of Weleda

Too warm? Too sudsy? Too slippery? Giving infants a bath may sounds easy but it can get pretty tricky at times. Weleda holistic skin care expert Patricia Pol, a certified doula and an infant massage practitioner, offers her tips for a safe, peaceful bath for your baby.

Once your baby’s umbilical cord falls away, he or she is ready for a bath in your brand new baby bath tub. You can have all the baby bath toys and baby bath accessories you like, but if the temperature's not right, it won't be fun for your little one. The right water temperature is key. Use only a little water at about 98 degrees, the temperature that closely matches that of a baby’s body and the secure environment of the womb. Since baby’s skin is sensitive, use a soft, organic cotton or flannel cloth in lieu of a rough washcloth. Add a few drops of Weleda Calendula Cream Bath ($17) to gently sponge bathe your little one and add a layer of protection to the skin.After bathing your baby, dry the skin well and use Weleda Calendula Baby Cream to prevent irritation in the skin’s sensitive folds. Both the Weleda Baby Cream and Weleda Calendula Oil (often easier to rub in than lotion), provide an extra layer of warmth and protection while keeping your baby’s skin moisturized and protected from environmental factors. Although keeping an infant’s skin clean is important, bathing a baby every two or three days issufficient, since daily bathing can destroy the skin’s natural pH level. Just wash your infant’s hands and face daily with plain, clean water. Stick to products made with 100% natural, plant-based ingredients and avoid mineral oils, which disturb your baby’s natural skin function. For more great info on making your kid's bath a great experience and to view other great Weleda products (like my favorite Calendula Diaper Care cream), visit www.weleda.com.

holiday gift guide: give Burt's Bees

I asked a good friend what she wanted for Chanukah and she said, "A Burt’s Bees Holiday Gift set." I didn't even know they made them. But a quick click on the company's website proved her right. Being a big Burt's Bees lip fan, I was excited about the Burt’s Bees Lip Balm Purse Packs ($9.99), adorable cloth purses with four lip favorites. Choose from the Classic Purse Pack – featuring four Burt’s Bees® Beeswax Lip Balms – or the Mixed Purse Pack – a grab bag of favorite flavors. Then there's Burt’s Bees Mini Lip Gloss Collection ($14.99), featuring four shades of the Super Shiny Lip Gloss in mini forms, perfect for travel. Burt’s Bees Bee Keeper ($9.99), offers the signature lip balms in a festive reusable tin. Burt’s Bees A Few Favorite Things ($19.99), combines the Beeswax Lip Balm, Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme, Milk & Honey Body Lotion and Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. Burt’s Bees Tingling Treats ($19.99) lavishes you in invigorating peppermint oil in the form of lip balms, foot lotion and more. Burt’s Bees Polka-Dot Perfect Mani-Pedi kit ($19.99) contains Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Crème and Coconut Foot Crème, plus a Pomegranate Lip Balm all in one tidy bag. With so much to choose from, I'm not sure which one my friend had in mind so I'll let her choose--but it can't hurt to keep a few on hand for last-minute gift giving. Go to www.burtsbees.com to order.

you can't be too rich!

I'm having a bad beauty day. I just got through trying to squeeze the last drop of Mario Badescu Super Rich Olive Body Lotion (6 0z., $10; 16 oz., $22) out of its bottle. I mean, the ink on the label is even worn off from overuse. The funny thing is, I'd never even heard of Olive Body Lotion until I received a sample to test-drive. Now I don't understand why there hasn't been much buzz about it. The only answer I can come up with is that its dedicated users want to keep it a secret so it doesn't go flying off the shelves, making it more difficult for them to get their fair share. When I first tried it, I figured it was going to be just another body lotion. But before long, I was addicted to its rich moisturizing properties, the way it left my skin feeling silky smooth, and its clean, refreshing scent (it's subtle but there). It's definitely a must-have after my showers when I smooth it on every inch of my body. And it dries in seconds so I can go about my day. I can assure you--I won't be lotion-less for long. I'm planning to go to www.mariobadescu.com as soon as I'm finished typing this to order more.

recessionista beauty: stay hydrated

Talk about a sticky situation: You're fresh out of the shower and you smooth on an all-over body lotion. After rubbing it in, your skin feels a bit sticky. And if it feels that way now, you're probably not looking forward to moisturizing once the weather heats up. Leave it to Vaseline to introduce Aloe Fresh, a breakthrough line of light lotions that leave skin feeling smooth, not sticky. And the incredibly low prices guarantee that once you buy them, you won't find yourself in a financially sticky situation either. My favorite is actually a gel format: Aloe Fresh Moisturizing Gel (6.8 oz.; $5.49). It's made with 100% natural aloe vera--as if you broke open an aloe vera leaf and squeezed some out yourself. It glides on smoothly and instantly hydrates and revives your skin, replenishing its natural balance. For those who prefer a creamier texture, try Aloe Fresh Hydrating Lotion (24.5 oz., $5.49; 10 oz., $2.99), a fast-absorbing formula, or Aloe Fresh Protecting Lotion SPF15 (20.3 oz., $5.49), a lightweight lotion that hydrates skin and protects it from the sun. Who would have thought there was so much more to this highly-acclaimed brand than the traditional goopy stuff. For more info, check out www.vaseline.com.