happy mother's day: perfect scents

Never know what to give mom? Try this personalized gift kit from Coty. Each limited-edition Mother’s Day Fragrance Gift Kit ($15.99 each) includes a full-size fragrance, a $20 savings pass for 1800Flowers.com, a gift bag with tissue paper and a giftable pouch with a customizable “To-From” card. Just choose a favorite fragrance for mom, select the perfect bouquet, and personalize the presentation with the enclosed paper and pouch. Available in the following fragrances: Halle by Halle Berry (a modern, woody/oriental fragrance made with mimosa and fig), Pure Orchid by Halle Berry (a floral, woody fragrance with tropical top notes and an earthy finish), Faith Hill Parfums (a sparkling floral bouquet with a hint of romance) and Celine Dion Sensational (a modern, luminous, floral scent with tantalizing fruity notes). Jovan Musk for Women (a delicate, floral, powdery scent), Jovan Satisfaction for Women (an irresistably alluring, exotic and sweet scent) and Vanilla Fields (an elegant, oriental, woody fragrance). Find them at a mass drug store near you.

happy mother's day: light up her life

How many times has your mom mom brightened your day? Now it's time to return the favor. Give her a fragranced candle from the Thymes Offerings Collection ($26 each), eight candles designed to strengthen personal connections. Choose from these intoxicating scents...

GOOD LUCK

Inspiring notes of spicy pink pepper, Kashmir saffron and sweet frankincense dance on a graceful base of sandalwood. Add spice to her life!

HAPPINESS

A cheery compote of plump raspberries, tart rhubarb and spicy sugarcane lovingly tempered with delicate sweet pea blossoms. Good enough to eat!

LOVE

Captivating floral essences of heady tuberose and dewy jasmine mingle with golden apricot nectar and exotic Hinoki wood. Awaken those senses....

FRIENDSHIP

Warm and inviting red tea and Magnolia fig are gently wrapped in cashmere musk and comforting sandalwood. Pretty cozy.

THANKFULNESS

A decadent treat of velvety cream and warm milk enveloping sweet notes of bourbon vanilla, rich caramel, and tender peach. Indulge!

ABUNDANCE

A lavish blend of intoxicating ylang ylang, Bulgarian rose, and earthy iris infused with opulent tonka bean and clove. A perfect pick.

PEACE

Watery cyclamen and white lilies sway gracefully among blond woods while white musk creates a delicate finish. Calm and soothing...

GOOD HEALTH

A restorative blend that combines healing aromas of rosemary and basil with tender jasmine petals and clarifying lemon blossom. A little TLC.

Go to www.thymes.com to purchase. Take advantage of free shipping for orders over $50.

happy mother's day: indulge her

We all know, you can tell a lot about a gift from the box it comes in. Take your mom to The Plaza Beauty at New York City's famed Plaza Hotel and she'll get a sense there's something special about to happen the minute you walk through the front doors. Stop by on May 7th and May 8th to let mom choose her own gift or treat her to some luxe beauty treatments from brands like Kimiko, Alchimie, Smashbox, Ky Bae, JUARA, Juliette Has a Gun and Rancé Fragrance. This premier beauty retreat features tips, treatments, trunk sales and more. Find out what’s in store for the season, experience products first-hand, and indulge in beauty essentials from around the world. Go to http://www.theplazabeauty.com/ for more info.

happy mother's day: give her some space

We all know Space.NK is the place to get high-quality beauty products from innovators and specialists around the world. So it's a natural choice for the place to shop for your mother's day gifts. For beauty finds from the pros, choose from Nars Lip Lacquer ($24) in adorable pots of spring's newest shades, the Jemma Kidd English Rose Palette ($68), handbag-friendly tubes of eye, lips and cheek color, and the Eve Lom Travel Gift Set ($95) featuring her favorite skin care products. Or try Space.NK's own innovative products: Champaca Bath Tablets ($30) for a sensual bath experience, Laughter Solid Perfume ($45) in a sleek silver compact, the Tuberoli Ultimate Experience bath and body set ($75), or--my pick--the Hands Lavender Set ($50--shown here). The mild sugar and coconut-derived hand wash is gentle on your hands and kind to the planet. The hand lotion, enriched with candelilla, rice and jojoba protects hands and leaves them silky smooth. And you can't beat the luxurious lavender scent (also available in bergamot and rose)! Buy any of these Space NK Hands products for your mom at Space NK stores, Space NK at select Bloomingdale's locations and at www.spacenk.com.

happy mother's day: pamper her

Sure, you can opt for your no-fail mother's day gift--a day at her local spa. But while your mom will surely appreciate it, why not try these specialty products from Philip B. that will last more than a few hours? Packed with nourishing proteins and high concentrations of hydrating botanicals, they'll make her mother's day super-luxurious. For the chocoholic, try the limited edition Chocolate Collection Gift Set ($62.50); for the inner Tsarina, go for the Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo ($140); for moms with a green thumb, choose the Cucumber and Blue Orchid Hand & Body Creme ($47.50) and for the gourmet chef, choose the White Truffle Collection Gift Set for hair ($125--shown here) which is my pick for the most luxurious present. It features White Truffle Nourishing & Conditioning Creme, designed to restore lost moisture and give hair shine, body and bounce, and White Truffle Ultra-Rich Moisturizing Shampoo featuring hops and nettle for body, soy proteins for added moisture and extracts of thyme, chamomile, lavender and comfrey to tone, strengthen and restore vitality. To score points with your mom, get these Philip B. goods at salons worldwide or at www.philipb.com.

happy mother's day: give pearls

Nothing says Mother's Day like a beautiful fragrance. Top it off with a luxurious body lotion in a complementary scent, then package it in a beautiful gift box and you've got a present that will make any mom feel special. The Pearls Gift Set ($49.50) by Carol's Daughter features Eau de Toilette (2.5 fl. oz.) and a special Body Creme Deluxe Sample (1 oz.) in a soft, sweet scent. Sparkling with lemon verbena, apricot and peach, Pearls evolves into a floral heart of jasmine, rose and violet and is topped off with warm vanilla and sweet violet. I love the scent, especially for summer, but my favorite part is the keepsake jewelry box it comes in. It'll look great on your mom's vanity all year round. Splurge on your mom at http://www.carolsdaughter.com/.

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 mother's day: time to dash!

What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than by spending quality time with your daughter? Dashing Diva and Harlequin Books have the answer--with a special event commemorating Mother's Day and the launch of a new book, 113 Things To Do Before You Turn 13, by Brittany and Terri MacLeod. This beauty extravaganza will take place Tuesday evening, May 5th, from 5-7 PM at the New York Dashing Diva salon (149 Third Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets). Just purchase a mani/pedi treatment for yourself (you deserve it!) and your daughter (13 and under) gets free little diva services and a great goody bag to go home with! Books will be available for purchase. Also, click on www.dashingdiva.com and check out the gorgeous Dashing Diva Manhattan Collection Nail Colors in cremes, sheers, shimmers, frosts and nudes, as well as other best-sellers like nail kits, hair removal kits and skin care treatments--all designed to make you look dashing!