Happy Holidays!
We are now into December, which means the vast majority of us are scratching our heads wondering what the perfect gifts for the special people in our lives are.
Fantastic skin is the gift that keeps on giving. There are tons of great products and gift sets on the market that are sure to please even the most discerning recipient. Here is a breakdown of awesome gifts to help you complete your shopping faster than Santa!
For Your Mom:
Women aged 45+ are usually looking for something to help restore their skin to its youthful glory. Of course, nothing short of a gift certificate to Face Lifts-R-Us is going to work that much magic, but there are some lines and products that can definitely improve the texture and appearance of mature skin.
Caudalie Vinotherapie – This line, from France, bases its products on a powerful anti-oxidant called resveratrol. These polyphenols are found naturally in grape seeds. Through research with the University of Bordeaux, Caudalie has found a way to harness the power of resveratrol topically, which results in improvement in micro-circulation (bringing blood and nutrients to the skin cells), and the protection and enhancement of hyaluronic acid (for moisture retention), elastin and collagen.
The products that I recommend most from this line are the Crushed Cabernet Body Scrub, the Vinoperfect Radience Serum, and the Total Night Care Cream. It can be purchased at Sephora and Neiman Marcus. It is pricey, but definitely delivers results and it smells amazingly fresh.
Philosophy- This line, for it’s cutesy names, really delivers a punch. Their Purity cleanser is great for moms with sensitive or dry skin. I also really love their Hope in a Jar moisturizer. This moisturizer comes in a couple of formulations based on skin type, so make sure you get what your mom needs.
Their latest endeavor is Save Me PM. It combines retinol (for exfoliation),
Vitamin C (for clarity and brightness) and Peptides (for structural stability
and strength) to help tighten aging skin and make it glow. Philosophy can be
found at most major department stores, Sephora and QVC.
For The Men in Your Life:
What? Hubby moisturizing, you say? Dad exfoliating? Oh, yes. Men need skin care too. Their skin is exposed to the same elements as women. With the amazing “non-girly” product selections on the market, there is no reason your men can’t look great too!
Zirh Skin Nutrition- This is a line designed specifically for men. My husband uses it and he is definitely not girly. It’s based on fruit enzymes and extracts (anti-oxidants) and minerals (important for skin and blood vessel strength). Try their Basic Kit, available at Sephora and Ulta. It includes everything your men need to look uber-handsome!
Who doesn’t like beauty gifts? Why get her another sweater when there is so much fun (and health) to be had with the following amazing products!
Sampar – Sampar is a French line that is slowly making headway here in the states. Get it for the friend who likes to be on the cutting edge of fashion and beauty. This line is based on fairly common ingredients (alpha hydroxyl acids, bioflavinoids) but they are combined in such a way as to make them incredibly potent and useful to the skin. This is the line that I am currently using and I am NOT easily impressed. Their Equalizing Foam Peel contains essential oils (such as lavender, sage, geranium and thyme) and a combination of all 5 alpha hydroxyl acids. My skin feels like the proverbial baby’s bottom.
Also recommended is their Ultra Hydrating Fluid. These products are recommended
for all skin types, but I would hesitate before buying them for someone with
super sensitive skin. They can be purchased at beauty.com.
Bliss Spas – I am not a huge fan of anything for the face, but I love their bath products. Currently, at Sephora, there is a gift set called Wishing for Bliss which contains everything your best gal needs to keep her body soft and her spirit calm during the cold, grey winter. Particularly good is the lemon+sage body scrub, which cleanses, exfoliates and invigorates dry winter skin. Get it at, where else? Sephora.
Skyn Iceland – Is your friend stressed? Anxious? Does she need a new outlook? Well, get her feeling fresh and positive with Skyn Iceland’s 5 Day Detox for Stressed Skin. Using rice peptides (providing strength) and anti-oxidants, her skin will be glowing and Bjork-like before she knows it! Sephora carries the entire Skyn Iceland line.
Shameless Plug: A gift certificate to Le Bon Visage is always a great gift for men, family, friends, bosses, and well, just about anyone. And with each gift certificate that’s purchased, you earn $20 towards your own facial. Because, darn it, you deserve a reward for being such a thoughtful friend.
Shopping doesn’t have to be a pain in the butt. Give your loved ones the tools for great skin and watch them be happy for months and years to come!
Please let me know if you have any questions about skin care products for yourself and friends.
I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday season!!
Keep warm and stay gorgeous!
Liz