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There's more to worry about in the summer than sun protection. I personally agonize over the way my skin gets so dry, especially on my elbows, knees and feet which are exposed more often than they're used to. Luckily, I found Weleda's Skin Food ($17.50) for dry and rough skin. I've always been jealous that my two-year-old daughter gets to use Weleda's diaper cream--it feels so nourishing and smells so intoxicatingly of calendula. Skin Food offers the same amazing benefits. The ultra-rich whole-body cream deeply hydrates, restores and protects your skin especially on those stubbornly dry areas. Essential fatty acids and vitamin E in an organic sunflower seed oil are used to hydrate the skin. Organic pansy calms dry, irritated skin. Soothing rosemary leaf extract ’s mild antiseptic properties and the anti-inflammatory properties of Biodynamic® and organic calendula flower extract gently nourish and care for your skin. I rubbed it on my trouble spots and my skin really drank it up. It even helped my dry, cracked feet which suffer from working mommy-overtime. NOTE: This is a deeply moisturizing cream so be sure to try it only if you can handle the rich texture. Go to www.usa.weleda.com to purchase.
When it comes to moisturizers, there are cutting-edge products, innovative formulas and trendy ingredients. Then there are names you can trust. Jergens is one of them--and the brand's new Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer is what every dry, cracked heel, elbow and knee needs in the dead of winter. Moms who spend hours on their knees and feet, and running around outdoors in frigid temps, will appreciate this lotion for dry skin and its moisture retaining lipids that offer 24-hour hydration. So if you smooth some on in the AM and don't have time to reapply at night, you're still covered. Thanks to a combination of vitamins C, E and B5, this innovative skin product is supposed to triple your skin's moisture content. I can't vouch for the exact amount of hydration it offers, but it sure makes my rough patches feel smooth again. For your dose of soft skin and a complete collection of skin healing products, go to www.jergens.com.
I bought my husband a box of goodies from the Art of Shaving. I have to give him credit here--he actually tried them! But he ended up digging out his favorite Edge shave gel afterward. Many guys, my husband included, are pretty low maintenance. Give 'em a bar of soap and a razor and they're happy. That's why products that offer necessary benefits and seem easy to use are the only ones they might give a second thought to trying. Jack Black skin care products are designed specifically for guys, fuss-free, lightweight on the skin, and dependable. Founded by Curran Dandurand and Emily Dalton who wanted to fulfill a man's skincare needs, they're high-performance products in easy to handle packages. One of the most popular products Industrial Strength Hand Healer ($15) with Vitamins A & E is rich but not greasy and helps soothe dry, chapped hands but also works well on elbows and feet. It absorbs easily and smells a bit woodsy which I think is always nice on a man. The Sun Guard Ultra-Light Spray Sunscreen SPF 25 is so lightweight you can't believe it will actually get the job done. While it also rubs right in, its scent reminds me of Lemon Pledge--which I like but my husband doesn't exactly want to wear. He actually didn't mind the Beard Lube Conditioning Shave with Jojoba and Eucalyptus ($10.50/3 oz.; $16/6 oz.; $79/6-pack of 6 oz. tubes). It's a pre-shave oil, shave cream and facial skin treatment in one and comes in a unique see-through texture so you can see where you're shaving. After a week though, he went back to his usual Edge routine. You can take the guy out of the drugstore but you can't take the drugstore out of the guy. Go to www.getjackblack.com and treat your guy to a dose of these favorites.
OK, so your guy is successful at work, dresses well and knows how to turn on the charm when the time is right. He thinks he's all that and you can confirm it--with the Big Kahuna Gift Set ($52) from Carol's Daughter, perfect for Father's Day. Even work-a-holics will relish the feeling of paradise they'll get from this blend of Hawaiian white ginger, musk and spearmint oils that combine to create a masculine, clean scent. The Big Kahuna Bar Soap comes in a chunky, glycerin form that's easy to hold in the shower and really lathers up. Big Kahuna Shea Souffle moisturizer has a creamy, soothing feel but absorbs quickly to hydrate even the driest skin. Big Kahuna Eau de Toilette smells cool and fresh. One spritz will transport him straight to the shore. To order, go to www.carolsdaughter.com.
If you spend your days out and about, you know the value of having a travel size hand cleanser in your diaper bag. The playground, playgroups, classes and kid-friendly restaurants are all great places to find much unwanted germ-fests. And with the prospect of the swine flu looming, you have one more major reason to keep your bag well-stocked. There are a ton of hand sanitizers on the market, so you may think it's tough to find one that's right for your baby. Try the Instant Hand Cleanser ($6 for the small bottle; $16 for the large bottle) from the Thymes Sweetleaf Baby Collection. The product line features honey to moisturize, organic aloe barbadensis leaf extract to soothe and heal, organic chamomile extract to calm and organic lavender extract with anti-bacterial properties to help babies relax. The best part: Sweetleaf Hand Cleanser has a delicate, powdery rose and jasmine scent that smells as soft and sweet as your baby does. Pick one up at www.thymes.com or a specialty store near you.
