nature takes its course

For me, when it comes to moisturizers, thicker is better. So the thicker the lotion, the more confidence I have in it moisturizing my dry winter skin.

Transitional skin is the worst...get dry winter skin ready to be revealed with Nature’s Gate Hemp Moisturizing Lotion ($10.99). Thanks to seven natural moisture boosters, it keeps you hydrated all day long and leaves skin fresh and smooth.

It's free of Parabens, Phthalates, Butylene and Propylene Glycol, PEG, EDTA, and animal by-products. Hemp Seed Oil, high in nourishing essential fatty acids, is combined with Shea Butter, Milk Thistle and Kukui Nut Oil to help smooth and soften. The result: Revitalized and replenished skin.

The moisturizer works great after Nature's Gate Hemp Velvet Body Wash ($7.49), another way to nourish dry skin. Just pour a generous amount onto a washcloth and rub it all over your skin, then rinse and repeat. Your skin will look and feel incredibly smooth as soon as you tower off. I love the clean scent and convenient pump dispenser too.

Getting into Earth Day spirit? Also try Nature's Gate Nourishing Shampoo ($7.29), Nourishing Conditioner ($7.29)

Go to natures-gate.com for more info on these and other amazing products.

raise the bar

My kids' shampoo saga continues.... One wants lots of suds, the other wants a fruity scent... I didn't think I could ever make them both happy in the bath...until I discovered One Bath and Body. The company's bar shampoo makes washing your hair easy and fun.

The solid tear-free shampoo is a round bar housed in an embossed aluminum storage tin and comes in a luscious Coco Banana scent. One bar lasts as long as three eight-ounce bottles so you save room in your shower and in the landfills. My kids love that they can apply it themselves and they get a kick out of the way it lathers up in their hair. Part of the endangered species collection, you can help save a monkey while you wash your child's hair. How cool is that?

If you like One Shampoo, you'll also love One Hair & Body wash in Panda Berry. It comes in a recyclable aluminum canister that has a scratch & sniff sticker on the top of the cover! So you can actually sample the scent without trying to break through the safety seal. And you can help save a panda while you use it. Another reason this is the One hair and body wash you can't live without.

Finally, try One Snow Leopard Lavender Body Lotion, all over your baby's skin and especially on their knees and cheeks. One Baby will donate a portion of its sales to support the sea World/Bush gardens Conservation Fund, swbg-conservationfund.org.

Go to onebathandbody.com for more info on these great products.

oh baby!

It's easy to get caught up in all the baby hype out there. From innovative products and cutting edge formulas, there are enough potions on the shelves to keep you spewing out cash every time you turn around. The truth is, all you need are the basics. One of my favorites is Jurlique Baby's Calming Bath Oil ($18), a gentle oil infused with lavender to nurture and soothe before bedtime. I pour a capful into the bath and mix it in with my hands to keep their skin feeling soft and calm. The Gentle Shampoo and Body Wash ($18) also comes in handy--it lathers up just enough to work into their hair but rinses out easily. The best part: It has a push-button flip cap so you can flip it open with one hand while keeping another hand on your slippery infant. I also rely on Jurlique Baby's Soothing Barrier Cream ($29) to get me through diaper changes. The thick formula really coats the skin and does wonders for preventing and healing diaper rash. Try these products for yourself at www.jurlique.com.

happy vday: give rose petals

It's easy to call a florist and order a dozen red roses for Valentines Day. But you'll know you're extra special if your significant other presents you with some of the luxurious products from the One With Nature Rose Petal Collection. The body wash ($8.99), hand wash ($7.99), body lotion ($9.99) and bar soap ($4.49) are all infused with a blend of rose essential oils, plant based fragrances, natural minerals and salts from the Dead Sea. I gave the bar soap to my mom to display in her guest bathroom and put the hand wash and lotion in my kids' bathroom. They love the pearly liquid soap--it makes them wash their hands longer--and get a kick out of the dab of lotion I let them smooth on afterward. (I kept the body wash for myself!) The bottom line: Everyone comes up smelling like roses! All One With Nature products are available at Whole Foods and at www.onewithnature.com.