Three Haute Mamas

Keeping a Green Face: Alba Botanica

Going green doesn't have to mean washing your face with bar soap and water.  Ohnonono.  Product junkie here recently made the switch from uber expensive facial cleansers back to my green roots-Alba Botanica.  I found that my wrinkles and "freckles" (some may call them age spots, I prefer the term freckles) weren't disappearing, but my hard earned cash certainly was.  I was also having a hard time with all the chemicals involved.  I use Renova, so I felt like I was turning my  face into a chemical waste land.  I beleive in moderation.  Keep the Renova, and supplement with my Alba Botanica. And aside from this lovely pimple that popped up out of nowhere (even my kids can't hide their horror, it's thatbig), my skin feels and looks exactly the same.  Unlike my wallet which is much fuller. 

The Hawaiian Collection.  I feel like I'm giving my skin a tropical vacation, and not stuck in this tundra.

and for those of you suffering through acne (that'd probably be me) they've released a Natural ACNEdote.  

 

Why add all those harmful chemicals to your teens skin when Lord knows they're a raging bucket of hormones anyhow.  Teens are so into the whole saving the earth deal these days, so one up them, and bring home this baby first.  Like totally.. 

And the best part..these products aren't available exclusively at fancy schmancy designer department store.  Try the holy grail..Target.  Or even your local market (Whole Foods, Shaws, etc..).  Your friends will be green with envy when they hear how much you saved. 

Five under $25 + one of my favorite fives: Happy birthday Alexis!

I remember it like yesterday, although it was four years ago.  I sat on a bench at the school playground when one of my best friends swooped in with a giant Diet Coke and a wide a$$ grin on her face.

Kate...I think I'm pregnant!! I'm going home to take the test right now!!  

With that, she sashayed back into her still running car, and off she drove, presumably to pee on a stick.  Me, on other hand, sat mouth on the cork lined,playground floor, not out of surprise for her announcement, but more out of shock that I'd just suddenly realized my period was...

Kids! Get in the car!!! NOW! We're going to CVS!! 

I must have peed on fourteen sticks that day.  I desperately wanted a third child, but my first two were so close together, and I was planning on waiting a bit.  But like a friend so eloquently described me "Husband coughs, you get knocked up".  Well he had coughed. 

Nine months later, my girlfriend and I were at the hospital, literally next door to each other, snuggling our precious newborns.  My third little girl, Alexis Sumner, was my easiest labor, and shh, don't tell the other girls, my easiest baby.  My baby turns five today-five! She's still my baby, and always will be.  I think she actually likes that fact.  We'll ask her again at 16.  

I love surprises.  This one's the icing on the cake. 

and in honor of my birthday babe, a little online shopping.  Five under $25, here goes:

~Skinny laser cut belt from the Gap.  

 

~Spanish crown ring from Etsy

~print from etsy 

 

~Caviar Day Cream from Mario Badescu

~Peppermint Hot Cocoa from Ghiradelli (Stage an intervention, we have an addict here.)

Happy birthday LexiLou-who! 

Hey Slick, keep hydrated with body oils

Feeling itchy and dry? Give a bath oil a try.  You don't have to sit in the tub, step out of the shower and give one a rub. 

Neutrogena Light Sesame Body Oil, a classic that screams out high school to me.  That being said I had fabulous skin in high school.  Hmm..

Ginger Gloss-there is a reason Oprah picked the line as one of her FA-vor-ITES (you know the voice).  The crisp scent, and skin softening spray will have you talking LIKE thIS all DAYYYYY...

Alba Kukui Nut Body Oil-smells like tanning oil.  You do too know what tanning oil smells like you big liar.  

The original,

and reminds me of when my babies were actually babies.  Plus I hear that's what  Jennifer Anniston uses, and if that's her secret, Costco here I come..........  

 

 

Dry skin + chapped lips? Problem salved! Smiths Rosebud Salve

You're not seeing things..that thermometer is correct.  And dropping.  Take care of that pout, and all exposed skin by this wonder balm.  Found for about six dollars in among other places, drugstores, Target, Sephora and Nordstroms, this legendary all purpose lip balm has been around for over a hundred years, making it tried and true. 

I discovered this product years ago as a lip gloss, and but fell in love with it as a mom.  I applied it to my babies faces during the cold winter months to prevent wind burn.  And when a runny nose caused that uncomfortable redness, Smiths to the rescue! Diaper rash? It works.  

Keep it around to apply to hands and cuticles too.  Who isn't washing their hands a hundred times a day during cold and flu season?  A little dab is all you need an this tiny tin will last forever.  

As a certified product junkie, this one is a top of the medicine cabinet shelf award winner.  Multitasking, useful for the entire family, economical at around $6 a tin,  and all natural.  

Winter skin care got you down? Problem salved! 

 

Blinded by the white? Tinted moisturizers to the rescue!

How many days 'til summer? I can't be the only New Englander counting down the days.  If snow were shoes I'd be Imelda Marcos and the Barneys shoe department and all of the Kardashian sisters.  You can throw in the Mom and Lamar Odom too.  I'm talking snow. 

All this white has me thinking one thing..self tanner.  Don't get lost in the snow, applied daily self tanners, tinted moisturizers, or even a bronzer can mask that pale January complexion until you're able break out of those layers of wool again. 

~Hit the slopes? Nope.  Macys. 

~St. Barths? Nope.  Barneys.  

~Tanning bed? Uhhh?  Sephora..

 

~ooohh..Exotic spa in the Carribean? Spa CVS.  

~Spray tan! bareMinerals!

 

PSA to our mama friends and family, less is more in application mamas..less is always more.  

 

 

Christina used good ole Jergen's from CVS and I..... $27.00 professional spray tan... next time I'm going with the Jergen's !!!

Both outward beauty and inward beauty are parallel ~ Cambie Beauty Essentials

Hello Mamas,

Today I would like to introduce you to the owner and operator of Cambié Beauty, Tami deVries. A local girl at one time born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts. Tami now lives in Arizona, married for 20 years to her high school sweetheart. She is very active within a healthy life style, a proud vegetarian for over 15 years. A lover of animals, running, yoga, nature hikes, cooking vegetarian meals and baking healthy goodies of all kinds.  

Over 25 years of experience in the Beauty Industry she started her career as a technician before venturing into the business side of the industry. Always aware of current trends related to all areas within the industry from client relations, marketing, product development and designing of a medical spa in Los Angeles. Tami has gained considerable business experience by working with and for two of the most influential pioneers of the skin care industry; Aida Thibiant of Beverly Hills and Aida Grey of Beverly Hills both whom provided services and skin care products to the stars.

 Cambié Beauty has been a dream, to help educate retail and professional customers that to look good on the outside is to feel good on the inside, both outward beauty and inward beauty are parallel. To view oneself and the world around them in a new light; healthy radiance−body, healthy outlook−mind, healthy being−soul to see the beauty within each individual and to help enhance that beauty. Knowledge is to be shared with everyone...

 Tami and I exchanged a few emails and I asked her to suggest some beauty products for us Mamas as skin care is our topic this week. Here is some knowledge she was happy to share. 

 

Blue luggage, raccoon eyes or dark circles whatever you call it, you don't want it...

This process begins in the capillaries, tiny blood vessels that surround the delicate eye tissue. At times these capillaries will leak and pool under the eye area. This is a common sign of aging, the skin becomes thinner which makes the reddish-blue color more pronounced. Maintenance is key, using the proper eye treatment is most important. Jadience intensive eye treatment provides an all natural solution to reducing puffiness and wrinkles; and yes you can say good bye to blue luggage.

With the benefits of Jade powder to help strengthen your skins natural defenses, Ginseng to help with puffiness and redness, Tamanu Oil to hydrate and Comfrey to promote cell renewal. Every skin care regiment needs a great eye treatment. Request your free sample, go to Cambié Beauty's Facebook page and get yours today...

Thanks Tami! Mamas be sure to like her facebook page it is full of great tips on beauty care her latest post is a slideshow on healthy foods for your skin! I just made my grocery list!! 

Stay Haute,

Kimberly, Kate and Christina

 

 

Forward thinking on skin care can make a positive difference years from now

Hello Mamas,

"Real improvement starts when you pause to listen to your skin. Invest in the right cleansers, moisturizers, creams, and lotions. and they will pay you back."Jeffrey Dover, M.D. author of the Youth Equation Take 10 years off your face. 

 Kate and I about two years ago sat front row at Dr. Dover's seminar on skin care. I don't think we took a breath or even batted an eye. It was mucho important to us to mentally record everything he said. What we walked away with was so simple. Skin Care ranks up there with hydration, food, and sleep . It is that important. 

In my twenties and early thirties I took my skin for granted. I didn't start with the proper sun block until my late twenties and using a moisturizer with SPF until my early thirties! Yikes! This is why I am writing this post. I was speaking with Kate about this topic and said maybe our Mamas need our help in this department as well. 

According to Dr. Dover the first step to lowering your SVA  ( Skin's Virtual Age) is cleanse, treat, prevent. " It's a mantra you'll see me repeat over and over, because it works.  Although you can follow this program on your own, finding a dermatologist with the right credentials, knowledge, skill set, bedside manner, and ingenuity will go a very long way toward lowering your skin's virtual age quickly and dramatically. 

I still haven't seen a dermatologist yet. Forward thinking and writing this post I am making an appointment this week.  What I do now for my skin is cleanse and moisturize morning and night. I use a cream with SPF 30 everyday and I wear sunglasses whenever I am out. Pretty simple but I do see a few sunspots on the side of my face appearing..... as I say to myself as a single girl now... OH HELL NO!!! Lol!!!

A great magazine to buy for skin care is New Beauty Magazine. This magazine is full of great write ups on skin care products, surgery options, and opinions from dermatologists and plastic surgeons.  It lead me to buy a great product I use religiously every night called Wexler Intensive Night Cream $45 from Bath and Body.  It got a great write up in the magazine, very accessible and very affordable. 

My cleanser and day creams are from Sephora called DDF. I don't like heavy creams during the day so I went with the light moisturizer for day as well as a cleanser .  

 

Taking care of your skin is just another step to showing the world you love who you are and you own it!! 

More on skin care from a few experts in the next few days so stay tuned Mamas!! 

 

XO Kimberly