Baby

Ever since my own little girl days, I’ve been obsessed with everything Sanrio, from Keroppi to its pop icon, Hello Kitty! So naturally, when I first got wind of the new collaboration between Sanrio’s Hello Kitty and Aden+Anais – one of my indispensables for swaddling, breast-feeding, moisturizing ,and cuddling my baby — I was positively giddy. I couldn’t have dreamt of such a perfect match!

One of my favorite products from the limited edition collection is the Dream Blanket. Woven from the Aden + Anais’ famed soft muslin, the blanket is extra plush (and just gets softer with every wash) and big enough to use even as your little girl grows into a toddler. Both my daughter and I love how gentle it is … and the contemporary Hello Kitty art print — I’m getting her obsession started early!

My other favorite is the adorable Swaddle Set that features three designs printed on light muslin. For newborns, the versatile cloths are perfect for swaddling, nursing, and can even work as a floor blanket for tummy time. The swaddles are also a great way to dress up your stroller —  just throw one of these adorable designs over the top to shield your baby from the sun but keep breathability and the flow of air. Even if you don’t have a little one of your own, any of the products from this keepsake collection would make perfect shower gift (is it just me or is everyone pregnant right now??). You’ll be remembered forever as a favorite auntie, the one with great taste!

I love enormous cheeks on babies, possibly because my baby has some of the fattest cheeks around town. Hubby and I joke that since they protrude so far from her face that they have to be moisturized more often! My latest obsession is Lavanila’s Healthy Baby Butter which I just love for her cheeks and body (and my hands too, while I’m buttering!). It absorbs easily and has a clean scent (without synthetic fragrances or dyes), so it doesn’t cover up that delicious newborn smell. As a plus, I don’t have to worry about the safety as it’s 100% natural and is free of alcohol, parabens, and petroleum and since it contains aloe and is hypoallergenic, it’s perfect for dry skin and sensitive skin — even eczema. Baby’s skin is comforted and richly hydrated by pure shea and cocoa butters which are blended with nourishing Calendula and Noni Juice. My little girl is soft and smooth, protected against dryness without feeling slippery or greasy.

Though the product is meant for babies, everyone in our family has been grabbing for the butter this winter, which probably explains why it’s missing at the moment… Time for a new tube!

Do you remember blowing bubbles as a kid and watching them stream gently from your wand? To this day, I’m still hypnotized by them and absolutely love that the Italian luxury brand Bulgari has created the exclusive Petits et Mamans line dedicated to children and their mothers (much appreciated by this mom!). My favorite item in the collection is the beautiful bath and shower gel for the little ones with a bubble wand for whimsical fun in the tub. I recommend putting a bit of gel into a plastic cup, add a tablespoon or two of water, and voila — the perfect bubble solution. Ever since we started using it, my baby squeals in delight when she sees the bathtub and even tries to climb in herself (game changer in the lets-try-to-get-the-baby-to-take-a-bath routine)! I even love the cheerful packaging — the box unfolds into a numbered connect-the-dots game.

Bulgari is held in high-esteem for its line of lotions and fragrances, and Petits et Mamans carries on that tradition. Only the most gentle ingredients are used which makes it safe and ideal for children’s sensitive skin. The physiological balance of young skin is boosted with Provitamin B5 and the gel hydrates as it cleanses, refreshes, and smooths. The sweet and light fragrance of peach and lily extracts transports you to an imaginary playground in Florence — even my husband remarked: “It smells like luxury!”

One of my earliest memories is sitting on my mother’s bed, poring over her jewelry box and trying on her pearls while watching her in the mirror. She was applying a cream which she told me contained real pearls!  I could hardly believe it, and she laughingly explained that one day I would understand the need for quality skin care.  Now that I have a daughter of my own, I want to give her the best of the best, especially when newborn skin is so soft and sensitive.  I was delighted to discover Perfect Pearl’s complete line for baby skin created by Ying Zhou, a mother of two who wanted to incorporate the centuries-old secrets into caring for newborn skin. Asian history shows that the health benefits of the pearl have been proven through generations and pearl powder is considered a precious gift worthy of royalty. Healing, vitality, and beauty are the virtues attributed to pearls, and the soothing properties are noticeable immediately. The formulations used in the line are of amazing quality- sea pearls are carefully sourced and safety is first and foremost.  All products are hypoallergenic, fragrance free, colorant and paraben free and doctor recommended. (more…)

Well here’s a little secret: you know that elusive “pregnancy glow” everyone talks about? I got mine from a bottle… partially at least. Let me explain: my facial skin condition is already frustratingly fickle (definitely the opposite of “glow”), and when I became preggers last year with hormonal changes to boot, my facial cleanser kicked me to the curb and left me desperately seeking something to adapt to my skin’s new needs.

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple cleanser came on my radar, and after just trying it a couple times, I was sold.  Just a pea size amount of the milky dew left my skin feeling clean (without any residue like overly “moisturizing” cleansers tend to leave) but not bone dry. It does its job controlling my T-zone while nourishing my cheeks, and I didn’t feel any buildup. Natural oil extracts help condition skin so it’s healthy and primed for moisturizing. Within a few days, my blemishes cleared up and my skin finally gave way to a bit of that elusive “pregnancy glow!”  The scent is light and clean since it’s fragrance-free, without the heavy floral or fruity stuff. (more…)

Once in  blue moon, a product comes up which is the proverbial holy grail — an answer to a plethora of beauty issues (think Windex from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”). Aden+Anais’ Soothing Ointment is just that, ready to tackle your super-dry skin patches, chapped lips, and even insect bites! But before we go any further, consider yourself warned: this ointment is not for the faint of heart. It’s thick, tacky, and so pleasingly salubrious! The ointment is 50% fresh fermented paw paw fruit, which is nature’s answer to our skin dilemmas. Never heard of paw paw fuit? Well, I hadn’t either so I dug around a bit to find out what the big deal was. Turns out, it’s a type of papaya which has been getting a lot of attention lately because  it’s high in antioxidants and has a whole list of health benefits. Australians have long hailed the fruit for its ability to protect and relieve skin ailments. Ellen Gendler, M.D., a leading New York City dermatologist who specializes in cosmetic contact dermatitis, helped develop this ointment, so this formulation is the best of the best. (more…)

One of the best things about having a newborn? Cuddling, of course, and touching that brand new beyond-soft baby skin. I took all that for granted until I started noticing some flaking and rough spots, then a reddish rash starting on our lil girl. Our pediatrician mentioned that it could be a mild form of eczema (which I attributed to her daddy right away!). Then came the not-so-fun task of finding just the right cream to soothe her skin. I literally went through dozens of creams, oils, body washes, and lotions until I found the perfect trifecta: slightly cooler baths avoiding too much soap in eczema prone areas, good ol’ fashioned cocoa butter morning and night, and Exederm’s Hydrating Body Lotion for a good coating midday, or anytime at all. The lightweight but concentrated consistency of the lotion ensures a good amount will cling to skin while it moisturizes and soothes and a little bit goes goes a long way. Within a few days, I noticed problem spots getting better and that smooth baby skin peeking through again!  (more…)

Editor’s Note: When we first started TDO some 7+ years ago, we were all still in high school (ok not really, but it certainly feels that way looking back). Now our set of editors and contributors are all scattered around the country kicking ass in life and career: some with their own successful businesses, many married, all well traveled and with a lot of experience and stories to share. Needless to say, we’ve grown up quite a bit over the majority of the past decade and the content on TDO has also reflected the shift in our interests as we move through different stages and milestones in our lives. This week, we’re excited to bring on a new contributor, Grace, recently a mom and likely the most stylish one you’ll meet. She’ll be blogging about beauty, fashion and lifestyle from her point of view and we could not be more excited to have her on board! 

When I found out I was pregnant, the thought immediately popped into my head that bikini days would be over for good (along with adult conversations, travel, and spontaneous dinners).  Fortunately, beauty-saavy friends pointed me to Elemis’ Japanese Camellia Oil and alerted me to the fact that Victoria Beckham also used it during all her pregnancies. At first, I thought I might prefer a cream to an oil, but I found that the product absorbs beautifully and softens as it works. Most importantly, I didn’t have to worry about anything harsh going through my skin, because it’s a fine blend of Japanese camellia extract and sweet almond oil, free from parabens, SLS, SLES, DEA, mineral oils, artificial colors and silicones.

It soon became a ritual and a luxury to apply the oil twice daily (particularly nice after showering) as I watched my belly grow… and start to move!  I’m convinced my baby loved the in utero massage. Though I was turned onto the product originally because it promised to combat stretch marks, I soon started applying it everywhere on my body, even on my nails. Despite my liberal use of the oil, only a small amount is needed to get the job done — I got through nine months with one bottle, zero stretch marks (Ed. note: so lucky!!!), and even have enough left to moisturize this winter. Now for those other excuses not to get into a swimsuit…

$48 at Nordstrom.

Every year, my skin is a super freak in the winter. It’s dry, it’s oily, it’s acne-prone, it’s all over the place — which is why I’m so glad Elave Skincare showed up in my mailbox! Originally conceived as a post-surgery treatment line by one of Ireland’s oldest pharmaceutical companies, it’s now one of Ireland’s top lines and fave of celebrity makeup artist Jemma Kidd. I can see why.

The Oil-Free Skin Balancing Cleansing Gel and Moisturizer, each $32, leave my skin feeling perfectly balanced and refreshed, and they are fragrance-free (always a plus in my book). They also contain Manuka honey, an anti-inflammatory/antibiotic agent. Formulated for sensitive skin types, Elave products are free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, alcohol, lanolin, formaldehyde and dyes.

There are 10 Elave products in the Elave Facial Range (for the face and neck), ranging in price from $8-$40. They even make baby cream. You can find Elave Skincare at Duane Reade Look Boutiques, Walgreens Look Boutiques, Dermstore.com and ElaveSkincareUS.com.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we’re taking inspiration from stylish moms who always make it work!  Make sure you and your brood are perfectly put-together whether you’re at a family function, the park or just relaxing at home.

More of Me Piper Dress ($198) is not your average maternity dress! Playful yet refined and something that you can keep in wardrobe post pregnancy.

Who say’s comfort can’t look cute? A match made in heaven, your feet with thank you for considering both style and fit with Converse Chuck Taylor/PJ Marimekko kicks ($90)!  (more…)