7 Simple Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

She kissed your owies when you were a child and dried your tears when your heart broke for the first time. She told you how smart and beautiful you were when you felt the opposite, and encouraged you to go after all of your passions—whether you wanted to be a ballet dancer or a doctor. No one knows you better than your mom, and you wouldn’t be the person you are today without her.

After all these years it’s still a challenge to think of the perfect gift for her, but when it comes to showing your appreciation, it really is the thought that counts. Here are a few simple Mother’s Day gift ideas to help you do just that:

• Fresh flowers are the classic Mother’s Day gift. Make your bouquet unique by hand selecting each flower yourself. Choosing the colors, scents, and varieties she likes best will make this traditional gift even more thoughtful.
• Who doesn’t love a day at the spa? Treat mom to a hot stone massage, a mani-pedi, or a facial—many specialty spas actually include a Clarisonic cleansing as part of their treatment now.

• Give her a brand new Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System with Anti-Aging Sea Serum, so she can have the spa treatment at home whenever she wants. She’ll feel refreshed and energized with skin that looks brighter, younger, and more beautiful than ever.
• Spend an afternoon together. One of the best gifts you can give a loved one is your time, so take mom wine tasting at a local vineyard or offer to help her out in the garden for a few hours.
• What’s the one thing your mom has always wanted to learn to do, but never found time for? Making pottery? Figuring out what it takes to bake a soufflé? Find a local class where she can do just that. If she’s nervous, offer to take the class with her!

• Potted indoor plants are a lovely, longer-lasting alternative to fresh flowers. If your mom likes to cook, pick out a few potted herbs (rosemary and basil are great options) to put on her kitchen windowsill.  If not, try a succulent or two. They come in all kinds of charming varieties and are easy to take care of.
• Find an old photo of the two of you and put it in a nice frame. Set it by her bed when she isn’t looking so she’ll be surprised to find it in the morning. Who wouldn’t love to wake up to that?

What other great Mother’s Day gift ideas do you have? Share them in the comments!

Photos licensed through Creative Commons by Susan NYC & Satrina0

Will the Clarisonic help to get a closer shave and prevent ingrown hairs?

Men have been shaving for hundreds of years and are still looking for ways to get a closer shave. Dr. Robb discusses whether men get a closer shave by prepping with the Clarisonic in this video.

Dr. Robb says, an ingrown hair is a medical condition and Clarisonic does not make any claims to cure or treat medical conditions. Ingrown hairs have a great name, Pseudofolliculitis barbae. What this means is men with Mediterranean and African decent with curly hairs and they grow back or get caught underneath. The Clarisonic is great because it helps to lift hairs off the surface of the skin, and that is why you will get a better shave. We actually did a study with 55 men that said they got a closer shave they felt; because the Clarisonic helped prep the skin before they shaved.

Best 5 Skin Care Ingredients From Your Kitchen

Beauty starts from the inside out, and we all know carrots support eye health and apples keep the doctor away. But did you know that these common household ingredients can do as much for your skin when applied topically as many creams and scrubs?

1. Milk. The lactic acid in milk naturally exfoliates your skin while its fatty properties soothe and moisturize. Additionally, milk contains numerous vitamins and minerals that benefit your skin, including vitamins A and D. Deep cleanse your face with your favorite Clarisonic to prepare your skin to absorb the milk’s nutritive properties, then sweep cotton balls doused in whole milk around your orbital bone (the delicate area around your eyes). Rinse your face fully after and then apply your favorite eye cream using your Opal for maximum penetration.

Additional tips: Also consider adding 2 cups of whole milk to your bath to soften your entire body and using powdered milk with a bit of water (enough to make a paste) for a smoothing 5-minute face masque.

2. Oatmeal. You know oatmeal is good for your internal health, but did you know it could make you beautiful on the outside, too? Oatmeal softens and soothes, unveiling radiant skin no matter the weather. Oats contain polysaccharides which become gelatinous in water, forming a protective barrier between your skin and the elements. Not only does this barrier aide in dry skin prevention in winter, it also keeps natural moisture in and harmful toxins out. Furthermore, the fats in oatmeal help lubricate and moisturize your skin while saponins (natural cleansers that oats possess) gently purify your pores. Next time you’re cooking up porridge for breakfast, set some aside for your skincare regimen!

Additional tip: Use your Clarisonic body brush head to deep cleanse from head to toe then form a simple exfoliating scrub of warm water and oatmeal (simply add enough warm water to the oatmeal to form a thick paste). Rub the mixture in circular motions and rinse for baby soft skin.

3. Baking soda. Believe it or not, this odor-fighting substance is also a natural exfoliant. Many man-made exfoliants can be damaging to your skin, while this natural substance is coarse enough to remove the top layer of dead skin cells and fine enough to not irritate the new skin beneath. Additionally, it has the same cleansing benefits for your skin as it does for your teeth, without any harsh chemicals or additives. Once a week (depending on your skin’s sensitivity), add a bit of baking soda to your regular cleanser when using your Clarisonic to reveal glowing, fresh skin.

Additional tip: Make a paste of baking soda and a bit of water – a ratio of about 3 to 1 – to rub on the roughest patches of skin, such as the elbows and the feet, getting rid of stubborn calluses and dry patches.

4. Coconut oil. Coconut oil is a wonderful addition to your skin care regimen. Loaded with beneficial nutrients like vitamins K and E, this natural moisturizer will help your skin repair itself and actually help protect your skin from sun damage. Additionally, the powerful antioxidants in coconut oil (particularly in virgin coconut oil – meaning it hasn’t been treated) can minimize the effects of aging by preventing free radicals from breaking down the tissues of your skin. After cleansing your body, apply the coconut oil as you would any lotion or massage oil.

Additional tip: For an exfoliating and antioxidant rich facial and/or body scrub, combine brown sugar and virgin coconut oil at about a 3-to-1 ratio. Mix then slough away!

5. Honey. Packed with flavonoids (which protect cells), natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, honey is truly Mother Nature’s nectar. The antioxidants it contains help prevent aging while its humectant state (meaning it attracts and retains water) helps keep skin hydrated. Its anti-microbial properties help soothe irritated skin, including mild sunburns. Add a cup of honey to your bath water for a luxurious treat.

Tell us in the comments below what your favorite homemade skincare remedies are!

Additional tip: A recent study found that a mixture of honey, olive oil and beeswax actually help relieve symptoms associated with eczema and psoriasis when applied topically.

Ask Dr. Robb: Do You Think Using a Facial Scrub Would be Too Much With the Clarisonic?

We all want smooth radiant skin and using the Clarisonic is one way to achieve it. Dr. Robb answers whether using a facial scrub with our system is too much.

Dr. Robb says we don’t recommend you use facial scrubs that have odd shaped particles like pointed pieces of sand or grit. Round spheres are no problem. What Dr. Robb does is use the Refining Skin Polish that comes with the Clarisonic PLUS once a week on his face and every other day, uses regular face wash.

Ask Dr. Robb: Are the Clarisonic and Opal safe for use during pregnancy?

Pregnancy can wreak havoc on your hormones and your skin. The Clarisonic’s patented Sonic Technology removes 6x more makeup than manual cleansing alone by gently gliding over the skin. The sonic micro-message loosens and removes dirt and oil from pores, clarifying skin without harsh chemicals therefore,   improving skin texture. The Sonic technology removes pollutants, oil and bacteria that accumulate on the skin giving a sonic boost to your skin care products and reducing the need for harsh chemicals. Dr. Robb lends his expertise as he answers the question, are the Clarisonic and Opal safe to use during pregnancy and on my bump?

Dr. Robb says that both the Clarisonic and Opal are safe to use on your face for daily cleansing during pregnancy. It is not recommended that you use the Clarisonic on your growing baby bump because it’s a very delicate area, something that is very precious. You could consult you OBGYN but we hope your baby is going to know the feeling when they get older and start using their own Clarisonic.

Dr. Robb also recently told us about what age your child can start using the Clarisonic.

Ask Dr. Robb: Can the Mia be used anywhere else on the body other than the face?

We all know the many benefits of Sonic Cleansing, such as the removal of up to 2x more dirt than manual cleansing alone. Why should our face be the only ones to reap the Sonic benefits? Dr. Robb tells us whether we can use the Clarisonic Mia on places other than our face. Sonic cleansing better prepares your skin for skin care products. Compared to manual cleansing, using the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System allows for up to 61% better absorption of Vitamin C. This better absorption allows creams, serums, moisturizers, even self-tanners to work their best! Some fans use a Normal Brush Head with their Mia on their body; others choose to use the same brush head after facial cleansing. Do you use your Clarisonic system on your body?

Dr. Robb says, the original Clarisonic was designed to be used all over the body. We now have the Clarisonic PLUS and PRO that can be used specifically on the face and body. The Clarisonic Mia can be used in other places. Women love to use the Mia on their next after cleansing their face. It’s great for also using on your hands.

Dry brushing: What is it?

Super models such as Miranda Kerr and Molly Sims have been onto this trend for a while. The secret is now out as to how they get their smooth fresh looking skin.   Dry brushing is a very simple and effective way to stimulate your skin and increase blood flow.  Soft bristled brushes are perfect for dry brushing (like the Body Brush on our PLUS system).

To start your skin transformation, begin brushing gently in a circular motion while your skin is dry. Brushing on dry skin will allow for more skin to slough off. After working from your feet up; take a shower to remove any dead skin and finish with a good moisturizer for extremely smooth skin! Dry brushing has been known to help your skin look younger, giving you a fresh glow your serums and creams work better too.  Have you ever tried dry brushing? If so, what do you think? If you haven’t, give it a try and tell us what you think!

Beauty Survival Kit: What Every Woman Should Have in Her Purse

Have you ever been invited to a last minute client meeting on ponytail day, or forgot about happy hour with the girls with no time to freshen up? These can happen to anyone but they don’t have to stop you from looking and feeling your best. We’ve put together a list of the essential items every woman should have at her disposal in case of emergency. Remember, a great skin care regimen can’t be replaced by these, but these could help you in a pinch!

Q-tips: These are a life saver; use them with your hand lotion to remove any smudged makeup to keep you from having dreaded raccoon eyes.

Sewing kit: Button fall off or get a rip in your outfit? A sewing kit is a great way to make repairs on-the-go.

Double Sided tape: Not quite on the sewing bandwagon? Double-sided tape can also do the trick to fix rips or keep your clothes in place.

Stain remover: Don’t let a spill ruin your outfit; keep a travel stain remover on hand for those unfortunate mishaps.

Blotting tissues: Oily skin can make you look tired, give your skin a quick refresh by removing excess oil. Even if you don’t have your compact, your complexion will thank you and you will arrive fresh faced.

Hand lotion: The stresses of a busy day and the harsh soaps found in public bathrooms can wreak havoc on your skin. Enter hand lotion. You can also use a small drop to slick back unruly flyaways for a sleek, sophisticated ponytail.

Lip stain or gloss: Brighten up your lips and use a little extra on your cheeks to give your face a rosy glow.

What else would you add to your beauty survival kit?