Mother’s Day is around the corner and I know with the current unusual situation and circumstances revolving around social distancing and staying home, you still want to make the day special for the mom in your life. Or being a mom myself, I want to treat myself to something special and at the same time want something for my mom and my fellow mom friends to let them know I care and appreciate the endless love and hard work they are putting in to keep the family and kids happy and safe. Here I am sharing my last minute luxury gift recommendations for Mother’s Day this year, and all of them are available online. Please note the recommendations, especially for skincare are approved by me as well as my mom.
Fragrances can be a great gift idea when it comes to someone close to you, you know their likes and what sort of scents they prefer and suits their personality and taste. I have been really liking the Aerin Wild Geranium fragrance, available at esteelauder.ca, a beautiful, not-overpowering, fresh floral fragrance with key notes of Geranium, Orange flower, and rose centifolia. For someone who prefers Oriental spicy scents, Byredo’s Rose of No Man’s Land perfume is a beautiful choice. It is a light, fresh, clean scent of rose. Rose of No Man’s Land is the nickname given by soldiers to the nurses who saved thousands of lives during WWI. The scent is a tribute to selflessness and compassion. And during this unusual time, this scent could only reflect humanity with all its care and compassion. Another Rose Scent is Mon Guerlain Bloom of Rose which is a light sweet fruity floral uplifting scent, perfect for spring and summer. The composition of Lavender, rose, pear note and vanilla make a beautiful tribute to the queen of flowers. Another floral musky scent is the newest Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Dew which is a powdery floral with notes of Bergamot, Pear Accord, and Aabrette. It is a nice everyday scent with good longevity.
I know after fragrances for yourself, Candles take you the closest you can go to make your home smell like how you feel and how your mood is. Candles are my weakness and so is my few fellow moms, and of course my mom too. A good candle and a good ambiance can help you do whatever you want to. Byredo Burning Rose is a floral-scented candle with a soothing, smoky blend of deep woods and fresh rose petals, peppered with warm notes of Violet, Leather and Birch Tree. Cire Trudon Mademoiselle de la Valliere is a beautiful mix of vibrant “green” galbanum and bouquet of tuberoses, jasmine and orange blossoms (other notes include bergamot, ylang-ylang, musk, citrus and benzoin). This can be linked to a more romantic candle but I personally like this floral musky smell.
My skincare recommendations cover Serums, Eye creams/serum, and moisturizers and all three of them I consider the most important parts of skincare routine which make so much difference not just acting as a treatment but also for the long term care for the skin. I keep in rotation a few serums at a time, depending on what my skin needs, I use a different one from my shelf or I just layer a few one on each other. For brightening, I love Shiseido Future Solution LX Ultimate Luminance Serum with Legendary Enmei and La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Pearl Infusion. For hydration and firming, I reach out to Chantecaille Bio Lifting Serum + and Decorte AQ Serum Absolute. For eyes, I am really in love with the new Sisley Paris Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid, it is such a beautiful product along with the ceramic tip applicator, it just makes the morning a relaxing ritual – very hydrating and brightens the area. La Prairie Skin Caviar Eye Lift is perfect for firming, uplifting, and hydrating the eye area, I prefer it during the night. Cle de Peau Beaute Enhancing Eye Contour Cream Supreme is one of my favourite eye creams, it hydrates, firms, and illuminates the eye area.
Moisturizers are tricky, the ones that work for me might not work for my mom, so combining them all in here. My mom has recently finished the Sisley Paris Velvet Nourishing Cream with Saffron Flowers which she really liked. It worked for me too but during the winters. Omorovicza Instant Plumping Cream, 111Skin Nocturnal Eclipse Recovery Cream NAC Y2, and ReVive Perfectif Even Skin Tone Cream with SPF 30 is my most used moisturizers nowadays. While my mom is in love with the Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Cream, no doubt why it is their best-seller, and Fresh Youth Preserve Moisturizer with Multi-Action Super Lotus. The moisturizers are hydrating, not drying, nor leave any residue on the skin despite being nourishing.
My weakness, after serums, is the masks. I have few masks on rotation at a time, for deep cleansing, illuminating, brightening, firming, and hydration. Few I am reaching out a lot these days for brightening and loving the results are By Terry Baume de Rose Glowing Rose Mask and Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask. For deep Cleansing, I go for Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask and Grown Alchemist Deep Cleansing Facial Masque. For firming and hydration, Chantecaille Bio Lifting Mask is superb. Along with Masks, I do prefer to keep a face mist with me most of the times, one is always on my desk side as well as on my nightstand and near my treadmill as I am working out at home these days. I have on rotation my staple Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist, Grown Alchemist Detox Toner, and ReVive Vitalite Energizing Hydration Mist on the desk and for working out while Biologique Recherche L’Eauxygenante Multi-actives treatment mist for face in my skincare cabinet while Sisley Paris Floral Spray Mist in my skincare as well as to set makeup. The mists are available in deluxe sizes to keep in the bag while on the go.
Hand creams are another must I have realized and so has my mom, we are never without one. Our favourites include Goldfaden MD Hands to Heart Anti-aging + Brightening Hand Treatment, it has retinol and Niacinamide in it and I love both ingredients. Sisley Paris Restorative hand cream is the most beautiful formula with a subtle gorgeous smell – very uplifting and moisturizing. More staples include Darphin All-Day hydrating Hand and Nail Cream, Loccitane 20% Shea Butter Hand cream, and Laura Mercier Hand & Body Cream. All these picks work for my very dry hands, keeping in mind all the work my hands do – washing. cooking, cleaning, and of course some days I have my hands in clay doing craft.
For body care, I know the time is all about calm, relaxing, and unwinding vibes. A good body care product, be a shower gel, body lotion, bath salts, or body oil – they all count as one step closer to the ultimate relaxation. This could be a perfect gift for the mom who loves to give herself some pamper time at the end of the day. Loccitane Almond Oil Shower Gel has been a staple for me while the Loccitane Ultra Rich Body Cream and Nuxe Melting Honey Body Oil Balm have been giving me nourished and irritation-free skin which looks healthy and makes me feel comfortable about it. By Terry Baume de Rose All-Over Oil and Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Florale Multi-purpose dry oil are both non-sticky and beautifully scented body oils I like. Another favourite I have really enjoyed is MoroccanOil Night Body Serum, it firms and smooths the skin like no other I have tried, I see a difference in my stretch marks too, highly recommend.
Two tools we have in the rotation are the reFa roller which is a platinum facial roller designed to help tighten and rejuvenate skin that tends to slacken around the eyes and mouth for a firmer, more contoured appearance. An extra-large solar panel embedded in the handle generates a powerful, soothing microcurrent. And another favourite of my mother and me also is NuFace Trinity Device, available at Skinstore.com, which is microcurrent treatment for anti-ageing, firming, and wrinkles. This definitely needs an effort every time you use it but is worth the investment.
Sheet Masks are always a good idea, before an event or outing, and so I keep stocked up of them, you never know when you might need one. I always find it a great idea to gift the Sheet masks, they are perfect for travel as well as a quick fix before something important comes up. There are many available for face and eyes to address multiple concerns. They are a good companion while reading, watching tv or Netflix or even sitting in front of the laptop while working from home. For eyes, I am hooked to the new 111Skin Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask, they literally illuminate and brighten the eye area. Knesko Eye Masks are another favourite, Rose Quartz Antioxidant Eye Mask to calm, protect and soothe while Black Pearl Charcoal Eye Mask purify and balance. The most supple and plump eye area I have experienced with Givenchy Le Soin Noir, they just brighten up the eye area and instantly helps with tired dull eye area.
111Skin Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask and
Bio-Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask has been a staple for me, I reviewed them in detail here. Bioeffect Imprinting Hydrogel Mask hydrates and replenishes the skin with moisture. Nannette de Gaspe Youth Revealed Face Mask is a reusable mask (reused 3-5 times), with its unique blend helps to reduce the appearance of fine line and wrinkles, hydrate, and brighten the skin. Knesko Nanogold Repair Face Mask with its hydrating and calming 24k Gold firms, lifts, and hydrates like no other. The matching roller from Knesko, available in four versions – Rose Quartz, Obsidian, Green Jade, and White Jade, is a step you can do to complete the ritual.
For all the moms who love to take care of their hair and like to treat with the best and finest, I have few recommendations. Sisley Paris Pre-Shampoo Purifying Mask is my favourite pre-shampoo treatment. Few minutes or a few hours before the shower, this mask calms, soothes, and purifies the scalp and hair. For the itchy flaky scalp, Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt is a staple, the new matching conditioner is a great addition to the range. Oribe Power Drops Damage Repair Booster is a go-to for the damaged, dry, and breaking hair. It nourished the hair strand while repairing the damage. 2-3 drops of this booster into any hair styling or leave-on product or directly on the hair does the work. Moroccan Oil Treatment has been a best-seller for years, no doubt why it is so loved by one and all, a half pump is enough to give the silky shiny hair that is soft to touch. Leonor Greyl Laque Souple Light Styling Spray for thin hair comes into life as a saviour for those fly-aways and frizz and you literally get addicted to it. Kerastase Discipline Oleo-Relax is for my fellow moms with wavy or curly hair, a pump or two of this lightweight hair oil relaxes the strands and makes them more manageable without being greasy. For all the lovers of heat-styling their hair, MoroccanOil Perfect Defense is a lightweight spray that protects hair from the heat damage.
I have tried to cover most of the products which are currently loved by us and I hope you will find it easy to select the gift for your mother or fellow moms. All the recommendations either come as a single product or you can look for gift packages depending on which retailer you are checking them on. Let me know how you find my gift guide and if you would like to see more like these in the future. Also, I have a Mother’s Day giveaway live on my Instagram if you are interested, check my IG stories for the same. Wishing you a safe and Happy Mother’s Day!
111Skin Masks have been loved and raved by many, and that includes me also. I have shared it multiple times on my Instagram stories on how much I love them and shared my skincare routine for the same. I have been loving 111Skin Mask since last year and they have always been in my routine, sometimes once a week and sometimes biweekly depending on how my skin is behaving. Now that I am working home, along with a major percentage of the population around the world, I get more time at home, which means I can spend more time on self-care that includes skincare. Some days I just put on my mask and join the skype or MSTeams meetings online or just while doing my everyday work. I have been loving the 111Skin masks which I have in rotation since last month.
I have shared about Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask and
Bio-Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask here in the past.
Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask – No doubt, why it is a celebrity and supermodel favourite mask. An interesting fact is that this mask was first launched as a limited edition mask but due to the love it received and how fast it became a cult favourite, this mask was then added as a staple to the 111Skin permanent collection. This mask contains 24k Gold and Damask Rose which works both to illuminate and calm the skin for a party-ready glow. It balances the skin tone, reduces hyperpigmentation, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, provides moisture to the skin, contains antioxidants, brightens skin tone. It is one of those masks which just transforms the skin in a way that you just fall in love with your skin all over again. It is one of my favourite masks before an event, gathering, or an important meeting.
Another mask I am loving is the Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask – It brightens, helps even out, stimulates collagen production, helps restore moisture from long flights or nights, potent antioxidants in the mask condition and moisturize the skin. This comes in handy while working from home as it just replenishes the skin after working all day in front of the screen and then watching Netflix most of the night, of course in front of the screen. In other words, it helps tired, dull skin by making it brighter, firmer, and nourished.
And now coming to the newest mask which launched recently and I am so glad it did – it is like the eye version of the Rose Gold Brightening Facial Mask treatment. New Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask is an eye mask a.k.a under-eye saviour which has been formulated to uplift, illuminate and awaken the delicate periorbital region. It contains a blend of brightening ingredients to stimulate the skin’s own radiance, reduce pigmentation, provide anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing benefits, moisturizes and soothes the eye area. It makes a noticeable difference in terms of how bright, supple, and nourishing the eye area looks, lit-from-within radiant look, something which I thought might be achievable only by under-eye concealer. The eye area looks well-rested and illuminated at the same time, less noticeable lines. Definitely an under-eye saviour mask!
In my opinion, you do not need a mask only for an occasion but it is part of regular care and maintenance of the skin. These masks have been a staple in my routine, including the new Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask which is an answer to the tired dull eyes. 111Skin is available at 111Skin.com
*Press samplesDrunk Elephant has some amazing products which I have been a big fan of all the products I have tried from them, they have worked very well for my skin. I have emptied a few bottles of their C-Firma Day Serum, Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, and the T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial Mask – which are staples in my skincare routine. I have linked the posts here if you are interested to read more. So, this definitely came as a wish come true when I came to know that Drunk Elephant is launched body care and hair care range. The packaging is the first thing you notice about the launches, it is so unique – with pastel colours and some interesting shapes.
There are 7 new products that have launched and now are part of the Drunk Elephant body care and hair care range. The new additions include four core hair products — Cocomino Glossing Shampoo, Cocomino Marula Cream Conditioner, Wild Marula Tangle Spray, and T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub while the three body-care products are Kamili Cream Body Cleanser, Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream, and Sili Body Lotion. Same as the skincare range from the brand, the hair and body care range is based on the same principles to use skin-loving ingredients that are nourishing as well as without any sensitizing ingredients. Tiffany Masterson, the creator of Drunk Elephant, along with Chris McMillan, longtime Hollywood hairstylist and Masterson’s childhood friend, helped her test and develop the line.
For the haircare launches, the products not only target the hair but also the scalp, which means they are formulated keeping in mind the health of the scalp along with the hair.
Cocomino Glossing Shampoo is a gentle, creamy foaming shampoo that cleanses the hair as well as scalp without being harsh or stripping on the hair and scalp. My hair and scalp feel shiny, soft, nourished, and comfortable while using this shampoo without irritation. The shampoo smells amazing and is a lovely experience. The shampoo is free of sulfates, silicones, essential oils, fragrance, dyes and drying alcohols. The coconut-based cleansers and shine-boosting amino acids do work to keep the hair and scalp comfortable and nourished.
Cocomino Marula Cream Conditioner is a beautiful blend of lovely ingredients to keep hair soft, shiny, and nourished, without being too heavy or greasy for the hair. It is safe even on the scalp due to its acidic pH value of 3.6 and does not cause any buildup. My hair definitely feels healthier and soft.
Wild Marula Tangle Spray is a very fine and weightless leave-in mist for hair that detangles and smooths to keep hair manageable and imparts shine without weighing hair down. Along with providing nourishment, it also provides heat protection. It can be used on damp hair after washing or dry hair before styling. It is not sticky or greasy on the hair with a pH value of 4.5. I spray it on the mid-length till the ends. And I love the smell of this spray, very refreshing.
T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub is a scrub for the scalp to keep the hair and scalp healthy and nourished. The formula is a blend of AHA/BHA acid to break down and dissolve dead skin cells and styling product buildup while biodegradable and perfectly gentle plant cellulose exfoliating beads sweep them away. It helps the scalp stay flake-free, balanced, and nourished at the same time. It has become a very nice addition to my weekly hair care ritual.
Kamili Cream Body Cleanser is a gentle cleanser for the body that does not dry the skin and does not irritate even my sensitive dry skin. It keeps the skin comfortable and is soothing to my dry skin. Sili Body Lotion is a blend of nourishing ingredients to lock in hydration while restoring the moisture and keep the skin balanced. I have been using this body lotion for some time now and it keeps my skin nourished and soft for a full day without having to reapply during the day. It has a subtle scent and feels very light on the skin.
Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream is a new innovative deodorant – all-natural – and free of baking soda, essential oils and aluminum-derived ingredients. The formula is soothing on the delicate under-arm skin and it is moisturizing while keeping the odour away. I am really loving this new deodorant in my everyday routine, it has not even failed me during my workout routine. It does not leaves any stains on the clothes and is not sticky. It does not irritate my underarm area. The packaging and the way the product comes out is pretty cool – a little different way to apply it though.
I am so glad to be using these products from Drunk Elephant. The brand is totally worth all the hype. I am so looking forward to keeping these products on rotation. Check out more of my skincare routines with Drunk Elephant products for skin, hair, and body on my Instagram Handle here. Drunk Elephant is available at Sephora Canada and Sephora.
*Press samples