Are you feeling it? Are the stresses of the holiday creeping up on you already?
My friend and I were comparing notes on our early shopping scores post-Thanksgiving. We listed things we got for the kids and our husbands. I ticked off some finds I snagged for myself: tights, a sweater dress. What did she get for herself?
She struggled to answer. A donation to our alma mater.
This is a mom, who like so many, hadn’t put her name down on the gift list at all. Like most women I know, she deserves some serious treats and then some! I mean, you surprise me with a delicious smelling [enter beauty product here] and I’m a happy camper for as long as the bottle lasts.
In an effort to help her out, here’s some holiday beauty magic for busy mamas—restorative, rejuvenating and on-trend--to sneak into your own stocking!
WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO WASH YOUR HAIR: DRY SHAMPOO
I literally just came back from traveling and lost count of when I’d last washed my hair. You know it’s bad when you put the broccoli in the oven for dinner, and dash upstairs to shampoo. A friend recently asked for dry shampoo recommendations and this was one of them, not only because it’s an undetectable formulation that you don’t really have to do that much to once sprayed in (tip: make sure you spray at least 8 inches from your hair), but also it has that divine signature Oribé scent that makes it well worth the money. You may find you apply it even when your hair isn’t even all that dirty!
$44, Gold Lust Dry Shampoo, 6 oz.; oribe.com
WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING PALE: BERRY-HUED LIPS
I’ve always been a night owl ever since I was a teen, but switching coasts from West to East has made my internal clock particularly wacky. Now I’m sleepy at 9 pm and up at 2 am and when I face the mirror I see a ghost. Good thing that really red lips are en vogue for a burst of color to wake up the face. These creamy lipsticks featuring natural, hydrating oils are part of the new Burt’s Bees Beauty (I’ve always been a fan of the lip balms, and for now pomegranate especially).
$9 each, Glossy Lipstick; burtsbees.com
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE SWEARING: “F” BOMB BATH FIZZER
My tween has picked up an innocuous version of a swear word from school, and then my little man started using it too. In a pinch, I use it myself, and now my husband is convinced I’m the origin of teaching the slang word to our kids. It just makes you want to drop an “F” Bomb Bath Fizzer into your tub with its intense lavender scent and have your secret calming surprise revealed to you from inside the bomb (every daBomb contains one). Bath is my end-of-day escape, where I can swear all I want.
$7.50 each, daBomb Bath Fizzers, dabombfizzers.com
WHEN YOU LIE AWAKE AT NIGHT: SLEEP SPRAY
If someone could offer you 806 nights of better sleep in a bottle would you take it? At first I admit I was skeptical. But this pillow spray blended with lavender, vetivert and chamomile transform you sleep space into a spa, and I admittedly find myself spraying it more nights than not. It does come in smaller bottles, but this version also sports a pretty purple eye mask, which makes for a lovelier complete gift to oneself.
$65, Supersize Deep Sleep Pillow Spray & Eye Mask; thisworks.com
WHEN YOUR SKIN FEELS PREMATURELY POOPED: COLLAGEN
I recently took an at-home DNA skin test, and the results were pretty good save for my skin’s collagen fiber formation. Collagen production is something that naturally declines for all of us as we age, though it can be bolstered topically or through supplemental treatments. Enter Musely’s new Collagen & Multivitamin Powder, where you mix a packet with 10 oz. of water and drink away your fine lines, so to speak to supposedly 20% younger-looking, firmer skin. I’ve only had a sample to taste, but their claim that the unique delivery system of black pepper and jasmine green tea helps unlock the collagen’s ability to work better is interesting. I’d say it’s worth a (daily) shot. Also available in Unsweetened.
$29 for a box of 20 packets, Hello Beautiful Collagen & Multivitamin Powder (Wild Berry Flavor); musely.com
WHEN YOUR HOLIDAY SHINE IS IN THE WRONG PLACE: BLOTTING PAPERS
You are enjoying the neighborhood caroling but your skin cannot keep up. Use one side of these thin rice papers to first absorb the oil from your T-zone and the powdery side to re-dust your nose to party mama perfection. Available in three shades.
$4.50, Rice Paper, palladiobeauty.com
Product samples if not purchased independently were received for editorial testing.