I just ordered some more Mop Top shampoo and conditioner for curly hair. When my friend Kris dropped off several bottles of shampoo, conditioner, detangler and pomade for me to review I was thrilled but had my doubts I would like it enough to order more. I’m not a product person, and although I’ve tried a few curl-specific products none were standouts.

The best thing about this shampoo is that it made my fine, thin curly hair shinier and less fuzzy. This is especially remarkable in the humid South where we live. The other great benefit is that I could go longer between shampoos since it wasn’t weighed down by heavy conditioners I was using to de-frizz. So now I can wash, condition, add a little pomade and go and the curls are better defined and soft. Even if I brush it out later when it’s dry it doesn’t get frizzy.

I am seldom tempted to wage war with my curls with the flatiron if I’ve used my Mop Top, and have found longer curls more manageable since I’ve started using it. The other thing is it smells great (like lavender) and the gel is not crunchy like the last gel I used in seventh grade.

The same thing is true for my almost-3-year-old daughter and the Fuzzy Duck set. Her hair gets so dry and frizzy with normal no-tears shampoo for kids. Fuzzy Duck is not tearless, because the ingredient that makes products tearless apparently also dries it out, so I make sure to cover her eyes with a washcloth. Although I had been putting leave-in conditioner in her hair, it often weighed it down. The detangler helps after her bath but I seldom use the gel. I think if she were older and her hair wasn’t so fine this would be nice too.

Brushing her locks after bathtime or in the morning is no longer an ordeal in which she runs from me and screams. I think she might even like it. I haven’t even had to order her any more because a little goes a long way (even though I borrowed hers when I ran out of mine and before I ordered new.) She gets tons of complements when she uses it. Someone called her a modern-day Shirley Temple, which makes me wonder what Shirley used back in the day.

I quit highlighting my hair a few years ago because the color combined with the curls seemed to make it dry and dull. I think I may consider color again. With a shampoo like Mop Top I think I could keep it hydrated. This is one I’ll buy again and again. A great discovery!

Learn more about Mop Top and Fuzzy Duck and buy products at www.moptophair.com

Babyfaces: Photo of the Week
A new parents’ dream – asleep at last

Boston Mamas: Two Months of Daily Giveaways!
First birthdays are a big deal. We’re celebrating by giving away daily prizes through July and August!

MomFinds: Top Five Tinted Moisturizers for Summer Beauty
The happy medium between foundation and moisturizer, with SPF coverage as an added bonus, tinted moisturizers are a mom’s best friend not just during the summer, but all year long.

Boston Mamas: Lifeguard on Duty: For an extra line of sun defense, check Cabana Life’s breezy, beachy 50+ UV protection clothing for boys, girls, and women.

Celebrity Moms: Jennifer Garner on Her Insecurities and Beauty Routine: Jennifer Garner may be an A-List celebrity mom, but she still has her insecurities

MomFinds: Baby Bathtime Fun Guide: Get your little one squeaky clean and squealing with delight with these fun bathtub essentials for comfort and safety, colorful towels to stave off the shivers and water toys sure to entertain.

One Chic Mama: Birthdays Can Be Fun Again: Birthdays Without Pressure offers up suggestions to simplify birthday celebrations

The Stylish Child: Angelina Jolie Shares Her Jeans Style with Zahara: Angelina Jolie is one stylish mom and now she’s passing her favorite jean style down to daughter Zahara

Our children are born with by and large the healthiest skin we ever see. They are born with a fatty padding, which gives it a smooth, soft appearance. It has no damage from the sunlight. However, as children play outside, often spending most of the summer out of doors, there is often massive exposure to the sun, which will have long term consequences.

The care of their skin is almost entirely in the hands of their parents. Regular protection against the sun should begin now.

Mainstream products for babies and young children are usually highly fragranced, which can cause irritation. Moreover, baby products almost always have a pretty yellow or pink tint, which comes from coloring agents, which is also problematic for children’s sensitive skin. If baby products were really gentler than adults’ products, than they would be free of chemical fragrance and coloring agents. So that is where we as parents, as advocates for our children, need to choose fragrance-free and color-free products.

Bubble Baths – Many bubble bath products for young children are based on detergents that destroy beneficial bacteria and harm the baby’s acid mantle. Bubble baths are also the leading cause of vaginitis and urinary tract infections in infants. This problem has become so common that the FDA has ruled that these products must carry warning labels advising parents against excess bathing.

Lotions and Oils – Massaging lotions and oils into your baby’s skin can relieve irritation. But what you use should be free of petrochemicals, which are irritants. Also, healing herbs such as Aloe have a good record of safe use in cosmetics.

Powders – Most powders contain tiny particles that irritate the skin and many contain fragrance, a leading cause of irritation and allergy. Many baby powders also contain talc. Studies have linked talc to cancer.

Shampoos – A mild shampoo is best. It is best if they do not contain synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, or highly allergic and irritating preservatives. The gentlest preservatives may include vitamins A, C, and E.

Sunscreen – Once your baby is 6 months old, you should get in the habit of using sunscreen on your child year round, even on overcast days. During the day, if the child’s skin is going to be exposed to the sun, a sunscreen is essential. Choose hypoallergenic, PABA-free sunscreen, that has a SPF of 15 or higher and blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Formulations that contain titanium oxide and zinc oxide are best because of their reduced risk of irritation.

Key Ingredients
Some key ingredients to look for include the following:

Vitamin A (Retinyl Palmitate) - a skin normalizer that helps to keep skin soft. It readily penetrates into the epidermis and dermis, and is an antioxidant. It is a skin moisturizer and increases the skin’s elasticity. It also helps prevent roughness due to UV exposure.

Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate) is an antioxidant with skin moisturizing properties. It plays a crucial role in protecting the skin from free radical damage. It helps to soften skin. It is absorbed into all layers of the epidermis and then goes into various tissues in the dermis. It improves the moisturizing and elastic properties of the skin.

Aloe penetrates the skin and delivers moisture directly to the tissues; it is considered a true moisturizer. It forms a barrier on the skin’s surface, which prevents moisture loss due to evaporation. It has anti-inflammatory, soothing and healing properties.

Orange Oil and Orange Blossom Oil have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, making them excellent for use on sensitive and delicate skin. Both have soothing and calming abilities when used in skin care.

Cedarwood Oil is calming and has the ability to release tension and ease anxiety. It helps to relieve itching so it could be helpful in easing the symptoms of common childhood eczema.

Other Beneficial Ingredients: Decyl Glycoside, Oat Extract, and Shea Butter

Resources: www.arbonne.com

http://skin-care.health-cares.net/baby-skin-care.php

Babyfaces – Photo of the Week – Who’s baby’s best friend?

Boston Mamas: Cool Doodling The Offi Doodle Desk offers a modern all-in-one desk, seat, and storage unit for little artists.

Classy Mommy: Laurie’s Lagniappe Ink Stamp – We just got this whimsical self inking stamp for Mackenzie. Hand designed just for her with her initial and name as shown on the left. Laurie’s Lagniappe has over 25 classy designs to choose from and the quality of this stamp is top notch. Super sturdy – it looks like it will last for years to come! Classy Mommy approved!

Coochicoos: Europe’s Favorite Quinny Stroller in U.S. – See what the fuss is all about on the new stroller arrival from Europe

MamaPop: Who’s Noggined Out? Desperate Mother of 4 year old Seeks Alternative Entertainment Options… No matter how oddly attractive that Sportacus is, and no matter how many moments you can while away pondering the whole “Why Iceland???” thing, after a while you are simply Noggined and Sprouted out.

MomFinds: On-Line Smack Shopping Event on Monday June 11th 9 PM EST – Score huge savings on the hottest baby and mom products during this exciting, interactive shopping event. Think Bugaboos and Baby Bjorns discounted 46% on average.

One Chic Mama: Beauty Addicts - The new cosmetic line, Beauty Addicts, makes it easy to experiment with new make-up – we love this line!

mod*mom giveaway: boon flair highchair 2007 – boon’s flair pedestal highchair is about to launch + you can win one!

Harsh winds and cold spells can wreak havoc on the most resilient skin. Winter’s low humidity can sap moisture from the skin, leaving it feeling dry, itchy and cracked. In humid conditions, the skin can replenish lost moisture by soaking up moisture from the air. When the humidity drops in the winter, however, your skin loses the opportunity to moisturize itself. Couple that with the low humidity resulting from indoor heating, and your skin can become tight and dry. What’s a busy clever parent to do?

Not to worry! Now is the perfect time of year to adjust your skincare routine. A few simple steps can help you combat the effects of winter skin and make all the difference between a dull winter complexion and glowing radiance!

Wash with lukewarm, not hot, water and use a moisturizing cleanser.
Your skin contains thousands of oil glands that prevent the skin from losing moisture and help keep it supple and soft. When you wash your skin, however, you strip away oil, letting moisture evaporate and drying the skin. Hot water and harsh cleansers further strip the skin, so be sure to turn down the water temperature and avoid alcohol-based cleansers.

Don’t forget your sunblock.
Just because the sun isn’t shining as often doesn’t mean you should abandon sun protection. The sun’s UVA rays are present year round, are not diminished by cloud cover, and can be extra harsh when reflecting off snow. Apply a heavy layer of moisturizing broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 25 or higher to the face, hands, and any other exposed skin. This will act as a barrier to help protect against the harsh elements and prevent photoaging.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Daily moisturizing with a face cream and body oil goes a long way to keeping skin feeling and looking healthy. Apply body oil to skin immediately after a bath or shower while your skin is still wet. This will help trap the water in the upper layers of the skin and decreases dryness and itching.

Moisturize from the inside out.
Cold weather muffles your body’s thirst signals in winter, so it’s easy to become dehydrated. Drinking lots of water will help keep your skin moist from the inside out. And what you eat can also help your skin look and feel better. Walnuts, wild salmon, canola oil and ground flaxseed are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have a lubricating effect on skin over time.

Drag out that humidifier.
Counteract the drying effects of central heating with a humidifier, which puts water back into the air and helps your skin stay moisturized. Most clever parents own at least one of these handy devices to soothe little ones’ colds and runny noses. Placing two or three humidifiers around your home will help to humidify the dry air and can keep skin from drying. Just be sure to keep humidifiers out of reach of little hands!

Treat your skin, treat yourself!
Why not beat the winter doldrums with a relaxing, therapeutic facial? A hydrating facial can help your skin regain lost moisture. The steam from the facial will increase the skin’s water level, which is then locked in with a deeply replenishing cream. And best of all, this special treat will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to face Jack Frost head on!

What: Bake Me a Cake as Fast as You Can

Why: When it comes to baking, you’re not necessarily Mrs. Fields, but it doesn’t mean you can’t give your friends some Cake for the holidays. For your best friend who’s always there for you, especially when you need to vent about your crazy day, give her the ultimate treat– Cake’s Bake Me a Cake As Fast As You Can gift set. Featuring three layers of pure decadence, this is the gift that she’ll be bragging about to everyone and their mother. The top layer is a Mint Cashmere Candle that smells good enough to eat; the middle layer contains three almost sinful bath and shower gels, and the bottom layer treats overworked hands to some TLC. And get a set for yourself while you’re at it, because you deserve it!

Price: $80

Find it: cakebeauty.com

Tip: You can buy the layers separately to get more bang for your buck.

What: Naked Paint’s White Noise Body Scrub

Why: Sugar scrubs are all the rage right now because nothing’s better at sloughing off dead skin and making it soft, supple and shiny. Naked Paint’s White Noise Body Scrub does all that and more. Combining apricot kernel oil with vitamin-rich avocado butter, and smelling like refreshing pink grapefruit mixed with warm undertones of vanilla oil, it’s pretty much a jar of heaven. The sugar on your skin feels like paradise and the heat from your body melts the mixture, leaving your skin glowing and smelling amazing. This is a must-have for every mom who wants a mini spa experience without the luxury of time.

Price: $22

Find it: nakedpaint.com

Trends in eyebrow shapes come and go with the seasons. One thing to remember, however, as you peruse all the latest fashion mags in search of the latest look, is to forget about eyebrow trends and go with what works for you. Eyebrows should compliment the shape of your face and eyes. Not only do well-defined brows make you look fresher and younger, they make you look groomed and enhance your eyes, whatever their shape or color.

Here are a few tips for achieving your perfect brow shape. First, brush the brows upward using a disposable mascara wand, then trim any stray hairs. The brows should start wthere the inner corner of your eye starts. To check where your brows should begin and end, there’s an old trick requiring a pencil. Hold the pencil alongside your nose as you look directly into a mirror. Your brow should start in line with the pencil’s edge. Then hold the pencil at an angle, diagonally from the base of your nose out past the outer corner of your eye. Your brow should end on this line. If the brow is much longer it can give a droopy effect to the eyes. Creating the arch of the brow can be a little trickier. This is where the help of a good licensed esthetician can be very beneficial in finding what’s right for you. A little waxing, a little tweezing and she can create beautiful brows for you in no time.

Once you have the shape down, you can fill in sparse areas using a sharp brow pencil or powder shadow on a brow brush. Match the pencil or powder to your hair color for the most natural effect. Bobbi Brown makes a great Natural Brow Shaper Gel with an easy to use mascara wand to define and fill-in brows. It comes in seven close-to-nature shades.

You workout; you watch what you eat; you take care of yourself. But when you’re pregnant and concerned about stretch marks, conventional medical wisdom says that either you’ll get them or not. You have better odds with Russian Roulette.Not to worry anymore, the good folks at Mother’s Intuition have just the products for you. Mother’s Intuition sells a body care line, appropriately called Tummy Honey, for prenatal and postnatal moms that targets those unwanted marks.

Clever Parents Jon and Danielle Harb did years of research in conjunction with several labs to create products that addressed the cosmetic problems associated with stretch marks.Tummy Honey Butter is a non-greasy cream for the prevention of new stretch marks. Tummy Honey works by penetrating deep into the skin to help maintain skin elasticity and moisture. For easy to apply prevention there is also a Tummy Honey Stick that acts as an alternative to Tummy Honey Butter. Tummy Honey Cream attacks existing stretch marks with a unique plan extract clinically proven to fade stretch marks 30-50% or more. The products in the Tummy Honey line are available individually or in a gift set containing all three. Here’s what one Tummy Honey fan says about the product: “I am currently 6.5 months pregnant and I have pre-existing stretch marks from my first pregnancy. I did not want to get anymore stretch marks so I decided to try this product out. After 3 weeks I promise I already noticed a fading in the stretch marks I already had.” All Tummy Honey products are hypoallergenic and free of petroleum or artificial preservatives. Ingredients include cocoa butter, shea butter, aloe vera gel, and wheat germ and almond oils.

See a list of retailers and start reducing (or avoiding) those stretch marks.

Yes, mom, even you need to be reminded to floss every once in a while. We’re so busy keeping everyone else on track that we sometimes slip up ourselves. Here are a few things we can do each day to help encourage healthy living.

1. Wear sunscreen – I can’t stress this one enough. Sure, during the summer it is of vital importance to help prevent against a very obvious sunburn, which in turn increases our risk of skin cancer as well as premature aging. But remember that you also need to use it on cloudy days as we go into fall as well. SPF of 15 or higher is recommended for your face, hands, arms and wherever else your skin is exposed to the sun’s rays.
2. Keep Immunization Records Current – You do it for your children; do you even think about it for yourself or your husband? Help protect your family by staying current on chicken-pox, flu and other vaccinations. You don’t want any surprises!
3. Floss Your Teeth - Yes, we know it’s not your favorite thing to do. But it does help to prevent gum disease and keeps decay-causing plaque at bay. Preventing gum disease can also prevent pre-term delivery in pregnant women.
4. Perform Breast Self-Exams – These are so important for early detection of cancer. Put a note up in the shower or on your bathroom mirror to remind you to make this painless exam part of your routine.
5. Add Strength Training to Your Workouts – It boosts your metabolism and helps fight against bone loss as you age. It also makes everyday activities, such as lifting your kids, a little easier. It also helps to prevent injury.
6. Eat Your Veggies - You know they’re good for you, but did you know that eating 5 – 9 servings of fruit and vegetables is the recommended daily allowance of the American Cancer Society? Fruits and veggies are full of antioxidants, they are low in fat and calories and high in fiber. Plus, when you eat them at the peak of freshness, they are hard to beat!

“I just wanted to thank you for making my delivery both comforting and relaxing.” If only you had a nickel for every time you heard a new mom say that. But that’s exactly what one happy new mom said of Lighten My Labor’s ‘Labor Comfort Collection kit,’ a system of products developed by OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner Ann Marie D’Onofrio to ease expectant mothers through each phase of labor.Featuring whipped massage gel (for use in Early Labor), a mild linen room mist (for use in Active Labor), a body mist therapeutically formulated to cool and refresh you during the final phase of labor – the Transition, and an after-baby bath soak designed to aid in soothing those areas that need it most.

Learn more and buy online at www.lightenmylabor.com

With summer here, many of us are heading to our neighborhood pools, lakes and beaches. Warm, sunny days are one of summer’s delights, but you’ll want to ensure you’ve done all you can to protect your family from the dangers of excessive sun exposure. In this article, I’ve put together some simple guidelines that will enable you to have fun in the sun safely this summer.

First, it is important to understand the real risks associated with excessive sun exposure. For example, studies show that if your child gets one bad sunburn, her chance of getting melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer – doubles. Even if your child tans easily and rarely burns, she is still at risk from the sun. While a darker-skinned child has a lower risk of skin cancer than a fair-skinned child, even African Americans can get skin cancer. In fact, reggae legend Bob Marley died of melanoma.

So, what can you do to protect your children from getting skin cancer? Quite a lot, actually. Your child will get more than 50% of his lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Clever sun protection through childhood can decrease your child’s risk of skin cancer by up to 80%. Read on for some Clever Tips on protecting your child this summer.

1. Apply more sunscreen than you think you need.
Most people simply apply too little sunscreen to get good protection. You should apply a thick layer of sunscreen, like icing on a cake. Don’t forget to reapply every two hours and immediately after swimming. Even if your sunscreen says “waterproof” or “lasts all day,” most sunscreens wear off in the sun and in water. And since children model parent’s behavior, make sure your child sees you applying sunscreen to yourself too!

2. Choose a “broad spectrum” sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide or Avobenzone.
These ingredients protect you from both UVA (”aging” rays) and UVB (”burning” rays). Zinc Oxide and Titanium dioxide are physical blocks (as opposed to chemical blocks) and are my favorite for younger children with more sensitive skin.

3. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.
Sunscreen needs time to absorb into the skin to work best. Apply it half an hour prior to exposure for maximum protection. Also, if you put sunscreen on your child before putting on her suit, you’ll be less likely to miss spots.

4. Limit your child’s time in the sun.
Sometimes, we can get a false sense of security by simply applying sunblock. Just because your child is wearing sunscreen doesn’t mean it is safe for her to stay out in the sun all day. Keep your child out of the sun between the hours of 10am and 2pm, when the sun’s rays are at their peak.

5. Use Sun-Protective Clothing.
Sunscreen is only one aspect of skin-cancer prevention. Make sure your child wears a hat and protective clothing too. You can now buy clothing made with special fabric that blocks the sun’s rays. Look for clothing with a “UPF” rating – Ultraviolet Protection Factor. Land’s End Kids and LL. Bean Toddler carry UPF clothing.

6. Talk to your children about the risks of too much sun.
Young children are like sponges, absorbing so much of what we teach them. Take advantage of this special time (believe me it will end once they hit 13!) and explain to them that too much sun is bad for their skin. They’ll carry the sun-protective habits that you’ve instilled throughout their lives.

Happy Summer!
Karen

1. Look polished in the blink of an eye. When you’re in a hurry and want to look pulled together but don’t have time to “do your make-up”, try swiping a bit of concealer under your eyes, putting on a quick coat of mascara and slicking on a colored lip-gloss.� This will give you a polished look in the blink of an eye.
2. Take good care of your skin.� If you start with a good foundation (and I don’t mean make-up, here) you’ll have to work less to look good.� This means starting from the inside out.� Eat foods rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Omega-3’s; take your vitamins.� Exercise.� Wash your face with a gentle cleanser daily.� Moisturize.� And ALWAYS wear sunscreen.
3. Try a tinted moisturizer that has sunscreen.� This gives you the benefits of 3 products all rolled into one, and takes just seconds to apply.

Clever Parents is excited to announce a new column, ‘Hey Beautiful’ with Karen Albright, mom of three and president of BodyLase Skin Spa, a medical spa in Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina. ‘Hey Beautiful’ will feature ideas, products and treatments to look and feel younger.

A lawyer by training, Karen Albright practiced law for several years prior to having children. “Although I enjoyed it, after having children I knew that I could not work in a large law firm because of the demands,” said Karen. “I went into teaching for a few years, and taught at Case Western Reserve Law School, the University of North Carolina School of Law and Duke Law School where I was a member of the Legal Writing faculty.”

How did a successful attorney shift gears and start a medical spa business? “I love going to spas and my husband is a physician,” Karen said, “so it was a project that we could both work on together.”

Karen has always wanted to own her own business. “When I was home with children, I did various “home businesses” such as Creative Memories,” she said. “I liked being my own boss and not having to answer to anyone else, particularly when I had children and wanted flexibility in my schedule.”

We caught up with Karen to talk about common skin mistakes people make, three skin products she can’t live without and what kind of articles readers can look forward to in her column.

Clever Parents: What are some of the most common mistakes that people make when it comes to caring for their skin?
Karen Albright: The biggest mistake people make when it comes to skincare is not realizing the incredible damage that the sun does to their skin. Even in the winter and on cloudy days, the sun’s UVA rays are strong and damaging to the skin. It is imperative to wear sunscreen every single day. I don’t think people realize that 90% of wrinkles are a result of photo damage from the sun.

CP: If you had to go on a trip for one week and could take only 3 skincare products, what would you pick and why? What 3 make-up items would you choose?
KA: My three products would be Sunscreen (crucial!), Vitamin C serum (a wonderful anti-oxidant that counters free radical damage) and Retin-A (the only topical cream FDA approved for reducing wrinkles). As for makeup, I would choose mascara, eyeliner and lipstick.

CP: In your opinion, what has been the greatest breakthrough in the medical spa industry in the last 10 years?
KA: The greatest breakthrough in the medical spa industry in the last 10 years is Botox. It is truly a miracle treatment and actually completely eliminates wrinkles around the eyes (”crow’s feet”) and the forehead. It is amazing!!!

CP: What kind of articles/topics can our readers look forward to in your column?
KA: Stay tuned for articles on the best beauty products and treatments; the latest in aesthetic lasers; how to look years younger without plastic surgery; and many more!

How does Karen balance business and family? “I balance the business/family life by delegating as much as I can (cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, etc) to my wonderful nanny and protecting my weekends so I can spend them with my family.”