Beaming Soon-to-Be Dads: Give Your Guy the Same Good-to-Glow Look of Superstar First-Time Fathers

Photo by Daniel Ogren
Josh Duhamel and Fergie expect their bundle of joy this summer.

Who's got the glow? Superstar soon-to-be dads Josh Duhamel, Prince William, Kanye West and Olivier Martinez beam about as bright as their respective expectant partners--Fergie, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kim Kardashian and Halle Berry.

This fab four of first-time fathers have the look of love and luminosity. The special guy in your life doesn't need to shop for strollers to enjoy a flawless, refreshed complexion. Lifeless skin responds well to scrubs, moisturizers, cleansers and shaving products that contain powerful vitamins, antioxidants, anti-aging ingredients and natural exfoliants.

For Father's Day on Sunday, June 16, give your guy the gift of glow. The following skincare collections and kits are designed to revitalize his skin with radiant results. His face will be about as soft as a baby's you-know-what.

Photo by Simon Taylor

Prince William and Kate Middleton prepare for the arrival of the royal baby in July.

Photo by David Shankbone
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian anticipate the birth of their daughter in July. 

Olivier Martinez will welcome the arrival his first child with Halle Berry (her second) in the fall.

SHINE: (Clockwise from the top) eShave Face Moisturizer, Face Scrub, Eye Cream and Face Wash. BEAUTY: These gotta-have-it grooming goodies polish and protect the skin, prevent early signs of aging and promote pore minimization with shea and cocoa nut butters, jojoba oil, crushed apricot seeds, vitamin E and green tea extract. BEACON: Free of parabens, animal ingredients, dyes, SLS and SLES.

SHINE: Jack Black Jet Set Traveler (Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather, Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser and Double-Duty Face Moisturizer SPF 20). BEAUTY: For the guy-on-the-go, this travel-size trio sanitizes, smoothes and safeguards the skin. BEACON: Contains no synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates or colorants.

SHINE: (Top to bottom) L'Occitane L'Homme Adventurous Verdon Kit (Eau de Toilette, Energy Moisturizer, Refreshing Face Splash and Invigorating Shave). BEAUTY: Shield his skin from the harsh and harmful effects of the sun, aging, lifestyle and the environment with rosemary leaf extract, vitamin E, and grape seed, peppermint and sunflower seed oils. BEACON: The L’Occitane Foundation supports women’s entrepreneurship and visual impairment fields of action.

SHINE: Murad Man Cleansing Shave, Razor Burn Rescue and Face Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 15 | PA++. BEAUTY: He can purify, pamper and protect his skin by utilizing sunscreen ingredients, glycolic acid, vitamins A, C and E, neem, apricot kernel oil and mushroom extract. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: (Clockwise from the top) Pevonia Botanica Easy Glide Shaving Emulsion, Soothing After Shaving Balm, Age-Defying Myoxy Caviar Balm and Aqua-Gel Foaming Cleanser. BEAUTY: This fierce foursome of skincare products for him screams spa day with healing and hydrating ingredients, such as green tea leaf extract, vitamins C and E, safflower seed oil and caviar extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil, PABA, urea, artificial colors and sulfates.

SHINE: Skin Authority Man Age Defying Daily Basics Kit (Daily Wash, Shave Serum, Hydrating Sunscreen and Conditioning Toner). BEAUTY: Minimize irritation and redness, fine lines and wrinkles, razor bumps and in-grown hairs, and maximize healthier looking skin with sunscreen ingredients, aloe vera leaf juice, peppermint oil and glycolic acid. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, dyes and added fragrances. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

June Celebrity Birthdays: Let the Skin Smoothing Celebration Begin for Women 35 & Over

Photo by Georges Biard

June 4: Angelina Jolie turns 38.

Happy birthday to Angelina Jolie. The Oscar-winning actress turns 38 today.

It's been quite a year for the mother of six and humanitarian. Last February, Jolie underwent a preventive double mastectomy after discovering she inherited a genetic mutation that put her at a high risk of acquiring breast and ovarian cancer. Jolie's mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, died from ovarian cancer in 2007 at the age of 56. Last week, her aunt Debbie Martin lost her battle to breast cancer at the age of 61. 

Jolie's decision to go public with her personal story has been hailed as a brave move that may save countless lives. Not only will it prompt others to undergo the same procedure, but it will also expand the discussion about women's overall health concerns and issues. 

When it comes to her skin, Jolie's complexion still looks beautiful and vibrant. For women 35 and over, elasticity and tone typically begin to change. New cell and collagen production start to slow down, so the skin may look drier and duller. Fine lines may also appear around the eyes and lips. 

In honor of June celebrity birthday gals, such as Jolie, Heidi Klum, Courteney Cox and Zoe Saldana, we've compiled several must-have products for your lips, eyes and face. These serums, gels, creams and treatments address the issues that women 35 and over experience.

They serve as icing on the cake for those at this stage of life.

Photo courtesy The Heart Truth

June 1: Heidi Klum turned 40.

June 15: Courteney Cox turns 49.

Photo by Cristiano Del Riccio
June 19: Zoe Saldana turns 35. 

EYES

SHINE: Basq Cucumber Tea Soothing Eye Gel. BEAUTY: Prevent puffiness and perk up your peepers with green tea leaf and cucumber fruit extracts, and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and phthalates.

SHINE: Murad Instant Radiance Eye Cream. BEAUTY: Shea butter, sweet almond oil and hyaluronic acid help to boost collagen production, revitalize your orbital area, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark circles. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Skin Authority Reviving Eye Brightener and Dramatic Eye Lift. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid and vitamin E in the brightener diminish dark spots, while peptides and green tea leaf extract in the lift ease the effects of aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

FACE

SHINE: CellCeuticals CellGenesis Regenerative Skin Treatment. BEAUTY: Super-potent peptides, and the antioxidant power of vitamins C and E amp up your skin's suppleness and play down fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of artificial colorants and fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates and parabens.

SHINE: Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Serum. BEAUTY: Minimize age spots and fine lines, and maximize your skin's elasticity with sunflower seed oil, peptides, and grapefruit and orange peel oils. BEACON: Contains no artificial fragrances or colors. Championed joinFITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship), and the Dermalogica Foundation supports World Skills International, Kiva.org and the Everychild Foundation.

SHINE: Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream. BEAUTY: Olive oil and honey play a key role in this all-purpose cream's ability to hydrate and heal scarring from acne, dry skin, fine lines around the eyes, psoriasis, rough elbows, cracked nipples and stretch marks. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of additives, preservatives, fragrances, chemicals and parabens. Supports People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Celebrity Picks Gift Set (Blueberry Soy Exfoliating Cleanser and Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum). BEAUTY: These travel-size, red carpet favorites utilize softening ingredients, such as aloe and blueberry juices, pineapple extract and soybean milk, and firming ingredients, such as hyaluronic, lactic and salicylic acids. BEACON: No animal testing. Company plants one tree for each product sold through its Forests For the Future program.

SHINE: Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel. BEAUTY: Gingko biloba and aloe vera leaf extracts, and jojoba seed oil help to diminish dullness and dryness and restore radiance to your skin. BEACON: Contains no parabens, petrochemicals, sulfates, artificial colors or fragrances, or nitrosamines.

SHINE: Lily Herbceuticals Goji Berry Youth Restore Complex Firming Serum. BEAUTY: Fight signs of aging and lackluster skin with goji berries, mushroom and broccoli extract and jojoba seed oil. BEACON: Contains no petrochemicals or parabens.

SHINE: ProBios Transderma C and Transderma A. BEAUTY: These softening and smoothing serums for day (Transderma C) and night (Tranderma A) utilize vitamins A, C and E to slow early signs of aging and accelerate a gotta-have-it glow. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of preservatives, fragrances, oil and alcohol. 

SHINE: VENeffect Firming Phyto-Lift Serum. BEAUTY: Tighten and brighten your complexion, the delicate area around the eyes, neck and décolletage with peptides, grapefruit seed extract and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: Contains no parabens, silicone, alcohol or fragrances.

LIPS

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Youthful Lip Cream. BEAUTY: Pamper your pout with shea butter, vitamin E and hazel seed oil, which help to create a supple look and luscious lips. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Revitalize Lips SPF 18. BEAUTY: Mushroom extract, hyaluronic acid and co-enzyme Q-10 repair sun damage and prevent premature aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

Spring Cleaning: Purify Pores & Revive Lifeless Skin with Facial Toners, Scrubs & Washes

Cardboard chaos.

As a beauty blogger, dozens of product samples arrive at my home almost on a daily basis. After I open the packages, the cardboard containers get stacked and stored in the basement. However, it doesn't take long before I feel like I'm buried in boxes. In fact, I recently decided enough was enough. 

That's when Operation Spring Cleaning commenced. This annual ritual serves as an opportunity to discard the old and freshen up with the new. In this case, I cleared out the cardboard chaos (see pics below) and created lots of needed uncluttered space. 

The removal process brought about two benefits. It helped refresh the basement and brighten my outlook. The same can also be said about cleansing rituals for your skin--especially the face. Sloughing dead skin stimulates cellular turnover, deep cleans pores and restores lost radiance.

Before summer arrives next month, we'd like to present 12 top facial toners, scrubs and washes to help you jump-start a spring cleaning ritual for your skin. They're designed to banish blemishes, and excess dirt and debris, and bring about a vibrant glow to your complexion. 

Shine on beautynistas!

Lotsa boxes await their fate.

Flattened and ready to be recycled.

SHINE: Abrioné by VB Cosmetics Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub. BEAUTY: Gently scrub, resurface and soften your skin with sea kelp extract, grapefruit and lavender oils, and aloe vera gel. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: CellCeuticals NeoCell Micro-Resurfacing Skin Treatment. BEAUTY: Pineapple and papaya extracts, and volcanic micro-minerals help promote cell renewal and smooth the skin for a more radiant appearance. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of artificial colorants and fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates and parabens.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Stone Crop Gel Wash. BEAUTY: Diminish blotchiness and blemishes with stone crop plant and juice, and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. The company plants one tree for each product sold through its Forests For the Future program.

SHINE: Gingi Make-Up Removal Clarifying Cleanser. BEAUTY: Aloe vera gel, seaweed algae extract and sweet almond oil help to deep clean your skin and remove cosmetics without the usual drying effects. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment. BEAUTY: For a smoother and softer complexion, this treatment gently polishes your skin with lactic acid, papaya, pineapple and pumpkin extracts, and aloe vera leaf juice. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. BEAUTY: Glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids dissolve dry surface cells to minimize dull skin and maximize radiance. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Brightening Facial Fruit Wash. BEAUTY: Rejuvenate your skin by removing residue and impurities with salicylic acid, and aloe vera leaf, lemon peel and apple fruit extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, and artificial colors and fragrances. 

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Ligne Speciale Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. BEAUTY: Rose flower and safflower seed oils, and jojoba and horse chestnut seed extracts help tame toxins and gently polish your face without irritating the skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Refineé Micro-Derma Peel. BEAUTY: Stimulate your skin's renewal process by deep cleaning your pores with aloe vera extract, vitamins A, C and E, and green tea extract. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Noreen Fraser Foundation and Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Sanitas Lactic Cleanser. BEAUTY: Lactic and hyaluronic acids, vitamin C and citrus oil help diminish discoloration and hyperpigmentation, and step up skin's suppleness. BEACON: Contains no parabens or preservatives. Supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

SHINE: Somme Institute Transport. BEAUTY: These soft cotton pads unclog blocked pores and exfoliate dead skin cells with green tea and aloe vera leaf extracts, vitamin E, and orange and lime fruit extracts. BEACON: Free of parabens.

SHINE: Vie Collection Smoothing Toning Lotion. BEAUTY: Lactic and hyaluronic acids, castor oil and vitamin E maximize cell renewal and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing.

Stop & Smell the Roses: Refresh Your Skin & Soul During National Meditation Month

Photo by Tevaprapas Makklay

Say it low and slow..."Ommm." Feel the healing vibrational energy?

The sacred seismic chant of om helps you gently reverberate your way into a soulful meditative state. This single-syllable mantra comes in handy this month as May marks National Meditation Month. The celebration encourages us to still our busy lives through relaxation, which helps restore a sense of inner peace and balance--and ultimately improves our overall health. 

Photo by Hamachidori

You don't need to get into a sitting lotus position to achieve a tranquil state of mind. Floral aromatherapy possesses the power to place you in the proper meditative mood. Skincare products that contain rose petal water, oil or extract refresh not only your skin, but your soul as well. Call it a transformational twofer!

So don't forget to stop and smell the roses this month. And, while you're at it, check out these ahh-mazing flower power products. 

SHINE: Fleur's Rose-Jasmine Shower Gel. BEAUTY: Jasmine floral water and Moroccan rose petal extract soothe and soften your skin, while also allowing you to enjoy an aromatherapeutic cleansing experience. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of fragrances, dyes, sulfates, petrolatum, alcohol, mineral oil and parabens.

SHINE: Julie Hewett Pure Persian Rose Water. BEAUTY: Set your makeup, rehydrate your face and renew your skin with pure Persian rose water. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: LATHER Bulgarian Rose Phyto-Nutrient Elixir. BEAUTY: Bulgarian rose water, aloe vera leaf juice and red algae give you and your skin revitalizing results. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates and parabens. 

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Ligne Rose RS2 Gentle Cleanser and Gentle Lotion. BEAUTY: Rose flower oil, and green tea and chamomile extracts help remove impurities, and calm rosacea and sensitive skin types. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Phytomer Rosée Visage Toning Cleansing Lotion. BEAUTY: Remove makeup, cleanse and tone your skin, and balance pH levels with Sorenia, which is aromatic marine water, rose flower water and Oligomer, which is freeze-dried seawater. BEACON: No animal testing.

Spring SPF: Make the Most of Community Giving & National Skin Cancer Awareness Month

The tangerine grove at E. Waldo Ward & Son.

Citrus fruit makes me smile--especially oranges and tangerines. These sweet spheres of succulence pack a lot of flavor, nutrition and healing health benefits into each bite. So imagine my delight when I discovered an organization that recruits volunteers to harvest citrus fruit for needy community members. 

Los Angeles-based Food Forward engages in "fruitanthropy" to pick, donate and distribute produce for humanitarian purposes. Volunteers rescue excess fruit, such as oranges, grapefruits and tangerines, that would otherwise go to waste from the properties of local homeowners. The produce then gets distributed to community food banks and homeless shelters in the Southern California area. Since its founding in 2009, the grassroots organization has harvested almost 1.5 million pounds of fruit.

I recently participated in a weekend pick at E. Waldo Ward & Son in Sierra Madre, Calif. The ranch specializes in producing its own jams, marmalades and jellies, but it generously donated the fruit from one of its abundant tangerine groves. The harvest yielded approximately 1,200 pounds (see pics below). 

Outdoor activity requires lots of sun protection. As May marks National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we've compiled the latest spring SPF sensations. They're designed to shield your skin from the harsh rays of the sun and provide transparent application while also helping your complexion maintain a youthful glow.  

When you give back to your community, you get so much more in return. The same can be said about the health of your skin. If you give it the products it needs for overall well-being, you'll see radiant results for years to come.

Volunteers wear large shoulder satchels to temporarily store the tangerines, which ultimately speeds the picking process.

 Clipping the tangerines with garden sheers, rather than pulling them from the tree, helps save the integrity of the fruit.

Ladders allow volunteers to retrieve fruit from the tops of the trees.

Once the fruit comes off the tree, the stems and leaves need to be trimmed.

The boxes fill up quickly with ripe fruit.

Volunteers then load up the tangerines, so they can be transported to local homeless shelters and food banks.

Group pic of our group pick.

SPRING SPF SENSATIONS

SHINE: CellCeuticals PhotoDefense Daily Skin Protector SPF 55+. BEAUTY: Protect and pamper your skin with active ingredients, such as avobenzone and oxybenzone, and moisturizing fruit extracts, such as pear and pumpkin. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no artificial colorants or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates or parabens.

SHINE: Coola Mineral Sunscreen Rose Essence Moisturizer SPF 20. BEAUTY: Titanium dioxide, coriander and acai fruit oils, and cucumber fruit extract minimize sun damage and early signs of aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster SPF 50. BEAUTY: Shield yourself against harmful ultraviolet rays and soften your skin with avobenzone, lavender oil, and green tea and grape seed extracts. BEACON: Contains no artificial fragrances or colors. Championed joinFITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship). The Dermalogica Foundation also supports Skincare for Kids in Need.

SHINE: Innovative Skincare Eclipse SPF 50+. BEAUTY: Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and vitamin E keep harmful sun rays at bay and help hydrate the skin in a water-resistant formula. BEACON: Supports the Washington Cancer Institute, Revlon/UCLA Breast Center at UCLA and Stars For Stripes.

SHINE: IT Cosmetics Color Correcting Cream SPF 50+. BEAUTY: This multitasking moisturizer evens your skin tone and helps you steer clear of sun damage with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and grape and pomegranate seed oils. BEACON: No animal testing. Paraben and fragrance free. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, and aloe, apple, pomegranate and white grape juices soothe, shield and soften skin. BEACON: USDA Organic certified. Free of parabens, petroleum, propylene and butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances.

SHINE: Murad Essential-C Sun Balm SPF 35 | PA+++. BEAUTY: Defend your skin from dehydration and damaging UVA and UVB rays with avobenzone, tangerine peel oil, sweet almond oil, vitamins A, C and E, and broccoli extract. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Ligne Soleil Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30. BEAUTY: Nourish your skin and nullify environmental effects with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, vitamins C and E, and green tea and aloe vera leaf extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Reflect SPF 45. BEAUTY: Zinc oxide, hyaluronic acid, sesame seed oil extract, and vitamins C and E safeguard and soften your skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Refineé Daily Defense Cream SPF 30. BEAUTY: Prevent sunburn and signs of premature aging with titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, aloe vera leaf juice powder, green tea extract and vitamin E. BEACON: No animal testing.

 SHINE: Skin Authority Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30. BEAUTY: Avobenzone, oxybenzone, algae extract, vitamin E and aloe vera leaf juice help hydrate, create a protective barrier and control blotchy skin tone. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.