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.

Glow Gift Guide: Must-Have Mother's Day Skincare Sets & Kits

Photo by Gareth Simpson  

Mother's Day arrives on Sunday. This means you've got less than seven days to pick out one or more gifts for the special ladies in your life--your mom, mother-in-law and/or maternal mentor.   

No need to stress. We've compiled a Glow Gift Guide of skin/body care sets and kits. These serums, SPFs, eye creams and lotions serve to protect, nourish, heal and soothe--all the things moms typically do for us. They also help her maintain a youthful appearance. 

There's no better way to say thank you than with skin care. We hope you agree. Have a Happy Mother's Day!

SHINE: Apothederm Anti-Aging Skin Care System 4-Piece Kit (Firming Serum, Hydrating Eye Cream, Moisturizing Cream and Moisturizing Cleanser). BEAUTY: Quench thirsty skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce visible signs of aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, phthalates and fragrances.

SHINE: Caldrea Coconut Fig Leaf Body Wash and Body Lotion. BEAUTY: Reawaken radiant skin with chia seed oil and fig fruit extract. BEACON: Free of parabens and phthalates.  

SHINE: Gingi Eye Treatment Gift Box (Instant Eye Lift Mask and Instant Eye Lift Cream). BEAUTY: These eye care essentials contain hyaluronic acid and cucumber extract, as well as aloe vera gel and shea butter, to maximize elasticity, and minimize puffiness and fine lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Malie Organics Anti-Aging Facial Set (Anti-Aging Firming Elasticity Cream and Anti-Aging Cream Cleanser). BEAUTY: Hawaiian coffee fruit extract helps repair and revitalize skin to reveal a natural glow. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of petroleum, sulfates and parabens.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Myoxy Caviar To Go Timeless Renewal (Timeless Balm Cleanser, Timeless Repair Lotion and Timeless Repair Cream). BEAUTY: Promote regeneration, restoration and age-defying results with this travel-size trio. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Reishi Mushroom Serum and Reishi Mushroom Shield SPF 45. BEAUTY: This dynamic duo protects your skin against sun damage, and prompts cellular vitality and longevity. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Skin Authority Bright Skin Duo with Gift Travel Tote (Age Defying Moisturizer SPF 18 and Brightening Serum). BEAUTY: Lock in luminosity, shield skin and diminish existing discoloration. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: vbeauté Eye Never Eye Creme, Buying Time Everyday Creme and Undercover Agent Anti-Wrinkle Protecting Serum. BEAUTY: Utilizes Swiss Alpine Rose Botanical Technology to boost hydration levels and counteract the effects of aging. BEACON: Contains no parabens, fragrances, gluten, oats or nuts. 

SHINE: VenEffect Anti-Aging Lip Treatment, Firming Neck & Décolleté Creme and Anti-Aging Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Smooth, soften and supersize the suppleness of your lips, eye area and neck/décolleté with grape and grapefruit seed extracts, and peptides. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

Healthy Aging Month: Restore, Renew & Revitalize Your Skin

Photo by Andrea Raffin

Gwyneth Paltrow turns 40 on September 27.

Gwyneth Paltrow defies the odds of aging. The Oscar-winning actress looks better with each passing birthday. And her milestone celebration of the big 4-0 should be no different this month. 

The mother of two seems to balance her career, family and marriage to Coldplay's Chris Martin with ease. She's known to eat sensibly and exercise on a regular basis. She also gives back with her charity work. She's an artist ambassador for Save the Children and a board member of the Robin Hood Foundation, which strives to eliminate poverty in New York City.

September marks Healthy Aging Month. Created by Healthy Aging Magazine, the observance brings attention to the positive aspects of growing older--which have been embraced by celebrities such as Paltrow and millions of other people. It also encourages community events that promote personal responsibility for one's financial, social, mental and physical well-being.

It's never too late to take control of your health--especially when it comes to skin care. In honor of Paltrow's birthday and Healthy Aging Month, we've assembled an assortment of moisturizers, serums, eye creams and facial toning devices that help you age gracefully. 

Here's to a healthy glow!

SHINE: Abrioné by VB Cosmetics Cell Enhancer Hydrogel Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Green tea extracts, hyaluronic acid and peptides stimulate the production of collagen and promote new cell growth. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Basq Ultra Rich Illipe Body Butter. BEAUTY: Improve resiliency of stretched, taut or dry skin on your body, belly and bust with illipe seed butter, coconut oil extract and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and phthalates.

SHINE: CellCeuticals Regenerative Skin Treatment. BEAUTY: Vitamins A, C and E, and peptides diminish visible wrinkle depth and renew skin's smoothness. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no artificial colorants or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates or parabens.

SHINE: Clarisonic Opal Sonic Skin Infusion with Anti-Aging Sea Serum. BEAUTY: The serum minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with hyaluronic acid and peptides, while the sonic technology helps infuse skin care more effectively than fingers. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

SHINE: Kelly Teegarden Organics Vitality Rose & Cucumber Eye Cream. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf juice, cucumber fruit extract and shea butter minimize puffiness and under-eye darkness. BEACON: Cruelty free.

SHINE: Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel. BEAUTY: Protect against free radical damage and boost skin's elasticity with vitamin C, glycolic and hyaluronic acids, and orange and grapefruit peel oils. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Naturopathica Plant Stem Cell Serum and Beech Tree & Ginseng Daily Moisturizer. BEAUTY: The serum slows signs of aging with hyaluronic acid and pomegranate seed oil, while the moisturizer nourishes with beech tree bud and gogi berry fruit extracts. BEACON: ECOCERT certified. Contains no synthetic colors, silicones, sulfate detergents, parabens or glycols.

SHINE: The Nordic Treat Champagne Hydrogel Eye Patch. BEAUTY: Apple fruit extract, aloe vera gel and green tea extract minimize puffiness, dark circles, crow's feet, and frown and forehead lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: NuFace Trinity Facial Toning Device. BEAUTY: The handheld microcurrent system revitalizes facial contours of the forehead, under-eye area, cheeks, jawline and jowls. BEACON: Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Organoderm Natural Green Energy Serum. BEAUTY: Maximize skin's elasticity and suppleness with hyaluronic acid, algae extract and peptides. BEACON: USDA organic certified. Vegan and cruelty free.

SHINE: Pevonia Power Repair Marine Collagen Cream. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, safflower seed oil and vitamin E moisturize deeply dehydrated skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream. BEAUTY: Restore and renew skin with retinol and shea butter while you sleep. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: Systeme 41 Revitalizing Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Shea butter, macadamia seed oil and vitamin C smooth the delicate eye area to diminish fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, artificial colors and fragrances, surfactants, detergents, mineral oils and glutens.