Mother's Day Gift Set Guide: Get the New Mom Glow of Kate Middleton

Photo by AshleyMott

Three cheers for new mom Kate Middleton. She looks better than ever after giving birth to Prince George last summer. 

During her recent visit to Australia with Prince William and their baby heir to the throne, the Duchess of Cambridge got rave reviews for her radiant glow and sense of style. She wowed in fashion choices by designers such as Tory Burch and Diane Von Furstenberg. In fact, after she wore a bright, fitted, "banana" frock by Roksanda Ilincic, sales of yellow dresses increased by 95% on ebay.

She's also known for her natural effortless look--minimal makeup and full, healthy long locks. So no need to dust off the crown jewels, as her bright smile and flawless face sparkle more than any royal diamond or sapphire. Her balanced skin tone and creamy complexion look as velvety smooth as an English rose.

On Sunday, the duchess will celebrate her first Mother's Day with Prince George. In honor of her fresh-faced, new mom glow, we've compiled the latest skincare gift sets and kits that create lift and/or luminosity. They contain anti-aging facial cleansers and creams, eye treatments and body moisturizers that address dry, damaged and uneven skin pigmentation. 

Take a look-see! These products make great gifts for your mom or to keep for yourself. No matter what your age, they'll help your skin feel as soft as a baby's you-know-what in no time. Happy Mother's Day!

SHINE: Gingi Eye Treatment Gift Set (Emmy's Official Presenter's Gift Box). BEAUTY: Instant Eye Lift Masks and Instant Eye Lift Cream minimize age lines, puffiness and dark circles to give the skin in your orbital area a more youthful appearance. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Murad Youthful Skin Renewal Kit. BEAUTY: Counteract the symptoms of hormonal aging and restore radiance with Renewing Cleansing Cream, Age-Diffusing Serum, Age-Balancing Night Cream and Renewing Eye Cream. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Pacifica Good Karma Skincare Set. BEAUTY: Purify your skin, protect your lips from the elements and prevent premature aging with Sea Foam Complete Face Wash, Dreamy Youth Day and Night Face Cream, Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream and Natural Color Quench Lip Tint (Guava Berry). BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no parabens, mineral and peanut oils, petroleum, carmine or FD&C colors.

SHINE: Pevonia Lumafirm Face and Body Gift Set. BEAUTY: LumaFirm Repair Cream Lift & Glow, Freeze-Dried Intensifier and Body Moisturizer help lock in moisture and maximize suppleness. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil, PABA, urea, formaldehyde, artificial colors and sulfates.


SHINE: 100% Pure Red Wine Resveratrol Skin Care Gift Set. BEAUTY: Prevent signs of aging, environmental damage and loss of elasticity with Red Wine Resveratrol Scrub + Mask, Antioxidant Serum, Nourishing Cream and Eye Cream. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances or colors.

Call in the Marines: Sea-Based Ingredients Help Combat Lifeless Skin & Signs of Aging

I think I may have been a fish in a previous life. I learned to swim as soon as I was old enough to walk. Plus, I often favor vacation spots that involve a lake or ocean setting.

One of my fondest memories of marine life came from a scuba diving trip to the Cayman Islands. I couldn't believe my eyes as I explored the depths of the Caribbean Sea. The colors, creatures and corals took my breath away. I was truly awestruck by the endless beauty of this below-the-surface setting.

Photo courtesy Twilight Zone Expedition Team 2007, NOAA-OE

Underwater treasures rock our world above sea level as well. Algae, marine muds and clays, and seaweed contain vital nutrients from vitamins and minerals, which give them the ability to hydrate and heal the skin. These marine extracts also help increase the production of collagen, which leaves your complexion feeling and looking smoother, softer and younger. 

So let's call in the marines. The following face and body products feature the latest sea-based ingredients. They arm you with the ability to combat dull or dry skin, and keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay. Don't hesitate to dive in!

SHINE: 100% Pure Lavender Seafoam Facial Cleanser. BEAUTY: Remove impurities and restore radiant skin with kelp and green tea leaf extracts, green sea clay, lavender essential oil, and vitamins C and E. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Also contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances or colors.

SHINE: Babor Algae Active Fluid. BEAUTY: Algae plankton, amino acids and hydrogenated castor oil seal in moisture to step up suppleness and softness. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Dolphin Aid.

SHINE: Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System with Anti-Aging Sea Serum. BEAUTY: This palm-sized sonic device uses gentle pulsating massage technology to deliver an Anti-Aging Sea Serum that contains algae, plankton, ginger root and red seaweed extracts, and hyaluronic acid to help reduce the severity and depth of fine lines and wrinkles in the eye area. BEACON: The Anti-Aging Sea Serum contains no parabens.

SHINE: Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster. BEAUTY: Perk up parched skin and maintain a younger looking appearance with algae extract, lavender oil and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: Contains no artificial fragrances or colors. Championed joinFITE (Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship), and the Dermalogica Foundation supports S.K.I.N. (Skincare for Kids in Need).

SHINE: Mineral Fusion Ultimate Moisture Facial Cleanser (for Dry/Sensitive Skin Types). BEAUTY: Marine clay, sea kelp, cucumber fruit extract, aloe vera leaf juice and vitamin E detoxify and deeply hydrate the skin's surface. BEACON: Free of gluten, parabens, SLS, phthalates, and synthetic colors and fragrances. Supports the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Azulene Seaweed Masque. BEAUTY: Balance skin's moisture and boost cell renewal with hyaluronic acid, vitamins A and E, and sea algae. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no parabens, or artificial colors or fragrances.

SHINE: Phytocéane AQUASAPHIR Essential Renewal Cream. BEAUTY: Marine vegetal coral, blue microalgae extract, marine samphire oil, shea butter and vitamin E smooth signs of aging and shield the skin from free radical damage. BEACON: No animal testing. Preserves marine resources used in products with a program focused on seasonal algae harvesting and farming.

SHINE: Refineé Firming Mineral Moisture Cream. BEAUTY: Maximize moisture retention while minimizing fine lines and wrinkles with red algae, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins A, C and E. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Ren Clean Bio Actie Skincare Seaweed and Sage Body Wash. BEAUTY: Fucus seaweed extract, and geranium, cypress, rosemary and sage oils help remove impurities and rejuvenate the skin during bath or shower time. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Contains no synthetic colors or fragrances, petrochemicals, sulfate detergents or parabens. 

SHINE: Skyn Iceland Arctic Hydrating Balm. BEAUTY: Repair skin, and restore its radiance and natural balance with hyaluronic acid, red algae, and strawberry and cranberry seed oils. BEACON: Cruelty free and vegan. Contains no parabens, petroleum, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates or dye. Supports Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

SHINE: Swedish Skin Care Razor Burn Freedom for Women. BEAUTY: Gorgonian extract, a natural marine algae known to reduce irritation and redness, vitamin C and chamomile extract serve to calm and comfort tender skin after hair removal, including waxing, shaving and electrolysis. BEACON: Free of parabens, fragrances and synthetic dyes.

SHINE: Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist. BEAUTY: Replenish lost luminosity with olive extract, liquid silk, green tea leaf extract and red algae. BEACON: Contains no parabens, mineral oil, synthetic colors or fragrances, sulfate detergents, urea, DEA, TEA or phthalates.

SHINE: Thalgo Micronized Marine Algae. BEAUTY: Use this fine powder of micronized algae in the bath to detox and remineralize the skin, and relax muscles and joints. BEACON: Vegan, and free of parabens, mineral oil, propylene glycol and GMOs.