Mother's Day Gift Guide

This year, we broke up our Mother's Day gift guide for all different types of women – the active, romantic, tea lover – you get the deal.  Here are some ways to show appreciation for your mom.

For the Romantic Ralph Lauren Fragrances Romance Atomizer, $90 A beautiful gift for every mother who believes in true love, warmth and togetherness, Ralph Lauren’s iconic Romance fragrance is now available in a romantic 100ML atomizer bottle. Notes include: •         TOP NOTES: Chamomile, Ginger, Sun Goddess Rose, Lychee •         MID NOTES: Marigold, Night-blooming Daylilly, White Violet, Paradisone •         BASE NOTES: Skin musk, Patchouli Coeur, Exotic Wood

For the Skincare Obsessed Clarisonic Limited-Edition Mother’s Day Value Set, $149 Let your mom know she’s such a peach this Mother’s Day with the Clarisonic Mia 2 in Sunwashed Peach. The Mia 2, which is clinically proven to cleanse skin six times better than using your hands alone, will help to transform your mom’s skin texture by reducing the appearance of pore size and creating a smoother, more radiant complexion. Set Includes:Clarisonic Mia 2, Two Sensitive Brush Heads, 6 oz. Refreshing Gel Cleanser, protective travel case and charger

For the Active Athleta Totes Dorbs, $79 at Athleta.com We really love this tote, for everyone, but specifically the mom-on-the-go. The sleek style is chic and radiant color makes it the perfect tie-in to any look, whether running errands, going to the gym, or even grabbing those after-work cocktails. The inside features a mesh pocket that’s perfect for phone, change, or keys. A removable shoulder strap allows for use as a tote or a shoulder bag.

For the Tea Lover Steepster Subscription, $149.95 (for 6 months) Subscriptions are always a good gift to give; they’re really the gift that keeps on giving. (And who doesn’t love that?) Steepster searches for the best teas around the world and delivers them to your door monthly. It’s more than just tea; it’s a cultural learning experience any mom would love to enjoy. Each order includes five teas with tasting notes and brewing instructions along with a nice muslim bag for storage.

For the Fancy Pandora Essence Collection in Always There For Me, $410 (complete set) Pandora bracelets just exude elegance and personalization, especially their newest Essence Collection. Pandora just launched 12 charms to help showcase inner beauty, a pure representation of the qualities every mom possesses. We like caring, affection and appreciation.

Our Favorite New SPFs

We all know sunscreen is important. The issue now? There are so many sunscreens out there, who knows what to use? That's where we come in. Check out our favorite SPF's for your upcoming summer of fun in honor of World Health Day!

 L'Oréal Invisible Protect Clear Cool Lotion SPF 30

First off, spray SPF's just make life so much easier (fact). This is a truly great spray sunscreen that even smells delicious! It's provides great protection from the sun without leaving your skin feeling greasy, because that is literally the worst.

Shiseido Wet Force Ultimate Protection Lotion SPF 50 

This is one of those products you'll wonder how you lived without. It's a super light-weight SPF that nourishes skin as it protects you from harmful UV rays. It's also waterproof, so your summer of fun is uninterrupted! (Just the way we like it.)

Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport Lotion SPF 30

You know we had to throw a sporty SPF in here. This Neutrogena product is guaranteed to stay strong even through your toughest workout. It's a thicker sunscreen but it really gets the job done because it doesn't clog your pores and lets your skin breathe.

Palmer's Eventone Sun Balm SPF 15

It may not seem like it from the outside, but this is a really amazing SPF! It protects your skin from the sun all while moisturizing to baby-soft perfection. Do we really need to say more?

 Coppertone Sport Accuspray Sunscreen SPF 50

This is another awesome spray SPF. It sprays on evenly and dries in seconds. It's the perfect SPF for anyone who's active. It's very light and odorless, so it's great not only for your morning jog, but your picnic in the park!

Have some other summertime favorites? Let us know your favorite SPF in the comments section!

Retro Beauty: Classic Products We Still Love

What's more essential than reliable beauty products?  Nothing.  Despite the fact that we all love trying new products, sometimes reverting back to the classics are the best thing to do. Here are some of our favorite retro beauty products that have stood the test of time.

Dove Beauty Bar

Dove has managed to keep up with changing times by creating a product that really just gets the job done. The Beauty Bar is exactly that, a moisturizing soap bar that gets the job done without irritating your skin.  It leaves your skin feeling refreshed and silky smooth.  Plus, we just love Dove campaigns!

Lip Smackers

You probably had about 20 tubes of these colorful lip balms, right? What was better than pulling out one these babies during 4th period? With favorites like Strawberry Glaze, Watermelon, and Birthday Cake, it's no wonder this product has been around since 1973 and is still going strong!

Maybelline Great Lash

While this just screams retro, it's still a makeup artist staple and we love it, too! The formula is flake-free and super black, and the wand is built to really get into each and every lash.

Noxzema Cream

There's something about the scent that brings us back to childhood.  It's always cool to use a product that your mother used when she was your age. The tingle in Noxzema's Original Cleansing Cream is irreplaceable.

Wet N' Wild nail polish

This is another one of those products every girl had to have when we were younger! The bright colors dressed up any good 90's girl look. It's always nice to see another generation take interest in a great brand! (Though it does make us feel really old...)

What retro products do you love? Let us know in the comment section below!

Is Your Skin Dehydrated? Take This Test...

Your skin is probably dehydrated... really dehydrated, actually. Your skin needs water, vitamins, and nutrients to retain that healthy, young, and glowing look, but how can you tell if it's dehydrated and if it is dehydrated, how do you fix it? Don't worry, we got you!

The snap, pinch, and pout test, created by Dr. Terry Loong, is a great way to check the hydration levels and elasticity of your skin, which decrease as we age. It's also a great way to tell if the products you're using are working as well as you would like them to.

Snap Test: Using you your thumb and forefinger, gently pinch the skin underneath your eyes.  Depending on how quickly it "snaps" back will indicate how hydrated and how much elasticity your skin has.

Pinch Test: "Pinch" the apples of your cheeks to feel how much collagen your skin has by seeing if there are fine lines on the surface of the skin when you pinch it.  If there are fine lines, your skin may be dehydrated or have reduced elasticity, which needs to be addressed through internal and external care to maintain youthful skin.   

Pout Test: "Pout" to check area around your mouth.  As you release the pout, you'll want to see if fine lines remain.  It is so important to apply an extra layer of skincare around your mouth, as we often wipe it off as we continue our skincare routines, after we brush our teeth or drink and eat food.

So you tested your skin and it's dehydrated. How do you fix it?

According to Dr. Terry Loong, "it is so important to keep skin properly hydrated to regulate oily and dry skin.  I recommend drinking at least 8 glasses per day to quench the thirst of your skin cells from the inside out. Topical hydration is also key to avoid transepidermal water loss from the inside out." She recommends the Body Shop Drops of Youth Concentrate and The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask to help keep skin healthy and flawless!

She also recommends a good amount of beauty sleep every night! "In terms of skin, sleep time is the golden time for skin renewal because the body is at rest and skin has more energy to regenerate itself and repair daytime damage."

Pretty Spring Nail Polish Collections

We're completely in love with Jin Soon's Spring nail polish collection (above), but that's not all!   Ready to rid winter from your mani and embrace brights?  Here are some new collections that promise happy nails.

We're excited about Orly, who recently partnered with Target to create a great gel-like polish at an affordable price. Our favorite shade for Spring is Celebrity Gossip, but it's available in 36 shades.

Sally Hansen's new line includes 14 Insta-Dri polishes that give off high shine and dry in just 60 seconds. Perfect for the girl on the go!  Our favorite Shade? Quick Fire

JINsoon partnered with Tila March and focused her Spring collection on sophisticated brights.  No, not neonas opposed to neon.  Tila, this fun green, is our favorite new neutral.

In partnership with Rebecca Minkoff, Essie, came out with their "Hide & Chic" collection that simply speaks to us!  Style Hunter is our award winner of the bunch.

Yes, You Need Primer

Primer is like the Secretary of State for makeup. You know it exists, but you're just not sure what it actually does or if you really need it. Truth is, primer is vital in maintaining a flawless look.  Hear me out.

Not only does primer help to seal in moisture and create a smooth surface for your makeup application, but it also helps to protect your skin from harmful free radicals.

There are a ton of great primers out there but I recently discovered Maybelline's FaceStudio Mast Prime Blur and Smooth Primer, and am loving it.  Other primers we're fans of are Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (an oldie, but goodie) and MAC Prep + Prime Fix Finishing Mist, because they get the job done, while being super lightweight.

After just a couple days of using Maybelline's primer before putting on my makeup, my skin was silky smooth and glowing – Beyoncé glowing.  So yes, you need primer.

Beauty Gadgets Worth Buying

You can't beat a trip to the dermatologist's office for a laser treatment to help even out your skins tone and texture or perhaps the dentist's office for a professional whitening, but even if you start there, upkeep is a must.  Whether used in conjunction with professional treatments or alone, the latest crop of beauty gadgets are impressive and worth the money.

Go Smile Sonic Blue Teeth Whitening System, $129 at Ulta

You're never fully dressed without a smile. A beautiful (white) smile can really make a person. We are obsessed with this whitening system for so many reasons. It's one of those products that you forget that you're using. It whitens your teeth while you're brushing meaning no extra time is needed for the perfect smile. Plus, it has a built in timer, so when two minutes is up the brush automatically shuts off. You won't be able to stop showing off your pearly whites!

Silk n' Face FX, $149 at Silkn.com

Laser treatments are an essential for beautiful skin but they can be very costly and very time-consuming. This is a great at-home treatment plan that you can do every night before bed. It uses red light therapy to minimize wrinkles, crows feet, fine lines, and even discoloration. It's such an easy product to use but has seriously amazing results that make you look and feel young again, and who doesn't want that?

InStyler Max, $89.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond

Now, we're sure you've seen this on TV and thought it's just another annoying infomercial but don't knock this product until you try it! It's the perfect all-in-one tool for those who aren't professional stylists (so most people). With this one product, you can straighten, curl, and wave hair. The best part? No matter which style you create, it'll look like you just came from the salon!

StriVectinLABS Facial Toner, $199 at Nordstrom

This is another great product for achieving perfect skin. (And who doesn't love perfect skin?)  You can do it from the convenience of your own home. This facial toner uses small doses of electrical current to stimulate your facial muscles to help skin feel firmer, toned, and lifted.

Spending money is never fun, but if you're going to do it, it might as well be on some innovative and useful products!

How To: Perfect Your Brows

Eyebrows can be confusing. Between thick, thin, dark, and light; it can sometimes be hard to figure out what works best for you. It's no surprise, however, that perfect brows are the trick to taking over the world (hello, Amal Clooney). So what's the secret to perfect eyebrows? We interviewed brow guru, Anastasia Soare, celebrity brow expert and founder of Anastasia of Beverly Hills, to find out.

"You were born with the brow that’s right for you," explains Anastasia. Work with that thickness to hone the arch and tweeze unruly brow hairs outside of your brow area in the direction of hair growth to sculpt and shape the correct brow." So, no matter who you are, perfect brows are attainable!  Just work with what your momma gave ya.

"I recommend tweezing at home as needed, because it is more precise than other methods." It's no wonder Anastasia's favorite tools include stencils and a good pair of tweezers. Of course we all have a handy pair of tweezers, but have you ever thought about using stencils?  So smart!  Once shaped, she recommends, "Layering powder, pencil, and gel will give you a multidimensional brow that looks natural and polished."

Eyebrows are truly one of the hidden secrets to a beautiful face. The prettiest celebs have the best brows. Fact. Need more proof?

Enough said.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Your Man

Valentine's Day is a weird holiday; not in theme, but in gift giving. You can't give something too extravagant, but a box of chocolates is très dull. It's the perfect holiday for something logical. Here are 5 gift ideas your man is sure to love (and you probably will too)!

Polo Black Cologne by Ralph Lauren, $64.00 at Sephora

Cologne is always a smart buy. Not only is it something your man will love to use, but you'll love when he uses it (you know you want your guy smelling great)! Nothing is more telling about a guy than the scent he wears.  This Ralph Lauren scent is a subtle hint of that manly musk all women love!

"Eglinton" 5-Piece Classic Wet-Shaving Kit, $101. 86 at Fendrihan

Can you think of a man with more class than one who uses an old-fashioned shaving kit? We can't! If your guy is someone who enjoys the finer things in life, we recommend this elegant kit for him (if he's not, just go with socks). This is just a great buy in general and pretty reasonably priced if you ask us! This kit comes in classic black and ivory.

Penguin Canvas and Wool Duffle, $150.00 at Original Penguin

A great duffel is always a good investment, especially if your man likes to workout. This duffel makes for the perfect gym bag, even though he swears he doesn't need one, you know he does. This bag is even large enough for you two to share! Couples who workout together stay together! Speaking of...

Insanity 60-Day Total Body Conditioning Program, $119.85 at Beachbody

You'd have to be insane not to buy this for your man! See what we did there? But really, this is a great nudge toward keeping him healthy.  Plus, you can use it, too!

Monthly Subscriptions to Pretty Much... Anything

Prices vary, but there are monthly subscriptions to some great foods, drinks, and other awesome things! Some of our favorites: Jerky of the Month for $24.95 a month, Dollar Shave Club for $1 a month, Craft Beer Club for $39.00 a month. These are great because they give your guy something to look forward to every month! We just spruced up your relationship, you're welcome.

If all else fails, a couples spa day never hurt nobody.

Fresh Makes Bar Soap Cool Again

Fresh is launching a new line of soaps and we're betting you're going to want one. Why? Because they collaborated with famed astrologer, Susan Miller, to ensure each scented soap fits your astrological sign; 12 soaps for 12 signs. We told you you'd want one!  Curious to see what your sign looks like?  Read on.

If you're not familiar with Susan Miller's work, it's about time you check her out at Astrology Zone! Trust us, it's one of the best astrology readings out there. Plus, she's the sweetest person in the world, so that doesn't hurt.

Each bar of soap contains a sign-specific horoscope from Susan and some great beauty tips! What's not to love? Even the scents, stones, and color schemes are tailored to fit your sign!

Fire signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius

Scent: Mangosteen- a lush blend reminiscent of succulent nectarines

Color scheme: orange and red

Stone: tiger's eye

Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn

Scent: Sugar- a blend of caramel and sweet citruses

Color scheme: olive and brown

Stone: quartz

Water Signs: Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio

Scent: Waterlily- a sheer aquatic floral blend

Color scheme: turquoise and aqua

Stone: fluorite

Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius

Scent: Verbena- a classic bright green citrus blend

Color scheme: blue and gray

Stone: aventurine

There's a lot of things to love about this line, but our favorite is that it's actually a bar of soap. Can you even remember the last time you used one? It's such a nostalgic collection, (maybe even more nostalgic than Breakfast Club).

Maybe... This great line launches February 1st and can be found at Fresh or Fresh.com.

5 Health Inspired Apps Worth Your Time

We're addicted to our phones; Let's just be honest here. It's 24/7, but if we're going to be on our phones we might as well make sure we're using them wisely. Here are 5 health apps to download immediately (you're welcome).

Charity Miles

The premise of this app? Simple; For every mile you run you get to donate $0.25 to the charity of your choice. What could be better than that? You get a great workout and help your favorite organizations. Some of the organizations included in this app are Feeding America, ASPCA, Habitat for Humanity, RED, Autism Speaks, and more!

Trivia Crack

Now, we're sure you've heard of this app but, if you haven't, let's review! This app is great, because it's like a mini trivia game show you get to play with your friends, which is great for you mind. You won't even notice you're getting an amazing brain workout, and really, it's just as important to workout your brain.

Lumosity

This is another great brain workout, except, this is the Insanity of brain workouts. You can download the limited version of this app for free or get the upgrade for $15 a month (and trust us, it's worth it). The best part? You can track your progress and watch as you turn from oblivious to Einstein!

Personal Zen

Honestly, this is one of our favorite apps. Finding zen is an important part of functioning as a human being. This app will help with relieving stress and helping you find the perfect balance in your life by focusing on helping you find the positives and releasing the negatives. You can get this peaceful app for free in the iTunes app store!

Lose It!

This is another great (free) app, and you know how much we love those! This one helps keep track of what you're eating and does the calorie counting for you, because that's the most stressful thing in the world if we're being honest. All you have to do is enter what you're eating in the database. Plus, it has bonus feature like logging your weight or allowing you to store great recipes that make it a must-have.

5 Celebrity Epic Beauty Fails

New Years is a time for a fresh start, a clean slate, a time for “out with the old and in with the new”, a time to say New Year new… you get the point. Though January is a great time to renew your look, maybe even give yourself a little makeover, make sure you think before you do anything too drastic.  Yea, we know hair grows back, but sometimes being spontaneous isn’t all the rage.  Need proof?  Allow us to remind you of these celebrity beauty mishaps.

Renee's Plastic Surgery

The before and after of Renee Zellweger's plastic surgery is truly shocking - a real celebrity beauty fail. Renee seems nearly unrecognizable after her plastic surgery. We say forget the scalpel; natural is in.

Miley's Missing Brows

This year, Miley Cyrus bleached her eyebrows and though this was quite daring, it's another decision that requires lots of thought before commitment. Dark, thick eyebrows are the way to go.

Angelina's Powder Overdose

We're a huge fans of powder, but Angelina Jolie might have gone a little overboard. If you're going to use a powder, make sure it's light-weight and invisible.

Kim K. Gets Crispy

We can't say how important it is to take care of your skin and use proper sunscreen. Kim Kardashian clearly forgot this important message when she fell asleep in the sun for too long. Can you say ouch?

Britney's Buzz

Britney Spears probably didn't think too much before making this bold decision. Make sure, before shaving your head, that you can really rock it. I recommend a bold lipstick with this look to make it work best.

New Year, New Intern: Meet Kayla

Hi, I'm Kayla and I'm so excited to be joining the BeautySweetSpot team! Being a broke college student, my life revolves around great products that are pretty cost effective. If I'm going to spend money, you better believe it's going to be on something that's worth it. These are some of my favorite beauty buys that I currently can't live without, BeautySweetSpot approved, of course!

Marc Jacobs Matte Lip Gel in Scandal, $30 at Sephora

Every girl needs a good red lipstick. What I love about this particular one is its color. The pigment is so bold, it's meant for making a statement. This is the lipstick I use for cocktail parties or to dress up my look when running errands.

Rimmel’s BB Cream Beauty Balm, $5.59 at drugstores

The foundation of a flawless look is... well, foundation. I love Rimmel’s BB Cream Beauty Balm with built-in SPF (what alliteration). I love it because not only does it cover up those finals-week breakouts but it also moisturizes your skin. It's light and moisturizing, which is exactly what I seek.

Urban Decay’s Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder, $29 at Sephora

This product will literally make you shimmer.  Need I say more? I don’t know how I’ve gone my whole life without it. It’s simple to use and there’s really no wrong method as long as you don’t go overboard (really don’t go overboard or else you could look like the newest disco queen). It highlights my cheekbones perfectly and can even double as a pretty wonderful eyeshadow.

The Body Shop’s Glazed Apple Body Butter, $5 at thebodyshop-usa.com

Body butters are vital during winter, especially a winter as cold as this one. If you're going to be using body butter it may as well smell like the greatest thing ever, right? That's just another reason I'm obsessed with this product. Apply a little to your cracking hands and they'll hands will be as smooth as a babies bottom.

Tresemmés Smooth Salon Silk No Frizz Serum, $9.99 at drugstores

Good haircare products are hard to come by, so when you find a great one it becomes the holy grail. I like this product because I have the curliest, frizziest hair the world has ever seen, but it's also great for straight hair. I just put a dab into my hair when it's damp then style.  It keeps my hair silky smooth and frizz-free.

Get the Look: Kate Hudson's Waves

Kate Hudson looked stunning at the People magazine awards with her signature beach waves. Hairstylist David Babaii, created what he calls, the “classic Kate."  Want to get the look? You’re in luck, because we got the how to.

To start off, tousle your hair upside until dry to add volume. Once dry, mist a heat protectant spray evenly throughout. Then, grab a two inch section of hair and using the ghd Curve Classic Curling Iron, wind the hair around the iron while keeping the iron open. This technique creates a soft, bouncy wave. After you’ve curled your hair to that Kate Hudson effortless perfection, separate a few strands with your fingers and gently tousle your hair at the roots with your fingertips.

Stubborn flyaways ruining your look? Babaii says to use the iron to smooth at the root. Start at the root of the two inch section, run your iron through the first four inches of your hair two times. If you have thick hair, try doing smaller sections.