MY FAVOURITE SCENT

It is only recently that I started to wear a scent. Two weeks ago my friend Valerie told me that she wears cologne every day, no exception. She insists the pleasant scent lifts her spirits and makes her feel sophisticated and sexy on even the most mundane day. I balked at this and attributed her love of scent to her French heritage.

Valerie then persuaded me to try Wood Sage & Sea Salt, a cologne by Jo Malone. I'm hooked. The scent is light, fresh and as intriguing as it sounds. With an outdoorsy feel, it invokes a carefree attitude that I find to be a most welcome addition to my regular morning routine. And, the hints of scent throughout the day keep me smiling and add a little je ne sais quoi.

Do you wear cologne, and do you have a favourite scent?

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MY FAVOURITE FACE CREAM

My skincare and beauty routine is quite simple -- wash, moisturize, add blush and finish with some good lip balm. A sweep of mascara and a touch of eye shadow are reserved for special occasions. You could call me a novice in the beauty department.

I am a stickler for a good moisturizer though. A good moisturizer needs to hydrate my skin without feeling greasy, block harmful sun rays and use natural ingredients. My favourite face cream is Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Day Cream with SPF 15 by Korres. It's so good that my skin is feeling good even in our harsh winter temperatures!

TAKE A GOOD PICTURE

Do you cringe when it's time to smile for the camera? Do you wince when you see yourself in a photo? I know I do, which is why this nugget of advice I read intrigued me. Photographer Peter Hurley has created a secret weapon so that we can all be just a little more photogenic. It's called the squinch. The basic idea is to mix a slight eye squint with a lower eyelid pinch so that you too can smoulder for the camera. 

Check out the video here for a complete tutorial. (Warning: Hurley is so passionate about making sure we all look our best for the camera that it's a 15-minute video.)

Will you try it out the next time you say cheese?

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ACCIDENTAL HAND CREAM

Apparently, you can tell a woman's true age by looking at her hands. I'm in trouble. I've always focused on trying to keep fine lines away from my face, while my neglected hands remain dry, chapped and cracking. To add to my problem, I don't like the feel of greasy hand cream. It's a conundrum, you see?

Let me take a bit of a detour ... Monkey has inherited my dry skin. You know how some babies have the softest skin -- especially on their chubby thighs? That was not my little guy. Instead, he had little rough, red patches of dry skin that he itched constantly. I was determined to find a cream that worked for him and was free of harsh ingredients. My search ended with Calendula Baby Cream by Weleda Baby. Calendula is a flower and its extract soothes, heals and protects his sensitive skin, making it baby soft.

And, this cream has also worked wonders on my hands. I use it before bed and I've noticed a dramatic improvement. It's thick, but it absorbs fairly quickly and the fact that I only have to use it once a day means grease-free hands during the day.

Now, my next resolution is to wear sunscreen on my hands daily since they are constantly exposed pushing a stroller and playing outside with Monkey...no more sun spots to defy my age!

Do you have any hand cream favourites to share?

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