I was given PopSugar’s June Must Have Box with an array of hand picked goodies.

Hat Attack Neutral Diamond-Printed Sarong ($58)!

NCLA Born on the 4th Nail Lacquer ($16)

Sisters of Los Angeles Bottle Opener ($12) – CHEERS Bottle Opener

Wild & Wolf Ridley’s Games Room “Who Am I?” ($11)

Knock Knock Are You Ready (For Your Close Up?) Compact ($10)

Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes (Not pictured) ($9)

Pressels Pretzel Chips (Not pictured) ($1.29)

Visit POPSUGAR Must Have Box to subscribe or find out more!

If you spend a lot of money each year on high-end beauty products, and hours searching for the “latest” purchase to solve your skin woes, keep in mind that there is more to beautiful, glowing skin than just slathering it with products. Indeed, your skin can be affected just as much by what you put in your body, as what you put on it.

That’s where natural strategies for healthy and younger-looking skin come in handy. From absorbing the right nutrients and getting enough sleep, to staying out of the sun and keeping hydrated, there are plenty of cost-effective and simple things you can be doing to look your best without spending a fortune. Read on for tips you can try today.

Nutrients

Firstly, if you want to have beautiful, clear skin, you need to ensure that you are absorbing plenty of nutrients. You can get them by eating a varied diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, but also through what you drink. Tea, in particular, is great for the skin, particularly if you consume a variety of blends.

Zen Cleanse Organic Tea, for example, features things like dandelion root, hibiscus, cranberry, burdock root, spearmint, ginger, and milk thistle. These ingredients make the tea an excellent source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are beneficial in reducing the risk of sun damage and skin cancer, which in turns means that you have a reduced risk of getting wrinkles, spots, and pigmentation.

The antioxidants found in tea can also work to protect your skin from UV radiation. This then prevents cell damage, and helps your skin to look younger and stay clear for longer. It will also have better density and elasticity, as well as suffer less from inflammation and redness (which tends to be associated with the build-up of free radicals in the body with age).

Many teas, like damiana leaf and calendula, as well as juices and smoothies, are also chock full of Vitamins C, A, and E, which skin loves. Vitamin C promotes healthy and resilient skin, and also boosts the production of collagen, which drops as people age and are faced with UV light exposure and air pollutants. If your body doesn’t get enough Vitamin C, you are more likely to end up with wrinkles because of the loss of collagen. Vitamin C also helps to ward off age spots and skin discoloration.

Vitamin A is important when it comes to the maintenance and repair of skin, as well as providing relief for potential skin issues like acne, dry or flaky skin, psoriasis, and related ailments. Vitamin A also helps to heal scrapes, scratches, wounds and other damage to the skin. Vitamin E happens to be another great antioxidant which helps the body to fight free radicals and stop skin from aging prematurely. It is also even believed to be effective at preventing certain types of skin cancers.

Sleep

Something else you can do to help your skin look and feel its best is to make sure you get enough sleep every night. The term “beauty sleep” is in fact a relevant one, since hitting the hay early enough can have a big impact on the health of your skin. The body’s cellular renewal processes work during the night, when the body is asleep. As well, not getting enough snooze time lowers your circulation, which leads to pale and washed-out looking skin.

Avoid Extreme Sun Exposure

We have all heard over and over again that too much exposure to the sun can cause damage to the skin, but this is something that often gets ignored. However, if you really want lovely skin, it’s important to wear sunscreen every day, especially when you are in the outdoors for extended periods of time or during the hottest parts of the day.

Keep in mind that the majority of wrinkles form due to sun exposure, and that it’s much easier to prevent skin damage than it is to try and fix it later on. Even in winter, when the sun’s rays aren’t so strong, you should guard against UV damage. Wearing sunglasses can also help, as they protect the sensitive under-eye skin that is the thinnest, and where most signs of aging show up first.

Moisturize 

Adding moisture is so important to keep your skin healthy.  Applying body butters after bathing is a great way to lock in moisture and give your skin a healthier appearance.  Try out private label body butter.

Drink Plenty of Water

Lastly, remember that there are many different health reasons why you need to drink enough water every day, and one of those is that it makes a difference to your skin. Water helps to clear toxins from your system and thus reduces blemishes and inflammation. Good hydration can also make your skin appear fuller and reduce premature aging. In addition, drinking around eight glasses of water per day will help to transport oxygen, and all those essential nutrients, to the skin cells.

Have you heard about the new Caress® Forever Collection?  A friend told me of it last month but I didn’t get around to trying it till I recently remembered to pick one up while at CVS.  I chose a bottle of Caress® Mystique Forever and it’s great.  Not only does it smell great initially upon using but it’s designed to deliver bursts of perfume every time your skin is touched for up to 12 hours.  Isn’t that crazy?  That way you can go on smelling great all day long.

The Caress® Forever Collection uses Fragrance Release Pearls which are teeny tiny invisible beads in the body wash to release bursts of perfume with every touch of your skin. It’s the world’s first body wash with breakthrough fragrance touch technology. Not only that but it lathers well and leaves my skin feeling extremely soft!

There’s a deal going on right now where you can grab a bottle for yourself at a discount!

B1G1 Free CaressPlus this week at CVS (thru 4/16/16), Caress® body washes are Buy One, Get One Free. So you can pick this one up (or two!) and try it for yourself.

Prices will inevitably vary a little at each store, but here’s a deal scenario for you with the prices from my local store.

CVS Deals (Thru 4/16)
Buy (2) Caress® Body Wash, 13.5 to 18oz, $5.99 B1G1 Free
(2) $1/1; 50¢/1 Caress Bars 6ct+ or Body Wash 12oz+, exp. 4/17/16 (RP 3/20/16)
= Only $1.99 Each!

GIVEAWAY!!

Of course I hate to tell you these things without giving you a chance to WIN a way to try them yourself!  Comment on my post telling me why you’d like to try the new Caress® Mystique Forever Body Wash for a chance to receive a free sample AND a $20 CVS gift card!  You can see the terms and conditions of the giveaway HERE. Good Luck.

I don’t know about you but I dread working out.  It’s not so much the excising that bothers me but the getting ready to go part.  I never know what to wear!  My sweatpants have seen better days.  I happen to be in the minority of women in the US who choose not to wear leggings so that knocks out 99% of the pants on the market.  Sigh.  Enough excuses, I’ve set off to find 5 attractive work out clothes for women who want to feel confident in what they’re wearing and comfortable too.  Here are my favorite choices from this morning’s internet scrolling.

• 1. NYFifth.com is a supplier for activewear and headwear and I have been surprised by their affordable prices!  It’s been a while since I’ve bought work out clothes but many of the pieces I found were under $20.  They have hundreds of name brands…and they also do screen printing and embroidery!  I am loving these shorts from Champion.  Navy, tagless, 5 inch inseam, and they are only $9.31 (as low as $8.46 if you buy several).

• 2. NYFifth Apparel also has this Sport-Tek Dry Mesh Shirt that would be great for working out and staying cool.  It looks good enough to just wear for a play date at the park.

• 3. My holey socks had to go and these cheery socks from Under Armour might even make working out fun…maybe.  I love the tight band that goes around the middle of the foot.  I think all socks should be made with that.  It’s so comforting.  These are $14.00 from Amazon.

• 4. This Raglan Tee looks comfy enough to wear on a hike or watch the big game in.  This comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes and prices begin at $9.70 on Amazon.

• 5. If you’re like me and hate working out when it’s cold out, here is a beautiful hoodie that will eliminate that excuse.  It’s colorful, cute, and will keep you warm while you warm up!  It also comes in many sizes and colors.  Prices start at $14.55 on Amazon.

What about you?  What are your favorite work out clothes or accessories?

You sneeze… and then wince. You need more than a tissue to recover from that sneeze. Most of us who have been pregnant go through bladder control issues. Situations like pregnancy, childbirth, and diabetes cause us women to experience bladder leakage. In fact, 1 in 3 American women. That’s 51 million.

Depend has heard our situation. Just because this is a delicate issue doesn’t mean that we should ignore the need. In support of the need for functionality and femininity, Depend introduces it’s Silhouette Active Fit briefs. They have a moderate-absorbency that features a thin design for comfort and less bulk. It’s still from Depend, though, so there’s the trust we all know.

A part I love about the new design is the lower rise to make the Silhouette Active Fit briefs look more like real underwear. It feels less like a diaper too since it comes in black and beige. The material is also cloth-like fabric which is smooth under clothes.  These are great to wear with jeans, skirts, sweatpants, and even yoga pants.  No fear, Depend is here!

In order to undermine the bladder leakage stigma, Depend is entering their second year of Underwareness, which is a social movement and charitable cause to make support a normal option for women. #Underwareness is encouraging people to show support for women with bladder leakage by making a $1 donation for every photo and video shared, up to $3 million through 2014, to fund charities advancing the research and education of bladder leakage.

Women shouldn’t feel ashamed or less feminine for wearing protection against bladder leakage. Mothers have earned the right to a pass for supportive underwear, and those women with diseases which keep them living normal lives shouldn’t be prohibited more. We women deserve to live life confidently… right down to our underwear!

Here’s good little coupon to help you save money while staying active!

Here are some handy dandy don’t pee your pants light bladder leakage tips:

1. Try out the new Poise Very Light Absorbency Liner. (Now available at your local Sam’s Club! Get 132 pads for $11.68 which is $4 cheaper than other locations!) Coping with accidents is much easier if you have the right tools for the job, says Wendy Fries of WebMD.
2. Do your kegals!  Seriously, do it.  Put post it notes around the house with smiley faces on them to remind you.  You’ll never look at a smiley face the same way again will you?
3. Stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause constipation, and constipation can contribute to bladder leakage for some women. (source: LiveConfidently.com)
4. Take time to go to the potty more often.  Set a timer until you get in the habit of going more frequently.
5. Limit your caffeine if at all possible.  It’s a natural diuretic so only drink it if you’ll be near a bathroom.

To get more LBL tips visit Poise.com! 

Sleep, oh sweet sleep!  Oh, how I love sleep!  If you’ve followed me a few years ago you might remember when I told you about my hypersomnia.  I’ve recently been diagnosed with narcolepsy since I have cataplexy in addition to my extreme sleepiness.  Sleep is a serious matter in my home.  I have the desire to sleep all the time so a good night’s sleep is essential for me.

Both of my kids are great sleepers and they love their sleep routines.  They both take great naps and I couldn’t be more thankful for that!  My husband on the other hand, doesn’t sleep so well.  He goes to bed tired and tosses and turns for hours he says.

My kids sleep 12 hours at night and my husband and I aim to sleep 7-8 a night.  My ideal night would be 12 hours but I know that’s not going to happen.  I’m working to getting 9 hours though!  I dream (ha!) of going to bed sleepy and waking rested….and an occasional afternoon nap.

BeyondTired.org knows people are struggling to get the rest they need and their website is a great resource for people who suffer from insomnia!  There are many videos and articles full of tips to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.   Plus, there is also a FAQ page to learn more about insomnia and how to deal with it.

5 Tips for Getting More Sleep

Here are a few things I try to do to sleep better each night.

• 1)  Relax before bed.  No screen time.  Read, take a bath, or talk to your family.
• 2)  Store your cell phone or devices in another room.  If it’s the only phone in your room consider storing it across the room.
• 3)  Don’t drink a lot before bed!
• 4)  Avoid caffeine late in the evening.
• 5)  I’m a big fan of white noise machines.  I absolutely adore the Dohm brand, both of my kid’s have one in their rooms and my husband wants one for ours!

 
Do you wish you slept better at night?

S.P.A.  Spa…  SPA!!!!!!!!  I went to a spa!  I was given a couple free services at Bella Mia in exchange for my honest opinion.  My time at Bella Mia was a lovely experience.  Bella Mia is a quaint and elegant spa and salon located in Advance, North Carolina.  The place was very clean, classy, and cozy.  I loved every minute there!  The service was fantastic, professional, top of the line.  I can’t wait to go back.

I had a foot massage which was utterly fabulous.  I’ve had a couple full body massages elsewhere and the short massages when you get a pedicure at the mall but this was all together different.  It was amazing!  A-maz-ing!  I’ve already requested gift certificates for foot massages for every holiday from here on out.   

I also had a facial, which was a completely new experience for me.  It was relaxing and enjoyable but the best thing was how clean my face felt afterward.  I kept feeling and looking in the mirror for the rest of the day.  My face was so soft!   The shoulder massage during the facial was an unexpected bonus.

I left feeling pampered and refreshed.  I’m excited about planning another visit soon.

Bella Mia also sells make-up and skin care products.  Beautiful make up products and judging from my facial, fabulous skin care products.  If you want to make a complete day of pampering, they have a full salon!  Which reminds me, I need to schedule a hair cut there soon. Bella Mia is the perfect place for a special day out!

If you live anywhere near Advance, NC and want a little “me” time, you definitely should book an apt. or two at Bella Mia.  Visit BellaMiaSkinCareCenter.com for more info.

I love my sweet little girl. I want her to know that she’s beautiful, not by the world’s standards like her features are symmetrical and her button nose is bumped at the right angle. Though she does have many American beauty attributes, I want her to realize that beauty comes in different shapes and sizes. And one day I want her to see that confidence is beautiful.

I think middle school is the place where confidence shys and strays or blossoms and blooms. Remember that young age when you weren’t sure whether your outfit made you look cute, puffy, or like a baby (because who at the age of 12 would be seen dressing like a baby? We were all trying to convince our mothers it was time to shave our legs for heaven’s sake!). Bless the day when we finally figured out that confidence and grace gave us the mature, beautiful look we all desired from Seventeen.

Also as preteens (and teenagers, and college girls, and wives, and moms…), we stood by mirrors and talked about which of the features we didn’t like and expected each other to join in.  While psychology tells us that self-actualization is a part of growing up, it doesn’t seem that women grow out of criticizing ourselves. Last year WOMEN sent over 5MM negative tweets (Twitter alone!) about beauty and body image. For the sake of our next generation, I beg you to start positive trends with me. We can change the flow of verbal self-harm to self-care. We gawk that people have the “audacity” to abuse themselves, but being overly critical of ourselves has the same impact mentally. So I’m going to start a different, positive trend now. I love my hair. I love that it’s thick and strong.

Mainstream media often doesn’t encourage us to promote our natural beauty, but I really appreciate Dove’s message which backs what I want my daughter to believe. (By the way, Dove products at Rite Aid can earn you 300 Plenti points when you buy $12 worth of products now through the 26th of September.  Plus, you can stack coupons to drop the final price even further! But you’ll have to hurry, the current newspaper coupons are set to expire on 9/20.) I wish more companies would support women in this battlefield of the mind.  

Take a few moments and check out their “Speak Beautiful” video.

$50 Giveaway exclusively for my followers on Twitter! 

You will need to Tweet to enter, but don’t let that stop you! You can read the Official Rules here.

Tweet a positive message and tag @Beauty4Moms (me) & @RiteAid, along with the hashtag #SpeakBeautiful.  Good luck!!!

Tweet a positive message to start a trend #speakbeautiful #riteaid and you can win a $50 @riteaid gift card @Beauty4Moms

— Ashley (@Beauty4Moms) September 21, 2015

1. Tarte’s Limited Edition LipSurgence ($19)

This lip gloss (pictured in Envy) will keep your lips looking colorful and shiny all day.  I’m a huge fan of Tarte products and this new lip gloss is no exception.

2. Crabtree & Evelyn’s Nail Lacquer. ($6)

I’m in love with this soft and simple shade named Almond.  Something about is so calming and feminine.

3. XG Sunglasses ($125-$145)

Protect your peepers with fashionable shades.  I’ve just ordered a pair of the Zurich sunglasses with “Extreme Glare” technology.  I’m excited to give them a try!

4. Vionic Sandals ($45+)

If you know me personally I’ve complained for years about how there needs to be a company who will invent a lightweight sandal that has arch support – well, a company did that!!!  A company called Vionic.  Clarks’ flip flops have support but they are on the heavy side.  Chacos are fabulous sandals but they’re not meant to be dressy in the least.  Vionic sandals are the solution!  They are as light as can be and they have fabulous support to help protect the most important curve of your body –  the arch of your foot.  I just discovered these this summer and I’ve already bought two pair.  They are a little costly but oh so worth it!! Trust me! (and they’re having a 30% off sale right now! Yay!)

5. White Shorts ($24.50)

Okay, so white shorts aren’t new but I think everyone who walks should own at least one pair of white shorts during the summer.  White shorts can be a little intimidating for ladies during certain times of the month but have no fear, I know a new product from U by Kotex that will make white shorts wearable all summer long! U by Kotex pads w/ new 3D Capture Core has got your back…or should I say bottom?  Ha!  (Plus, while supplies last you can snag a free sample of U by Kotex Curve by clicking here. Oh and you can visit BringComfyBack.com and show your uncomfy face to enter to win BIG!)

By the way, the white shorts pictured above are from J. Crew Factory and are on sale for $24.50, from $39.50.

6. Jamberry Nail Wraps ($15)

Jamberry nail wraps are like stickers but with super holding power, that stay on your fingers for two weeks and your toes for four weeks.  These are just perfect for keeping a great mani while battling the surf or relaxing in the sun.  The color above is Icy Rose Polka.

JUST WAIT until Sept. 1st though!!!!  I have had an exclusive sneak peek at their newest TruShine gel polish and it is AMAZING!!!  I like Jamberry but I LOOOOOVE their gel polish.  In my opinion, every woman should own it (who wears polish at least).

What’s on your must-have fashion list this summer?