Having fair, sensitive skin means that I’m constantly battling things such as a pimple or tiny scratch leave a red mark. And my red marks really show up and tend to take forever to heal. Using heavy retnoids and creams to make it disappear weren’t an option for me since my skin would often react to the very cream designed to heal!

Several years ago a dermatologist recommended SkinCeuticals Phyto+ to me because it’s a botanical green gel that contains Kojic acid, arbutin, and natural alternatives to hydroquinone that are designed to work synergistically to not only reduce and eliminate discoloration but also help heal your skin. The anti-imflamitory ingredients such as cucumber and thyme soothe skin and a hyaluronic acid base hydrates. What this means to me is that my skin is calmed almost instantly and what maybe took 6 moths to a year to heal (if at all) can usually heal within a month.

I use it at night under other creams, I find it a little too sticky to use during the day (but if you have the time to wait before applying creams and letting everything dry, then daytime might be fine for you). A little goes a long way so one bottle can last me about six months.

BUY AT: DermaDoctor

Character lines may all be well and good but I want to keep the crowes feet at bay for as long as I can. And since the under eye skin is the most delicate and for me, the hardest to find a good cream for, I have been trying everything under the sun in terms of finding an eye cream.

But the sun, as we know, is a huge ager. So I was happy to discover Murad’s Essential-C Eye Cream with an SPF 15. Since most regular face SPF creams are too heavy for my under eye area (causing millia or make-up to ball), it was nice to find an spf made just for the eyes and promised to help work on wrinkles.

It’s become a staple eye cream for me for day-use only; it hydrates, protects and I think it’s helped lighten dark circles. I love the pump bottle (less contamination + you can see how much product is left) and the size (perfect for travel but lasts about 2 months for me). What I don’t like is that if it gets directly into your eyes it stings like crazy. I haven’t had sensitivity issues with other creams the way I have with this but if I can avoid it getting into my eyes, it’s great.

BUY AT: DermaDoctor

It seems like everyone I know is always on the hunt for the perfect eye cream. The cream that will solve wrinkles, dry skin, dark circles, puffiness, millia and be non-irritating. I’m not sure if that cream exists (and I swear I’ve tried almost all of them) but this one is pretty close.

My issues are lines, dark circles, dryness and sensitivity and the SkinCueticals Eye Balm has helped me with this. It’s become my go-to eye night cream; when I wander to try something new, I almost always come back to this.

It goes on easily, is absorbed quickly, and doesn’t make my under eye concealor ball up or make my eyes water. It does hydrates and soothes really well. It doesn’t, however, do anything for dark circles or a lot of puffiness.

If you need a rich, soothing, hydrating without being sticky cream, this is a good one to try. Don’t take my word for it; reviews on countless other make review sites always list it at the top of the list, too.

BUY AT: DermaDoctor

I’m a firm believer in wearing hats for several reasons; sun protection, keeps your hair color longer, looks stylish on days you don’t want to wash our hair and did I mention sun protection?

Living in Los Angeles, I both love and fear the sun. I try to do everything I can to keep my skin healthy from sunburn and melanoma which is hard to do when most of your days are sunny.

But this hat, which I’ve had for a few years in a dark brown, has been indispensable for a few reasons. First, it has a very large and bendable brim. It keeps the sun out of my eyes but because there is a light wire running along the edge, I can move and shape the brim as I please. Second, the colour and style works with a lot of different outfits from casual beach wear to more on the town dresses.

Pair it with some oversized glasses and people will be wondering, who is that girl regardless if you live in LA or not!

BUY AT: Anthropologie

I always thought chia seeds were nothing more than what gave chia pets hair. But recently I had heard a couple of people I know talk about them and their uses in various recipes. Then I saw Chia Goodness at my local Whole Foods and a few things caught my eye on the packaging.

The first was that it was entirely gluten free. The second was the nutrition that a mere two tablespoons can hold. It’s rich in Omega’s, fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, magnese, vitamin a, vitamin c, riboflavin just to name a few.  And the third thing was the simple, wonderful ingredient list: Chia seeds, Almonds, buckwheat, apples, raisins, Celtic sea salt, cinnamon and cane sugar.

The trick with chia seeds (as with chia pets) is to soak the seeds for a few minutes in whatever you’re eating it with. I put a couple of tablespoons in a plain yogurt and it was just about the best thing I’ve ever tasted. I put it on top of oatmeal and it transformed my morning breakfast. Now I’m looking for more ways to incorporate it and the possibilities seem endless.

A more than great value for a more than great healthy but very tasty treat.

BUY AT: Ruths Hemp Foods

I have never really been a fan of marshmallows but when I had an unlikely craving for rice krispy treats, I began the hunt for gluten-free marshmallows. I couldn’t tell with the traditional ones if they were gluten free or not but then I happened across a tub of Ricemellow Creme which said right on the label, “Gluten Free!”  It also said no animal products, no GMO’s, no fat, no cholesterol, no refined sugars, corn sweeteners preservatives or additives. I was wondering where it said “no good” – but it didn’t and so I thought I’d give it a try.

Opening it up I saw a yellow, fluffy, whipped creme – what traditionally melted marshmallow mixed with butter looks like. I tested it out with a scoop. Then another, then another. I could. not. stop. eating. It was amazing!

And all I had to do was add some gluten-free rice cereal for easy rice krispy snacks but I never got that far. I ended up using this as icing on some cupcakes, I put some in my coffee, and really I just kept some around for a little taste here and there.

I’m sure it’ll make great cookies… someday.

BUY AT: Suzannes Specialties

Fluffy, pretty, down pillows has always been my bed accessory of choice; there’s nothing like falling into softness at the end of a hard day. But unfortunately, I wasn’t waking up soft and happy but stiff and cranky.

My chiropractor recommended the Therapeutica Sleeping Pillow for me to try but I resisted; I had tried similar orthopedic pillows in the past with disastrous results. Some were only meant for back sleepers and some for only side sleepers but none worked for those of us who do both. But the Therapeutic pillow is designed for both so I thought I’d give it a try.

I was told to give it two weeks as my muscles in my neck adjusted. The first couple of nights my neck felt sore and I could really feel things adjusting. I woke up several times during the night but overall, I woke up way less sore. After a week I noticed a real improvement in both how I felt and how I slept.

Being on the small size I opted for the adult petite but wish I had gone for the average size that I had tested only because i like the side to be a little higher. If you’re 5″4 and over I’d recommend average but even with the petite I’m still sleeping pretty!

BUY AT: Amazon

There’s nothing I love more than a good cup of Earl Grey tea; it’s been a staple in my afternoon for far more many years than I’d like to say. But I recently decided to try to eliminate caffeine from my diet and brewing regular Earl Grey twice (to remove caffeine) seemed too much of a hassle and finding a good cup of decaf seemed even harder.

So imagine how happy I was when I discovered Rishi’s Earl Grey Rooibos Tea which combined my favourites – rooibos and bergamot!

Rooibos has long-proven health benefits and the taste is wonderful anytime of day but combine it with some citrus and bergamot and it becomes the most wonderful afternoon tea that you can have before bed, too. And not only good for your health and taste buds but it’s also good for the environment as Rishi sells only organic, fair trade artisinal teas, so it’s a win-win for everyone.

BUY AT: Rishi Tea

I’ve never been a doll kind of girl – not even as a child. But when I saw Jess Brown’s rag dolls in Anthropologie I became a smitten kitten. And today I saw the most perfect one that just had to come home with me.

These aren’t any dolls – they’re one of a kind, hand made, rag dolls. They remind me of the old fashioned ones Laura Ingalls might have if that little town on the prairie had access to black tea dipped reminents and pretty linens.

What I love is how soft and pliable these dolls are; they truly feel like a rag doll. The clothes, the dresses are all made with care (and are unique to each doll). The face and hair also lends to each dolls character and my girl is certainly charming. We are fast becoming BFF.

If you’re looking to give a special gift to a girl of any age, consider one of these dolls. Jess Brown does custom designs so I’m sure she could make something special for you. And since she re-uses materials and dyes with tea and not chemicals, you’re giving something safe, beautiful and handmade all at once.

BUY AT: Jess Brown Design

It was a stressful time when I first moved to Los Angeles and it showed on my face; it was blotchy, red, terribly dry with not so nice pimples here and there. So I booked myself a spa package at the Ole Henriksen Spa for an afternoon of relaxation and pampering. I knew that a massage and scrub would help but had my suspicions about the facial since most facials always made my sensitive skin worse, not better.

But other spas did not have Maki.

In one hour she literally transformed my skin from blah to wow. Not only did she make my skin wonderful from the outside, but gave me so many tips about how to keep myself and skin healthy from the inside with vitamins and relaxation ideas. With her help, my skin has never looked better and that’s why I’ve been a devoted client for over three years.

So when she told me she was working on her own skincare line, Mambino Organics, I was thrilled; her passion for natural, organic, simple skincare was finally coming to fruition. And for me, it came at the perfect time.

Dry skin has always plagued me and, when I began to spend a lot of time in air conditioning, I couldn’t find anything that would help. Most body moisturizers were thick, goopy and greasy. They always seemed to have harsh, fake scents added that I just didn’t like. However, her Moisture Me After Shower Body Oil, with it’s amazing smell of orange and lavender, quickly absorbed into my skin leaving it super soft without being greasy or shiny looking. Just natural and hydrated.

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