Hey Little Birdie | Shopping Blog

Complicated name for a simply wonderous cream.

Back story: Claire has experienced eczema patches her entire little life. No matter what lotion I try, it never seems to completely heal them. And because of her epilepsy, I am wary of anything chemical laden or prescription. I spotted this tiny jar in the natural section of baby aisle at Target and decided to give it a go. I wasn’t expecting much but I was very pleased with the fresh lavender scent and very descriptive label. California Baby is a tried and true organic brand and I felt very safe using it on Claire. You can’t begin to know how excited I was when after only four days, her normally rough, scratchy areas were soft and smooth! I am completely amazed. This product may be a bit pricier ($12) then I would normally want to buy, but if I purchased this first instead of working my way through a handful of other lotions, I would have saved money. If you or your children deal with overly dry, eczema prone skin then try this!

This product comes to us from my really cute husband, Mike, who is totally right when he says we’ve been neglecting the men-folk around here lately. My husband of almost 12 years scours the web on a regular basis (if you, reader, are his boss, then I modify that to more accurately say he scours the web on a regular basis during non-work hours only).

Anyway, these retro dopp kits come to us from Flight 001 and were showcased on the amazing Uncrate not long ago. They perfectly show that function and style can go hand in hand when traveling, even for guys. Before I get sidetracked, Flight 001 has women’s toiletry kits/travel bags as well… anything and everything your little traveling heart could imagine. Super fun products!

But going back to Uncrate, if you are not familiar with this site, you must check it out. They have amazing finds for the man in your life. Getting closer to Father’s Day, it might be a place to bookmark or add to your reader or whatever you do to stay in touch. Oh, and you should totally do the same for us here at Hey Little Birdie. I mean, we love you more than any other site ever could.

So, in honor of the father of my child and my blogging inspiration… Mikey, this one’s for you. Enjoy!

Yes, it has been established that us HLB girls have a serious Anthropologie crush. So is it any surprise that I am completely head over heels for their newish garden/vintage shop, Terrain? Browsing through their selections is like entering a Nicky wonderland. Take this little bar of soap:

You may at first think, “Who cares? It just a bar of soap…” But not for me. Pretty Packaging? check. My favorite color combo? check. My most beloved flower/scent in the world? check! See what I mean? They get me. I must order this post haste.

Check out the rest of Terrain’s lovely soaps (and don’t forget the rest of their gorgeous products). You just may find your perfect little present too.

I am enamored with this perfume. I must have it. And soon. Why do the best fragrances have to be so darn expensive? And why do they never go on sale like everything else? The scent is fresh, feminine, delicately floral and reminds me of my favorite flowers- peonies. And did I mention it is perfect for me? And did I mention my birthday is next month? (I’m hoping my husband is reading this.)

In all seriousness, are there any fragrances you are loving right now? Tell me about them! I am on a bit of a perfume kick lately and would love to hear the details on your favorites.

Tell me I am not the only one out there with  oily hair? I have always been super jealous of everyone who can save time and not shampoo on the second (or sometimes 3rd) day. I, on the other hand, have many stories involving family camping trips as a teen where I force my mom to pour a bucket of freezing water over my head just so I can be spared the embarrassment of the oilies. Yes, I will gladly suffer for beauty.

However, I recently discovered a solution that has revolutionized my hair routine. First, I picked up an adorable shower cap at Safeway. You can get it here at Amazon but it’s like $2 cheaper at the grocery store so check there beforehand.

The reason why a shower cap is crucial is because the moisture and humidity from your morning wash are going to make your oily hair even worse. Sealing it all inside a cute little cap while make you smile and preserve some of your hair dignity if you are going to attempt this second day ‘do. Next, find yourself a bottle of Batiste Dry Shampoo available at Ulta.

Then take off your shower cap, shake up the dry shampoo can and spray it all over your tresses, especially the roots. The next step is vital- don’t touch anything and let the spray sit in your hair for a minute. Then comb, shake and fluff out out your mane. Brillance! Your hair now looks fresh and clean and you feel confident to go out in the world after kicking the oily monster’s butt.

Tell me- do you have a useful beauty solution? a secret remedy to a common problem? Give me the details!

I am the Imelda Marcos of lip gloss. It is by far my favorite cosmetic product and I am a proud connoisseur.  One formulation I go back to over and over again is Korres Cherry Full Color Glosses. They have the most pleasing cherry taste (very subtle by the way), are uber eco-friendly and natural, and have the prettiest shades (both light and bright). Korres Lip Glosses are also one of the few glosses that are non-sticky. Huge bonus points for that! I hate when your gloss is like a magnet for stray hairs-yuck! Add super moisturizing and benefical vitamins and oils to their check list and you have one stand out gloss. Korres is available via their website or at any local Sephora.

Do you have a go-to lip color? Give me the details!

One of my most beloved beauty products is Tarte’s Cheek Stains. You may scoff at dropping thirty bucks on some measly blush but first hear (or read) me out. It lasts FOREVER. I have had mine for at least a year and it is still going strong.

Gel cheek stains are the ultimate rouge for any skin type but are particularly perfect for the not-so-youthful face. Powder blushes dry you out and look cakey. But Tarte Cheek Stains are super blendable, sheer and chock full of skin-loving ingredients.

Another great thing about Tarte Cosmetics? They are one of the most natural, eco-friendly brands around! Artificial fragrance, oil, alcohol, petroleum, paraben, phthalate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and cruelty free. Phew! That was a mouthful! But honestly, once I started thinking about all the icky crap in most beauty products it made me first get the willies and secondly want to bring my business to companies that take this kind of thing seriously.

I am making you a promise. This will become your new favorite cheek color (lots of color choices at either the Tarte site or Sephora) and you will wonder why you ever used anything else before.

When I was a little girl, I wanted nothing but princess style to the infinity degree. I’m talking lace covered canopy beds, sketches of my pink dream house, and refusals to wear pants. I was THAT little girl. One of my favorite princess-y places was my great grandma Esther’s bedroom vanity. The little padded stool, the drawers of pretty baubles, the glass bottles of feminine perfumes- I loved it all. And one of my favorite parts was the dainty tray where a collection of powders, lotions and cosmetics just waited for a curious little hand to explore.

I spotted this lovely green tray while hunting on etsy’s vintage area and it brings me back to those days when I was first mesmerized by anything I deemed princess worthy.

I’d love to see it in my bathroom displaying handmade soaps, gorgeous packaging and pretty little bottles. An etsy search under vintage for “vanity tray” turns up endless options for your own grown up fairytale dreams.

We all know “going green” has been quite the trend in the last few years and although the phrase may be getting over-used, being more conscious of how the things we use on a daily basis impact our bodies and our environment is always in-style to me.

Here’s a perfect way to celebrate tomorrow’s Earth Day and embrace you inner beauty queen at the same time- Stila Cosmetics new Earth Day eyeshadow palettes. If you adore makeup like I do, then you have to know that Stila’s shadows are the best around. Superior quality, lasting colors, beautiful pigments! They are the go-to shades of beauty editors and fashion designers around the world. (My everyday fave shadow is Stila’s bestselling Kitten, a shimmery nude pink.)

The two palettes give you the choice between three shimmer or matte shades plus a free liquid liner and free shipping! And how are they earth friendly you ask?

- refillable compact can be reused to support waste reduction
- eye shadows are produced locally, reducing gas emissions
- metal eye shadow pans are 100% recyclable

I love the fact that with Stila products, I can toss my used shadow pan in the recycle bin and then reuse my compact by filling it up with new purchases. The palettes are $49, and considering all you get (three shadows, liner, refillable compact and free shipping) that is a stellar deal from an award winning brand!

Today we have an aesthetician hanging out with us to talk skin care!  She is super sweet, a bit of a health nut, and is one of my sisters (the twin mentioned here).  She is (drum roll):

Jamie, Friendly Aesthetician

I am lucky to have someone to go to with my skin concerns.  When I asked, she gleefully agreed to answer a couple of questions that might help our readers. See?  Totally friendly.

HLB: Do you have a brand you especially love?  Why?

Jamie: I cannot say that I have a favorite all-around brand. It is forever changing.  Right now I am really interested in learning about natural skin care lines.  They boast high concentrations of antioxidants, essential oils, and minerals with amazing results. They are without parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances. Which, of course, is fantastic.  The high efficacy that natural skin care can provide frequently goes unnoticed. Natural does not mean “not effective”. Look into it for yourself!

Not many skincare lines can say they’re preservative-free. Boscia is one of them. And, it uses ingredients that are gentle, yet effective. That’s a big deal!

HLB: What is the best way to prepare your skin for spring?

Jamie: SPF! SPF! SPF! Springtime is the perfect time to be outdoors.  When you spend time outside, you need to make sure your skin is protected from the sun. If you REALLY can’t live without your tan, seriously consider tanning alternatives such as bronzer and sunless tanning products. These will give you a tanned appearance without the sun damage. Remember: a tan today equals wrinkles (or worse- skin cancer!) tomorrow.

Dermadoctor body Guard spf30 is a great lightweight sunscreen for face and body.

Clarins is well known for their self-tanners and they are fantastic.

HLB: How about one last tip.

Jamie: Of course remember that it’s always important to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.  That’s so healthy for your skin.

HLB: Thanks for your words of wisdom, Jamie!

There you have it.  Some good basics and a place to start from a real professional.