No-rinse cleansing waters have been a big thing in Europe for years. The trend started in Paris in response to the city’s notoriously harsh tap water. Micellar water from French brands like Dior, Darphin and La Roche Posay have been making their way onto US shelves over the last year. I’ve tried many of them and I get why they’re such a big deal—they’re gentle, effective and leave skin soft and glowing.

This Micro Water from one of my favorite brands, Dr. Jart+, is similar to a micellar water but with an added boost of antioxidants and skin brighteners. I’ve been using it in the morning and have noticed a difference in my skin in just three days. It is absolutely fragrance, paraban and sulfate free.

I’m always on the hunt to find the best time-saving products and this is definitely my new short cut to morning cleansing. It’s a cinch to use—just saturate a cotton pad to swipe away all traces of makeup and impurities. I follow with toner, antioxidant gel and moisturizer.

P.S. My favorite Dr. Jart+ BB Cream.

I don’t know why Similac didn’t wait to run this during this weekend’s Super Bowl. It’s that big and that funny. The touching video went viral this week, getting the attention it deserves. It’s an ad where motherhood is celebrated, not debated, as the brand says.

If you haven’t seen it, you must click. I laughed, I cried. I got really emotionally invested!

Well played, Similac.

I am so happy to introduce a new BeautyMama series called Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous with the extraordinary nutritionist Esther Blum. Because, as we all know, beauty is hardly skin-deep. What we eat, the supplements we choose and the habits we set have so much to do with how we look and feel. As a busy working mom with a focus on women’s health, in particular, Esther truly understands how we think and what we need to look and feel our best.

Esther is a clinical and holistic dietitian with 20+ years of experience, and bestselling author of Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous, Secrets of Gorgeous, The Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous Project, and Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat.

Plus, she’s hilarious, makes a mean martini and eats chocolate. The ultimate BeautyMama.

To launch the series, I asked Esther to talk about dry skin. So many of my friends are asking me how to amp up their winter skincare. I keep hearing how even the heaviest of creams are doing little to keep skin hydrated. Turns out, it’s way more effective to moisturize from the inside out. Beyond winter dryness, though, keeping skin supple year-round is an important anti-aging weapon.

Here’s Esther’s dry skin Rx:

Eat: Cod Liver Oil

Drink: Water- and lots of it.

Gorgeous Benefits

Cod liver oil contains Vitamin A & D to support respiratory health and immune function.  A great rule of thumb is to think about having omega-3s during the warmer months when exposure to the sun (and vitamin D) is greater, and cod liver oil during the months you spend more time indoors.  Omega-3s are a panacea for pretty much everything from high blood pressure and cholesterol to fighting inflammation, menstrual cramps and joint aches, to treating depression, autoimmune conditions, and dry, wrinkled skin.  To optimize your intake of these lovely fats, steer clear of trans fats and hydrogenated oils, fried foods, corn, safflower, sunflower, and canola oils—these are deal breakers when it comes to inflammation and hydration.  You may not actually need more hydration, but you may just need an oil change.

Dosage: One teaspoon per 50 pounds of body weight, taken with food.

Eat: Evening Primrose Oil capsules

Drink: Water- and lots of it

Gorgeous Benefits

Primrose oil seeds are a rich source of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid).  This miracle oil restores regular menstrual cycles, fights menstrual cramps and inflammation, tackles tough eczema and acne, controls excess sebum production, and hydrates you from the inside out.  So I’m a big fan, natch.

Dosage: One 240mg capsule per day for dry skin; 2 capsules per day for eczema and irregular periods.

Eat: Coconut Oil

Drink: Coconut Water- it’s the perfect post-workout sports drink

Gorgeous Benefits

Coconut is without a doubt the healthiest saturated fat on the planet.  It stands up well to high cooking temps, tastes incredibly delicious (I actually eat it straight to kill cravings), and is rich in medium chain triglycerides, which are rapidly burned off for energy and help the body burn fat.  Coconut oil is also a great source of lauric acid, which is a natural anti-viral fatty acid.  This means a better functioning immune system for you!  Not only can you cook with coconut oil, but you can keep an extra jar in the bathroom and slather it on your skin after a shower for a cheap but totally effective moisturizer and lip balm.

Check out more from Esther on her Living Gorgeous website, EstherBlum.com

Philosophy and Natasha Bedingfield have joined forces to benefit Hope and Grace, the beauty company’s nonprofit that benefits mental health organizations across the United States.

It’s so nice to see one of the world’s greatest beauty brands extending their reach to raise money and awareness for such an important cause. The company actually donates 1% of their sales to their charity. And how amazing and beautiful is Natasha Bendingfield? I saw her perform this song on television this week and was mesmerized.

20% of proceeds from the song on iTunes will go to Hope and Grace.

This week, Dove launched a new ad campaign celebrating more “real beauty,” aimed at women and young girls with curly hair. The brand claims that only 4 out 10 curly haired girls actually like their hair. The other 6? Frustrated—with fractured self-esteem.

The campaign is already getting some slack. Some critics say it’s dramatic; that Dove conveniently conducted their own research to support their new hair care line. I say, ok, maybe that’s all true to an extent. But I believe Dove is striking a very real chord.

A few years ago, my daughter’s really curly-haired friend showed up with a blow-out. She was not yet 4. Her mother told me she hated her curly hair and begged her to straighten it. There was something so unsettling and sad about the whole thing. The thought of that little girl feeling bad about her hair killed me. Clearly she’s not the only one so I really support this campaign. I love how it demonstrates the powerful influence of mothers. It’s a reminder that, to a certain extent, self-esteem can be learned by example.

I also think Dove proves that what we undo is just as significant as anything else we do in our beauty routines.

What do you think?