This is one of those celebrity-touted products I’ve had on my radar for a while but never tried because I thought my exfoliation game was already pretty strong—between these pads, this cleanser and this mask.

But last month I was waiting in line at Sephora and fell prey to the maze of samples they literally blockade you with at checkout and picked up a mini tube of ExfoliKate. That little sample went a really long way, lasting almost two months, which is just one reason why I love this deliciously smelling scrub. The fine grain is powered by fruit enzymes to remove dead skin cells and clarify skin. It’s a pretty intense exfoliator, as far as exfoliators go—skin feels polished afterward and there is an immediate smoothing, glowy effect that happens. I think that’s what I love most—this isn’t a product that requires you to wait patiently for results. And you need only use it twice a week.

All skin-types seem to love ExfoliKate, from acne-prone to drier complexions. It certainly is working wonders on my combination skin.

So here I am, sitting at my kitchen counter. I do a lot of my thinking here.  And writing. It’s, quite literally, this solid little island in the midst of my home life. I remember sitting here last year, launching this website and thinking Big Thoughts about who I wanted to reach and what I wanted to achieve. I wrote personal pieces here while waiting for a pot to boil, I tested some excellent nail polish here in between meals. I interviewed some inspiring women from my cell phone here. And I stared out the window a lot. Wondering who was reading and who cared. I questioned what I cared about and struggled to define myself as a writer and a mother in a cyberspace that, as a creative person first and business person a distant second, has proven challenging for me to navigate.

Then I had a pivotal conversation with one of my good friends a few weeks ago, best-selling author, nutritionist and holistic life coach, Esther Blum. I was feeling unsure about what I wanted to write about and at a loss for time to devote to BeautyMama. (If anything, for me, 2015 turned out to be the most demanding  year of “motherhood” yet.) Esther so artfully asked me the right questions and brought my mission back into focus: to help mothers tap into their beauty, inside and out.

With that in mind, here are my five beauty resolutions for 2016.  Let me know if you might add them to your list, too.

DO: The one thing that makes you feel great everyday. And I’m being totally superficial here. Wear your best lipstick. Don’t save that expensive face cream. You don’t have to spend meaningful time in front of the mirror to feel like you’ve invested in yourself. I know one mom who wears a bright red lip to early morning school drop-off —with her sweatpants. And she gives off this great energy. It doesn’t have to makeup if that’s not your thing: upgrade your ponytail holder, wear a vibrant scarf. I’ll freely admit that I hide behind sunglasses in the morning. Expensive, designer sunglasses I invested in because I feel great wearing them no matter what’s going on underneath.

INVEST: Time in yourself. Devise a quality beauty routine and stick to it. Every morning and every night. I promise, you’ll see the returns. It takes less than ten minutes. If you need some direction, just reach out. I’m happy to help. If you want to go a step further, book your hair color and cuts, waxes, etc, in advance. I have run into too many women with two-inch roots, walking around in a slump because of it. Prioritize yourself.

EAT: Foods that make you feel and look your best. Here is a great starter guide just for your skin. The most expensive creams and lasers can’t undo a diet that isn’t serving you. Drink more water than you think you should. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Wild salmon, coconut oil, foods rich in vitamin C. And cut the sugar. This is going to be numero uno for me. The other day, after a night of eating too much chocolate, I woke up with what I think is commonly referred to as “carb face” and I saw the light.

THINK: About what you like about yourself. Everyday. One thing. Show some gratitude. I whole heartedly believe in the idea that your thoughts define you. Especially the incessant ones. I’m pretty guilty of this. I start putting on makeup and my mission is is to cover up flaws and create illusions. I wish my hair was easier, my pores smaller. That dialogue needs to change and I know it. It doesn’t even have to be said out loud or written down. Here, I’ll start first: I really like my “beauty” marks. (It took me years to get to this point, by the way.)

GIVE: Compliments. The gift of a good word can change a person’s whole day or outlook. I feel like women eye each other with envy more than admiration. And I’m not just talking about beauty and style. Compliment children when they show kindness and creativity. There are compliments that literally changed my life when I was younger. Being told I was a good writer made me think of myself as a writer. When a beautiful woman told me I was unique looking, it made me look at myself differently, in the best way possible. But I don’t mean to totally digress here, absolutely tell your friends when they look great. Don’t hold back.

Wishing you a 2016 full of all the kinds of beauty.

Michele xo

I love some unexpected sparkle added to an otherwise quiet hairstyle.

A little glitz in the form of a barrette, headband or hair pin is an easy way to elevate your ‘do. Whether you wear your hair up or down, straight or wavy, braided or in a bun, just nestle one of these easy pieces in wherever it feels right.

Some of my favorites are this small, sparkly hair clip, this understated but gilded bobby pin pack from Henri Bendel, this on-trend leaf and floral back headband from Asos, this crystal pony tail holder and this gold one. I also got this faux-fur pompom pony tail holder for my daughter (that I’ll likely borrow). This gorgeous, delicate hair slide could *almost* convince me to wear my hair back, but this tiny, equally spectacular clip better suits my long and loose go-to style. I also love this delicate pearl leaf headband.

Find more fabulous hair accessories at Charming Charlie,  Net-A-Porter and Henri Bendel. Asos, F21 and H&M are also great resources for budget-friendly, trendy pieces.

Smith and Cult Shattered Souls Nail Polish, $18

This festive 5-free polish adds sparkle to any color as a top coat or can shine on its own. Love this.

Kiss Collective 3 Piece Mini Liquid Velvet, $22

This beautiful set has one perfect shade of three classics: red, nude and berry. The gorgeous finish lasts and makes lips look fuller. I also love the packaging.

Amika Mighty Mini Downtown Styler, $29

This is an amazing price for a high quality hair tool. Yes, it straightens and smooths, but you can also use it to create waves with a little practice. (I’ll send you instructions if you need!) I’ve sung praises for this brand’s curling wand before. Buy it online at Sephora up until this Friday for delivery in time for Christmas.

Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia Bath Oil, $29

Another unexpected new scent from from the purveyor of pure bath luxury. Heaven.

L. Erickson Hair Emergency Kit, Black Leopard, $28

This sleek animal print pouch contains assorted necessities, from hair ties to clips and bobby pins. I love a gift that elevates the everyday stuff.

Antica Farmacista Acqua Bubble Bath, $38

When was the last time you bought yourself bubble bath? Exactly. Honey, aloe vera and green tea combine in a light, unisex scent.

Bobbi Brown Bellini Limited Edition Mini Lip and Eye Palette, $32

I’ve already gifted two of these, one to a blond one to my brunette mom. This universal palette flatters all, with the perfect touch of shimmer. It can take you from day to night all year round.

beautyblender Pretty Posse Set, $59

I am obsessed with beautyblender makeup sponges. There is nothing like it for creating a flawless finish. This is a great introductory kit, with some cute bells and whistles.

Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish Trio, $29

This festive but classic set is priced at almost half off. If you’ve never tried Lippmann’s polishes, now is the time to grab this brand, free of all nasties—even the most recent controversial ones I wrote about recently.

Stephanie Johnson “Astrology’ Large Flat Cosmetics Pouch, $44

These super cute makeup bags hold a lot and feel personal. I’m an Aries…you?

Wow. There are so many amazing gift sets this season, I decided to make two lists because I had such a tough time narrowing it down.

Here my luxury beauty picks. (Watch out for my under $50 list next.)

Violet Gray Bedside Table Set, $185

La Mer, Dior, By Terry—this lovely curated set of lip, hand and nail creams are the ultimate evening luxury.

Tom Ford 2 Piece Lip, 2 Piece Nail Box, $174

Timeless shades from one of my favorite luxury lines. The packaging, the products—it just doesn’t get any better than Tom Ford.

Kevyn Aucoin Travel Brush Set, $285

Five double-ended brushes from the makeup master. Easy to store and travel-friendly. I still have Aucoin brushes in my kit from ten years ago. A worthy investment.

illuminage Seeing Beauty Deluxe Set, $99

I love products that work overnight. This super-soft mask and pillowcase set is infused with copper ion technology that delivers the powerful mineral to help the skin renew itself and diminish wrinkle. It’s like beauty sleep insurance— and I hope my husband is reading this because I want this!

LightStim for Wrinkles $249

If I could invest in one high-tech tool, this LED powered, FDA-studied skin tightener would be it.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Killer Cheekbones, $110

The easiest, most beautiful way to subtly contour and highlight. I love love LOVE this compact and swear by the fool-proof brush.

simplehuman 5″ Sensor Makeup Mirror with Travel Case, $130

You’ll never have to worry about bad lighting again with this genius little-but-big-enough mirror that simulates natural light. It’s also cordless and adjustable. Perfect to take on the road or to keep in an office drawer.

DryBar Dirty Martini Kit, $149

This is a perfect wave-making iron, conveniently packaged with DryBar’s signature products that smell amazing. Perfect for any woman who wants but thinks she can’t give herself tousled tresses.

Giorgio Armani Luxe is More Oversized Palette, $140

Ten gorgeous eyeshadows, two blendable cream foundations to perfect and contour.  This is one of the most gorgeous nude palettes I’ve seen. It really works on a range of skin tones. Snag it while you can.

Rodin Luxury Body Oil, $130

The most luxurious blend of essential oils, it’s no wonder this oil is a perennial celeb and beauty editor favorite.