Give The Gift Of Smiles: Homemade Lip Balm + Lip Sugar Scrub Tutorials

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiftOfPhilips #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: Give smiles.

I still remember my mother's 45th birthday. She had asked for an electric toothbrush, a Philips Sonicare to be exact. And, no matter how my father and I urged her to pick something less 'practical,' she insisted that a shiny new toothbrush, with a few replacement heads, was all she really wanted more than anything. Fast forward a decade later and the mentality has very much changed. Smiles are vogue. They're Pin-worthy, on -trend, and very 'in.' And those Philips Sonicare toothbrushes? They're on the bathroom counters of all my friends and family. I can't spend a night in their homes without noticing the proudly displayed toothbrush, and hearing a lecture about how it's time to make the switch.

And, honestly, who can blame them? The 'smile' sits atop most noticed lists for job interviews, first impressions, and romantic matches alike. An estimated 1 million selfies are taken a day, worldwide. I'll let you soak that in a little bit. And, unless you're making fish lips, you're showing off those pearly, hopefully, whites. It's easy to see why the stylish Philips Sonicare 2 Series electric toothbrush is one of this year's hot items. Electric toothbrushes like Sonicare's can remove up to 6 times the plaque and buildup of manual ones, and with considerable less effort. The Sonicare 2 Series even comes in stylish limited edition colors such as Coral (seen here,) Steel (Blue), and Green when you shop at Target. These trendy colors are especially perfect for gifting teenagers- and I've got just the one in mind to give this one to!

My niece has been all about the selfies since she became a teenager- She's convinced her mother to shave, her father to allow her to wear (modest) dresses to school, and is constantly preening and primping in every reflective surface in sight. Like a typical teen, the world revolves around her (at least in her head it does.) But she's also beginning to wise up about hoe much effort it takes to maintain that 'flawless' look, and that beautiful teeth are not just a matter of fashion and self esteem, but a matter of health too. The Coral Philips Sonicare Series 2 electric toothbrush will be perfect for her. And, because I want to foster confidence and a year full of smiles in 2016, I'm even going to gift her a few smile enhancing (maybe even educing) extras. Right now the Sonicare 2 Series is on sale for an amazing price of $39.99 at Target, so I have a little extra left over in my budget.

The first thing I new I wanted to add to my 'Gift Of Smiles' was a set of homemade flavored lip balms. The process really couldn't be any simpler, and is something even tweens or teens would enjoy doing for a slumber party or birthday event. All it requires is a petroleum substitute such as a beesewax, cocoa butter, or unrefined coconut oil. While Momma's mom would tout the benefits of petroleum jelly all day, my generation is a bit more green and organic minded- so I suggest a pure cocoa butter or cocoa butter and coconut oil blend. Next, you'll want a few fruit beverage drink packets- the powder kind you typically add sugar too.

Place your base in a mixing container and sprinkle a little of the powdered drink mix in. Using a Popsicle stick or other fine agitator, fully combine the two before adding more. A little bit of most drink mixes will give a pleasant aroma, light flavor, and nice tint. Adding too much powdered drink mix will make the balm gritty and unpleasant. If you would like to make a tinted balm add a little extra red to one mix! If the mixture is too thick to blend place it (in a microwave safe container) in the microwave for 10 seconds on high, until the base of the mixture has just started to melt. Portion the mixture into plastic balm pots (I used 5 gram pots typically intended for mineral eye shadow, you may buy them at most beauty supply stores.)

Next I wanted to make something entirely natural that my niece could use to help treat her lips with on a weekly basis, something that would add a touch of 'spa' treatment to my gift. I first fell in love with the ritual of lip scrubs last year when I purchased one on a whim from a handmade vendor. I immediately fell in love with the dramatic improvement of my lips texture and health. Just one treatment a week left my lips in amazing shape, softer, more even, and free of dry or peeling skin.

You'll need, 1 C pure cane sugar (granulated,) 1 TBS organic vanilla extract, one vanilla bean, and 1 TBS coconut oil (melted/liquid). Prepare your vanilla bean by running a straight edge down the middle (starting at the curved top) and scraping the center 'caviar' out. This center extract is what you will use in your sugar scrab. As a tip, store scraped beans in your pantry vanilla jar for wonderfully fragranced vanilla!

Next, combine all ingredients with a fork, or wide spoon, gently scraping the mixture together (rather than smashing.) Do not overwork the mixture, it should be light, fluffy, and slightly damp. The vanilla bean should be seen throughout.

Home made sugar lip scrub will keep in an air tight jar for months- If you open your scrub and notice it as begun to dry out simply portion a little into a dish or tray, as a drop of water and create a gritty paste to apply to your lips. Use the scrub once, to no more than twice, a week, directly applied to the lips and 'scrubbed' into the lips with one's fingers. Rinse and enjoy exfoliated lips!

To complete my gift of smiles gift I picked up a few affordable extras, no more than a few dollars each. I included a pack of sugar free gum, and some fruity breath mints, as well as some bright colored wash cloths, mouth wash, and floss picks. I even threw in a selfie lens kit so my recipient can show off their beautiful smile in a whole new way! I packaged all these items up in a clear travel cosmetics case with a bow, ready to gift.

I'll be honest, since the Philips Sonicare 2 Series is nearly half off at Target right now, Sabrina is not the only one on my list receiving one for the holiday this year. I can't divulge the other recipient, as they read the blog, but I can tell you I got a beautiful Coral Series 2 for myself. I even scored a great price on some replacement heads, so I am ready to go for 2016!

More than not lately I look at things from a questioning perspective of 'Am I getting old?' This is not one of them. Sure, I might appreciate the value of a great smile a lot more than I did in high school, but my nieces and nephews also seem to have caught on a lot earlier than me. I'm not longer the exception when it comes to the 'electric toothbrush club,' and I know a few people on my holiday shopping list who will be smiling extra bright come Christmas morning! What are some of your best tips and secrets for a confident smile? Do you know anyone on your list who would love a Philips Sonicare 2 Series this holiday season?

What Daughter Says: I may have interpreted Momma's advice different than she originally intended, but the outcome is still the same. Sharing the confidence of a great smile is just as important!

June Jacobs: Pore Purifying Mud Masque + Lip Kit w/ Giveaway

***I received the following products from June Jacobs in exchange for my honest opinions. All photos are copyright Momma Told Me 2013.

Momma Told Me: Your skin is lucky.

Just the other month I was sitting down at an Outback Steakhouse to enjoy an overdue meal with Momma's sister (my Aunt) and my grandfather. The service was lacking, and we found ourselves with ample time to occupy our mouths with conversation. That was when one of the single most surprising remarks, concerning me, was uttered. My gorgeous Aunt, 9 years the Senior of her husband, and measurements to match a Barbie, waved a hand and matter-of-factly asked, "So, what DO you do to keep your skin looking like that?" I was a bit taken off guard, and humbly choked, "What do you mean?" through a string of fried onion. Certainly my diet at this moment wasn't helping my skin any. She pressed forward, determined, "How do you keep your complexion so even?" For a moment I had to laugh, only to quickly cover with a forced cough. In truth, I am awful about my skin. I've been drinking my 8 glasses of water a day, lately, but I haven't always been so kind to my skin. In fact, if I had to admit, I'd divulge I wash (makeup off) my face, maybe, 2 out of 7 days of the week.

Every woman knows there are many factors to beautiful skin, some of them entirely out of our control, others more related to environment and diet. For those with hereditary oily skin, or even the opposite end of the spectrum, dry skin, it can seem like a non-stop battle. June Jacobs, spa inspired skincare helps even out the hills and valleys of bad and clear skin days. These products aren't just high end gimmicks designed for sale in spas; but a thriving brand of Paraben and Preservative Free skincare products that has been around for year. One of the things I especially like about June Jacobs is the commitment to quality through an independently owned manufacturing plant. It's rare you find a beauty brand so involved with the production process! It's no secret I have an addiction to masques, and it will come as no surprise that I jumped at the opportunity to sample one of their most popular products; the Pore Purifying Mud Masque. Just one of 7 Masque offerings by June Jacobs, this mud based compound is more of a milky salve than a thick caking masque.

With mid to premium packaging, the generous 4.2oz pot will last several months with weekly treatments. There is no added fragrance, in fact I'd call it virtually fragrance free when you discount the subtle notes of geranium, lemon peel, and rosemary. While the composition is very fluffy and soft, this compound is specifically formulated to open pores and remove dead cells without scrubbing. Because of this I highly recommend it for skin that is prone to sensitivities. Featuring a patent pending blend of three powerful tea strains, the Pore Purifying Mud Masque doesn't dry out skin in fact it, merely dries to the touch,  rather than cracking over the skin and 'pulling' on one's face. With a few light splashed of warm water the masque dissolved without scrubbing and left my skin feeling clean and rejuvenated. I tend to gravitate towards heavier 'cake like' masques, but was impressed how light this treatment proved to be for rushed nights or busy mornings.

This time around I also had the good fortune of receiving June Jacobs' Lip Kit, consisting of 3 of the brands' most powerful lip care products. Inside this beautifully packaged box, with magnetic seal flap, were 3 half ounce pots of intriguing products. I've been wanting to begin exfoliating my lips for the past year, as the Southern California heat puts them through constant stress; but have ultimately been shy of the concept. Thankfully, this was another case where fragrance was minimal, only the final phase of this treatment had a tangible scent. The Lip Scrub is less of a 'scrub,' in the typical image of tiny beads and sloughing skin; it's glycerin and silica base makes it slightly granular, but ultimately not much rougher than your standard lipstick. The user simply daubs a few spots along their top and bottom lip, then massages the compound into their skin and rinses immediately following. My lips were instantly brighter, likely due in most to increased blood flow, and the detail of my dimples and peaks seemed much more pronounced.

The second phase of the Lip Trio was as equally intriguing as the first, a tea infused Kaolin Masque that is intended to cover the entire lip surface, and sits for 2-3 minutes before being washed off. Much like my Pore Purifying Masque, this was a very soft and light masque, like a lotion, and almost fragrance free. While the formula visible tightened on my lips there was no 'pulling' or stiff sensation. In all honesty, the experience of treating one's lips was an odd one; I can't say it's an indulgence for me, though there was no unpleasantry. I've since repeated this, while using the trio in it's entirely, twice since and grow to enjoy it a little more each time. I find myself fighting the tendency to bite my lips while allowing the masque to settle, however, and am reminded that the June Jacobs line is natural and preservative free; a relief in case of minor ingestion.

The final phase of the Lip Trio Kit is a Peach and Jojoba oil Lip Renewal which very much resembles a smooth Vaseline. A tiny bit of this product goes a very long way as it virtually melts along one's lips. As I mentioned, this is the only of the three products in the kit that has a fragrance, one that is surprisingly powerful. The aroma's a bit hard to pinpoint but relies on a grapefruit base with a medicinal floral undertones. I experienced no stinging, and the compound actually kept my lips more than soft, but moisturized for hours after application. June Jacobs advises that their Lip Renwal can be applied as many times as desires throughout the day. I did, however, notice that several applications throughout the day made my lips almost anticipate the Renewal. That is to say my lips became conditioned to this serum and I could almost sense when they would began thirsting for it again.

Again, the June Jacobs brand has surpasses my expectations- Their preservative and paraben free commitment makes me more confident in my beauty routine choices, and their mid range pricing makes spa quality skincare available to every budget.

What Daughter Says: While luck plays into it, I know smart skin care decisions do too!

One Momma Told Me reader will win June Jacobs June Jacobs Intensive Age Defying Hydrating Cleanser!