Belli Daily Blog

"C" You Later, Scars!

2009-11-15T15:23:57Z

Nowadays, it is more common than ever for women to give birth via a Cesarean section. Whether attributed to a women’s individual health or because many women are giving birth later in life, this delivery method is steadily growing in popularity. According to recent studies conducted at Harvard Medical School, “one in three babies is born via C-section, which is a 50% increase over the past decade.”

For moms who have undergone a C-section, they now have an additional surgery recovery time to worry about. and then added on top of that is an obvious scar. Belli’s Surgical Scar Reducer is a perfect (dermatologist-recommended) solution to C-section scars and other surgical incisions.

Another little hint about this product is that it is good for any kind of scars - including scarring from pregnancy acne.

Fresh Out of Gift Ideas for a New Mom?

2009-11-14T22:33:06Z

And now a word from our sponsor: Just wanted to put something out there if you're looking for a gift for a new mom. Trust me when I say that her hospital room is already overflowing with balloons, flowers, and teddy bears, and shouldn't your gift be original? Get the Belli Bundle of Joy gift set -- we promise she'll love it! Includes 4 safe, pampering phthalate-free products: Calm Me Hair & Body Wash 4 oz, Nourish Me Enriched Lotion 4 oz, Pamper Me talc-Free Powder 2 oz and Protect me Diaper Rash Cream .5 oz.

Recession Friendly Tips for Your Skin!

2009-11-08T13:26:02Z

I have been compiling a list of recession friendly skincare tips. My list includes convenient and multifunctional products that deliver results, save time and my wallet. For example, one helpful tip I've picked up this year: you can use olive oil for a heart healthy dinner BUT you can also rub and leave it on your hair's split ends. If anyone has any tips that have been saving them $ in this economy, please share by posting your tip on this blog!

During the winter months, finding a multi-purpose moisturizing product is important for the different needs of your skin. This is especially important when you're a new mother that is breastfeeding. The breasts can become especially tender and dry through the cold weather. Originally created to treat dry, cracked and sore nipples caused from breast feeding, Pure Comfort Nursing Cream surprisingly serves multiple purposes from healing chapped lips to moisturizing dry hands and feet. Very recession friendly, the Pure Comfort Nursing Cream is available for $12.00. And, of course, in addition to being the most safe pregnancy skincare on the market, Belli only offers the safest solutions for new moms and their babies.

Smooth Travels

2009-10-31T23:58:37Z

Thanksgiving - the most traveled day of the year - is right around the corner. While travel has always been a somewhat stressful experience, in recent years increased airport security, rising costs of airline tickets, delayed flights and gridlock traffic and other factors have made travel even more tiresome. On top of this stress, dry air in the airplane cabin and abrupt climate changes can cause dehydrated skin for you and your baby. After a long flight, skin can become dry, itchy and irritated.

Lately, at Belli we've been traveling a whole lot so here are some tips from the team here to keep skin hydrated (and baby's too!):

1. Drink a lot of water. Usually I buy a bottle before I get on the flight because those little cups don't do the trick (and as much as you're feeling stress, don't shell out for a bloody mary! Alcohol, tomato juice, etc. - they're all very dehydrating). Make sure your baby is drinking a lot of fluid too
2. On that note, try to avoid the salty airplane snacks
3. MOISTURIZE!!! before leaving and after arriving at your destination

For moms and moms to be, try Belli's All Day Moisture Body Lotion from our safe pregnancy skincare collection and for your baby try safe, moisturizing phthalate free products such as Nourish Me Enriched Body Lotion.

Pregnancy Winter Feet Woes - What Helps

2009-10-25T13:23:46Z

Unfortunately, reality has hit and I have done the mandatory wardrobe switch. Shorts, tank-tops and bathing suits into boxes and out come the sweaters, scarves and lined wool pants. Winter is here, ladies. I think that we're all a lot more conscious of the appearance and state of our tootsies during the summer since we're all in sandals. But good foot care is arguably more important during these winter months.

Harsh, cold winter air can be really brutal on feet, causing excessive dry and cracked skin. For pregnant women, the excess weight carried during the final trimesters of pregnancy can make matters much worse with swollen ankles and sore calves. What's the trick? A good foot cream. What's even better than using a foot cream? Asking your significant other to apply it to your "barking dogs", while giving you a relaxing massage. Ahhhhh bliss.

During these harsh winter months, look for a foot cream that is comprised of only safe ingredients during pregnancy:
1. Helps reduce the skin’s pain, burning and inflammation
2. Decreases presence of rashes, spots and fungal infections
3. Facilitates in moisturizing and soothing dry, irritated skin

You know you can trust Belli's Foot Relief Cream, from Belli's safe Pregnancy skincare line. It is an aroma-therapeutic, anti-bacterial, moisturizing massage treatment that comforts swollen, tired feet and relieves calf cramps. Perfect hint... I mean stocking stuffer this holiday season for your significant other too!

Baby's Bum - Keeping It Diaper Rash Free

2009-10-17T17:15:22Z

It's wintertime, so we thought we'd post Belli's Diaper Rash Prevention Tips one more time for good measure.

Belli’s Tips for Diaper Rash Remedies and Prevention
• Check your baby's diaper every hour and change it often (as soon as it's wet or soiled).
• Clean your baby's bottom at each diaper change. Use plain warm water with or without a very mild soap.
• Allow your baby's skin to dry before putting on a clean diaper.
• Apply Talc-Free Powder and Diaper Rash Ointment or Cream liberally as often as necessary with each diaper change to protect your baby's skin from moisture.

Belli Baby’s Pamper Me Talc-Free Powder and Protect Me Diaper Rash Cream diaper rash remedies -- they consist of the gentlest ingredients to protect your baby's bum from those icky, harsh rashes.

Keeping Baby's Skin Moisturized Safely

2009-10-12T14:43:15Z

I learned a very interesting factoid about babies' skin that I thought I'd share to really bring the importance of today's blog entry home: clinical research shows that an infant's skin loses moisture at a much faster rate than an adult's skin. This means that your baby's skin can get very dry during these winter months. In addition to the drying chilly days, your baby's skin is exposed to many other elements such as the contents of their diaper (icky), which makes it more prone to irritation and rashes.

*pic courtesy of Tom Arma costumes for kids. Check his wonderful assortment of costumes here.

It's really important to look for moisturizers that are phthalate free products. This is because phthalates cause hormonal activities. What does this mean? Studies on rodents showed exposure to phthalates is associated with genital abnormalities. AND this is related to baby personal care products: research on phthalates conducted by Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH published in 2008, asserted that many products containing phthalates are a proven source of exposure for infants. The researchers "observed that reported use of infant lotion, infant powder, and infant shampoo were associated with increased infant urine concentrations of [phthalate metabolites], and this association is strongest in younger infants.”

Therefore, as mommies we have to be really careful about what what products we're using on our baby's skin; making sure they're the safest products available.

Belli Baby’s offerings are of course all xenoestrogen- and phthalate free products.

2 products that will keep your baby's skin moisturized and protected SAFELY:

Nourish Me Enriched Body Lotion offers pure and gentle hydration for baby's delicate skin. Features the essential oil of chamomile to soften, refresh and soothe. Belli Baby Enriched Body Lotion also works well as a pampering massage cream for your baby.

Calm Me Hair and Body Wash is a blend of ingredients that cleanse and moisturize baby's hair and skin. Features the essential oil of marigold and chamomile, which softens and refreshes. This product is a phthalate free baby shampoo; pH-balanced and for baby’s skin and tear free.

Surviving the Upcoming Holiday Season

2009-09-27T12:49:06Z

Just a note to say: don't forget to carve (pun intended) out some "Me Time" during the upcoming holidays. Although this time of year is supposed to be fun for most, it’s usually moms that are dealing with stress from all the extra work preparing for the holiday season. Let's face it, there is a lot of energy spent in spreading holiday cheer. From holiday travel to cooking the meals, decorating the house, choosing the right gifts for everyone and getting them all wrapped, you can get overwhelmed and stressed out quickly. As women, we tend to take care of everyone first, then ourselves last. The problem with this is that usually after we’re finished taking care of everyone else, we have no energy left to give back to ourselves.

Here is our suggested Holiday Survival Kit for this season to give yourself that much needed Me Time:

Eye Brightening Cream - During the holidays, shopping marathons, family gatherings and late night entertaining can leave moms looking overwhelmed and exhausted. Even just one night of insufficient sleep causes puffy dark puffy circles under, around eyes making moms look more tired and stressed. Belli’s Eye Brightening Cream hydrates skin around the eyes to minimize the appearance of fine lines and cures dark circles, leaving the eyes looking bright and well rested.

Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer - From family gatherings, holiday office parties and crowded malls, moms are constantly on-the-go; and constantly surrounded by germs. Belli’s Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer helps to keep the whole family healthy as it features powerful antibacterial ingredients that kill 99.9% of germs on contact.

Foot Relief Cream - During this busy time of year, from shopping to slaving in the kitchen, moms are constantly on their feet leaving them tired, achy and swollen. This holiday, revive and pamper your feet with Belli’s Foot Relief Cream which includes ingredients such as peppermint, tree oil and shea butter.

All Day Body Moisture Lotion - Moms are so busy during this time that they forget their skin is under assault from the harsh and cold weather. Belli’s All Day Moisture Body Lotion helps to protect mom’s skin from the cold as it deeply moisturizes and soothes dry skin. Ingredients such as the essential oil of lemon and chamomile hydrate the skin and helps keep moms comfortable all day long.

Acne Cleansing Facial Wash & Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator - At the end of a busy and stressful day, there is nothing better than stepping into a relaxing shower to relieve built up tension. Belli’s Acne Clearing Facial Wash and Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator work together to wash the holiday stress away. The Acne Clearing Facial Wash is a powerful acne treatment during pregnancy that leaves the skin refined without over-drying. It contains lactic acid to lift away dirt and oil from the facial pores. The Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator is an invigorating body scrub that contains anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients to calm stressed skin.

Uh oh! Back-to-School Bacteria

2009-09-26T21:01:30Z

There's still SO MUCH BUZZ about swine flu! I personally think it's kind of overblown but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't play it safe as moms. I just read a WebMD article by Daniel J. DeNoon that says the #1 way you can contract it, is when someone coughs in your face (hopefully people aren't coughing in your face much). The #2 way is "touching something contaminated with flu virus and then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes with your unwashed hand", which gives you a "31% chance at getting sick."

Now that school is back in full swing, so is the likelihood of kids spreading sniffle and cough causing germs amongst their classmates. A hand sanitizer is more effective than soap in reducing the germs on your hands. There are a lot of choices out there in sanitizer products, so here are Belli's tips for getting the most out of your hand sanitization:

1. Most hand sanitizers use ethyl alcohol as the active ingredient, which is very drying and also tends to leave behind a sticky residue with a potent medical odor. So look for a sanitizer that has a fresh scent (who wants to smell like a hospital?)

2. Look for products that use benzalkonium chloride

3. Should not require water

4. Should not stain your clothing

5. If you're pregnant or a mom, it should be a teratology screened product

(Here's our plug:) Belli’s Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer helps eliminate 99.9 percent of germs on contact. It features the powerful antibacterial ingredient, benzalkonium chloride and leaves hands feeling soft, smooth and comfortable with a delicious, light citrus scent. Also, at 2.0 oz, it’s the perfect travel size to throw into your purse, gym or diaper bag!

Most of all - be careful this flu season!

Halloween is Coming!

2009-09-20T00:24:43Z

I was laughing tonight because I was brainstorming with my 11-year-old stepdaughter on what she was going to be for Halloween this year. Well, I happened to wonder if there are some clever costume ideas out there for pregnant women and I came upon this article in Parents Magazine that features clever ideas to dress up your bump.

There are a lot of humorous ones but here's one that made me "LOL":

I have to give this participant a lot of credit. The idea is great and she has the physique to really pull it off! Kudos. If anyone has costume ideas, let us know by posting comments below!

Also, we should mention that the say no to stretchmarks skincare set is a great way to get your bump ready before dressing it up. Elasticity Belly Oil is a great way to prevent pregnancy stretchmarks but also gets your skin feeling nice and smooth.