I have 3 daughters, ages 10, 11 and 19.
Three daughters+one mom=a lot of beauty products and paraphernalia.
And how do you teach your daughters about the appropriate amount of grooming and primping and beautifying, all the while still teaching them about true beauty, which can’t come from a jar or a tool? It’s not that easy but my younger girls are at the age where they want to talk about it. They want to use a little makeup and are starting to be very interested in shaving. They polish their nails often and dream of using creams and lotions and powders. Oh, I remember the longing to be grown up. And while I still encourage all their little girl qualities, I don’t want to dismiss their interest in the womanly arts. 
This weekend while we all three were home and floating in the lake, we talked a lot about beauty and especially as it relates to summer. I asked the girls each to give their favorite summer beauty tip/product and then we made a fun little video where we interviewed each other about our top beauty secrets. It was so much fun to hear their thoughts on the subject!
Here are the highlights from the video:†(p.s. In the video I say the Venus Embrace is new but I meant itís new in our house! Itís been around awhile 😉
Do’s
1. Smile and be gracious!
True beauty comes from the heart. Attitude is everything. You can be a stunning runway model with a crabby face and matching attitude and your beauty will be scarred. But you can seek to put others first and be a good listener and smile and your beauty factor is magnified times one hundred. We all agreed that smiling is the one beauty tip you can’t do without! And it’s free so be generous with it.
2. Simple Summer Hair
Wear simple braids and messy buns or better yet—-wear a hat! Simplify the hair routine. Who has time for all that rigmarole when there’s swimming to do, s’mores to roast and fireflies to catch. I love my straw hat in the summer and it just adds the perfect amount of ease, style and sass. My girls watch videos of how to do cute braids and easy styles and it makes summer hair fun. Find a cute hat or updo and don’t be afraid to wear it!
3. Nail Detail
Everything’s a little more bare in the summer so attention to the smaller details goes a long way. Invest in a few good supplies and learn to do your own manicures and pedicures for each other. I love nothing more than going to the nail salon for a pedicure but I usually only make it once or twice in the summer. Otherwise, we keep supplies on hand with our favorite polishes and try to keep the nails groomed. Again, instead of watching the Disney channel, my girls watch videos on how to properly groom your nails and then they teach me their tricks!
4. Skin with a Summer Glow
This is where the talks get thick at our house. We have tweens that want to shave and although we’ve convinced them (I think!) to wait another year, we still talk about it a lot. Don’t you remember the agony of wanting to shave so bad and your mother trying to convince you to wait? It seemed so brutal and unfair! I want to be a good listener and I don’t want to be dogmatic about it. It’s just hair—I’m not gonna die on that hill! Our favorite skin secret is shimmer lotion! We just add a bronze colored body glitter to our favorite lotion and voila! Beautiful, glowing, shimmery skin! †
Don’ts
1. Don’t forget your sunscreen but let yourself get a little sun-kissed first!
2. Don’t wear heavy makeup. Let your summer glow show through! I don’t wear foundation in the summer and yes, my freckles and age spots show through but they’re part of who I am! I love the lighter look of summer makeup.
3. Don’t wear shorts if you’re over 40. Okay, I’m just kidding. Sort of. I have found that I just don’t do shorts all that well. I prefer sundresses and skirts. It hides a lot of imperfections and it tends to make me feel less self-conscious. By all means, if they still make you feel pretty, wear them!
4. And by all means, don’t forget to try the Venus Embrace razor. I’ve always been a Venus girl but this one has the Ribbon of Moisture for a smooth glide and the comfort grip which is perfect for my daughters who are starting to shave. To boost the ‘smooth silky leg’ factor up twenty more notches, try their Satin Care Passionista Fruit Shaving Gel, with its sparkling fruity scent. You’ll be humming island tunes by the time you’re finished! Venus also has a bunch of great tips for first-time shavers. Go check ’em out!
Now, tell us your secrets for the chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
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d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/26 – 8/23.
Be sure to visit the Venus brand feature page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggersí reviews and find more chances to win!
Have you checked out the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com? There are some great tips and expert posts on everything from Looking Your Best to Getting Happy and Getting Organized!
This is awesome!!! You are an amazing mother – I stumbled on your blog only recently – wow! Thank you and keep posting! 🙂
Rebecca
Good tips! Thanks! I always struggle in the summer, I swear that makeup slides right off and the sunscreen breaks out my face. Glad to know I am not the only one who goes sans foundation in the summer!
Love this post. You are so great with your girls. I am a huge fan of lots of water and Clarisonic. My family loves them and we are all addicted. Happy summer!
Sunless tanning lotion. I work in an office, so without it I would never have a tan! Also, citronella bracelets when outside, because nothing is worse than mosquito bites all over!
I agree with all of your tips, but for me the most important is a lip balm with sunscreen! I have to have it!!!
I’m not really all into the whole “beauty routine”, so don’t have many tips. But one thing that makes me feel more beautiful is just taking the time to slow down, relax, and ENJOY the time! Easier said than done, but the opportunity for less stress I think gives me a glow that is not naturally there when my lips are pursed and my forehead is wrinkled!
Love the video to see all the personalities of your girls. Beautiful.
I always, always wear moisturizer with sunscreen. I apply it before my foundation and even when I don’t wear foundation. Trying to keep the sunspots at bay on this face!
Keep a wide-toothed comb in every summer purse/bag. Perfect for detangling after the pool or rides in the convertible.
Living in Maui, I, literally, am living with summer style daily.
My beauty tip would be something I learned within the first year on island, nearly 15 years ago.
I was newly pregnant and receiving more “helpful advice” than I really wanted, but one blessed and wise woman gave me the only advice I still subscribe to and pass on…It is the rule of ONE.
Drink ONE gallon of water a day (sometimes hard, just be conscious of your H20 intake) and walk ONE mile daily…the advice also included (relevant to pregnancy) to just eat for ONE – the momma. Listening to your body is the best advice ever!!
I love that advice!!!! Wise woman, wise you. Thanks.
What a cute video! I am going to share it with my 10 year old daughter also named Ellie.
I’ve always told her you have to be beautiful on the inside to be truly be beautiful on the outside.
You and your girls are precious and I love reading your blog.
You actually inspired me to start homeschooling again!!
that was so fun, edie.
your girls are precious…..by God’s grace, you are a wonderful mama, and your girls seem like wonderful, beautiful people.
Two tips:
1. daily moisturizer w/ sunscreen EVERYDAY
2. After I was done nursing I had left over nipple cream–I know, I know. I said nipple. BUT it’s made for prevention of drying and cracking. It’s my new lip gloss/chapstick. It’s really great.
that was so cute – i love the compliation of photos and the video and the song!!
so fun!
My biggest tips are – Jergens Natural Glow alternating with coconut oil (yes the kind you cook with!) every other day. Also, don’t use heat on your hair in the summer – just let it dry naturally and style it like that. It’s a lot less stress on your hair with the sun and salt and chlorine and wind already assaulting it!
Be careful wearing gloves too much while gardening or you get the wrist equivalent of a farmer’s tan 😉
Love this post by the way.
Edie, I love your blog so, so much! I live in San Diego with my husband and 4 children (boys 11,9, 6, and one daughter, 2). I have been in a shorts-wearing routine for many years because they are easy for playing, cleaning, etc. But this summer has been different. I have been wearing dresses at every opportunity, and I feel a change in my attitude! Also, someone once told me to smile more…and I have taken it to heart. Thanks for your inspiration in so many areas!!
Coconut oil! Coconut oil is so good for you! I use the organic coconut oil that comes in a jar as a moisturizer for my skin and as a lip gloss. So natural and healthy! I love it! ( I love to cook with it too 🙂 )
I agree with your girls (as do my 4 daughters!) about the nails. There are so many fun colors and we go hog wild with them at our house. I also like a lighter moisturizer in the summer when I need one and my favorite happens to be plain ol’ coconut oil. ☺
Love the video. 🙂 Can you do this for Winter tips, too?!
My beauty tip is Blistex lip tone chap stick. It has sunscreen in it and gives your lips a natural pink tone. I love the stuff!
I have to agree with those who said to use coconut oil. It’s great! However, my tip would be to not forget your elbows!! Dry, scaly elbows can do you in when it comes to your outside beauty. But, it’s so easy to avoid those ugly elbows. Just a quick swipe every morning with whatever moisturizer you’re using somewhere else!
My mother always told me to use plenty of sunscreen. She has great skin so I know this is so important!
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/228626354902552576
I have a question…
My oldest daughter is almost 12 – when is a good time to introduce shaving. (She’s going to kill me for actually typing this!) She has to hit her underarms every couple of days but when do I suggest or permit legs? Really, I am this clueless! Can anyone help a mama out?
My only tip would be to use sunscreen whenever you’re outside and to use moisturizers!
Your suggestions are good and sound, and I agree with the saying, “don’t die on that hill”.
But If a young lady of ten or eleven feels the need to shave their legs or has underarm hair, I think they should be able to shave. Body hair on the lower legs and under the arms is an embarrassment to most girls. For some girls it would be a “need” versus a “want to”; it depends on their biological time table..
You have an amazing, beautiful family. I love to read your blog and find myself lovingly envious of your life. 🙂
I remember always telling my daughter to use skin moisturizer and keep away from the sun. I know it paid off because she has a nice skin.
my favorite summer tip
is using sunless tanner
to bump up that summer glow
on my fair Irish skin!
alison
Thanks for sharing your lovely daughters and their beauty tips.
You mentioned in a previous post that this was the summer of Pearl Jam. I see they are still on your summer soundtrack.
I love to use a light self tanner, and love the Venus razors for a close shave.
Summer Beauty tip: I use apple cider vinegar (Braggs brand) as a facial toner. I also drink 1 T of acv in a 6 0z. glass of water.
My best tip is to get plenty of sleep. It so helps with the good attitude needed to smile, laugh and have fun. I also love a spray bottle filled with watered down conditioner to tame the frizzies.
I like to keep a little bit of witch hazel in a travel bottle and keep it in the cooler. Toss a little on a napkin or tissue during a summer outing to wipe off all that excess sweat and SPF that’s not really doing it’s job anymore. When your done,reapply your sunscreen!!!
You all are precious! Thanks for the tips.
Drink lots of water!
wash your face twice a day and exfoliate once a week
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/228849951910797312
One word: Vaseline! This stuff is amazing for lips, heals, elbows, dry hands…I never leave home without it. Would love the $50 gift card to put towards our upcoming international adoption!
Water, water and more water! The more hydrated you are the better your skin looks… especially if you are over 40. 🙂 I love your blog! I love hearing your take on all kinds of things like gardening, decorating, God and more. Thank you for sharing…
Beauty mishap…one word: Epilady. Enough said.
I’m 55 and I have just one tip – moisturize! Apply moisturizer to your face every day, twice a day It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, just do it. Moisturizer with sun screen is best, of course. Be sure to lotion up those arms, legs and feet everyday, too. Start now, and you’ll be glad you did when you are 55!
the best tip i give is to be your self 🙂 and wear SPF!
tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/228913485642362880 🙂
Y’all are so much fun!
Tips…..my tip for summer care is Aveno……facial sunscreen (can’t beat it…I wear it year around under my makeup since I had to have a mole removed ……..) Aveno shampoo and conditioner. We have a pool and spend so much time outside, int he pool and at the beach (when we can go)…..nothing keeps our hair in tip top summer shape than Aveno…..love it.
andrea
AndeM1@hotmail.com
I just love you and your girls! Great video and great post!
ALWAYS apply sunscreen on your face everyday
tweeted
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/229021608679981056
I use and reapply sunscreen OFTEN to protect my skin!
family74014 at gmail dot com
My tip is to wear sunscreen every day
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/229060248411983872
My mom alway reminded me how important it was at night to wash-away-the-day off my face.. (makeup, dirt, oils etc)
helped keep my skin looking clear
lzamudio02 @ hotmail .com
https://twitter.com/lindatrink/status/229064744374530048
@lindatrink
lzamudio02 @ hotmail .com
2 things…Apple Cider Vinegar and coconut oil… These 2 kitchen items have simplified the clutter in our 1 full bathroom. And with 4 girls coming up through the ranks, this was essential.
I drink the acv in a V8 cocktail at lunch and use it as a topical for anything that ails ya (from blemishes to athlete’s foot). And where once the kids made schputt about the phrase “go put some apple cider vinegar on it,” the tune has changed drastically after the acv relieved some painful sunburn.
The coconut oil makes for some of the smoothest legs in my personal shaving history and has relieved my pesky, leathery knee and elbow patches.
Love Venus razors. And get the real deal, the Target “equivalent” stinks.
The best summer beauty tip I’ve given is to wash your face every night before bed especially if you have makeup on.
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/229256299492294656
Wow! What a great post! A definite share for my 10 year old, no-so-little girl. 🙂 Thanks for the tips! Happy summer to you too!
my best beauty tip is to always wear sunscreen! the sun damage you get as kid will affect you as an adult!
funniest beauty mishap: my first perm at 8 years old when my friends thought i was wearing a wig and tried to pull my hair off!
thismomwins@gmail.com
my biggest secret mishap was when i tried blue eyeliner, yuck!
https://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/229320573979865088
I am gonna let my soon to be 11 year old watch this! We have been “shearing” her legs for awhile now cause my girl was blessed with some crazy hair on her legs. They actually look dirty at times cause of it. I am afraid to let her use a razor yet, but we do keep them trimmed with an electric one.
I agree with the lots of water comments. We also love some clear glossy lips at our house.
Nails are the hot item in our house. I think I have bought more bottles of remover than I had in my entire life before! One wanted to shave last year so I got her those great Venus products and told her how. This year she wanted make up but had to wait until mid- summer. She has been practicing. I took her to Clinique for a “lesson” and to Seporha also. There are limits like no smeared raccoon eyes like most of her friends. Thankfully, she so understands the source of true beauty. They both do. So far the youngest is not yet interested.
I loved this video! You girls are so beautiful, inside and out. I have a ten year-old that wants to shave and we have long talks about it all the time. I told her anytime she’s ready is ok with me, because at the end of the day, it’s only hair.
My best summer beauty tip: Wash your face a lot. Clean, clear skin is always beautiful, even without makeup. (I don’t like to wear too much makeup in the heat.)
~FringeGirl
My daughter kept asking if she could start shaving her legs; my advice to her was to let the thighs go and just shave from the knees down..since both of us are fair-skinned, you can’t even tell we don’t shave above the knees. We also moisturize after shaving as soon as we get out of the shower..no drying beforehand.
https://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/229646118764572672
My funniest beauty mishap happened years ago. I was getting ready for work….during a storm. Power went out. No lights in the bathroom as I was finishing getting ready for work and putting on my makeup. I thought…I have done this so many times…I could do it in my sleep! Haha..wrong. My blush and powder foundation where in a container that looked almost the same. I ended up putting my blush on all over instead of the powder! Haha…..I laughed so hard when I got in the car and looked in the rearview mirror!
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/Ilovemybeagle2/status/229743876502601728
My tip is to always carry a hair band or two because you might need to tie your hair up if you become to hot at different points in the summer.
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydinpa/status/229774347835961344
do not have a daughter
What a great video! I love how you incorporated so many beauty ideas for the younger girls. They are so naturally beautiful at that age they don’t need much to enhance but I remember being so into girly stuff like that when I was young – we want to encourage it a little bit! My 13 year old daughter and I both have pretty thick hair. Hers is actually much thicker than mine. A “beauty tip” I guess that we would share is to find a great leave-in conditioner that you like and be good to your hair in the summer. We like one by Garnier that was only about $3 but there are a lot of good ones that are more expensive as well. We put this in after swimming and after showering and it makes a big difference! A good shine spray for your hair is another tip we like.
I stress the importance of sunscreen.
https://twitter.com/jen_r_horn/status/230349478840922114
tweeted here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/230488510442901504
i always told my daughter to take pride in her appearance
My best beauty tip – always remember to wear sunscreen. It’s just a simply step daily but goes a long way to keep your skin healthy.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/230882120988516353
1.) Use witch hazel for razor burn, bug bites, and breakouts – it’s a refreshing, natural, and gentle clarifying liquid.
2.) Drink “spa” water to keep hydrated and keep skin fresh: H2O with any of the following: cucumber, mint, watermellon, orange slices, cantaloupe…
3.) Use a pumice stone to soften the feet. For some reason I always have to do this more in the summer. 🙂
My favorite beauty tool……worry less. Less worry shows on my face (in the form of dreaded wrinkles), plus helps me to enjoy today, live in the moment and focus only on what’s truly important.
A little Venus never did hurt anybody though….love them too! 😉
Unfortunately I’m not great at pulling off a hat, but I LOVE me some messy updos! My summer beauty tip is never leave the house without being moisturized, sunscreen in hand, and an extra stash of waterproof mascara.
my advice is let your hair do its own thing during the summer – don’t try so hard. keep nails neat and short, it is no fun to get sand stuck in those spots between the skin and nail. chapstick all the time, because sun is so drying!
My favorite beauty tips? I love Venus razors! I also use baby lotion instead of shaving cream and it makes my legs so stinking smooth! Summer should be pretty low key in the beauty department. Fresh nails, neutral make up, lots of moisturizer and I’m good to go!
If my toes look good, I am all kinds of happy…and even happier if someone else did them.
As the mom of 4 boys, sister to 1 boy, cousin to 1 boy & niece to 1 uncle, I sooo longingly watched this video!! That’s right, I have no sisters, no girl cousins, & no aunts! This momma is already looking forward to some granddaughter to do all is fun stuff with! Of course I am looking way way way into the future forward 🙂 I especially loved at the end when your oldest daughter said what she liked best about her younger sisters. The looks on their faces said it all while she spoke, beautiful!! Beautiful you with your beautiful girls!
Coat your nails every other day to keep them from chipping
https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/232599704658120704
wear sunscreen all the time
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/232608048626139136
Use sunscreen religiously and for my fair skin I use Lancome sunless tanning body gel.
always wear spf & moisturize!
tweeted – https://twitter.com/luvx143/status/232633914383020034
I like tinted moisturizer by CG with an SPF of 15….leaves me looking naturally pretty without a makeup appearance yet I get a little coverage for uneven tones. LOVE!
Don’t wear shorts at age 40???That speared me in heart…really???
Love your blog and your reading list and your idea of messy buns!!
sandy toe
This summer I decided to go totally face makeup free (foundation, cover up, etc.) and my acne and skin problems completely dissappeared!!!
I think eating well and wearing sunblock and lotion helps my skin. Thanks for the tips and giveaway.
songyueyu at gmail
tweet: https://twitter.com/syytta/status/234809712602935296
songyueyu at gmail
I don’t yet have a daughter to pass on my wisdom, but I believe that spf protection on our face is essential
sometimes less make up is more
seanm1999 at hotmail dot com
When we were younger my sister stole my liptsick and smeared it all over her face, and she thought she looked pretty. It was too funny.
My only tips to my daughters are to wear what makes them feel good.
Always use moisturizer.
My tip is sunscreen! 90% of aging signs come from sun damage and most of that happens before the age of 18! If only our kids could see the damage they are doing when tanning seems so harmless! Love your other tips too!
Wear a hat as well as the sunscreen & sunglasses when you’re out & about drinking the water you always have by your side.
Thanks for the contest.
blogged:
http://slehan.blogspot.com/2012/08/win-50-visa-from-venus-and-blogher-0823.html
Test new products in an inconspicuous area before using them on the whole body. I used a new soap and broke out in a head-to-toe rash.
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/238257897031733248
Note to self: temporary hair color and swimming pools do not mix!!! I had dyed my hair bright red for fun and after a day at the pool it was watermelon pink! LOL
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/238386178817138689
My worst beauty mishap was using the wrong haircolor shade and dyeing my hair blonde!
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
https://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/238694136037928960
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
my fave beauty tip . Wrapping hair around the barrel creates waves
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/238764041517035520
To always apply body lotion after a shower
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/238806018421825536
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
my best beauty tip was apply moisturizer directly after a shower even before you dry off for silky smooth soft skin! Thanks for a super giveaway!
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/anashct3/status/238809629851803648
Thanks for the chance to win!
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Love your first tip…Smile. 🙂