Perhaps it is for the simple reason that we all have mothers, whether they’re our biological or foster mothers, whether they’re still harping on how we are dressed or are finally treating us as adults.
And the reason for such an assortment of opinions regarding mothers is that no two are alike – yes, like snowflakes, DNA, fingerprints and all that sets them apart from the woman next door – and no relationship between a mother and her child is alike either, not even between siblings and their mother.
Take what Amy Tan wrote in The Kitchen God’s Wife: "Whenever I’m with my mother, I feel as though I have to spend the whole time avoiding land mines."
Or what Aristotle, in a flash of humor and benign logic, said: "Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own."
Or Colette’s rather depressing assessment of their role in life: "Life is nothing but a series of crosses for mothers."
And, of course, the feminist take of Liz Smith: "‘Working mother’ is a misnomer. . . It implies that any mother without a definite career is lolling around eating bonbons, reading novels, and watching soap opera. But the word ‘mother’ is already a synonym for some of the hardest, most demanding work ever shouldered by any human... It can be failure or triumph, but it can never be insignificant or unimportant since it is one ‘job’ affecting the outcome of another’s life."
And so, on Mother’s Day, let’s... well, I hate to say "pamper" because it implies she deserves it only on this Sunday of the year. Let’s just shower Mom with the things she loves – apart, of course, from flowers, chocolates, finger painting and crayon drawings, kisses and hugs – and pull out all the stops in making her feel special.
Rustan’s Essenses – a veritable one-stop shop for all things all mothers will enjoy – has a million and one gifts that you can pick from to make her feel not just like she is the greatest mother in the world, but that she is the prettiest and sweetest woman, too.
After all, as an old proverb said: "One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade."
What do you say we pull Mom into the shade and give her the break she deserves?
CELLULITE BE GONE!: The Greek beauty company Apivita knows that all women hate cellulite, and so it created Metamorphosis – a complete range of body care products with essential oils to fight cellulite, loose skin and local fat. The Anti-Cellulite Body System includes a body scrub, which should be used at least once a week all year round for continued rejuvenation; a body serum for daily application to carry the active ingredients deep into the skin; a body cream that consists of ginger and a unique blend of oils to provide a holistic and immediate treatment. The anti-cellulite body cream is the third essential step. It can also be used on its own to treat loose skin in areas such as the thighs, buttocks, belly and breasts.
TO SAY WE LOVE OUR HOME: There is something about the delicious scent of a home that makes mothers – make that women in general – go through great lengths to have. We burn candles, oils and incense, or put fresh flowers in the house to make us and our families feel good. But what scent should we choose? Well, why not four from L’Occitane’s range of candles in a specially made candle box (it can be recycled into a trinket holder later) that’s ready to be given to her right this minute? Choose Violet Fig for an autumn scent that’s fresh, sweet and juicy; Gingerbread, which is prepared with honey and spice (and, strangely, it smells pleasantly like bubble gum to me) for that sweet scent that comes from her kitchen; Pumpkin Chestnuts for that heady (just a tad!) scent of – what else but – pumpkin and chestnuts; and my favorite, the one scent I keep buying from Rustan’s Essenses, Green Tea with Mint, which makes you want to brew your own tea leaves and wear Moroccan slippers.
PERFUME ON THE GO: Island Michael Kors Solid Perfume Pendant will let mom take the island spirit wherever she goes. That’s what Micahel Kors intended, of course. This Long Island-born, jet-setting designer was inspired by the island spirit, by the carefree attitude of islanders. He created an infusion of rich, humid florals with a touch of exotic fruits and sparkling tropical water. Michael Kors describes the Island woman as outgoing, attractive, open, glamorous, alive, sexy and spirited – just like Mom.
FOR THE SENSUAL MOM: Nothing says sensual better than the voluptuous scents of Jasmine Absolute and Mary Rose Absolute, the unique ingredients that are the basis of all Chanel perfumes. Allure Sensuelle this time blends in Bourbon Vanilla to heighten the Oriental note of the perfume, giving it a more rounded, warmer character. Allure Sensuelle is for Mom who finds pleasure in being both sexy and fresh, warm and sunny, and yet mysterious in some ways, too.
FOR MOM’S SOFT, SOFT TOUCH: The Dior Addict 2 Shimmering Perfumed Body Moisturizer is feminine, devilish, playful, shimmery, and most of all, very soft on the skin. Easy to apply, the milky texture is quickly absorbed, leaving Mom feeling soft and smooth. Plus, it is subtly scented with Dior Addict 2. The base is a playful blend of sandalwood notes, while the cedar and ambergris aspects are played down to make it milder. It’s a soft cocoon that she will wrap herself in happily – like a cotton blanket on a summer night…well, except much, much more sophisticated!
FOR THE MOM WHO LIKES TO TOUCH AND KISS: Getting a manicure for Mom is one of those pleasures that are laced with guilt. Who has time to get a manicure and a pedicure when there are so many things to do at the office and at home? Well, if you give her MAC’s Classic Coordinates, she will fly right out of the house and into a beauty salon. The set includes lipsticks and nail polish. There are nine shades to choose from to match lips and nails, including fuchsia pinks, femme-fatale reds, classic corals, passionate plum and near-virgin whites. Lips and nails – unlike bags and shoes – ought to be coordinated, and MAC’s palette lets you do this without looking like an ‘80s mannequin.
TO SAY SHE WILL ALWAYS BE YOUNG: Sometimes, even perfect mothers can be insecure about certain things. Aging, for instance, and so to help her reclaim her youth (ah, if only you were a well-behaved child, she wouldn’t have had as many lines on her face), Origins Light Years Ahead Collection serves up a line with key ingredients that include fermented soybean for its antioxidant properties and ability to boost collagen production, and yeast extract to help speed up the whitening process. Origins Light Years Ahead Whitening Serum is designed for deep delivery into the skin and is friendly even to sensitive skin, thanks to featherweight emollients like meadow foam oil, squaline (from olives) and glycerin. Its Brightening Face Wash helps remove excess sebum and pollution.
SMELLS LIKE CREME BRULEE, FEELS LIKE SOUFFLE: I once tried Laura Mercier’s Crème Brulee body wash. The whole time, I had to resist the urge to eat it. It smells so much like the delicious crème brulee that my doctor forbids me to eat! Anyway, this time Laura Mercier comes out with a richer version of body lotion – Soufflé Body Crème, a whipped, ultra-rich cream containing vitamins A, E and F for nourishment and shea butter for moisturizing. Mom will love this because it doesn’t feel greasy or heavy on the skin – so she can go about her day’s business without constantly feeling like she’s wearing heavy lotion.
PAMPER MOM’S NAILS: An icon in the local nail care industry, Essie has been beautifying the nails of celebrities, and regular men and women with its range of nail lacquers. Now it’s offering a specially designed Essie Trio Set, which contains three of the hottest colors in the entire Essie collection: Pretty in Pink, Clam Bake, and Vinyl Bikini. Essie has a chip-resistant formula, outstanding durability and fashion-forward color selection.
SAY YOU LOVE HER WITH SEKKISEI: Mom will flip over Sekkisei Herbal Esthetic, which purifies and whitens skin using the power of 10 kinds of Chinese and Japanese herbs. The mask has a gel texture and helps cleanse off dead skin cells while delivering whitening ingredients into the skin. It has a lightweight sensation and prevents dehydration and inflammation. It helps inhibit production of melanin pigments to prevent UV-caused spots and freckles. Ingredients include extracts from Chinese pearl barley, angelica, melothria, citrus junos, peach leaf and nettle leaf.
FOR THE MOM WHO LIKES HER STUFF COMPACT: Working mothers who have a million and one things in their bags will appreciate Clinique’s Derma White Auto-Open Compact. The packaging was recognized by ID magazine in its Package Design of Distinction category. It embodies innovation, reliability, quality and functionality. But enough about the packaging, let’s see what’s inside. Derma White Compact Makeup SPF 15 is longwearing yet lightweight. It is oil-free with a breathable, silky texture. It stays put and isn’t affected by oil or perspiration so the color stays true. Plus, it shields the skin from the sun with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection to help prevent future dark spots. And for the busy Mom who doesn’t have time to re-moisturize her face throughout the day, this one’s perfect as it moisturizes immediately and all day.
FOR THE MOM WHO LIKES SUBTLETY: Clarins Par Amour is a floral-woody fragrance which, as the name implies, is full of love, spontaneity, and spicy freshness. It can be the final touch for a woman getting ready for a night out on the town – subtle, sexy and delicate. Its top notes of pink peppercorns and blackcurrants are blended with the sensuous scents of ottoman rose and the creamy softness of sandalwood. It is all about love, and as such, bottle designer Federico Restrepo tops the oval block with a ruby heart.
Clarins par Amour comes in a 50 ml bottle.
ADD TO MOM’S TOILETRY SETS: Woods of Windsor’s Gift Box is the complete gift box to give to a mom who enjoys long baths. It contains a 50 ml perfume, 100 ml moisturizing cream bath, 100 ml body moisturizer, 100 g soap, and a fragranced candle.
Woods of Windsor Gift Box, P1,350, is available in six fragrances: True Rose, Forget Me Not, Lily of the Valley, Lavender, Mimosa and the newly launched White Jasmine.
FOR THE MOM WHO APPRECIATES TRADITION: Acqua di Genova was created in 1853 for the Savoy Royal Court by Genoese distiller Stefano Frecceri and has since been an essential item for the most famous people of the period and used by all European royals. King Vittorio Emanuele II loved the perfume so much that he conferred Frecceri’s shop the royal coat of arms. Acqua di Genova is a fragrance that’s citrusy and fruity, with top notes of lemon, bergamot and sweet orange, middle notes of wild rose, orange and neroli, and base notes of citrus fruits concentrate.
LET’S KEEP MOM AWAKE!: This may be one of the best names in skincare – Awake. It implies that bad skin just needs to be awakened from a long slumber to become bright and clear again. Now, Awake Exbright offers moms a starter kit that’s all she needs to take care of her skin. The white pouch contains a system of whitening, brightening, exfoliating and antioxidant treatments: Exbright Wash Cream to reduce inflammation and dullness; Exfolizer to wipe away old skin cells and pore clogs; Exbright Lotion Moisture to awaken brightness, clearness and moisture of skin; SO-Deletion to make skin resilient and stronger against stresses; and Exbright Concentrate – all these in a white original purse.
The Awake Exbright kit, which contains the brand’s most popular products, will last you two weeks.
GIVE HER THE PLEASURE OF ART: Moms who appreciate the finer things in life will appreciate how Estee Lauder has combined design and the art of making fragrance in a bottle. The new limited- edition Artist Bottle of Pleasures was designed by fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo. Since it was launched in 1995, Estee Lauder Pleasures has been a hit. It embodies a sheer floral fragrance, and the pleasures we get from the simple things in life. The art bottle is reminiscent of a magical and whimsical garden, where fun and adventure await. Each bottle carries Toledo’s signature and is accompanied by an equally enchanting box that includes a booklet featuring his unique artwork and a biography.
ENERGIZE MOM’S HAIR: Phyto, the leading hair care brand from France since 1969, offers a full range of scalp and hair treatments formulated with the most active botanical ingredients for maintaining healthy and beautiful hair to bring back radiance into her lifeless hair. Phytorhum is shampoo formulated with egg yolk and rum to provide the ultimate energizing ingredients for porous and damaged hair caused by stress. After shampooing, use Phytonic, a leave-on no-rinse, re-energizing hair lotion with oils to make Mom’s mane healthier.