The Cypress tree symbolizes life–making it the perfect SkinOwl candle for reflection, meditation, while expressing gratitude for the little moments in life. At SkinOwl, we like to light our Cypress Candles for daily moments of zen, since our work day can have us multi-tasking like crazy. It’s easy to let the minutes turn into hours, so taking a minute to strike a match always reignites our productivity. When I get home from work, I like to light it and the earthy smell grounds me and helps me take a moment to unwind.  I keep it burning as I do my evening meditation because I find it calms me, so I can calm my mind.  The Cypress Candle is a delicately scented candle, with high notes of our favorite tree, the California Cypress, alongside herbal, toasty bottom notes– a favorite for both men and women.

This is the perfect holiday candle because it is the time of year when you can actively stop and appreciate all of your family and friends. We travel to make the most of our limited time with loved ones. It’s a day in a busy year that calls for dialing down and looking inward. This is the perfect addition to holiday gatherings–to inspire the holiday spirit and gratitude in everyone. Incorporate our limited edition Cypress candle into your home, when you spend $100+ at SkinOwl.com.  What is your favorite time to light our Cypress Candle and to take a moment of gratitude?

Happy Holidays to everyone in our nest.

xoxo Sadie

Holiday season is upon us, so it’s time to start planning what you’re going to get everyone!  SkinOwl brainstormed some killer gifts for all the men in your life–and right before Black Friday too (you’re welcome).  These gift can be applicable for any guy you’re shopping for: dad, brother, boyfriend, friend.

SkinOwl Products for Men

Just because a lot of men act like they don’t care about their skin, doesn’t mean they actually don’t care.  These are all great SkinOwl products that men can use too!

Geranium Beauty Drops

Geranium Beauty Drops are great for combination skin but they are also great as a post-shave beard oil to help with ingrown hairs and as a fresh scented dose of moisture.

Mangosteen PM Beauty Drops

You use Mangosteen PM Beauty Drops so you can wakeup with gorgeous glowing skin.  What guy doesn’t want that too? It’s an awesome night oil to recharge your guy for the day ahead and an extra boost of hydration for the cold winter months.

Eye+ 

He may not need the makeup priming effect of our Eye+ but men wakeup with sleepy eyes just as much as women do, so why not give him a unisex cucumber scented eye cream?

Charcoal Beauty Bar 

The Charcoal Beauty Bar is perfect for men because it draws out impurities without stripping the skin of its natural oils, so it’s the perfect no-nonsense face cleanser for any guy to start incorporating into his routine.

photo: theartofshaving.com

Shaving Kit

A high quality shaving kit is a great way to give someone a nice gift that you know they’ll actually use.  We love this kit.

Espresso Machine

If he’s a caffeine lover then this is the perfect gift for him! If he doesn’t already know how to use one of these, then trust me he’ll love learning.  Warning: if he’s anything like my Dad, then he will be sure to offer you a cappuccino multiple times a day so I hope you like coffee too.  I love this one.

Nice Whiskey or Tequila

This is the perfect gift for all the guys you know that like to sip on fancy whiskey or tequila. For tequila, I love Don Julio 1942, found here.  My favorite whiskey is High West Campfire Whiskey.  You can also get them whiskey stones to keep their drinks cold without dilution.

Watch

Is he still wearing the same watch he’s been wearing for the last 10 years? Maybe it’s time for a fresh one.  MVMT Watches have a great selection of cool mens watches, I like this one.

Workout Clothes

Guys always need new workout or lounge clothes.  Get him a cool pair of joggers or some basic nice t-shirts but make sure to get a return receipt in case you get the wrong size or color.  I think I’ve gotten my brother this shirt at least 3 different times and he’s always happy.

photo: stance.com

Socks

You may think this is the worst gift you could give someone but I’m here to tell you you’re wrong.  Everyone always needs sock.  You can get wool socks if they live somewhere cold or get them fun ones.  Stance has socks for every occasion and they’re really nice quality.  They even have StarWars socks for anyone who loves the force and cool women’s socks too!

Tech

Any kind of new technology is usually appreciated by men.  My favorite new tech toy? Wireless workout headphones.  They make it so easy to run on the treadmill or for lifting weights because you can set your phone down and not worry about anything getting tangled.  Almost every guy at the gym has them, so if he doesn’t already have them I bet he wants them.  I LOVE these.  Great for any workout fanatic in your life, male or female.

Hobby Related Gifts

What’s their favorite hobby or obsession? Get them something related to that.  My dad loves mountain biking so I usually get him things like tire air canisters or new gear he needs.  You can get a case of specialty craft beers, tickets to see their favorite sports team or checkout this gift guide from REI for all the outdoorsy types.

Bar Set

This is a great 11-piece bar set for mixing fancy cocktails and looks cool to have on display.  It has everything you need to get started including a glass with drink recipes on it.  Found here.

What’s going to be your go-to gift this holiday season? Comment below and let us know!

xoxo Sadie

At SkinOwl we love spoiling our doggy friends but we only want to feed them treats with the best possible ingredients. These three recipes are easy to make, filled with good yummy ingredients and make amazing holiday gifts!

Photo: damndelicious.net

Spinach, Carrot and Zucchini 

This recipe is so yummy that you might even try and eat the dog treats yourself! It’s jam packed with pumpkin, peanut butter, zucchini and other veggies! This is a great recipe for giving your dog an extra healthy snack and the peanut butter will keep them begging for more!

Ingredients

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup peanut butter

2 large eggs

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

3 cups whole wheat flour, or more, as needed

1 carrot, peeled and shredded

1 zucchini, shredded

1 cup baby spinach, chopped

Cook time: 20-25 minutes

Full instructions found here.

photo: nerdysarah23.blogspot.com

Sweet Potato Dog Chews 

This recipe is a great alternative to buying your dog pig ears to chew on.  The thicker you cut them and the longer they cook, the chewier they become so your dog can enjoy it for longer.  These chews take longer to cook than the other treats, so it’s a great DIY treat to put in the oven before running a few errands. They can also be put in the fridge or freezer for a weeks!

Ingredients

2 sweet potatoes

Cook time: 3 hours

Full instructions found here

Photo: thelazypitbull.com

Peanut Butter and Apple Sauce Cookies

These dog treats are quick and easy and most of the ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! It’s pretty universally known that dogs love peanut butter and my dog loves eating apples so this is perfect for her.  If your dog likes bananas better you can substitute an overly ripe banana for the applesauce.  They also stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons plain applesauce
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup rolled oats

Cook time: 15-20 min

Full instructions found here.

All of these dog treats are easy to make and make great holiday gifts for all of your pet loving friends! They also make fun DIY activities to do with kids.  Which recipe do you think your dog will like the best?

xoxo Sadie

Candles are a quick and easy way to transform your room with only a strike of a match.  They are a simple way to incorporate more self-care and aromatherapy into your daily routine.  SkinOwl has three incredible candles that I love to use everyday for different intentions.

Currant is a tart-sweet fruity scent.  It reminds me of a pomegranate mixed with a raspberry. Currant is an antioxidant and a stimulant—it’s the perfect candle to light as a way to fight off that afternoon slump and revive you!

High Tea is a mild earthy herbal blend of healing black and white teas. It is a refreshing and uplifting scent that also helps to relieve my tension.  Fantastic to light in the morning to wakeup or to burn while drinking my favorite afternoon tea.  I also love to light it when taking a bath as it helps me to relax and relieve tension.

Gardenia is a light airy pink petaled floral intended to relax and de-stress the senses. Gardenia aids in fighting anxiety, insomnia and relieving headaches.  It’s the perfect candle to light when I’m stressed, before bed or anytime I want to add a little relaxation to my day.

If you had to choose one candle to fit your day perfectly what would it be?  Check back next week when all of our candles will be on the site and when we reveal a secret fourth candle. It gets my meditation juices flowing *hint hint*.

xoxo Sadie

Sadie is our in house Customer Care Aficionado and silliest Beauty Bird #AskSadie

We’re big on paying attention to the things that don’t always get the adoration they deserve. Especially, when it comes to you (our favorite people ever) and of course, your skin. When we thought about all of the areas that so often get moisturized, exfoliated, and peeled, we couldn’t help but think about how little love we give to the oh-so-often-forgotten neck, chest, and décolleté. And we get it. With so little time available for pampering, it’s always easier to care for your face, your hair, even your feet. SO, we decided to go a few steps further than “bring your face cream down to your neck” and give your not-to-be-forgotten nape a product all to itself.

Allow us to introduce our latest skin-changing innovation, Neck+ Concentrate. Formulated to prevent sagging and signs of aging, this potent treatment is brimming with smoothing, strengthening and firming extracts intended to lessen lines and combat crêpey-ness so that your neck and décolleté appear years younger. This non-toxic, ocean mineral based gel-balm is one of the first to specifically target your delicate skin, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.

Chock full of anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as Turmeric, Spirulina, Irish Moss, Yarrow, Jojoba Oil, Witch Hazel and a proprietary Ocean Mineral complex, this concentrate is good enough for your neck, chest, and under any of our AM or PM Beauty Drops. So what’s in it for you? TONS. Check it out…

*Instant smoothing upon first application.

*No sticky or tacky residue (double yay)

*Unscented so not to linger on you or your clothes.

*Side sleeper? Cleavage lines? Watch crepey lines visibly reduce in as little as one week when used daily.

*Too much time spent in the sun? Dark spots visibly reduce within 2 weeks.

*Skin’s appearance looks toned, lifted, and contoured.

In a nutshell, we love this gem. Our Spaghetti straps are in full swing and we’re not looking back. For a limited time, grab your very own bottle on Cult Beauty exclusively (and get free shipping internationally – triple yay). Give it a try and leave your comments in the feed. A simple NECK YEAH will suffice. :)

Happy shopping Beauty Birds!

Being a skincare company, we are always on the hunt for SKINCARE MAKEUP, i.e. makeup that doesn’t completely ruin all of the hard & healthy work we’ve put into our skin! So, when we were given the opportunity to try Juice Beauty’s Lash Defining Mascara, we JUMPED at the chance. On first look, we fell in love with it’s sleek “silver bullet” aesthetic. We were also pleasantly surprised at how light it was in hand. Then we moved onto ingredients:

“Organic botanical extracts of serenoa repens (organic saw palmetto extract)*, aloe barbadensis (organic aloe extract)*, euphorbia cerifera (candelilla wax), triisostearyl citrate, hydrogenated glyceryl abietate, brassica campestris/aleurites fordi oil copolymer, copernicia cerifera (organic carnauba wax)*, vegetable glycerin, theobroma cacao (organic cocoa seed butter)*, persea gratissima (avocado butter), methylcellulose, xanthan gum, tocopherol (Vitamin E), sodium hyaluronate (vegetable hyaluronic acid), ethylhexylglycerin, phenethyl alcohol.”

Cue the applause! Their mascara is made without parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances. AND, they are on the good side of history with concern to our animal friends. Now it was time to test the LOOK and FEEL.

The proof was in the pudding. End result: Long, separated, defined, FULL lashes, as well as peace of mind.  No harsh ingredients and happy lashes to boot. Paired with a dewy tinted moisturizer, a touch of black liner on the upper lash line, and some lip gloss, this mascara is the ultimate easy-breezy summer makeup cherry on top!

BONUS: Pharmaca.com is giving you 10% this gem! Check out now and get lashfully luscious in a matter of days. Throw in our brand new Eye+ eye cream, and receive FREE SHIPPING. All eyes will be on YOU this summer.

Enjoy the head turns, beauty birds!

If you remember anything from this post, it is that not all flower bouquets are the same! Cue The Bouqs.com, our favorite place to shop, fresh “cut on the day you order and delivered straight from the farm so you get the best” flowers! This means delivery just 2-4 days after cut, vs 10-14 elsewhere. The Bouqs delivers Volcano stems from the equator, 10,000 feet above sea level, which means one thing: sun. And more sun means more color. Their uber-saturated Bouqs are fed by pure volcanic snow melt and mineral-rich, ph-balanced soil. And their California cut flowers come straight from eco-friendly farms on the coast! Can we say SMITTEN.

We received the Baby Chicks bouquet and we’ve never seen a yellow so bright and sunny. It brought us Spring weather before the new season hit!

So, of course, with Mother’s Day at our heels, we say, what better gift? Check out the deal above and surprise her with twice the amount of long-stemmed love.

Enjoy!