May is the month when flowering trees are in bloom. The air is permeated with fragrance, and the sounds of coughing and sneezing can be heard throughout the land.
This Mother’s Day, we are more than ever before suffering from the effects of climate change and are aware of how it’s affecting us and the cherished women in our lives with colder, warmer, wetter, and dryer periods. In general, more unpleasant weather conditions that affect our aging derma.
So to honor the women we love this year (especially ourselves), we are focusing on anti-aging products that use all natural, non-toxic ingredients with scientifically proven healing properties to aid in reviving and restoring the skin to its youthful appearance.
After all, none of us are getting any younger, but in today’s world, there is no reason that we can’t look like we are! So to add to the de rigueur delivery of flowers and candy, here are a few products to consider:
N8iV three-product package. Photo courtesy of N8iV.
N8iV: First on my list of outstanding beauty products is a noteworthy line called N8iV. I met Native American Ruth-Ann Thorn, a member of the San Diego, California Luiseno tribe, at a cosmetic trade show. She blew me away with her story. Calling on the wisdom of her people – who for centuries have used acorn oil for treating the skin – Ruth-Ann created this line by engaging with her community in its development.
The ancient knowledge was provided by the tribe elders while the entire community helps in the collection of the black acorns that grow naturally on their native lands. The nuts are of the highest quality but are harvested only once a year, making them a rare but renewable component.
In addition to the acorn oil, which has a fatty acid composition and natural tocopherols, plant stem cells, essential fatty acids, and copper peptides are added to aid in cell turnover and to promote collagen and elastin production – the necessary ingredients of a youthful complexion.
What I love about this line is that its success encouraged the women of the tribe to expand their personal outreach with arts and crafts that have long been only available locally.
N8iV products. Photo courtesy of N8iV.
So far, there are three products in the line in attractively designed packaging. For perfect gift-giving, they come in a handsome boxed set, or you can purchase each one separately.
The Daybreak Moisturizing Cream is to lighten and brighten the complexion while reducing fine lines and uneven skin tones. The nightly regiment consists of the Starlight Regenerative Cream that eliminates fine lines and rejuvenates the skin, while the restorative Starlight Regenerative Serum combines all the essential elements and packs a noticeable punch.
These rich creamy moisturizers really make a difference that is visible to the naked eye even on first application.
And just a few words about their name and logo,N8iV: the star at the top refers to their creation story “Payomkawichum,” which means people of the west and refers to the star people who were sent down from the Milky Way to tend to our Mother Earth. The number 8 refers to their calendar developed over eons of living off the land as hunter-gatherers and counts eight seasons in the year.
Ghanya Value Bundle of products. Photo courtesy of Ghanya Cosmetics.
Ghanya Cosmetics: Another product line that seems almost impossible to deliver on its promise but blew me away is Ghanya Cosmetics. This is another home-grown line by an enterprising woman who set out to create a product to help her daughter overcome her problem skin.
After years of research and investigation using only premium ingredients, including plant cells, she achieved success in eliminating the disfiguring acne her teenage daughter suffered from.
While not initially formulated for the mature woman, after the early success with the healing properties of the products, the line has expanded to include Age Defying Booster,The Absolute Cream, and Miracle Works Elixir that work wonders on mature skin.
The line continues to expand with products that maintain radiant well-balanced skin. These products are free from impurities that cause acne in younger skin, and they help diminish the lines and discoloration in more mature skin.
Irene Forte Phytomelatonin Rejuvenating Serum. Photo courtesy of Irene Forte.
Irene Forte: At the aforementioned trade show, I was introduced to another absolutely stunning line. Irene Forte is a total Italian beauty brand that features a luxurious product line along with several stunning destination spas across Italy. While I have yet to experience one of the luxurious spas, I have had the pleasure of using the line of beauty cosmetics and can testify to the effectiveness of their products.
Through the scientific formulation of botanicals and plant extracts – many sourced from their own organic farm – they have managed to develop a group of skincare products that deliver what they promise.
While this is an effective line of products developed specifically for all skin types, they are on the pricey side, but for a special woman on her special day, it’s an investment in guaranteed noteworthy results.
Veriphy Skincare products. Photo courtesy of Veriphy.
Veriphy Skincare: For a more affordable skin care regiment, consider Veriphy Skincare, another cosmetic line created by women. A group of female university lab scientists serendipitously came across a way to create 100% plant-based glycogen – an essential element in skin health but one which is normally animal-sourced.
This discovery led to the development of a luxury, vegan skincare line, formulated by women active in science, technology, engineering, math, and business – or STEM+B. Veriphy Skincare is a perfect example of an experiment gone wrong that led this group of enterprising young women to create not only a breakthrough product line but a new way to think and feel about beauty.
To this end, they have developed a complete array of products that fit into a woman’s beauty regimen at whatever age and stage she is in. Different package groupings are available and make great gifts.
Columbia Skincare products. Photo courtesy of Columbia Skincare Company.
Columbia Skincare Company: And while we are on the subject of healthy, rejuvenating skin care products, Columbia Skincare Company might revolutionize the industry. It isn’t a cosmetic company, but a 145-year-old skincare company – perhaps the oldest in the country – dedicated to healing damaged skin.
Columbia has been in the forefront of scientific investigation for the rejuvenation of burned and damaged skin. During their research, they found that a combination of probiotics, plant stem cells, and amino acid peptides have the unique ability to enhance the skin’s natural capacity to renew itself.
Columbia has addressed skincare not as a cosmetic issue but essentially as a health issue and has released two products with this in mind. Columbia Skincare Company Probiotic Concentrate and Probiotic Complex, the resulting products, are currently available only directly through the manufacturer.
Neora’s Ultimate Eye Treatment Bundle. Photo courtesy of Neora.
NEORA: In the past few years, the hot fashion accessory has been eyebrows. At one time, it was lips – big and bright red – but the action has shifted up to the brow. There are many ways of improving artificially on what nature provided.
I have tried a few less dramatic options that work to provide fullness to sparse brows over time. The latest one I tried seems to work well and fast to fill in brows, and in my case, restore color to graying hairs: LASH LUSH by NEORA.
This product is meant to grow longer eye lashes as well as enhance brows. I have used it for only a few weeks and already see an improvement. Another of their products that is helpful to women of all ages is their cream, FIRM. It’s a body contour cream that, if used consistently, helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite and dimpled skin and firms and tones those areas that we tend to want to hide.
Made in the U.S. and distributed worldwide, NEORA offers only naturally based products.
Kamsah tajine. Photo courtesy of Kamsah.
Kamsah: And now for a non-cosmetic suggestion for the woman in your life who loves to cook and try new methods – a gift of a Tajine cooking pot by Kamsah.
Tajine cooking is a slow-cooking method used in North African cultures but is relatively unknown in the U.S. It’s an all-in-one method of combining proteins (meat, poultry, or fish) and vegetables in one pot with a lot of spices, making for a very tasty dish that will provide a nourishing meal and delight the entire family or guests at a dinner party.
For a complete guide to the tagine’s history, uses, and a sample recipe, click here. Here’s to a Happy Mother’s Day and helping the women you love remain healthy and beautiful!
Automatic airline refunds!: The Department of Transportation in the U.S. is instituting new rules that require airlines to give automatic refunds if a domestic flight is delayed by three hours or more or an international flight is delayed by six hours or more. The airline can offer an alternative or travel credits, but we won’t be obligated to accept them instead of a cash refund.
Baggage refunds, too!: We’ll also be refunded if airlines don’t return our checked bags within 12 hours for domestic flights and within 30 hours for international. All fees have to be clearly disclosed, too. Thanks, DOT!
Train between Las Vegas and Los Angeles: A high-speed bullet train will run between these two cities, set to launch in 2028. That will be in time for the summer Olympics in L.A. The ride will take just over two hours (at 180mph), which is almost twice as fast as driving. Can’t wait to try it out when it’s ready!
Fast train. Photo by StockSnap.
No more CLEAR?: California is proposing a bill that would outlaw the CLEAR program in airports, which allows people to “cut” the line. Airlines are fighting it.
“Smooch” Cabins?: Ummm… Deutsche Bahn in Germany has introduced two-person cabins on their trains that can be changed from transparent to frosted glass (with a push button) for more privacy, purportedly for “cuddling.” Yeah, right. At least it’s just for two passengers, so no group “cuddling” allowed.
Lake Como fee?: Like Venice, Italy’s Lake Como has suffered from over-tourism, so they’re contemplating a daytripper tax.
No pizza and ice cream in Milan after midnight: Milan may ban the sale of pizza and ice cream after midnight, requiring that restaurants not do these sales outdoors. It’s another effort to curb over-tourism and noise that disturbs residents. I don’t blame them!
Amsterdam cracking down: And Amsterdam is also fed up with over-tourism, so they’re capping overnight stays at 20 million per year and restricting the building of new hotels within the city center.
Going to Athens this summer? Speaking of over-tourism, Athens is apparently receiving a surge in tourism at the moment, so keep that in mind if you plan to visit during the busiest months.
Flying with a dog?: Enter Bark Air, a new airline that caters to passengers with dogs. They have calming treats, poop bags, and beverages during ascent and descent to ease ear issues. Currently, they fly between Westchester, NY airport and Van Nuys, California and London Stansted Airport.
Well-traveled dog. (Stock photo.)
Lifetime bans at Disney: People who fake disabilities to skip the line at Disneyland or Disney World will now face lifetime bans if they’re caught.
National park reservations in the U.S.: Certain national parks in the U.S. will require timed-entry reservations this summer. They are Arches National Park in Utah, Glacier National Park in Montana, Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, Yosemite National Park in California, and Zion National Park in Utah.
Are you a hunter? If you hunt, be sure to check your luggage before traveling, especially internationally. Unintentional ammo has been found in baggage and is landing U.S. tourists in jail. One man was recently sentenced to 12 years in Turks & Caicos for this.
Countries with no airports: There are just five countries that don’t have an airport. They are Vatican City, San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, and Andorra.
TripAdvisor’s top 10 hotels in the world: Hotel Colline de France in Brazil, OBLU SELECT Lobigili in the Maldives, La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa in Vietnam, Adiwana Suweta in Indonesia, Iberostar Grand Packard in Cuba, Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa in the Maldives, La Siesta Classic Ma May in Vietnam, Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya in Mexico, Padma Resort Ubud in Bali Indonesia, and Sofitel Mexico City Reforma in Mexico City.
Balmoral Castle News! According to The Royal Butler, King Charles has decided to allow the public to visit the interior of Balmoral Castle for the first time. It’s located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland and will cost more than $100 to visit both the castle and the gardens.
Venice may be on the verge of joining Old Jerusalem, the Everglades, and Vienna on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The city is at risk due to over-tourism and climate change.
Global Entry will raise its price for a five-year membership from $100 to $120 as of October 1, 2024.
Airplane in airport. Photo by cegoh.
United Airlines has some good news for a change. It has unveiled a tool within its app that allows wheelchair users to determine if a particular flight can accommodate their specific mobility device’s dimensions. This is a great precedent that other airlines should (and probably will) emulate.
American Airlines will now allow passengers to bring their pet and a carry-on bag on board for $150. In the past, passengers with a pet couldn’t also store a bag in the overhead bins.
Jet Blue changed its bag fees again! Now, if you wait to pay for your checked bag within 24 hours of your flight, you will pay more if that flight is during “peak times” – i.e., $50 for your first bag and $70 for your second.
Jet Blue, Spirit, and Frontier Airlines are cutting some of their routes to and from Florida.
Southwest Airlines is planning to start its first red-eye flights within the next couple of years.
Istanbul Airport has been named the best airport in the world for the fourth time in a row.
United Airlines now allows you to combine your MileagePlus miles together with as many as five people! Hopefully, other airlines will follow suit. Speaking of United, the FAA has increased its oversight of the airline because it has had a few too many safety incidents.
Four Seasons is launching yacht cruises on a 14-deck luxury vessel in 2026. Itineraries will include the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Greek Islands.
Newark Liberty Airport’s Terminal A has received a 5-star rating. The only other U.S. airports to get such a high rating are LaGuardia’s Terminal B and Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport.
TSA PreCheck has added more airlines to its program: Air Premia, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Transat, Bahamasair, BermudAir, Iberia, La Compagnie, and New Pacific Airlines join Norse Atlantic Airways, Lynx Air, Starlux Airlines, and Fiji Airways that were added in December.
Ecuador is experiencing gang violence that saddens me a great deal, as it’s one of my favorite countries in the world. The country’s youngest mayor and her advisor were murdered the last week of March.
After the fire in 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen on December 8, 2024.
Galapagos Islands entry fees are increasing as of August 1, 2024. They haven’t increased these fees since 1998, so I think they’re entitled to double them. They will go from $100 (approximately 92 Euros) to $200 (approximately 184 Euros).
The Galapagos Islands. Photo by Melanie Votaw.
Bulgaria and Romania join the list of Schengen countries in Europe on March 31, 2024. Croatia’s prices reportedly went up when it became a Schengen country, and it adopted the Euro as its currency. We’ll have to see what happens to the prices in Bulgaria and Romania, but it should make it easier for travelers to go there from other Schengen countries. While both countries are already in the European Union, they don’t use the Euro, and as for now, there are no plans for that to change. Some people worry that this will spell over-tourism for the region, however.
Passport stamps may be on their way out. In November, the European Union will roll out an automated process that will eliminate stamps, and visas will use facial recognition and/or fingerprints. This will sadden those of us who are accustomed to the stamps and used them for bragging rights and reminiscing.
Passport stamps. (Stock photo.)
Planning to climb Mount Fuji? Japan is now going to limit the number of climbers to 4,000 total per day, and the climbers will be charged about $13.50 each.
A Boeing whistle-blower who talked about his concerns over safety and quality control was found dead on March 9th from what’s being called a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Hmmm… (I will say no more except condolences to his family.)
Joke seen on Facebook: “Whenever one door closes, another opens.” -Boeing
Speaking of Boeing, the FAA is now investigating another plane that flew from San Francisco to Oregon with a missing external panel. This is all becoming quite disturbing, which is probably why the CEO and several other executives are reportedly stepping down.
The interior of an airplane. (Stock photo).
Washington Dulles Airport was the most punctual airport during the month of February.
Wild rabbits are proving very destructive on the lawn of Esplanade des Invalides in Paris. They’ve been digging tunnels and chewing electrical cables and garden hoses. Estimates are that the damage amounts to more than 350,000 Euros. Some people advocate euthanizing them, while protesters are upset at the thought and want the bunnies to be left alone.
The AirBnb ban on indoor security cameras goes into effect April 30, 2024. Hallelujah!
Beach with sunbeds. (Stock photo.)
Want to hang out on a beach in Greece this year? In another move to curb the overcrowding that’s plaguing so many destinations, Greecewill restrict the number of sunbeds on its beaches starting this spring.
After its merger with Spirit Airlines fell through, JetBlue has decided to cut down on its flights. It will go from 34 flights from LAX to 24 daily, and over the course of the year, it will also phase out flights to Kansas City, Bogota, Quito, Lima, and certain routes from Fort Lauderdale, as well as its flights between New York and Detroit.
Don’t use Google to look for airline phone numbers! It turns out scammers are putting bogus numbers on Google and posing as airlines. When you need a number, ALWAYS go to the official website of the airline!
What’s the “911”? Whenever you travel to a new country, be sure to make note of their version of 911 – just in case you need emergency help.
U.S. Justice Department is investigating the Boeing 737 Max airplane. They’ve opened up a criminal probe into what happened on that Alaska Airlines flight.
The proposed merger between Jet Blue and Spirit is no longer going through. This is good news for travelers who want more options but perhaps bad news for Spirit, which is reportedly having financial problems.
Stock photo of airplane
An eclipse from the air? Delta and Southwest are offering special flights to watch the solar eclipse on April 8. But these seats are going fast. Check them out on the airlines’ websites.
Southwest unveils new seats coming in 2025. But people online aren’t at all impressed. Apparently, the seats are more narrow, so someone called them “Ozempic seats.” Another called them “lawn chairs.” Honestly, I couldn’t tell much from just looking at a video. I’d need to sit in them to have an opinion.
Airlines are parrots, so Delta has copied the others and increased baggage fees. The first one is now $35 and the second is $45.
Mount Everest climbers will now have to be tagged. The Nepalese government is requiring the tags to help them locate and identify the dead. The tags will cost $10-$15 and can be returned for refund when climbers make it through. I’ve never had a desire to climb such a treacherous mountain, so I won’t need a tag anytime soon.
United Airlines’ new international routes. Besides a new route from Tokyo to Cebu, Philippines, United will launch the first direct U.S. flight to Marrakesh, Morocco in late October from Newark Airport and will start flying non-stop from Houston to Medellin, Colombia.
