So fresh and so clean

Having just come back from our recent trips to Africa and France to a post-heatwave, somewhat gloomy London, I thought I'd maintain a little holiday cheer with a few posts about most useful travel products.

When you're abroad, keeping yourself and more importantly your kids clean and fresh can be a challenge when sometimes even the local water is tainted. You might even resort to using your own spit on a handkerchief (even though you remember how much you hated the feel of your mum's saliva on your face as a child).

Enter MomSpit, the ingeniously named no-rinse cleanser for hands and face, for use on anybody aged two and above. With its witty caption 'Inspired by the original', MomSpit serves to freshen up grubby cheeks and paws, easily removing anything from mud and sand to dried food and drink.

It comes in several flavours, such as the delicious Fig & Green Tea, equally yummy Lemon & White Tea or plain and simple Unscented. When there's no soap or sink available, wash up with just a squirt or two of this magic foam. The residue is slightly sticky at first but fades to a softly moisturising feeling that certainly beats the drying out quality of those alcohol hand rubs.

MomSpit comes in a range of dispensers that are small enough to fit in your hand luggage, baby bag or even your clutch. So put your tongue away and pick up a spit kit from these clever mumpreneurs. Trust me, your kids will thank you for it. Visit the MomSpit web site for more details.

Out, dark spots!

One of the many strange wonders of pregnancy is just what happens to your skin. The cocktail of hormones can leave you blooming or turn your epidermis into an acne-ridden, fuzzy, streaky hide that unfortunately takes longer than nine months to shed.

Chloasma, ranging from dark patches to the so-called ‘mask of pregnancy’ caused by increasingly sun-sensitive skin can be especially distressing. Luckily Belli cosmetics have a dermatologically-approved Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen SPF 25 sun cream and moisturiser that contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to help block those pesky UVA/UVB rays without causing any harm to your unborn. So before you stride out into the summer heat, grab yourself a wide-brimmed hat, some oversized shades and a tube of Belli Anti-Chloasma available at good beauty stores or from the Belli web site.

Yummy Tummy

Watching your bump grow is one of the joys of pregnancy. But watching the stretch marks that sometimes grow along with your belly can deflate your new mama pride. If you’re itemising goodies for an upcoming baby shower, don’t forget to put a little something for mama on your wish list.

We recommend the Tummy Honey 3-Piece Gift Set which includes not only prevention butter and stick but also a fading cream to help zap those pesky marks. All Tummy Honey products include a powerful cocktail of skin-loving ingredients like Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Emu Oil, Vegolatum (plant-based alternative to petrolatum), Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. Go on, give your tummy a little honey. Available online at Due Maternity and selected retailers.

Love yourself

As Cupid tunes up his bow and gets ready to make mischief, it’s time to stop mooning around and focus on what you really want for Valentine’s. If you (or lover boy) are stuck for ideas, may we suggest a spa voucher as the gift that keeps on giving? After being literally consumed by your baby for months on end, you deserve some one-on-one pampering. Grayshott Spa is just one of many top UK spas that offer personalised treatments for new mothers and expectant mums (not suitable for the first 12 weeks or after week 36 of pregnancy). Their maternity packages range from a 70 minute session to 7 nights of pure unbridled luxury for you and a partner…with a price tag to match. Still, you’re worth it. Reservations can be made online at Grayshott Spa.

Bellyssima!

If you want to preserve an image of your pregnant self, and be pampered into the bargain, you'll be pleased to hear about a brand new treatment from Belly Vita, a Chicago-based product line dedicated to maternal luxury. The Belly Imprint Spa Treatment and Sculpting Kit is the only patent-pending and scientifically tested belly sculpture designed to capture your bump and nourish your body simultaneously. You start with a soothing aromatherapy oil massaged into your belly followed by a soft fabric immersed in sculpting powder and water being moulded onto your torso while you relax.

It takes 15-20 minutes to set and the finished masterpiece (or mistresspiece?) can be decorated and displayed in the nursery or elsewhere in the home. It's almost enough to make up for that beached whale feeling of the final trimester. Experience the Belly Imprint at one of several spas nationwide (US only) or order online and treat yourself at home.

Bright Eyes

I always used to wonder why those teen mums on shows like Ricki Lake or Jerry Springer looked 20 years older. Until I became a mother myself and experienced the shock of rapid overnight aging. While beauty products for new mamas emphasise stomachs and stretch marks, what bothers most of us are those lines and shadows around our eyes caused by months (and probably years ahead) of sleep deprivation.

So be thankful for this Belli L.A.B. (Life After Baby) Eye Brightening Cream which promises to refresh and rejuvenate the delicate eye area. It contains Vitamin K to enhance circulation and reduce dark circles and Soybean protein to improve hydration. Don't expect any miracle cream to erase the evidence of nighttime waking. But if you enjoy slathering lotions and potions on your body, it can't hurt to show your eyes some extra love too. Visit Belli Cosmetics for more skincare treats for mums and mums-to-be.

Scent of a baby

Pregnancy not only wreaks havoc on your digestive system, it can enhance your sense of smell to an uncomfortable degree. Even the breeziest fragrance can become overpowering. If you're a preggers perfume junkie after something that won't irritate your nose or your increasingly sensitive skin, check out Philosophy's Baby Grace fragrance. This clean and mild perfume combines talc and lotion notes to evoke fresh baby skin - probably nature's most delicious scent. So along with helping restore your sense of equilibrium, Baby Grace will act as a yummy teaser for your tot-in-waiting. It's also great for new mothers or indeed any woman who needs a little extra nurturing. Find it at John Lewis (UK) or visit the Philosophy web site.