How much sunscreen should you apply? What amount is too little, or too much? Studies show that most people apply only 20 to 50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen.

At Ottilie & Lulu we want to make sure tween girls know all they can about sunscreen--how important is is to apply sunscreen daily, how frequently to apply it--and how much to apply. Let's talk about the amount of sunscreen you should be applying. And let's start with your nose. Do you use just a dot? Well, you should be using a heaping teaspoon of sunscreen--just on your nose! For the delicate skin on your face and neck, you should be applying a heaping tablespoon of sunscreen. And for your body measure out the amount you can squeeze into a shot glass. This might sound like a lot of sunscreen, but it isn't. In fact, these measurements are the minimum you should use to maximize protection from the sun.

Having a sunscreen that - Read More »

As I sit here thinking about our first year, I smile when I think about about all of the great emails I have received from tweens and their moms. Whether it's the "life-changing" Shiny Silky Detangler & Conditioner, the "fantastically smooth" Everyday Moisturizer & Sunscreen SPF 20, the "best-ever" Face Wipes, the "I love shampooing in the shower" Feel Good Shampoo & Body Wash, or the "relaxing" Body Glow, the feedback from everyone has been terrific. So, a big "Thank You" to all our Ottilie & Lulu fans. And to show our appreciation, we are offering our 1st Anniversary Special. The product that every tween girl should keep in every bag she carries: our Everyday Moisturizer & Sunscreen SPF 20. When you buy 1--you get 1 Free! That's an $18.00 Savings on the best thing you can do for your face everyday--moisturize and apply sunscreen. We have a lot of other great surprises coming this April. Pretty soon - Read More »

Have you noticed lately that when your tween looks in the mirror (any mirror!), she is usually checking out her hair? She is also probably starting to comment on your hair and talks about the way her friends are wearing their hair.

Hair specialists say that at this age, our children have the highest number of hair follicles producing hair. This is also when their pigment-producing cells have started working although are not fully mature, so their hair color will likely get darker as they become teenagers.

I share this because I am looking for a reason that it is suddenly all about tween hair care.  This is not bad news, in fact it’s that independence we all keep fostering and, well, part of growing up.

Have you noticed the satisfaction your tween daughter has when she creates her own hair style? After years of you doing her hair, she now has the confidence and the to - Read More »

Have you taken your daughter to the theater lately? Yes, there are some fabulous Broadway shows if you have the budget. But there are also some really great alternatives that provide fun entertainment at a fraction of the price.

One of my favorites is TADA! Youth Theater.  From now through February 15, TADA! is performing B.O.T.C.H., a most enjoyable musical where you and your daughter meet artistic rats, dancing mummies, and the kids of B.O.T.C.H. who lurk under the New York City subway system.  Last weekend my tween daughter and I joined 2 of her friends with their mothers to see this show.

The performers range from ages 8 to 17 and come from all 5 boroughs, plus, New Jersey.  The play is from the book and lyrics of Jon Agee, a popular playwright and lyricist.  The smokey, jazz music is by Daniel Feigelson, and choreography by Joanna Greer.  , - Read More »

It seems the birthday party season has arrived with a vengeance.  And while birthday celebrations come throughout the year, planning for a birthday party and shopping for a tween gift seems just a bit more stressful in the pre-holiday season.  Finding a free Saturday or Sunday on which to host a party between now and the holiday break is next to impossible.  If your community is similar to mine, we have found shared birthday celebrations to be a great answer.  Shared birthdays are great time savers and provide learning opportunities about giving and tween gifts.  Of course being able to share birthday celebration costs is also a bonus!

We’ve found the ideal number for sharing tween birthday celebrations to be bewteen 2 and 4 birthday girls.  If each of the birthday girls invites 5 to 7 friends, you have a nice crowd for the birthday celebration.  Since the common - Read More »

Ah, fall is here.  Everywhere tween girls are reaching for their new sweaters and boots.  If your daughters are anything like mine, nothing from last year fits.  So a new jewel-colored beret, bright-colored gloves without fingertips, and Uggs have replaced faded bathing suits, flip flops and t-shirts.

At Ottilie & Lulu, we think tween girls should also be reaching for a great all-over body lotion, too.  Trading hot, humid days for dry, cold air and lots of time spent in heated rooms will affect a girl's skin.  You may not think tween girls need to worry about dry skin at this age, but environmental stress affects all of us, and tween girls face their own unique skin challenges.  While we Moms are trying to replenish lost moisture for our older skin, our daughters need to start good Read More »

February is a great time to check up on your tween's dental health. Girls with healthy teeth chew food easily, speak clearly, and smile with confidence. Brushing twice daily and flossing before bed are the early grooming habits that become a critical part of our daughters' life-long beauty habits.  If your dentist is like ours, she will ask your daughter a lot of questions about her eating habits, the beverages she drinks, the snacks she enjoys, what, if anything she drinks before bed, and the vitamins she takes.  I do love our dentist because she reinforces the consumption habits we endorse.  Protein and vegetables are great.  Water, great.  Avoid soda and limit or water-down juices.  Energy bars and candy are not good snacks.  Fruits are better.  With Valentines' Day approaching, dark chocolate is much better than milk chocolate.  Gummie vitamins have a lot of sugar; chewables are .& - Read More »

Okay, winter has hit with a vengeance. Having just returned from sunny, warm, California, I can see why Californians have sympathy for us, but don't want to be us ( New Yorkers).

While we were there, my family spent a relaxing morning at the La Quinta Resort and Spa. It's quite lovely there, and they offer  select spa treatments for young girls.  Since this was the holidays, my daughter got a short treatment as a special treat. But no matter the location, we all have our rituals for fighting winter blues–and winter skin.   For ourselves, we apply lots of moisturizers to our faces and bodies; we try to use oil-based shower gels; and when possible, we soak in baths to replenish moisture loss from cold, heat, and/or dryness.  Anything so we do not have to look at those fish scales on our arms and legs!

Our tween girls suffer from the - Read More »

I have been doing a few in-store events this past week. Ottilie & Lulu has been performing in-store facials by appointment at select stores around the Tri-State area (NY-NJ-CT).  I love being in-store because I get to talk to girls and their moms.  And during my one-on-one time with tween girls, they tell me their top gift picks for this holiday season.

But before I share the girls’ wish list, I have to tell you about one of the best stores I have had the opportunity to be in. For those in the Tri-State area, this will not be a surprise:  Marcia’s Attic for Kids in Englewood, New Jersey.  They carry classic and trendy styles  up to age 14.  Their personal service is absolutely amazing.  I will share more about them in another blog, but let’s go back to top Tweens’ Top Holiday Picks.

Top of their wish list?  The Nintendo DSI in - Read More »

Your tween probably has a lot of holiday parties and celebrations coming up over the next several weeks. Inevitably your daughter will ask if she can wear (some type of) make up.  What will you answer?  Well, what and how you answer depends on your tweens’ age and whether or not you are willing to be her make-up artist.

The age range for tweens is anywhere from 7 to 14.  If your tween daughter is on the young side of this age range (7-10), I think it appropriate to suggest a light, natural-shade lip balm or gloss.  Avoid any foundation, blush, eye make-up-especially glitter (does anyone at any age look good in glitter make up?)  Young girls certainly don’t, and it irritates their skin. Use this opportunity to establish your credentials as an authority on beauty and demonstrate your willingness to be helpful in this area.  Before she starts to apply lip gloss, - Read More »

One of the things I enjoy doing between the week of Christmas and New Year’s is reviewing Top 10 Lists.  You know the lists I mean–almost every magazine title has their writers assemble these year-end lists.  Time.com does a good job.

I enjoy these lists because they remind me of some of the highs and lows that have taken place in the past 12 months; sometimes the lists call to my attention some of the things I’ve totally missed this year.  From best movies, best performances, best fiction, best non-fiction, best (and worst) fashion outings, to buzz words, etc. these lists are a flash of the past. 

As parents we have all been inundated with best toys, games, books, and movies lists since the beginning of December.  These lists were  created more for the purpose of guiding holiday , - Read More »

One of the activities I have come to really enjoy during the holiday season is the sending and receiving of holiday cards with photos. But, enjoying this activity is only a recent phenomen for me.  And, yes, it has everything to do with my daughter. 

When I was growing up my parents and their friends wouldn’t think of putting their children’s photos on holiday cards.  It was considered egotistical and gauche.  Perhaps those were the reasons why it took me so long to warm to this activity.  Some families may still consider photo holiday cards inappropriate, but I have become a convert. 

In fact, I have come to really love this part of the holidays.  In our family we celebrate both Christmas and Chanukah, so we send cards with our daughter’s photo on them to all of our friends.  And we look forward to receiving photo cards from we & - Read More »

Lots of Moms have a love/hate relationship with Thanksgiving. We know there is something really wonderful and special in being able to have our family around us. We take pride in preparing a great meal to be shared by those we care about.  We love the warmth the day brings to our hearts.  What don’t we like? The shopping, the hours of chopping, cooking, traveling, and just being so incredibly busy right up to when the dinner is on the table.  And it all goes by so fast! 

Our tweens watch us as we make our preparations, and they even help.  This year my 7-year old decided she wanted to contribute to the family meal with her special dessert-a vanilla pudding pie.  As I watched her stirring the pudding pot, we talked about Thanksgiving and what it means to us.  She gave me her ‘historical’ perspective.  She told me about the Indians and the Pilgrims and what they ate - Read More »

I read there is a new fashion doll being introduced this season and being targeted at the primary school set.  My stomach turned. Yes, I owned the ubiquitious Barbie Dolls (Ken, too) when I was growing up, and I do not get crazy when my tween daughter gets one as a gift.  However, I will admit to placing it under her other dolls hoping she does not find it. Do I really think curvaceous dolls will influence her  standards of beauty?  To some degree, yes.  I think all tween girls aspire to be beautiful just as their dolls are beautiful.  If we are really honest with ourselves, we know our dolls had an impact on our beauty standards.  That’s why it is critical to provide tweens with a context and a healthy plan to coincide with these aspirations. 

Sorry, I need to spend a few more words on what I find most troubling with some of the dolls I - Read More »

Welcome to Ottilie & Lulu, a skin and hair care line specially formulated for tween girls.  Does your daughter know how to wash her face?  Does she wash her face at least twice a day?  Does she know how to apply sun screen?  Have you shared with her that taking care of her skin today will enhance her natural beauty and help her to have better skin when she is your age?  If she is anything like many of the tweens I interviewed before I created Ottilie & Lulu, the answer is probably, “no.”

Girls, ages 7 to 14, face their own unique skin and hair challenges.  Whether or not she has started asking you about your beauty products or your make up, now is the ideal time to introduce an easy, daily hygiene regime.

So how do mothers introduce good skin and hair care to their tween daughters?  We demonstrate our own daily hygiene regime, - Read More »