Veronica Greene Beauty Blog

Whether your children are excited about Halloween or a little afraid of it, it is certainly a very unique holiday full of Jack-o-lanterns, spider webs (albeit cotton ones), skeletons, costumes and, of course, lots and lots of candy.

During this time of year, I get endless questions about protecting the kids (and their teeth) from harmful effects of candy and sweets. I always recommend to indulge them a little. After all, you don’t want to deprive them of fun completely. However, there are plenty of fun and tasty alternatives to sugary candy that are sweet and that your kids will love. Some examples…

1. Fresh fruit – why not pack their bags with fresh oranges and apples. They are tasty, juicy and are full of vitamins. We recommend little clementine’s, baby apples and small bananas as anything larger could be too much of a weight.
2. Dried fruit – a very healthy alternative that comes in individually wrapped packaging from a number of companies. Try banana chips, dried apricots, cherries and cranberries.
3. Mini water bottles – with all the trick or treating (and dry fruit eating), your kids are sure to get dehydrated and thirsty. Little water bottles can definitely save the day. Pick small, plastic or biodegradable, bottles that are not too heavy. The water can be plain or flavored, but should not contain sugar.
4. Granola bars – a delicious and portable on-the-go snack. These are full of vitamins, minerals and whole grains. Some may have sweets added to them, but usually in small amounts. Make sure to avoid any that contain caffeine.
5. Fat free popcorn – comes in individual packaging from many companies, is light and easy to carry. Choose ones with a little salt or sweetness for taste.
6. Plush toys – not an edible treat, but is sure to be exciting and longer lasting than any snack they receive for Halloween.

One snack we do not recommend is nuts. Some children are allergic to peanuts (which are actually legumes), and any nuts in general may be very hard on young teeth.

We do recommend that before you hand out any treats for Halloween, always ask the children if they have any allergies.

At the end of the evening your little ones are likely to be excited and exhausted with many stories to tell. After all the snacking, make sure they brush their teeth before bedtime.

Fall is definitely not a season lacking in Holidays. We start with Halloween, continue with Thanksgiving and then move on to the Winter Holidays.

All this spells food, sweets and sugary drinks. For children, especially, this is a very fun and festive time. For parents, it can be a bit worrisome and filled with questions, such as how to protect the children’s teeth.

I always get many questions from my patients around the holidays about dental care for their kids and I am always happy to make a few suggestions.

1. Do not deny them candy. This may sound counter intuitive, but children love sweets and keeping them away from enjoyment will put a damper on their holidays. Instead, I recommend to simply compromise on the amount. Having too much may affect not only their teeth, but their overall health. Eating a few pieces is ok, provided that your child’s pediatrician has no objections.
2. If possible, set up specific times of day when the children eat sweets. For example, after a meal or as a small snack. Measuring portions and watching timing will give you more control over the amount and overall routine.
3. Always teach dental hygiene. With all the sugary foods they are consuming your kids Must (and we mean Must!) practice regular dental care. This includes very thorough brushing twice a day.
4. We also recommend rinsing with water after each time they eat sweets. While saliva helps to wash away acids, rinsing with extra water will wash any residual particles and any sticky candy (these are the ones that cause cavities the most).
5. Regular dental check-ups. We recommend at least twice per year. This will ensure that any new cavities are treated while they are small.

We hope this information will be useful to you and your children and wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season 2021!!

Now that we are approaching September, it’s time to shop for back to school clothes, supplies and snacks. The days of camps, vacations and no school work are coming to an end (if only temporarily). This means that your kids are likely to be away from you for longer period of time while they are in school and possibly after-school programs, and daily dental care becomes even more important.

A few things to consider:

• Give your kids fruits and vegetables to take to school as "healthy snacks" instead of carbohydrates. Choose fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of water, such as pears, melons, apples and cucumbers. Limit bananas and raisins, as these contain concentrated sugar and stick to the teeth.
• Avoid sticky, chewy foods. Raisins, dried figs, granola bars, oatmeal or peanut butter cookies, jelly beans, caramel, honey, molasses and syrup stick to teeth, making it difficult for saliva to wash them away. If your child takes these to school as a snack, give them a bottle of water to drink after they eat the snack.
• Get your children in the habit of eating as few snacks as possible. The frequency of snacking is far more important than the quantity consumed. Time between meals allows saliva to wash away food particles that bacteria would otherwise feast on. Try to limit snacks to no more than one or two a day.
• Offer your child plain water instead of juice or soda. Juices, sodas and even milk contain sugar. Water does not harm the teeth and aids in washing away any food particles that may be clinging to teeth.

One of the most important holidays, about the most important person, is coming up. It’s a day of family gatherings, socializing, crunching, and, of course, gift-giving.

Here are 5 suggestions to show your love and appreciation for that special woman in your life.

1.Cake – try a scrumptious Strawberry Shortcake from MilkBarStore.com. White moist cake with cream and strawberry filling that can be ordered in the form of a shortcake, shortcake truffles, strawberry shortcake caramel snap tin, etc. There are multiple options with many available for $50 or less.

2. That perfect desert – a set of 25 colorful and flavorful mini cupcakes from Baked by Melissa. These include Cookies and Cream, Triple Chocolate Fudge, Red Velvet, Vanilla and Sprinkles as well as many other flavors. Yummm!!! $32

3. Something to inhale – a perfect fragrance that is! We tried (and Loved!) the Aquatic Perfume Sampler Set from Sephora. Five mini fragrances with varying aquatic scents, beautifully packaged and easy for mom to carry in her purse. Perfect for the upcoming summer. $25

4. Breath fragrance – our own Veronica Greene breath sprays that come in three different and delicious flavors. Beautiful on-the-go packaging for a product that freshens breath and tastes amazing. A perfect gift! $16 each or get all three for $48.

5. Flowers – nothing says ‘I love you, mom!’ better than a beautiful flower arrangement. For this special gift, we like The Bouqs. Co. They have many options in a varying price range with multiple arrangements available for under $50. Whatever her favorite flower is, their arrangements are sure to wow! Bouqs.com

We wish everyone a beautiful Mother’s Day filled with fun, joy and making beautiful memories with this very special woman.

Let’s face it! Our breath is one of the first things people notice about us during an interaction. Bad breath can have a negative effect in business and also be an immense turn off during a romantic encounter.

But what are the actual parameters by which we should evaluate our breath spray? Here are a few attributes that can make your breath spray (and your breath) an absolute winner!!

1. Clean – since the spray is going in your mouth, always check that it contains only clean ingredients. Though there are no official guidelines on which ingredients are harmful, there have been multiple lists of ‘banned ingredients’ compiled by multiple outlets. We have our own list that is very comprehensive and we stand by avoiding all ingredients on it. For more information and to see our list, take a look here: Clean and Sustainable – Veronica Greene Brand (veronica-greene.com)
2. Sustainable – while clean ingredients are safe to use in the human body, sustainable ingredients are the ones safe for our planet. All ingredients (and packaging) of the spray should be harmless to Earth. Above all, your breath spray ingredients should never be tested on animals.
3. Easy to carry – the packaging should be small enough for the ‘on-the-go’ lifestyle. It should be easy to hold, simple to use and should easily fit in a purse. Our VG Breath Sprays do exactly that!!
4. Flavor – most companies place emphasis on mint. We, at VG Brand, prefer more unique and exotic flavors.
5. Effectiveness – after all, the spray is supposed to make your breath feel fresh and clean for as long as possible. The secret behind the VG Spray effectiveness is our proprietary technology that places the ‘cleaning ingredients’ into tiny nano globules which burst over time, making the freshness last longer.

Tip:

Wow!! Are we in February already?! It’s the coldest month and a perfect time for our most favorite holiday.

We Love Valentine’s Day!!

Not only is it the time for snuggles, decadent chocolates, flickering candles and champagne bubbles, but also a celebration of love and romance with sensual kisses, passionate embraces and sweet whispers.

We, at VG brand, had so much fun putting together a list of absolute must haves for V-Day 2021. These will help you set the mood, create a feeling of romance and make it comfortable to get close to your special someone.

Here we go:

1. Chocolates – we love the Knipschildt’s (yes, impossible to pronounce) assortment of 12 decadent and smooth chocolates. The brand was named one of the Top 3 in the world by Gourmet Magazine and the taste of these multi-colored, multi-flavored creations definitely lives up to that reputation. They are sold through Williams-Sonoma.com and are packaged in a beautiful dark red box.
   Price - $34.95

2. Mood Setter – try the Apple Blossom Classic Candle from Nest.com. Not only does it have the most sensual sweet fragrance of red apples, apple blossoms, white amber and cedarwood, but it also comes in a beautifully designed red box. The candle, itself, is in a red striped glass container. All around perfect for Valentine’s Day.
   Price - $44

3. Sensual Treat – for a truly gourmet experience we recommend the macaron from LaDuree Paris. It’s a French desert that made its way into many corners of the world. Two small almond based cookies (not too soft, not too crunchy) connected by sweet filling, they come in many flavors and colors. The Napoleon III box from the Classic Collection includes 12 pieces of flavors of your choice. The packaging is very ornate and comes in three different colors. Perfect for a gift.
   Price - $41

4. For Him – a very masculine and rugged AirPods Pro from MarkAndGraham.com. We like the black or dark brown options. USA made from Horween leather it has an LED charging indicator that shows when the battery is low on power.
   Price - $35 as is or $47 with a classic foil monogram

5. Skin Fragrance – OMG! The Fragrance Discovery Kit by (Malin+Gaetz). Why we love it…It’s gender neutral, perfect for him, perfect for her. Plus, this eau de parfum comes in a set of six on the go 2ml vials. The fragrances are totally unique and unexpected (our favorite kind). They come in bergamot, cannabis, dark rum, leather, stem and vetiver.
   Price - $24

6. Breath Fragrance – talk about feeling confident while getting close!! Our own VG Brand breath sprays come in three unique flavors such as pear, orange ginger and black currant (more flavors coming soon. Promise!!). They will freshen your breath while making you feel sensual and romantic. Multi-flavored, multi-colored, they come in easy to carry, perfect for the life on the go 10ml glass vials. Plus, they are made with only clean ingredients. Rose and gold packaging will make them a perfect gift, whether for yourself or that special someone.
   Price - $16 per vial, or $48 for the set of three

We hope your Holiday this February turns out to be all you expect and more.

Happy Valentines Day from the Team at VG Brand.

It has always been one of our top brand priorities to use only clean and sustainable ingredients that hold up to the industry standards.

We are happy to report that the industry has just hit a new high point with California State Assembly Bill 2762 signed into Law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. This Bill had received wide support from groups including the Environmental Working Group (EWG) as well as Personal Care Products Council (PCPC).

The law provides that starting January 1, 2025 ‘no person or entity shall manufacture, sell, deliver, hold or offer for sale, in commerce any cosmetic product that contains any of the following [12] intentionally added ingredients’

1. Dibutyl phthalate (CAS no. 84-74-2)
2. Diethylhexyl phthalate (CAS no. 117-81-7)
3. Formaldehyde (CAS no. 50-00-0)
4. Paraform­aldehyde (CAS no. 30525-89-4)
5. Methylene glycol (CAS no. 463-57-0)
6. Quaternium-15 (CAS no. 51229-78-8)
7. Mercury (CAS no. 7439-97-6)
8. Isobutyl­paraben (CAS no. 4247-02-3)
9. Isopropy­lparaben (CAS no. 4191-73-5)
10. m-Phenylen­ediamine and its salts (CAS no. 108-45-2)
11. o-Phenylen­ediamine and its salts (CAS no. 95-54-5)
12. The Per- and Polyfluo­roalkyl substances (PFAS) and their salts

While this is currently a California State Law, we consider it a huge step in the right direction to assuring that the Cosmetic Industry Standards are followed. This Law will ensure that various harmful substances are kept out of cosmetic products, especially considering that many of these products are used by women of child bearing age.

Our brand considers it a top priority to comply with Industry Standards. Therefore, none of the ingredients on this list are used in any of our products.

For our list of ingredients please visit:
Frequently Asked Questions – Veronica Greene Brand (veronica-greene.com)

For our own list of banned ingredients please visit:
Clean and Sustainable – Veronica Greene Brand (veronica-greene.com)

Thanks for reading and, as always, we wish you and your family to stay healthy and safe during these unusual times.

Welcome to the 2020 Holidays! 

This is by far the most unusual Holiday Season we’ve had in generations. Wearing masks, socially distancing, and doing most of our holiday shopping online rather than physically going to stores is a new and different experience.

That said, the holidays that are coming up are for celebrating family and giving thanks for everything we have. We hope that you and your families are staying safe and healthy through the season and beyond.

To help with online shopping, we’ve compiled a list of five gifts you can easily order and have delivered. They are not only affordable but are all attractive and useful gifts that are sure to wow any recipient.

Here we go:

1. Makeup (face) – we love the Baked Sculpt and Glow 3 - in - 1 Palette from Ulta. A perfect trio of Bronzer, Blush, and Highlighter, it comes in warm, neutral, and cool sets. Filled with useful oils and extracts, it can be used as powder or cream. Its formulated without parabens, mineral oil, and fragrance. Price: $15
2. Makeup (lips) – our own Veronica Greene Brand liquid lipsticks come in 5 different shades and two different consistencies. From the neutral Sweet Whisper to deeply dramatic Va Va Vixen, it is sure to make a major pout statement and comes beautifully packaged too! Price: $19
3. Fragrance – Atelier Cologne Perfume Stories Mini Set comes with seven vials, 2ml each, of different scents that we absolutely adore! The set covers everything from citrus to vanilla to cedarwood. The packaging is beautiful, as well. A perfect gift all around. Price: $24
4. Fragrance (for your breath, that is) – our Veronica Greene Brand breath sprays have, in fact, been compared to fragrance. A choice of 3 flavors (and more coming soon!), ranging from spicy citrus to gourmet pear, it is as delicious as it is beautifully packaged. Price: $16
5. Gourmet – for the chocolate lovers, our absolute favorite is the Lindor Holiday Sampler Gift Box. It comes with 36 pieces (about 1 lb) of unique and sensual chocolate experience ranging from dark to white shell with various fillings. Add to it the beautiful holiday packaging, and you have a perfect gift! Price: $19.99

These include our most favorites for this Holiday Season!

We wish you a Happy and Healthy Season filled with warmth and smiles.

In this era of a global pandemic, it may be difficult to take your little one to a pediatrician or a pediatric dentist, especially for an in-person visit.

Teeth, however, will not wait to make their presence known, and usually start to make their appearance around age six months. Teething is usually a challenging time for babies, and occasionally even more so for the parents.

Having just gone through my baby’s first teething stage (at age 8 months), I can understand, first hand, the challenges of keeping your baby happy and healthy through their teething process.

Here is a rundown on what to expect, how to soothe, and what to watch out for during your baby’s teething stage.

• Irritability – the baby may cry more than usual.
• Drooling and skin rash around the mouth – when teeth are coming in, they may stimulate your little one’s salivary glands to produce more saliva so that the baby may drool more than usual. The presence of saliva may cause a rash around the lips.
• Coughing – mild and without congestion.
• Biting and Gnawing – a natural reflex to relieve the discomfort of teeth coming through the gums.
• Low-Grade Fever.
• Cheek rubbing and ear pulling – your baby may have referred pain making them feel some discomfort in the cheeks and ears.

2. What to do – there are several things you can do to help your little one through this process:

• Chilled Fruit – any fruit that is cooked and does not cause any allergies can be chilled and placed into a mesh feeder (to prevent choking) and given to the baby.
• Cold Washcloth – may be placed on sore gums. Make sure to keep it in your hands at all times when it’s in the baby’s mouth.
• Gum massage – with washed hands, you can gently massage their little gums in a circular motion.
• Teething toys – you can give your baby a non-gel filled teething toy. The toy can be chilled in the fridge or freezer to provide some relief. Choose a toy that is easy for your baby to hold.
• Wipe the drool away – this prevents irritation. You can use a soft burp cloth or a small soft towel.
• Plenty of cuddles – babies feel vulnerable during this stage. Giving them comfort and reassurance through hugs is a beautiful way to help them through the process.

3. What to watch out for – certain things are not part of the norm during teething and may need you to contact a pediatrician. These include:

• Fever – if over 101.
• Liquids – the decreased need for fluids.
• Rash – other than a facial rash.
• Cough and congestion – may be a sign that the baby is ill.
• Diarrhea and vomiting – if uncontrollable.

I hope that these suggestions and tips will help you to navigate your baby’s teething process.

In the meantime, look out for our November article, where we will explore the teething timeline and how to take care of your little one’s newly erupted teeth.

In this very unusual year, we all made adjustments and changes to our lifestyle.

Social distancing and mask-wearing have been an unwelcome change yet are necessary to try to stay healthy.

One big surprise for many has been a struggle to keep a clean and fresh smelling breath under that mask.

Why is our breath worse with a mask?

There are already several reasons why breath can have less than desirable odor. These include lack of proper oral hygiene, eating certain foods like garlic, smoking cigarettes, and drinking alcohol. Now, with a mask, there is an extra source of bad breath.

It’s normal for a mouth to house billions of different bacteria. These help to keep the mouth healthy and aid initial food digestion. These bacteria are divided into aerobic (need oxygen to survive) and anaerobic (do not need oxygen to survive). The anaerobic, non-oxygen bacteria are the ones that produce unpleasant breath.

Usually, we breathe in a certain amount of oxygen when we speak or eat.

Now, enter the face mask, which limits the amount of oxygen we breath in during the day.

This lower amount of oxygen can change the proportion of the bacteria in the mouth, making the anaerobic bacteria dominate, hence the bad breath.

These anaerobic odor-causing bacteria thrive in dark, warm, and moist areas that are devoid of oxygen, which is why our breath tends to be worse in the morning, and when using a mask.

What to do?

1. More oxygen – no, we are not advocating an oxygen mask. That said, if you are in a private area such as your home, take a few breaths through your mouth to increase the amount of air going in. Just make sure the air is clean and not too cold.
2. Mouthwash – swoosh several times over the course of the day. This will help to keep the bacterial load in check. We recommend any of our VG Mouthwashes. They don’t just whiten teeth but will freshen your breath as well.
3. Breath Spray – especially the kind you can easily put in your purse. Any of our VG breath sprays will do the trick. We offer 3 flavors and more on the way!!

While there are a number of reasons breath can have an undesirable odor, there are also a number of ways to combat it.

Wishing everyone clean and fresh breath and to stay healthy in 2020 and beyond.

In the last year, the world has experienced a fundamental shift in the way we view socializing, interacting with others, watching our health, and traveling.

The airline industry has made extensive changes in flight schedules, seating arrangements, and mask requirements on flights.

If you choose to travel, whether essential or not, here are the top five items we recommend to bring with you on the plane:

1. Mask – we can’t stress this enough! Whether you are flying to or from a state with mask requirements, a mask will likely be required to board the plane. Some airlines are now banning passengers who refuse or fail to wear a mask. In terms of safety, a triple layer mask, may be one item standing between you and a possibility of infection. We recommend a surgical triple layer mask with loops that are short enough to provide a snug fit over your nose, mouth and chin. These usually come in light blue color and have adjustable wiring to fit around the nose.
   
   
2. Breath Spray – after all that breathing into a mask for the entire flight you may feel a change in your breath. A freshening and tasty breath spray is very rejuvenating for the mouth. We recommend our Pear, Orange Ginger or Black Currant sprays. More flavors coming soon – Stay Tuned!!
   
   
3. Disposable Gloves – hand rails, luggage, door handles… You are likely to be touching multiple surfaces before, during and after your flight. Airports have thousands of people go through them on daily basis, which means you can’t be too careful. A pair of disposable gloves can save the day.
   
   
4. Hand Lotion – after your flight we recommend removing the gloves and thoroughly washing your hands. It’s likely that from gloves and soap hands will become dry. A moisturizing and highly absorbent lotion can save the day.
   
   
5. A really awesome lipstick – wearing a mask on your flight, as well as in public places means your lips are constantly in contact with it. We do not recommend wearing lipstick under the mask. When the mask finally comes off, using a great moisturizing lipstick will do wonders for your lips (and likely for your mood too!!). Any of our lipsticks will do the job to help you face the day in style!!