So I had to tell you guys about a few products I’ve recently been trying and have really LOVED compared to others out there like them.

Acne treatment: Murad Clarifying Body Spray – I give this one a huge thumbs up! Since my hormones have started going crazy about 7 months ago from pregnancy, I have been battling back acne outbreaks that came out of no where and with vengeance! I tried every kind of acne body scrub, acne body lotion, acne pads, etc…and nothing was helping me! I have been using this product for over a week now and no new outbreaks have showed up and the redness/scars that were forming from the past few months, have been slowly diminishing! Also, no dryness!

Tanning lotion: Beach Sexy Daily Glow Gradual Tan Moisturizer w/SPF 15 – I love the idea of tanning lotions & sprays but I have always HATED that smell that you get after it develops. I can’t even explain what I think it smells like (everything from “wet dog hair” to “burnt chicken” have been some descriptions I’ve heard, haha!) So when I heard from someone else that they didn’t think this one had a smell, I had to try it! Sure enough, the great fruity smell that it has when you first apply it, really lasts & doesn’t change into THAT gross smell that I hate! (The Beach Sexy Instant Self Tan Lotion with Tint has THAT smell, so I don’t recommend that one!) It really gives you a nice glow too, not orange!

Tooth Whitening: Plus White 5 Minute Bleach Whitening Gel - The lovely makeup artist, Kandee Johnson, recommended this one in one of her blogs and so I figured I’d give it a try after seeing her pearly whites! The first great thing about it, it costs like $6 for a big tube! The second great thing, I have had no tooth/gum sensitivity from it like I’ve had from other whitening strips out there! And the third great thing, it doesn’t have that horrible ‘bleach’ taste to it as it processes! I’ve been using it in my retainer (that is perfect as a tray), but you can just purchase sports teeth guards for like $1 each and just use that to put the gel in.

I highly recommend these items, try them out!

Some quick beauty fixes that you might find really work for you when you are on the run!

Clumping mascara? Use a clean mascara wand to try to get rid of some of the clumps (while the mascara is still wet), then use a tooth pick to separate your lashes.

Puffy eyes? Place an ice pack on your eyes for a minute, then dab some chilled Preparation H  under your eyes until it’s absorbed. Add a touch of concealer (a pink base cancels out the purple) & you should see a difference!

Mosquito bite? Place an ice pack on the area for a minute, then dab some Visine eye drops on the red area. Add a touch of concealer (a green base cancels out the red) & red be gone!

Teeth stains? Always carry around some teeth wipes with you for a quick brush in between your red wine, coffee, or tea to get rid of the stains!

I’m now in my 2nd trimester and continue to read about things I should and shouldn’t be doing when it comes to certain beauty products & what new things I can expect. Here is some good info I have come across:

• It is normal during pregnancy to grow hair on other parts of your body, such as your abdomen, face, or back. Don’t shave, but using a hair bleach every so often might be a good option at this time!
• Creams or oils (such as vitamin E oil) or other treatments have not been shown to prevent stretch marks. They do, however, help with skin dryness and may reduce itching. It doesn’t hurt to lather up your body more during pregnancy in case it might help you with stretch marks! Read the rest of this entry »

There is nothing like a pimple to make you feel like that’s the only thing that people are staring at when you are face to face! Obviously, you can’t make it totally disappear but you can try to do your best covering it up with some makeup tricks.

Before any application, make sure to add extra face moisturizer on the problem areas, as they tend to get those dry edges.  Using a concealer that matches your skin tone or one with a green tint (helps with the redness), lightly blot the pimp(s) with the tip of your finger or a makeup sponge. Trying to leave more of the concealer on the top of the pimp(s), then blending from the edge out to your face so it’s not a big spot.

Apply some light foundation as you usually would and finish off with some loose powder.

Remember, your acne could be coming from dirty brushes, old makeup, makeup that is not oil-controlling, or from not properly washing your face before going to bed! Try to avoid all this and use this makeup trick to cover them up when they pop up!

I can’t carry around my whole makeup collection with me everywhere I go, so let me note some of the basic makeup steps & products that I use (and can easily carry around) daily!

*Moisturizer with SPF 15+ – load it on ladies!

*Sheer foundation or powder all over

*Light sweeps of bronzer on face & neck

*Blush just on the apples of the cheeks

*One coat of black mascara on the top lashes

*Dotted black eyeliner on the lower lash

*Lip gloss to finish it off!

Just 5 minutes in the morning, can help make you look great all day!

Something I like to do is mix the MAC Studio Finish concealer with the MAC Studio Fix Fluid and cover under the eyes, around the nose,  mouth & any other must-cover areas.
It makes it easier to apply the concealer since it gives it a creamer finish and just adds extra coverage in the areas where you need it most!