Pregnancy is a time of joyous expectation and exciting new changes, but the morning sickness, dehydration and sudden skin sensitivity can sometimes leave you feeling less than beautiful. Gina Brooke, the Artistic Director for Hourglass Cosmetics, is a world-renowned makeup artist and a recent new mother herself, and she’s giving her unique perspective on looking and feeling your best.
“I loved being pregnant, but it certainly inspired some changes in my beauty routine,” says Gina. “Ensuring my body stayed hydrated, protected and free of irritants were my top priorities.”

Now, Gina is sharing her best tips and insider product recommendations for looking and feeling beautiful during your pregnancy:

· Skin is especially fragile during pregnancy, so SPF is key. Gina relies on Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 ($52), a silky, mineral-based primer, before applying makeup. It smoothes the skin, neutralizes redness and hydrates the complexion while being free of gluten, parabens, sulfates and phthalates. It’s also vegan.

· Dry, chapped lips are one of the many side effects that pregnant women experience, and the best way to resolve this is to exfoliate and hydrate on a regular basis. Gina loves Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant ($18), a sugar-based lip scrub. Poppy seeds and sugar granules gently remove flaky skin, while shea butter conditions your lips. After exfoliating, try Hourglass Aura Sheer Lip Stain ($26). This water-based, liquid gel stain formula offers a delicious wash of color and contains Vitamin E and Green Tea to make lips extra supple.

· Dry hair can be an issue for many moms-to-be as hormone levels fluctuate. Remedy it with Phyto’s Phyto 9 Daily Ultra Nourishing Botanical Cream for Ultra Dry Hair ($26). This leave-in treatment makes hair incredibly silky and shiny with macadamia oil and plant extracts. It also works to smooth frizz and split ends.

· Many women experience dehydrated skin during pregnancy. Gina recommends using Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer ($55) to restore moisture to the skin and to create the “illusion” of healthy, glowing skin. It has light-reflecting properties and contains hyaluronic spheres which hydrate and keep skin looking soft and hydrated. It also contains an SPF 15 and is free of parabens, gluten, sulfates and phthalates. It’s also vegan.

Discover all of Gina’s recommended products at Sephora stores nationwide and on Sephora.com via computer or smartphone.

I just had the chance to review the Motif line and I am really impressed. The design and scent rival high end soap products but theses beauties are only $2.99! Throw a few in a basket with a bow and you have a great hostess gift for summer parties.

Motif
Spring is always a great time to freshen up, especially for a brand. Motif, the luxuriously designed, but affordably priced line of hand soaps, has redesigned the beautiful packaging of its original and top four selling hand soaps. Citrus Zest and Ginger, Cypress and Pear, Olive Leaf and Coriander and Water Lily and Herbs can now be found on store shelves in their original rich fragrances, but in new striking patterns. Since the Motif brand aligns with fashion, it is committed to updating product designs annually to stay on trend for color and pattern that engages consumers at a level that hand washes normally have not.

Attached please find a photo of the new patterns and a fact sheet on the collection. All Motif Hand Washes are formulated with the healing and soothing properties of Aloe Vera and are available nationwide at Target for $2.99.

Please visit www.motifliving.com for more information

Disclosure: complimentary samples of the above mention product were sent to me for an honest review.

My dad was diagnosed with skin cancer and had to have surgery to remove it last month.  Now my desire to protect my families skin has gone into high gear and I’ve assumed the role of militant sunscreen pusher! One thing that has made it easier to protect my the skin of my loved ones is the great suncare line from JASON.

They have every product you need from lip bald to SPF 45 Sport Sunblock and they all have a yummy pina colada scent. I love how easily the products absorb no white mess just wonderfully smelling protected skin.

Fight Against Incidental Sun Exposure!

Incidental sun exposure from everyday activities such as jogging, walking, or sitting by an office window can cause significant skin damage. Did you know that skin cancer is more likely on the left side from driving! That’s why dermatologists recommend daily sun protection to fight against skin damage and pre-mature signs of aging!

JASON Sunblocks offer an array of sunscreens for everyone—whether you’re a sports enthusiast or a mom running after her active kids, protect yourself from those harmful rays and make JASON Sunblock a beauty essential!

Sport Natural Sunblock SPF 45…………$11.95
Family Natural Sunblock SPF 45 ………$11.95
Facial Natural Sunblock SPF 20…………$11.95
Kids Natural Sunblock SPF 45………….$11.95
Mineral Natural Sunblock SPF 30………$14.95
Lip Balm SPF 25…………………………..$4.95

JASON Natural is sold at Jason-natural.com or your natural foods retailers

The temperature is heating up just like summer’s color trends – bright colors and bronze beauty! To help you get ready for the sultry days of summer, Elizabeth Arden is introducing our NEW Ceramide Ultra Lipstick and a NEW limited edition color collection – Bronze in Bloom!

Color Intrigue Eyeshadow Quad – $30 – Limited Edition – Blue Breeze – coordinated hues of blue. These two quads include shadows ranging from dark blues to metallics and lilac hues for bright summer eyes.

Color Intrigue Eyeshadow Quad – $30 – Limited Edition – Golden Lilac – with shades ranging from the softest lavender to midnight grey.

Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil – $16 – in Black Violet or Blue Sky – long wearing cream pencil with a soft, powder finish. These ultra-blendable and long-lasting liners give amazing definition to eyes and add an unexpected pop of color.

Pure Finish Mineral Cheekcolor – $28 – in Sun-kissed Rose or Sun-kissed Coral – a microlight mineral cheek colour. Comes with its own mini angles kabuki brush for perfect application.  This freshly ground blush comes in a beautiful coral shade, perfect for a natural looking glow.

High Shine Lip Gloss – $15 – Tropicoral – for a brilliant shine! This beautiful coral shade looks great on all skin tones and is the perfect finishing touch to a bronze glow.

Also available is:
Pure Finish Mineral Bronzing Powder – $38 – in Medium – includes a mini folding kabuki brush that fits into compact.
Ceramide Lash Extending Tretment Mascara – $20 – in black or brown
Face Powder Brush with Folding Mini Face Brush – $28

Need help putting it all together? Check out Celebrity Makeup Artist Brett Freedman’s tips here on how to get the look!