My Twin Pregnancy Beauty Must Haves

July 6, 2018

As a 5’3 125lb woman, the moment I knew I was having twins I knew I had to get ahead of the inevitable stretch marks. Pregnancy is new territory for me and a huge learning curve however, I at least know when it comes to products that I’m going to be rubbing all over my body I want them to be more natural. For stretch mark prevention I am loving Basq Resilient Body Oil. The Lavender scent is calming after my evening shower and the oil easily absorbs into my skin. I focus this oil on my entire belly area and hips.

For all the other areas of my expanding body I love using Shea Moisture’s Raw Shea Butter body lotion with Frankincense & Myrrh.

Luckily I wasn’t too nauseas in my first trimester but not all are so lucky. For those of you who find yourselves making out with your toilet seat on the regular, I highly recommend these lovely damage-free ribbion hair ties!

Not only are these hair ties great for gently holding your hair back damage free, they also work great for holding your shrinking pre-pregnancy pants up!

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Hormones determine a lot of different things during pregnancy. My hormones decided they wanted my hair to be dry, limp, and brittle. To combat this unfortunate circumstance I use my Davines Renewing serum mid strand to ends daily. This serum contains antioxidant-rich spinach extract and maqui berry to protect the youth of the hair and scalp.Some women develop “pregnancy mask” which is hyperpigmentation of the skin on your face due to the higher levels of estrogen. Knowing this was a possibility for me my esthetician recommended that I use Iluma intense lightening serum. I had already been using this for acne spots and was amazed by its performance so I was very relived to hear it was not only safe to use during pregnancy but it was also a great preventative measure.
Dry hair, dry skin, and dry lips I can’t seem to get enough water in my system! Burt’s Bees lip balm is my absolute favorite!

Dark spots are not just a result from hormone imbalances. Dark spots can appear when you’ve been exposed to the sun. I LOVE Image skincare’s oil free prevention SPF. It does not make your skin look white and it dries smooth to the touch. I wear this EVERYDAY.

Last but not least WATER is the most important beauty & wellness must have during pregnancy and just life! Drinking half your weight in ounces daily is ideal. Doing this keeps you, your baby/babies, and skin in the best condition possible. This is a no-brainer I must say.

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My NOLA loves!

April 27, 2015

I enjoyed four wonderful days in the beautiful New Orleans during St. Patty’s day weekend…and I’m still alive to tell the tale! Here is a recap of my trip and all of the amazing places I experienced. NOLA isn’t just about the party…

THE HOTEL: MAGNOLIA MANSION

This place is a hidden gem! Right around the corner from the American Horror story “Coven” house, Magnolia Mansion will blow you away. It has insanely high ceilings, claw foot tubs, four post beds, and decor that will make you feel like royalty!

You absolutely must have Shea moisture bubble bath, Davines Nou Nou shampoo & conditioner travel packs, and Burt’s Bee’s cleansing cloths when bathing in this gorgeous tub!

THE PARTY SCENE: MAGAZINE STREET

Just a few blocks parallel from out hotel we stumbled upon a crazy St Patty’s day parade. Now typically when you think of NOLA parades you think of beads galore. During St. Patty’s it’s beads plus cabbages, carrots, and even uncooked Ramen noodles! I literally was attacked by two uncooked packs of Ramen and it was hilarious.

EAT!!: From carousel spinning bars and awesome artwork, the ambiance of each restaurant was too cool!

EXPLORE: EAGLERIDER SCOOTERS

The best way to see the city of New Orleans is definitely by scooter! Nina and I zipped around on these bad boys for two days. Reserve your scooter fun here!

I will def be back to New Orleans! The people, music, and historic culture are all so beautiful and inspiring!

Beautiful Skin

February 28, 2012

Skin is the largest organ in the human body, therefore you may want to take extremely good care of it. Tanning is probably one of the worst things you can do to yourself. It causes uneven skin tone, dryness, and pore enlargement. It amazes me how many people still visit tanning beds religiously. I guess it’s viewed to be cool like cigarettes were back in the day and years later everyone realized it caused health problems and even death. If you must be a bronzed goddess try a spray tan.

I have fallen in love with a line of skin care products that are all natural. They are so natural that a child could read the ingredients…

This body scrub makes my entire body feel like a baby’s butt! I am so serious it’s absolutely amazing! My favorite thing about it is the fact that I can scrub my legs until the little exfoliating beads dissolve and then shave my legs right after. No shaving cream. No body lotion. Just silky smooth healthy looking skin!

You can find Shea Moisture at Target : ) http://sheamoisture.com/

They also have an amazing facial cleanser containing coconut and hibiscus that I recommend anyone with normal to dry skin to try.

Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin

Good skin care — including sun protection and gentle cleansing — can keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come.

By Mayo Clinic staffDon’t have time for intensive skin care? Pamper yourself with the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips.

1. Protect yourself from the sun

One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.

For the most complete sun protection:

Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. When you’re outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or perspiring.
Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.

2. Don’t smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:

Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.

4. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn’t clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.