Look More Awake! 11 Beauty Tricks to Help You Look Less Tired

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Today's post is over on SheKnows, where you'll find my thoughts on how to look less tired. Sadly this is a topic that I seem to know a lot about since I'm often on call and have a 5 month old! In the post I share the 11 steps I keep in mind when I need to look more awake. I even share my favorite product recommendations!

11 Beauty tricks that will make you look less tired


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This post is part of a collaboration between Garnier and SheKnows. But, I wrote my own thoughts on how to look more awake, and shared my favorite products!

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10 Mommy Beauty Must Have Products

Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links I Bought It Myself




Even though I knew that I'd be sacrificing a lot of "me" time when I had my second baby this fall, I admit I still was overestimating how much time I'd have each day for a beauty routine. Oh, how nature ensures that mommies will forget many of the details of the first few months after birth...

Now that I've returned to work and things have settled into more of a routine, I thought I'd share a few of my quick routine favorites!


1. BB Cream
I've always been a fan of BB Creams, I talk about them on here quite a bit, but it seems to be even more important as a new mom! There were quite a few days that I was lucky to be able to brush my teeth and wash my face. Quickly rubbing on a moisturizer on my way out of the bathroom did a lot of extra jobs if it wasn't just a moisturizer, but was a BB Cream. Depending on which formulation you chose, this one step can be your moisturizer, an anti-aging cream, daily sunscreen, can fight hyperpigmentation and offer some much needed coverage for your sleep deprived face!

My Current Favorites:
• Diorskin Nude BB Creme
• Pond's Luminous Finish BB Plus Cream


2 &3. Corrector and Concealer
If I have time, my next step is always covering up my undereye circles! If you are lucky and don't have much of a circle you can get away with just using a concealer (my favorite undereye concealers are here), but if you have some discoloration it is best to layer that concealer over a corrector (how to use a color corrector). In general, apply the corrector only on the area of discoloration, concealer should go over it, as well as in an inverted triangle under the eyes, over the inner eye, and around the nose (see the chart).

For application tips, don't forget to check out my Concealer Tips to see how I use the undereye triangle for better application, and how I hide undereye puffiness.

Great Correctors:
• Bobbi Brown Corrector
• NYX Concealer in a Jar
• FACE Stockholm Corrector Quad

A Few Concealer Options:
• Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer
• IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye
• L.A. Girl Pro Concealer


4. Highlighter
Yes, highlighter is next. And there's one that I'm reaching for now, thanks to this Refinery29 review. Yes, the RMS Living Luminizer is really worth the $38 price tag. And then some. I apply it with a quick fingertip pat to the areas show in the picture. It catches just the right amount of light and really makes me look more awake. Totally worth it.

I bought mine at J. Crew because it counts for those storewide sales and you can get 20-40% off on it, but it is often sold out. It's also at Birchbox and DermStore.

Also try ELF Shimmering Facial Whip (in Lilac Petal, one of my favorite ELF products) as a lower price ($38 vs $1??) alternative. The ELF is definitely more shimmering, I would cut it with a little concealer or moisturizer. You need about half the shimmer of the ELF to approximate the RMS Living Luminizer.


5. All in One Color
If there's time for any color, I go right for blush first. Being up at night really washes me out the next day, and a little bit of blush makes a big difference! I have found that a cream product like NARS The Multiple in Orgasm gives me just the right glow and only takes a few moments. I brush the stick onto my cheeks, then blend with fingertips. The same color can be used on my lids and even on my lips with just my fingers.

Another Option:
• e.l.f. Essential All Over Color Stick


6. Lash Curler and Mascara
A good mascara opens my eyes, really making me look awake. Mascara without curling your lashes first is just a waste of time in my opinion.

My Favorite Mascaras:
• CoverGirl Bombshell Volume Mascara
• Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara
• Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes 5 Star Mascara


7. Easy Lippie
I need something on my lips, especially in the winter! I don't need much color, but a little something is good! Since I'm usually out of time to spend on myself by the time I get to the lips, I've been relying on products that I can stick in my pocket and apply while running around.

Currently In My Pocket:
• Yves Saint Laurent Volupté Tint-In-Oil (in I Rose for You)
• Dior 'Addict Lip Glow' Color Reviver Balm
• Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm


8. Dry Shampoo
What would a mommy beauty post be without dry shampoo?? Yes, washing, drying and then styling hair can take a lot of time, especially if you have a ton of hair like I do! I stretch out the time between stylings with dry shampoo. In the past I've used it in the mornings, but even with a good brushing it can still make my hair look a little matte.

So, my new trick is to use it before bed. Yes, I spray a ton of dry shampoo willy nilly throughout my hair before bed. I don't even bother brushing. Just spray and ignore the white powder. When I wake up my hair is volumized, still shiny, but doesn't look matte or greasy. It just looks kind of perfect!

My Favorite Dry Shampoos:
• Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle
• Aveeno Active Naturals Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo


9. Makeup Remover Wipes
I'm gone back and forth on makeup remover wipes. They're convenient, but they don't remove everything. The wipes can be irritating, and that can sometimes be just as bad as not removing everything. But, I admit I repurchased some wipes for postpartum and there are some nights that I can barely get myself to use them, I'm so tired! I no longer concentrate on getting off all of my eye makeup (if I have any on), instead I just try to get stuff off of my skin and leave it at that.

My Go-To Remover Wipes:
MAC Wipes
Aveeno Ultra Calming Makeup Removing Wipes

10. Great Moisturizing Cream
There's a lot of hand washing associated with having a new baby, and that really does a number on my hands. They are dry, cracked and painful unless I apply moisturizer of some sort after pretty much every hand washing! Shifting hormones also masses with the skin on my body, so I transition over to a more moisturizing product for my body as well.

My Favorite Creams:
Cetaphil
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream


Product Sent for Review Affiliate Links I Bought It Myself

2

Basic Pregnancy Skincare: Safe Products Anyone Can Use

Product Sent for Review I Bought It Myself Affiliate Links



Skincare during pregnancy isn't easy to get right. There are a lot of skin care ingredients that should be avoided during pregnancy. Chances are that great night cream that you've used for years, the one that gives you glowy skin? Yeah, you probably can't use that. Or the miracle gel that erases your pimples almost overnight. Your new anti-aging serum definitely has ingredients you need to avoid as well.

I've written about skin care routine adjustments for pregnancy in the past. And yes, you'll need to make a lot of them while pregnant!

My general philosophy when it comes to pregnancy safe skincare is that you need to pare down to pregnancy safe basics. A simple routine that can work throughout your pregnancy. Because your hormones are going to be shifting all over the place causing fun issues like pimples, hyperpigmentation and dryness. And sometimes all at once! So, basic products you can use the entire time, then swap in treatments for that month's fun skin issue as you need.

I put together a few routines below, as of the date that I'm writing this (October 9, 2014), the ingredient lists on either the company's website or my own product that I purchased, was pregnancy friendly and met my criteria for pregnancy safe skincare. I've given you a few options when I could in each product category, so you should be able to just pick and chose products that you know work well for you or have features that you like. Don't forget that there are more options over in my list of Pregnancy Friendly Skincare Items.


Update 1/23/2017: I have reviewed updated ingredients list and links. I've crossed out items pictured that I'm worried about for one reason or another, usually a minor change in formulation.

Drugstore Routine

Cleanser
• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (get it from ULTA or Amazon)
• CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (get it from ULTA or Amazon)
• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser (buy it from ULTA or Amazon)

Daily Moisturizer
• CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion (buy it at ULTA or Amazon)
• Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer (get it at ULTA or Amazon)

Sunscreen
• Aveeno Active Naturals Natural Protection SPF 50 Lotion (get it at Target or Amazon)
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid, SPF 50

Eye Cream
• Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Lifting & Firming Eye Cream (get it at Amazon)
• Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Eye Cream (get it at ULTA or Amazon)
• Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 CC Eye Cream (discontinued)

Night Cream
• Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Reconditioning Night Cream (get it at Amazon)
• Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream (get it at ULTA or Amazon)
• Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Night Recovery Moisturizing Cream (get it at ULTA or Amazon)

Higher End Skincare Routine

Cleanser
• Eve Lom Cleanser (get it at Sephora or Nordstrom)
• Algenist Purifying & Replenishing Cleanser (get it at Sephora or ULTA)
• Philosophy Purity Made Simple (get it at Sephora or ULTA)
• Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (get it at ULTA or Amazon)

Daily Moisturizer
• Eve Lom TLC Radiance Cream (get it at Birchbox or Bloomingdale's)
• SK-II Essential Power Moisturising Cream (only at SK-II)

Sunscreen
• Mario Badescu Oil-Free Moisturizer SPF 17 (get it at ULTA, Amazon or Nordstrom)

Eye Cream
• Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm (get it at Sephora or Nordstrom)
• SK-II Skin Signature Eye Cream (only at SK-II)
• Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado (get it at Kiehl's or Nordstrom)

Night Cream
• Algenist Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer (get it at Sephora or Nordstrom)
• Philosophy Miracle Worker Overnight Cream (get it at Sephora or Nordstrom)
• Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream (get it at Kiehl's or Nordstrom)

Organic Skincare Routine

Cleanser
• Pangea Organics Egyptian Calendula & Blood Orange Facial Cleanser (get it at Pangea or Amazon)
• Osmia Organics Black Clay Facial Soap (get it at Osmia)
• Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk (get it at Juice Beauty, ULTA or BirchBox)

Daily Moisturizer
• Pangea Organics Italian Red Mandarin With Rose Facial Cream (get it at Amazon)
• Osmia Organics Purely Simple Face Cream (get it at Osmia)

Sunscreen
• Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer (get it here)
• Yes To Cucumbers Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 (get it here)

Eye Cream
• Juice Beauty Smoothing Eye Concentrate (get it here)
• Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel (get it here)

Night Cream
• Juice Beauty Nutrient Moisturizer (get it here)
• Yes to Cucumbers Calming Night Cream (get it here)


Product Sent for Review I Bought It Myself Affiliate Links

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Pregnancy Friendly Skin Care Products

Today I'm sharing pregnancy friendly skin care lines over on Babble. To create that list of 8 maternity oriented skin care lines that are safe, I went through the ingredients in a ton of skin care lines to find the ones that fit my criteria for pregnancy safe skincare. Yes, some lines got left off. On purpose even.

There are also a lot of great products that are pregnancy friendly, but not necessarily from a full pregnancy skin care line. While it would be great to be able to use an entire line of special pregnancy skin care, most of us don't have that luxury. Rather than special ordering an entire line of organic skin care made in France, we're in the aisle at our local big box store, reading labels we don't understand.

There are a lot of really great skin care lines in those big box stores, and many of their products are pregnancy friendly! Read on to see which (exact) products you can pick up and use without worry while you are pregnant. Note that I'll be adding to this list as time goes on, for the brands that are listed I have gone through the entire line's products, reading those long and tedious ingredient lists. If I wasn't sure about a product, it was left off of the list. I've noted what date I went through a brand's product list, note that there are sometimes reformulations that aren't necessarily announced, so always double check the ingredient list!


More posts to check out:
Remember that this is only one post in a series, please look at these other posts for more information.
• 8 Pregnancy Friendly Skincare Lines over on Babble
• Skin care ingredients that should be avoided during pregnancy
• Skin care routine adjustments for pregnancy
• My criteria for pregnancy safe skincare


Read on for the list!

31

Mommy Fast Beauty: Melissa and her Well Used 15 Minutes

When Christine told me that she was thinking of featuring some of her readers on her “Mommy Fast Friday” series I told her I thought that was a great idea. Then she totally surprised me by asking me to do it. I love this series and her blog in general so of course I said yes (even though I’ve never written a blog post before and I’m really, really nervous).

My name is Melissa and I’m a mom of 2 wonderful children who, unfortunately, inherited my oh-so-pleasant disposition in the morning. I’ll leave it up to your imagination what that must be like for my incredibly chipper and incredibly patient husband in the morning. Needless to say, between cajoling the two offspring into getting ready for school (followed up with even more cajoling) and getting myself ready, there’s not always much time for a full scale beauty regimen. I’ve never actually timed myself, so I was fairly pleased when I busted out the stopwatch on my phone to find that I could, in fact, get it done in just under 15 minutes.

Normally, if I truly only have 15 minutes to spend on hair and makeup in the morning, I’m only going to spend about 5 minutes drying my hair and throwing on a baseball cap. (This is one of the perks of being a sahm.) The remaining 10 minutes are going to be spent on makeup. When I broke out the stopwatch, it was definitely a hat kind of day. Sadly, I couldn’t get a good picture of my makeup because of the shadow caused by the hat. For picture purposes, I re-did my 10 minute makeup on a day I actually fixed my hair and that’s what you’ll see below.

On to the makeup!

When I am in a rush, the first thing in my makeup routine that gets slashed is foundation. I skip moisturizer, primer, foundation, and powder and go for the all in one BB cream. This summer I used the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream. I recently started using Skin79’s Hot Pink Super Plus BB Cream Triple Function. (Dear Asian makeup companies, Thank you. So much. Love, me and all the other American women obsessed with these) This one is a little more substantial, not only in texture, but also coverage, than the Garnier BB Cream, so I like it better going into the colder months.

Next up is cheeks. For any of you who read beauty blogs on a regular basis, you’ve seen the term “MLBB” which stands for My Lips, But Better. Well, I’ve come to refer to this blush as “MCBB” (My Cheeks, But Better). It’s the NYX powder blush in Angel (applied with Eco Tools Bamboo Blush Brush). It just gives my face a nice, warm, awake look. I love it and use it often.

For the eyes, I start with E.L.F. Eyelid Primer. Yes, the one that only costs $1. Here’s the deal: I love Urban Decay Primer Potion, but if I don’t need my eye shadow to last past 8-9pm (and I rarely do) I reach for this. It lasts, for me personally, nearly as long as the UDPP.

If you’re in a hurry, an eye shadow palette is the easiest way to get a coordinated look without a lot of thinking. Today I used the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. Halfbaked on the lid (applied with Real Techniques Shading Brush), Snakebite in the crease (applied with Essence of Beauty Crease Brush), and Bootycall (my favorite!) to highlight the brow bone (applied with Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush). A little blending and voila! I then used Urban Decay Glide On Pencil in LSD (part of the Ocho Loco set). To finish off the eyes, I curl my lashes and apply mascara. Like Christine, I’m also a big fan of layering mascaras. I want length AND volume, yo. I start with a coat of Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara in Very Black. I follow that up with Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara in Glam Black.

All that’s left to do is line my lips and slap on some lipstick! Here’s the final look


Thanks to Christine for inviting my to share my Mommy fast beauty routine. I hope you all enjoyed it! What are your favorite tricks for making your morning beauty routine super speedy? Do you have a favorite no brainer palette?




Thanks so much to Melissa for agreeing to be featured when I put her on the spot! Featuring readers was something I was thinking about, and when I was emailing with her (she was the winner of a recent giveaway), she thought it was a great idea. And then I basically forced her into being featured and not only was she nice about it, but she sent a great post! I can't believe how much she squeezed into such a short period of time. If you're interested in being featured as well, let me know!

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Quick Mommy Beauty: 5 Minutes That Goes a LONG Way!

Being a mom to a 3-yr old (she's a handful I tell ya!), I have a quick n’easy everyday beauty routine to get ready and be out the door. I like to keep things simple and natural. Simple is fast, easy and motherhood approved! Here’s an everyday makeup look that requires me to devote only about 5-6 minutes to look polished and put together.

On my face, I always start with a lightweight moisturizer with SPF. Then I reach for a BB cream or tinted moisturizer and apply a few dots on my cheeks, nose, forehead and dab just a bit under the eyes too (I am too lazy for concealer most days). For this look, I used Boscia BB cream that has medium coverage with a slightly dewy finish and it works pretty well for my normal-dry skin.

On my eyes, I use an eyeshadow primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion) first to help my shadow stay put all day. For an everyday look like this one, I chose a neutral eyeshadow palette like Anastasia’s She Wears it well. I applied Sunset (peachy champagne shimmer) all over the lid and up to the crease using a medium shadow brush. Then I used a crease brush to apply Latte (taupe) into the crease and blend.

Next is eyeliner, a must-have for me to complete the look! My go-to liner for a natural look is Tarte’s SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay waterproof liner in Espresso (chocolate brown) that lasts all day long even on my lower lash line. I am not a mascara girl and usually skip that step in an everyday makeup look. Finally, I grab a peachy-pink lippie like Tarte’s LipSurgence natural lip luster in Sweet (it’s one of my top favorites!) and then finish up with a pretty pink blush (Wet n Wild Pearlescent pink).

Harshleen is a beauty blogger and mommy in Portland Oregon! You can find her at BeautyTidbits. She's also on Facebook and
Twitter.

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Mommy Fast Beauty: On this Fast Day I Did... This!

So, for some reason until recently I never featured any of my "I'm in a crazy hurry and can barely do anything" looks. I guess I assumed they were not "good" enough to be featured on the interwebz? But, it appears that people really do like to see the fast and quick beauty routines.

So, this is what I looked like recently, and when I timed it (I really did, my iPhone happened to be sitting there, I went back and took pics later), this was 9 minutes and 20 seconds. I do variations on this all the time, usually I grab a different foundation/BB cream product, I might grab a different concealer or different shadow palette, but this is pretty much what I do.

Here's a quick peek at everything. I started the timer as I was turning on the water to wash my face and brush my teeth. Luckily the hubby had just gotten out the shower, so it was super fast to warm up!

While waiting for the water to warm up, I sprayed dry shampoo throughout my hair. This was definitely going to be a no shower day, and while my hair wasn't really oily (it was day #2 for my hair), I wanted to add a little volume. I sprayed Aveeno throughout my hair, shooshed my hands around a bit in my hair and threw it up in a very rough bun to get it out of the way while the dry shampoo did its magic.

Then I quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth. Lightly patted dry, and raced to my vanity on the other side of my giant bathroom.

One of my favorite quick morning tricks is to use a BB Cream or tinted moisturizer to combine 2 steps. However, since I really only want coverage in the center of my face, I apply the tinted product only to that area. Then I use a regular spf daily moisturizer on the outer parts of my face and down on to my neck. I guess I didn't really save steps that way, but usually there's a lot less blending than a traditional moisturizer followed by foundation morning.

I then apply concealer wherever I need it, usually under my eyes and around the nose. I used fingers to apply and lightly blend, then quickly blend things out around my nose with a few pats of a Beauty Blender sponge.

Next I do my eyes. I use the NYX Eyeshadow base most days. It has quite a bit of coverage (I need to cover those vessels!) and it helps my shadow stay on all day. It applies with just a finger tip in a few seconds.

On fast days, I find it is easiest to grab a palette. Otherwise I sit there and debate about colors, dig through my MAC or my BFTE shadows... not the best use of time. Today I've grabbed the Shimmering Sands trio. I want a light and pretty look, I'll only use 2 of the shades (details below). I also have a brown liner (Elizabeth Arden) and black mascara (today it's from Lancome, Hypnose Drama).

I applied the lightest pink all over the lid and slightly over the crease with a big fluffy brush. Then I grabbed my crease brush and applied the medium shade into the crease, with a little more emphasis at the outer part of the lid. I completed the look with the brown liner to top and bottom lash lines and a quick coat of the mascara.

Finally, I use my fingers to apply a pretty pink cream blush (that's pink plum), I buff a light layer of powder into my t-zone and a quick swipe of a pretty pink gloss (MAC Galaxy Rose).

I have a little bit of time left, but my hair is still in that crazy bun! The dry shampoo has had a chance to work, so I pull it out and brush out the kinks and dry shampoo.

To create a little extra volume in my ponytail, I've taken the top and front 1/4 or so of my hair, and pinned it up out of the way. I then create a pony tail tight to my head with the rest of my hair. Now I can take the rest of my hair, smooth it a little over the current pony tail, and I can shape it easily to add a little volume. If I want a lot I'll even add some backcombing, though I rarely do that. Mostly, I get a bit more volume because with that base pony tail, all of the weight isn't pulling down the top. (I should write a post about how I do this, it needs pictures.)

So, in under 10 minutes I was ready to take care of my toddler for the day. We had a full schedule of play, lunch and music class!

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Mommy Fast Beauty: Blushing Basics

I'm a mother of three small children and my window of 'me' time in the morning is minimal so I try to go for makeup that will give me the most bang for my buck. This look is created entirely of Urban Decay (my love of the moment).


I spend the most time on my eyes and lips. The lipstick is the Super Saturated Lip Color that applies easily and stays put - major bonus for moms on the go. I keep my face makeup simple by applying a few dabs of concealer on the bags under my eyes and some light foundation followed by a pink-y blush. I spend the most time on my eyes while still trying to stay easy but chic. I use a single shade of eyeshadow from lash to crease and put a dab of highlighter right on the center of my lid. I always use eyeliner (in this case it is black pencil) to really get the wow factor out of my eyes and lashes followed by mascara.

From start to finish this takes me approximately five minutes. For some it may be ten minutes and for others it may be three minutes. Whatever the length of time it is time well spent when you look and feel your best.

Kristie is the blogger behind Blushing Basics. As an esthetician, makeup artist and television beauty expert (have you seen her on Good Morning Colorado? She's done some great segments!) Kristie has pretty much done it all! When she isn't working, she's happily married and has 3 kids.

6

Mommy Fast Beauty: Brooke from Blushing Noir's Under 10 Minute Look

These are the products I reach for to do my face up quickly to be out the door. It takes 10 minutes, sometimes a bit less depending on how often I get interrupted! The items shown are the ones I used for the face look.

After a day time moisturizer (usually Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel) I always start off with some sort of BB Cream. For these quick days I go for a lighter coverage like Bobbi Brown, or I'll use a light foundation like Chanel Perfection Lumiere. I always, always use Lancome Dual Finish Powder (if I'm really rushing I can even skip the foundation or BB Cream because this powder provides such excellent coverage!). On this day, for blush, I went for Chanel Brume d'Or Joues Contraste. Usually I just throw on whatever blush I grab, but it's very important because it makes my face look more fresh and awake regardless of how dead tired I am.

On my eyes I always start with a primer (I'm oily) so I go for Urban Decay Primer Potion or Make Up For Ever Eye Prime. My go-to shadow for a quick day is the Hourglass Eye Shadow Duo in Suede. I put the ivory shade from lash to brow and drop the light taupe in the crease. A great liner for this is Make Up For Ever 24L Taupe, it really makes your eyes come alive. With this duo you could really wear ANY liner, so if you want to be fun you can add some color for this part (like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Covet). For mascara I always reach for MAC Plushlash or Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill, and I use Dior DiorShow Brow Pencil (it's a universal shade). I also sometimes use Anastasia Brunette Brow Powder if the Dior isn't handy. I always finish up with MAC Clear Brow Gel.

Brooke is the blogger behind Blushing Noir, and one of my great blogging friends! She lives near Pittsburgh where she is raising her kiddos and was one of this year's finalists for Allure Beauty Blogger of the Year! (She won "Most Buzzworthy"!)

Check Out More Mommy Fast Beauty!

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Mommy Fast Beauty: Pammy Blogs Beauty Shares Her Fast Makeup Routine!

Today I am sharing my steps for my “Easy Mommy” Makeup. Basically, this is exactly what I do most days (or any day that I am short on time while getting ready). I really like this simple, fresh, and natural look. Plus, it only takes a few minutes start to finish!


1. Apply a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream: I just put a few dots on my face (chin nose, forehead, and cheeks) and blend in with my fingers. For today’s look I used Maybelline’s Dream Fresh BB in Light.. It is sheer, applies quickly, and is slightly hydrating.

2. Concealer: I use a few swipes of Revlon’s Photoready Concealer in Fair on my chin and around my nose to conceal any redness. Then I apply and blend in Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Eraser in the shade Brightener on my inner eye corners and over the eye lids. Then, I apply and blend in Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in fair to the entire under eye area. I dab on the eye concealers with the applicator and blend out with fingers. Side note: funny…all of my face products are from the drugstore!

3. Powder: I set my face product with a light dusting of e.l.f.’s Complexion Perfection powder with a huge powder brush: Real Techniques Powder Brush (is it just me? Or do you also find that big brushes are quicker? I just feel that they cover more “surface area” with fewer strokes).

4. For my eyes, I rely on my trusty Holy Grail fool proof eye shadows: L’Oreal’s Infallible 24 hour Eye Shadow! I use my fingers to apply. So easy! Plus, these shadows last all day on me and never crease or fade. I simply sweep on the shade Endless Pearl (a matte skintone/vanilla shade) to my brow bone and then tap the shimmery champagne colored Iced Latte over my lids. Seriously, so darn easy! It literally takes 5 seconds to complete my eye shadow look.

5. Curl my eye lashes. I absolutely never skip this step! Curling your lashes really wakes up your eyes.

6. Mascara: When I am not testing out other mascaras, I always seem to go back to CoverGirl’s Lash Blast or Lash Blast Fusion. These mascaras are especially good when you are in a hurry as they never clump (no need to comb out your lashes).

7. Blush: As I mentioned, nothing beats a super flattering blush for perking up your skin and detracting from your dark circles. I am obsessed with blushes. So, I tend to wear a different color almost every day. Right now I am really loving BeneFit’s Coarlista. Such a beautiful shade!

8. Lips: My last step for my face! I am really loving all the wind-up pencil balm stains on the market these days. My favorite of these? Pixi’s Magic Tink Tint! This balm stain goes on clear and then color adjusts to your “ideal” shade. On me, it turns into a beautiful cool-toned medium pink. It has a minty flavor and a very hydrating balmy feel. I love this product and feel that it completes this easy look very well.


Pam is the blogger behind Pammy Blogs Beauty. When she isn't obsessing over eye shadow or playing with pumpkin scented skin care, she's a former pediatric speech therapist turned stay at home mommy to her daughter. I have to confess that I consider Pam a great friend, she's one of the first that I turn to when I have a blogging question or need to bounce an idea off of someone. She really is one of the nicest people I know!

2

How to Speed Up Your Morning Routine: Pammy Blogs Beauty's Tips!

Getting ready in the morning is a huge challenge for a new Mommy! Often new Mommys are short on sleep, in a hurry, and trying to get ready while baby naps. My baby girl, Skylar, is 8 months old now. So, I have had a few months to streamline my beauty routine. Even if I am short on sleep, I strive to not look like a haggard Mommy! Funny how even the slightest bit of self-pampering and flattering makeup makes a tired Mommy feel more like “herself”!

I find that streamlining your routine all boils down to a few main points. I hope these tips are helpful to my fellow new Mommies out there! It used to take me ages to get ready in the mornings! Now I can have my makeup and hair done in less than 10 minutes!

Here are some tips for Quick Makeup Application and Quick Hair:

• Use your fingers!!! To speed up my routine, I find that I am the fastest with my fingers. So, I apply foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, and blush (if I use a cream product) with my fingers. Sure, tools are easy too; but for some reason whenever I am in a hurry, I end up using my good ol’ fingers.

• Stick to one lip product. When I have a copious amount of time, I layer lip products (balm, lip color, and gloss). When I am in a hurry, I go for tinted lipbalms or balm stains.

• Use a tinted moisturizer, BB Cream, or powder foundation. I just find that these are easier to apply. Save the fuller coverage foundations for days that you have more time.

• Go for a sheer “wash of color” on your eyelids. For me, my “go to” wash of color shade is a shimmery champagne. This shade and shimmery finish really “wakes up” my eyes. Plus, keeping it to one shade eliminates the need for careful blending.

• Pick what you want to focus on. Me? I like to look rested. I have terrible dark circles. Getting up in the middle night with my baby girl really does not help matters when it comes to dark circles! So, I spend a bit more time with my concealer under my eyes (and use 2 products here). Also, I find that using a super flattering blush detracts from under eye darkness.

• Don’t wash your hair every day. This may be total common sense; but, just thought that I would include anyways! Washing and drying takes a ton of time. Plus, dry shampoos are an amazing way to stretch out your shampoos to every few days (I typically go every 3 days).

• Try a Doughnut Bun or a “sock bun”. This is such a quick and easy hair do! It only takes minutes and makes me feel so put together. Plus, the bun stays in place all day and keeps my hair from being pulled by my darling baby.


Pam is the blogger behind Pammy Blogs Beauty. When she isn't obsessing over eye shadow or playing with pumpkin scented skin care, she's a former pediatric speech therapist turned stay at home mommy to her daughter. I have to confess that I consider Pam a great friend, she's one of the first that I turn to when I have a blogging question or need to bounce an idea off of someone. She really is one of the nicest people I know!

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Best Baby Shower Gift Ever: The Post-Partum Recovery Kit!

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I've been promising this post to friends and family for months. And then I made a kit like this for a friend's baby shower present, promised some more people I'd write the post... Anyways, here it is. Something completely different than our normal beauty posts... This is a postpartum kit! This is a great baby shower gift, it was a huge hit at my friend Amy's shower! This is everything that you want to have on hand for after you deliver your baby.

I read so many different mommy blogs back when I was pregnant (my daughter was born in January 2011), and found lots of little jewels of info. I had almost all of the embarrassing stuff I needed in that immediate post-baby haze, though there were a few things (that I did even know existed) that I sent my mom out to purchase.


In an effort to reduce embarrassing item runs to Target, or to be fully prepared for all bodily fluid issues, I created this kit. I recently gave one to my friend Amy for her shower. At 2 weeks postpartum she sent me a text message that said she had delved into the kit and it was exactly what she needed!

Read on to see what is in the kit!
Warning: Do NOT read this if you are not expecting or already have kids. It scares some people!

I've also written a post on the Pediatrician's New Baby Kit, a kit of baby medications that I give away as well (and yes, I'm a mommy and a pediatrician). That kit is a bit less scary!

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Mommy Beauty: Hourglass Cosmetics' Gina Brooke Shares Her Pregnancy Beauty Must Haves

Gina Brooke is the Artistic Director for Hourglass Cosmetics and a highly, highly sought after makeup artist. She works with people like, oh, Madonna. Yes, really. Recently I received word from a little birdie about Gina's favorite products during pregnancy, and I had to share!

“I loved being pregnant, but it certainly inspired some changes in my beauty routine. Ensuring my body stayed hydrated, protected and free of irritants were my top priorities.”
--Gina Brooke

Problem: Sun Sensitive Skin
During pregnancy your skin is particularly prone to sun damage. Not only the typical sunburn increase your risk of cancer and promote aging issues, but also hyperpigmentation like melasma (the dreaded mask of pregnancy). Using sunscreen everyday is even more of a must during pregnancy, so adding it in to your primer is a great addition. The SPF in Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 is purely physical (read more about chemical vs physical sunscreens) with broad spectrum UVA and UVB coverage.






Problem: Dry, Chapped Lips
I have to say that this issue took me by surprise. It wasn't mentioned in any of my pregnancy books, but I had a real struggle with chapped lips during my pregnancy. I was very vigilant about lip balm and not licking my lips, but still had issues. Gina recommends Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant, which is something I haven't heard of previously. It is a sugar based scrub with shea butter to help hydrate. Gina also recommends using a lip stain like Hourglass Aura Sheer Lip Stain, which has Vitamin E and Green Tea to help your lips. Apply balm over the stain like crazy!


Problem: Dry Hair
I think this is a pregnancy issue that all women have. Dry hair and split ends. Like many new mommies, I ran to my hair stylist and chopped a few inches off after I gave birth. Intensive hair treatments can definitely help your hair maintain moisture. Gina loves Phyto’s Phyto 9 Daily Ultra Nourishing Botanical Cream for Ultra Dry Hair, which is a leave in treatment. If you're an intensive hydrating mask girl like me, my fave is Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Smoothie.


Problem: Dry Skin, Non-Existant Glow
I completely, 100% agree with this one. I was definitely dry. To the point of scaly at times. But somehow also oily over the dry. And that pregnancy glow everyone wants you to have? It was no where near my face. I used a bunch of products to correct these issues. Typically a thick moisturizer, a primer with ingredients to help soak up oil (Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel), a light foundation, and usually a shimmer powder over all of that. Not exactly quick and easy.

Gina recommends Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer, which is more hydrating that many other tinted moisturizers. As well the moisturizer has light-reflecting properties (glow) and once again has SPF 15.





In the past I have received samples of the Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Smoothie and Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel.

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