5 Must-Haves for a Clean, Stylish, Happy Baby & Mommy

Nov 1, 2011

It’s only Tuesday and it’s already been a big week of celeb news: Kim K’s divorcing and Jessica Simpson’s having a baby! Breakups suck, but personal experience proves they make you stronger. Babies, on the other hand, are the biggest gift of love. I can’t believe my little man Rex is already 8 weeks old! I admit, the past couple of months have been grueling between the sleepless nights and never-ending bouts of spit up. But they’ve also been the most rewarding, magical moments of my life.

Jessica’s announcement got me thinking about how far I’ve come as a mom. Like, I went from not knowing what a breast pump was to being able to put the parts together in the dark. And the full five minutes it once took me to change a diaper has been shaved down to seconds. In just two months, I’ve become fluent in baby from gadgets to products. I still have a lot to learn, and I’ve been greatful to all the moms who have shared their tips with me. Now, it’s my turn to pay it forward. I’ve listed a few of my favorite finds (more installments to come!). Hopefully these will come in just as handy for baby Simpson and all the future tots-to-be.

Baby Aquaphor: I oil Rex up from head to toe every night. I keep a tub by his changing table and a tube in my diaper bag. I swear by this ointment. It’s kept his pretty baby face acne free, has fended off diaper rash and stopped the first signs of cradle cap in its tracks.

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash: After washing Rex’s hair and body with this, he smells just like a baby should — fresh, clean and yummy all at once. I’ve been sent a lot of baby bath products from a bunch of different companies and will report back on the others as I give them a try.

Kicky Pants, Ralph Lauren and Splendid onesies: A onesie is the baby equivalent of a dress. Just slip it on and the look is complete. From preppy to hipster, I love dressing Rex up in stylish looks, and I’ve fallen in love with the fashions from these three brands. Kicky Pants onesies come in fun prints and are made with a bamboo fabric that’s so soft, I wish they made clothes for adults. Rex may as well be a model for Ralph Lauren because every other thing he wears is RL baby. From the most precious white nighty (shown below) to a velour jumper, there’s a wealth of adorable options, especially for boys. Splendid wins for creating mini versions of fashions that you’d wear yourself. Like the brand’s adult line, the clothes are comfy and cute. Check out Rex in the lower photo with his teddy. He’s rocking a Splendid hooded onesie.

Giant Teddy: This is the granddaddy of all gifts. Our friend Brad went above and beyond to welcome home Master Rex with this GIANT, loveable, squeezable teddy bear is. I pose Rex next to his forever friend for all of his milestone photos (see below!) and know that he’ll love this bear more and more as he grows.

Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Elizababy Bag: A happy mom means a happy baby, and every time I carry this bag, which is 24/7, it makes me happy. To me, a diaper bag was an excuse to get an awesome new accessory, so I was on the hunt for a tote that was as practical as it was fashionable. I fell in love with this one from Marc Jacobs. It’s lightweight, has all the compartments I need and is roomy. Plus, my husband is as into this badass navy and rust panther pattern as I am, which means he’s just as happy to have it on his shoulder. I was so excited when it arrived, just days before Rex did, that I snapped a photo of me trying it on for the first time.

 

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Support Breast Cancer Awareness with These Pink Product Picks

Oct 15, 2011
With the exception of black and orange, during the month of October, everything turns pink. The beauty industry supports Breast Cancer Awareness month in a big way. Just like last year’s roundup, this year presents another helping of great specialty items that all support the cause. Here are some of our favorites!   The original shattering nail polish has gone pink! OPI has introduced Pink Shatter: Pink of Hearts Nail Lacquer, $8.50. Proceeds support Susan G. Komen for the Cure.   A personal favorite for putting broken blood vessels to rest: Darphin Redness Relief Soothing Serum, $85. For eachserum purchased, $15 will go toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.   Stila Positive and Pretty Palette, $14. It’s a limited-edition palette with four eye shadows, cheek color and a highlighter. Way to save a pretty penny! A total of 10% of proceeds will go to a variety of BCA charities, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.   There’s nothing more comfy-cozy-yummy than Alternative Apparel. The clothing line has partnered with all Urban Outfitters stores and Susan G. Komen for the Cure to introduce the Pink Ribbon Collection, which features the brand’s best-selling tees, tanks, dresses and hoodies all in pink. Urban Outfitters stores and the Alternative Apparel website will sell the line through the remainder of 2011. Urban Outifitters has already made a $60,000 donation to Komen and Alternative will donate 10% of the retail price from online sales to Komen.   A few months ago, we decked out our pouts with Violent Lips temporary lip tattoos. Now you can mouth off wearing The Pink Ribbon Collection. A set of three tattoos is $9.99 and $2 from every sale will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Coalition.   Charles Albert Pink Jasper Ring, $170. The jewelry designer will be donating 25% of sales of the ring to Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization   Pureology hair products rarely go on sale so here’s one deal to take advantage of. In support of breast cancer awareness, you can get a set of PureVolume Shampoo and PureVolume HairCondition for $39. Even better, Pureology will make a $20,000 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.   Estee Lauder is always thinkin’ pink. The Limited Edition Evelyn Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection, $24, is a chic lipstick/clutch combo. They will donate 20% of the suggested retail price to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
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Fall’s Best Beauty Trends

Sep 12, 2011
Here’s your guide to the season’s hottest beauty trends. From the forest green nails and spider lashes I recently revealed to lacquered lids, click on the gallery for inspiration and tips to make these runway looks your own. Lacquered Lids At Donna Karan, lids were glossy and caramel colored. Makeup artists used MAC PRO Gloss Texture (this product can be purchased at a MAC PRO store) to achieve the lacquered look . Tip: Apply the gloss over a cream shadow rather than powder to prevent lids from creasing. Bare Escentuals Prime Time Primer Shadow in Sundance mimics the color used on the runway and it’s a primer so it won’t budge.   Burgundy Lips Lips were a soft, matte, understated burgundy at Carolina Herrera. To acheive this look, makeup artists applied MAC’s new lipstick in Prince Noir. Tip: to create this stained effect, pat on the lipstick — don’t draw or swipe it on.   Bold Brows Arches were edgy and bold at Alexander Wang. Models’ brows were filled in with MAC eyeshadow in Brun. Tip: use an angled eyebrow brush to apply powder with precision. For added depth, you can even give the tips of your brows a few pats of mascara.   Rust-colored Shadow
Eyes were smokified at Dsquared2 with the lush colors of autumn leaves. Use a gold/copper/brown eye palette. This season I’m obsessed with the new Charlotte Ronson All Eye Need Eye Shadow Palette, part of the fashion designer’s exclusive makeup collection for Sephora. Click on the next slide to see the palette. Tip: For more drama, apply the shadow to your lower lashline—thickness and darkness depend on your desired intensity.
  Charlotte Ronson Eye Shadow Palette Each of the rich pigments in this quad blend like butter and look gorgeous on everyone. Soft Black Wings
Eyeliner extended beyond the outer lash lines to form soft, powdery black wings at Lanvin. Cover lids with a shear, nude shadow and then use black shadow to create the soft wing effect. Tip: pack the black shadow on to outer corners of your eyes and then blend up and outward. If you keep dusting on light layers, you could end up with raccoon eyes.
  Deep Parts Hair at Marni was ultra feminine with seriously deep, forehead sweeping side parts. Spritz and tousle hair with Shu Uemura Liquid Fabric Mineral Texture Spray. Create a part and gather hair at your ear and secure with a bobby pin.  
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Lash Out with Spider Lashes

Sep 7, 2011
  Arachnophilia was loud and alive on fall’s ready-to-wear catwalks. From Chloe and Ungaro to Lanvin and Gucci, models’ lashes were as clumpy as can be.  If you’re feelin’ the fringe, here are some tips to try out the trend: 1. Choose the right mascara: Defining and separating products aren’t the name of the game. Instead, go for curling and volumizing formulas in carbon black. MAC Zoomblack Zoom Lash Mascara, which was used at Ungaro and Chloe, and Maybelline Volum’ Express The Falsies Mascara, which gives great volume at the right price, are both contenders. For total control and jet black lashes, I love Lash Control mascara in 2x black. Just squeeze the tube to determine how much mascara ends up on the brush. 2. Application is key: Shimmy on a coat of mascara by dragging the brush from base to tip, creating the general shape you want. Then, apply several more coats by wiggling the brush just from the base to mid-shaft. Drawing the brush out to your tips will create too much separation. Even dabbing and pressing the brush against your lashes will create perfect clumps. Make sure to let lashes dry for a few seconds in between coats. Repeat the steps on your bottom lashes. BG Tip: Since your fringe is the main event, there’s no need to worry about meticulously applying several shades of eye shadow to complete the look. Skip the shadow and balance your dramatic lashes with a great, strong brow. Use a tinted brow gel that works double duty by both taming and tinting the hair. Just a few swipes will give your brows gorgeous depth and definition. Pull it all together with a classic, rich red pout (as shown above left at Gucci) or a light, soft nude lip (as seen above right at Lanvin). P.S. Click here to see which other mascaras I’ve got my eyes on.
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Nail Polish Colors I’m Loving

Sep 5, 2011
As you can see from the above photo I took, I have more nail polishes than there are days of the year! With so many options, my craving for a color can change as quickly as the weather. But there are some standout shades I just can’t shake. Right now, I’m loving these pinks (for summer), greens (for fall) and the anticipated limited-edition Chanel collection of blues inspired by the most classic wardrobe staple — denim. OPI in Teenage Dream OPI in Teenage Dream (Yes, it’s part of the Katy Perry collection for OPI). The polish is all bubblegum and sparkles like the pop star but surprisingly not cheesy at all on nails. The combo of tiny flecks of glitter with a few bigger bits creates incredible dimension, and you won’t look like every other girl in this soft pink. Nicole by OPI Nicole by OPI’s Miss Independant is a stunning rose gold polish. It’s the perfect balance of gold and petal pink, and the finish gives nails a beautfiul shimmer. I’ve gotten so many compliments on this shade, the bottle has been passed around to my sisters and mom, who’s been wearing the color on her toes. Butter London in Thames Butter London Nail Lacquer in Thames is an unexpected burst of evergreen with a hint of sheen. Green nails were big on fall runways, and this polish stands out for me as one of the most wearable yet high fashion out there. Nars nail polish I introduced you to Nars Vintage Nail Polish back in October, and true to its name, the collection really does stand the test of time. The gold/army green shade I’m wearing in the above photo is Mash. It’s still one of my favorites from the line, and I’ll be wearing it throughout the fall season. And, get a load of this gorgeous Chanel polish in Peridot (shown below), part of the brand’s new Fall collection. This green/cold combo takes on a different personality in every light. Chanel Peridot polish Speaking of Chanel, there’s a small window to get your hands on Les Jeans De Chanel, three gorgeous blue hues inspired by a different shade of denim. The polish collection debuts Sept. 8 and will only be available through the end of the month at Chanel boutiques and the website. Chanel nail polish P.S. I can’t talk about nails without mentioning this year’s trend de jour — nail stickers. Check out some of my favorites from Sally Hansen, Inque and Broadway Nails.    
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Preview Missoni Collection for Target

Sep 2, 2011
I’m so excited about this season’s designer collaboration with Target. The newest designer to enter the doors is Missoni, famous for colorful zigzag prints and to-die-for knits. This is one of the biggest fashion collaborations Target has ever seen. I’ve previewed all 400 (wowza!) of the items. There’s apparel for women, men, girls and baby, home goods and décor, luggage, accessories and even makeup bags…your whole life can be Missoni. Fab! The doors to zig zag heaven open September 13th at Target stores and target.com. Mark your calendars—designer collections at Target fly off the shelves!
In the mean time, here’s a preview of some of my favorite pieces. Missoni Poncho This poncho is so chic, you’d think it was straight off the runway! Missoni dress Sweater dresses are so easy to wear, and I’ve got my eye on this one. Missoni tights These adorable textured tights make any outfit pop. Missoni pillows These decorative pillows are all you need to spice up a basic sofa. Missoni sweater My hubby’s got this sweater on his wish list. Missoni baby This onesie is a must.
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Would you wear these temporary lip tattoos?

Jul 28, 2011
Check out the below pics of me and my intern Cody, who’s wearing the pink tiger style. P.S. The tattoos come 3 in a pack.
  • Yes! (22 votes)
  • Only for a costume party (32 votes)
  • When pigs fly (25 votes)
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Giveaway: Win Make Up For Ever Cosmetics valued over $100!

Jul 26, 2011
Want to get the makeup looks shown on models at last week’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami? I’m giving 2 people the chance to win a suite of the exact Make Up For Ever products (valued at $107) worn at shows including Diesel, Mara Hoffman and Beach Bunny, among others. Get yourself a whole new set of makeup for free! To enter to win, comment on this post, follow me on twitter (twitter.com/NPTheBeautyGirl) and RT this message. Good luck! Here’s what’s up for grabs: Make Up For Ever HD BlushHD Microfinish Blush #13, a sheer petal pink blush (shown on the model in above photo) used to give skin a glow at Luxe By Lisa Vogel Khol Pencil #7 in gold, which was used to line the eyes at DieselMake Up For Ever Kohl eye liner Rouge Artist Intense #36, a gorgeous hot pink lipstick featured at NicolitaMake Up For Ever lipstick Make Up For Ever Aqua LinerAqua Liner #13 in black that was applied to eyes at Beach Bunny to create a modern pin-up girl look Smoky Lash Mascara worn at Mara HoffmanMake Up For Ever mascara  
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Plan Your Wedding At Costco

Jul 21, 2011
diamond ringHave you heard the latest trend? Guys (actually, well-to-do men) are gifting their girls diamonds from Costco! Before you huff and snuff, listen to this. I know of a guy who bought a diamond ring for his wife on Costco.com. He’s not a cheap dude. In fact, he has a great job. He paid $1900 for the ring. Then took it to a jeweler, and it was appraised at $3400. Not a bad deal! The best part is that his wife is obsessed with it and says the new bauble sparkles even more than her engagement ring. Warming up to the idea yet? Just wait until you read this: My very good friend was debating on what to do for his wife for her birthday, which also happens to be on Mother’s Day. This year, flowers just weren’t going to cut it. After hearing about the great experience our mutual friend had with the diamond ring (see above story), he decided to check out the jewelry on Costco.com. He expected to find cheesy options that would not meet his wife’s expensive taste. To his surprise, the designs were impressive, and a diamond tennis bracelet caught his eye. Usually a thorough researcher when it comes to purchasing a big-ticket item, he found the website incredibly easy to shop. All he had to do was select the stone cut, bracelet length and overall carat size, and he was able to pick out exactly what he wanted in minutes. He entered his credit card info, hit send and 2 days later the impulse buy arrived complete with stone certification papers. I’ve personally seen the bracelet, and it’s truly beautiful. He got extra points for this gift, and she’s been showing off her new bling. If the idea of buying diamonds and toilet paper at the same store still doesn’t sit right, Costco says they do not compromise quality of the stones for the great price: they have gemologists that check every diamond to guarantee the clarity to be VS-2 (Very Slightly Included) and color to be I (Near Colorless) or better. And it gets better. Once you say “yes” to your man, you can say “I do” with Costco.
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Are You Digging Lauren Conrad’s Tie-Dyed Hair?

Jul 15, 2011
This isn’t the first time we’re seeing tie-dyed tips (Niki Minaj turned her mane into a rainbow of colors earlier this year), but Lauren’s take is much more subtle and wearable. Plus, the color is temporary and gets even prettier as it fades out. To create this look, I heard Lauren used Paul Mitchell’s INKWORKS (a professional, semi-permanent color treatment available in 10 shades) to achieve the blue-colored highlights. If you’re interested in giving this trend a try, here are some how-to tips from colorist and Paul Mitchell Artistic Director Lucie Doughty to pass on to your stylist: 1. To get the full effect, have your stylist pre-lighten the hair to a pale blonde by using Paul Mitchell’s Dual Purpose Lightener and then the colorist can apply Paul Mitchell INKWORKS over the top 2. Ask to have INKWORKS painted all the way through the strand or just on the tips like Lauren’s and then isolate each section in foil 3. Countless colors can be created from the Paul Mitchell INKWORKS color collection, so you can decide which color combinations work for you (to get LC’s look ask for Hot Pink, Green and Blue) 4. Your stylist can dilute them with any of Paul Mitchell’s daily conditioners to create beautiful pastel tones (like LC’s!)
  • Love it (395 votes)
  • Hate it (33 votes)
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