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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A Safe Frizz-Fighting Treatment

Oct 31, 2011

“Everything good in life is either immoral, illegal or fattening.” During her badgirl phase, Nicole Richie spoke those wise words…and I’d like to add carcinogenic to her list.

The Brazilian Blowout was all the rage last year. It became known as the professional frizz-eliminating treatment that was gentler and safer than its predecessor — Japanese straightening. But true to theory, as one of the good things in life, the Brazilian Blowout is now apparently carcinogenic as it contains formaldehyde.

Thankfully, there’s a new pro treatment that’s quicker and safer. The Keratin Complex Express Blow Out is a one-hour, in-salon process that infuses keratin proteins into the cuticle to make strands smoother and less frizzy. The main difference between this treatment and the Brazilian Blowout, aside from the fact that the formula really is supposed to be formaldehyde free, is that it smoothes and de-frizzes but doesn’t straighten and flatten the hair.

Nicole enlisted me to try out the Keratin Complex Express Blow Out at Chicago’s Studio 110 salon to see if it really works.

Full disclosure: I have relatively straight hair with a little bit of bend. But I also have a lot of breakage, which creates a lot of flyaways, so I was excited for this service. First, my hair was shampooed, conditioned, and given a quick tousle with a hair dryer. Then, the keratin solution was applied to my hair in small sections using a brush like the one used to apply hair dye. Next, the stylist went back over my strands with a fine-toothed comb and a flat iron to help the keratin fully penetrate my strands. When I left the salon, my hair looked shiny/slightly greasy and stick straight/flat (see the above pic). I was told to keep it dry and elastic free for 8 hours—not 3 days like other keratin treatments out there. Whew!

After my first wash, I air-dried my hair and was thrilled with the result — there weren’t any frizzies in sight. My hair still had its natural shape and curvature, minus the straggly, frizzy flyaways. Talk about a miracle! The Express Blow Out lasts about 5-6 weeks and is a fraction of the cost (about $100) of the full-fledged Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment that lasts up to 5 months.

My verdict: The Keratin Complex Express Blow Out is great way to give conditioning treatments a try without the commitment. And it’s not immoral, illegal, fattening or carcinogenic.

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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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Chillax with these DIY Spa Tips

Oct 12, 2011
Check out my latest interview featured in the October issue of “make it better” magazine.
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Top 4 Multi-Tasking Beauty Products

Sep 14, 2011

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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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Giveaway Winners Announced!

Sep 9, 2011

Congrats to TheBeautyGirl.com readers who scored the latest batch of giveaways.

Valerie, Antoinette and Emily each won a tube of Blinc mascara.

Tina, Carol and an Alabama girl will be welcoming better hair days. They won the $119 InStyler.

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Want Thicker-Looking Hair? Here’s How

Aug 26, 2011
When I was younger, I had thick, lustrous hair. Somewhere in my 20s, it started to abandon me. Call it stress, genetics, what have you…I found myself in one of those situations where I didn’t realize what I had until I lost it. Now, I describe my hair as “fine,” which is a nicer way of saying thin. When I’m in the market for hair products, I typically opt for the “thickening” or “volumizing” kinds. So, when I got an email about Toppik Hair Building Fibers, I couldn’t turn my head. It happens to be one of the best-kept secrets of one of my older friends, so I had to try it out. It’s an easy, temporary solution for women and men who are seeing more of their scalp than they’d like, and I rank this as one of the better hair loss products I’ve come across. Just to be clear, this helps to fill in spots but doesn’t make your hair grow. Watch my video to see it in action!
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InStyler Hair Tool Review and Giveaway!

Aug 18, 2011

Want to try the InStyler for yourself? I’m giving 3 people the chance to win this $119 hair tool, which works on wet and dry hair.

To enter this giveaway: either comment on this post, “like” thebeautygirl.com on facebook or “follow” me on twitter (twitter.com/NPTheBeautyGirl) and RT this message.

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Best Frizz Fighters Plus A Hair Product Giveaway

Aug 5, 2011
A lot of questions have been coming in about how to deal with frizzy hair. It’s a battle we fight every humid summer. Along with the tried-and-true favorites, there are some new taming products on the market that go beyond your basic smoothing serum. Here are some suggestions for controlling both long and short manes. Plus, 3 lucky readers have the chance to win Avon’s frizz fighter. See below details to enter to win this giveaway! Avon Lotus ShieldMy Aunt Karyn was a fan of professional straightening treatments because they really did stamp out her chronic frizz. However, the controversy surrounding the safety of the chemicals in those formulas put the kibosh on her salon visits, and she employed me to find her an alternative. I gave her Avon Advance Techniques Frizz Control Lotus Shield Anti-Frizz Treatment. It’s an at-home product that’s applied to towel-dired hair from root to tip. (All you need is a pea-size amount). It didn’t eliminate her static for months like the pro service, but it did straighten her hair for up to three washes, which is more than your average anti-frizz styling serum can do. And, the more you use the formula, the better it works. Scroll down to find out how to win a free bottle! John Frieda Frizz-EaseAnother souped up frizz-fighter is John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight Semi-Permanent Styling Spray. It claims to rival salon keratin treatments by keeping hair sleek for three days or until your next shampoo (note: to keep strands from looking dull or dehydrated, you should only shampoo a couple of times per week). To use, spray it on damp hair, blow dry hair straight and finish with a flat iron to really seal in the product. Frizz-Ease is the original when it comes to attacking flyaways, and this latest innovation doesn’t disappoint. Garnier Blow Dry PerfectorIf three days of smooth hair doesn’t cut it, Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfector is a two-step kit that claims to iron out the kinks for an impressive seven shampoos. No news yet on how it measures up, but the bold promise is worth the tease.

BG Tips To Fighting Frizz

  • If you’ve got a pixie, bob or other short hairstyle, this one’s for you: You’ve probably noticed that regular size flat irons can be tricky to maneuver around short pieces of hair. Make your life easier with a mini flat iron. Besides being convenient for travel, the smaller hot tool gives you more leverage to get at the roots and put pesky strays in place.
  • If frizz is a regular offender, only detangle your hair in the shower with a wide-tooth comb. Then, pat dry when you get out. Rubbing strands dry with a towel roughs up the cuticle, which leads to frizz, and brushing can cause wet hair to snap. Click here to see more of my frizz-fighting tips in Allure magazine.
  GIVEAWAY: To enter to win Avon’s Anti-Frizz Treatment, comment on this post, follow me on twitter (twitter.com/NPTheBeautyGirl) and RT this message. 3 winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!
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