Brooke Moinet

February is the most romantic month of the year, and the magazines, fashion industry, beauty industry, and the rest of the world knows it.

Check out February magazine issues for the sweetest and sultry looks to try through-out the year!  Glam it up for a special date, or keep it soft for a sweet night in with your sweetie.  Rip out the beauty tips and keep them for a special date that may come your way in a few months.

Let the romantic fabrics of what you are wearing to inspire your hair and makeup.  For instance, Tulle and lace, and silky fabric is very now, so keep your hair soft by adding loose curls or a soft french twist with your makeup dewy and light.

xo

The other day on TV I saw save vs. splurge beauty product comparisons on the NBC Today Show. This sort of information I try to store in the back of my head untill I am out searching for a certain item I think I “need” at that moment.  So, there I was in Walgreens yesterday and there in front of me was the Caress Evenly Gorgeous exfoliating body wash. What is so special about this body wash is it contains actual brown sugar to slough away dead skin cells, just like FRESH Brown Sugar scrub. Only difference , the price is a mere fraction of FRESH! I love you FRESH but in these tough economic times and with this diamond of a find, why would you pay more? Caress Evenly Gorgeous also smells delicious, so you aren’t deprived of the yummy scent of brown sugar that you get in the more expensive scrub.

I have stumbled upon a true treasure, SPONGE skin care.  This is an organic skincare line that is absolutely delicious on your skin.  SPONGE is formulated in Greece using ingredients so fine, even the timing of the harvest is pin point to deliver superior anti-aging care.

The second the product touched my skin, it felt luxurious and I fell in love with SPONGE. Its only been one week of using the line and I can visibly see a difference in the texture of my skin . In the evening I apply the velvety product called Ladi Avokanto, and  without fail my skin glows when I look in the mirror the next morning, thanks to this anti-aging serum. Day cream, night cream, aromatherapy mist, anti-aging serum, it’s all a heavenly combination of products I recommend everyone to try.

I was recently sent a few new products to test from the makers of Proactive. I was a little taken a back at first seeing as I don’t have acne issues.  How was I suppose to properly “test” these products when I was not an acne sufferer? I eventually dug through the box of goods, and was pleased to discover a few “anti-aging” products and some other things I might find useful.  Like, a “clearing” body scrub and body “acne” lotion.  I don’t have body acne but I figured if it could possibly help with razor bump prevention and even work a little anti-aging magic with the salicylic acid in the ingredients, it was worth a try. 

 Just as I has suspected it helped smooth any red, bumpy skin I had on my legs or arms, and gasp, dare I say I may think it worked better than KP Duty?.. Also, I think I may be in love with the Vitamin A, and E Eye Treatment, and the pore clearing strips… Not to mention they had a mattifying primer-like product that works as a great base for my make up!

Keep it up Proactive, and spread the love to the rest of your customers. I think they will  be very happy with the new product candy!

There is a stigma out there I would like to get rid of. The one that says, when you get pregnant and become a mom, you lose a bit of your sex appeal, and feel a little less beautiful. So many women lose confidence after having a baby, and it often starts during pregnancy.  To me, this seems completely backwards and wrong, in so many ways! Becoming a mother should make a girl feel like a woman. She should feel strong, confident, and one hundred percent without a doubt, BEAUTIFUL!

I have to say, I was extremely blessed throughout my pregnancy. I had little to no discomfort, practically zero stretch marks, and it left me feeling even more confident and happy with body after having my baby… Now, I understand it’s kind of rare for a woman to say these things after having a baby, but that’s why I want to share steps I took in taking care of myself throughout my pregnancy.

First, I ate healthy and exercised prior to getting pregnant. And once I did, I was determined to keep my exercise  routine, and to eat as healthy as my hormones would allow. Now, this doesn’t at all mean I deprived myself. Once a vegetarian, I was now eating meatballs about once a week, and splurging on dessert after every meal. However, I made sure I kept my meals light ( just because you are pregnant doesn’t make it ok to eat for two!). I walked at least 30 mins every day, did lunges, and lifted dumbbell’s. I even rode my bike up to about my eigth month. I’m not saying you should, as I didn’t exactly tell my doctor.  But I felt healthy enough, and it made my happy…

Second, I slathered my skin in body butter. I loved Lavanila Body Butter, and Clarins Body Treatment Oil. I swear these two products saved my skin from over stretching and kept stretch marks at bay.  This is not a time to skimp and buy cheap lotion. The time and money you spend on your skin in these crutial days, can save you thousands in trying to correct stretch-marks post pregnancy.

Third, after the baby I wrapped my tummy in a Belly Bandit. It helped to speed up my recovery, and shrank my belly. Also, as soon as I got the okay from my doctor, I returned to the gym. Exercise is a great way to relieve post baby stress, and keep your post-baby hormones in check.

Lastly, remember that being a mommy is what makes you beautiful. It’s one more step up to being that much more fabulous!

Hey all!

 I joined Twitter for anyone out there on the site…http://twitter.com/BewTQween

Attention all puny lash sufferer’s:

 Latisse is the answer you have been looking for! The only FDA approved lash enhancer that is scientifically proven to work. There are a lot of products out there promising to provide you with longer, fuller lashes after several applications, but this one is the only guarantee. What you need to do is, find a Derm or Plastic Surgeons office that offers the RX, and shell out the dough, and dedication for product. One trusted Dr’s office I know of that carries the lash-script is Dr. Youn of Rochester Hills, MI.

So, if your not that skilled at applying falsy’s and aren’t willing to semi-permanantly glue eyelash extensions to your lids, check out this product.

It’s as simple as painting the product on your upper lash line and waiting for the new thicker, fuller, longer lashes to come in.

Chicken Bumps aka Keritosis Pilaris are those bumps you see on the back of your arms or your friends arms that are red and blotchy. Basically, it  is hardened cells that get stuck in hair follicles and the become raised and irritated. How can you get rid of this unsightly problem? Try a cream with glycolic acid in it. Ones that I like are KP Duty, that you can find at one of my favorite stores Sephora, or you can try Glytone’s KP Kit.

The glycolic works to remove dead surface skin, and help open pores to release blockage. It may tingle a bit, especially if your skin is dry, but trust that the tingle means the product is hard at work, restoring your skins soft and smooth texture.

An added bonus for these products is that when you use them on your feet, you get a magnificent pedicure. Simply apply to the bottoms of your feet, and heels, add socks, go to sleep or about your day and viola!  After you remove the socks instantly polished feet.

We’re nearing the end of winter, yet the heat is still blasting on the inside. Therefore, chances are you are battling dry, chapped lips.  It is important to keep your lips protected in harsh climates, because the skin on your lips is considered a type of membrane and is much more susceptible to drying out and becoming chapped.

If you are currently suffering from chapped lips, take a washcloth in the shower with you and gently exfoliate off the dead skin. After the shower apply a penetrating lip balm, such as Burtsbees with peppermint oil (my favorite, it feels so yummy), or Burtsbees with pomegranateoil, they even have a medicated lip balm specifically designed for severely chapped lips. Stay away from chap-sticks that just coat the lips with a petroleum base. Stick with natural based lip balms, some of what is on your lips does go into your mouth, and the last thing you want to put into your body is unnatural chemicals. Yuck!

Lastly, keep the lip balm with you wherever you go to touch up at the fist sign of dryness.

What I am craving right now is a serious exfoliation of my face. Now, I am a huge advocate for daily exfoliation with scrubs, and or acids but, every now and then I need to make an appointment and get a Microdermabrasion or Chemical Peel. 

Although, the kits available today for at home microdermabrasion are wonderful, they don’t quite get as deep as a MDA at a clinical spa. Microdermabrasion machines combine suction with mechanical exfoliation. This stimulates blood circulation and removes the top layers of dead skin, enabling your skin cells to renew themselves.

Chemical peels come in many different strengths, and types, and should be discussed with your esthetician as to which is best suited for your skin type. In most cases chemical peels go a bit deeper than microdermabrasion, in cell exfoliation. Also, depending on the strength of the peel you can create a combination package of MDA’s and Chemical peels, rotating as close to a week apart, to achieve more noticeable results. 

What is even better about going in and leaving with smooth, clear skin, is that these treatments cost the same or less than traditional facials. And there is no guessing as to whether or not the facial you just received actually did anything, it’s guaranteed.  So, check it out next time your skin is feeling drab and needs a pick me up.