Volume Control

A few months after having a baby, I'm glad that my body is starting to get back to normal. But unfortunately, that means my hair is, too. When you're pregnant, your body doesn't shed the usual 100 hairs a day. That's why pregnant women often have thick, luscious locks. Sadly, the benefits don't last: a few months post-partum, your hormones change and tell those hangers-on that it's time to go. Result? Clogged drains, thinner feeling hair and baby fine wisps at the forehead. Even celebrities aren't exempt - rumor has it that Katie Holmes' bangs were an effort to camouflage postpartum hair loss.

While you're waiting for your hair to return to a normal state (6-12 months after the baby's arrival), you can experiment with different hairstyles and styling products. I got a trim, snipped some forehead-skimming bangs and discovered the John Frieda Luxurious Volume line.

The launch of these products came just in time to solve my tress distress! The shampoo, conditioner and trio of styling products work together to boost volume in 3 dimensions: fullness, thickness and lift. Basically, they attack the three causes of flat hair - fewer hairs per square inch, thin strands and hair that won't stand up at the root.

So, I put it to the test. The Full Splendor shampoo and conditioner clean well, rinse cleanly and strengthen hair without weighing it down, leaving it ready for styling. Sorry to break it to you, friends, but no matter what products you use, you can't get the full volume effect without putting a little effort into your blow-out.

The Bountiful Body Mousse really preps the hair by giving it lift at the root and making strands feel thicker - just run a dollop through damp hair. Then spray the roots in front and at the crown with the Lavish Lift Root Booster - this helps to help wimpy strands stand tall and protects against heat damage while you blow dry. Dry hair in sections holding it away from the scalp - and voila! Serious volume, no kidding around. To make the look last, blast it with the All-Out Hold hairspray. It has humidity protection to ensure that a spritz or sprinkle won't undo your do. And it really holds: it held my bangs in place through numerous downward-facing-dogs in yoga class. Final bonus? The whole Luxurious Volume line smells yummy and costs only $6.50 per product; find them at mass retailers.

It definitely felt good to have a good hair day - and have products that help keep the baby-fine hairstyle on the baby, where it belongs!

Mamma Mio, here I go again... my, my, how can I resist you?

What series on pregnancy products would be complete without mention of Mama Mio?

First of all, their tagline is "Skincare for Supermamas" - and who doesn't want to be a super mama?

Secondly, their products smell amazing. Their Gravida fragrance was designed not to offend pregnancy-sensitive noses, and I just love how the citrusy-floral notes smell without overpowering.
Third? The products are safe for "any time from pregnancy stage to pensionable age". Their "No Nasties" policy should put even the most sensitive-skinned mom's mind at ease.

Last and most important: they work. I used the Tummy Rub butter and found myself digging the very last drops out with my fingernail. It's super quenching, itch relieving and doens't leave you feeling greasy. Similarly, the Tummy Rub oil quenches skin and soaks right in after a shower. I didn't get any strech marks (whether that is luck, genetics or careful skincare, we'll never know, but I'm glad I used these to take care of my belly!). The Wonder-Full balm is also a must-have... you can use it from lips to fingertips to alleviate dryness and heal abused skin.

What else? You can also find Mama Mio products in use at top spas. While on a "babymoon" long weekend at the utterly-fabulous Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys, I had a delightful pregnancy massage at their Spa Terre. They carefully positioned my body to avoid pressure points and scrubbed, smoothed and de-stressed my muscles with an array of Mama Mio "Mama's Touch" spa products. Find a Mama Mio spa by searching here.

Oh boy!

Our little boy arrived on May 23! Everything went smoothly and he's a perfect little delight. For the purposes of protecting children on the internet, we'll call him J.J. (Being a new parent definitely has its moments of paranoia). Darling Husband and I are unbelievable smitten and thrilled and a bit exhausted, so you'll excuse a slow pace of blogging until we catch up on sleep... and who knows when that will be.

Earth Mama, Angel Baby

While on the quest for the perfect pregnancy-friendly beauty products, I just had to include an organic line in the mix. After all, this is the time to be concerned about what's going on, as well as in, your body! I found Earth Mama, Angel Baby when I was writing a previous story on baby products, and this time got to test a selection of their products for myself.

First of all, Earth Mama, Angel Baby uses the highest quality oils and QAI certified organic herbs. Their products are cruelty-free, certified vegan, kosher, and 100% toxin-free - that means no phthalates, parabens, SLS, artificial preservatives, fragrances or dyes

Secondly, many products out there for pregnancy are really just amped-up spa products. Creams, oils, lotions, scrubs, soaks, etc... but Earth Mama, Angel Baby creates products that address some very specific, if not glamorous, aspects of pregnancy. Case in point: Morning Wellness Tea to helps quell morning sickness, Heartburn Tea for when even a glass of orange juice seems like torture, and Bottom Balm and Bottom Spray (which are not for baby's bottom, if you know what they mean). They also have some products to help ease the unimaginable pain of miscarriage or stillbirth in their Healing Hearts section.

So, what goodies did I try?

Of course, the first product I reached for was the Stretch Oil for stretchmark prevention. It has a mild scent, spread nicely and is pure and natural, with plant-based oils that are cold pressed without solvents to insure their purity infused with the healing herbal goodness of organic calendula, and calming chamomile. Borage oil, Vitamin E and neroli pure essential oil help nourish and encourage skin’s natural elasticity. It would be a great massage oil.

I also indulged in the Happy Feet foot soak. It looks like a jar of loose tea, and you put a scoopful in a muslin bag and steep it in your tub (or a small bucket) so the herbs can release their goodness. It contains organic lavender, yarrow, thyme, peppermint, osemary, salts and organic pure essential oils and smells wonderful. Feet emerge refreshed... and fresh smelling!

This is a company that celebrates all women go through when having a baby and have products to help every step of the way, from pregnancy, labor and postpartum, to breastfeeding and babycare. I am looking forward to trying the Angel Baby products on my little one. A great baby shower gift would be the Angel Baby Kit for $49.95 or the Deluxe Angel Baby Bucket for $119.95.

Basq-ing in the Glow

Continuing the pregnancy product reviews, I now turn my attention to Basq, a NYC-based company that generously offered me their Bounce Back Aromacology Spa Kit to try out a variety of their products. It contains several products to help you look and feel your best while pregnant, recovering from pregnancy or looking to get your body back into tip-top condition.

My favorite product of the kit was the Resilient Body Oil. It is a fast absorbing blend of essential oils that works with the body's natural toning process helping improve elasticty and prevent the appearance of stretch marks. The blend contains Hazelnut, Rosehip, Grapeseed, Wheatgerm and Sweet Almond oils plus Vitamin E, all known to help tone and regenerate the skin. I used it frequently over my belly and hips and I love the scent. It reminds me of roses, without being too "grandma", if you know what I mean.

I also loved the Soothing Foot and Leg lotion. It is light and absorbs quickly (no more slipping around in your shoes) and has a cooling tingly effect that perks up tired toesies. Perfect for foot massages! I could also imagine this being tops for refreshing tired legs after travel.

The Cucumber Tea Eye gel is also very light and refreshing. The gel is water-based and refreshing, not heavy. It won't be replacing a thicker, more hydrating eye cream, but I'll definitely be using this to help camouflage the tired eyes from newborn-induced sleep deprivation!

Lastly, I got to try the Citrus Sugar Body polish. It's a nice texture: too many sugar scrubs are hard to scoop out of the jar and leave an oily film on the skin. This one has a soft, uniform texture and scrubs gently. It contains good-for-you antioxidants, vitamins plus Rosehip, Grapeseed, and Hazelnut Oils, White Tea and a whipped Shea Butter complex to replenish skin. The Orange Neroli scent is nice if you like orange blossom type scents, and reminded me of Jo Malone's Orange Blossom. It's not my personal favorite, but the scent doesn't linger too long on the skin, so I still enjoy using this on my legs to get them summertime-smooth!

The gift sets are a great way to sample these products or send good wishes along to an expecting friend!

Honey from Tummy to Toes

I am so excited that we are having a spring baby. That means we can be out and about with the baby all summer, not cooped up, hanging around the house, dreading the 4:30 pm sunsets. But being pregnant over the winter does have one major drawback: itchy, irritated winter skin is kicked up a notch (or more...) due to hormones and all the stretching that comes with a growing baby bump.

Lucky for me, I found Bella B.'s Tummy Honey Butter ($19.95) It's a thick butter designed to prevent stretch marks and alleviate the itching of stretched-thin skin. In the tub, it's a solid - think of a true butter, not a cream-described-as-butter. It is not water-based, so on initial application it feels a bit greasy, but it spreads easily and absorbs quickly into skin. Still, because I like to dress and go in the morning, I reserve this for nightime use.

There's a subtle texture within the butter - like a very fine grain, maybe it's the cornstarch? - which actually helps to relieve itching as you rub it in (and probably helps exfoliate as well). Tummy Honey Butter includes such key ingredients as Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Vitamins D and E, wheat germ oil, olive oil (a sworn-by remedy in middle eastern cultures), avocado oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, almond oil, and aloe vera.

The fragrance is a real pleasure too. Lots of pregnant gals are super-sensitive to smells, so sniff before you buy. This product has a very subtle scent coming from the cocoa butter, but it has a slightly floral aspect so it's not too chocolatey (like the Palmers products on the market). Natural-product lovers will appreciate that it's free of petroleum, lanolin and parabens, and has not been tested on animals. Not pregnant? I'd suggest trying this butter to re-hydrate cracked hands, elbows and feet, to relieve itchy eczema spots and to hydrate split cuticles.

Another fave product from this line is the Tummy to Toes, Feet & Leg Revitalizer ($18.99). I was recently on a business trip that required a 6-hour flight followed by days and nights on my feet (and in heels no less, hey - I was trying to be stylish!)... and my poor feet took a major beating. This thick cream provides enough slip so that you can deeply massage it into tired feet and calves - or better, get someone else to do it for you! There's a mild cooling sensation that helps revitalize tired feet, but doesn't have an overpowering menthol smell. Again, this would be appreciated by anyone who is tough on her feet, not just moms to be!

Have an expectant friend? Send her a gift set of Tummy Honey products. She'll thank you!

Pregnant Pause

I'm not ignoring my blog - at least not on purpose, anyway. But it is true that my posts have recently become fewer and further between. What's my excuse? Well, I've been a little distracted...

Yes, this beauty chick has a new little chick on the way! We're expecting a little boy (who I sincerely hope won't roll his eyes at his mother's obsession with fragrances, bath products and makeup...). Overall, I've been feeling great but of course with the new excitement in our lives and a whole new calendar full of doctor's visits, my time has been a little bit stretched. I want to thank the patient readers who keep returning to pay me a visit!

Needless to say, my beauty routine has changed a bit as well. For starters, I didn't even want to go near fragrance in the first trimester, talk about a personality change for me! New obsessions? All sorts of creams, butters and oils to hydrate skin and prevent stretch marks. And do I have a bunch to share with you! Even if you don't have a stretching belly to care for, these products are great for parched winter skin. So stay tuned, more posts (and a bundle of joy) on the way...