I have thick, curly hair that can be difficult to manage. As a busy mom of two, I don’t often have a lot of time to straighten and style my hair, so quality products, designed for my particular needs are essential.  Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy offers six shampoos and five conditioners designed to cleanse, nourish, and strenghten hair…from the scalp. According to the brand, 99% of hair’s natural strength and beauty come from the scalp and it makes sense that we’d start at the “root” for strong, beautiful hair.  In addition to this revolutionary appraoch, the line is designed to begin eliciting results in just seven days.

The shampoos and conditioners are formulated with Nutrium 10 technology, which in essence is a blend of 10 vitamins and nutrients that “feed” the scalp.  I have to admit that had I thought about this approach in the past, I would have been searching for hair care products specifically designed to work on the scalp because one of my primary hair care concerns is dryness. Our weather here in California is already dry and during the winter months my scalp can get incredibly dry and itchy.  One of the first things I noticed after using the products for seven days was the fact that I didn’t experience that dryness.  Over time, I also began to notice that my hair felt softer and in general has become easier to manage.

As much as I try not to pay attention to asthetics, packaging and scent can definitely be a deciding factor when choosing a line of hair care products.  I particularly like the sleek design of the bottles because they stand out amongst other brands on the store shelf.

Before I purchase shampoo and conditioner, I smell it.  It’s important that the scent be pleasant but not overwhelming.  I found Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy to have definite fruity undertones (apple, pear) which I prefer over stronger floral scents.  Interestingly enough, on one of the very first days I used the product, I had a friend ask me what type of perfume I was wearing (I wasn’t wearing any!).

As far as how the products feel, I found that the shampoo lathers immediately and doesn’t require a lot of product to achieve that rich lather.  The conditioner is moisturizing without being weighty.  After a shampoo and condition, my hair feels clean and vibrant.

There are many components that contribute to strong, beautiful hair. Stress, diet, age, and environment can all contribute to the overall health of your hair. Dermatologist Francesca Fusco offers the following tips:

1. Drink 2 liters of water every day

2. Eat a diet rich in anti-oxidants and omega-3 fatty acids

3. Find a way to relieve and manage stress (yoga, meditation, exercise, and sleep can help alleviate stress)

4. Alternate the use of hot and cold water on the scalp to stimulate circulation

5.  Minimize the use of heat on the hair and scalp including blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, and diffusers

6.  Consider the use of an air humidifier to replenish moisture to the hair and scalp

7.  Use a nourishing shampoo and conditioner and massage the products into the scalp for at least one minute

For more information about Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy, just visit your local Walmart.

Be sure to check out all five of the videos featured on the site including Christine, Amy, Erika, and Colleen. Here are some photos from our shoot:

I wish I had someone to do my makeup every day!

Camera Ready?

Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.

Do I have more weight than I did before children? Yes.  Are there areas I’d like to tone and firm? Absolutely.  But overall, I have enough confidence not to hide behind a cover-up.  It helps that a Lands’ End Swim Expert assisted in helping me find a swimsuit that fits!  My body’s proportions aren’t exactly to scale when it comes to tops and bottoms, so I chose a swimsuit from the brand’s SwimMates collection. The bikinis and camis offer true bra sizing for the appropriate fit and women can select from two types of coverage with regards to bottoms.  If you prefer a bit more coverage, Lands’ End offers skirts and shorts. The “4 Piece Bikini” offers a layered look and includes a bikini top, cami, bottoms, and skirt or shorts and everything was designed to swim in.  A proper fitting swimsuit with the amount of coverage a woman desires can make a huge difference in boosting a woman’s confidence about wearing a swimsuit, regardless of her shape and size.

National Swimsuit Confidence Week was initiated last year to help educate and inspire women to embrace their confidence and beauty for an enjoyable summer.  Spring is always deemed that unofficial season where women are to get in shape in preparation for swimsuit season.  While I believe fitness and health are vital to a woman’s beauty and confidence, I don’t think that she should have to hide or abstain from wearing a swimsuit simply because she’s still working on attaining her goals for fitness and beauty.  I am honored to be one of the 100 bloggers selected to proudly show off their swimsuit confidence!  Additionally, 21 writers from Curvy Girl and 20 breast cancer survivors from Beyond the Boobie Trap will be featured on the Lands’ End Facebook page in swimsuits.

Do you have swimsuit confidence?

No compensation was received for this post.  I was provided with a swimsuit from Lands’ End as part of my participation in this campaign.  

I’ve recently started using a few products from a brand new skin care line called Simple.  After learning that it is the UK’s number 1 skin care line, I had to try it (I absolutely love all things European!).  I was also drawn to the fact that the entire line of 13 products is free from dyes, artificial perfumes, and irritants, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Since I don’t have a lot of time to devote to a rigid skin care regimen, I decided to pick out three products I felt would help me achieve my skin care needs.  First, I picked up the brands Day Cream, which also contains a bit of sunscreen (SPF 15 UVA/UVB sunscreens).  My skin tends to be quite dry, since we live in a desert-like climate, so a good moisturizer is very important.  I also make it a habit to wear sunscreen every day, regardless of the season, because California tends to have more sunshine than most states. Whenever I find a product that can meet more than one of my needs, I’m more apt to use it, which is the case with this particular Day Cream.  The other thing I like about the cream is that once I apply it, there is no oily residue.  The cream simply absorbs into my skin and I can apply my foundation.

The second product I picked up was Simple’s Smoothing Facial Scrub.  As I mentioned earlier, I don’t have a lot of time for complex regimens and cleansing my skin is crucial (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to sleep with makeup still in place).  This scrub cleanses and gently exfoliates, again helping me address to skin concerns with one product.  Whenever I have the time, I try to get a facial.  Each and every time I’ve been educated about the importance of exfoliating, particularly because I have dry skin.  Removing dry, dead skin cells is crucial, since skin cannot absorb product and reap it’s benefits if it is simply sitting on top of those cells.  This scrub is gentle yet effective without irritating my skin.

The last product I’ve been using is the Simple Eye Make-Up Remover.  Unlike most, this one is oil-free, which I appreciate.  My previous experiences with eye makeup removers is that they tend to leave an oily residue that isn’t easily washed off.  This product simply removes my eye makeup gently and effectively.  I’ve read that it also removes waterproof mascara but haven’t actually tried the product in that way yet.

With 13 products designed to moisturize and cleanse, Simple is idea for women with sensitive skin but can be used by anyone regardless of his/her skin type.  Simple is available at your local Walmart and none of the products retail for more than $10.  For more information, just visit the website.

 Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.

As you can imagine, I don’t have the time I once did. However, I always strive to do the basics if I’m under significant time constraints. I tend to favor natural beauty, utilizing make up to enhance what I have rather than attempting to create something I don’t.

Most days, I don’t look like this:

This photo was taken after a Los Angeles-based makeup artist spent about 30 minutes accentuating my assets and a stylist spent another 30 minutes straightening my hair.  Even if I had an entire hour to devote to my own personal beautification, I can guarantee the results would not be the same.

So what is my basic, day-to-day beauty regime?

1.  I wake up, wash my face, and moisturize!  As I get older, I’m realizing how important this step is in slowing down the aging process  on my face. FYI…you can use a tinted moisturizer.

2.  I apply a makeup primer and mineral powder.  I love how primers smooth out skin in preparation for makeup.  I typically achieve coverage that is even and find that my makeup lasts longer.  I use a loose powder as a foundation since I find that the coverage is comparable to liquid or cream and it can double as a foundation and/or a powder.

3. I focus on my eyes and lips.  Most days I opt for natural, neutral colors and I’m loving CoverGirl’s Nature Luxe Gloss Balm which I was introduced to last year.  This colored lip balm offers the benefit of providing some SPF protection while hydrating lips. Don’t expect a heavy lipstick, rather this is more of an everyday wear balm that also has the added bonus of offering color. Don’t forget eyeliner since I could literally walk out of the house wearing only eyeliner and lip balm.

As you can see, my routine is simple and feasible.  Once evening comes around, I make a commitment to wash all of my makeup off and moisturize.  Lately, I’ve also been using Olay Regenerist’s Micro Sculpting Serum which hydrates skin and helps with fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness and elasticity, and dry skin.

These days, I don’t straighten my hair unless I’m going out for sheer lack of time.  I really love the look I can create with a blow dryer and a flat iron but it’s simply not practical with 2 children.  Thus, I rely on quality hair care products to keep my hair vibrant, shiny, and healthy.  Surprisingly, I don’t actually purchase hair care products from my salon these days. I’ve found that several companies make quality products that can offer something comparable to high end salon brands. If your hair is dry or damaged from heat, chemicals, or weather (raises hand), you might want to try Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle, a deep conditioner that will help alleviate dry, distressed hair.

There are two additional areas that I don’t often focus on enough.  The first is shaving.  Way back in my 20s, I started the process of permanent hair removal.  Unfortunately, this is a lengthy, expensive process that requires commitment and I wasn’t at that point in my life in my 20s.  These days, I simply can’t justify the expense. So like most women, I’ve had to resort to shaving.  I’m lucky if I do this at least once a week.  Fortunately, it’s winter and I’m not baring my legs.  As we look towards summer, I’ll be focusing more on shaving and Venus’ Bikini Trimmer seems like it will work wonders for a close shave.

The second area is the whiteness (or not) of my teeth.  While I’m very diligent about oral care, I have never been able to commit to a teeth whitening program, despite my best laid plans. That’s why I’m loving Crest’s new 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips which provide noticeable whitening in just 2 hours.  The kit includes four treatments, each of which lasts 3 months.

Win It!  What are you best beauty tips?  Answer for a chance to win a gift bag containing the following:

• Aussie 3 Minute Miracle
• Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips
• Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant
• Venus Bikini Trimmer
• Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Serum
• CoverGirl Nature Luxe Gloss Balm

Comments will close on April 2nd, 2012 at 11:59 PM PST.

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This is part of a compensated campaign with P&G and The Motherhood.  Products for review and giveaway also supplied.

The company has been highly innovative in offering professional quality products at affordable prices and now, Suave Professionals is the exclusive hair care brand of NBC’s new series Fashion Star. Tomorrow, the reality show which focuses on fashion design, will premiere at 9:30 pm EST.  Stylist Theodore Leaf and his team will help 14 aspiring fashion designers create runway-worthy looks using products from Suave’s Professionals line.

Want to learn how to recreate this look? Check out Facebook.com/SuaveBeauty

For behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, hair how-to’s, and opportunities to win products from Suave, visit their Facebook page.

No compensation was received for this post. Products (which will be reviewed in the future) and information were provided. 

Photo Credit: Relativity Media

Last weekend, I spent an immersive two days with Relativity Media, in anticipation of their upcoming film Mirror Mirror.  Along with screening the movie, which takes a modern approach to the classic fairytale, we had the privilege of interviewing Lily Collins, who plays Snow White, and were treated to some amazing beauty treatments.  Collins, who was named one of the Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011, boasts an impressive resume which includes everything from authoring articles in Seventeen, Teen Vogue and the Los Angeles Times magazine to hosting the Nickelodeon show Kids Pick the President, which won her the 2008 Young Hollywood Award for “Newest Red Carpet Correspondent.”

Photo Credit: Relativity Media

As a young, accomplished woman, I wanted to know what advice she had for young girls about embracing both inner and outer beauty, particularly given the fact that she is not only passionate about her career as an actress but as a journalist and advocate for teens.  “I don’t want to look like everyone else,” she told us confidently as she discussed her personal struggle with accepting her own unique physical attributes.  “…the quirky things that make you different are what make you beautiful.”  She went on to discuss how she had friends who wanted to change those individual characteristics that really made them unique…I’ve totally been there! As a young Latina woman, I worked to straighten my hair…dress, walk, talk, and act like everyone else in my class in hopes of hiding my culture and heritage.  At 22, Collins is insightful and self-assured.  “Even if you feel like you look [like] what you’re supposed to look like but you don’t feel it inside, you’re going to have the slumped shoulders and you’re going to be sitting there not smiling.”  Confidence…beauty…it comes from within.  We know that but it’s not said enough…it’s not emphasized enough.  “[In] the end when you accept yourself for who you are and you work with what you’ve got, you couldn’t be more beautiful because you’re confident and everyone notices.

As we get closer to the film, I will share more information about the film and our exclusive interview with Lily Collins. For now, I’ll leave you with this awesome (and incredibly creative) trailer for the film:

Mirror Mirror opens in theaters nationwide on March 30th.  You can check out photos and get a behind the scenes look at the film by following on Facebook and Pinterest.

Here are some photos from our beauty-filled day:

Photo Credit: Mama Latina Tips

Photo Credit: Rockin' Mama

Photo Credit: Mama Latina Tips

Photo Credit: Rockin' Mama

No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to the press weekend courtesy of Relativity Media.

Photo Credit: Relativity Media, Mama Latina Tips, Rockin’ Mama

Life is a series of moments captured in time in our mind.

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One of the only ways to describe the past year is bittersweet. I haven’t talked a lot about it, but the year was filled with a number of changes, challenges, blessings, opportunities, extreme joy and tremendous sorrow. It’s the year where I finally realized my dream of staying home with my children…the year where I finally visited Walt Disney World for the very first time with my children and my parents (you know what a Disney fan I am)…the year where I really discovered those things that I’m passionate about…and the year I lost my father.

When I think about the beautiful moments in my life, my children are frequently at the center of those moments. I remember that moment when I finally broke down and told my son that his grandpa was sick. His sweet innocent eyes looked at me and he thoughtfully told me that we would pray for grandpa so that he would get better. I only wish I had a tiny amount of the incredible faith he had. How touching and beautiful was that moment and a true expression of the relationship they had.

My father watched my son for quite some time while I worked outside of the home and they developed a very special bond. They loved playing cars, walking the dog, and generally being silly. My father loved my children like his own and I’m incredibly thankful for the time they had with him. I never had a relationship with any of my grandparents, so the fact that my father was present during my children’s early years is an incredible blessing.

During those short painful weeks of my father’s illness, my son would often ask me about grandpa, since we didn’t live close enough to visit daily. We would draw pictures for him and talk about all of the things we would do when grandpa got better.

On that day, when I finally had to tell my son that his grandpa wasn’t sick anymore but that he also wouldn’t be seeing him again here on earth, my heart broke as the tears streamed down his face. It was painful…but incredibly beautiful to see how much my son loved his grandpa…how important he was to him.

Even though the time was short, my son had a special relationship with his grandfather and for that I’m incredibly grateful.

Tell me what your most meaningful moment was in the last year for a chance to win one of 10 complete skin care Anti-Age Systems from Meaningful Beauty.

Keep your skin looking great in every moment with Meaningful Beauty- Cindy Crawford’s break through secret for younger looking skin.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Meaningful Beauty. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest Rules.

I don’t know many women (or men, for that matter), who don’t enjoy a bit of pampering.  I personally love the opportunity to completely unwind and unplug to focus on relaxing my entire body (both physically and mentally).  Some days, all I have is a couple of hours for a massage or facial. But ideally, a day at the spa does wonders for me physically, mentally, and emotionally.  I find that when I set aside just a small amount of time to take care of myself, I’m happier, healthier, less anxious, and more patient.

Last week, I spent a few blissful hours with Yolanda from Sassy Mama in LA at The Huntington Spa, located at The Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California. The spa, which was voted as one of the Top 10 Spas in America by Travel + Lesiure readers, is the only one in Los Angeles offering treatments based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Chuan Body + Soul is a new element to the spa and these signature treatments incorporate breathing rituals and acupressure as part of the wellness experience.  When you choose a Chuan Body + Soul treatment, your therapist will utilize the answers you provide in a short questionnaire to address any imbalances.  Additionally, the essential oils, incense, candles, teas, and juices used were created in consultation with professionals in Chinese Medicine and Naturopathy.

Despite it’s size, the spa feels intimate and peaceful.  After you’ve checked in and changed into a comfy robe, you can enjoy a cup of tea in the contemplation room or relax in the sauna, steam room, or whirlpool.  This is where you’ll fill out the short questionnaire before heading into the treatment room with your therapist.

I ended up getting a one-hour signature massage, which is just what I needed to relax and get energized for the coming week.  My therapist was extremely attentive, ensuring I was comfortable and that the areas I felt needed the most attention were focused on. The combination of quiet and darkness also helped create an environment that was conducive to relaxation.  When my treatment was complete, the therapist led me to the dream room where I wrapped myself up in a cozy blanket with a cup of chamomile tea.  It was divine!

Whenever I’m planning to visit a spa, I look into their packages, which typically offer more value for the amount of money spent.  At present, there are a number of different packages including 2 and a 3 hour wellness retreats that incorporate the most popular treatments.  Additionally, the spa is offering three winter treatments designed to do wonders for dry skin and hair.  Their Warm Milk and Honey Manicure/Pedicure (25 minutes/50 minutes) includes a dip into whole milk with a hint of blueberry followed by a whipped honey and sea salt scrub, finished with warm honey to hydrate the skin.  Hands and feet are massaged with sweet cream body milk and the service is completed with polish.  The Chuan Collagen Velvet Face and Eye Treatment is a 75 minute treatment designed to provide intense hydration for wind or sun damaged skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and moisture deficiency.  Pure native soluble collagen, protein rich extracts and creams soften and smooth the skin.  Their Caviar Deep Conditioning Hair/Scalp Treatment includes the application of an Alterna Anti-Aging Caviar Hair Mask which is applied and massaged into the hair and scalp.  This 50 minute treatment improves the hair’s shine, texture, and softness.

If you decide to visit the Huntington Spa, be sure to plan to make a day of it.  Located within the spa is a fitness center which includes cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, Techno Gym equipment, a variety of free weights, a state-of-the-art training room, an aerobics studio, an indoor whirlpool, a dry sauna, and a steam room.

For more information on treatments and services offered at the spa, just visit their website.

No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary massage and visit to the spa was provided which helped facilitate this review.

Shine from Yahoo! tops the list of websites women are searching for information on.  Focused on women’s topics, the website covers everything from family and relationships to health, fashion, beauty, and food.  Just in time for the holiday season, they’ve launched the very first (of many) Get It Guide, a resource that highlights what women really want. The guide is put together after evaluating Yahoo!’s most searched products and trends, and explores topics in a variety of categories including fashion, beauty, fitness, and food.

The first Get It Guide has been revealed!  On trend with women’s interest in all-things celebrity-ish, the first guide focuses on Celebrity Fragrances.  The four most sought-out celebrity fragrances include Heat by Beyoncé, Cosmic Radiance by Britney Spears, Someday by Justin Bieber, and Jennifer Aniston by Jennifer Aniston.  At present, you can visit Shine to comment, share, and vote on each of the four fragrances to determine the favorite amongst readers. While you’re on the site, be sure to check out the reviews of each fragrance from the Get It Guide Gurus.

Stay tuned as I’ll be sharing more information about Shine from Yahoo!’s Get It Guides!

Disclosure: I am a Get It Guide Insider and receive exclusive content and/or products.  All opinions remain my own.