I’ve struggled and struggled to find the right hair treatment that would allow me to let it air dry (thus allowing me a wider array of easy styling options) while still channeling the cool and sophisticated mom I’m always trying to pull off.  Last fall I read an article in a parenting magazine that suggested simple products for different hair types for busy moms.  I went out on a limb and tried the product recommended for my hair…and am I ever glad that I did.

Made by Bumble and Bumble, “Brilliantine is unique and hard to define.  It gives hair a polish and a sort of languid, slept-in, sexy look.”  That’s what it says on the little bronze bottle.  Now, I still occasionally use a light styling pomade or body-inducing hair spray just to tame the frizz if I choose to blow it dry.  However, it’s really not necessary if you just let it air dry.

The greatest feature is that it’s a cream, so it really doesn’t gunk up your hair or make it feel sticky.  The hardest thing to figure out is how much to use for your hair.  My advice is to just use it for a couple of days when you plan to be around the house so you can see if you need to use more or less.  The bottle suggests that you ‘use very sparingly’ but my hair is so thick I ended up trying a little more and found that it works better for me.  What a relief to finally find a product for those of us who can’t identify with ‘curly hair’ or ’straight hair’ but definitely know a little something about ‘fussy hair’!

It all started over twenty-five years ago, with her mother creating her own scents from various products. Today, Cassandra, also known as The Mixtress, has taken over the reigns and is on the verge of building her own empire. Rosalyn Scent was born out of tribute to Cassandra’s mother, to carry out her dream of being a business woman. She has fulfilled that dream…and more.

The Mixtress, as her loyal customers call her, makes a variety of scents and products.  I am head over heels in love with her soy based body wash and body lotion. While these products can be created with any scent listed on her page, I chose to go with the “au naturale.” I’ve been using the soy based body wash for a week now and I can already tell a difference in the smoothness and texture of my skin.  It washes away impurities without the sticky feeling that some body washes and soaps leave behind and rinses off clean.  Add an aromatic scent such as Butterfly Orchid or Pomegranate & Sweet Orange and you are sure to get your day started off on a good foot!

The body lotion is just as wonderful.  It’s very absorbent and requires virtually no repeat applications.  It has even done wonders for my hands which I constantly wash due to working in the healthcare field (we practically live at the sink!).  Even with constant exposure to antimicrobial soap, my hands feel soft and supple at the end of the day.

Rosalyn Scent isn’t just for Fly Mommies either!  There’s a line of products dedicated to Fly Daddies and Fly Kiddies alike.  No one is left out when it comes to her creations.  Whatever your preference…oils, perfumes, body butters, lotions, body spray-even customized scents-The Mixtress has a product suitable for you.  For more information, you can visit her site at www.rosalynsbathandbody.com. 

As a beauty product junkie (I’m sure I’m not alone out there) I love finding great inexpensive (cheap) stuff that works! Here are four products under four bucks that I have tried personally and decided they are worth sharing with the world.

Carmex Original Formula Lip Balm – An old school favorite.  I love keeping my lips soft and the original Carmex has never let me down. I use it at night before I go to bed and my lips stay chapped-free all day!

Pros – Moisturizing feels really nice.

Cons – Might be addictive for lip balm addicts.

Garnier Fructis Leave-in Conditioning Cream - Do you have curly hair?  This conditioner is ESSENTIAL.  I have tried it all from the cheapest to the most expensive.   This leave-in conditioning cream is great!

Pros – Smells nice, smooths frizz.

Cons – If you have long hair you may go through it quickly.

Johnson’s No More Tangles Shampoo & Conditioner for Curly Hair - I bought the first bottle of this for my daughter’s hair.  It worked so well on her hair well… I tried it on my own.  Loved it!

Pros – Really helps detangle hair.  Doesn’t dry out hair.

Cons – Honestly haven’t found one yet!

Up & Up Apricot Blemish Scrub - I was a fan of the St. Ives Apricot Scrub but while at Target on a whim I decided, after reading the ingredients, to give the generic brand a try.  Well, I was pleasantly surprised at the results.

Pros – Deeply cleanses skin, exfoliates and leaves skin feeling refreshed.

Cons – Scent isn’t too nice…

Steps to recovering from a breakup:

Get out of the house!  Don’t sit in the house and have a pity party.  If you have been in the house for a few days, get out and get some sunshine and fresh air.

Call a friend.  We all need someone to talk to from time to time.   Call and share your feelings with someone that you’re close to.

Go to your favorite restaurant.  It is always nice to get out and enjoy a nice meal.  Take time out for yourself; you deserve it!

Go for a long walk or head to the gym for a great workout.  Exercising increases endorphins.  This will help to put you in a better mood.

Continue to eat  fruits and vegetables and other mood boosting colorful foods.  Believe it or not, what we eat has a lot to do with how we feel.   Try to stay away from greasy heavy foods that will just make us feel sluggish.

Entertain yourself with your favorite hobby.  If you do not have a hobby, now would be a great time to create one.

Hangout with your friends for an enjoyable evening.

Get away for the weekend.   It’s just great to get away and clear your head.  This will help you to feel refreshed and renewed.

Take a trip to the spa.  Everyone loves to be pampered.   Take time for a facial, massage or a mani-pedi.  If you cannot afford the spa, have a spa day at home and do it yourself.  You will feel so much better!

Continue to try to look your best.  Even though you are going through a breakup you still need to try to look your best.  So be sure to get dressed, do you hair and apply that makeup.  How you look affects how you feel.  If you look good you will feel good!

Above all, understand that just as this person came into your life,  so will someone else.   In the meantime, use this time to focus on yourself.

Face Steaming: This invigorating treatment helps to open your pores for a more deep clean feeling.  All you need is a pot of hot water, a towel, and 5-10 minutes to spare. Bring the pot of water to a steam (doesn’t necessarily have to boil). While the water is heating, wash your face as you normally would and gently pat dry. Place the steaming pot on a table or solid surface that can’t be moved or tipped.  Drape the towel over your head and hover over the steam.  Allow the steam to open your pores. You don’t want to be so close that the steam burns you, but you want to feel it against your skin.  Do this for 5-10 minutes.  Follow up with a gentle exfoliate (see body scrub), rinse and pat dry. Your face will feel clean, refreshed and recharged.  To add to the effect, add a few drops of rosemary oil or lemon oil.  These oils are also good for the skin so it becomes a one, two punch.

Teeth Whitening: While I have nothing against over-the-counter teeth whiteners, I know it doesn’t take $5 to $50 to get your pearly whites even whiter. All you need to brighten your smile is baking soda. For less than a dollar a box, you can whiten your smile without harsh chemicals or abrasives. Brush your teeth as you normally would. Rinse and follow up with the baking soda. Brush with the baking soda for one minute and let it sit for one minute. Rinse again then follow up with mouthwash if you choose. You should see results within a week.

Body Scrub: You might try to have me committed after this suggestion, but keep in mind that I do all of these tips personally and have seen the results. Coffee grounds can do more than wake you up in the morning. They can also be used as a great exfoliate. Take a handful of regular (not decaffeinated) coffee grounds and add some water, creating a paste. In a circular motion, rub the coffee paste all over your body, avoiding sensitive areas. Not only do the coffee grounds pick up dead skin cells, but the caffeine wakes up your skin and recharges it. You can try this with regular or flavored coffee grounds, but I stick to the regular. I thank my mentor Shanel Cooper-Sykes for this tip!

Soft Skin: During these harsh winter months, it’s hard to keep our skin soft and supple. That can be eliminated with the use of one word…soy. Soybean oil has been proven to add moisture to skin and improve its texture. It also helps to even skin tone and to slow the growth of hair. There are many ways you can obtain the benefits of soy. You can purchase products with soy oil listed in the ingredients, but this is usually the most costly route. You can add soy to your diet with soy milk, soy yogurt, or other soy-based foods. You can also do what I do; purchase a bottle of soybean oil (it’s all the same) and mix it with your body wash and body lotion. It produces the same benefits, and you can control how little…or how much…soy you use on your skin. I do need to mention a word of caution. If you’re trying to grow out your hair do not use soy in your hair products. It will be counterproductive to the results you’re trying to achieve.

Overall Appearance: It cannot be said enough. To absolutely look and feel your best at all times you must include two things in your life: water and rest. No beauty regimen in the world can replace these two elements. You need water to keep your body hydrated and to keep your systems active and healthy. You need rest to allow your body to recharge and repair itself.  It is absolutely essential to your mind, body, spirit and sanity to include plenty of H2O and rest in your daily life. Typically, adults need 7-8 hours of rest and an average of 8 eight-ounce glasses of water to maintain a healthy state. This, of course, varies from person to person. Your height, weight, activity level, and overall health are also factors when it comes to determining how much rest and hydration you need. Find your comfort level and stick to it.

There you have it, five simple and powerful tips to keep your fly mommy status. Not only will you look good fulfilling the many roles of fly mommy-hood, but you’ll feel good, too! That trumps all of the benefits combined. Everyone knows that when mommy’s happy, the world is happy. These tips work for me! I’m sure they will work for you, too!

For the past year, I’ve been searching for the holy grail of skin care products.  I needed something to brighten my dull tone, a product that would help fight aging but wouldn’t clog my oily T-Zone.  There is also my requirement of no animal testing and though I don’t require an FDA seal of organic approval, I do lean toward natural and botanical based skin care.  I decided to try Mario Badescu.  Mario Badescu was a Romanian born skin care specialist who had a unique take on skin care.  He was able to appreciate both the scientific end, being a chemist, as well as the cosmetic need to have clear, radiant skin since he was also a cosmetologist.   Badescu opened his NYC salon in 1967 and quickly began developing his own line of products.  The power of his product line and the amazing facials given at his salon didn’t remain NYC’s secret for too long and soon, Badescu was taking care of actors, actresses and the celebs of his day.

To start with, I decided to try the A.H.A. & Ceramide Moisturizer.  My theory is that anyone can make a decent cleanser but if you make a moisturizer that has anti-aging benefits, that doesn’t clog my pores, yet still brightens my skin, well you’re golden.

Mario Badescu’s products are famously housed in no frills packaging.  Simple plastic bottle and jars help keep costs down.  Products are of premium quality without the premium price.

Likewise, the A.H.A. & Ceramide Moisturizer comes in a simple clear plastic bottle with flip-cap top.  The moisturizer is oil-free and formulated with lemon extract and aloe to soothe the skin and is described  as non-greasy, absorbent and lightweight while helping with skin pigmentation conditions and combating wrinkles.
When I first put the moisturizer in my hand, it didn’t feel lightweight so I was surprised that when I put it on my face, it absorbed quickly and didn’t leave any sort of residue on my skin.  There was no tingling that I sometimes experienced with Alpha Hydroxy Products and no redness either.

I decided that I would give the moisturizer seven full days before making a decision on it.  During that time, I used the product once per day in the morning after cleansing and a toner.  By mid-week, I was noticing a nice glow and by the end of the week, others were commenting on “something” but couldn’t put their finger on it.
I’m in love.  I’ve since purchased cleanser and toner and plan to continue purchasing their line as I run out of my old products.  At $20 for 2 oz. the price is right for a high end department store product without the $45 price tag that most moisturizers with these benefits would cost.  If you’re looking for an affordable and highly effective moisturizer, give Badescu a try.  You won’t be disappointed.  What’s more is that if you fill out a short questionnaire on Mario Badescu’s website(http://mariobadescu.com/questionnaire.aspx), they will recommend a regimen for you and will even try to send samples as they are available.

It’s a win-win all around!

Once you become a mom you still need to stay on your toes with the latest fashions, trends and makeup. You should always try to look your best. Looking your best can cost a pretty penny, but it doesn’t have to.

I recently lost my favorite mascara, the one that was a little on the expensive side. I thought I was going to lose my mind! I had an event coming up and I did not know what to do. So I went to the closest drugstore to find the closest mascara to the one I previously had. I just knew that I would not find anything close. I was wrong! I picked out the “Volume Express Turbo Boost Mascara by Maybelline.” I could not wait to get home and try it. After my first application I was amazed that it worked just as well as the expensive mascara. It adds length and volume to lashes and the best part is, it was only about twelve bucks!

I am definitely now a believer in products from the drugstore. Mascara is one of my favorite beauty products. It’s great when you want to add a little life to your eyes. So the next time you want to save a little extra money, I’d say head to the drugstore. They have plenty of comparable products to the department stores.  For less!