Even though I work in beauty, I’ve been guilty of a few bad beauty habits. Just yesterday, I caught myself squinting at my computer screen. Suddenly I heard my mother’s voice: “Don’t make faces. It will stay that way!”

Sound familiar? It happens to all of us. But with proper hygiene, prevention, and the help of a few ultra convenient products, we can kick our bad beauty habits.

Thank you for sending in fantastic questions and comments about your beauty routines. It looks like I’m not the only one who puts on mascara at stoplights! And even though many of us can barely squeeze in “me time”, we still want to set a good example for our children by taking care of ourselves.

To answer some of your questions about time- and money-saving beauty tips, I’m going to share a few of my secrets for pampering myself at home. I hope you’ll continue to share your ideas with me!

I learned a lot from all you single moms! (And even a father and a daughter.) Thanks for your honest responses that really opened my eyes to your world. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one struggling to find time for myself and conceal a stomach that still feels like a deflated balloon.
Your stories are truly touching. There are women that have courageously taken in children in desperate situations, women taking care of kids and their own sick parents, women with husbands away at war, women dealing with custody battles, and women heroically commuting to three jobs to support their kids. It’s no wonder you need time-savers!

While the idea of being able to flawlessly cover, blush, contour, bronze, and shadow with one tool sounds fascinating, it also seems complicated - and expensive. I love trying the latest makeup gadgets, but I tend to search for things that save time and money and get the best results. Though I wasn’t planning on buying one, I actually received an airbrushing system to try for free. So I figured I’d at least give it a go a few times.

So I’ve finally lost my almost 80 pounds of pregnancy weight. It’s embarrassing enough that it’s taken me a year to lose it. But even worse, I’m now left with sagging skin that makes my body look like a deflated balloon!

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like a slob compared to the other perfectly primped women there? I can’t always put my finger on what it is - maybe it’s their styled hair, immaculate outfits, or glowing skin. But they get ample compliments and seem to have a certain strut. Most days, I’m lucky if I walk out the door with curls in both sides of my hair.
I had a date night with my husband this past weekend. But since I have no life these days, my glamorous evening routine was getting a little rusty. I was determined to spend the time to look and feel extra-special.

I’d like to give a serious shout-out to all the single moms out there. I don’t know how you do it! I’m not a single mom myself, but with everything going on in my life lately, I started wondering how some women do it all the time - without help!

Between selling my house and moving, getting my daughter ready for her graduation and summer camp, and launching a new brand at work, I’ve been exhausted! And my husband is just as busy, so I’ve been on my own more than usual. I haven’t even had time for the 3-minute emergency makeup kit I rave about, and I’ve been throwing on bright necklaces to distract people from the fact that I don’t have time to style my hair. I realized my reality this month is their reality all the time!

I’ve never been a big accessories person. I’ve always defaulted to makeup and skincare to look and feel my best. But I now have a new little obsession. Last week, I was at a production shoot for one of our products. Since I have no free time these days, I decided to go shopping in the stylist’s closet. Of course, all the models’ clothing was a size 0, so I moved on to the accessory area.  I don’t normally wear jewelry, but I tried on a couple of necklaces and bracelets just for fun. I was hooked! I didn’t realize how much more beautiful I would feel just by wearing a gorgeous piece of jewelry.

My getting-ready-for-summer routine is definitely not the glamorous process it used to be. I used to spend countless hours and amounts of money getting highlights, bikini waxes, and spray tans to primp for summer pool parties and beach days. But I spent last summer pregnant, and these days, after raising a newborn, I consider it a huge feat if I find time to shave my legs! 

This year, my summer prep is all about the time limit and the tight budget. So in one trip to Target I got two adorable sundresses for under $30, and I mixed and matched $10 bikini tops and bottoms (now that I’ve finally graduated from my post-pregnancy one-piece). And I picked up Neutrogena Instant Bronze Sunless Tanner and Bronzer in One Foam for less than $10 - I can slather it on at my daughter’s friends’ pool parties for an instant tan, and be tan by the time it gets wiped off when I’m drying her off.

I can’t believe it! My nails and toes are manicured, my brows are done, I got a facial, and I did yoga this weekend - all because I said NO.

It might seem like a simple concept, but saying no can be a very powerful tool in maintaining your beauty - and your sanity. It’s about taking care of yourself first so you can take care of others. You know, like putting on your oxygen mask in a plane so you can then help your child.

I politely said no to organizing yet another charity event, no to hosting a birthday party, and no to last-minute requests that would have sent my schedule into overdrive.

I’m the first to admit I love shopping at Target. But until recently, I really hadn’t thought about buying beauty products there. I guess I didn’t think lower-priced color cosmetics could deliver the same results as their higher-priced cousins.

Sonia Kashuk for Target changed my mind.

A night at the CEW (Cosmetic Executive Women) event with make-up artist and entrepreneur Sonia Kashuk really opened my eyes to high-quality, low-priced mass-market beauty products. Sonia knows what a product needs for smooth application and a flawless look. She told us about the attention to detail that goes into her products to ensure that they meet her own high expectations.

Ahh, Mother’s Day. A day to sleep in, get pampered, and let the hubby watch the kids, right? Not so much.

My husband was out of town. I played Supermom all week. And I had to buy Mother’s Day presents for my mom, my sister, my mother-in-law, and both my sister’s husband’s mother and his stepmother.

As Sunday approached, all I really wanted was to get some sleep and relax. I soon realized that my 5-year-old daughter, Kira, had other plans. She kept asking me how many days were left until Mother’s Day, because she was planning a special surprise. So I prepared myself for whatever a 5-year-old could dream up.

I finally found the key to seamless makeup! Before, I used to spend so much time staring into my 7X magnifying mirror, trying to achieve the flawless airbrushed look I see in all the magazines. I’d wish for an airbrushing system, or at least my very own makeup artist. I’m sure my husband would think I was crazy if I brought home a machine that sprayed “paint” on my face. Those are expensive anyway, and I’m always looking for cheaper and more convenient alternatives. And then I found one.

                           
Three-minute makeup?  Yeah, right!  In my ideal world, I’d have an hour a day to perfect my face. From foundation to eyebrows, no makeup would be left behind. I’d finish by curling my lashes, then applying multiple coats of mascara - lengthening after volumizing over a base of lash primer.

But let’s get real. These days, I have to take myself from worn-out to polished in 3 minutes flat. When I’m rushing out the door to get my kids to school or hurrying to an event straight from work, there’s no time for multiple color palettes or matching lipliner.

That’s when I pull out my emergency makeup kit.  If I’m gonna get ready fast, I need basic products I can apply with my fingers, without a mirror, and without much time. I now keep one at my desk, one in my gym bag, and even one in my diaper bag.  Every woman, makeup maven or not, should have these 5 products with her at all times.

I have a confession to make. Spa Week starts in a few days and I haven’t made any appointments. Yes, yes, I know what you’re thinking…I must be nuts to put it off this long.

Well, I feel guilty.

Not about the price of the treatments or the deals during Spa Week. I feel guilty about leaving my husband and kids for the afternoon when we could be doing something as a family. Am I too selfish? Will my kids be scarred for life because their mother spent an afternoon getting a massage and a facial?