What do pregnant women want for Christmas? GLAMOUR! With the basketball bulge of a belly, a great holiday gift is something that injects maternity moxie to that nine month fashion challenge called “pregnancy.”  My BUMP IT UP gift guide is filled with stylish gear designed to make her look and feel great.     

1. Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss Trio

2. Spanx Power Mama Tights

3. Belli Pregnancy: Complexion Perfection Duo

4. Destination Maternity: Storksak Jools Diaper Bag

5. Kara Ross Drusy Resin Cuff

6. Ingrid & Isabel BellaBand

7. Hatch by Two Birds Wrap Dress

8. Mr. & Mrs: Labor & Delivery Survival Kit

9. Mama Mio Beat the Heat Bump It Up Pregnancy Style Kit

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Years of early morning TV appearances have taught me tried and true tricks to reduce under eye luggage. Whether you have allergies, poor circulation or are plain exhausted, Samsonite luggage sized under eye bags are often a concern for busy women.  First step?? treat the puffiness and dark circles with an anti-inflammatory agent like ice. Then, in the same way a cup of Joe gets you going in the morning, soak the eye with a green tea bag compress. The caffeine boost circulation and draws out excessive fluid which causes swelling and dark circles. Witch hazel soaked cotton pads also reduce swelling and irritation. Follow with cold spoons to decrease swelling. Sounds gross but a thin layer of Preparation H hemorrhoid cream under the eyes will shrink swelling within five minutes.  Then, apply an eye cream or serum with ingredients like elastin, oxygen, collagen and vitamin E to hydrate and reduce swelling. Of course, reducing the amount of salt intake will dramatically reduce puffiness around the eyes.

HOW TO PACK YOUR BAGS:

TEA BAGS The tannins in cool tea bags—especially green tea—compressed on the eyes for five minutes stimulates circulation and de-puffs the eyes.

COLD SOUP SPOONS I always keep two soup spoons in the freezer to press on my morning eyes for two minutes before putting on makeup.

CUCUMBER A homemade Crushed cucumber eye pack (grind ¼ cucumber, roll it into a compress between two pieces of paper towel) also soothes and reduces swelling around the eye area.

PREPARATION H Shrinks swelling!

EYE CREAM Another product created by a bold faced dermatologist is Dr. Murad’s Lighten and Brighten Treatment. A 1.5% hydroquinone lightens the under eye pigment and peptides which mimic human collagen helps to kick start circulation and reduce puffiness.

Dr. Patricia Wexler de-puff eye gel contains yeast and caffeine which deflates under eye bags and fruit extracts to soothe.

Sonya Dakar–dubbed Hollywood’s fairy skin mother has many a product to battle bags. Oxygen eye cream delivers oxygen, pro vitamin B and soy proteins to tired eyes which plumps the skin and improves elasticity.

CREAMY CONCEALER—Revlon Photo Ready Concealer, Bobbi Brown Concealer and Laura Mercier “Undercover Pot” concealer

LENGTHENING MASCARA Opens the eyes, Maybelline Falsies Mascara

REDUCING SALT INTAKE

Some pregnant women are blessed with that goddess like glow from within. Not me. My face was peppered with a smorgasbord of dermatological atrocities from the moment I learned of my pregnancy. Red spots appeared on my cheeks. Water retention caused Samsonite sized luggage to take up residence under my eyes. Itchy eczema patches came and went on my face and body.  I went through a bout of acne that would put a teenager’s volcanic complexion to shame.

Great skin requires a quality skin care regime that encourages cellular turnover: frequent exfoliation, hydration and SPF application. But, what worked pre-pregnancy, may not work now. Step one? Evaluate your products and avoid the host of contraindicated ingredients for pregnancy. Look for ingredients that exfoliate but are not overly drying. Next up? Makeup.  Dewiness and a soft, healthy looking glow is a direct result of neutralizing discolorations and blending foundation with light reflective particles.To achieve the goddess like perfection of, say, Jennifer Lopez, yank a page from the playbook of celebs’ glam squad and become a master of calculated subtlety.

1.      Start with a low lather, oil based cleanser. Belli Skincare has an  Acne Cleansing Facial Wash with  lactic acid which gently exfoliates dead skin and increases collagen production for firmer, younger looking skin.

BELLI Acne Cleansing Facial Wash, $22

2. You may not be knocking them back these days, but customizing a “cocktail” (beauty parlance for layering a variety of gentle but active products on the face for increased efficacy) of products for the face and décolleté is integral to great skin.

Sonya Dakar Organic Omega Booster, $42

Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair Cream with Peptide K8, $150

3.      Apply a creamy under eye concealer. Patting (not rubbing) the product gives more coverage.

Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil, $18

4.      Apply a powder foundation and follow with a sweep of luminizing powder on cheeks, forehead and nose top

Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation, $25

Jane Iredale Amazing Base Mineral Foundation, $42

5.      Find a mellow shade of bronzer that matches your skin tone and brush on only where the sun would naturally hit the face: cheeks, forehead, bridge of nose, chin and chest. Don’t blow your cover by forgetting to bronze your ears, décolleté and neck.

Sue Devitt Bronzed Pressed Powder, $30

6.   Apply a shimmer based blush to the apple of your cheeks and blend with puff

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Rose, $38

7.   Pat oil or moisturizer on your face for added dewiness

Darphin Jasmine Aromatic Care, $100

8.  Now that you have a glow, wake up the eyes and mouth with a lengthening mascara and some lip gloss

Ultraflesh Panthera Mascara, $26

Stila Lip Glaze in Papaya, $22