Like everything else about your body and your health, when you’re expecting a baby, there are special skin care needs. Instead of making do with the same old products that worked before, but don’t seem to be making a difference now, it’s time to start looking at options specially formulated for your pregnant skin care needs.

Of course, there are some ingredients that should be avoided all together. BabyCenter.com offers detailed information on what to avoid and when to consult your doctor for pregnancy safe options. Powerful retinoids, depilatory creams, salicylic acid and a number of acne products could be harmful as they get absorbed into your bloodstream. Try to work with all natural, organic products that are geared toward pregnancy (and therefore take the well being of your bundle of joy into account).

You also might be concerned about is stretch marks. Incredibly, the likelihood that you will end up with them has more to do with your heritage than the number of anti-stretch mark products on your shelf. Still, there are some basic preventative measures you should look into, even if only to minimize the appearance of stretch marks after your pregnancy. Ingredients to look for include shea butter, jojoba oils, aloe vera, and Vitamin E.

Here are a few recommended skin care gift sets for moms to be:

From Left to Right: Belli Pregnancy Gift Box $45.99; Basq Deluxe Gift Set $67.00; Mama Mio Supermama Kit $49.50

Images: sxc.hu, Bella Blu, Due Maternity

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Your Skin Needs When You’re Expecting

Recession-Proof Beauty Advice: Toner

I wish I had better news about toners but this is the one area where the skin care industry fails miserably. The good news is that it really doesn’t matter the price category, with very few exceptions they are either boring, ordinary, dated formulas or they are an irritating concoction with ingredients that are damaging on skin. For some unknown reason this category of product has not progressed to a level of excellence as many other areas of the cosmetics industry.

The expectation is that toners should be loaded with the great ingredients skin needs to function at its best, make healthier cells, and feel and look beautifully smooth. Even a small amount of antioxidants, cell-communicating ingredients, and skin-identical ingredients would have been enough to get a good rating but that wasn’t the case overall. The one toner from Clinique listed below is the best in the bunch for the price, and given the number of products available in this category that is just pathetic. I also included my toners because, for reasons unknown (and surprising) to me, I am the only cosmetics company offering affordable toners with state-of-the-art formulas.

Best Inexpensive Toners for All Skin Types

· Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion ($11 for 6.7 ounces) (This is the only inexpensive toner from Clinique I recommend; their other Clarifying Lotions are alcohol laden and absolutely not recommended while their Moisture Surge spray-on toner is good but pricey)

· Paula’s Choice Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin ($14.95 for 6 ounces)

· Paula’s Choice Moisture Boost Hydrating Toner for Normal to Dry Skin ($14.95 for 6 ounces)

· Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Toner for Normal to Very Dry Skin ($14.95 for 6 ounces)

Read the rest of Paula Begoun’s skin care recommendations on Beautypedia.

Image: Beautypedia

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Best Toners For Your Budget

As we usher in the new year, we take a look back at the Best and Worst of 2008, along with a look ahead to 2009. From all the Splendicity bloggers, here are some of our favorite (and not so favorite) things from the world of beauty and fashion.

Tracy at Hot Mama Daily tells you about the top 5 Hot Mama moments of 2008 and her top 5 favorites beauty products too. She also clues you in on the worst hot messes of the year.

Dexie rounds out the year with her round-up lists at Style It Less, including under $100 looks, celebrity looks for less and her own personal bargain looks.

Aly gives you the beauty ingredient forecast and what’s in and what’s out in hair for 2009 at eBeautyDaily. She also chimes in with Lemon Drop’s worst fashion trends of 2008 at Shopaholics Daily along with hair trends for 2009 and worst celebrity hairstyles of 2008 at Style Her Hair.

Liberty provides her top 5 beauty finds and top 10 beauty tips of 2008 at Teen Style Lounge.

Chloe talks about her favorite jewelry of 2008 at Gleaming Things and favorite fashion picks at Her Accessories.

Julie points out the worst dresses celebrities of 2008 at Snarkstress.

Ashley discusses her top 10 most luxurious items of 2008 at The Latest Luxe.

Mary Jo makes her top 10 beauty & style resolutions for 2009 at The List Maven.

Beth tells you the top 10 must-have beauty products of the year at Aging Fabulous.

Shannon provides her list of top 10 best makeup products of 2008 at Makeup Minute.

Rachel talks about her 2009 New Year’s skin resolutions at Skin Principles.

Kori shows you the worst shoe trends of 2008 at Shoe Blitz and the best and worst fashion Trends of 2008 at Shopaholics Daily.

Photo credit: sxc.hu

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Best and Worst of 2008 From Splendicity

To start, I will commit to always washing my face at night. You know those late nights I’m referring to – the ones where all you want to do is crash in bed and forget that a good scrub will only take a few more minutes of your time. Sure, you could snuggle down sooner…but is it really worth the inevitable pimple in the morning?

Next, I’ll be finding a new spa for a facial every once in a while. I don’t have any particular desire to start getting facials all the time…but i do miss having someone to turn to when my face really needs it. In California, I had a regular, predictable, within walking distance place to go. I need to replicate that in Toronto.

Finally, I will be kind to my wallet and start alternating expensive products with less costly/still effective alternatives. This one is a bit trickier, and will require some more research and maybe a little bit of trial and error before finding something that works. But just by switching back and forth between high end items and drugstore brands, I could easily be saving a $100+ dollars a year. That adds up to a nice spare change/coffee budget.

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My 2009 New Years Skin Resolutions

Oxygenating: yes, even your skin can get choked up every once in a while. Oxygenating formulas are geared toward skin that is congested and may have been exposed to excessive sun, pollution or other damaging factors.

Look into oxygenating formulas like Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask, or Philosophy Oxygen Peel.

Hydrating: if you’re looking for something to combat dry skin and soothe irritation. Look for ingredients that include aloe, chamomile, lavender, and cucumber.

Some soothing options include Aveda’s Hydrating Mask, Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Mask, and Laura Mercier’s Hydra Soothing Gel Mask.

Purifying: clogged pores and oily skin be gone. Masks that are meant to clear up breakouts and tame acne prone skin tend to include ingredients like clay, sulfur, or mud.

Check out purifying masks like DDF-Doctor Dermatologic Formula Sulfur Therapeutic Mask, Fresh Umbrian Clay Face Mask, or NARS Mud Mask.

Products available at: Beauty.com, Aveda, and Sephora.

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What Mask To Choose For Your Skin’s Needs

Eartha Kitt was a powerful voice, gorgeous woman, and amazing performer. Being known as one of the first African American sex symbols was only a fraction of how much she accomplished in her life. She was never afraid to speak her mind – even when it came to controversial issues, such as her views on The Vietnam War. Eartha Kitt’s natural beauty and ‘no regrets’ attitude is an inspiration that will be greatly missed.

Image: Newscom

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Singer Eartha Kitt Dead at 81