Dry, Flat, Whining (But Grateful!) Pregnant Woman

I'm not glowing, people. My hair is not thicker and my skin is not luminescent since getting knocked up. It's a tad irritating as I kind of thought great hair and skin were some of the few perks I would enjoy this pregnancy. I didn't suffer through roughly four months of constant nausea and queasiness and vomiting—and OTHER afflictions I'm totally sparing you the details of—only to now be faced with dry, NON-GLOWING skin and, honestly, kind of flat hair. I need some product suggestions to get me through the winter and the last half of this pregnancy.

So, I'm turning to you. First, I need suggestions for a cleanser and moisturizer. (Note: I've used Philosophy's Hope in a Jar, and I like it well enough, but I don't think it's giving me the coverage I really need here; same for Kiehl's Facial Moisturizer.)

I also need suggestions for a great shampoo/conditioner combo or, really, just a great hair mask that can restore some life to my locks.

Ages ago I asked for some product suggestions and made a running list of things I should check out, but I think my face/hair have changed since then AND NOT FOR THE BETTER LIKE I WAS ASSURED THEY WOULD, so I'm doing the begging and pleading again.

Since we're at it, some great make-up suggestions to cover the non-glowing, death-warmed-over face I've got going for me these days?

Advance thanks from me and my husband.

::

Just a want-to-share aside: on this post the other day, Betsy commented that she has a connection with a cosmetologist who gives her OPI products at a can't-beat rate, and she offered to help me find the shades I was lusting after. This, RIGHT THERE, is why I love the Internet so damn much. Just when I think the world is cracking down the middle, with all the good will and kindness being sucked dry by the economy woes and political craziness, someone goes and does something so SELFLESS and so NICE that I'm floored. Just floored. Thanks, Betsy, for the gracious offer.

Comments

[hillary]

I'm a huge fan of the Clinique 3-step program. The clarifying lotion works great at getting rid of the flakes and isn't too harsh for my sensitive skin.

[Rhi]

Get the Mario Badescu samples! THEY ARE AMAZING - and not spendy!

[Kitty]

You TOTALLY need to pick up a bottle of OPI's You Don't Know Jacques. It's my absolute favorite of their new colors, and probably my fave OPI shade of all time. Is it purple? brown? gunmetal gray? I don't know, but it's awesometastic.

And sorry, I won't give you hair or facial product suggestions because, seriously? I have craptastic hair and my idea of a good facial cleanser is whatever bath and body works hand soap I happen to have in the bathroom. Yeah. I'm lame like that.

XOXO

[Cass]

For the hair - I picked up that new Pantene Beautiful Lengths conditioner and I really like it.

For the face - I had the same problem with not looking all a glow naturally so I went with Origins Youthtopia (both the firming cream for the face and the undereye cream) I love the smell, the texture and the results. It's thick without being heavy.

[Ellizabeth]

I really need a decent face cleaner and moisturizer too, I was thinking of trying those horribly overpriced Oxygen things that Slynnro just recommended the other day...
nothing else I try seems to do much.
I will say thought that for my dry skin not on my face when I was pregnant NOTHING else worked besides Curel.

[Kristen]

I know you said you tried Kiehl's Facial Moisturizer, but did you try the Creme d'Elegance Repairateur? This is the best for my VERY dry skin. I love it. If you have a Kiehl's store in your area, they will give you a few samples before you buy it.

[rebecca]

I gotta agree with the clinique three step...incredibly effective, and gentle enough that i let violet have tiny bots of the mousturizer and face wash in the mornings...
as for the make-up, though, i have been lucky to be ambitious enough to put on mascara in the mornings. maybe next month will be more beautiful.

[jodifur]

I looked terrible pregnant, terrible. I had acne and stringy hair and oily skin and it was awful.

If you have colored hair pureology volume is wonderful. I used Murad skin care when I was pregnant and got monthly facials to help with the acne. I swear by bare minearls to give you a glow.

I can give you good news, b/c I never got lush full beautiful hair my hair never fell out.

[Camels & Chocolate]

I went to a specialist in Seattle who recommended me Jason products for my face (available at Whole Foods). I LOVE them--perfect balance of moisturizer without being oily. I use the Apricot Scrubble Wash and Scrub, Super-C™ Cleanser Gentle Facial Wash, and Super-C Toner.

As for my hair, I alternate bumble and bumble products once or twice a week with my regular drugstore kind. Right now, I'm using the thickening shampoo & conditioner (despite my hair being super mop-like already), but I've used Jemima's Creme de Coco, which also rocks.

[Camels & Chocolate]

That was Creme de Coco by bumble and bumble that I used at Jemima's house--just realized that the way I worded it sounded like Jemima was a brand =)

[Christina]

Oh wow- I am going to have to buck the trend here and say that the clinique 3 step is terrible- I h8te it! The bar soap leves a film behind and the lotion is like an oil slick if you have any shine issues at all, it aps it WAY up! My skin didnt improve either, I used proactive the whole time just like the rest of my life.

As for hair I love John Freda's color glaze in clear. It adds a lot of shine and makes it seem much more healthy. It's not a cleaning product though so this would be a 3rd step for your hair about 3 times per week.

[Leah]

Aveeno's Positively Radiant Moisturizer (with SPF! and cheap! at the drugstore!) feels great on and lasts all day without being greasy, and it also has tiny little glitter(?!) pigments that will give you the glow you seek. I bought my first Hope in a Jar many months ago and LOVE it, but I'm debating whether it's worth the price when I also loved the way-cheaper Aveeno stuff. The only thing about it is that the glittery stuff seems to reflect light from camera flash quite dramatically, and the result is a very scary-looking visage, like that of a corpse warmed over. I always used a different moisturizer if I knew I was going to have my picture taken, but for everyday use, it was awesome.

[Angella]

I SUCK at product recommendations. That is what the Whoorl/Stara/Susan W./Metalia's of the world are for ;)

[Amber]

I feel kinda stupid mentioning this, but Proativ has always done right for my skin... I wouldn't change it for anything.

[Melissa]

I totally say Mary Kay oil free hydrating gel. It rocks. Does the job and isn't super expensive.

I also swear by beauticontrol's sensitive skin set. I had super dry skin when pregnant and it was gentle, and really did the job. Plus is has a calming rinse that makes your face not feel like peeling off!

[Jade]

I started using TePoema two years ago, during pregnancy. I loved it. The skin care and the shampoo both rock....especially the skin revealing exfoliator!

[Hillary]

I've got nothing hair-wise ...
but face-wise, Oil of Olay sensitive, spf moisturizer is the best I can recommend. It's light and nongreasy, but it really hydrates the skin. I actually used it on my belly, too, when I was pregnant. For what it's worth, I don't have stretch marks.

[Amanda]

You know they say...if you don't feel pretty during pregnancy...it is a girl...she is taking all the pretty things. This was true for me with my girl...with my boy...I looked like a million bucks!

[Julienne]

I'm with Jodifur on this one - Murad all the way - my acne-prone, super combination, sensitive skin has never looked better. I was a Proactiv devotee, but then my skin got used to it and was worse than it ever was before the Proactiv. Last month I thought I might try something new so I shelled out the cash for the clinique 3-step, used it for 4 days and then prayed that murad would be able to fix the damage, and swore to never stray again! Also agree with the Bare Minerals - super glowy, keeps my skin looking great and for highlighting I use BM Tropical Radiance and Benefit's High Beam - I swear by it!!

[Kristen C.]

Aveeno Positively Radiant moisturizer was the only thing that worked for me when I was pregnant. Yes, that's right the drug store stuff.

I had *horrible* skin during my 2nd pregnancy, and I invested in some pretty pricey Christian Dior face products, and they didn't work for me at all.

[Allie]

I swear by this girl's products:

http://strawberryhedgehog.com/

I have combination skin, and the soap, moisturizer, and night oil combo do a darn good job on it. :)

Hope this is useful!

[Allie]

Oh, forgot to add - I found your blog via Nothing But Bonfires, and just realized that you're an Aggie! I'm class of '05. :)

[Kristie]

Good luck on your search hun! My skin was ass, too and the only thing that seemed to help was lots of bubble baths and sleep.

[Jemima]

I like Aveda products for skin and hair. They're not made of petro-chemicals, they're all plant base and aren't tested on animals. And they're just kind of awesome. Their Radiance mask rocks, and I'm always a fan of their Be Curly shampoo, or the Brilliance conditioner. Also the rosemary mint shampoo and Sap Moss conditioner...so tingly and smellumy...