Look Beautiful During Pregnancy: Pamper Yourself, Don't Hide

"Ugh!" my cousin groaned. "I feel so dumpy! My hair won't do anything, and I just feel fat! You know how it is when you're pregnant; you just look like crap."

I smiled. I do know how it is when you're pregnant. I'm sure many women look and feel dumpy. I look my cousin over. Her hair lies in long, flat, heavy locks. She's wearing sweatpants and a large t-shirt. Her skin is shiny with oil and she's wearing no makeup.

You don't have to look like a slob just because you're pregnant though. Baby magazines overflow with pictures of celebrity moms and models that embody the glowing, beautiful, pregnant goddess that we all wish we looked like . You don't have to spend all day at the spa with a personal stylist and professional beauty team at your beck and call to feel beautiful while you're pregnant though. The average woman can get that goddess glow for herself on a real person's budget.

Newly expectant moms quickly learn that pregnant skin does not necessarily equal glowing skin. Pregnancy can have several undesirable affects on a woman's skin, including acne. During pregnancy increased hormone levels cause the body to produce excess oil which leads to more breakouts. Finding a good quality skin care system will help you deal with this problem. I have a lot of friends who swear by Proactiv Solution for keeping their skin clear (Proactiv.com). I personally experienced sensitivity to the Benzoyl Peroxide in the product, and it's a little high in price for me. I like the Zap It system from Melaleuca (melaleuca.com). The entire Zap It pack is $23, $15 if you become a preferred customer, and lasts me about three to four months. To prevent dull flaky patches from acne treatments, exfoliate once a week by mixing a little baking soda with your cleanser and gently massage it into your face.

Another lesson I learned very early in my first pregnancy: liquid makeup is not my friend. Mineral powders offer a fantastic alternative to adding extra oil to your skin with liquid foundations. However, mineral makeup can be expensive. Some drugstore brands have rolled out their own versions, but my pick for an affordable, high quality mineral makeup is Everyday Minerals (everydayminerals.com). This makeup offers a wide spectrum of product choices including finishing powders that boast SPF protection. It covers blemishes and conceals other skin discolorations common in pregnancy. Prime your skin with Biore Shine Control Moisturizer (drugstore.com) to keep it hydrated while controlling oil.

For most women, hair does not fall out as much during pregnancy, making it thicker and heavier than usual. If you normally have thin hair, you might count this as a blessing. But for some women it leaves their hair bushy, and unmanageable. The extra oil production can also affect your hair, weighing it down and leaving it greasy. No matter what length you wear your hair, get a trim every four to six weeks, and have your stylist cut in layers and add lots of texturing that will help your hair feel lighter. Try using a clarifying shampoo and a light weight leave in conditioner to reduce oiliness. If your hair needs some extra T.L.C. use a deep conditioning treatment once a week.

Your nails will be stronger and grow longer while you are expecting. Take advantage and give yourself a pretty mani pedi. Supplies like a nail file and buffer, cuticle sticks, toe separators, and a pumice stone can be gotten for a very low price at Wal-Mart. Buy a pretty polish or a pair of polishes for French tips and pamper yourself with quality hand and foot creams. Again I'm recommending Melaleuca because their nail polishes are naturally based and better for you and your baby. They also offer delectable hand and foot creams from their Sun Valley line.

Pamper your skin and prevent stretch marks with Palmer's Cocoa Butter creams and lotions (motherhood.com). These products are excellent. At night try using pure cocoa butter on your belly (Burt's Bees also available at motherhood.com). Start in your first trimester before stretch marks appear instead of waiting to try to reverse stretch marks in your third trimester.

Do your fantastic new shape a favor and don't hide it in your husband's t-shirts and sweats. There are such beautiful, stylish maternity clothes available, and at very reasonable prices. I have three recommendations for scoring some super cute threads that won't break the bank. Old Navy maternity stays on top of the trends (oldnavy.com), Motherhood offers classics that never go out of style (motherhood.com), and Kiki's Fashions boasts unique, feminine, boutique styles that will get you noticed (kikisfashions.com). Don't forget to pull everything together with to accessories!

One of the best paths to a beautiful pregnancy is rest and relaxation. Lack of sleep and stress show up on your face. Work in some gentle exercise like Yoga or walking each day and try some deep breathing and meditation right before bed. Invest in some comfy maternity P.J.s (pajamagram.com). A cup of chamomile tea can help calm you before bed and you can set a tranquil setting with lavender aromatherapy (lavender-love.com). Last but not least, ease the discomfort caused by your growing belly and widening hips by putting a soft topper on your mattress and investing in a supportive maternity pillow.

Don't give in to the temptation to become, in Oprah's words, a "shlump- a-dinka" just because you're pregnant. Let the diva inside of you out and take advantage of your natural maternal beauty.