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.