We are in the dead of winter now (although it doesn't necessarily feel like it), and the weather can really wreck havoc on our delicate skin, causing chapping, flakiness and all around dullness. Yuck! There are a few easy ways to get glowing again and boost the radiance factor fast.

The first thing to do is to give yourself a good scrub in the shower using exfoliating gloves, a good body wash and a handful of white sugar. I currently like the Bath Gloves from the Body Shop, the Aesop Geranium Body Cleanser (smells yummy), and good old fashioned Domino white sugar. Lather up and scrub away winter, and your skin will be smooth and flake free. On the face I like to use Alba Botanica Sea Mineral Cleansing Gel mixed with the sugar. The moment you exit the shower, smooth on a rich body cream or oil and a serious moisturizer to the face. For the body, I'm loving Johnson's Shea & Cocoa Butter Baby Oil Gel and for the face splurge on Crème De La Mer.

Now it's time to really restore the radiance by applying my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Luminizing Face Primer before foundation. The light reflecting particles bounce light off the skin, creating a luminous glow, and the primer leaves the skin velvety, supple and ready for foundation. After foundation blend on cream blush instead of powder blush, which can also give the skin a dewy finish. Use my universal shade of Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sheerest Cream Blush in Beaming on the apples of the cheeks. Try applying a cream highlighter like RMS Living Luminizer under the brows, on tops of the cheekbones and on the inside corners of the eyes to give the skin a halo effect. Now dust on only the sheerest of powders to set the makeup like MAC Blot Powder, which is seriously fine and never chalky. On lips, blend on a tinted lip balm like Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose to relieve chapped parched lips and leave a hint of tint to your smile. Now you can face the brutal cold feeling moist and soft and full of light.

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover's Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

The dirtiest thing I always see in a woman's makeup bag is her makeup brushes. I know it can be a real pain to clean them, but as they collect more and more filth with a mixture of makeup, oils from your face and general dust and dirt, they stop doing their job. What you get is not a beautiful sweep of eye shadow or blush, but rather a crusty chalky layer of God-knows-what caking up your skin and causing breakouts.

In the past it was tough to find a good brush cleaner that was easy to use, so women would have to shampoo and condition our brushes and lay them out to dry, which would take forever. Well with such crazy busy lives, it was always the last thing you wanted to do and so we would just get lazy and never clean them. I have two easy ways to get perfectly clean brushes that take only seconds to dry and won't break the bank, either.

The first brush cleaner is by Cinema Secrets. A tried and true classic with professional makeup artists everywhere, this cleaner is a dip, wipe and dry brush cleaner that leaves your brushes smelling like vanilla and ready to use again in a flash. Whenever I use my brushes on a client after cleaning them with the Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner, they always tell me how delicious my brushes smell.

The second brush cleaner comes in a totally different form of a wipe. Also easy breezy and leaves no excuses for your brushes to be dirty. The Japonesque Pro Brush Cleaner Wipes are individually wrapped wipes that gently clean off your brushes. Simply sweep the brush back and forth on the wipe or simply rub the brush between a folded wipe. They dry in an instant, so you can get back to the art of clean makeup application with colors that stay true when applied, because the brush is pristine.

When you clean your brushes more often you will extend the life of them, and we all know how expensive some brushes can be. You will also save your skin from nasty breakouts and clogged pores, so clean up your act (and brushes) today!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover's Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

I'm currently on a month's holiday in South Africa, and I'm again on a beauty quest to find the secret that keeps South African women looking so gorgeous! I love discovering beauty treatments, ingredients and secrets from all over the world and here in this beautiful country, the secret is Rooibos Tea.

Used for generations by the Khoi and San people of South Africa, this tea grown only here is slammed full of rich antioxidants that help eczema, acne, aging and skin allergies. The mixture of all types of skintones here in this part of the world from very dark to porcelain seems to be line free and fresh looking. You can drink the tea or apply it to skin. Many South African beauty lines, like Inheritance Skin Care, uses Rooibos as their main ingredient.

The anti-aging enzyme superoxide dismutase is in Rooibos and is necessary for the production of healthy skin-producing cells. This tea also contains high levels of zinc and vitamin D 2 important vitamins and minerals for amazing skin. People with acne have reported that drinking the tea and applying it topically has helped decrease the amount of facial breakouts, and eczema sufferers apply the cool wet tea bags to their problem areas for instant relief. Expect this miracle tea to start popping up in more and more skincare products, like the famous Argan Oil. In the meantime, run to your local Whole Foods and stock up!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover's Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

The holidays are long over, and now we must get our beauty back in order so we can face the new and exciting year ahead. Now is the moment to kick off all those New Years resolutions you promised yourself after a few glasses of champagne on New Years Eve. You may feel that it's tough to get motivated but just think of all that you can accomplish when you feel back on top of your game.

1. Hydrate and guzzle fluids to flush out all those toxins we ingested over the last 2 months. Water, tea and juicing can help not only lessen the bloat but hydrate the skin from the inside out.

2. Get back into working out so you feel healthy, look toned and can start losing those extra pounds you may have packed on. Almost all of us are in the same boat, so just get out there and do it.

3. Schedule a haircut and color and give yourself a new do for the new you in 2012. Nothing is better then starting the year off fresh and stylish with a nice cool cut.

4. Get a facial to get the skin glowing again and grab some Crest White Strips to brighten that smile.

5. Clean out your makeup drawer and wash those brushes that are filthy (I know they are ladies), and choose a signature makeup look to play with when you go out that says expensive without having to spend much money.

6. Try a bold new lip, a winged cat eye, a smoky jewel toned shadow or a blast of false lashes all of which you can pick up at your local drugstore. This is a cheap and way to update your makeup wardrobe for the New Year.

Don't stress, just let go of holiday past and leap forward in the New Year with my favorite mantra- health, wealth and stealth! Now go for it!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover's Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.

For those of us taking advantage of airlines cheap flights right now, there is nothing worse than getting off a plane feeling puffy, dry and unattractive. Follow my easy tips to staying hydrated and fresh looking so you disembark looking gorgeous!

Rule number #1

No alcohol, and I mean it! I know some of us need it to take the edge off if you are a nervous flyer, but trust me, it's not worth the bloat it creates in your body. You are better off drinking water and taking a Tylonol PM.

Rule #2

Drink tons of water, so try and get an aisle seat so you can get up and use the restroom as many time as you need to. You will feel much better at the end of the flight knowing you are hydrated and flushed.

Rule #3

No salty foods! Stay away from peanuts and pretzels and go for protein bars, veggies, hummus and fruit, instead. Make sure you throw them in your carry on.

Rule #4

Never get on the flight wearing makeup. The dry recycled air can really leave you parched, flaky and tired looking, so always board the flight with no makeup on and a nice layer of moisturizer. Bring a travel size moisturizer and a lip balm with you and reapply throughout the flight as needed to keep your skin supple. Rub some on your hands too, as they can get really dry, as well.

Rule #5

Pull out your makeup bag about 10 minutes before landing and apply my famous Carmindy 5 Minute Face. Blend on a liquid foundation, and then add a cream blush, like my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Sheerest Cream Blush, for a bit of added moisture to the skin. Use Fresh's Satin Luster Palette to Carmindize and highlight the face. Apply it under the brows, on the inner corners of the eyes and on tops of the cheekbones. Apply a little pressed powder, line the upper lash line with dark brown eyeliner, apply black mascara on top lashes only, and finish with a slick of lip gloss. Now you look well rested and fresh as a daisy, whether you have flown cross-country or across the globe!

As an established makeup artist, many beauty brands send me samples of their latest products for consideration. I only write about the items that I truly love and I always abide by Daily Makeover's Editorial Ethics Pledge in each of my Positively Beautiful posts.