Beauty and Health Go Hand in Hand, plus Help for Haiti.

As I seem to concentrate so much about outer beauty with a small focus on inner beauty, which I hope we all realize is more important, I cannot emphasise enough how important good health is to beauty - both inside and out.

You may have noticed I did not post much this week, and that is because not taking care of myself got in the way and I wound up in the hospital. So not the fun place to be!

Suffice it to say, that I put off a problem that I knew I had because, well, I was just too busy. Looking back, I do hear how ridiculous that sounds. But with four children, the Holidays, my husbands new business opening next week and me with my own business, I put myself last once again. Until, I could not anymore and wound up being rushed to the ER. Take the cues from your body, my beautiful friends. If you don't feel right, or in my case, if you know something is wrong but put it off for NO GOOD REASON, don't hesitate to get the help you need and put yourself first. Make yourself a priority in your life! If you don't, who will?

Thank God I am ok and will continue to be okay, provided I take better care of myself. This is my pledge to myself and my family. Please take care to do it yourself. Simply put, there is no beauty in being sick.

If a major health issue is not enough of a wake-up call, seeing the devastation on the island of Haiti definitely is. Our world can change in an instant, as it did for the great people of Haiti. Please take a moment and do what you can to help. The night I heard of the earthquake, I made a text donation to the Red Cross.  I know this has been a great campaign, but I also heard that by donating via text, there is a 90 day lag in time that the Red Cross or these other charities can get theses funds. So this morning, I made another donation directly through the American Red Cross website. Thus, when I hit the big red "donate now" button, not only could I choose to which part of the Red Cross my funds went to, the Red Cross got my money immediately. No matter how you do it, or to which charity (just make sure they are reputable like the Red Cross) you donate to, please take a few minutes and a few dollars and help. Every cent in a situation to a country as poor as Haiti definitely helps.

I will be back Monday with regular beauty posts that has mind buzzing about.

Beautiful Makeup Search's Best in Beauty 2009.

As the year (and decade!) comes to a close today, I thought I would finally share my best of beauty for 2009 with you. Many of these items are new for the year, but some are my favorites that I have gone on about for years. These best of products include beauties that I use at least a few times a week, if not on a daily basis.

Makeup

• Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealer* {Make Up For Ever Concealer Review}
• Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup* {Diorskin Nude Makeup Review}
• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation* {review to come soon}
• MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus {MAC Studio Fix Review}
• Lancome Star Bronzer Poudre Sôleil* {Lancome Star Bronzer Review}
• MAC Cosmetics Beauty Powder Blush in Eversun* {MAC Beauty Powder Review}
• Dior Diorshow Brow Styler* {review to come soon}
• Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Lip & Eye Palette* {Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Palette Review}
• L'Oreal Paris Bare Natural Luminous Lengthening Mascara* {L'Oreal Paris Bare Naturale Mascara Review}
• Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick in Rose Bronze {Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick Review}
• Bobbi Brown Rich Color Gloss* {Bobbi Brown Rich Color Gloss Review}

Skin Care, Face

• Clarisonic Skincare Brush {Clarisonic Review}
• Purity Made Simple One Step Facial Cleanser* {Purity Review}
• La Mer The Radiant Infusion* {Radiant Infusion Review}
• CHANEL Sublimage Serum {Sublimage Serum Review} 
• Clinique Comfort on Call Relief Cream {review to come soon}
• Creme de la Mer {Creme de la Mer Review}
• Bobbi Brown Eye Balm* {Bobbi Brown Eye Balm Review}
• Talika Eye Therapy Patch* {Eye Therapy Patch Review}

Skin Care, Body

• Venus Embrace Razor* {Venus Embrace Review}
• Vaseline Sheer Infusion with Stratys-3* {Vaseline Sheer Infusion Review}
• Luminess Tan Self-Tanning Airbrush System* {Luminess Tan Review}

Hair

• WEN by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioner {WEN Review}
• Clairol Nice 'n Easy Hair Color {Nice 'n Easy Review}
• L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray {Elnett Review}

What are some of your best of 2009 beauties? Whether they are old stand-by favorites or new beauty discoveries, share them in the comments.

*These products were originally sent to me by a brand or brand representative for review. I have also purchased each of these individually as they are really my favorites and are continually in my beauty rotation.

Merry Christmas!

At this time of year, I like to reflect upon my life, family and loves... 

Beautiful Makeup Search is one of them. Without you, my dedicated readers, there would be no beauty blog for me to write. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love bringing you my latest finds in beauty each and every day, and I can only hope you enjoy it half as much as I do.

Merry Christmas!

xo, Teri