It was recently discovered that middle-aged men and women who engage in too much physical activity might be at risk for developing arthritis.

According to a study that was released during the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), it was found that those with higher physical activity levels were at a greater risk for developing knee abnormalities, which could lead to osteoarthritis.

Researchers looked at 136 women and 100 men, aged 45 to 55, and were of healthy weight. The participants were given a questionnaire to determine their physical activity levels and then were separated into groups based on their answers.

“The prevalence of the knee abnormalities increased with the level of physical activity,” said researcher Dr. Christoph Stehling. “In addition, cartilage defects diagnosed in active people were more severe.”

The study also found that physical activity levels determined the risk for osteoarthritis, and that gender and age were not factors in the results.

Nutritional supplements such as fish oil and zinc may help ease arthritis pain for those who are suffering from the condition.

The first thing you should know, if you don’t already, is that women LOVE to be touched. Touch is very important to all humans, but it is, generally, much more important to women, and they respond very strongly to touch.

It is a powerful reward to a woman when you touch her, and it can instantly make her feel great. Now, of course, some women are more reserved about it…some are more formal and are not comfortable feeling such good feelings with someone until they know them well.

Some women are just closed off and don’t like anyone to enter their space, and even in a relationship, they resist having another person touch them so easily…And some women simply do not like being touched. They find it unpleasant and they recoil from it.

But the truth is, women in those last two categories (ABSOLUTELY those in the last one) have had some trauma in their lives, probably child sexual abuse, that has damaged them to the extent that they can’t accept this natural and beautiful form of shared pleasure. That’s a sad truth of the world.

For the other women, depending on their degree of shyness, touch is always a pleasure and a treat…assuming they like the guy that is touching them, and it’s appropriate to the relationship. By appropriate, I mean, a female friend might love it if you rub her shoulders, but might be uncomfortable with something more “romantic,” like caressing her hair and cheek.

I am going to talk about touching in a romantic context, whether it be on a first date or with your wife of 20 years. And I’m not talking about directly sexual touching.

Sensual touching is an art that you should definitely spend some time mastering — because it will be incredibly rewarding to both you and the woman in your life.

1.  Touch her more. However much you are already touching your girlfriend, wife, or lover…you can do it more often. I can’t emphasize enough how much of an emotional connection and bond can be formed by this simple action. Women link many feelings of sexuality,love, and trust with the sensations that are aroused in them when a man puts his hands on her.

It can make her feel both sexually excited and safe at the same time. It can also make her body release certain chemicals into her blood that make her feel more attraction to and more comfort with the man that she is with.

How’s that for the simplest tip ever?

Try it out. I promise that it is as effective as it is simple.

2. Look into her eyes. Well, here’s one that’s even more simple…but again…it’s so much more powerful than it sounds. When you are putting your hand on her, whether you are caressing or squeezing…or petting or holding or any other kind of touching…Look into her eyes as you are doing it.

You will find that if you hold eye contact with a woman — even if she looks down for a moment — she will be drawn into your gaze and that you can hold her there. This will add an amazing amount of emotional intensity to your touch. She will feel it deeply in her body.

You may think, heck, I already look at her when I touch her…But just try this — try being aware of intentionally holding her eye contact as you touch her.

I think you will find that it makes a very big difference.

3.Try touching her in new ways. There are particular types of touching that women find more romantic, more sensual, and more arousing than others. And, of course, since all women are different, you’re going to have to do some experimenting to find out what the woman in your life responds to most. The key is to really tune in to her and notice how she is responding. That tuning in or “Paying Attention” that I always talk about, is actually the really important part of this tip…

But here are a few ways you should try touching her — most women respond very positively towards ALL of them.

Pay attention to see which ones your girl goes for:

# Use the very tips of your fingers and run them very, very lightly, so that it is almost a tickle, anywhere (or everywhere) on her skin.

# Stroke her gently, but not tentatively with the entire face of your hand. Try running it up her back, her neck, her legs, arms, or the side of her face.

# Just hold her firmly. This can be such a powerful feeling for a woman. Just place your hand on her shoulder, the back of her neck, her thigh, arm, or hand…and just hold her. Let her feel your masculine strength, but don’t, obviously, hurt her. If you do this right, she should feel the tenderness and protectiveness behind your touch.

# Cup her with your hand, and stroke gently with your thumb…This combines the first idea of gentle finger tips with the last one of holding her firmly…

I particularly like to hold the back of her neck and then gently stroke her cheek with my thumb…while looking into her eyes. Also try holding the back of her head and stroking her temple, or hold her arm and stroke her shoulder, or her thigh and stroke her knee.

Add eye contact to all of these and she will melt.

# Pet her hair. I have never met a woman who does not enjoy having her hair stroked. For girls with straight hair, you can let your fingers run through it. If she has curly hair, just pet, so that you don’t get stuck and start yanking on her knots!

To really send her into orbit, start at her neck and use your fingers to pet upwards into her hair along her scalp. You can bring a woman very close to orgasm with this one.

4.Feel With Your Feelings. I saved the best one for last…but it is also the one that is most complicated to explain, and can be more challenging for some men to master. That’s because, as guys, we’re just not as “in touch with our feelings” as women are. But this is of HUGE importance if you really want to rock her world in ways that will make her forget any other guy she has ever been with.

The basic truth is: A woman can FEEL, not just the physical sensation of your hand on her skin, but also she can FEEL the emotional content of your touch.

I know this sounds a little bit “out there,” but again, as always, I challenge you to TRY it before you dismiss it because this is really an incredibly powerful truth. When you touch a woman while thinking sexual thoughts about her, and when you focus that intent into your touch, she will FEEL it very strongly… and her body will respond to it. That sexual energy will flow from you and into her.

Likewise, when you feel tender feelings of attraction and protectiveness for your woman, and you stroke her hair, it makes her feel loved and safe. And there is nothing that will provide you both with a more amazing night of mind-melting sex than when the woman in your arms feels loved and safe.

I know that I’m leaving a lot out here, and that, especially this last tip is kind of hard to wrap your brain around. The truth is, that this issue of touching with emotion is part of a MUCH bigger picture of understanding women and female sexuality, and just too big a topic for this article.

However, don’t hesitate to get started by using the great tips above. You will be amazed that even these brain-dead simple tips
can make a huge difference in how women respond to you sexually.

If you are in a relationship, you will be even more amazed at the positive changes that just a tiny bit of information can cause. You can go to a marriage counselor, or talk to a therapist, or read books on “communicating” better, but there is NOTHING in my experience that improves a relationship more or strengthens the bond between a man and a woman than touch and sex.

One of the biggest obstacles in a woman’s life is losing the dreaded baby weight. Deciding which exercises to do can be difficult, not to mention finding the time away from motherly duties to actually exercise!

Studies show that exercising soon after the birth of your baby will improve your overall health, and lower your risk of developing postpartum depression. However, before starting a new exercise program make sure you seek the professional advice of your doctor. Every delivery is different and may put limitations on what you can and can’t do in the way of exercise.

Try to integrate the following forms of exercise;

Walking
There is no better way to kick start your exercise plan. Walking is one of the easiest ways to transition into exercise. Best of all, walking with your baby in a stroller or in a front pack increases your weight resistance and also the impact of your walk!

Deep Belly Breathing
1.Sit upright and breathe deeply, drawing air from the diaphragm upward.
2.Contract and hold your abs/midsection tight while inhaling and relax while exhaling.
3.Gradually increase the amount of time you can contract and hold your abs.

Mommy, Baby Yoga Class
Signing up for a yoga class that actually incorporates your baby is a great way to exercise and bond with your child. These classes actually utilize your babies weight to intensify your yoga workout.

Stroller Fitness Class
Sign up for a stroller workout at your local park. Designed to rebuild your core strength and target all the areas that drive you crazy, this workout will burn a lot of calories to get your pre-baby body back!

Mom’s Dance Class
A Mom and child dance class is another great way to bond with your child. Dancing soothes your child and lets face it, it’s also a really fun way to lose weight. Classes are offered nation wide in a number of different dance genres. So put your dancing shoes on!

1. What if he doesn’t like my body?

With often unattainable superbods gracing mags and media, body image has a lot to answer for and can affect your ability to enjoy sex.

What’s important to remember is that whatever your body shape is, your partner will be more bothered about whether you’re having a good time than about your allegedly wobbly thighs or skinny arms. He’s probably not perfect either but if you both relax, the sex will follow suit.

2. I’m worried about getting pregnant

Getting pregnant or catching a sexually transmitted infection (STI) are two common fears, but by using a condom your chances of either are greatly reduced. The male condom is 98% effective (when used properly). Remember to check the condom after you’ve had sex – if you think it has split, you may need to take the emergency contraceptive pill. Advice is also available from the Family Planning Association, Brook, or your GP (doctor).

3. I can’t orgasm during sex

Sex and relationship psychologist, Dr Petra Boynton, points out that 80% of women don’t orgasm through (penetrative) sex. But as films often show women coming after a few minutes of thrusting, it’s easy to see why it looks like the norm. What can work is stimulation of the clitoris, so experiment by masturbating on your own then touching (and asking him to touch) your clitoris during sex. Top tip from Dr Boynton is to go on top if you want to increase your chances of having an orgasm during sex.

4. Isn’t sex supposed to be amazing?

Sex is about a lot more than just penetration, so if that’s all you’re doing, it might not feel as ‘amazing’ as you expected it to. Having sex is also about kissing, touching, stroking, talking, and lots of clitoral stimulation. If your partner stops doing these things after a few minutes or isn’t particularly skilled, show him what you like (which he will probably find a turn-on in itself). As Dr Boynton says, don’t think of ‘foreplay’ and ‘sex’ as two separate things – they’re part and parcel of the same act.

5. I’m not sure I’m ready

It’s normal to feel a bit unsure about having sex, and if you’re having doubts but feel like you should do it to keep him happy, it’s definitely not the right time. In fact, if he’s actually pressuring you, he’s not ready either. Respecting your wishes and understanding your feelings also shows he cares, as well as displaying that all-important emotional maturity. When you feel ready, tell him and eliminate any potential pregnancy/STI worries by using a condom.

6. I think my vagina looks weird and flappy

Err, how many vaginas have you seen up close and personal? Being a body part that’s not usually on display, it’s easy to think yours is odd-looking, has a funny smell, wiry pubic hair or vaginal lips (labia) that are ‘too long’ or a ‘strange’ colour. Vaginas, likes people, come in all shapes and sizes. Lips can be big, or small. Some are hairy, others aren’t. Lads who’ve watched porn will have seen women with shaven vaginas and small labia, but, that doesn’t mean they want you to look like a porn star. Some men are actually turned off by the ‘plucked chicken’ look.

7. Sex sometimes hurts

There are a few reasons why it might be more ‘ouch’ than ‘ohhh’. It could be nerves, or if you’re new to sex (or it’s been a while), you might not be used to it. Mainly, it could be down to a lack of foreplay and lubrication. A lubricant helps, but the key to keeping things juicy is foreplay – so lots of kissing, touching and clitoral stimulation during sex should do the trick. If sex continues to hurt, you may want to see your GP.

8. I fancy a girl – am I a lesbian?

It’s common to find another woman attractive and it doesn’t always mean you’re gay/lesbian. Dr Petra Boynton points out you might be attracted to that particular person, to both guys and girls (bi-sexual), or it could be just girls. For some women, it can be part of a fantasy involving a particular girl or women, but you might feel it’s something more serious and want to start a relationship. It’s normal to have these feelings, whether you’re gay, bi or heterosexual, so don’t rush to stick a label on yourself.

9. Is it wrong to masturbate?

Absolutely not. It’s not harmful and it’s not wrong – if truth be told, it’s the best way to find out what gets you going under the sheets! If you’ve never masturbated, start by exploring your vagina – in particular the clitoris – and you’ll discover what makes you feel good. Dr Boynton notes how some girls feel they shouldn’t masturbate when they’re in a relationship (either alone or in front of their partner), but masturbation is actually a brilliant sex aid, so go for it.

10. I’m worried he won’t want to use a condom

If you think the man should take the lead in sex, it’s easy to think he calls the shots in general. Dr Boynton recommends introducing condoms in a positive way, for example: “I want to relax and not worry about getting pregnant so let’s use one.” If he doesn’t like the sound of that, it says everything about his sexual maturity and experience (or lack of it) and has nothing to do with you being ‘frigid’.

Occupational therapist Cathy Kleinman-Barnett works with breast cancer patients, but she has never encouraged women with lymphedema, a breast cancer-related swelling of the arm, to lift weights.

However, she may be changing her tune, thanks to a new study in the August 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. It turns out that breast cancer survivors with lymphedema who engage in a progressive, supervised weight-lifting program fare better than their counterparts who do not lift weights.

Lymphedema occurs in as many as 70 percent of women who have breast cancer surgery. Sometimes lymph nodes in the armpit are removed for cancer testing, which can cause the clear fluid (lymph) that circulates in the body to build up in the affected limb. As a result, women must wear a compression sleeve and glove during waking hours.

“For so long, we were taught no heavy lifting and no resistance for our patients, but this article is shouting out yes to resistance and weight,” says Kleinman-Barnett, who is a lymphedema specialist at Northwest Medical Center in Margate, Florida. “The benefits seem to outweigh the risks, and a weight-lifting program may help these women prevent injuries from everyday tasks by boosting strength in the affected limbs.”

Oftentimes breast cancer survivors were told to steer clear of weight lifting — or even carrying their children or heavy grocery bags, because doctors thought it could worsen the swelling. The new study, the largest to date, seems to contradict that recommendation.

In fact, the research team led by Kathryn Schmitz, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, and a member of the university’s Abramson Cancer Center, found that weight lifting increased muscle strength, decreased the number and severity of arm and hand symptoms, and reduced lymphedema exacerbations.

“Our study shows that participating in a safe, structured weight-lifting routine can help women with lymphedema take control of their symptoms and reap the many rewards that resistance training has on their overall health,” says Schmitz. Resistance training helps build bone density and can improve health in general.

In the new study, 141 women with lymphedema after breast cancer treatment were divided into two groups. Women in the weight-lifting group received a one-year membership to a local gym. For the first 13 weeks, they participated in twice weekly, 90-minute supervised exercise sessions that included stretching, a cardiovascular warm-up, and abdominal and back exercises. The weight-lifting exercises involved low weights, and one to three new exercises were added at each session.

The number of sets increased from two to three, with 10 reps in each set, during the first five weeks. If the women felt OK, more weight was added.

After 13 weeks, women in the weight-lifting group continued twice-weekly exercise sessions on their own for an additional 39 weeks. By contrast, the women in the other group continued their normal exercise routine throughout the study period. All women wore a custom-fitted compression garment on their affected arm during their workouts.

Overall, the women who lifted weights experienced fewer exacerbations of their lymphedema, and they showed a reduction in symptoms compared to the women in the control group. Nineteen women in the control group had lymphedema exacerbations, compared to nine in the treatment group, the researchers report. A similar proportion of women in both groups showed an increase of 5 percent or more in their limb swelling.

Kleinman-Barnett currently prescribes range-of-motion exercises, stretching, and massage to stimulate lymphatic flow in her patients. “I will now incorporate weight lifting using 2 to 3 pound weights, and slowly increase it, and teach them how to monitor themselves to be sure they are not increasing swelling,” she said. Red flags that weight lifting may be making things worse include more swelling, heaviness, and pain in the arm, she said.

Dr. Marisa Weiss, the president and founder of the advocacy group Breastcancer.org, and the author of the forthcoming new edition of “Living Well Beyond Breast Cancer,” said the new study is good news for two groups of women — those who have lymphedema and those at risk of developing it.

“For women who already have lymphedema, this is good news because we have not known how to get them back to moving and grooving again,” said Weiss, who is the director of breast radiation oncology and breast health outreach at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. “Our arms are essential to our ability to be physically active, and we haven’t known how to advise these women in the past.”

Lymphedema is more common after surgeries that remove most or all of the lymph nodes in the under arm area because there are few if any lymphatic drains left intact after such surgeries, she says. “If regular weight lifting with a sleeve in a supervised setting is OK for women with lymphedema, then it is reasonable for women with breast cancer treatment who are at risk of developing lymphedema to go back to some of the things they enjoyed in the past,” she said.

Karen Strauss, a 50-year-old breast cancer survivor who developed lymphedema four months ago, is excited about the findings because she may be able to return to some of the exercises she did before developing breast cancer.

“I used to do a whole workout when I went to the gym, but I have gotten away from it because I am afraid I would make things worse,” said Strauss, a clinical social worker in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “I have been afraid to do anything, but not anymore.”

Strauss currently wears a compression sleeve and glove, gives herself light-touch massages, and does non-weight-bearing exercises to treat her lymphedema. But the new study results have convinced her to talk to her lymphedema specialist about adding light weights to the mix

Usnews.com reports that some pharmaceutical products may be going too far when promoting their urgency. A study found in Obstetrics and Gynecology found that while 40 percent of women complain of a low libido, only 12 percent are bothered by it.

Drugs may also have unwanted side effects, such as unwanted facial hair growth and a possible increased risk of breast cancer. Which is why the Mayo Clinic suggests that nutritional supplements such as ginko biloba may help.

However, there are natural ways to treat a low libido, and some offer other health benefits as well.

Aerobic exercise not only is a mood booster, but also improves blood flow to sex organs. However, it should be done in moderation as over exercising may lower testosterone levels.

Relaxing through yoga will negate the stress that affects the libido. Even 15 minutes of relaxing a day could show an improvement.

The good news is that heartburn usually goes away once the baby is born. In the meantime, there are several diet and lifestyle changes—as well as certain medications—that can make expecting moms feel better.

Most pregnant women have symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), especially heartburn, at some point during pregnancy. These symptoms may begin at any time during a pregnancy and often may become worse as the pregnancy progresses. Heartburn is common during pregnancy because hormones cause the digestive system to slow down. The muscles that push food down the esophagus also move more slowly during pregnancy. In addition, as the uterus grows, it pushes on the stomach and sometimes forces stomach acid up into the esophagus.

Although these symptoms are common during pregnancy, they rarely cause complications, such as inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis). Most of the time, symptoms of heartburn improve after the baby is born.

Treatment for pregnant women with GERD is similar to treatment for other people who have GERD, focusing first on lifestyle changes and nonprescription medicines. You can make changes to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms of GERD. Here are some things to try:

• Change your eating habits.
  • It’s best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals.
  • After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren’t a good idea.
  • Chocolate and mint can make GERD worse. They relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
  • Spicy foods, foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make GERD symptoms worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your symptoms get better.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
• If you have GERD symptoms at night, raise the head of your bed 6 in (15 cm) to 8 in (20 cm) by putting the frame on blocks or placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress. (Adding extra pillows does not work.)
• Use nonprescription antacids such as Rolaids or Maalox for relief of heartburn symptoms. Antacids that contain sodium bicarbonate should not be taken by pregnant women because they can lead to fluid retention. Antacids that contain calcium carbonate (such as Tums) are okay to take.

Along with making lifestyle changes and taking nonprescription medicines, some doctors may recommend the prescription drug sucralfate for treating GERD symptoms during pregnancy. Although they are generally safe during pregnancy, don’t use the following prescription and nonprescription medicines without first discussing them with your doctor:

• Acid reducers, such as cimetidine (for example, Tagamet) or ranitidine (for example, Zantac)
• Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (for example, Prilosec) or lansoprazole (for example, Prevacid)

Especially women and girls feel depressed for some other women who look better than they come around and to attract people’s attention. So they even tried a few things and ways to look as beautiful as possible for them.

Women’s lips are one of the main part of the person who added colors to its beauty. They are able to attract any male or male or men use only their lips. So they are eager mare is good and beautiful lips look much more attractive than the women around them.

The beautiful and well maintained lips are also required to have a very cute smile on the face of women’s sweet. Perfect and beautiful lips consists of a good lip line and lip color as well lips. Shine on lips also gives beauty and charm about them. Moreover, there are some women who spend most of the time set to emphasize their lips. They do this just because they are aware that their lips are one of the most important parts of the mast on their surface that can enhance their beauty.

They also use many products as lipsense, lip pencil, lip gloss, etc. to offer more beauty of your lips so they can attract the attention of all. Lipsense Lip gloss is a cosmetic product that moisturizes lips and protects them from obtaining dry. Lipsense is kind of lipstick that offers many color and requires moisture to the lips. Lip pencil is one of the best lip products that are used to outline the lips after application lipsense line color to add more beauty to the lips.

In order to make his dry lips in a good-looking and hydrated a woman and girls must follow all instructions and cunning. One should be aware that the pursuit of beautiful lips is the most difficult of all legal procedures.

A newly released study illustrates that those people who wore or wear high-heeled shoes, or less supportive shoes, were much more likely to experience hind foot pain, a pain found around the heel of a person’s foot. While there have been previous studies that have demonstrated links between the type of shoe a person chose to wear and foot pain, most of the previous studies were very small and honed in on one specific foot problem, according to researchers leading the new study.

The new study, recently released in Arthritis Care & Research, illustrated that people who wore or wear unsupportive footwear such as sandals, high heals, or slippers are more likely to suffer from foot pain later in life. The study found that even though a shoe may feel comfortable now, if the shoe is not supportive, there could be consequences later in life.

The study, headed by lead author Alyssa B. Dufour, with the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife, investigated over 3,300 foot examination records of men and women that participated in the Framingham Study, started in 1948. The study found that nearly 64 percent either of women who reportedly had worn high heels, pumps or sandals regularly at some time during their lives, had experienced hind foot pain.

While there were 19 percent of the men and 29 percent of the women that experienced some sort of foot pain, researchers were unable to link the men’s issues to a shoe support problem, mainly because only two percent wore shoes deemed bad shoes.

For the study, researchers classified shoes in three groups: a good shoe, such as sneakers; an average shoe, including work boots or rubber-soled shoes; and poor shoes, those that lack support, such as high heels, sandals and slippers. Participants involved in the study answered questions as to where their foot pain was experienced and if the pain was in one or both feet. They were asked questions in regards to the types of shoes that were worn at different stages in their lives.

The stages were broken down by ages including 20-29, 30-44, 45-64, 65-74, and over 75. Women who reportedly wore good shoes compared to those that wore average shoes in their pasts, were 67 percent less likely to report heal pain.

According to Dufour, foot and toe symptoms are one of the top 20 reasons adults from 65 to 75 years old see a physician. While we all want to look our best, we need to consider the consequences of what we put on our feet, not only presently, but also in our future.  Based on the new research, there is definitely a benefit to wearing more supportive footwear.

Ladies, while this study focused on foot pain there are other side affects of high-heels, including causing the toes to taper inward and can lead to calf muscles being smaller. Rethink wearing those unsupportive shoes regularly, and opt for the more comfortable supportive shoes. It just may save you several trips to the doctor down the line and agonizing pain.

Much changes happens when a woman gets pregnant so skin care needs be adjusted. To get skin care tips for pregnant women, I checked in with Annette Rubin, a mother and founder of

Rubin says, “Due to rapid changes in hormones, throughout pregnancy, a woman’s skin is extremely vulnerable and sensitive to all external elements.” There are also concerns about what women safely can put on their skin, because some ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream, where they can transfer to the baby.

Recommendations
Rubin offers these skin care recommendations.

• Safety first. Women need to be very careful about the ingredients in their skin care, making sure that ingredients aren’t potentially harmful to the baby. For example, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, certain sunscreens, and even aloe vera and vitamin A have been linked to harmful effects with repeated or high exposures, as found in clinical studies. Rubin says Belli is the only skin care collection that does teratology screening, meaning they screen out ingredients shown to have adverse affects on babies.

Beating blemishes. During pregnancy, women are more likely to develop acne, especially during warm weather. But “most acne treatments are contra-indicated during pregnancy because of potential adverse effects to baby,” she says. Pregnant women should look for something gentle that exfoliates, and treats and prevents acne safely without overdrying. She recommends Belli Acne Clearing Facial Wash ($22), because it uses lactic acid, an ingredient naturally found in the body. It also has a wonderful, natural fragrance that’s calming.

• Avoiding splotchy skin. “The pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone are thought to make the pigment-producing skin cells react more strongly to sunlight,” Rubin says. This causes dark brown splotchy areas on the chin, cheeks, nose and forehead known as chloasma, melasma or “the mask of pregnancy.” This affects up to 70% of all pregnant women and can show up with any skin type; but olive and darker complexions are more at risk.

Fortunately, chloasma is preventable. She recommends avoiding sun exposure, and choosing a sunscreen, like Belli Pregnancy Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen SPF 25 ($24), that has SPF 25 or higher, protects from both UVA and UVB rays, and is made with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, because they provide higher SPF, need to be applied less often, and have no effects linked to birth defects as shown in medical studies. The Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen is a lovely lightweight, oil-free, tinted sunscreen that also naturally moisturizes with glycerin and easily blends into skin without any chalky look or feel.

• Preventing stretchmarks. For generations, women have used cocoa butter to try to prevent strechmarks. “But while it’s a good moisturizer, there is no research showing a benefit from this ingredients,” Rubin says. “The only published research on stretchmark prevention showed that a combination of gotu kola extract, vitamin E, and collagen hydrolysates decreased the risk of getting stretchmarks by about 39%, and decreased the severity of any stretchmarks that did form.” That’s why they chose to use all these ingredients in the highly effective, much-loved Belli Pregnancy Elasticity Belly Oil ($42), which incorporates the relaxing aromatherapy of lavender.