New Year, New You: Get the Radiant Skin Look of Birthday Gal Kate Middleton

Photo by Pat Pilon

Light the royal birthday candles! The Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince William, turns 32 today. 

This British beautynista, formerly known as Kate Middleton, usually gets a lot of attention for her luscious long locks. And, rightfully so. Her smoothed out brunette strands glisten with peek-a-boo honey highlights and cascade softly below her shoulders into loose, luxurious curls. 

When people talk about her sense of style, they usually refer to her effortless look. She often recycles outfits and shoes while fulfilling her royal duties, wears a minimal amount of makeup and stretches out visits to her hair stylist--allowing a few gray roots to occasionally grow out. 

Kate Middleton leaves the hospital with Prince William following the birth of their son Prince George.

Following the birth of her son Prince George last summer, her complexion began making headlines. Call it the new mom glow, but her skin seemingly appears more radiant as she settles into married life. Her face and smile shine as bright as a diamond studded tiara as she beams with pride while holding her new bundle of joy.

Now that a new year has arrived, you may be thinking more about your health and appearance. Maybe you want to eat better, start an exercise routine, try a new hairstyle or brighten your complexion. To get a fresh-faced, flawless look like the Duchess of Cambridge, we've assembled the latest cleansing creams and tools, masks, peels, serums and SPFs. They're designed to balance your skin tone, keep you blemish-free and give you the dewy skin you desire without looking like an oil slick.

Happy birthday Duchess Kate! And, for the rest of us, here's to a new year and new you.

SHINE: Avalon Organics Lavender Luminosity Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub. BEAUTY: Smooth and soften your complexion by gently removing dull, flakey skin with finely ground walnut shells, aloe vera leaf juice and coconut oil. BEACON: NSF/ANSI 305 Standard certified. Contains no synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, formaldehyde donors, phthalates, parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil, propylene glycol or sulfates.

SHINE: Beauty Without Cruelty Purifying Clay Mask. BEAUTY: Witch

hazel extract, jojoba oil, and chamomile and lavender extracts renew lackluster skin and deeply cleanse clogged pores. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of parabens, SLS/SLES and synthetic fragrances. 

SHINE: CellCeuticals PhotoDefense Color Radiance SPF 55+ (Medium). BEAUTY: Achieve an even toned complexion and protect your skin against harmful ultraviolet rays with oxybenzone, green tea leaf extract, hyaluronic acid, pear fruit extract and peptides. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of artificial colorants and fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates and parabens.

SHINE: Conair True Glow Sonic Skincare Solution Cleansing Brush. BEAUTY: Gently cleanse and clear clogged pores using three speeds at 300 oscillations per second with a timer that tells you when to move to another area of your face every 10 seconds. BEACON: Supports American Red Cross, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, American Ballet Theatre and National Dance Institute. 

SHINE: ilike Sour Cherry Gel Mask. BEAUTY: Sour cherry and blackthorn berry extracts boost circulation to revitalize your complexion, while salicylic acid exfoliates dead skin cells. BEACON: Vegan, and no animal testing. Free of parabens and artificial colorants. 

SHINE: MyBody BRIGHTAMIN-C Vitamin C Age Repair Serum. BEAUTY: Maximize hydration, natural brilliance and collagen production with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and bearberry leaf extract. BEACON: Free of gluten, parabens, phthalates, sulfates and dyes. 

SHINE: MyChelle Dermaceuticals Creamy Pumpkin Cleanser and Tropical Skin Smoother. BEAUTY: The cleanser purifies your skin with pumpkin extract, and clove and cinnamon leaf oils, while the smoother helps dull skin renew itself with bamboo stem powder and lactic acid. BEACON: Cruelty free. Contains no gluten, parabens, phthalates, ureas, petroleum-based chemicals or artificial colorants. Utilizes 100% post-consumer paper in its packaging.

SHINE: Sanitas Skincare Glycolic Citrus Cleanser. BEAUTY: Glycolic acid, algae extract and citrus oil stimulate cell growth, and help remove excess dirt, oil and impurities. BEACON: Contains no parabens or preservatives. Sanitas supports the Cinderella Foundation. 

SHINE: Vie Collection Night Peel Progressive Resurfacing Cream. BEAUTY:  Brighten and tighten your skin, as glycolic acid, algae extract and vitamin E offer progressive and controlled exfoliation during the night to remove dead skin cells, and diminish signs of fine lines and wrinkles in the morning. BEACON: No animal testing.

Friday Fave: Magical Mineral Makeup

When I think about mineral makeup, unicorns and rainbows come to mind. 

I get a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing how it offers full coverage but doesn't clog your pores. Mineral makeup also balances the appearance of your complexion with non-irritating ingredients, and uses micronized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to protect your skin from ultraviolet rays.

Our Friday Fave from La Bella Donna Linea Minerale allows you to create your own mineral magic with a travel-friendly, dispensing brush. Its dial system applies light, medium or full coverage, while a locking mechanism prevents leakage in your purse. 

TGIF! Here's how to get your glow on this evening.

SHINE: Minerals On-the-Go. BEAUTY: The minerals provide a unique light-refractive quality, which reduces the apearances of fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of FD&C dyes, oils, talc, alcohol and fragrance.

Radiant Skin Superstars of the Academy Awards

Meryl Streep broke her losing streak at the Academy Awards by winning her third Best Actress Oscar. Although she's been nominated more than a dozen times, she hasn't brought home a golden statue since her last Best Actress nod for Sophie's Choice in 1983. However, her critically acclaimed portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady ultimately upset the heavily favored performance of Viola Davis in The Help. 

The 62-year-old actress also broke taboos about growing older in Hollywood. Streep looked stellar in a liquid gold Lanvin gown with a plunging neckline--albeit no wardrobe malfunctions. Made from Eco Certified Fabric, her full-length threads participated in the evening's Green Carpet Challenge. 

Streep struck more gold with her glowing complexion. It's not known how she or the other nominees nourish their luminous faces, but the following products help revitalize aging, sun-damaged or dull skin. Most of all, they give you the ability to look like a superstar at any age.  

SHINE: Best Actress winner Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) looks 42 rather than 62.

BEAUTY: June Jacobs Age Defying Copper Complex contains extracts from green and white tea leaf, and pomegranate, grape seed and goji berry fruits to tone and tighten skin. BEACON: Contains no parabens, preservatives, petrochemicals, synthetic dyes or fragrance, or sulfates.

SHINE: Although Best Actress nominee Voila Davis (The Help) didn't prevail with an Oscar, she still possesses an award-winning smile that accentuates her inner and outer beauty. 

BEAUTY: Babor Derma Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster For Lips contains hyaluronic acid to create a visibly smoothing effect. BEACON: Free of parabens, mineral oil, fragrance and artificial colorants.

SHINE: Best Actress nominee Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn) strutted her Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend sparkle on the red carpet.

BEAUTY: SkinCeuticals B5 Hydrating Masque helps restore skin's natural moisture balance with hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5. BEACON: Paraben free.

SHINE: The white Givenchy gown of Best Actress nominee Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) matched her cream-colored skin. 

BEAUTY: Formulated for dry/irritable faces, Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cleanser utilizes jojoba oil, aloe leaf juice and shea butter to provide intense hydration, while also dissolving dirt and softening the skin. BEACON: Cruelty free and vegan.

SHINE: Best Supporting Actress winner Octavia Spencer (The Help) maintains a youthful appearance with her dewy complexion. 

BEAUTY: Kate Somerville Quench Oil Free Hydrating Face Serum contains plumeria flower extract to help maximize hydration, and peptides and hyaluronic acid to minimize expression lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Best Supporting Actress nominee Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) looks fabulous at 50.

BEAUTY: Naturopathica Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel exfoliates sun-damaged or mature skin with sweet cherry seed oil and pomegranate extract to restore vitality. BEACON: Paraben free. Also supports The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Green Spa Network.