Milly Almodóvar, founder and editor of Beauty Logic Blog, is passionate about the latest beauty trends and tips from around the world. Here, she shares big and small ways to pamper yourself this spring.

 

Make Time for Yourself

“As a mom, wife and beauty editor, life is busy. But, on Sunday, no matter what, I take time for myself. Whether it's making my own hair mask with coconut oil and honey or watching a Lifetime movie, I make sure that I have those moments alone. They are important for the soul.”

Have Fun with Your Makeup

“A lot of women use the same makeup [in spring] that they use during the winter. Switch it up. You might want to invest in a darker foundation or newer creams. Or switch your dark lips to brighter ones. I'm all about neon oranges this season. They look amazing on warmer skin tones.”

Meditate

“I have a girlfriend who is always so calm and collected. I asked for her secret, and she told me that she meditates every morning. At first I thought she was crazy. But I was so stressed out one day that I decided to try it. I went to a dark room, lit a candle and just did it. Now I'm hooked. I'm finding that life isn't so stressful.”

Find Time to Work Out

“A lot of women I know don't work out because they claim they don't have time or the money. To me, if you really want to work out, you will. I do most of my exercise at home. So when my son goes to sleep, I'll grab some weights and get a workout in. I've learned that working out will not only make you look good, but feel good.”

Make Time for Friends and Family

“I used to think I was too busy to see my family and friends. I was so focused on my career, but when I did find time to spend with them, I noticed that I was much happier afterwards. So now, I see them at least once a week. There are times where I have felt like nothing in the world was going right, or maybe I wasn't where I should be in my life. One visit to my family and friends, and I felt like I could do anything.”

One look at Stephanie Flor’s schedule and it’s apparent that she is a mujer on the go. If the 25-year-old celebrity makeup artist isn’t en Nueva York, Los Angeles, or Miami, then she may be backstage at fashion weeks around the world or on photo shoots with the likes of Mariah Carey and Kathy Griffin. Her work has appeared in Latina, InStyle and Glamour, and she documents it all on her popular website, Around the World Beauty, where she dispenses everything from makeup tips to documentaries about beauty ideals across the globe.

Women with schedules half as hectic as Stephanie’s find it hard to stay healthy and fit -- so how does Stephanie do it all with her whirlwind schedule?

"It sounds clichéd, but it’s all about balance," says Flor. "I’m studying the Indian science of Ayurveda, which promotes balance in all aspects of life, from your beauty routine to your diet.”

Flor's diet is a healthy mix of her favorite comfort foods and healthy juices. And when it comes to staying in shape, Flor is enviably fit. She builds exercise time into her schedule by being "a multi-tasking fiend. I hit the gym three to four times a week, and I always do double-duty,” she says. “So if I'm on the stair climber, I'm also on my iPad reading about India or an exotic beauty ritual."

After Lindsay Lopez, a professional dancer who worked in feature films, injured her back, she discovered Pilates and rehabilitated herself to start a whole new beginning. In time, Lindsay became intrigued by how dramatically the discipline could change bodies. So she studied it and became a certified Pilates instructor.

Today, Lopez is committed to helping Latinas stay positive, healthy and fit, especially during the colder months. Here, she shares easy-to-follow exercise tips -- plus ways to stay motivated.

Be consistent
It’s la llave to staying fit, according to Lopez. "Even a little bit of Pilates is better than none," she says. “Sometimes I find myself bagging a workout when I don't have a full hour. While the traditional Pilates session should be 55 minutes, even a good 10 to 15 minutes can make a difference.

“Next time you're strapped for time, just get down on the floor and do these three simple Pilates moves,” Lopez suggests. “You'll stand taller, feel better and be more motivated to work out the next time!"

Lopez recommends these three Pilates moves for getting a leaner, longer body pronto.

• The Hundred: Lie flat on your back on your mat. Draw your knees to your chest and curl your head, neck and shoulders off the mat. Bring your legs into a 90 degree angle and reach your arms long by your side. With your arms very straight, begin pumping them up and down like wings. Inhale for five pumps, then exhale for five pumps. Ten sets of 10 make the 100 from this move’s name. The whole time pull your abs in and up. Want even more of a challenge? Extend your legs 45 degrees or lower.
• The Spine Stretch Forward: Sit with your legs extended out in front of you just wider than the width of your mat. Flex your feet and bend your knees until you can feel your Sitz bones on the mat. Reach your arms out in front of you and inhale to sit tall. Then exhale as you articulate your spine forward one vertebrae at a time until your head reaches between your knees and your arms reach toward your toes. Then inhale to return your spine upright and repeat four more times.
  
  
• Standing Chest Expansion: Standing upright, bring your feet together (either parallel or with your heels together and your toes two fingers apart). Make sure your shoulders are stacked over your ribs, and ribs over hips. Reach your arms out front and, as you inhale, reach them behind your back, fingertips pointing towards the floor behind your heels. Look to the right, to the left, then center, exhaling as you return your arms out front. Repeat, looking left first then right. Do two sets total. Remember to keep your abs pulled in and up and open your collarbone wide.

Photo: Corbis Images

With the onset of spring, it’s easy to feel less confident as we shed the layers of winter clothing. For Corazon Tierra, a New York City–based body-esteem expert, getting back body confidence is about making a commitment to love your body no matter the weight or size. Here, Tierra shares some helpful tools that lead to a healthy and realistic body image.

Keep a positive outlook. Repeat these words every morning: “I love my body unconditionally. I treat it with respect and kindness. I am beautiful.” Gradually, you’ll train your mind to substitute self-hatred talk for self-loving thoughts.

Take a magical bath. Water is a feminine element that awakens our goddess nature. Use sea salts or essential oils to prepare a special bath for yourself. Lavender, jasmine, rose and cinnamon are excellent for awakening positive feelings.

Express yourself in your attire. Ask yourself: “How does my presence transform a room when I go in? Does it become more joyful or more harmonious?”

Spend time in nature. Being near trees, flowers and water relaxes your body and uplifts your spirit. Allow yourself to simply be and enjoy the beauty around you.

Express body gratitude. Set aside five minutes several times per week to meditate. Close your eyes, and breathe in and breathe out slowly. Then, touch your legs, knees and feet, giving thanks for everything each body part does for you. Your body will feel completely appreciated and you will shine again.

Soaking in the rays is the perfect way to spend an idyllic summer day, but looking -- and feeling -- like a steamed lobster is not cool! Plus, the sun is responsible for 90 percent of wrinkle damage to the skin. Luckily, lots of post-sun love and a little prevention go a long way.

Dr. Doris Day, dermatologist and author of Forget the Facelift, gives us tips on curing your ailing cuerpo.

Pop and Hydrate
Because the sun dehydrates, headaches can be brutal. Ibuprofen eases the headache the sun can bring, so take two as soon as possible. “It’s also important to drink water, juice or sports drinks to replace body fluids that are lost via sweating and sun exposure,” says Day.

Soothe With Home Remedies
There is a reason most people use aloe gel to treat sunburned skin. Aloe is a natural anesthetic, according to Day, that eases the burn. Other at-the-ready remedies include treating skin with a washcloth soaked in cold skim milk. The cold diffuses the heat, while the protein in the milk helps coat and comfort the skin. Day also loves mixing brewed white iced tea with honey and aloe and applying it topically. “The honey is nourishing salve in the skin, and caffeine is a natural anti-inflammatory. White tea is the highest of all teas -- more than green and black -- in antioxidants, which is amazing after a long, hot day,” she says.

Think Beyond the Beach
“Most sun damage comes from incidental exposure -- like when the sun hits you while you’re driving, and walking to and from your car. It’s important to use SPF all the time,” says Day.

Powder Up
These days, sunscreens don’t just come in creams and sprays. They come in powders that not only screen UVA and UVB rays, but also aren’t as heavy -- meaning they don’t clog pores -- so skin can breathe and glow.

Exfoliate
Sloughing the skin will prevent breakouts, an unfortunate side effect of the combination of sweat and sunscreen.