Tip #1: Lipstick done? You might notice there's still a bit of lipstick down in the tube. Scrape out the last bits with a cotton swap or orange stick & mix it with Vaseline or lip gloss in a lipstick palette. Use a lip brush to apply.
Tip #2: Never use a test lipstick on your lips. It's just plain unhygienic. Instead, test lipstick on your fingertips. It's a closer fit to your lips than the back of your hand.
Tip #3: Use liner on your lips as a base. Lipstick will last longer if you fill in your lips with the liner first. If you're using light lipstick, try a nude liner. Then slick your lipstick on top.
Tip #4: Never use a dark liner with light lipstick. Defined lips are great, but make sure the liner
matches the lipstick or gloss. Dark liner and light lips is tacky.
Tip #5: Keep lipstick off your teeth with this trick. This is a trick I learned years ago from my mom. After applying lipstick, take your index finger and pop it in your mouth, then pull it out. The excess lipstick will come off on your finger rather than your teeth.
Tip #6: Lipstick can act as a blush. But never use blush as a lipstick.
Tip #7: Youcan line before or after you apply lipstick or gloss. Some women prefer to apply liner first, arguing that you won't be able to see the natural line of your lips if you apply lipstick first. But I find lips look more natural when I line lips after I apply lipstick.
Tip #8: The older you are, the 'creamier' your lips should look. Women over 50 should avoid matte or a gloss and stick with a creamy lipstick.
Tip #9: Don't throw out a bad color lipstick. Beauty editors know you can create a great lipcolor by blending lipsticks you don't like. You can also color in lips with a darker liner before applying a lipstick that's too bright.
Tip #10: For 'plump' lips, apply liner just outside your natural lipline. Dab a bit of gloss in the middle of your bottom lip.
Tip #11: Keep lip gloss on longer with liner. Lip gloss is infamous for wearing off fast, but if you fill in lips first with the liner, the gloss has something to stick to.
Tip #12: Heal -- don't throw out -- a broken lipstick. If your lipstick breaks off, simply take off the broken portion with a tissue, then slowly wave a lit match under the broken piece of lipstick. When it's melted a bit, put it back on the base, swivel it down and put it in the fridge -- uncovered -- for 30 minutes.
Tip #13: Avoid orange or brown shades, including corals. They tend to make teeth appear yellow.
Tip #14: Camouflage yellowed teeth. To downplay a yellow cast to teeth, try lipsticks with a bluish undertone. Shades that work include plums, pinks, wines and violets.
Tip #15: Experiment with blending lipsticks and glosses. Real lipstick aficionados create their own lipstick shades by blending different color and even formulations. You can start with a matte lipstick, follow with a shimmery shade and cap it off with a colored gloss.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Create your own signiture style
1)Take a serious assessment of your overall current style, deciding if you are traditional, modern, fashion-forward, casual, hippie natural, etc.
2)Determine what you are trying to accomplish with your signature style -- to be more memorable, develop an always chic look or have more fun with fashion.
3)Study famous tastemakers -- everyone from Karl Lagerfeld with his ponytail and fan to Carrie Donovan and her oversized glasses, black clothes and blond hair.
4)Don't hesitate to imitate a look and make it your own, making sure it fits into your current style and personality.
5)Decide what you would be most comfortable changing -- your hair, wardrobe colors or accessories.
6)If you're choosing a striking new hairstyle or color, try the new look in stages to see how it works.
7)If you are choosing a bold new wardrobe color, start by incorporating it as a shirt, tie or scarf color to see how well it works for you.
8)Relying on accessories -- sunglasses, big pins, bright hosiery or vintage handbags -- is a safe, easy and inexpensive way to start a personalized look.
9)Experiment and alter your signature style piece as you grow more confident.
Once you have the groove of your signature look, be sure to change your supporting wardrobe frequently enough so that you don't look the same everyday.
Tips:
Use your signature style to camouflage flaws or draw attention to your best features.
Try not to cross the fine line between signature style and affectation
A signature look can be something as sentimental as a charm bracelet or as breezy as brightly colored pantyhose -- just make sure it feels like you and fits your personality and lifestyle.
2)Determine what you are trying to accomplish with your signature style -- to be more memorable, develop an always chic look or have more fun with fashion.
3)Study famous tastemakers -- everyone from Karl Lagerfeld with his ponytail and fan to Carrie Donovan and her oversized glasses, black clothes and blond hair.
4)Don't hesitate to imitate a look and make it your own, making sure it fits into your current style and personality.
5)Decide what you would be most comfortable changing -- your hair, wardrobe colors or accessories.
6)If you're choosing a striking new hairstyle or color, try the new look in stages to see how it works.
7)If you are choosing a bold new wardrobe color, start by incorporating it as a shirt, tie or scarf color to see how well it works for you.
8)Relying on accessories -- sunglasses, big pins, bright hosiery or vintage handbags -- is a safe, easy and inexpensive way to start a personalized look.
9)Experiment and alter your signature style piece as you grow more confident.
Once you have the groove of your signature look, be sure to change your supporting wardrobe frequently enough so that you don't look the same everyday.
Tips:
Use your signature style to camouflage flaws or draw attention to your best features.
Try not to cross the fine line between signature style and affectation
A signature look can be something as sentimental as a charm bracelet or as breezy as brightly colored pantyhose -- just make sure it feels like you and fits your personality and lifestyle.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Look and feel beautiful this summer
Go for a Bold Nail Polish:
If you are flaunting your toes all over the place this summer, then consider painting your nails a fun, bright color.
Bright pink is especially popular this summer and looks great on all skin types. It's especially striking against dark skin.
Foundation is out, tinted moisturizer is in:
If you refuse to go bare in summer and can't imagine life without your foundation, consider putting away your foundation for the season and trying a tinted moisturizer.
I'm warning you, you may never go back to your old foundation.
Lighter than foundation, tinted moisturizers still cover flaws but feel less "cakey." And while foundations can feel as if they're melting off your face, tinted moisturizers won't.
Lighter than foundation, tinted moisturizers still cover flaws but feel less "cakey." And while foundations can feel as if they're melting off your face, tinted moisturizers won't.
Don't forget to protect your other body parts:
most women know to put sunscreen on their faces, they skip their chests, hands and necks. Their faces age well, but nothing else does.
Who wants to have 80-year-old hands and a 60-year-old face?
My advice: When you apply sunscreen, take a couple minutes to slather it on your check and neck.
Use whatever's leftover on your hands.
Pink, flushed cheeks are gorgeous:
Nothing's more natural in summer than pink, flushed, "just-back-from-a-run" skin.
To get this look, apply bronzer on all the bits the sun would naturally hit: forehead, cheeks and nose.
Then apply a pink blush on the apples of your cheeks.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Apply foundation right in five easy steps
1) Start with a clean, moisturized face. Dab dots of concealer on undereye circles or blemishes. Tab the concealer into place (never rub). I suggest using concealer before foundation because you won't use as much foundation if you conceal problem spots first.
2) Dot foundation on red spots or uneven areas of skin (usually the chin, along or on the nose, under the eyes and the corners of the mouth). Again, do not cover the entire face, your goal is to achieve an even skin tone.
3) Moving from the inside of your face outward, blend the foundation into skin. You can use your fingers, a nylon brush or a wedge sponge.
4) Blend at the hairline and jawline to avoid the mask look.
5) Finish off the look with a powder. Carry blotting papers for any oils that creep up over the day, instead of packing on the powder.
2) Dot foundation on red spots or uneven areas of skin (usually the chin, along or on the nose, under the eyes and the corners of the mouth). Again, do not cover the entire face, your goal is to achieve an even skin tone.
3) Moving from the inside of your face outward, blend the foundation into skin. You can use your fingers, a nylon brush or a wedge sponge.
4) Blend at the hairline and jawline to avoid the mask look.
5) Finish off the look with a powder. Carry blotting papers for any oils that creep up over the day, instead of packing on the powder.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Do's and Don'ts when going on your first date
First dates can be a breeze if you know what to do... and what to avoid.
I have listed below a few of great do's and important don'ts to help keep your date running smoothly, so maybe, just maybe, you'll make it to a second date, or third, etc.
Do:
Choose a place you both are comfortable and familiar with. If one of you is fighting traffic or worse, lost, you're bound to have unnecessary tension before you even arrive. Likewise if you pick a spot where you or your date might feel uncomfortable.
Don't:
Be inflexible with your plans. You might have an idea of what you'd like to do, but be respectful of your date's wishes. Remember that where you actually meet isn’t as important as the time you’ll be spending together. Focus on just getting to know your date, not on hanging out at your favorite place.
Do:
Be on time. You may feel it’s better to be a few minutes late so you don’t feel silly waiting for your date, but that just means your date will be waiting for you. Treat your date as an important meeting so you’re sure to show him or her the respect they deserve. Plan ahead, leave early, and account for any possible delays in traffic.
Don't:
Dress inappropriately. Aim for business casual attire. No sweats. Nothing frumpy. Nothing too provocative or low-cut. Go easy on the makeup, and make sure your hair is properly groomed. First impressions count on a date, and physical appearance counts as much as personality. You may not mind your girlfriend or boyfriend dressing sloppy after you’ve gone out with them a while, but for a first date make sure you’re presenting the best possibly image you can.
Do:
Smile and give eye contact when greeting your date. This may sound like a simple point, but too often daters are nervous or in a hurry, and don’t focus immediately upon the person who has taken time out of their day to simply meet them. Show your date you appreciate their effort, look at them and say hello when you arrive, rather than looking around for a table (or an escape!)
Don't:
Answer cell phone calls. It’s rude on a first date for your cell phone to even ring. The best bet is to turn your phone off, or set it to mute. Remember, your first date is only going to be about an hour and you should be able to live without looking to see if someone has called you. If you must keep your phone on, let any calls you receive go through to voice mail, and bring the focus immediately back to your date.
Do:
Ask meaningful questions that will give you a glimpse into your date's personality. Listen to your date and provide input into your conversations. The first date is generally an audition for further meetings, so use it to your advantage by trying to find out as much information about your date as possible. You don’t need their life history, but what you do need is to get a sense if this person is someone you’ll want to see again.
Don't:
Monopolize the conversation. Ask questions to give your date a chance to talk so you can both find out about each other. While you are trying to get to know your date, you aren’t there to drill them for every detail of their life.
Do:
Set a time limit on the date in advance. This will ease any stress in trying to end the date and allow you to go home and reflect on it to better decide if you'd like a second meeting.
I have listed below a few of great do's and important don'ts to help keep your date running smoothly, so maybe, just maybe, you'll make it to a second date, or third, etc.
Do:
Choose a place you both are comfortable and familiar with. If one of you is fighting traffic or worse, lost, you're bound to have unnecessary tension before you even arrive. Likewise if you pick a spot where you or your date might feel uncomfortable.
Don't:
Be inflexible with your plans. You might have an idea of what you'd like to do, but be respectful of your date's wishes. Remember that where you actually meet isn’t as important as the time you’ll be spending together. Focus on just getting to know your date, not on hanging out at your favorite place.
Do:
Be on time. You may feel it’s better to be a few minutes late so you don’t feel silly waiting for your date, but that just means your date will be waiting for you. Treat your date as an important meeting so you’re sure to show him or her the respect they deserve. Plan ahead, leave early, and account for any possible delays in traffic.
Don't:
Dress inappropriately. Aim for business casual attire. No sweats. Nothing frumpy. Nothing too provocative or low-cut. Go easy on the makeup, and make sure your hair is properly groomed. First impressions count on a date, and physical appearance counts as much as personality. You may not mind your girlfriend or boyfriend dressing sloppy after you’ve gone out with them a while, but for a first date make sure you’re presenting the best possibly image you can.
Do:
Smile and give eye contact when greeting your date. This may sound like a simple point, but too often daters are nervous or in a hurry, and don’t focus immediately upon the person who has taken time out of their day to simply meet them. Show your date you appreciate their effort, look at them and say hello when you arrive, rather than looking around for a table (or an escape!)
Don't:
Answer cell phone calls. It’s rude on a first date for your cell phone to even ring. The best bet is to turn your phone off, or set it to mute. Remember, your first date is only going to be about an hour and you should be able to live without looking to see if someone has called you. If you must keep your phone on, let any calls you receive go through to voice mail, and bring the focus immediately back to your date.
Do:
Ask meaningful questions that will give you a glimpse into your date's personality. Listen to your date and provide input into your conversations. The first date is generally an audition for further meetings, so use it to your advantage by trying to find out as much information about your date as possible. You don’t need their life history, but what you do need is to get a sense if this person is someone you’ll want to see again.
Don't:
Monopolize the conversation. Ask questions to give your date a chance to talk so you can both find out about each other. While you are trying to get to know your date, you aren’t there to drill them for every detail of their life.
Do:
Set a time limit on the date in advance. This will ease any stress in trying to end the date and allow you to go home and reflect on it to better decide if you'd like a second meeting.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
How to acheive beautiful feet!
So when the sun starts to shine and the air is warming up and the shoe stores are swapping boots for strapy sandals in the display windows, the panic starts. Thankfully we are told that it's never too late to start pampering our feet with a pedicure.
1) The best way to start is by removing any hard, calloused skin. Use a foot file on dry skin, before you have a bath or shower ( if skin has been softened by water, you may remove too much skin) Concentrate on the heels and the balls of the foot.
2) Moisturise your feet daily with special foot cream.
These have been designed to hydrate the drier, thicker skin of your feet and stop the heels from cracking.
3) Make sure you vary the height of your shoe heels as this will keep your calf muscles flexible. If walking is painful or you spend a lot of time on your feet, be sure to use padded insoles to cushion the balls of your feet.
4) If wearing sandals, it is a must to apply SPF to your feet.
The feet always get forgotten when it comes to sunscreen application yet they are perfectly angled to get most of the suns damaging rays and get sunburned.
Set time aside weekly to soak your feet. The foot spas and pedicures you can buy are a great idea but all you need is a bucket full of warm water and a few essential oils. Peppermint, cypress, lavender, pine, frankincense and tea tree oils are all excellent choices. I like to add a couple of tablespoons full of powdered milk to make it really decadent. If you like wearing nail polish on your toes, make sure they are well manicured. Nothing is worse than calling attention to unkept feet. Keep cuticles neat and well maintained. Always use base coat to stop nail polish from discolouring toe nails.
Treat yourself to a pedicure at the beginning of summer. It is much easier then, to maintain your feet in top condition. With these healthy feet tips, you can be confidently stepping into those strapy sandals we see coming out for summer. Not only that but your feet will thank you in years to come as we say a step ahead of foot problems.
1) The best way to start is by removing any hard, calloused skin. Use a foot file on dry skin, before you have a bath or shower ( if skin has been softened by water, you may remove too much skin) Concentrate on the heels and the balls of the foot.
2) Moisturise your feet daily with special foot cream.
These have been designed to hydrate the drier, thicker skin of your feet and stop the heels from cracking.
3) Make sure you vary the height of your shoe heels as this will keep your calf muscles flexible. If walking is painful or you spend a lot of time on your feet, be sure to use padded insoles to cushion the balls of your feet.
4) If wearing sandals, it is a must to apply SPF to your feet.
The feet always get forgotten when it comes to sunscreen application yet they are perfectly angled to get most of the suns damaging rays and get sunburned.
Set time aside weekly to soak your feet. The foot spas and pedicures you can buy are a great idea but all you need is a bucket full of warm water and a few essential oils. Peppermint, cypress, lavender, pine, frankincense and tea tree oils are all excellent choices. I like to add a couple of tablespoons full of powdered milk to make it really decadent. If you like wearing nail polish on your toes, make sure they are well manicured. Nothing is worse than calling attention to unkept feet. Keep cuticles neat and well maintained. Always use base coat to stop nail polish from discolouring toe nails.
Treat yourself to a pedicure at the beginning of summer. It is much easier then, to maintain your feet in top condition. With these healthy feet tips, you can be confidently stepping into those strapy sandals we see coming out for summer. Not only that but your feet will thank you in years to come as we say a step ahead of foot problems.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
5 Great summer fashion looks
1) Flirty Skirts
Shorts and T-shirts may be the most familiar way to beat the heat, but the new flirty skirts are the chicest.
Don't be intimidated by skirts: the best skirts are cute AND forgiving (not something that happens in fashion very often, so jump on this!)
The best of the bunch is a flared, knee-length silhouette.
It can be in any fabric with a soft hand (most denim doesn't qualify) like washed linen, rayon or cotton. Gentle tiers, or a fuller silhouette that gently comes out from the hip looks great on most women.
Solids and prints are both great in a summer skirt.
Pair with a fitted T or other soft top (washed linen, woven cotton, etc.) Layered tanks (below) are another great option.
Heels are fine for dressier looks, but flat sandals are easy for casual wear.
In finding your perfect skirt length, remember that fashion wisdom says a skirt should never be wider than it is long.
Asymmetrical or hankie hems are a great camouflage treatment for bottom-heavy figures; pleats and flounces will you give you curves below the waist if you lack them.
2) Florals
If you've passed on head-to-toe blooms because you think only super-girly types can carry them off, try florals this season as an accent.
One easy way is to pin on a large flower as an accent piece on a simple dress or separates. You can even wear it in your hair.
Everything from shoes to handbags are covered with flowers, so add a bud that way.
If a floral print intrigues you, but you can't decide if you can pull it off, remember to keep prints in proportion to your shape.
Larger frames look best in wider spaced, bigger blooms; petite frames can carry off allover, ditsy (tiny) prints.
3) Tank tops
Many women keep bare arms under wraps all season just because they think tank tops are too skimpy.
The latest trend of layering tank tops gets rid of the skimpies. Just pick two complementary colors and layer away. Lighweight cotton jersey is ideal for layering (skip the ribbed styles for this because even tiny ribbing adds bulk).
Some tanks can go braless because they have a built-in bra; many manufacturers make camis with built-ins as well.
Pass on the urge to let your bra straps hang out (tacky, even if it slips in and out of style) and turn to retailers like Land's End which always carries a tank with modest enough straps to sport a bra, too.
4) Lingerie-inspired Apparel
Summer style often brings out the underwear with slip-style dresses, bra-inspired tops and pajama-type drawstring bottoms.
But if lingerie-inspired fashion gives you flashbacks of Madonna in her pointy Gaultier bra, you can try this look in moderation.
Opt for pretty lace trims on tops and drawstring bottoms in soft linen or a bold print.
The idea here is to merely reference lingerie, rather than look like you're running around in your slip. Think lace trims, sultry satin pieces, even sculptured corset tops for the sexiest looks.
5) Bright Prints
Nothing says "Summer" better than brights. But you may think lime, yellow and fuchsia are better suited to plastic dishes for the patio, than for women's fashion.
The truth is that many brights can be hard to wear close to the face unless they really set off your coloring. The best way to find out if a color works for you is to simply hold it up to your face. If lime makes your skin look putrid, then switch over to the hotter end of the palette and give hot pink a try.
Trial and error is your best method for choosing brights that work for you.
The easiest way to slip into some color is to choose a mid-range bright -- say cotton candy pink -- and pair with a safe neutral like denim.
Another really great look to absorb some of the impact of strong color is to pair it with white; try a white fitted T-shirt with a hot pink hibiscus pink skirt, for example.
Shorts and T-shirts may be the most familiar way to beat the heat, but the new flirty skirts are the chicest.
Don't be intimidated by skirts: the best skirts are cute AND forgiving (not something that happens in fashion very often, so jump on this!)
The best of the bunch is a flared, knee-length silhouette.
It can be in any fabric with a soft hand (most denim doesn't qualify) like washed linen, rayon or cotton. Gentle tiers, or a fuller silhouette that gently comes out from the hip looks great on most women.
Solids and prints are both great in a summer skirt.
Pair with a fitted T or other soft top (washed linen, woven cotton, etc.) Layered tanks (below) are another great option.
Heels are fine for dressier looks, but flat sandals are easy for casual wear.
In finding your perfect skirt length, remember that fashion wisdom says a skirt should never be wider than it is long.
Asymmetrical or hankie hems are a great camouflage treatment for bottom-heavy figures; pleats and flounces will you give you curves below the waist if you lack them.
2) Florals
If you've passed on head-to-toe blooms because you think only super-girly types can carry them off, try florals this season as an accent.
One easy way is to pin on a large flower as an accent piece on a simple dress or separates. You can even wear it in your hair.
Everything from shoes to handbags are covered with flowers, so add a bud that way.
If a floral print intrigues you, but you can't decide if you can pull it off, remember to keep prints in proportion to your shape.
Larger frames look best in wider spaced, bigger blooms; petite frames can carry off allover, ditsy (tiny) prints.
3) Tank tops
Many women keep bare arms under wraps all season just because they think tank tops are too skimpy.
The latest trend of layering tank tops gets rid of the skimpies. Just pick two complementary colors and layer away. Lighweight cotton jersey is ideal for layering (skip the ribbed styles for this because even tiny ribbing adds bulk).
Some tanks can go braless because they have a built-in bra; many manufacturers make camis with built-ins as well.
Pass on the urge to let your bra straps hang out (tacky, even if it slips in and out of style) and turn to retailers like Land's End which always carries a tank with modest enough straps to sport a bra, too.
4) Lingerie-inspired Apparel
Summer style often brings out the underwear with slip-style dresses, bra-inspired tops and pajama-type drawstring bottoms.
But if lingerie-inspired fashion gives you flashbacks of Madonna in her pointy Gaultier bra, you can try this look in moderation.
Opt for pretty lace trims on tops and drawstring bottoms in soft linen or a bold print.
The idea here is to merely reference lingerie, rather than look like you're running around in your slip. Think lace trims, sultry satin pieces, even sculptured corset tops for the sexiest looks.
5) Bright Prints
Nothing says "Summer" better than brights. But you may think lime, yellow and fuchsia are better suited to plastic dishes for the patio, than for women's fashion.
The truth is that many brights can be hard to wear close to the face unless they really set off your coloring. The best way to find out if a color works for you is to simply hold it up to your face. If lime makes your skin look putrid, then switch over to the hotter end of the palette and give hot pink a try.
Trial and error is your best method for choosing brights that work for you.
The easiest way to slip into some color is to choose a mid-range bright -- say cotton candy pink -- and pair with a safe neutral like denim.
Another really great look to absorb some of the impact of strong color is to pair it with white; try a white fitted T-shirt with a hot pink hibiscus pink skirt, for example.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
