With today's economy, a lot has changed with the way we shop and how we think about what we shop for. I know that I personally was making more money 10 years ago and never thought twice about anything I ever wanted to buy but this is not the case anymore.
Smart Shopper Tip 1-I WILL KNOW WHAT I OWN (including my socks!) There's nothing as liberating as weeding out your closet and here's how to do it: Group everything you own by type-dress, sweaters, pants, shoes, etc. Get rid of all the too big, too small, too outdated. Next look at the things you ARE keeping and evaluate which items give you confidence, fit perfect, make you feel good and take into account which labels fit the best. The labels that fit your body best may not be your 'favorite label' but the visual outcome is what's important. Take a mental note on things you may have duplicates of in category, like 10 simple black tank tops...chances are you don't need another one. You can donate your clothes to Goodwill, have a garage sale or list items on freecycle.org, an online giveaway site. Don't forget to sort out your makeup too. Dump it all on a flat surface then ditch any you've had for too long or any you haven't worn in awhile and chances are you wont. You may also find that you have 47 shades of pink lipstick and none are the right shade....in this case, you may need to finally seek guidance from that beauty consultant.
Smart Shopper Tip 2-I'LL SPEND WITHIN MY MEANS (See ya, credit card debt!) Yes, you can shop again. You just have to know what your budge is before you start. When the economy tanked, many women, whatever their money situation, simply stopped shopping. We are talking screeching halt! But now is the moment to examine your shop-phobia and see whether it's justified. If you have disposable income, it's OK to buy things you want and need. The average woman should spend no more than 5% of her posttax income on fashion and beauty items and services. I have recently this year started steering away from trendy labels and have found a love for thrift stores. It's the thrill of the hunt. Endless racks and then you find this vintage dress from the 50's no one else will ever have, pair it up with a pair of heeled Mary Janes or funky boots and you are a one of a kind look that you don't have to worry about being duplicated at any event you're going to. Write yourself a list. At the top of the list is the always wear that are missing in your closet now that you've so brilliantly organized your closet and makeup zones. Things like sharp black pants, a trim pencil skirt, a perfect white shirt, an interview ready suit, versatile pumps, a quality brush, hair straightener that doesn't fry your hair, etc. Essential things that never go out of style. Next on your list are those that will more signature who you are. Things that you'll never regret buying, insanely sexy jeans, sophisticated work dresses, highlights from a guru, a fancy face cream that really works. Have a 'lust' fund where you save up for items like these. You can even load money weekly on a prepaid debit card that way when you find that pair of jeans that transforms your body you have your 'lust' fund money with you. Remember, the goal is no more credit card debt. Don't forget to treat yourself once in awhile to those non practical but fun items too like a vintage cuffs, sparkly mini, whatever your urge happens to be
Smart Shopper Tip 3-I WILL BUY WHAT'S WORTH IT TO ME. Every woman is different with what we feel is an essential and what is worth the extra money. Long Black dress and short black cocktail dress always rate high on the list. Some women have to dress super conservative for work so they may find a super expensive gorgeous pair of heels is at the top of their want list. It could also be something simple like a gorgeous black eyeliner that wear right and stays put or a perfect lipstick. Point being what may seem silly to me may be the perfect thing for you to spend your lust fund on. It's your fund....you'll figure it out.
Smart Shopper Tip 4-BEFORE I BUY I'LL ASK MYSELF THESE QUESTIONS. Does this truly fit my body, not just the body I wish I had? If it doesn't fit just perfect now, chances are it never will and it will be a waste of money. Am I itching to put it on now? You want to feel that excitement of dying to rip off the tags and wear it now. If you're just lukewarm about the item, another good chance it wont get worn. Would someone who sees me on the street think, She looks great? When you spot someone in a great outfit, you can't help but take a second look. It's good to get noticed, because it builds confidence. Will I want to wear this next month, next season, next year? As I age a bit I'm leaning more toward pieces that flatter and will continue to flatter in the future. Think of clothes like you would your 401K, a long term investment.
Smart Shopper Tip 5-I'LL RE-WEAR AND REUSE MY STUFF WITH PRIDE! Whether you pay a little or a lot, true value is in how often you use what you buy. If you spend a large amount on a spectacular item that gets worn over and over again over the years, the price per wear goes lower and lower.
Smart Shopper Tip 6-SURE I'LL GET THE TRENDS FOR LESS! Look for the instyle trends at great prices and you can feel good about your spending. Don't be afraid to look on sale racks. I mean really, does anyone know if it was last month or last year's item for that matter? It's not like the trends years ago of rolled up jeans, or black jelly bracelets, MC hammer pants, etc. Time sensitive trends really aren't the thing anymore since it's basically an anything goes world now so so if you pay half price for that Abercrombie tee that looks just like the rest of their tees....will anyone really know?
Smart Shopper Tip 7-I'LL NEVER HAVE BUYER'S REMORSE AGAIN! Yes, it is possible. Just figure out why you make bad buys so you can learn to shop smarter. Everybody has one or two or four or six shopping weaknesses, they're part of our human wiring. Emotional processes in the brain are faster than cognitive processes. Therefore, your mind gets the 'love that' message long before it gets the 'don't need that' message. Some of us are suckers for a 40% off sign. Shoppers spend nearly 80% more at outlets than at regular malls. There's an easy fix for this, ask yourself if you would pay full price for this item. If you would, then go for it! Another shopping goof is you overbuy online. Web shopping is a siren call. Seems you couldn't live without it but who hasn't opened a UPS box and buried their head in their hands and wondered what you were thinking. What's worse is the chore of returning something often means you keep stuff you don't really love. The biggest shopping goof for women is we spend when we're blue. Just like emotional eating, there's emotional shopping. Research reveals that when people are sad, they'll actually pay more to obtain something than they would in a neutral state. Easy fix...do not enter the store when you're in a depressed state. Go take your dog to the park instead! I'm serious! You will end up with something you think you love and you'll wear once. Now go start cleaning out your closet and start your list!
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label makeup. Show all posts
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
SNEAKY THINGS THAT MESS UP YOUR SKIN
You could be putting your skin through hell and not even know it. Congratulations! You lathered on sunscreen all summer but if you're about to pack away the SPF along with your flip-flops....don't! Fall's rays are just as likely as summer's to cause brown spots, wrinkles and skin cancer. Every morning apply a SPF 15 or above. Foundation with SPF isn't enough, especially since women typically spread on a super thin layer.
SKIN SPOILER 1-Going to Bed with Makeup On! A surprising number of women fall asleep without washing their face. Skipping it once a week is not a huge problem, coming home late from work and just collapsing into bed but doing it night after night can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. For those times when you're too tired to wash your face, keep a stash of cleansing wipes on your nightstand so you can swipe your face, throw away and go to sleep. Every other night you need to lather up nightly with a dime sized drop of cleanser and rinse it off with several good splashes of water. If you don't completely remove cleanser, it can clog pores. Residue may also prevent the active ingredients in creams from sinking in and doing their job.
SKIN SPOILER 2-Getting Squeaky Clean! Dermatologists say they're treating more and more women who use too many types of exfoliates-grainy scrubs, pees and home microdermabrasion kits-and reach for them too often. Scouring yourself too much you strip out natural oils, your skin produces extra to compensate. Exfoliating more than necessary can cause extended harm. You end up with re, flaky skin that's extra prone to sun damage and wrinkles. If your skin is normal, exfoliate just once a week. Oily or breakout-prone? Do it twice a week. If you're dry or sensitive, two times a month is plenty. No matter what, if a product burns or tingles, rinse it off.
SKIN SPOILER 3-Eating the Wrong Foods (or Eating too Little)! If you're starving yourself to fit into a new dress or regularly snacking on processed foods like chips and cookies instead of fruits and veggies, you're losing out on vitamins and nutrients. You don't have to be perfect all the time but for smooth clear skin you need a well rounded diet. Women are most lax about getting enough biotin and omega-3 in their diet, both of which are critical for healthy skin. I recommend whole grains, dairy foods and nuts. Also, get in lots of antioxidant rich produce including berries and spinach, they help your skin fight off damage. Plus....fill yourself up with the good stuff and you'll have less room for all that fatty salty sugary stuff no matter how much you like it.
SKIN SPOILER 4-Smoking Cigarettes! About 20% of women 18-24 smoke and it may be written all over their faces. A female smoker will have pronounced lines around her mouth and look much older than she is. Smoking decreases the flow of oxygen and increases the production of rogue molecules known as free radicals, both of which bring on sallowness and wrinkles...a.k.a. smoker's skin. Do yourself a favor....quit smoking! Getting happier in your own skin may help. Work out, eat healthier and talk through 'I'm going to gain weight if I quit smoking'. You wont gain weight if you don't want to. You will feel healthier and cherish your body more.
SKIN SPOILER 5-Skimping on Sleep! Between economy anxiety and increased workloads, women seem to be sleeping less. Beauty sleep is no myth. Our body sees a chronic lack of sleep as a state of emergency which causes it to produce stress hormones. They signal the body to divert oxygen and nutrients away from skin to major internal organs. When skin doesn't get that optimum fuel, it can break out and become dull with dark under eye circles and puffiness. There's no getting around it, aim for seven hours of sleep. For a morning boost, try Garner Nutritioniste Skin Renew Awakening Face Massager.
SKIN SPOILER 6-Gaining and Losing the Same 10 Pounds over and over! Weight gain and loss, especially when they're done quickly and repeatedly weaken the fibers of skin, making it proned to premature sagging, stretch marks and little lines. Even putting on and shedding as few as five pounds in rapidly can upset the body's hormone levels and trigger breakouts. If you're yo-yo dieted and your skin's got a sag, try a firming lotion. Most important, set a goal of losing no more than two pounds per week, a safe, skin friendly amount. Remember...slow and steady wins the race.
SKIN SPOILER 7-Mistaking Rosacea for Acne! It's easy to confuse rosacea's red patches, visible blood vessels and inflamed pimples with plain old acne. More women are being diagnosed with it now more than ever before. If you have any symptoms or if you have splotches that worsen after workouts, when you eat spicy food or drink alcohol or when you're under stress, see a dermatologist. Leave it to the professional.
SKIN SPOILER 8-Not Having Enough fun! Spend time with your friends, it's a proven stress buster. Studies show that stress weakens the barrier that protects skin from elements like pollution and the sun. When you break down the barrier, you put your skin at more risk for breakouts and wrinkles. Schedule yourself in some fun! It doesn't have to be with friends...i find a lot of fun taking my dogs to the dog park so I squeeze that in at least once a week and it's good for me and they're certainly not complaining. Sex is also a welcome prescription. During sex you release beta endorphins which have acne healing properties and also give skin a nice glow.
SKIN SPOILER 1-Going to Bed with Makeup On! A surprising number of women fall asleep without washing their face. Skipping it once a week is not a huge problem, coming home late from work and just collapsing into bed but doing it night after night can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. For those times when you're too tired to wash your face, keep a stash of cleansing wipes on your nightstand so you can swipe your face, throw away and go to sleep. Every other night you need to lather up nightly with a dime sized drop of cleanser and rinse it off with several good splashes of water. If you don't completely remove cleanser, it can clog pores. Residue may also prevent the active ingredients in creams from sinking in and doing their job.
SKIN SPOILER 2-Getting Squeaky Clean! Dermatologists say they're treating more and more women who use too many types of exfoliates-grainy scrubs, pees and home microdermabrasion kits-and reach for them too often. Scouring yourself too much you strip out natural oils, your skin produces extra to compensate. Exfoliating more than necessary can cause extended harm. You end up with re, flaky skin that's extra prone to sun damage and wrinkles. If your skin is normal, exfoliate just once a week. Oily or breakout-prone? Do it twice a week. If you're dry or sensitive, two times a month is plenty. No matter what, if a product burns or tingles, rinse it off.
SKIN SPOILER 3-Eating the Wrong Foods (or Eating too Little)! If you're starving yourself to fit into a new dress or regularly snacking on processed foods like chips and cookies instead of fruits and veggies, you're losing out on vitamins and nutrients. You don't have to be perfect all the time but for smooth clear skin you need a well rounded diet. Women are most lax about getting enough biotin and omega-3 in their diet, both of which are critical for healthy skin. I recommend whole grains, dairy foods and nuts. Also, get in lots of antioxidant rich produce including berries and spinach, they help your skin fight off damage. Plus....fill yourself up with the good stuff and you'll have less room for all that fatty salty sugary stuff no matter how much you like it.
SKIN SPOILER 4-Smoking Cigarettes! About 20% of women 18-24 smoke and it may be written all over their faces. A female smoker will have pronounced lines around her mouth and look much older than she is. Smoking decreases the flow of oxygen and increases the production of rogue molecules known as free radicals, both of which bring on sallowness and wrinkles...a.k.a. smoker's skin. Do yourself a favor....quit smoking! Getting happier in your own skin may help. Work out, eat healthier and talk through 'I'm going to gain weight if I quit smoking'. You wont gain weight if you don't want to. You will feel healthier and cherish your body more.
SKIN SPOILER 5-Skimping on Sleep! Between economy anxiety and increased workloads, women seem to be sleeping less. Beauty sleep is no myth. Our body sees a chronic lack of sleep as a state of emergency which causes it to produce stress hormones. They signal the body to divert oxygen and nutrients away from skin to major internal organs. When skin doesn't get that optimum fuel, it can break out and become dull with dark under eye circles and puffiness. There's no getting around it, aim for seven hours of sleep. For a morning boost, try Garner Nutritioniste Skin Renew Awakening Face Massager.
SKIN SPOILER 6-Gaining and Losing the Same 10 Pounds over and over! Weight gain and loss, especially when they're done quickly and repeatedly weaken the fibers of skin, making it proned to premature sagging, stretch marks and little lines. Even putting on and shedding as few as five pounds in rapidly can upset the body's hormone levels and trigger breakouts. If you're yo-yo dieted and your skin's got a sag, try a firming lotion. Most important, set a goal of losing no more than two pounds per week, a safe, skin friendly amount. Remember...slow and steady wins the race.
SKIN SPOILER 7-Mistaking Rosacea for Acne! It's easy to confuse rosacea's red patches, visible blood vessels and inflamed pimples with plain old acne. More women are being diagnosed with it now more than ever before. If you have any symptoms or if you have splotches that worsen after workouts, when you eat spicy food or drink alcohol or when you're under stress, see a dermatologist. Leave it to the professional.
SKIN SPOILER 8-Not Having Enough fun! Spend time with your friends, it's a proven stress buster. Studies show that stress weakens the barrier that protects skin from elements like pollution and the sun. When you break down the barrier, you put your skin at more risk for breakouts and wrinkles. Schedule yourself in some fun! It doesn't have to be with friends...i find a lot of fun taking my dogs to the dog park so I squeeze that in at least once a week and it's good for me and they're certainly not complaining. Sex is also a welcome prescription. During sex you release beta endorphins which have acne healing properties and also give skin a nice glow.
FIVE BAD THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN
1. Chocolate-Women in a German study who downed a cocoa-rich drink daily-the equivalent of 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate for 12 weeks experienced less dryness. Their skin also had better blood flow, which pinks your cheeks, and was more resistant to sun damage, thanks to all the antioxidants.
2. Fruit Juice-It gets a bad rap for the sugar, but the antioxidant-packed kind, like cranberry and pomegranate juice, do skin good. So have a small glass or a Pomatini!
3. Oil-rich cleansers-They can help oily skin. Cleansers that contain emulsifying oils such as Vitamin E or Castor oil break down and dissolve dirt and oil without overdrying it like harsh cleansers can.
4. Sweat-I think it's funny how some women try to not sweat or workout but now quite to the point of sweating because they think sweat will cause breakouts. Perspiration is great for skin, it opens up pores, releases dirt and generally encourages skin to function properly.
5. French Fries-OK so they're not good for your skin but contrary to popular belief...french fries and greasy food doesn't directly cause breakouts!
2. Fruit Juice-It gets a bad rap for the sugar, but the antioxidant-packed kind, like cranberry and pomegranate juice, do skin good. So have a small glass or a Pomatini!
3. Oil-rich cleansers-They can help oily skin. Cleansers that contain emulsifying oils such as Vitamin E or Castor oil break down and dissolve dirt and oil without overdrying it like harsh cleansers can.
4. Sweat-I think it's funny how some women try to not sweat or workout but now quite to the point of sweating because they think sweat will cause breakouts. Perspiration is great for skin, it opens up pores, releases dirt and generally encourages skin to function properly.
5. French Fries-OK so they're not good for your skin but contrary to popular belief...french fries and greasy food doesn't directly cause breakouts!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
THE AFTERDARK MAKEOVER
The new trend seems to be no trend. Anything goes. The days of having to have a certain look to go out is over. It's 7:00 PM are you don't know what you're doing with your hair and make up tonight? No problem! There's plenty of options.
Try supersizing your hair! The trick to big beautiful waves is spritzing on hairspray before you curl your hair. Then you wind one-inch sections around a curling iron. Brush out gently and spray again. Don't let frizz ruin your look! You can dab a little de-fuzzer on strays. A good inexpensive one is L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Perfect Curves Curl Cream for $5.00.
Next is to show some skin! Summer nights call for something magical but hey, if you're going to be inside somewhere...you can still show some skin. Even a bit of a bare shoulder or collar bone with some shimmer lotion is so incredibly sexy..hold the glitter please....I said shimmer. If you opt for a bit of pretty skin showing, sweep your hair into a touchable updo. Blow dry your hair and just pin it up with a few hair pins and spray lightly. If strands fall out of place it's perfect.
Do ONE bold thing. The key word is ONE. If you're wearing 5 inch stripper heels, play down your make up. If you're going for a subtle sexy look, bust out fuchsia blush or nails or really wing out your eyeliner. An awesome eyeliner for creating this look is Dior Kohl Pencil in black that's available at Sephora for $26. That may sound expensive but it stays put which is worth it all by itself. Luminescent foundation can be fun too but if you're playing with bright colors on your makeup they look best against a matte face.
An important tip is to smell unforgettable. You want your scent to stand out without being the female equivalent of the cologned up guy you can whiff across the dance floor. Dab just a bit on your wrists then mist a bit into the air and walk through so the scent clings to your hair...yes, just like they do in the movies. Scent lingers on hair longer than on your skin but you don't want to spray it right on your hair. You might not know...don't rub your wrists together too hard when applying perfume because that creates a lot of heat which can make it wear off faster.
Bronze your eyes! Apply a bronzy shadow from your lash line to brow bone fading as you go. Estee Lauder makes a gorgeous one called Estee Lauder Double Wear Shadow Stick in Bronze. Next smudge a gunmetal gray pencil on your upper lash line and add mascara. Please don't do shimmery lips with a bronze eye. It's not Halloween! Matte lips with shimmery eyes or vise versa.
Some beauty products that miraculously make you sexier instantly are :
1. Lippmann collection Nail Lacquier in It's Raining Men color $15 from lippmanncollection.com
2. Diorshow iconic Extreme Mascara in Extreme black $27 sephora.com
3. Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in Lilac $19 from shuuemurausa.com
4. YSL Everlong Mascara in waterproof in Ever Peacock Blue $29 yslbeautyus.com
5. Michael Marcus Nail Polish in Tart $15 michaelmarcus.com
6. Flora by Gucci eau de toilette $65 for 1.7 oz at neimanmarcus.com
7. Rouge G de Guerlain lipstick in Geisha $45 saks.com
8. Oribe Rock Hard Gel makes a gorgeous slick back look $33 at oribe.com
9. Dior Addict Ultragloss Reflect in Nylon Pink $26 at sephora.com is a gorgeous gloss
These are just a few products. Some people cant think about spending more than $10 a beauty product and believe me, I am not a rich person but I feel that a pamper or amazing beauty product is an investment. If it is a good product that looks amazing and makes you feel good when you wear it then it is worth every penny. You deserve it! You can even put a dollar away everyday and then when you find a product you want to splurge on you use your 'beauty fund'. Sephora is really good about having very qualified beauty professionals to give you an honest opinion on a product or show you how to use something properly. Have fun on your night out when your new sexy look!
Try supersizing your hair! The trick to big beautiful waves is spritzing on hairspray before you curl your hair. Then you wind one-inch sections around a curling iron. Brush out gently and spray again. Don't let frizz ruin your look! You can dab a little de-fuzzer on strays. A good inexpensive one is L'Oreal Paris Studio Line Perfect Curves Curl Cream for $5.00.
Next is to show some skin! Summer nights call for something magical but hey, if you're going to be inside somewhere...you can still show some skin. Even a bit of a bare shoulder or collar bone with some shimmer lotion is so incredibly sexy..hold the glitter please....I said shimmer. If you opt for a bit of pretty skin showing, sweep your hair into a touchable updo. Blow dry your hair and just pin it up with a few hair pins and spray lightly. If strands fall out of place it's perfect.
Do ONE bold thing. The key word is ONE. If you're wearing 5 inch stripper heels, play down your make up. If you're going for a subtle sexy look, bust out fuchsia blush or nails or really wing out your eyeliner. An awesome eyeliner for creating this look is Dior Kohl Pencil in black that's available at Sephora for $26. That may sound expensive but it stays put which is worth it all by itself. Luminescent foundation can be fun too but if you're playing with bright colors on your makeup they look best against a matte face.
An important tip is to smell unforgettable. You want your scent to stand out without being the female equivalent of the cologned up guy you can whiff across the dance floor. Dab just a bit on your wrists then mist a bit into the air and walk through so the scent clings to your hair...yes, just like they do in the movies. Scent lingers on hair longer than on your skin but you don't want to spray it right on your hair. You might not know...don't rub your wrists together too hard when applying perfume because that creates a lot of heat which can make it wear off faster.
Bronze your eyes! Apply a bronzy shadow from your lash line to brow bone fading as you go. Estee Lauder makes a gorgeous one called Estee Lauder Double Wear Shadow Stick in Bronze. Next smudge a gunmetal gray pencil on your upper lash line and add mascara. Please don't do shimmery lips with a bronze eye. It's not Halloween! Matte lips with shimmery eyes or vise versa.
Some beauty products that miraculously make you sexier instantly are :
1. Lippmann collection Nail Lacquier in It's Raining Men color $15 from lippmanncollection.com
2. Diorshow iconic Extreme Mascara in Extreme black $27 sephora.com
3. Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in Lilac $19 from shuuemurausa.com
4. YSL Everlong Mascara in waterproof in Ever Peacock Blue $29 yslbeautyus.com
5. Michael Marcus Nail Polish in Tart $15 michaelmarcus.com
6. Flora by Gucci eau de toilette $65 for 1.7 oz at neimanmarcus.com
7. Rouge G de Guerlain lipstick in Geisha $45 saks.com
8. Oribe Rock Hard Gel makes a gorgeous slick back look $33 at oribe.com
9. Dior Addict Ultragloss Reflect in Nylon Pink $26 at sephora.com is a gorgeous gloss
These are just a few products. Some people cant think about spending more than $10 a beauty product and believe me, I am not a rich person but I feel that a pamper or amazing beauty product is an investment. If it is a good product that looks amazing and makes you feel good when you wear it then it is worth every penny. You deserve it! You can even put a dollar away everyday and then when you find a product you want to splurge on you use your 'beauty fund'. Sephora is really good about having very qualified beauty professionals to give you an honest opinion on a product or show you how to use something properly. Have fun on your night out when your new sexy look!
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