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How To Get The Perfect Tan For Summer

2009-07-02T04:03:00.000-07:00

St Tropez offers 10 tips to ensure your tan stays gorgeous for as long as possible.

1. If you are a tanning junkie, make sure you exfoliate regularly to avoid build up as several layers of tan can result in an uneven result.

2. If you are waxing or shaving before tanning, make sure you do it more than 24 hours before your tan.

3. When you are tanning give yourself a good all-over polish and apply plenty of moisturiser the night before to get your skin as silky as possible. The most common cause of a patchy tan is dry skin, so it is crucial to moisturise problem areas (wrists and hands, elbows, knees, ankles, and feet) immediately prior to self tan application.

4. Keep palms tan-free — try using latex gloves or an applicator mitt when applying, then simply sweep the backs of the hands with self tan diluted with moisturiser. St Tropez tan remover — which you can use for up to four hours after tanning — removes any unwanted tan.

5. When you’re applying your tan, make sure you are covered all over. Don’t worry if you go over the same area twice — the tan will only be patchy if you miss a bit, not if you double up.

6. Make sure you don’t rub in your gradual or self tan. Gentle smoothing is all you need, then you can let the product do its work. Rubbing may make the finish uneven.

7. Try to avoid washing your hands for as long as possible in the development time, a minimum of two hours. Try a hand sanitiser or wipes instead.

8. Your tan won’t get deeper the longer you leave it — once it has been on for the required amount of time (check the pack) it will have given you the natural-looking golden colour you’re after. For a deeper tan you should reapply on successive days — two or three days in a row will give you a really deep, rich, bronze tan.

9. When you’ve applied your tan wear loose, dark clothing and avoid tight-fitting underwear. Anything that is pressing on skin may make the results a bit patchy.

10. The hands and face will fade quicker than the rest of the body so apply Rapide Face to the face and the backs of the hands to keep your tan looking fresher for longer. For a colour boost for the rest of the body, try using St Tropez tan intensifier every few days, but don’t forget to polish and moisturise, too, or your colour won’t fade evenly.

Body Care: How To Apply Fake Tan

How To Apply Makeup: Foundation

2009-06-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

The #1 Makeup Secret!

A beautiful makeover starts with the right foundation. Unless you are blessed with naturally flawless skin, you must wear a foundation that will allow you to create the illusion of having flawless skin. Your foundation must fit like a second skin.

A beautiful makeover is a work of art. Before an artist begins to apply color, he first "primes" his canvas with white paint which has all the coverage he needs to mask the imperfections in the material. By so doing, he created a flawless medium on which he can explore his creativity using all the colors in his makeup palette.

When doing a makeover, you or your makeup artist, can create the same starting point using foundation. Obviously you can't use white foundation. You must select one that perfectly matches your natural skin color. The ideal foundation must have full coverage but should not leave your skin looking pink, orange, ashy or two-toned.

The only color on the face should come from blush, eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss, mascara or eye liner. Makeup foundation should be used as a "primer" to create the canvas, not to add color!

It is an undisputed fact that the vast majority of women have yellow based skin. To create the effect of having naturally flawless skin you must wear a yellow-based foundation. If the foundation you select has a pink or orange tone, it will never be a perfect match. Be wary of brands that claim to be yellow based but are really orange.2

Sacha Cosmetics manufactures one of the very few lines of foundation that has a true yellow base. It is a line developed for beauty pageants so it contains all the hard-to-find foundation makeup shades. Regardless of your skin color, Sacha has a foundation shade just for you.

Sacha was the Official Cosmetics of the Miss Universe and Miss USA Pageants where there is every skin color under the sun. At these pageants, Sacha's yellow-based foundations, perfectly matched every complexion and never looked ashy even under the harshest lighting conditions.

If you have average looking skin, then by all means use a full coverage liquid or cream foundation. If you need to conceal skin blemishes such as marks, acne, tattoos, vitiligo or rosacea, then try Sacha's maximum coverage Kamaflage foundation. It will provide all the coverage you need without leaving you looking artificial or two-toned.

To identify the shade of Foundation or Kamaflage that will fit you like a second skin we recommend that you order a Sacha Foundation Tester Kit. Each Tester Kit contains six Foundation or Kamaflage shades. Follow the simple instructions printed on the Kit and you are sure to find the shade that is a perfect match.

Foundation is most important makeup product a woman can wear. The right makeup foundation should perfectly match your complexion without leaving your face pink, orange, ashy or two-toned look.

Since most women, regardless of skin color, have yellow-based skin, ideally your foundation should have a yellow base. It can make the difference between creating the look of having naturally, flawless skin or looking as if you are wearing a mask.

The foundation market today is saturated with many types and brands of foundations. At the cosmetics counter you are confronted with an array of choices - liquid, powder, cream, oil-free, allergy tested, cake, stick, stay-on, hypoallergenic, cream to powder, non-comedogenic and camouflage foundations. It is indeed quite a mind-blowing experience, especially if you are a first time buyer.

The following are your basic options:

LIQUID FOUNDATIONS
Liquid foundations usually offer sheer coverage and provide a natural look. Most women prefer a liquid foundation because it is easy to apply and, because it is sheer, looks most natural. They are available in water-based and oil-based formulas.

CREAM FOUNDATIONS
Cream foundations are traditionally the number one choice of makeup artists. They are usually available in compacts or sticks, and provide good coverage. Foundations of this consistency provide a creamy flawless finish and are easy to apply. However, because of the higher coverage, it is more critical to identify a shade closest to your natural skin color with a yellow base.

POWDER FOUNDATIONS
In today’s fast paced world, the modern woman is always in search of a “quick fix”. To her, time is precious, yet she needs to look great in seconds. Many brands offer their solution to this in the form of powder foundations. This is basically a powder and foundation in one. It provides the easy application of a powder with the excellent coverage of a foundation.

HOW DO I USE MY FOUNDATION?
The very first step in selecting your perfect foundation makeup is assessing your skin type, to determine the type of foundation that would work best for you.

Selecting the right shade of foundation for your skin tone is critical. Most women have yellow-based skin. To get a perfect match and to create the look of having naturally flawless skin, you need to wear a foundation with a yellow base.

Apply your foundation with a cosmetic sponge for more control and a smoother application.

Liquid foundation should be blended in a little at a time until the entire face is completed. Matte liquid foundations generally dry faster, so you may need to apply to one section of your face and blend, before moving on to another section. If you have naturally clear skin, liquid foundations may be your best option.

Cream foundation should be applied in long sweeping motions using your cosmetic sponge. Blend evenly until you create a smooth flawless finish. This type of foundation is best for drier skin types and for more mature skin. Ideal for women requiring heavier coverage.

Powder foundation should be applied as you would your normal compact powder. These foundations usually have very good coverage, but work best on lighter skin colors.

Camouflage foundations have been developed for women who need to conceal marks, acne, vitiligo, rosacea, etc. They provide maximum coverage and generally have excellent staying power. The one problem with such heavy coverage foundations is that they often do not blend well with most skin colors, resulting in an artificial, two-toned look.

Remember, proper blending is the key. Blend your foundation under the jawline, into the hairline, on the ear lobes. Pay special attention to the corners of the nose, corners of the mouth, over and under the eyes. If you need to retouch a particular spot, re-apply lightly and blend. Lightly powder with a yellow based translucent face powder to set your foundation.

source

Foundation: How To Apply Liquid Foundation

How To Get Smokey Eyes

2009-06-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

Smokey eyes have been a big style for quite awhile and there's no sign this particular trend is dying. Here we show you step-by-step instructions on how to get the perfect smokey eye.

The key to the perfect smokey eye is proper blending. You want to make sure colors are blended together flawlessly. Also, it's important to pair light base colors with rich dark colors. Nice mixes include: Soft gold base with deep purple on top, champagne base with bright blue and peach base with green hue.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 5 minutes
Here's How:

1. Prep the lid. The key to keeping eyeshadow from melting into your eyelid crease as the day goes on is to kept eyelids oil-free. To do this start with an eyeshadow base (also called "primer"). I prefer to dab at bit of MAC's 'paint' on lids before shadow application. Or try Fresh Freshface Perfecting Eye Primer.

2. Apply eyeliner. If you're going for a typical black, brown or gray smoky eye, apply liner in one of those colors above the upper lash line, drawing line thicker in the middle of eye. If your opting for a jewel-toned eye (violet makes a gorgeous smokey eye), line eyes with a purple, blue or deep green liner.

3. Blend in color on bottom lashes For color on the bottom (a key smokey eye look) you'll want a lighter eyeliner. The key is to "smudge it." You can also apply a bit of shadow to get full smudge effect.

4. Apply light base color Again, the key to a smokey eye is pairing a lighter base with the darker hue. I prefer a nice cream shade for my base. Sweep a light, shimmery shadow over the lids to your browbone. I love Stila's whipped eye shadows $20. The moist "mousse" consistency seems to stay on forever. My favorite colors are taupe and pearl.

5. Blend in darker color, but keep dark color below the crease. Now that you have the base and eyeliner on, it's time to get the smoky effect. You need a darker eyeshadow shade. Using an eyeshadow brush blend in color starting at your lash line, blending up. Make sure to blend color into the lash line so the eye liner disappears. Stop deep color at crease.

6. Doublecheck your work Make sure eyes match and blend color with a Q-tip if need be.

7. Finish with several coats of volumizing mascara. Tried and true mascaras (featured in "Elle" magazine) include DiorShow Mascara & L'Oreal Paris Volume Shocking Mascara. Elle's writer says they are the best volumizers she's tried.

Tips:

1. Remember to keep lips nude. When applying strong makeup (like smokey eyes or red lips) put the focus on either eyes or lips, never both. (Think Angelina Jolie: She either plays up her huge eyes or her huge lips, never both. If she did, she'd look like a clown).
2. For a bit of fun, try a blue or purple mascara. It will make blue eyes "pop."
3. Liner doesn't have to come in pencil form. Makeup experts know eyeshadows make some of the best eyeliners. To do this take an eyeliner brush (available at Sephora, MAC or any dept store), wet it, then dab wet brush into the dark shadow. This allows for a deep, precise line. You can also use the dark shadows without wetting brush first. Either way, eyeliner is necessary for smoky eye.
4. This season go jewel-toned (blue is great for you blue-eyed girls) and keep your eyes smoky but stay away from dark browns and black. Instead, go for a deep purple, a gold-brown or any of the many vibrant colors in this year.

What You Need:

* Eye primer (you don't need it, but it's great for keeping shadow in place)
* 2 Shadows: One light, one darker
* Eyeliner
* Makeup brushes
* Mascara

It's all about great lashes.

2009-06-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

1. Replace your mascara every 3 months-old mascara doesn’t go on smoothly, making your lahes dry, short and clumpy looking. If you are on a budget, try to find a great drustore brand. L’Oreal, Cover Girl and even good old fashioned Maybelline Great Lash will do the trick.
2. Get a hand mirror, and when you apply your mascara, hold the mirror down and look into it. This will allow you to see the root all the way to tips of your eyelahses, making it the best way to apply it to the whole entire lash. This gets the best length possible. Don’t look straight into a mirror because you can’t see your entire lash line, and then you just tend to put it on the ends. Maximize length=look down into a mirror, got it? This is my very best technique. Try it because it really works.
3. “Wiggle and Pull” through -- Do exactly this: wiggle the brush back and forth to make your lashes grab the most mascara possible, it’s great for volume and lenth. Do this at least 10 times per eye. Seriously. One or two swipes is not going to hack it.
4. Go Slow -- take the most time out of any of your makeup applying your mascara. Great lashes make the biggest differnece in your face, even if you have nothing else on but lipgloss. You will look awake and refreshed with mascara. It’s like American Express for me, I never leave home without it!

What’s with all the different types of mascara, aren’t they all the same?

When buying mascara you really need to know what kind of lashes you want to have. If you like them natural with just a touch of color, then try a lash tint. Do you want volume because your lashes are sparse or thin? Then you need a volume building mascara. Do you have a lot of lashes and just want extra definition and length? Get a lenghthing mascara. Then there is the kind of mascara that gives you everything. These lashes are for people that want drama! Length, fullness, and definition -- here are my recommendations for every budget:

Lash Tint - Neutrogena Clean Lash Tint ($7)

Volume - Maybelline Volum’ Express ($6) or Prescriptives False Lashes Mascara ($19)

Length - Cover Girl Lash Exact ($7) or Lancôme Definicils ($23)

Everything, Bring it on! - L’Oreal Lash Architect ($8) or Lancôme Fatale Mascara ($23) (Warning! The products listed in this category are not kidding around. They are for serious mascara connoisseurs only. Wear at your own risk…you might get some extra attention!)

Black or brown mascara?

In my humble opinion, you should go with black mascara, always black. I don’t understand brown mascara. It’s just unnecessary. The point of mascara is to make your eyes stand out. Black does the trick in the best possible way. Here’s a little quick trivia for you that might come up in a Trivial Pursuit game at some point. The first mascara was invented by Eugene Rimmel in the 19th century. The word “rimmel” still means mascara in French and Italian. Early mascara was made from coal dust mixed with petroleum jelly; probably not very good for your eyes. It came in a cake form that a chemist made for his sister Mabel…which eventually became the company Maybelline. Don’t you just love makeup history class? The modern form of it didn’t get introduced until 1957 by the great beauty pioneer Helena Rubinstein. I don’t think any of the early inventors of mascara would have come up with a brown version. So in honor of them, go with black.

I have a wedding coming up and it’s black tie. I want to look extra-special. How difficult is it to use false lashes?

There are two different styles of false lashes you can try, the ones that come in a strip and single, individual false lashes. The individual false lashes are great for adding just a touch of natural, subtle drama to your lashes. They look very pretty on the outer edge of the upper eyelid. Plus you can fill in spots where you might have spaces between your own lashes. And it's much easier to attach just a few singles instead of a whole strip of lashes. Just dab a little eyelash glue on the tip of the single false lash and hold it on your lash line while it adheres. Do not put the glue directly on your lash line. The single false lash pieces are a fun alternative to add pizzazz to your look! Get ready to bat those eyes! source

Mask for lashes

mix sea-buck thorn and almond butter. Apply mask on tightly closed eyes to the eyelashes. Apply for 10 minutes, then remove with a cotton pad.
Cut 0,5 tablespoon of aloe leaf , boil it 10 minutes in 0.1 liter of water. After cooling to filter. Every evening, gently lubricate eyelash brush of mascara.

Mascara & Eyelashes: How To Curl Your Eyelashes

Mascara & Eyelashes: How To Use And Apply Fake Eyelashes

Dress code for Interview

2009-06-17T03:25:00.000-07:00

When Job-Hunting: Dress for Success

It's probably one of the most overused phrases in job-hunting, but also one of the most underutilized by job-seekers: dress for success. In job-hunting, first impressions are critical. Remember, you are marketing a product -- yourself -- to a potential employer, and the first thing the employer sees when greeting you is your attire; thus, you must make every effort to have the proper dress for the type of job you are seeking. Will dressing properly get you the job? Of course not, but it will give you a competitive edge and a positive first impression.

Should you be judged by what you wear? Perhaps not, but the reality is, of course, that you are judged. Throughout the entire job-seeking process employers use short-cuts -- heuristics or rules of thumb -- to save time. With cover letters
, it's the opening paragraph and a quick scan of your qualifications. With resumes, it is a quick scan of your accomplishments. With the job interview, it's how you're dressed that sets the tone of the interview.

How should you dress? Dressing conservatively is always the safest route, but you should also try and do a little investigating of your prospective employer so that what you wear to the interview makes you look as though you fit in with the organization. If you overdress (which is rare but can happen) or underdress (the more likely scenario), the potential employer may feel that you don't care enough about the job.

How do you find out what is the proper dress for a given job/company/industry? You can call the Human Resources
office where you are interviewing and simply ask. Or, you could visit the company's office to retrieve an application or other company information and observe the attire current employees are wearing -- though make sure you are not there on a "casual day" and misinterpret the dress code.

Finally, do you need to run out and spend a lot of money on clothes for interviewing? No, but you should make sure you have at least two professional sets of attire. You'll need more than that, but depending on your current financial condition, two is enough to get started and you can buy more once you have the job or have more financial resources.

Hints for Dress for Success for Men and Women
Attention to details is crucial, so here are some tips for both men and women. Make sure you have:

* clean and polished conservative dress shoes
* well-groomed hairstyle
* cleaned and trimmed fingernails
* minimal cologne or perfume
* no visible body piercing beyond conservative ear piercings for women
* well-brushed teeth and fresh breath
* no gum, candy, or other objects in your mouth
* minimal jewelry
* no body odor

Finally, check your attire in the rest room just before your interview for a final check of your appearance -- to make sure your tie is straight, your hair is combed, etc.

Tips on Using a Hair Iron

2009-06-17T03:16:00.000-07:00

The hair iron is coming more and more popular. It is used by women of all ages and for various purposes. We have gathered a few tips and guideline by women who use or used hair iron or other products to straighten their hair.

We strongly advise to read it before you start using hair iron or other hair straightening tool.

1. Use the hair iron only after you have cleaned your hair. Actually, it can be dangerous to use it before you clean your hair because dirt or grease left in the hair will be cooked by the heat of the hair iron and the damage made is inevitable.

2. Do not iron your hair with a clothes iron. If you will use it without taking the necessary safety measures, your hair will singe. The singed hair can not be cut out or covered up. Use a hair iron produced for this purpose instead.

3. A short straightening method using a hair flat iron: First dry your hair for about 15 minutes using a dryer, then continue drying your hair and at the same time comb it with your fingers. Comb it carefully so that you will get the curl out. Then, for a short time (no more than five minutes) use the hair iron at the ends of your hair. This is a proven and safe way to straighten and keep your hair shiny.

4. Following blowing dry your hair with heat, we advise you to switch to cold hair (Most products have this option). It makes your hair shiny and it is healthier for your hair.

5. Always use a brush while blowing dry your hair. It makes your hair straight and saves time.

6. Blow hair dry at night for a great and straight look in the next morning.

7. Try putting some gel after dividing your hair into three sections while blow drying your hair with a comb for straightening your hair.

911 Corp. executed an independent research to find the best hair irons. The results were clear. Sedu hair iron is the most efficient hair iron.

Flat Iron Buying Guide

2009-06-17T03:12:00.000-07:00

Ceramic, Ionic, Tourmaline and Infrared? Are you confused which to buy?

Ceramic or tourmaline is the coating material for the hot plates. Both materials produce negative ions when heated.

What are the benefits of ions? Your hair carries positive electrical charges caused by dry friction and natural movement of the hair, it tends to spread out and become difficult to style. The positive electrical charges also cause hair cuticles to open , resulting in dull, unhealthy hair. The negative ions cancel positive electrical charges, thus smoothing, relaxing and repairing your hair.

Infrared - There is really nothing special about it. All heated objects (including all flat irons) produce far infrared ray. You can safely ignore this claim.

2. Which is better, should I choose ceramic or tourmaline flat iron?

Either will do. Both generate negative ions. We haven't seen any differences.

3. What size should I choose for my hair?

It depends on your hair texture and hair length. Use the following table as a reference

Texture	Hair Length	Recommended Plate Size
Very coarse, thick, curly	Long (below shoulder)	1.5 to 3 inch
Very coarse, thick, curly	Medium	1.5 to 2 inch
Very coarse, thick, curly	Short	1.25 inch
Normal	Long	1.25 to 2 inch
Normal	Medium	1 to 1.5 inch
Normal	Short	1 or 1.25 inch
Fine, thin hair	Any length	1 to 1.5 inch

If you have natural straight hair and you just want to smooth or de-frizz, choose small ones (1 to 1.5 inch). Small sizes are also recommended for hair that's already chemically straightened (by Japanese hair straightening, for example)

Small sizes are lighter, easier to use and more versatile while bigger ones work faster and save time with long coarse hair, but they are not as user-friendly and generally on the heavy side.

Most popular sizes are 1-1/4" and 1-1/2 inch.

4. What temperature should I use for my hair?

Different hair texture requires different temperature. At Folica Product Testing Lab, we did a thorough test with various hair texture. Our findings are tabulated as follows:

Texture	Recommended Temperature
Normal Hair	360-380 ^oF (180^oC - 190^oC Celsius)
Very coarse, thick, curly or ethnic hair	380-410 ^oF (190^oC - 210^oC Celsius)
Bleached, fragile, damaged or fine hair	Below 360^oF (180^oC Celsius)

It is very important to buy a flat iron with adjustable temperature.

5. How can I reduce the hair damage from flat iron?

First of all, it is extremely important that you set the right temperature for your hair (see 4). Try a few settings starting from low to high until you find a setting that straighten your hair fast and well enough while not burning your hair.

Use flat iron heat protection spray before each styling section.

6. Why should I invest in a Professional flat iron vs. a drugstore brand? Is it really worthy it?

Consumer flat irons (available from drugstores or Wal-Mart) are generally made with cheap materials and poorly designed.

Plate: Many consumer flat irons claim "ceramic" or "tourmaline". The truth is most of them are made with aluminum plates coated with regular paint. Coating usually comes off plates after a few uses and hair gets caught/broken between the plates. Some consumers complained that their hair becomes thinner and thinner after using cheap flat irons for extended period of time.

Heating element: Maintaining constant temperature throughout the entire styling session is vital to the performance of a flat iron. Because consumer grade flat irons use cheap PTC heater that can not sustain a constant temperature, that's reason why you have to go thru your hair many times to get it straight, thus causing more hair damage.

Performance: with consumer flat iron, curly hair reverts back quickly, your hair smell burning and is severely damaged after using it a while.

At fifty to one hundred dollars per salon visit, a good professional iron will pay for itself over and over again in the following years.

7. What can I do to make my iron last longer?

Unplug it right after use.

Do not wrap power cords around the iron.

Clean the plate with a styling iron cleaner after each styling session.

Unplug it right after use (worth repeating).

Pamper yourself with a home made hair mask!

2009-06-17T03:09:00.000-07:00

Hair masks are great for improving condition but some of them can be quite expensive. Why not try making your own? The biggest advantage is that your mask won't have any chemicals so it will really help your hair. You may already have most of the ingredients in your home so you can always whip one up for an emergency conditioning session! And it's fun! Give it a try – but be warned, it's addictive!

Here are some lovely hair mask recipes - have fun!

Rescue Masks for dry, damaged hair

You can also use these if your hair isn't in bad condition but just needs a boost. Leave them in for the minimum time.

Coconut cream mask

Soften a large chunk of coconut cream in your hands and massage into hair. Wrap your head in a warm towel and leave it on for an hour. Wash out with a gentle shampoo.

Egg mask

Beat two full eggs with 2 tablespoons of water. Apply to clean, damp hair, massaging in well. Leave for 10 – 15 minutes and then wash out with mild shampoo.

Banana smoothie for hair – not for drinking!

Mix 1 mashed banana, 1 full egg, 3 tablespoons of honey, 3 tablespoons of milk and 5 tablespoons of olive oil. Make sure it's well combined and then apply to hair. Leave for 15 – 30 minutes and wash out with a gentle shampoo.

Yogurt hair mask

Separate an egg and beat the white until it's foamy. Mix with 6 tablespoons of natural yogurt. Massage into the hair and leave for 15 – 30 minutes. Wash out with a very mild shampoo.

Avocado hair mask

Mash the flesh of one ripe avocado. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix until creamy and then apply to your hair. Leave for 20 minutes and then wash out with a gentle shampoo.

Olive oil hair mask

Whisk up 5 tablespoons of olive oil – it doesn't matter which sort – with 2 full eggs. Massage thoroughly into your hair and then cover it with plastic wrap or a shower hat. Your body heat will help the oil to penetrate. Leave for a minimum of 30 minutes and then shampoo out, rinsing well.

Honey and Olive oil mask

Mix 3 tablespoons of olive oil with 2 tablespoons of honey. Apply to your hair and wrap your head in plastic film or put on a shower hat. Leave for at least 30 minutes and then shampoo as usual, rinsing well.

Banana and almond mask for dry, damaged hair

Mash a ripe banana and add a few drops of almond oil. Mix well and massage into your hair. Leave for 15 – 30 minutes. Wash out with gentle shampoo.

Milk and honey mask

Mix a tablespoon of honey in half a cup of full fat milk. Apply to your hair and leave for 15 minutes. Wash out with a mild shampoo.

Masks to help get rid of dandruff

Fenugreek mask

Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds overnight in just enough water to cover them. In the morning, grind the seeds in the water to make a paste. Apply to your hair and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash it out using a mild shampoo.

Thyme hair rinse

Put 7 heaped tablespoons of dried thyme into 2 cups of water and boil the mixture for 10 minutes. Your kitchen will smell heavenly! Strain the mixture and leave it to cool. Lean over a bowl and pour half of the solution onto clean, damp hair. Keep scooping it out of the bowl and re-applying until all your hair is well soaked. Don't rinse or wash out. Keep the other half of the solution for another treatment!

Hair rinses

Rinse for blondes

Add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice to a pint of water and use as a rinse after shampooing.

Rinse for brunettes and redheads

Add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a pint of water and use as a rinse after shampooing.

Orange musk rinse for shiny hair

Mix the juice of a fresh orange with 1 tablespoon of honey and 5 – 7 drops of sandalwood oil. Dilute with enough water to make a rinse – about a pint – and mix thoroughly. Use after shampoo and then rinse out.

Honey shine rinse

Mix 1 teaspoon of honey into 4 cups of warm water. Make sure it's well dissolved. Use as a rinse after shampooing and don't wash out. Dry as normal for a great shine!

Be prepared!

These are quick, easy and fun to make – and they're great for your hair! Once you've found a few favorites, keep the ingredients in your store cupboard so you can indulge in one up whenever you want!

Source

Top 10 Beauty Myths

2009-06-17T03:04:00.000-07:00

There is so much information out there on pretty much anything, but you also can’t believe everything you hear or read. Especially when it comes to beauty, there are a lot of weird do’s and dont’s out there that aren’t always necessarily true. So I’ve uncovered the top 10 beauty myths out there which should help you get a better idea of what’s true and what isn’t.

MYTH #1: RUBBING LEMON ON YOUR TEETH WILL GIVE YOU PEARLY WHITES

This actually does work, but it comes with a price. While lemons do help you get lighter locks, they don’t really work on your teeth since the citric acid in lemons wears away enamel. Save the lemons for the lemonade and instead brush your teeth with water and baking soda a couple times a week to get those pearly whites at home.

MYTH #2: FAKE NAILS WILL DESTROY YOUR REAL NAILS

Not true. It is not the artificial nail or the glue that ultimately causes nail damage, but improper removal—such as picking or prying off. So if you just take care of your nails and remove them properly, there will be absolutely no damage to your nails.

MYTH #3: LASER HAIR REMOVAL DOES NOT WORK FOR LIGHT HAIR

Who came up with that? Either way, it’s not true. Although laser hair removal does work better for darker hair, lighter does works just as fine. With lighter hair, you’ll see about 70-80% removal of the hair. So just go one extra time and you’ll be fine!

MYTH #4: YOU NEED FREQUENT HAIRCUTS IF YOU WANT YOUR HAIR TO GROW LONGER

Wrong again. Your hair will grow at the same speed with or without a haircut. But regular haircuts will help improve the overall health of your hair as well as getting rid of those pesky split ends.

MYTH #5: PETITE GIRLS CAN’T PULL OF LINGERIE

Another stupid myth made up by guys who like big-chested girls. There are so many different types of lingerie out there made for every body, including petite. So next time you wanna surprise your man but you think you won’t be able to pull it off, just go out and find a nice up-lifting water bra and it’ll do the job!

MYTH #6: BREAKOUTS ARE CAUSED BY OILY SKIN

Although breakouts are associated with oily skin, that is not always the cause. In most cases, breakouts happen because the skin is so sensitive that you might be using the wrong products, therefore causing more pimples. So if you have oily skin and you’ve tried everything, try sensitive formulas and you’ll start seeing some change.

MYTH #7: ORGANIC PRODUCTS ARE WEAK

Whoever made that up is seriously disturbed because organic beauty products are the best you can get! They’re skin friendly so they won’t clog your pores and they protect your skin from all the harmful pollutants out there. Plus, you don’t get all the chemicals so organic beauty products is really the way to go.

MYTH #8: YOU CAN’T PULL OFF ALL COLORS

If there is one thing I always hear from my girlfriends is that ‘I can’t wear THAT color!’, which is absolutely ridiculous. The one thing you have to pay special attention to is the shades of the color as well as the undertones. So while a hot, fiery red might not suit your complexion, a toned-down version might do you wonders!

MYTH #9: CHLORINE TURNS YOUR HAIR GREEN

So not true. Copper, not chlorine, will turn your hair green. If a pool is not properly maintained and cleaned regulary, it can have copper residue which in turn could turn your hair a greenish color. Now this is mostly for blondes since their pigment is so light, but all you have to do is switch to a low pH shampoo which will help combat against greening.

MYTH #10: CROSSING YOUR LEGS WILL GIVE YOU SPIDER VEINS

Very untrue. Most people that hair spider veins or vericosse veins have them because either their mother or grandmother had them. It’s all in the genes!

Get The Perfect Eyebrows

2009-06-17T03:02:00.000-07:00

Eyebrows can make you or break you, it’s as simple as that ladies. Sometimes they look amazing for no apparent reasons, while other times they resemble the impact of a car crash: it’s terrible you know, but you just can’t stop looking! So whether the problem is over-tweezing, not tweezing enough, or just tweezing the wrong way, your eyebrows will come out with a weird comma or those nasty sperm shapes and will completely ruin your look! Eyebrows make a huge difference for your face and you can go from blah to dazzling in just a few minutes with the right tips for getting those perfect eyebrows.

If You Have Uneven, Patchy Eyebrows…

Your problem lies in the way you tweeze, obviously. Patchy brows are just uneven and need a more consistent shape. So how do you get it? You need to bring a little definition to your brows. So go get a magnifying mirror and analyze your brows. See where they need a little more definition. If the base of your brows are bushy, start plucking in order to thin out that base to reveal a sexy, curved arch. Clean up the edges, and make sure to remove all strays that are a half-inch beyond the outer corner of the eyes. Cover up any gaps by applying a tiny bit of brown eyeshadow or powder. And now, you have beautiful, perfectly shaped and defined brows!

If Your Brows Are Overplucked

If you’re one of those that just can’t get enough plucking, it is time to stop, seriously. You’ll end up with nothing woman! Your eyebrows probably look skinny and unbalanced. Fix this problem by using a good brow pencil and filling in any gaps that you might see. Remember to even out both of them, in order to create the illusion of symmetry. Stroke a little bit of brow powder to minimize any bald spots. If you just can’t wait for new hair to grow in, you can also try a growth-enhancing gel. Fuller brows will complement your face as well as slim it down, trust me.

If Your Brows Are Overgrown…

If you’re one of those that doesn’t even own a pair of tweezers, then we need to talk! Bushy brows can take over your face! So start by trimming above and below the brow bone in order to get rid of that extra hair that’s been sitting there. Then pluck below the arch to define the shape. Keep the hair in place by using a little bit of clear mascara, it really works! Now that your overgrown eyebrows are nice and trimmed, your cheekbones will stand out a lot more!

If Your Brows Slope Down…

Eyebrows that slope downward are usually untouched and allll natural. Well you need to do something about that and fast! Start by combing your brows downward and trimming any hairs that fell below the arch. This is basically the biggest problem, and you’ve just eliminated it! Enhance the brows’ definition by tweezing underneath the highest points of the arches, which added much lift. Continue by applying a highlighter under the brow bone to brithten up her eye area.

If Your Brows Are Sparse…

People with sparse eyebrows usually have slight, straight-across eyebrows. Well, that’s pretty boring and it just doesn’t do justice for your face! Start by finding your perfect arch by lining up a pencil with the outer edge of your iris and marking that spot. You must do this for each brow as they are not identical. Finish off by brushing on some pomade. You can now rest easy and enjoy your newly sculpted brows.

If Your Brows Are Hooked…

Hooked eyebrows are arches that hook too close to the inner corner of the eyes. Quickly fix this problem by tweezing a straight line from the base of your brows up to the arches. This is they key top opening up your face. Use a kohl pencil to smooth out the overall shape of your brows.

Best Beauty Tips

2009-06-17T02:58:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs a few useful beauty tips once in a while and that’s why I’ve compiled a list with some of the best beauty tips available out there. Read them and memorize them, they’ll come in handy!

When applying bronzer, don’t just dab on your cheeks and forehead. The trick to a flawless and natural look is to outline your face with the bronzer , and then applying it to your cheeks, nose and forehead. If you don’t do that, you’ll end up looking like you actually have a mask on!

Get slimmer thighs by playing a visual trick. Apply self-tanner to your thighs and let it dry. Apply a second coat to your inner and outer thighs (just leave out the front). This will make your thighs look slimmer, I guarantee it! I’ve tried and it works wonders!

Wetting your eyeshadow brush will make the color more sparkly and mysterious. Dab your eyeshadow brush in a little bit of water, run it thorough the eyeshadow and apply to your lids. The wet shadow look is much sexier, and it’s an easy way to transition day makeup to night makeup.

When teasing your hair, make sure your strands are completely straight. It is best to straighten your hair before doing this as to avoid tangling and hair dammage.

Leaving conditioner in your hair while you sleep is a good idea. It is deep conditioning at its best and your mane will look fabulous the next day!

Do not use bleach on your teeth every day. Using bleach every single day will strip your teeth of its enamel therefore making them more sensitive, thinner, and with time, transparent! Instead, limit your obsession to 1-2 times a week. It’s more than enough!

During the summer months, there is no worse enemy than heat and humidity. You know those hot, sticky days where everything melts and your hair looks like it’s been soaked in water even though you just left the house looking all fresh and perfect? Well I do, and I say there has to be a solution for that! Read on to find out how you can prevent sticky hair and melting makeup.

PREVENT STICKY HAIR IN THE SUMMER

Your hair goes limp in the hot summer months, so avoid this by including a little something extra in your hair routine. Use an aerosol spray on your roots before heading out the door. This will ensure your hair holds up and give it a little volume. You can also use hair powder so you soak up any excess moisture. Another trick you can use is to dab your neck with toner so you eliminate the oil and moisture that builds up around the area. For frizzy hair, make sure you always use a hair serum or any anti-frizz product; they DO work!

MELTING MAKEUP

We all this problem: you put your makeup on in the morning, but by the afternoon, it’s all gone. It’s like a magic trick! Have an oil blotter at your fingertips to absorb the sweat, without ruining your makeup. Use makeup primer instead of lotion on your face, as this will absorb any oil and make sure to add a little extra on trouble spots such as your nose, chin and forehead. Always apply a powder after you put on your foundation. This will ensure that your makeup stays on a little longer all the while sucking up the excess oil. And of course the number one rule is to go easy on the products; keep it light and simple and you should have no problems!

There are thousands of crazy beauty tips out there that claim to work on whatever problem you have. Problem is, they don’t always work successfully and you just end up wasting your time and money. Here, I’ve compiled a list of crazy beauty tips that actually work. How do I know they work? Well, I’ve tried them!

Powder Your Roots

If your hairline starts to look greasy, dig up a big, fluffy makeup brush, and dip it into a pot of loose powder. Tap it once on the back of your hand to remove excess, then dust it over your roots. It mops up oil and blends into your strands, so no one will know you didn’t shower!

Spot-Treat Smudges

Dip a cotton swab into eye-makeup remover, and trace it along your lids to erase any slipups or goofs when there’s no time to redo your whole look!

Fix a Flushed Face

If you turn red and stay that way after exercising, take an antihistamine like Benadryl when you leave the gym to reduce redness. Works like a charm!

Use Makeup Remover on Stubborn Lipstick

Don’t try to rub off red lipstick (which makes it smear across your mouth-not hot!). Instead, take a cotton ball or tissue, dip it in makeup remover, and just dab to erase the dark stain fast!

Tame Your Eyebrows with Eye Cream

Pat any kind of rich eye cream over brows to help keep them hydrated and banish those icky white specks that look like dandruff.

Brush on Hair Spray

For the final step of your blow-dry, spray hair spray onto your brush, and run it through your strands from roots to tips. This way, your do isn’t so plastered and stiff but still holds volume and shine!

Cure a Cold Sore With Cream

When a cold sore is coming on, dab a bit of thick moisturizer, like Aquaphor, over it to prevent it from getting worse.

Use Toothpaste on a Zit

Use just a pea-size amount. Let it sit for about 15 minutes to absorb the oil so the pimple won’t get more clogged, then wash it off!

Use Soap Without Water

You know those fancy bars that are actually too pretty to use? Toss them in your underwear or tee-shirt drawers to make your skin smell extra delicious!

Press a Tea Bag on Splotches

If your skin is sensitive or just looking irritated and puffy for whatever reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down, and bad it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.

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Maximize Your Lashes

2009-06-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

These days, there are tons of mascaras that promise you super long lashes, separation and thickness. Unfortunately, these products don’t work for most of the time. That’s why you need to adopt a good technique to get the most out of your lashes and maximize them to the fullest. So here is how to get the most out of your lashes:

Step 1: Use an eyelash curler to curl the base of your lashes first. Hold for 15 seconds. If you find that your lashes don’t curl as easily, heat your eyelashes curler with a blowdrier for a few seconds and try again.

Step 2: After you’ve curled the base, use your lash curler at the halfway point of your lashes. Hold for another 15 seconds.

Step 3: The final step involves curling your lashes at the tips to get the maximum lash curl. Hold for 15 seconds yet again and release.

Swipe on a lenghening mascara such as Lise Watier 24hrs Glam Mascara or Maybelline Stiletto.

3 Steps to Looking Gorgeous

2009-06-17T02:52:00.000-07:00

Most of us don’t have time in the morning to do full-on makeup, hair and everything else. All of these things take time and no one wants to wake up an hour early to do their makeup. So here is a super-quick way to getting ready from makeup to hair in just a few minutes.

Step 1: Face Fix

Instead of spending so much time putting on foundation and blending just use a concealer to even out your skin tone and reduce redness. Dot it all over the problem areas tapping it lightly so it melts onto your skin. Finish off with a mineral powder all over your face so your concealer stays on longer and your face looks fresh and matte.

Step 2: Enhance Your Eyebrows

You may not think a lot about grooming your brows, but it makes a huge difference. To get a nice arch, hold a pencil diagonally over your brows positioning the tip of the eraser at the base of the brows. Tweeze any hairs that fall above and below the pencil. Flip it once you reach midway, and repeat on the other side.

Step 3: Get a Beautiful Rosy Glow

There is nothing more beautiful than a rosy, youthful glow to your face so take a pink lipstick and warm it up with your blowdrier for 5 seconds. Swipe it over your lips and proceed by adding a little bit to the apples of your cheeks. Use the cream lipstick as an eyeshadow and blend it lightly with your fingertips. Finish off with mascara.

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Top 13 Fashion Mistakes

2009-06-17T02:15:00.000-07:00

When it comes to fashion and trends, we all want the same thing: to look great! Unfortunately, there are some fashion errors that we might not be aware of, but that we might practice. These fashion faux pas are visible, and can completely ruin a perfectly good outfit. Here I’ve listed the top 13 fashion mistakes that women often make.

1. Wearing oversized clothing.

Now there is the wrong oversized clothing and the right over-sized clothing. The right over-sized clothing is some of this spring’s top trends such as the bubble skirt, which looks fabulous paired with a tighter fitting top and a high waist belt. Wrong over-sized clothing is just plain wrong: huge knee-reaching t-shirts, baggy pants, you get the point. Make sure you buy clothes that fit you properly.

2. Wearing red and green at the same time.

Honestly, you will look like a Christmas tree. Red and green are two of the colors that you absolutely must avoid wearing together. These colors completely clash, so just stay clear. Also, it’s best to stay away from green and red makeup. If you decide to go for a green eyeshadow, don’t put on a bright red lipstick. Instead, opt for a clear gloss or a nude color.

3. Dirty shoes.

It would be bad enough if you had shoes that were out of style, or didn’t match with your outfit, but if you have dirty shoes, you’re making a big fashion faux pas. Make sure to keep your shoes in style, according to your outfit, and most importantly, clean!

4. Short skirt and short top.

If you’re going to wear a miniskirt, don’t wear a short top with it! It is one of the worst fashion mistakes you could make because you’ll end up looking trashy. Instead, wear a miniskirt and pair it with a tee that reaches your hip bones. Play it up with a wide belt. If you’re into short tops, just wear jeans and steer away from short skirts.

5. Bulky shoes with feminine dress.

Whenever I see this, I always have to ask myself: “what was she thinking?” A floral, feminine dress should never be paired with bulky shoes such as thick platforms. This kind of dress deserves a pair of soft, delicate shoes. Anything with a small heel, and even wedges and espadrilles.

6. Too much jewelry.

A pair of embellished earrings; a funky necklace; some bangles; a few rings; maybe a brooch. That is way too much jewelry for you, and for your outfit. So if you don’t want to look like an ornament, keep it simple! A thin, fine necklace and a pair of earrings is enough. Or if you decide for a pair of big, adorned earrings, keep it simple by wearing a few rings or a bracelet or two with that, but stay away from the necklace.Just know your limits.

7. Wearing fashion that doesn’t suit you.

If miniskirts are in, and you don’t have the greatest legs, that’s fine! You don’t have to abide by each and every single fashion trend that comes out. If something that suit your body type, it’s better to stay away from it. After all, most of us aren’t models and a lot of the fashion trends that spring up don’t suit everybody, so be careful what you choose.

8. More than one pattern.

If you have flowers on your shirt, don’t wear plaid pants, or the other way around. Try to stick with one pattern in your outfit. A pair of plaid pants with a solid colored top, or a floral shirt with a pair of jeans. Don’t crowd your outfit with patterns. Keep it sweet and simple.

9. Tights are not for everyone.

As I’ve mentioned before, not all fashion trends work for everyone. Some people should stay away from certain trends. Trends like tights for example. You know they stick to your skin and show off your legs, so if you don’t have shapely legs, don’t wear them please. I know they’re in, but if they make you look bad,avoid them I see so many women wearing tights with over-sized shirts,it absolutely amazes me. But try to avoid this very common mistake for your own good.

10. Panty lines.

Need I say more? If you’re going to wear thin, clingy, or even white pants, be aware of it and don’t walk out with embarrassing panty lines, but opt for a thong.

11. An orange tan.

Let’s face it: you know that it’s orange, you just don’t want to admit it. Stay away from cheap self-tanners because they will bring you nothing but trouble. Instead, shell out some money for a better product such as Estee Lauder sunless and make sure you always exfoliate before applying self-tanner.

12. Sneakers with everything.

Sure, we all want to be comfortable in our shoes, but it’s not vise to always wear sneakers with everything from skirts, to jeans, to capris. A lot of people like to wear sneakers with a jean skirt, and that’s completely fine, as long as you don’t do it all the time. It’s a comfy, sporty look, but you can make it classy and sexy. Instead, wear a pair of wedges or high heels. Don’t always pair your jeans with sneakers: it’s boring, and it’s tasteless. Spice up your outfit with a pair of hot stilettos.

13. Don’t indulge

That means don’t over do sparkles, sequins, or any festive looking articles of clothing. While it’s fun to play with different colors, fabrics, and styles, keep it simple is very important. Wearing too much of a good thing can turn into a fashion disaster. If you’re going to wear a top that has sequins on it, keep it simple everywhere else and don’t embellish your outfit even more.

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2009-06-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Women's Clothing Size Conversions

2009-06-16T01:42:00.000-07:00

Women's Dresses and Suits (Misses Sizes)
European 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
UK 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Japan 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
USA 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
USA LETTER XS S S M M L L XL 1X 2X

Women's Dresses and Suits (Junior Sizes)
European 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
UK 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17
Japan 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
USA 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15

Women's Blouses & Sweaters
European 40 42 44 46 48 50 53
UK 34 36 38 40 42 44 46
USA 32 34 36 38 40 42 44

USA Women's Size Standards
US Sizes 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Bust (inches) 32 ½ 33 ½ 34 ½ 35 ½ 36 ½ 38 39 ½ 41 43 45
Waist (inches) 24 25 26 27 28 29 ½ 31 32 ½ 34 ½ 36 ½
Hip (inches) 34 ½ 35 ½ 36 ½ 37 ½ 38 ½ 40 41 ½ 43 45 47
Bust (cm) 82 ½ 85 87 ½ 90 92 ½ 96 ½ 100 ½ 104 109 114
Waist (cm) 61 63 ½ 66 68 ½ 71 75 79 82 ½ 87 ½ 93
Hip (cm) 87 ½ 90 93 95 98 101 ½ 105 ½ 109 114 119

Women's Bra Sizes
European 85A - DD 90B - F 95B - F 100B - F 105B - F 110B - F
UK 32B - DD 34B - F 36B - F 38B - F 40B - F 42B - F
Japan A - D70 A - F75 A - F80 A - F85 A - F90 A - F95
USA 32A - D 34A - F 36A - F 38A - F 40A - F 42A - F

Women's Shoes
European 35 35 ½ 36 37 37 ½ 38 38 ½ 39 40 41 42
UK 2 ½ 3 3 ½ 4 4 ½ 5 5 ½ 6 6 ½ 7 7 ½
Japan 21 21 ½ 22 22 ½ 23 23 ½ 24 24 ½ 25 25 ½ 26
USA 5 5 ½ 6 6 ½ 7 7 ½ 8 8 ½ 9 9 ½ 10

How to Tie and Wear a Womans Scarf Many Fashionable Ways

2009-06-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

When it comes to accessorizing that special outfit, the scarf is the one item you want to have in your wardrobe. The scarf is the perfect accessory as it can add pizzaz to any outfit from the perfect little black dress to a business suit or your favorite T-shirt and jeans outfit. The scarf can add a sensational look making even the plainest outfit into a fabulous fashion hit. You should try to have a variety of scarves such as the pashmina, cashmere, fleece, silk and the scarf belt, then you will be ready for any occasion.
Scarves Can be Worn Many Places on the Body Besides Your Neck
There are numerous ways to wear a scarf, making it a very versatile accessory. Wear it around your neck, tied, knotted or draped. Wear a scarf around head to keep your hair in place or around your waist as a belt. Wear a large scarf around your shoulders as a shawl.If you really feel like “tying one on” try tying a silk scarf around your hips. Just by tying a scarf around your hips, like a scarf belt, you can make your waist look smaller. You can achieve this look very easily by folding a long oblong scarf into the desired width, draping it around your hips and positioning it as a sash. Adjust it as you like. Let it hang down asymmetrically drawing the eye downward to produce a smaller looking waist.

How to Tie a Silk Scarf Around Your Neck
Of course, the traditional way to wear a scarf is around the neck. A fashion statement can be made by tying your scarf in creative ways. Try tying a small square scarf around your neck as a choker or a longer oblong scarf can be knotted in front and hang straight down. The smaller silk (many times can be found in washable silk) scarves look great with a scarf pin to secure them in place. Use a crystal brooch, ring or scarf pin that is all the rage now to hold your scarf in the front. The scarf clips are great to use. Shell scarf holders that you can find at your beach resort gift shops are great options as well. These are just a few ways to hold that perfect designer silk scarf in place. If you don’t have a scarf pin or brooch, try wearing that long oblong scarf in the Grace Kelly style by holding it across the front of our neck and then bringing one end around to fall done your right front side and then bring other end around your neck to fall down your left front side. This is a great way to wear those designer silk scarves that are so light and airy now days. They are great for summer and spring. Another way to wear the long oblong scarf is just drape it around your neck and shoulders and then let it hang down dramatically in front.

How to Wear a Winter Cashmere Scarf and Keep Warm
For winter wear your wool or cashmere scarf and get extra warmth around your neck , by folding the long oblong scarf in half and positioning around your neck with the two ends on one side and the fold of scarf on your other side. Next take the two ends and slip thru the fold of the scarf. By pulling on the two ends you can tighten the scarf as you like around your neck. If it is really cold out you can tuck these ends into your coat for added warmth or if you want a fashionable look then fan the two ends out as desired. This looks great for the thinner summer scarves for a more fashionable look. The knitted scarf is great to wear this way too and often comes with matching gloves to complete your outfit. Usually the knitted scarf is just worn by looping it around your neck.

Tying a Scarf to Make a Hair Accessory and Keep Your Hair Style in Place
A large square scarf can be folded in half forming a triangle that can then be tied around your neck loosely to hang dramatically off one shoulder. Then of course there is always the head that can be covered with the larger square scarf. Hold your hair in place while riding in your convertible this summer by using a light weight chiffon or silk scarf. You can either tie the scarf in front under your chin or try tying it in the back of your head. A smaller scarf can also be folded to a create an hair ban. Another way to wear the square scarf is as a Turban. Fold the square into a triangle and fold edge under over the forehead. Take the two ends to the back and cross them over each other bringing them again to the front to tie on top of the head. You can then tuck in the ends or any loose fabric and adjust as you desire. Be creative with your scarf tying and have fun trying out the many different ways to wear your fashion scarves.

How to tie a Shemagh scarf

2009-06-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

2009-06-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

CLOTHING ITEMS THAT MUST NOT BE MISSING FROM YOUR WARDROBE

2009-06-10T03:59:00.000-07:00

The following points describe your wardrobe’s basic essentials and how to get maximum benefit from them:

1. The super basics: Lingerie that adapts itself to you. Start the house at the foundation, not at the roof.

First of all, make sure that you know your bra size well. Many women use bras that are not their size. The correct bra size will make your clothing look better on you; you’ll feel more comfortable and you won’t have to spend the entire day adjusting it.

TIP: Underwear must be comfortable and made of cotton or a percentage of cotton. Buy underwear that is elastic and that moves with your movements and that is not noticeable beneath your clothing.

2. A stylish suit: The classic basic for all seasons. Every woman needs a suit.

Black is the best option, but if you wish to look more relaxed, try beige, dark green or a color that you like and that’s not too bright so that it won’t go out of style too quickly.

TIP: You should buy the suit, especially a black, brown or neutral one, together with a skirt for the same suit. Many suits come with a skirt or pants; what’s ideal is to buy both so that you have more options.

• Get the most out of your suit:
You can use the pantsuit with a business shirt to look elegant.
You can use the skirt and jacket with a suitable shirt to look feminine.
You can combine the pants with a sweater, tank top or cami.
Or you can combine the jacket with jeans for a weekend look.
You can wear the skirt with a sexy blouse to go out to dinner in the evening.

3. The indispensable little black dress: It’s essential to have a “little black dress” hanging in your closet (how “little” the dress is depends on you and what you feel comfortable with).

TIP: It’s better to buy a dress with a classic cut, staying away from anything excessively revealing; that way you’ll be able to use it on any occasion.

• Get the most out of your black dress:
You can wear it with high heels to go out in the evening. If you put your hair up and use a stole, you’ll give it a very elegant touch.
You can also combine it with high-heeled sandals, slicking your hair back with gel for a sexy and glamorous look.
You can combine it with a knit jacket and flats to use it during the day.

4. An absolute must for all seasons: Jeans. It’s very unusual to find a woman today who doesn’t have a pair of jeans in her closet.

The difficulty arises in choosing the jeans that are the most appropriate for you among the immense variety that is available.

TIP: Visit the greatest possible number of stores and try on all the jeans that are necessary until you find the ones that favor you the most. It’s important that they be somewhat elastic so that they adapt to your figure and are more comfortable to wear. Try to choose a darker cloth, which will give you a more slender and elegant figure. Don’t be afraid of the mirror; look at yourself thoroughly from all available angles. Sit down, bend forward, move until you are assured that they’re comfortable. Lastly, don’t forget that the length of the jeans should adapt to the height of the shoe you plan on wearing.

• Get the most out of your jeans:
You can wear them with a suit jacket and a T-shirt for an informal look.
You can wear them with sneakers and a sweater for a sporty and comfortable look.
You can wear them with heels and a studded rhinestone top to go out in the evening and look fantastic.
You can combine them with a business shirt. . .

Keep an eye out for the next personal image newsletter because next week we’ll reveal the basic accessories; you’ll learn which are essential to give that unique and stylish touch to your personal image. . .

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Clothes Color Matching

2009-06-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

Clothes Color Matching

One of the most common problems people have when dealing with their wardrobe lies in knowing what colors go together. Will this blue blouse work with this orange skirt? Can I pair my maroon Capri pants with a yellow blouse? (For the record, the answers to the above questions are "No" and "No".) The concept of color matching is one that some people seem to have no ability to get a handle on, while others seem to have a sixth sense about it.
However, the concept behind color coordination is simple: colors have natural associations that either strengthen or soften them. This is based on the color wheel - the graphic representation of the way colors are formed - and once you understand the color wheel, combining and matching colors into pleasing pairings becomes easy. Well, maybe not "easy" but much less mysterious.

The Color Wheel:

Every color can be broken down into combinations of two of the three primary colors, plus lightness and darkness, reflecting the intensity or faintness of the color. The three most basic colors - the primary colors - are red, blue and yellow. The addition of light and dark to these give us shades from robin's egg blue, pale pink, and butter yellow, to lapis lazuli blue, blood red, and sunflower yellow. It is from these primary colors that all other colors are formed.
When you mix any two primary colors in equal measure, you get
a secondary color. Mixing red and blue creates violet. Mixing blue and yellow creates green. Mixing yellow and red creates orange. Adding measures of light or dark to these colors creates varying shades of
the colors as well.
Tertiary colors are created by mixing a secondary color with its adjacent primary color. For example green can be mixed with blue or yellow to create blue-green or yellow-green; orange can be mixed with red or yellow to form red-orange or yellow-orange; and violet can be combined with blue and red for blue-violet and red-violet. By adjusting the amounts of the primary colors with the levels of lightness or darkness in the color, you can create any shade of color found in our universe.
Learning at least the basic layout of the color wheel is important for matching colors because doing so allows you to understand the relationship of these colors. Once you understand the relationship of the colors, you will be better able to determine how well these colors will work when paired with one another.

Color Relationships:

Now that you understand the color wheel and how colors are formed from the primary colors you can understand the two basic relationships we talk about when we look at matching colors. Primary and secondary colors that sit side-by-side on the color wheel are considered to be Analogous to one another. (Example: Blue's Analogous colors are green and violet, while orange's Analogous colors are red and yellow.) Analogous colors tend to work well with one another and often have the effect of causing each color to appear subdued.
Primary and secondary colors that are positioned opposite one another on the color wheel are considered to be Complimentary colors. Blue is Complimentary to orange. Violet is Complimentary to yellow. Red is Complimentary to green. The reverse is also true for these pairings. Complimentary colors are named such because the colors they compliment appear to stand out and seem bolder than either color appears separately.
Analogous colors make good choices for color matches when they are matched according to the levels of light and dark present in the respective colors. Complimentary colors can be paired when the goal is to create a bold statement. However, matching Complimentary colors is a very tricky business. Certain shades of Complimentary colors will not look good together, while some shades of Complimentary colors can look better than either color looks on its own.
Finally, lighter and darker shades of the same color can often look good when matched, forming a monochromatic effect.
Specific Colors and Matching Guidelines:

Matching Black and White
Matching Reds
Matching Blues
Matching Yellows
Matching Greens
Matching Violets
Matching Oranges
Combining Patterns

The idea behind color-matching is to pair colors that will flatter one another, or be pleasing to the eye when combined. By using the rules above, you can be assured of making better choices in combining the colors of clothing in your wardrobe. The result will be a better looking you in whatever situation you find yourself.

Matching Black & White

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While we call black and white colors in their own right, they are actually not. Technically speaking, white is the complete absence of color combined with a maximum of lightness. Black, on the other hand, is a combination of all colors with a maximum level of darkness. Both white and black can be combined with any color (even themselves) and work well. These "colors" are considered exceptions to the rules of color matching.

Matching Reds

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When matching reds with other colors it is easier to work with darker red shades, such as brick red. Since red has violet and orange as analogous colors, shades of these colors often work well, especially when the colors are kept away from opposing levels of light or dark.
The compliment to red is green, and can make for a reasonable color match so long as you keep the colors muted. Otherwise you create an ugly clash as the colors make one another stand out far too much, or in unpleasant ways.
Be especially cautious in attempting to match red with blues and yellows.

Matching Blues

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Matching blues is also better accomplished when you work with darker or more muted shades as opposed to bright shades. Green and violet are the analogous colors for blue and when paired in lighter shades with darker blues create nice matches.
Orange is the complimentary color for blue and when paired with blue will create an intensifying effect in the color, causing it to stand out.
Be especially cautious in attempting to match blue with shades of red and yellow.

Matching Yellows

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You should always bear in mind that yellow is always difficult to match because of the tendency of yellows to be bright. It is therefore necessary to make sure to use muted shades of yellow or else stick to pastel shades of yellow. The analogous colors to yellow are green and orange, and should also be muted or soft shades for best effect. Avoid going for dark shades of the analogous color to prevent making the yellow appear even brighter than it is already.
The compliment to yellow is violet, and must be treated with special care because of the intensifying effect of the complimentary color match. In the case of yellow-violet matches, try to keep one color restricted to the status of accent color to prevent either color from being overpowering.
Be especially cautious in attempting to match yellow with red and blue shades.

Matching Greens

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As mentioned with other colors, the key to matching green with other colors is selecting the proper shade of green. If you use a shade of green found in nature nearly any color will work with it. The analogous colors of blue and yellow look good paired with green, especially when the colors are paired according to levels of lightness and dark.
The compliment to green is red, and this color also works well, provided the colors remain within the natural spectrum. However, when you attempt to match overly bright or intense shades of these two colors, an unpleasant clash will occur.
The same caution should be used when attempting to match green with violets and oranges.

Matching Violets

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Matching violet works along the same lines as matching blue. In other words, you should use darker or more muted shades of violet. The blue and red shades analogous to violet work best when kept at or near the same levels of light and dark, especially when violet is the "darkest" color being used.
Yellow, as a complimentary color to violet, can work when you can keep the yellow shade pale or muted to prevent an unfortunate clash.
Be especially careful when pairing violet with green and orange.

Matching Oranges

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Orange is another hazardous color for matching because of its tendency to be bright and somewhat garish. Keeping the shade of orange muted will help. Match orange with pale or muted shades of it analogous colors, red and yellow.
The compliment to orange is blue, and must always be kept subdued to prevent clashing colors.
Be especially cautious in attempting to match orange with green and violet.

Color and Its Influence

2009-06-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

Color and its influence

For centuries, scientists, artists and scholars have theorized about the influence of color on the human mind and the world around us. As the modern era emerged, scientists have been able to prove some of the claims made, while others remain either unproven, or debunked.
For example, it is a known fact that newborn babies with jaundice can be treated with blue light to eliminate the yellowing. It is also a proven fact that people in rooms with a significant amount of greenery have a higher tolerance for pain and rest better when ill. Studies have shown that exposure to red causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. It has also been proven that printed material using black text on a yellow background is more clearly legible and is more readily memorable than any other color combination.
There are other color benefits that have been proven, and just as many purported benefits that are merely conjecture or based on purely anecdotal evidence. Many of the latter are a matter of traditional beliefs about a specific color and may appear true simply because the viewer believes it to be so.
There are also cultural attitudes regarding color. In western cultures black is the traditional color of mourning, while in Asian cultures the color of mourning is white. Western cultures view white as symbolizing purity and hope and is the color traditionally worn by brides, while in eastern cultures red is worn by wedding celebrants because it symbolizes joy and luck. Many eastern cultures would view white as an inappropriate color for a bridal celebration.

Color and Clothing: Affecting Ourselves
Many theories exist regarding the use of color in our attire to affect our moods and attitudes. While there are some specific benefits to different colors, some of the claims attributed to certain colors are not proven scientifically. The following color effects include claims that are scientifically proven as well as those that are merely widely believed:
Red has a stimulating action on the heart and circulatory system. It helps you feel strong and energetic and is associated with vitality and ambition.
Pink is a mixture of red and white, and has a gentler action than red. It is emotionally soothing and calming. It lessens feelings of irritation and aggression. It lessens feelings of loneliness and discouragement and helps us feel less burdened and more nurturing.
Orange strengthens digestion and the immune system. It is a happy color, easing emotions and boosting self -esteem. It creates enthusiasm for life. Orange mixed with white creates tones of apricot and peach which are good for emotional exhaustion.
Yellow strengthens the nervous system. It makes you more clear-headed and alert. It is a happy and uplifting color, allowing clear-thinking for decision making. Yellow will help with an optimistic attitude!
Green helps to regulate circulation. It is the color of the heart, both physically and emotionally. It helps open the heart so we may be more empathetic to those around us. It is often a color we are drawn to when we are under emotional stress, because it promotes relaxation and calmness and soothes the emotions.
Blue light has been shown to lower blood pressure, is anti-inflammatory, and has pain-relieving properties. Blue is very calming and cooling and is associated with a higher part of the brain. It promotes mental control, clear thinking and inspires creative thinking. Very dark blues help us connect to our intuitive and feminine side.
Purples and violets are also associated with a higher part of the brain, encouraging intuition and feelings of being more connected psychically. It is often worn for psychic protection. Purples and violets are connected with many of your higher senses i.e., sensitivity, spirituality, compassion and higher ideals. Like blue, these colors stimulate creativity and inspiration. Purples and violets have a purifying, antiseptic effect, and are physically cooling.
White is the color of pureness, protection and peace. It has a cleansing effect on the emotions and the spirit. It can create space to think, but too much white is too cooling and isolating.
Black is associated with the feminine nature of things, both comforting and protecting. It gives an air of mystery to the wearer. Over-wearing of black can be too reserved and inhibiting. Mix with other colors! Gold, like yellow, is energizing, mentally stimulating and is associated with power and abundance. It is associated with higher principles, wisdom and understanding.
Brown is a stabilizing color, helping you feel connected to the earth. It helps with being more nurturing and supportive. Too much brown though can decrease your feelings of self worth. Mix with other colors!

Color and Clothing: Influencing Others
While adding that red scarf to your black business suit may be just the thing to bolster your confidence for the big presentation, you may not make the best impression if red isn't a color that suits you. Just as important as what benefits a particular color gives to you as the wearer is how you look to those who see you in that color.
We've discussed color types before, and even those of you who aren't familiar with the modern system of color typing - using Silver and Gold - will likely remember the older system of "Seasonal" types. Determining what "season" a person was proved in many cases to be very difficult and people were often incorrectly identified as one or another type.
The Gold and Silver method is much simpler and has shown to be more accurately performed. The process is simple. Take a piece of gold jewelry and a piece of silver jewelry, preferably of the same type (necklaces, earrings, etc.) and place both against your skin (or put them on as appropriate). Whichever of the two metals "stands out" most is your type.
Here are a few quick color guidelines for the different metal types:
Gold types look best in warm colors like reds, oranges and yellows and are usually better suited to bold and vibrant, or deep and rich colors.
Silver types look better in cooler colors like blues, greens and purples and are generally better suited to muted and soft, or pale and icy colors.

In order to make use of the benefits associated with the colors listed above, you should make sure that you choose a color that gives the benefit you want, but that also flatters you. While the color types are specific in the colors that best suit them, you do need to be aware that most every color has a warm and cool shade or tone available to it. For example: "fire engine red" would be an ideal color choice for a gold color type, "Chinese red" actually contains a lot of blue undertones and would be a good choice for a silver color type. Most of these crossover shades occur within the red-to-blue end of the spectrum as red and blue are the warmest and coolest colors, respectively.
So, given what the information we have on the effects of colors, and the need to choose colors that are going to be flattering to our color type, let's look at some attitudes we want to project and color ideas for achieving them based on type:

"I want to appear bold and confident":
For the gold type, try cardinal red. For silvers, try rose.

"I want to appear calm and self-possessed":
For the gold type, try olive green. For silvers, try hunter green.

"I want to appear vibrant and energetic":
For the gold type, try orange. For silvers, try pale yellow.

"I want to appear professional and businesslike":
For the gold type, try royal blue. For silvers, try navy blue.

"I want to appear intuitive and nurturing":
For the gold type, try muted violet. For silvers, try lavender.

"I want to appear young and innocent":
For the gold type, try pink. For silvers, try lilac.

"I want to appear comfortable and natural":
For the gold type, try chocolate brown. For silvers, try tan or faun.

Hopefully, you can see the point I'm trying to illustrate here. If not, when you begin working with the colors in your own wardrobe you'll see more clearly the differences in the shades of certain colors and their appropriateness or inappropriateness for your color type. One thing you can see clearly is that the color choices for the gold type and silver type can be paired up and will look good together.
So, the next time you want to put together an outfit to impress, be sure to take the time and think about what image you want to present, and choose accordingly. The right colors, in the right shades for you, can give you that little "extra something" that can make everything come out right.

How To Add Color to Your Wardrobe by Cynthia Nellis

2009-06-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

Neutrals are fine for much of your wardrobe, but color adds punch and fashion personality if you know how to use it.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Varies

Here's How:

Start by holding different color swatches up to your face to find flattering hues.
Assess your current wardrobe to decide which colors coordinate best.
Narrow it down to two or three new vivid colors.
If you choose an acceptable color for makeup like rose or fuchsia, start by using the color on your lips or nails.
Add a scarf in one of your new bright colors.
Try a camisole in the new color under a neutral jacket.
Substitute vibrant shoes for your basic black ones.
Begin to use color to express yourself: red for power, pink for flirting, black for chicness, etc.

Tips:

Don't stray too far from your normal style with color: if you're used to wearing beiges, fuchsia will be too stark of a contrast.
Don't pay too much attention to which colors you should or shouldn't wear according to your hair, skin an eye colors. Most of us have cosmetically altered our natural colors anyway.
Do put bright colors on or near your best assets, because they draw attention.

source

How to learn to dress stylish!

2009-06-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

"Style - is the clothes' thought" - said the Count Chesterfield. Being fashionable and stylish is not the same thing. Open a fashion magazine and have a look at nowadays stars. All of them are dressed in the latest season, but does they look stylish?
Fashion in its pure form - is as distilled water - without smell and taste. Dress with style and create your own image - this is the style! Here's what i want. A stylish woman will always be in focus. Men admire her!
In order to be stylish, you have to follow the following steps:
1. Don't look like your friends or colleagues, even if you like the way they dress, otherwise you will become their reflection and will loose your personality.
2.Be aware of fashion and follow the latest trends - it will reinforce your image.
3. Always check your favorite online shop, for new clothes.
4. Buy colorful clothes.