OMG, Did You See The Oscars?

Did you watch this year’s Oscars Ceremony?

I usually don’t watch them, but I do like to see the pictures of the “Red Carpet” fashions to see watch all the celebrities are wearing.  What one image stood out (like a sore thumb so to speak) concerning the fashions of the evening?  I’m sure there was more than one that comes to mind.

But the one image that went viral and caused “no small stir” was Angelina Jolie’s right leg.  You outta “google” it for a real laugh!

Angie wore a pretty black velvet gown with a slit up the side.  But what was so funny was that she strategically revealed her right leg every time she stopped to pose for a picture, and especially when she walked up on stage to present an award. Personally I thought that was very tacky of her.  Maybe she’s still trying to compete with the killer sexy legs of Brad’s ex Jennifer?

What bothered me even more than her exposed lower appendage was that no one even noticed her gown or her face.  Sure it was partially because her black dress was such a stark contrast to her pale legs, like her bright orange/red lipstick on her pallid white face . But the truth of the matter is that the color of her dress was not right for her to begin with. This time she got away with it because her dress is low-cut, so it doesn’t take away from face too much, and she was wearing the right shade of lipstick at least.

You’ve probably noticed that Angie LOVES black, it must be her favorite color as she wears it alot.  BUT Black is NOT the best color for her skin tone, her eyes, or her hair color.  Black just doesn’t flatter her natural Autumn features.  The most flattering colors Angie should be wearing are earth tones, like deep orange, dark green, and golden brown to name a few.

I guess I can’t help but notice these things being a certified color analyst and all.

Here is another photo showing her wearing the wrong color, doesn’t she look washed out, and pale in this drab grey dress?

It is very unflattering to say the least. Makes you wonder, What was she thinking?

What’s funny is you’d think that famous people would know and wear what looks best on them, especially when they have to constantly make public appearances.  You’d also think that the top fashion designers of the world that make their gowns would tell them “this is a beautiful design on you, but the colors are wrong, let’s see what I have in your colors”.  But amazingly they don’t. Neither do their hair stylists or their makeup artists!

It is very rare to see Angie in her right colors.

But look, I found one!  Here’s a pic I dig up from a few years ago.

Now can you see the difference?

This emerald-green dress just brings out the best in her.  Yeah Brad’s also in the picture, but try to focus on her, ok?

This beautiful gown in her proper color draws attention to her face, and not away from it like the gray dress did.  You see the hazel color of her eyes stand out and she just has a more naturally beautiful, elegant look.

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This is just a quick example of how “color” can make a big difference in one’s appearance.

Want to know more about how color can change your appearance, your attitude and your life check out my article on “What Season are You?”.  

I think Angie needs to read it too!

It’s Not Too Late to Exfoliate

Exfoliation is an important part of any skin care regime.

Why do I need to exfoliate?   Exfoliating removes the dull dead outer layer of  skin cells, unclogs pores, helps reduce acne breakouts, and keeps skin clean.  It also allows the new layer of cells to emerge, making your face look more healthy and radiant.

How often should I exfoliate? Once or twice a week is suffiicient depending of course on if you have dry, normal or oily skin. Two times a week for oily and once a week for normal to dry skin is good.

Should I wash my face before exfoliating?  Yes, you want to remove the surface dirt first.

Will it dry my skin out?  It can depending on what type of products you use.  It’s important to apply a moisturizer to your face after exfoliating.

Should guys exfoliate? YES!  Men need to take care of their skin, and remove dead skin cells just like women.  It also helps men get a better shave by exposing the hair follicles.

There are 2 basic types of exfoliation:

1. Mechanical Exfoliation– involves physically scrubbing the skin with an abrasive. They can include such things as microfiber cloths, adhesive exfoliation sheets, micro-bead facial scrubs, crushed apricot kernel or almond shells, sugar or salt crystals, and abrasive materials such as sponges or brushes.

Professional treatments include Microdermabrasion and Micro Diamondabrasion.

2. Chemical Exfoliation– includes facial scrubs containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, fruit enzymes, citric acid, or malic acid.  These can be applied in high concentrations by a medical professional, or in lower concentrations through over-the-counter products.

It is recommended for people with acne to use products that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs).

One of my favorite products is Adrien Arpel’s Microderm Cleanser.  It’s both a gel cleanser and exfoliator in one!  It’s gentle but effective, with the same crystals used in professional micro-dermabrasion treatments.  It’s enriched with vitamins A, C and E to help repair and maintain healthy skin.  I love how it makes my skin feel!

Professional methods can be very costly, but there are many inexpensive exfoliators you can make yourself with household ingredients such as coffee grounds, baking soda, sugar, even asprin.

Here’s a video for a great do-it-yourself facial:

Aspirin Mask

So in conclusion there are many ways to exfoliate, the main thing is to make it part of your regular beauty regime to help keep your skin looking radiant, silky smooth and refreshed.

Related Articles:

Beauty Only Skin Deep?

Tends and Trends

Fashion is fickle.  Trends come and go.

But we still tend to follow whatever the latest fashion gurus dictate is “In Style”.

Do you think fashion designers really consider or care what their styles will look like on the majority of the population?  Or do they just love to come up with those weird, quirky styles that only look cool on anorexic models, making the rest of us look like blimps?

The fashion industry continues to provide cookie cutter molds that are unrealistic that make the majority of us feel inadequate and unattractive.  Just think when you see a model or celebrity wearing the latest style, is your body shaped like theirs?  Are you close in age to them?  These are important things to consider when you tend to follow the current trends.

If you want men to go gaga over you, please don’t follow the styles of Lady Gaga! She loves to “shock and awe” us with her outrageously tacky fashions, but then that IS her quirky trademark.

Remember Madonna’s style back in the 80’s, how every teen had to dress like her? Her styles over the years have been quite wild (and downright slutty).  Then Gaga carried it a bit further beyond wacky and weird.

Neither of them are natural beauties in my opinion nor do they have perfect figures. Maybe that’s why they dress so outrageous, to hide their flaws!  Or to flaunt them!

You may not have killer curves like Kim Kardashian, or a derrière like J Lo, but you are uniquely beautiful in your own right.

Learning what brings out your best attributes and hides your flaws is the real key to being “fashionable”.

A very important thing to remember is that there is NO such thing as a PERFECT figure!

Personally I’ve never been too concerned what others are wearing, or what is “in” style at the time.  Maybe because I had a brief modeling career back in my twenties and I’ve seen how fast trends come and go.  I also learned the hard way how expensive it is to keep “in style”.

Here  are a few things to ask yourself that will help you determine what styles look good on you:

Are you petite?  (I hate using the word “short”)

Wear clothes that make you look taller, not ones that emphasize your size.  Avoid long skirts that are below the knee.  High waisted clothes and shorter length skirts and jackets look good on you!  High heels are great but be careful, you don’t want it to look like you are trying too hard to look taller.

Too Tall?

The taller and slimmer you are the more styles you can wear.  But if you are over 5’7 it’s best to avoid high waisted jackets and vests.  Skirt lengths can vary, but keep in mind that mid length hems can make you look shorter and add weight.  Choose high heels that don’t add too much height, as you don’t need it.

Are you overweight?

Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight, that show every bulge.  Do wear clothes that have vertical lines or seams rather than horizontal.  The right colors can also have a slimming affect. And despite popular belief, the color black can actually make you look larger (unless you are a Winter, then Black looks great on you!).

Here are some fashion mistakes to avoid:

UGG!!!  This is a big NO-NO!

I don’t care how comfortable these are.  Ugg’s were designed to be worn with leggings or tight jeans NOT shorts, or skirts, how tacky!

Over accessorizing is another big NO-NO!  This can make you look bargain basement cheap.

Pants that are too long or too short.  Or pants that are too tight or too loose.

Oh yeah and where did the tight jeans with the thongs sticking out the top come from?  Yikes!

Is this the women’s version of the men’s pants hanging below their underwear? OMG! 

More Fashion No No’s-

Too much denim.  Demin jackets do NOT go with everything!

Always wearing solid colors.  That is so blah!  Better to have a print or patterned blouse with solid color pants or visa versa.  The colors don’t necessarily have to match, contrasting colors can add a dramatic affect.  Just stay with colors within your Season to look your best!

Women over 50 wearing the styles of women in their 20’s.  Boy this one really gets me!  Stay with styles that flatter your age, not make you look ridiculous.

Sweat pants with writing on the butt!  OMG I saw a very unattractive heavy set woman wearing a pair of tight sweat pants that had “sexy” written across the butt. What was she thinking? I couldn’t believe it!

I could go on and on!

The bottom line is that no matter what is in style for the moment when you “know” what looks best on you then people will notice your true fashion sense and want to follow you!

You’ll be a trend setter!

P.S.  If you can think of any other fashion mistakes you’d like to add feel free to comment.  We can help each other out here.  Thanks!

Related Articles:

What Season are You?

Makeup Your Mind

Breakout!

We all have bouts of breakouts.

I’m not talking about the urge to break into a song and dance routine in a crowded mall, or breaking into a fit of rage from breaking a fingernail, but of the embarrassing breakouts of acne.

It can happen no matter what your age.  In fact statistics show that more than 50% of adult women and 25% of men have acne breakouts.  So don’t feel alone teenagers!

Wouldn’t it be nice to know what causes acne so that you can see it coming or avoid it altogether?  I know chocolate has gotten a bad rap for years as a major cause but in reality there are other causes worth looking into.

Here are some common causes and cures of acne:

Diet: You probably already know that eating junk food can be a major cause of acne breakouts, but also certain food allergies.   Another cause is sodas and any drinks with caffeine that are detrimental to clear flawless  skin.  Whats the cure?  Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water.

Hormones: If you notice acne breakouts more at the time of your menstruation, then your hormones could be the culprit.  I can say I’ve been plagued by this type for many years, until I past menopause.  I’ve heard that regular use of birth control pills helps.

Hair Products: If you use oils and sprays on your hair they can get on your skin and clog your pores, especially around your forehead, and neck.   At night, after washing your face try sleeping with your hair tied up away from your face.

Bedding: When is the last time you washed your pillowcase and sheets?  Your face may be clean but any dirt from your hair or in the air even can build up on your pillow, not to mention bacteria and germs.  Best to wash bedding at least once a week.

Dry skin:  I know this sounds absurd, but if your skin is overly dry it can actually produce more oil to compensate.  All skin need moisture, but to different degrees.  Some moisturizers are rich for extremely dry skin, and some light for more oily skin.  Choose what’s best for your skin type.

STRESS! Stress can cause a multitude of health problems, one being skin conditions such as acne. You may not be able to relieve your stressful day to day situations, but try to take a break away from your routine once in a while. Have a little fun.   It will do wonders for your health.  Regular daily exercise also helps relieve stress, and provides a multitude of health benefits.

Touch: Are you constantly touching your face?  I know I’m guilty of that one!  Hands touch all kinds of nasty stuff throughout the day and can transfer germs and bacteria to your face.

I don’t mean to sound like your mother, but “keep your hands off your face, and wash them regularly”.   Also a big NO-NO is when you have a pimple don’t squeeze it (remember don’t touch!)  Squeezing can make it worse, last longer and cause scarring.

Here is another thing you may not of thought of, something that touches your face more than anything else, your cell phone.   Ever notice how dirty, and greasy your phone gets from your hands?  It’s best to use a “hands free” bluetooth as much as possible.  To clean your phone just wipe it with antibacterial wipes or rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball every few days or at least once a week.  Oh yeah and limit others from using your phone to avoid passing on germs and bacteria.  I know I cringe when I see moms hand their toddlers a cell phone to play with, and they start drooling and sucking on them.  Yikes, Germ City!

Makeup: Did you know that some ingredients in your makeup may actually clog pores can cause breakouts?   Or you could have an allergic reaction to some product, and not even be aware of it.   It’s important to remove makeup and wash your face thoroughly every night with a good facial cleanser, and exfoliate at least once a week to remove dead cells under the skin.  It is also a good practice to clean your facial brushes and sponges  regularly.

Smoking: Smoking not only adversely affects areas like the respiratory and immune system, but also clogs pores which can cause breakouts.

Cures for acne can differ depending on the cause and type of skin you have. If you have  extremely bad acne or reoccurring breakouts it may be necessary to see a dermatologist.

If you have cystic pimples, ones that do not surface, they don’t normally respond to common treatments.  I’ve heard ice helps with the pain.  Unfortunately there is not alot you can do but be patient and let them dissolve on their own.

For mild to moderate acne breakouts look for products that contain Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide.

Hope that some of these causes and cures can help you in your fight to combat acne breakouts and get your skin back to looking healthy and beautiful.

To Reveal or Conceal

If you are like me,  you wake up in the morning, eyes half-open, stumble to the bathroom and go right to the mirror.

Wish I could fix my face with my eyes closed!

My Mission: To improve my appearance before anyone else sees me!  But unfortunately on occasion, my husband is making his way to bed as I’m rising and we met in the hall.  Yikes! He is the last person I want to see me before I put my face on!

One of the biggest things I notice first is the DARK CIRCLES under my eyes!

Or the “Raccoon Effect” as some call it.

There are several different causes of dark circles, here are some of the common ones:

Lack of Sleep – One of the most common reasons of “temporary” dark under eye circles is lack of sleep.   Making sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep regularly is the way to keep dark circles at bay.

Iron Deficiency –Low iron levels can result in lessened blood oxygenating efficiency. One of the areas seen the most of all is under the eyes where vessels tend to clot and pool, thus causing the dark circle eye effect.  Increasing iron intake by adding some of these foods to your diet such as; Eggs, oily fish, red meat, dried fruit such as figs and apricots, beans and nuts which are all rich in iron can help diminish dark circles and other symptoms IF deficiency in iron is the problem.  It is important to  get enough Vitamin C also, as this helps the absorption of  iron by your body.

Hereditary –Do others in your family also have dark under eye circles?  The majority of people who have dark circles under the eyes don’t suffer from any deficiencies or fatigue, it is simply an inherited trait.  This can be the most frustrating because no matter what you do, you always look tired,  even after you’ve had a great night’s sleep.  That’s me!

Dark circles are similar to bruises, they are really oxidizing hemoglobin.

Dark under-eye circles begin in the capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that web the delicate skin around the eyes.  Frequently, red blood cells get lost and wander into the surrounding skin. This is normal and the enzymes in your body break down the red blood cells, including their hemoglobin (the molecule that gives them their distinctive red color).

But the reason dark under-eye circles are so apparent is that the skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest, most delicate skin of your entire body.  And the capillaries are much closer to the surface of the skin there.  Many people’s skin is not only thinner around the eyes, but also more translucent.

The combination of capillaries near the skin’s surface and translucent skin makes this discoloration a lot more apparent.

A few home remedies for dark circles:

Apply slices of cucumber to your eyes.

Cucumbers lighten the skin,  soothe and cool the eyes.  This really helps if you’ve had a late the night before or your eyes are red and tired from allergies.

It’s best to lay down on your back, or else the cucumbers will fall off!  Lay a thin slice of cucumber on each eye, making sure they have contact with the skin under the eyes.  Leave them on for 5 to 10 minutes.  Might want to set an alarm so you don’t fall asleep.  Also be careful not to get the juice from the cucumber in your eyes.

Apply Tea bags to your eyes .

The caffeine in the tea bags acts as a remedy for dark circles by diminishing puffiness. Tea also contains antioxidants that are beneficial to the skin.

Take 2 used tea bags, can be green, black or white tea that’s been squeezed out.  Make sure you wait till it is cool!  Lie down and leave them over your eyes for about 10 minutes.  You’ll see a noticeable improvement in puffiness and under-eye circles.

Apply a concealer to hide dark under-eye circles

Concealer is the most effective tool for hiding dark under-eye circles.

You’ll want to choose a color that’s a shade lighter than your normal color if your dark circles are blue-black.  Just don’t go too light or you’ll get the reverse “raccoon effect”! Concealers are effective at hiding dark under-eye circles because they’re opaque, meaning they don’t let light through.  When applying concealer never use your index finger as it will apply too much pressure on the sensitive area around your eyes.  You can use a sponge or your ring finger for the best results.  If your dark circles are not terribly noticeable you might be able to get away with just using a foundation instead of a concealer.  If you use both some recommend applying the concealer first then the foundation, but I’ve heard others do the reverse.  Whatever works best for YOU!   It is also a good idea to finish with some translucent power over your face  so your face doesn’t shine!

Products that reduce dark circles

Another solution is to find a product that can actually help to get rid of dark circles completely.   But don’t expect a miracle, nothing works overnight.  There are a lot of products out there to choose from.  Most contain a pigment-lightening.   Warning these products are not cheap!

Personally, I’ve been extremely happy with the results from a product I’m using,  Adrien Arpel’s Eye Perfection crème.  It is a triple action formula, that takes care of puffiness, dark circles and fine line and wrinkles.  Nice thing is it is slightly cooling, and non-greasy.   It also hydrates, revitalizes and smoothes, de-puffs and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Hope these suggestions help to remedy those unwanted “raccoon” eyes.   Hey, you know that smokey eyes are in style now!

Maybe we could start a trend that makes dark eye circles popular!