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!

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Change of Seasons

Nature can teach us alot about ourselves.

Depending on where you live in the world you may witness drastic changes in scenery as the earth rotates and the seasons change.  Obviously if you live on a Tropical Island or in the Antarctic you will not experience all  four seasons.  But for many, experiencing the gradual transitions of nature’s awe inspiring events from Winter to Spring and Summer to Autumn are welcome occurences.

Not only does the climate go through changes but wildlife; plants, trees and the sky all transform seasonally into distinctive and stunning panoramas before your very eyes.

Are there Seasons of your Life also?  Yes

SPRING: Like a newborn chick hatching, it is the spring of life.  

Spring is when the wide array of colorful flowers bud, and start to bloom.  Life is awakened from the cold of Winter.  New life springs forth all around us.

For humans this phase of life starts from birth to our teens, when life is new, filled with wonder and excitement.

SUMMER:  Summer is the time of fun in the sun, where the growth of spring  slows down and stabilizes.

Just as Summer temperatures start to rise, hormonal changes start affecting our bodies and our minds, this phase lasts from our teens to thirties.  These are our reproductive years.

AUTUMN:  Autumn is the turning point of life.

The air starts to cool, just as our bodies become more sensitive to temperature changes.  This is the mid point of life between our forties to sixties.   As the leaves change color and start to fall, our bodies too start changing.  It is the time of menopause, reversingthe affects of adolescence.

WINTER:  Nature becomes dormant.

As Winter approaches the sky turns cloudy gray like the hair on our heads.  The brisk cold affects our our bones like the bare limbs of the trees.  This is the time when physical beauty fades, but in its place a true sense of self, an appreciation for all of life’s precious moments emerges.  A reflection of past accomplishments and failures, of loves gained and lost.

Each season of your life has its own unique and beautiful attributes, the object is to enjoy whatever season you are in and make it the best time of your life!

Enjoy every Season for what it is, share your experiences, your knowledge, wisdom and your dreams.

Have no regrets, live life every day as if it is your last.

Look forward to the next as a welcome occurance of change and growth in the Seasons of Life.

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!

Fun In The Sun

 

It’s Summertime! 

It’s time to head outdoors for those “Fun In The Sun” activities.

But while having fun be aware that there are “not so fun” affects the Sun can have on your skin, your health and your life.

The Sun produces 3 types of rays:

1.  UVA-the most common, is the cause of  skin aging, and wrinkling

2.  UVB- causes sunburn, cataracts

3.  UVC-the most dangerous, are obsorbed by our atmosphere

Tips for protecting your skin from the damaging effects of the Sun:

Stay out of the direct rays of the sun between 10am and 2pm when the rays are the strongest.

Wear sunscreen with a SPF factor of between 15 and 30, apply liberally on your face, hands and arms especially. 

Make sure your sunscreen protects both UVA and UVB rays.

Wear sunglasses with 100% UV blocking lenses to protect around your eyes.

Don’t use sunscreen on children less than 6 months old, just keep them covered and out of the sun.

Wear protective clothing such as hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants.

Things you should know about the sun and your skin:

Contrary to popular belief, a tan is not “healthy.” A suntan is a sign that damage has been done to your skin.

When exposed to the sun’s UV rays, your skin’s melanocytes produce melanin, the dark pigment that creates a tan. A tan is your skin’s attempt to prevent UV rays from doing any further damage to the sensitive skin cells in your epidermis, but the protection only goes so far.

A tan does not help protect your skin from getting a sunburn in the future. A tan is equivalent to merely an SPF 4!

UVA breaks down the collagen structure which results in wrinkles.  Once collagen is damaged, it cannot re-build itself.

Up to 80% of skin aging is caused by the sun.  Most premature aging is caused by sun damage to skin.

Exposure to UV radiation can accelerate skin aging and make you appear older than you are. At higher altitudes there is less atmosphere to filter out the sun’s dangerous UV rays. For every 1,000 feet above sea level, you are exposed to 5% more UV radiation.  

People with light colored eyes are  more susceptible to retinal damage and cataracts as a result of overexposure to the sun.

Water and snow can reflect up to 90% of the sun’s UV rays back at you.

Certain medications can make skin and eyes more sensitive to sunlight, photosensitizing drugs include: acne medicines, antibiotics, antihistamines, oral contraceptives and sulfa drugs.

Freckles and sun spots are signs of skin damage and develop as a result of too much sun exposure.  They are frequently found on face, legs and back of hands.  Individuals who sunbathe regularly may develop freckles and sun spots all over their skin.

Tanning beds emit ultra-violet radiations.

It is important to understand that all sunburns increase the risk of three types of skin cancer, which includes basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Known risk factors for skin cancer include the following:

Skin cancers are more common in people with light-colored skin, hair, and eyes.

Having a family history of melanoma increases the risk of developing this cancer.

Nonmelanoma skin cancers are more common after age 40.

Most skin cancers occur on areas of the skin that are regularly exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation. This is considered the primary cause of all skin cancers.

Bronze skin may look beautiful on those blessed with naturally dark or olive tone skin.  But if you have fair skin,  beware, a short term tan is not worth the long term risk to your health.

I did’nt mean to ruin your summer vacation! 

You can still go out and have  “Fun in the Sun”, just don’t be a “sun worshipper”, remember to limit your exposure no matter what age you are, and protect yourself and your loved ones from those nasty rays.

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The Thick and Thin of it

There are many different opinions on eyebrow thickness.  Some say thin looks better, but others say leave them thick.  

How thick or thin your eyebrows are depends on your genetics, so don’t worry about what’s in style or what the latest top model looks like.  Fashions constantly change, so just learn to look your best with what you have naturally.

Take Brooke Shields for instance, she naturally has thick brows.  At a time when thin was in, she boldly displayed her full brows, and set a new fashion statement.  Full eyebrows that are groomed and shaped nicely can make your face look more naturally radiant.

Your eyebrows frame your eyes so it is important that the length of the brow is proportionate to your eye.

An arched brow opens up and lifts the eye (see picture below). 

Here are some basic guidelines and tips on eyebrows:

You only want to pluck the stray hairs that extend beyond the boundaries.  The most obvious area to start is between your brows.  

You can hold a pencil to the side of you nose and see where your brow starts, and pluck any stray hairs in-between.  Then pluck the stray hairs underneath your brows.  Never pluck hairs above your brows unless you have a few strays. 

Always pull out in the direction that the hair grows, not the opposite direction, or you will be training new hairs to grow in the wrong direction. 

The main thing is to try to create a gentle arch following the shape of the eye with the peak of the arch just outside your pupil (see picture). 

You’ll also want to use sharp, good quality tweezers.

Warning!   Did you know that if you pluck your eyebrows too much some of the hairs may not grow back?  So don’t over pluck!  It is best to only pluck one hair at a time, never try to pull multiple hairs at once, remember you can’t put them back!

The best time to pluck is after a bath, or shower, when your pores are open from the heat.  The hairs will be easier to remove. 

Also make sure you pluck a day before a big date, or party or your reddened skin with draw the wrong kind of attention.

If you have sparse or light brows use an eyebrow pencil that is close to the color of the hair on your head and use small upward strokes to simulate the natural hair pattern. You don’t want them to look painted on, but natural.

Whether thick or thin, with a little shaping of your brows you can give your face a lift and dramatically enhance your natural beauty.

 

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