COVERGIRL Sends You the Book on How to take Better Photos for Free!

A BETTER ENDORSEMENT I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR ... For a limited time COVERGIRL and Olay will send you my book for FREE while supplies last!

LEARN HOW TO BE A COVER GIRL YOURSELF electronically on Kindle, Nook and iTunes for just $7.99 or order a copy of the book at Amazon.com

Going on TV ... What Should I Wear for on Camera Interviews?

YIPPEE! You got the call, you're booked for the show, but what should you wear? YIKES! As excited as you are, a bit of a panic sets in when you start to think about what you should wear, so here is some key information to help you find your perfect TV outfit.

I have been there with you in closet hell trying to channel my inner stylist to pull clothing as a daily TV morning show co-host, for commercials, videos, television interviews ....  and every show format/set are vastly different so it's best to start by finding out as much before hand about the circumstances and go online to see the program. Here's what you should be watching for.

• What are the background colors? If the colors are soft your options are endless, but if they are bright you will want to wear something bold so you don't get lost.

• Will you be sitting or standing? If standing keep in mind that the microphone pack will need to attach somewhere, and if you wear a dress it must be roomy enough to allow the box to hook on the back of your bra underneath your clothing. On many television sets there are limited number of mic sets so you often wait to use a previous guests after they are finished. The timing on this can be a quick turnaround so if you're standing you may want to consider something other than a dress, but when you sit they will often be fine with the pack set behind you not attached to you directly. Also, if you're sitting try out your outfit sitting at home to make sure the skirt's not too short and nothing is pulling too tightly.

• What does the host usually wear? Does she have a certain style? You will not want to show up looking like her my twin doll, so try to keep that in mind when making your choices. Once, when I was doing a morning show, my co-host and I showed up in the VERY exactly color combos, down to the very hue of pink mauvey silk shirt {see photo above}. Luckily I had a jacket in my car that I ran out to get or the entire hour would have been a little creepy for anyone watching. 

It's not a bad idea to bring a second option with you to the set. I would hate to hear that a wardrobe malfunction cancelled your big debut like Sofia Vergara's broken zipper almost did at the Emmy's. And how about Kim Kardashian's split that happened right before her Jimmy Kimmel interview? Your show probably won't have a seamstress to "sew you in your dress" like Kim K's did so better to have another change of clothes just in case!

• What about the "green screen"? Sometimes you will film in front of a green backdrop. The reason it's green is because it's a pigment we don't usually have in our skin, so they are able to remove the color and replace it with a virtual studio behind you, leaving you looking perfectly real. The thing to know in this case is that if you do wear anything green, you will become invisible! So avoid all greens - olive, khaki, lime green, even turquoise green.

Conveying your message is obviously most important here, but keep in mind that you will not be effective in doing that if what you're wearing is distracting or confusing. By confusing I mean, if you are an artist or in a creative industry talking about design and you show up in a stiff buttoned up shirt, people will have a hard time understanding. And it would be hard to be taken seriously if you were an analyst dressed in a bohemian free love sort of ensemble. Basically, be true to your message and help people make the connection between you and what you're saying. 

When you are choosing clothing these are some of "the RULES" to know, it's easier in this case to talk about what not to wear :

• Avoid solid whites - The camera picks up the light from white and it can wash you out. And if you want to make friends with the Director in the camera room I guarantee wearing white will not be the way to do it because they have to make many adjustments to try to make this look better.

• Avoid solid blacks - Yes this color is great for high fashion and in real life is quite slimming but on set, if your arms get too close to your body it makes you look like one big black blob and if the background is also dark you could end up looking like a talking head. Even dark blue is not good for most video work.

• Avoid Small Patterns - Checks, stripes, plaids. What happens, even in HD, is that the camera cannot pick up the focus on these and they almost start to "dance" on screen as you begin to talk or breathe!

• Avoid Large Patterns - These are too distracting and compete for attention when you begin to speak.

• Jewelry - Dangling earrings will reflect light with any movement even breathing - attracting attention away from what you're saying, so it's better to wear earrings that aren't swinging unless of course you are trying to sell earrings. Wearing more than one bracelet could be a bad move because the mic that is attached to you will pick up the clacking of the back and forth sound when you move your hands. Necklaces that are too heavy can turn or become un-centered also causing a distraction. My advice when it comes to jewelry is to keep it simple!

• Trendy clothing - Contemporary outfits that are industry appropriate are always a good idea because the audience will identify you as modern and forward thinking, but too trendy clothing will always date your interview. Media interviews and videos are often saved online for eternity and a great way to promote yourself/cause. You do not want these things to become dated, so dress up and keep it trendy in a more classic looking way avoiding fads. You want to wear modern clothes that fit you perfectly. 

Clothing can be a powerful medium in appearing more successful, but the words you use and the knowledge you display are all up to you! 
Break a Leg!

TO learn more secrets about looking good in front of Every camera AND in real life - check out my new book Face This available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes.

Pycnogenol: A Pill for Younger Looking Skin? YES Please!!!

We are all looking for the holy grail of younger looking skin. But could it really come in the form of a pill? According to new research, the nutritional supplement Pycnogenol, may just be the answer to slowing down visible sign of aging.

In a clinical trial published in the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, women who took pycnogenol, 25mg three times a day, improved their beauty and enjoyed a more glowing complexion after 12 weeks with improved skin hydration and elasticity.

Pycnolgenol is an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree that grows along the coast of France whose main ingredient is procyandin. It is said that French explorer Jacques Cartier use it in 1532 to combat the spread of scurvy amongst his crew. Procyanidin is also found in food like grapes, berries, red wines and various nuts.

Certainly you are familiar with the antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E, and pycnogenol is among the most powerful free-radical anti-inflammatories with studies showing it's antioxidant capabilities 20 times more powerful than vitamin C and 50 times more potent than vitamin E.

New to North America, but not to Europe, this natural supplement is considered safe and effective in various diseases because of its potent antioxidant ability to protect against damaging effects of free-radicals, maybe even slowing down the natural process of aging.

The lead researcher in this recent study from Germany says that "No other natural product has been shown to stimulate hyaluronic acid in the skin." and added that they are encouraged by the molecular evidence that showed supplementation with pycnogenol as beneficial.

And while the study was small, 20 healthy women aged 55-68 years old, they found that pycnogenol enhanced skin elasticity by 25% and skin hydration by 8% with women who had dry skin from the beginning gaining an increase of 21%. 

We must always remember that our skin often mirrors our overall nutritional health and is often our body's first line of defense showing signs of aging due to the breakdown of collagen and elastin especially from cumulative sun exposure, so to rebuild lost collagen start incorporating into your daily life these practices:

• Apply sunscreen to your face daily. Most collagen loss can be attributed to UV sun damage.

• Eat foods that contain amino acids lysine and proline, found in lean meats, fish, egg whites and wheat germ. And take Vitamin C each day because vitamin C is what is required to transform these  to hydroxylysine and hydroxypoline which is the form of amino acids necessary to rebuild collagen. Make sure you keep your Vitamin C sealed in a dark container because Vitamin C becomes inactive very quickly when exposed to sunlight, heat and air.

• Derivatives of vitamin A, retinoids stimulate collagen production and increase cell turnover rates which will help reveal smoother skin. You may want to talk to your doctor about prescribing a retinoid product, but several quality retinol products are available at drug and beauty stores.

TO learn more secrets about how to look your best Check out my new book Face THIS available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes.

Look Good in Photos - Smile Tips and More

click {HERE} to view the video

Something to Smile About

First, a few tips on how to smile. Never have your teeth actually touching each other, even when your mouth is closed because it will make your neck muscles tense in an unflattering way.

Also, don’t force a smile by showing all your teeth in a joker grin.  We know you have beautiful teeth but why would anyone want to see your molars?

Another way to achieve a genuine, natural looking smile is by lifting your tongue up behind your front teeth. This also results in lowering your chin slightly and helping to relax your face.

Always try to give a genuine smile. Models know that real smiles are produced with the eyes. Top model Tyra Banks even invented a word for it “smizing.” When you genuinely smile it causes natural wrinkles around your eyes, regardless of age.

The eyes are the first thing to capture someone’s attention in a photo so when you’re taking your picture look into the lens of the camera. Anyone viewing the photo will feel like you are looking directly at them—making you look more open, interesting and real.

If you wear glasses make sure the photographer can see your eyes and that the top of the frame is not cutting into the eyes. To prevent a camera flash from reflecting shine or glare, tilt your glasses up or down so that the light is not rebounding off the lens. Glare can also occur when you’re photographing next to a mirror, TV, or window. Angle yourself so that the camera is not shooting directly into the reflective surface.

To avoid the double chin look, never pull back when someone is about to take your picture. No matter how skinny you are you will have double or even triple chins.  Fix it by thinking swan ballerina, Natalie Portman.  Chin up and out and then bring the chin down ever so slightly.

Also, avoid short cameramen. If the lens is below your eye level you’ll gain an extra chin. The lens should be either at eye level or slightly above.

Generally, natural looking hair is the best way to go. Keep it off your features so it’s not creating shadows on your face. If your hair is a solid color, add highlights for dimension and to prevent looking like you have a helmet on your head. Frizzy hair tends to be dryer so to tame it, moisturize your hands with lotion and quickly run them through your hair. If you notice your hair is sticking up in places, lightly rub a dryer sheet over it to eliminate static. It’s the only tip I know that works to get rid of the problem.

I hope you found these tips help you to look your best in your next photo!

Leather jeans

●► Leather is a trend you "gotta have" this season, but if you're a member of PETA then try this waxy leather-like coated skinny jean by J Brand in this oxblood red, one of the key colors this Fall! Keep in mind that leather, on it's own will grab tons of attention so keep it classic with little detailing and don't overload your look with Funky accessories. Check out more of my "gotta have it!" picks {HERE}