Sunday, October 27, 2013

Not Washing off Makeup for a Month - Mistakes that Age You!



Have you ever wondered if it really matters if you go to bed with your makeup on? Well, this is a photo of a woman who slept in her makeup, not washing it off for an entire month.With Halloween right around the corner, this itself is pretty scary for the beauty obsessed! 


photo via the Drs.


You can see that she looks about 10 years older, and the quality of her skin has definitely changed. Inflammation and clogged pores which appear larger because bacteria that causes acne has become trapped. 

We've all been guilty of skipping this important skin care step after a night out with the girls, and damage is likely not permanent, but it will take longer for your skin to bounce back.

Not washing your face can also speed up the aging process because of free radical damage. It's important to wash away pollutants that stick to makeup and contaminate our skin, attacking healthy skin that can result in a decrease in the production of collagen, which means premature wrinkles.

Moral of the story - you know it already, wash off your makeup every night! To help, buy some cleansing or baby wipes and leave them on your nightstand. This way you'll have no excuses and it's better for your skin than skipping it entirely. 

I partnered with Cover Girl in the video below to bring you some more helpful tips regarding some things you might be doing that  are actually aging your skin. 

For example, did you know that you should wash your face after you shower? Sometimes the products you use to wash your hair and body can get trapped in your pores and make them appear larger. Watch below for some more helpful tips.


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Halo Hair Extensions - Comparison REVIEW: Halo UK, Halo Crown, Halo Couture


Halo Couture vs Halo Crown vs Halo Hair Extensions (UK)

In a world of sinners, the Gods of locks, have given us the answer to all of our hairy prayers ...halo shaped hair. The easiest extension ever to use, taking less than a minute to put on without any clips to hide, messy glue or damage to your own hair. To see how easy it is check out my post about Kelly Ripa's fake hair on a wire {Here}

But the question remains - which halo design is most awe inspiring of all? To find out I ordered all three and here's what I found. 

THE PRICE
Halo Couture is by far the most expensive $375-600 for their 16 inch extensions (100 grams of hair) which are sold primarily in salons. Halo Crown, in comparison is only $225 and 40% more hair (140 grams). Halo from the UK offers a deluxe 16 inch Halo of 140 grams for $259.99, but it is only 9-10 inches in width offering only hair in back USD, plus it ships from England.


Difference in width

THE HAIR
All three have equally great hair, similar texture, silky and luxurious, but only Halo Couture and Halo Crown are laced backed. The Halo from the UK reportedly can be itchy and bulky with a single hard seam at the top holding all the hair together.

Let's face it, the reason we are looking for an extension is because we want extra hair, so it makes sense to buy the halo that has the most hair. HaloCrown's version wins! weighing in at 140 grams, which is almost 40 % more hair than either Halo Couture or the regular (non-deluxe) UK Halo.

 Halo Crown width of hair is 12.5 to 13 inches of hair that goes ear to ear. HaloCouture is 11.5 to 12 inches wide. The Halo Hair Extension from the UK is only 9-10 inches across. I prefer the wider halo design because is gives me volume on the sides too like a whole set of extensions, not just in the back of my head.

HALO CROWN - PUTTING IT ON
Here are some before and after shots of me wearing the 16 inch Halo Crown, that I had cut to 14 inch length and styled - the uncut 16 inch Halo Crown hits at my bra strap and I didn't want it quite that long.


As the old beauty queen within me would say,
"Love your hair, hope you win!"


Sponsored post

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

How to Pose to Look Skinny in photos for Great Pictures!




If you look at the photo above taken on my 49th birthday last week,  you are probably saying to yourself ...
"Well, I already have that skinny arm on the hip trick mastered, is that all you got?"
However, as obvious as this one seems, many women are still not using this pose to their advantage!

I am often asked by magazines for quotes about the tips and tricks of posing for better photos, and there's a lot that goes into getting a perfect photo, the lighting, the makeup, the styling. I'll be doing more televised segments about all these, but yesterday I got the chance to talk about the importance of posing for Arizona Midday - take a look here:




The skinny arm on the hip trick is completely overused on the red carpet because it does incredible things for women ... smaller waist, longer legs and creates curves. It's best if you choose the arm closet to the lens of the camera for this trick and remember to lower your shoulder. However, if you don't want to look like a teapot in all your photos, you can get the same effect if you understand why this pose works.

The basic cheat being used here isn't the hand on the hip, it's the bent elbow and separation of the body and arm, that makes this work. If must have light between or the width of your arms next to your body will make you look bigger than you actually are! You don't have to over-exaggerate it every time to get the benefit of this trick. Simply put a slight bend to your elbow and pull your arms away from your body. Or hold on to something, a purse, a drink, a  pocket .... It will make a massive difference in your pictures.

Placement of the hands is key. A model rarely shows the back of her hands. The reason? They aren't pretty and they look big. The sides are much prettier and dainty. Secondly, never clump your fingers together, instead let fingers relax and be apart.

One of the biggest mistakes women do is place their hands lower than they should when working this pose. If you do, the part of your body you will draw attention to is your hips, the widest area of your body. Instead cheat the hands up a little higher on your waist and this will give you the illusion of longer legs ... Nothing wrong with that!

Most of the time you will want to keep the weight of your body on your back foot, however if you need to fake some curves you can do what I did in the top photo and keep your weight on your front leg instead or try popping your hip toward the camera.

The other important thing to do when standing for a photo is to angle your body to the camera. We must create the angle, because the lens of the camera will flatten you out to a 2D version of yourself and make you look wider than you are if you don't! So angle yourself to the lens of the camera pointed at you. The worst thing you can do is stand front and center to the lens. This is why people say the camera adds 10 pounds. Face the camera and place your hips and feet at a 2 or 10 o'clock position to it. Then create a smaller waistline by turning your face to the lens, twisting yourself without moving your feet. Ahaha - instantly you have created a slimmer waistline too!



Practice. Practice. Practice. The mirror is your best friend and a perfect tool to teach you how to develop your own signature pose. Like I said in this video, if you try to emulate Taylor Swift's cross legged go to pose without checking yourself first, you may just end up taking a photo that looks more like you have to pee your pants instead of a young goddess with long legs.

Finally, with social media and sites like Instagram and Facebook, it's nearly impossible to get out of taking a group shot now and then, assuming you have a life outside of the world wide web. To get your best group shots just keep in mind that anything closest to the camera will look the biggest. If this happens to be you, just take a step back or hide a part of you behind the person next to you. And never get sandwiched between two people and let your arms flatten next to your body. Just remember the tips above and try to work in a slight angle and to keep some space between your body and arm for great pics on girls night out!



So many pictures, so little time ...  Hope this helps!
XO 
Shelley





Friday, September 20, 2013

Pantone picks TOP Colors for Spring 2014!




Summer is officially over tomorrow. Fashion Week just ended. So it makes perfect sense that we charge forward thinking about what's going to be on trend going forward. And Pantone, the world's renowned authority on color forecasting just announced that the "IT" color for Spring will be DAZZLING BLUE

Looking at the entire palette, there seems to be a shift happening. The bright blue winner is by far one of the strongest colors of the bunch, and it's interesting to see that the others colors are more neutral like Sand and Paloma, with pastel Violet Tulip coming in at second place.

Stay tuned ... Pantone will announce the Color of the Year in December. WIth past winners like Tangerine Tango and Emerald Green, do you think we'll be  singing the blues for awhile longer?

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

A Model Recommends Halo Hair Crown Extensions - Less than 30 seconds to put on! No clips, No glue, No damage!


I always love having a chance to visit with you on air at nbc affiliate KPNX in Phoenix. Today I talked about celebrity secrets to looking younger ... Let's face it we'd all like to know the skinny when it comes to beautiful bronzed skin, pouty lips, gorgeous lashes and luscious locks of hair that make the stars appear ageless on the red carpet! Well, it's all about getting the best products and knowing how to use them. 

Watch the video below and see how you can quickly look like you've been drinking at the fountain of youth. By the way, did you notice my hair transformation? You can have fuller, longer hair in less than 30 seconds - I show you how easy it is to put on the Halo Crown hair extension!




Here are the products I featured - Click on the name to go to their website








Saturday, September 7, 2013

Extend Summer Beauty with DIY Keratin at home and World's Longest Lasting Self Tanner


There are still a couple weeks left of summer and yesterday I was so happy to guest co-host the Morning Blend here in Southern Arizona and share a little beauty advice about extending that summer look into Fall ... bronzed skin, sexy hair and arosy glow! Watch the video and read more about the products that I featured below.









Obagi C- Clarifying Serum - to help lift all the uneven skin tone from the sun




La Roche Posay ANTHELIOS XL SPF 50+ FLUIDE EXTREME For Face - Super lightweight with a matte finish.


La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Daily Anti Aging Primer with SPF 50 Sunscreen - All in one producte with Primer and ON SALE for $25!


VITA LIBERATA pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse ($54)- World's longest lasting self tanner!



Rio De Keratin Do It Yourself Cocolada Keratin Treatment ($35) - DIY At home kit for fizz free hair


GlitzFlips.com ($39.99) - Luxury swarovski crystal flip 







Thursday, August 15, 2013

Crazy Secret Beauty Tricks that Really Work! Including Deodorant for Face, Milk of Magnesia mask, Prep H for puffy eyes


Click to Watch the Video

Monday I had the pleasure of visiting Arizona Midday to share some secrets about products that you have at home that you might not realize can offer some beauty benefits in a pinch. Check out my segmenand let me know what you think! 

Kitty Litter mud mask - using the same ingredient in expensive spa treatments around the world. For the recipe click {HERE}.

Deodorant for your face to cut the shine.

Hand sanitizer as anti-perspirant.

Cotton t-shirt to cut the frizz.

Milk of Magnesia and Pepto Bismal for oil absorbing masks. Great for oily acne prone skin.

Preparation H avec Bio Dyne - only available in Canada for eye depuffing.


Sunday, August 11, 2013

Kitty Litter DIY Facial Clay Mud Mask - Snooki meet Bentonite





In the world of beauty just about anything goes, including crazy cat lady secrets ... So it should have come as no surprise when Jersey Shore star, Snooki revealed in her book Confessions of a Guidette, that if she can't get to a spa, she'll put kitty litter on her face

Well, I thought this wacky beauty advice was worth investigating and as it turns out there is some truth to what she says, as long as you are using  kitty litter that is made of bentonite clay. Only $2.50 for a huge bag ... this will last you a long time!

Bentonite clay is the main ingredient in mud masks used at luxurious spas around the world. It is a natural antioxidant that's great for oily or acne prone skin, and because it is a very absorbent volcanic clay, it pulls toxins form the skin and clean out pores, making them appear smaller. It also acts as an exfoliant which helps in anti-aging and cell turnover.


To make the clay mask yourself, it couldn't be easier - Just add water! Seriously. 

You can enhance the mask by adding honey, aloe vera gel, egg white, lemon or any essential oil. I personally like to add honey because it helps the mixture adhere to your skin better.



Use about 2-3 Tablespoons of natural clay kitty litter.

Add just enough water to make it muddy and a little watery and mask-y. 
Start with one teaspoon at a time.



 Mix well and pop the mixture into the microwave from 10-30 seconds so it is warm, but not boiling.


Mix again. 


 *Optional add honey.


Apply the watery mud to your skin, trying to avoid the clay pellets, in a thin coat. Wait 15-20 minutes and rinse. Your skin will feel really soft!


Safe enough for my 10 year old's face and 
a perfectly fun recipe for a girly sleep over! 








Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Summerize Your Beauty as seen on Arizona Midday!

Click to View Video
Blazing sun, humidity, chlorine and salt water can leave your hair dry, your face clogged and you feeling like one hot mess. Here are the products I featured on Monday Arizona Midday to help you look your best when the temps hit the triple digits!










Saturday, July 27, 2013

On Trend. Colorful Trainers - Workout Wear Sneakers!



I live in Arizona and most people think that this time of year is the pits here, but we have beautiful evenings cooled off with periodic monsoons ... rain that pours for about 20 minutes. This snap is from a sunset walk with my daughter and notice we are both sporting a bright fuchsia sneaker. 

Personally I love and own a few bright trainers  but these shocking pink ones are my fave! Neon footwear ... a trend that continues to grow in popularity now fully spilling into the casual. A perfect summer accessory to add that little pop of color that makes summer, well summer. Even if you are a dedicated all black workout queen, you can add some harmless brightness just to your feet. Plus, if you love a certain color, but it doesn't exactly flatter your face it's a perfect fit.

You see models donning this trend on the streets too, especially popular for girl's whose job usually requires walking around in a totally different type of bright shoe!





HAVE FUN WORKING OUT in TechniCOLOR!




Thursday, July 25, 2013

Look like you lost weight without diets or photoshop!



We have all seen the amazing transformations of frumpy wallflower to skinny bombshell in countless weight loss ads filled with disclaimers like no photoshop, actual clientSo how would you like to know the trick to getting the photo without the diet

First you need to remember that the camera lens itself can add or subtract pounds depending on the angle. Anything closest to the lens will look larger.

Marilyn Monroe was a classic example of using this distortion to her advantage by leaning forward and crossing her arms to look bodacious … and she became an icon for it. It’s best to have the camera lens positioned at eye level or slightly above, never let someone shoot you from a low vantage point. This angle adds 20 pounds automatically and make even a skinny girl look hippy! 

Andrew Dixon, a personal trainer, gave us a little proof of this instant gratification strategy in his Huffington Post article yesterday where he came clean about his before and after photos ... He admits that they were taken just an hour apart!



"I was feeling particularly bloated on the day, so I asked my girlfriend to take a before shot. I then shaved my head, face and chest and prepared for the after shot, which was about an hour after I took the before shot. I did a few push ups and chin ups, tweaked my bedroom lighting, sucked in, tightened my abs and BOOM! We got our after shot."


ANDREW IS SPOT ON WITH HIS APPROACH - MODELS USE THESE SAME TRICKS ALL THE TIME TO GET THEIR BEST SKINNY PHOTOS. I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW THEM TOO!

  • Engage your muscles for 5 minutes. 
 Many fitness models do a pre-shoot pump, so take a cue from them and engage your muscles by doing some curls, chair dips, pushups or squats right before you shoot your photo. Flexing during the photo is good but it takes some practice to keep your face soft and pretty at the same time. Never forget to model with the face and confidence because no matter how hot your body looks, this is what will make your photo sparkle, draw a viewer in, and is the ultimate secret to a beautiful photograph. 


  •  Get a faux tan. 
It’s true that a spray tan can be visually slimming in photos. Anything darker recedes. You can fake six pack abs by using a bronzer or second coat of self tanner on the outer sides of your stomach to give the illusion of a narrower waist or along areas where you want to fake some muscle tone like the tricep line. 


  • Skinny arm on the hip trick. 
Celebrities on the red carpet have this one covered! Most women complain about their upper arms looking big in photos. When you keep your arms locked next to your body it makes you look wider so to look thinner keep your arms slightly bent and away from your body. Modeling tip: When placing you hand on your waist, cheat it up a little higher to make your legs look longer. 



  • Create Vertical lines.
So this is where Andrew might have went wrong, but then again he is a dude ... Longer hair with highlights, can create vertical lines that can help you look slimmer. Big, curly hair can also make your body seem smaller. Wearing v-shaped necklines and monocramatic (dressing in all one color) will elongate your body shape to look thinner.


 You might also like to read how to contour your face the Kim Kardashian way for a slimmer face {CLICK HERE}


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

DIY Caffeinated Coffee Mask to wake up your skin and depuff!




It's well known that coffee can help wake you up, but did you know it can recharge your skin too? Here's how to prep your skin with a DIY caffeined mask tomorrow morning:


  • Recycle old coffee, making sure it's the caffeinated kind, by placing it in a jar in the refrigerator.


  • Soak an old washcloth in the leftover coffee overnight in the fridge.


  • Apply the washcloth to your face for at least 5 minutes ... This is a great time to meditate or think about what you want to accomplish for the day!

Caffeine helps with redness and puffiness due to it’s vasoconstrictive qualities. Plus, the coldness automatically reduces any swelling.

Watch my video about other beauty products incorporating  caffeine to help you look younger and depuff your eyes.



*Shhh, no one needs to know that you washed with Joe!


Friday, July 12, 2013

Makeup Tricks for an Instant Facelift in Photos - Without Surgery



One of the secrets in taking a great photograph is by always knowing where your light source is and getting in the most flattering light available, but there's a way to add light to your face too with makeup that makes your skin appear radiant and lifted when applied in some strategic places! 

It’s inevitable that with birthdays, our skin begins to sag, creating jowls and bags, so it's important to begin using highlighters, illuminizers, concealers - anything with light reflecting properties in precise, but subtle places that will play tricks to make anyone looking at you view your face with an upward glance instead, in keeping with a youthful appearance.


The secret is making sure that whatever you are using is pearlized and luminescent, not sparkly or metallic and can be as simple as that white-piink-gold shimmery eye shadow that you probably have in an old makeup palette. You want to think of adding "highlights" to your face.


Many of us already use this trick in the inner corner of the eyes and under the brow, but it is also important to use these same light reflecting principles on top of the highest part of our eyebrow arch. Not just under the eyebrow but a touch of light on top of the brow line to instantly draw anyone’s glance at you upward for an instant eye lift! 

As we age there is also a hollowing that seems to occur in the area outside the corner of the eye. This is why you don't want any eye-shadow to live below the outer corner of the eye. This too, can be a perfect place to highlight. Plus, reserve any heavy eyeliner for only the upper eyelid, to keep attention away from any under eye bags.


My all time favorite, most versatile product to use for this is YSL's Touche Eclat. It is one of the most popular buys in the beauty industry, but honestly one of the most misunderstood products even though it is legendary! It lives a dual life often bought as a concealer, when it's actually a highlighter and skin brightener. That's why I love it though - it works under the eye to reflect light and minimize dark circles, highlights and covers - it's especially great in your purse for touch ups.





Aging literally sucks the life, or collagen, right out of your cheekbones with the apples of your cheek appearing lower, pulling your face down. We must apply our makeup differently as we age, especially blush. Using little circles of blush on the apples of your cheeks will only highlight the situation, so sweep blush from the highest part of your cheekbones up toward the temples, or hairline, in a “C” like shape to bring the eye into an upward focus. Warm pinks and peach will make you look youthful. I really love the cream blushes and stains because powders tend to settle into fine lines.

For a slimmer nose, you can contour using bronzer down the sides and a bit of highlighter down the center to accentuate. And I always hit the tip of my nose with the last sweep from my brush of bronzer or blush to give the illusion of an ever so slightly (shorter) button nose. By the way, for those of you who have bought into the Pinnochio fairy tale that your nose grows as you age, I want you to know that your nose doesn't grow once you become an adult. However, it can change as you age or droop when elastin and collagen break down. Also in pregnancy noses can swell and appear wider due to sinus inflammation and weight gain.


Finally, youthfulness is associated with those bee stung lips, but careful with the fillers or you might look end up looking like a duck. Instead, line the upper lip with a pencil in the same pinky/nude shade as your natural lip, but instead of outlining the cupid’s bow perfectly, draw straight across it and blur the line with your finger. I don’t know why this little trick works exactly but it adds fullness to your lip line naturally! Finish with a rosy pink lipstick ...everyone looks youthful and good in this color!


Tightlining - Another trick to make your eyes stand out CLICK {HERE} to read how!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Wedding Day tips to be Picture Perfect - Nano Gold Technology What it is and Why You'll want to Use It!



Everyone is trying to save money where they can these days, but one area that you shouldn't cut back on is skin-care, especially if you are the bride to be! After the wedding is said and done and thousands of dollars have been spent, what you are left with is a photograph - one that you'll want to be glowing in! 


You can watch all of my picks to get you ready for any summer wedding as a guest or the bride in this video:



We choose to get married in gold bands because they last forever. As beautiful as sterling is, it has a flaw ... it tarnishes with time. But did you know that gold, specifically nano-gold also has beauty implications for repairing damaged skin cells and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles?

Nano-technology is generating alot of excitement in the beauty industry and you are going to be hearing about it more and more in future anti-aging products. Nano particles, because of their microscopic size, penetrate deeper underneath the skin to the cellular level to deliver higher doses of antioxidants, leaving skin looking younger, tighter and more hydrated.

Nano-gold will not make you rich ... 10,000 particles next to each other would only make up the width of a single strand of human hair, but they are being studied by cancer researchers for their implications and potential for melanomas, and other challenging dermatologic conditions.



Orogold Cosmetics is established in the beauty industry for using gold's beneficial properties in their skin care lines with products ranging from $28 to their 24K Nano Hydra Silk Mask at $1500. You might think that the price tag, like gold itself, is by the ounce, but products like these with nano particles of antioxidants are harder to make, so they will cost more, but you can indulge no matter what your budget is. Think of this as an investment in reversing existing damage and preventing issues later on. Afterall, beauty is a currency we all want to be rich in.

Some other posts you might like to prepare you for all those photos you'll be taking are:
1. How to get rid of the turkey neck {HERE}
2. How to tightline your eyes so the really pop {HERE}
and of course don't forget to buy my book, Face This: Real Advice from Real Models,  for all the secrets to getting that perfect pose and how to hide any figure flaw.