Thursday, August 28, 2008

11. BODY TYPE (flaunt or fix)

No one has a "perfect" body. Everyone have flaws, even models! Knowing our body type is important because it guides us on choosing clothes that will flatter our body the most. So here are some tips on finding the perfect dress that will compliment you body type.

PEAR

body credentials: narrow shoulders, full hips and thighs, defined waist

The key is to focus on accentuating your assets like you waist and shoulders. Empire waist dresses are definitely your friend but straight dresses that tighten on the hips is a no go. Choose fabrics that are fluid and not too clingy. Vertical draping and seaming will help elongate the body. Just remember to wear a dress that is fitted on the top and not on the bottom.

Avoid thin straps and boat necklines, and stay away from pleated or gathered fabric at the waist as this will accentuate your broader hips. Fitted tops such as a strapless corset-style bodice look best with this body shape especially in combination with that A-line skirt.

APPLE

body credentials: larger shoulder and breast, smaller hips and thighs

You should definitely show off your legs. An A- line skirt will be the best. Choose fluid fabrics like flowing silks and loose cottons. Pick pieces that are shaped but not tight. Bring attention to the bottom half of the body.

Apple bodies should avoid halter, heavily decorated, off-the shoulder, and boat necklines as these accentuate your already broad shoulders. Try to avoid puffy sleeves or big tops in combination with slim bottoms. This will exaggerate your wider shoulders as well.

The most flattering neckline for a full bust is the V-neck or a plunging neckline as they make the body appear less round. A fuller skirt will also balance your fuller bust.

HOUR GLASS

body credentials: shoulders and hips are about equal in width, small waist

Accentuate your waist. Find styles that have square necklines. This will accentuate your features without making your shoulders appear too wide or your waist too thick. A strapless or off-the shoulder neckline is perfect for an hourglass shape.

Avoid heavily beaded dresses since they tend to make you appear heavier than you actually are.

That being said, you can't really go wrong. An hour glass figure is very well proportioned so you can pretty much pull off anything.

SLENDER

body credentials: slim body, minimal curves

If you want to appear less boyish and more feminine choose dresses that will give you an illusion of a curvier body. Dresses with extra details like full sleeves and a ruched waist is great. Belted styles, like shirt and wrap dresses, and those with defined waists is the best. Details at the waist and an A-line skirt make for a more feminine silhouette.

Avoid sheaths and other clingy styles as this will not add any fullness to your slender shape.

CURVY

body credentials: larger breast, small waist, full hips and thighs

Curvy body types look great in dresses that define the waist. Dresses that will work best on your body type are wraps, shifts, A-lines and belted shirt dresses. Your height will determine how long your dress should be, so shorter women can get away with a little higher hemline.

posted by: tessa @ 1:31 PM

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

10. HEIGHT (faunt or fix)

1. COLOR

- It will not only make you look taller but skinnier too. Wear clothes that are the same in color. Dark colors are the best. Beside from black also try purple, burgundy, navy and charcoal. But that does not mean you can’t wear other colors. Just stay monochromatic.

2. VERTICAL LINES

- Vertical stripes not only make you look taller, but they make you look slimmer as well. Just be creative on wearing them and DON’T over do it!!!

3. HEELS

- Obviously! The higher the heel the better but don’t wear heels that you can’t actually walk in comfortably and gracefully because it will just make you look awkward. If you can’t walk in high heels, try wedges it’s more stable because of its base.

4. V-NECK

- V- necks will make you neck longer thus making you whole body appear longer. But again, don’t over do it.

5. POSTURE

- Posture will really make a big difference. A good posture will not only make you look taller but will also make you look awake and energetic.

Others…

- avoid anything that is horizontal like chokers and ankle straps

- avoid clothes that are too tight or too loose

- wear long necklaces

- avoid wearing big belts

- always be confident!

posted by: tessa @ 1:09 PM

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Saturday, August 23, 2008

9. SKIN TONES (flaunt or fix)

PALE SKIN

skin credentials: red hair, freckles

SKIN

- use a sheer foundation
EYES
- curl lashes
- choose warm or neutral tones, avoid cool tones
- apply a light concealer under eyes
- apply mascara, it’s essential because the lashes is usually very light
CHEEKS
- use a light bronzer
- brush through the hairline and just above the apple of the cheeks
LIPS
- use a more neutral and sheer lip color for everyday look
- use warmer shades for night look

DARK SKIN

skin credentials: black/dark hair

SKIN
- avoid heavy foundation
- choose a foundation that will your skin look matt
- mix two tones of foundation to even out for the areas such as the forehead that tends to be darker than the rest of the face
EYES
- apply a light concealer under eyes
- choose richer shades like plums and browns
- line eyes with a dark brown eye liner
- apply black mascara
CHEEKS
- apply any berry colored blush
LIPS
- choose rich and more intense shades

OLIVE SKIN

skin credentials: brown hair, medium skin

SKIN
- use a sheer foundation
- choose a foundation that is not too light or too dark
EYES
- curl lashes
- apply a concealer that is lighter than your skin tone
- if you have brown eyes avoid rich brown tones because this will make your eyes look smaller instead choose caramel, taupe and grey
- line eyes with brown eyeliner, black is too harsh
- apply mascara
CHEEKS
- apply cream blush instead of powder
- avoid anything with yellow tones
LIPS
- use anything that has a hint of pink

FAIR SKIN

skin credentials: light skin, blonde/brown hair

SKIN
- use a light sheer foundation
- you can use a primer to remove redness
EYES
- curl lashes
- you can use any shade
- apply mascara
CHEEKS
- apply cream blush
- if you choose to apply bronzer, don’t go too warm
LIPS
- choose a more natural shade
- make sure your lip color is a similar shade to your cheeks

posted by: tessa @ 1:46 PM

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

8. BAD BREATH (flaunt or fix)

So what can you do to cure and prevent bad breath?

• GO TO YOU DENTIST!!!

- get your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year

- they can also diagnose other problems regarding your oral health

• Brush your teeth (duh?!)

- brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes

- brush and don’t scrub

• Use a tongue scrapper

- 75 % of the bacteria in your mouth is in your tongue!!!

• Floss everyday

- flossing prevents gingivitis

- it removes bacteria, plaque, and stimulates your gums

- if your gums bleed due to flossing, that just means that your doing it enough

• Gargle

- not just any mouthwash but a mouthwash with stabilized chlorine dioxide

- don’t use mouthwash with alcohol, alcohol dries out your mouth

• Foods

- we all know the usual suspects like garlic and onions

- caffeinated beverages are a no no! it dries out your mouth

- high protein foods like cheese and milk is also a no no

- don’t avoid all these foods though- as long as you brush your teeth afterwards, everything will be fine

• QUICK FIXES

if your on a date and brushing is not option try these:

- herbs like eucalyptus and mint

- crunchy snacks like apples and carrots

- and the ever reliable… sugarless gum

posted by: tessa @ 11:43 AM

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

7. LOSING WEIGHT (flaunt or fix)

1. Bigger Is NOT Better: Portions are very important. Just because fruits and vegetables are healthy does not mean you eat 5 pounds of it.

2. Eat when you're hungry: Pay attention to your body and not the time.

3. Stop eating when you're full: Try eating more slowly, chewing your food... really tasting it. Serve yourself smaller portions, and see if you're not satisfied with less.

4. Think "whole" instead of "white": White flour and refined breads and cereals are not as satisfying or healthy as whole grain. Fiber fills you up and helps lower the risk for hear disease and diabetes.

5. Lower your sugar intake: STEP AWAY FROM THE SUGAR COATED CEREALS!!! Sodas are also a no no!

6. Modify your favorite recipes: Frying adds fat to food, which adds calories. Some favorite fried foods can be baked instead.

7. Choose high-fiber foods: Foods that are concentrated in nutrition are also higher in calories. When you're trying to lose weight, choose foods that provide fewer calories for more volume.

8. Take a daily walk: Simple things like walking instead of driving will make a difference. Walk the dog, go to the park, go to the beach- anything that will keep you moving.

9. No junk foods!: It’s going to be hard but it’s possible!!! Try decreasing the amount of chips that you eat every day so your body will get used to eat. So instead of eating 10 PACKS OF CHIPS a day, try eating 8, then, 6, then, 4… until you don’t crave chips anymore.

10. Make a commitment to your healthy lifestyle. Take it one day at a time. You can do it... I know you can! Baby steps add up to a lifetime of health.

posted by: tessa @ 11:27 AM

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Friday, August 15, 2008

6.BLACKHEADS (flaunt or fix)

Facial Scrub

• wet a towel with warm water
• use a blackhead scrub on the blackheads
• splash cold water onto your face to close your pores
• use a toner specifically for blackheads, and blackhead clearing products that contains AHA

Nose strips

• Wet your nose with a clean face cloth
• Put the sticky side of the nose strip (obviously!) on your nose for 10 minutes
• And gently remove it
  

others…

• rub a lemon peel on your skin to reduce the greasiness from it and it helps to remove the black heads too
• apply oil free moisturizer on your skin
• apply an astringent on your skin, which will reduce the oiliness from the skin
• drink lots of fluids, water flushes away the toxins from the body and makes the skin smooth and supple

*try not to use an alcohol based toner, it rubs off dead skin cells but it is not too good for your skin
*always moisturize your face after washing

posted by: tessa @ 12:57 PM

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Monday, August 11, 2008

5. TEETH (flaunt or fix)

Here are additional suggestions for better tooth health, provided by the Nemours Foundation:

• Be careful not to brush your teeth too hard, which can damage sensitive gums.
• Brush from your gumline to the top of each tooth in short, gentle strokes.
• Make sure you thoroughly brush the entire height of your teeth (especially where you chew). Be sure to get the bristles down in the crevices where food can collect.
• Thoroughly brush the insides of your teeth. For the backs of hard-to-brush front teeth, try holding the toothbrush almost vertically, and brush up and down.
• Always brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth to get rid of bacteria. Use a sweeping, forward motion to clean these areas.
• Brush your teeth for two to three minutes at a time.
• Carefully floss between your teeth, back and forth, and gently down to the gumline.
• Curve the floss around each tooth -- don't forget the backs of teeth. Gently move the floss up and down to dislodge food and bacteria-laden plaque.

posted by: tessa @ 12:47 PM

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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

4. EYES (flaunt or fix)

If your puffy eyes is cause by genetics, there is really nothing else that you can do about it. But if your puffy eyes are just one effect of the daily grind, here are some quick fixes to get those eyes sparkling again.

1. Use topical creams with yeast or cucumber extracts
2. Avoid salty foods and drink plenty of water
3. Avoid alcohol intake, just don’t drink!
4. Sleep for 7-8 hours
5. Chill some cucumber or potato slices in the fridge and then pop them over your eyes for 10 minutes or so to reduce redness and swelling
6. Use an aloe-based eye-soothing gel or cream
7. Don’t rub your eyes
8. Apply chilled teabags for 10-15 minutes

posted by: tessa @ 9:49 AM

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