Cover Girl ad banned in US - Fake Beauty: A guide to keeping it Real!

Bigger, Better, Bolder

Beauty campaigns have been banned across Europe for over-photoshopping. Today, the US finally weighs in ... banning ads by Covergirl. The ads, one which featured popstar Taylor Swift promoting NatureLuxe Mouse Mascara, promised "2X's more volume" on lashes but couldn't be substantiated. The disclaimer in fine print on the bottom clearly stating "lashes enhanced in post production". 

For a reality check watch the 2006 Dove "Evolution" video showing a model's progression from bare face to perfectly airbrushed billboard transformation.

The fake photoshopped look has become normalized because we no longer distinguish the difference between what is realistic and achievable vs what is fake. Women are spending more money than ever for hair extensions, plastic surgery, veneers ... otherwise known as "peacocking": trying to show off and stand out amongst other women. 

It's time to consider the man's perspective in this wholeheartedly, especially the part where men don't like anything that looks fake. It becomes too distracting for them, they find it hard to believe that your eyelashes could really be that long and they start to wonder what else might not be the real deal. That bold lip color that you think will entice him to a kiss? He sees it only as a threat ... becoming smeared across his own face if he does. 

Models and celebrities know that there are products that can enhance your looks and bring out your own special glow, but even so you must be careful not to overdo it. Like overly manipulated photos, you could quickly become banned from a guy's attention or a call back for that model audition, by layering it on too heavy.

Here are some great products to try for natural looking enhancements in photos and in real life:

Benefit's Benetint $29 - "the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle." Benefit's kiss-proof and waterproof,  sheer rose-tinted cheek and lip stain.

Lorac's TANtalizer Bronzing Luminzer $32 - An easy way to mesmerize a better-than-natural looking bronze tan in a matter of seconds.

Crest 3D Whitestrips - Teeth whitening can set you back a few hundred dollars but these strips, used nightly, can give similar results over time. (New York city dentist, Golub-Evan says that 20 years ago when he worked with model Paulina Porizkova she insisted he keep her teeth their natural color but recently she came in to have them whitened saying "We live in a society that prizes youth and white teeth are a part of that. ")

Mac's Zoomlash Mascara $15- reportedly Kim Kardashian's favorite, it is also one of mine. Mascara is not all the same, but they all contain the same basic components. To make them really work for you apply a thickening formula over a lengthening mascara and watch your eyes really pop! 

For more secrets about how to look flawless in front of a camera (without photoshop!) pick up or download my book Face This: Real Advice From Real Models, Photographers and Make Up Artists on How to Become Picture Perfect!  

Holiday Photo Tips for Better Picture Taking!

Watch the video here

Everyone reaches for the camera this time of year because the holidays make for Great Photo Opps, so here are some tips to turn your ordinary snaps into magical memories!

Double your Chances
The portrait in front of the tree is always traditional in my family, but remember that some of your best images happen in between the posing so keep shooting. It's a good idea if you can enlist another camera person along side you. A different exposure, perspective with twice the chances for that perfect photo. In the digital age there is no reason not to make it your goal to fill up the memory card!


Turn your Flash Off
I always prefer photos in natural light. You can reduce the dependency of using your flash if you open up window coverings and turn on lights in the room. Here is a photo of my Christmas tree, one with a flash and immediately after with the flash off.

Flash on                                         Flash off

Which one is better? Well it depends. If you are really proud of your tree trimming abilities you would pick the one with the "flash on" because you can see the details of the tree and the ornaments, whereas the photo with the "flash off" adds a tremendous amount of warmth, with the lights illuminating the tree. Just to be safe, take your pictures both ways ... with and without a flash. 


When you are photographing your kids underneath the tree looking for their presents you might find that the lit tree will be bright enough to light up their angelic faces, or you might need to turn on your flash. Most built in camera flash's  reach about 10 feet, but if it's washing people's faces out, back up a bit. Certainly, no flash is needed Christmas morning when all the light is streaming in from the windows.

Many religious and family traditions at this time of year include candlelight which gives off rich red and orange tones in a photo and adds drama. Sometimes the ambience is more important to your photo than a clearly lit face. The best way to capture the innocence of the moment itself ... is in it's natural light. 


Determine your Focus
When you are taking pictures of people, be sure to point the focus dot (or box) on their eyes. Generally when we look at people, it is eye-to-eye so naturally this is where you are able to capture the emotion of your subject. 


When you are trying to photograph a group of people in staggered depth, keep in mind that you will want to focus in the middle so the person in the front row and the back row remain in focus. If you only focus on the front, the people in the back will be blurry.


You might find there are many points of interest in your frame when you compose a photo, but you will need to choose one. This is what will grab the attention of your viewer ...

Sometimes you won't want the focus to be on a person at all, but instead on something not so obvious, like this piece of pie which makes for a unique and fun image you will treasure!






Get Closer
One of the simplest tips to getting a photo with a real a wow factor is to fill the frame of the shot with your subject and eliminate the dead space or headroom around them. This also gets rid of any clutter in the background, that can be distracting. Doing this will add a dynamic element to your photo and have a profound impact on your shot.

No Excuses. Period.

Instagram

Almost everyone these days has a smart phone or iPhone in their pocket so there is really no excuse for not taking a couple snaps and sharing them with family far away. Download the popular and FREE apps like Instagram or Hipstamatic which can add cool effects like blurred edges and vignetting for a vintage retro flair.  -------------------------------->


AND if you are giving the gift of a camera this year to someone, make sure you take it out of the box, charge up the battery and install a memory card so it is ready to be used as soon as the wrapping is ripped open!




If you want to learn more about your camera and the keys to improve your photos, check out Chapter 13: Digital Tech and Chapter 14: Advanced Exposure in my book Face This, Real Advice from Real Models,   191 color pages full of tips and advice from models, photographers and makeup artists ... The secrets to looking great in front of the camera along with everything else you need to become Picture Perfect! Available on Amazon, Nook, Kindle and iTunes for iPod, iPhone and iPad users.

How to DeBloat after the Holiday Parties!

The media suggest that the average American usually gains around 7-10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years, but according to the most reliable study to date published in the New England Journal of Medicine, in truth, it is less than one pound!

If your clothes feel tight and your face puffy it is more likely you are experiencing the holiday "bloat" which can tip the scales up to 5 pounds plus.

Holiday festivities include family potluck gatherings, neighborhood gift exchanges, Thanksgiving dinner, cookie swaps, Christmas and office parties, not to mention the celebratory New Years toast!  All of these rich and processed foods that are being served usually mean more sodium - leading straight to water weight. 

It’s important not to freak out and remind yourself that weight loss and weight gain are mathematical equations and in a few days it would be nearly impossible to consume enough extra calories for a real 5 pound gain. 1 lb = 3500 calories AND 5 lbs = 17,500 calories extra.  Here are some  strategies to help you de-bloat.

1.  In between parties cut back on calories. 

This shouldn't be very hard to do since you have overindulged and feel full. Bethenny Frankel, author of Naturally Thin, suggests whipping up a big pot of vegetable soup to slim down. Just throw some onions, broccoli and carrots, in a fat free chicken stock and puree to eat with brown rice. 

2.  Fill up with loads of de-bloating foods to tell your body to get rid of all that water. Some natural diuretics are watermelon, asparagus, oats, cucumber, ginger, pineapple, and yogurts containing probiotics ("good" bacteria) can help.

3.  Eat fiber to help clear your colon of any undigested foods and air. Foods like bananas that are high in potassium  have also been shown to beat bloat by causing your body to flush out the water.

4.  Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Sodium intake acts like a water retention magnet so you need to drink enough water to flush all of this from your system or your body will keep trying to save water reserves.

5.  Sweat it out. Working out not only helps burn calories away but you can sweat out unwanted water swelling. Before supermodel Heidi Klum gets in front of the camera she de-bloats with an Epsom salt-rich bath. Magnesium sulphate in the salts draw out the fluids from your body.

6. Plenty of Zzzzz's. Sleeping raises growth hormones and reduces stress. Stress can increase cortisol levels in your body over time and cortisol inhibits sodium loss through the small intestines. Water will stay where the sodium is which often causes water retention. So focus on getting to bed early and letting your metabolism get in check to help your body recover!

Shelley GoodStein is a FORD model who speaks to women through television, national articles and public forums about a model's secrets to looking good from the inside out and the beauty of aging! She is the author of Face This: Advice From Real Models, Photographers and Make Up Artists on How to Become Picture Perfect!