The Dream Diet - Lose Weight While You Sleep (For Real)

While making New Year resolutions, most of us will include losing weight, but here's why counting sheep may be the answer.  Exercise and eating may not be contributing to the battle of the bulge as much as your sleep habits are ... Plus we all know you can't eat when your sleeping.

Lots of models use crazy blood type, liquid and all sorts of fad diets to slim down, but some just make sleep a priority! Heidi Klum told People Magazine that she clocks 10 hours a night, pretty much going to sleep when the children do. And actress Penelope Cruz claims that she sleeps 12 hours a day to help maintain her flawless figure.

Many models I know get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, choose healthy low calorie foods, and do some sort of exercise every day. Two other things I notice about my model friends is that they often eat the very same thing for breakfast - Every. Single. Day. This eliminates the choices and chances of making unhealthy decisions. After not waking up from a good 8-10 hours of sleep your body is programmed to eat whatever it finds first so making it a no-brainer is a good idea! Finally, the kitchen closes after dinner. No mindless snacking out of boredom or temptation! 

THOSE WHO SLEEP LESS OFTEN WEIGH MORE

Science has shown that sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on hormones that control appetite, cravings and the metabolism of fat. New research in the Annals of Internal Medicine, showed that overweight adults lost 55% less fat when they got 5.5 hours of sleep per night, compared with when they slept for 8.5 hours a night. In 2011, Australian researchers found that teens and adolescents were more likely to be slimmer if they went to bed earlier than those who stayed up late. Many of us think that if we are staying up late and working hard we are burning more calories, but a study from the Mayo Clinic confirmed this was not true and that sleep-deprived participants consumed an average of 549 calories more than their usual intake when staying up late, but burned no more calories than their well-rested peers.

Sleepless nights will also cause the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, to rise which increases cravings for high-carb, high calorie "comfort foods." And during deep-sleep the brain secretes a growth hormone which helps the body convert fat to fuel. Without enough deep sleep, fat accumulates, especially around the belly.

There are also 2 hormones, ghrelin and leptin, that help to control appetite that can become imbalanced with lack of sleep. Ghrelin, stimulates your appetite whereas Leptin sends a signal to the brain that you are full. When you don't get enough rest, levels of leptin drop, making you hungry, while ghrelin levels rise to stimulate your appetite. No wonder after you don't sleep well you don't feel full or satisfied all day! Prolonged sleep deprivation sets you up to overeat and therefore gain weight. The average American gets 6 hours of sleep or less so if you're in this group it's time to get some more Zzzzzzs! And here's how.

I KNOW ... WHO HAS TIME FOR ALL THIS SLEEP? 

Find the time! That's why you made weight loss a priority for the year on your Resolution List! Go to bed an hour earlier and sleep in an hour later. Remember the quality of your sleep counts too so here are some Sleep Hygiene Tips to incorporate:

• Reduce or eliminate caffeine, sugar and alcohol.
• No late night eating.
• Log out  - no television or computer before bed. The images stimulate the brain and make it harder to fall asleep.
• Eliminate all light and noise.
• Use your bedroom for sleep and sex only.
• Keep a regular bedtime.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing to sleep in.
• Turn the temperature down, slightly cooler.
• Make a relaxing routine - warm bath, meditation, deep-breathing exercises.

For the brainiac girls that want to understand this concept mathematically, determine your basal metabolic rate with this BMR CALCULATOR - the number of calories your body burns doing nothing, at rest and while you sleep. An average woman's body burns about 1500 calories a day doing nothing, roughly 62 an hour. Sleeping 2 more hours equals 124 calories, about the same as a half hour brisk walk. Plus you wake up without bags under your eyes and avoid eating while you sleep! SCORE!

The findings show that if you are on a diet and workout plan, having enough ZZZzzzz's is important! Not only will more sleep help you lose weight, it repairs muscles, skin and boosts immunity! To find out more tips to what models do to look their best in front of the camera download my new book for only $7.99 on Kindle, Nook or iTunes. Paperback also available on Amazon.com, Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artist on how to become Picture Perfect!  

How To Tightline Your Eyes So They Really POP!

Just in time for your big night out on New Year's Eve, I want to introduce you to an advanced eyelining technique I learned from my makeup artist on a big photo shoot.

Many of you are already familiar with using eyeliner on the top of your lids to help define your eyes or to create a cat-eye effect. Probably many of you have also lined the inside of your lower rim for an even more dramatic smokey eye look, but have you ever tightlined ?

Tightlining is when you apply liner to your upper lash line, sort of like drawing roots on the underside of your upper lashes, right at the waterline to make your eyes stand out and give the illusion of fuller lashes and bigger eyes.

Using eyeliner alone on the top lid can look very stark on a naked eye, but tightlining your lash line is a subtle way to define your eyes and not look like you've done anything at all ... perfect when you want to give off that "not trying so hard" beauty vibe.

Here's how you do it:

Close your eye and slightly pull the corner of it upward. Use a flat brush wet with a cake eyeliner, a waterproof gel liner, or my favorite a pen-like liner.  It's best to dab and not create a thick line. Try wiggling the brush in between the lashes rather on the water line getting as close as possible to the lash line itself. (If you use a pencil try to use one that is waterproof to avoid smearing.)

Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eyeliner

Think of filling in the spaces between your individual lashes so that it looks lush. Move along the entire lash line and fill in blending along the way. You might find that you need to use a q-tip to clean up some smudging before you go on to apply your mascara. Here is  a video tutorial to show you how.

Have some fun experimenting with this no makeup, makeup look!

CHECK out my post on {How to Make your Face look skinnier Using BRONZER}

To learn more model's secrets to looking your best and taking your best photos check out my new book Face This: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available for just $7.99 on Kindle, Nook and iTunes. Also as paperback from Amazon.com

Women's Facial Shaving - DEFUZZING THE MYTH OF THE FEMALE MUSTACHE!

It is well known that Mr. Mustache can also be tragically female. In fact, over 40 million women in the U.S. are bothered by facial hair. It's definitely a hairy situation, but is a woman who regularly shaves her face in danger of becoming the next bearded lady at the circus?

The thought that shaving your face will cause the hairs to grow back thicker and darker is a conspiracy theory that the beauty industry has promoted in order to make us spend thousands of dollars trying to get rid of what a simple 99 cent disposable razor can. I have been razoring the fine hairs off my face for years after a makeup artist told me about doing it for flawless looking skin in photographs. Makeup glides on afterward, plus foundation and powder won't become attached to those fine hairs and illuminated in your photos, especially visible in (Yikes) High Definition!

If you want to learn more about the science behind shaving your face for flawless photos and other secrets to taking prettier pictures, check out Chapter 3 in my new book dedicated to the science and history behind this subject along with nearly 200 color pages of other secrets models know!  FACE THIS: Real Advice from Real Models.

Newport Beach plastic surgeon, Dr. Edward Domanskis encourages his female patients to shave their faces to slow the aging process. He says that by removing the top layer of dead skin cells, the exfoliation can result in a tightening and plumping up of the skin through constant cellular rejuvenation. .Dermatology and plastic surgery offices across the country offer a similar procedure of shaving the face that costs hundreds of dollars called derma-planing. Elizabeth Cummaro, R.N. aesthetician comments, “I see a remarkable improvement in my client’s skin after I perform derma-planing, which is almost exactly what shaving does.” See a You Tube clip of derma-planing being done ----->

Embarrassing and seldom discussed, the peach fuzz and faint mustache on a women’s upper lip is not a good look. Shaving is a simple, inexpensive and safe way to remove it. Some may resist saying,  “Not by the hair of my chinny-chin chin” but if this model’s best beauty secret gets out, don’t be surprised if your man's razor mysteriously goes missing!

Kat gets a quick shave in a barber shop in Japan ----->

If you liked this story check out {Halo Hair Extensions - the new rage in fake hair } because sometimes a girl wishes she had more hair!

Shelley GoodStein is a 47 year old 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: Real advice from real models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available of Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iBooks.

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.