Look Skinny in your Holiday dresses - Belt And Recycle!

Belt your holiday dresses to flaunt your waist and give you that perfect sexy hourglass proportion to look skinnier this year!

Scientific studies have shown that we find symmetry attractive and just by adding a belt to any outfit you can create that illusion whether or not you were born with it. Regardless of your size this trick works for everyone.

First Lady Michelle Obama is also known to repeat dresses by adding sweater or belt.

You might think a belt is too casual for a cocktail dress but the secret is in finding the right one ... metal, patent, ribbon, or jeweled - the key is to pick a belt that is equally as dressy as your outfit. If you don't have time to hit up the alterations lady, a belt is your answer to never looking frumpy again during the holidays. Many women make the mistake of thinking that just because they aren't a size 2 that this won't work for them. Or that they should wear a bigger, non-fitted dress, but adding more drapey fabric will only make you look bigger. By cinching in your waist you draw attention to the smallest part of your body giving you a curvy shape which translates into sexy.

Simple Grosgrain ribbon belt

Belts can also be a game changer allowing us to recycle holiday dresses from Christmas' past. An inexpensive way to change your entire look.

Hayden Panettiere's pencil dress repeated with a patent belt.

 And don't forget to add a belt to a sweater or jacket worn over your holiday dress to take you to one more holiday celebration without anyone guessing you're repeating!

To learn more secrets about looking your best in real life AND in front of the camera buy my new book Face THIS: Real Advice from Real Models available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes.

AA + BB = CC so Move over BB Creams and Meet the first CC Cream to Hit the US by Olay!

AA + BB = CC 

Or at least this is how it adds up when it comes to beauty creams!

The BB and CC creams are all-in-one wonders and the hottest skin care products in the Asian Beauty world now available in the states, that you've probably never heard of!

What are these creams? They are an all-in-one beauty balm (BB) that can replace several products current sitting on your bathroom counter for your morning routine. Like foundation, they are tinted to even out the skin, contain moisturizers to hydrate, vitamins, brighteners, primers, serums to fight aging and SPF to protect! Talk about getting alot for you money! 

The CC (Color Control) Creams promise to provide better coverage with more skin nourishing ingredients to help with more long term effects, than their older BB predecessors.  And the first to bat  and only one available in the United States is drugstore brand Olay's CC Cream containing the company's proprietary, exclusive Essential Glucosamine Complex which the company says reduces hyperpigmentation to even out skin tone and provides anti-aging benefits with continued use. It's available for less than $22 in three shades. {Buy HERE}

To make sure you know all the secrets and industry secrets that models do download or purchase my new book Face This: Real Advice from Real Models available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes.

Get Rid of double chins in Your Pictures!

If there is one comment I hear most from women about taking photos, it is regarding the dreaded, double chin. Just in time for Thanksgiving and holiday picture taking, the turkey neck is a subject that I can offer you some advice about!

Before giving you the on-camera tips, keep in mind that the biggest cause of double chins is excess body fat and some people just carry fat on their chin more easily than anywhere else. In this case losing weight is your solution. Our muscles can weaken as we age and the skin becomes looser there, but sometimes you're just born with a little more fat around the chin. It's possible you also have a genetic tendency to retain too much water in this area so check out my post about how to de-bloat. 

A previously non-existent double chin can show up on anyone at some time or another in a photo. But if you are breaking out into a sweat, dreading being asked to take a photo because you can't seem to crack the curse, then we need to break it down and look at why this is happening in your photos but not in real life. Caught off guard like this woman on the left, when someone points a camera lens at them, people seemingly drop their heads back into their necks. Self consciously trying to hide extra rolls, this only worsens the effect,  leaving her looking like a turtle. Standing up straight with her shoulders back like mom said to, would have been the quick fix for this girl's double!

There are many techniques that will work to make you stop mutating into a ninja turtle if you can just remember to take a breath and put them into play:

• Make sure the camera is above you, not below eye level. Any photo taken below you will automatically increase a double chin effect as seen here ------------->
• Lean in a bit forward and look up if you're sitting.
• Lift your tongue, resting it behind your front teeth. This action will bring your chin up and naturally tighten the muscles of the neck a bit. 
• Extend your neck out and then bring it down ever so slightly. Your image is to think "swan princess".
• Hide a real double chin by resting your hands underneath your jaw, or by wearing high collars.
• Putting your hair up or wearing it short will make your neck look thinner and longer, especially if you play up your eyes.
• Trick the camera with makeup. Use a darker shade of powder, foundation or bronzer along your jawline and under your chin to make it appear to recede in a photo. Then use a highlighter on the center or tip of your chin to make it pop forward.

Kim K's camera phone twitter pic has another hint hidden in her pose that you can take a lesson from, which is angling her head while jutting her chin forward. Don't forget when you are using a camera phone that you want to make sure you hold it at a slightly higher level than your eyes so you have to raise your head up.

Remember, taking consistently great photos doesn't happen by accident ... they take some practice! 

If you want to learn more about the secrets to taking prettier pictures check out my new book FACE THIS, almost 200 pages full of tips and advice from models, photographers and makeup artists on how to become Picture Perfect! Available on Amazon, Nook, Kindle and iTunes for iPod, iPhone and iPad users.

Pumpkin DIY Beauty Recipes for Skin, Face and Dieting!

Carving pumpkins this weekend? If you don't want to make pie, why not use the leftovers to look better than ever with these quick and easy do it yourself pumpkin beauty recipes. C'mon give the jack'oLantern a higher purpose!

You know you'll be binging on Halloween candy leftovers so balance your diet AND your weight with this soup recipe from Dr Oz that is only 85 calories and full of carotene to keep your immune system pumped up. It takes less than a minute to make and tastes great! 

Dr. Oz's Pumpkin Purée Side Dish

The carotenes found in pumpkin are converted to vitamin A, which is essential for a strong and healthy immune system. One cup of pumpkin a day will get you to the recommended daily dose. This recipe from Dr. Oz is only 85 calories, tastes like mashed sweet potatoes, and can be prepared in under a minute.

Ingredients

1 can 100% pumpkin purée 

1 tsp cholesterol-lowering spread 

Pinch of stevia 

Pinch of cinnamon 

Directions 

Mix all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the mixture in the microwave for about a minute. Let cool and serve.

COOKS NOTE: To roast pumpkin, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut whole pumpkin in half and then cut each half into several pieces. Discard seeds or reserve for another use. Place pumpkin on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast in oven until tender but not falling apart, about 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool, peel away skin, and dice.

Pumpkin MASKS for Skin and Hair

Pumpkins are also great for your skin because they contain antioxidant vitamins C and E, and zinc which soothes irritated skin. Here are a few recipes that I've tried and modified depending on your skin type to leave it looking better than before - or make your own recipe using these as your base!

Pumpkin Face Mask for Dry Skin and a Great Deep Conditioner to Use on your Hair:

• 1/3 cup pumpkin (canned or fresh)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon cream

{Milk or whipping cream is great for dry skin and will help nourish and moisturize.}

For Normal skin:

• 1/3 cup pumpkin
• 2 Tablespoons plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey

{Honey hydrates and is antibacterial. Yogurt contains lactic acid and helps refine pores.}

For Oily skin:

• 1/3 cup pumpkin
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice

{Egg whites exfoliate and tighten the skin while the yolk helps moisturize. Apple cider and cranberry contain natural antiseptic properties}

Mix all ingredients together and apply to your face for 20 minutes. Rinse well with cool water.

Shelley GoodStein

TO learn more beauty secrets from Ford model Shelley GoodStein check out her new book Face THIS Real Advice from Real Models on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes.

Women & Money: Credit Cards Don't Lie

When it comes to money sometimes there is a disconnect between what we know, what we want and what we do. 

Below is my quote for an article published yesterday on Yahoo Shine about women's best money advice:

To read the entire article click {HERE} 

Evaluate your priorities

"Take a look at your credit card statement to see your real priorities ... it will quickly become apparent. 
If you are spending all your extra cash on clothes, entertainment and facials but your desire is to invest in your business, buy a bigger house or give to others, you are losing credibility if only to yourself." - Shelley GoodStein, Tucson, Ariz.

{I am thankful to my friend Allison, who reminded me that it actually is an investment in my business to spend money on makeup and clothes! HA ... but always good advice to check in with yourself every once in awhile to be sure!}

This article reminds me about another valuable money lesson that I've learned over the years, which is to never put yourself "on sale" and I am not referring to the Julia Roberts Pretty Woman way! Whatever it is you do, never devalue yourself or settle for less. The minute you do, you create an impression that you are worth less to others and yourself. Put a real value to what you do - sometimes that is not always monetary but when it is, make sure you are respecting your true worth.

Check out my book Face This: Real Advice from Real Models for tips to looking your best that are FREE and EASY!