Beauty box Subscription - Monthly Gift for the Girl who has Everything!

Today I want to introduce you to a great gift idea, for yourself or anyone who is beauty obsessed ... the beauty box subscription. 

These are monthly deliveries of high-end deluxe samples (and sometimes full size products) One of the best ways to discover and try new beauty products. 

I have multiple subscriptions and look forward to receiving each of them every single month. To join, most will ask for your skin type, color and preferences so it is somewhat personalized. Starting at $10 a month these little treasures that arrive in your mailbox are alot of bang for your buck and just a whole lot of fun!

Here are two of my favorites:

Birchbox. $10 a month for women ($20 for men)
This is very consistent with great lifestyle choices along with high end brands and men can play along with their a box of their own. Sign up {HERE}. One of the 5 products I received last month was Stila's All over shimmer liquid luminizer, which is $20 in the stores just on it's own and I like it as much as the Nar's illuminator I was running low on. Birchbox also sent a few months back, a huge tube of cucumber peel mask that I am still using and have fallen in love with.

Ipsy is another subscription I love, designed by Michelle Phan and her stylists, also $10/month. Her glam bag arrives in bright pink foil and includes a different cute zippered makeup bag each month. Plus it seems to include a full size sample each month which is nice. Members can play along with tutorials online of how to use her picks.

October's glam bag was  Hello Bombshell themed and contained the following:

• Be a Bombshell Eye Liner in Onxy. Full size. Value = $14 {I loved this and have reordered one}
• What's Your TYpe Body Builder Mascara .11 oz. (.33 oz is $19) Value = $6.33
• Mirenesse Lip Bomb Glossy Stain light pink. Full size. Value = $39
• Pequi Oil hair treatment. Full size. Value = $12
• Coastal Eye shadow sample 4. Single color $1.99. Total Value = 3.49

Grand total without adding in the adorable chevron bag is over $74!

Perfect for the girl who seems to have it all!
Plus, don't forget to add my new book of everything beauty, Face This: Real Advice from Real Models. Available {HERE} and on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes. 

How to look skinny and slimmer in your photos - the Camera doesn't have to add 10 pounds!

Well, it is true that the lens of a camera can distort an image, but you should use this to your advantage by arming yourself with all the best skinny model tricks you can! Hint: Check out my new book on how to look Picture Perfect!

Does a camera really add 10 pounds? First off, a photo is a 2D version of a 3D image and if you aren't in the right light the camera's image will flatten you out making you appear bigger. And then there's always that lens thing, a wide angle lens that has a short focal length can make you spread (as in widescreen effect) if you aren't adjusting and using angles to your advantage. This is what happens when we take self portraits with our camera phones. You know, that huge bug eyed photo of yourself when you are too close to the camera. The very best lens to use is a 50mm for true perspective.

In the end most photographers will agree that these mythical 10 pounds are mostly likely due to bad lighting and angles ... which is why the pose means everything! 

The worst thing you can do? Stand front and center, giving your belly the focal point. So if you're sitting, LEAN IN a little and if you're standing angle your body and twist at the waist leaning forward just a bit. It's a fine line between the lean and the hunch-back so keep your posture straight or you will look like you have a pot belly even if you have no belly at all.

Keep in mind that the flat image you see in the mirror is incredibly limited; facing forward to see yourself, and always looking slightly down. Usually you will automatically pose for yourself in a mirror with what you perceive to be your most flattering look, hiding a figure flaw or titling your head toward your best side. Even if you try to replicate this over and over, the camera won't see this version of you because it's your "mirror" image. It's a little like hearing your own voice, it doesn't sound like you ... to you. 

And always remember that anything closest to the camera will look the biggest ... so rock the hips away from the camera ladies! Oh, and buy the book.

If you'd like to learn more tips and Model's secrets you can purchase my book on Amazon or download it on your computer for Kindle, Nook or iTunes for only $7.99 {HERE}!

Does the camera add 10 pounds? Tricks to look skinny in your photo!

Does this camera make me look fat?

Well, it is true that the lens of a camera can distort an image, but not if you use this knowledge to your advantage by arming yourself with all the best skinny model tricks you can! Hint: Check out my new book on how to look Picture Perfect!

But first to answer the question,  a photo is a 2D version of a 3D image and if you aren't in the right light the camera can flatten you out making you appear bigger. And then there's always that lens thing, a wide angle lens that has a short focal length can make you spread (as in widescreen effect) if you aren't adjusting and using angles to your advantage. This is what happens when we take self portraits with our camera phones. You know, that huge bug eyed photo of yourself when you are too close to the camera. The very best lens to use is a 50mm for true perspective.

In the end most photographers will agree that these mythical 10 pounds are mostly likely due to bad lighting and angles ... which is why the pose means everything! 

The worst thing you can do? Stand front and center, giving your belly the focal point. So if you're sitting, LEAN IN a little and if you're standing angle your body and twist at the waist leaning forward just a bit. It's a fine line between the lean and the hunch-back so keep your posture straight or you will look like you have a pot belly even if you have no belly at all.

Keep in mind that the flat image you see in the mirror is incredibly limited; facing forward to see yourself, and always looking slightly down. Usually you will automatically pose for yourself in a mirror with what you perceive to be your most flattering look, hiding a figure flaw or titling your head toward your best side. Even if you try to replicate this over and over, the camera won't see this version of you because it's your "mirror" image. It's a little like hearing your own voice, it doesn't sound like you ... to you. 

And always remember that anything closest to the camera will look the biggest ... so rock the hips away from the camera ladies! Oh, and buy the book.

If you'd like to learn more tips and Model's secrets you can purchase my book on Amazon or download it on your computer for Kindle, Nook or iTunes for only $7.99 {HERE}!