Finding your Fashion Style without a Personal Stylist!

As a model there are a few things you pick up walking in show after show. Each designer's goal is to make their clothing stand out so models are sent down the runway looking somewhat the same, with usually these three things kept constant:

HAIRSTYLE

MAKEUP

SHOES 

So it makes sense then that you could use this strategy in reverse, to stand out. In other words, regardless of whatever clothing designer you are wearing, lose the model uniformity by developing your own personal style as simply as changing your hair, makeup and shoes! 

I recently sat down with All Parenting writer Molly Smith to share these ideas in depth and the simple ways to develop a signature style from a model mom's perspective.You can read the entire interview and all my tips {HERE}

My best advice ... always, always, always,"Dress for the part you want to have and never get lazy with this!"

Working out is an important part of my daily routine but it's important not to get so comfortable in workout clothes that you end up sitting in spandex at lunch with your girlfriends. This is NOT a style. Go home and throw on jeans, boots and a sweater ... you'll feel better about yourself, and that will show ---- on or off the runway!

GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win one of these holiday gift set from ULTA Beauty!

As promised on Arizona Midday today, you can enter here to win one of these great holiday beauty sets! In case you missed it here's the video segment:

To enter leave a comment below on this blog post

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Like our Facebook page {HERE} so we can get in touch with you if you are the winner! Plus if you "share" this from our Facebook page onto your wall we will enter your name twice in the giveaway!

AND the Winner's are ...
Erica F and Lisa A!
Thank you everyone for your comments and likes ... I printed out everyone's comments (7 pages), cut them into strips and put them in a big box. When my son came home from school he shook the box and picked 3 names which we numbered ( a runnerUp just in case). I know not very high tech but as fair as I could make it! Congratulations.

A $71 value! Exclusive to Ulta!

Show Me The Love! Best of Benefit $36 

Includes They're Real!, Benetint, & the POREfessional mini.

A $120 value! 2 new colors.

BUTTER LONDON: Luxe Rock 12 Piece Fashion Size Set $65 

A $220 value! Contains 10 new shades

BARE MINERALS: Degrees Of Dazzling ($79)

Set of 20 spectacular Eyecolors in four versatile finishes, from creamy velvet to high shine. 

A $91.50 value!

JACK BLACK: Online Only King Of The Road ($65)

The King of the Road Travel Pack is everything you need, for everywhere you go. Six of Jack's best-selling products in a durable black micro-fiber bag to make grooming easy wherever life takes you. Just throw in a toothbrush and comb, and go.

A $290 value! Exclusive to Ulta!

TOO FACED: Be Merry & Bright ($45)

2 palettes that will take you from day to night and full size Lash Injection mascara.

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Bearded Disney Princesses - A girl's gotta shave!

Just when you thought you've seen it all from Disney - including a twerking Hannah Montana, in walks the bearded princesses!

You moust-Ache yourself the same question Moustacherella is thinking here .... Should I shave it for later or find a way to deal with facial hair?


Princesses and ALL women around the world have fines hairs or peach fuzz on their faces. Like Cinderella looking in the mirror, you might be just as frighted or maybe overwhelmed, with the concept of shaving your face - but check out the biggest secret that Japanese women, not to mention models, this one included: I have been doing it for years ... I just never knew anyone else was!

 Read about it {HERE} Women's Facial Shaving - Deffuzing the Myth of the Female Mustache.

Check out all the bearded beauties @ Buzzfeed.com

Contouring is the New Photoshop! #NoFilter

 photo courtesy of craveonline.com

Because you can't always walk into a room with Photoshop, there are many things you can do to make sure you always look picture perfect! Sculpting your face without surgery, is simple to do if you understand how and what products to use. You literally can transform your face with this magical illusion.

Until recently this maneuver was reserved for A listers who could afford celebrity makeup artists who have long understood the purpose of doing so, but there's no reason that the rest of us need be kept in the dark. I wrote about how to DIY in my book by using your face shape as a guide with a specific tutorial. If you want to fine tune your skills as per your face shape check out Chapter 6 of Face This: Real Advice from Real Models available for only $7.99 {HERE}, not to mention all the  great photo and posing tricks you will learn.

But basically the concept is simple. An oval face shape is what you are trying to emulate, so you want to contour areas outside of a centered oval. Contouring will make areas recede. So, if you have a square jaw you will want to contour your jaw line more, if you have a high forehead you will want to contour the top of your hairline more.

You don't need to go out and buy any special products, anything that is 1-2 shades lighter than your foundation will work, for example Loreal's true match makeup works, any concealer is great too because you usually buy this lighter than your foundation. Anything that is light, sheer and shimmery will do the job! 

For contouring, anything darker than your normal skin tone is perfect whether it be a bronzing powder or cream/liquid. But for contour be sure it is not shimmery - you are trying to create shadows here and not draw attract the light. The biggest secret to getting it right - BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!

For your nose: If you have a wide nose, contour the sides. Highlight down the center of your nose - the slimmer the line the more narrow your nose will look. If it's long, contour the tip. 

For cheeks: Apply your blush beginning at the apple of your cheek and sweep upward toward your temples. Highlight above and contour below in the hollow - underneath your cheek bone. Make the fish face to know exactly where this is.

Highlighting the center of your face brings out that ideal oval shape . 

Always contour your neck. This will give you a stronger jaw line, which becomes more critical as you age because skin sags here first. 

My favorite place to highlight that most people forget is the clavicle! The product I find easiest to use here is the same one I use on top of my cheekbones to brighten underneath my eyes:  Smashbox Photo-op.  Makeup artists use this to bring life to model's eyes when the call time is 5am! 

Over 40 Best Makeup Tips - Change is good!

You've gotten older and so have your makeup techniques. Time to re-evaluate and update your bag of tricks.

Foundation & Powder : Do not go darker with your foundation so you feel tan. This is why God invented bronzer - use it on areas that are naturally kissed by the sun. Don't pale out; this too looks unnatural. The secret to looking younger while you're getting older is to embrace the skin you're born with and enhance it -  not cover it up! 

      P.S. Smoky eye or bold lip - never both.

Brow Highlighter : Avoid using a brow highlighter that's too light or white. This is so 80's, and will definitely add 10 years to your look! Especially if you have any hooding to your eyelid ... it will immediately draw attention to it (See for yourself in the photo above). A soft pink matte eye shadow on the brow bone will be your ticket to an eye lift naturally.

Eyeliner : Yes on top - it will make your lashes look fuller, and lift. No to bottom lashes - it will make your eyes look smaller, droopy and can draw attention to bags or lines underneath.

Nude lips : Yes, it's a trend but like all trends, not always a good one. Careful ... just 2 shades too light will make you look dead and that's never flattering. Choose a stain or pencil just a bit darker than your skin tone for a natural look and finish it with a pink lip gloss on top.

I partnered with Cover Girl in the video below for more tips on how to avoid common makeup mistakes.