Anytime someone pulls out their camera and starts to snap candid shots, my palms begin to sweat a little. Although I try to look engaged in the conversation and blissfully unaware of the photographer, I’m constantly using my peripheral vision to ensure I’m smiling or casually laughing when the camera’s pointed my way. We all want to look good in photos even if we hate having our picture taken.

So instead of fearing the camera lens, here are some tips to help embrace your looks and learn how to become instantly photogenic!

Posing

· Practice makes your pose perfect. Work out some camera-ready stances in the mirror. It may feel silly, but at least you won’t be caught off guard the next time a camera’s flash goes off. Why do you think celebrities always strike such a calculated pose? They know how to look their best because they’ve practiced!

· Want to look instantly slimmer? Just put one foot out in front and turn your body slightly to the side, including your shoulders. Then put your hands on your hips to draw attention to your natural waist (it’s the smallest part of you).

· Press your tongue up against the roof of your mouth. This tightens the muscles at the bottom of your face and gets rid of a vicious double chin.

· Get full lips by simply looking at the camera and saying “wogan” — strange, but models swear by it.

· To minimize your thighs when sitting down in a photo, lean forward and put your elbows on your knees. If you don’t feel the need to cover your thighs, then be sure and sit up straight. Good posture is always important and makes you appear slimmer.

· If you’re worried about dark circles or puffiness under your eyes, lift your chin slightly to ensure no unsightly shadows appear on your face.

· Most importantly, smile! Looking drab à la Greta Garbo isn’t necessarily the best way to remember a happy occasion. Believe it or not, everyone really does look instantly more attractive when they smile.

Makeup

· If you’ve got blemishes, you may feel inclined to pour on the foundation for the illusion of flawless skin — but think again. Excessive makeup will show up in a photo, so try going a little more natural. Only use cover-up on your blemishes and then put some loose powder on for a matte finish — particularly on your t-zone, the oiliest part of your face.

· Flatter your best features by picking either your eyes or your lips — never play up both. If you’ve got a great pout, then throw on some shiny lipgloss. If you love your eyes, consider some false lashes or eyeliner and mascara.

· Blush will give your face some liveliness. Put it on the apples of your cheeks for a little color that will go a long way in each photo.

With these savvy tips you’re sure to have a great photo just about every time. Just remember to play up your best features, trick the camera to love the features you aren’t so crazy about and always flash a smile.

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Summer, like winter, requires its own proper fashion and beauty etiquette. Whether you’re cruising the beach or headed poolside this season, it’s important to keep it effortless and fun. Say goodbye to your dowdy recession attire. Below are my tips to help make sure you’re a fashion “do” this season and not a fashion “don’t.”

Don’t over-do it with fake spray tans. Do opt for a more natural glow. Not a fan of the fake and bake? The key is finding the right self tanner designed to give you the perfect tan. Summer is the best time to give yourself a great tan but long exposure to the sun isn’t the healthiest. Look out for sunless tanning cream for a gorgeous and flattering glow without the damaging side effects of the sun.

Don’t be a victim of makeup overload. Do keep it simple. Keep makeup from melting off your skin by keeping it light. Foundation is out and tinted face moisturizer is in, at least for the next three months. Replace bright blush for bronzer and dark eye shadows for sheer colors. Try to avoid makeup at the beach and remember to choose bold, colored nail polish. For the best lip coverage, apply shimmery lip-gloss or clear lacquer—red lips are big summer don’t!

Don’t wear barely there clothing. Do sport breezy tops, summer skirts and lightweight dresses. Steer clear of tiny shorts and belly-bearing tops. Do incorporate denim and khaki shorts, summer skirts and baby doll tops. “Be mindful of the length of your hemline; select miniskirts and shorts that hit right below the widest part of your thigh for the most flattering silhouette,” suggests stylebakery.com. Another affordable alternative is the chic “Maxi,” a bohemian inspired dress that hits the floor. It can be worn to the beach or on the weekends. Take into account visible bra straps. Tank tops are nice and cool, but visible bra straps are tacky. Before heading out, make sure to do a bra strap check.

Don’t wear bathing suits in public places. Do wear a cover up or tunic over a bathing suit. Wearing swimsuits under clothes should be avoided in places other than the beach like restaurants or the mall. Keep in mind that swimsuits can be sexy but also fitted. Try to wear a full-coverage suite that fits properly. Beach cover-ups come in a variety of styles and colors, not to mention are a huge hit this season.

Don’t rock unflattering shoes or winter styles. Do wear flat sandals, espadrilles and dressy flip-flops. Store the Ugg boots and leave the ballet flats at home. In its place, sport glam beach to street sandals. Espadrilles and gladiator sandals look great with long skirts and sundresses. Socks with sandals are a huge fashion faux paux for summer (well, let’s just say year round).

Don’t wear excessive jewelry. Do look for key summer accessories. Limit big necklaces and flashy pieces. You can’t go wrong with a chic beach tote, a great beach bag or a straw fedora. No outfit is complete without a cool pair of aviators or retro chic sunglasses.

photo by nathan umstead

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We’ve all squirted a palm-full of thin, faintly bubbled liquid from the soap pump into our hands at a restaurant or gas station, making us wonder just how long it has been diluted almost to the consistency of water. Actually, the theory of this product-life-extension trick is quite economically and environmentally efficient. In the current financial climate, consumers should learn the secrets of using less and conserving more when it comes to products we regularly rely on at home.

After one month of daily application of your $12 face lotion, the last spit of thick cream spurts out. You pump or squeeze over and over to no avail, then cringe at the thought of buying a fresh bottle or tube, but toss that empty one away and head to the nearest Walgreens. Depending on your regiment, up that price to $35 and destination to any neighborhood department store. Either way, if you could get three to seven more uses out of that product before ditching it, you could plausibly go through two less bottles of lotion a year. Monetarily that adds up to $24 (or $70), and environmentally it translates to two less plastic pieces of material sitting in a landfill, spewing anti-aging chemicals into the earth. Multiply that by every product you use and save a small fortune while practically saving the world. Try these clever little tricks and keep a few extra bucks in your pocket:

Pump Products. The bottom of the bottle may not have enough lotion for the tube to suck up, but there is definitely more in there. Take the pump out and use it to scrape along the sides and bottom of the bottle.

Squeeze Products. Cut the tube in half. You will be amazed how many days worth of sunscreen, toothpaste or conditioner are hanging out along the walls and pooled in the neck.

Makeup. Use a Q-tip to scrape the corners of a powder compact, blush or eye shadow. Gather it in the middle and press into a new hunk or dot your brush into those pesky crumbs.

Shampoo. Drip a little hot water into the apparently empty bottle and swirl around. It will be a little watery but, depending on how much hair you have, you will have one to three effective washes swirling around in that bottle.

Deodorant. The plastic may be chafing your skin, but there is quite a bit of deodorant trapped in the little holes of the applicator. Use a toothpick to scrape them out and rub the deodorant on with your fingers. It really isn’t gross and still works the same.

The number one way to extend the life of your products is to use less. Do you really need that much shampoo? Are you dumping detergent into your washer without discretion? Is that mountain of toilet paper in your hand really necessary every time? Being conscious of your product intake is responsible consumption and even your wallet will take notice.

photo by questioning lovely photography

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Want Nicole Richie’s smoky peepers? Or Sienna Miller’s vibrant baby blues? Then look no further and take a peek at Kitten Vixen, a new makeup line started by sisters Geraldine and Shani Shaker. This sister act has become the favorite of Hollywood’s starlets, and you can find Kitten Vixen’s “Eye Put A Spell On You” eye kits in every it-girl’s makeup bag. But the Shaker sisters don’t only have celebrity on their brains. They’ve hopped on the “Go Green” bandwagon, bringing hot new eco conscious products to the ethically concerned consumer.

Kitten Vixen is an organic and vegan makeup line made with the smart and savvy women of today in mind. The Shakers understand that women want more than just quick-fix beauty products.

“More and more women are becoming conscious of the amount of chemicals that are in everyday products. As yet, we don’t fully understand the impact that these chemicals have on us and the environment, but I think it’s fair to say that it’s not positive,” Geraldine remarks. And, while there are limits regarding certain formulas and ingredients, Kitten Vixen is constantly searching for natural alternatives to replace the chemicals found in mainstream makeup. “Our commitment with Kitten Vixen Cosmetics is to create the highest performing, cleanest color cosmetics available today,” promises Geraldine.

Okay, so we don’t have to feel guilty about using this makeup. But what exactly makes Hollywood’s hottests go crazy over these products?

“It’s the colors!” Geraldine exclaims. “The actresses and models I made up were constantly amazed at the colors I chose to put on them and at the results these colors gave them. Women have been conditioned to choose neutral and brown colors as a safety mechanism, but when chosen correctly, color acts as couture for the face. Kitten Vixen was established to demystify the cosmetic use of color. The brand is based on universal beauty colors that suit all skin tones and are appropriate for women of all ages.” So we can look fabulous and flawless without compromising our eco-friendly ways? Sounds good to us.

What also sounds good is the sisters’ sensible approach to makeup despite their years in the beauty industry. As a makeup artist, Geraldine spends all day with gorgeous women, so you would think that she would feel completely down on herself for not being a 6-foot Gisele. Au contraire.

“We need to understand that the images we see in magazines have been created by a whole team of experts under conditions that just don’t happen in real life. Even models and actresses don’t think they’re physically perfect. But the reality is that how we feel about our appearance plays a vital role in our confidence level. And I hope that Kitten Vixen helps women maximize their beauty potential without giving it a second thought,” Geraldine explains.

Kitten Vixen is makeup for the new generation of women – socially conscious yet still chock full with the fun and whimsy that makeup should have. Check it out. Your inner kitten and vixen will thank you.

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