7 Secrets To Looking Fabulous (Really!)

My mother took good care of her family but she always took really good care of herself. When she was sick, I remember seeing her get out of bed every once in a while just to run a brush through her hair and throw on a little lipstick. I'd ask her why and her reply was if she died in her sleep, she wanted to look nice. My mom always said that if she looked good on the outside, she'd feel good on the inside. Mom was right!

Typically, women are so busy with their family, housework, jobs and more, they end up neglecting themselves. They wear the same bra until it falls apart and feel selfish spending the money on a new one; women look in the mirror and instead of a nice hair style, they choose to keep it long and put it up in a ponytail, or for some, they're just lazy. I meet women very day who tell me they don't wear makeup or dress up because their husbands, "like them natural" (my spouse says that's bologna). Many also tell me they'd love to start taking better care of themselves and wear a little makeup, but they don't know where to start.

In honor of you (and my mom), here's some tips and tricks to help you realize that you are worth it, you do have the time and it's true: If you look good on the outside, you will feel better on the inside:

Boobs: Get yourself a good bra and get those girls up. Over 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra so go somewhere that they'll measure you for your correct size (this service is always free). You'll also look like you've lost 10 pounds instantly.

Hair: If you're going to wear your hair long, take care of it. No dark or grey roots and get a trim every few months so your ends stay clean. Always use shampoo and conditioner that are made by the same manufacturer so they compliment each other.

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Eyebrows, Mustache & Chin: An experienced esthetician will wax your brows and shape them and all you need to do is pluck in between so they stay nice. You won't believe the immediate difference perfect brows make! Do we really need to talk about women with mustaches?

Hands & Feet: Get a manicure and a good pedicure every couple months and try to keep up the grooming in between. It's a cheap treat and if you wear sandals, no one wants to look at cracked and stained heels. Gross.

Skin Care: Like your hair, it's important that you use a "system" to take care of your complexion - products that are made by the same manufacturer that go together. You must cleanse your skin in the morning and always use a daytime moisturizer with at least SPF15. At night, never go to bed without washing your face and always apply a nighttime moisturizer to protect your skin from free radicals and bacteria that love dirt and sebum (yuck). It's never too late to start taking care of your skin, so start now.

Water: It's almost all of what our bodies are made up of and the benefits will show inside and out. Drink tons of it every day. It's cheap medicine.

Makeup: The idea is enhance your natural beauty. A little mascara and a some lip color go a long way and can make a huge difference in your appearance! You can learn how to apply makeup free just by watching makeup gurus on YouTube. My personal client Kandee Johnson, is by far one of the most popular. You can also get free lessons at many major department store cosmetics counters and no, you don't have to buy anything - I've done it a million times to try out new products.

As far as lipstick goes, no one looks good in brown unless you want to look dead and most everyone looks cute in berries. As you mature, your lips will thin so stay away from dark shades.

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A general rule is that if you use a lot of makeup on your eyes, then tone down your lip color. The prettiest bridal look I do most often do is a smokey eye and light pink, glossy lips. If you're older, you can't go heavy on the eyes due to lid draping, crows feet and creasing and your lashes get straighter and thinner as you age. No matter what your age, use an eyelash curler (one with a rubber that's replaceable) before you apply your mascara. What an amazing difference this makes!

Foundation is like clothes for your face and adds an extra layer of protection from free radials, bacteria and harmful rays of the sun. Most have SPF 15 (some more) and the result is even-looking skin tone. Match by applying a swipe to you jawbone down onto your neck and actually walk outside into the natural sunlight to see how it looks before buying. Always blend well to avoid looking like you have a mask on. Take home several samples from the makeup counter or your cosmetic consultant to try out.

A slight hint of blush (peaches for warm tones, pink for cool tones) on the apples of your cheeks makes a sweet difference and if you're young, a little powder sets your face. Darker skin will need a cherry-based shade.

If you're over 40, in my opinion, your skin should not ever look matte -- you'll look older. More mature women should be dewy and glowing. This can be easily accomplished with a pearlized highlighter either mixed in with your foundation or applied high to the tops of your cheekbones and down the center of your face from your forehead to your chin. Personally, I don't like mineral powders - I'm a creme or liquid girl because those products deliver and have staying power. Many also have anti-aging properties.

Dark Circles & Bags: This is a tough subject to beat but since all your fluids flow down (gravity) when you sleep, consider laying flat on the bed or sleep with less pillows. When I wake up, I ice my eyes for a couple minutes and it really helps. DNA, heritage, hormones, lack of sleep, menopause, not enough water, certain medications and more contribute to dark circle and bags. I love concealer - choose one that's peach or salmon in color if you're light skinned or dark skinned. Blend well down onto your cheekbones before applying foundation.

Kelly Robertson specializes in healthy skin care and proper makeup application for Tweens/Teens, and Chemo/Radiation patients ,and mature women. She's worked with many celebrities for print, stage, film and TV and also teaches skin care and makeup workshops from her studio and off-site near her home in Southern California. Kelly's also a popular distributor, leader and recruiter with SeneGence International, the makers of LipSense and other fine cosmetics and skin care products. Visit Kelly on her website at CelebrityLipstick.com or email her directly at Kelly@CelebrityLipstick.com.
 

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