Strike a pose: chin down, shoulders back...

Ever feel frustrated that no matter how great you look or how dazzling your smile is, you just feel you don’t always look your best on photos? There are times when you may look back over them and at least five show a double chin you normally don’t have, or a protruding stomach you swear does not belong to you. Gasp! Is that really how you look in real life?

No, of course it’s not. And, contrary to popular belief, celebrities aren’t all naturally photogenic either. It’s all about the pose, and it’s surprisingly easy to recreate to ensure you receive fabulously flattering photographs of yourself every time.

Seven top tips to ensure a slim, model-like pose:

1.     Turn your body slightly to the side from the camera and place one foot in front of the other, putting your weight on your back foot.

2.     Place one hand on your hip if you feel comfortable, this will elongate your arm and give you a more prominent silhouette.

3.     Hold your arms away from your body a little to keep your upper arms looking slimmer and straighter.

4.     Pull your shoulders back and think about your chest and hips. Gently pull in your stomach evenly in the middle, not too much at the top near your ribs or it will look obvious you are sucking in. Concentrate on the muscles just below your belly button to ensure an all-round flatter appearance.

5.     If you happen to get caught off-guard sitting down try to lean forward as much as possible, you can cover more that way. Leaning back will emphasize even the slightest lump or bump.

6.     Tilt your head up to the sky and bring it down at the last minute keeping your head forward a little. This will stretch out the muscles in your neck and minimize the appearance of a double chin.

7.     If you can, try to flash a smile at the last minute, so it appears natural and not forced or frozen.

Another thing that might help is Spanx hosiery, like the modern-day corset. It’s a godsend for secretly holding everything in and well worth the investment – www.spanx.com.

Also, it’s not just black that makes you look slimmer, wearing any one color tends to elongate your figure, and (as if we need an excuse) wearing heels will automatically give your legs more length and tone.

Having your photo taken from below can create a funny angle and make you look at least ten pounds heavier. So it makes sense that this theory works the opposite way around, having someone take your photo from above can actually make you look slimmer. Think bikini shots – a photo taken of you standing up from the ground is less flattering than a photo of you on the ground from someone standing over you. Get the picture?

Remember the camera can add ten pounds, but also remember that cameras do lie. Just make sure they’re lying in your favor.

 

High sparkle for your spackle

So what do you get a platinum bride that has everything? How about Swarovski Crystals, and enough of them to put a smile on any bridezilla’s face. Swarovski… are also a girl’s best friend.

Waterford Giselle Crystal Blush Brush
It’s has an 8”crystal handle with elegant cuts of the stemware suite.
Priced at $100.00
http://www.waterford.com/

Pucker up for a shot of sparkle

Socialite Swarovski Clear Crystal Lipstick
The Socialite Collection is a brand of wealth that symbolizes couture and class. The lipstick case is encrusted with over 1200 Swarovski handset crystals plus 4 refills, with the “it” Lipstick Colors of the season. The Lipstick comes with 1 year of Lip concierge, which means clients have access to a new lipstick refill once a month for one full year. A Catalog with tons of colors to choose from plus your own personal client number to access your concierge service.
Priced at $150.00
http://www.socialitecollectionandco.com/

Rock royalty for your rouge

Rock & Republic Bronzer
and Highlighter Compact
Indulge yourself with a silky fine jet milled powder, the most luxurious matte bronzer on the market. The highlighter/bronzer is a refillable compact comes with an exclusive Kabuki Brush. The top of this luxe compact is encrusted with 445 sparkling Swarovski crystals.
Priced at $225.00
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/

Dressing room table drama

Bond no. 9 Crystallized Amphora
Swarovski in a bottle…This 42 oz amphora vitrine, breathtakingly covered with 16,500 hand-applied platinum Swarovski stones. The Swarovski Crystallized Amphora filled with your choice of a Bond no. 9 fragrance, is covered with platinum Swarovski stones. The bottle top is an elliptical mirror with a honeycomb base and a handy golden spigot. Comes in a white patent leather gift case, also adorned with crystals.
Priced at $3500.00
http://www.bondno9.com/

 

So I wake up this morning, and the shadow literally looked like I had just applied it, but what happens next is truly going to blow your mind. So later today I went surfing, (albeit looking like I was headed to the W in killer eyeshadow), I was only in the water for about 1.5 hours, but I figured the stuff would wash off because it was powder. Generally, the salt of the ocean scrapes off anything you have on your face, and can be a little corrosive (which is why I highly recommend using Aquaphor before a session). So I get out, change out of my wet suit look in the car rear view mirror, and low and behold, the eyeshadow is not only completely on, and looking amazing but it also looked like I just applied it.

So then I had a revelation: many brides shed a few tears on W-day  and tears, like the ocean are comprised of salt. So, Anti-brides, if you want your eye shadow to have nerves of steel, staying power, live through everything from a surf session to a hellacious crying jag, rely on Urban Decay to be there on the big day….

Note: My fav rockin colors are Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, Sin (of course) and the best-named eye shadow in the industry, Polyester Bride.

Pigment Rich with minimum binders, you get color that packs a wallop in cute color-viewable subway token containers.

About the Eyeshadow:

Excerpted from the Urban Decay Website:

This is the product we were born to make – our best-seller! Professionals, celebrities, and makeup junkies swoon for our wide array of shades. Each one is pigment-rich: we load the shadow with color, and add very few binders (the stuff that holds shadow together), resulting in beautiful color that blends easily and lasts. Lots of finishes to suit your mood: sparkle, shimmer, duotone or un-sparkly satin. Our subway token compact comes complete with a window (see your shade without opening), and snaps shut with one hand – no more lost lids.

Tips:
All Eyeshadows can be used wet for more intense color, try them as a liner! Dust sparkly shades on cheekbones and shoulders with our Powder brush for unearthly shimmer.

Fill Weight: 1.5g e 0.05 US oz

Price: $16.00