First Impressions

So ladies, we all know the saying “First impressions last.” We meet these words as a catch phrase on some commercial on TV or the radio, or in some book or magazine that we happen to read. We hear our mothers and our girl friends alternately nag and advise us about making a good first impression. It is an idea that is deeply ingrained in most of us.


We are headed for a job interview, a first client call, a blind date, a dinner with potential in-laws, or whatever important meeting which would have us making new acquaintances. We are dressed to the nines, with our faces perfectly made up and not a hair out of place, and we smell great. Is that enough to make a good and lasting first impression?


Sadly, the answer to that is no. We may look great, just smashingly gorgeous, and that is just fine. But we may ruin what picture we have painted for ourselves at that first glance taken of us with our first move or the first word we utter. How then do we solve this dilemma and create an impression that truly lasts beyond first glance?


The first thing to do would be to make eye contact with the person you are meeting and maintain it for more than a second. And then you smile. Prolonged eye contact and a smile make for a good ice breaker and set the atmosphere for something friendly and pleasant.


If something bad happened to you before the meeting and it brought you to a foul mood, don’t show it to the person you are meeting up with. Making a dour face and whining a lot at that first meeting would lead the other person to think that you are not at all nice to be with, so fake a good mood. Soon enough, you would not have to fake it, and you will start believing that you are feeling great all along.


If you are feeling nervous about this meeting, try to hide it by controlling your twitching, fidgeting, jittering, or whatever habit you may have that conveys anxiety. If you feel that you are not making good conversation, you can still redeem yourself by keeping the other person talking about himself. Also, try to talk more slowly. Nervous people have this tendency to talk too fast and to talk too much about themselves. Try to curb that and just let the other person speak.


Once the two of you get warmed up, just encourage him to talk more about himself. Do not be a narcissist by turning the conversation back to your own self. Respond genuinely to him and keep your gestures in sync to what he is saying, or else it would seem to him that you are bored and are not actually listening to what he is telling you. Flatter him with sincerity but do not overdo it.


First impressions truly last, whether it is for good or for bad. Make every impression you make good and lasting.

The Busy Babe's Beauty Guide

Finding a few moments to ourselves proves quite the daunting task anymore. With places to go, people to see, presentations to make and happy hours to enjoy, getting dolled up sometimes becomes more of a hassle than it’s worth…or so it seems.

When you add up all the minutes it takes to select an outfit, accessorize with the right purse and appropriate jewelry, dry and style your hair, apply makeup and dash out the door, before you know it you’re running late again. The problem is this: You want to look great but you don’t want to spend a near-lifetime getting ready.

The solution? Pick and choose which elements of your appearance are most important to you. Once you’ve prioritized, you can really achieve the look you want in less time. For example, let’s say you care about clothes, hair, makeup, and jewelry, in that order.

How can you make the most of your time without leaving out a key element? Well, for starters, select your outfit the night before, even if it means trying things on at 10 or 11 o’clock at night. You want your hair to look nice, so try to have an idea of style – up or down – before you get out of the shower. Make it our goal to know exactly how you want to do your hair once you dry it.

Next, critically consider how much makeup you really need to wear. On days when I’m feeling especially lazy, I typically slap on some mascara and my favorite flavored lip-gloss and head out the door. If I have blemishes to hide, I definitely take care of those first. Finally, when it comes to jewelry, you can throw on something basic and simple that goes with anything, or you can forego the adornments altogether.

Here are some fast, last minute beauty tips:

DO:

Carry a powder compact at all times. If you don’t have time for makeup, you’ll be happy to at least dust some powder on your cheeks and forehead. If your company throws a last minute photo shoot at you, your compact will save your tail.

Keep a lip-gloss or Chap Stick handy at all times. Not only does it make you so much more kissable should your sweetheart pop into the office for a surprise visit, but you’ll be keeping your smackers safe from chapping, splitting and dryness associate with both hot and cold climates. Even without a true color lipstick, lip-gloss can make you feel sexy and so worth it.

Invest in some hair accessories, especially claw clips, hairpins and other barrettes. Even if you don’t have the time to fashion a new look, twist your hair back and pin it to your head for a sweeping look. Some hair clips will allow you to pile all of your hair on top of your head effortlessly. This comes in very handy when you don’t have time to dry your hair completely.

Make your manicures last longer by applying clear polish every so often. With such a busy schedule, it is amazing you have your nails done in the first place. To keep your pretty look alive as long as possible, apply a clear topcoat daily to prevent the nail polish from cracking and chipping.

DON’T:

Even think about doing your makeup “in the car.” Even if you are stopped at a red light, the minimal time you have between lights isn’t nearly enough to apply mascara, let alone foundation or anything else. Especially don’t try to paint your nails in the car!

Go too heavy on the hues… If you’re doing a dark, intense look for your eyes, avoid going high-impact on your mouth.

The Sexy Woman Look

How to look sexy without being sleazy?

Women strive to make themselves look sexy and attractive and this is a fun and exciting endeavor. But the key is to be sexy without looking sleazy.

To achieve this, just add a couple of unexpected accessories and some sensual essentials. There are a lot of ways to express your sexuality, not just by donning a micro skirt. Here are a few tips on how to add sensuality without sacrificing your modesty and class.

Put on red lipstick. Remember, nothing does the job better than red, no matter what you think. It will add a splash of color and a stylish alluring vibe. For young girls, yes, sexy girls are fine – shimmer merry lip gloss is good, older women should choose matte red that best suits their skin tone (blue-reds for darker skin tones; orangey hues for olive; true reds for blondes).

A nice pair of sunglasses will add mystery and a cute look, as well as protect your eyes.Add a hat. Think of Sarah Jessica with all her hats and panamas! It is a perfect way to get a major sex appeal. You can start with classic shapes, such as fedora or beret.Experiment with shoulder-duster earrings, they work great for the after-dark look, especially when combined with bare shoulders and updos. Wear metallic. It has a great luminous effect and, in addition, is one of the hottest looks this spring.Go for fabrics that feel nice against your skin, like cashmere, silky satin and buttery soft suede. Look for exotic dresses that add feminine charm and intrigue. Harem pants, sarongs and embroided items are the ethnic looks borrowed by Western designers from Asia and North Africa.

Play peek-a-boo: do not bare your breasts. Nude linings, camisoles and slips will keep you covered and at the same time they look suggestive.Do experiment with different types of sexy lingerie. Try Sheer Lingerie

How Long To Store Makeup

Have you ever wondered about all of those little palettes of color and if they are really too old to be useable any longer? It hurts to throw away makeup that hasn't been used up, but for safety's sake, you should give it a little thought. According to the FDA:


"Cosmetic products are generally formulated and tested for a shelf life of 1- 3 years under normal storage conditions, depending on a product's composition, packaging, preservation, and other factors. Consumers should be aware that expiration dates are simply "rules of thumb," and that a product's safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored, for example exposed to high temperatures or sunlight or opened and examined by consumers prior to final sale, may deteriorate substantially before the expiration date. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the expiration date has been reached."


Even properly stored, contaminants will get "into" the product... especially eye makeup. Think about what you are using to dip into the product each time...


So a good a rule of thumb of how long makeup can be stored:

Lipstick: 1 year

Eye Makeup : 3 months

Blush: 6 months

Nail Polish: 2 years if stored properly

"Uncommon Scents": Fragrance Dos and Donts

* DO wear more perfume if you have dry skin. Scent needs oils to last.

* DO wear stronger scents in cold weather. Cold reduces a scent's strength.

* DO wait ten minutes before deciding to buy a new scent.

* DO purchase a new scent late in the day, when your sense of smell is sharper.

* DO try scents on your own skin, as everyone's skin chemistry is different.

* DO choose what complements your natural body odor.

* DO apply perfume right after you shower or bathe. Your pores will be open and soak up the scent.

* DON'T use deodorant soap where perfume is applied.

* DON'T use perfume near pearl or costume jewelry. The alcohol in perfumes can cause pearls to yellow and can strip the coating off jewelry.

* DON'T sample more than two or three new scents at a time. Your olfactory senses will become confused.

* DON'T stick to one fragrance all year long. Temperatures affect the intensity of fragrance.