WOMEN

When we talk about the most stubborn "last 10 pounds" we usually mean the weight loss plateau we hit when dieting. Sometimes the best diet is just a diet that's different from the one on which we were losing weight before the stalling. For example, a week out of a low carb and into a low fat vegetarian diet can do the trick.

However, there can be reasons that don't depend on diet's specifics and apply to any diet. They usually are:

Nutrient deficiency

Using wrong supplements

Subconscious cheating

Wrong exercise routines

Household ammonia can give your diamonds a quick and efficient cleaning. Place your diamond jewelry in a solution of 1 part ammonia to 5 parts water. Use a soft worn out toothbrush to give a little scrub, and rinse thoroughly.

*Please Note: Use this on gold or platinum jewelry that contains only diamonds.

Insuring your diamond jewelry is fairly simple. Have all of your fine jewelry articles appraised and photographed by a certified appraiser. It is a good idea to have available a certificate from GIA or other independent diamond laboratories. Take the certificates and appraisals to your insurance agent and have the pieces added to your policy.

Insurance for jewelry is usually 1-3% of the value or $50 minimum per year. For instance, a diamond ring valued at $5,000 would have a premium between $50-$150 per year depending on the state you live in.

It´s a small price to pay to insure replacement of your fine jewelry in the event of a loss.

If your do-it-yourself manicure didn't turn out the way you hoped, don't blame the nail polish! Here are the commom mistakes we make.

Mistake #1: Filing nails in the wrong direction. Don't saw your nails; instead gently file them down at an angle to the nail, file from left corner to center for a few strokes, then from right corner to center.

Mistake #2: Neglecting cuticles. Rough, ragged cuticles can lead to painful hangnails. Put a dab of rich cuticle oil on your cuticles after showering and before bed.

Mistake #3: Cutting cuticles. Your cuticles act as a barrier against bacteria - clipping your cuticles increases the risk of skin and nail infections. Instead, dip your hands in warm water and push your cuticles back with a washcloth or soft Q-Tip.

Mistake #4: Skipping base coat. Without a base coat, your nails can become stained or dried out from your polish. Always use a moisturizing base coat on clean, dry nails and let the base coat dry before applying polish.

Mistake #5: Leaving polish on too long. Nail polish has a tendency to dehydrate nails and once the polish begins to chip, it can peel away a layer of the nail. It's good practice to remove nail polish once a week, wash your hands and reapply nail polish for a fresh and cleaner look.

Did you know that most women are currently wearing the wrong size bra? Industry experts say between 70% and 80% of women don’t wear the correct size. It is common for your size to change with pregnancy, new exercise programs or weight change. Industry experts recommend that you have a bra fitting every 6 to 12 months. To make sure you correctly determine bra size, check that:

1. The back of your bra does not ride up, otherwise the underband may be too big and you could need a smaller size.

2. Your bra straps are not falling down or digging into your shoulders. If they are, you may need to adjust them, use wider straps or use shoulder savers.

3. You don’t overflow the top of your bra. If you do, but the bra feels fine everywhere else, the bra cup size is too small.

4. Your finger can pass under the band in front. Your bra should be comfortable but not tight, otherwise you need a larger band size or you must fasten your bra at the next looser hook.

5. The middle of your bra lies as flat as possible against your breastbone for a comfortable fit.

When you buy a bra, it has that bright and new feeling. You want it to always look as beautiful as it did the day you brought it home from the store. Unfortunately, unless you take care of your bra, you will find your bra needs to be replaced sooner rather than later. Many people just toss the bra in the washer and dryer, thinking this is going to be okay. Yes, you have heard before that you should be hand washing and line-drying your bras, but you don't have time to do that and want an easy solution to the bra care problem.

The heat from the dryer is really bad for your bra. If you have an entirely cotton bra, it can even shrink a little, making it more likely for underwires to poke through, no matter how reinforced the bra is. There is never a good time to put a bra in the dryer. But if you still want to save time, you can get away with washing your bra in the washing machine. Here are a few tips to clean your favorite bras more quickly than the somewhat overwhelming hand wash, line dry theory.

Remember, delicates are called that for a reason! Bras are made with elastic and possibly lace, as well as other very sensitive fabrics within the bra. The plastic clips or metal hooks need to be taken care of properly, as well, so they don't melt, warp, or wear out prematurely.

There are ways to know that your bra sizing is incorrect. Some immediate signs are:

•Rising up in the back: When your bra rises up in the back, this means it is not supporting the weight of your bust.

•Shoulder Pulling: If you find yourself leaning or hunching forward regularly or if your shoulders are strained from pulling forward, chances are your bra is not the right size for your bust.

•Falling Breasts: Your breasts are not being properly supported if they do not sit upright in a central position on your chest.

•Falling Straps: If your straps slide down your shoulders or leave red marks in your flesh, your bra is probably too big around the bust and too small in the cup area.

The following steps explain how to put on a bra the correct way. Wearing your bra properly is as important as finding the correct bra to wear. Take these steps:

Most forms of exercise, even moderate activity, puts a strain on your breasts. The stress that exercise puts on the sensitive breast area can often result in temporary pain and stretching of the Cooper's ligaments, which is the area of the chest containing the outer skin and connective tissues. Breasts do not have much internal support, which is why strain on them from strenuous activities, such as jogging, can cause saggy breasts. However, studies show that you can reduce the stress on your breasts by 78 percent. The way to achieve this is by wearing the correct sports bra during exercise or other sports and activities.

Sports bras provide the extra support needed to avoid excessive bouncing of the breasts, which results in less stress and pain on your breasts. Designed to hold your breasts firmly in place, sports bras allow you a complete range of movement. Most ports bras come in fabrics designed to repel moisture from the skin. Sports bras come in a variety of styles and fabrics, so choose one based on your personal active routine.

Suede handbags are extremely stylish and can usually dress up any look. Even canvas bags or bags manufactured with other types of fabric often have some sort of suede detailing or decoration. The downside to suede is that it can become dirty very easily and the material is difficult to clean. For the best results when cleaning your suede handbag:

•you should bring it to a professional dry cleaner. Even then, the cleaner may not be able to make your bag look like new again so you should always take extra care to keep your bag clean to begin with.

•If you want to clean your suede handbag on your own, buy a special suede cleaner sold at many designer handbag stores. Ask a store employee if you need help choosing the best one.

•Never use a leather cleaner or protector on your suede bag.

•for an easy, quick cleaning of suede details, try rubbing the material with an eraser. This will not do a perfect job but may help to lessen the staining her discoloration.

There are many different substances that can stain your leather handbag and cause potentially permanent damage. If you follow this advice, you will have a better chance of getting rid of the stain before it permanently sets. For best results, treat the stain as soon as you possibly can. If the stain is stubborn and won't come out, you're best bet is to take your handbag to a leather-cleaning professional. For:

•Water stains- allow the bag to dry naturally, keeping it away from artificial heat sources. If needed, condition bag with leather conditioner.

•Gum- place ice cubes in a plastic baggie and rub the gum with the wrapped ice; this should harden the gum and allow you to easily remove it. If gum remains on the bag after trying this, heat the gum with a hairdryer on a low setting and rub the gum off with a cloth.

•Salt stains- make a mixture three parts vinegar to one part water and rub solution on stain with a cloth.

•Ink- a difficult stain to remove, but sometimes spraying the ink stain with a bit of hair spray and then wiping it off with a cloth will do the job.

•Discoloration in general- purchase a leather spray that matches the leather color of your handbag and use it to re-store color.

Even if you’ve been wearing makeup for years, having a few new tips can make application smoother and help you achieve a more flawless look. Read on to learn quick beauty tips for applying your makeup.

Choose the right tools. When applying foundation, you’ll achieve a smoother application by using a foundation brush instead of your fingers or a sponge applicator. Also, use a big powder brush to apply loose powder, as this will create a more natural look.

Don’t forget primer. Many women shy away from primer because they’re afraid it will look and feel cakey. If you choose the right product, like Lola Refine Prime Foundation Primer, you won’t even feel it. Just make sure to moisturize first to provide the smoothest possible application.

Apply makeup in natural light. Have you ever seen women with a distinctive line between their makeup and neck? If you apply makeup in natural light, you can avoid this. If your house doesn’t have a lot of natural light, check makeup outside with a compact to avoid harsh makeup lines.

Women scour a beauty forum and online reviews to find the best makeup products; however, finding the right product is only half the battle. You’ll also need the right tools and application methods to achieve the most flawless look. Read on to learn beauty advice for applying makeup.

Creating a full lip. Apply primer to the lips, which allows the pigment to stick better and last longer. Then, apply a lipstick that is moisturizing to create a plumping effect. Finish off by applying a clear gloss over the lipstick to achieve fuller-looking lips.

Highlighting your eyes. Play up your eyes by choosing colors that complement your eye color. If you have green eyes, choose lavender and purple eye shadows. Highlight blue eyes with shimmery browns and deep blue. Those with brown eyes should choose emerald greens. Use the lightest eye shadow color on the lids and the darker color for the eyelid crease.

Achieving flawless skin. First, apply a moisturizer with SPF to the skin to smooth out any dry areas. Then, use a foundation brush to apply a primer all over your face. Finish off with a light coverage foundation and dust with powder to set the look.

No future employer wants to interview someone who doesn’t have a stitch of makeup on, especially for an office, retail or service industry position. Obviously, what kind of makeup you wear to a job interview is a little less important or more flexible if you are going to work, let’s say, as a nurse or teacher. You want to present the most professional looking face possible. The key word is polished, and not too showy with your makeup. Unless you’re auditioning to be a Vegas showgirl, and then bring on the false lashes!

You want to keep most of your tones neutral. No shimmer or bronzer which screams “playtime”. Pay attention to how your skin looks, too. A good foundation does wonders to improve your overall appearance. Cover up under eye circles with a good concealer. You want to appear fresh, rested, professional and reliable.

Who doesn’t get extremely frustrated when you take the time to do your makeup in the morning and by mid-day you notice that it has almost completely vanished from your face? Where does the makeup go? You want your makeup to last—hopefully all day if possible. And it truly is possible if you know how to layer for longer wear.

To make any kind of foundation last, you must dust your face with loose, translucent powder. The powder sets the foundation, and also any concealer you have used. Layer a cream blush underneath a powder blush for twice the wearability. The same goes for shadow. If you apply a cream shadow or eye shadow base underneath your shadow, it will adhere and show up much better than just eye shadow alone.

How do you know if your eyeliner will smudge or budge later in the day? Test it on your hand by drawing a line on the back of your hand. Let it sit for five minutes and then try to wipe it away. If it wipes away easily with your fingers, it is not going to last on your eye, either. If you have to rub vigorously or break out the makeup remover to get it off of your hand, you know you have a long-wearing winner on your hands, and it will stay all day on your eyes, too!

Lip color is another story. Heavy lipstick will last longer than gloss, but if you layer lip liner all over the lips and then coat with lipstick or gloss, you will increase the wear time by hours and hours. If you don’t have a problem with dry lips, you can try a semi-permanent lip formula that lasts up to 12 hours. The ingredient to look for is Permatone, which was introduced in 2000, and is a revolutionary silicone-based polymer that makes lipstick resist “lipstick wreckers” like food and liquids.

If you are running late and you really needed to be out the door five minutes ago, here is a quick trick to looking chic: two items are all you need. This works especially well if you just have to run out quick to grab something at the store or drop your kids off at school. Throw on a pair of sunglasses, and swipe on some lipstick or gloss. That’s it. No one will be able to tell that you don’t have any other makeup on. Keep an extra set of sunglasses and lip color in the glove compartment of your car. Apply if necessary before you start up and go—never apply makeup while you are driving. If you do these two things, it only takes five seconds to fake looking great!

When getting ready in the morning, it’s important to have all your key makeup items in one easily accessible place. Invest in a great makeup bag or train case to hold everything you need. A bunch of loose makeup floating around in a bathroom drawer isn’t easy to find or use.

There are five basic items you need for your “everyday” face. And, with a little organization, you can get your makeup done for the workday in five minutes flat!

1.Invest in a great long-wearing foundation, preferably one that dries to a powder finish. Not only will this last flawlessly the entire day, but you won’t need the extra step of using a powder to set it.

2.After foundation, your next step is concealer. Use it under the eyes and on the lids as a shadow base. Products that have a dual use are especially timesaving.

3.Don’t forget blush in a soft tone to help perk up your face! Go with a pink-based blush if you are fair, and a brownish plum for darker or olive skin tones.

4.Next, it’s on to a quick eye. Sweep a lighter, cream-colored shadow all over the lid from lash to brow, and a slightly deeper shade pressed into the lower lid. Finish with a soft plum, khaki or brown eyeliner for daytime along with a few coats of mascara. Don’t overdo the eye area; soft is best for daytime when you want to present a polished, professional face.

5.The last item you need should go into your handbag. Lipstick or lip gloss is the one thing you should carry with you at all times. Lastly, if you have an evening function, your essential makeup bag can be taken with you for a late day touch-up, and it’s a definite must-have.

Taking care of yourself is hard to do when you're the mom of a newborn. Even though you may be completely exhausted, there are going to be people--lots of people--coming to see you and your new baby. You don’t have time to even shower let alone apply a complicated makeup routine. But there are a few quick steps that can help any new mom feel more like her old self again. Plus, it can be done in as little as a minute! The key is having these three items handy in the medicine cabinet or cosmetic bag so you don't spend time digging for them :

First, use concealer to disguise those dark under-eye circles from lack of sleep, and to cover up any broken capillaries from those numerous hours of pushing to bring your new bundle of joy into the world.

Second, swipe on some great mascara. It opens up the eyes and always makes you look more "together."

Lastly, sweep on some rosy lip gloss, preferably one with a wand for easy application.

Even if you're feeling like a complete mom blob, these three easy steps will make you look radiant and polished—ready to face the world and the mirror in just 60 seconds!

 

Here are some easy, time-saving tips that will help you do your makeup in a flash on those busy mornings when you just can’t linger over your lovely face in the mirror.

 

Many makeup items today have a certain radiance or light reflective pigment in them, otherwise known as shimmer or by the old-fashioned term “frost.” You want to go easy on the shimmer for daytime wear. In the harsh glare of the sun, light just bounces off those shimmery pigments and can look kind of garish. A little shimmer is fine in a lip gloss, and a touch of it works well in your neutral base eye shadow to brighten up the eye area, too. Avoid shimmery blushes, highlighters, and dark eye shadows when going for a softer daytime look. The general rule of thumb with shimmer is to keep it to one feature. You can always up the shimmer ante a bit for nighttime wear!

Nobody likes to have yellow teeth, especially when it comes time for photographs and special events. There are a wide variety of teeth whitening products on the market today that are designed to whiten teeth safely and effectively, and run the gamut from strips to gels to toothpaste. Various products work differently depending how white you want your teeth and some products may work better for you than others. Keep in mind that if you do plan to obtain white teeth, it's important to have a chat with your dentist beforehand about any product you are considering using.

Over the counter products to whiten teeth are sold in abundance these days. You can choose from gentle, non abrasive whitening toothpaste, teeth whitening strips, or a brush on gel. While these products do work, they are no substitute for a chair side treatment that a dentist can perform for you. Also referred to as a power bleach or teeth bleaching the procedure carries a hefty price tag but in one session your teeth are as white as can be. If you're worried about the appearance of your teeth, getting white teeth through your dentist is the way to go.

Because of the variety of methods out there to obtain white teeth, it's really a matter of personal preference and how white you want to go. Whether you choose an over the counter product or prefer to visit your dentist, it's important to know the level of whiteness you want to achieve beforehand as well as what the procedure or product entails.

Our hair is our crowning glory, and most of us are obsessed about our hairs. So here are a few tips to a beautiful hair ladies.

1. Get a hairstyle that suits your face. Some styles make round faces look thin, while other designs trim inches off long countenances. Find out what looks best on you by consulting a hairstyle professional to get an image consultation. Some inexpensive software programs can show what a different style would look like by matching your face with various hairdo’s.

2. Change your style occasionally. Rather than wear one hairdo the rest of your life, add versatility to your look. Try one design by day, another for evening, and perhaps still another for recreation or sports. Pull your hair into a topknot or a chignon at the back of your neck. Or weave side locks into braids and pull them back with a flower or band.

3. Get your hair trimmed regularly. Six to eight weeks is the usual amount of time most people need between trims, as dead ends accumulate or the style starts to look scruffy. Some folks' hair grows quickly enough to require a monthly cut, while others may slow to the point that they need a salon visit every two or three months. Find out what works best with your hair length and growth style.

4. Coordinate makeup, jewelry, and clothes with your hairstyle. If you have a sophisticated cut, don't wear a teenybopper outfit. If you must do so, adjust your hairstyle accordingly. Let your hair say something about your personality to create a sleek, overall impression.

5. Consider coloring, frosting, or tipping your hair to add highlights. Check with your stylist for the product and hues that are right for your complexion and scalp condition. Follow directions for allergy testing before using any new product. You may want to sample it on a small, hidden hair section to see if the color takes evenly.

6. Don't go extreme. Experiment freely, but do so when you don't have somewhere important to go, and consider a temporary style that can be fixed or you can live through if it doesn't work out. Getting a spike dyed purple may be a bit much for your stockbroker job, so wait until you go on vacation or take a leave before trying something dramatic that may impact the way others judge you, rightly or wrongly.

7. Use a shampoo and conditioner that suits your hair type. There are so many different types on the market these days that it would be easy to pick up the wrong one by mistake. Read labels carefully to decide if you want a shampoo that clarifies, adds volume, or preserves color.

Having a beautiful head of hair can make you stand out in the crowd. But take steps like those outlined above to be sure you stand apart in a positive rather than a shocking way!

Women are strong and this is my blog about the strength of women in all aspects of life. This is also a blog about women's interests, particularly  beauty products, work-outs, taking care of our babies, and even some gossips... I am excited for my new blog...