Did I mention I’m a super fan of lipsticks?

Especially pinkish and nudish tones. I just can’t have enough of them!

I probably have varying shades of them in different textures/formulations!

 I’m naturally tanned and my normal lip colour often tends to look more reddish. “Heaty Red” as some people might say. Putting on nudy or pinky shades of colour complements my skin tone, makes my lips look softer and kissable instead of overly swollen!

Did you know: Lipstick actually provides protection to our lips and minimises our risk of lip cancer seven times as compared to men??! (University of California study) Our lips are an extremely sensitive part of our body and we should provide proper protection for it. 

Guys and girls, I strongly suggest you all invest in a lip balm with SPF to protect against harmful UV. Nowadays, with the vast array of lipstick choices in the market, how do we know what to get? Not to mention the different flavours of lipbalm…

GUYS!!! Don’t shy away from it!

Girls do not particular find cracked or dry lips sexy at all!

Here’s a general guideline to lipstick and its formulations: The more pigments in lipsticks, the more drying it is.

There are 5 different lip forrmulations namely: Sheer, Shimmer, Matte, Cream and Long lasting.

Mattes contain the most pigment and sheers the least.

Sheers Give a natural wet look with only a hint of tint and different degress of shine. They don’t last long on the lips and you don’t need a mirror to apply. Very simple and straight forward actually Brand e.g. MAC lipgloss THE all time favourite!

Shimmers a.k.a frosted with a metallic or pearlescent hue making the lips shimmer because it contains mica, a light reflector. Brand e.g. Bobbi Brown Essentials

Shimmer Lip Gloss Cream Gives a matt, velvety look without the heavy feel. It contains more oils and conditioners than mattes. Also commonly know as hydrating lipstick. Brand e.g. Shu Uemura lipstick

Mattes contain the most pigment making lip colour last longer. It gives a flat non shiny surface. Tip: It is good to apply a layer of lip balm to moisturise the lips before applying the matte lip colour. Brand e.g. MAC Longlasting Lip colours work on a time release principle. The heat from our lips stimulates the release of the colour. It contains ingredients found in our foundations, making it last. It can be relatively drying too. Brand e.g Revlon Colourstay

With all the pretty colours and different textures of lip colours in the market, there is no reason to neglect those pouty/sexy lips of yours working!

Tip for all:

I know some of you out there has some problems with excessive flaking of your lips. Even visiting the doctor doesn’t seem to help your problem.

What you can do: Use your toothbrush to gently brush ur lips to remove the excess skin in the morning. Immediately after, apply enough lipbalm for that layer of protection.

The key: is to apply your balm often! Before your lips get the chance to flake again throughout the day, apply! Apply!! Especially after every meal. (After wiping your mouth with a tissue of course)

I promise it will stay soft and supple all day long!

Cheers!

Gerra

Attraction Makeover is on its way to a complete makeover. We’re excited!

We hope you are too.

It’s been a while since I last posted. Sorry about that guys! I just had to cope with the crazy schedule I had for the past few weeks. Anyways, I got something new that’s worth sharing, so here we go!

I’ve been rushing to and fro for multiple shoots these past few weeks. Sometimes, I’ve got to lug my costume and props along. So, apart from clothes – I realised I’ve been using different bags every now and then. Important note for the day – you can’t just use the same bag for all occasions or for all outfits  - your bag must fit!

Formal Attire + Sports Bag = NOT Good

For example, when you’re wearing formal business attire, please – and I beg you PLEASE – don’t carry a sports bag with you. If you really need to bring gym clothes, get a nice black leather bag which can fit your shoes as well as your clothes. These kinds of bag normally can be found in travel stores. Get something that is just nice and allows for easy travelling.

Personally it irritates me to see men dressed in corporate gear, carrying sling on sports bag of sorts. It just doesn’t fit! Image is everything; you never know who you might meet. Well I’ll admit – more often than not when we dress up, nothing happens and when we don’t, something happens. I like to be safe than sorry, and I suggest you do the same too.

Haversacks

Picking A Colour

For you who carry haversacks, try to pick black, or brown ones. Not too colourful ones. And match the haversack to your theme. If you’re going somewhere to chill with your friends and you’re in jeans and t-shirt, match the colour of your haversack to the overall colour of your clothes. If there are more dark colours go for a black haversack. If there are lighter colours, go for a nice brown one.

Carrying The Bag

How do you carry the bag? Well don’t always carry it around like a school kid. And please don’t wear it way too low. Only if you’re some kind of skater dude. If not, wear it just nice and high. Sling one side. If you must sling both sides make sure you take a look at yourself in the mirror and see how you look wearing it. What you want to achieve is a kind of flushed look. That is the haversack becomes part of your clothing.

Ok people happy trying out! Peace!

Val

Playing Soon.

Hey everyone! Today, we are going to talk about finding the right hair colour for you! The rule of thumb for choosing the right one is making sure that the colour suits your skin tone.

If you have:

Dark skin

Go for golden and light tobacco browns. The colours make your beautiful skin more outstanding. Less is more so a subtle change can result in a dramatic transformation.

Avoid: Platinum blonde or brassy shades.

Yellow skin

Go for dark reds and blue blacks because your skin tone is a perfect match for dark colours.

Avoid: Orange copper and ashy yellow undertones as they’ll make you look even more sallow and washed out.

Olive skin

Warm tones work if you have naturally tanned skin. Think copper and lush browns.

Avoid: Blue blacks or yellow based hues as they can look unnatural.

Fair skin

Dark Violet, Dark/light Mahogany bring out the natual rosiness in your skin.

Avoid: Yellow based hues as they can make your skin look pale and washed out

Keeping in mind these suggestions, don’t be afraid to let your adventurous side show!

Xoxo,

Gerra

Simple fact of the matter – you look at yourself in the mirror and then get a shock of your life! And you probably say, “I don’t remember being that fat?!” or ” This is weird, I eat a lot and I’m still like a scarecrow!” So, ever wonder how you can look like an Ancient Greek God/Goddess?

Getting Physical
In the world of fashion, it’s all about physique. Sad but true. Aesthetics rule the game of looking good. However, I’m not a big fan of artificial aesthetics ie: plastic surgery. I personally believe that plastic surgery or more like corrective surgery is useful only when you need to fix a defect that happens through an accident. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. Don’t take it as Gospel. To each his/her own.

How you look determines how well you take care of yourself. 
 

Assess Yourself
Do a mini assesment. Look at yourself in the mirror and see what you would like to change. I mean it, spend like the next 5 minutes doing that. I’ll wait…

Done? Good, now list them out in order from the highest priority to the lowest. Here’s an example:

1) Get toned

2) Get a new haircut

3) Get rid of acne
 

Take Action
Next look at these changes and see how you can achieve them naturally. Getting toned for example – go online and research for different kinds of exercises, diets and gym memberships.

Don’t like doing these? Fine pick an exciting sport that offers you a good workout. Do something you like and that will keep you interested.

For those of you who still have difficulty in this, well don’t fret. I’ll be releasing a new and unique programme that’s affordable, fun, exciting and challenging all at the same time. It’ll make you feel as energetic as a child once more, I promise =) So watch out for it!

 
Efforts Attract
Remember, being an attractive person takes work. It’s the effort you put in to take care of yourself that will glow with unexpected results. If people know you can take care of yourself, they’re more willing to invest in you or even be attracted to you because you give them a sense of assurance and certainty.

That’s all for now peace out people!

Val
Visit other entries of Quick Tips on:

• Jeans and Shoes
• Belts
• Shirts

Ever knew how colours work? Did you know that the colours of what you wear or apply on yourself can have an impact on yourself and your surroundings including people?

In this entry ladies and gents, we will visit colours and their meanings.

I consulted Linda Bird’s Look Gorgeous Always for this topic. Let’s see what she and I have to say about wearing colours!

Brown
Brown is  a grounding colour, reassuring and comforting. And, chocolate brown can be flattering to brown-eyed girls.

When To Use It?   Brown, is not exactly my colour! I will however probably use it if I need to ease a tense situation or a person.

Black
Sophiticated and glamourous. Colour of excellence.

It can denote seriousness and the state of listening. 
It’s no wonder lots of professionals wear black and well…more black! I think black is good for a slimming effect too!

When To Use It?  At times when you want to appear more focused, serious and attentive.

Pink
Colour of warmth, eternal feminity (for girls of course) and love. Soothing and nurturing.

When To Use It?   When you’re on a date! I love pink btw!  Just because pink can appear feminine, doesn’t mean guys are not allowed to wear it.

White
Clean, calming and colour of purity and a great colour for new beginnings!

Violet
Creates peace and tranquillity.

When To Use It?  According to Linda, you can use violet to boost your powers of communication and keep your audience hanging on your every word.

Green
Colour of balance, calm and compassion. It’s the colour of LIFE! 
 
Green is believed to help overcome fatigue, tension and anger. 

When To Use It?    As it promotes peace and harmony, it’s a good colour to wear if you want to make up after a fight or have a tricky day at work ahead with difficult customers!

So, if you see me wearing green, that’s just my way of coping with an ‘explosion’. 

Blue
Peaceful,  orderly, restful and soothing.

Blue has been found to reduce blood pressure and pulse rate and help reduce stress. 

When To Use It?   Experts say it’s a good interview colour as it gives the impression the wearer is loyal and calm in a crisis!

Orange
Colour of happiness, confidence, sexual energy and fun!

It can lift spirits and stimulate memory. It’s warm, revitalising and linked with sunshine.

When To Use It?   A great colour for improving communication skills and helps break down barriers.

On a side note: pale orange makes my tanned skin glow so I love it!

Yellow
(That’s YELLOW btw in case you can’t read it.) And, yellow is actually good for boosting energy!

When To Use It?   A great colour to wear when you are getting over a heartbreak as it’s a cheerful colour that will help boost your mood.

Surround yourself with yellow if you need a burst of intellectual energy as it helps boost mental concentration.

When NOT To Use It?   Don’t use it for the bedroom as it could disturb your sleep!

Red
Is hot. It’s a strong color that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and the Devil.

Because it is a stimulant and the hottest of the warm colours, red can have a physical effect, increasing the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure. That’s what the experts say. 

When NOT To Use It?   Hmm, let’s see. When you have something bad to say to someone I guess?  

 
Ladies and gents, these meanings are from someone’s perspective and inspired by the studies of many experts. Please don’t be limited to what they say, though. You may have your own interpretations of colours. If you think Linda is right, there’s also nothing wrong with agreeing with her.  :)  Hope you enjoyed this entry. 

XOXO,

Gerra

When I shop, I’m very particular about fitting. Sometimes, I may find a shirt that has a really good design, looks unique, but is just a little too big for my frame. It’s painful, but I got to let it go.

The last thing I want is for that awesome-looking shirt to hang off of me like some curtain! Let’s face it guys, some of us, me included, are not born to look like male models. But with grooming and proper dressing – including choosing the right fit – we can sure come close to looking like a model!

The last thing I want is for that awesome-looking shirt to hang off of me like some curtain! Let’s face it guys, some of us, me included, are not born to look like male models. But with grooming and proper dressing – including choosing the right fit – we can sure come close to looking like a model!

Rules That Will Help

So when it comes to choosing t-shirts or shirts in particular, here are a few rules.

1) Make sure the seam of the sleeve (the stitch line that connects the sleeve to the main shirt) is just slightly below the bone of your shoulder. It should not be so far off from your shoulder. If it is, that shirt is not for you.

2) When it comes to the length of the shirt, make sure that the shirt falls only one third past your crotch area. If it completely covers the crotch, tuck it in. You might also want to rethink about buying it because it may be too big for you.

3) If you’re athletic and slim, go for shirts that fit just nice. DON’T leave space for more growth. Shirts can only be worn for like a year or 2 and then you have to change them. If you’re a bigger built, go for shirts that don’t hug your body. Again, watch the seam of the sleeve.

Seeing My Old Self In Other Guys
I know a lot of guys who just go, grab what’s convenient, pay up and rush straight home to either fiddle with their computers or plonk themselves in front of the goggle box.

Truth be told, I was like that when I was a growing teen. I didn’t want to put too much emphasis on taking my time to choose the right top. I wanted to get out of the clothing department as fast as possible and into the video games or comics store!

An Inspiring Aunt
But, thankfully I had my aunt who would always force me to follow her on her shopping trips and along the way she would preach to me about fitting, cut and fabrics. At first it went in one ear and out the other as I sat quietly by the couch checking out cute sales girls as they walked past. Time went on and what my aunt would used to say slowly seeped into my subconscious somehow. And I’m grateful for that.

So, when it comes to going out and buying clothes, I’ve become very particular and fussy.

Use the 3 basic rules for now when you choose your top and you’ll definitely see a change.

Val

Visit other entries of Quick Tips on:

• Jeans and Shoes
• Belt
• Taking Care of Yourself

Ok, so you’ve successfully managed your new stylish lifestyle and you’re putting in more effort in taking care of yourself. Well done and crazy congratulations on that… BUT not so fast!

You don’t just stop there. You need to further improve and also, discover new creative ways of styling on your own.

Why You Ask?
Truth be told a lot of people stagnate; in other words, they stop changing. They get stranded on a plateau and they don’t move forward. They settle with the results they get. This is fine, but you see when you start to settle what happens is that things become very routine-like. It becomes very dull and monotonous. This dullness and monotony will creep into your personality and drain you! Snap out of it! That’s the last thing you want right now.

Spicing It Up
Make dressing up and maintaining your lifestyle fun! Make it an adventure! Never let it slip into a boring routine that will eventually make you despise it. You see, when it comes to dressing up, you can always try to work out a different persona. I love doing that!

Try this, go out one day and assume a different persona. A persona that reflects your dress style. If it’s classy and suave, then walk and talk like that for a day. Ok, it might seem dumb at first and your friends might laugh. But who cares? This is fun. Dressing up is all about fun. You need to be daring to be adventurous. Only then will you be creative and develop and sense of style that’s unique to you.

So, be adventurous. Take a bit of a risk. Besides, you’re not committing a crime, am I right? So, cut yourself some slack and learn to laugh at yourself from time to time. =D

Val

Note from me: What happens when you try to be a little daring? Check out what J had to say about it.

Your image is how you groom yourself, the way you dress up, and carry THE package of YOU. IT speaks even before you say anything.

Why Bother?

When you portray a good image of yourself, opportunities tend to come to you more often. Good things get attracted to good things and it’s a cycle you can’t break. Think Laws of Attraction. 

Developing an image that people admire and respect leads to open doors and a high chance of success. Only YOU can determine your way of life.
 

How To Package A Good Image

Identify Your Obstacles

To have a good image, you have to be able to identify your obstacles – be it in your career, in your personal life or how you communicate. They play important roles in presenting your image. When you are able to identify them, you learn more about yourself, and you can improve on them. Identifying them is both a self-discovery and a self-improvement process. When you choose to improve them, it shows that you are a mature person.

Balance These Two

Having a good image is balancing between persistence and flexibility.

Persistence means determination. Having a good image means you are a determined person. A determined person has a good image because he or she has good energy. Why is there a good energy? That’s because determined people are always positive about fulfilling tasks – big or small. So, if you have been procrastinating from doing anything, there is no better time like…now!

Flexibility means you are able to adapt to different environments and/or situations. That helps you gain a good image as well because it shows that you are able to respond positively to changes! Good image = good growth.
 

How Do I Start?

Look nowhere else but at the mirror. Look at yourself- you are your own brand. Now you know who the brand is, think of how to package it. Choose the identity you want to have within your environment, be it at work, a party or an important function, then dress up to express it! Put in effort in dressing up and you’ll find yourself enjoying this wonderful journey of life!

XOXO,

Gerra