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I have discontinued this blog. For up-to-date Fashion tips follow me on my Facebook page: Shelbi Keith Fashion and Makeup Consultant

My New Obession

My new obsession is......Maybelline Falsies Mascara! I swear this stuff really makes your lashes look longer and fuller! I have never ever had a mascara that made me feel like I had long lashes. I have been using the waterproof and it stays on, without feeling thick or clumpy. This sounds crazy, but every morning I look forward to putting on my mascara!!

The Perfect Fake Tan!

Summer is almost here!  I went shopping for some new shorts and t-shirts yesterday so that I will be ready for the season. Now that I have some summer clothes I need a summer tan! I know I live close to the beach...well not THAT close, but close enough to go if I really feel like it....but it takes so much time and effort to get a good summer tan. Not to mention the skin problems that arise. I am only 25 and I can already see sun spots coming up on my face from tanning in high school!
I have resulted to fake tanner and I am liking the results! Here are my steps to get a perfect fake tan at home. (no need to spend $30 a pop in the fake tanning booth!)
I use L'Oreal Sublime Self Tanning Gelee. Depending on skin tones this may not be the best for you. Start this routine at night so that the tanner will take effect during the night and you will wake up beautifully bronzed! You can also wash off the stink of the lotion in the morning. (I can't stand the smell!!)

Step One: Take a bath and let your skin get really soft! Do a good shave with shaving lotion (if you don't have any use conditioner, it works great!)

Step Two: Use a body scrub to get all dead skin cells off. Work the scrub into the neck, feet, elbows, knees, underarms, and hands. These are problem areas when it comes to self tanner. If you are going to be brave and do your face, use a scrub on your face too. Rinse and get out of the tub!

Step Three: Rub a small amount of body lotion into the problem areas. (Feet, heels, hands, neck, underarms, elbows, knees, inside wrists. This will prevent the self tanner from getting too saturated in these areas, leaving darker splotchy spots.

Step Four: Work on one area at a time, rubbing a small amount into the skin. I start with my lower leg (knee to tops of feet), then upper leg, the lower belly and lower back, the chest and upper back, the shoulders and neck, the one arm and under arm, then the other. I finally end by using the left over on my hands on my face. You do not need to add extra for the face.

Step Five: Wash your hands and inside wrists with soap and water (be careful to not let water splash up or drip anywhere on your body. Dry hands and then wipe the tops of your hands on your body to get a little tanner on your hands. You don't want look like your wearing white gloves! (If you don't wash your hands the insides turn very orange!)

Step Six: Allow yourself to dry for about 5 minutes before putting on clothes. You may still feel "wet" after that but the tanner has absorbed into the skin.

Step Seven: Repeat about 1-2 times a week to keep up your beautiful bronze!

I know this sounds like a lot of steps, and it kind of is! But it is better than spending time and money on a real tan or fake tanning booths. It is also worth it. After I had done my fake tan a few weeks ago. All day my husband kept telling me how beautiful I looked. He didn't realized that he was responding to my new tan skin. I loved all the attention!!

Men's Fashions...Speeding up!

I have never been interested in men's clothing. My dad wore a uniform to work, therefore I rarely saw him "dressed up" in a suit or in nice clothes except to go to church. Plus women's clothing is just so much more fun! Since I have been married, I have paid more attention to men's clothing, as my hubby really likes to look nice, so it is fun to work with him on his wardrobe.

In school we studied fashion cycles. Women's fashion changes quickly, usually within 2-3 years. We were taught that men's cycles change at a much slower rate, with fashions lasting almost a decade. I have decided that men's fashions are now speeding up! With television, internet and other media being the fore front of our lives, it is not only increasing women's fashion cycles, but now men are having to buy clothes more often.

Here are some of the changes in the men's world the past 2 years. The number one change has come from the hit television show "Mad Men." This show is set back in the 60's when men dressed in suits everyday for work. The fashions from this show has switched men's suiting styles from the American Fit suit to the slimmer European Fit. Slim pants, jackets and even ties are in every men's department. This has trickled down into casual wear such as jeans and khakis. My husbands pants have gotten so slim that he is wearing a thinner wallet! 

American Fit Suit

European Fit Suit

Hair styles are also changing. My hubby wore his fair in a short spiky style since before we met. Last year when we saw the movie, Inception, he told me he wanted to try and grow his hair to look like all the men in the movie. The next time he went to get his haircut, he was told by his barber that several other guys had come in recently asking for the same cut. Now this cut is on the featured model in the J-Crew catalog below.

Isn't my husband handsome with longer hair!

I am anxious to see how what the next trends for men will be. Dressing my husband is almost as fun as dressing myself.

Academy Awards Wrap Up

I agree with most who are saying that the Oscars were a bore. I think they were trying to keep it toned down after the Ricky Gervais nightmare from the Golden Globes. It was not a problem for me because the fashion didn't disappoint! Here are my favorites and least favorites...later tonight I look forward to watching Joan Rivers on Fashion Police and see how they compare!

Best Dressed

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab

 She looked amazing! Usually I don't like this pale of a color on a dark brunette, but it was just the right tone for her skin. With the see through lace, this dress could have quickly become tacky, but the draping was perfectly placed to make it more romantic than trashy.

Gweneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein

 I loved the color and shape on her. The sleek lines matched her sleek hair and the little bit of accent around her waist was not too much to take away from the lines. She also has a rockin' body! This fabric shows every lump and bump and you can't find one on Gwen!

Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier

  I love the pale skin several of the actresses! It allows the brunettes to look beautiful in the pale dresses. It is hard to see in this picture, but the sheer sleeves are so elegant.

Hailee Steinfeld in Marchesa

 This dress is perfect for a 14 year old! She said in an interview that she even helped to design it. This dress would have been a dream come true when I was her age. I also LOVED her hair!! The only thing I would change is her shoes. They should have been a little daintier to match this delicate dress.

Worst Dressed

Helena Bonham Carter in Colleen Atwood

This is no surprise. At least she knows she will be in the worst dressed category and goes for it.

 Nicole Kidman in vintage Fred Leighton

Nicole is always a hit or miss for me. The origami around her hips was not flattering and there was a little too much detailing. The red shoes didn't make sense.

Marisa Tomei in vintage Charles James

 

At first glance I loved this dress. Then as they did close ups I realized the top half was satin and looked a little bridesmaidy. It needed a little more tailoring around the bust, or it all could have been saved with a cone shaped bra. I am serious! This is a 1950s dress and if she had been wearing a cone bra like they wore back then it would have fit it the bust correctly!

Penelope Cruz in Gucci

She just a had baby last month, but come on Penelope, wear a spanx! The detailing of this dress was a little tacky and it also highlighted her baby weight. (I think she was hoping her big bust would detract our eyes from the belly...)

Best Hair

Mila Kunis

This low chignon bun was beautiful! It also matched the look of the dress. I hate when people have hair that doesn't match the look and feel of the dress.

Best Makeup

Amy Adams

I thought her eyes looked beautiful!

 Jennifer Hudson

Her skin glowed in all the right ways!

Here are some more dresses that deserved mention from this year's awards season!

Cate Blancett in Givenchy from last night's Oscars

So creative!

Angelina Jolie in Versace from the Golden Globes

Many said it looked liked like 80's Dynasty. I loved it! She was stunning in this color and it was very sexy in a non-revealing way.

Olivia Wilde in Marchesa at the Golden Globes

 

This is my ideal ball gown! It was like Starry Night in a dress!

Michelle Williams in Valentino at the Golden Globes

I am not a fan of Michelle Williams in the first place. She bothers me for some reason. This dress was way too casual for the golden globes. It looked like 1970's prom!

Natalie Portman in Benjamin Millepied at the Golden Globes

This dress would have been pretty if instead of a rose, it was a diamond broach. The red and pink are not my favorite together.

This was all so fun! I LOVE awards season, so sad it is over...

Face Primers

Face Primer is a relatively new product to the cosmetic world, but I think most makeup artists these days consider it a staple. I know many of you are going to say...."not another product!" But trust me on this one, it makes a huge difference!

Here is why you should use a face primer:

-Primers allow makeup to glide on smoother because the primer settles in the pores and fine lines, creating a smoother skin surface. (kinda like a "Spackle" for your skin!)

-You will use less makeup because of your smoother skin surface.

-Some primers have extra benefits such as mattifyers or sunscreen.

-Your makeup will last longer because the primer acts as a "glue" to bind the makeup to skin.

-It feels good! Most primers have a silky, silicone feel to them.

Face primer is the first step in the makeup process. After applying your skin moisturizers, allow a few minutes for them to absorb before you apply the primer. Apply your primer all over the face, as you would a moisturizer, followed by any eye or face concealor and then your foundation.

I use Stoltz Image Cosmetics on myself and my clients. Their primer is called "Retexturizing Face Primer." Another popular primer is the Smash Box Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

 

Next time you go the cosmetics counter, ask to try one, I promise you will never go without it again!

Ott Lite

My dad bought me an OttLite for Christmas. I have been needing one for a while, but they are a little pricey. These lights are amazing to use as a lamp for putting on makeup. They are made for seamstresses and quilters so that colors of thread can be matched perfectly. The light emitted is very close to perfect daylight, therefore making it a great lamp to use when putting on makeup in dark places. (Be aware, they may show you more of yourself than you want to see.....fine lines, dark spots, etc...) At least your foundation will be perfectly matched!!!

You can buy them at Michaels, Joannes and Hobby Lobby. The lamps come in several sizes and shapes. Watch for them to go on sale, it happens quite often.