I am always on the hunt for a miracle eye cream. Without a doubt, it should be the most important beauty product in your skincare regimen. I came across Z Mei’s Correcting Eye Serum a few weeks ago and I have to say, it is one of the best I have ever used. And to top it off, the price cannot be beat. Applied at night, this unique serum contains a powerful nutritive cocktail that works while you are sleeping, to deeply penetrate the delicate eye tissue increasing elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Z Mei Correcting Eye Serum

Milly Dress from Rent the Runway

If you do not want to sacrifice your style, but simply cannot afford to keep on living this way, check out RentTheRunway.com. This genius website allows women to rent high-end designer looks for a fraction of the retail price. Ranging from $50 to $200 for a four-night loan, that Herve Leger dress you’ve been dreaming about will be delivered to your doorstep, in not one, but TWO SIZES just for good measure. After your fabulous night out, you just mail the frock back to the company. It’s that simple.

Never again will you have to have the guilt that comes with spending half of a mortgage payment on an outfit, only to wear it once before it goes out of style. I think I’m in heaven. Rent the Runway

You know the kind of day it’s going to be when your hair does not behave.  Its very true that your locks can have mega impact on your mood.  It is proven that bad hair can increase self doubt and social insecurities.  Studies have even shown that bad hair days can lead to poor job performance as well.  Sound dramatic?  Well, try saying it’s not a big deal to a woman going on a date or giving a presentation to a large audience.  Like the old saying goes “a woman’s hair is her crowning glory.”

Bad hair days are universal, and affect every race, nationality, age group and socioeconomic status. Luckily there are so many treatments available out there to help make your hair look stellar all of the time. One of my favorites is the Brazilian blowout.  You are practically guaranteed perfect hair every day for the three months that follow receiving the treatment.  I was surprised at what a simple process it was. After being washed twice with clarifying shampoo, my hair was covered in this miracle keratin product that coats each strand with proteins and fills in gaps forcing strands to lie flat and repel humidity.  Next, it was blown dry and then flat ironed to seal all of this magical potion in to the cuticle of the hair.  In a little over one hour, my sometimes frizzy long tresses were transformed into perfectly straight, silky gorgeous locks. I wanted to go out dancing in the rain!

My drying time is now cut in half, my flat iron hasn’t seen the light of day and I do not have to use any product in my hair.   I will go without food before I sacrifice getting this treatment.  I am hooked!  If you lucky enough to be in the Atlanta area contact Natalia at Blowout by Natalia at (678) 570-1307. She will change your life.

It’s happened countless times to every woman. You shopped till you dropped, thought you had some killer outfits and when you come home and try them on again, you are wondering if your eyes are deceiving you. Why doesn’t that cute top and those skinny jeans look as good as they did in the dressing room? And, just as often, the opposite can occur too. If you aren’t prepared for the dressing room, that perfect outfit doesn’t stand a chance of coming home with you. Here are some helpful tips for avoiding dressing room debacles:

1. Don’t become a fashion victim by shopping for all trendy pieces.  True style combines the perfect mix of classic and of-the-moment pieces.  I always recommend spending your money on great basics – the perfect little black dress, a great pair of heels, the perfect pair of jeans, a fabulous handbag.  All of these things will get multiple wears and be the foundations for putting together almost any outfit.  Then you can mix in the trendy things.

2.  Wear minimal accessories when shopping for clothing – you do not want to snag something that you do not even own.  Plus, the wrong accessory can kill an outfit.  Just as the right one can make it look incredible.  Shopping for accessories is just as important as shopping for clothing.

3.  Check out the lighting when you are undressed.  If you look a whole lot better without clothing on than you usually do, chances are the lighting is adding to that effect.  (Unless of course you have been dieting and exercising lately!)  Keep in mind that once you hit daylight or fluorescent lighting, you might not love that new dress as much.

4. Choose the right undergarments.  It’s best to wear the bra type that you wear when dressing up rather than a sports bra, for example.  Depending on what you are shopping for, you might want to take a strapless bra with you as well.  And, always wear a thong.  Panty lines will always ruin the look of any outfit.

5.  Take some heels with you.  You would be surprised at how the right shoe can transform any look.

6.  Think ahead.  That awesome bright blue and green dress might look amazing on you, BUT what shoes are you going to wear with it?  If you have to go shoe shopping too, the outfit might just break the bank.

7.  I love boutiques, but their return policies are usually not very good.  Make sure you have no doubt in your mind when purchasing clothing from a boutique or small retailer, as you might be stuck with it forever, or worse holding a credit that just sits in your handbag, until you lose it.

8.  Take a friend shopping with you – a real friend – the one who would let you know if you had spinach in your teeth.  Nothing takes the place of a second opinion.  Asking the salesperson is usually not a good idea.  I have done tests, putting on ridiculous, ill-fitting outfits and asking salespeople what they thought of them.  I received honest answers less than 25% of the time. Not a good track record.

It’s happened to all of us. You walk into a meeting, extend your arm to shake your colleagues hand and are greeted with what I like to call “the dead fish”- a handshake that is loose, and usually points slightly downward. Or else you are given the “girly shake”- just the fingers and not the whole hand. Limp handshakes tend to communicate timidity, passivity or intimidation or project a sense of distance and an “I don’t want to touch you” attitude.  It is not pleasant and no one, including women, is exempt from this rule.

Throughout history the handshake has been used in so many ways, to say hello, to say goodbye, to show good faith, and to close deals. In fact, they were originally used as a way to prove you had no weapons in your hand when meeting someone new. You need to have a handshake that is solid and shows that you mean business. In so many instances it is serving as your first impression and you do not get a second chance at giving that. And, did you know that people are more apt to remember you if they shook your hand, than if it never happened? That’s reason enough to greet someone with a good shake.

Here are some tips on making sure that you show determination and strength in your hand to hand greeting:

Be First
Shake firm and with energy. The perfect handshake exudes a friendly attitude but yet shows you mean business. Usually the person that extends their hand first has the “power” in the relationship, so try to be that person.

Form and Function
Hold your arm out straight and with your thumb pointing up. When you slide your hand into the other persons give it two to three pumps. Do not squeeze too hard, you could actually break a bone or hurt someone depending on their medical conditions. Also be mindful if you are wearing any large rings because those can also hurt a person!

When shaking hands to congratulate someone, you can put your hand on top of the hands that are being shook. It indicates pride, warmth and sharing. But be careful to use this only with people you know well because it can seem overpowering for some.

If your palms are sweaty try to dry them first, there’s nothing worse than a cold clamy hand.

Look ‘em in the Eye
Make eye contact when shaking, have a smile on your face and greet the person by name.

Don’t Dominate
This one is for the men. It is not a contest to see who has a stronger grip. Save that for non business situations and illustrate your alpha male with just friends or competitors, or you will sent a confrontational tone for your entire relationship.

Fekkai Marine SummerHair

Has too much time in the pool this summer caused your hair to feel like straw and turn a lovely shade of green? Flush out the chlorine by detoxing your hair with Fekkai Marine Clean Detox shampoo for 2 weeks. $23 Fekkai

Feed my Skin Body Polish

Stay cool during the dog days of summer with Strawberry Feed my Skin Body Polish. This all natural exfoliating scrub is meant to be kept chilled in the refrigerator to give your body a cool treat when the heat is on. It is super moisturizing and smells like yummy ripe strawberries. I wouldn’t recommend taste testing though. $9. Henri bendel

I never thought I’d be so moved by a razor before, but then again, I have never felt my legs this smooth.  The Venus Embrace five blade razor cuts hair evenly and makes hair less likely to grow inward while giving you silky, begging to be touched legs. Thats all you need to know my goddesses.    Except this little tip:  Shave in the direction of hair growth and don’t pull the skin taut as you go because it can close over a follicle once you let go and cause an ingrown hair.  Available at Target and most drugstores nationwide. $12.50

Gillette Venus Embrace Refillable Razor

Gold has become a go-to ingredient in skin care products. Spas advertise gold infused facials and luxe brands like La Prairie and Guerlain profess that the gold ingredient in their skincare lines will make your skin look younger, plumper and softer. So, when I saw the Christine Valmy Golden Collagen facial mask, I was lured in to give it a try. The mask is a visual delight. The thought of enveloping my visage in this golden face shaped gelatin mask was very enticing. The potent ingredients actually erase fine lines and add instant radiance while the electromagnetic properties improve blood circulation and protect the skin from free radicals. There’s also all sorts of anti oxidants in there too – like gotu kola, bilberry and echinacea to rejuvenate skin and make it more youthful looking. If you are allergic to metals, i do not recommend, but for everyone else… all that glistens IS probably gold. $16.50 Christine Valmy

Christine Valmy's Golden Collagen Full Face Mask

Introducing a universal anti-aging brow pencil that transforms and adjusts to all brow colors.  It all comes down to how hard you press – the lighter the application, the lighter the color.  Brow Power from IT Cosmetics is waterproof and smudge resistant and uses a patent pending blend of ingredients such as green tea, grapeseed, nettle and horsetail extracts as well as anti-aging vitamins.  And here is the best part:  For every Brow Power pencil sold, the IT Cosmetics donates one Brow Power pencil to the Look Good, Feel Better program to help women face the effects of cancer with confidence.    Available at Beauty.com $24

Brow Power

That phrase should only apply to your jello, not your legs. The latest anti-cellulite serums spur circulation, reduce water retention and smooth out skin using caffeine.  None of the creams and gels will magically make you look like a supermodel (or should i say a retouched supermodel because many of them have cellulite too) but they do give skin a much sleeker appearance for a few hours. And, hey, I’ll take what I can get, because the only place i want to see dimples is on my face. Check out Nivea Good-Bye Celluite Gel $11 Target

Nivea GoodBye Cellulite Gel

IcyBag

Say goodbye to melted makeup with Icybag.  If you are like me and do not leave home without your lipgloss, you need this cute bag.  Its insulated and comes with a freezable gel pack – perfect to protect lipstick, eyeliner, snacks, medication and any other product that might turn to mush when exposed to the suns hot rays.   Ideal for holding your sunblock too so you get a nice cool refreshing spritz when applying.  Icybag $15