How to Polish Your Appearance

Article by C. Elliott

Have you ever noticed how absolutely perfect all those celebrities and movie stars seem to look? So put together. Never single hair, blemish, or article of clothing out of place. If your like us, you probably sigh about it every time you pass through the checkout lane at the grocery store, and try to convince yourself that they’re all just airbrushed. And yet still, we all wish, that we could look half that good, right? Well wouldn’t it be nice for a change, to know and understand the secrets to obtaining a polished appearance – rather than just dreaming about one?

It’s really not that difficult, and with the right tricks, a little bit of preparation, anyone can become the envy of the checkout line. If you would like to obtain a polished appearance there are six main areas that need to be addressed. They are as follows:

Skin

The first thing that needs to be addressed is your skin. A persons skin is the largest organ in the human body, and it is one of the first things people notice about you – so it should be considered the foundation of your appearance. It is incredibly important that your skin be clean, odor-free, well-hydrated, balanced and without blemishes. If you have problem areas such as acne, discoloration, scaring, rashes or medical conditions you should talk to your doctor and develop a treatment plan. A daily skin care routine that includes washing, toning, exfoliating, and moisturizing should be religiously practiced. By following a well-tailored routine you should begin seeing improvements in your skin within the first week. In addition, drink lots of water to help hydrate your skin from the inside out, wear sunscreen, and avoid tanning booths at all cost. A deep dark tan might look good today, but it’s going to cause your skin to age much faster in the long run. If you have to tan, try spray tan, or self tanning lotion such as Aveenos Continuous Radiance Moisturizing Lotion.

• Use hypo allergenic soap on the face because the skin in this area is often more sensitive than the rest of the body.
• Avoid alcohol based facial toners because they dehydrate your skin.
• Exfoliate the face, feet, knees, and elbows daily with face / body scrubs.
• Choose the right moisturizer for your skin type; some are for oily skin, some are for dry skin. You will get the best results from using the right product.

Hair

A woman’s hair can often be her best feature; but if it’s not well cared for it can easily become her biggest problem. The best thing you can do for you hair is have it cut regularly. In most cases this means every 3-4 weeks. Even if they are just trimming up the ends, a fresh cut helps hair grow faster (because there is less opportunity for damage and breakage), keeps your style looking fresh, and overall just makes you feel good. When choosing a style the best advice you can get is: Work With What you Got. If you try to fight your natural hair type, or color more often than not your going to end up looking fake – and that does not say polished. Now, we’re not saying just let your hair go wild. The key to working with what you got, lies in finding the right cut, and styling products for your hair type. If your a Super Cuts gal, treat yourself to a consultation with a real stylist – one who takes more than just 10 minutes to work with you. When booking your appointment ask to be matched with someone who specializes in your hair type. Most stylists have an area of expertise and pairing up with someone who understands your hair is one of the best things you can do. At your appointment discuss your face shape, and ask what styles would best frame your face. Also ask them for hair-care product recommendations, and routine suggestions. Keep in mind your personal style; are you the type who takes the time to primp, or do you prefer to wash and run? Don’t pretend your a primper if you are not. Some styles take a lot of time, and if you are not willing to commit to the maintenance it is never going to look right.

• Regular cuts; once every 3-4 weeks / 2 months at the longest.
• Work with what you got; if you fight your natural hair type it will cost a lot of time, and money – and you will probably end up looking processed.
• Keep in mind your personal style; are you willing to spend a lot of time on your hair, or would you prefer something more maintenance free. Be honest with yourself.
• Don’t be afraid to try something new; just because you’ve had the same style for 10 years does not mean that it is the best look for you. You may need to step outside of your comfort zone.
• Find a good stylist.
• Find the right styling products for your hair type and style.

Teeth

Your smile says a lot about you, and is often the center of other people attention when they are talking to you. Make sure your see a dentist at least twice a year, and have a good daily oral hygiene routine. This means brushing at least twice a day, flossing, and using mouth wash either in the morning or the evening. If your teeth are stained you may want to consider a whitening treatment. Usually professional whitening treatments work best, but if you are short on time / money in home whitening kits can also get the job done. A fresh, clean smile can do wonders for brightening your face, making you look younger, and definitely adds extra polish to your appearance.

• Visit a Dentist at least twice a year.
• Brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash daily.
• Whiten teeth with professional treatments, or use a home care kit such a Crest White Strips.
• Carry mints or gum at all time to freshen you breath on the go.

MakeUp

There are some basics steps that should be followed when you want to apply makeup.

• Start with a clean canvas; see the skin care section in the beginning of this article.
• Apply liquid foundation with a makeup sponge all over your face and feather it over your jaw bone and neck for a more even natural look.
• Use concealer to cover up blemishes and dark spots.
• Using a large blush brush set your foundation with a light dusting of powder; this will help is hold up throughout the day.
• Apply eyeshadow according to your preferences. We suggest trying a white shimmery eyeshadow on the inside corners of your eyes to help widen and bright them.
• Brush the same shadow across the brown bone to highlight. Use darker shadows in the creases of the eyelids – but keep them towards the outside corners and blend them with a slightly lighter complimenting shade for an even look.
• Apply eyeliner. A pencil is easiest to use, but with practice a liquid eyeliner can be applied more precisely.
• Curl your lashes to give the illusion of additional length. You will want to curl before you apply any mascara, and you will need to hold the clamp down for at least 20 seconds.
• Apply mascara as desired. Black and Brown have a different effect. Brown is better for a softer more natural look, but if you want to glam it up stick with the black.
• Use a lip exfoliant, and condition with lip moisturizer prior to adding any color, liner or lip gloss.
• Use a lip liner a shade darker than your natural color and trace directly on top of the contour of your lips. If you have thin lips and want to widen them, trace just outside of your natural lip line. Apply a clear lip gloss, or color to finish it off.
• Use a large blush brush to apply your blush to the apples of your cheeks. Blend it back along your cheekbones. Don’t use too much or it can come off looking clownish. The idea is to highlight your bone structure. You can also use the same brush to add a touch of shimmer to the top of your cheekbones when you are done if you really want to highlight them.

Clothing

When it comes to choosing clothing you should look for quality, and styles that best flatter your figure. Pieces that do not fit you correctly are guaranteed to look sloppy. Consider the colors, fabrics, wear-ability and age appropriateness of your selections. Do your choices make sense for your lifestyle? Are they a good match for your personality? What do they say about you? People are often judged by what they wear; and the image you want to convey should be considered while you are still in the dressing room. If your budget is tight stay away from trendy clothing items – they tend to look outdated within a couple of seasons, and you probably won’t want to wear them. Rather than spending your money on a lot of cheap trendy items, try investing in some high quality basics with great fits. You want your clothing to conceal your flaws, and accentuate your assets. Mastering this art of dressing is key to obtaining a polished appearance. For more detailed information on what styles will best flatter your figure we recommend you check out our other article on Figure Flattering.

Presence

One of the best ways to come of looking polished is to have a great attitude. Keep your head up, shoulders back, and stomach tight. This will help you to stand taller.

Make eye contact with people – this lets them know that you are confident, and intelligent. And be sure to smile; not only will it brighten up your face, but it will also let other people know that you are a happy, friendly, and approachable person!