By Megan Gustashaw, Glamour magazine
Want to beat the winter beauty blahs without investing a ton or time or money in a total transformation? Come check out these 5 easy upgrades for instant pretty.
New York Fashion Week kicks off today so I'll be using all 5 of these tricks over the next 8 days. Want to see pics? I'll be sure to report back after the shows are over.
Happy Tuesday morning, darling readers. To help kick off our daily beauty festivities (every day's a party at GITBD!), let's zoom in on the adorable Thandie Newton and check out an easy eye makeup trick that any of us can pull off. Even those of us who are all thumbs when it comes to doing our own eye makeup.
Thandie was looking glamorous in a black evening gown at an awards event in London last night.
Related: 7 Sexy Date Night Outfit Ideas
See how she has the tiniest hint of shimmer beneath her lower lashes, concentrated toward the middle/inner corners of her eyes? To do this, you can use a shiny metallic eyeliner, a bit of eyeshadow applied with a liner brush or even a smudge of skin highlighter (like Benefit High Beam), in a pinch. Anything that creates a subtle glint of light from under the eyes will help brighten that usually-dark zone and make your eyes stand out more, like Thandie's do here (even though she'd got
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So your dude was tossing nachos at the screen while the Giants were kissing their cup. Maybe he even cried a little. (We won't tell.) If he's a New England supporter, the Super Bowl last night was rough, and you may be feeling a little neglected.
Even if you're not a football fan, here's how to remind him that you're the Gisele to his Tom Brady. OK, with sex tips, mostly. But also a book!
Make him comfort food for dinner... in your lingerie. This one has a storied history of working out great. Just saying.
Recreate your favorite steamy movie scene. Ever see A History Of Violence? Got access to a staircase? Yup. Or, if you guys aren't cinema fans, go for some new aerodynamically-challenging position he's always wanted to try.
Related: Why Your Should Always Hit On the Wingman
Don't be afraid of sexting. Especially it's something you don't do often, a sultry text could be an unexpected pick-me-up for him. Something like
Read More »from Is He a Patriots Fan? Cheer Him Up with These 6 Moves
Here's a fact about flab: It results not only from lack of muscle tone but also from excess body fat. "You could do 1,005 crunches, but if you don't do enough cardio, you'll just have very toned muscles under a blanket of fat," says Johanna Subotovsky, learning manager at Equinox Fitness. You need at least 30 minutes of cardio, three times a week. Then try this spot-specific advice.
1. HELP FOR: Bra bulge
To get rid of the little roll that spills over your bra strap in the back, try bent-over rows.
See also: 20 Winter Trends That Look Good on Everyone
Stand next to a chair with a dumbbell in right hand. Place left knee and hand on seat and extend right arm toward floor. Bending elbow out to side, slowly bring weight up to chest. Do two sets of 15 reps on each side.
2. HELP FOR: Inner- and outer- thigh mushiness
The hips and thighs are the first place most women tend to store fat and the last place they lose it. In addition to lots of cardio,
People tend to be split right down the middle when it comes to the subject of knuckle cracking: they either love it, or the very idea of it sends them into an episode of the gross-outs. Which camp are you in?
See also: 20 Winter Trends That Look Good on Everyone
If you're a knuckle-cracker, raise your hand (unless you're too busy cracking it, heh). Have you ever wondered why you're compelled to crack? Drumroll... according to Dr. Rachel Vreeman, assistant professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and co-author of Don't Cross Your Eyes...They'll Get Stuck That Way!: "There's not any hard science to explain why it's so addictive, but certainly people speculate it's one of these activities that releases nervous energy."
Like tapping your pen, chewing gum, biting your nails--cracking knuckles a habit, even though you're not actually cracking anything: "That sound you hear is synovial fluid vapor cavities--or gas bubbles--in the
Quick! What color is your tongue? The answer to that question-and the four other self tests here-can give you surprising clues about your health.
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1. OK, first test! Stick out that tongue….
What's healthy: Reddish-pink.
What's not: White, gray or brown muck on the back of your tongue; it may be bacteria that signals acid reflux or a stomach ulcer. A white coating all over can mean you're dehydrated.
Your Rx: Use a tongue scraper to clean off gunk. If bacteria builds up again quickly or is hard to remove, see your doc, who can test you for gastrointestinal issues. For dry mouth, drink more water!
2. How white are your eyes?
What's healthy: Bright whites; also, smooth, even-toned eyelids.
What's not: Red, irritated eyes. They might be signs of dry eye, which can be brought on by hormonal changes from pregnancy or oral contraceptives, or from staring at a computer screen too long. A yellow tint in the whites of
Is he the one? This woman knows! Actress and comedian Ali Wentworth spent years dating the wrong dudes-but meeting the right one, George Stephanopoulos, set her straight. When you've got a relationship as strong as Ali's, you're allowed to dispense your wisdom. Here's her Mr. Right Checklist:
Related: Why Your Should Always Hit On the Wingman
He's NOT The One if...He ogles other women.
When a man has a wandering eye, he's still shopping around. Unless a woman is on stilts, there's no reason to take her in for more than two seconds.
He's NOT The One if... You feel like you've got to play games.
If he were The One, you wouldn't be tempted to hang up before he answers the phone. You wanna talk? Talk!
He's NOT The One if... He makes you feel insecure.
If he tells you that you didn't wax enough or gives you a boob job for your birthday, then need I say it? It's not the real you he wants.
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He's NOT The One
I'm just guessing here, but if you're reading this, you're probably interested in men. And you're probably, on occasion, confused by men. On behalf of all guys, let me say: We're sorry. Men are confusing. How do I know? I once made a living trying to explain them to millions of women. I learned a lot-and what I know, you should too. It's criminal you don't already! But let me explain.
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I took up the "Jake" mantle a decade ago, for three enlightening cocktail-infused, blind-date-laden years. Even before I became Jake, though, I knew who he was. The famous pseudonym masks a guy who writes about how men think in Glamour. But I had no idea that by taking the job I'd come to see women, dating and myself in a whole new way.
Two years or so into my life as Jake, you see, I started dating a woman I code-named Orange Blossoms (due to her insanely
Is he sensitive? A player? A DO? A DON'T? That new album he just bought reveals all.
See more: Man Candy: 6 of the Hottest Guys of 2012
If he likes...Justin Bieber, Believe
Worried your guy is a permalescent if he's into the Biebs? Think again! The buoyant Canadian kid is set for the Justin Timberlake Teen-to-Adult-Pop Transformation Trajectory, thanks to the influence of Kanye West and Drake on Believe. So far his love songs have been of the "puppy" variety. Now he's bringing the sexy. Sure, it's a little weird if the Biebs sings your guy's go-to jam, but it's not as weird as it would have been a year ago.
VERDICT: He is immature but might surprise you.
If he likes...The-Dream, The Love IV: Diary of a Mad Man
The-Dream was widely branded as the bad guy after scandalous photos of him on a beach with his assistant surfaced right before his split from ex-wife Christina Milian. On his last album, 1977, he attempted to apologize...and came off looking
Cynthia Sass, R.D., tells what's fast, what's healthy-and what's both.
1. A Juice Fast
Answer: No. "I have yet to know one person who has done a juice fast and kept the weight off," says Sass. "You'll gain it back when you eat real food again."
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2. The Master Cleanse
Answer: No. "Subsisting on a mix of cayenne pepper, maple syrup and lemon juice is like an extreme juice fast-but it doesn't contain any substantial food. At least with juice you're getting some calories and antioxidants."
3. Going Raw
Answer: Maybe. "All the veggies you eat certainly keep your overall calories low, but I've also known people to gain weight on raw diets because they eat so many nuts and seeds. It's also really hard to stick with!"
4. Cutting Out "White" Stuff
Answer: Yes. "Refined foods like white flour and sugar have been stripped of vitamins and minerals, not to mention fiber-which leaves you with a more compact grain that has
