Tag Archives: advice

Feb16

Fix Your Skin Expert Roundup

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Fix Your Skin Expert Roundup

Heyy guys and happy Thursday! So a couple of weeks ago I was contacted by my friends at Fix Your Skin to give some advice in their 2017 Expert Roundup. I have to say, I was completely flattered to have been one out of the 200 dermatologists, makeup artists, bloggers, and skin care experts that were chosen to participate. Not only flattered but SO FREAKING EXCITED!! What an honor!

Skin care has been something that is extremely important to me since I was a teenager. My complexion has always been a feature of mine that I take a lot of pride in so I have always wanted to maintain peaches and cream perfection since I entered high school. Teenage skin made me nervous. Breakouts, acne, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples – whatever name you have for problem skin, I was scared.

The fear of having high school being even shittier if acne was a problem motivated me to create a regime and find products that worked for me. Through trial and error, I was able to find cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and creams that helped to enhance my skin’s beauty, some of which I still use to this day. And, I hate to jinx myself now, but at twenty-two years old I have never had a pimple in my life!

When I tell people my “never had a pimple” fun fact, I always feel very lucky, especially since all of my life and to this day, I constantly commit the biggest skin care no no: I sleep in my makeup!! But, you know what? That’s okay. If sleeping with makeup on is my one bugaboo after close to ten years of diligently caring for my skin, I’d say that I’m doing alright!

Believe me, my high school years were still shit despite a fresh face but I am so thankful that acne was not a problem that was added onto my pile of stress that came from an abundance of mental health issues. I graduated high school, then, when I was eighteen, I began to work at The Body Shop as one of their assistant managers and that just took my always growing knowledge and passion for skin care to a whole other level.

Working at The Body Shop will always remain one of my favorite retail jobs that I have ever worked. I reveled in being able to assist my customers with their skin care needs and create custom regimens to help solve their problems and boost their confidence. It really was a joy and I loved being able to swap skin care stories and secrets with everyone that walked into my store.

I was hungry to learn about all of the products that The Body Shop as well as our competitors offered to provide customers with the best answers to their questions and I was consistently complimented on my expertise. It felt good to be praised for something that I learned, which rarely happened during my high school career and even after I quit working at TBS, I still would always drop skin care knowledge on my mom, sister, friends, and randoms on Facebook when they needed advice.

When lifewithlilred was born in 2014, I knew that product reviews had to be something that was included on my page. I loved being able to steer my readers in the direction of products that I loved while helping them avoid the ones that were ehh…not so much! And you know, I guess this rambling little story about the past ten years of my skin care experimentation is a roundabout way of getting at that I am really freaking proud of myself to have been chosen by Fix Your Skin to be a part of a roundup of people that they considered experts in skin care.

I may not be working in a skin care based field anymore but I do have a blurb on a website dedicated to helping people with their skin care needs. Check it out and be sure to take a look at the full article for more advice:

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I want to thank Fix Your Skin again for including little old me in their Expert Roundup because it means much more than people probably realize! What are some of your skin care tips and tricks? What is one of your most loved skin care products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb15

Moving In 101

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Moving In 101

In terms of stress- moving into a new place is right up there with starting a new job. All the packing and unpacking, hammering nails, and setting up of bills, it’s enough to send anyone into a panic. Before chaos ensues, take a breath, and read these top tips for packing up your old place and setting up your new one:

Lists: As much as the mention of lists might cause some sighs and eye-rolls, they are an essential part of moving. Boring yes, but completely essential. Before you move out make a list of things that you need to do. This will probably include finding and hiring movers, decluttering your home, and the careful packing up of your belongings. Tick off your list as you go so you know what’s left to do. This will keep you organized and on schedule throughout the move.

Packing & Decluttering: It’s time to be ruthless. Be realistic about what you’re keeping, especially if you’re downsizing. Get the measurements of your new place and make sure that everything is going to fit. Once you’ve sorted through your belongings it’s time to pack. Try and pack your items in room by room boxes. This will make it so much easier on the other end. Pack the heaviest items first to avoid crushing any smaller items. Avoid packing heavy books or ornaments in cardboard boxes. Even with tape on the bottom, it’s best to opt for a sturdier book box (the plastic kind).

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Pixabay Image

Setting Up The Bills: This stresses a lot of people out, but it doesn’t need to! For most of us, it’s about finding the internet, phone, gas and electricity providers. There are lots of sites out there that compare different gas and electric providers for you, based on your postcode. For internet and phone providers, shop around and find a deal that suits you that’s within your budget. This can all be done before you move in. The previous tenants or homeowners might also be able to provide some good tips about which providers worked for them.

Moving In Date & Time: If your move in date is flexible, be sure to choose wisely. Choose a date when you don’t have work the next day, or request it off. Try moving in as early in the day as possible. This gives you time to at least set up your bed with linen and unpack some essential toiletries and kitchen utensils. This means that when you wake up the next day you won’t be met by lots of unorganized chaos.

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Unpacking party!

Sleep: Moving is stressful! There’s no way around it. By following these tips and tricks you should be able to at least minimize the stress. But it’s still so important to get a great night’s sleep the day before the move. This will allow you to feel your best for the physically demanding day ahead! Try not too talk to much about the move the night before. This could lead to a sleepless night of worrying. As long as everything is planned and organized beforehand, you should be worry free!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb14

Your First Day On A New Job

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The first day of a new job can be a mixture of feeling terrified and excited. You are usually excited to get your teeth into your new role and prove yourself to your new colleagues. However, it can be pretty terrifying to be the only new person in a group of workers that have all know each other for ages! Luckily there are a few ways to make your first day go as smoothly as possible. Just read on to find out what they are:

Be Punctual: Whatever you do on the first day of your new job, make sure that you are punctual. Not only do you want to make a good impression and look keen, but you also don’t need the stress of rushing and wondering whether you are going to make it on time or not. Do a trial run of the journey at that time in the morning so you know exactly how it will go, and make sure you leave extra early for your first day. You don’t always have to leave at that time once you are established in your role but it can really help reduce your stress levels in the beginning.

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Tick tock!

Make Conversation: Something else that can be really helpful to do on the first day of work is to talk to as many people as possible. This is easier for some than others. Introverted folks will especially have a hard time with this. But do a little prep work to help you beforehand. Research topics for conversation in the news or the internet. Or pick out certain aspects of the company to talk about, like a major event that is coming up or their social club.

Remember, too, that if you have had a career change, that it’s best not to go on too much about your old job, the positives or the negatives. In fact, it’s better to be more interested in the role that you are doing now.

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Chatty Kathy!

Take a Packed Lunch: A great idea for your first day is to take a packed lunch with you. This is because you probably don’t know what the lunch facilities will be like there, or if you’ll even get a proper lunch break on the first day, as you may be super busy learning the ropes. It is super useful to have something with you that you can nibble on if you get hungry. Then, if you do get asked out to lunch with your colleges, you can just leave your pack up in the car. No harm done!

It’s Only Your First Day: The last thing you need to remember on the first day of your new job is that it’s just your first day! Most people won’t be asked to do anything too drastic unless you are in the military or medical fields. Instead, your employer will be expecting you to take a little time to get settled in, so use this to your advantage. Also, don’t stress too much if you don’t make any lasting connections with colleges straight away. These things take time and usually develop naturally if you are patient.

Feb10

Give Your Bathroom Some Sparkle

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Give Your Bathroom Some Sparkle

When you have a big family, the house can tend to get messy, over-run and the household chores can seem like a never ending list which just gets bigger and bigger with every hour. The bathroom is one of the most used and frequented rooms in a house, with everyone using the toilet, needing to shower or take a bath, and clean their teeth in the morning and night. A Sunday evening can be a frantic time in the bathroom. The children need to be washed before school starts on Monday, parents want to either take a quick shower or relax in the bath before the work week begins again – and this can leave the bathroom is disarray and needing some desperate TLC.

If your bathroom could do with some touch ups, a little tidy up, or a makeover, there is no need to break the bank by purchasing expensive additions. In the end, these will get used just as much and you may find yourself buying the same expensive product or additions time and time again. There are measures that you can take to ensure that your bathroom looks and feels welcoming and tidy by simply taking the time to put energy into it, doing your shopping in different places, and researching.

When it comes to the toilet, a supermarket brand bathroom cleaner (preferably anti-bacterial) will do the job just the same as bigger, more expensive brand names. If it’s a spray product, all you have to do is squirt it a few times over and into the rim and over the toilet seat. Then wait 30 seconds and wipe clean with some paper towel. You should also ensure that the toilet flush handle is sprayed, too, as this can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Always, after spraying, put some bleach (again, supermarket brand but ensure it is thick bleach) down the toilet to eliminate germs. If you have a problem with your toilet, and it tends to cause blockages, then ask friends for advice first – the chances are they will say, “I know a good plumber near me who can sort that for you,” and you may even get a discount after being referred by a friend.

If your bathroom needs a bit of a revamp, visit discount shops and invest in bright fake flowers, candle holders, tealights, or even some quirky, funny prints that you can frame and put on the walls. Instead of buying expensive odor eliminators, simply leave the window open for a few hours every day, when you’re in the house, of course!

When it comes to the bath, limescale and dirt can build up quickly. Try running hot water and leave it in the bath for 10 minutes, without any cold water added to it. Once the water is released, use a limescale cream and rub it over the bath. Then leave it on for 10-15 minutes and wipe clean with a clean rag or paper towel and watch that bathtub sparkle!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb8

Don’t Have A Snow-Mare!

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Don’t Have A Snow-Mare!

Experiencing some snow during February is common. The weather is still rather frosty, leaving us vulnerable for a snowstorm. But a lot of people aren’t prepared for when it hits. Here’s how to prepare for a snowstorm, so you don’t end up having a snow-mare!

Get a Good Shovel to Remove the Snow: When a snowstorm hits, it can cause your garden to be full of the thick snow. And as you might know, if it’s not removed quickly, it could end up ruining your plants. Get a good shovel which you can keep in your shed. That way, when the snow arrives, you can quickly get it out and start removing the white snow from your garden before it turns into ice. A shovel or snowblower will come in handy to remove snow from your paths and driveway, too. And make sure you get one which has been designed to deal with snow so that it doesn’t end up frozen while you are trying to remove the snow from problem areas.

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Brr!

Find a Good Company to Deal With the Path: As much as you can attempt to move the snow yourself, it can sometimes be easier to call a professional to do it for you. A company can quickly remove the snow from your sidewalk and drive, and they can also clear your road so that you can drive safely to work. It can be a godsend if your roads are quite hilly. Before the snow arrives, make sure you write down the name and number of a company similar to General Services Corporation who will come out to your home after a snowstorm. That way, you can ring them quickly if the bad weather does arrive soon.

Ensure You Have a Scraper and Defroster For Your Car: One of the worst things about snow is that it can make transportation a nightmare. For one thing, it’s more dangerous to hit the roads when there is snow around, as you might struggle to steer properly and might slide out of your lane. And not only this, but it can take forever in the morning to clear it. Hence the late mornings and apologies to your boss. To ensure that you get a clear windshield sooner rather than later when snow hits, you need to have the tools ready to deal with the window. You should get an ice scraper which will allow you to scrape any snow and ice away. And a defroster is also fantastic to get rid of any ice sitting on your car. In fact, it can make it much easier to scrape it once you have used the handy stuff on your vehicle.

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Yikes!

And make sure you prepare yourself for a snow storm. You need a good waterproof coat which will keep you warm and dry in the event of snow. Get gloves for your hands when scraping the car, and a warm scarf to protect your skin from the harsh weather!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb7

Simple Ways to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers

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Simple Ways to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers

Selling your home is no mean feat. Even if your property is in the most respectable neighborhood and has been well looked after, there will be many buyers who are put off by the simplest of things, which is why if you want to sell your home quickly, and for the best price, you should take some time to make it appear as attractive as possible. Any real estate broker will tell you that, even if your home isn’t the best on the block, you can make it more appealing than the rest by doing some or all of the following:

Make a Good First Impression: Perhaps they shouldn’t, but first impressions count. If you want potential buyers to be drawn to your home, you need to make sure that they see it in a positive light right from the beginning, and this means taking good care of your lawns, trees, hedges, driveways, and the exterior of your home. Do not neglect the outdoors if you want to make that all-important sale!

Declutter: Most homes have a lot of stuff sitting around, some functional and some not. We use this clutter, and much of it has sentimental value to us, but that is not so for buyers. What buyers want is to walk into a spacious room, one that they can picture their own stuff in and one that lets them think about how the space can be best utilized to accommodate their family and lifestyle.

Little Touches: Although for the most part, you want to keep personal keepsakes to a minimum when your house is on the market, it is always a good idea to add little touches that will make the property feel homely without being overwhelming. Cut flowers, potted plants, expertly placed candles, and a fruit bowl can make all of the difference.

Decorate in Neutral Colors: If your rooms haven’t been decorated in a while, you might want to consider giving them a fresh lick of paint. This will brighten up your rooms and make them more appealing to buyers who don’t want the hassle of decorating when they move in. If you do decide to paint your property, try to stick with neutral colors because they are less likely to put anyone off, they make a room seem bigger, and they provide a blank canvas for the desires of potential buyers.

Spring Clean: No matter how amazing your home might be, potential buyers are unlikely to see it in its true light if it is messy or dirty, which means that you need to put some serious elbow grease into cleaning your home and making it sparkle.

DIY: Attending to any home repairs is something that you should always do when putting a home on the market. Many buyers are looking for a home that is as near perfect as possible. They don’t want to have to take care of all of those little jobs that you, as the previous owner, left unattended. By taking care of any little problems with your home via DIY or through a Handyman Service, you can present a more impressive property that the buyers will be clambering to buy.

It may seem like a lot of effort, but making your home more attractive will make it easier for you to sell and it could mean the difference between a sale at the optimum price and one significantly lower.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Feb6

Tips To Make Your First Night In Your New House Great

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Tips To Make Your First Night In Your New House Great

Your first night in your new home can range from exciting to anxiety provoking and everything in between. But, really, it should be a time to be proud of yourself for making the next big step in your life, so try and relax and have some fun with these tips:

Make A First Night Box: It’s important to make sure that you have a box that you can unpack first to make sure that your first night in your new home isn’t too much of a shock to your system. Make sure that you have all of the essentials in there for each member of your family. First of all, make sure that you all have basic toiletries like toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, deodorant, shampoo, and feminine hygiene products. You might also need some wet wipes and tissues. For the kitchen you’ll need paper towels along with paper plates, disposable cutlery, and trash bags for your waste. You’ll also need to make sure that you have sheets and blankets so you can get a good night’s sleep – and don’t forget your PJs!

Don’t Worry About Cooking: On your first night in a new place, there’s nothing that you will love more than takeout. Even if you’ve packed sandwiches you’ll be delighted if you also get a warm, delicious meal – so make sure that you have some takeout menus for your new area with you. Whether you get pizza or Chinese food (yum and yum!), just make sure that there’s some decent nutritional content and that it’ll fill you up and prepare you for the tasks of the next few days.

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Mmmmm!

Set Up A Relaxing Area: Moving and unpacking is a really exhausting thing to do so you’ll need to make sure that you have an area where you can relax, whether that’s your bed or your couch. You probably don’t have the internet set up yet but you can always download TV shows to watch in preparation before you actually move, and you can focus on getting your TV set up quickly. If it’s winter, make sure that you have plenty of blankets so you can stay warm, and that you fully understand how to work the heating in your new place. The best moving companies will help you prioritize your move so that you know what you need to unpack on the first night to ensure that everyone is comfortable.

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DOG! ❤

Make Sure You Can Shower: Let’s face it: moving house is a sweaty, grimy business and you might just end up covered in dust, so it’s important for you to be able to shower. First and foremost, don’t move until you actually have a functioning bathroom (if not, let’s hope you have plenty of bottled water, baby wipes, and deodorant!). Secondly, make sure that you have towels to dry off with, as well as a set of clean clothes that’s easily accessible.

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Pexels Image

Reassure Your Kids: Moving house can be disconcerting and upsetting for kids so it’s important that you keep them informed over the course of moving. Let them know what your new area is like and ask them for ideas about how they want to decorate their new rooms. When you’re in your new house, prioritize their spaces: make sure that their rooms are clean and that they have a comfortable, cozy place to sleep. Make sure they have their nightlight on and that they know where to find you in the night if they get scared or confused.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan27

Blogger Recognition Award

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Blogger Recognition Award

Hiii everyone and TGIF! So I was nominated by my darling friend, Jackie, over at Makeup & Beyond for the Blogger Recognition Award. I love doing these things, I think that they are so fun so many thanks to Jackie for the nomination! Jackie is a good friend of mine with a fabulous page so please make sure to check it out AND be on the lookout for a guest post from her on my Think Spring series coming soon to lifewithlilred. Okay, let’s get to it:

The Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Write a post to show your award.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created.

How lifewithlilred Started:

So about two and a half years ago when my blog baby, lifewithlilred, was just being conceived, I was getting ready to start college at Tri-C. I was going on my fourth year of working a shitty retail job and was at a place in my life where I felt like I wasn’t really doing much of anything. I had always been commended by many people for my personal style and had often been urged by others to create a blog because they would definitely read it.

Finally, after the millionth time of being advised to start a blog, I rolled my eyes and said “fine” and got to work. Lil Red was a nickname given to me because of my bright red hair and lipstick by one of my favorite coworkers so I knew that I wanted to incorporate that into my blog title somehow. lifewithlilred just seemed to roll off the tongue perfectly and after a name was settled, I went from there. Two and a half years later and I am read in over one hundred and seventy countries and I could not be more thankful for my beloved readers and the encouragement to start this crazy little slice of my life website by my friends and strangers many moons ago! ❤

My Advice:

  1. Network Yourself: I hate to say to be that annoying person who constantly talks about your blog – but be that annoying person who constantly talks about your blog. No one will know your page even exists without help from word of mouth, social media, and interacting with fellow bloggers. Post your page on Facebook, make your own Facebook page for your blog, and like and comment on posts on the WordPress newsfeed. You will be giving yourself exposure as well as making awesome new friends!
  2. Work Hard: Blogging has this preconceived notion that it’s going to be easy peasy lemon squeezey and you will be a famous blogger after a week. That’s not the case. It took me over a year of hard work to get a barely stable following of readers and after two and a half years, I am still not where I want to be. But that’s okay! If you love to write, then blogging is an amazing hobby and not a chore. If you are only in it to make money or toy with the possibility of working from home, then I wouldn’t quit your day job!

My Nominees (I am only doing three!):

Once again, thank you to Jackie for the nomination for the Blogger Recognition Award and I can’t wait to host you on my page soon! What is everyone up to this weekend? Any big plans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan27

Show Ageing Who’s Boss With These Hot Lifestyle Tips

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When it comes to ageing, most of us have a tendency to not really take it all that seriously. Pre-30, or even pre-40 (40 is the new 30, after all!) many women don’t even think about ageing – which is understandable, when you are too busy living your life to notice! But regrettably, ageing does end up affecting us all at some point. Plus, women tend to age more quickly and more severely than men, meaning you could reach a stage where you look much older than your partner. The main difficulty with the physical ageing process is that once it’s happened, it can be quite hard to turn back the clock – sometimes impossible, in fact. So, here are some ways that you can start to prevent the ageing process from happening – it might seem tiresome at first, but your future self will thank you!

Avoid Stress: Easier said than done, of course – but stress is one of the leading causes of ageing, much more so than people usually think. Stress can deprive us of much needed restorative sleep which helps our skin, hair, and bodies in general to recover every day. Sleepless nights can, as a result, begin a breakdown in the collagen of our skin, meaning we are automatically more prone to wrinkles. Stress can also be a leading cause behind hair loss and the thinning of hair, too. If you suffer from stress and find that it affects you more than other people, dedicate some time to taking better care of yourself – whether it is a spa break, taking a yoga class once a week, or some R&R time with a cup of tea and a good book.

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Massages are a fab stress reliever

Wear Sunscreen: We’ve all been told a thousand times from our parents about the importance of wearing sunscreen – but, chances are, we ignored it in our teenage years! Everyone wants to get a tan, of course – but don’t compromise the health of your skin to do so. Too much exposure to UV rays without adequate protection can lead to wrinkly skin with the appearance of leather – not a good look. Of course, if the damage is already done you can always turn back the clock with facelift surgery. But, if like most people you would rather avoid the issue entirely as opposed to having to cure it, stay out of the sun around midday and always wear sunscreen.

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Who needs a tan anyways!

Implement a Good Skincare Routine: Having a skincare regime might seem like a bit of a hassle in your already busy life. But the younger you start, the better your skin will look in years to come. Try and get into the habit of using a gentle cleanser every day and moisturize once your skin is dry. You may also want to use an exfoliating scrub every so often, as this will help to rub away dead skin cells and any excess oil that could be clogging up your pores. Finally, always remember to take your makeup off at night. It may seem like a chore when you’ve got in late, but your skin will thank you for it.

Jan27

Boost Your Body Confidence Now

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Boost Your Body Confidence Now

If you’re the kind of gal who wears baggy sweaters in the blistering heat, just so you don’t have to show off your wobbly bits, you need to boost your body confidence now. There is not a person alive who does not have some kind of issue with at least one aspect of their body, but there is little point in beating oneself up about it, especially when there are so many things that you can do to boost your body confidence immediately.

Here are some simple things you can do to feel more confident, whatever your body issues may be, right now:

Stop With the Negative Self-Talk: Women especially have the knack of torturing themselves with their own thoughts. If you are someone who’s endlessly telling yourself you’re fat; you’re ugly; no one will want you because you have stretch marks… just stop! Instead of engaging in negative self-talk, start focusing on your positive features (and you have tons!), and you will instantly feel better.

Emphasize the Good: If you have great eyes, look up makeup tips that will help you to show them off, or if you in have great arms by a pretty sleeveless dress and let the world see them. You can always camouflage the bits you don’t like, while showing off what’s good about your body, so there’s no need to worry about your appearance at all.

Improve What You Want: If there is a particular area of your body that you would really like to change, then there is no shame in seeking out a plastic surgeon for help. Certain insecurities cannot be improved by simply going to the gym, dressing your body type well, or being skilled with a makeup palette. If this is something you are considering for yourself, simply enter a search for “plastic surgeon nyc” (or your local area). Schedule multiple consultations to find the best fit for you and make your decision wisely. The chances are very high that you will be extremely happy with the outcome.

Invest in Good Products: There are lots of products out there which will help you actively improve any of the bits you don’t like. For instance, a good breast lifting cream can help you with boobs that are heading south and an effective eye cream can deal with your crow’s feet, so if you really truly can’t deal with a particular body issue, there’s a good chance there’s a product that can help you.

Granted, products alone are not a cure all and you might want to consider using plastic surgery for your problem areas. That is perfectly okay! Just make sure you are doing your due diligence to find an excellent surgeon to take you on. Start by researching “breast lift surgery in houston” (or your local area), reading reviews, seeking advice from friends and family, and reading into all that your desired surgery entails. When you are armed with knowledge, you can make the best decision for yourself.

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others: Women are great at comparing themselves to other women. We can walk into a room, and within seconds we’re comparing our legs to those of the waitress, or we’re telling ourselves off for not putting in as much effort as the more made up members of our party. This can be so damaging, and it rarely tells the whole story. The waitress may have good legs because she spends all day on her feet and the heavily made up woman may not get out much so she’s making the most of it. You have to do your best and not worry about how you look in comparison to another person on any given day.

Exercise: Whatever your body shape and no matter how much you weight, taking part in regular exercise can give you a huge body boost just because you are taking the time out to look after it. Exercising, you will also come to realize just how amazing your body is and how much it can do, which can put concerns about trivial cosmetic matters into perspective.

In the end, you just have to accept that your body is your body, do what you can to enhance your appearance and not worry too much if you fall short of your own realistic expectations!

Featured Image By: Image source