Bottoms Up - Calories Down

I think the calories in alcoholic beverages are often overlooked by those of us trying to watch what we eat.  As the weekend approaches and I'm making plans to hang out with my friends, I decided to conduct a little research and determine which drinks I can have that will not railroad my goal of trimming 2" off of my waist by my b-day on October 9th.

I'm sure most of you are aware that alcohol has its health benefits.  Alcohol increases your HDL (healthy cholesterol) which helps to clear away bad cholesterol.  This is not of course a reason to over-indulge...doctors recommend just one drink daily.  

So if you plan on raising a glass or two this weekend, here are a few things to bear in mind:

1. Alcohol can increase your appetite for up to 24 hours after you drink.
2. Your body converts alcohol into acetate, which hinders the burning of fat.
3. The higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories.
4. Most beers have less than 150 calories per bottle.  Darker beers are the most fattening.
   
5. White Zin, Chablis and Chardonnays are good bets, all weighing in at less than 100 calories a glass.
6. Consider a spritzer instead of a glass of wine - less alcohol.
   
7. Liqueurs (sweet liquors) such as Kuhlua, Bailey's Irish Creme, and Grand Marnier are loaded with calories.  Avoid cocktails that are mixed with several liqueurs or mixers, such as Long Island Iced Tea, which weighs in at about 780 calories...who knew?!
8. Mojitos and Manhattans are smart choices, with a calorie count in the mid 100's.

Cheers! ...although I may only have ginger ale in my glass after making this entry! :-) 

Be Beautiful.   Be Confident.   Be Unstoppable.

Be Classy, Not Ashy! By: Tracey - Guest Blogger and SoC Follower

My dry skin issues are notorious! Without proper hydration my skin begins to itch and sometimes crack. This has made me a slave to lathering lotion religiously over my body after each shower and several times throughout the day on my hands and arms (legs and feet during the summer). Thanks to SOC creator Tiffany, I was introduced to St. Ives' Oatmeal and Shea Butter lotion earlier this summer and gave up my trusted Vaseline Intensive Care. It's smooth and creamy with a delightful scent. I was pleased. But this past weekend, I discovered something new.

Burt's Bees Lemon & Vitamin E Bath and Body Oil works wonderfully! It's an all-natural oil made from the best ingredients nature has to offer.  The organic ingredients help prevent irritating my sensitive Eczema prone skin. After showering, I applied the oil to my damp skin and was hit with the refreshing and zestful smell of lemons! The scent is subtle enough to not overpower. Unfortunately, it doesn't linger on the body long. I've tried various oils over the years and what I found was that within an hour or so after application, my skin would be dry again. Not so with Burt's Bees. My skin remained hydrated throughout the day. Not a threat of ash in sight! No reapplication needed! Nor is it sticky or greasy!

I've tried lip balms by BB before to satisfaction. This body oil is another keeper from their line.I found out today that it won the 2008 Beauty With a Conscience Award! Yep, I believe this little bottle of oil will remain in rotation for quite a while:-)

Be Beautiful.   Be Confident.   Be Unstoppable.

Let's Talk About Eye Creams

There are several opinions about eye creams, the necessity of them and their effectiveness. I've experimented with two products to help combat my under-eye dark circles which I've had since I was a kid.

Before I tell you about these products, let's talk about why dark spots occur. Contrary to popular belief, dark circles are not necessarily the result of old age or lack of sleep. There are several causes for the skin discoloration including allergies, eczema, heredity, smoking or drinking. In addition, under-eye skin is extremely thin making blood vessels in the area more obvious. Rubbing your eyes roughly or scrubbing off make-up could cause under-eye blood vessels to leak and basically cause darkening like a bruise.

So whad-da-ya-gon-na-do? I've tried Prescriptive's Vibrant-C Skin Brightening Eye Cream and had favorable results. 

Vibrant-C has vitamin C in it which is a building block of collagen. Collagen is a protein that gives skin structure, tone and elasticity.

Vibrant-C claims to also fight fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, and improve tone and texture. Sorry folks can't testify to anything besides the dark spots. Vibrant-C will cost you about $40 for a .5 ounce bottle. Here's the gotcha: this product is recommended to be used over Prescriptive's Super Line Preventer which is also supposed to reduce the appearance of fine lines. SLP costs $50 for a 1 ounce bottle. These products together are pricey for something that doesn't fix a problem, but helps to make the problem a little less noticeable. I'm reluctant to recommend this set because I never noticed any change in my fine lines. It did however help the darkness. So it depends on which is the bigger problem for you, lines or discoloration. My suggestion is to pick up a sampler of the duo from a department store's Prescriptives counter, try them and decide for yourself if it's worth the investment. Samples are the best thing about expensive brands.

Product  number 2 that I've tried is Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment.

 

This eye cream boasts its use of avocado oil. Avocados are rich in nutrients. Among them vitamins C, B and E. Vitamin B promotes firmness and E helps to build and maintain healthy skin tissue.

This product is so rich that it should only be applied to the orbit bone under your eye, and it will hydrate the entire area. I was warned of this, but at times I don't believe that fat meat is greasy, so I applied it on my entire eyelid, and ended up with watery eyes. I found it very interesting that after using this product for about a week, the cream virtually turned into fluid as I rubbed it on my face. Not sure what that means, but it's my guess that over the course of using the product for several days the area has become extremely hydrated. Kiehl's sells for $25 for a .5 ounce jar.

Besides eye creams, try a concealer to help even out your skin tone. If your circles are very dark, a corrector may be necessary.

So that's my take on dark spots and "bandaids" for them, as Vibrant-C or Kiehl's are incapable of making the discoloration go away, but helps to make them look lighter.

If you guys have other suggestions or tips, please share!

Remember to
Be Beautiful. Be Confident. Be Unstoppable.

Mother Knows Best

Before I go any further, I'd like to pay homage to the person who encouraged me to find and flaunt my beauty - my Momma.

Louise, usually referred to as Ms. Louise, was a firm believer that a woman should look her best at all times because "you never know who you'll run into" when you leave home, even if you were only going as far as the neighborhood drug store.

A dark complected woman, she ALWAYS kept your natural nails freshly polished in various shades of dark red and browns; and she NEVER left home without at least wearing lipstick and mascara. Ms. Louise rarely wore jeans and wore tennis on the most seldom of occasions.

Her dresser was a princess's fantasy. In the center sat a large oval tray, with a mirror bottom and gold filigree trim that stood about an inch high....this was just for the nail shades and lip colors. There were about four 5 inch tall porcelain oriental cups that held brushes, eyeliners, lip pencils and all of the other necessities for a perfectly put together face. In the corner of the dresser was also a manicure stand - not a kit, or a bag, but a stand; complete with grooves for you to rest your fingers as you polished your nails. And of course several bottles of perfume.

When I was 2 years old my Momma began pressing my hair. As I got older and understood the dangers associated with having a smoking hot comb passed through your hair, this process made me a nervous wreck with fears that she would burn me. Combing through my long, thick, coarse hair after washing it and sweating through having it pressed was how I learned that "you have to suffer to be beautiful" as I was frequently reminded of this during hair washings. It was also during this beauty ritual that I learned "a woman's hair is her glory."

At 5 she began polishing my toes, calling the finished product "sexy toes." Imagine a 5 year old running around talking bout "I want sexy toes!" when it was time for a fresh polish. At about 13 or 14 she told me it was time I started to where lipstick regularly. I think the first time I put on a full face of make-up by myself was actually one of her proudest moments as a Mother.

Don't be fooled. Although my Momma was probably a priss-pot by anyone's standards, she was not a superficial person. She grew up sharecropping in Mississippi alongside her parents and ten brothers and sisters, so she wasn't afraid of hard work or getting her hands dirty. Her perfect manicure never prevented her from cooking or house cleaning - without gloves I might add.  My Momma took on many projects around the house that I'm sure several women, including myself, would have been intimidated by. She also loved God and she loved and nurtured her family - unconditionally. The values she passed down to me reach far beyond looking pretty.

So cheers to Momma who's now in a place where there's no need for manicures or lipstick, as I'm sure her crown and the jewels that adorn it says it all.

I love you Ma. ;-)

Not the Average Beauty Blog

Hello Blogosphere!

Welcome to Shades of Confidence, a blog about beauty. At SoC you'll find beauty tips, nutrition information and product reviews, but it doesn't stop there. My goal is to encourage women to discover and celebrate their beauty.

To take that extra confidence that they feel when they have on a fly outfit, a bad pair of shoes or a tight hairdo and work it! Work it in boardrooms, classrooms or anywhere else that your ambition takes you. Work it where the haters are. Work it where they're expecting you to fail. Work it in the face of doubt, insecurity and fear.

Don't stop at putting your best foot forward, put your best face forward. A face accentuated not just with shades of make-up that enhance your complexion or brings out your eyes, but a face beaming with Shades of Confidence.

Still don't get the picture? Let me explain further. We often hear that beauty is only skin deep. I disagree. Or should I say, it doesn't have to be. When your outer beauty encourages you to brighten someone else's day with an unsuspecting smile, or gives you the courage to speak up for yourself - that's an example of beauty at work outside and in.

I came to the realization as a pre-teen that if I didn't look good, I didn't feel good. Thank God that I've matured from that, but fact is, even as an adult, I feel more confident when I'm put together. When I'm displaying the most beautiful version of me to the world, my chin is tilted a little higher, my back is a little straighter and I have an extra pep in my step. This extra dollop of confidence not only feels good, it comes in handy. It comes in handy during job interviews, presentations, meetings, and any other situation where I have to perform.

Sound superficial or self-centered? Confidence is necessary in any task you seek to accomplish. We have to believe that we can do something before we will try. SoC is about being and feeling beautiful inside and out, and harnessing that beauty into confidence. I hope that you'll in-turn take that built up confidence and use it however you see fit...evangelize, minister, volunteer, start a business or start a non-profit.

So Ladies, I hope that you find the info posted on SoC helpful, encouraging and inspiring.

Be Beautiful. Be Confident. Be Unstoppable.