Expert Beauty Tips from Michael Maddox

Hot Summer Skin Hazards:  Summer is full of fun, but can also be tough on your skin as sweat and oil clog pores and throw your complexion out-of-whack. To keep pimples from popping up:

• Carry around moist towelettes to absorb dirt and oil on the go.
• Always shower as soon as possible after being at the beach or playing summer sports, especially swimming since the chlorine from the pool can wreak havoc on your skin’s moisture balance (not to mention bleaching hair).
• Use acne medication daily, even if you don’t have a breakout. A pimple can be brewing under the surface when you don’t even know it, so treating it before you see it is the best prevention. For face acne, my recommendation is Nature's Cure 2-Part Acne Treatment because it works from inside and outside to combat acne. For body acne, even in hard-to-reach places, just spray on Nature’s Cure Body Acne Treatment Spray every day after you shower.

Sexy, Shiny Hair: One of the first things people notice about you is your hair. Your hairstyle can say a lot about you– it can say “I’m a rocker,” “I’m a glamour-gal” or “I’m unconventional.” But any ‘do can also cramp your style if you don’t properly care for your hair.

• Don’t shampoo every day. Every other day is more than enough (you can also lather, rinse and repeat to better last two days). Over-shampooing your hair can dry it out and make your scalp overcompensate by producing more oil. If you work out, or feel like you need to freshen your hair between shampoos, just get in the shower and massage the warm water through your hair.
• When you use conditioner, make sure to just apply it to your tresses, not your scalp, to avoid a greasy look. Also, take care to rinse it out completely or the residue can dry out your ends and make them look fried.
• Celebs and models are going with a more natural look for their hair. That includes effortless looking layers of soft curls, and more natural-looking hair color. It’s less about the bleach-blonde look and more about adding lowlights to colored hair to give it a subtle, natural flair.

Self-Esteem – More than a State of Mind:  So much of beauty is really about self-esteem. If you project confidence in how you look, people will see you as beautiful. Time and again, research has shown that confidence is one of the keys to attraction between men and women. So how do you get the glow of confidence? It’s not just about affirmations. You can actually take certain actions that will help your self-esteem and make good things come your way:

• Never hold your head down when someone is speaking to you. You give away your POWER by doing so. People then believe they can walk over you and they take your kindness for being weak.
• Tend to the little things. Make sure your nails are well-groomed, your hair is styled, and your clothes are clean and neat.
• Always dress up when you have the chance, especially for holidays and special occasions – it shows other people that you love yourself enough to care how you look and their positive reactions will give you more confidence.
• There's nothing wrong with being casual for daily activities, especially for summer. But stay away from dark colors and dress spring-forward. Even for guys, there's nothing wrong with a young man wearing a pink or yellow t-shirt or polo. Matter-of-fact, it shows more confidence-that you really don't care what people think of you.
• Smile even if you don’t feel like smiling. When you smile, people instinctively smile back and it makes you feel good. Try it in a mall or some place where you don’t know anyone. Once you’re comfortable, you can do it at school and share your new positive vibe with your classmates.
• Do something nice for someone. Volunteering or other charitable acts can have as much positive effect on the giver as the recipient. You’ll feel a sense of personal fulfillment, you’ll enjoy the gratitude of the person you helped, and you’ll take the focus away from the things that are making you feel bad about yourself. Little acts of kindness, like opening the door for a mother pushing a baby carriage, or helping an elderly person with the groceries can be done every day for a daily boost.
•  Do something you‘ve been putting off. For example, get in touch with an old friend, organize your closet, figure out how to work a new gadget - anything that requires follow through! The sense of accomplishment will make you feel good about yourself.
• Resist the temptation to focus too much energy on the negative. It’s healthy to vent to a trusted friend, but if you keep talking about it, you just are dwelling on the negative and reliving it rather than moving on to more positive things.
• Get plenty of sleep and relaxation time. Aside from the physical ravages of sleep-deprivation and stress like a sallow complexion and bags under your eyes, there are emotional consequences too. When you are well-rested and relaxed, you are less emotional and reactive to little things. Many of my models use meditation or yoga to stay balanced and prepare for big fashion shows.
• I always tell my models that you have to love yourself first and embrace your soul. You have to learn to accept certain imperfections in life and realize that you are not the only one with issues.

The Natural Look is In!:  Girls, when you apply make-up try to go as natural as possible.

• One way to ensure this is to put on your day make-up in a place that gets natural light. Incandescent indoor lighting can be deceiving (especially for blending foundation). There's nothing worse than seeing a young girl with "cake" on her face (too much make-up). People can tell when someone is trying to “hide” something. Be proud of your features. It doesn't take a lot to be beautiful. If you feel good internally, then the external will match.
• Similarly, don’t overdo lip color, especially during the day. The best lipstick or gloss is one that would look good even if you didn’t have any other make-up on. Look for colors that look like your natural lip color but are a shade stronger.
• Try curling your lashes so you don’t need to use as much mascara. It will help create that “natural beauty” look.

The Next Step – Becoming a Model:  Once you get past some of the common mistakes teens make in their beauty and self-care regime, you can think about taking it to the next level.

• Models need to look slim and healthy. If you're trying to be a model, make the gym your best friend. In the industry, your body becomes art. So you have to make sure that you stay on top by eating and drinking right – lots of vegetables and lean proteins. Stay away from soda and other sugary beverages and use water as your thirst quencher. I don't believe in starving yourself, but I do believe by being in a competitive business, you have to stay ahead. Remember, what you won't do, someone else will. Hit the gym and eat healthy.
• If you're only 5'8, do you have a chance at becoming a successful runway model? Here's my answer: It all depends on character, how badly you really want it, how well you walk, and how self-assured you are. It also helps if a top runway agent believes in you and pushes you to the designers. And if you do get that opportunity, you have to do your job right the first time. The word gets out and designers start requesting you. If you're 5'8, 5'9, no worries. I've seen world-class supermodels at that height who walk just as well as any 5'10 girl. For more advice on beauty and modeling, you can check www.michaelmaddoxrunway.com to see if any of my upcoming modeling seminars are near you.