Tips to Protect Your Skin fron Sun Rays
As much as summer involves having fun in the sun, it also requires taking steps to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects that can lead to skin cancer, wrinkles and age spots. As the rate of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer continues to rise, experts caution against sunbathing without protection against ultraviolet rays. But how much do you really know about protecting yourself and your family from the harmful effects of the sun?
As we head to the beaches and spend time outdoors this summer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts’ Prevention and Wellness Program offers the following information and health tips to help you stay safe in the sun.
· Sunscreen: Always make sure you apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above to defend against UV rays. For infants and young children, be sure to use kid-friendly sun screen, which often has fewer chemicals. It is important to follow all directions, reapply regularly and check the expiration date.
· Minimize exposure: Try to limit direct exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer months. When in the sun during these hours, wear sunscreen and seek shade whenever possible. Babies under one year of age should not be exposed to direct sunshine and should always wear light colored clothing with a hat when outside.
· What to wear: If you’re spending a prolonged period of time under the sun, especially during peak hours, make sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat, pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
· Avoid the ‘surprise’ sunburn: Even on an overcast day, 80 percent of the sun’s powerful rays can break through the clouds. Be sure to apply sunscreen just as if there were no clouds if you must be outside for a long period of time.
· Beware of the ‘base tan:’ While incremental tanning may leave you less likely to burn, the harmful UV rays still get through and are in fact what cause the base tan in the first place.
· Know Your Medications: Some common prescription and over-the-counter drugs can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. You should always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of any medications you take. If one of your prescriptions increases your sensitivity to sunlight, it is important to take the necessary extra precautions.
Keeping these tips in mind, a summer of fun in the sun can be made much safer.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/
Sugaring and Waxing-Homemade Hair Removal method By James.
Hair removal solutions are as effective at home as they are in the parlors. The only exception being removal of hair through processes like electrolysis and laser hair removal, for which visits to the skin clinic are the only way out. To remove fine hair of your skin, try a mix of chickpeas flour with water and make a smooth paste. Apply this paste on your skin wherever there is growth of fine hair and leave it to dry. After the paste has fully dried, scrape it off gently and wash the area with water.
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Sugaring is another very effective method of hair removal and can be easily made at home. For this you need to take two cups of sugar, ¼ cup of water and also ¼ cup of lemon juice. Mix all this ingredients together and pour into a pan. Heat on a low flame and keep stirring until the sugar has fully dissolved. The residue should be a thick brown liquid, which serves as the natural wax. Before applying on the skin, check the wax for consistency and make sure that the temperature is not too hot enough, to scald your skin. Take thin strips of cotton cloth or any waxing strip and apply it over the portion where you have put the sugar. Press firmly with smooth strokes on the cloth so that there are no folds in the cloth. Once the mixture has cooled, remove it in one quick motion in the opposite direction to your hair growth. Tweezing is also another effective method of hair removal but the only hitch is that it is extremely time consuming. It is extremely effective for bush eyebrows and limits the growth of hair as well, over time. Remember always to use clean and sharp tweezers for removing hair. Shaving is also an extremely easy way to remove hair from your body. Take care not to use it on your eyebrows or upper lip and face. Lather using a mild body wash or soap over the desired skin part. Certain precautions while shaving are; always use a razor that is not being used by any other person to prevent infection through cuts and for hygiene. Do not use a blunt razor as it does not remove hair effectively and applying excess pressure might cause razor cuts or burns on the skin. Use firm strokes to remove hair and always shave in one direction only. In your skin gets cut, immediately wash off with an antiseptic. Moisturize your skin after shaving to prevent dry skin.
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These hair removal techniques are not permanent solutions to preventing growth of hair but they keep the body smooth and hair free. Permanent hair removal is not only costly but is also not fully effective in removing hair.
Hair removal solutions are as effective at home as they are in the parlors. The only exception being removal of hair through processes like electrolysis and laser hair removal, for which visits to the skin clinic are the only way out. To remove fine hair of your skin, try a mix of chickpeas flour with water and make a smooth paste. Apply this paste on your skin wherever there is growth of fine hair and leave it to dry. After the paste has fully dried, scrape it off gently and wash the area with water.
google_protectAndRun("render_ads.js::google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);
Sugaring is another very effective method of hair removal and can be easily made at home. For this you need to take two cups of sugar, ¼ cup of water and also ¼ cup of lemon juice. Mix all this ingredients together and pour into a pan. Heat on a low flame and keep stirring until the sugar has fully dissolved. The residue should be a thick brown liquid, which serves as the natural wax. Before applying on the skin, check the wax for consistency and make sure that the temperature is not too hot enough, to scald your skin. Take thin strips of cotton cloth or any waxing strip and apply it over the portion where you have put the sugar. Press firmly with smooth strokes on the cloth so that there are no folds in the cloth. Once the mixture has cooled, remove it in one quick motion in the opposite direction to your hair growth. Tweezing is also another effective method of hair removal but the only hitch is that it is extremely time consuming. It is extremely effective for bush eyebrows and limits the growth of hair as well, over time. Remember always to use clean and sharp tweezers for removing hair. Shaving is also an extremely easy way to remove hair from your body. Take care not to use it on your eyebrows or upper lip and face. Lather using a mild body wash or soap over the desired skin part. Certain precautions while shaving are; always use a razor that is not being used by any other person to prevent infection through cuts and for hygiene. Do not use a blunt razor as it does not remove hair effectively and applying excess pressure might cause razor cuts or burns on the skin. Use firm strokes to remove hair and always shave in one direction only. In your skin gets cut, immediately wash off with an antiseptic. Moisturize your skin after shaving to prevent dry skin.
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These hair removal techniques are not permanent solutions to preventing growth of hair but they keep the body smooth and hair free. Permanent hair removal is not only costly but is also not fully effective in removing hair.
How To Wear Skinny Jeans by Rodney Southern
Skinny jeans are one of the hottest fashions out there. Unfortunately, many people do not make the decision to wear them because there is a popular belief that they only look good on women who are very skinny. Luckily, this is really not the case. Skinny jeans are not designed only for tall, skinny women. Even short and plus sized women can wear these jeans. Here are some tips on how to wear skinny jeans at any size.
Color
The main factor that will determine how good or bad skinny jeans look on you is the color that you opt for. Almost all women will look good in either a dark wash or black skinny jeans. Depending on how your shaped, some women may also look great in a medium wash. This tends to be most common among those who have legs that are average or small in size. Light wash or white skinny jeans look good on very few people. Unless you have legs that are long and lean, it is a good idea to avoid wearing skinny jeans that are light in color.
Fit
Keep in mind that in order to look good, skinny jeans should fit properly. Nothing looks worse than skinny jeans which are a size too small. Buying a pair of skinny jeans that are either a perfect fit or even a size larger than you would normally purchase is the best thing that you can do to ensure that they will look great on you. The size and fit of skinny jeans that you opt for will either make or break how the pants look on you. As insignificant as size may seem, it can be one of the main factors that determines how good skinny jeans will look on you.
Shoes
Another one of the things that can either make or break how good skinny jeans look on you is the shoes that you wear them with. There are a variety of different options and the right choice really depends on your own legs. If you have short legs, then you may want to think about pairing your skinny jeans with a pair of pumps. If you have longer legs, you can get away with wearing ballet flats. Although there are many people who enjoy wearing their skinny jeans with boots, it is important to consider the size of the boots beforehand. Shorter boots will make the legs look longer, whereas higher boots can make them look shorter and, ultimately, plumper.
These are just three factors that you should be sure to take into consideration when choosing a pair of skinny jeans. All of these factors can really determine how good or bad skinny jeans will look on you. While you may think that you cannot wear skinny jeans just because you are plus sized or short, this is really not the truth. Many women who are bigger actually find that skinny jeans can elongate their legs and actually make them look thinner in comparison to other styles of jeans.
Skinny jeans are one of the hottest fashions out there. Unfortunately, many people do not make the decision to wear them because there is a popular belief that they only look good on women who are very skinny. Luckily, this is really not the case. Skinny jeans are not designed only for tall, skinny women. Even short and plus sized women can wear these jeans. Here are some tips on how to wear skinny jeans at any size.
Color
The main factor that will determine how good or bad skinny jeans look on you is the color that you opt for. Almost all women will look good in either a dark wash or black skinny jeans. Depending on how your shaped, some women may also look great in a medium wash. This tends to be most common among those who have legs that are average or small in size. Light wash or white skinny jeans look good on very few people. Unless you have legs that are long and lean, it is a good idea to avoid wearing skinny jeans that are light in color.
Fit
Keep in mind that in order to look good, skinny jeans should fit properly. Nothing looks worse than skinny jeans which are a size too small. Buying a pair of skinny jeans that are either a perfect fit or even a size larger than you would normally purchase is the best thing that you can do to ensure that they will look great on you. The size and fit of skinny jeans that you opt for will either make or break how the pants look on you. As insignificant as size may seem, it can be one of the main factors that determines how good skinny jeans will look on you.
Shoes
Another one of the things that can either make or break how good skinny jeans look on you is the shoes that you wear them with. There are a variety of different options and the right choice really depends on your own legs. If you have short legs, then you may want to think about pairing your skinny jeans with a pair of pumps. If you have longer legs, you can get away with wearing ballet flats. Although there are many people who enjoy wearing their skinny jeans with boots, it is important to consider the size of the boots beforehand. Shorter boots will make the legs look longer, whereas higher boots can make them look shorter and, ultimately, plumper.
These are just three factors that you should be sure to take into consideration when choosing a pair of skinny jeans. All of these factors can really determine how good or bad skinny jeans will look on you. While you may think that you cannot wear skinny jeans just because you are plus sized or short, this is really not the truth. Many women who are bigger actually find that skinny jeans can elongate their legs and actually make them look thinner in comparison to other styles of jeans.
How To Have a Nice Skin.
In this article we'll be looking at how to have nice skin. It's not a secret, it's not difficult. It's just a sensible combination of lifestyle considerations and proper, smart skin care. Let's have a look at some simple guidelines and consideration to follow!
Protect yourself from the sun
The sun is your skin's #1 enemy. Don't make the mistake of underestimating the effect that long term and excessive exposure to the sun can have on your skin. Always use sunscreen when you're out and about, wear sunglasses to protect the sensitive skin around the yes and wear protective clothing when possible.
Maintain a healthy diet
Eat lots of raw fruit and vegetables. They provide plenty of essential nutrients, as well as fiber to help keep your insides clean. It is difficult to maintain a healthy skin when you are not maintaining a healthy body. Knowing how to take care of your inner body is knowing how to have nice skin, or at least a big part of it.
Moisturize
Dry skin is more prone to damage than properly moisturized skin. Moisturized skin also appear more plump and healthy. Use skin care products that contain natural oils like avocado and shea butter. These very closely resemble the natural moisturizers found in your skin, plus they provide healing properties and avocado oil can even increase the collagen levels in your skin.
To help your skin retain more moisture, look for skin care ingredients that help to raise your levels of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid plays a major role in aiding the moisture retention of the skin.
Simulate collagen production
Collagen is a crucial protein. Its fibres strengthen the skin and helps to keep it smooth and supple. However, as we grow older, collagen levels drop and the skin structure suffers accordingly, becoming more wrinkle prone.
Many skin creams on the market claim to contain collagen, and while this may be so, it's useless as collagen cannot be absorbed through the skin. The best way to get more collagen in your skin is to stimulate it to produce more naturally.
An ingredient called Cynergy TK, a type of functional keratin, has been proven to do just this and you should look for it when deciding which skin care to purchase.
This should have given you a better idea and some answers on how to have nice skin. Taking care of your body and using the correct skin care are big steps in the right direction.
What to do next: Is your skin care product doing more harm than good? Stop gambling with the health of your skin and start getting results. Read our secrets of beautiful skin report that will tell you exactly how you can have a lifetime of beautiful, glowing skin.
ezinearticles.com
In this article we'll be looking at how to have nice skin. It's not a secret, it's not difficult. It's just a sensible combination of lifestyle considerations and proper, smart skin care. Let's have a look at some simple guidelines and consideration to follow!
Protect yourself from the sun
The sun is your skin's #1 enemy. Don't make the mistake of underestimating the effect that long term and excessive exposure to the sun can have on your skin. Always use sunscreen when you're out and about, wear sunglasses to protect the sensitive skin around the yes and wear protective clothing when possible.
Maintain a healthy diet
Eat lots of raw fruit and vegetables. They provide plenty of essential nutrients, as well as fiber to help keep your insides clean. It is difficult to maintain a healthy skin when you are not maintaining a healthy body. Knowing how to take care of your inner body is knowing how to have nice skin, or at least a big part of it.
Moisturize
Dry skin is more prone to damage than properly moisturized skin. Moisturized skin also appear more plump and healthy. Use skin care products that contain natural oils like avocado and shea butter. These very closely resemble the natural moisturizers found in your skin, plus they provide healing properties and avocado oil can even increase the collagen levels in your skin.
To help your skin retain more moisture, look for skin care ingredients that help to raise your levels of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid plays a major role in aiding the moisture retention of the skin.
Simulate collagen production
Collagen is a crucial protein. Its fibres strengthen the skin and helps to keep it smooth and supple. However, as we grow older, collagen levels drop and the skin structure suffers accordingly, becoming more wrinkle prone.
Many skin creams on the market claim to contain collagen, and while this may be so, it's useless as collagen cannot be absorbed through the skin. The best way to get more collagen in your skin is to stimulate it to produce more naturally.
An ingredient called Cynergy TK, a type of functional keratin, has been proven to do just this and you should look for it when deciding which skin care to purchase.
This should have given you a better idea and some answers on how to have nice skin. Taking care of your body and using the correct skin care are big steps in the right direction.
What to do next: Is your skin care product doing more harm than good? Stop gambling with the health of your skin and start getting results. Read our secrets of beautiful skin report that will tell you exactly how you can have a lifetime of beautiful, glowing skin.
ezinearticles.com
Choose The Perfect Shoes for Your Outfit
Men and women always keep an eye on the latest trend of shoes which are mostly launched by the top and famous shoe designers. Every time there are new styles of shoes coming out on the market, most of them can't wait to buy their own one. That's because they always love to wear the hottest and trendiest shoes without knowing whether these accessories would perfectly complement their outfit or not. Perhaps, this is one of their biggest mistakes in fashion since they put much emphasis on following the latest trendy shoes without considering the importance of coordinating them with their clothes.
Shoes have significant part in our everyday dressing. They can turn us down if we wear them inappropriately with our clothes. On the other hand, they can greatly enhance our outfit making us look more stunning and fashionable if we choose the right shoes that best match for our clothes. So how do you choose the right shoes? Here are the basic guidelines in selecting the best choose that will work best with your outfit.
Men and women always keep an eye on the latest trend of shoes which are mostly launched by the top and famous shoe designers. Every time there are new styles of shoes coming out on the market, most of them can't wait to buy their own one. That's because they always love to wear the hottest and trendiest shoes without knowing whether these accessories would perfectly complement their outfit or not. Perhaps, this is one of their biggest mistakes in fashion since they put much emphasis on following the latest trendy shoes without considering the importance of coordinating them with their clothes.
Shoes have significant part in our everyday dressing. They can turn us down if we wear them inappropriately with our clothes. On the other hand, they can greatly enhance our outfit making us look more stunning and fashionable if we choose the right shoes that best match for our clothes. So how do you choose the right shoes? Here are the basic guidelines in selecting the best choose that will work best with your outfit.
- Set off Shoes According to Occasion
- Set off Shoes According to Style
- Set off Shoes According to Color
Some more tips
- A long skirt is best worn with flat shoes, ballet slippers or backless slip-ons.
- Pumps of medium height work the best when you are off to work. Round, square or slightly tapered heels will give a professional look.
- In case you are wearing palazzo pants, team them up with slip-on open-toed flats or espadrilles.
- Straight glamorous pants look the best when they are worn with strapped, high-heeled sandals.
- Boots, chunky-soled shoes or sneakers go well with jeans as well as corduroy pants.
- For a party look, team your dressy outfit with a glamorous pair of sandals.
- Pointed-toe shoes with Sabrina heels would work the best.
lifestyle.iloveindia.com/www.wellsphere.com
How to Wear Horizontal Stripes Well by Meg in Florida
Finding and using horizontals
While horizontals get a bad rap, they can be incredibly useful, whatever your measurements are. Use them smartly, and horizontal lines can balance out your body and add curves exactly where you want them.
For example, you might like a perfect hourglass figure, which has three key parts: a small waist, broad shoulders, and wide hips. By placing horizontal lines in the right places, you can create the illusion of an hourglass — but how you get there depends on where you start.
If you have a very slim figure (often called ‘boyish’), you’ll want to widen your hips and shoulders. On the other hand, women who are blessed with more booty than boobs (’pear-shaped’) will want to widen their shoulders but not their hips. What’s good for one gal’s figure isn’t necessarily good for another’s!
Of course, you don’t have to aim for an hourglass. It can be far more striking to highlight what some might call figure flaws, so please feel free to ignore the ‘ideal’ and play up the features that make you special.
While most talk of horizontals focuses on the waist and hips, what you do from your neckline up can make a big difference.
From head to shoulders
Finding and using horizontals
While horizontals get a bad rap, they can be incredibly useful, whatever your measurements are. Use them smartly, and horizontal lines can balance out your body and add curves exactly where you want them.
For example, you might like a perfect hourglass figure, which has three key parts: a small waist, broad shoulders, and wide hips. By placing horizontal lines in the right places, you can create the illusion of an hourglass — but how you get there depends on where you start.
If you have a very slim figure (often called ‘boyish’), you’ll want to widen your hips and shoulders. On the other hand, women who are blessed with more booty than boobs (’pear-shaped’) will want to widen their shoulders but not their hips. What’s good for one gal’s figure isn’t necessarily good for another’s!
Of course, you don’t have to aim for an hourglass. It can be far more striking to highlight what some might call figure flaws, so please feel free to ignore the ‘ideal’ and play up the features that make you special.
While most talk of horizontals focuses on the waist and hips, what you do from your neckline up can make a big difference.
From head to shoulders
- Straight across bangs can widen your forehead.
- Choker necklaces can look stunning on long necks, but they’re notorious for making necks look shorter and wider.
- High collars like turtlenecks also widen your neck like a choker necklace.
- Just a little lower, though, and widening collars can be great. Use a bateau (boat) neckline or to broaden your shoulders to balance out wide hips — especially if it’s wide enough to show a hint of shoulder. Or, go for a top that is off the shoulder
Around your bust, arms and waist
- To enlarge the look of your bust, wear a lighter horizontal stripe there (or use a darker stripe to do the opposite).
- Tops with horizontal stripes widen your chest, so can be used to balance out wide hips.
- Worried that your upper arms look wide? Avoid short-sleeves that are cut straight across, especially if they hit at the widest point of your arm.
- Double-breasted coats and jackets widen your torso much more than single-breasted styles, as they create horizontal lines between the side-by-side buttons.
- They’ll make your bust look bigger, but they can also make your waist look wider.
- Breast pockets are generally widening. Use them carefully to make your bust look larger, or avoid them if you don’t want to accentuate that area.
- While belts are great to rein in loose fabric, be careful about their color and placement. For the most slimming look, wear a dark belt around your waist.
- Also, belts can emphasize your bust line if you wear them high.
- Where a garment’s waistline hits is also important. Like belts worn high, an empire waist shirt will emphasize your bust.
- Ruching can be great because it disguises your own lumps and bumps.
- However, it can also have a widening effect when it creates long horizontal lines.
Around your hips, thighs and butt
- Where your tops and bottoms meet is important because, if they meet at a wide point, they can make that part look wider. Drop waist tops and low-rise jeans will both emphasize your hips.
- Ditto for layered tops if one layer sticks out further than the other. (To avoid this, wear a similar color or tone top-to-toe, so you can be fashionably low waisted or layered and look slender too.)
- Low-slung belts and tiered skirts can make your hips look larger.
- Whiskering on jeans can widen the look of your thighs.
- Pockets on your butt can make it look bigger (hint: small pockets enlarge your butt; large pockets shrink it). In front, pockets widen your thighs and hips.
Legs and ankles
- Watch the ends of your pants, skirts, and even tights since they create horizontal lines. If they end at naturally slimmer parts of your leg like your knees, they’ll be slimming
- However, be careful about ending them at naturally wider parts like your thighs or mid-calf.
- Knee-length and floor-length are generally the best lengths for bottoms. Ankle-length bottoms can be tricky, but they are almost always more flattering than those that end mid-thigh or mid-calf.
- In order to avoid emphasizing wide ankles, avoid ankle length socks, ankle straps on shoes, anklets, and those ankle-length bottoms.
How to Choose The Perfect Bra by Eileen Sutton
The bra — sexy fashion statement or medieval instrument of torture? The debate rages on among women of all breast sizes, but one thing is certain: A well-fitted bra is your absolute best chance for maximum comfort and style. But with so many sizes, shapes and colors to choose from, it can feel a bit overwhelming. Studies show that 70 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra. So where — and better yet, how — do you begin?Whether you're shopping in a big department store or an intimate boutique, you should take the time to adjust the bra yourself or get properly fitted," says Lauren Blankenship, who owns the New York lingerie boutique Bodyhints. "Bra cuts vary wildly across manufacturers, so we send our trained staff into the dressing room with customers, because most bras are adjustable in at least two places — the back and shoulders. A bra might not seem to fit at first, but often if there's help with the adjustment, it will."
Next to comfort, she says, the most important thing about a bra is that it should lift the breast to just the right height. Bend one arm at the elbow to form a right angle. Then lay your arm across your middle. Your bust should be halfway between your shoulder and elbow.
Here, more tips from Blankenship:
Measure yourself.
With a bra on, measure yourself tightly around the top of the rib cage just beneath the bust. If it's an odd number of inches, add 5 to find your bra size; if it's even, add 4 (so if you measure 29, your bra size is 34). For your cup size, measure around yourself again, but this time place the tape measure loosely over the fullest part of the breast. Subtract the first measurement from the second. A 1-inch difference is an A cup; 2-inch difference = B cup; 3 = C; 4 = D; 5 = DD; and 6 = DDD or E.
A bra should lie flat.
If your cup wrinkles on the side, you need to go down a bra — not a cup — size. And the hort piece of fabric between the breasts should be flat against your body. To make sure you put the bra on correctly, put the straps on first, then lean forward into the cups before you fasten the hooks.
The cups should hug your breasts.
Your cup should be full, hugging the outer edges of the breast. If your breasts spill out from the sides or over the top of the cups, you may need a larger cup size or a cup with more coverage on the sides or top. If you favor soft cups, make sure no fabric bunches at the nipple. (Softer fabrics tend to fold on themselves.) For molded bras, be sure your breast fills the cup entirely and there isn't empty space.
Straps should be comfy but should not fall down.
A strap should do its work but not cut into your skin. If your straps fall down, even after the right adjustment, your breasts may not be filling out the top of the cups and you should go down a cup size. "But if straps leave marks, it doesn't always mean they're too tight. You may need a more supportive bra," Blankenship adds. "And if the bra rides up in back, try a tighter hook or loosen the straps. If neither works, go down a bra size." Your bra straps are the right length if your bra is level across your back and not too tight when using the middle hook. Your bra, in front, should lie flat against the middle of your chest, and the back strap should rest under the lowest part of your shoulder blade.
The underwire debate.
Underwires are found in 90 percent of bras made today, and should end at the side edge of your breast. "Some years ago, studies suggested that underwires might have been implicated in the formation of breast cysts and possibly breast cancer," Blankenship says. "But what they found was that women were wearing underwire bras that fit terribly. So over time the body was reacting. It's essential — with all bras — that they be fitted correctly."
Know your cups.
If you're shopping for a cup size larger than B, try underwire soft cups, which offer support and will give you a natural, unsculpted line. Full coverage, molded-cup underwire bras are smooth and provide a professional look but may be stiff. Demi cups, which show the top of the breast, are found in soft or molded cups and usually have underwires. Rules of thumb: Define your breasts with molded cups, boost your breasts with demi cups and make your breasts look larger with padded cups.
Finally, keep in mind:
And now, the $10,000, time-honored bra question: Will wearing bras prevent you from sagging? "My instinct tells me anything that helps against gravity is the right thing," Blankenship says. "But while it's impossible to know scientifically, beautiful bras make us feel beautiful. And that's always good."
The bra — sexy fashion statement or medieval instrument of torture? The debate rages on among women of all breast sizes, but one thing is certain: A well-fitted bra is your absolute best chance for maximum comfort and style. But with so many sizes, shapes and colors to choose from, it can feel a bit overwhelming. Studies show that 70 percent of women are wearing the wrong bra. So where — and better yet, how — do you begin?Whether you're shopping in a big department store or an intimate boutique, you should take the time to adjust the bra yourself or get properly fitted," says Lauren Blankenship, who owns the New York lingerie boutique Bodyhints. "Bra cuts vary wildly across manufacturers, so we send our trained staff into the dressing room with customers, because most bras are adjustable in at least two places — the back and shoulders. A bra might not seem to fit at first, but often if there's help with the adjustment, it will."
Next to comfort, she says, the most important thing about a bra is that it should lift the breast to just the right height. Bend one arm at the elbow to form a right angle. Then lay your arm across your middle. Your bust should be halfway between your shoulder and elbow.
Here, more tips from Blankenship:
Measure yourself.
With a bra on, measure yourself tightly around the top of the rib cage just beneath the bust. If it's an odd number of inches, add 5 to find your bra size; if it's even, add 4 (so if you measure 29, your bra size is 34). For your cup size, measure around yourself again, but this time place the tape measure loosely over the fullest part of the breast. Subtract the first measurement from the second. A 1-inch difference is an A cup; 2-inch difference = B cup; 3 = C; 4 = D; 5 = DD; and 6 = DDD or E.
A bra should lie flat.
If your cup wrinkles on the side, you need to go down a bra — not a cup — size. And the hort piece of fabric between the breasts should be flat against your body. To make sure you put the bra on correctly, put the straps on first, then lean forward into the cups before you fasten the hooks.
The cups should hug your breasts.
Your cup should be full, hugging the outer edges of the breast. If your breasts spill out from the sides or over the top of the cups, you may need a larger cup size or a cup with more coverage on the sides or top. If you favor soft cups, make sure no fabric bunches at the nipple. (Softer fabrics tend to fold on themselves.) For molded bras, be sure your breast fills the cup entirely and there isn't empty space.
Straps should be comfy but should not fall down.
A strap should do its work but not cut into your skin. If your straps fall down, even after the right adjustment, your breasts may not be filling out the top of the cups and you should go down a cup size. "But if straps leave marks, it doesn't always mean they're too tight. You may need a more supportive bra," Blankenship adds. "And if the bra rides up in back, try a tighter hook or loosen the straps. If neither works, go down a bra size." Your bra straps are the right length if your bra is level across your back and not too tight when using the middle hook. Your bra, in front, should lie flat against the middle of your chest, and the back strap should rest under the lowest part of your shoulder blade.
The underwire debate.
Underwires are found in 90 percent of bras made today, and should end at the side edge of your breast. "Some years ago, studies suggested that underwires might have been implicated in the formation of breast cysts and possibly breast cancer," Blankenship says. "But what they found was that women were wearing underwire bras that fit terribly. So over time the body was reacting. It's essential — with all bras — that they be fitted correctly."
Know your cups.
If you're shopping for a cup size larger than B, try underwire soft cups, which offer support and will give you a natural, unsculpted line. Full coverage, molded-cup underwire bras are smooth and provide a professional look but may be stiff. Demi cups, which show the top of the breast, are found in soft or molded cups and usually have underwires. Rules of thumb: Define your breasts with molded cups, boost your breasts with demi cups and make your breasts look larger with padded cups.
Finally, keep in mind:
- Smooth, silky bras look best under all fabrics.
- Match bras to your skin tone, not to the color of the garment you're wearing.
- If you have large or small breasts, shop in specialty lingerie stores or boutiques. Not only will you be personally fitted, but you'll also have much more of a selection. Department stores commonly stock their greatest assortment of styles in medium sizes.
And now, the $10,000, time-honored bra question: Will wearing bras prevent you from sagging? "My instinct tells me anything that helps against gravity is the right thing," Blankenship says. "But while it's impossible to know scientifically, beautiful bras make us feel beautiful. And that's always good."
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