Cougar Fashion’s best supporting role…

Cougar women everywhere are opting for the charming 1950’s style lingerie as a hot addition to their fashion wardrobes as the big chill sets in this winter.

xxx Shele

Hello COUGAR

No modern cougar woman can resist the call of the wild.  You can easily make leopard print your style statement with these three how to wear it tips:

• Less is more, no double leopard allowed.
• Be Bold and teem with gold baubles for a luxe touch.
• Offset the busy leopard print with neutral hues.

xxx Shele Belle

COUGAR POWER RULES

It’s a remarkably warm spring day and I’m once again sitting at my computer with all the windows open in my study, hoping for an inkling of a breeze to cool my skin. As I sit I’m formulating another article from the plenitude of fabulous knowledge that I’m gaining from cougar women themselves.

Among cougar fans, the male of the species, she is known for her desirability. Among women, she is seen as a force to be reckoned with. As it turns out, cougar women are a talking point for both men and women alike.

What does stand out however about cougar women, modern cougars that is… is that they love the idea of self-revolution.  They crave the new. The unexpected. They feed off it.

One thing that’s for certain is that they don’t like being stuck in a rut.  They simply feel that life is just a bit boring when it’s all predictable.  Modern cougars are older women who would rather not be anonymous like so many women are. There is no way that you cannot help but see a cougar.  They stand out from the crowd.  There’s no buying off-the-peg for cougars, they have an intellectual line of thought to individualize their look and put as much effort into customizing their lives to be the perfect fit that’s right for them.

Remarkably, modern cougars are responsible for cultivating cougar dating in the same way – an extension of their ever expanding personal growth. For the modern cougar woman, she can never completely separate the segments of her life, as it is each piece that makes her world a whole and this has far more to do with finding comfort in her own skin than it does with allowing external influences to shape her.  She is a woman who knows her own mind.

Not only is she a straight shooter, she has a wonderful, wide-eyed optimism with no time for regrets that makes her unrivalled both in the awe that she inspires in the younger man and the obsession she inspires in the press.

As a result, she does not take herself too seriously nor does she pander to the media’s power games. She’s so under the radar.

The modern cougar looks altogether assured, not only about today, but about how the next decade is going to turn out.

xxx Shele Belle

Faking a glorious glow has never been easier with the latest tanning products.  However, there are a few things you need to know before you get started:

1.  Make sure that you leave enough time for your tan to ‘take’, which can be anywhere up to 8 hours depending on the tanning product.  Ideally, the best time to apply a fake-tan is a few hours before going to bed.

2. It’s been said by the experts that the key to an even tan is an even surface.  Take a shower and exfoliate, paying particular attention to dry areas like elbows, knees, ankles and feet.

3.  To avoid staining your hands and nails, put on a thin pair of disposable latex gloves.  Apply a light layer of moisturizing skin care lotion to thicker skinned areas, as dry skin tends to absorb tanner at a faster rate, which can result in a patchy finish.

4. Apply self-tanner to one part of your body at a time.  Take a small amount of the tanning product and start working from your thighs down each leg, spreading the self-tanner in a circular motion and massage it well into your skin.  When you reach your knees, ankles and feet, give them a light brush with the self-tanner from your legs.  You only want to use a little on these areas.  Once you have finished applying the tanner, take a cotton ball and lightly sweep it across the backs of your hands and between your fingers.

5. Wait for 15 minutes before getting dressed and put on a loose robe for approximately another 30 minutes. This helps to ensure an even tan.  And remember to avoid contact with water for at least 3 hours.

6. For a longer lasting tan, lather on a rich, body moisturizer every day.  And avoid skincare products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids, as their exfoliating action will cause fading.

xxx Shele Belle

It’s Spring Racing Time!

What dress to wear? Do I need new heels? Does my bag go with my outfit? Have I got the right accessories? What feel am I looking for with my makeup?  Ok… now that I’ve got all that sorted out I’m ready to go… but wait… my hair!

So many women overlook this part of their outfit.  For me, my hair will make or break what I’m wearing.  A simple outfit can be finished off with the most amazing do!

Up or out?  That is a hard question.  There are so many pros and cons for both these options.  If I’m wearing a strapless dress, I’ll wear it down, but if I have a beautiful necklace that I want to show off, I’ll wear my hair half up. There are just so many options.  I need to think of all the variables and then decide which is going to work for me, and of course making sure that my hairstyle is different to my friends’ styles.

To get the best spring racing hairstyle, I’ll make sure that I wash my hair the day before, not just before stepping out in my spring racing fashion. My hairs fresh and clean, and not a nightmare to put up.

Making my hair look like I haven’t put in any effort into it says “hey, I’m cool without trying…” while secretly I’ve put effort into it with the right products for the look I want to achieve.  I can’t go past a Flat Iron, Volume Mousse, Hairspray, Dry Shampoo, bobby pins and a hairdryer. Remembering that I’m going for natural volume, not ‘80s disco volume!

If I’m going to wear my hair down and wavy/kinky, in most cases I’ll go for a center part.  I find that when wearing a side part, one part ends up looking flat and can give me a funny head shape.  Also when I wear a wavy hairstyle I make sure that it’s ‘random.’ And when I say random, I mean random!  I don’t want a head full of perfect curls or ringlets.  I’m looking for soft, sexy, flowing hair that looks effortless (wink, wink).

Now I’m ready to go to the races!

xxx Shele Belle

Buff Your Body

Embrace the heat and get glowing from top to toe for the hottest body ever.  Shed your winter skin and be bikini beautiful with soft, supple hydrated limbs within minutes.

• Buff your body and smooth your skin.

Exfoliation helps prevent blocked pores and breakouts,  promotes even skin tone and it keeps your body soft, hydrated and protected from the harsh summer environment.  It’s advised to exfoliate your body between two and three times a week.  There is no one best method of exfoliation, but, for a quick and easy option, try an exfoliating body wash.

When it comes to selecting the right exfoliating skincare product look for things like scrubs and roll-on peels, and use friction to remove the dead skin cells.  If you have any body acne, exfoliating skincare products like these can spread the infection and make the acne worse, not better.  Go for something such as chemical exfoliants that contain alpha and beta hydroxy acids which break down the skin cells instead.

• Boost your skins hydration.

Dry skin is screaming out for moisture, especially over the summer months.  By moisturizing regularly, you are helping stabilize your body’s moisture barrier, and prevents your skin from drying out.  To assure that your body is adequately moisturized, apply moisturizer from top to toe every day after showering and pay particular attention to dry areas like elbows and knees.

Choose a moisturizing skin care product that matches your skin type as well as one that contains ingredients that protect and offer long lasting hydration, such as shea butter, vitamin E, almond oil and ginkgo extract.

• Fight Cellulite.

Crumpet thighs are not a good look in a swimsuit.  There is however, no need to worry, as you’re not alone – 7 out of 10 women have cellulite, irrespective of weight or dress size.  Cellulite is basically related to genetic factors, stress, poor circulation and an overall lack of fitness.  Also impaired lymphatic drainage, changes in your hormonal system, like menopause can play a part in women having cellulite.

Cellulite can be difficult to get rid of. You can however, take some simple measures to treat this common beauty problem.  Drinking lots of water, exercising, eating well, and massaging daily with anti-cellulite products or firming body oils will help.  Another great tip is to dry brush daily as it can aid in stimulating a sluggish lymphatic system and promote improved circulation.

With these 3 simple steps you’ll be bikini beautiful in no time.

xxx Shele Belle

Bitching The New Female Bonding…

Do you have a female friend who seems to only connect when they’re moaning about how bad their life is?  It could be killing your friendship.

A few years ago, I became super tight with a woman at work.  We spoke every day, spent nearly every weekend together and pretty much shared everything.  It was peachy except for one thing.  When we were together, all we did was complain.  We clung on to each other, not for support, more for the comfort of commiseration.  A problem shared is a problem halved,  or is it?

Bonding over negatives may be one way to connect, but it sure isn’t healthy.  Excessively talking about problems with fellow drama queens is so common in fact that researchers have given it a name: “co-rumination” and it can have some really nasty consequences.

Studies done by the University of Missouri-Columbia have found that bitching about life only exacerbates problems, and contributes to anxiety and depression.  Also being this immersed in conversations with female friends about what you see as missing in your life can stunt other relationships, career aspirations and self-confidence.

Co-rumination it appears is often centered on things like boyfriend trouble, office politics, and frequently body issues like being overweight.  And there is no denying that when women get together, the conversation degenerates into talking about who’s skimpy shorts don’t fit anymore.  In some circles, “fat chat” is not only talk it’s a requirement.

Women are likely to engage in behavior that mirrors their other female friends. It’s a way of fitting in and being accepted.  And in these situations, it’s misery that becomes the bonding experience.  It’s also how women have been taught to interact. We have been raised to commiserate over negatives and to be wary of women who look good and feel great about themselves.  She somehow is the enemy and represents competition not friendship material.

More often than not, a friendship that is built on drama or negativity is simply not sustainable – the connection may only last for as long as both friends are willing to play at being victims in their lives.  Say, if female friends commiserate over being overweight, it will soothe them and make them feel that they are in it together, but once one of them drops five kilos or so, it becomes another story.  Jealousy, and a sense of betrayal are some of the feelings that can surface when a friend is seen as no longer being a part of the “suffering crowd.”

No-one should ever turn their back on a friend in need.  Expressing hurt, fear, anger, disappointment is natural and necessary at times.  However, when there is little else going on in this relationship, then there is a problem.

There are some very simple steps that counter negative talk and promote healthy friendships -

• Redirect the conversation and keep the mood light and positive.  Compliment your friends.
• Focus on yourself and your own health rather than comparing yourself and your life to that of your friends.
• Encourage your friends to make healthier life choices.
• Say something positive about yourself and your friends instead of saying something negative.

Don’t waste time and energy on negativity. Have realistic standards and positive attitudes towards yourself and get out there and enjoy your life!

xxx Shele Belle

Older women are taking a stand and prroudly proclaiming themselves as Cougars…

“Come out of the closet and stop hiding who you are. Come out of the closet and stop being embarrassed, ashamed or afraid of letting people know you are a Cougar.” said by Dr Fayr Barkley PhD.

To read more about Cougars coming out of the closet click here now.

xxx Shele Belle

FACT – OLDER WOMEN LOVE SEX

Dr. Dorree Lyn, author of Sex for Grownups, debunks the myths about older women and sex in this very informative article.

Myths she reveals include:

1. Older Women are lousy lovers.

2. Older Women don’t want sex as much as older men.

3. Older Women’s sex drive diminishes more quickly than older men.

4. Older Women don’t want oral sex.

5. Older Women don’t fantazise.

6. Older Women must have romance to have sex.

7. Older Women lose their vaginal sensitivity.

Click here to read more.

xxx  Shele Belle