Whether you know it or not, your hairstyle could be making your face look rounder than it really is. If you have a round face shape to begin with, any cut that puts added volume around your cheeks is an unflattering one. "Try to avoid one-length bobs that fall between the chin and above the collarbone," says hairstylist Seguin. Her reason? They "draw attention to any extra weight or roundness."
The most slimming length is one that falls below the collarbone and just above your bra strap, says Seguin. "Adding layers and a side swept bang to focus on the eyes and cheek bones draws attention away from any extra weight or roundness near the chin-neck area as well," she adds.
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Wear a slimming hairstyle
When it comes to styling your hair in the most slimming and flattering way, Seguin suggests "a style with body and wave or an easy updo/ponytail with pieces that fall out around the face."
Slimming hairstyle how-to:
Start by spritzing a thermal spray on damp hair for heat protection and hold (try Shu Uemura Iron Design, $33). Then blow dry your hair with a medium to large round brush. To add more wave use a one-inch curling iron like Conair Instant Heat 1" Curling Iron, $11.99, rolling the front sections of your hair away from your face. Mist with a flexible hold hairspray like Dove Flexible Hold Aerosol Hairspray with Natural Movement, $4.60. Then, if you want to wear your hair up, pull it into a ponytail, and either leave it that way or swirl into a bun and secure with hair pins. Finish by pulling out a few face framing layers.
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Apply a dark tan
Coco, who tans Kim Kardashian and Heidi Klum in addition to many of the Victoria's Secret models, says that wearing a darker tan is like wearing a darker dress: Darker is always more slimming. "A faux tan can camouflage or mask any skin flaws or body abnormalities which could give the appearance of looking lopsided, choppy or square," says Coco. Not only will a sunless tan make you look healthier in general by way of glowing skin and evened out complexion, it can also be customized to accentuate muscles (tanning more in specified areas and less in others), which "creates the illusion of a longer, leaner, look," explains Coco.
Next: see how to apply self-tanner to make you look leaner
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Define muscles with self-tanner
Follow these simple steps to create muscle definition using self-tanner:
Step 1: Exfoliate your entire body in the shower with a loofah and shave all areas of the body you usually remove hair from.
Step 2: Moisturize dry areas of your body, typically around your feet, ankles, knees, hands, wrists and elbows with a light layer of lotion.
Step 3: Put on latex gloves and liberally apply self tanner (browse the highest rated self-tanner here) with long, soft strokes to your entire body. Keep in mind it's better to apply too much than too little, as the missed areas will give you a "streaky" uneven look.
Step 4: Shower about eight hours later to reveal your bronzed glow and to remove leftover cosmetic from your body. Then grab your self-tanner again and use a gloved finger to "paint" in lines where they naturally occur on your body.
On your abs: flex your muscles and paint down the center vertical line of your abdomen from just below your sternum to your belly button and repeat down the sides of your obliques (those lines that are normally visible on athletes).
On your arms: hold one arm out and flex your muscles. Paint a line of self-tanner between your bicep and triceps. Repeat on the other arm.
On your legs: apply an extra coat of self-tanner to the entire insides of your thighs and a bit more to the outer parts, leaving the middle section without as much tanner.
*If you were a bit too heavy handed with any of the above applications, you can always use a dry loofah to buff away lines after you have showered.
If you are weary of tanning yourself, make an appointment with a professional salon to get a spray tan. When there, ask them to create muscle definition for you -- and don't be embarrassed, they hear it all the time.
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Contour your body with makeup
While the self-tanning method to getting a faux toned body works wonderfully, if you aren't a self-tanning enthusiast you can still use makeup to create or enhance the same body contouring effects. Just know that these tips won't stand the test of time or work for a day at the beach, but they will work to make your body appear more toned and leaner.
Makeup artist Dean points out that you can use gel bronzer much like a self-tanner to create lines and muscle definition on your body. Start by making sure you are able to see the areas of your body you will be exposing that day (so obviously if you're wearing a long sleeve mini dress, you'll only use a bronzing gel on your legs). Next stand under an overhead light, as this will allow you to see where the natural shadows exist on your body.
On your arms: hold one arm out and flex your muscles. Use a gel bronzer like Laura Mercier Bronzing Gel, $38 and paint in the sideline between your bicep and triceps using a foundation brush to blend. Repeat on the other arm.
On your chest: Using the foundation brush and gel bronzer, paint into the shadows around your clavicle bone.
On your legs: Put on high heels, as this will naturally flex your calf muscles, and paint the shadows created under your muscles again with the gel bronzer and foundation brush to accentuate them.
Don't worry, we know. We know how hard it is to get to the gym as often as you'd like. We know it's easier to push that elevator button instead of walking up those three flights of stairs at the dentist. We know "Bagel Fridays" at work have you bummin' because you just can't seem to resist the cream-cheesy goodness that calls to you at your desk. And we know that for once you want to wear a bikini to the beach without having to tie a sarong covered in turtles around your butt. Like we said, we know. What you don't know, but are about to find out, is that you can make your body look thinner and more toned with some sneaky and super smart makeup, hairstyle, nutrition and quick fitness tips. Skip to see them now.
Are we suggesting the best way to fight body fat is with foolery? No, of course not. Can we all sympathize with having a hectic agenda that doesn't always allow us to pump iron on a regularly scheduled program? Why yes, of course we can. Should our less-than-perfect time-management skills or love of Pinkberry be punishable by thicker thighs or a belly pouch when swimsuit season is upon us or we have a wedding to attend? Well, that depends on whom you're asking. We happen to think not, so in an effort to comfort you (and admittedly ourselves), we went to the top experts in health and beauty to get the secrets to shedding excess bloat (fast!) and making your body look more toned with beauty tricks.
Here's who we called on: Makeup artist Landy Dean and hairstylist Katie Seguin from the Marie Robinson Salon in New York City, celebrity fitness and lifestyle expert Ashley Borden, and tanning expert to the stars Jimmy Coco, for proven ways to make your face and body appear like you didn't cancel your last two personal training appointments. Don't be confused, this is NOT the lazy girl's guide to getting a better body, meaning, you'll still need to hit the gym and eat sensibly to get into great shape. These tips won't magically turn you into Giselle BUT your body will look more toned after exploring these health and beauty tips to feign a better body -- think of them as smoke and mirrors.
