Today's secret is about how to look five pounds slimmer with one small move: Stand up straight!

It turns out your mother was right when she constantly told you not to slump! Good posture has a variety of benefits, including changing your mental outlook. Best of all, good posture is easy to implement into your lifestyle.

We spend loads of money and hours of time on our hair, makeup, skin care and wardrobe, but the simple beauty secret to improve your posture is free, and it may change your look and your perspective more than all of the above!

Have you ever heard the saying that if you walk down the street acting like you own it, people will step aside? Standing tall improves your confidence level and attracts positive attention. When you are more poised and assertive, circumstances turn in your favor more often. You'll come across as more professional and successful in your own right.

If you enjoy wearing high heels, you can really give yourself an instant lift! While maintaining good posture in heels, you will look slimmer and taller. Heels do wonders for body image, as they give you a literal boost.

Standing up straight is also good for you physically. It helps you to breathe more easily by opening up your diaphragm, and it enables organs to operate to greater capacity. You'll also have less neck, shoulder and back aches when you maintain good posture.

Here are some tips for how to improve your posture:

The first tip is to be cognizant of how your standing. Posture becomes habit and developing a habit takes practice.

Keep your shoulders square, your stomach in, your feet facing forward and your neck straight. Most importantly, keep your head lifted so everyone can see your smile!

If you sit at a desk most of the day, consider switching from slumping in your office chair to sitting atop a large exercise ball. This will force you to sit up straight and will also tone your core. Two great, health improving benefits!

Enjoy the day ahead and stand tall and proud knowing that you're doing yourself a world of good on so many levels.

Please check back soon for more Beauty Secrets by Mary.

Until then, be your most beautiful!

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Q. Hi Mary,
My hair is flat, limp and lifeless! Do you have any tips on how to give hair some much needed body and volume?

A. Thanks for your question! Here are five tips for getting beautiful hair:

Tip #1
Don't despair! When your mane needs a boost, there are many beauty secrets available to make it happen. Try the easiest fixes first. Select a shampoo and conditioner from your favorite hair product line that is formulated to increase hair body and volume. There is also an array of hair care products available ranging from gels, mousses, thickening sprays, and forming foams, to hairsprays and volumizing sprays. Sometimes all your hair needs is that little extra "oomph" to really come to life.

But there is a science behind product application, because applying too many serums will bog hair down and defeat your purpose. Try using products one at a time to see which offer the best results, and skip products that contain silicone, an ingredient which weighs hair down.

Tip #2
Re-visit the 80's era with this simple technique you probably employed when you were in in high school... bend at the waist and flip your hair over your head while you are drying it with a blow dryer. Spray a volumizing hairspray on your mane while in this position to set the look. Flip back over and voila- your hair will have more body!

Another hair-raising trick is to use your blow dryer in conjunction with a large barreled roll brush. Wrap your hair around the brush in sections and blow dry each section, using the heat to create a curl. You may also use a round brush to lift hair away from your scalp, and then spritz a root lifting spray at the roots to achieve more volume.

Tip #3
Wash your hair every other day... or less if you can pull it off without getting greasy hair. Dirty hair has more body, and is easier to shape and style. Hair products also work better when applied to unwashed hair.

Tip #4
Can you believe crimped hair is back in style? I threw out my crimping iron with my New Kids on the Block poster! Just because those crazy waves are back doesn't necessarily mean they're the right look for you, but the point is, you may use styling tools to increase your hair volume. A foolproof way to obtain bouncy hair is by using hot rollers or velcro rollers in a large size.

If you don't want to buy a crimping iron or dig your old one out of its storage box, sleep in braids. Shower in the evening, braid wet hair into two braids and sleep on them. In the morning, you'll have an instantly wavy do.

Tip #5
If you feel like your hair needs a detox from all of the products you've been using, try Verseo's Detoxifying Hair Serum. This serum will rid your hair of build up and residue, and will help stimulate your scalp to promote healthy hair growth.

Follow these tips and your hair will be bouncing up and down in no time!

Please check back soon for more Beauty Secrets by Mary.

Until then, be your most beautiful!

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Now that the kids are back in school, perhaps you have some free time on your hands! Why not take this opportunity to think about yourself for a change? Head to your vanity and grab your makeup bag or open your cosmetics drawer, and clean them out in preparation for the new Fall season.

Most cosmetics don't list an expiration date on their container, but they do indeed expire. Don't get discouraged if you realize you've been making up your face with long overdue products. Just toss them and get ready to go on a makeup shopping spree! You may even treat yourself to a makeover to find new brands and colors to lift you out of your makeup routine rut.

Here are the guidelines for when makeup typically expires:

Mascara - 3 Months

Lipstick and Lip Gloss - 1 year

Eyeliner and Lip liner Pencils - 1 year
*Sharpen pencils weekly to help prevent the spread of bacteria.

Concealer 6-8 months

Pressed powder, eye shadow, blush - 1 year

Mineral Makeup is said to last longer than regular makeup due to its inorganic composition, however most experts advise that the one year mark is a good time to replace your mineral makeup products.

Remember the saying: "When it doubt, throw it out," when it comes to your makeup. If something has a bad odor, is crumbling, develops a film or demonstrates any other questionable characteristic, you should toss it.

You may extend the shelf life of your cosmetics by storing them away from light and heat. Don't leave your makeup bag on the counter in direct sunlight, put it away in a cabinet or in a cool, dry place.

Clean your makeup brushes to help prevent the spread of bacteria amongst your products and to your skin. Re-visit my post on how to clean your brushes for a quick knowledge brush up.

Enjoy your new, fresh cosmetics this season!

Please check back soon for more Beauty Secrets by Mary.

Until then, be your most beautiful!

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Have you ever dreamed of chopping off your trademark long locks or dyeing your brown hair blonde? You were most likely stopped from doing so by the fear that you may hate the new look and then be stuck with it! I always wonder what I'd look like with a sleek angular bob haircut, and holding my hair up behind my head to imitate the style never seems to do the trick.

Now you can join me in seeing exactly what you'd look like in certain hairstyles and hair colors. Check out the Makeover-O-Matic on the iVillage Beauty & Style website.

Here you can either choose a model with looks similar to yours, or you may upload your own photo before trying on a range of hairdos. You may finally see what your favorite Hollywood celebrity's hair looks like on you. Try on the hairstyles of tons of stars from Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry to Beyonce' and Gwen Stefani! So much fun!

The fun doesn't stop there! You may also virtually try on sunglasses, eyeglasses, head wear, lipstick, lip liner, teeth whitening, eye shadow, eye liner, blush and contacts. This ingenious online tool can help you save money when it comes to buying makeup since you can see what colors work on you before forking over the dough and being dissatisfied with the result of a new shade of lipstick. The lipstick shades you can try on are labeled by brand and color, so if you like what you see, you can go grab a tube!

I love the sunglasses option too. Whenever I see movie stars wearing giant shades, I try to imagine whether I could pull off the same look. Now I know I can! And if you wear eyeglasses, you may browse and try on different shapes and sizes at your leisure.

If you're curious to see a "before and after" shot of yourself once you arrive at your new online look, just click on the before/after feature at the bottom left hand side of the page.

Beware; you can literally spend hours using this Makeover-O-Matic! It's addictive! Now, if only I could go out on the town with my made up face, and my Heidi Klum hair!

Please check back soon for more Beauty Secrets by Mary.

Until then, be your most beautiful!

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They say "home is where the heart is," but home should also be where the spa is! Indulging in spa and beauty treatments is relaxing, rejuvenating and beneficial for mind, body and spirit. Here are some simple recipes you may whip up to treat yourself to an afternoon or evening of spa bliss in your very own bathroom. These recipes will enable you to pamper yourself from head to toe.

The ultimate in relaxation therapy is taking a warm bath. At day's end, unwind with a nice long soak with the following recipe based on ancient tradition. (Cleopatra bathed in milk and honey!)

Milk and Honey Bath Soak
Pour 1/2 cup of honey, 3 cups powdered milk and several buds of lavender into a tub filled with comfortably warm water. I like to add the honey and milk alongside the faucet as the water fills the tub, which provides better mixing. Then I sprinkle the lavender buds, or add a few drops of lavender essential oil or bath salts for relaxation via aromatherapy.Go the extra mile with your pampering efforts and cushion your head with the Hyda-Vibe Massaging Bath Pillow to ease tension and relieve fatigued muscles.

Shower Scrub
If you don't have time to enjoy a bath, whip up a shower scrub instead. This recipe is great for use once a week to exfoliate and brighten your skin. Grate one medium cucumber and combine with 1 cup buttermilk. Add 1/2 cup kosher salt to the mixture and stir into a thick paste. Apply scrub in the shower after allowing warm water to open your pores. Gently rub scrub into calloused body parts such as elbows, knees and heels. Rinse well.
*Do not shave before applying this scrub recipe, as the salt will irritate newly shaved skin.

Facial Mud Mask
Visit any health food store and purchase clay in powdered form.
Combine 1 egg yolk, 1/2 of a small avocado, and 1 tablespoon of dry clay. Add witch hazel until the texture of the mask is smooth. Apply to face and let set for fifteen minutes before rinsing thoroughly with warm water.

Foot Soak
This thrifty foot soak will leave your feet feeling like a million bucks. Buy a large container of Epsom salts to keep in your perpetual at home spa kit. Epsom salts are made of magnesium sulfate which when absorbed into the skin, performs a variety of tasks including: relaxing muscles, calming the nervous system, reducing swelling, acting as an exfoliant. Add 1-2 tablespoons of Epsom salts to a foot bath filled with warm water. Relax and soak your feet for 20 minutes.
*You may also add Epsom salts to your bathtub and soak your entire body for an amazingly relaxing, easy escape.

Please check back soon for more Beauty Secrets by Mary.

Until then, be your most beautiful!

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