As a model my summer must-have list will always include a little black dress and a great bikini, but here is a short and sweet list of what I think are some other essentials needed for a fun and fashionable summer!

1. A great coverup. Skin-tight silhouettes are replaced by loose fitting embellished cover ups for 2011. You can add a belt, some great jewelry and go straight to dinner.

Chiffon Coverup by ASOS.com  $44

Coverup by VIX

2. Around since the 14th century, add a touch of Spanish flair in the form of espadrilles!

 

3. A fedora or straw hat is also a great look for this summer!

4. High heat also means tiny or no straps so it's important to invest in the best fitting strapless bra or try the silicone adhesive reusable ones for backless clothing. And don't forget to make sure you are wearing  sheer undies!

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Sharing a page from Face This, Ch.12 - Shooting Star. 

There is alot of work that goes in to looking your best for a photograph, besides just being beautiful! Summer is here, which translates into weddings, swimsuits and more revealing clothing for the heat.  If your diet has not quite caught up with you yet, there are ways to make yourself look thinner in a photo by the way you pose or position yourself to the lens. You can also hide perceived flaws like a big nose, or close set eyes by how you are placing yourself in front of the camera. 

Face This offers all of this advice and more! It is available on Amazon.com, Nook and iTunes for iBooks. Just click Face This, to  buy all 188 color pages for just $7.99 on Kindle and download a free app to read on your phone, mac, or PC. 

Learn about the tricks and tips of real models, photographers and makeup artists to put you well on your way to becoming Picture Perfect! 

How do models manage to have radiant looking skin during 8 days of Fashion Week? 

Not only do they make sure they wash off all of the extra makeup, but they also exfoliate their skin to keep it looking fresh and vibrant. If your skin is oily it is harder for it to slough off dead skin due to the stickiness of the oils and when your skin is dry, the dead skin can accumulate leaving it dull. Dirt, makeup and pollutants can trap into pores and fine lines causing blackheads and irritated skin.

To solve this problem, many models use Clarisonic’s Skin Cleansing System, invented by the makers of the Sonicare toothbrush. I love using this handheld, waterproof device every day in the shower. The brush uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to take off makeup and gently exfoliate, removing makeup 6 times better than ordinary cleansing. This action also preps your skin to better absorb other products and treatments. It helps reduce oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes. A major beauty newsmaker, it has been featured as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things and received the Best of Sephora Award  in 2008.

Clarisonic is worth the splurge, but if cost is an issue, Olay makes a great little system that is visually similar, but uses a non-sonic rotating action that runs on AA batteries. It is not waterproof but is a great option. They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery … Olay’s Advanced Cleansing System is clearly giving the popular Clarisonic a run for the show.

Model's know that shiny and luxuriously looking hair is where it's at! 

Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners often leave a residue on the hair shaft that inhibit the strand from reflecting light. To make your hair vibrant, by helping the hair cuticle bounce off light again, try using some of the new products that are available ... similar to putting a clear top coat on your nails after painting them for added protection and shine.

A professional salon often offers these gloss or glaze services that will last 2-4 weeks, but to do it at home I recommend using one of these 2 products once a week in the shower; they won't leave your hair greasy and really boost the shine ~ John Freida's Color Glaze Clear and Alterna Cavaiar Shine Boost, $25 at Sephora, but a bargain for $15 on Amazon.  To use them, just shampoo and condition as usual, squeeze out the excess water and apply the gloss waiting 3 minutes to rinse with cool water. Or go green and use a bottle of beer or the juice of a fresh lemon squeezed into about a cup of water, but you'll need to leave these on a bit longer to see results, 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing.

Go ahead get your SHINE on!

Face This - 188 color pages by Shelley GoodStein

Sharing a few pages from my book with you in the coming weeks. Buy it on Kindle for just $9.99 and download a FREE app to read it on your iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android, mac or PC. 

It's time to stop being jealous of your friend who never takes a bad photo and start learning the tricks for looking like a cover girl yourself! There are so many books about how to take a good picture written that are geared only to the person behind the camera, the photographer. Face This is a book written just for YOU, the girl who wants to know what to do in front of the camera!

Even Cindy Crawford says she doesn't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford. Get advice from real models, makeup artists and professional photographers on how to have THE perfect picture!

The flawless face, lighting, background, style, composure and oozing personality all revealed. The cheats, the secrets and what you can do to expose yourself in the best possible light digitally and put your "tag" in the cyber universe for all of the world wide web to see!

As far as hot beauty trends go, eyelash lengthening is becoming the new teeth whitening – Just like eyebrows and hair, our lashes thin with age. And if you are using false eyelashes or lash extensions, the glue can make them brittle if not properly hydrated.

The trick to long full lashes is in keeping them hydrated. Make sure you’re taking off your makeup gently every night and try using a swab of petroleum jelly or olive oil along the lash line to moisturize. This will promote eyelash growth without any special potion. Eye lash hair has a natural growth cycle, but mascara and dry lashes cause breakage long before is reaches it natural length so moisturizing here will help reverse this.

There are products on the market designed with powerful formulas to lengthen lashes like Latisse, a formula approved by the FDA available only with a doctor’s prescription, that is proven to work but not without potential side effects. It costs about $120 for a 30-day supply and is not reimbursed by insurance.

Other over the counter products which consistently get results are Lash Relonge’ (rated highest) and Revitalash. More economical and less risky. I found both on Amazon today between $60 and $99. Click on the photo for more information on ordering.

All of these products are applied like eyeliner, drawing a thin line daily to each upper lid at the eyelash root. Most users report that one bottle will last them at least 2 months, with expected results seen around 4 weeks, after which you need only use the product every other day or so. Long, thick lashes will likely always be viewed as the captivating symbol of universal glamour. With a little effort you can have them too.

Using your phone as your primary camera these days? Seems everyone is, and the photos are on par with alot of point and shoot digital cameras. But a smart phone with the right imaging app can take your photos to the next level ... and some of the apps are free or just $1.99!

You can rotate, crop, add filters, effects, borders, sharpen or add text bubbles into your photos. This is a great way to be creative as well as save a photo that you love but was overexposed.

Check them out in your app store. Instagram is one of the most widely used and did I mention it's FREE? Other popular ones that cool kids are using: Hipstamatic, Diptic, Everyday, and 3D Camera. Have fun and start snapping!

Swimsuit season is rapidly approaching so I just purchased these bikini's online from Victoria Secret. I love the fact that I can mix and match and order different sizes for top and bottom because let's face it, when it comes to swimsuits, one size does not fit all!

When planning for your next weekend getaway or that holiday pool party, choose a suit with a great pattern or color that looks fantastic on you. You may think that the more coverage the better to hide a few pounds, but in reality extra fabric can sometimes emphasize the thing you are trying to hide, so try on a few suits and styles you wouldn't normally, you just may surprise yourself! AND don't freak out that your swimsuit size is larger than your clothing size. Swimwear typically always runs small since they are meant to fit snug so remember to go up a couple sizes especially if you are trying on Junior brands like Roxy.

Use Victoria Secret Code SP1126065 thru 6/17 for:
$15 off  $100
$30 off  $150
$75 off  $250

With summer fast approaching and temperatures rising it's important to re-evaluate your foundation and change from a heavier product to a lightweight and barely there look. Or consider using just a lightweight tinted moisturizer with SPF for casual days instead.

Makeup artists are raving about Giorgio Armani's new Luminous Silk Foundation. This will be my next purchase, but I am still really happy with Make Up For Ever's foundation, especially since it's half the price. It goes on sheer with good coverage but not settling into fine lines or looking cakey. Fools even the best HD camera for that invisible look in real life too. 

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation 115 Ivory

Murad by Murad Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Gel--/1OZ

It is well known that sun exposure contributes to premature wrinkles, 

but studies show that most people view mottled or blotchy, 

irregular patches on their skin as even older looking.

The good news is that you can use products to help fade these dark spots in as soon as a month with the help of an ingredient called hydroquinone. Murad Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Gel is a good one to try. Use it on your hands and face once or twice a day to fade the age away. And then keep vigilant with the SPF!

Sunglasses are thee IT accessory at the beach, but they are equally important when hiding from the paparazzi and covering dark circles from a sleepless night. These cat-eye sunnies by Victoria Beckham are my newest obsession and this feline, Retro trend is showing up everywhere for Summer 2011.

When choosing YOUR perfect frame, keep your face shape in mind to bring balance to your features. People with round faces should stick with square or rectangle shaped glasses that sharpen lines and add definition to your face, while square shaped faces look great with rounded frames.

Also keep in mind your coloring when choosing your perfect sunglasses. Yellowish/warm skin tones look best in gold, tortoise or brown colors while Cooler/bluish skin tones look best in silver, black or blue colors.

Finally, size does matter! Your sunglasses can be larger than regular glasses but need to be in proportion to your head making sure they don't reach too far beyond your temples. If your face is long or you have a larger head,  the oversized frame was made especially for you!

Is it true that boyfriends should check out their future mother-in-laws-to-be for a glimpse into tomorrow?

According to a new study, facial aging does follow a similar pattern between mothers and daughters, but celebrity moms today don't seem like they're aging at all! Great looks are genetic, but it is our beauty routines that can make a difference in the years ahead.

For sure mother knows best when warning us about the dangers of the sun and wearing SPF. And my own Mom was definitely right when she told me orange lipstick was not my color and that my 10th grade boyfriend was bad news!

My advice for Mother's Day 2011? Listen to every pearl of wisdom your mother offers, because she is going through some of the very same feelings and issues you will be too one day. There is not a day that goes by I don't miss my Mom, wishing I had asked more questions  ... Here is a photo of us from the early 90's!