What causes wrinkles?
Wrinkles are caused by both genetic and environmental factors such as sunlight, make up, exposure to chemicals , cigarette smoke, and other pollutants.
How to avoid wrinkles?
Avoid the sun.
Take care of your skin daily with a routine that includes cleansing, moisturizing and daily sunscreen.
Avoid smoking.
Avoid alcohol.
Avoid caffeinated beverages which can dehydrate the skin.
Drink plenty of water.
At what age should you consider using an Anti-Wrinkle Cream?
Start before you even see a wrinkle appear. Eye creams in particular are effective at supporting the delicate area around the eyes and preventing or stalling the development of wrinkles. For many of us that means start using then in your thirties. The skin's natural levels of collagen diminish with age and anti-wrinkle creams may offer a replacement.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
How to avoid late night eating?
Does this sound like you? You inhale a light yogurt for lunch and eat hardly anything all day so by the end of the day you are so hungry that all your discipline goes out the window. You have a night eating habit and are someone who uses food not as fuel but as an antidote to stress. There are two troubling behaviors that come into play with night eating and those are mindless consumption and lack of portion control. This can make trying to lose weight extremely difficult and can also increase the likelihood of obesity.
Why do we eat at night?
Many women eat late at night because that is the only time of day that they get in any peace and carbohydrates offer stress relief because they raise the level of serotonin, the good mood chemical in the brain that makes us feel at ease.
Other diet minded women eat very little during the day thinking their self -discipline will carry them through the evening, only to have the strategy backfire. Going for long period restricting food makes it harder to eat reasonable when you begin to eat.
Tips to stop night eating?
Don't starve all day. Make sure to eat breakfast, lunch and snacks so you are not ravenous in the evening.
Curb your appetite- Try a drink that nutritionist call Citrus Chill which is a squeeze or lemon and lime and some artificial sweeter over crushed ice. Try on of these before dinner and after dinner.
Set a clear food cut off time - Try brushing your teeth at 7:30 pm and designate that as your food cut off time. This is hard at first but gets easier over time.
Why do we eat at night?
Many women eat late at night because that is the only time of day that they get in any peace and carbohydrates offer stress relief because they raise the level of serotonin, the good mood chemical in the brain that makes us feel at ease.
Other diet minded women eat very little during the day thinking their self -discipline will carry them through the evening, only to have the strategy backfire. Going for long period restricting food makes it harder to eat reasonable when you begin to eat.
Tips to stop night eating?
Don't starve all day. Make sure to eat breakfast, lunch and snacks so you are not ravenous in the evening.
Curb your appetite- Try a drink that nutritionist call Citrus Chill which is a squeeze or lemon and lime and some artificial sweeter over crushed ice. Try on of these before dinner and after dinner.
Set a clear food cut off time - Try brushing your teeth at 7:30 pm and designate that as your food cut off time. This is hard at first but gets easier over time.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Beauty Care For The Working Women
A career woman is a very busy woman. She has not only to go to office and handle a lot of exacting chores but she has also to look after the household after her responsibilities at the desk are over. This leaves her with little time to look after herself and yet she needs to look neat and attractive in her place of work. What you require is to take one day off every week and reserve it for beautifying yourself. Make it Sunday when usually everyone has a holiday. This day should belong exclusively to you. Rest, relax and beautify yourself and see how the next day you will not only look more beautiful and attractive but be lighter and brighter both in body and spirit. This one day beauty.care is not only meant to beautify you but it is also health-giving and prolongs your youthfulness. On this day be as 'lazy' as possible, stay in bed as long as you like and stay off the telephone because talking takes as much energy as working.
Take a light diet on this day to give, your over worked digestive system a rest. Here is a sample of the Sunday diet.
Breakfast
•One glass orange juice
•Cornflakes with milk.
•Tea or coffee.
Mid-morning
•One cup skimmed milk with 1 biscuit. (You can substitute milk for tea or coffee.)
Lunch
•Steamed chicken or fish.
•One green or yellow vegetable.
•One salad of raw vegetables.
•Fruit of choice.
Mid-afternoon
•Tea, coffee, milk or soft drink with 1 biscuit.
Dinner
•Soup
•Mutton stew
•Bread
•Fruit.
Bedtime
•One cup skimmed milk with honey.
After taking your breakfast, rest for a while and then go in for your bath. Lock yourself in and get to work. Start with chores like 'defusing' your legs or arms, dealing with superfluous hair on the face, washing and setting your hair and doing your nails. All these chores need to be done regularly for a well-groomed look.
Now take your bath. Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water and put in a few drops of your favorite essence. Then, lie back in the tub and try to keep your mind blank think of absolutely nothing for 10 minutes or try to dwell upon happy things. Let your arms and legs float in the water, splash them around a little and let the ripples in the bath water float over you. Get out of the bath and pat yourself dry and give yourself a facial.
After all this, you should emerge from the bathroom, both refreshed and invigorated. Now have your lunch and go to bed. Do not talk, do not gossip, do not work, for this day is for you and for the next six days you will be for others-what a relaxed, beautiful and changed person you will be !
As regards the skin, clean your face both morning and night because, as you are out in the open for long periods, your skin takes on more dust and grime than the women who stay at home.
However tired you may be after a late night, do not hop into your bed without removing every trace of your makeup otherwise your pores will get clogged and your skin will become sick. Every night before going to bed give your skin a little nourishment by rubbing in a little cream of milk blended with lime juice and a pinch of turmeric powder. Use only a dusting of powder, a soft shade of lipstick and a touch of rouge for the office. And always carry your makeup kit with you to 'do' yourself up before leaving for your home.
Also pay greatest attention to your personal cleanliness so that you will not only feel fragrant but also fresh and lively the whole day through. So use a little bath essence, toilet water and dusting powder and also use deodorant regularly whether you think you need it or not.
Take a light diet on this day to give, your over worked digestive system a rest. Here is a sample of the Sunday diet.
Breakfast
•One glass orange juice
•Cornflakes with milk.
•Tea or coffee.
Mid-morning
•One cup skimmed milk with 1 biscuit. (You can substitute milk for tea or coffee.)
Lunch
•Steamed chicken or fish.
•One green or yellow vegetable.
•One salad of raw vegetables.
•Fruit of choice.
Mid-afternoon
•Tea, coffee, milk or soft drink with 1 biscuit.
Dinner
•Soup
•Mutton stew
•Bread
•Fruit.
Bedtime
•One cup skimmed milk with honey.
After taking your breakfast, rest for a while and then go in for your bath. Lock yourself in and get to work. Start with chores like 'defusing' your legs or arms, dealing with superfluous hair on the face, washing and setting your hair and doing your nails. All these chores need to be done regularly for a well-groomed look.
Now take your bath. Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water and put in a few drops of your favorite essence. Then, lie back in the tub and try to keep your mind blank think of absolutely nothing for 10 minutes or try to dwell upon happy things. Let your arms and legs float in the water, splash them around a little and let the ripples in the bath water float over you. Get out of the bath and pat yourself dry and give yourself a facial.
After all this, you should emerge from the bathroom, both refreshed and invigorated. Now have your lunch and go to bed. Do not talk, do not gossip, do not work, for this day is for you and for the next six days you will be for others-what a relaxed, beautiful and changed person you will be !
As regards the skin, clean your face both morning and night because, as you are out in the open for long periods, your skin takes on more dust and grime than the women who stay at home.
However tired you may be after a late night, do not hop into your bed without removing every trace of your makeup otherwise your pores will get clogged and your skin will become sick. Every night before going to bed give your skin a little nourishment by rubbing in a little cream of milk blended with lime juice and a pinch of turmeric powder. Use only a dusting of powder, a soft shade of lipstick and a touch of rouge for the office. And always carry your makeup kit with you to 'do' yourself up before leaving for your home.
Also pay greatest attention to your personal cleanliness so that you will not only feel fragrant but also fresh and lively the whole day through. So use a little bath essence, toilet water and dusting powder and also use deodorant regularly whether you think you need it or not.
Beauty After 40
Beauty After Forties
There are very few women who keep on looking beautiful even after crossing the age of forty; but these women have cultivated their beauty slowly and gradually through the years and they age gracefully and carry their years as lightly and gaily as Bowers in a buttonhole. In later years, a slim and trim figure adds as much to the look of youth as a youthful skin. To keep your skin slim. eat a fully balanced diet, because after you cross the age of 40 there is a marked decrease in the functional activity of the body. The process of digestion slows down, therefore the fats and the carbohydrate content of the diet should be reduced. Fried foods and dishes of carbohydrates should be avoided.
Overweight persons need to be all the more cautious of their calorie intake because they are more prone to old age diseases than their slimmer brethren and sisters. Therefore, take food rich in vitamins and minerals and avoid sugary, starchy and fried foods like plague. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and drink at least two cups of milk daily.
With the onset of age the hair becomes grey, but do not pull these grey hair out. Every time you pull out a grey hair, you sow the seed for another few because the root at the base of the hair follicle secretes an infectious serum, which covers a tiny pinpoint of healthy hair surrounding the white hair and these in turn will go white within next to no time. If you feel you must get rid of your grey hair then cut it close to the root with scissors.
Keep your hair well brushed, well nourished, well groomed and styled at all times. This is the time when your skin needs an ample amount of grease to counteract the natural dryness of your skin. Every night apply homemade moisturizing cream to your face and in the morning before you take your bath, rub on your face and neck homemade cold Cream. Pay particular attention to the corners of your mouth, areas around the eyes and neck which are more prone to wrinkling than the other areas of the skin. Give yourself a facial twice a week with a mask for dry skin to whip up circulation.
Do not wear clothes and makeup used by the teenagers; wear clothes suitable for your age, which will give you dignity and good bearing. Wear light makeup and simple jewellery. Besides develop a lively interest in all things and have a sense of humour at all times which will give your face a nice tender look and not a frowning, cross look (which adds years to the face). Go for long brisk walks and do not look back more than you can help at your green years, for remember that every age has its own charm. Moreover, after 40 you have much more mature and dignified look than before. Therefore keep your shoulders back, hold your head high and above all keep the corners of your mouth up.
There are very few women who keep on looking beautiful even after crossing the age of forty; but these women have cultivated their beauty slowly and gradually through the years and they age gracefully and carry their years as lightly and gaily as Bowers in a buttonhole. In later years, a slim and trim figure adds as much to the look of youth as a youthful skin. To keep your skin slim. eat a fully balanced diet, because after you cross the age of 40 there is a marked decrease in the functional activity of the body. The process of digestion slows down, therefore the fats and the carbohydrate content of the diet should be reduced. Fried foods and dishes of carbohydrates should be avoided.
Overweight persons need to be all the more cautious of their calorie intake because they are more prone to old age diseases than their slimmer brethren and sisters. Therefore, take food rich in vitamins and minerals and avoid sugary, starchy and fried foods like plague. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and drink at least two cups of milk daily.
With the onset of age the hair becomes grey, but do not pull these grey hair out. Every time you pull out a grey hair, you sow the seed for another few because the root at the base of the hair follicle secretes an infectious serum, which covers a tiny pinpoint of healthy hair surrounding the white hair and these in turn will go white within next to no time. If you feel you must get rid of your grey hair then cut it close to the root with scissors.
Keep your hair well brushed, well nourished, well groomed and styled at all times. This is the time when your skin needs an ample amount of grease to counteract the natural dryness of your skin. Every night apply homemade moisturizing cream to your face and in the morning before you take your bath, rub on your face and neck homemade cold Cream. Pay particular attention to the corners of your mouth, areas around the eyes and neck which are more prone to wrinkling than the other areas of the skin. Give yourself a facial twice a week with a mask for dry skin to whip up circulation.
Do not wear clothes and makeup used by the teenagers; wear clothes suitable for your age, which will give you dignity and good bearing. Wear light makeup and simple jewellery. Besides develop a lively interest in all things and have a sense of humour at all times which will give your face a nice tender look and not a frowning, cross look (which adds years to the face). Go for long brisk walks and do not look back more than you can help at your green years, for remember that every age has its own charm. Moreover, after 40 you have much more mature and dignified look than before. Therefore keep your shoulders back, hold your head high and above all keep the corners of your mouth up.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Clothing and Fashion for Older Women
season, the fashion and garment industry trot out hundreds of "must have" looks for the months ahead. Some of these looks are trendy, some are classic with updated twists, and some are truly timeless, but with few exceptions, they are all designed with young, thin models in mind. Because of this, most women, as they get older, find that they face a diminishing selection of choices in clothing styles.
Many make the wrong choices of how to deal with this situation. They want to look young, and think that wearing the latest fashion trends will help them achieve that youthful look. While keeping your wardrobe current is important in helping you to look young, some women fall into the trap of wearing clothing that is entirely to "young" for them. The British have an expression that I like: "Mutton dressed as lamb" which refers to someone older (usually a woman) dressed far too youthfully. The result, instead of making her appear more youthful, is that the woman emphasizes her age. Just imagine, say, Sharon Stone dressed the same as Brittany Spears or Jessica Simpson.
I had a friend in high school in the mid-80s whose mother was determined to look young. She bought acid-washed jeans and distressed t-shirt tops and wore her hair "big" with bold, blonde streaks. She and my friend, her daughter, dressed very much alike. I only wish now that I'd had the courage to tell her the truth when I had the chance.
The truth is in order to look young you do need to keep your wardrobe current. Fabrics, colors, patterns and shapes change from year to year and all serve to date the wardrobe and wearer alike. But keeping your wardrobe current doesn't mean you should go for the trendy or hip looks. Instead, you should look for classic styles and shapes that flatter your figure in the colors and fabrics that are up to date. As a woman ages, she must pay attention to these details. Remember, vintage clothing and retro styles are only for those young enough to have never worn them when they were new fashion.
That doesn't mean you can't still have fun with your fashion. Accessories like scarves and jewelry allow you to add a "retro" flair to a modern look without assuming the age of the original fashion. In fact, fun and playful accessories can dress-up dowdier designs, by giving you the image of a youthful attitude. Imagine wearing your "power suit" with a string of chunky beads, or outrageous earrings. Just remember not to overdo it there's a fine line between youthful spirit and desperately clinging to youth.
Another important thing to remember in dressing to look younger is fit. Whenever someone sees you in clothing that seems too small the first thought is that you are trying to wear something that no longer fits. The assumption is that you would never purposefully buy something ill-fitted. It must have fit when you bought it (meaning that you've had it long enough to grow out of it).
Even if they assume that you purchased the item for future wear intending to lose weight to fit into the garment you generate the idea that you've been struggling long enough to have 'given up' and wear the item anyway. The situation is equally problematic when ill-fitting refers to baggy clothing, which implies loss of weight, and sagging body shape. Whatever is assumed, weight and body maintenance are considered to be issues for aging women, and ill-fitted clothing leaves poor impressions and only serves to give the appearance of age.
There's one final aspect of how you dress that can add or remove as much as a decade from your appearance. Yet, most women never give it more than a passing thought. I'm referring to undergarments, specifically support, or foundation, garments. At least half of women today aren't wearing the right bra, and less than half are even aware that they could look years younger with the right body shaper. Most people know from grade school science and health classes that women have a layer of fat cells surrounding their bodies. This is natural and is largely responsible for giving them the softness and curves that men find so appealing. And a woman's breasts are made up of fat tissue surrounding the mammary glands.
Many make the wrong choices of how to deal with this situation. They want to look young, and think that wearing the latest fashion trends will help them achieve that youthful look. While keeping your wardrobe current is important in helping you to look young, some women fall into the trap of wearing clothing that is entirely to "young" for them. The British have an expression that I like: "Mutton dressed as lamb" which refers to someone older (usually a woman) dressed far too youthfully. The result, instead of making her appear more youthful, is that the woman emphasizes her age. Just imagine, say, Sharon Stone dressed the same as Brittany Spears or Jessica Simpson.
I had a friend in high school in the mid-80s whose mother was determined to look young. She bought acid-washed jeans and distressed t-shirt tops and wore her hair "big" with bold, blonde streaks. She and my friend, her daughter, dressed very much alike. I only wish now that I'd had the courage to tell her the truth when I had the chance.
The truth is in order to look young you do need to keep your wardrobe current. Fabrics, colors, patterns and shapes change from year to year and all serve to date the wardrobe and wearer alike. But keeping your wardrobe current doesn't mean you should go for the trendy or hip looks. Instead, you should look for classic styles and shapes that flatter your figure in the colors and fabrics that are up to date. As a woman ages, she must pay attention to these details. Remember, vintage clothing and retro styles are only for those young enough to have never worn them when they were new fashion.
That doesn't mean you can't still have fun with your fashion. Accessories like scarves and jewelry allow you to add a "retro" flair to a modern look without assuming the age of the original fashion. In fact, fun and playful accessories can dress-up dowdier designs, by giving you the image of a youthful attitude. Imagine wearing your "power suit" with a string of chunky beads, or outrageous earrings. Just remember not to overdo it there's a fine line between youthful spirit and desperately clinging to youth.
Another important thing to remember in dressing to look younger is fit. Whenever someone sees you in clothing that seems too small the first thought is that you are trying to wear something that no longer fits. The assumption is that you would never purposefully buy something ill-fitted. It must have fit when you bought it (meaning that you've had it long enough to grow out of it).
Even if they assume that you purchased the item for future wear intending to lose weight to fit into the garment you generate the idea that you've been struggling long enough to have 'given up' and wear the item anyway. The situation is equally problematic when ill-fitting refers to baggy clothing, which implies loss of weight, and sagging body shape. Whatever is assumed, weight and body maintenance are considered to be issues for aging women, and ill-fitted clothing leaves poor impressions and only serves to give the appearance of age.
There's one final aspect of how you dress that can add or remove as much as a decade from your appearance. Yet, most women never give it more than a passing thought. I'm referring to undergarments, specifically support, or foundation, garments. At least half of women today aren't wearing the right bra, and less than half are even aware that they could look years younger with the right body shaper. Most people know from grade school science and health classes that women have a layer of fat cells surrounding their bodies. This is natural and is largely responsible for giving them the softness and curves that men find so appealing. And a woman's breasts are made up of fat tissue surrounding the mammary glands.
How to Go Braless
A majority of the ladies who wear bras do believe that they are a necessity for variety of reasons, primary being to keep the breasts in proper shape. However there is a good no. of those on the other side who believe that bras are just an invention, unnecessary and not required. The debate tends to get political. However, whichever side of the debate you are, there is nothing wrong in going braless at least once in a while when the situation might demand or when you are too lazy to put on a bra! This however needs to be done very carefully specially for those of you who are well endowed. Its alright that you want to be free of bra, but it doesn’t have to be tasteless. Following are some tips that you will find handy whenever you decide to go braless:
What’s your size?
• If you are top heavy i.e. something like DD, then think twice before leaving your
bra back home. That’s because there’s every chance that your breasts might
just spill out of your dress. Practice and choice of a proper dress could prevent
this.
• Also movement of larger breasts when not checked by a bra could be painful,
especially in those times when they can be a bit swollen. Try to adopt a good
posture and some practice can help you avoid this to large extent.
‘Nipplegate’?
• Another major fear in girls about going braless is their nipples showing through
the dress, ‘high beam’ as they call this phenomenon in popular culture; this can
be embarrassing, however there are ways to avoid this:
• Nipple tapes and band aids: Specially designed nipple tapes in varying shapes
and sizes can be used to suppress the nipples so that they don’t show up.
• In case you need a quick fix solution, use of band aids on your nipples is perhaps
the most popular solution.
Consider the situation
• Its alright to go braless when you are out with your girlfriends, or a dressy
evening occasion when your dress demands no bra, however in a professional
situation you should ideally wear a bra.
• You don’t want to attract attention of your colleagues for all the wrong reasons.
Besides, it could look quite unprofessional.
Keep a jacket
• Whenever you do decide to go braless always keep handy a jacket or something
to drape over, just in case if it starts raining or you get wet for any reason, your
privacy shall be maintained.
• There could be other situations where a jacket would be handy, e.g. you are in
the frozen foods section of the supermarket and your nipples are forced rise from
their slumber. Can be quite embarrassing when the cashier wouldn’t lift his eyes
while talking to you!
Hopefully these little tips would help you in going out braless more confidently and comfort bulty
A majority of the ladies who wear bras do believe that they are a necessity for variety of reasons, primary being to keep the breasts in proper shape. However there is a good no. of those on the other side who believe that bras are just an invention, unnecessary and not required. The debate tends to get political. However, whichever side of the debate you are, there is nothing wrong in going braless at least once in a while when the situation might demand or when you are too lazy to put on a bra! This however needs to be done very carefully specially for those of you who are well endowed. Its alright that you want to be free of bra, but it doesn’t have to be tasteless. Following are some tips that you will find handy whenever you decide to go braless:
What’s your size?
• If you are top heavy i.e. something like DD, then think twice before leaving your
bra back home. That’s because there’s every chance that your breasts might
just spill out of your dress. Practice and choice of a proper dress could prevent
this.
• Also movement of larger breasts when not checked by a bra could be painful,
especially in those times when they can be a bit swollen. Try to adopt a good
posture and some practice can help you avoid this to large extent.
‘Nipplegate’?
• Another major fear in girls about going braless is their nipples showing through
the dress, ‘high beam’ as they call this phenomenon in popular culture; this can
be embarrassing, however there are ways to avoid this:
• Nipple tapes and band aids: Specially designed nipple tapes in varying shapes
and sizes can be used to suppress the nipples so that they don’t show up.
• In case you need a quick fix solution, use of band aids on your nipples is perhaps
the most popular solution.
Consider the situation
• Its alright to go braless when you are out with your girlfriends, or a dressy
evening occasion when your dress demands no bra, however in a professional
situation you should ideally wear a bra.
• You don’t want to attract attention of your colleagues for all the wrong reasons.
Besides, it could look quite unprofessional.
Keep a jacket
• Whenever you do decide to go braless always keep handy a jacket or something
to drape over, just in case if it starts raining or you get wet for any reason, your
privacy shall be maintained.
• There could be other situations where a jacket would be handy, e.g. you are in
the frozen foods section of the supermarket and your nipples are forced rise from
their slumber. Can be quite embarrassing when the cashier wouldn’t lift his eyes
while talking to you!
Hopefully these little tips would help you in going out braless more confidently and comfort bulty
Finding the Right Fit for Your Bra
No matter how much you spent on that fabulous shirt, if your bra underneath doesn't fit properly (and with 70% of women wearing the wrong size, chances are, it doesn't), you'll look more dumpy than diva. A bad bra can ruin even the best of outfits, but most women are walking around in the wrong size bra. Most often, the problem is that women will get fitted once early in life and buy that same size for years, even after the effects of weight loss, pregnancy, or even (gulp!) gravity. Thankfully, finding your proper size is more science than art, and while the best advice is to be fitted by a professional, with a cloth measuring tape, you can find your right size.
Measure the circumference of your chest. Place the start of your measuring tape between and directly underneath your breasts. Keeping the bottom of the tape parallel to the floor, completely circle your chest. You'll know the tape is in the correct place if it lays flat against your skin, not curving up the underside of the breast. When you get this measurement, add five inches (So if you measure 29, you'll be a 34). This is your band size. If this number is an odd size, like 35, you'll have to try on both 34's and 36's to find the right fit.
Measure the circumference of your bust. Place the start of the tape on the side of one breast, even with your nipple. Again, circle around your chest. More likely than not, the tape will not touch between breasts. If you are heavy-chested, you will need to place your breasts where you'd like them to be. If you aren't comfortable with a significant other or best girlfriend to help in this department, a cupless bra can work in a pinch. When you get this measurement, subtract the first measurement from it. The difference between them determines your cup size. One inch is an A cup, 2 inches is a B cup, etc.
Try on lots of bras. Just like shoes, even though the bras may say they are the same size, different brands can fit very differently. Give yourself a good chunk of time and wear a form-fitting t-shirt for this fitting session. If you measured a 34B, you'll need to try on a 34B, 34A, 34C, 36A, and a 32C, but be prepared to try on even more if the brand runs perpetually small or big. You have to do this with every brand you try on. To put the bra on correctly, the band should be on the last set of hooks. This will increase the life of your bra. As it gets older and loses its elasticity, you can move up to the next hook. When you've reached the final inner hook, it's time for a new bra. After you've hooked the bra and placed it on your shoulders, bend at the waist, scooping and placing your breasts correctly in the cups. Many women don't do this last step and end up squashing their breasts instead of supporting them.
Put it through its paces. After you put the bra on, look at yourself in the mirror. Raise your arms, shrug your shoulders, hug yourself, stretch, bend over. Did the bra move, bunch, pinch? Did your breasts spill over the top or come out the bottom? If so, try a different size. Once you think you've found the right size, put your t-shirt on over it. Looking in the mirror, do you notice any bumps? Does it seem as if the cups stand away from the breasts? Stand in profile and consider the same questions. If the bra passes the t-shirt test, you have found the right size bra for that brand.
Once you have found the right bra, it's important to take care of it to prolong its shelf life. For the best care, hand wash it in cold water with Woolite or any other gentle cleansing detergent. If, like the rest of us, you're more likely to machine wash it, wash on the gentle cycle in Woolite. Never throw your bra into a dryer. The heat can ruin underwires and the Lycra and elastic that all bras have. Regardless of how well you take care of your bra, you should replace it once a year. To help minimize the cost, have a six month rotating schedule, replacing half of your bras every six month.
Measure the circumference of your chest. Place the start of your measuring tape between and directly underneath your breasts. Keeping the bottom of the tape parallel to the floor, completely circle your chest. You'll know the tape is in the correct place if it lays flat against your skin, not curving up the underside of the breast. When you get this measurement, add five inches (So if you measure 29, you'll be a 34). This is your band size. If this number is an odd size, like 35, you'll have to try on both 34's and 36's to find the right fit.
Measure the circumference of your bust. Place the start of the tape on the side of one breast, even with your nipple. Again, circle around your chest. More likely than not, the tape will not touch between breasts. If you are heavy-chested, you will need to place your breasts where you'd like them to be. If you aren't comfortable with a significant other or best girlfriend to help in this department, a cupless bra can work in a pinch. When you get this measurement, subtract the first measurement from it. The difference between them determines your cup size. One inch is an A cup, 2 inches is a B cup, etc.
Try on lots of bras. Just like shoes, even though the bras may say they are the same size, different brands can fit very differently. Give yourself a good chunk of time and wear a form-fitting t-shirt for this fitting session. If you measured a 34B, you'll need to try on a 34B, 34A, 34C, 36A, and a 32C, but be prepared to try on even more if the brand runs perpetually small or big. You have to do this with every brand you try on. To put the bra on correctly, the band should be on the last set of hooks. This will increase the life of your bra. As it gets older and loses its elasticity, you can move up to the next hook. When you've reached the final inner hook, it's time for a new bra. After you've hooked the bra and placed it on your shoulders, bend at the waist, scooping and placing your breasts correctly in the cups. Many women don't do this last step and end up squashing their breasts instead of supporting them.
Put it through its paces. After you put the bra on, look at yourself in the mirror. Raise your arms, shrug your shoulders, hug yourself, stretch, bend over. Did the bra move, bunch, pinch? Did your breasts spill over the top or come out the bottom? If so, try a different size. Once you think you've found the right size, put your t-shirt on over it. Looking in the mirror, do you notice any bumps? Does it seem as if the cups stand away from the breasts? Stand in profile and consider the same questions. If the bra passes the t-shirt test, you have found the right size bra for that brand.
Once you have found the right bra, it's important to take care of it to prolong its shelf life. For the best care, hand wash it in cold water with Woolite or any other gentle cleansing detergent. If, like the rest of us, you're more likely to machine wash it, wash on the gentle cycle in Woolite. Never throw your bra into a dryer. The heat can ruin underwires and the Lycra and elastic that all bras have. Regardless of how well you take care of your bra, you should replace it once a year. To help minimize the cost, have a six month rotating schedule, replacing half of your bras every six month.
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