Get Your Self-Confidence Back With Botox

Get Your Self-Confidence Back With Botox

***Guest Post Monday***

Let’s face it, ladies: as you get older, the pressure to look your best doesn't go away. In fact, it gets even more intense. Thank god for Botox. While it used to be controversial topic and received a negative stigma in the media, today it is a wildly popular cosmetic procedure that is used by both men and women. It also offers secret health advantages, in addition to wildly improving your self-confidence. Botox helps you get your groove back and is a non-invasive procedure that can take years off a person’s age. Such a change can be dramatic in all aspects of your life, impacting your job, relationships and personal sense of self.

So yes, a few simple injections can help you look and feel better. And while most associate the procedure with the cosmetic benefits it offers, did you know it could also help relax eye muscles, thus correcting crossed eyes, blurred vision and eyelid spasms? If you suffer from migraines, studies have shown that injections have improved the symptoms of chronic headaches and pain. And there are even more sneaky secret health benefits you may never have heard of before.

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For example, administering injections in the bladder can help increase volume and reduce inconsistencies in urination. (Weird, gross but true!) Better control of one's bladder will undoubtedly make a person feel more comfortable in any public situation. Sweat is another issue of embarrassment that can be better controlled with cosmetic injections. It reduces excessive and unpredictable sweating by temporarily stopping the underarm glands from producing sweat. (Sweat will still be produced elsewhere on the body.) Arthritis, or other joint pain, also unfortunately develops with age. This painful ailment may affect your mobility. Recent studies have indicated that regular injections can alleviate shoulder, knee and hip pain due to arthritis and associated joint issues. If you are suffering from any of these conditions, please consider the quick and easy solution of regular injections.

According to the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, a person's mood is lifted when their facial muscles are paralyzed and, therefore, unable to frown. It’s simply science that if you are continually smiling, you’ll develop a brighter outlook on life, which is infectious for the people around you. It’s no wonder that the surgery is often referred to as a spirit or a mood booster. With a cheerful outlook and a renewed sense of self, you’ll reap the benefits of higher self-confidence, which is pretty much the sexiest trait of all. This will shine out (since smiling is contagious), and make you irresistible. 

This cosmetic surgery simply has so many benefits that often go overlooked. Regular visits will reduce wrinkles by tightening and contracting your facial muscles – if you live in the Toronto area and are interested in receiving Botox treatments, click here to learn about facial injections. Not only is their website informative, but should you book an appointment, you’ll be dealing with a clinic who is the top Botox provider in Canada, with over 20 years of administering cosmetic injections. Clients will feel the physical benefits almost immediately. (At the most it can take up to two weeks to see the full effects.) If you want to feel and look your best, especially as you grow older more vulnerable to the effects of aging – get Botox. Get your self-confidence back with safe, non-invasive injections.

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My Encounter with Stacey McKenzie

My Encounter with Stacey McKenzie

Stacey McKenzie is fierce, honey!  For those unfamiliar with Stacey, she is a Jamaican born, Canadian fashion model, runway coach and most recently a model coach and judge on the show Canada's Next Top Model.

After being told, early in her career, that she was too "distinctive" for the Canadian market, she moved to the Big Apple. She was immediately picked up by Elite Modeling Agency. During her first season, she modeled for top designers including Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler and Christian Lacroix (to name a few). She also landed her first campaign with photographer Oliviero Toscani for Benetton. She also has worked for Alexander McQueen, Betsey Johnson, Tommy Hilfiger, Todd Oldham, and Michiko Koshino. Her magazine covers include Essence, Le Monde and Panache, as well as editorials in Vogue (US, Japan, Korea, Britain, Spain), Harper's Bazaar, Interview, Flare, Fashion, and Vibe.~from wikipedia

She is now hosting her own workshops entitled, "Walk This Way" (email WALKTHISWAYWORKSHOPS@GMAIL.COM for more info) If "you want to get started in the modeling industry, but don’t know where to begin and need some guidance; or you want to better your game in the business than the Walk This Way Workshops are just what you need! The workshops entail all aspects of the modeling industry including, Runway, and much much more!" (from http://staceymckenzie.com)

I first saw Stacey in Essence Magazine, in a bridal spread.  She intrigued me.  She was unlike the waif thin models of the day like Kate Moss, and Stacey had more "afro-centric" features than most of the models of color.  There were exceptions, like Alek Wek, but (in the name of honesty) most Black fashion models lack afro-centric features and some could pass for white on a good day(look at Pat Cleveland).  But lo and behold, here was Stacey McKenzie, fair with freckles, but with big lips (before they were cool) and to quote the Commodores she was a brick house!  Alas, high end fashion houses finally celebrated what we have celebrated for years. 

Furthermore, unlike some ditzy Black models I have come across, she embraced her looks and heritage in a way that gave big lipped, big butt women all over the world pride in their own hips, lips, and asses. In 2009, McKenzie returned to Toronto Fashion Week where she walked the runway exclusively for Xuly Bet in the Arise African Collective fashion show.  I told you she was fierce.

I encountered Stacey McKenzie at Caribana (in Toronto) in 1999 (or was it '98?).  They had a concert going on at lake Ontario and Mya was one of the acts (poor Mya was just starting out and they boo'ed her horrendously).  I was under one of the numerous beer tents (you only have to be 19 years old to drink in Canada...wink, wink) and in sauntered Stacey McKenzie.  She had a pretty white casual dress, with bohemian accessories and she looked like she was about 7 feet tall in a pair of wedges, all of the women in the tent were envious of.

As soon as Stacey walked in, she owned the room.  People were memorized by this amazon with freckles...and so was I.  I just stared at her, I just did not have any decorum about myself.  I couldn't muster any.  What seemed like an eternity (but was probably a minute) she finally made it to my corner of the tent.  The two guys that were harassing me and my best friend all day, stopped completely and turned their attention to Stacey (I could hardly blame them).  The background noise finally started to creep in my consciousness and I focused my attention back to my companion.  

"Do you know who that is?"

"Yeah!  The model from Essence"

"That's Stacey McKenzie"

No sooner than I got those words out of my mouth, I turned and I was face to face (well more like face to chest-I am only 5'4) with Stacey McKenzie.  She looked at me and said, in her deep, Canadian watered down patois, "I love your shoes!"

"Thanks" I stammered (I think I even blushed) and she sauntered on her merry way.  My friend said, "You know I really hate you right now."  (We didn't stay best friends for long.)

I had a great time at Caribana that year, I partied, drank, and partied some more...However, what made that trip so memorable was my encounter with a supermodel, whom I adored, who represented women who look like me...saying she liked my shoes.  

That  was my encounter with Stacey McKenzie.

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What Have We Learned From Toronto's Fashion Week Fall 2012

What Have We Learned From Toronto's Fashion Week Fall 2012

Now that Toronto’s Fashion Week is over, what have we learned?  What styles and trends can we incorporate in our fall wardrobes?  Here's what to expect for your wardrobe post-summer.

FEATHERS

Feathers were everywhere on Toronto’s runways.  From Lucian Matis's show at The Royal York Hotel to Pink Tartan plumage covered coats, feathers will rule the hen house this fall. You can wear feathers (lightly please, unless you are sauntering down the runway) on a shirt or a dress, or get some of those funky earrings, however, you can wear colored feathers but make sure they are not the cheap looking ones at Claire’s for 13 year olds!

BLACK

The last few fashion seasons, we have seen grey and brown being the “new black”, black is finally back. Every designer featured at least two outfits (Joe Fresh included) made entirely black (yay!). Rock it everywhere, in everything, however you want to!  I personally am the biggest fan of black, it’s slimming!

MIX AND MATCH MATERIALS

From suede and wool at Line to silk and leather at Travis Taddeo, if you want to be in style this fall, play with texture. Go wild! The easiest way to pull off the look will be by adding mixed-fabric sweaters and dresses to your closet.

JEWEL TONES

Fall 2012 will be more muted in color compared to spring 2012, but there are some bold tones to reach for. Think turquoise, which was displayed at Mélissa Nepton’s show, and the mustards and reds from Joe Fresh. Purple is also a good go to, to “brighten up” your fall wardrobe.  Just make sure you go for deeper purples.

ANDROGYNY

“Can't figure out if you want to wear feminine attire or if you'd rather go for a more masculine look? Fall 2012 is your season to make a style statement by wearing both looks -- at the same time. From Caitlin Power to Pink Tartan, looking androgynous in your attire will be key. Add androgynous elements to your wardrobe with oversized blazers, slim-cut pants and billowy yet simple blouses.

HAVE FUN AND EXPRESS YOURSELF

From Western style at Bustle to Samurai and Oriental trends from Sunny Fong at VAWK, fall 2012 seems to be all about finding your inner fashionista and having fun with looks you didn't think you could pull off. This is one season where expressing yourself is key, so don't take anything too seriously and give yourself a completely new style personality!”

(parts of this article taken from Huffington Post Canada-writer Sarah Kelsey)

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