Wilson Elisabeth - The Feel Good Factory on Looking Gorgeous

Looking Gorgeous

Head-turning, eye-popping, jaw-dropping quick-fix beauty secrets

Feel Good Factory led by Elisabeth Wilson

Creating curves

A dainty waist means big sex appeal.

Heres how to hone, firm and whittle yours in weeks.

Studies show that the waist to hip ratio curving in and out in all the right places is a better gauge of a womans attractiveness than the size of her breasts. The trouble is these days were so hung up on boobs. We know our bust size, our friends bust sizes, our colleagues bust sizes and the bust size of virtually every Hollywood actress and soap star on the box.

In our mothers day, waist size was the only statistic worth comparing. But back then, waists were the measure of attractiveness, along with a squeaky clean reputation and a fetching ankle. By contrast, how many of us now even know the size of our waist? Well, we ought to, because men of most cultures fancy women with small waists or to be precise, women with a 0.7 hip-to-waist ratio (i.e. waists that are 70% of the size of their hips).

And it doesnt necessarily involve being thin! Think Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe. The reason for this is biological. A small waist that curves into a generous hip equals fertility and youth its a sign that a woman has high levels of oestrogen and low levels of testosterone. In fact, in studies of IVF patients, women with a hip to waist ratio of more than 0.8 were less likely to conceive. (Apparently, having an index finger a couple of centimetres longer than your ring finger is another sign of high fertility.)

Whats tricky about waists is that their size is largely inherited youre either an apple shape, an hourglass or a pear. However, the good news is that you can trim an inch or so from your waist by losing weight and doing some waist-whittling exercises.

Love handles wont simply disappear. You have to shed the fat first

Experts say that if your waist measures between 81 and

89 cm (3235 in), youre overweight. If thats the case youll need to follow a low-fat, low-cal diet and do three to five sessions a week of cardio exercise such as running, dancing, cycling or power walking.

Waist-whittling exercises

Twist crunches

Lie on your back with your knees bent, your feet flat on the floor and your fingers touching your ears. Contract your abdominal muscles and slowly lift your torso off the floor. When you cant lift any further, contract your side muscles and turn to the left. Then return your torso to the floor and repeat on the other side. Build up to three sets of ten on each side.

The bridge

Adopt the press-up position, resting on your elbows. Pull your stomach muscles in tight towards your backbone, keeping your bottom down and your spine straight. Hold this position for as long as you can, being careful not to arch your back. To make it easier, drop to your knees. Keep looking down to the floor at all times. Build up to 30 seconds and repeat three to five times.

Horizontal side support

Start by lying on your left side, resting on your left arm and with your legs extended outwards and your right foot on top of the left. Slowly lift your pelvis off the floor while supporting your weight on your left forearm and feet. Hold, keeping your other arm by your side, for 10 to 15 seconds without letting your pelvis drop down. Repeat five times on each side.

Dress for curves

Unless you have the gamine allure of Audrey Hepburn (which probably means youre one of the few who can afford not to depend on the appeal of the curve), never wear baggy sack dresses or shifts. Instead, stick to dresses with waists and full skirts, and wrap-around tops that tie at the waist.

Choose well-cut garments made from floaty fabrics, which can take inches off you.

Deep V-necks, which draw the eye down and you in, are great. Thick belts, single-breasted jackets and wrap-around dresses will all nip your waist in and divide and separate. Also, boned corset tops can look fantastic.

Avoid double-breasted jackets or short bolero jackets that bulk you up.

Quiz: Are you getting in your own way?

You feel less than gorgeous. Could it be you thats the problem? Each answer is followed by a score.

1. Wheres your latest electricity bill?

a) Paid and filed (0)

b) In the bottom of your handbag (1)

c) Youre not sure (2)

2. Youre meeting some friends at the weekend

a) Youre meeting at a specific time on Saturday (0)

b) You know its Saturday but youll set a time by texting in the afternoon (1)

c) Youre not sure youre going to make Saturday youve double-booked (2)

3. A friend has blagged tickets to a starry film premire. She can take you with her but its this evening. Do you

a) Rush home to slip into your favourite outfit, pressed and ready to wear (0)

b) Manage to rustle together something but dont have the right tights or handbag at short notice (1)

c) Buy a new outfit because you have no idea if you have anything suitable (2)

Score 3 or more and theres every chance that you dont have enough time to get beautiful. In order to make the most of your looks you need to clear a bit of time so you can focus on yourself. This will be easier if you get organised.

4. The weekend, for you, is an opportunity to

a) look gorgeous in cashmere and jeans (0)

b) get away with not wearing make-up (1)

c) get away with not washing your face (2)

5. You have been planning to lose 10 lbs

a) And you will in time for summer/Christmas/John and Julies wedding (0)

b) It would be a lot easier if you could be bothered to exercise (1)

c) And thats what its likely to stay a plan (2)

6. Your hair is cut

a) Every six weeks (0)

b) Every six months (1)

c) When you cant see (2)

Score 3 or more and getting gorgeous might just have been too much effort in the past but not any more.

Skincare routine for life

The secret is to find a routine that works for you but remember, it needs to change occasionally for best results.

The basics of skin care are simple: cleanse, moisturise. But science has moved on a bit and now you can cleanse (exfoliate) and moisturise (protect) all at the same time.

Its also worth remembering that your skins needs change with time and you need to adapt the routine accordingly. As we age our skin becomes thinner and less oily and we need to adjust. Its also worth swapping around products so that your skin is kept on its toes.

Dont just grab a pot at the supermarket. Do your research, ask friends for recommendations, ask for advice from experts or anyone whose skin you admire. Skincare is changing all the time and the science is real. Creams are better than they were ten years ago, and infinitely more advanced than they were twenty years ago, and they offer more to the consumer.

Daily

Cleansing

Gentle is the key word to remember creamy cleansers only. Dont use soap, and after our mid-twenties even foaming cleansers are probably too harsh. An oil-based cleanser used with a muslin cloth is a good way to exfoliate gently every time you wash your face, and this helps new skin cells emerge along with a more radiant complexion. Dont use exfoliators with bits in them or chemical exfoliators as you get older: theyre too strong.

When removing eye make-up, use a special lotion and cotton wool. Press the lotion into your lashes and hold long enough for the mascara to dissolve. Dont drag or pull or youll increase wrinkles.

Toners

Not strictly necessary warm water will do. But if you like the way they feel, dont use alcohol-based ones or youll strip oils from your face.