10 Ways to Look 10 Times Better in Less Than 10 Minutes

As a twenty-something in Everyday, USA, I find myself constantly perplexed with common fashion faux pas committed everyday by the common female. Often, these mishaps are crimes of excuse or even unawareness. The good news is, I have 10 solutions for you that will instantly change the way you look and even feel about yourself.

1. Dress your size! Please, please, please. I know, we'd all like to lose those extra 5, 10, or even 25 pounds. But a surefire way to make everyone else aware of those pounds is to dress your dream size and not your real size. For instance, wearing those size 10s instead of your better fitting 12s will cause a pudge of fat to "poof" out of the top of your pants, diminishing any natural feminine curvature of your body. If you err on the belly side of the stomach range, don't wear shirts that are too small around the waist. You might as well wear a flashing strobe on your belly button saying, "Look here! Look here!" The solution? If you've got a little more lovin' around the middle, wear longer shirts that elongate your body. Shirts that lengthen to the middle of your rear are best. Also, make sure you have full range movement for your arms so reaching for that top shelf doesn't give everyone a little belly peek-a-boo.

2. Match your foundation! Okay, guilty here as charged. Still, having the right shade of foundation is key to beautifying that face of yours. If beauty is only skin deep, it's best to make your skin beautiful. Foundation can smooth out your blemishes and diminish unsightly pores. However, it is not a method to instantly tan your skin. The line draping around your chin where tan meets reality will deter everyone's attention away from your pretty face. Solution? Find two foundations that match your skin color. One for the summer months and one for the winter months. Once you've found your favorite, don't be afraid to mix them together for those months between your summer skintones and your winter washout.

3. The key to cleavage. One automatic way to get a guy's attention is to show some cleavage. But, is that all you want him to pay attention to? I don't think so! Whether you're Dolly Parton or Cameron Diaz around there, dress to impress. The right amount of cleavage for a busty girl is that which suggests, not divulges, everything you've got to offer. A busty girl that isn't ashamed at any extremes of her ability to draw a man's head downward will have everyone else wondering what she does for a living. For a less busty girl, wear more fitted tops with a push-up. Stear clear of triangle tops that accentuate what you don't have. And really, it's not all about the boobs...it's how you present them that will say a lot about who you are.

4. Eliminate these pants from your wardrobe. Pants that are too short (excluding clam diggers and capris) make your legs look shorter and thicker. Pants, as a rule, should go to about a centimeter from the bottom of whatever heel you're wearing. Length makes you look instantly thinner and taller. Another must-lose is the abominable "mom-jean." Most of us know about it, but not everybody does...apparantly. If you haven't received the memo, a mom-jean is the kind that comes up to the waist, and by waist, I mean June Cleaver's waist. These jeans go up to the belly button and, brace yourself, have a slim tapered leg. Not to be confused with the new, hip skinny-jean of today, these are the kind worn by, well, the non-skinny. Trust me, I am included. No skinny jeans here.

5. Mascara. Mascara is your friend. If you were stranded on an island with the love of your life and you were allowed one tool to beautify yourself...take the mascara! The eyes are an instant point of contact. If he's looking into your eyes, that's an automatic point for you. So make those peepers pretty with a non-clumping black mascara. The key is to apply it on both the tops and bottoms of each set of lashes. A fast way to mascara mayhem is to reapply it without removing the first coat. You're just asking for clumpy spider lashes.

6. Whiten that smile. Next time you buy toothpaste, buy one with baking soda included. Baking soda is a natural and safe way to clean and whiten your teeth when used properly. A white smile will draw immediate attention to you and make others feel welcome around you. If you want an additional boost, Crest Whitestrips work well. You can see an immediate improvement.

7. Be wary of "strapless" shirts and dresses. Strapless outfits can be nice in the summer. They can also be nice in the winter at formals or weddings. However, if they don't look right in the first place, it won't matter what season it is. If you find yourself bulging a little too much out of the top of that strapless, at least throw on a cardigan or over coat. Strapless shirts, or tube tops, can vanish your girlish figure. Solution? Try finding a halter strap top. The angle of the straps will enhance your figure, giving the illusion of a larger chest and a smaller waste.

8. Avoid over-segmentation. The more segments you cut your body in, the shorter and wider you look. What are segments? For instance, a cropped coat that lengthens down to just mid back over a tank top with a knee length skirt and leggings...you've just chopped your body up into about 4 different sections. This will make you look shorter and wider.