Over lunch with Vicki Belo, I told her about my disturbingly big stomach. I blame childbirth, though my son is already a year and 10 months old and I still look like I’m four months pregnant.

Vicki suggested I try CoolSculpting. As soon as I got home, I did my research, and now I’m giving myself a timeline. If in four months I still have a belly (I intend to workout for the first time in my life), I will try CoolSculpting for sure.

This is what I’ve found out about this exciting treatment.

CoolSculpting targets only your fat cells, and in a non-intrusive way. Results will show within a matter of weeks, without you having to do anything. You just need to maintain a normal healthy lifestyle, and let CoolSculpting do the rest.

Unlike other fat reduction treatments that use laser and sonic waves, or more commonly surgery, CoolSculpting does not have side effects, such as healthy tissues getting destroyed along the way. Discovered by the same scientists who developed laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal and fractional laser, this treatment literally freezes the fat. Once crystallized, the fat cells die in a few months.

The treatment lasts for only about an hour. It’s just like going to the gym! There will be no lengthy recovery period; you can immediately get right back to your busy schedule.

It takes a few months to fully realize the effects, mainly because it takes that long for your body to naturally dispose of the fat cells. And yes, you can lose even more with additional appointments if you and your doctor deem it necessary. So after a few months, your clothes will fit better and you will look better.

There are no pills or supplements necessary. And as long as you maintain your normal healthy eating and exercise, your long-term results should remain stable.

Summer essentials

There is something about summer that makes us want to look prettier. Maybe it’s the weather, or the fact that everyone is always out in the city. I just discovered the following beauty products that will make you feel ready to brave the blazing heat.

Stila Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Bronzing Beauty Balm with SPF 30—“Stay all day” is no empty promise. I squeezed out a small amount and applied it evenly on my skin in the morning before work, and it lasted throughout all my meetings that day. The balm only totally came off when I washed after I had dinner out with my husband. It gave me a dewy glow without making my face look greasy. The bronzing effect is more suitable for morena girls, though, but I would recommend it to anyone who wants that tan, summery look.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Turquoise—Makeup artists always tell me that the easiest, most risk-free way to wear color is to put on colored eyeliner.

I love how this turquoise shade brought out my brown eyes. It is waterproof and smudge-proof, so be careful about making mistakes during application because it is quite difficult to erase.

Stila Afterglow Lip Color—People who know me well know that I love shocking bright lipstick, and this is becoming one of my favorites. The texture is creamy and easy to apply, but, in an unexperienced hand, can easily smudge during application. If you want a matte finish, pat an eyeshadow powder in the same color lightly on your lips.

Stila Countless Color Pigments—Not only is this nice to look at, but it will give you endless possibilities with color—perfect for those who love to experiment with makeup. You can use the colors individually, mix two shades or swipe the brush across the whole palette to get really creative.