Summer Skin Care Tips

Stay sun-safe this summer
If you’re heading to the beach this summer, you’ll probably be looking forward to hitting the shops to stock up on 2012′s latest swimsuits, sarongs and kaftans –but do you want to flaunt healthy skin this summer? Then, who is stopping you? it’s worth taking note of these simple beauty tips I try to fulfil that I picked up from a good friend of mine who is the uber health devotee.

1. Firstly, make sure that your skin is soft, supple and ready to be shown off. Start moisturising after you shower at least two weeks before you jet off to the sun. Add exfoliation to your weekly beauty routine to rid yourself of dead skin and reveal a glowing complexion. This will also help your skin to absorb a deep, long-lasting sun kissed look.

2. Make sure you top up on plenty of sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Stock up on a few different factors but try not to expose your skin to strong sun with anything less than a factor 20. Also try to take regular breaks from sun exposure and seek out shade during the hottest periods of the day – usually between 12pm and 3pm.

3. Give your skin the moisture and nutrients it needs to recover from time spent in the sun. If your skin is feeling prickly or burnt in any areas, then try applying aloe vera gel to cool and soothe, this usually does the trick. You should also continue your moisturising regime while you’re away, and for a week or two when you return. Not only will this reverse the drying effects of the sun’s rays, but it will also prolong your tan and leave you looking sun-kissed and healthy for as long as possible.

4. Finally, ensure that you’re equipped with the appropriate clothing so that you can enjoy the outdoors while keeping your skin covered. As well as grabbing a sunhat, sunglasses and a t-shirt that covers your shoulders, think about getting a range of ladies swimwear that will allow you to alter your tan lines and cover sensitive areas. You can always pack strapless bikinis to avoid bad suntan marks.

Look at women’s swimwear suits that have a variety of straps, including a more conservative option that can cover more skin to give you a day to rest and recover without having to miss out on the pool. Then the summer's scintillating daylight can finally wrap up its realms of gold for the day.

Tanning can be one of the things some of us Asian women avoid like the plague, but trying to achieve healthy skin instead can have positive effects on your mood and make you look and feel healthier! Happy Beach going ! I'm looking forward to mine just need to pick a destination. ..decisions decisions.

Photography and post-production courtesy of Ana Dias

Braided Triad Color Hair

This prominent Korean singer named Junsu, is donning a rad creative individual hair style for his MV 'Talantallegra' with a triad of vibrant colors from blue blond to plum, beyond these tasty confectionery colours is a bounteous braid swept to the van-ward side. He certainly rounds off the look by adding a soft purple coloured eyebrows. See some more colorific eyebrows here. Kudos to his creative hair stylist and make-up artist. 

Colorific Brows

To the hair colour chameleons, would you consider experimenting with color on your eyebrows ? 

It may not be surprising that colour has migrated to the eyebrows, there's abundance of different colour for lips, mascara, eye-liner & hair, so are eyebrows a swing too far? Could be yeah! but that's a not a bad thing in my book, pushing the boundaries and being individual is a quality I admire. 

Speaking for myself, I would not be able to pull off coloured eyebrows. Randomly enough I feel compelled to conjure up the image of Spock with Vulcan upward pointed coloured eyebrows ? His eyebrows were always a trademark as well as his pointed ears.

Leutton Postle backstage image courtesy of Krisatomtic CQQUSD4YJRQC

H & H Nail adornments

Holly & Hannah Metal Nails
I have never worn fake nails, my many friends are fake nail aholics, and spend an awful lot of money, but I would make the exception for these beautiful and extreme pieces of metal art... of course only for a occasion that warrants for it. I couldn't use these nails on my cell phone or run these nails through my hair Ouch !! 

The nails have a very raw, organic feel using elements such as thorns, leaves, thistle, wood and stems in their designs. Some designs feature intricate designs of spider webs and animal skulls, which have been hand carved in wax. These designs are daring statement pieces appealing to performance artists and fashionistas and have a creative feel.

Holly & Hannah is a collaboration of jewellery and make-up for the avant garde performance artist. But artists are no longer the only people that are sporting these amazing looks, taking nail art to the next level. These would also stop you biting your fingernails. Also, launching later this year are bejewelled bindis and face pieces. 

Thierry Mugler Runway
Behind the scenes of Thierry Mugler in Paris creating a buzz at the show. A set of stunning, to die for nails is going to set you back between £250 and £500. They really do look all sorts of amazing on the models against the make up and collection.

I think we'll be seeing a lot more of them, but I also think now the concept is out there, we'll see affordable versions coming too. 

Ciaté introduces Caviar Manicure

I remember my first experience with caviar was much like Tom Hanks in the movie Big, I was really appalled the first time I tasted it. Though I like to think of myself as quite adventurous when it comes to trying new foods and discovering a new favourite... so consequently caviar doesn't tickle my taste-buds but would Ciaté caviar tantalize my lips and nails!?  I'm sure they look stellar on the cover of a magazine shoot but gotta feeling those tiny beads are going to start shedding pretty fast .. but looks good fun.

There's a waiting list if you want to create these 3-dimensional nails at £18 a pop. Or you could try the same look for less D.I.Y alternative at thepolishaholic . 

Anastasia of Beverly Hills Review: Coming Soon

I've been approached to undertake a product review for Anastasia of Beverly Hills, who are long standing definitive eye and brow expert for icons such as Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah as well as up-and-comers like Diana Agron, Selena Gomez and Kristen Cavalari.

My first thought was crikey! this is to a lady who is guilty of neglecting her eyebrows and delaying visits to her beauty therapist and encore. Should I or shouldn't I? You all know what my answer was right.. since I'm writing this post.. so why did I say yes? My rationale being, I wanted to review this product since it's high time I gave more of my personal thoughts back to my readers, but additionally, It's an opportunity to declare I'm a parabens free advocate, free from deadly chemicals and preservative.

Over the years, it's become a big NO-NO from me, in terms of using cosmetics that contain harmful chemicals, health foods and house hold products, we're routinely exposed to such things daily, so it's positive to hear Anastasia Beverly Hills have expanded into skincare based cosmetics, I can't wait to put it to the test! After-all cosmetics should help make your skin look and feel and be healthy! So watch this space for an upcoming review.

Read labels and become an empowered shopper! :-) 

Feel Good Treats- Misguided Splash Nails

The narrative moves rather sluggishly, that narrative being moi over the past two weeks. I've never really shared with you my enthusiasm towards organic health products. Sadly my enthusiasm for such items is not shared by my purse strings. Buying organic chemical free items is time consuming and pricey, so I always look to what I have in the fridge and kitchen, items such as honey, ginger, lemon and tumeric for home-made concoctions. The only problem is, it can sometimes get messy and whoever is in the kitchen is normally shoving me out of the way to make room to bake.

Trying on the MissChievous Vibrant Coral

I've been known to have ample's of enthusiasm for creating my own pharmacon lair in the home, until the daily grind digs in and its tick tock, and it has been this way since I fell stagnant and so I've decided to take things one footprint slower and treat myself inside and out, with some wheat-grass and krill oil and some good old home-cooking, banning any ready meals and feeding some massage oils for the skin. And perfect timing! I was entreated by Misguided womens fashion, to try out their new nail polish range called 'Misguided Splash', and it positively helps to feel good on the inside if you feel good on the outside.

            

But do you know what I was mostly satisfied about? was that these nail polish range are all Formaldehyde and Toluene free! Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat and may also cause asthma, and so it has none of those toxic element's, proving to be a good pick me up to banish my blues. Here's hoping more beauty industries take the same initiative.

Two Tone Taction

LIPSTICK TWO TONE LIPPITUDE 

Love it or Loath it, M.I.A's bold combustive style featured on Spin magazine with a visible two toned lips and matching two toned earrings. Reminding me of the multi-color lip look that Tom Pecheux for M·A·C Cosmetics created for the Emanuel Ungaro show, shown in the images below. 

It's not exactly office friendly, but fun nonetheless, Lipstick DO or DONT?!

†

Spray On Hair Squarrose

Hérissé Coulée of HAIR 

// Ph Maurizio Fantini 

Unusual, exciting and risky something that I am always drawn to, until I am at the hairdressers and being persuaded and talked out of the hair cut or colour I want. Many are naturally protective of their hair style length and colour, but its something I have never felt apprehensive about. If the hair cut or colour goes wrong or doesn't suit, I'll just don a few hats during the period, or fasten on a hair wig I have stored in my room. 

When I do have an idea or style in mind, I am very focused to get the idea across to my hairdresser and have the desired look and outcome, so in my reckoning in that sense I am not completely care free about my hair, but if the outcome is not something I pleased with or cant really pull off, I feel I am only to blame for conjuring up an unconventional idea.