5 Things NOT To Do To Your Skin this Summer.

5 of the worst things you can do to your skin during Summer.

1. Aggressive Facials

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By aggressive I mean any treatments that involve advanced exfoliation techniques, or includes terms such as chemical peels or microdermabrasion.

Also any facial procedures involving invasive techniques – cosmetic surgeries, nips, lifts, tucks – anything that pierces the face, should also be put off until the fall or winter, unless you would be recuperating in some retreat, indoors and far, far away from the hustle of life in the fast lane where the rest of us will be. If you would be at such a retreat, gwaan on along with your treatment and please do us all a favour and, like a good friend, not mention how ‘ super awesome’ it was.

Exposure to UV rays already increases skin’s sensitivity. No need to make this sensitivity worse by dousing your face in glycolic acid. This combination can result in your worse nightmare, including, but not limited to blisters, darkening of skin areas and disfigurement.

2. Skipping moisturizer

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Typically most skin types are more oily during the summer months. Those of us with naturally oily/ acne prone skin tend to forgo moisturizer altogether, thinking that this excess oil means that the skin moisturizes itself on it’s own. Increased oil production is usually a sign of dehydration, therefore it is important to replenish water levels in skin by increasing the amount of water you drink yes, but it’s said that only something like 10% of the water we drink actually make it to the skin. This is not something that you can quote me on, but considering that most of us barely pass the 2-glass mark daily for water, anything less than 115% absorption of this water we drink is cause for concern.

Therefore, applying a water-based, oil free moisturizer can help replenish the water levels in the skin. These types of moisturizers usually are labeled as such, may be referred to as a ‘gel’ or ‘fluid’ moisturizer and usually list ‘Water’ as the first ingredient.

Stay clear of anything that is labeled a ‘cream’, passes the ‘Dairy Queen’ test (you can turn the opened jar upside down and the contents not fall out), or contains mineral oil (or any such oil) in it’s ingredient listing.

3. Showering less

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“So many fun things to do, so little time!”

No papi. Not so fast.

It’s summer. It’s warm, and it’s humid. Bacteria are in love. They breed, and they multiply, which inevitably results in an odour. YOUR odour, aka B.O.

Hygiene in general needs to be thrown into high gear, and on autopilot. Automatic. Noone wants to out more fires than necessary at the BBQ lime.

Let’s remember the Summer watchwords – Shower & Shave.

4. Not exfoliating

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Closely related to #3, exfoliation of the body helps to remove excess oil buildup that may occur during the day. It helps skin to breathe, look instantly refreshed and ‘glow’, as manually exfoliating the body increases blood circulation.

You can cop one of those kazillion commercial body scrubs on the market and and get it on in the shower. However, I find most of them oily, and hardly worth their cost as most contain very little exfoliating ingredients.

Alternatives?

Dry brush your skin using a dry body brush before you shower, brushing in strokes that lead toward your heart (the direction in which your blood flows). I’ve read that dry brushing, among many other benefits such as shedding dead skin cells, rejuvenating the nervous system and assisting in lymphatic cleansing to name a few, also assists with decreasing the appearance of cellulite… could be as good a reason as any to try it I’d say. Hey, I’ve done more for the promise of far less.

I find dry brushing more effective than brushing your skin in the shower (wet brushing I presume, though this term makes me feel like I need handcuffs), as  the bristles of the brushes, shown to the left, get softer in the shower.

I prefer my massage-pressure firm though, so if you are more of a light-pressure person, perhaps an in-shower brush-exfoliation may work. I do this twice a day – morning and evening.

For good measure, once a week I also do a body scrub, using a combination of cornmeal, honey and, for some slip, a bit of whatever body wash I’m using at the time.  Sometimes I just use ground coffee beans and body wash. Whatever is convenient. For more on body exfoliation see Smooth Criminal.

5. Not using sunscreen

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To my melanin-challenged folks, we aren’t all skin-kissed, bronze goddesses, I get that. But that is no reason to opt to play Cancer Roulette. Besides, sun-burns aren’t sexy, no matter what reality TV says. If wanting a tan is your reason to ride the sun-wave buck nekked, get a sun-less tan. There are tons on the market. I’m familiar with the brand Fake Bake – it’s fairly easy to use, it’s sold where I work, doesn’t leave you looking like like you belong on the Jersey Shore cast, and so this particular brand comes to mind, but there are many other brands. Try that route.

For those of us who are doing backstrokes in the melanin pond, don’t believe the hype that “Black Don’t Crack”. Not only can it crack, it can get mad spotty and unslightly – dark spots, light spots, uneven skin tone – you name it. Skin damage is not known to discriminate.

Be responsible with your skin, and, for wrinkles sake, use sunscreen.

Party on!

b FiercelyFabulous

image credit

Body Concious | Rocking Ruffles

S2011| Emilio Pucci

Ruffles, much like the graphic prints of the season, add detail to a garment, but more than that, they also add volume.

They are dramatic, and bring attention to the area. With this in mind you can use ruffles to your advantage, by incorporating them in areas that you may find, well, lacking.

The size of the ruffles that you don should coincide with how much drama you wish to attract to that specific area.

How to Make Ruffles Work for You

Generally speaking, the placement of the ruffles will depend on your body shape – Pear, Inverted Triangle, Apple, Hourglass or Athletic – As ruffles, along with other embellishment trends like as feathers for example, work at attracting attention to an area, which, as a result, then removes the focus from other areas that you’d prefer not to play up as much.

The basic rules that apply when working the ruffles, feathers or embellishment trends on the above body shapes are as follows:

1. PEAR

Shoulders, chest and waist proportionally smaller than hips and thighs.

S2011 | Valentino

Focus ruffles in your top half, and keep lower half simple.

Ruffles located along interesting necklines like boat, and cold shoulder styles, draw attention away from lower half.

2. INVERTED TRIANGLE

Proportionately larger top half. Wider shoulders, little or no hips, slim legs

S2011 | Giorgio Armani

Balance broad shoulders with ruffled volume on lower half. Create the illusion of a waist by adding a belt.

3. APPLE

Proportionately larger waistline. Smaller shoulders, chest and hips. Slim legs.

S2011 | Alberta Ferretti

Whereas adding a belt a tied waistband will draw attention and add weight to the midsection,  ruched fabric in the the midsection area works at both camouflaging and minimizing waist.

Intricate necklines, and asymmetrical hems will also help divert attention away from midsection

Horizontal ruffles placed off center gives the illusion of an elongated torso. Alternatively, ruffle detail may be placed along V-neckline and/ or along hemline (either at knee or floor grazing, not in-between).

4. HOURGLASS

Proportionately smaller waist, chest and hips are wider and somewhat balance each other.

S2011 | Prada

This body shape naturally has volume in the desired places. Add ruffles in areas that do not put the flow in imbalance, like at the hem of a knee length pencil skirt ala Prada.

5. ATHLETIC

No areas are particularly wider, or narrower than the rest. Negligible difference between chest, waist and hip measurements.

S2011 | Jill Sanders

A blank canvas – add ruffles wherever there is desire to add more volume

• Up top to enhance cleavage
• Around waist to make a statement or
• Around hips to add curves.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

1. A smart way to wear ruffles is to wear small ones horizontally on a sheath dress silhouette – considered to be  universally flattering. This way, like stripes, the ruffles elongate rather than widen.
2. Ruffles, like feathers or jeweled embellishments, are noisy beings.  So that you do not start answering yourself, at least not in public, keep accessories minimal and  makeup natural.

b Freakin’Fabulous

Dodging Fashion Roadkill | The Maxi Dress

S2011 | Micheal Kors

As long as there are women, there will always be the Maxi dress. Designers must find this fact annoying because, perhaps in an effort to relieve their boredom, they’ve decided to inject different textures and structures into this spring/ summer staple. The possible result? An epic miss, with some of the most unflattering combinations known to man… or in this case, woman.

The word “Maxi”, as it applies to a dress (or skirt), refers to either length (usually floor grazing) or fullness  (voluminous) – either way there is a whole lot of fabric. The goal of a Maxi dress is to create the illusion of easy sophistication, but this punchline can easily get muddled when designers run with such wild abandon in the park of imagination,  that they miss the mark  totally.

Most of trends for this Spring/ Summer 2011 (S2011) may be seen somewhere on a Maxi Dress near you. Beware of the pitfalls.

1. The See-Through-Maxi

S2011 Trend: Lace/ See-through Fabrics

S2011 | Giorgio Armani

The issue: Visible underwear, isn’t Sexy. [Visibly] going without underwear, tramp style, is worse.  No-one is interested in seeing your ‘titillating’ ‘assets’. This dress will flatter noone with an ounce of flesh. Much more than the sheer fabric will be… bouncing… in the wind.

S2011 | Givenchy

The solution: Go sheer without going bare. Printed sheer materials can offer less translucency that plain coloured ones. Also, well placed detailing can detract, or conceal, areas of perverted interest. Depending on the dress, you can wear a (modern) slip.

2. The Bright, Boxy, Structured, Maxi

S2011 Trend: Bold Colours/ Menswear/ Suits

S2011 | Jill Saunders

The issue: Your waist called. He misses you.

May be laid back,  but this look is definitely not sexy. All that’s missing here are the potatoes, which is ironic because that’s probably the last thing that’s available  on that menu.

Proportions. Proportions. Proportions. An hourglass shape, or the illusion of one, is the key to classic style. Also,tThe overly structured look of this dress defeats the purpose of a Maxi dress.

S2011 | Lanvin

The solution: The bold colour rocks. Keep the structure to an asymmetrical neckline and a belted waist.

3. The Retro Maxi

S2011 Trend: Retro/ 60s Ladylike/ Red carpet glam

S2011 | Vivienne Westwood

The issue: More like 60s/ Ladylike Prom, and looks like the dress equivalent to helmet head – Untouchable.

S2011 | Lanvin

The solution: Switch up the fabric. Interpret the retro ladylike, rather than raid your mother/ grandmother’s closet. Similar silhouette, different reaction.

4. The Graphic Maxi (I)

S2011 Trend: Floral Prints

S2011 | Jill Saunders

The issue: Large prints, like this floral overwhelms petite frames. The dress’s voluminous nature around the waist area also does not complement a woman’s figure.

S2011 | Marc Jacobs

The solution: Choose a floral print that is proportional to your size – larger frames are better able to carry larger prints. Add interest to a floor grazing floral number with a contrasting detail in a complementary colour at the waist. Peek-a-boo skin, unveiled through a v-neck, gives balance to a potentially, visually dizzying number.

5. The Graphic Maxi (II)

S211 Trend: Bold Colours/ Geometric Prints/ Asymmetrical hems

S2011 | Vivienne Westwood

The Issue: An effort is made to highlight the waist with a twist-tie, but the  over-sized vertical stripes + no structure + peculiar dress length + bold colours+ excess fabric = Please Stop. My head hurts.

S2011 | Marc Jacobs

The solution: One voice at a time. Keep silhouettes, to dresses in busy fabrics, simple. The ruching detail in the right places breaks the monotony, and gives a flattering look to even the no-no horizontal stripe rule.

6. The White Maxi

S2011 Trend: All White/ Minimal/ 60s Ladylike

S2011 | Chloé

The issue: The abundance of fabric on the top half, in white no less, coupled with a gathered waist would make for an excessively commodious, unflattering look on most humans.

S2011 | Chloé

S2011 | Chloé

The solution: A wrap dress, or one that mimics it, is universally flattering, even in white, as it breaks up the details, as well as highlights the natural waist.

Tip: A V-neck works better than a round neck for fuller and/ or curvier figures.

7. The Unfinished Maxi

S2011 Trend: Asymmetrical Hems / Metallic/ Sheer/ Unfinished Detailing

S2011 | Vivienne Westwood

The issue: The first issue is the trend itself – Unfinished garments. Unhemmed garments, unclipped trimmings. A frayed, fuzzy look with thread dangling everywhere. Why? I’ll file this in the juvenile section, right next to destructed jeans.

More than the hems, the statement is undone in this crinkly, scratchy, bed-head looking kit, the draping of which also makes for an unflattering profile. Besides, if you are going to tote all of this fabric, and still have a peep show, why not just don a fitted, loosely crocheted dress instead? Oh yeah, that’s also a don’t.

S2011 | Micheal Kors

The solution: Just because the fabric has a metallic finish, doesn’t mean it has to look like it will cut you. Switching up the fabric to a touchable knit, (one that is also less sheer), and tightening the silhouette a touch, gives the still-asymmetrical look an easy-going, figure-enhancing flow. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

8. The Body Concious Maxi

S2011 Trend: Body Concious/ White/ Lace/ Sheer Fabrics

S2011 | Emilio Pucci

The issue: The combination of the above trend may make for a body conscious, but not a body flattering combo. Perhaps this would be better worn as resort wear, in the form of a beach cover-up.

S2011 | Emilio Pucci

The solution: Emphasize your curves in one trend. Either in lace/ sheer fabrics OR a body hugging silhouette.

OTHER USEFUL TIPS

1. DO give unexpected skin via a high slit or an asymmetrical hemline to give overly voluminous , or excessively lengthy dresses a modern edge, as Emilio Pucci does here.

S2011 | Emilio Pucci

S2011 | Emilio Pucci

2. DO play with the Military trend with ‘sober’ colour choices – e.g. olive green, navy, combined with subtle masculine detailing.

S2011 | Lanvin

Whoever said that Power can only be unleashed in a pant suit must have never experienced the Power of a Maxi.

b Freakin’Fabulous

Cavities, Fat and Wrinkles

We are all more than familiar with the addictive power of sugar. Despite the fact that increased sugar consumption has been associated with increased blood sugar levels, which can result in the storage of excess fat, studies have shown that the average American consumes about 150 pounds of sugar, per year. Talk about sweet nothings! (more…)

Sexilicious Summer

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Yah. So I was relieved of my World Cup watching duties for the last couple days just long enough to get back to work. These last couple weeks have been a blurr. Who knew so many things can happen in one month of June? Shout out to all my peeps who saw it fit to celebrate my existence on this earth with a birthday week to remember, not that I really do remember anything seeing that there were oh so many cocktail bombs involved. At least I have the pictures to jog my memory. ***ooooh for reals??? We did THAAAAAAAT?!! ***

Anyways, in the meantime, between all this World Cup and Wimbeldon action and all, summer is in full swing y’alls! Gotta enjoy it because blink 3 times and it’s over man, specifically referring to Canada and it’s rationed SIX WEEKS of ‘Summer’; 2 nights ago and I was already freezing. Still, gotta love the long days – 8pm and ya still sweating cause it’s 12 o’clock hot sun beating down your back, sandal season, chance to let your skin breathe and actually see real live human beings. Get in where you fit in because summer ain’t waiting on nobody. Who would have thought that there are so many beautiful people in Toronto? I certainly couldn’t have guessed that during the ghost town that is the winter season. My word the place is empty. Me likey this current situation a looooot.

Summer – Boat rides, cooler fetes, beach parties, BBQ’s, pool parties, patio brunches, lunches and dinners, all things Crop over – for my Caribbean peeps and of course Caribana for my North American posse –  There is always an excuse to unapologetically bring the Freakin’Fabulous-ness; My kind of vibes.

Regardless of what you choose to don in the dance, however expensive or not, your biggest accessory this summer is your skin.

Show as much of it as you can get away with, without looking like someone’s jump off. This means no exposed butt cheeks; no fall-out boobies. Be well aware of your body type when choosing your kit and size, and most of all, wear it well.

Face

The summer heat can bring on the slick, so keep pores breathing with a skin treatment that involves a deep cleanse, exfoliation and skin rehydration least once a month to keep the slick at bay and reveal fresh, healthy, supple skin.

Exfoliate skin at home at least once weekly (preferably evenings rather than mornings) to keep skin cells refreshed, and use hydrating moisturizers; mattifying ones if your skin is oily and/ or acne prone. Blotting paper can assist in keeping the shine at bay during the day.

Makeup

Well contoured, layered, and expertly applied makeup has its place, and it’s definitely not at summer events. Let your skin breathe Louise, it’s an oven out there. Heat does not befriend makeup convincingly.

When it comes to summer makeup, less is definitely more, for the more makeup you wear, the more makeup will slip – off your face and onto the shoulder of your friend’s crisp white shirt dress after that rehearsed “OMG!!!!…Hiiiiiiiiii! <<Grin>>” embrace. Interestingly enough, the less you wear, the less you’d have to fidget with your face and the more time you’d have to enjoy the intoxicating vibes. Sounds like a recipe for good times. 

The key is to let your skin radiate through your makeup, so opt for sheer colour. To achieve a dewy glowing look, use a tinted moisturizer mixed with bronzer rather than just plain old pressed powder. If you must wear foundation, opt for a light coverage formulation. Apply bronzer under your go to blush to boost your ‘natural’ glow, and choose golden or coral translucent lip colours for a most natural pout. Soft pinks or pale purples also work well on lighter and darker skin tones, respectively. For an unexpected pop of colour, use coloured eyeliner such as teal, which works well on most skin tones. Apply a coat or two of waterproof mascara and finish with a smile.

Body

It would stand to reason that, as clothing is minimal, hair removal is tantamount to being a prerequisite. No hairy peek-a-boo surprises please. Not only is it unpleasant for one to witness, but also it is also (or should be) pretty awkward for one to experience. Save yourself and everyone else the terrifically uncomfortable visual, and organize the line up/ removal of the hair situation pronto. Be sure to include scheduled visits for further upkeep. Anyone with a cell phone can easily turn paparazzi these days, so before your fluffy muffy ends up plastered over the Internet, consider hair removal a must.

Like the face, exfoliate your body at least once a week. Exfoliation is recommended at night time as this gives your skin some time to recoup and regenerate during sleep, which helps the newly revealed skin to be less susceptible to sunburn the next day.

Shoulders are dead sexy. Even if you didn’t get to do those handstand presses that you meant to do earlier this year, still expose your shoulders and collect your no-brainer, instant sexy points.

Feet

Please. Three words – Well. Groomed. Feet.

Manicures are necessary yes, but the condition of jacked up feet is an entirely higher, inexcusable level of unfab. Goodness.

Whether it involves a DIY or hitting the nail salon, feet need to be addressed. I know, it does seem like the feet are all the way down there but, don’t believe the hype, everyone still sees them.

Maintain your heels by giving them some gentle foot file action in the shower either daily or every other day and follow up with a thick moisturizer at night before bed. If the polish on your toes has a tendency to chip often, or become dull from walking in the sand, refresh polish every 2-3 days by applying a layer of top coat and your pedicure will last, as is, at least a couple of weeks longer.

The same goes for your hands. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Invest in some cuticle oil, or alternatively apply olive oil, jojoba oil or vitamin E, whatever you have, to your cuticles (hands and feet) every night before bed.

Long sandal wearing day? Pack a tiny bottle with oil (one with a polish applicator type top is helpful) in your bag and apply to cuticles as necessary – after washing hands or to refresh the toes. Really, it is just oil so you can never apply too much. In the event that your heels get ashy, apply the oil to the heels and rub in. I’ve found that a touch of one of the aforementioned oils work much better at concealing the ash than does a go to hand cream and, for my people who have a tendency to have sweaty palms after the application of certain creams, it’s much lighter and isn’t nearly as greasy.

For a no nonsense jolt of colour, try nail polish in one of the season’s various fluorescent hues. Haute!

Sunscreen

And of course, I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t plug the use of sunscreen.

It will not only save your skin but you will appreciate that you took the extra 5 minutes to slather it on somewhere around 10 years from now. Sunscreen also helps prevent against pre-mature aging and pigmentation disorders, like darkening of the skin, especially in darker skin tones and Asian skin. You’re welcome. You can thank me later.

With the various different packaging of sunscreens out there – lotions, powders, sprays, wipes, and your old fashion lotions, available in two different formulations – chemical (for most skin conditions) and physical (for sensitive skin conditions), there is absolutely no excuse to expose your skin to potentially irreversible damage, unless you are dead set on looking like the grandparent in the bunch.

Alcohol, which increases the degree of a wicked dread sunburn or at the very least ‘tan’ for my chocolate peeps, will almost undoubtedly be the system so protect your skin accordingly. Get it. Wear it. Love it.

b Freakin’Fabulous

Photo: m_bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Natural Sexy vs. Science Sexy

Spy vs. Spy

The ‘Natural’ bandwagon is hugantic. It may not be the most sophisticated or fun at times, but damn, the hype that surrounds it is hella huge. Marketers have caught on to this trend, and are milking it for all it’s worth *squirt *squirt Yummy.

On the other hand, although science has helped us greatly, the term ‘synthetic’ has taken quite a hit at the expense of all things ‘natural’. People love to give the natural vs. synthetic ultimatum, but is it at all necessary? Can’t we all just get along?

Is‘Natural’ necessarily always good, and is ‘Science’ necessarily always bad?

Yes? No? Maybe so?

Science & skin care

With respect to skin care, rather than just assessing the situation stereotypically, perhaps taking a deeper look at the ingredients in the skin care products may be a more productive argument.

Natural Skin Care Ingredients

Natural is great. There is this feeling of wild abandon that accompanies the thought of ‘au naturel’. “Clean”. “Simple”.  ”Fresh”. “Good for you”.

However, as with everything else in life, ‘good’ things usually do not last forever. Under the right conditions, natural things are known to rot, decay, or otherwise disintegrate in quality. For example, with respect to plants, fruits, veges – typical sources for most natural skin care ingredients – there is only a small window that’s considered ‘prime for picking’, so one must take this into consideration, especially when a cleanser or moisturizer will typically sit on your shelf for at least 6 months, or longer depending on the product in question.

Things to consider for natural products:

~ Using natural ingredients directly

Of course there is the argument that you can just pick something off the tree and slap it on your face.

If you live in such a place where you can do this I truly envy you, for that used to be me. Womp. For the rest of us, we can hardly eat fruits and vegetables these days without being shot up with pesticides, so want to put that on your face too?

Remember, ‘natural’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘organic’. ‘Organic’ is the one where certain pesticides (not all) are required to be absent. No such is the case with ‘natural’, don’t believe the hype.

~ Nature differs from batch to batch.

This means that you can buy one batch of product that not only has a different colour from your previous batch, but the strength of the particular active ingredient can be different also.

This is not a leather bag we are talking about, where the value and character of the product is heightened by the fact that there is a huge ‘imperfection’ (their term not mine), for which you are expected to pay the not-so-little extra for. It’s not that kind of party with skin care; we don’t go out of our way to look for imperfections in products, but rather we try to minimize them.

In some products this lack of apparent quality control is not a deal breaker. If a product doesn’t contain any ingredients that are considered ‘active’ (read ‘results’) by the FDA, then it really doesn’t matter if you use a product or water.

However, in that expensive serum that derives it’s antioxidant function from those ‘berries’, it might be a problem if the super star ingredient, the Vitamin C say from the berries, is as effective as the ones in the serum that doesn’t contain Vitamin C. Yeah… might wanna check that.

~ Stability of natural substances outside of their environment

Talking about Vitamin C, it’s known to be a powerful antioxidant – it protects the skin from sun damage and helps slow down the physical signs of aging…  yadda yadda yadda, but it’s not very stable once exposed to air, a couple minutes max.

All that freshly squeezed orange juice you just made? Most of the good stuff (Dr. C) just poofed* vanished before you’ve finished mixing the ingredients together. I used to be called “Juice Mixer” in university (Chem. Eng.) by all the other engineers so, trust me, not that I’d like to recall the name calling but, I’d know

With this understanding, Vitamin C in it’s natural form is not going to do much for your skin sitting in a jar for a couple months. It’s usually also quite acidic in nature wherever it’s found (oranges, lemons etc.) so putting that right there on your face is its going to do an excellent job of stripping your skin’s protective barrier, dehydrating your skin and leaving it more susceptible to  harmful bacteria.

Fantastic? No.

So then, on to the next one. 

Synthetic skin care ingredients

The word chemical is not a synonym for dangerous.

According to the Oxford dictionary, a chemical (noun) is a substance that has been prepared, or purified, (usually) artificially.

You can concoct something that is dangerous or, you can prepare something that is effective, yet harmless.

Of course, there are dangerous chemical substances, but there are also dangerous natural ones. Cyanide anyone? One sugar or two?

So, for example, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, is a very stable form of Vitamin C – one that is stable enough to be used in skin care products. The skin’s enzymes then work to break down this ingredient into ascorbic acid, naturally found in most fruits like citrus and berries, which has been found to inhibit the formation of melanin (pigment) as well as assist collagen formation. 

Doesn’t make sense to pay the extra for active ingredients that aren’t… active, does it?

However this form of stable Vitamin C doesn’t just morph into a stable by it’s lonesome, it is the end product of research and development i.e. it is born out of a laboratory, and such is considered to be ‘synthetic’.

Why use synthetic ingredients?

So sure, it’s not for everybody, but if the proverbial horse has already bolted out the gate, the skin situation has long surpassed ‘preventative’ and you are actually looking to treat clear and present skin damage, i.e. if you are looking for results, you are going to need to look a little further than mother nature to help you in your mission to ‘age gracefully’. 

So perhaps the best bet is to take the best of what nature has to offer, and combine it with the best of what science brings. It’s a win-win situation.

The products last longer, there is less wastage, the ingredients remain active and are therefore more effective, and you get the value for your money. Everyone’s happy.

Food for thought:

It’s like that chick who is so blatantly hot, so much is on display even Stevie Wonder can see it, vs. the librarian chick. Everyone knows the immediate benefits of the blatant hottie. You can milk it almost immediately and get a great high albeit one that is, more likely than not, short lived.

Now enter the librarian. Sure, there’s a good chance that you may not live on the same planet, but there is an even greater chance that you may get longer lasting, stable, surprisingly flexible benefits, that comes with intelligence.

Moral of the story? Never underestimate the librarian.

b FreakinFabulous

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Paunchy business

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The simplest way to cut calories is to cut your portions sizes. Period. Either eat less of what you’d normally eat, or eat on a smaller plate. Once.

Here are twenty ways you can enjoy the munch without growing a paunch.

Just a few calories that are cut in each, but when you think of the fact that these are simple cuts that you can do multiple times a day, it can definitely add up – ask your waist. How did it get there? Surely we didn’t set out to be round-around-the-middle in our spare time. The ish creeps up on you man.

Rather than cut out things entirely during the day and then binge on them when the stress hits you (usually at night) why not try substitutes instead? Sounds a hell of a lot more doable than deprivation; lets face it, if we had that kind of will power we wouldn’t be looking at our high-school pics longly, *sigh* now would we?

A few things to try:

1. Eat the fruit instead of drinking the juice

2. Have whatever you’re having on a whole grain sandwich instead of a bagel.

3. Order pasta with Marinara instead of Alfredo sauce.

4. Scramble 4 egg whites instead of 2 whole eggs.

5. Remove the slice(s) of cheese out of the sandwich

6. Use mustard instead of mayo

7. Wherever possible, take beverages (tea, iced tea etc.) unsweetened

8. Ditch the mashed potatoes or fries as a side for a baked potato with butter (0nly)

9. Have sparkling water with lemon rather than soda.

10. Drain the heavy liquid from the fruit cocktail can before eating

11. Order the white rice rather than the fried

12. Eat the birthday cake without the frosting

13. Eat the brownie rather than the apple pie à la mode

14. Have the ice cream in a bowl. The cone is just extra calories

15. Use chicken broth (low-sodium is best) instead of oil to sauté meat and veggies.

16. Replace the oil or butter in cakes with unsweetened applesauce.

17. When preparing packaged foods that call for butter or oil, like rice and stuffing, use a broth instead.

18. Go for the medium instead of the XXL drink

19. Go for the grilled meats instead of the stewed or breaded ones. Actually, avoid anything breaded, they not only add more calories but the bread also absorbs more oil.

20. Have a glass of wine rather than 2 beers.

So the solution? Be present when you are having your meal. There are lots of little ways to cut calories if we take the time to think rather than just inhale.

Doable? Absolutely.

FreakinFabulous

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Photo credits: Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Fluffy Muffy

We’ve all gotten fed up of shaving and dealing with those tiny rogue hairs that pop out embarrassingly from the bathing suits, to wave politely at the object of your affection not to mention ingrown hairs – OUCH! Not cool at all!

My guy must have heard me complaining about it and the poor soul went and did some research, and the best he came up with was a Brazilian wax. NOW… in hindsight I have come to believe that he had ulterior motives, but rest assured he was dealt with with the quickness because I am telling you that was:

the WORST ever thing that I have EVER experienced in my LIFE, bar NONE.

Rinse and Repeat.

… and I’ve been through labour.

The pain was excruciating. I mean my mind literally packed its bags and went on a vacation; A ‘wtf’ moment times infinity.

But when the grinning lady was finished, I looked and felt smooth as baby. In fact the last time I looked that smooth after any hair removal was never. And then I took it to the beach and it was bess. No surprises.

So the end result was great, but the journey was a war of the worlds. It was after some thought that I realised that if I had done some research on my own I may have avoided such pain and agony so I decided to do the research anyway and here is what I came up with.

HAIR REMOVAL METHODS

There are about 7 kinds of hair removal methods available to the general public, (i.e not including laser hair removal, which is targeted largely to a certain skin/ hair colour combo so this is another topic for another day). 

They are:

- shaving
- friction
- depilatory creams
- waxing/sugaring
- threading
- plucking and
- electrolysis.

Some are very temporary and some are permanent(ish). Some are (relatively) pain free and one or two can hurt like a mofo. The results? Relative. It depends on what you are looking for.

1. the shaving method
Pain rating: 0 out of 10 

This is the method of using razors to cut the hair off as close as possible to the skin so that the result is smooth to the touch. 

If you don’t do it right you can get cut from the razor not being sharp enough, and of course it depends on how long it takes for your hair to grow back – some people can go as much as 7 days with out repeating the procedure but then you get those who literally have to shave everyday.

There is also the razor bump problem aptly named for those little pus filled bumps that appear literally minutes after you shave and is most certainly cause from the razor not being clean enough or new enough, but mostly this occurs when shaving occurs against the hair growth and not with it, especially when your hair is curly.

Either way it’s definitely an irritant as these babies can get very infected and cause ingrown hairs which in itself can be very painful.

2. the friction method
 Pain rating: 0 out of 10

The friction method employs a rough surface to remove fine hairs on the arms and legs. It is usually fine strips or a fine grit coated onto a mitt and then it is applied to the skin in circular motions which gently buffs away the hair.

It works best on fine hairs on legs and arms but should not be used on the face or bikini area. Course hair applicants need not apply; If too much pressure is used then skin irritations may occur. Effects last roughly about the same time as shaving.

3. the depilatory method
Pain rating : 0 out of 10 

Usually a cream or a powder mixed into a paste, and then applied to the areas of hair, and then removed by wiping away.

The hair is dissolved at the skins surface and the cream can cause irritation to eyes and skin, as well cause cuts if it is not used properly. Effects last roughly about the same as shaving and friction.

The drawback? Depending on the brand the smell is an unmistakeable “depilatory hair removal” smell. The product itself can also irritate some skins. 

4. the waxing method
 Pain rating: 9.5 out of 10

This method included warm wax (again this is relative to an individuals pain threshold) applied to the area or hair to be removed, and then a strip of cotton is applied. The cotton is then removed with swift movements of the hand, removing the hair in the opposite direction of the growth of the hair.

It is generally used in the bikini areas and recently this method has become popular for the removal of all hair found in the… umm… further pubic regions in both men and women, as it has become increasingly popular for these regions to be clear of hair. Clean, clean, clean. Whistle clean. This method if used over several years can reduce hair growth and in some cases hair growth can cease altogether.

(Incidentally the sugaring method is the same as waxing but with one slight difference – a sugary liquid is used instead of the wax.)

The disadvantages of this can be hair broken off beneath the skin, and it is difficult to master as the hair must be waxed in the opposite direction of hair growth and the hair down there can grow in several directions at once.

5. the threading method
 Pain rating: 6 out of 10

Threading a less common method for removing hair at the root, used primarily on facial hair. In this method, rows of stray hairs are yanked out with twists of cotton thread. It can also be used to move the hairline from off the forehead of women whose hair grows too close to the eyebrows.

The practitioner holds one end of the cotton thread in his or her teeth and the other in the left hand. The middle is looped through the index and middle fingers of the right hand. The practitioner then uses the loop to trap a series of unwanted hairs and pull them from the skin. There are also devices made that can hold the thread during the procedure.

6. the tweezing method
Pain rating: 4 out of 10.

We all know this one. I mean who hasn’t been held down by a mother or errant best friend and had our brows tweezed till we cry blood?

One must have a tweezer, which is basically two metal pieces shaped into a point that grasps individual hairs and pulls them out. Its great for individual hairs on the face, shaping eyebrows and those long black hairs that pop up under the chin… Not that I know anything about those, but umm… so I’ve read.

7. the electrolysis method

I deliberately left out electrolysis because I wanted to do more research on it seeing it is a “permanent” method of hair removal and before writing a piece on it I wanted the research to be as thorough as possible so that none of you will fall prey to the horror that had me praying for delivery.

forward ever…

Photo Credits: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Short Shorts. Blumarine and Balmain Spring 2010

In addition to the previous fashion trends highlighted:

- Stripes
- Cutouts
- Wild & Exotic Prints
-  Safari | Nudes & Neutrals
- Bold Brights & Neons

Here is a wrap up  of the rest of Spring/ Summer 2010′s most catching trends. 

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1. Very Very Short Shorts

Also known very affectionately by Caribbean-ers as ‘pum pum’ shorts. Yep, all up in there. Needless to say this is best reserved for the younger age bracket, regardless of how ‘toned’ your legs are. Short skirts/ minis are also an option. 

The key to wearing this look is to contrast the super-sexy by pairing with boots/ booties and some top with long sleeves. 

Tip: Resist the urge to go TOO short. Try to make a suggestion rather than be explicit, noone needs to see your assets.

Body suits are also big. Must be inspired by all the entertainers in leotards, and should also only be worn by them. 

2. All Denim Everything

Head to toe denim ala the Denim Tuxedo. And not just any denim, this one is both distressed AND bleached, either simple bleach or acid wash. If you dare, pair with a simple white tee, and keep everything else as simple as possible. Again, a very fresh, hippy, young look. 

For anyone over 30-ish, a great way to still get into this trend is by donning denim ‘peek-a-boo’ style. A denim shirt, vest or even jacket perhaps, under an oversized blazer or leather jacket, is a very subtle yet fashion forward way to channel the 90s without looking like you just dig into your closet and dusted off all of your 90s gear. 

80s 

The 80s style has been making its way back into the fashion world for a while, but it seems like it’s back in a big way this year, which officially makes the disco decade ‘vintage’. Strong shoulders and oversized clothing are the main contenders. 

3. Masculine Elements

Strong shoulders on blazers (oversized or not)  works this trend well. Pay very special attention to your proportions though, if you are already ‘top heavy’ or carry most of your weight on the upper half of your body (a healthy bust size or a very prominent mid section) this may not be the most flattering option for you. 

Striped textiles, military inspired jackets and oxford shoes also fall in this trend. Pair with shorts or leggings to balance this overly masculine look. Simple, delicate jewelry, like a hairband or locket pendants also help balance this look. 

4. Oversized & Extreme proportions

The super wide tee that’s also shorter in the front and longer in the back. Quite a few of the tees fall into the belly baring category. Remember those? 

Also referred to as the ‘fishtail shirt’, tunics and dresses are also featured here, where the back length can be anywhere as long as just a few inches longer than the front to past the back of the knees. The key is to keep this as the only statement, as it’s enough as is.

Clogs are also big this spring/ summer season. Bring on the noise.

Tip: If they aren’t already rubberized, professionally resoling this type of footwear with a thin rubber sole often makes for a less noisy lifestyle, as well as one that is less jarring on your knee joints. Shock absorbers almost. Again, if you are over a certain age, preservation is key. 

6. Jumpsuit Shorts

Love it or hate it, jumpsuit shorts and sportswear inspired clothing are here. These are best worn with casual, comfortable sandals/ shoes respectively, for a laid back ‘n fab look, and are best worn for casual occasions or a night in.

Whatever you do, resist the urge to wear either with super high stilettos.

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I think this more or less covers the Spring/ Summer Fashion trends posts. If you missed any, see below.

As you see there is a lot to choose from. The downside, however, is that there is also a lot of margin for major fashion error. 

Consider your body type and your age bracket before choosing to step out in one of these getups, and pair pieces smartly. For example, balance:

- Volume with sleek. 

- Exposed skin in one area with coverup in the others.

- Masculine with feminine.

Keep in mind that feminine has less to do with ‘pink’, and more to do proper fit and delicate details.

- Brights with muted tones

and you should be okay.

Minimalista Chick

When in doubt, your best bet is always to stay ‘simple’ and utilize accessories, nails and/ or shoes to the fullest, to get ‘on trend’.

Go Brave.

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Trend Alert | Exotic Prints

Roberto Cavalli | Spring 2010 | Animal Instinct

‘Exotic’ Prints y’all. They’re everywhere, or will soon be.

This can be considered an extension of Animal Prints, just fresher and less ‘Cougar’-esq.

If you’re into channeling the motherland, this season is yours, Go for it. Though the looks aren’t necessarily authentic exotic/ ethnic wear, they are more inspired. 

It all seems to be about mixing and mismatching. A motley mishmash of [ethnic/ exotic] prints from all over the world. You know the kind of stuff that looks really creative on the runway but really WRONG at the food court in the Mall? That’s it exactly.

Mixing prints is sort of an art, so if you aren’t quite blessed with this talent, wearing just one print and opting for accessories will do just fine. Alternatively you can mix textures, this can work as well.

From bright, bold, rainbow mixes and candy-coloured, chunky (or layered) statement jewelry, to bold floral prints, the heavy print trend is just one cluttered statement.

Think tropical, wait. Forget that.

Lest you mind goes to those insanely unpleasant ‘Caribbean’ get ups that some [tourists] are seen wearing in the Caribbean. Head’s up… that’s not ‘Native Wear‘. That’s ‘Tourist Wear‘. No-one in the Caribbean really dresses like that, seriously. Except maybe the resorts that use them as uniforms, but that’s because that’s what they think tourists would understand ‘Caribbean’ to mean. 

Anywhos, back to the issue at hand, deep, rich, bold colours that reflect inspiration from the Caribbean, Africa, India, Indonesia… and everything in between. I love it.

Just BAT away the premise that spring is ‘dainty pastel season’ – take that. Fabulous. Me ‘n pastels don’t really see eye to eye anyways.

Accessories:

- Tie-died cheese cloths scarfs, tribal printed chiffon tunics, intricately woven textiles, embroidered dresses. 

- Wooden bangles and earrings, stone bib necklaces, and beads. Beads, beads, beads.

Those beaded jewelry pieces from my high-school days come to mind. Those same beaded necklaces that were forbidden as part of the uniform, that everyone so skillfully tried to hide under their blouse and tie combo… yeah.. just like those. Only bigger, more intricate. 

- Leather sandals. Leather earrings. 

- Huge stoned jewelry, – turquoise, tigereye, opal, river stone, quartz, red cherry amber, agate – large chunky, layered jewelry.
And the animals, God bless the animals. Not only the kitty cats get play this season. Python prints, feathers, 

But wait! the prints also extend to the shoes. Of course you can opt for that animal print pump, but what about an ethnic printed one?

And it should be no surprise that braided styles are back. You don’t have to get your Patra on, just one or two well placed braids will do fine. 

And leggings of course. Expect printed leggings to be around somewhere. Whatever you do stay very far away from white or horizontally striped leggings. <shudder>

The key to working all of this drama together?

FOCUS

There must be one focus, either:

1. Similar prints (shapes/ patterns) or

2. Similar colours/ same colour family.

no other iteration works. Try to test this theory and you will end up on in a picture with a black bar across your eyes that carries the title “Don’t”.

Minimalista Chic:

Minimalista Divas can get into the action too. Tribal-inspired assesories can really add a statement punch to an otherwise classic and sophisticated look.

- Beaded pumps,

- Patterned canvas wedges

- A python clutch, 

- Wooden necklaces

- Bold hanging earrings

- A patterned/ tie die scarf

Just one of these well placed accessories and you are channeling a more current version of yourself. It’s that easy. You don’t have to break the bank – just a little thought, a whole new you.

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The sick beats and rhythms too much flava’for you?  Black and white stripes work just fine.

There are at least 8 more trends for Spring/ Summer 2010 that we can chat about so, sit and get comfy. If this isn’t for you, you may like one of the next ones.

Next stop – The Safari Trend.

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