Fashion and Style Lookbook: The Makeup Tricks That'll Make You Look Better in ...

Fashion and Style Lookbook: The Makeup Tricks That'll Make You Look Better in ...: What if we told you there was a simple trick to help you get double the likes on your next selfie? Yeah, we thought you'd be interes...

The Makeup Tricks That'll Make You Look Better in Photos

What if we told you there was a simple trick to help you get double the likes on your next selfie? Yeah, we thought you'd be interested. Celebrity makeup artists who routinely prep stars for important photo shoots know a thing or two about what looks best on camera. So, for your selfie's sake, we reached out to ten of the top makeup artists in the business and asked them to share the number-one trick they use on clients during photo shoots to make sure they look their absolute best.

Use a mask first. "I prep the skin with moisture masks before I apply makeup. My favorites are Tatcha and SK-II. For the under-eye, I love Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches. I think the more radiant the skin looks under the makeup, the better you look in the photograph." —Vincent Oquendo, who has worked with Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid

Use the absolute best foundation and concealer for your skin. "Find the right balance of a more concentrated concealer for under-eyes and blemishes and a sheer application of foundation. I like to use Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation with a damp Beautyblender for an even, transparent glow. Remember to match the color of the face to your collarbone and be sure to finish with a translucent setting powder, like M.A.C. Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder/Pressed. And tint your T-zone so that you don't look like a freeze ball under the flash photo." —Quinn Murphy, who has worked with Irina Shayk and Kate Upton

Highlighting is crucial. "The one key to looking good in a photo is highlighting. Highlighting atop the cheekbones, under the brow, down the bridge of the nose, and onto the Cupid's bow creates a glow from within. You can be tired or have dull skin, a blemish, or no eyebrows on, and as long as you're luminous, you'll take a good photo. And with highlighting, there's a wide range of texture and finish options: Vaseline, gloss, creamy concealer (two shades lighter than you skin) or shimmering creams and powders." —Ashley Ciucci, who has worked on photo shoots for Lucky and People

Don't forget blush. "Looking back, I'm always happiest when my ladies have a fresh, glowing, rosy cheek. It has that forever-young effect."—Molly Stern, who has worked with Suki Waterhouse and Anne Hathaway

And while you're at it, consider using a cream blush. "Cream blush is the best all-in-one product to look better in pictures. You never know when you're going to need to be photo-ready, and cream blush is the ultimate on-the-go essential with a foolproof application. It gives you that 'It' girl glow on cheeks and a pretty pout in seconds." —Katie Jane Hughes, who has worked with Whitney Port and Flaviana Matata

Use a mattifying finisher. "This helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps avoid a shiny complexion." —Mally Roncal, who has worked with Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez

Always curl your lashes. "This is one of the easiest and most effortless enhancements you can do for your face. Even if you're wearing no other makeup, curling your lashes up allows more light to hit the eye, which makes eyes appear brighter and larger both in person and in photographs. I think of lashes as awnings for the eye. If you leave an awning up in a window you allow more light in, so when you curl lashes upward, eyes automatically appear bigger and brighter." —Troy Surratt, who has worked with Charlize Theron and Adele

Accentuate your best feature, and let the rest of your makeup be chill. "Accentuating one feature but also having a balance looks best in photos. If you're going to do a stronger lip, don't overdo it on the eyes, but make sure there's still some definition. If you're doing a strong eye, have a little something on the lips, too, instead just lip balm, which can look too bare. And a subtle contour always looks flattering." —Fiona Stiles, who has worked with Emily Ratajkowski and Serena Williams

Use this angle. "I like to take photos from above because it always gives you [the appearance of a] better bone structure and doesn't make you look too shiny." —Wendy Rowe, who has worked with Christy Turlington and Victoria Beckham

Take time to find the best lighting and angles. "You can have the most flawless makeup on the planet, but if your lighting and angles are off, it's over. These two components are everything. When someone says, 'This is my good side,' that's actually not an untrue statement. It's highly likely that you have a 'better side' for photographs. Don't be scared to try it out or ask a very trusted friend to let you know your best and worst angles. And unflattering lighting just does not look right. You could have essentially pretty bad make up on, but really great lighting and the perfect angles will make it look like beautiful makeup." —Mary Phillips, who has worked with Chrissy Teigen and Khloé Kardashian
Credit:Allure

Healthy Monday:Be Breast Cancer Aware

Breasts are mainly made up of glandular, fibrous and fatty tissue. They sit on the front of the chest and go up into the armpit.

Breast tissue is supported by ligaments (which attach deeper layers of tissue to the skin) and the large chest muscle that extends over most of the ribs.

The glandular tissue contains lobes, with many smaller lobules inside each one. The lobules are the milk-producing glands. During pregnancy, breast milk is carried through tubes called ducts to the nipple ready for breastfeeding.

The darker area of skin around the nipple is called the areola. On the areola there are some little raised bumps called Montgomery glands. They produce fluid to moisturise the nipple.

Normal breast changes

Your breasts change constantly throughout your life from puberty, through adolescence, the childbearing years and then the menopause (when periods stop permanently). This is because of the varying levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone in your body.

Before a period

Oestrogen and progesterone play a vital part in regulating a woman’s periods. These hormones are responsible for the changes you may notice in your breasts just before your period.

Your breasts may feel heavier and fuller. They may also be tender or lumpy. After a period, this usually lessens or disappears altogether, although some women have tender, lumpy breasts all the time.

Many women also have breast pain linked to their menstrual cycle (cyclical breast pain), which is normal. For more information see our Breast pain booklet.
During pregnancy

Breast changes can be an early sign of being pregnant. Many women feel a change in sensation in their breasts such as tingling and soreness (particularly of the nipples). This is due to increased levels of progesterone and the growth of the milk ducts. The breast and the areola begin to get bigger. The nipple and areola become darker and remain that way during pregnancy.

When breastfeeding

Large amounts of milk are produced to breastfeed a newborn baby and the breasts can change size many times a day according to the baby’s feeding pattern. Nipples can sometimes become sore and cracked, but this generally gets better over time. When breastfeeding stops, the breasts gradually go back to how they were before pregnancy although they may be a different size and less firm than before. For more information see our Breast changes during and after pregnancy booklet.

Before, during and after the menopause

From around the mid-30s onwards the breasts begin to age and the glandular and fibrous tissue is gradually replaced by fat. As oestrogen levels fall during and after the menopause, the breasts may change size, lose their firmness, feel softer and may droop. Changes, such as a lump or tenderness, are also common at this time. Lumps often turn out to be breast cysts (fluid-filled sacs). Tenderness may be non-cyclical breast pain, which may need to be treated with pain relief.

It’s still important to see your GP (local doctor) about any changes that are new for you, even though for most women these will be benign (not cancer)

Wearing a well-fitting bra

A woman’s breasts change size and shape many times during her life, due to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and breastfeeding, the menopause and putting on or losing weight. Wearing a well-fitting bra can help if you are feeling any discomfort or back pain. For more information see our Your guide to a well-fitting bra leaflet.

Breast problems

Breast changes can be a sign of a benign breast condition that may need treatment although some breast changes do not.

For example, breast pain linked to your periods is common and usually regarded as normal. However, talk to your GP if it’s severe and long lasting.

Makeup tips for the perfect pout

• Don't use lip liner and draw outside your lipline to create fuller lips. You'll just look like a clown.
• Use a lighter lip color to make your lips look larger.
• Apply liner in a color that matches your naturallip tone and fill in your lips completely. This will help keep your lipstick, stain or gloss in place.
• Use a lip brush to get the color all the way into the corner of your mouth and create a precise, sexy lip.
• After applying your favorite lipstick, add a touch of gloss to the middle of your bottom lips and smack your lips together to distribute the shine. The gloss reflects light to create the illusion of fuller lips.
• Steer away from orange and orange-red lipstick if you are worried about yellow teeth. These lip colors will make your teeth look even more yellow.

Credit :SheKnows

Healthy Monday:Winter Sore Throat “tea”

In a jar combine lemon slices, organic honey and sliced ginger. Close jar and put it in the fridge, it will form into a “jelly”. To serve- spoon jelly into mug and pour boiling water over it. Store in fridge 2-3 months.




Honey & cinnamon cold remedy
Did you know that a teaspoon of honey (local – raw hopefully) and a 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon will usually knock out a cold within a day or two? It’s a cold remedy that kids love – best to take with first sniffles as it will usually take away all vestiges of the cold within 5 hours.


Take twice a day for 3 days for best results. Both honey and cinnamon are antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal. Also knocks bladder/kidney infections, reduces sugar levels, blood pressure and acts as a pain reliever for arthritis!



Honey & apple cider vinegar |cough syrup

Honey and vinegar are two of the principle ingredients in homemade cough syrup. This strong-tasting syrup really helps calm persistent coughs that accompany chest colds and infections. Besides the soothing properties of honey and vinegar, this syrup also contains ginger, a natural anti-inflammatory. Mix 2 tbsp. of hot water, 1 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp. of honey, 1/4 tsp. of ground cayenne pepper and 1/4 tsp. of ground ginger. Take 1 tsp. of the homemade cough syrup every two to three hours.



Credit:Mother nature.

Fashion and Style Lookbook: How To Make A Full Wig

Fashion and Style Lookbook: How To Make A Full Wig: Credit:Chanel Boateng.

How To Make A Full Wig

Credit:Chanel Boateng.

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Healthy Monday: How Your Work Is Affecting Your Me...

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Healthy Monday: How Your Work Is Affecting Your Me...: Shocking statistics about mental health problems at work, and how you can cope better with the stress   While the spectrum of mental illne...

Healthy Monday: How Your Work Is Affecting Your Mental Health

Shocking statistics about mental health problems at work, and how you can cope better with the stress

 

While the spectrum of mental illness is hugely varied and complex, one element that is too often dismissed or downplayed is stress.

Stress is a form of mental ill-health that can be caused by any number of things, one of the most common of these is work.

Some of the stats from the Mental Health Foundation explain the extent of the problem:

According to the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health – now known as the Centre for Mental Health - (2007), mental health problems are a major cause of presenteeism, which can be described as the practice of remaining in work, even when an employee is unwell, resulting in decreased productivity.

A 2008 review commissioned by the Health Work and Wellbeing Programme highlighted that symptoms associated with mental health problems (e.g. sleep problems, fatigue, irritability and worry) affect one sixth of the working-age population of Great Britain at any one time and can impair a person’s ability to function at work.

A 2006 meta-analysis exploring the associations between psychosocial work stressors and common mental health problems found that; 1. high demands at work, 2. reduced autonomy in decision making, 3. high efforts and 4. low rewards often resulted in stress, and were associated with common mental health problems.

- THINGS YOU CAN USE TO HELP YOU COPE -

THE APP

While we still love Headspace, we're going to suggest something a little different.

Try Karmic, the daily deed app - this gives you small, achievable tasks that encourage you to help those around you.

One example is to not complain for the entire day - it's good for you, your desk neighbour and in turn your stress levels.

THE BOOK

If you get home from work wound up tighter than a jar of muscle man's protein powder, it's time to take up colouring.

THE PODCAST

The Mental Health foundation has a selection of podcasts for all manner of issues including Stress and Relaxation: The Full Works, designed to give you techniques for dealing with every day pressures.

Credit:Women's Health

All You Need To Know About Facial Powders.

Firstly what’s the difference between finishing powder, HD powder, setting powder, pressed powder and loose powder?

To begin: pressed and loose powders are sisters, not twins.

Loose powder comes in a jar, has smaller particles (and therefore a finer consistency), and usually give lightweight coverage. They’re also messy and hard to transport, so these guys are meant to stay at home.

Pressed powder comes in a compact and contains ingredients used to turn the product into a semi-solid. These are usually things like silicones and waxes, so if your skin is annoyed by that stuff, you may have a hard time with pressed powder. Because the particles are slightly bigger and contain these stick-together ingredients, applying too much pressed powder can result in a cake-y appearance. Using a little as a touch-up throughout the day, though, is quick and easy.


The difference between setting powder and finishing powder is a little nebulous. Many companies use these terms interchangeably, so it’s partially a matter of marketing.


Setting powder is what we think of as classic powder--it goes on after your foundation to get rid of shine and "set" it so that it lasts a long time. It can be tinted to match your skin or translucent.


Finishing powder is generally used AFTER setting powder to blur fine lines and pores, giving you an extra-perfect look. It’s best for situations where you’re going to be photographed a lot, rather than an essential step for everyday makeup. These powders are white.


If you’re going to be dealing with powerful cameras and flashes, you'll need to be careful with finishing powders. If you use too much or don't blend well, you can look like you fell face-down in a bucket of baby powder. This is because the light from the flash can bounce off certain ingredients, causing the dreaded chalky-white FLASHBACK.


But for normal life, applying a finishing powder as a setting powder won’t have terrible consequences if you use a little and blend it well.



HD powders are usually finishing powders. They are so named because makeup artists working on TV and movies that shoot in high definition found that other powders read as too heavy on film.


Credit:BMPro

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Healthy Monday:6 Surprising Health Benefits Of Gre...

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Healthy Monday:6 Surprising Health Benefits Of Gre...: Green miracle drink from China made its way long ago into the mugs of Americans all across the nation for its touted health benefits. From a...

Healthy Monday:6 Surprising Health Benefits Of Green Tea

Green miracle drink from China made its way long ago into the mugs of Americans all across the nation for its touted health benefits. From a weight loss aid to targeting pancreatic cancer, green tea has evolved into a medicinal drink that caters to a myriad of illnesses. The reality is there are surprising benefits to reap from this magical drink in just one cup.

The hot beverage accounts for 15 percent of the tea consumed in the U.S., according to the Tea Association’s latest statistics. Although black tea remains America’s favorite at 84 percent, green tea can invite more positive changes when it comes to your health. Unlike green tea, black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation, which depletes the amount of antioxidants and polyphenols found in tea. Black tea also contains less catechins than green tea, which minimizes the benefits of the hot beverage.

Here are surprising health reasons why you should go green and let it be your cup of tea.

1. Combats Allergies
Green tea may need to be added to your allergy season arsenal. Drinking the green liquid may provide some relief, as it's been proven to be anti-allergenic; a specific compound, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), appears to be the most potent.


A 2007 study published in the journalCytotechnology found the tea polyphenol can reduce pollen allergies. This is the first time a methylated form of EGCG can block the IgE receptor — the key receptor involved in an allergic response. It can elicit a stronger anti-allergenic response than normal EGCG, which makes it the strongest anti-allergen compound found in tea. Quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonol in tea, can also alleviate a histamine response.

2. Boosts Eyesight
Carrots have long been associated as a food that promotes good eyesight, but science suggest there’s a new kid on the block. The antioxidants found in green tea can actually penetrate the tissues of the eyes and produce antioxidant activity. Catechins, an antioxidant in green tea, are capable of being absorbed into the tissues of the eye.

A 2001 study published in the journalExperimental Eye Research found green tea can actually prevent cataract-induced blindness. Researchers saw different parts of the eye absorbed varying amounts of catechins, with the highest concentration of this antioxidant found in the retina of lab rats fed green tea extract. The area with the least absorption of catechins was the cornea. These findings suggest that drinking green tea could serve as a protective measure when it comes to eyesight, but its effects have yet to be confirmed in humans.

3. Lowers Cholesterol
The access to greasy foods puts your health at risk for heart-related complications like high cholesterol. Replacing unhealthy snacks and drinks with green tea could actually help keep your cholesterol levels at bay. Green tea’s powerful antioxidant, EGCG, is believed to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the large intestine.


A 2011study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found green tea consumption significantly lowered the total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol across 14 randomized controlled trials of over 1100 participants. Overall, green tea intake led to significant reductions in total cholesterol — 7.2mg/dL, and mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (2.19 mg/dL). Research suggests drinking five cups of green tea per day will provide the biggest reduction in cholesterol.

4. Promotes Healthy Gums And Teeth
Drinking tea has been given a bad reputation for its staining effect on your teeth. The hot beverage contains tannic acid, which is what gives tea its dark-like color. However, the consumption of green tea can actually be beneficial when it comes to your oral health.


A 2009 s published in the Journal of Periodontology found the intake of green tea was inversely correlated with periodontal disease. Regularly drinking green tea reduced symptoms of periodontal disease, possibly due to the presence of catechin. Catechin reduces inflammation in the body, and therefore, interferes with the body’s inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria. Its ability to control bacteria and lower the acidity of saliva and dental plaque makes it useful for preventing cavities and other indicators of poor oral health.

5. Wards Off Oral Cancer
Green tea has been known to target pancreatic cancer, and most recently oral cancer. Its strongest antioxidant, EGCG, is able to help kill cancer cells through destruction of the cells’ mitochondria, and may even become a possible alternative to the debilitating chemotherapy. Green tea consumption is believed to not be associated with any of chemo’s side effects, according to a recent studypublished in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.


“It looks like EGCG causes the formation of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells, which damages the mitochondria, and the mitochondria responds by making more reactive oxygen species,” Joshua Lambert, associate professor of food science at Penn State, in a press release. Eventually, the mitochondria loses its defenses with a breakdown in the expression of antioxidant genes. It is in this weakened state the cancer cells succumb to EGCG and die.

6. UV Protection
You may want to add a packet of green tea in addition to sunscreen and sunglasses when you visit the beach. The catechins in green tea can actually make the skin more resistant to the effects of UV rays and therefore premature skin aging. They can also lead to reduced skin redness after UV exposure.


A 2013 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found a relatively low dose (540 mg) of green tea catechins each day along with 50 mg of vitamin C for 12 weeks, or two cups of green tea can considerably reduce the effect of UV radiation on the skin. When UV exposure produced inflammation, green tea supplementation reduced that effect. This is the first time oral doses of green tea has been proven to make their way to skin tissues to limit the effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.


A cup of green tea a day, may actually keep the doctor away.




Credit:Go Green

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Nigeria@55

Fashion and Style Lookbook: Nigeria@55: Photo credit :Abeke Makeovers &TojuFoyeh

Nigeria@55

Photo credit :Abeke Makeovers &TojuFoyeh