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Beauty

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Body Alteration: Pros and Cons by Claire Hastings

Posted on April 7, 2017

A personal piece by Claire Hastings, Australia

Body alteration or body modification – these are the two names used to describe a process of changing one’s appearance. For some, it is seen as a form of rebellion, for others it’s pure art, an expression of individuality. The act of altering/changing/modifying one’s appearance has a lot of possibilities, but the most popular ones are piercings, tattoos, and cosmetic procedures. You can alter your body in less drastic ways, too: by applying makeup, dyeing your hair, and working out.

Makeup

It’s enough to spend a brief period of time browsing various makeup video tutorials online to conclude that makeup truly is art. Still, there are those who overdo it and wear too much makeup all the time, which not only makes them look fake, but it also hides their natural beauty. At the end of the day, if you let yourself become obsessed with it, and not let yourself go out sometimes without any makeup on, it will become more like an obligation and less like fun. And our only obligation should be saving our health, and enjoying our lives. So, forget about that boring contouring today, and try out that bold marsala lipstick.

Bikini body

We all want to look good in our bikinis, but lean legs, tight abs, and toned arms don’t just appear overnight. We have to work hard to shape our bodies the way we want. We should do our best to keep our bodies healthy by going to the gym a couple of times a week, eating healthy, and drinking plenty of water. On the other hand, there are those who take it to extremes. I had a period of life when I was obsessed with over every calorie I have eaten during the day and spent hours in the gym without eating properly. After some time I realised that I have endangered my health and turned my life into a hell. A boring hell. So I have decided to stop it, start eating healthy and have some cheat days from time to time. I must say I have a lot more self-aware now than ever.

Cosmetic surgery

There are some things that we cannot change naturally, no matter how hard we want to, like the shape of our face and nose, or the size of our lips. This is where plastic surgery steps in and saves the day. Cosmetic surgery can help you get rid of imperfections that have been bothering you your entire life, and it can also improve your confidence. On the other hand, there are also extreme cases of people becoming addicted to cosmetic surgery: they pursue their dreams but end up with irreparable damage done to their bodies instead. Make sure you do your homework and visit only reputable surgeons or cosmetologists and make sure the consultation is thorough. It’s could be that it’s not your body that needs a quick fix, but your attitude towards it.

Piercings and tattoos

Piercings and tattoos have become commonplace amongst today’s many societies. Seen as a way for people to express themselves and be unique. Since they are not a taboo anymore, people sometimes don’t think too long before deciding they want one or the other. In case they change their minds, it’s easy to remove piercings and let the body heal naturally, but with tattoos, it’s a bit more difficult as they are permanent. My best friend once made the terrible decision to tattoo his girlfriend’s name, so after their nasty breakup, he had to remove it. He travelled across the land to find a reliable tattoo removal option, and opted for tattoo removal in Parramatta, but he was satisfied with the results. This way, he made a fresh start. Luckily, technology and medicine have come a long way; so, today we have different medical and laser tattoo removal options. This way, people can have a fresh canvas.

Whatever your attitude may be concerning body alterations, before you decide to do anything, you should think about it for a while and always act on your beliefs. By today’s standards, we follow what we see on tv and in magazines… following trends, do some research as you could get into trouble or perhaps even regret your decision later on in life. Whatever you decide to do, make sure your choice is right, it’s for you, or postpone making the final decision until you are completely sure that’s what you want.

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How to Look Good in a Bikini at Any Age

Posted on January 31, 2017

Relaxing travels, lounging on a beach and enjoying life in general is something we all appreciate regardless of age. Still, social and aesthetic norms can sometimes create an unjustified obstacle when it comes to your desire to soak up the sun, while reading a good book under a palm tree. Your physical appearance may make you feel uncomfortable in such surroundings. In order to avoid that, take a look at the following tips – with a few healthy habits, your age won’t stop you in having great beach body and attractive confidence while rocking a bikini.

Skin care
It’s essential that you step up your beauty and skin care routine. Your skin’s elasticity and texture change as you age, which is why products that worked for you in your 20s and 30s won’t do much good later on. Using the right products regularly, will surely improve your skin and prevent dryness. What’s more, sunscreen should be a staple in your routine. Even during winter months, sun can damage your skin, which makes an effective sunscreen an important part of your skin care. You can also experience various beauty benefits by using DIY face masks. Half an avocado and one tablespoon of honey effectively moisturize, rejuvenate and brighten the skin.

Light exercise
You don’t have to engage in challenging exercises if that’s not something appropriate for your age. Still, regular physical activity is essential for your health as well as muscle strengthening and body toning. In that respect, you can take up walking as a daily habit, discover the benefits of swimming or try some aerobic exercises. These workouts will boost blood circulation, release toxins, brighten up the skin and make you fitter without putting too much strain on your joints.

Choose the right swimwear
Your age is not the factor that you need to consider for choosing the right swimsuit – your body shape is. Regardless of age, you should always strive to wear garments that flatter your body type. For example, high-waisted bikini bottoms are perfect for people who want to hide lower tummy, while low-cut bikini bottoms are great choice if you have wider hips. Moreover, strapless bikini tops would look fabulous on smaller bust. On the other hand, bra-like fitted tops would offer proper support for big-busted ladies.

Great beach look
There’s a lot more to your beach look than the right choice of swimsuit. If you want to draw attention to your face, wear your hair down and style it in a way that suits your face shape the best. On the other hand, wearing your hair up will accentuate other areas such as your shoulders and bust. What’s more, accessories such as sunglasses and sarongs can complete your look in a flattering and interesting manner. Therefore, let yourself enjoy the process of getting ready for a lovely beach day.

Boost your confidence
If you find certain aspects of your body straight up bothersome and you’re positive that you can’t hide these shortcomings with effective swimwear and exercise, there’s nothing wrong with opting for plastic surgery. For example, undergoing abdominoplasty, also known as tummy tuck, will effectively remove and tone your sagging skin in the stomach area. If this is what you need to retrieve your self-esteem, feel free to go for it. You can also engage in some confidence-boosting exercises that include self-encouraging mantras. As you meditate, say sentences such as I’m beautiful, I’m strong, I love myself out loud and let them sink in.

In essence, you will find the confidence that you need within yourself. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t use other means to help you find it. Taking proper care of yourself and loving your body enough to make levelheaded decisions about plastic surgeries will put you at the top of the world. And rocking a bikini will be both natural and comfortable.

Written by: Claire Hastings

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Feeding Your Face with Elemis Superfood

Posted on November 17, 2016

If your diet includes less kale and more Krispy Kreme you’ll be very aware of the fact that when it comes to skin health, you are what you eat. Diet choices are directly linked to breakouts, dark circles and fine lines, so what’s a girl to do when she doesn’t want to sacrifice her burger habit for the sake of her beauty regime? Enter, the Elemis Superfood Range. With a line-up of ingredients that would have even the most obsessive clean-eating advocates standing to attention, this new launch from the spa-centric brand focuses on nourishing your face with the perfect balance of radiance-promoting superfoods.

Containing (deep breath) broccoli, poppy, cucumber, macadamia, rice bran, daikon radish, roseship, flax and meadowfoam seed oils (phew!), the cleansing wash and luxury oil contain every nutritional essential you need to fake your way to good genes. Flooding your complexion with omega rich extracts not only has an instant effect, giving your skin a fresh glow after the first application, but, applied twice daily, is clinically proven to reboot the texture of your epidermis and balance the pH level, leaving you with a fresh, glow-from-within radiance that will have everyone convinced you’ve never skipped your greens.

The Power of 9:

Broccoli Seed Oil
Poppy Seed Oil
Cucumber Seed Oil
Macadamia Oil
Rice Bran Oil
Daikon Radish Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil
Flax Seed Oil
Meadowfoam Seed Oil

Superfood facial oil: Dhs378 Available across a range of spas in the GCC.

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The Beauty Secrets of Alpha-H Skincare

Posted on November 10, 2016

So i’m not very good normally when it comes to a regimented skincare program. I often change up my cleansers and moisturisers, brand for brand, and I will admit to having used hand soap as make-up remover in the past too 🙈. I’m definitely more of a judge-a-product-by-their-packaging/celeb spokesperson kinda gal. Normally.

This is when Alpha-H caught my eye… known for stocking only the most niche products, it was their Harvey Nichols Dubai base that I was drawn to first. A proudly Australian owned and operated brand, Alpha-H is now a globally recognised skincare line.

They brand themselves as a cosmeceutical company, featuring corrective and preventative skincare, and claim to be leaders in exfoliation, resurfacing and skin renewal. Alpha-H likes to ‘bridge the gap between the beauty counter and invasive treatments’. Which suits me perfectly as my skin often needs a little pharmacology, fluctuating between a 16 year old and a 60 year old, depending on how much time i’ve spent in the sun.

Their products work on an effective delivery systems, which infuses the skin with active ingredients by adjusting the pH to stimulate action at a deeper layer of the epidermis. Their best selling product is their resurfacing treatment ‘Liquid Gold’ which has become a bit of a “cult” classic – one is sold every minute!

The nicest thing about this beauty routine is that it feels like i’m putting in minimal effort and there’s absolutely zero downtime, yet it’s a proper skincare treatment.

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You Can Never Have Too Many Facials….

Posted on September 22, 2015

What a week it’s been! Busy doesn’t even cut it, so when the opportunity to try out one of Biolite’s many treatments presented itself, I jumped at the chance to help my weary skin with a PSF facial. Created and named after Dubai’s favourite twins, the ‘Pintsized fashionistas’, I did wonder if this facial would be able to thoroughly aid my (slightly older) and more sensitive skin. But this facial really is a great way to wake up, feel rejuvenated and totally cleansed. Bursting with freshness and using only natural products, I was treated to a deep cleanse, steam, skin balancing and an overall totally blissful experience.

You’re taken step by step through a thorough deep cleansing (extraction) & exfoliation using a pineapple based scrub, then you’re massaged and a cleansing mango mask is applied. Finishing the facial, a fruity scented moisturizer made up of apricot and beeswax leaves you feeling completely refreshed. As it’s full of active ingredients like pure pineapple enzymes, fresh mango and strawberry cells, it’s recommended for all skin types too.

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💅 #TEAMBEEM 💅

Posted on September 16, 2015

#TEAMBEEM

Dubai has a new piece of tech that will literally change your life ladies… no longer do you have to have that embarrassing phone call about which bikini wax you’d like in the middle of your office, speaking like a ventriloquist and willing the receptionist to understand your request telepathically. My VERY clever (and brave) sister has ventured into the world of tech, after working in the women’s fashion and beauty sector here for 5 years, and watching women suffer in silence.

I know I am notoriously last-minute with my maintenance requirements, often begging to sit on the floor of a salon if it means I can get in for a touch up that evening. BEEM takes all of that stress away from you, by helping to geo-locate salons for easy access.

So what is BEEM? It’s a very clever and easy to use APP that allows you to pick from the top 6 services; mani, pedi, eyebrows, eyelash extensions, wax and blow dry. You then get to pick 3 time slots for that day or the day after. As they have the BEST salons already signed up, you can choose from a chain you prefer, or find some that are closer to you and select one of them. There are also featured salons, which is great if you don’t know your way round the city’s hotspots yet. Once you’ve chosen, BEEM will search for availability, and the available slots will be pinged back to you for you to confirm your selection.

Download BEEM free BEEM, to use its one-stop beauty concierge service that takes all the embarrassment out of your bookings.

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The Mermaid Treatment

Posted on August 25, 2015

I’ve been feeling a little bit blue lately, mainly because my weekend travel trips have come to a bit of a stop due to moving house last weekend (#priorities)… with work being so busy at the moment too, i’ve been long overdue for a little R&R.

I guess there’s only one way to cure feeling blue and that’s to go green! So there’s no way I could resist a SOH Dubai mermaid treatment!I mean, its green goo-ey goodness is actually a skin revitaliser – nourishing and oh-so-squishy! Followed by a salty scrub that removes any dryness.

The clay hand wrap then helps to moisturise the skin back to baby softness… And voila! You’ve got beautifully supple hands again (for the first time in a long time!)

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Beauty Insider: The Anti-Free Radical Treatment

Posted on May 28, 2015

Recommended: The Anti-Free Radical Facial Treatment

Where: Tips ’N’ Toes, Al Barsha branch

It’s been a long time since I had a facial – I’m talking at least a year!

I have been able to balance my skin with a combination of Bioderma products for the last couple of years and my fear was always that if I had a facial – I could potentially unbalance that chemical mixture. Having had facials in the past, I knew that a certain amount of redness and after effects were inevitable, but to this day, my skin still feels moisturised, and no redness at all!

The Anti-Free Radical Facial is a treatment for dull, dehydrated skin, combining high potency vitamin C, E and D to seal in hydration and refine the skin, it really is the perfect facial for all of us who’s skin is subject to those harsh sun rays, (I’d been at Dreamland enjoying those the day before).

After a make-up removing cleanse and pore opener with a steamer, I dreaded the pain that the pore cleaner can bring, but I was pleasantly surprised, there was minimal stinging and from the look of my skin now, maximum effect. She really went to town on my face too! After the cleansing, came the moisturising… eye pads and a gauze later, my face was covered in a fast-hardening paste. After a quick nap (it was far too relaxing) I woke to the mask being lifted off as the light flooded back in again.

All the massaging and moisturising was followed by a final round of cream, to seal in the hydration, and I was off home shortly after. I made sure to sleep in the moisturisers they had put on, so that I didn’t wash off any of that goodness. The next morning I went make-up free and felt like my skin was literally glowing.

I’d advise having this facial at the end of your day so that you aren’t tempted to touch, prod and stroke your face (reducing the risk of dirt being deposited back into your pores).

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