Friday, 29 April 2011

Is the herbal way the right way?
More and more people are opting to live the herbal life: moving away from chemicals and scientific medicines, and taking traditional herbs to do everything from losing weight to relieving pain. They are often remedies that have been used in communities for hundreds or even thousands of years, and have now been taken for sale worldwide because of the people’s claims about their powers.

The last few decades have seen an explosion in the popularity of herbs and alternative medicine in general, as people increasingly seek miracle cures that can help them when their doctor or regular pharmacy cannot. The connection to traditional communities also appeals to those who want to go back to a more spiritual, myth-based way of life, instead of testing everything in a laboratory. It is also often believed that using herbs instead of chemicals can avoid the potential side effects of putting lots of synthetic substances into the body.

Many people, however, say that herbal remedies are just a load of mumbo-jumbo, designed to sell gullible people some useless plants at premium prices. When the herbs do have some effect, it is put down to them being a placebo. This means that the act of taking the herb that makes you feel like you should feel better, and so you do, even if there was nothing in the herb itself to make that happen.

Most scientists, however, do not hold extreme opinions either for or against the herbal lifestyle, instead preferring to study each herb to see which are useless and which may actually have some benefit. This leads to the situation where many herbal shops stock herbs that have been proven to do nothing side-by-side with ones that do – a situation that is often criticised, with many calling for greater regulation of herbal medicines. Taking the wrong herbs can even be dangerous to some people, especially people who are already taking prescribed medicines.

How To Care For Your Vision
While our society places a great importance on being physically fit, an emphasis is rarely placed on the eyes. It has been said that the eyes are the window into the soul. If they are not cared for correctly, it can be hard to perform everyday activities. Many people who do not care for their vision complain of headaches, burning eyes, or squinting. If you have any of these symptoms, this means that you are not properly caring for your eyes.

The first thing you should understand is that good vision care must be taught. Almost everyone has the potential to have good vision. These days, our eyes are under constant strain. Students in school now read twice the number of textbooks that their parents read when they were in school. The rapid use of computers has led to a society in which many people spend long hours each day looking at a computer screen. For these people, the amount of strain placed on the eyes is considerable.

The thing that many people fail to realize is that the eyes were not designed to constantly look at objects a few feet away from them. Our eyes were designed to enhance our chances of survival in the wild, and this means that our eyes are naturally good at locating enemies and food at a distance. The task of constantly staring at objects a few feet away such as televisions and computers is a very recent phenomenon. Many of the problems people have with their eyes is a failure to adapt to this new environment.

People talk about the importance of personal hygiene, but it is also critical to understand the value of your visual hygiene. If you are staring at an object for long periods of time which is a few feet away, look away from it every now and then. It is also important to have a light on anything you are looking at. If you are reading a textbook, the light on it should be much brighter than the other objects in the room. It is also important to make sure you sit upright when watching tv or sit in front of the computer.

When you read or write, you should be at least 16 inches away from the document.When you watch television, you should sit at least 8 feet away from it. It is also important to engage in outdoor activities every now and then. Playing sports will allow your eyes to focus on objects a long distance away.


How To Buy Perfume That Is Right For You
Buying Perfume can be a very hard decision, especially when you buying that perfume for your friend or lover. Different people will have different choice of perfume. Also each fragrance will produce a different scent on various types of skin. Therefore, when buying perfume we need to do some good research and try it out before you make the final decision.

There are hundreds brands of perfume and thousands of scents available in the market nowadays. If you never bought any perfume before and not sure which perfume will be right for you or your friend, you should check out the Perfume Review website online or ask your friend to see which perfume is popular that most people use it. After that, you can go out to department store to try it on your skin.

Trial and testing Perfume

There are 2 ways that you can try perfume either direct on your skin or spray on the fragrance blotters. Now there is both advantage and disadvantage about these two methods of testing if you only using one method.

By testing on your skin, you will be able to know exactly how does it smell on your skin, but you can't try out too many different types of perfume simply because all the perfume that you try after the first one will mix with the first one and you won't get the correct smell of those fragrance.

By testing on the fragrance blotters, you can spray on different cards and write the name of that fragrance at the back of those cards. But this method of testing won't give you exactly how it smells on your skin either.

The best way is to try on the fragrance blotters first, then choose the smell that you like and try it on your skin, that way you can get the fragrance you like and the right perfume for your skin.

Types of Perfume

There are 4 main different types of perfume. Eau De Cologne, Eau De Toilette, Eau De Parfum and Parfum. They are ranging from the least concentrate to the most concentrate and therefore the different in price.

Eau de Cologne (EDC) is the term used today to refer to a perfume solution with around a 3% compound in an oil and water base. It's the lightest of perfumes and, therefore the least expensive.


Eau de Toilette (EDT) - is a perfume solution with a 3-8% compound in an oil and water base. It is a bit more expensive.

Eau de Parfum (EDP) is a perfume solution with a 10-15% compound.

Parfum is the highest concentration of oils, with 20-50% compound, which makes it last longer than others and the most expensive.

Size of Perfume

Perfume is packed in different sizes. In Europe and USA, perfume usually measures by Oz, in Australia or other countries we measure by ml. 1Oz is equivalent to 30ml (1Oz ~30ml). The most common size usually is 50ml, 75ml or 100ml. If you are buying the fragrance for the first time, you should buy the small bottle to try it out first. If you already wear that fragrance before and you really like it, then go ahead and purchase the big bottle because they are usually best value for money.

There is some small sample called vial on card or vial mini as well, those bottles are usually for trial. It is a good idea for you to buy those trial first to test it out before go ahead to buy a big bottle.

Where to buy Discount Perfume

Now you already know which brand, type and size of the perfume you like and best fit for you. It is time to shop around for the best price available. Nowadays, Perfume Online Stores usually sell perfume at a better price than most of department stores or retail outlet, as they don't have to employ a lot of staff and pay the big rent in the shopping center. Perfume Online Stores also can carry a lot more varieties of brands as well as keep some hard to find perfume.

Buying a right Perfume can be a very hard decision but if you do enough homework I am sure that you will find the best perfume for yourself. Next article, we will share with you on how to wear and store perfume.


How To Avoid The Three Most Common Mistakes With SkinCare
Our skin is our largest organ. It’s living and breathing and it protects your internal organs from the invasive and dangerous elements of life: viruses, bacteria, pollutants, and harsh weather, including the sun.

Many people don’t understand or fully appreciate the role that our skin plays on our overall health and well being. Most of us focus on the end result, which is how our skin looks, rather than the process of reaching and maintaining that appearance through healthy choices. This results in the most commonly made mistakes with skin care:

Not realizing that what you put into your body shows on the outside.
By not maintaining a well-balanced diet of foods and liquids rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins, and by poisoning your system with too many harmful substances such as an overabundance of alcohol or cigarettes, you harm your skin. Too much alcohol can dehydrate your skin and cigarettes deprive it of the oxygen it requires. Supplement your diet with Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) like cod-liver oil or borage, flax & coconut if you’re vegan. And PLEASE drink plenty of water! Add a slice of orange or sprig of mint to spruce up your water drinking experience.

Neglecting your skin when it's young.
The sun and the wind can damage your skin. This damage might not show when you're young, but just like your favorite leather coat, the wrinkles and cracking will show with age. If you treat your leather coat with moisturizers when it's new and continue treating it throughout the years, you can wear that jacket for a very long time without it showing its age. The same goes for your skin. Moisturize it before it shows signs of needing the moisture and it will stay healthier as it ages. Use a heavier crème at night to re-hydrate your skin & assist with repairing cellular degeneration.

Using skin care products that promise instant results.
Most skin products that are manufactured and full of 'instant improvement' guarantees are just full of chemicals and broken promises. And, if you listen carefully most of their marketing campaigns state that they will give you healthy-looking skin, which is a far cry from having skin that's healthy. Use all-natural creams and cleansers when taking care of your skin. Avoid ingredients like mineral oil, alcohol, lanolin & parabens (preservatives).



How To Be Beautiful On A Budget
Gone are the days that you actually have to earn a red carpet income just to look as dazzling. Everyday life doesn’t include glamorous dresses and million dollar diamond earrings, but women still want to feel that beautiful. With the exception of a haircut, you can do most things at home that can be done at expensive nail salons, tanning beds and beauty shops. Best of all, you can achieve the look you want on a budget that you can afford.

Every woman loves the look of perfectly manicured nails, but few have the time or budget to treat themselves to a regular salon visit. For less than $5.00, women can manicure their own nails at home and, with practice, they will look just as fantastic as any professional manicure. A bottle of pure white nail polish, which can cost as little as $2.00, along with a light or sheer basecoat color (usually sheer pink or other neutral shade) will do the trick. Apply the basecoat to the entire nail in 1-2 coats. If the first coat isn’t dark enough, apply a second and allow drying before adding the tip. When using the white nail polish for the tip, it is very important to follow the natural curve of the nail tip when painting. If your nails are short, it may be okay to add a very small tip with the white polish but don’t go overboard. The total cost of two bottles of nail polish may be under $5.00 if you shop carefully and, best of all, these will last long enough to do many at-home manicures. When someone asks where you have your nails done, you can say “at home” with a smile.

Have you ever had a blemish or other skin imperfection? Sure you have, along with everyone else. But, few people know that concealer is not the only way to hide those little flaws that seem to sneak up on us. If you use an all-in-one foundation/powder makeup, you can achieve a smooth and flawless application by dampening the makeup sponge. Before swiping it through the foundation, hold the sponge under running water and squeeze it gently. When the makeup is on the sponge, it will provide better coverage than a typical dry sponge will do. This procedure can flawlessly conceal redness, acne, light freckles, veins, pores, etc.

A lot of individuals suffer with dry, itchy skin. This is true during both the winter and summer months. It can be difficult to select a moisturizer that will also help to ease the pain of dry, cracked skin. Pacquin Plus Dry Skin Cream, which costs $6.00 per 8oz. container, provides instant relief to this problem.

Rather than spending a lot of money on a monthly gym membership, many fitness gurus finds that a daily 30-minute walk will help to burn calories and chase away the blues at the same time. Having always been known as a popular cardiovascular exercise, walking will also help individuals achieve a better overall fitness level without having to worry about other dangers associated with using some types of exercise equipment. Plus, walking is free so you can save the money that would otherwise be spent on a gym membership and buy a swimsuit to show off your new figure.

With a little planning and budget, every woman can look as though she is red carpet ready without spending a fortune. And as for the diamond earrings, go for cubic zirconia instead. They are much less expensive and have no inclusions.

How to Become Top Fashion Designer
You know you're destined to be a fashion designer if you: a) spent most of your childhood making clothes for your Barbie dolls instead of playing with your friends; b) read fashion magazines instead of your school books; c) ran a boutique out of your basement at age 10. In other words: if you want to be the next Yves Saint Laurent, it helps to be completely and utterly obsessed with fashion.

However, there are many aspects of the profession. Working as a fashion designer can just as well mean supervising a design team at a sportswear company as producing a label under your own name. Although the former career may not seem as glamorous as the latter, it certainly will make your life less stressful. To create your own label takes a lot of time, dedication and hard work. Not to mention living just above the poverty line for several years.

Choosing a strategy

There are as many different ways to embark upon a fashion career as there are styles of design. Ralph Lauren's Polo empire was founded on a small tie collection that he sold to Bloomingdales. Helmut Lang decided to open his own clothing store when he couldn't find a t-shirt that he liked. Michael Kors built up a network of customers by selling clothes in a trendy NYC boutique. However, most people find that the best foundation for a design career is to get a fine arts degree in fashion at a prestigious school. Besides teaching you the craft, a good school will also add credibility to your resumé. "We live in a brandname society, and having the name of a good school behind you really does help," says Carol Mongo, Director of the Fashion Department at Parsons School of Design in Paris.

Applying to a school

There are a lot of colleges that have fashion programs, but only a handful has the kind of reputation that can really push your career. It's hard to enter these schools as competition is high, and they tend to be very selective. You apply by sending a portfolio of drawings of your designs. "We can't teach you how to be creative – you have to bring your creativity to us and let us lead you on your way," says Carol Mongo. She recommends students to get some sewing experience before they apply. Drawing is also an important skill for a designer – it is the way you communicate your ideas. In order to build an impressive portfolio it's a good idea to have some experience in sketching; taking art classes will help you understand form and proportion. But you don't have to be an expert drawer to get accepted to a school. "The most important quality that we look for in our students is that they are truly passionate and exuberant about fashion," says Mongo. "If you have wonderful ideas but can't draw, there are always ways to get around it. You could for example put your designs on a mannequin and take pictures of it."

What school will do for you

Most fashion programs are three to four years long. During that time you will take fine arts classes and study drawing, color composition and form. You will also learn pattern making, draping and cutting techniques. One of the most important advantages of design schools is that they work really closely with the industry. Parsons, for example, have "designer critic projects" where successful designers like Donna Karan and Michael Kors work directly with the graduating students. Ambitious students also have the chance to win prestigious awards and grants, which bring them a lot of attention as well as financial support. One very important event is the fashion show at the end of the last semester, when graduating students show their collections. A lot of important people from the fashion industry attend these shows to scout new talent. It's also an opportunity to be really outrageous and get noticed by the media. Hussein Chalayan, for example, became instantly infamous when he showed rotting clothes that he had buried in his backyard for his graduation show at Saint Martins.

Alternative routes

"Let's be realistic," says Carol Mongo at Parsons, "School's not for everyone. If you're just looking to get a job in the fashion industry – not a career as a designer – you probably don't need to go school." If you want to work as a seamstress or a patternmaker, the best thing is probably to apply for an internship at a fashion house and work your way up. However, there are many examples of famous designers who started out as interns with no formal training. For example, Dior's brightest new star, men's wear designer Hedi Slimane, had a degree in journalism when he started working with men's wear designer José Levy. Balenciaga's Nicolas Ghesquière is another example of a brilliantly successful designer who learned the jobs hands-on, as an assistant at Jean-Paul Gaultier. Usually, you apply for an internship by sending a portfolio to a fashion house you're interested in. But it's a good idea to call them up beforehand to see exactly what they need. It's also important to note that competition is fierce, and unless you have personal connections, it's very difficult to get an internship without an education.
There are also designers, like Luella Bartley, who started their own business after working as stylists for several years, thus building an industry network as well as a good marketing sense.

Understanding the business

Unfortunately, it's not enough for a designer to be creative; you also have to have some business sense. As fashion gets more and more corporate driven, it's important to be aware of the business climate and understanding the mechanics behind it. By religiously reading trade papers like "Women's Wear Daily" you will get a lot of valuable information. If you want to run your own company, you need to be extremely organized and learn at least the basics of economics. A lot of fashion schools are currently increasing business classes in their curriculum. "Our students have to be smart enough to know how to negotiate a contract, or to pick a business partner," says Carol Mongo. It's perhaps telling that many of the designers that are really successful today, like Calvin Klein or Tom Ford, are involved in every aspect of the business – from licensing strategies to ad campaigns to actually designing the clothes.








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