Suffering in style

How do you actually suffer in style?

I guess if you have to suffer then you do what you can to at least make yourself comfortable or even smile in the process.

I've compiled a few famous people whom I think did just that - however Mariah Carey seems to win hands down. The babe is just fabulous ke!

 Mariah Carey

 Mariah Carey

 Diane Von Furstenberg

 Hilary Clinton

 Brad Pitt

Theo Walcott

MAC, MIZANI, CLINIQUE in Eko!

Yes we have a MAC shop in Ikeja City Mall (stale news, I sabi, I am not Linda Ikeji!)

Opened a few months back and I hear a Clinique shop will be popping up soon.

There's no specific Mizani outlet but you can get their products at Blush on Tiamiyu Savage, VI

I know we have an emerging (but still small) middle class, but what of the massive sub "emerging middle class", no one seems to be targeting this huge group.

Am I missing a trick here....?

Eat yourself gorgeous!

Ladies we should forget about splurging on lotions, creams etc – the best way to clearer skin and glossy locks starts from within!

Did you know that sweet potatoes are full of antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, which help keep skin looking radiant by sapping free radicals t prevent the skin appearing dull and lifeless.

We all know that zinc is a vital component to healthy nails as it plays an important role in protein synthesis and is necessary for tissue growth. Zinc deficiency has been linked to poor nail growth, white spots and washboard ridges. While all red meat will provide good levels of the stuff, lean beef has the added bonus of being full of protein with very little saturated fat.

And of course – water! It is not the most complicated treatment, but by upping your water intake you can help flush away toxins to give skin a smoother look.

Take note, gorgeous! A

Sunsavers! Found Some ;-)

Okay so I did some digging (investigative journalism shei...)

There are actually some people on t'internet that are actually talking quite a bit about using SPF infused moisturers (phew! I'm not the lone voice here)

The problem is that they are not cheap or rather, cheap enough, but at least thats a start :-)

Even one of our favourite blogs - beauty in Lagos has at least a piece on it

I dont think she'll mind me sharing it - there was a giveaway associated with the write-up but thats closed now

Click here for the piece

Details
SmartShield can be purchased from the following places: Konga.com, Jumia.com, Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Mophet Pharmacy and Medplus with many other locations still in the pipeline
Price: N2500 - N2800 depending on the store

I dont however agree with her explanation of SPF factors - I'll deal with it another time

Rant Time deux!

I've been reading quite a bit lately regarding the need to use SPF infused skin moisturisers for black skin.

I wonder why cosmetic companies don't actively pursue/market this, surely a market size of 100's of millions (africa) should make this viable even with the initial expense?

I'm not too keen on becoming much darker than I already am (I black reach ooo!)

Besides, rainy season or dry season - the sun is working full time all the time with low temperatures meaning mid-20's.

With the increasing size of the African "middle class" surely this should be feasible and also profitable.

Estee Lauder Double Wear - my new favourite foundation!

Estee Lauder - Double Wear fluid

I was wearing this foundation all day today ... woke up at 6am (thank you, my darling son!), had a busy day in the office, then 2 hours on the flight and finally at 11pm got to my hotel room – and my skin still looked fabulous! This foundation has an amazing staying power with no touch-ups required. Literally, my make up looked the same as in the morning and no shininess. What else can a girl ask for??!

Double wear gives you matte finish and keeps your skin breathing comfortably through heat, humidity and activity without changing colour, fading or coming off on clothes. On top of that it has an SPF factor of 10 to protect your skin.

 I normally go for rather lightweight foundations (such as Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua or MAC Face & Body) but this is ideal if you are sleep deprived (like myself ...) and going to have a long day.

So girls, if you are after a good coverage foundation that will stay then I'd definitely recommend Estee Lauder’s Double Wear!

I used my sample today but I am going to treat myself to it tomorrow! It doesn’t come cheap (a bit over 7k Naira) but my skin is worth it!

Homemade facial oil moisturiser!

We recently talked about facial cleansing do's and dont's …

So today let's talk about moisturising and nourishing your gorgeous skin!

I’ve been using homemade blends of oils for the last 10 months now and it really does magic, trust me!

What you need is an ingredient no 1 – this is your base, so called “carrier oil”. I usually go for argan oil and jojoba oil, both great for dry skin. You can also use apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil to just name the few!

Ingredient no 2 – extra nourishing oil. Need some ideas? Try tamanu oil, sea buckthorn oil (super nourishing) or rosehip seed oil (incredibly regenerating, firming and anti-aging properties!). You can also test evening primrose oil. These oils are slightly more pricey but hey, with that price tag comes a beautiful kick in the pants to your troubled skin! 

And finally your ingredient no 3 –an essential oil to add a little bit of flavour.  You only need a few drops of lavender, peppermint or rose oil!

And that’s it! Have fun blending;)

Bloodbath in Alexander Wang Designer Clothes Viewing - No shaking!

Wow!
This just made my day watching this youtube clip.

People are invited to a viewing at a high fashion store in New York. The wait outside several hours then 100 people are let in. The designer then greets them... oya read on

"So happy you could make it here today and thank you so much for waiting," says the brand's founder and creative director Wang in a recorded message shown to the group. "When the door opens you're going to have access to the T by Alexander Wang collection. There's stuff for girls, stuff for guys, some older stuff, some new stuff, some classics. And by the way, everything is free." Cue screams.

"Take as much as you physically can 'cos there are no shopping bags, no shopping carts. I don't care how you take it - it's all up to you. Have fun."

Ghenghen, ... the bloodbath begins even girls are at each others throats to get the free stuff - I wonder how many people actually got their sizes

1,2,3 - Action

Tonight, I give to you ..... the "bralet"!

Continuing on the bra theme.....

I saw this in a fashion magazine and thought, hmmm, this looks suspiciously like a crop top, but, oh boy was I wronggggg.

I had to be re-educated.

These disguised croptops fashion pieces are all the rave in town (well they've been around previously as crop tops) .

They dont have to be skin tight either (though they usually are!). This does make them more versatile though, as they can be worn on their own with trousers, shorts or skirts. They could also be worn underneath a shirt or jacket making them uber versatile.
And I had to mention, own very own mini fashion icon, riri (rihanna) has been spotted wearing one!

I actually think they're pretty cool, as long as they make you feel comfortable wearing them on their own or as part of an attire.

Riri definitely has her own style

looks like something Riri would definitely wear

I'm loving the combination with the trouser

 A bit on the short side for me but goes well with the skirt

I like Nicole Richie's combination - very chique

Chemical peel - a magic wand to solve your skin problems?

I wonder if some of you guys have ever tried this? Some call it a chemical peel, some chemexfoliation or just derma-peeling. Basically, it is a technique to improve the appearance of pigment changes in the skin, acne scars, mild sun damage, or fine wrinkles. 

It’s also meant to reduce dark patches due to pregnancy or taking contraceptive pills.

The chemical peels destroy and remove the upper layers of skin to allow for skin regrowth, improving the look and feel of skin that is dull in texture and colour.

There are different types of chemical peels, depending on how strong a chemical (acid) is used. Superficial peels are the mildest type and usually use glycolic acid.  This peel may slightly reduce but unfortunately :( does not eliminate signs of aging. Medium peels are used to treat mild to moderate wrinkles, long-term sun damage and pigment changes.  And the most extreme, deep peels are used to treat severe wrinkles, long-term sun damage and pronounced pigment changes BUT -and this is very important so take note - deep peels are not done on darker skin types, because they bleach the skin (!!!)

So yes, generally speaking, loads of benefits in terms of improved look of your skin … but remember that although deeper peels result in more dramatic effects, they also entail higher risks, increased pain, and longer healing time. Crusting, scaling and swelling may be common and increased sensitivity to sunlight. And if you guys have a history of herpes outbreaks then you are especially prone to infection after a chemical peel.

So what’s your take on that? I guess it is matter of balancing out …

I will check out a few beauty clinics and then make up my mind:)

That little black dress .... and other things

I actually used to think Coco Chanel invented the "little black dress" until I was re-educated (oh ignorance can be bliss!). But she was instrumental in making it a popular feature in many wardrobes. Simple, short and classic!

Naomi Campbell in the iconic little black dress

By the way, Coco also made women trousers a big thing in he time which has actually continued to today.

Next up, I think has to be Gianni Versace, I think he made most of his clothes for Nigerians (with our equally mad sense of fashion and love of loads of colour). Some of his stuff was way out there but you have to agree that they did stand out.

Vintage 1980's Versace