5 ways to have your cake and eat it too!

Spoil yourself with a slice - just follow these tips to avoid piling on excess kilos.

1) Stay away from cakes with cream fillings. The fat content of these really bumps up the kilojoules.

2) Choose Madeira cake. It is sweet yet contains less fat than fancy iced varieties.

3) Do not kid yourself that carrot cake counts as one of your vegetable servings for the day. Even without normal cake icing, this variety is very high in kilojoules and fat.

4) Fruitcake without icing is lower in kilojoules than iced ones, plus it has a relatively low glycemic index(GI), so it will keep you feeling full for longer.

5) Believe it or not, a slice of plain chocolate cake can actually be lower in fat and energy than a chocolate brownie.

Santa's Little Saver - Have a Merry debt-free Christmas!

Every year, many people spend when they simple could not afford it. And it all seems to happen in the last few weeks before Christmas. Suddenly, we remember that present we forgot, we give in to kids' demands for an iPod, we buy new clothes to wear on Christmas Day.. and that little plastic devil - the credit card - let us delay the worrying "until next year". However with credit card interest rates at such high levels, the debt for some people only gets worse. What can you do?

Know how much you can afford to spend on shopping to avoid a financial drama.

Prevention is the best cure

Here are a few rules you should cut out and keep in your wallet over the next few weeks.

- Arm yourself with a list to avoid a stressful and expensive holiday shopping season. You will be able to avoid hours of aimless browsing for gifts and would not be tempted to overspend.

- Say no to the kids if you are unable to afford the gift there and then. Educate the kids. Stay firm. Explain why they could not have all the latest gadgets.

- Pay for item with cash only. Before you make a purchase, try to bargain for a better deal, particularly when you have cash. Saving a few dollars helps the bottom line.

- Use a debit card rather than a credit card.

- Take your credit card out of your wallet before shopping, to stop the impulse purchase. If you need to use your credit card, make sure you can afford to pay the balance in full before the due date. Use the best card. 

- Set a budget for the gifts.

- Start planning for next year by saving with each pay packet over the whole year. 

- There is nothing nicer than receiving a quality Christmas card. The only problem is they can be expensive. Buy them in the post-Christmas sales and put them away for the next year.

How to beat the winter blues?

The weather is getting chilly and holiday cheer is in the air, but some of us are not excited that winter is rolling in. Here are some tips on how to stay upbeat.

1) Nothing brightens the mood quite like a few rays of light. Sunlight not only helps with mood, it helps with vitamin D production too.

2) Whenever possible, surround yourself with positive people. Chances are you will get their positive vibes.

3) Pamper yourself. Whether it is going to the spa or just taking a warm bath with a good book, try to find things that uplift your mood and ease your stress. A manicure and pedicure can go a long way.

4) Exercise is one of the best ways to fight the winter blues. It does not have to be vigorous. A short walk or a friendly match of Wii tennis will do. Just fifteen minutes a day is all you need.

5) Alcoholic beverages may make you feel good momentarily, but they actually add to depression and anxiety. You get a boost and then you pay a huge price afterward. Therefore, avoid falling for the temporary fix.

6) Laughter is one of the best nonprescription medications that you can get. I helps everything: It helps your immune system, it helps get rid of stress, it directs your energy to a different place. So, reach for your favorite comedy now.

Go for Shine and Sheen this holiday season!

For Gleaming lids like Rihanna:

Keep sparkle close to the lash line or inner corner of the eyes to brighten and dazzle.

For Lustrous lips like Paris Hilton:

Shimmer, frost and sparkle textures make lips appear fuller.

For Shimmering skin like Katherine Heigl:

Dust shimmer beneath your brow and along the top of your cheekbones for a candlelit glow.

For Glittering fingertips:

Lighten up dark holiday nail shades by layering on an iridescent or sparkly top coat. 

Other tips to take note:

- Team your sparkle with matte textures to keep a mod, sophisticated look.

- Shy away from products that look like chunky craft glitter.

- Do not add sparkle to more than two features at once and play down the rest of your makeup.

- If sparkle is too much for you, try shimmer or metallic shades instead. 

Windows to your soul

Using liquid eyeliner can be daunting, but it is such a gorgeous, glamorous look. Practice using these tips and you will soon be applying eyeliner like a pro:

1) Apply the liner with your eyes open and use it on the upper lid only.

2) Tilt your head back about 30 degrees and look at the mirror. You might want to rest your elbow on a table to stabilize your arm. Pull your lid away from your eye very gently using one or two fingers, then apply eyeliner from the inner corner to the outer, getting as close to the lash line as possible.

3) Try using short, feathery strokes if one solid line is too hard to start. You can always go back and fill in the dots.

Using pencil:

Start from the outside and draw towards the inner corner, as you tend to apply more pressure from the start and the outer corner should have a thicker line.

Using gel:

1) As gel liners dry fast, you must act fast.

2) Use a slanted brush or flat-tip brush. 

3) After dipping into the eyeliner, dab off the excess.

4) When applying eyeliner, avoid excess dragging to get a clean line.

To note: Keep plenty of cotton buds and eye make-up remover on hand to correct mistakes.

There are many ways to make your eyes look bigger. Lining the inner rims with a white pencil is a tried and true method of really making them appear wider and brighter. Lashes are the next stop - they are a great eye opener. Before applying mascara, make sure you give them a good curl from the base to the tip. It is also better to keep eye-shadow light and sheer. Avoid dark shades as they will cause your eyes to recede and appear smaller. Highlight the brow bone and add a soft wash of color to the lid.

You have Oily Skin ?

Are you using the right facial cleanser ?

More often than not, facial cleanser are mostly the essential part to our body wellness or rather our image.


Too much oil will put us in these following situations

- use plenty of blotter ( the so-call oil remover )
- washing our face 5-6 times a day with facial cleanser ( just to remove the oil )
- put on thicker make-up and always touch up with plenty of loose powder

Above solutions mentioned are HARMFUL and would create more oil on our face.

If you find that your face is getting more oily,
NEVER do the steps as mentioned above
Because these would worsen the situation

Our face actually has the thinnest layers of skin among all areas, especially our eyes.


These are the symptoms you should look out for if you have excessive oily face.
- oil bubbles around eyes area
- face is over shiny

Due to the humidity / weather in Southeast Asia, i would recommend the following solutions to oily face:
- Wash your face with cleanser NOT MORE THAN twice / thrice a day !
- USE ONLY normal tissue to dap your face instead of blotter !
- DO NOT use moisturising cream excessively.
( For Southeast asia weather, use only at night, before you sleep )

- Dap your face with tissue to remove oil before touching-up with loose powder.

Here are the reasons,

The more loose powder you use to cover your oily face would make your skin breath harder for more oxygen. The oil on your face is actually to protect your skin, if your face finds that the oil is being removed too fast, they would create more oil the next time.

So imagine you remove oil very fast once your face starts to oil and protect themselves, they would then be signaled to give out more oil. I have a cousin that actually washes her face 6 times everyday and use the blotter excessively to blot her face from oil every 1 hour. And the oil layer on her face grew fast enough to fry an egg every 1-2 hours !

So i advise her that she should wash the oil off with water or just gently clean or dap them with tissue paper instead. The faster you remove the oil, the Oiler it gets !


Knowing how our body functions is very important. Before you know you're doing them good, they actually are malfunctioning by the way you handle them ! Also drink plenty of water to moisturize your skin instead of letting your skin to generate more oil to moisturize themselves.

Taking care of your tools

To keep your brushes in top condition, experts recommend that you clean them regularly. Leave them to dry on their sides - NOT standing up, as water will drip down and rot the wood.

Chocolate myths busted!

Myth 1: Chocolate makes you break out.
Acne is caused by a build-up of dead skin cells in your pores, excessive sebum production and certain kinds of bacteria - not by the food you eat.


Myth 2: Chocolate is unhealthy.
A daily serving of dark chocolate may be good for blood pressure and insulin resistance. A bar of chocolate contains as much antioxidants as a glass of wine.


Myth 3: Chocolate is high in caffeine.
A milk chocolate bar has 6mg of caffeine, while a cup of instant coffee has up to 108mg of caffeine.

Is it time to move on?

Have you been thinking about this question? Maybe it is time to reflect on your relationship. Here are some pointers to start with:
-When you do not feel pleasure and joy in your relationship, and you feel like the effort seems too much to make it work, talk to your partner. Communicate and find out why you are feeling this way. Give both of you a chance to work things out.
-A relationship is like a love bank. You have to make deposits. Positive things which you do for your partner are deposits. When you have an argument, that is withdrawal. As long as there are more deposits than withdrawals, the bank has a positive balance, the relationship can be sustained.
-Emotional abuse is more common than physical abuse, as it is harder to recognize. When your partner puts you down and does not care about your feelings, he is emotionally abusing you. Being in a relationship means giving each other support and encouragement, not making you feel less than you should feel.
-As we move on in life, expectations of a partner may change, like your goals and values. Always communicate your feelings to your partner and work out from there.

Pamper your hands..

Due to constant exposure to water, detergents, wind, air-conditioning and sun, our hands lose moisture and elasticity. Therefore our hands deserve the same treatment, if not more, as our face and body.

In order to keep the skin on the backs of your hands soft and smooth, exfoliate the area regularly. This will prevent them from aging prematurely. You can also apply a relaxing mask to the back of your hands, along your fingers and down to the base of the nails. Carefully hold your hands over a bowl of hot water, so the steam can activate the mask. Then wipe away and moisturize. Use an intensive hand cream that will give long-lasting hydration and improve the appearance of your skin and nails.

While cuticle creams and oils are a must to avoid painful hangnails and dry cuticles, some people have rough skin all round the tips of their fingers. You can slather the oil or a very thick moisturizer over the skin and slip your hands into some soft cotton gloves. You may also want to wear the cotton gloves while doing your household chores, just until your skin heals.

If you love long nails and cannot bear it if you split or tear one, then a repair kit is a must-have. Square sides help to reinforce the fingernails and prevent splits and breakage.

A good start to strengthening weak nails from the inside out is to eat foods rich in protein and calcium. However while waiting for the new diet to take it's effect, try one of the fantastic topical treatments that can turn severely damaged nails into strong, sturdy talons.

I am sorry...

Hi all, I have to apologize for our 'down' website - http://www.littledreamerinc.com/. I know that it has been down for the past few days, and you ladies are waiting patiently for it to return. Our web-masters have been working very hard to solve the problem. I promised that we will get the website back as soon as possible. In the meantime, really appreciate all your concerns and enquiries that were coming in, and coming back to our site to check on it. A big hug to all of you. Now back to working on the site. See you soon!

Think color

Choose foods with strong flavors and you are more likely to stick to your healthy eating plan. Bland diet foods leave you feeling unsatisfied and deprived, leaving you psychologically hungry even when you are full.

The more colors on your plate, the more vitamins. Your body will continue to crave until its vitamin, mineral essential fatty acid quota is satisfied. Think tomatoes, avocados, citrus, salmon, broccoli etc.

Spicy foods make a meal more satisfying, so less seems like more. Chilli, ginger and black pepper also boost your metabolism, which raises the body temperature so you will burn more energy for up to three hours after eating.

When it comes to carbohydrates, think brown. White versions have been processed, which essentially means they are partially digested before they reach your plate. Unprocessed versions like brown rice, wholegrain bread and wholemeal pasta keep you fuller for longer bacause they keep your body busy for longer.

Trim the fat from all meats and marinate them in tasty low-fat homemade marinades such as soy and grated ginger, lemon with thyme and chilli. The marinade keeps the meat moist without the fat when grilling or barbecuing.

Seafood is filling, flavorsome and low in saturated fat. White fish and shellfish are virtually fat free, while oily fish such as salmon and mackerel are high in omega-3 fat, essential for a happy mind and a healthy body. Grill or poach fish and serve with lemon and pepper.

Healthier ways to BBQ

Holiday session is coming and many chalets and bbqs to attend. Just a little reminder when you are barbecuing:

Cooking meat over an open flame creates chemicals long suspected of increasing cancer risk. According to two new studies, eating barbecued red meat may raise the risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in post-menopausal women. Take these tips to heart:

-Scrape off any charred portions, which contain many of the chemicals believed to lead to cancer.
-Keep the temperature lower to lessen the smoke and flames that reach the food and raise the barbecued racks.
-Flip with tongs or a spatula - a fork pierces food, releasing juice and fat that lead to flare-ups.
-Choose skinless chicken and fish. They do not appear to raise cancer risk.
-Microwave meat before barbecuing to reduce time over the charcoal and use an oil-free marinade to hinder the formation of cancer-causing chemicals.
-Make kebabs with fruits and vegetables, which do not form harmful chemicals when flame-cooked.

Happy eating!!

Tool of the trade

A good lip brush will banish two great make-up sins - harsh liner and crooked lipstick. You will get a better result if you apply color with a brush because you can blend the liner into the main shade and get a smoother finish - plus you will be able to dig out that last bit of lipstick from the tube. Use your lip brush to apply concealer too - after a thorough cleaning, of course!

Do you know...

Most cleansers, moisturizers and exfoliators for men are all right for women to use. Male and female skincare products are quite similar in terms of main active ingredients. The only differences are in the fragrance, menthol or slightly higher concentrations of some ingredients. You can use his products when staying over. However, do take note that prescribed skincare products should not be shared.



You do not have to pack your own skincare now. Isn't that great?

Too much Laundry Detergent

Just as recent, i had found out something that everyone of us had been facing with everyday. Something regarding our daily needs, which is washing our inner wear.

Have you ever face these?

- frequent discharge

- irritation / itchiness

- for no reason it's like puking too much.

Sometimes we'll be thinking if we had washed them correctly (Is it clean enough?).

Improper handling and washing of our inner wear directly causes us to react to what we had done.

Washing with excessive laundry detergent leaves chemical residue in our inner garments when not properly rinse. Building our "dear sisters" to react adversely to these chemicals can caused them to fall sick easily. because the residue left by our laundry detergent is not properly rinsed off !

So i URGE all of you to wash your inner garments gently and rinse with plenty of water and few drops of laundry detergent would do. Instead of pouring a capful of laundry detergent or powder just to wash a few pieces of garments.

Sometimes when you're overseas, it'll be good if you could use body soap to wash them and rinse them thoroughly with water. Body soap / shower foam are specifically designed for our body and are actually good washing agents for our inner garments. Due to fact that our inner garments is directly in contact to our flesh and into our inner body.

Bear in mind also. Do not soak your inner garment in laundry detergents for too many days. Our body just can't take that many strong chemicals.

This tip would generally allow help you in understanding why is our "dear sisters" falling sick so frequently.

So from now onwards, plenty of water to rinse and a few drops of detergent is more than sufficient ! Do let me know if it improves the situation ! I didn't know about this either until someone share this with me.

I'm back...

Hi all, sorry I had not blogged for awhile.. Had been busy working.. the usual... :) despite the busy schedule, I had not stopped in sourcing out good products to be brought in here. And I sincerely appreciate all your patience and understanding. Do continue to show your support for Little Dreamer Inc. Stay tuned! 

Nature's remedies to zap everyday ailments

Cystitis - Cranberry
Cystitis occurs when bacteria attach themselves to the lining of the bladder and develop into an infection. Women suffer with cystitis tend to have "sticky" bladder walls, and an acidic chemical compound found in cranberries seems to prevent bacteria from getting a hold. A daily dose of unsweetened cranberry juice can significantly reduce the number of infections over a year.


Fatigue - Ginseng
Unlike caffeine, which causes a spike then a slump in our blood sugar levels, ginseng encourages the body to use up energy stores from the carbohydrates we have previously consumed. Ginseng is an adaptogen, which means it boosts energy levels and endurance without leaving you feeling jumpy, tetchy or giddy. Diabetics should use ginseng only under supervision.

IBS - Probiotics
Symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) include diarrhea, indigestion, gas, constipation and cramping which may be caused by an imbalance of healthy gut bacteria, or probiotics. Good bacteria such as acidophilus help the digestive tract work properly, but sometimes, the balance is tipped, especially after a course of antibiotics or time of stress. Taking a probiotic supplement can significantly help to re-balance the healthy bacteria in the gut. Probiotics can also boost immunity, making you less susceptible to bugs.

Food cravings - Chromium
Chromium works with insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, reducing cravings for sweet foods and potentially helping weight loss. Oysters, whole grains and potatoes are all good sources. Modern farming methods however, mean trace minerals such as selenium and chromium have been virtually eliminated from our soil, so you may need a supplement as well.

PMS - Agnus Castus ( also known as Chasteberry)
Sore breasts, irritability, spots, depression and bloating are all common symptoms of PMT (premenstrual syndrome). In a recent study, these symptoms were found to be significantly reduced by taking agnus castus. PMS can be caused by an excess of the hormone prolactin and the agnus castus fruit suppresses the release of the hormone from the pituitary gland.

Why be a member of Little Dreamer?

Little Dreamer Inc gives you 5 good reasons why you should be a member!

1. Free membership
Free registration to become a member of Little Dreamer Inc in order to enjoy a life time of benefits without any membership fees involved.

2. Membership Discount
All members of Little Dreamer Inc will have member discount when doing a purchase in our e-store. The discount amounts depend on the membership level.

3. Free Delivery
All members of Little Dreamer Inc can now enjoy free local delivery via normal mail for any purchases, generously sponsored by our partner, Dreambox Recording Studio!

4. Be Rewarded!
Earn spell points for any purchases with us. Accumulated points can be use to either level up your Dreamer level or exchange for vouchers or gifts! (Coming soon!)

5. Birthday discounts!
Celebrate your birthday with a whopping 20% discount when purchasing during your birthday week.

Ladies, you should go for this!

I had my first jab of Cervarix - a pure cervical cancer vaccine (injection) designed to protect females against the diseases caused by infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18, which is account for about 70% of cervical cancer.




Throughout her life, every woman is at risk from the virus that causes cervical cancer. There are more than 100 different types of HPV viruses but only a few of them actually causes cancer. Majority of the HPV infections will be cleared naturally by the body without any need for treatment over the course of a few months.


Persistent infection with HPV is what causes changes to the cells in your cervix that could develop into cervical cancer.


The virus is transmitted through genital skin to skin contact so it can affect any woman, regardless of her age or lifestyle. Sexual intercourse is not necessary to be infected. Even when some women had only one or two sexual partners in their lifetime, they may be at risk an HPV infection throughout their life.


Cancer-causing HPV infection is not commonly associated with any signs or symptoms, this means that the virus can be spread without women knowing it.


Therefore, pap smear and vaccination can significantly reduce the risk.


In Singapore, the vaccine, no matter which brand, is being recommended for women aged 10-25. You may have notice that this rule does not apply in other countries like UK. I have asked this question to my doctor, she told me that the reason is that studies were being conducted on women within this age group - 10 to 25, when this age group is the most possible group of people who are not sexually active and not exposed to HPV at all. The risk of HPV begins in young girls who are starting their puberty, and continue throughout their life. The ideal time to vaccine against HPV is prior to exposure to HPV infection, therefore it means before the first sexual intercourse.


And of course, for commercial purposes, the company can only recommend the drug to the age group that was tested on.


According to my doctor, when the vaccine is first introduced, a blood test was needed to check the woman has HPV. After the blood test, the woman can then go for the vaccine. Then the authorities realised that it was a waste of time and money. Therefore they took away the blood test.


Studies have shown that some women who had previously been exposed to HPV type 16 and 18 and had cleared the infection, were subsequently being protected. Even if you are over the age of 25, you can still go for the vaccine.


Go for it now! 3 Jabs - 1st jab anytime, 2nd jab one month after the 1st, 3rd jab six months after the 1st. It's easy. Each jab costs about 190 bucks.

How often should I exfoliate?

Exfoliating regularly will give you brighter looking skin and allow products to penetrate more easily. How often you exfoliate your face depends on the coarseness of the granules - superfine can be used daily, and products with larger grains should be used about twice a week. Three time a week is good for your body - apply the scrub to dry skin before showering. Your scrub will be more effective and go further. Always use rubbing motions towards your heart, it helps expel toxins.

Do your part, a little everyday.

We can do our part in saving the planet and money with these simple steps.

1) You can use less cotton pads and still apply toner effectively. Use lotion in spray bottles, or apply it with your hands.
2) Cut the base of the container to get the last bit of the product for two or three more uses before throwing it.
3) If you find that the new product which you just bought does not really suit your skin, pass it to someone who may be suitable.
4) Recycle and reuse the empty containers whenever possible.


Let's all start to play our part.

www.littledreamerinc.com - More wishes come true!

Your complete guide to Little Dreamer Inc’s new site and policies


Little Dreamer is pleased to announce the official opening of our new site where we offer more and better services to all our loyal members!

All improvements were decided after analyzing our members’ habits by professional analyzers and to implement the appropriate solution!

This guide is to help you to familiarize with our new functions/policies and how you can better enhance your shopping experience with Little Dreamer Inc!


What’s new?

a) Free Delivery

The moment of waiting is over! Courtesy of our official partner, Dreambox Studio, all delivery charges will be subsidised by them which means no matter how many items you purchase from now onwards, you will not longer need to fork out on the delivery fee!!!! A million thanks to Dreambox Studio!

b) Log in and password

In order to allow the purchasing process to be more user friendly, we now require our members to log in using their unique user ID and password. In this way, you will not need to send email to us for purchase (the old practice) anymore! After log in, you can select whichever item you like and order on the spot! Isn’t that easy?

For already registered members, you will receive an email with a random password and userID. That will be your log in ID and password. You can then log in and change your password.


c) Real life stocks update

All stocks quantity will be automatic updated and shows it availability.

d) Wish List

If you are still in a dilemma on which item to buy, have no worries! You can now store your favourite items in your wish list and refer back anytime in future!

e) Insurance

Our insurance policy still stands and insurance cost is still kept at $1 per item.

f) New points system

We have a new points system with better rewards.

So do visit us now and feel the new buying experience!
If you are still new, do register now for a free account!

Meanwhile, our blogspot site will still be in use for updating of self improving and grooming tips.
It's like your daily magazine! So do bookmark both sites now!

Cheers!!

Reflection

Although we should not broad over the bad times or painful experiences, we should not ignore them completely as well. Do take some time to reflect on these thoughts, learn from the mistakes and then move on as a better person, and be ready to face any challenges that may come.

Chocolate's good

Chocolate-loving (and eating) men are in better health than those who do not like it, say researchers. Over a period of five days, a group of healthy young men (half liked chocolate, half did not) ate the same foods, plus a choice of bread or chocolate. Blood and urine tests showed the chocolate lovers processed fatty foods better and had lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. So, indulging on occasion may have long-term health benefits - but, only when paired with an otherwise healthy diet and lifestyle.



So grab your boyfriend now and feed him some chocolate! Make him feel good too!

Food numbers to avoid

Some artificial food colors and additives can make children hyperactive and distracted, according to recent studies. Now the Food Standards Agency (FSA) wants six food colorings to be voluntarily withdrawn by food manufacturers in the UK by next year, rather than wait for an EU ruling, which the FSA says could take years.
The six yellow, orange and red colorings are: sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red (E129). They are found in a wide variety of soft drinks, sweets, lollies, cakes (including birthday cake icing), biscuits, milkshakes and even savory products, such as mint chutney and mushy peas.

Ten tips for eating well without having to diet

1) Eat for pleasure and good health, not for weight loss.
2) Start the day with oats and you will not be hungry for hours.


3) Eat more fish, chicken, vegetables and salads, and less red meat, pork, pasta, pastry and potatoes.
4) Use a plastic squeezy bottle for olive oil and sauces - it helps you use less.
5) Use yoghurt instead of cream.

6) Snack on fruit and nuts instead of chocolate and crisps.
7) Steam instead of grill, grill instead of roast, roast instead of fry, shallow-fry instead of deep-fry.
8) Eat carbs like pasta and potatoes for lunch instead of in the evening.
9) Drink better, drink less, and drink only with the evening meal.
10) If you really want something, enjoy it without guilt, then lighten up the next day.

Protecting yourself

Do you know that 80% of skin ageing is caused by sun damage? Even more so for us, Singapore is so near to the Equator. That’s why we must start protecting our skin from the UV rays. Do not just apply sunscreen once, before you go out into the sun. Especially if you are staying out in the sun for a whole day, you have to reapply the sunscreen. Remember that you are being exposed to the UV rays even when walking to the bus stop, or just sitting in a cab on your way home.

Apply It Right

a) For an average adult body, the right amount of sunscreen is 30ml – a full shot glass.
b) One tablespoonful of sunscreen should provide enough cover for the face and neck.
c) Shake the bottle well before using the sunscreen.
d) It takes about 15 minutes for the sunscreen to absorb and start working so apply it before going out into the sun.



e) Reapply sunscreen every two hours if you are swimming or perspiring loads.
f) Do take note of these areas: eyelids, scalp, upper lip, ears and the tops of your feet. They burn most easily. Apply on them first so that you do not miss them out.
g) When the sunscreen feels comfortable on your skin, does not cause irritation or breakouts, suits your skin type and your activities, you are more willing to wear sunscreen daily.
h) Apply sunscreen last, on top of all other skin care so that there is less dilution of active ingredients and skin is better protected.
i) Do not forget to apply sunscreen on your lips. Use a lip balm with SPF under your lip color, or use a lipstick with UV filters.

When you know that you are well-protected, you can enjoy your activities even more!!

Good food for you and your body.

• Vitamin A – used by the epithelial cells found in skin, other areas like the respiratory system as a signal to “switch on”, and direct the genes to produce new cells to make your skin look fresh and glowing.
Source: Spinach, cheese, milk, yogurt, orange, red and yellow vegetables like carrots, pink grapefruits and dark green leafy vegetables.


• Omega-3 fatty acids – helps with passage of nutrients into cells, and have anti-inflammatory properties. These help to reduce the cell-damaging inflammation produced by the body in response to UV-induced tissue damage. Fatty acids are also nature’s sunblock as they act as a natural shield against the sun.
Source: Salmon, fresh tuna, mackerel, sardines, flaxseed and walnuts.




• Selenium – maintains the health of skin cells. The skin-benefiting antioxidant helps your body to remove free radicals that damage healthy skin cells, making skin cells less likely to suffer from oxidative damage that can increase the risk of cancer. Selenium also works with vitamin E to aid cell growth and boost immune system.
Source: Half-boiled eggs.


• Zinc – promotes cell reproduction and tissue growth and repair. This function is important in keeping skin healthy as skin cells are constantly regenerating. It also works to clear skin by taming oil production, and may be effective in controlling the formation of acne lesions or help those already on your skin to clear.
Source: Oyster shooters, lean meat, shellfish, milk and other dairy products.


• Vitamin C – fights infections and helps wounds heal. I is also responsible to produce collagen and elastin for firm skin. Collagen is the connective tissue that holds skin together, giving you a smooth and plump complexion. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which helps to protect the skin from toxins and help cells that are damaged to regenerate. This means that your skin recovers from the bombardment of the free radicals faster to regain its glow.
Source: Blueberry pie


• Vitamin E – an antioxidant that reduces the damage done to your skin by free radicals, which is a by-product of sunlight, smoke, and pollution. Free radicals eat up collagen and elastin, the fibers that support skin structure, causing wrinkles and other signs of ageing. Vitamin E protects the lipid (fat) membrane of cells against the oxidative damages caused by free radicals.
Source: Almond jelly, plant oils from soya, corn and olive.


• Lycopene – neutralize harmful molecules in the body. It is found in higher concentration in cooked or processed tomatoes, rather than raw ones.
Source: Tomatoes

Treat yourself

‘Make me feel good’ List

Try these little pampering treats to increase your daily feel-good factor.

1) When you are doing the chores, be it cleaning or ironing, burn a scented candle.
2) Don’t save perfume for nights out, treat yourself to a spritz every day.



3) Listen to your favorite music can lift your mood when doing the chores.
4) Make a night special by giving your partner a soothing hand massage.

What shall I wear?

Be it to work, or a wedding, here’s our tips.

1. To work
a) A simple way to add a flash of fashion to your strict dress code is to keep the footwear interesting. Contrasting colors or unusual heels can be fabulous.



b) Classics never go wrong. Invest in a crisp white shirt, leather handbag and well-tailored trousers in grey or navy.
c) To create a groomed and sophisticated air that is ideal for the office, go for neutral tones, soft grey and smooth glossy brown.
d) The shirtdress is simple, pretty and professional. The belted dress flatters all shapes, is elegant and always appropriate.

2. To a wedding
a) If you know that you will need to be on your feet for long, go for solid heels. They will support you and be comfortable at the same time.
b) Dresses always rule. It is so versatile that you can wear it any time, from day-to-evening or church-to-reception. Keep the hemline on-the knee.
c) Over-sized necklaces add punch to pretty cocktail dresses. Go for big and bold necklace to give your outfit oomph.
d) After Sex And The City, clutch bags are in style. They are chic and elegant, and perfect when you need to carry things around.
e) You do not want to steal the bride’s show so keep your outfit simple. Avoid white and black, unless that’s the theme.