Festival Beauty: Hair and Makeup Ideas for Governors Ball

Cross the artist lineup from Coachella with an island in the East River and wildly unpredictable weather and you get Governors Ball. Taking place this weekend on Randall's Island in New York City, it's the music festival for city slickers who don't have flowers to wear in their hair and wouldn't dream of sleeping under the stars. This year, it's going to be 80 degrees and sunny, which means you'll need SPF, sunglasses, and a sweatproof beauty look.

Hair. This mohawk-braid-ponytail hybrid (above) does double-duty: It keeps your hair out of your face all day without falling apart, and it makes you look cooler than everyone else. Here's how to do it:

1. Spray a dry shampoo or texturizing spray all over dry hair to bulk it up as much as possible.

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2. Gather the center four inches of hair at the hairline and tease it, then secure it into a pompadour with bobby pins.

3. Starting with the hair right behind the pompadour, begin braiding an upside-down French braid, crossing pieces under one another rather than over so the braid sticks up as high as possible. As you add sections of hair from the sides of your head, make sure to pull them tight.

4. You can braid down to the nape of your neck if you have shorter hair (or if your arms are starting to cramp) or go all the way to the end. Secure with an elastic and mist with hair spray.

Makeup. Putting on foundation in humid weather always feels a little gross, but Allure editors swear by Shiseido UV Protective Compact Foundation SPF 36 and Eau Thermale Avène High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50 for sticky summer days. They provide light coverage with a matte finish and are small enough to fit in your pocket for touch-ups. And since music festivals are as much about the music as they are about getting photographed—and cool street-style girls always have bold lips—you want a lipstick that won't end up all over your face but doesn't feel dry and tight, either. Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Ruby is a classic, bright red that won't compete with your badass hair.

Pedicure. Birkenstocks are back, and all the fashion-y girls are wearing them in silver. If you're wearing 'em, manicurist April Foreman recommends choosing a cool tone for your pedicure polish. "Gray, blue, and violet look best with silver," she says. Her pick: Essie in Parka Perfect.

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Becoming a hair powder junkie

Like almost everyone, my hair started getting oily when I was in my early teens.

But unlike all the other bad stuff that often comes with puberty, it hasn't gone away.

Back then, the only sure-fire way of "degreasing" was lacing my hairbrush with Johnson's Baby Powder and brushing it through. It worked, but it also left white powder all over my hair and scalp that was impossible to disguise.

Fast forward 20-plus years and every major hair company has at least one dry shampoo in its line-up.

Most are designed to not only remove the oil but also leave hair shiny and smelling like it's been freshly washed.

But while we may be spoilt for choice in terms of options, what I've discovered is that they don't all do a great job.

Some still leave a thick, white powder on your hair (especially noticeable on brunettes) and some just don't get rid of the oil.

Batiste, one of the original dry shampoos on the market, overcame the white powder problem by adding a hint of colour into some of its products. This is the reason the Batiste Dry Shampoo, $17, is still one of my favourites.

The basic principle of these products hasn't changed much since those early baby-powder days, but the application

method has.

Most dry shampoos are now in aerosol form, which means you can spray them directly onto the roots and quickly brush or massage them through to remove the oil.

The often-overlooked added advantage of a good dry shampoo is that it not only refreshes dayold hair, it will also add extra volume and texture. In fact, I'm so accustomed to the extra boost these products give my fine hair that I use them every day - even on freshly washed hair.

A new-found favourite is Davines Hair Refresher, $30. It includes "odour neutralising molecules", and is great if you don't want a fragranced product.

Pureology Fresh Approach Dry Shampoo, $37.50, is another goodie and is specifically designed to prevent

colour-treated hair from fading.

I've had some great results with Schwarzkopf Professional OSIS+ Refresh Dust, $29.40, and also rate Fudge Dry Shampoo, $22.50, but it does require a little more brushing after applying the product to remove any visible powder.

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Celebrities Reveal What Their Mothers Taught Them About Beauty

Whether we like it or not, our mothers are the voice in our heads—murmuring that a skirt is just a little too short, that no matter how tired we are, we really should wash our face before bed, that we must embrace—not pick apart—what we see in the mirror. They were, after all, the first ones who told us we were beautiful (and made us wear sunscreen long before we knew what was good for us). In honor of mother’s day, we asked celebrities and beauty experts to share the most important lessons their mothers taught them about beauty.

“Everything was about blush all the time. Before I’d leave the house, my mom would always say, ‘You need more blush.’ Now I have this thing about blush—I always feel like I don’t have enough color on my cheeks.” —Jillian Dempsey, makeup artist

“My mom was a hairdresser when I was growing up, and she loved experimenting. She taught me that trying new things could be fun, whether it was dyeing my hair or chopping bangs. When you change your look, sometimes you stand a little taller. She also taught me to hold my head up high and make eye contact with everyone I meet. People will feel that energy and be drawn to you.” —Heidi Klum, model and host of Project Runway

“I love my mother, but it was the ’70s, and she sat outside with a sun reflector. So I sort of learned what not to do by watching her. But she is lovely, and she did tell me not to dress like a whore.” —Julie Bowen, actress

“My mother and I were very close. She died when I was 17. She was diagnosed with cancer when I was two, and they gave her six months to live. But she lived for 15 years, so we had 15 years of pure, seize-the-day, don't-let-any-moment-pass time together, and she taught me a hell of a lot. She taught me how to walk in Chanel pumps in fourth grade. She didn't know how long she would live, and she wanted to make sure I knew all the important things. She said to me, ‘OK, I’m going to break the news to you. You’re never going to grow over five feet tall, so you better learn how to walk in heels now, because you’re going to be living in them your whole life.’ So while everybody else was outside playing tag and hide-and-seek, I was doing drills in five-inch pumps, up and down my stairs. To this day, I can outrun any drag queen in platforms on a cobblestone street, no problem.” —Mally Roncal, makeup artist and founder of Mally Beauty

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“Being who you truly want to be—who you truly are—is one of the most important things my mother taught me. I wanted to be a skateboarder when I was 13. Didn’t know how to skateboard, but my mom let me wear a wallet chain and hold a skateboard under my arm and walk around like an idiot because that’s what I wanted to do.” —Kelly Osbourne, TV host

“The most important thing she taught me was to never want to look like someone else or be someone else. She was a ballerina, and she made me dance, and if I danced in a certain style or copied a specific person, she would tell me to dance like myself. She felt that if you knew how to own and respect what you’re given naturally, there’s nothing more beautiful.” —Tracy Anderson, founder of Tracy Anderson Method studios

“I learned that you should just be natural. We’re a very soap-and-water sort of family all the way. My mom is gorgeous, but it was always about how you carried yourself, how you felt about yourself.” —Rosario Dawson, actress

“I had bad acne as a teen, and my mother took it seriously. She brought me to a dermatologist, just like her mother had done for her. A lot of my friends didn’t go because their parents thought, Oh, it’s just pimples; suck it up. But it can really affect your self-esteem.” —Amy Wechsler, dermatologist

“My mother was a feminist. She would have slapped you if you said she was pretty. And she was pretty, but she wasn’t very much into looks or anything like that. She taught me about the mind and the meaning of life. I learned about being a strong woman, and I think that’s more beautiful to me.” —Julie Delpy, writer and actress

“My mother’s biggest thing was ‘Keep it simple.’ She had beautiful, dewy skin, and she would accent it with just black eyeliner and mascara. Even now, she’s 60 and I’m 40, and she gets all the compliments.” —Jeannia Robinette, makeup artist

“My mother taught me that neutrals work best. She loved a no-makeup look but was flawless. She taught me how to do my eyes with brown eyeliner and black mascara. Her tips are so timeless that I still follow them today.” —Aerin Lauder, founder of Aerin

“In the ’90s, I copied Kate Moss’s pencil-line eyebrows. When my mom saw them, she said, ‘If you never listen to anything I tell you again, grow your eyebrows back in.’ And I listened. Now that I’m in my 40s, I know there’s nothing worse than an overplucked eyebrow as you get older. When I meet a model with great brows, I tell her, ‘Hold on to every single one of those precious little hairs.’” —Kate Lee, makeup artist

“She used to say to me, ‘Don’t touch your skin around your face too much,’ ‘Eat the crusts of your bread or your hair will grow curly,’ and ‘Get to bed early so you don’t have bags under your eyes.’ But my mom was a psychologist, so it wasn’t so much beauty tips as, ‘Simone, where is this anger coming from? Let’s get in touch with this anger.'" —Simone de la Rue, founder of Body by Simone

“Two things she told me that I still abide by: Always wash your face at night and use cider vinegar. At the time I thought she was a little nutty about vinegar, because she used it for everything. She would drink it—a teaspoon in water every day—and use it to clean the kitchen. It’s a wonderful antimicrobial, but it also normalizes the pH of the skin. For years I got eczema, and I always used antibiotic creams, but one day she said, ‘Why don’t you put vinegar on that?’ And I did, and it went away, and that’s what I do now. It’s a wonderful trick.” —Jane Iredale, founder of Iredale Mineral Cosmetics

“My mom’s job took her to a lot of college campuses, and she had the opportunity to see all the college girls. At the time I was addicted to the Aussie-Sprunch-spray, two-sets-of-hot-rollers-and-a-perm look, and the best piece of advice she ever gave me was when she said, ‘I’m telling you, all the college girls are wearing their hair straight.’ And she helped me get a straightening iron and do it. I was like five years ahead of the curve.” —Molly Sims, actress

“We’re from Jamaica, and my mother taught me a few local tricks. She taught me that salt water keeps your skin acne-free. We soak a cotton ball in ocean water and wipe it all over our faces. At the end of the summer, we fill up bottles in the ocean to last us the winter. I have one in my refrigerator now, because every once in a while I do get a little acne, and it just sucks it out.” —Sheril Bailey, manicurist

“We lived on a farm, so we always had goat’s milk around. She would put it in my baths to help me with my eczema. I actually created a goats milk cream inspired by that.” —Kate Somerville, aesthetician and founder of Kate Somerville Skin Care

“A smoky eye or a red lip, but never both at the same time!” —Catherine Malandrino, designer

“She always told me to smile with my eyes. I learned that by watching her. And what that meant to her, and now to me, is: To be beautiful is to feel beautiful. If you felt good, and you felt confident, you could put that through your eyes in a picture. And that would be beautiful.” —Josie Maran, model and founder of Josie Maran Cosmetics

Look gorgeous with these beauty quick fixes

Body image is something most people battle with. While some choose to go under the knife to get that perfect nose or pouty lips, it might not always be something you need to opt for. Apart from being expensive, painful and not to mention time consuming, going under the knife comes with its own set of complications. Recently a team of experts at Hairtrade has come up with seven non-surgical fixes for some of the most common body complaints. So to help you get that perfect look, Here is a step by step guide for quick, easy and cheap ways to achieve the look you want:

Fuller lips: Some women are lucky enough to have full lips but for the rest of them, instead of pumping them with collagen or botox, try a few make-up tricks. Before applying any make-up, brush across your lips with a toothbrush. It may sound odd, but in fact it increases the blood flow to your lips, making them appear plumper. To create a fuller look, use a lip pencil to outline your lips – this will help define your lips – and then fill them with your favourite lipstick.

Slimmer nose: Have you ever wished you had a slimmer, straighter nose? Instead of heading to see the nearest plastic surgeon, try contouring.

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By mixing a darker foundation with your natural colour you can create a slimmer shape. Apply a matt finish and then highlight other areas of your face like your cheeks or eyes and you will draw attention away from your nose. There are plenty of free guides to help you achieve the sort of look you’re after.

Flatter tummy: So liposuction or a tummy tuck may seem an easy way to shed the excess pounds – but no pain, no gain, so cut out all the treats and head down to the gym instead. But if you want to flaunt a flat tummy instantly, there is a cheat’s way to give you a helping hand – control undies. We’ve all worn them at some point and they are a must to give you a smooth, streamlined shape.

Longer, thicker hair: Your hair only grows around a centimetre a month, so if you’re trying to grow out a style or just want longer locks, it’s all about being patient. Unless, of course, you decide to try a wig or hair extensions. Good quality hair extensions or a well fitting wig can take you from a cropped style to luscious long locks in minutes. If you suffer from thinning hair, it’s certainly worth trying some of the hair growth shampoos, conditioners and leave in treatments which are available. These help stimulate and quicken hair growth.

Losing dark circles under your eyes: Dark circles and bags under your eyes are all part of aging – but it doesn’t mean we have to like or live with them. Getting enough sleep is a must, and cut down on the caffeine and booze. These can cause mild dehydration making the dark circles more obvious. Also try using a concealer a shade lighter than your norm.

Smoother skin: Skin peels are popular among women who want to remove fine lines, prevent aging and achieve clearer skin. But you can get similar results simply by making some dietary changes. Ditch the sugary treats and white carbs and replace them with wholegrain carbs like brown rice.

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Divergent's Top 5 Beauty Moments

Divergent isn't known for its wild beauty looks (a la The Hunger Games). But that doesn't mean the futuristic sci-fi thriller doesn't have some gorgeous—and sometimes puzzling—ones. These are my favorite from the film, hitting theaters tonight at midnight.

1. That Perfect Bun

Though Shailene Woodley's character Beatrice (Tris) spends most of the film in some form of a messy ponytail, she's introduced wearing one of the most perfect buns I've ever seen—styled by her mother (above). A little height on the top, big full volume in the twist, and not a single flyaway. Maybe her mom secretly moonlighted as a hairstylist.

2. Idiot-proof Tattoos

The futuristic application process in this film is, in a word, awesome. The tattoo artist simply places a template (below) over the skin, covers it in a glowy blue device, then removes it to reveal perfect ink. It completely eliminates the chance for tattoo artist error—which is probably a good thing, considering there appears to only be one woman in the entire society responsible for tattoos, injections, or anything else requiring a needle. And she's not even an Erudite.

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3. Mirror Lockdown

Like I said: beauty isn't a priority in this film. But it theoretically comes into play in a big way, particularly in the Abnegation (selfless) faction, where mirror time is rationed. Tris's mother has to punch in a secret code to push back the cover on their mirror for a 5-second glimpse. "Rules are rules," she says.

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4. Blonde Ambition

Kate Winslet's blonde (below) in this film is so bright, so non-rooty, that it actually seems to absorb, as well as reflect, light. That means for parts of the film, it has a faded pink cast that looks nearly identical to the wigs at the Marc Jacobs Fall 2014 show.

5. False Lashes Slip

Tris's mother (played by Ashley Judd) is a leader in the Abnegation faction—aka the ones with issues about vanity and mirrors. So, imagine my surprise when she showed up supposedly makeup-less, but pretty clearly wearing false lashes. (They weren't super long but would be obvious to any beauty junkie). How she pulled that off without looking into a mirror for more than 5 seconds, I have no idea.

Four Tips to Rock Bold Brows That You Haven't Heard Already

Aside from recently being named the face of Burberry Body Tender, model Cara Delevingne has two other claims to fame: her famously bold eyebrows. Her embracing full brows has spawned a trend that has women contemplating their eyebrow brushes. But if you're a little scared about dusting on some pigment for fear of looking perpetually angry at the world, don't fret. Here are some things to keep in mind while doing up your eyebrows:

Stick to powders, not pencils. While pencils have usually been the mainstay for brows for generations (hello, '80s makeup), powders are easier to handle and create a more natural, feathered look. Grab two shades: one that is a shade lighter than your natural color for daytime and one that is a tone darker for more drama.

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Brush powder on your hairs, not your skin. One common mistake women make is that they press on their brushes and pencils too hard, causing pigment to adhere to their skin. This makes brows look clownish and fake. Use a lighter touch to ensure the pigment coats your hairs, not your skin, and always make sure you're brushing in the direction that the hair is growing in.

Focus pigment on the outer two-thirds of your brows. If putting powder on your brows makes you look clownish, take note at where you're focusing the pigment. Brushing powder into the inner corners of your eyes causes them to look fake. Instead, focus the powder from the beginning of your arch to the end of your brow. Then, using a brow brush, blend the existing pigment into the inner corner for a more natural look.

Mix your colors. The best way to get a natural look is to blend your colors. Use the darker shade in a thinner line along the center hairs of your brows. Then blend the lighter shade out from the center of your brows to the ends. This will ensure you'll always look natural.

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A Facial With Benefits

Book the Energy Lift Facial, the latest addition to the menu at Ling, and you know immediately upon entering the treatment room that you’re in for an entirely different kind of experience. Clue number one: my aesthetician, Michiko (whom I highly recommend), instructs me to position myself on the treatment bed, facing down (a strange request for a facial), with my back left bare. She says that she is going to work on releasing all the tension in my back before focusing on my face. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. But this is no run-of-the-mill massage; instead, Michiko uses the treatment’s titular Energy Lift contraption, a heated machine embedded with tourmaline, a potent energy-producing crystal with proven detoxifying abilities. It feels like a warm, polished stone being run up and down my spine and around my neck and shoulders. Michiko explains that the heated tourmaline therapy is designed to aid in lymphatic drainage and to help open up your meridian points to allow for proper movement of chi (energy). Terrific, I think momentarily, before returning to my state of drooling bliss.

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Once it’s time for me to face forward, I’m basically putty in her very capable hands. She cleanses my extremely dehydrated skin and then layers on a trio of peels—glycolic, then papaya enzyme, then an acid-free rescue variety—to suck up any dirt and impurities. Then—groan, grumble—it’s extraction time; considering the fact that I’d subjected my complexion to a few different climates, a lot of plane travel, and zero exfoliation in the weeks prior, Michiko has her work cut out for her. After a meticulous excavation, she paints on a soothing clay mask, then a ginseng herbal moisturizing mask to placate any inflammation. (A side note: Michiko suggests, wisely, that in the following week I sleep for a few nights with their Replenishing Serum and Ginseng mask layered on to get my skin back into shape. I oblige and am feeling—well, my skin at least—much more balanced.) Next, the same heated-tourmaline therapy used on my back is now applied to my face, to energize and lift my skin, before Michiko launches into a nimble-fingered facial massage. The facial is dubbed Energy Lift, and although your complexion will definitely leave Ling looking glow-y and invigorated, you will likely be in a state of deep relax.

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Ballet Russes Beauty, Backstage at Diane von Furstenberg

The ballerina at Diane von Furstenberg was not your typical perfectly coiffed bun head. Instead, “a dancer in rehearsal, not performance,” inspired the undone chignons crafted by Orlando Pita. After pulling the hair into a ponytail at the center of the head, the mane master spritzed a teasing brush with BioSilk Firm Hold Finishing Spray before dragging it vertically from forehead to elastic, making it appear as if the models had raked their strands back using just their fingers. After he coiled and pinned the tail in place, he strategically undid it for a soft, imperfect finish.

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Makeup artist James Kaliardos noted the Ballet Russes and refugees leaving the mother country “to embark on a creative life.” He employed techniques normally used by dancers onstage, such as contouring the sides of the face with various tones of concealer and brightening the eyes by rimming the lower waterline with MAC Cosmetics’ forthcoming Technokohl liner in Nude. Wanting a “glossy taupe” shade for the lids, Kaliardos mixed Grey Matter, a cream shade from the Fall 2014 Trend Palette, and Dusty Mauve, a hue from the season’s lip palette. He topped it off with Gloss Crème Brilliance for additional sheen and coated the top lashes with Haute & Naughty mascara. “You know when you see those girls from ballet school and they just look like ballerinas even though they don’t have makeup on? This is what we’re doing,” Kaliardos explained. With all the lithe models milling about backstage, it was almost as if they were waiting for their curtain call instead of your standard catwalk.

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What to Do When You Hate Your New Hair Color

Kim Kardashian and "relatable" don't exactly go hand in hand, but when she tweeted about being "so annoyed" that she'd dyed her hair dark? I felt her pain. (In the last three years, I've gone from brown to blonde to reddish and back to brown—with more than a few second thoughts.) Here's what I learned to do when I hated my dye job:

Speak up. The first time I hated my color, I left the salon mute. When I finally mustered the courage to book a corrective appointment three days later, my colorist wasn't upset that I wanted a change—he was frustrated that I'd waited to tell him. He could have fixed it before I left the first time. "Your color isn't done until you're happy with it," he told me. I've never forgotten that.

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Change your makeup. Every celebrity I've interviewed says she's had to adjust her makeup after a major hair-color change. New brunettes might find they need to go heavier on the blush to keep themselves from looking washed out (Olivia Wilde bumped up her cheek color when she went dark). And depending on their skin tone, blondes might need to soften their eye shadow or lipstick shade. Either way, you'll need to experiment a little to get it right.

Consider your hairstyle. When I got ombré highlights, I couldn't stand the way my hair looked blown out straight. But when I curled it or let it dry naturally: sun-kissed perfection. Make sure you tell your colorist how you like to wear your hair, so she can give you color that matches your style.

Get glazed. Glazes aren't just for shine—they're also amazing color correctors (and much, much cheaper than another dye job). Colorist Kim Vo told me that every one of his celebrity clients gets one before the Oscars, and for good reason: They eliminate brassiness, boost golden tones, and can even deposit just the right amount of semi-permanent brown or red to get you through until your next appointment.

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How To Winterize Your Skin Care Routine

When it's snowing in the Middle East, you know that it's gotten really, really cold. And what happens when temperatures take a nose dive? So do your skin's moisture levels. But frigid weather is only part of the problem. Long, hot showers, sweltering offices, and harsh soaps are also to blame. Luckily, dry skin can often be alleviated by winter-proofing your skin care routine. Here's a few ways to start.

Exfoliate. It sounds counterintuitive, but gently scrubbing (and we mean very gently) will actually help your lotions and creams work better. As your skin dries out, your dead skin cells stop shedding, keeping moisturizer from fully sinking in. Rev up the process by using a mild exfoliant, like a jojoba-bead scrub or a cleanser with fruit enzymes. I'm a big fan of Aveeno Positively Ageless Resurfacing Scrub .

Upgrade your moisturizer. Many of us need richer face and body creams during the winter. When shopping around, look for the ingredients like glycerin or sorbitol. These are humectants that help pull moisture from the air into your skin. Everyone in the office is obsessed with Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator for night. For your day cream, remember that you still need an SPF to protect from UV rays (not only are they cancer-causing, they can prevent skin from holding onto moisturizer). We like Eucerin Daily Protection Face Lotion SPF 30 .

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Get it on in the shower. Or at least right afterwards. Studies have shown that applying body lotion in the three minute window right after you shower is best. (Otherwise, moisture starts to disappear from your skin before you can lock it in with lotion.) I keep a bottle of Eau Thermale Avène Cold Cream Nourishing Body Lotion on my sink, so that I can spread it on my arms and legs after lightly patting down with a towel (that way my skin is damp, but not dripping).

Beware of your water bottle. Believe it or not, it can actually contribute to dry, chapped lips. Here's how: When you take a swig from a water bottle, you're often left with droplets on your mouth. When these molecules evaporate, they take moisture from your lips with them. You don't have to go thirsty though. Swiping on a lip balm or ointment (like Aquaphor ) throughout the day will help. So will buying a box of drinking straws.

Invest in a humidifier. They'll replace precious moisture in the air (heating systems tend to suck up every last drop of it). The small, tabletop models are ideal for single rooms and small apartments--just be sure to fill them with cold water to prevent bacteria from growing inside. Try Crane's Penguin EE-865. It was ranked highest among tabletop models by Consumer Reports and retails at only $40. Plus, it's the cutest humidifier I've ever seen.

The truth about dark circles

Most of us blame dark circles on lack of sleep, exhaustion or staring at the computer screen for hours. But the truth goes deeper than those dark pools you've tried so hard to fight.

Experts and studies have linked dark circles to graver problems like anemia, liver disease and dehydration. Dr. Satish Mehta, Ophthalmologist from Moolchand Eye Clinic gives us an insight into the darker reasons of dark circles.

First, let's understand how dark circles appear. We have tiny blood vessels, which are like a web under the skin. But these capillaries are so fine that the red blood cells queue up to pass through; in the process some of them leak in the surrounding area. Enzymes are produced during the cleaning up session. The breaking down of these red blood cells leaves them black and blue. The reason why this is so visible is that the skin around the eyes is the thinnest.

Common reasons for dark circle:

Aging - The skin under the eyes is thin and delicate to begin with. As we grow older, skin around the eyes becomes thinner making blood vessels more prominent, causing dark circles.

Genetics - Hereditary and genetics can also play a big role in the development and dominance of dark circles around the eyes.

Nutritional deficiency - Dark circle around the eyes can be due to poor nutrition. A healthy and nutritious diet filled with vitamins like A, C, K, E and nutrients can help to get rid of dark circles.

Sleep deprivation and tiredness - A lack of sleep or excessive tiredness results in pale skin, making blood under the skin become more visible and appear more blue or darker.

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Smoking and drinking - Late night parties, smoking and drinking can play havoc with your skin and result in dark eye circles. Dark eye circles could be a sign of loss of water from the body (dehydration) due to excessive drinking and intake of caffeinated drinks.

Sun exposure - Increased exposure to the sun can draw pigmentation of the skin's surface and create dark circles. Long sun exposure produces more melanin around eyes than usual, giving them a darker color. There are two main layers of skin, the outer layer of skin known as epidermis and inner layer known as dermis. When excess melanin is being made in the epidermis it appears brown, and when there is more than usual melanin in the dermis it looks blue or blue grey.

Hormonal changes - In women, the skin undergoes lots of changes during the phase of pregnancy and menstruation, causing darkening under the eyes.

Allergies - Any condition that causes the eyes to itch may contribute to darker circles due to rubbing or scratching the skin around them. Apart from that, some food allergies can also cause the area under the eyes to appear darker. In fact, dark circles in children often indicate allergy problems.

Research also suggests that dark circles are linked to anemia, and liver diseases.

Dark circles and anemia - Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of inexplicable dark circles in many cases, which can be treated by making simple changes in your diet. Low iron levels is the most common form of anemia, and results in poor oxygenation in body tissues due to low supply of oxygenated blood. Thus, always take a balanced diet rich in green leafy vegetable, dairy products and all types of fruits to keep your body healthy.

Dark circles and dehydration - Dehydration is one of the most common reasons for dark circles under the eyes. The reason is the close proximity to the skin underneath the eye in relation to the underlying bone. When the body does not have a proper amount of water, the symptoms are often evident in this specific area. Thus it is advisable to have at least 8-10 glasses of water and include fresh fruit daily. It is also advisable to restrict the intake of caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee, alcohol and other caffeinated drinks as it aggravates dehydration.

Dark circles and liver disease - Dark circles also indicate liver dysfunction due to various liver ailments. An example of such a liver ailment is hepatitis.

Look younger, without going under the knife

Refresh your appearance without resorting to surgical procedures. Make a few lifestyle changes to shave off the years.

A recent study suggests that the number of cosmetic procedures opted for, have risen to about 44 percent in the last few years. The study goes on to say that people who undergo such procedures may experience a morale and confidence boost but may also go through certain repercussions later, especially if they're unhappy with how the surgery went. So why would you want to go through something that might not potentially give you any secure results?

Dr Jaishree Sharad, a dermatologist placed in Mumbai, says, "If the surgery goes wrong, you have to go under the knife again to correct it. That could lead to more disfigurements. Secondly, there is a chance of scarring and it could change the way you look, not necessarily for the better."

Beauty

A few simple beauty regimes and you can completely transform your look and shed off a few years

How you style your hair radically affects the way you look. Go for cuts and styles that suit the shape of your face. Also, choose hair colour with care.

Needless to say, eating healthy is imperative.

Know your body type and dress accordingly. Certain clothes are best avoided while some flatter your body type.

Alternatives to cosmetic surgeries

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"People can avoid surgeries these days and can opt for non invasive procedures in which you don't have to go under the knife and bear with anesthesia trauma. Dermal fillers can do wonders for people who are scared of surgeries. In a matter of an hour or so, one can treat wrinkles, reduce the scars caused by acne, increase the volume around the cheeks and regain the lost radiance in the skin" says Dr. S.S. Trasi, Dermatologist from Mumbai.

Mind

There are a few simple rules one can follow to feel completely revitalised and fresh.

Puffy eyes, a bad attitude and headache, can all be avoided with enough sleep. Seven hours should do to keep you energised.

"Stick to your daily dose of calcium and proteins and see how starkly it affects your whole appearance." advises dietician Priya Rohra .

Meditation can help in getting that elusive peace of mind.

Healthy ways to look young

Use Vitamin-C serum once a day.

Sleep about 8 hours a day.

Avoid smoking, alcohol, aerated drinks and junk food.

Eat healthy. Include coloured fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants, in your diet.

Drink at least 2 litres of water to keep yourself hydrated.

Exercise for an hour at least 5 days a week.

Get fruit peels done once a month.

Body

Exercising regularly not only improves our appearance, it has also been proven to nurture a positive attitude, leading to a better frame of mind.

Stand and sit with your back erect. Good posture equals a better body.

Wear body slimmers. This 'magic innerwear' makes you look toned, doing wonders for your confidence.

Jogging, swimming, lightweights are all extremely beneficial, and go a long way in not just giving you a good figure but helping you maintain it as well.

Expert tips to deal with excessive sweating

Do you sweat a lot? Excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is a common problem faced by many individuals and can be quite distressing. It is commonly seen in palms, armpits and soles. But this condition is treatable. Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar ,a skin specialist, tells us more.

First things first, sweating is necessary to help keep one’s body temperature steady especially in conditions like hot weather, fever, workouts, etc. In hyperhidrosis, a person sweats more than normal even when they aren’t feeling hot.

In order to treat this condition, one needs to know which type of hyperhidrosis they suffer from. It can be classified into 3 types:

Primary (idiopathic) focal hyperhidrosis

The word idiopathic means of unknown cause. In this type, sweating occurs in one or more focal places such as both palms, both soles, both armpits, face, scalp, etc. This happens as the sweat glands in these areas are overactive than others. Both men and women can be affected by it and the severity can vary from time to time. The sweating can aggravate by triggers such as heat, anxiety, spicy food, etc but sometimes no obvious cause triggers sweating. This type is more common than the rest.

Secondary focal hyperhidrosis

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This type is quite uncommon. Here, the sweating occurs in a particular area like one palm, one armpit, etc and the likely causes are known. For example, a spinal disease or injury can cause sweating in one leg.

Generalised hyperhidrosis

In this type, one sweats more than the normal levels but there is overall sweating and not just at one or two areas. This is less common than primary focal hyperhidrosis and is mainly caused by an underlying medical condition. These can be side-effects of certain medicines, hormonal problems like an overactive thyroid gland, infections, certain cancers, anxiety disorders, etc. The actual cause will have to be diagnosed before it can be treated.

Tips to curb excessive sweating

Start using an anti-bacterial soap containing triclosan which will help prevent infection in that area.

Try to avoid common triggers of sweat like eating spicy food, going out in the heat, etc.

If your armpits are your problem areas, use antiperspirants regularly and avoid wearing clothes made of synthetic fibres like nylon, etc. You can also use sweat shields that absorb sweat and prevent sweat marks to show up on your dress.

If you have sweaty feet, wear fresh socks every day, or even change them twice a day if required. Also, use an anti-fungal foot powder which can absorb the sweat. Closed shoes are less breathable and can lead to a stink so wear open sandals. If your work demands wearing closed footwear, alternate them every day to allow them to dry completely.

A more extreme solution for excessive sweating is using an antiperspirant that contains aluminium chloride which blocks the openings of sweat ducts. Though these work best in the armpits, they also work on soles and palms. Apply it at night as the glands are less active that time and clean the area with soap when bathing. Do not shave the area for up to 24 hours before or after using it or on broken/inflamed skin. Even after the condition improves, apply it weekly once to keep blocking the sweat glands.

If your problem still persists, visit a skin specialist who can analyse the problem and suggest medications or treatments to rectify it.

Blush for tanned skin

I’M an Indian girl with tanned skin. I love using blushers but after applying, it disappears within an hour. Is there a way to make it last longer? Which blush colour or tone is suitable for my skin colour? I also have oily eyelids.

My whole face tends to be pretty oily generally, but my eyelids are the worst! I sometimes feel I can’t wear any eyeshadow or eyeliner because they will just slide right off or smudge. It gets into my eyes and causes a stinging sensation, because the oil (I think) gets into them. Is there any solution for this problem? – Suzana

It important to choose the right blusher colours for your skin. Each person should have at least two shades to pick from, a peach and a pink, says Joyce Lee, chief make-up artist for Estee Lauder. This way you have a colour to choose from regardless of the look you are going for.

For tanned skin, choose colours from mauve to plum, or rose to deep oranges. Choosing a shade that’s too light will make your skin appear washed out and pale.

And then, you need to get a blusher that will last through the day. Powder is typically the best for oily and combo skin. Cream is great for dry skin. Liquid and gel are great for oily skin. For better results, combine cream and powder together.

To apply a long wearing blush, use a liquid gel blusher and dap onto cheeks with your fingers with Estee Lauder Pure Color Cheek Rush. Apply powder blush, Pure Color Blush, on top of the liquid gel blusher. If you’ve gone a bit heavy on the powder blush, brushing Lucidity Translucent Loose Powder lightly over it will calm it down.

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For those with extremely oily eyelids, these steps will help reduce smudging.

At Estee Lauder, we have a technique called “Simple Smudge”. Prep your eyelids by using Estee Lauder’s Double Wear concealer on your eyelids. Next, use a setting powder which will help your eyeshadow to last.

Apply Estee Lauder Double Wear eyeliner that lasts up to eight hours. Smudge the liner using the smudger, and then apply your eyeshadow. Avoid using cream eyeshadows. Use the Double Wear Gel Eyeliner on top of the pencil liner. And then, set your eyeliner by applying a powder eyeshadow in a similar colour on top of your eyeliner.

Don’t worry about having oily eyelids. Think about it, when the skin stops producing oil, it becomes dry and dehydrated, and that’s when wrinkles start to creep in!

I’M 54 and have dark patches around my cheeks. Also, how do I get rid of eyebags? I noticed that my laugh lines are getting longer and deeper. I have tried some products but so far they haven’t yielded any results. – Deel

According to La Prairie trainer Rebecca Ong, dark patches, skin pigmentation, sun and age spots are due to increased pigment at the bottom layer of the skin.

Skin pigmentation may be induced by hormones, such as birth-control pills and estrogen therapies, or triggered by UV light. Other causes could be skin inflammation, acne marks and certain types of medication. which can make the skin become sun sensitive.

Whilst dark patches are worrying, firming and conditioning the skin are also important. Cleanse twice a day with a hydrating face wash, exfoliate three times a week and use sunscreen with SPF protection daily. Use La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Système collection which will treat the dark patches, and enhance skin firming and promote skin hydration.

La Prairie White Caviar collection uses advance formulas for treating pigmentation without bleaching agents or harsh ingredients that irritate the skin. Using the system together helps control discoloration before, during and after pigmentation sets in, as the formula works to reduce tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production. This results in less clustering of melanin, a more even skin texture and lightened dark patches.

The White Caviar collection contains high caviar extract, antioxidants and anti-wrinkle peptides that can help reduce the depth of laugh lines. Start with White Caviar Illuminating Clarifying Lotion day and night. This pre-treatment lotion helps to condition, clarify, gently exfoliate and prepare the skin for the brightening process. Golden caviar and edelweiss extracts help to lift, firm and refresh the skin.

Follow up with White Caviar Spot Treatment two times a day, applied only on the dark patches. This formula contains the highest level of brighteners developed to focus on stubborn spots and prevents new spots from forming.

Lastly, use White Caviar Illuminating Serum and White Caviar Illuminating Cream day and night. The formula has licorice extract, vitamin C and high antioxidants that will help interrupt melanin production, lift and firm with nutritious golden caviar extract and anti-wrinkle peptides. Apply La Prairie Sun Protection Emulsion Face SPF 30 during the day for protection and prevent moisture loss.

Eyebags are common sign of ageing as the skin membrane tends to break down. It could also be fluid retention under the eyes. Use White Caviar Illuminating Eye Serum and Eye Cream after cleansing. The brightening and other anti-ageing effects will be seen on the deeper and outer layer of the skin on the eye areas. Enhanced blood circulation will give you firmer and smoother skin texture around the eyes.

Connie Britton Talks Low-Key Beauty—and That Time She Got a Perm

Big curls, shimmery eyes, sequined everything: It doesn't get any more high-maintenance than Rayna James, the country music star Connie Britton plays on Nashville. It's not surprising that when the cameras are off, the actress is decidedly less flashy. "I'm low maintenance," says Britton, a new spokeswoman for Pond's. She gave us a glimpse of her "quick and easy" beauty routine and her must-have products—and told us about her biggest beauty mistake.

How is your approach to beauty different than Rayna James's?

"Rayna's way more high maintenance. When I'm doing my own personal care, I like to keep it simple. As an actress, I spend so much time in the hair and makeup chair, and Rayna does that, too. Particularly in Nashville, there's a very specific look. People are very done. It's all so time-consuming. If I don't have to spend hours dealing with makeup, I'm happy."

What's your skin-care routine?

"People have told me to use certain creams and serums, and that's not my style. I'm quick and easy. I've made it a lifelong study: How can I pare this down to the briefest but most effective routine? I like to keep the ingredients simple and try to use something that will really work for everything. Of course, SPF is so important, and that's an absolute no matter what. I remember when the first products started coming out that had SPF in them and they'd give some coverage, too, and I was like, What an idea! Now, we've really mastered that."

What's the one product you reach for before you run out the door?

"If there's one thing, it's usually something that will even out my skin tone, like Pond's Luminous Finish BB+. Or I'll throw on bronzer and mascara and think, OK, I can do this. I'm OK to go out in the world."

What's the best trick you've picked up from a makeup artist on set?

"Moisture, moisture, moisture. My makeup artist on Nashville is all about that. She is constantly wanting to moisturize my skin, and it's also about drinking water all day. The more moisture we have in our skin, the brighter it will look, and wrinkles won't show as much."

Any beauty regrets?

"I recently ran into a picture of myself in high school and I had a perm. That was hilarious. Especially considering how much hair I have. It was so unnecessary! I will never do it again."

So how did you decide to partner with Pond's?

"I was really impressed with Pond's as a whole. I love how historic the brand is, and it has a lot of authenticity and integrity. I was blown away by their Luminous Finish BB+ cream, and was like, 'Let's do it!' I love to wittle down the number of products I use as much as possible, particularly now that I'm a mom. I like having something thing I can use right after the shower that gives a flawless finish and has SPF. I can put it on and get out the door."

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Lauren Conrad on Closets, Contouring, and Her Cute Halloween Costume

For those of us who came of age rooting for her on Laguna Beach and The Hills, it can be easy to forget that Lauren Conrad isn't actually our real-life best friend, which is exactly what happened last week when I saw her engagement announcement on Instagram and squealed with excitement. I caught up with the busier-than-ever designer to talk beauty, fashion, and Halloween—and yes, she's just as nice as you imagine.

You've recently partnered with Downy and California Closets to help women fall back in love with their closets. What's your best tip for having an organized closet? "The trick is regularly cleaning it out. A couple months ago when I moved, I found all these great things I hadn’t worn in years. If you're someone who loves clothes, it’s difficult to part with them. I associate my clothes with memories, so if it’s a dress I wore on a great night out, I don’t want to get rid of it even though I'll never wear it again. But whenever I'm unsure about items, I put them away in a suitcase. The rule is if you don’t open the suitcase after 6 months to a year, put everything into a bag and donate it."

What pieces do you always gravitate toward, whether you're designing for your line or pulling from your closet? "I love dresses. They're the most fun to wear, and the easiest, because you're not dealing with separates—you just add shoes and a bag and you're done. I always gravitate toward lighter tones, softer silhouettes, a more romantic palette. I'll mix it up with black leather so it's more seasonal and weather-appropriate, but I just tend to love prettier things."

Signature fragrance? "Right now, I've been wearing Chanel Chance—the one in the pink bottle."

Heels or flats? "I'm more of a flats person. I love heels, but when I'm bouncing around to different appointments all day, they just make things too difficult."

Favorite lipstick? "I know it's a faux pas, but I usually end up mixing a few to match whatever color I'm wearing. Bite and Stila make great ones."

Skin-care routine? "I find that the more products I use, the more issues I have, so I rotate every night between a mild wash and a light scrub. I use Egyptian Magic on my skin morning and night. Once a week, I do a light peel, like HydroPeptide."

What's always in your bag? "A light powder and red lipstick."

Any game-changing tricks you learned from your makeup artist or hairstylist? "[The Beauty Department's] Amy Nadine taught me how to contour, which made all the difference, and Kristin Ess taught me how to perfectly curl my hair. It sounds so simple, but for most of my friends, when they're struggling with their hair, it's with a simple wave or curl. I usually curl mine away from my face."

What are you going to be for Halloween? "My costume for this weekend is the tooth fairy—I'm basically like a giant ball of tulle. I'm trying to figure out what to do for my hair, since the tulle is knotted at the shoulders and puffed out, so probably a really messy, tousled updo."

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Shah Rukh Khan talks about balance, belief and hashtags

Just a few days back my friends at the dnapaper called upon me to write a monthly column for their newspaper. A Common perception about actors is that they are incompetent at everything other than acting (and some are supposedly incompetent at that too). We aren’t exactly meant to have other interests (well, except of the controversial kind) but as it happens, I do. I like to write.

Of late I have spent time on twitter like we all do and on the internet in general. The combined pressure of 140 alphabet limit and reading new words like ‘Twerking’ (described aptly by someone on the net as ‘masquerading an ass seizure as dancing’), has made me believe that I could contribute to the all round well being of the society with my writings also. What actually convinced me was, that if Hashtags # (a sign we earlier used for cuss words), can convey emotions, then my words on paper can also seem like pearls of wisdom and its about time my smart, genius side became public. So I decided to grab the axe and hack my foot myself by entering into 12 such potentially earth shattering observations of the world around me.

I have thus come up with the “brilliant” and “original” idea of writing about the 12 Sun Signs. But wait...This isn’t your usual weekly or daily astro prediction column. That is best left to Mr. Bejan Daruwala, Marjorie Orr or Linda Goodman. I just think it’s a good place to start. 12 Columns, 12 Sun Signs, 12 traits I can write about. So I will pick the traits of these 12 Sun Signs and choose one that stands out the most then I’ll write around it. I’ll write my personal experience, my point of view or just something I see happening around me. Confused. Ok, read on.

This month we begin with Libra.

Librans are known for balance and harmony. The word balance tends to convey stillness, but oddly I look at balance as something that we need in life to keep things moving. It’s something that we all have to do...everyone from a tightrope walker to an accountant requires balance. An accountant has to balance debit with credit, while a star has to balance a public life with a private life. Most people have to balance lies and truth, or right and wrong. In my years of experience, one of the most intriguing balances I have had to find is that between Science and Superstition.

In India we are intrinsically tied to Superstition. It’s a natural nuance of our lives. I am a science student (over 90 percent in Electronics if I may add). This does not mean that I can open up a piece of electronic equipment and put it back together again. On that front I am like everybody else in the world: left holding one little ‘gizmoic’ part of the equipment, scratching my head, wondering, “where was this supposed to fit?” but more about this in another column.

Being of a scientific bent of mind, I always take the scientific course of action. If a part of my body is disintegrating or broke, I am more than willing to change it at the hands of an expert, namely a Surgeon. I have had eight such removals and implants done over the course of 20 years.

Thankfully, so far, no surgeon has come to me post operation and quizzed, “Eh, SRK I have this little piece of green spleen left-over from last night’s procedure, can you tell me if it belongs to you or then it could be bed number 42’s.”

So I am a believer of science and its many benefits. Having said that, I would still not go for a bungee jump or do a skydive on Friday the 13th. Hashtag # Just Saying.

Some years ago I was faced with the balancing act of weighing my scientific bent against superstition. One evening I got to know my spine had a prolapsed disc and I had to go under the knife. It’s a big surgery. It’s considered equivalent to a brain surgery (from which I might just have benefitted more!) because it involves the spinal cord.

As it happens, it also proved to be one of the grandest acts of equanimity I ended up engaging in.

Everybody began to foretell doom. They listed all that could go wrong. They said I could be paralysed or rendered voiceless. Thoughts raced in my own head as well. The doctors advised surgery as soon as possible.

I was as scared as anyone might be at the thought of their spine being tampered with so I gave a year to those who said they could cure my prolapse through the prolapse of medical science.

Let me make it clear that I am not trying to undermine people’s beliefs or superstitions. Different things work for different people. If you believe in something then it works for you. A recent study has proved that people who believe in superstition get the job done better than those who don’t, so who are we to question the world of the unknown and its unkown-ness.

To me it was just intriguing that there was such a wonderful variety of cures and treatments on offer for a serious injury like mine.

My family and friends all suggested different treatments ranging from acupuncture to oil made from the sting of a scorpion. I am proud to tell you that because of the deep desire to keep the ‘BALANCE’ (in caps because that’s the topic) of things unperturbed I tried most of them.

What follows is an account of some of my escapades and misadventures up to the final day of surgery. These are excerpts from my yet unpublished book and as you will read, you will realise there is no stretching or exaggeration of factual happenings. The names of the protagonists have been changed to maintain their privacy and mainly to prevent them from suing or physically assaulting me in the near future.

……The doctor that I went to for, what I will call ‘pin therapy’ is a wonderful doctor. He’s among the leading doctors for this therapy in the world. He also spoke three words of Hindi taught to him by other Indian clients (obviously he didn’t know the meaning of those words, otherwise he would never use them, unless abusing your mom and sister was a part of his therapy).

The thought of him sticking needles in my neck was scary. But I need not have worried. He didn’t want to put needles in my neck, instead he wanted to stick them in my private parts to fix my neck!

As you can imagine it was an extremely hurtful prospect. I was shaken to the core of my being (not to mention, below it).

He was from the Far East and we didn’t understand each other well. He kept repeating, “Take off your clothes, take off your clothes”. So, I took off my shirt, but it didn’t seem to suffice. He continued his chant regardless: ‘take off your clothes.”

Soon I was lying naked on his table and he had these big, big pins in his hands. The rest is too graphic to describe. It was the most humiliating and painful experience of my life.

Ordeal over, I came back marred by blue welts. The only thing that had changed was that now the pain was between my legs and not in my neck. I can tell you it distracted me enough to make me forget my original complaint. Though once I recovered from the onslaught of the pin-pricks, my neck pain resurfaced with a vengeance.

Now and then I think of the good doctor and my upbringing tugs at my conscience. I never thanked him. Maybe I should have sent him a note…in Hindi…just the three words that he had been taught!

……The ‘Energy Experts’ meanwhile, had decided that the reason for my cervical disc prolapse was the direction in which I slept.

So the position of my bed had to be changed. Change is good. Novelty is invigorating; it’s the spice of life. I like change. There were a few problems that came up though. My plasma TV was affixed to the wall keeping in mind the original position of my bed. Taking out those brackets from the wall would have meant re-building it. So the TV stayed where it was and the only way to can watch it was to somehow stand on my head. My bedside lamp shed its light on my bathroom slippers instead of the book that I read in bed. The bathroom door ended up where the TV should have been. Though I must admit, the six episodes of the slightly swaying bathroom door, seemed more interesting than some of the stuff we are subjected to on the idiot box.

The headrest hung inexplicably in mid air without a bed to support it. If I could levitate 10 inches off the ground I might have been able to rest my head on it.

My AC remote did nothing remotely anymore. It needed to be directed towards the fridge to get the AC on. I guess the rays would bounce off the shiny surface and find their way to the infra red sensor on the AC. Strangely the rays did not follow the same reverse path and to switch the damn thing off, I’d need to swing to the bottom of the bed and point in random directions till I’d hear the AC stop breathing.

…I made a frantic call to my surgeon in England. I told him I was coming over to his hospital in the next few days. He was very concerned. He asked, “ Are you in pain’’. ‘No’, I replied, “ I am in my bath tub trying to sleep, apparently this area has the best energies.” Hashtag # Help!

...My friends requested me one last time to see their Panditji before I left for England. They felt his prayers would help me. I agreed because I believe in good wishes and good Karma. The Punditji looked educated and very modern. He asked me about the procedure of the Cervical surgery. I explained it to him in detail. He closed his eyes and said some mantra. Then he looked at me with warm and peaceful eyes, and said, “Are you sure they have to use a Titanium disc?” I said, “ Yeah, it’s the latest invention and really cool.” He sighed, “ Look it is your Karma that you have to undergo this surgery. You cannot escape it. But there is only one thing, Titanium is not your element, can you ask the doctor to use Moonstone instead.”

...The surgery was less painful. It took about an hour and a half. I was informed everything was excellent. As they say in our films… “The operation is successful.”

What was humiliating was the hospital dress code.

I believe a patient in a gown means that he or she is very ill and quite helpless. They need a lot of care and medical attention. It is a sort of uniform that tells you the person wearing it, is deserving of your sympathy and concern. No one expects a Stella McCartney, but at least...at least it should not make you dissolve into a merciless giggle. Picture a hobbling and helpless patient crossing you, walking slowly away from you. You’re following him with your eyes, visibly moved, at this point your gaze misses his helpless expression entirely and lands unceremoniously on his butt. What purpose does this revealing and utterly humiliating outfit serve? I ask ye all fine people of the medical profession. Even when I had gone for my knee and ankle surgery in Austria I was forced to wear this silly outfit. I could very well have been in shorts or Bermudas and got my knee operated on. It’s not as if my butt needs to be flashed for easy access to my knee. I think this aspect of clothing needs to be relooked at by the Medical Faculty around the world.

It requires immediate, scientific attention.

As I said, the complete collapse of everyone else’s attempts to cure me through their well meant suggestions, eventually lead me to my spinal surgery. This of course did not deter them from claiming credit for its success when I got home. The horseshoe nailed outside my room in my absence had apparently cast its magic spell on the surgeon.

The ‘Energy Expert’ was convinced that his switching my furniture around had filled the gap in my spine and my friends swore by their Panditji’s imaginary Moonstone too. Maybe it was the Energy Balancing, maybe it was the Surgery, or it could have been the shoeless horse; who knows?

Perhaps Faith and Science are deeply interconnected. Maybe we just don’t see the balance between them yet. Everything science proves today, it disproves tomorrow and faith in an idea often brings it to its empirical fruition. Superstition is the belief in a supernatural causality, we cannot completely abandon it unless we fully understand the complexity and vastness of nature. I think it is safe to say that there are uncountable things in this world that will always remain beyond our understanding. Each of us chooses our own beliefs and lives by them and all of us are limited by our own condition. The trick is to respect each and every form of well meaning course of

action, belief, superstition and still look up to man’s quest for knowledge (the yearning for scientific discovery), to back it up. That’s what I did.

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Golden Girls, Backstage at Dries Van Noten

Peter Philips is known as the master of makeup invention, and when it came to the eyelashes at Dries Van Noten, he certainly spun standard string into beauty gold. After evening out complexions with foundation and powdering the skin, he dusted Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Ivory (a pearl tone with a hint of shimmer) to provide lids with “a bit of depth.” Then he added sparkle to lashes via metallic thread. “You can never find a gold mascara that does this, and [false] lashes look too drag queen-y,” Philips explained. After snipping the delicate cord into small pieces with a pair of manicuring scissors and dotting models’ natural fringe with eyelash glue, he placed the tinsel-like fibers individually with a pair of tweezers. To frame the face and make the eyebrows uniform, Philips traced slightly outside arches using the Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in a shade slightly darker than each girl’s hair color; taking away the curve and replacing it with an elongated and angular shape. Lips were toned down with a touch of base just before showtime.

Sharp side parts inspired by Tamara de Lempicka (an art deco painter with Polish roots) and Loulou de la Falaise (Yves Saint Laurent’s muse) were gilded with a mix of hair wax and gold leaf. Hairstylist Sam McKnight washed hair with Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Shampoo so that it was free of product or shine that would detract from the graphic stripe. He used a steel tail comb to divide the hair from left to right, then worked Sebastian Mousse Forte through the top section and brushed strands behind the ears with a Mason Pearson. A net was pressed over the crown, hit with a blow-dryer, and set with hairspray. The length was left “raw” and misted with water to revive any natural texture. The end result was a look that would make King Midas proud.

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Sarah Brucker honored during start of Milwaukee Fashion Week

Sarah Brucker, the popular Milwaukee makeup artist and business owner who was killed in a fire in Delafield in August was honored on Sunday night, September 22nd.

36-year-old Brucker was found dead inside her Delafield home on August 7th following a five-alarm fire.

On Sunday night, Brucker was honored during the start of Milwaukee’s Fashion Week. The lights dimmed for a runway show that kicked off the city’s first-ever Fashion Week.

But on what was called a “monumental night,” one of Fashion Week’s biggest advocates was missing.

“She basically just wanted a stronger fashion community,” Jenny Kuehneman said.

Brucker was one of five women who was recognized for the impact they had on the local fashion community.

“I guess mostly I`m just extremely sad that she`s not here because this event and this movement is something that she has been pioneering and working towards,” Kuehneman said.

Kuehneman says Brucker always felt Milwaukee’s fashion scene was on the brink of something bigger.

“She was like ‘it`s a small Chicago. It`s a small New York’ and she definitely felt like it was something that had the potential to be what it is,” Kuehneman said.

Brucker was not only well known for makeup artistry, she also co-owned Blush salons in the Third Ward and Mequon with Jhoesy Leon.

Additionally, Brucker’s personal style served as inspiration for Sunday’s runway show.

“She was classic and bubbly and fun and that`s what we`re going for. It`s that classic look, the buns, the bright lips,” Wren Solares said.

At 36 years old, Brucker’s death is being felt throughout Milwaukee’s small fashion scene, but they say this event is her legacy.

“She created a movement and that movement is gonna continue for years to come,” Solares said.

Brucker had two children, who were not home at the time of the incident. The fire remains under investigation.

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Cover those dark circles

With patience and practice, here's how you can do it.

With stress and bad lifestyle habits taking a toll on our skin, applying makeup has literally become a 'face-saving' exercise for most of us. This holds especially true when it comes to hiding those dark circles under the eyes. Here are some tricks to help you with the perfect 'cover-up'.

Choose the right product

This is the most important step — a concealer that is too dark will emphasise your dark circle, making it look darker. On the other hand, a shade that is too light will end up looking unnatural and violet-gray. So, go for one that is closest to your natural skin tone. Sonic Sarwate, a senior makeup artist with a leading cosmetic brand, says, "Buy a palette with more than three shades — it will allow you to mix and match till you get the perfect shade for your skin." Concealers in yellow shades that are a bit lighter than your natural skin tone help hide dark circles that are purple-blue.

Remove the puffiness

"Take two cold spoons and hold them over your eyes. It will combat unwanted puffiness," says Ritu Singh Tanwar, an aesthetician. You can also keep cold tea bags on your eyelids and get the same effect.

Hydrate, moisturise

This is a must, say experts. Generously apply a good-quality, intensely hydrating eye cream. This will enable the concealer to glide smoothly over the under-eye skin.

Prime your skin

Apply a primer before the foundation — it will help hold the concealer better. Sonic says the foundation will even out your skin tone. Also, you will end up using less concealer that way.

Tap it on

The cardinal rule is, never pull or stretch the skin near your eyes. Once your eyes are primed, use your ring finger to tap on six to eight tiny dots of concealer underneath. Tap repeatedly, from the inner corner of your eyes to the outer corner. Ritu says,"The layer of concealer should blend and not be thick." Do not cover the entire area around the eyes. It should be applied in a crescent moon shape just to hide the dark area.

Less is more

This is the golden rule while applying any makeup. Never overdo. Too much under-eye makeup can give a tired, worn-out look. If you have crow's feet, avoid applying too much concealer. It will make the lines more prominent.

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