Rosie Scott Blog about Women

  

In the 2006 film "The Devil Wears Prada," the imperious fashion magazine editor played by Meryl Streep champions the waifish ideal of female beauty, referring to her plucky new size-6 assistant as "the fat one."

It's that kind of unhealthy beauty standard that real-life editor Ravneet Vohra is working to challenge with Wear Your Voice, the online women's magazine and social media brand she's been publishing out of her Oakland, Calif., home for two years.

The publication's latest campaign, BeyondBeauty, features photos of 18 bra-and-panties-clad Bay Area women proudly displaying their various-sized bodies. Launched on Black Friday, the BeyondBeauty campaign was viewed more than 3 million times on Twitter in its first week and earned glowing mentions in Vanity Fair, People and Self. Even Vogue, the magazine that inspired the "Prada" book and movie, recently gave BeyondBeauty an online shout-out, and Huffington Post profiled Vohra as one of the "Women to be thankful for this year."

A former fashion merchandizer and the British-born descendant of Indian immigrants, Vohra says she was inspired to create Wear Your Voice because she, like a lot of women, feels the media has never been her friend.

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"When I flipped through the pages of my favorite magazines growing up, I never saw images that I could relate to," said Vohra, 39. "I realized later in life that media had been the source for many of my insecurities, and I knew if I didn't see myself represented in the media, other women didn't see themselves either."

Discovering Oakland's diverse, eclectic population inspired her to channel her insecurities into a publication that would "revolutionize the media space."

'Loving it'

She remembers when she first came to Oakland, driving around downtown and "loving it."

"There's a soul and energy and creative buzz," she continues, "and I really wanted in on it."

In an interview at the Montclair, Calif., home she shares with her husband and two young children, Vohra sports a chic mini skirt by Oakland designer Harumi K and a pixie streaked with red hues.

Though she jokingly calls herself an "angry Indian woman," she wasn't always a rebel. She grew up shy and dutiful, she says, wore her hair long in the Sikh tradition and felt constantly judged for what she wore or for having "fat calves." While she dreamed of being an actress or doing something "big," she found her groove in her early 20s working as a publicist for a London-based designer.

Ultimately, she found the fashion industry to be ego-driven and backstabbing. Single at 26, she gave into family expectations and became a trophy wife in an arranged marriage.

For her daughter

When the marriage turned out to be an unhappy one, Vohra became the first person in her family to divorce. While visiting her sister in Berkeley, she fell in love with both the Bay Area and her current husband, Sumit Sharma, who was supportive of anything she wanted to do.

Vohra eventually worked as a personal stylist, where she constantly heard female clients beating themselves up for not looking like Vogue models. When she became a mother to her first child, a daughter, she realized the extent to which she also harbored self-hatred.

"I really didn't want my daughter to experience life in the way I experienced it," she said.

One thing she had to address was being molested as a young child by a family friend. Finally sharing that information with her family helped Vohra chip away at her self-hatred and find her voice.

"Wear your voice," the message of self-empowerment she always gave to clients, became her magazine's title. Though lacking editorial experience, she rounded up a team of enthusiastic local writers and photographers. Her initial mission was to celebrate her new hometown's arts and culture scene, but she and her writers morphed it into something more personal.

'Space for everybody'

Its convention-challenging focus comes at a time when a growing number of bloggers, "body positive" activists and celebrities are speaking out against beauty standards that experts say contribute to negative self-image and eating disorders.

Senior columnist Rachel Otis, who struggled most of her life with having a larger body than her peers, says she was excited by Vohra's "honesty and authenticity." The BeyondBeauty photo shoot was Otis' idea, inspired by the famous Dove "Real Beauty" campaign. Otis says Dove undermined its seemingly positive message by reportedly featuring only models under size 16 and using the campaign to market skin-firming and other products.

"There's nothing we hate more than a body-negative campaign disguised as a body-positive one," Otis said.

Even before BeyondBeauty, Wear Your Voice was garnering buzz, including a flood of disparaging online comments in Britain's Daily Mail, for DroptheTowel, a campaign that encouraged people of all sizes to be proud of their beach bodies. Another campaign very close to Vohra's heart, KilltheSilence, urged people to stop blaming domestic violence victims for their plight.

Vohra hopes to expand her magazine's international reach so that one day, women of all sizes, shapes, ethnicities, sexual orientation and gender identity will star in fashion spreads, including in Vogue.

"I'd like them to have a space for everybody."

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When your vision is as horrendous as mine, putting on eye makeup is a daily struggle. Challenge number one: I'm blind as a bat, so when I take my glasses off to do my makeup, I have to get so close that I'm practically kissing the mirror before I can see what I'm doing. Then after I'm done and the glasses go back on, the lenses make my eyes look smaller—not exactly the desired effect. To help my fellow four-eyed makeup enthusiasts, I reached out to some top makeup artists to get their expert tips on wearing makeup and glasses.

Change your mirror. "I recommend using a strong magnifying mirror—12 times magnified is good—to act as your glasses." —Quinn Murphy, who works with Freida Pinto and Olivia Wilde

Don't match your frames to your eye shadow. "Doing this will make you look dated and take away from your natural features. The best choice is nude, sheer tones."—Romero Jennings, director of makeup artistry at M.A.C.

Use a different mascara. "Try tipping the ends of your lashes with a waterproof mascara so that your mascara doesn't smudge against the lenses." —Fiona Stiles, who works with Dakota Johnson and Gigi Hadid

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Rethink the way you apply mascara. "Using the lashes is great to open up the eye and grab attention even behind the lenses. Think boldly curled lashes, and apply an extra coat on the bottom lashes. You can also get away with playing with colored mascara." —Molly Stern, who works with Camilla Belle and Reese Witherspoon

If you're nearsighted, use lighter shades of eye shadow. "For a nearsighted person, your lenses can actually minimize the size of your eyes. It's best to skip a heavy black liner and stick to a soft midtone shade, like M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Naked Lunch and finish with a even coat of mascara." —Keri Blair, senior artist at M.A.C.

If you're farsighted, go for darker shades."If you are farsighted, like me, your eyes may appear larger through your frames (I happen to love this about wearing glasses—in my opinion the bigger the better!). However, if you are finding that your eyes seem too large, try using midtone to darker shades of shadow or liner in more matte or satin textures to minimize." —Blair

Choose a strong eyeliner. "This is something I have a lot of experience with because my mother wears glasses, and whenever I do her makeup, I make sure to define her eyes with a gel eyeliner. Eyeliner is the best way to make your eyes pop under glasses. I typically use the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink. —Vincent Oquendo, who works with Bella Hadid and Soo Joo Park

Make sure the bridge of your nose is extra primed. "My favorite trick is to place a small amount of M.A.C. Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Base right across the bridge and down the sides of your nose before applying your foundation or powder. It keeps your touch-ups to a minimum." —Blair

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La La Anthony, the mega mogul we all love, recently shared news for the first time about her experience dealing with psoriasis, an autoimmune condition that appears as scales and flakes on the skin. Anthony recently teamed up with the National Psoriasis Foundation to launch the awareness campaign, Picture Positivity, and shared with us how the condition has impacted her self-esteem and confidence, but that she has never let it get in the way of her goals and achieving her dreams.

When did you begin to deal with psoriasis?

About 10 years ago, when I was in my mid twenties, I started to experience psoriasis symptoms. I noticed that there was something 'not quite right' with the skin on my scalp, along my hairline and behind my ears, which was scary for me as a young woman and, of course, for someone in the entertainment industry. I was concerned that others would think my symptoms were due to a contagious condition or poor hygiene.

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How did you begin to notice it? What were your initial steps towards treatment?

When I first began noticing psoriasis symptoms, I wasn't super familiar with psoriasis so after being diagnosed, I worked closely with my doctor to understand the disease. I also sought out others living with psoriasis and leaned heavily on them for support, tips and inspiration. I never allowed my disease to hold me back, and I want to encourage others with psoriasis to do the same.

What has your treatment been like?

Treatment is something that is very personal and individualized. It should be based off of conversations with your doctor to determine the best path for you. I've also found helpful ways to switch things up when I am having a flare, like changing my outfit, hairstyle or even my makeup to help make myself feel a little bit better about how I look.

Have you dealt with similar issues in the past, or was this your first time dealing with a chronic skin issue?

Being diagnosed with psoriasis was the first time I had any kind of skin symptoms or issues. Because I live in the spotlight, many people assume that I'm confident all the time, but my psoriasis has affected so many aspects of my life. My psoriasis has forced me to change my style, cancel public appearances, miss time with family and friends and skip business meetings. Additionally, I was diagnosed with psoriasis when I was in my mid-twenties and that made dating a very nerve-racking experience. Despite these things, I just wouldn't let it hold me back from living my life.

Tomorrow, La La reveals how she has been able to overcome the challenges of psoriasis and still achieve success, all while looking her best.

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After years of sitting in the makeup chair and quite literally absorbing tips and tricks from maquillage masters with the magic touch like Pat McGrath and Dick Page, model Lindsay Ellingson decided to start her second career and launch her own beauty empire. “For me, it was kind of like makeup school,” the catwalker said of serving as the face for designers and megabrands like Victoria’s Secret for the past ten years. Starting with one SKU, Wander Beauty On-the-Glow Blush and Illuminator, Ellingson’s travel-friendly stick quickly became a best seller, and her next round of products—including brow pencils, gel eyeliners, liquid shadows, a cheek tint infused with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, and a Paris-inspired cosmetic capsule collection—is set to follow suit in September. “I’m the girl that never checks a bag—I’ve carried a Céline bag around for years and I have to fit all of my products in it. We’re creating products that are easy to take on the go, whether you’re on the subway, a plane, or in a taxi,” she said. Here, the super (dubbed the “walking Sephora” by her friends) shares her must-have French pharmacy products, the secret to a runway-worthy glow, and how John Galliano jump-started her modeling career.

Why did you decide on Paris for your new makeup collection?

That’s where I started my career. I was in college studying biology and I did a test shoot. Viva in Paris saw one of my images and asked me to fly over for Fashion Week, so I dropped out of school, took a chance, and the day I landed in Paris I met John Galliano, who cast me for Christian Dior, which started my whole career and this amazing journey. Paris is very dear to my heart—it’s where I met many of my best friends, fell in love with high heels, croissants, and beauty. French pharmacies are one of my favorite things ever. We really wanted to capture the essence of Parisian women in this collection. And for me, when I think of a Parisian woman, I automatically think beautiful skin, undone hair, and of course, a red lip. Ours is very innovative in that it’s a shiny, balmy, buildable formula that you can wear sheer for day or go bold for night. It’s infused with prickly pear extract, which is a potent hydrator. It conditions your lips instantly and continuously throughout the day. It also has rose extract, which is where the beautiful scent comes from.

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I see you’ve made another highlighter, but this one is a lot smaller.

We made it more precise so you can get into those hard-to-reach places like underneath your brow bone, inner corners of your eyes, and your cupid’s bow. This is a trick that I learned at my very first fashion show for Christian Dior—highlighting is really what sparked my curiosity with beauty.

Was Pat McGrath doing the makeup backstage at Dior?

Yes, she is the queen of highlighter. It’s something that enhances your natural beauty and it’s so easy to do.

Where do you put highlighter?

I always put it underneath my brow bone and all over my lips—especially our nude glow illuminator because it makes your lips look fuller and sexier—or I just put it on my cupid’s bow.

Since you’ve had your makeup done thousands of times, which pro boasts the best beauty tricks?

It’s hard to say just one [makeup artist]. I think each person has a distinct style, and I’ve [gained] knowledge from each of them, like little things from each artist. I was really inspired by Dick Page at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show last year. I loved how he applied blush before foundation because it looks really natural. And it was actually lipstick that he applied—it wasn’t even blush—it was a strong, red pigment. I’ve done like eight shows now and that was my favorite look. I think that he has a really cool approach to applying makeup, so he’s definitely an inspiration. But like I said, I’m making it my own.

I know a lot of the models will run to the bathroom to “fix” their makeup before a runway show. True?

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Oh, I always have my own kit! I mean, for years, doing hundreds of fashion shows, I would always—I mean, sorry, makeup artists—fix my eyebrows, curl my eyelashes, conceal here and there if they missed something. It’s not their fault, the [pros] have to do so many girls in a short amount of time. And nobody knows your face better than yourself, so I would always rush to the corner [and touch up]. After a while, I just started doing it out in the open. After a while, the makeup artists were like, “Do your own thing, you got it. We trust you.”

Who are the other girls guilty of retouching their makeup before a runway show?

I would say 60 percent of the girls are in the bathroom doing that!

Have you picked up any beauty tricks from your fellow models?

I think a good beauty tip is to kind of overdraw your lips on the top and bottom with a liner that matches your lip color—it makes your lips look a little bit fuller.

Who taught you that?

I don’t want to give away too much—it’s girl code!

I know that you were also a dancer. Did you learn any beauty lessons during that time in your life?

That’s true—I forgot about that whole part. I have some scary photos of my dance team. We really put on the blush and all the fake eyelashes. We didn’t know what we were doing. We should have had a makeup coach or something back then. But that did get me started in makeup, even though it was all wrong! Now I know what not to do. I look back on photos and there was hot-pink blush.

Covering backstage, I find that so many models dread hair and makeup. You, however, seem to have latched on to the concept.

I love it. I think it’s so fun. It’s fun to change up your look, and maybe that comes from dancing because we transformed . . . I’m this introverted person, and then when you go onstage, you transform, whether it’s your appearance or your act. I love transforming into different characters—even if you just put on red lipstick, you feel different. Or when you put on an orange lipstick you feel really happy. I think makeup can make you feel different emotions, and it’s fun to play that up.

For the red carpet, you often do your makeup yourself. Where do you find inspiration for your looks?

I do a little bit of research about what’s on trend and I look at all the runway shows. I was really inspired by the pops of color on the eyelids, so that’s why I did the blue eyeshadow look at a premiere not too long ago—you guys did a story on that with Kristen Stewart. I just experiment. It’s all about researching what’s on the runway because that’s where all the trends are being set, and then I take it and transform it into something wearable.

Is there anything you’ve seen on the runway recently that you want to try?

Well, that’s why I did a no-mascara look today because I noticed that the nude look was really in. I wanted to try that out because I think some women can get so accustomed to wearing the same thing every day. I always wear mascara, so I’m like, “Okay, let me get myself out of that habit and just try something different.” I also saw January Jones on the red carpet recently and she had the powder blue eyeliner, so I’ve been dying to try that.

What are some of the biggest mistakes you think women make when it comes to makeup?

In general, some of the mistakes I see are making eyebrows too dark or penciling them in too much and creating a harsh line—and I probably made that same mistake before, too. And that’s the one thing that I found a lot of makeup artists doing to my eyebrows and I would always go to the bathroom and fix it! I’m a stickler about eyebrows; I want them to be amazing and perfect because they’re so important.

What is your technique for filling in your brows?

I start where there are any sparse areas or holes, but if I had perfectly shaped brows, I would just do really gentle strokes, but not too much [near the bridge of your nose] because they end up looking too rectangular and square—that part needs to look the most natural. You can extend the shape [near the tail] to elongate and frame your face. You need to have a gentle approach because you don’t want to overfill them and end up with clown brows!

Since you’re a self-proclaimed Sephora junkie, what are some of your other must-have products?

I’m obsessed with eye patches, like the ones from Klorane. It’s calming [for your skin], and I like to put them on while I’m doing my makeup, so any [shadow] that falls down falls onto the pad, and you just pull it right off.

So smart—especially when you’re doing smoky eyes.

I’m also such a Wen girl. I started using it a year ago, and my hair has grown like crazy—it’s much healthier.

Flawless skin is also so important for models. How do you wake up to a perfect complexion every day?

In the morning I use the Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Moisture Cushion and EltaMD sunscreen, and at night, Pratima skincare’s Rejuvenating Oil that you mix with a vitamin C serum so that it penetrates deeper into your skin. On top of that I put the Age Delay Serum on top. I love Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub for exfoliating and Heritage rosewater spray from Whole Foods. I’m a Whole Foods junkie, too.

Is there a beauty look that your husband loves?

The smoky eye. Any time I wear a T-shirt, ripped jeans, and a smoky eye, he’s like, “Oh, my God, you look amazing.” It doesn’t take much for him! He doesn’t care about the dresses and the high heels. He just wants a smoky eye and a T-shirt.

Since your new collection is inspired by Paris, what are some of your go-to spots in the City of Light?

Angelina for pastries and tea—I love sitting down for tea. I haven’t been to Paris in a while, but I remember always going to Café Ruc on my downtime and then heading to the Louvre—I would have the Nutella crepes. I even loved the little stands that sell fresh crepes with applesauce on the Champs-Élysées.

Where did you shop for beauty products in Paris?

French pharmacies! I’m obsessed. Whenever I go to St. Barth’s for work, occasionally I’m like, “Yes!” because it’s the closest French pharmacy you can find. I come back with Bioderma [makeup remover] because it’s so much more expensive here [in the States]. It’s a must-have for beauty. I also buy Decléor oils and this amazing moisturizing face mask from Embryolisse. French pharmacies and boulangeries are two of my top places to go—beauty and bakeries!

Did you live in Paris for a long time?

I lived there for a year when I was working a lot with Christian Dior. I did one of their campaigns, and it didn’t actually ever come out because they had to reshoot it with Kate Moss. Nick Knight just released the images last year, which was so cool because I never saw them before! I shot it with Lily Donaldson and Gemma Ward, and it was kind of a bummer because they said that we looked too young, which isn’t a bad thing! The campaign looked amazing with Kate Moss, but it was so cool to see those pictures come out ten years later.

Were you staying in a model apartment?

Viva would put us up in this little apartment-slash-hotel, and that’s where I met all of my best friends who are still my closest friends today. It’s also where I fell in love for the first time.

What is the romantic spot in Paris?

I want to take my husband there and find the most romantic spot! I really want to see Love Lock Bridge because I walked past it but never really knew what those locks meant. Now you can’t put locks up anymore, and it’s really sad.

Who were the girls that you bonded with in Paris?

Rachel Alexander, Ana Mihajlovic, and Louise Donegan—we loved Paris and it was amazing, but at the same time we were so homesick. It was my first time away from home for that long. You create an incredible bond when you are in a country alone.

Did you all have Parisian boyfriends at that time?

I did, but I was the only one with a Parisian boyfriend. I have to say that American boys are much more romantic.

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Super facialist Abigail James has cultivated her own facial.

Continuing on with our facial series, we've tracked down one that can't be defined to a single box. Super facialist Abigail James, who works as Liz Earle's Global treatment Ambassador, understands that each of her clients has different needs, therefore she has created her own AJ Method. The technique is completely unique to the individual, and will give each person different results.

"The AJ Method is about treating each client as an individual, working with their ethos and skin goals, combining natural and professional grade ingredients with specific massage methods, which I've developed over years. Sometimes incorporating clinically advanced technology to get the best results in as natural a way as possible. With lifestyle and health advice to get the best out of their skin," she explained to Cover Media.

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"I've spent years learning, practicing and seeing what works so it's been an evolving method combining many aspects."

Abigail has over ten years' worth of knowledge behind her and combines nature, wellbeing, science and advanced technology when consulting a client's skin care needs.

"This method really suits everyone," she enthused. "From someone wanting a deep cleanse to another wanting to age well, there is something to suit everyone."

Having regular facials is a key aspect of maintain a youthful complexion, and Abigail says people should ideally be indulging every four to eight weeks.

"I have proven on my own skin as well as that of clients how regular facials make a huge difference," she smiled.

So next time you consider treating yourself to a facial, think about finding out what your skin actually needs rather than going for what's on offer. A little digging and you can come up with the ideal treatment.

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Miss Universe 2000 and glamorous diva, Lara Dutta, is back on form with a new season of Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva 2015.

The third edition of Miss Diva begins its journey on August 16, 2015 in Kolkata, and will journey across 10 cities in India.

From Ahmedabad and Bangalore to Delhi and Pune, pageant hopefuls will audition for the cut-throat contest.

After auditions wrap up in Mumbai, Miss Diva 2015 will groom the girls to their highest potential with a series of photo shoots, catwalks and many other challenges.

Notable fashion designers, such as Gavin Miguel and Rocky S, as well as Bollywood actor Rahul Khanna will be tasked with training up the girls.

The 2014 edition saw the contestants fight it out for several titles, including Miss Diva Universe, Miss Diva Earth and Miss Diva Supranational.

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And this year is no different. The ultimate goal, of course, is to represent India at Miss Universe 2015.

The lucky winner has the chance to take the crown from the reigning champion, Paulina Vega, who speculates this year’s pageant will be held in Shanghai, China:

“Mr [Donald] Trump [told] me the next edition will be held in China. I’m going to be charmed with crowning my successor in China.”

This is an excellent opportunity for Indian girls to represent their country, showcasing their attitudes, beauty and confidence.

The competition takes an open call form this year, after Lara recently put out a video call on the Official Miss Diva Facebook page, asking Desi girls to come forward and show her what they’ve got.

She comments:

“I ask all you girls out there who want to live this dream, come and apply.

“I would love you mentor you through this entire process, and I would love to see confident, beautiful, intelligent women out there.”

Acting as host and mentor to the girls, Lara will offer her expertise to the hopefuls on what it takes to be crowned with such a prestigious title.

The girls will also need to impress the past two winners of Miss Diva, both of whom went on to perform exceptionally well in their retrospective Miss Universe pageants.

The first ever winner of the show, Manasi Moghe from Mumbai, reached an impressive top 10 position in the 2013 Miss Universe pageant.

Noyonita Lodh succeeded Manasi in 2014 and secured a place in the top 15 finalist for Miss Universe 2014.

This year, we can expect to see an even higher standard of competition. Tougher judging and harsher challenges will push the contestants to their limits.

We will witness their struggle to reach the top, as well as the trials and tribulations along the way, which will ultimately determine who deserves to win the title.

You can catch the Miss Diva 2015 pageant on TV later this year on channel Romedy Now, with delayed telecasts on Zoom.

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GOSH make-up artist Pernille Buhl talks us through the perfect smoky eye.

Make-up artist Pernille Buhl predicts the trend for heavier make-up is about to come back in a big way.

Summer make-up is generally associated with the less-is-more philosophy, with naturally tanned skin and freckles taking the place of foundations and powders. But Pernille, who works with GOSH Cosmetics, says we should get ready to shake things up.

"I think a lot of people are still into the brows. People are starting to paint their brows other colours; blue brows and pink brows. I think the more make-up look is coming back in. So people are about to put on more make-up than normal; it's a trend coming back. It involves being more bold," Pernille told Cover Media.

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"Of course you can be more natural, but also allowing yourself to go back to doing a smoky eye and really going wild."

Pernille herself favours focusing on one piece of bold make-up, so a smoky eye without too strong a lip.

"But talking about something never going out of style, smoky eyes are perfect, a red lip: perfect. And if they're both done well, it looks perfect together," she smiled.

To achieve the perfect smoky eye, follow Pernille's top tips.

1. Product wise, you start out with a kohl eyeliner and you add it just around the lashes. You take a little hard brush and then you massage it out, so it's not that defined.

2. Then you start adding your eyeshadow. You don't have to do a smoky eye in black, you can do a smoky eye in any colour you want; it's just the technique called smoky eyes.

3. So you add the kohl in the colour you want, take it up towards the eyeball line. You make it intense in the bottom and less intense in the top.

4. Then you start adding eyeshadow in the bottom and you drag it out, upwards.

5. Finish with a lot of mascara. For me, smoky eyes don't have a flick - but some people like that.

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Dazzling white smiles can be an expensive business, but a host of so-called “natural” teeth-whitening methods has become an internet craze.

Entire websites are devoted to the unlikely fruit, spices and oils which apparently promise to give you a Hollywood smile at a fraction of the price.

But can natural methods ever really whiten teeth effectively? We asked Dr Uchenna Okoye, clinical director at London Smiling Dental Group…

Strawberries

Claim: Mash up a ripe strawberry, dip your toothbrush in it and brush carefully over teeth. Within two weeks, your teeth will be whiter.

Dentist’s verdict: True.

Strawberries contain citric acid, which can weaken the surface hardness of your teeth. But they also contain the more gentle malic acid, and the riper the strawberry, the higher the concentration of malic acid compared to the more harmful citric acid.

So choose a really ripe strawberry, rub it on your teeth and just like exfoliating the skin, it does remove superficial debris. The malic acid won’t actually break down the stain molecules, but the surface clean gives your teeth a whiter appearance. A gentle and effective natural whitener.

Turmeric powder

Claim: Mix half a teaspoon of dried turmeric powder with a few drops of water and stir to create a thick paste. Dip your toothbrush in (it will be stained yellow) and clean teeth.

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The usual cleaning time of two-to-three minutes is doubled, because of the time it takes to rinse the yellow from your teeth and gums. The abrasive qualities of the bright yellow spice (derived from a root) will clean your teeth.

Verdict: False

This is a recipe for disaster. The rule in dentistry is that anything that will stain a white shirt will stain your teeth. All spices stain teeth but yellow spices are the worst.

Our teeth have tiny surface pores called dentin tubules, and colour molecules – chromogens – block these microscopic holes. This is why your teeth appear dark. You need to unblock these stained pores to make your teeth appear whiter – but turmeric would just penetrate them.

Orange pith

Claim: The white part of the orange skin, between the surface and the flesh of the fruit, contains d-limonene, which can help remove stains from your teeth after using it for three weeks. Peel the orange, keeping as much of the pith as you can.

Rub the white part of the peel over your teeth, and let the juice sit on your teeth for three-to-five minutes. Brush your teeth thoroughly to clean away pulp and peel, and after several weeks the chemical will have whitened the appearance.

Verdict: False.

The advice I give all my patients is to be very wary of fruit juices and to drink them with a straw (if they have to drink juice).

So this claim goes against every piece of advice and scientific evidence I can think of.

The citric acid within the orange causes tooth enamel to dissolve. This erosion can lead to tooth decay, and once the erosion has reached the soft, inner layer of your tooth known as dentin, you’ll experience sensitivity and pain. Avoid.

Banana peel

Claim: High levels of potassium, magnesium and manganese in bananas can help remove stains from teeth. Simply peel a ripe banana, and rub your teeth with the insides of the peel for about two minutes. After three weeks, your teeth will have whitened.

Verdict: True.

If you rub the skin it can act as a gentle exfoliator and will remove some surface stains, but the banana will not reach inside the pores on the surface of your enamel – so no true “deep” clean will take place.

However, I like the idea that you can eat a banana and give your teeth a quick healthy buff before running off to a meeting.

Cider vinegar

Claim: Rinsing with apple cider vinegar (mix two parts of water) will make teeth whiter and protect teeth and gums from bacteria.

Verdict: False.

Cider vinegar is a favourite of “detox” devotees. Once swallowed, it mixes with pancreatic secretions in the intestines and turns alkaline, but when it hits your teeth, it is an acid, albeit a weak one.

This makes the enamel on your teeth less resistant to damage – like wetting a chalk and then scraping off the surface. A low acid level – such as the malic acid in strawberries – won’t harm your teeth. But this will buff away a deeper layer of enamel, and should be avoided.

Coconut oil

Claim: A 3 000-year-old Ayurvedic way to clean teeth is to swish a tablespoon of oil (usually coconut, sesame or olive oil) around your mouth for 20 minutes every morning. The coconut oil sticks to the oil in the cell membranes of any bacteria in your mouth, so when you spit it out, you are ridding your mouth of unwanted micro-organisms. Used by stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, who claim it whitens teeth and improves complexion.

Verdict: False.

There is no scientific evidence at all that “oil pulling”, as it’s called, will whiten teeth, or even remove bacteria.

It’s possible that the act of swishing the oil around your mouth will dislodge some bacteria or debris, so followed by a careful brushing session, your teeth may look cleaner. But no science shows that oil pulling will make your teeth any whiter.

Bicarbonate of soda

Claim: Bicarbonate of soda is a mild abrasive which effectively removes stains on teeth caused by coffee, red wine and tea.

In a cup, mix half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with half a teaspoon of water, mix to form a paste, dip your toothbrush into the mixture and brush teeth for one-to-two minutes. After just a few days you will notice a difference.

Verdict: True.

Bicarbonate of soda – otherwise known as baking soda – is somehow considered natural but it is actually a chemical, and used commercially in some teeth-whitening products and toothpastes. It does effectively remove plaque and debris on the surface of the teeth to make them appear brighter, and it also can neutralise bacterial acids in the mouth.

But it is an abrasive compound and, as such, will damage the enamel protecting the teeth if used too much.

Try it three times a year to lift those surface stains, and to avoid damaging the enamel use your finger to rub it on or a flannel.

Lemons

Claim: Suck on a slice of lemon for several minutes each morning, or rinse your mouth with lemon juice squeezed into a glass of water. The acid from the lemon will deep-clean even the tiniest of molecules lodged in your teeth.

Verdict: False.

Lemons have such a high concentration of citric acid that their juice is acidic enough to corrode enamel. Lemon juice has no place in the mouth at all.

Lemons are more acidic than vinegar. Far from whitening your teeth, they’ll dissolve them away. I have seen patients who suck lemons and are left with the imprint of a lemon slice on their teeth – requiring bonding and veneering to cover it up. Avoid this at all costs – it is the same as bathing your teeth in a glass of cola.

So which is best?

Strawberries are the best natural teeth-cleaners here. They taste great, are fantastic for the teeth and contain antioxidants, which are healthy, too. Gorge on them over summer and let them naturally clean your teeth.

They won’t push out the tiny colour molecules which cause staining, but they will give your teeth a cleaner appearance without harming them.

Meanwhile, professional whitening should be done by a trained dental worker and maintained with a whitening toothpaste – and perhaps a mouthful of strawberries!

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Underarm razor burn ranks high on our list of painful hair removal side effects, right up there with bikini wax stinging. It seems as though no matter how careful we are about shaving our armpits, that throbbing pain inevitably kicks in.

To find out the most common underarm shaving mistakes, we went straight to Dr. Ellen Marmur, a board-certified dermatologist and Dove deodorant spokesperson. Read on for her top five tips to prevent razor burn and bumps.

1. Exfoliate before you shave to prevent ingrown hairs and razor burn.

Everyone's skin is different, so yes, there are some people who experience ingrown hairs more than others, according to Marmur. However, she believes it's also a matter of making sure you thoroughly exfoliate the underarm area before you shave, to prevent the hair from curling under the skin and resulting in an ingrown. This also ensures that flaky skin and oil build-up don't cause your razor blade to stumble as you're shaving, a major cause of razor burn.

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2. Toss out your razor after 1-3 uses of shaving your underarms.

Using a dull razor, which requires you to apply more pressure when pressing the blade edge against the skin, often results in irritated skin. Always rinse your razor under warm water in-between shaves, then switch out the blades or grab a new razor as soon as you notice that it's worn down.

3. Stop shaving against the direction of your underarm hair growth.

Instead, Marmur recommends shaving in an "X" motion, as the hair on the underarms grows in a swirl pattern. This will ensure a close shave, without the razor burn, bumps or skin irritation.

4. Keep your underarms hydrated with oils and moisturizing deodorants.

In case you didn't know: the skin under your arm is very similar to the fine skin on your neck, so making sure that area stays hydrated is essential. "Don't be afraid to incorporate oil-based products into your underarm routine. For example, using coconut oil at night before bed will soften the skin and offer a smoother shave in the morning," says Marmur.

Deodorants are also important to apply to ensure underarm skin remains healthy, soft and smooth. "Underarms contain more sweat glands than other areas of your body, and because of this most people experience what I call 'bad moisture,' such as excess perspiration in the underarm region of their body. This kind of bad moisture causes salt, enzymes and other caustic things to disrupt your skin," Marmur says. So she recommends using a deodorant like Dove Advanced Care that protects against sweat and adds "good moisturizers" like humectants and sunflower seed oil to the skin.

5. Visit your doctor if your razor burn and bumps won't go away.

More serious bumps tend to be red and painful, and may actually be a condition known as hidradenitis suppurativa that requires a dermatologist to prescribe antibiotics.

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We often spot a pimple on our face when there is an important event to attend such as a party or someone’s wedding. Popping them isn’t the best thing to do but you can certainly manage pimples in a better way by using these six herbal remedies.

Lemon juice

Lemons contain vitamin C and phytonutrients called flavonoids that have a strong antioxidant as well as antibiotic action. Free radicals generated during the metabolic reactions within the body can damage the healthy cells of the body, causing inflammation and swelling. The antioxidants in lemon restrict the action of these free radicals and this makes lemon juice an excellent remedy for pimples. A word of caution regarding lemon juice – it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and therefore, do not venture out in the sun when you have applied it on your face.

Steps:

Squeeze out the juice from a freshly-cut lemon and dab a little directly on to the pimple.

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Leave it on overnight and wash the next morning.

Mix a tablespoon of groundnut oil into an equal quantity of freshly squeezed lemon juice and apply over the entire face.

This provides long-term preventive action against blackheads that may later turn into pimples.

Garlic

Garlic is one the wonder foods of India that has remarkable medicinal properties ranging from digestive and antibiotic action to fighting against high cholesterol levels. Garlic is also said to have the action of cleansing toxins from the blood, resulting in blemish-free, glowing skin free from pimples.

Steps:

Remove the outer skin of garlic and rub a single clove on the spot where the pimple has sprouted to see immediate results.

Grind a few cloves of garlic, mix with a little curd and use this face pack on the area where you see the pimples.

Tomato pulp

Tomatoes are acidic in nature and applying their pulp to the pimple causes the skin to dry and the pores of the skin in the region get tightened. This means there is a lesser chance of sebum leaking from the pores to cause pimples. Tomato is also rich in antioxidants and applying the pulp to the face reduces inflammation and damage of the skin.

Steps:

Cut a tomato in half, squeeze out a little of the pulp or the juice and apply on the pimple.

If this causes you pain or drying of the skin, dilute the tomato pulp with a little water and use.

Do not do this more than once or twice a day because it may lead to excessive drying of the skin which can be quite painful.

Cinnamon and honey pack

Cinnamon or dalchini is a common spice used for adding a distinct aroma and flavour to food but the essential oil it contains also has strong anti-microbial properties. Honey does not contain a lot of moisture which can promote the growth of microorganisms. Considering that pimples often arise from an infection within the pores of the skin, combining cinnamon with honey is an effective remedy.

Steps:

Mix a little cinnamon powder with a little honey to make a paste; avoid adding water because it will destroy the action of honey.

Dab a little of the paste on each pimple and allow to remain overnight.

Wash off with lukewarm water the next morning.

Repeat for a few days if necessary.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek or methi has multiple benefits – not only is it helpful in keeping blood glucose levels low in diabetics, it also helps remove blackheads and prevent pimples from erupting. For skin application, it is best to use the leaves of the methi plant rather than the seeds.

Steps:

Grind a few leaves of methi with a little water to make a smooth paste.

At night, apply this paste to the area of the face that shows evidence of blackheads and wash off with warm water the next morning.

Dry a few neem leaves in the sun and grind to a fine powder. Mix equal quantities of this powder, turmeric powder and a little rose water to form a paste.

Apply this to the pimples, leave it on for around 20 minutes or so and then wash your face

Turmeric

Remember how your grandmother always insisted on sprinkling a little turmeric on your wounds saying it would help it heal? Well, medical researchers are now finding that turmeric contains ingredients that make it a powerful antimicrobial. No wonder then that women in India have always been using turmeric paste claiming it keeps their skin healthy and glowing. Although you can apply turmeric paste directly to skin, consuming it with a little warm milk is also said to be an effective remedy for flawless skin.

Steps:

Mix a little turmeric powder with a little coconut oil and apply directly onto the pimples at night.

Next morning, wash your face with water to remove the paste.

Whatever you do, do not pop pimples as that will leave a scar behind which is even difficult to get rid of. If your acne problem persists despite using these remedies for a few weeks, see a skin specialist.

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