The Power of Beauty The most extravagant beauty treatments throughout History Notes, Tips and the Best Choices in the market for your face Why you should let Spas rule your world
breakdown By the Numbers
Life has its weird moments. Once you get to know the numbers, it gets even more odd!
1 month
Beauty hurts, looks great in pictures and…smells!
the time the average man spends out of his lifetime shaving his beard
280,401
number of breastaugmentation surgeries performed in 2003 by United States plastic surgeons.
1,000 hours
time the New Zealander sword-swallower Lucky Diamond Rich spent having his body fully tattooed
22 sq ft.
average area of an adult skin, the largest organ in the human body.
14th
position on the periodic table of the Silicon (Si) element
1920
The year automobile paint was invented and Michele Ménard took it as her biggest inspiration to modernise the nail polish women use today.
4 months
66,000,000 gallons the water capacity of the largest pool in the world, located in San Alfonso Del Mar resort in Chile. 90
the average life time for hair extensions before the special gluelike bond attached to natural hair begins to loosen and they fall off.
Most of the time, it really hurts being beautiful. All of those beauty processes, from plastic surgery to wearing high heels, involve real and non-fictional pain. But, as the saying goes, no pain, no gain! In this Essential issue, totally dedicated to Beauty, we’ve come up with some interesting, but nevertheless, painful discoveries about beauty treatments throughout history. Over the centuries, people (mostly women) have come up with the most outstanding and surreal habits in order to be beautiful, desirable and forever young. Exotic ingredients, some of them poisonous and deadly, were considered necessary at the time for the purpose of being beautiful. Today however, women and men have a more healthy relationship with their own bodies and especially with what nature has to offer. We don´t need to, and shouldn´t go so far anymore. There are beauty treatments and products capable of amazing results and without the suffering of the past. Once again we suggest the best products on the market and even take the time to learn how to prepare our faces before applying the many and varied specialist beauty treatments and trends! Also in this issue, you’ll find out all the best painless treatments, the most affordable and, believe us, the most effective methods for rejuvenating body, mind and soul, and all of it sponsored by Mother Nature! It was also surprising to find out that Cleopatra still sets the bar where beauty treatments are concerned. Gold in the bath tub is still in vogue and as expected, increasingly expensive. Less expensive, more accessible and booming are the new combined trendy spas and health clinics. After a delightful and relaxed conversation with one of Macau´s beauty industry experts, we are assured that the younger generation of consumers is more and more aware of the quality of the ingredients used in beauty treatments - beauty, not only for their own body, but also emphasizing the ecology and traditional values. Breaking out of tradition, and increasingly determined to assert their own sexuality, we discover what new trend is turning female “fraganistas” on ... sure we could have been more explicit, but still we believe our job is to sharpen your intuition and imagination!
Macho Man
Gentleman
Your female friends will love him. Your male friends will hate him. He will notice how good you look in that new Even when you’re going through a bad hair day, dress…depending on the cleavage. he will greet you with a compliment. Let’s be honest…most of the time He smells so good…you just might fall he smells like a horse! head over heels in love! He always has his hands on something…or More in touch with his own feelings, someone. sometimes more than you would like him to be! Are you sure he´s going to change his stained He won’t disappoint you ever! He will always t-shirt before dinner at your mother’s? be dressed up for the occasion. Gosh, he looks good with his shirt off! Gosh, that shirt looks good on him! “A man who is virile and sexually active “A man of good family, breeding, or social [stud]”, as defined in the dictionary position”, as defined in the dictionary. What you see is what you get! There’s more than meets the eye!
Beauty 10 commandments 1 You shall not wear way too much mascara. Long lashes, good! Clumps, bad!
not work. Consider if the lipstick disappears, but the liner doesn’t. Not a pretty picture!
2 You shall not forget that eyeliner can make or break your efforts.
7 You shall match foundation with your skin tones, not cover everything up. You are not a clown, for heavens sake!
3 You shall have fun when you choose eye shadow colors, but at least give them a little thought before you apply them. 4 You shall look into a mirror before you leave the house. A mirror never lies. 5 You shall not succumb to bad brows. Unless you have very long bangs, someone will notice if they are over-plucked or have gone untouched for the past 10 years. 6 You shall not let lip liner fight with lipstick. The trend of
wearing one color of lip liner and another for lipstick does
8 You shall not forget to apply a little foundation to the neck area as well. Again, you are not a clown! 9 You shall check it twice. As much as we would like it to, makeup seldom lasts the entire day. Be sure to check if something has disappeared or worse... smeared. 10 You shall take a good look at what you’re wearing
and ask for a second opinion if necessary! An outfit might look good in a music video, but chances are, it won’t on the street. 91
feature
A little something to ignite your senses…and your wallet!
King Midas’ touch Well known for their handmade Bath Ice Cream products, ME! Bath has come up with something really unique for the extravagant ultra-rich. This once in a lifetime experience bath, named Most Expensive Bath, uses the highest quality water desalinated Hawaiian deep seawater blended with water from the polar ice caps - mixed with the finest ingredients. It features rare and antioxidant-rich Sidr honey from the Hadramaut Mountains of the Southwestern Arabian Peninsula, moisturising pink salt found in the mountains of Peru, illipe butter harvested by hand from Bornean nuts and known to increase the elasticity of the skin, 100 percent organic jojoba oil to promote healthy skin, and kokum butter full of essential fatty acids.
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As the finest ingredients do their magic, notes of white grapefruit, lotus flower and passion fruit, mingle in the air with the incense of sycamore wood. That’s not all, though… As if all of that wasn’t appealing enough for one’s senses, pure 24-karat gold rises to the surface of your very own Eden, adding an opulent property that firms the skin and gives the body a radiant glow! This made-to-order bath treatment is artisan crafted and formulated from a secret recipe that can only be achieved through a precise eight week process. So if, you’re really interested in getting dipped in 24-karat gold, be sure to give ME! Bath enough time to prepare everything. Once ready, it will be delivered in a
Health and beauty, the perfect mixture! Just take it from Mother Nature, she knows best! Milk Milk has never been something you just pour on your cereal in your coffee. Milk has been used to clean and nourish skin for centuries. It is incredibly beneficial for the skin in so many different ways. Milk´s various ingredients serve a multitude of skinimproving purposes, such as gentle cleansing, excellent exfoliation and giving a softer supple feeling. Taking a milk bath is one of the easiest ways to improve the look and feel of your skin almost instantly. If you have a bathtub and a carton of milk in your refrigerator, then you already have everything you need! Salt Just draw a hot bath, but not so hot as to make your skin red. Add a generous amount of bath salt, and take a nice long soak. Before you know it, you will feel your muscles and joints beginning to loosen up. Other health benefits include stimulating circulation, helping to fade bruising and minor scars, reducing the inflammation and pain of arthritis, relieving back and leg pain, and relaxing muscle spasms. If mixed with essential oils it can help promote even greater relaxation. Take your bath an hour or so before getting ready for bed…it’s heaven! beautifully handcrafted Sterling Silver masterpiece designed by the finest silver craftsmen from Israel. The price starts at MOP400,000 and the rest depends on whether you would like to have your ME! Bath experience at home or in a spa environment. Much of that cost reverts back to the Water for People charity, which provides clean water to people in third world nations.
Aloe Vera The jellylike substance within the spiky exterior is renowned for its healing properties. It is much prized externally for clearing skin blemishes and scars, and healing burns or sunburn. Internally it may be taken in tablet form for digestive complaints. Coconut It is used in countless ways, for eating, drinking, as an ingredient in cakes and as tropical Asia’s most prevalent cooking oil. Oil from mature fruit is massaged into the head for soft and shiny hair, while the thick white milk is traditionally used as a shampoo and the young thin milk as a conditioning rinse. Besides it smells so sweet!
Mint Grown everywhere in the world, mint is best known for its taste. It’s a blood cleansing plant because of its antiseptic and antibacterial benefits. To help clear the complexion, it is most commonly taken as a tea simply by infusing a few leaves in boiling water. It can also be mixed with a creme bath conditioner and rubbed into the scalp to combat dandruff and stimulate hair follicles for growth. Cucumber One of the beauty industry’s favourite fruits the cucumber is used predominantly for its cooling and revitalising properties. It is great for treating oily skin, as it tightens the pores whilst moisturising. Cucumber slices on the eyes refresh and moisturise and, for those who forgot their SPF, mashed cucumber soothes sunburnt skin. Chocolate Chocolates or chocolate spa products have anti-oxidants and mineral that promote good health inside and out. Oh yes! Chocolates contain a chemical called tryptophan that gives you that heady feeling when you eat then. Aside from this, chocolates contains other chemical elements that can provide you with a relaxing, feel good and giddy sensation all over, whether you eat them or apply them to your skin. Facial or body chocolate spa with cocoa butter can provide great softening effects besides helping to plump and firm your skin. Chocolate has antiaging benefits such as lightening or diminishing wrinkles, removing harmful radicals and leaving your skin looking fresh, glowing and younger-looking. Mud The most proven reason for taking take a mud bath is that it’s relaxing. Being cocooned and buoyed up in the warm, soft mixture simply sucks the stress out. The temperature makes you perspire, which cleans the pores. Health benefits are not proven, but a mud bath is claimed to improve the complexion, relieve joint and muscle pain and remove toxins. 93
Take Notes
Check out the right way to do your basic skin care
His job was to make the most tired of models or actresses look great on screen. As a make-up artist working in the Portuguese movie and television industry, Azores-born Rui Carreiro also produced two of Portugal’s major fashion events, Portugal Fashion and ModaLisboa.
Cleansed Face Whether you’re young or old, man or woman, you can do your skin a big favor by cleansing correctly. Cleansing is arguably the most important part of your basic skincare routine. Proper cleansing gets rid of old surface skin cells, dirt and dust, grime, make-up and bacteria, and keeps skin pores free of clogs and able to breathe freely. Cleansing also aids circulation and prepares the skin to receive topically applied nutrients and lipids.
Step by Step
1
Cleanse twice a day, no more. Unless you have exposed your skin to excessive dust, grime or pollution, twice-a-day cleansing is more than adequate for any skin type. Cleansing too often strips your skin of precious natural oils. Not cleansing regularly, particularly before you retire for the night, may lead to build-up and eruptions. Choose a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type. Do not use soap on facial skin: it can be too harsh and drying and damages skin over time. Too rich a cleanser can clog pores, while too dry a cleanser can irritate the skin. A cleanser for dry skin should contain nourishing herbs and oils. One for oily skin should include herbs that balance oil production and support clarity. Sensitive
2
Tips
Keep your skin well hydrated
Once a week apply a facial moisturizer to enhance the level of water in your skin. Spread a thick layer of nourishing moisturizer or night cream over your face and leave it for about 10 minutes. In addition to the previous care, you can always use a regular serum that, besides having a firming effect, improves the skin´s brightness.
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Protect yourself from the sun Sunlight is the major cause of premature aging. Use sunscreen all year round.
skin benefits from an ultragentle, fragrance-free, nonirritating cleanser.
3
Always cleanse with tepid water. Hot water dries and damages skin over time, and cold water won’t dissolve and take away embedded dirt and grime as well as lukewarm water does.
4
Apply the cleanser with your fingertips or a soft sponge, using gentle circular massaging strokes and moving upward on the face and neck. Do not scrub too much…gentle massaging strokes are enough to help improve circulation as well as loosen grime and old surface skin cells. Too much scrubbing will stretch skin and irritate it, especially the delicate skin around the eyes.
5
Cleanse your face, even if you don´t wear make-up.
Reduce tobacco
Tobacco smoke, besides giving a grayish tone to skin, cuts off the oxygen needed for skin cell regeneration.
Today, Rui is in Macau working as a hairstylist and fashion adviser for the Málo Clinic. Rested, relaxed, comfortable and healthy! This is the look we all seek in order to appear younger in front of the mirror, and it´s probably what gives us confidence enough to get on with our daily responsibilities.
Change skin By mildly abrading your skin with exfoliating agents, you will remove the surface layer of dead cells. Afterwards, fine lines will be less visible and your complexion will glow. Here are a few easy steps for exfoliating your face and improving your complexion.
Step by Step
1
Moisten your face with water before exfoliating.
2
Use a loofah, exfoliating gloves or a synthetic scrubbing sponge designed for the face. Apply an exfoliating cleanser specially designed for the face to the loofah or sponge. Some exfoliating cleansers contain up to 25 percent pumice, and these should never be used on the face.
3
Rub your face with the loofah or sponge using circular motions. Avoid scrubbing under the eyes, because the skin there is thin and easily damaged by abrasive cleansers and exfoliating sponges.
Adapt your skin to temperature differences
Excessive heat or cold can cause severe damage and dehydration. Change cream hydration along with the seasons. In winter, prefer an oily moisturizer and in the summer a smoother cream. Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even if it’s cloudy or you don’t plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. If you sweat a lot or go swimming, reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours (even if the bottle says the sunscreen is waterproof). Choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the words
4
Rinse thoroughly with tepid water. Hot water is harsh on skin, especially delicate face skin.
5
Apply a moisturizer containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids. These acids will continue the exfoliating process, because acids cause additional dead skin cells to slough off.
6
Try an exfoliating mask. Make one by mashing up a papaya and smearing it on your face. The enzymes help exfoliate the skin. Rinse off thoroughly after 15 minutes.
“broad spectrum protection” or “UVA protection” in addition to an SPF of 20 or greater. Select a sunscreen that says “nonacnegenic” or “noncomedogenic” on the label to help keep pores clear. The sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, so reapply sunscreen frequently and take breaks indoors if you can. If your shadow is longer than you are tall, then it’s a safer time to be in the sun (you should still wear sunscreen, though). Try using foundations, powders, creams and lipsticks with solar filter protection formulas! They are a good alternative for those who do not usually use sunscreen daily, as recommended by dermatologists.
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World of Beauty
Beauty hurts sometimes … but are you really willing to suffer this much?
Bizarre beauty treatments have been around forever and they are constantly evolving. We pick some of the best…or worst!
Bloodsuckers
Despite the health risks, blood sucking leeches are still commonly used around the world as a way to detox the blood. The procedure first requires you to shave your body, then immerse yourself in turpentine. When the stinging stops, you can allow the leeches to feast on your blood. This therapy goes back to Ancient Egypt,when physicians and doctors used to consider it a miraculous cure-all. Today, it is sometimes used in plastic and reconstructive surgery to assist in the reattachment of severed body parts. Leeches have a little enzyme that gets released into your body when they are biting down. In general it leaves you bleeding for quite a while but then you’re just fine to go on with your life!
Head to toes
Perscentoelogy is one therapy that might be considered peculiar. It is a way of profiling an individual’s personality by reading the toes. It is said that a lot of things can be revealed by the lines on the toes. This is usually done together with other spa treatments.
Free as a bird
The Geisha Facial promises to cleanse, brighten, and exfoliate your face thanks to an amazing secret ingredient: bird poo! For centuries in Japan, both Kabuki actors and geisha’s used nightingale droppings, to clean off their thick white makeup and soothe their faces; apparently, guanine, which is found in the droppings, helped their complexion. The bird poo is sanitised through exposure to ultraviolet light, then finely milled, mixed with rice bran and ready to use!
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Put your hand here, it’s pointy and it stings!
Cactus has been used for several purposes in the past but this time it is being used for spa treatments. The cactus massage makes use of a concoction of cactus blossom, pulque and cactus meringue and is applied using the cactus paddies. Once it has been lathered on the body it is kneaded just like in other types of massages. It flushes out toxins and moisturises the skin.
Fertilized hair
Remember that scene from the movie “There’s Something About Mary” when Cameron Diaz is having dinner with Ben Stiller and she has a “bad hair” moment? Well, don’t laugh so much the next time you see it, because actually some treatments use semen from Aberdeen Angus bulls! The semen is combined with the root of the protein-rich Katera plant, massaged into the hair after being shampooed, and then the client is put under heat so the treatment penetrates the hair. The semen is refrigerated before use, doesn’t smell and is said to leave you with wonderfully soft and thick hair!
Snake out
For us, this is probably the one that requires the most courage. Slithering snakes are used to create a therapeutic massage, however not to worry for all these snakes are non-venomous! Apparently larger snakes produce a calming, kneading sensation, while smaller garden varieties provide gentle caresses. So, are you willing to be snake bitten?
History’s best kept secrets…fortunately! British model Naomi Campbell rubs ground coffee beans over her thighs and then wraps them up in glad wrap just to keep her skin looking fabulous and cellulite free. The actress Gwyneth Paltrow caused a stir when she showed up to an event in a dress that exposed odd circles up and down her spine as a result of Chinese cupping acupuncture. Even Eva Longoria has been rumored to be using a placenta ingredient-based cream to keep her skin looking youthful and glowing. And we could go on and on giving you all kinds of examples. Showbiz is full of bizarre habits, and decadent and expensive experiences, but believe us, all of these experiences are nothing compared to what ancient times have in store. The following might “take Hollywood by storm”!
Ladies of the Middle East used to grind up lead – which causes metal poisoning – and apply it to their lashes, eyebrows and eyelids.
Venetian ladies
would achieve beautiful blonde hair highlights by pouring lion urine on their tresses before sitting out in the sun.
Arabian ladies loved sleek and shiny hair, so they used camel urine to dip their raven-black hair in.
Face painting with white lead powder was also popular in Elizabeth’s time. The beauty secret caused the premature demise of a number of 16th century lovelies. Great beauties from the time of Queen Elizabeth I owed the rich red color of their lips to bugs. The squashed remains of insects were rubbed on the mouth for a ruby-red luster.
Crocodile dung made into a paste with donkey’s milk kept Cleopatra’s skin looking lovely in the Egyptian heat. She used it as a face mask.
In ancient Babylonia, unwanted facial hair was sanded off with a rough pumice stone.
Women in Edwardian England would gladly swallow a slimy tapeworm to keep themselves slim and trim. The parasite digested most of the food the women ate, and it also destroyed their health. Eating arsenic was another way to achieve beauty discovered by Englishwomen. The deadly poison – used in the 19th century – gave the skin an interesting glow while at the same time shortening one’s life span. Roman ladies rubbed brown seaweed on their faces as rouge, which did them no harm. But the white powder made from lead they rubbed on their faces caused them a slow death by lead poisoning.
Ancient Italian ladies used to apply a deadly nightshade to enhance their eyes. The poison dilates the pupils and makes people’s peepers look enormous and glowing.
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Interview
The beautiful interior decoration, the fabulous products and the amazing list of exotic treatments might impress us, but the heart and soul of spas are the people. People create the atmosphere and are the ones who lead us into the deep relaxation of revitalisation. To fully understand what is going on in the spa industry, we interview one of those special people: Tess Noeh, Therapy Director for Malo Clinic.
Inner Beauty
Could you tell us a little about yourself and your expertise in spas, and why you became interested in them? I started as a therapist 20 years ago. At that time I was searching for a job opportunity where I could practice healing techniques using traditional and holistic values. I decided to make spa my life’s work, and the combination of movement, good nutrition, spa therapies and a mind/body/ spirit approach to wellness became a passion. And luckily for me, the spa industry, which was just emerging at the time, was poised for explosive growth. Why have spas continued to grow and become popular over the past several years? I see some general trends that have come together to precipitate the popularity of spas. Firstly, the aging baby boomers. This demographic wants to maintain their youth and vigor. Spas are a perfect place to achieve these goals. Secondly stress. The non-stop bombardment of information and connectivity is creating a need for people to have places to decompress, de-stress, slow down and pay attention to their body, mind and spirit. Finally, a troubled health care system means people of all ages must become more responsible for their own wellness and health.
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just a good therapist. The spa has become a hospitality experience, where the client checks-in and expects to get all the amenities of a 5-star hotel. The difference of course, is still the therapist touch, but finally there’s a more inviting process surrounding the final purpose. Over the years have you seen a change in the type of spa client? Younger people, men, families? Clients are younger, and also men are the new spa clients. In the past, most people that went to spas were looking for arthritic cures. Then, the baby boomers, decided to approach spas in a different way: in search of luxury and unique experiences because they realised they deserve it. So they were, and still are, in search of pampering. The X-Generation came along and brought a new perspective too. They are not looking for luxury, but a place to de-stress. They are brand-oriented, but at the same time more aware of the biodynamics, so they really are looking for results and the faster they get them, the better. Younger people have a whole new perspective. They are not so brand-oriented but instead they focus their attention on reliable ingredients, whether it´s ecological, natural, traditional and most of all an authentic experience that can harmonise body and soul. I believe that they are more aware that wellness is not only physical, but most of all a state of mind. Today, people are becoming wary of surgical and chemical problems and mistakes, and are looking for natural solutions. Wellness is a new important area. So, in the past people went for treatments to improve, but today the spa client going to the same spa is younger and is looking to prevent illness, and is going for preventative measures. People are also looking to combine spa treatments as part of their vacations. What are the benefits of spa treatments? De-stressing by getting away from life´s demands is the major benefit. There are many ways to de-stress and spas specialise in these. Massages are for many, the ultimate de-stresser. At spas people typically leave their outside world behind, they slow down and their bodies become more relaxed. A spa has nurturing staff and there is lovely food that doesn’t intoxicate but rather revitalises. I think that what spas do is help us get back to who we really are, and connecting at that level is always a very fulfilling experience. Can you tell us something about the new developments and trends in the spa industry? We are seeing a variety of trends in the spa industry. One of the most interesting is definetely the medical spas where medicine and spas are coming together. Another interesting fact about the industry is that spas are becoming more and more affordable and inclusive. The quality of service is also another strong business opportunity. In the past, the quality came down more to the individual therapist than to the facility, but the tables are turning on this. People are demanding more than
What should we expect from spas in the future? I think that medicine and spas coming together is a very exciting development. We are seeing prevention/ wellness as well as aesthetic/cosmetic medical spas now. Doctors and spa therapists working together is a very interesting perspective for the industry - comfortable medical settings with the best results possible. In addition the entire arena of complementary and alternative medicine is finding a home in the medical spa environment. Consumers are increasingly interested in being proactive when it comes to their health and well being. They increasingly need to take responsibility for their own health. I think that spas will eventually become a very important part of the solution to health problems in the world. What would be the perfect spa? The “perfect” spa would have natural thermal waters, the best treatments, including holistic, Ayurvedic, modern therapy, Thai, which would always be provided after a consultation to determine what is the most appropriate for each client. It would have the ability to offer something for everyone, with authentic therapists with therapeutic backgrounds. 99
REVIEW
Stars love it and so do we!
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Series Beloved by Hollywood celebrities, the top professional haircare brand Alterna, has finally dropped in on the Hong Kong market with a celestial grace. Using the highest quality ingredients, the most technologically-advanced methods of extraction and refinery, and the latest skin care science and technology together with numerous trademark technologies, caviar anti-aging series is a comprehensive line of products that addresses hair that has been damaged by daily stresses, environmental factors, chemical services and premature aging. Where to buy: Toni & Guy Hairdressing Macau Salon
Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Corrector
Dior Poudrier Dentelle
Better than ever before! This spoterasing serum for all skin types is light enough to layer under your favorite night cream or sunscreen. Clinique guiding dermatologist Dr. Orentreich says, “When skin is more even-toned, you look younger.” So here’s your second chance, to virtually undo the visible evidence of sun damage, dark patches, skin stresses, age spots, even the darkening that follows acne scarring. Gently create the brightness and clarity you thought were long gone.
Dance fever swept spring runways this year, from the sleek chignons at Zac Posen to Marc Jacobs’ gauzy pastel leggings. And now cosmetic companies are toeing the line, with ballet-pink palettes and ultrafeminine scents, like the peony-inspired Wish Pink.
Chanel Nude Blush This Chanel powder blusher imparts a flattering radiance to cheeks. With a remarkable silky texture for easy application and subtle shading, it accentuates cheekbones for a youthful look. Take some advice from us, softer tones around the eyes soften the expression and rejuvenate. This blend of peach, rose and nude hues gives a sun-kissed flush to all skin tones.
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So androgynous! So 90´s! Boyfriend blazers, oversize cardigans, and pale skin: The ‘90s are officially back. But if it pains you to pay MOP5000 for pleated pants, a unisex scent lets you dabble in the androgynous trend without butching out your entire wardrobe. Sexy and addictive with leather, tobacco, and spice notes, these new fragrances are a modern, more assertive take on 1994’s iconic CK One. Sharing scents shows how different they can smell on men and women. Some perfumers have noted that the same sexual split on female skin, might emphasize some ingredients, but on a male it’s a completely different scent taking over. Well, one thing is for sure, just like a tuxedo jacket on bare skin, these androgynous eaux won’t dilute your sex appeal.
Van Cleef & Arpels Cologne Noire
Cartier L’Heure Mysterieuse EDT
Next best thing to a face lift… so they say
L
adies and Gentlemen, a new technology to get rid of wrinkles has arrived in the cosmetic world! Selphyl is the newest rejuvenation beauty treatment that uses the patient’s own blood cells to reverse aging. This new type of dermal filler uses the patient’s own blood and it stimulates cell proliferation, which promotes volume increase and skin rejuvenation. It can be used in any area, face or body, it’s natural and there are no side effects. And that, besides getting rid of the wrinkles, doctors say, is the beauty of it! The magic formula contains plasma, platelets and fibrin created from a simple blood draw and is made in the dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office in less than 20 minutes. After the patient’s blood is drawn, a patented process separates the platelets and fibrin. The resulting product is then injected into the treatment area. Over the course of eight weeks it develops new collagen, new blood vessels and really uses the patient´s own cells and tissue to reverse the signs of aging. In addition to lasting longer, doctors say there’s no bruising, swelling, or lumping that’s associated with some traditional fillers. Plastic surgeons say with the economic downturn, less expensive, non-invasive treatments like this one are part of a growing trend.
Tom Ford White Suede
The best candidates for this treatment are those no older than around 65 because older patients can’t build collagen as fast and as easily as younger patients. The technology itself is not new, it’s been around for at least seven years for other purposes such as helping to heal sporting injuries.
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Your Choice
Most people think of massages and facials when they think of spas and spa treatments. Well, the truth is spas have a much wider variety of treatments that until recently were only available at a doctor’s office.
Face Treatments
Facials are skin-care treatments that include exfoliation, steam, moisturizers, masks, peels and massages. They remove the dry, dull skin cells from the skin’s surface, massage the muscles to increase circulation, remove clogged pores and completely hydrate the new, fresh layer of skin. Some facials target specific problem areas such as reducing puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. Others help with anti-aging, such as applying collagen to the skin to help it tighten the skin and reduce wrinkles.
Nail Treatments
Most spas offer both manicures and pedicures, nail treatments for both hands and feet. These same treatments can be found at any nail salon for less than spa prices, but spas often go the extra mile or two for manicures and pedicures than do typical nail salons. In addition to shaping and polishing nails, nail technicians at spas will also exfoliate the skin, soften the skin, apply paraffin treatments and perform warm cream and/or hot-stone massages.
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Body Treatments
Spas provide a variety of skin treatments for the entire body: aquatherapy, body polishes, body wraps and vichy showers. In aquatherapy, you soak in aqua-jet tubs with aromatherapy oils, moisturizers and exfoliates. These soaks improve circulation and exfoliate and hydrate the skin. Body polishes are body facials. The body is scrubbed to slough dead skin cells and smooth out the skin, and then moisturizers -usually creams - are massaged into the skin for hydration. Salt scrubs are the most common body polishes, where aestheticians use scrubs of sea salt for exfoliation. A salt scrub is often the first step in a body-wrap treatment. After the body has been exfoliated, the body is wrapped in either seaweed or mud to help extract impurities from the skin and improve overall skin texture. After removing the wrap, you rinse in a shower and then apply extra moisturizer. Vichy showers are sometimes used at the end of a body polish or a body wrap, but they can be experienced alone as well. These showers have five to seven shower heads that pour water on you while you lie on a cushioned table. They help promote blood circulation as well as skin hydration.
Medical Treatments
Not all spas offer these, but more and more are starting to offer skin treatments that used to only be available at a physician’s office. These treatments include microdermabrasion, CACI face-lifts, Botox injections, Restylane, Juvederm, laser hair removal and pulsed-light hair removal. Microdermabrasion is a noninvasive procedure that uses a spray of microcrystals to remove the outer layer of dead skin cells from the skin surface. CACI (computer-aided cosmetology instrument) face-lifts use an electronic device to tone facial muscles, smooths away wrinkles and fine lines, lift sagging skin, plump up lips and lift baggy eyes. Botox, Restylane and Juvederm are all cosmetic injections to help reduce signs of aging such as frown lines, crow’s feet and wrinkles. Both laser and pulsed-light hair removal permanently remove hair from all parts of the body. The pulsed-light hair removal system is a fairly new procedure that uses a beam of light to remove the hair instead of a laser. It works faster and is also more comfortable than laser hair removal.
SEX AND BEAUTY
Massages
Massages are probably the most popular spa treatments, with a variety of styles offered. A Swedish massage is the most common method. The therapist uses massage oil to ease massaging in long, smooth strokes and covers the parts of the body not being massaged with a sheet. Sometimes the oils incorporate aromatherapy to further aid in relaxation. Pregnancy massages are Swedish massages performed specifically to help ease muscle tension in a mom-to-be’s lower back, shoulders and legs. Deep-tissue massages use many of the same movements and techniques from Swedish massage but apply more intense pressure to release muscle tension and knots. Hot-stone massages also implement the same long stroke techniques of a Swedish massage, but therapists stroke the muscles with heated basalt stones. The heat from the stones improves circulation in the muscles and aids in injury healing. Sometimes therapists will leave the hot stones lying on the spine for therapeutic flow. A reflexology massage focuses primarily on the feet. The therapist will apply pressure to reflex points on the feet to release blockages in the body systems and improve circulation.
Hair Removal
Waxing is the most traditional hair-removal technique that spas offer. Aestheticians apply hot wax to the skin and then press a cloth strip into the wax. They then quickly pull off the strip along with the hairs captured by the wax. Waxing can remove hair from all areas of the body, including chest hair, back hair, eyebrows, leg hair, upper-lip hair and bikini areas. Some spas even offer full Brazilian waxes, where all of the hair from the genital area is removed. Sugaring is another hair-removal method similar to waxing. The only difference is instead of wax, a sticky paste of sugar cream is used. Threading is a technique from India and the Middle East that is becoming more popular in Western civilizations. The aesthetician will hold one end of a thread in her teeth and the other in her left hand. She loops the middle of the thread through the index and middle fingers on her right hand and then uses the loop to entrap hair and pull it. Unlike waxing and sugaring, threading can only remove facial hair.
Sex smells Whether it inspires romantic, innocent and delicate love or just the physical and animalistic brutality, the sex package will forever be the best way to sell whatever, wherever, whenever, especially and mostly in terms of beauty. Just grab a fashion magazine and take a good look at the first ten pages. What do you see? A wonderful dress, accessorized with an amazing bag and pair of shoes. Right? Wrong! Be honest and just say that the first thing that really stands out from the picture is the female figure and her glamorous pose that has sex written all over it. The universe of beauty product advertisements is full of examples, crossing sexy fashion trends, such as porno-chic or glam-trash, with libertine women and men as sexual agents on the advertising itself, to promises of sensuality episodes full of desire in just a few drops of elixir scents shaped inside adventurous 100ml or smaller bottles! In fact, this advertising influence is shaping not only bottles of beauty products, but also its users, by instigating our animalistic behalf. The pheromones influence on coupling is a scientific well study subject far from being a novelty, but searching for a signature scent that leaves your partner sniffing is own hand, after a body search, that’s news! Women and men, mostly on internet blogs are not afraid of confessing how these trends have got them…well, turned on, sort of speak. Smelling good can make you look pleasant in the most innocent way, but smelling great can make you look even more pleasant in a not so innocent way, depending the place where you decide to sprinkle a little. A little sprinkle here and there. And, Ooh a sprinkle on the inner thigh. Or maybe even more inner than that. Women are looking for that special lotion and perfume to try and change their inner smells and Men have found it to be an interesting approach. Whether or not, you’re willing to take your most inner smell to another new level, it’s all up to you. For us, it’s really just news about a new sexual trend! 103
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Escapes
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Armani Bally Burberry Cartier Celine Chanel Chaumet Chloe Chopard Clinique Debeers Dior Dior (Beauty Zone) Dunhill Estee Lauder Fendi Folli Follie Gucci Hermes IWC Jurlique Kiehl’s The City of Dreams Lancome L’Occitane Alfred Dunhill Level 1, The Boulevard Loewe Bally Level 1, The Boulevard Louis Vuitton Burberry Level 1, The Boulevard Omega Cartier Level 2, The Boulevard Prada Chopard Level 2, The Boulevard Ralph Lauren Chow Tai Fook Level 2, The Boulevard Salvatore Ferragamo Coach Level 1, The Boulevard Shiseido Hublot Level 2, The Boulevard Swarovski Hugo Boss Level 1, The Boulevard Tag Heuer i TO i Level 1 and 2, The Boulevard Tod’s Insider Level 1, The Boulevard Tumi IWC Level 2, The Boulevard Vacheron Constatin LeSportsac Level 1, The Boulevard Van Cleef & Arpels Longines Level 2, The Boulevard PENACHE Level 2, The Boulevard Shoppes at Four Seasons Ralph Lauren Level 1, The Boulevard Rock Shop Level 1, Hard Rock Hotel Abiste Salvatore Ferragamo Level 1, The Boulevard Alain Mikli Swarovski Level 1, The Boulevard Altea Milano Tag Heuer Level 2, The Boulevard Aquascutum The Bubble Shop Level 1, The Boulevard Armani Collezioni Timeless Level 2, The Boulevard Audemars Piguet Tumi Level 1, The Boulevard Autore Valentino Level 1, The Boulevard Bottega Veneta Vivienne Westwood Level 1, The Boulevard Brioni Butani The Esplanade, Wynn Macau Canali Cerruti 1881 Alfred Dunhill 16 Chic Elegance Bvlgari 3 Coach Chanel 5 Cole Haan Christian Dior 12 David Yurman Ermenegildo Zegna 17 Diamond SA Fendi 10 Diane Von Furstenberg Ferrari 21 Dilys’ Giorgio Armani 8 Ed Hardy / Christian Audigier Gucci 25 Gieves & Hawkes Hermes 18 Giuseppe Zanotti Hugo Boss 23 Givenchy Louis Vuitton 6 GoldVish S.A. Miu Miu 11 Guess by Marciano Cigar Imporium 4 H&B Medicine Shop Piaget 9 Hugo Boss Prada 27 Jimmy Choo Sundries 13 Juicy Couture The Signature Shop 4 Kate Spade Tiffany & Co. 7 Kent & Curwen Van Cleef & Arpels 24 Kenzo Versace 26 Kwanpen Vertu 22 La Perla Lancel Grand Lapa Hotel Mango Tree Marc by Marc Jacobs Bally 13 Marni Burberry 1 Max Mara Cartier 12 On Pedder Christian Dior 11 Optica Privé Cigar Imporium 17 Renaissance Arts Gallery Alfred Dunhill 10 Roberto Cavalli Class Emporio Armani 9 and Cesare Paciotti Ermenegildo Zegna 2 Samsonite Black Label Florinda Jewelry 16 Shamwari South African Diamonds Hermes 8 Shanghai Tang Hugo Boss Orange Label 5 Shiatzy Chen Louis Vuitton 4&5 Shimansky Omega 6 St. John Salvatore Ferragamo 7 Stefano Ricci Valentino 15 Stuart Weitzman tsesay Valentino Versace
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