Woman This Month - May 2020

Bahrain Edition

BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | LOCAL ISSUES

May 2020 | Issue 206

FASHION MODEST STYLING

PERFECT RAMADAN LOOKS

SS20 TRENDS REPORT PART II

BEAUTY

AT HOME TREATMENTS GET CONFERENCECALL READY

FOOD

FUN IN THE KITCHEN WITH OUIAM RECIPES FROM LIVE AND TASTE

PEOPLE WHAT FERNANDA DID NEXT

HOMES

LOCKDOWN DIY PROJECTS

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FASHION | get the look

RAMADAN STYLING

DAY TO NIGHT

Chloe

Ted Baker

Mango

Bally

M&S

Namshi Top Shop

Chloe

This look will take you from office to Iftar without looking overdone. So, if you have an informal get together with family and friends, this is the look for you. Show off your fashion chops with one of the summer’s most sophisticated pieces, the full-length pleated skirt in a dark colour. Add a top in a luxe fabric or with interesting details to balance the sobriety of the lower layer. Classic flats coupled with eye catching jewellery and a mini bag – another of the season’s hot trends – will complete your look.

Namshi Ella Pearl

The Holy Month is upon us and with it, virus allowing, come gatherings as we get together to break the fast. Follow our tips for Ramadan looks that manage to be both eye-catching and modest.

FABULOUSLY FIERCE

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Lena & Lili

Purification Garcia

Rubeus Milano Rubeus Milano

Amal's Abayas

Dolce & Gabbana

Versace

Rene Caovilla

OK, so in our climate, you probably don’t want to go all-out with both a heavyweight suit and a cloak – though they do look rather fab. Adapt the look to suit both our climate and your style with an equally gorgeous suit featuring either a bustier, like this one from Rubeus Milano, or a waistcoat, another of summer’s coming trends. Top it with a cover-up tunic or open-fronted abaya and add to the glamour with statement footwear and accessories.

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FLOATY AND FEMININE

Rubeus Milano

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Ted Baker

Aquazzura

By Far

Chloe

Zara

Galvan Farfetch

Mango

Going girlie doesn’t have to mean boring. Channel the ethereal vibe seen at Chloe with a lightweight, full-length dress like this one from Iris & Ink. Preserve modesty and add interest with a metallic cami (though you won’t need it with this gorgeous full frock from Ted Baker). Platform sandals add height and drama while choosing interesting accessories such as a quirky handbag and jewellery will give this look some extra oomph.

Iris & Ink The Outnet

Rubeus Milano

Cos

Temperley London

Tom Ford

A lightweight embroidered overshirt/coat is a useful wardrobe addition all year round but comes in particularly handy during Ramadan when good manners suggest shoulders should be covered. This example, from Mango, will allow you to wear a skimpy top underneath.

Pair with plain trousers – either wide legs or skinnies – to let the embroidery do the talking.

We’ve gone for the satin-red killer heels but this look would be equally at home with kitten heels for important daytime meetings.

Faberge

Mango

EMBROIDERED ELEGANCE

Chloe

FASHION | get the look

May 2020

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Deema Ajlani

M&S

Coach

M&S

Fenty Beauty

FASHION | get the look

BLACK BEAUTIES

By Far Aquazzura

Namshi Swarovksi

If you are attending or planning a more formal Iftar, you can’t go wrong with black. It leans toward the traditional while still looking dressy and confident.

Both the Coach dress and the M&S separates blend different textures to lift the sombre mood and you can drive things up another notch with a slash of bold red lippie to enhance your sparkling accessories.

Leem

Kate Spade

Dressing modestly doesn’t have to mean forsaking bright colours. More and more designers are catering to the modest segment of the fashion market, which means ever increasing choice. For bold brights, the Ramadan capsule from Leem gets full points.

Dulled metallic shoes won’t detract from your plumage and will work with just about anything in your wardrobe. And, your bag can either pick up one shade from your dress or go neutral, another great multitasker.

MKS Jewellery

Aquazzura

Boss

H&M

Boss

Marina Rinaldi

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

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FASHION | get the look

The Outnet Christopher Kane

H&M

CAREFREE KAFTANS Whether out and about or relaxing safely with family at home, kaftans are the ideal garment for both comfort and style. Loose and flowing, they are perfect for our weather all year round. This option from H&M really leads the way with its casual lines and gorgeous pattern.

Funky cropped pants, like these from Henna Mehndi, will add interest to a tunic. And, if you’re feeling the mood, go all-out with glam accessories.

Coach

Amal's Abayas

Henna Mehndi

Kate Spade

Deema Ajlani

Namshi Haya's Closet

Namshi Swarovski

Hair Accessories

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Namshi Haya's Closet Bally

Fenty Beauty Chloe

Sheikha Hend Faisal Al Qassami

To steal a famous phrase, abayas are for life, not just for Ramadan. We may be more familiar with mostly plain black everyday coverings, but the Holy Month provides the perfect excuse to shake things up a little. This stunning abaya/ dress combo from Shaikha Hend was shown at Dubai Fashion Week to great acclaim. But you don’t have to look so far – check out the gorgeous pieces from homegrown brand, Amal’s Abayas. Statement jewellery and a dusting of shimmering powder will complete the look.

Namshi Haya's Closet

AMAZING ABAYAS

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news

BRAND EXPANDS E-COMMERCE PLATFORM

Tommy Hilfiger has expanded tommy.com, the brand’s online flagship across the Middle East following its launch in Dubai a year ago. The tommy.com sites in the region are available in Arabic and English, and build on Tommy Hilfiger’s strategy to drive digitisation across the business and grow its online community by reaching the next generation of consumers.

Through the platform, consumers now have access to the widest selection of Tommy Hilfiger labels in the region.

Also available are the collaborative collections, such as TommyXLewis co-created with six-time FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Champion, Lewis Hamilton.

TOP TIER TRANSPARENCY

FASHION BOOK OF THE YEAR

With high fashion comes high tension which is laid bare in a new book by ExVogue editor André Leon Talley, once famed as a great friend and frequently photographed with Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour. In The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir he writes of their years together and lays into Ms Wintour claiming she unceremoniously dumped him for being “too old, too overweight and too uncool”.

He claims their friendship left him with “huge emotional and psychological scars”.

The book doesn’t go on sale until September but there are bound to be other great anecdotes of his 30-plus years in the fashion industry.

ACQUA FOR LIFE INAUGURATES SECOND DECADE Acqua for Life is Giorgio Armani’s initiative focusing on delivering universal access to drinking water in water-scarce regions.

The initiative was launched The initiative was launched in 2010, the same year the United Nations recognised the right to water and sanitation as a human right, and it has been a commitment for the brand ever since.

As of today, the initiative has invested more than BD3.7 million worldwide. As

FASHION DOES ITS BIT

Huge fashion brands across the planet are doing their bit in the fight against the coronavirus converting factories, which usually produce highend handbags and couture gowns, into production lines for non-surgical facemasks and coveralls for health workers.

Louis Vuitton announced via Instagram that it was joining the global effort to make more

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H&M Group has been named number one out of 250 fashion brands in the latest Fashion Transparency Index, which ranks companies according to how much information they disclose about their suppliers, supply chain policies and practices, and social and environmental impact. The fashion industry has been known for having a complex and opaque supply chain.

Transparency has been a cornerstone of H&M Group’s sustainability work. Back in 2013, H&M Group was one of the first global fashion retailers to make its supplier list public. Since then, the group has been taking steps to make it more accessible for customers to know where their products are made.

The brand is also known for its use of ethically sourced materials and its Conscious Collection.

a result, 413 water supply systems have helped over 217,000 people in 15 countries across three continents.

Acqua for Life enters its second decade with eight active water projects: one each in Greater China, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania and Zimbabwe and two in Nepal.

Photographer Viviane Sassen collaborated with Acqua for Life for the second time to mark the moment in Nepal.

supplies to protect healthcare workers. British company Burberry said it was using its global supply chain "to fast-track the delivery of 100,000 surgical masks to the UK National Health Service, for use by medical staff". And, in Italy, Prada started the production of 80,000 medical overalls and 110,000 masks for healthcare workers in the Tuscany region at a factory kept open specifically for the task. www.womanthismonth.com

Whatda Fernan t x e N Did Liz chatted to r e m m a h Lang r latest Fernanda tails of he e d e r a h s n.

O’Reilly to ld of fashio r o w e h t ventures in

H

ers is a name you will be familiar with from WTM over the years; first she was a fashion consultant, then editor. But prior to joining your favourite Bahrain-based mag, Fernanda Langhammer already had a long history in the industry in her native Brazil – from running a trio of fashion magazines to organising shows and even creating her own designs.

So, what’s our favourite fashionista up to these days? Well, the answer turns out to be quite a lot. After parting ways amicably with WTM, she turned her thoughts to her first love – styling.

First came Facebook and Instagram pages for The Godet (named for the piece of cloth sewn into a skirt or dress which makes it flare). Here she showcases her own personal style with photoshoots and videos, also giving followers the chance to ask questions. You’ll be seeing WTM sharing her posts in the future and her website thegodet.com has more info.

She will also be offering her own take on personal styling once restrictions are lifted. “Style is not about your size or age; it’s about how you feel about yourself and how you put your clothes together. I love helping women create new looks. Honestly, how many of us have things in our wardrobes that we never wear because we liked the look of them in the shop, but they just seem different at home? Often, the problem is the way we are looking at the clothes, so

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PEOPLE | interview my aim is to offer ladies a new pair of eyes and help them create looks that make them feel both stylish and comfortable, whether that’s for work or leisure.”

And that leads us on to the topic of shopping. Fernanda explains: “I got to thinking about how women shop. Lots of us hate the idea of trawling the malls so how about a Styling Box? A bit like a book club, where you sign up for a given amount and each month you receive a box of items, tailored to your tastes. It could be anything from a small amount, where ladies will receive accessories with ideas on how to style them, to whole outfits. I know I would certainly go for something like that, as would a lot of the women I speak to. You know you’ve got a guaranteed surprise coming every month.

Chalk it up as self-care if you like. So, that’s definitely in the pipeline.

“I'm also working on a different concept, unifying my vegan cooking and fashion but that’s a work in progress at the moment.”

And, as to dressing during isolation, Fernanda concludes: “This is the best moment to experiment with your wardrobe and test different ways of dressing the same piece. You have the time and testing ideas, mixing pieces you would not normally wear together is a way of optimising your wardrobe.” https://web.facebook.com/thegodet/ https://www.instagram.com/thegodet/

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Loewe

Kate Spade

Gucci

Ingie

Attuale - Sir

FASHION | trend

Loewe

r e e Sh ek e h C

WTM brings you the second of a two-part report detailing the hottest trends from the SS20 runways.

Wear the trend with confidence with the addition of a nude-coloured body suit, as seen at Loewe, or go for a piece with strategically placed decoration, such as the fabulous feather-adorned dress from Giambattista Valli.

Ritu Kumar

Most of the pieces that have, so far, found their way onto mainstream sites such as matchesfashion.com and modaoperandi.com are in black, so if you spot something like Valentino’s tobacco-hued overshirt, snap it up.

Chloe

Loewe

Kristina Fidelskaya

‘Less is More’ was very definitely the case on this season’s runways.

From lingerie-inspired tops to short shorts, designers have never been more determined to get us flashing the flesh. So, it’s no surprise that transparent sheers were all over the place from barely there, in many guises, at Loewe to gorgeously demure overgarments at Ritu Kumar and lacy knits at Kade Spade.

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Attuale Vintage

Max Mara Weekend

Max Mara Weekend

Christopher Kane

Ralph Russo

Current-Elliot X Vampire's Wife

Valentino

Giambattista Valli

Sally Lapointe

Molly Goddard

FASHION | trend

Top Tip

e nude pping th a w s y d or b e colour bright re Add som r something in fo e. body suit e-catching shad y e r e anoth

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FASHION | trend

Gucci

Loewe

Kate Spade New York

Dolce & Gabbana

Gucci

This trend is super-easy to wear, the trousers are the forerunner on our beloved bootcuts; made to make your legs look longer. And the smart, ‘70s-style pants and skirt suits are ideal for a working wardrobe. For an awesome summer vibe, head back that little bit further with Dolce & Gabbana’s blowsy ‘50s prints and head scarves.

And, if you just want to chill out, psychedelic summer kaftans never go out of style.

Paule Ka

Probably my favourite of this season’s trends. Designers have come over all retro, harking back to the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s (and thankfully leaving out the ‘80s, the ‘decade that style forgot’) and there were some fabulous looks in this vein on the spring-summer runways. Gucci sent models out in psychedelic prints, Loewe and Rubeus Milano were channeling bell-bottoms to the max and Paule Ka took inspiration from one of the original supers with skintight sweaters and mini skirts in clashing pinks and reds.

Paule Ka

Rubeus Milano

TURN BACK TIME

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Gucci

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

FASHION | trend

Top Tip

Paule Ka

Valentino

Rubeus Milano

Gucci

Marc Jacobs

Valentino

These suits lend themselves to lower-heeled shoes or even kitten-heel sandals to keep the retro feel going.

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BEAUTY | styling

REC

VIDEO WOW

Behnaz Sanjana

No matter where you work from, the office or your home, video calling has become the need of the hour. The first impression is often a lasting one, and you don’t want the webcam to mar your efforts at making a great one. Take our pointers to look professionally puttogether in your online meetings.

To come across as credible and confident in virtual meetings, it’s not enough to run a comb through your hair and ensure the remnants of your last snack aren’t stuck between your teeth. Not only does the webcam give you less leeway to exploit your best angle, it could also amplify your skin’s imperfections and exaggerate your dark circles.

Not something that you want colleagues and business associates to make a mental note of.

CONTROL WITH CONTOUR

A subtle powder contour can help take the attention off what may be your pet peeves – a wide forehead, a frumpy jawline or a chubby face. Apply along the outer half of your crease as you do your eyeshadow, and smudge slightly outward to elongate and define the eyes in a jiffy.

On the lower lids, it can fill in for eye pencil without looking harsh. For the lips, dusting what’s left on your brush along the cupid’s bow and curve of the lower lip makes them look effortlessly fuller.

They’ll be hanging on your every word.

BLUSH HAS BANDWIDTH

A little colour on your cheeks prevents that washed-out look. Dab on a salmon, peach or taupe shade to maintain the seriousness of your ‘office’ look while giving it a healthy, youthful element. Make it multitask as eyeshadow with a quick swipe on the mobile lid for added depth.

MASCARA IN THE MATRIX

You may be low on time or inclination to blend seven shades of eyeshadow and manage symmetrical eyeliner application.

If there’s only one thing you can do to your eyes before a video call, let it be mascara. A couple of coats will make you look bright-eyed and awake. If you take the trouble to curl your lashes before this, all eyes will be on you, trust us.

And nobody will be able to guess you’re in pajamas under that fancy blouse.

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KEEP LIPS IN THE LOOP

LAY THE GROUND WORK

Taking the time to pat on a foundation, or at least a good BB cream, is important to have an even on-screen face. In this case, it’s not a beauty faux pas to go slightly over the top with coverage. But be sure to pull it down your neck too, for a flawlessly even look.

Even if bold, matte lips are your signature office style, stay away, unless you want your pucker to look patchy or narrow on video call. Gloss is another one to ditch; the camera usually relays it as too shiny, making it distracting. Stick with a tinted lip balm for a hint of colour without looking overdone, or, a nude demi-matte lipstick that doesn’t allow your lips to blend into your face.

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BEAUTY | tips

AT-HOME

Beauty

Behnaz Sanjana

Beginning to feel like a neanderthal without the services of your friendly neighbourhood beauty parlour? Take these at-home steps to keep looking and feeling your best, even if you are hardly stepping outside of your own front door (raise your hands all those who dress for a cocktail party to go grocery shopping).

SKIN

While your facialist is also in social distancing mode, stick to your skin care routine, or build on one. Remember to exfoliate at least twice a week.

Granulated sugar or oatmeal mixed with your face wash is a natural, twoin-one solution to smoothen and brighten skin. If mixing up face masks from pantry staples, like cinnamon, honey, chickpea flour, yogurt, chamomile and turmeric, is too much for you, rely on sheet masks to hydrate and nourish skin while you watch your favourite TV show. Using genuine products with natural ingredients like aloe and manuka honey pays dividends in the long run.

NAILS

HAIR

There will come a day when you need to let your nail paint go. Peeling off chipped shellac while worrying if the apocalypse is near is not a good idea. Place cotton soaked in acetone directly on top of each nail and wrap with a small piece of foil. Wait 10-15 minutes for the polish to come off. An acetone-free remover is best for regular polish. File nails short to give no hiding place to germs. A cuticle pusher helps to gently press unsightly cuticles close to the nail bed. Leave cutting cuticles to the professionals. The liquid from a Vitamin E capsule makes for great cuticle oil and can also soften rough bits around the nails. Finish off with a decadent hand cream and use it every night to keep up your home manicure.

If your hair misses the attention of your favourite salon sister, there are masks you can whip up in your kitchen. Try aloe vera, eggs or nourishing oils like coconut, olive and almond for strengthening roots, and avocado, banana or yogurt for banishing frizz. Add lemon juice or a few drops of tea tree oil to keep the scalp fresh and dandruff-free. When the mane is welltamed, split ends are less evident, and so is your overdue haircut.

If the grey peeking out is causing dread of those official video meetings, befriend a temporary root touch-up colour. These are available in various shades and modes of application at local pharmacies or online. The most common is in spray form (which is quick, though potentially messy), but the crayon, brush and mascara wand versions allow for precision coverage of fine and baby hair along the forehead, temples and ears.

Take this as an opportunity to give your hair a rest from ammonia, peroxide and similar baddies found in permanent dyes.

EYEBROWS AND LASHES

Stay on top of eyebrow overgrowth by plucking the extra hairs every few days.

If your eyelash extensions are on the wane, pulling them out will result in losing your real lashes. Use a gentle oil on a wipe or cotton ball to rub along the lash line to get the fake lashes off. Applying quality castor oil with a small, flat makeup brush to lashes just before bed encourages them to grow faster. www.womanthismonth.com

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BEAUTY | new products A RAMADAN SURPRISE

Spread some beauty this Holy Month with at 10-day calendar featuring a selection of 10 beauty surprises from the Sephora Collection. You will love the array of favourites, including makeup must-haves and indulgent skincare. Whether for an Iftar or Suhour makeup look, perfect your pout with the Lip Liner To Go, and pair it with the Cream Lip Stain for a stunning colour and soft feel. Once you try the addictive Panoramic Effect Volume Mascara Cinescope, you’ll never let your lashes flutter without it. The beauty box also contains skin-hydrating essentials: the Coconut Face Mask and Acai Smoothie Mask.

A CLEVER BEAUTY TOOL

Just because you’re at home, doesn’t mean you can’t look good! This Ramadan make sure your makeup stays ON point and OFF your hijab with the Modbeautykeeper. This hijab protector ensures you keep modest and tidy while applying your complexion products. The first of its kind in the world, it’s a perfectly practical gift this Ramadan. The secure, onesize, adhesive enhanced fabric protector can be used three to five times. It is made in Dubai and is cruelty-free and environmentally friendly.

A TASTEFUL ASSOCIATION

OH THOSE CHEEKS!

L’Occitane and Pierre Hermé have collaborated to present the 86 Champs Intense Fragrance Collection. Architect of taste and passionate creator, Pierre Hermé, imagines unexpected associations, assembling olfactory notes with genius and expert intuition. The lineups include Musk Rose; a velvety and voluptuous woody floral musk with a sensual blend of rose, patchouli and subtle tonalities of candied fruits. Amber Almond is a fresh take on Oriental Vanillic, making for an encounter with warmth and freshness. The Oud Praline lineup is a tantalising, hypnotising Oriental gourmand.

Fenty has unveiled the Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush – a light-as-air, non-greasy cream blush that instantly melts into skin for an effortless wash of colour with a no-fuss, naturallooking flush in 10 sheer shades. The blush gives the impression that you’ve been pampering your skin with sun, sleep and plenty of water. It’s easy to use, impossible to overdo and comes in a lineup of 10 shades created by Rihanna and designed to enhance every complexion with a youthful glow. Its sweat- and water-resistant formula smooths over skin without feeling sticky or greasy.

LIPS TO COVET

YSL Beauté introduces a new member of the Rouge Pur Couture family: The Slim Sheer Matte. With a medium coverage that is easy to build on, unlike many matte lip colours, it feels lightweight and comfortable, all day long. Dress your lips in sheer matte rouge; enhance their beauty with a light veil of luminous colour. This lipstick is the ultimate in understated looks, bringing an air-brushed finish and comfortable feel in 12 outstanding shades created to form the perfect wardrobe of lip colours by Global Beauty Director, Tom Pecheux.

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BEAUTY | news

RECYCLABLE TOOTHPASTE TUBE

Global cosmetic packaging wholesaler, Albéa, has created an innovative toothpaste tube made with HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) for Colgate-Palmolive. Thanks to the use of this material, this tube is recognised as recyclable. Under development for more than five years, it has been launched in the UK under the Colgate Smile for Good brand.

According to a recent Colgate-Palmolive survey, almost two thirds of people in the UK are not aware that toothpaste tubes made with conventional methods cannot be recyled. The company says toothpaste alone accounts for an estimated 20 billion tubes annually around the world. To limit the impact of the most widely used forms of plastic packaging that up until now could not be recycled, Colgate has decided to share the technology with competitors.

ECO-FRIENDLY BEAUTY

L’Occitane is considering eliminating the use of the refill pack and replacing it with a fountain solution. Since June 2019, the brand has been experimenting the concept with three in-store refillable shower gels at points of sale in Provence, Germany and Spain. The experiment involves successful brand references: Verveine Classique, Verveine Karité and Verveine Agrumes – popular products for which customers return for more. Reflecting the spirit of the brand, bottles are aluminium standard packs that come in 250- and 500-ml formats, with a one-time purchase price. The consumer can then choose the preferred bulk shower gel at one of the fountain taps. A pump is also offered free, with the mention ‘non-recyclable element.’

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GET TROLLED

Korean beauty brand, The Crème Shop, unveiled The Crème Shop x Trolls World Tour Collection just a few days after the premiere of the Trolls World Tour movie. There are nine new products, including seven skin-care products, as well as a beauty sponge and headband.

Each piece comes with a cute photo of one of the Trolls from the movie. The Shea Butter Hand Cream comes in two different scents, one floral and the other fruity. Masks include Renew and Glow, Hydrate and Soothe and lastly, Brighten and Restore. The Plush Spa headband is perfect for keeping your hair out of your face while masking and the Classic Blending Sponge is a pink, teardropshaped makeup applicator designed with slightly darker musical note patterns.

BLEAK BEAUTY PROJECTIONS ALUMINIUM DEEMED SAFE

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) which responsible for providing the EU Commission with opinions on health and safety risks of non-food consumer products, has adopted its final opinion on the safety of aluminium in cosmetics.

The Committee, which gathers 17 independent experts in chemistry and toxicology, considers aluminium safe for use in antiperspirants, toothpaste and lipsticks in the concentrations where these products are usually formulated and marketed. According to the committee, recent studies show that aluminium is hardly absorbed by the skin, including freshly shaved skin, and is not stored in the skin.

Management consulting firm, Kline, has projected that the US beauty market could decline by 2.5 per cent due to the pandemic, the steepest drop since World War II. Kline’s forecasting analysis clusters beauty categories into four groups: Rescue, such as hand sanitisers and liquid hand soaps, that will experience spiked levels; Everyday basics, like shampoos and deodorants, which consumers are expected to more or less use as normal; Soothing solutions, such as facial skin care and nail polishes, which are expected to decline near term but may benefit from consumers turning to them as a treat and/or to maintain or establish a part of their routine they can still control; and lastly, the can-wait categories, including fragrances and colour cosmetics, which are expected to decline sharply during social distancing for the health crisis and will continue to suffer during the economic fallout in the years to come.

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LIFESTYLE | well-being Ok, so it made us stock our pantries to bursting point, purchase boxes of facemasks and gloves, and give up the things we took for granted. While we have become proficient with the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, how this new (temporary) normal takes a toll on one’s mental health may be overlooked.

No matter how much Dalgona coffee you whip up and Netflix you binge-watch, there’s always that terrifying thought of the virus knocking on your door. Not to forget the additional responsibilities that every household has had to undertake during this period. It helps to remember that stressing about the future can be counterproductive. Corticosteroids, the group of stress hormones, can greatly weaken your immunity – not something one can afford at present. Effectively dealing with virus-induced stress while in social isolation will keep you, your family and society resilient in tough times.

A Novel Perspective Behnaz Sanjana looks at how one can nurture mental wellness and stave off the stress in times of a global pandemic.

Maintaining the routine helps those who work from home. Adhering to fixed times to wake up, sleep and carry out official and domestic tasks helps in better productivity and taking each day as it comes. Break off from office work for the day by leaving your work-fromhome space and engaging in other activities.

Avoiding conflict when members of the family are inmates of the same cell is paramount.

Understand that your co-inhabitants could also experience silent panic attacks, so make an effort to be polite, empathetic and kind. It helps to prevent full-blown fights stemming from which movie to watch and what to eat for lunch.

Investing in yourself, by way of time or resources, is a way to take a positive look at the future. Taking an online class, reading that self-help book you put away for ‘when I have the time’, creating visual or culinary art enables you to reaffirm faith and confidence in yourself and takes your mind off the doom and gloom.

Exercise the body, but don’t forget the mind. A good workout lets the endorphins lighten up the mood, but tending to your mental health also has great payoffs, especially in the

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current circumstances. Practising mindfulness (guided meditation can help newbies) is most effective for curbing stress, anxiety and depression, thereby boosting physical health.

Positive affirmations and playing with a pet can help too.

Reaching out to others is a valuable means of catharsis. Text messages, jokes and memes serve a limited purpose, especially if you or someone you know lives by themselves. Have a genuine telephone conversation with the aged aunt, drop off groceries to the retired neighbour, or virtually hold a hand that may feel most vulnerable at this time.

Don’t over-think it. What does the future look like? Where is the world headed? What about the economy? At this point, nobody can tell for sure. Curb your appetite for the latest piece of news every minute of the day and concentrate on adopting thoughts on how you can keep yourself and your community safe.

Gratitude changes everything, it’s said.

Counting your blessings (like having a proper home to be practising social distancing in, to begin with) will take your mind off the worry.

Thanking those who add value to your life has a lasting, two-way effect.

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LIFESTYLE | well-being

WELL-BEING

CATS WITH THE CORONA

Two cats in New York, living in separate areas of the state, have tested positive for COVID-19 with mild respiratory problems.

They are expected to make a full recovery, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The owner of one of the cats tested positive for the virus, while the household of the other did not have any confirmed cases. The agency said the disease may have been transmitted to this cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected

person outside its home. The CDC and the Agriculture Department don't recommend routine testing of pets as they don't play a role in spreading the virus. While humans can likely infect their pets, scientists don't think pets play a role in transmitting the virus to humans. A study published earlier in April found that cats are highly susceptible to the virus, while dogs have only a low susceptibility. www.usnews.com

SMART CLOTHES

Researchers have made a strong, comfortable fabric that heats and cools skin, with no energy input. They freeze-spun silk and chitosan, a material from the hard outer skeleton of shellfish, into coloured fibres with porous microstructures. They filled the pores with polyethylene glycol (PEG), a phase-changing polymer that absorbs and releases thermal energy.

Then, they coated the threads with polydimethylsiloxane to keep the liquid PEG from leaking out. The resulting fibres were strong, flexible and water-repellent. In addition to wearing outdoors, such clothing could also be worn indoors, drastically reducing the need for air conditioning or heat. The process for making the fabric is compatible with the existing textile industry and could be scaled up for mass production. www.sciencedaily.com

SLEEP AND OBESITY LINK UPPING THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN

Public Health England is recommending people consider taking daily vitamin D supplements throughout the spring and summer as the coronavirus lockdown continues. Vitamin D, along with others, can help the body stay fit to ward off illness and infections - important during a pandemic. Some studies suggest avoiding deficiency helps our resilience to common colds and flu, although there is no evidence that vitamin D boosts the immune system. There is no evidence that it reduces the risk of catching or getting ill with coronavirus. But experts do think that supplements may have benefits during the pandemic by improving the health of people who are deficient. www.bbc.com www.womanthismonth.com

Can staying up late make you fat?

A growing body of research has suggested that poor sleep quality is linked to an increased risk of obesity by deregulating appetite, which in turn leads to more calorie consumption. But a new study published late April found that it’s not the sleep loss that leads to obesity, but rather that excess weight can cause poor sleep. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and the University of Nevada, Reno, discovered their findings in a microscopic worm.

It was emphasised that while these findings in worms may not translate directly to humans, they offer a surprisingly good model for studying mammalian slumber. www.sciencedaily.com

DRY RIGHT

After washing one’s hands, there may still be residual pathogens on the skin.

Researchers wanted to understand which method of drying the hands removed these residual viruses most efficiently and prevented people from transferring them to surfaces. Specifically, they tested the performance of paper towels and jet dryers. It was found that both methods of hand drying “significantly reduced phage contamination of hands”. However, after using the jet dryer, the average surface contamination following hand contact was 10 times higher than after hand towel use. www.medicalnewstoday.com May 2020

17

LIFESTYLE | parenting

e h T n I Fun ! n e h c t Ki

Ouiam Charkani El Hassani says teaching children to cook goes far beyond giving them culinary skills—it gives them a sense of pride and independence.

There is something so satisfying for a child, who is usually the one being served, to be able to prepare something on their own and serve it to someone else. Here are seven fun and simple ways to introduce cooking to your child. They’re especially great for the school holidays or when schools are in virus-fighting lockdown.

Set them up for success with the right tools

There are a few basic things children need to be successful in the kitchen. First, a work station they can easily reach. This can be a small table in the kitchen or you can use a kitchen stool so they can reach the counter.

They’ll also need a few child-sized tools, like a wavy chopper, apron, cutting board, small wooden spoon and whisk. But don't feel you need to buy everything at once. You can add to their kitchen tool collection over time.

Talk about safety, then back away

When you first introduce things like a wavy chopper, talk briefly about safety and any rules you might have, like keeping the work in the kitchen and keeping tools out of mouths, etc.

Then make sure not to hover as your child works. You can supervise of course, but from afar.

Introduce chopping

Isolating skills like chopping makes them easier for children to learn. Start with something easy like a cucumber. Make sure to give them a little bowl for the pieces they are slicing. Young children do better if it's really organised and they know where to put things.

Invite them to help with dinner Beyond gaining cooking skills, making a meal together really helps small children feel that they're important and a contributing part of the family.

Introduce speciality tools

There are a few small and inexpensive

kitchen tools that really help make cooking doable (and fun!) for kids. Things like an egg slicer (which is great for strawberries as well), or an apple slicer will keep things fun and interesting for your child, and let them practise with different foods.

Let them measure and mix

Measuring and mixing is one of the simplest ways kids can help in the kitchen. Choose a recipe that isn't super precise, like soup, and show your child how to use measuring spoons and cups for the ingredients. If you're worried they'll dump in way too much, have them put things into a separate bowl, and then add to the main mixture so the whole recipe isn't ruined.

Allow them to choose the activity

This may be the hardest part for parents.

Do you really want to deal with the mess of letting your child practise their culinary skills on their own whenever they wish?

The key is to set your child up for success. If they are only three years old, don't provide a lot of options so they are likely to make a huge mess. Instead, choose one simple activity like carrot slicing or peeling an egg, put everything they need on a low shelf where they can get it themselves.

Make sure to show them the whole process including washing hands before and after, and how to clean up. Make sure to specify that they should clean up the whole activity BEFORE eating the food they have prepared.

Once they have mastered the activity, including cleaning up, you can add another option. This is a great way to control the mess factor without hovering over your child, which totally ruins the fun!

Chanelmama

18

May 2020

www.womanthismonth.com

LIFESTYLE | food

TASTY RAMADAN OPTIONS The ladies of Live and Taste, Laetitia and Theresa, food bloggers and authors of liveandtaste.com are back with exclusive healthy recipes to help you through fasting and boost your immunity.

GRILLED RED BELL PEPPER MAKES 2-3 PORTIONS SOUP

This soup contains immune system boosters. Did you know that red bell pepper is packed with vitamin C?

GLUTEN FREE

MAKES 1 LOAF

BANANA AND DATE BREAD

This is a vegan bread with delicious and healthy pieces of date hiding inside. It keeps you full longer the healthy way!

Ingredients

150g oats (gluten free) 150g buckwheat groats 3 ripe bananas 5 dates, stone removed and cut into small pieces

2 tbsp chia seeds 4 tbsp almond milk 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon

Topping (optional)

1/3 banana, sliced Pinch of vanilla powder 1-2 tsp maple syrup

Method

· ·

Preheat oven to 200°C (fan).

Using a blender, pulse oats and buckwheat groats until ground into flour (it should take approximately 20 to 60 seconds depending of the power of your blender). Set aside.

·

Using a medium sized mixing bowl, mash three bananas with a fork.

·

Add the pieces of date to the banana mixture and mix again.

·

In a small bowl, mix chia seeds with almond milk and add straight away to the mashed banana and date mixture. Mix well.

·

Add half of the oat and buckwheat flour, baking powder and cinnamon to the banana and date mixture. Mix well with a wooden spoon but don’t overmix. Add the

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remaining flour and mix again until flour is well combined.

It’s OK if the batter has a few lumps.

·

Prepare a rectangle baking pan (22cm x 12 cm), lined with wax paper and pour your bread mixture into it.

·

Add topping to decorate the bread (optional): slices of banana, some vanilla powder and brush the top with a bit of maple syrup.

·

Reduce oven to 180°C (fan) and bake it in the middle of oven for around 35-40 minutes (usually the top is brownish/ gold and crusty when ready).

Take it out and let it cool down. This bread is moist and great with your choice of chocolate paste, peanut or any nut butter !

Ingredients

6 red bell peppers, washed 2 stalks of celery, chopped 1 red onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 cups vegetable broth 1/2 cup of coconut milk from can (or more) Pinch of black pepper and salt

Topping (optional)

Fresh squeezed lemon Chilli flakes Roasted buckwheat groats Fresh parsley leaves

Method

• Preheat oven to 200°C (fan) and

place red bell peppers onto a lined baking tray.

• Let them roast in the oven for about 25 minutes until the skin is getting dark.

• Take the peppers out and set aside to cool down.

• Put 1 tbsp olive oil in a medium pot and fry the onion, garlic and ginger on medium heat until soft and golden brown.

• Add turmeric powder, tomato paste, salt and pepper.

• Add celery and one cup of vegetable broth. Let it simmer on medium heat for five-10 minutes.

• Meanwhile peel red bell peppers and place in a blender or mixer.

• Add ingredients from the pot to the mixer, add the remaining vegetable broth and coconut milk. Blend until smooth.

• Taste and season with some extra salt and pepper. Add more coconut milk or vegetable broth, if needed.

• Serve in two or three bowls with some Chilli flakes, roasted buckwheat and fresh parsley leaves.

More healthy recipes on www.liveandtaste.com Instagram-Facebook : live.and.taste May 2020

19

LIFESTYLE | home

PROJECT

DO-IT-YOURSELF

The home probably sees more of you nowadays, and you of it. The pace of life has surely changed, leaving you with more time and energy. Now is the time to embark on a home project that you’ll be proud to share when friends come a-visiting again.

All you need is an idea of ‘what’ and the World Wide Web will give you the ‘how’.

ECO-FRIENDLY STORAGE

If you can run a basic sewing machine, this one is a handy craft activity. Vow to banish the plastic from home, and replace with cute fabric storage baskets.

PLAY WITH PAINT

STRING LANTERNS

A ball of yarn, some balloons and highstrength gum lying about the house can be turned into gorgeous lighting reflecting the festivity of Ramadan and Eid. Find out how here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=W1zeKmPP74I

20

May 2020

You won’t get a better time to paint or re-paint all that your heart desires – that wornlooking console, boring kitchen cabinets, the antique mirror or even the staircase risers to put the pizzazz into your place. Test your talents with patterns, if you have the time and skill for it.

www.womanthismonth.com

LIFESTYLE | home

MAKE A MEMORY WALL

Rummage through your phone’s gallery, print your favourite remembrances and frame them for when you need to retreat into your personal throwback. Using a combination of different frames makes it colourful and quirky.

SUMMER WREATH

Welcome Summer by decorating your door with a handmade wreath bursting with bright pops of colour. Put all the ribbon, art paper and decorative paraphernalia in the storage drawers to good use and get the glue gun going!

SPRUCE UP YOUR DESK

Add a planter, a spice rack to display your to-do memos or memorabilia, some hand-painted inspirational quotes, a comfy cushion and a rug to make for happier working from home.

BIRD FEEDER

It’s quieter these days; why not fill your outdoors with the happy chirping of birds to keep you company? There are so many ways to make a bird feeder by recycling and reusing things you already have at home. Install in the garden or on your balcony.

TIE-DYE PILLOW COVERS Worn out white linen reminding you of a hostel dorm? Inject some colour and personality into your bed linen with some acrylic paint and the easy tie-dye technique.

www.womanthismonth.com

May 2020

21

last word

In Her Shoes We go behind the scenes with Amy Bowzaylo, Clinical Director and CEO of InTouch Clinic.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

All-time favourite book or movie?

Happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely on what you think. Think happy and don’t quit.

Movie – The Princess Bride.

Book – A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

What skill would you like to learn?

Rock climb ‘The Chief’ in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. It is 702 metres high!

To Fly.

Amy

If you could invite three people from history for dinner, who would they be?

Early bird or night owl?

Usually early bird with a rare night owl moment!

What would be your death row last meal?

Fresh garden peas and tomatoes with Cheddar and bacon perogies and a glass of Spanish red.

Dessert would be my mom’s lemon meringue pie.

22

May 2020

Jim Morrison, Salvador Dali and Oscar Wilde.

Do you have a secret talent?

I can move my left eye independent of the right… taught by my dad and used in my 20s to discourage unwanted attention from guys!

Hahaha.

What did 10-year-old Amy want to be?

An orthopaedic surgeon.

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