Bloom Magazine Qatar November 2016

A BRIGHT LIFESTYLE November 2016

Distributed with

HEALTH

Is laughter the best medicine: We ask a professor

JEWELLERY

Chanel brings its signature quilted pattern to spring/summer jewelry BEAUTY

Blusher tricks correct every face type, make-up artists reveal

TOURISM

Harmony of the Seas: A look inside the world's largest cruise ship

FASHION

Karen Millen Fall 2016 collection

Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2017

C AT WA L K

AQUATIC SYMPHONY Flawless elegance in the new collection of Georges Hobeika!

This issue, We have an exciting host of features lined up for you from the latest fashion and style trend, which will inspire your season’s top wardrobe choices to some clever beauty tricks and healthy tips for your wellbeing.

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FA S H I O N

KAREN MILLEN AUTUMN | WINTER 2016

We value our readers and are eager to hear feedback that enriches Bloom’s content with desired and needed topics. In every edition, we aim in providing diversity in favorable segments that awaits an educated society to assist families, teenagers, and young adults that are entering the evolving world.

Published by

Managing Editor:

Hanan Ghazwani Editors:

Faten Khalaf Maria Carbungco Sales & Marketing Manager

Nancy Sibai

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J E W E L L E RY

Falling For MOUAWAD The Opera Collection

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AC C E S S O R I E S

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FITNESS

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DESIGUAL Fall/Winter 2016-2017

Are Cardio Workouts Effective On An Empty Stomach?

Design:

Ravindranath Koonath For contributions and advertisements please contact: Tel: 4000 2156 (Editorial) 4000 2155 (Sales) Email: bloom@qimqatar.com

Are Cardio Workouts Effective On An Empty Stomach?

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COSMETICS

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DECOR

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M E N FA S H I O N

Thinking of wearing a V-neck? Don't go lower than an open shirt

An exclusive look at the latest launches in the beauty industry

STYLE

DOLCE & GABBANA : Spring/Summer 2017

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Cork is the latest trend in designer furnishing CARS

How to give your windscreen wipers a longer life

Office address:

P.O. Box: 22345, Barwa Commercial Avenue, Safwa Block, Landmark 6, Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

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HAIR CARE

Sales & Marketing Team:

Shereen Elhageen Hend Hammad Eduard Ortanez Rasha Yousry

inside

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“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” Therefore, find your own style and have the courage to stick to it. My motto is "If it looks good on you it doesn't matter where it’s from or what brand it is or isn't. The secret is in how you style it!”

A DV I C E

Mastering the art of making a good choice

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LITTLE STYLE

NUITRITION

Mastering the art of making a good choice

More rules, fewer kilos?

How the Hay diet works

CATWALK

AQUATIC SYMPHONY Flawless elegance in the new collection of Georges Hobeika!

For Spring-Summer 2017, Maison GEORGES HOBEIKA takes us into a world full of movement and vitality.

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W

ith the collection “Aquatic Symphony� for spring / summer 2017 Georges Hobeika brings us into an underwater world filled with movement and vitality.Gentle shades inspired by the underwater flora and fauna decorations which are coping the forms of the fascinating coral and delicate pearls and beads that vesicles flowers which give special attraction of the creations.

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FASHION

Karen Millen

AUTUMN | WINTER 2016

Individual style is at the heart of Karen Millen. In the next evolutionary instalment, the KM designers bring a fresh playfulness, eclecticism and refinement to the most beautifully crafted clothes. With the emphasis on proportion, cut, color and detail, autumn / winter 16 emphasizes the brand’s confident know-how by zeroing in on the most desirable, statement-making pieces.

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There’s a soft sophistication to the reality of dressing for work. Cue the coats, from the enveloping knit-tweed wrap with a wide portrait collar and the strict belted military style to the playful a-symmetric take with blurred stripes, the sleek black belted pony skin trench and the throw-over-anything capecoat. Please note also the new faux fur coat; ultra-soft, it is practically weightless and in deepest cinnamon, it introduces the season’s rich spice colour story.

Dresses are inherent to Karen Millen and this is a season that defines the brand as a dress specialist as it reworks the one-piece in myriad ways.

JEWELLERY

Chanel

brings its signature quilted pattern to spring/summer jewellery

Alongside the recent haute-couture shows in Paris, the French fashion house presented a 48-piece high-jewelry collection inspired by the iconic quilted pattern dear to Gabrielle Chanel.

The range is split into 11 mini-collections that see diamonds, sapphires, mother-of-pearl marquetry, rock crystal and pearls used in creative designs that channel the quilted motif with high-end

craftsmanship.

Other mini-collections include "Signature de Saphir," which sets sapphires among square-cut, brilliant-cut, baguette-cut and triangle-cut diamonds, while "Signature de Perles" sees Japanese cultured pearls alongside emerald-cut, brilliant-cut and cushion-cut diamonds. The "Signature AcidulĂŠe" collection includes a ring set with an aquamarine stone.

Falling For Mouawad The Opera Collection Mouawad’s Opera collection captures this beautiful trend, sparkling with warmth, shimmer and sophistication. Exceptionally elegant, the range of necklaces and rings put the unique citrine and red garnet gemstones at the center of an artistically wrought 18 karat white gold setting.

The results are irresistibly romantic, and there is no better way to stylishly stand out from the crowd.

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Fine jewellery favorites from the Bulgari presentation

Bulgari revealed their latest fine jewelry line, Magnificent Inspirations, with the eternal blue of the French Riviera for a backdrop. Celebrating the label’s Italian heritage, the collection is arranged into three chapters: Italian Extravaganza, Mediterranean Eden and Roman Heritage, which paint a landscape of the Italian Dolce Vita with warm tons of gold, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds.

Suitably dripping in diamonds, Juliette Binoche, Toni Garrn and Carina Lau were all in attendance for the exclusive preview of the latest Bulgari fine jewelry collection at the Port du Cap d’Ail, which will properly come into the spotlight during Haute Couture Week in July. Exploring the many faces and nuances of Italian culture and landscape, Bulgari’s jewelry collection is organized into a trilogy that is rich in color.

Incredible Pieces of Fringe Jewellery This year fringe is in , the concept of fringe takes center stage. This is also true in the world of jewelry, where innovative designers and tried-and-true brands create fringe-style earrings and necklaces using gold, diamonds, pearls and gemstones. Here we bring you a look at eight absolutely incredible pieces of fringe jewelry.

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ACCESSORIES

DESIGUAL FALL/WINTER 2016-2017

For its fall/winter 2016 line, Desigual celebrated the increasing multicultural and global nature of the fashion industry. To pull off this goal and portray the message, the Spanish brand took inspiration from places all around the world and made sure the different cultures referenced were clear. The runway featured models smiling as they walked down the runway, which can be a great moment on a fashion stage, especially of this level. It never fails to add an element of fun and excitement to the otherwise serious catwalk, making the energy higher for the apparel and the audience alike. A smile can always lighten things up and make the clothes stand out from other shows.

VINCCI PRESENTS ITS

FALL/WINTER 2016 COLLECTION The Vincci Fall/Winter 2016 collection has two key themes: Sport Elemental and Modern Luxe.

For those who are keen on the athleisure trend, the Sport Elemental range features sporty details in a collection that is great both day and night.

Footwear takes on a chunky approach with bold straps, sneaker-inspired details and sandal styles.

Then there is the unity of sports and fashion in the platform shoes where chunky rubberized soles meet strappy details for an ultra-chic touch. Worn with skinnies or a Boho dress, it’s versatility at its best. Lemony yellow is the ‘It color’ for this collection adding a pop of coolness to your outfit of the day.

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Loewe Women’s: Fall Winter 2016

A simultaneously sophisticated and cool collection cut through with flashes of wit and twists of humour, showcasing the house’s technical expertise and continued redefining and refining of the modernist codes laid out over the last three seasons.

Among many bags, the Amazona takes the spotlight, present here in three new styles including a multi-pocket variation pairing functionality with playful aesthetics.While the new Joyce bag, with its prominent circular gold logo plate, completes the collection, an irresistible hand-painted napa neck pendant in the shape of a cat’s face anchors it firmly in the culture of our times.

FALL/WINTER 2016 WOMEN’S COLLECTION

A woman with travel and style on her mind makes a perfect match for the Fall Winter 2016 CH Carolina Herrera collection. With #CHic pieces in rich fabrics and sleek silhouettes; the collection lends itself to uncomplicated dressing.

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MEN FASHION

Tod’s fashion trends for men: Traditional masculinity takes a hike There are plenty of designers fixating on the notion of the “real” wardrobe. But few have Diego Della Valle, the 62-year-old billionaire head of Tod’s, hanging over their shoulders. That’s important because Della Valle isn’t just a CEO: He’s the Tod’s client, whose determination to actually wear the stuff his labels produce frequently inspires the creation of their garments. Self-indulgent solipsism? Or commercial genius? Increasingly, I’m inclined to go with the latter. Because the men buying Tod’s—and most other luxury leather goods—aren’t 20-somethings.

UR-105 “Raging Gold” – limited edition of 22 watches from Urwerk

Shoes that are as unique as you are Derby Shoe - '31

by Cerrone Bespoke handmade in White Calf Leather and Blue Canvas Suede, finished with Blue Laces and Stitching Derby Shoe '15 by Geerts Derby Brogues.

Bespoke handmade with Desert Sand and Dark Blue Calf Leather and Sand Suede, finished with Beje laces and Blue stitching.

This 105 version incorporates the latest developments in Urwerk’s constant efforts to add value to the wandering hour principle. The most intricate part of the mechanism, the carousel, which carries the hours in groups of three on four satellite discs, is hidden. It silently and unerringly brings the right hour to the right place at the right time.

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Oxford Shoe '48 by Samuel Maybe it's the carefully selected set of autumnal tones, or the harmony between the full brogue and the shine of the patent leather.

Honouring one of the most important explorers of all time

The Montblanc High Artistry Homage to Marco Polo Limited Edition

Thinking of wearing a V-neck? Don't go lower than an open shirt V-neck T-shirts are an essential part of a man's wardrobe, but there is often a question mark over how low you should go.

Experts recommend using an open shirt as a comparison.

"One or two buttons open on a shirt is acceptable - and the cut of a V-neck should never be lower than this," says Gerd Mueller-Thomkins from the German Fashion Institute.

Fashion labels being provocative and challenging norms is all well and good, but "V-necks are more about showing the V shape - not about going too far and showing too much."

TOM FORD Private Blend Oud Wood Fragrance After stepping back for a few years from oud, Tom Ford finally chose to revisit the distinctive scent with the latest Oud Wood Collection. Intertwining precious ingredients from rich and storied cultures, as well as artisanal traditions of the Middle East, the collection took off in incredible fashion.

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STYLE

DOLCE & GABBANA Spring/Summer 2017 Fresh off the runway

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T

he Dolce & Gabbana Spring readyto-wear show was a good vantage point for observing how the oldfashioned runway system is being questioned—pushed by digital technology to the brink of falling apart.

Domenico and Stefano brought back the heavily sequined pieces from their last collection, which have been such a huge hit. The designer duo brought 20 millennials, like Cameron Dallas and the Lucky Blue Smith clan, to the show and closed it with a performance by street dancers from Naples who performed alongside models as they trotted out in mini-skirts and D&G logo T-shirts. Italians certainly do not hold back on their indulgences!

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LITTLE STYLE

Bonpoint's

Paris Wonderland

From preppy tartan kilts, and simple embellished blouses, to Edelweiss brooches and folkloric jumpers, that were reminiscent of The Sound of Music. It was the Von Trapp family with a Parisian twist for the 21st century girl and boy. The show moved from Bavarian embroideries into couture, and it is fair to say a fairytale moment for any girl - tulle skirts, strawberry pink colours, mother of pearl buttons and a real life white Icelandic pony. There was something for everyone and for every occasion, from the princess to the tom boy and always with such style and a touch of enchantment. A budding fashionistas dream wardrobe.

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PARENTING

What to do with childhood fears

All children will face a fear as they are growing up. Some of those fears will be valid, and some less so. As parents it is our responsibility to guide a child and help them to understand a real fear (and how to deal with those) and a ‘made up’ fear – one that stems from their imagination, or a situation they have faced.

Here’s what you can do when dealing with fears 1. Reassure: With patience and calm, make your child feel safe when they’re afraid, letting them know you understand their fear – even if you don’t share that fear!

2. Avoid meltdown: ‘Prove’ to your child, within reason, by checking the area to show there is nothing that will harm them. Remember, things like chords and even shadows can trigger a child’s imagination. Remove the item or cause, or show her it can be handled and is nothing to be afraid of.

3. Educate to familiarise: Use pic-

tures in storybooks, soft toys and games that present ‘friendlier’ images of their fears, or online videos, stressing that while some fears are real, and should be avoided, there are many good things in this world. All this provides balance.

4. Do not belittle or ridicule your child's fears, particularly in front of his peers.

5. Do not try to coerce your youngster into being brave. It will take time for him to confront and gradually overcome his anxieties.

You can, however, encourage (but not force) him to progressively come face-to-face with whatever

he fears.

Since fears are a normal part of life and often are a response to a real or at least perceived threat in the child's environment, parents should be reassuring and supportive. Talking with their children, parents should acknowledge, though not increase or reinforce, their children's concerns.

Point out what is already being done to protect the child, and involve the child in identifying additional steps that could be taken. Such simple, sensitive and straightforward parenting can resolve or at least manage most childhood fears. When realistic reassurances are not successful, the child's fear may be a phobia.

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BLOG

Is microwave food unhealthy?

Top tech experts give it the all clear

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icrowave ovens allow us to bring food straight out of the freezer and have it on the table, ready to eat, in the space of a few minutes.

You can quickly thaw a frozen meal or warm up something you cooked the day before, thanks to the microwave radiation inside the oven, which has a frequency of 2.45 gigahertz.It does not add anything to the food apart from heat.

"Microwaved food is harmless for your health," says nutrition expert Margret Morlo.

Ina Stelljes, of the German Agency for Radiation Protection, agrees.

Theoretically, you could rely solely on a microwave to heat up all your food and drinks every day.

However there is a catch. We need raw fruit and vegetables in our diet, and if you think you can freeze raw vegetables in portions, bring them back to room temperature in the microwave and still eat vitamin-rich food, you would be wrong.

"Most vitamins are very sensitive to heat," says Morlo. Temperature, light and oxygen reduce foodstuffs' vitamin content. The maximum vitamin loss is usually between 40 and 80 per cent.

Folate and vitamin C, however, can be completely depleted.

"People who often warm up or cook their meals in the microwave should also eat raw fruit and vegetables on a daily basis in order to optimize their vitamin intake," Morlo recommends.

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Microwaves work with a so-called magnetron, Morlo explains. This generates electromagnetic waves. Those waves move inside the device and are reflected by the walls of the cooking space and distributed around that area as uniformly as possible.

"Electromagnetic waves cause major oscillations, particularly in the water molecules in food," Morlo notes.

These oscillations generate heat, which is why foodstuffs with a high water content warm up faster than those that are rather dry.

Choosing the right container is important while warming up food in the microwave.

"Containers that have been especially produced for microwave use are of course the best, but porcelain and glass are fine too," says Annabel Oelmann, who leads a consumer advice centre in the German city of Bremen.

However, you should never use plastic bowls made of melamine to roast, cook or heat up anything in a microwave, says Andreas Hensel, head of the German Institute for Risk Assessment, a government agency that offers bias-free advice on food safety.

The reason is that when melamine is subjected to high temperatures inside the device, melamine or formaldehyde can pass from them to the food, which can be harmful if eaten.

Oelmann notes that microwave ovens often fail to warm up food uniformly.

"That means that your cocoa may only feel lukewarm when you start to

drink it and burn your mouth a second later," the expert says.This is why it is important to stir it before drinking.

In order to prevent food and drinks from splashing all over the microwave or becoming dry on the surface, you should cover them for heating.

In principle, microwave users should let their food stand in the microwave for a few minutes after heating or cooking it."That is the best way to distribute the heat around the food," Morlo says.

"Safety mechanisms ensure than only very little radiation gets out of the microwave while it is running," Stelljes says.

Still, she notes that there can be a little bit of so-called leakage radiation in the area around the microwave's screen and door. Safety rules set a required maximum leakage of 5 milliwatts per square centimetre in the region of up to 5 centimetres from the device.

An overwhelming majority of microwaves are indeed within those limits, tests in Germany have shown."Technically flawless devices pose no health risks, even to people like pregnant women or young children," Stelljes assures.

Still, unnecessary exposure to high-frequency radiation should be avoided as a matter of precaution.

That is why the German Society for Radiation Protection recommends that children in particular do not stand in front of the microwave or next to it while preparing food.

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SKIN CARE

Give it time: Let moisturizer sink in before applying makeup

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efore applying foundation as part of your makeup routine, you should also put on a moisturizing layer underneath - a day cream.

Allow this to soak in for two to three minutes, so that the nourishing layer can act like a buffer on the skin. This is the advice of Germany's Committee for Aesthetic Dermatology and Cosmetology.

The moisturizer also ensures that the foundation will be applied in a light and even layer, as well as lasting longer.

Cleanliness is number-one rule for picking a good nail technician

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rtificial nails can draw positive attention to the hands and the feet. Applying them at home to yourself requires skill and patience, so many women are turning to professional nail designers.

A top skincare organization advises consumers to be on the lookout for cleanliness when visiting a nail studio for the first time. It is also important that the nail technician disinfects their own and the customer's hands before doing anything else.

When applying the false nails, the technician should be wearing gloves, and fresh towels should be provided for the customer.

A well-trained nail technician will only apply artifical nails over real ones that are healthy and intact.

They will prepare each nail individually by cleaning it, disinfecting it, filing it down and pushing the cuticles back.

Last but not least, the ventilation in the studio should be good.

Solvents and particles from filing the nails inevitably float around in the air, and a good nail specialist will have a extraction device with a filter system, says the cosmetic-industry federation of Germany.

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Vitamin C is a must in your skin care routine

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ost dermatologists consider retinol the go-to ingredient for defying your D.O.B. But not everyone is all rah-rah retinol.

Vitamin C isn’t new to skincare, but advancements in packaging—such as airless pumps and light-blocking containers (the nutrient is highly unstable, so oxygen and light are its enemies)—as well as new delivery systems designed to drive it deeper into skin have helped spark a resurgence of C-infused serums, masks and moisturizers. Gross created a range around the vitamin and is kicking it off with a facial mist.

An even earlier adopter than Gross, facialist Ole Henriksen has been preaching its benefits since he opened his Beverly Hills spa in 1975. Henriksen believed in vitamin C’s nutritional benefits, but it was Linus Pauling, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist known for his research on vitamin C, who opened up Henriksen’s eyes to its broader possibilities and inspired him to create the first vitamin C facial serum in 1998. Eighteen years later, the serum remains a bestseller and has become a gold standard in its own right for anyone seeking what Henriksen has coined the “Ole Glow.”

excess weight.

But is it really true that this is the only way to burn off the body's fat reserves?

Not if you believe sports medicine specialist Hans-Georg Predel of the German Sport University in Cologne. If you hop on the treadmill on an empty stomach, you will only be acting on a myth, the expert says.

Food fills the energy reservoirs in the muscles and the liver. At night, the body burns these stocks and spares the muscles.

If you train on an empty stomach in the morning, you force your body to take energy from other parts, which can also affect the muscles' glycogen reserves and lead to muscle reduction.

Further, an empty stomach can lead to low blood sugar levels and therefore to hypoglycaemia, which may, in some people, trigger circulation problems or nausea.

If that happens, you should switch to easily digestible food, like white flour bread or fruit, as soon as possible.

The fact is that it is better for you to get your cardio workout after breakfast. And yet you should not fill your stomach to the brim. Predel recommends a light breakfast that is rich in carbohydrates.

Are cardio workouts effective on an empty stomach?

FITNESS

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any people believe that cardio workouts on an empty stomach are necessary to get rid of the last few kilograms of

Fact or fiction? Cardio workouts on an empty stomach are necessary to get rid of the last few kilograms of excess weight.

The risks and rewards of stretching before exercising

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s a general rule, you should never stretch cold muscles.

But a few stretching exercises before training can be fine, so long as they follow a short warm-up programme.

Everyone knows that stretching is important for muscles and joints, but we often hear that stretching before training does more harm than good. Is that fact or fiction?

"Any stretching worthy of the name should ideally be done after a short warm-up and then again after training

has finished," says Professor HansGeorg Predel, a German specialist in sports medicine at the Cologne College of Sports.

Extensive stretching prior to training increases flexibility.

For some, however, such stretching can cause them to be more susceptible to injury due to a lack of tension in their muscles and joints.

This lack of tension can even reduce a person's chances of giving their best in sports where high levels of speed and strength are required.

Extensive stretching should only be done after training, when the muscles are properly warmed up. This allows for better blood circulation and makes the whole body more mobile.

A few stretching exercises before training can be fine, so long as follow a short warm-up programme.

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HEALTH

Is laughter the best medicine? We ask a professor

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aughter is the best medicine, or so the saying goes. But are there really any health benefits associated with humour and laughter?

"Yes," says Carsten Niemitz, a human-biology professor.

The health benefits of laughing have not been physiologically measured, but experts are fairly sure that endorphins, compounds that help reduce stress and provide feelings of happiness, are released during laughter.

This is why getting people to laugh helps against stress and depression."Laughter therapy" is not as crazy as it sounds, according to Niemitz.

"At first it seems phoney. Beginners tend to find it weird," Niemitz said. But over time, such therapy can ease de-

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pression, he said.

Laughter is generally triggered by incongruity, whether it's unexpected real-life situations or the twist at the climax of a joke, but physical stimuli can also induce laughter, like being tickled. Laughter also helps create a bond between people to draw them closer. "People who can laugh together belong together," Niemitz said. And not to worry, "it's impossible to get sick from too much laughing," Niemitz says.

Fits of giggles, where a person just can't stop laughing, are not dangerous to your health. They peter out in the end.

A normal good laugh lasts six to eight seconds. Scientists have timed them.

HAIR CARE

Toothbrush adds volume to hair, but hairdresser says it's just teasing

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rushing your hair with a toothbrush might sound a little odd, but it does add volume, as Jens Dagné from the German Hairdressers Association explains. However, it is not ideal.

"Plastic bristles can hurt the hair and can also become statically charged." A natural-bristle brush is better if you want to tease or backcomb your hair, advises the hairdressing expert.

There are other ways of making the hair appear more voluminous.

Dagné recommends using blow-drying lotion or a mousse at the base of the hair to make it stand up straighter.

After washing, semi-dry your hair with a towel and apply the lotion from the neck upwards over the crown, against the natural fall of your hair. Then, at a low temperature, blow-dry the hair, again against the natural direction of its growth.

When it comes to short hair, supportive layers also add volume.

"The hair underneath the top layer is cut using a special technique," explains Dagné. "This stabilizes the hair and gives it the appearance of more volume."

However, it’s not a good idea to ask for this haircut every time you go to the salon, as the hair will end up extremely short.

Help or hindrance: should you wear a hair mask all night long?

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n the packaging, many hair masks promise smoother, healthier hair overnight. The intensive products penetrate into the hair, rebuilding it from the inside, explains Roberto Laraia, art director at the German Hairdressers Association.

But because hair masks also saturate the hair, Laraia is sceptical about leaving them in for the whole night while you sleep.

"I don't think this is the best option," he says.It is better to leave intensive hair masks in for about 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse again.

If you do want to try an overnight mask, you should rinse your hair with a conditioner afterwards. This "closes" the hair and makes it less rough, explains Laraia. The art director advises using a mask or intensive treatment every two weeks.

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A hair transplant works by moving bundles of hair called follicular units from the rear of the scalp to the bald patch

Why hair transplants aren't always the best response to balding

H

ow men deal with hair loss as they grow older varies hugely.

Some trim their hair down to the scalp or resort to using hair tonics, while others wear a toupee or just learn to accept life with a bald patch.Another answer for many balding men with bigger budgets is to undergo a hair transplant. But not all of these elaborate operations go according to plan.

Before going into the details of hair transplantation, it's essential to know a few things about hair loss.

"Inherited hair loss leads to ever shorter hair and thinness. It's caused by an over-reaction to male hormones as well as stem cells at the hair roots gradually failing," explains dermatologist Andreas M. Finner.

Injuries to the scalp or scars caused by hair root infections can also lead to hair loss.

For a hair transplant to be successful, sufficient strong hair must be present. "Good conditions are when bald patches have formed but there is still enough hair on the scalp to be transplanted," says Finner.

A hair transplant works by moving bundles of hair called follicular units from the rear of the scalp to the bald patch.

There are two methods of transplantation. In follicular unit transplantation the surgeon removes a strip of scalp and divides it up into sections beneath a microscope for transplantation. The second method takes individual bundles of hair and moves them to where they are needed.

This method is called follicular unit extraction.

"For short hair, or very taut scalp, individual extraction is the better method," says Finner. "It won't leave a scar line, but there will be small points of

scar tissue."

Hair transplants are carried out both by dermatologists and plastic surgeons. It costs at least 3,500 dollars or more depending on how complex the transplantation is.

"Patients should be aware that a second, third or fourth operation may be necessary," says plastic surgeon Paul Edelmann. Over 90 per cent of hair transplantation procedures are successful, but the outcome of a hair transplant depends to a high degree on genes. "The hair will never be as thick as it was," explains Edelmann.

It's also possible that hair will be tangled when it grows, if it's not transplanted properly.

Olaf Krausslach is a specialist in toupees and a member of Germany's trade association of hair stylists.

He believes the disadvantages of a hair transplant should be considered carefully.

"Judging from what I've seen, it's common for a transplant to result in a few rows of hair and the rest falling out," he says. Sometimes the transplant results in a bushier hairline, but with hair loss at the back of the head.

"If hair is transplanted too early, it can lead to small bald patches that look awful," agrees hair stylist Jens Dagne.

Scarring is also another problem associated with hair transplantation.

Dagne recommends studying all methods of hair regeneration before making a decision.

COSMETICS

An exclusive look at the latest launches in the beauty industry

Extra-Firming Mask

Smoothes stress lines, firms, revives radiance Clarins first relaxing, anti-ageing mask combines a smoothing action on tension lines with an exceptional texture and a new relaxing method to offer the perfect solution to the harmful effects of stress and fatigue.

Give your skin the healthy look it deserves Beat the heat this summer with Bonjour & Bonne Nuit Fresh Melon Body Butter. Formulated with its high content of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and melon, created to deeply moisturize the skin.

Nuxe Paris.. woman’s favorite oil The latest fragrance of the Armand Basi brand stems from the special relationship with Barcelona and its architecture.

Its opening is very dynamic; blended of pink pepper, raspberry, ginger and pink grapefruit. The heart notes bring a rich bouquet of orange blossom, sambac jasmine, magnolia, rose and Egyptian jasmine, while seductiveness and warmth is provided by a blend of iris and warm woody notes (patchouli, sandalwood, cashmere wood).

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After conquering Paris, Huile Prodigieuse® is still winning over the hearts of women around the world. They have elevated it to No.1 in the Oils and Body Care category(1), a position that means a great deal to NUXE. Representing French-style natural beauty, Huile Prodigieuse® is distinguished by a natural and effective formula that is amazingly penetrating and moisturising, yet subtle and light.

Introducing Elizabeth Arden Liquid Assets Color Collection

Christian Louboutin Loubilaque

The makeup category is experiencing a texture revolution with products that give consumers a unique sensorial experience. Indulge with Elizabeth Arden’s New Liquid Assets Color Collection, a luxurious wet collection that is comprised of innovative fluid textures with rich color intensity and long-lasting finishes. Dress your lips in rich color and high shine, show-off your eyes with striking graphically-lined lids and get the luminous glow women crave.

Loubilaque draws inspiration from Christian Louboutin’s long-lasting love affair with lacquer. Not only did red nail lacquer inspire the red sole, but he has long admired the mirror-like surface of Chinese and Japanese lacquer. High coverage, high shine, and high drama, it bottles the esprit of lacquer.

The Sumptuous

Knockout Eye Collection NEW Sumptuous Knockout Defining Lift and Fan Mascara has a fiber-rich formula and custom designed brush, lashes are full, lush and fanned out. Instantly uplift and separate lashes for a stunning result. Housed in a sleek, black matte vial, the exclusive mix of two carbon black fibers helps to shape and extend each lash from root to tip – resulting in intense, black lashes.

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WELL BEING

Diabetics need to test blood sugar more often in hot weather

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n hot weather, diabetics need to check their blood-sugar levels more often, because heat stimulates our circulation, a popular health magazine is warning.

Elevated circulation can lead the diabetic to use up an insulin shot faster than expected, explains the Neue Apotheken Illustrierte of Germany. That can lead to the dreaded hypoglycemia, a condition characterized by abnormally low blood glucose.

Diabetics need to keep glucose sweets, raisins or even a sugary juice handy on hot days, since those carbohydrates cross the stomach wall fastest into the bloodstream.

Arthrosis or arthritis: stiff fingers can be a symptom of both

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rthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis share some of their typical symptoms: the joints feel stiff, particularly after long periods of inactivity or when you wake up in the morning, a leading patient information portal says. Both diseases are often mistaken for the other.

While arthrosis is an effect of age, effectively the result of attrition, rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. The immune system attacks the body because it takes some of its own cells as foreign tissue, and this results in swelling.

The government-funded neutral provider of health information, IQWiG, says rheumatoid arthritis is incurable, but can be countered by reducing the inflammation, overcoming the pain and determinedly keeping moving.

Cycling, walking, dance, gymnastics and swimming all help.

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Watch out for variable eyesight: It could be a sign of diabetes

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f your vision is hazy in the morning yet sharp as a tack by the evening, it could be a warning signal that you have diabetes.

The same goes for when your vision worsens after only two or three days of using a new set of lenses that's according to the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG).

Fluctuations in blood-sugar levels are often the cause of poor vision.

Anyone affected should see an optician immediately. If they rule out other common causes of variable eyesight, it's time to see your GP for the relevant tests.

Conversely, if a patient has been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, they should also have their eyes tested. If they are healthy, the DOG recommends repeating the test once a year.

BEAUTY

Moisturizing before going to bed is the key to soft lips Lips are well known for their sensitivity and they are also susceptible to drying out.

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ips are well known for their sensitivity and they are also susceptible to drying out.

A good method to keep them moist is to use a lip balm every evening before going to bed. Make-up artist Rene Koch recommends using lip balm with a high moisture content.

The skin covering the lips regenerates at night and lip balm will help that process. Sleeping with an open mouth dries lips out and slows down regeneration.

Before applying lip balm, remove any dead skin cells from the lips by using an exfoliator. That will allow moisture to penetrate the skin cells faster.

Blusher tricks correct every face type, make-up artists reveal

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bit of blusher on your cheeks and the your complexion will be glowing. This is the theory at least, but in practice there are a few obstacles to getting

it right.

Make-up artist Boris Entrup advises on trying out different make-up patterns depending on what you want to achieve.

"Applying the blush in a V shape, on the line from the temple to the corner of the mouth, emphasizes the eyes. A bit of blusher to the highest point of the cheekbone gives a kick of freshness to your face," he explains.

The shape of your face also influences how you should apply the blusher."Apply the blusher to the cheekbones. If you have a long face, apply the blusher horizontally just below the cheekbones," says Barbara Fehrenbach from the German Associaton of Beauticians.

Adding some to the chin and forehead also helps make a long face look shorter.

The place to widen a heart-shaped or triangular face is always the cheekbones, and you can emphasize them with a darker blusher, explains Ricarda Zill, make-up artist and an expert from the Cosmetic-industry Federation of Germany.

To narrow down a round face, apply the blusher diagonally and downwards,

starting at the cheekbones and finishing at the mouth.

"An oval face is often thought of as being the perfect face. Here you have all the liberty in the world to choose flat colour or lines according to the mood you want," says Zill.

There are many different blushers to choose from, including liquid, cream, mousse and powder. The best one for you depends on your make-up skills and your skin type.

"A cream blusher is good if you have very dry skin that doesn't require powdering. For combination or oily skin, a powder blush is best," advises Fehrenbach.

Cream blusher is practical and can be applied with your fingers. "It has a silky texture and is often used for glossy and shimmer effects," says Entrup. Mousse blusher is even easier to use. "The delicate texture blends into the skin without any problems."

As well as being easy to handle, blusher in powder form is easy to measure out and lasts for a long time. In contrast, liquid blusher requires some practice to use.

"You only need a small amount and you have to be quick when putting it on as it dries quickly," says Entrup.

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NUTRITION

More rules, fewer kilos?

How the Hay diet works Many people do shed excess weight by switching to the Hay diet

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mid the various fad diets that come and go, the Hay diet is remarkable for its continuing popularity among those looking to lose weight.

Also known as the food combining diet, the century-old weight loss plan was developed by US physician William Howard Hay in the early 1900s.

The diet's core concept is to separate food into three categories: protein-based, carbohydrate-based and neutral. The primary rule: Never eat a carbohydrate-heavy food with a protein-heavy food.

Mornings and evenings are meant for noshing on foods in the carbohydrate category, while lunch consists of a protein dish. Vegetables and fat-heavy foods fall into the neutral category, which can be eaten with either of the other two groups.

Hay's theory was that the human body does not digest proteins and carbohydrates in the same way, and eating them at the same time causes the body to produce health-damaging acids that trigger the fermentation process in the gut.

Separating foods allows the body to detoxify and therefore has a healing effect on one's health. However, flipping Hay's theory around – that mixing certain foods causes metabolic diseases – doesn't pan out,

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according to Andreas Pfeiffer, director of endocrinology at Berlin's Charite hospital.

"Diabetes, heart attack, stroke or cancer are above all brought on by obesity," he says. Whether one eats certain foods together or separately has absolutely no effect on those diseases.

The body is able to regulate any disruptions and keep the pH levels of its blood and tissues stable without outside interference "A good acid-base balance is important," finds Stefan Kabisch from the German Institute of Human Nutrition.

"However, separating foods is not necessary for managing that balance," he adds.

The body is able to regulate any disruptions and keep the pH levels of

its blood and tissues stable without outside interference.

"It’s long been disproved that carbohydrates and proteins have a negative effect when they’re in the digestive system at the same time," Pfeiffer says.

Nevertheless, many people do shed excess weight by switching to the Hay diet.

Pfeiffer ascribes that to the dieters taking a more careful look at their eating habits.

"Its emphasis on vegetables as a neutral group, combined with wholesome foods, is definitely a plus point for the concept," confirms Heike Dethardt from the Dietary Association of Germany.

However, from a nutritional standpoint, she advises against following the Hay diet too strictly or for a long time, mostly because many foods contain both carbohydrates and proteins in equal amounts, and eating them separately on a daily basis is very hard.

"In addition, because of a decrease in the amount of protein the person eats, he or she could develop a deficit in calcium, certain B vitamins and amino acids," Kabisch says.

The fact that the Hay diet dictates when an adherent should eat, but gives no guidance on how much should be eaten at each meal, is also a strike against it for Kabisch.

"Weight loss doesn't depend on diet composition, it depends on portion size," he says. At the end of the day, losing weight comes down to striking a balance between calorie intake and expenditure.

The continued popularity of the Hay diet can be attributed to its strict guidelines, says Dethardt.

"It's especially useful for people with undisciplined eating habits, who benefit from having straightforward rules that they can follow on a daily basis," Dethardt adds.

That said, simply eating a more health-conscious diet, including less meat and more fruits and vegetables, will also have a positive influence on your health – no separation required.

CHAT

How much salt should you consume?

It both improves the taste of food and helps preserve it. But salt does more than just that: the fine white grains are essential for the human body. And yet many people are taking excessive amounts that are bad for their health. How much is too much?

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alt has a poor image these days.

It's largely seen as something that increases blood pressure and the risk of a heart attack or a stroke.

But experts warn that you should not go too far when cutting down: sodium chloride is essential for the body.

"Macro elements like sodium, potassium and chloride regulate the body's water content by maintaining the pressure of body fluids," says Antje Gahl of the Bonn-based German Nutrition Society (DGE).

Sodium and chloride bind water in body tissue, while potassium stimulates the flow of water out of cells. At the same time, sodium and chloride regulate blood pressure, and they are also good for nerve fibre conduction, which affects things like pain and the feeling of being cold or warm.

The body needs salt in order to be able to perform these functions. However, the average adult needs no more than six grams, or about one teaspoon, every day, according to official DGE and German Hypertension Society recommendations.

Research shows that most people are consuming far too much salt. According to the Studies on Health in Germany (DGES) led by the Robert Koch Institute, around 70 per cent of women and more than 75 per cent of men take more than six grams of table salt per day. That has health consequences.

"Numerous studies have shown that blood pressure rises when the person in question takes more than six grams of common salt per day," says Dieter Klaus, a doctor who works for the German Hypertension Society.

When blood pressure rises, so too does the risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases.

However, all hope is not lost."Conversely, it is possible to significantly lower high blood pressure by reducing cooking salt to six grammes per day," Klaus says.

And yet it is

not easy to cut down on salt for health reasons. Getting the salt shaker out of the kitchen and the dining table will not be enough.

"Most of the salt we take every day comes from processed foods," says Margret Morlo, of the German Association for Food and Dietetics (VFED).

The main sources of salt are bread, meat and dairy products.

"Four pieces of bread, each weighing 35 grams contain two grams of salt," Klaus explains.

According to Morlo, the salt content in cured meat is higher than that in uncured meat, and hard cheese contains more salt than cream cheese.

"Ready-to-eat meals and instant soup usually contain a lot of salt too, as do snacks including liquorice," Morlo says.

The DGE recommends keeping a close watch on salt content when shopping for packaged foods.

"When packaged foods specify sodium content, you can calculate their salt content by multiplying their stated sodium content by 2.54," Gahl says.

People who also want to reduce salt use in the kitchen will need to replace it with other spices and herbs.

"Table salt reduction should be carried out in small steps," Gahl advises. This allows people to get used to the new taste.

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CUISINE

Salmon Recipes Salmon is so versatile and our healthy salmon recipes are the perfect way to eat well and still watch the calories. Salmon is so delicious grilled, pan-fried, cured, in a tart, quiche or pie and can be enjoyed as a light lunch or an impressive centerpiece at your dinner party. We have plenty of healthy salmon recipes to inspire you about our favourite fish.

Thai Salmon Broth

Ingredients FOR THE BLINIS

• 100g (4oz) buckwheat flour, sifted • 125g (4½oz) strong white flour, sifted • 1tsp fine salt • 6g (0.2 oz) yeast • 2 eggs, separated • 425ml (14.5 fl oz) buttermilk FOR THE TOPPING

• 150g (5oz) smoked salmon slices • 1 x 250ml tub crème fraîche • 4tbsp lumpfish roe caviare • snipped fresh chives, to decorate Method • To make the blinis, put the flours, salt, yeast and egg yolks into a large bowl. Whisk in the buttermilk until you have a smooth batter. Cover with clingfilm and leave for 2 hours or until frothy and "proved".

• Whisk the egg whites to form stiff peaks and gently fold into the batter.

• Lightly oil a heavy non-stick frying pan or skillet and pour a tablespoonful of the batter into the hot pan. Fry

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Ingredients • 1tbsp oil • 4tbsp Thai red curry paste • 250g (9oz) shiitake mushrooms, sliced • 2 red peppers, sliced • 1tsp Thai fish sauce • juice 1 lime • 400ml can coconut milk • 400ml (14fl oz) fish stock • 4 salmon fillets • 200g (7oz) egg noodles • fresh coriander, sliced spring onions, chopped red chilli, toasted peanuts and lime wedges, to serve Method • This Thai salmon broth recipe is full of seafood

flavours and spices.

The delicate shiitake mushrooms have a very particular, earthy and smoky flavour which makes them a great pairing for salmon. Thai fish sauce and coconut milk with red curry paste are the classics of Asian cuisine, and combined with the vegetables they really make this tasty broth stand out. When you’re ready to serve the broth, top it with fresh coriander, spring onions, chilli and peanuts. Serve it with lime wedges for added zest. Make the soup a little more filling with egg noodles for a light lunch or dinner

Smoked Salmon and Caviar Blinis for 1 to 2 minutes on each side and repeat with the rest of the batter.

• Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and store the blinis in the fridge. Before serving, warm them for 10 minutes in a low oven.

• To serve, top the blinis with either a small slice of smoked salmon and a dollop of crème fraîche, or crème fraîche topped with caviare and a sprinkling of black pepper and decorate with snipped chives.

Steamed salmon & veg rice bowl

Ingredients • 200g brown rice • 100g green beans • 200g pak choi, chopped into chunky pieces • 4 x 100g salmon fillets • 4 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) • juice 3 limes • 2 tbsp sambal oelek (chopped chilli in a jar) or 1 red chilli, deseeded

Ingredients • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter • 4 tablespoons minced chervil, parsley or dill • 1 salmon fillet, 1 1/2 to 2 pounds • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste • Lemon wedges Preparation • Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.

Place the butter and half the herb in a roasting pan just large enough to fit the salmon and place it in the oven. Heat about 5 minutes, until the butter melts and the herb begins to sizzle.

• Add the salmon to the pan, skin side up. Roast 4 minutes. Remove from the oven, then peel the skin off. (If the skin does not lift right off, cook 2 minutes longer.) Sprinkle with salt and pepper and turn the fillet over.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper again.

• Roast 3 to 5 minutes more, depending on the thickness of the fillet and the degree of doneness you prefer.

Cut into serving portions, spoon a little of the butter over each and garnish with the remaining herb.

Serve with lemon wedges.

and chopped • 1 tbsp rice vinegar • 1 tbsp golden caster sugar • 4 spring onions, finely chopped • 4 tbsp mixed seeds (I used pumpkin, sesame and sunflower) • pickled ginger, chopped (optional) Preparation • In a small bowl, mix together the dressing ingredients, then set aside.

Boil the rice in plenty of water and

drain when just cooked, about 15 mins.

• Meanwhile, put the vegetables and fish in a large steamer in two layers.

Steam the fish for 5-8 mins and the veg for 4-5 mins until cooked through. Spoon the rice into bowls and top with the steamed fish and veg. Pour some dressing over and top with the spring onions, mixed seeds and pickled ginger, if you like.

Salmon Roasted in Butter

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DECOR

Not only is cork a stylish material idea that adds warmth and texture to spaces, it’s also ideal for absorbing noise in our increasingly large, open plan homes.

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C

ork is enjoying a resurgence as a material in the construction of designer furniture. Even international furniture behemoths like IKEA have jumped on the bandwagon with a complete collection made with cork.

The range was created by Ilse Crawford, one of the most successful interior designers in the world. Crawford's range includes a chair, a table, a lamp, as well as glass containers with cork covers.

The British designer says she chose cork because of its multifaceted characteristics."Cork is water repellent, light and very robust," she says.

"But what's even more important is that it feels good. We wanted to design a collection that people would like to touch."

Like many other natural products, cork is laborious to produce. "It's not until a cork tree is about 40 years old that a good quality cork can be harvested," explains Ulrike Schaeidt from the cork trade association DKV. "The cork forests have to be extremely well cared for too, so that fire doesn't break out. Otherwise 40 years of time and effort are for nothing.

None of the bark of the cork oak is thrown away. After the highest quality cork has been extracted, the remaining bark is shredded into pellet

form. This is then mixed with a binding agent and formed into blocks. Old wine corks can be recycled in this way.

The cork blocks are the basic raw material that furniture designers use.

The Portuguese company Sofalca has teamed up with young designers to create an entire range of cork home accessories, chairs and tables called Label Black Cork. All of the cork used in the range is black.

Sofalca has developed a process whereby cork is heated and bound together using its own resin to create a very dark base material.

One of the products Sofalca makes is the Rohla Coffee Table, which was designed by Goncalo Campos. The table's legs end with a steel spiral similar to a corkscrew. Each leg is screwed into the tabletop using the spiral. In theory a leg could be unscrewed and used to open a bottle of wine.

Jasper Morrison has created his Cork Family range of stools for Vitra of Germany. He chose cork because of its simplicity.

"Shape is completely overrated in design today," he says. "I consider I have done a good job if I can design a product that nobody can tell it had a designer behind it."

Morrison's credo is "super normal".

He makes do without any extravagant flourishes and cork fits in with his design philosophy. In contrast to marble, wood or brass, cork is not precious. It is inconspicuous and almost anti-luxurious; a sign perhaps that tastes are moving towards a demand for simpler products in the home.

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TRAVEL

Flyers pull airline bonus miles with these smart tricks

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ost airlines entice passengers into using their frequent-flyer programmes.

But not every traveller manages to take multiple flights a year to rack up enough air-miles to benefit.

The airlines generally let passengers keep miles for a few years before they expire, so even the infrequent flyer may luck out and get a free flight at some stage.

"It's free to join, so you're not losing anything," says Ravindra Bhagwanani, CEO of Global Flight, which advises airlines on their frequent flyer programmes. "For most people who don't fly frequently, getting one free flight out of it is an exciting reward."But don't forget that you will need to taxes and other fees when you collect that free flight. They are not included in the bonus.

How many flights do you need to reap the rewards of a frequent-flyer scheme?

If you take long-haul flights two or three times a year, you could get a free flight within a few years, says Oliver Kuehn, editor-in-chief of a German flight magazine.As long as you pick the right scheme, that is.

"If you are getting the best deal, you would pick up around 22,000 miles off a return economy flight from New Zealand to Europe," says Kuehn.

With British Airways' Executive Club, that would be enough to claim two

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free return flights between Britain and Germany - a popular connection for international tourists - costing around 8,000 miles each.But not all airlines are willing to dish out benefits at such a cheap rate of exchange.

Lufthansa charges 30,000 miles for any free return flight within Europe - an unattainable threshold for infrequent flyers.

How do I choose the right frequent flyer scheme?

The devil is in the details.

Star Alliance, an airline consortium that includes Lufthansa, offers no benefit to those who only fly every now and then, says Bhagwanani. Their rewards are too expensive - and on top of that, the passengers have to pay all fees.

Kuehn's advice is not to necessarily use the air-miles membership card of the airline you travel with most often.

"Sometimes you can get more benefit by exploiting an airline alliance instead."

For example: "If you fly a lot with Lufthansa, you can actually get more for your money by crediting the Lufthansa miles flown to the United Airlines frequent-flyer programme.

Since United credits you with more miles, you attain a free flight more quickly."

How much difference is there between airlines and airline groups?

The general rule is, that if you pay less up front for a flight, you are likely to get fewer air-miles in credit. Some airlines

will credit you with 100 per cent of your miles, even for the cheapest ticket categories. The strict ones will only credit you 25 per cent, says Kuehn.

The most generous big airlines are British Airways (OneWorld) and United Airlines (Star Alliance).

"The stingiest airline programmes are Lufthansa's Miles and More, and Flying Blue at Air France, which only credit you 25 per cent of miles you fly if you're sitting in the cheapest seats.

What should I bear in mind when I'm booking flights?

Firstly, you need to look at the cash price, says Bhagwanani. "And make sure you grab all the miles you can."

If you don't fly often, you should never pay any extra just to acquire air-miles.

"It's rarely worthwhile."

A look inside the world's largest cruise ship:

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Harmony of the Seas

t may only be 31 centimetres, but they make all the difference: When it comes to the throne of the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's new Harmony of the Seas is about a forearm longer than its rivals, the Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

The shipping company spares few superlatives when it comes to its latest gem, boasting the fastest internet and tallest slide at sea, among other maritime luxury records offered to guests of the Harmony of the Seas.

Just a glance is enough to observe the ship's magnitude. The other ships docked in Barcelona look like toys next to the Harmony.

On board, passengers will only realize just how large the ship is when they look at their pedometres to see how many kilometres they walked from the pool deck to the theatre and from the boardwalk to the restaurant.

It takes 2:45 minutes of brisk walking to go from one end to the other of the cabin aisle alone. But that is no wonder: the ship is 362 metres long from bow to stern.

The number of cabins also beats all other ships, at 2,747. That amounts to 6,780 passengers when full, but even with double occupancy it is still 5,497 people, who are joined by a crew of 2,100.

Beyond the usual cabins with a balcony, there are also more special options like the Royal Loft Suite. This 141-square-metre suite comes with an 80-square-metre balcony, more than many passengers will have at home.

So how large can a cruise ship be?

"In 10 years' time, there will definitely be ships that top 400 metres," says captain Gus Andersson.

That poses no problem for the actual ships, but rather for harbours, Andersson notes. Even now, there are cities where huge ocean liners just cannot dock.

Still, size is not the point, says Royal Caribbean chief Michael Bayley. "What we want above all is to offer guests a special experience," Bayley stresses.

The Harmony of the Seas does offer plenty of special attractions. For example, passengers can slide 10 floors into the sea with the Ultimate Abyss. Inside the slide's two tubes are special light effects, each of them almost 46 metres long, although the fun is over in less than 12 seconds.

Like other large cruise ships, it boasts artificial surf waves, a huge climbing wall, an ice rink and a zip line. Water slides, a water park for children, a fit-

ness and spa area and of course several stages are further classics.

Royal Caribbean spent about 1.4 billion dollars to build the Harmony of the Seas, and a major investment went into entertainment.

Two of the shows on offer in the ship stand out above all others. Grease combines elements of both the film and the Broadway musical.

Fine Line, developed especially for this cruise ship, takes place at the Aquatheatre on the stern. It features acrobats who plunge into the pool from a height of up to 10 metres, as well as performers who fly over spectators and balance on a tiny cable at a dizzying height.

The Harmony of the Seas holds 20 restaurants and bistros. There is a Japanese restaurant, a Mexican taqueria and Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, with food inspired in Alice in Wonderland.

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A Panacea for All Spine Problems?

USUAL THERAPY USING STEM CELLS IS NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME. STEM CELL THERAPY SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED IN THE SETTING OF A CLINICAL TRIAL FOR A SPECIFIC ILLNES

SCIENCE

Stem Cell Therapy:

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S

tem cells are immature cells that have the potential to change into specific organ cells. These cells probably act in the usual mechanism of repairing body tissues.

The range of disorders that are claimed to be treated by stem cell therapy include spinal cord injuries, macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular accidents (strokes), osteoarthritis, and spinal disease (including degenerated intervertebral discs). But while enthusiasm has been raised for the potential of this therapy, scientists have urged caution in assuming that the benefits of stem cell therapy have been established.

One example is from a study published in The Lancet reporting the results of stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) from Ottawa, Canada.

The 24 MS patients had chemotherapy to remove their immune system and had subsequent autologous hemopoietic stem-cell transplant. Over the next 7 years, study subjects had no progression of MS in their central nervous system. A third of patients had sustained improvement, but one individual died secondary to transplant complications.

Another problem is that a number of unregulated clinics are advertising the benefits of injecting stem cells thereby inciting academic researchers to ask the Food and Drug administration to crack down on unregulated stem cell clinics. Typical costs for the injection of stem cell solutions (that may or may not contain actual stem cells or may not have yet been proven for effectiveness) range from 5,000 to 20,000 dollars. Although the cells are harvested from donors’ fat, there have been reports of individuals developing blindness or tumors after stem-cell injections. The FDA is considering regulating the cells as drugs which would mean that stem cell therapies would have to undergo the same approval process as other biologic therapies (including expensive clinical trials).

This is a difficult decision for the FDA: how to determine real benefits with stem cell transplants without harming bona-fide research and forward-motion while at the same time regulating for-profit clinics that may be interfering with therapies that actually work.

Bottom line: Usual therapy using stem cells is not ready for prime time. Stem cell therapy should be administered in the setting of a clinical trial for a specific illness. The specific parameters used by researchers to prepare stem cells would offer the best opportunity to get active therapy that would be effective.

TECHNOLOGY

Why connected appliances feel anything but "smart" to many users

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ith a simple swipe on the phone, you can turn on the heater, switch on the light or lower the blinds in the living room. As if by magic, your home itself takes care of the simple daily routines.But that's just the vision for the smart home.

As pleasant as it all sounds, in reality consumers are still struggling to deal with a fragmented market of standalone management systems and apps.

During the recent IFA electronics fair in Berlin, many manufacturers debuted their latest smart home innovations, focusing particularly on home appliances.

Year after year, leading brands have been unveiling new ranges of increasingly networked home appliances.

This year Miele introduced a connected washer dryer, while Siemens has launched a smart coffee machine and Bosch innovated on stovetops. Meanwhile, Samsung has presented a refrigerator with a large integrated screen and an Android user interface.

But there's a catch: According to market analyses, roughly 80 per cent of the devices are stand-alone solutions that can only be managed through the respective app, Peter Schnaebele, head of Bosch Smart Home, says.

Just a few smart home devices is all it takes to clutter up your mobile phone and tablet. This means potential buyers should carefully consider which products they purchase and which brand they prefer.

Bosch now bundles its house-related segments in a single platform. Other partners and their respective products are also making use of the Bosch Smart Home System, including the hue lights by Philips, order services and Amazon's Dash Replenishment Service.

Even large corporations such as Apple, Google and Amazon have granted third parties restricted access to their platform.

But the sheer quantity of platforms may be confusing and perhaps even scare off consumers. Stand-alone solutions

and isolationist policies are flawed, says Willi Kloecker of the technology trade association BVT. Even Peter Schnaebele of Bosch Smart Home says "the future lies in the interoperability of devices - meaning all devices can be controlled from one or a few apps. I don't see that happening right now."

Household appliances are not even the main issue when it comes to networked living. According to a recent survey, only 16 per cent of the people want to get information on what food is in their fridge.

And only 14 per cent would like to control their washing machine through an app. But 29 per cent want alarm sensors that warn of open doors, movements or smoke, while 20 per cent would like to be able to control the heating, blinds or garage doors, respectively.

Devolo is offering simple retrofit solutions. Motion sensors, humidity sensors, door contacts or smoke detectors use the open radio standard Z-Wave to connect with the control centre. The advantage: There are already many devices that work with Devolo's control centre.

However, the products also work with Z-Wave control units made by other manufacturers. Georg Herrmann of Devolo believes the open standard is a clear advantage. "After all, people don't want to fire up five apps."

Meanwhile German router manufacturer AVM employs a networking technology used by many at home: Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications or DECT. This means your wi-fi router could someday become your smart home control centre, letting you turn on the heating or specific power sockets.

However, "currently there aren't many products featuring DECT," Jan Larrink of AVM admits. But the number has been on the rise.

Even Kirk Mangels of the The Modern Kitchen working group expects the manufacturers to open up more soon: "Sooner or later they will have to budge. That's what the consumer will demand."

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CARS & DRIVING

How to give your windscreen wipers a longer life

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ost drivers are familiar with the sound of windscreen wipers juddering over glass, a clear indication that they need to be replaced.

When you turn off the windscreen wipers and they return to the normal rest position, the blades are constantly pressed against the windshield. This results in a deformation over time, which causes them to become noisy and less effective.

That's why moving the windscreen wipers to their so-called service position increases the life span of the rubber blades by shifting the pressure to the other side of the blade, according to advice from the Auto Club Europa (ACE).

"The point is to move the rubber blade to the other side," the ACE's Constantin Hack says. "Remembering to do this just once a week helps."In addition, drivers parking their cars under trees in autumn should remember to remove the leaves from the wipers' recess so that they do not become blocked.

Recent models have a service position mode that is explained in the owner's manual. With older models the wipers need to be activated and then the ignition turned off as the wipers are going up.

What are the advantages of cars with more or fewer cylinders?

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ombustion engines for passenger cars are available in a wide variety of cylinder configurations.

Depending on design and performance, engines operate with a range from two to 16 cylinders, with the predominant arrangement being a four-cylinder engine.

However, a German safety inspection agency reports that the current trend for vehicles with a displacement of 1 to 1.5 litres is to have a three-cylinder engine.

This motor variant tends to be more economical, as the reduced number of cylinders leads to a decrease in friction. This, in turn, increases engine efficiency. Modern three-cylinder engines are characterized by a relatively high output and high torque even at low engine speeds, but can also be a bit rougher.

Another advantage is that they are lighter

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and use space more efficiently because they require fewer components.

The main advantages of engines with more than three cylinders are increased driving smoothness and less vibration.

The currently prevalent four-stroke engines run relatively smoothly because the fuel in at least one cylinder is ignited per engine stroke.

The more cylinders are installed, the smaller the cylinders and pistons need to be. As a result, more combustion can take place. In turn, the vehicle’s vibrations decrease because the engine runs more harmoniously.

In ideal cases, more cylinders can lead to a near-perfect engine smoothness, for example with a Ferrari F12, which boasts twelve cylinders. At the same time, these engines are much more complex and expensive in their design.

Finally, the higher number of cylinders is also associated with a greater degree of friction and, thus, usually with higher fuel consumption.

VR lets beauty product shoppers pick ingredients

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outh Korean beauty brand Innisfree used virtual reality (VR) to solve the question of how to take customers on the same journey taken by the brand. Powered by in-store bicycles, customers escape the four walls of the company’s new Shanghai Disneyland store by traveling on the Jeju Flying Bike.

INNOVATION

Here are the new innovations that caught our attention this month.

Google Home Wants to Be the Personal Assistant You Never Thought You'd Get

Visitors pedal in-store bikes to power their virtual reality travels around the UNESCO protected island of Jeju.

Jeju is a volcanic island with a rich diversity of plant life, growing many of the ingredients used by Innisfree in its products. Using eye-tracking software, bicyclists on the Jeju Flying Bike experience collect empty bottles they use to gather ingredients.

Designing the workplace of the future Virtual reality and 3D Panoramas

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magine being able to design a car by slipping on a virtual reality headset or creating weapons technology with 3D panoramic models -- and never having to leave your office.

As businesses go global and teams are scattered around the world, the idea of herding everyone into the same room for a meeting seems quaint.

So companies are using technology to get creative. It's making the manufacturing world feel smaller -- and saving dollars, too.

oogle Home is a small unobtrusive speaker device that is delicately shaped like the top of a wine glass. Multi-colored LED lights are displayed at the top, and along with a power cord, these are the only giveaways that this isn't much more than a standalone Bluetooth speaker. Where Google has failed in product designs of the past, Google Home gives the impression of a chic futuristic device that we'd much rather have in our home, as opposed to the utilitarian looking Echo.

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ADVICE

MASTERING THE ART OF MAKING A GOOD CHOICE

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ach day we are overwhelmed by things we cannot control: family pressures, professional changes, stock market swings and the like.It can be paralyzing at times – difficult to clearly see how we can move on and still achieve our goals.

But we can, and that’s because of choice – the one thing that puts control in each of our lives. We may not have many choices to choose from, and those choices may not appear ideal at the time, but there is always a choice to be made. And, knowing how to get the most out of our choices can help us be more effective in driving change.

In this article we shed light on three tips on how to get the most out of choices: Think about choices. Choosing is an opportunity to learn. So, don’t regret past choices. Instead, focus on choosing for the future. However, don’t get stuck in a rut by choosing between two things. It’s never just “this” or “that.” Most choices have a lot more flexibility than realized. Set goals and do it every six months, as the world is constantly changing.

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Set a limit to the amount of items to choose from. Seven, plus or minus two, is a good limit. Although people are generally attracted to having more choices, we are more likely to make a choice when there’s less to choose from rather than more. There are three negative consequences with having too much choice. The more choices people have: 1) the more people are likely to procrastinate and delay making a decision, 2) the worse choices people make and 3) the less satisfied they are with what they have chosen.

Become a better chooser. Choosing takes effort, so prioritize. Pick a few things and focus on those. Which choices are worth making and which choices are distracting from normal goals?

Limit yourself to three big priorities. The best method of survival is not necessarily to come up with an optimal choice for every decision, but rather to come up with efficient decision-making processes so that when faced with decision opportunities, intuition kicks in.