Cracking the code on business professional dress

Today I’ll be cracking the code behind “business professional” dress, also known as “business formal.”

If you’re a fashionable girl working in a buttoned-up, ultra conservative world, dressing professionally is an absolute must. Unfortunately, professional settings are not exactly friendly to the fashion forward. Luckily, you can maintain a level of style by working in fashionable elements through subtle accessories and chic silhouettes.

Business professional attire for women is very similar to what men are expected to wear: The Power Suit. No, this doesn’t mean you have to wear a boxy jacket, pinstripe pants and a tie… Instead, opt for a slim cut pantsuit, a skirt and jacket combination, or a structured (and modest) dress.

While there are no rules in fashion, there are rules for fashion in the workplace. A few basic guidelines for business formal dressing include the following:

1. Wear colors based on a neutral color palette (black, navy, cream, charcoal or grey). Unfortunately lime green and bright pink won’t cut it in the boardroom.
2. Avoid gaudy accessories. Think simple, sleek and chic.
3. All suits and skirts should be tailored to fit close to the body (but not tight). Skirts should hit at the knee or below. And blouses should be conservative, freshly pressed and always tucked in.
4. Wear scuff-free heels or flats in a neutral color. If you go for the heels, don’t wear anything higher than 3 or 4 inches.
5. Hair and makeup should be groomed, neat, and simple. I think the ballerina bun is the perfect hairstyle for any female powerhouse. It’s feminine, yet strikingly authoritative.

Now, just because you work in a conservative workplace doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style for the sake of your career, ladies. Update classic looks with these simple tricks:

1. Try cropped trousers paired with a sharp blazer.
2. Swap out your basic blazer for a lightly accented jacket or simply scrunch up your sleeves for a cooler and more modern vibe.
3. Instead of wearing a matching two-piece suit, mix it up and wear a black blazer with a charcoal or burgundy skirt or pant. As long as your colors are subdued, you should have the freedom to mix it up a bit. Traditionalists may argue that matching sets are a must, but let’s be honest here, there’s a new wave of professional women and times have changed. If you're really daring, throw in a few punchy colors here and there...
4. Cinch your waist with a thin, colored belt. It’s an easy way to add a fashionable pop to an otherwise basic or drab office outfit.
5. Swap out your pencil skirt for a high-waisted A-line skirt.

I hope this Gives you some tips for working in a professional world

5 healthy SKIN RULES

DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN BUYING A SQUILLION PRODUCTS TO MAKE YOUR SKIN LOOK FAB!

Try these five simple rules to keep your skin supple, glowing, and young-looking...

1. Make SPF Your BFF: Ward off future skin damage (think wrinkles and sun spots) by rubbing on a broad-spectrum formula that contains Helioplex, Mexoryl, or Active Photobarrier Complex—they offer the longest-acting protection—has an SPF of at least 30 and contains antioxidants.

2. Exfoliate often: Sad but true, cell turnover starts to slow down around age 30, which can leave skin dull, so it's key to use products that speed up the process, like an at-home peel with alpha hydroxy acids.

3. Rely on retinol: It's the one anti-aging ingredient pretty much every dermatologist recommends. Why? When used correctly—applied nightly for two months straight—retinol builds collagen to smooth out wrinkles, and, by sloughing off the top layer of skin, it can help fade dark spots. Use a pearl-size dot to avoid irritation (you can also dab a mild cream on top). It's important to look for the word "retinol" on the ingredients panel—other versions aren't as effective.

4. Mix ingredients to fight acne: For the best results, take a combination approach to combatting acne by using a salicylic acid wash to unclog pores, and a benzoyl peroxide lotion to reduce inflammation and bacteria.

5. Get a checkup: See a dermatologist annually for a full-body examine; the doc will check any moles that have gotten darker, 

bigger, or more textured.

weekend hair: THE 2-MINUTE BUN

Week End Hair - 2 MINUTE BUN

MOVE OVER TOPKNOT, THE CHIC CHIGNON BUN IS 

THE 'NEW DO'...

Perfect for day or evening, it's instantly chic, works on pretty much everyone, regardless your face shape or hair texture ~ and it take 2 minutes to do ~ loving!

Here's the super-easy copy-cat guide:

1. To get this look right, you have to begin with dry hair. Run a brush through it to smooth out any tangles, then apply an anti-frizz serum.

2. Part hair down the centre, and brush it into a low ponytail. Secure it at the nape of your neck.

3. Wrap the ponytail around its base. Tie a second elastic around the bun.

4. Secure the sides of the bun with bobby pins, tucking them into the bun, to pull it closer to your head and conceal any elastic that may be showing.

5. Using your fingers, pull some small strands of hair out of bun, for a messy effect. To set, spray the bun lightly with hairspray.

Voila ~ hello gorgeous-nes

10 big benefits of drinking tea

10 big benefits of DRINKING TEA

EVEN THOUGH I'M A COFFEE PERSON, I LOVE TEA FOR IT'S COMFORTING/ FEEL-GOOD FACTOR...

as it's often said, "a cup of tea can fix anything' + tea is also extremely good for you!

Here are 10 good reasons to put the kettle on and make yourself a cuppa...

1. Tea contains antioxidants which protects your body from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution.

2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. Coffee usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea. An average cup of coffee contains around 135 mg caffeine; tea contains only 30 to 40 mg per cup. If drinking coffee gives you the jitters, causes indigestion or headaches or interferes with sleep - switch to tea.

3. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Unwanted blood clots formed from cholesterol and blood platelets cause heart attack and stroke. Drinking tea may help keep your arteries smooth and clog-free, the same way a drain keeps your bathroom pipes clear. A 5.6-year study from the Netherlands found a 70 percent lower risk of fatal heart attack in people who drank at least two to three cups of black tea daily compared to non-tea drinkers.

4. Tea protects your bones. It's not just the milk added to tea that builds strong bones. One study that compared tea drinkers with non-drinkers, found that people who drank tea for 10 or more years had the strongest bones, even after adjusting for age, body weight, exercise, smoking and other risk factors.

5. Tea gives you a sweet smile. Tea actually contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay. So add unsweetened tea drinking to your daily dental routine of brushing and flossing for healthier teeth and gums.

6. Tea boosts your immune defenses. Drinking tea may help your body's immune system fight off infection. When 21 volunteers drank either five cups of tea or coffee each day for four weeks, researchers saw higher immune system activity in the blood of the tea drinkers.

7. Tea protects against cancer. Thank the polyphenols, the antioxidants found in tea, once again for their cancer-fighting effects. While the overall research is inconclusive, there are enough studies that show the potential protective effects of drinking tea to make adding tea to your list of daily beverages.

8. Tea helps keep you hydrated. Caffeinated beverages, including tea, used to be on the list of beverages thatdidn't contribute to our daily fluid needs. Since caffeine is a diuretic and makes us pee more, the thought was that caffeinated beverages couldn't contribute to our overall fluid requirement. However, recent research has shown that the caffeine really doesn't matter -- tea and other caffeinated beverages definitely contribute to our fluid needs. The only time the caffeine becomes a problem as far as fluid is concerned is when you drink more than five or six cups of a caffeinated beverage at one time.

9. Tea is kilojoule-free. Tea doesn't have any kilojoules, unless you add sweetener or milk.

10. Tea increases your metabolism. Green tea has been shown to actually increase metabolic rate so that you can burn kilojoules by drinking just five cups of green tea per day. Of course, taking a 15-minute walk every day will burn kilojoules too.

Beauty-full Foods to get your skin glowing

FOR THICK, SHINY HAIR: Eat iron-rich lean protein such as skinless turkey and chicken, fish and seafood, pork tenderloin, lean beef, eggs, beans, lentils, and soy (tofu, soybeans, and soy nuts).

FOR RADIANT GLOWING SKIN: Load up on foods rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene. Great sources of vitamin C include bell peppers, oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, broccoli, kale, and mangoes. You’ll get a blast of beta-carotene from sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, butternut and acorn squash, cantaloupe, red bell peppers, apricots, spinach, and kale.

FOR SPARKLING, WHITE TEETH: Aim to eat at least three calcium-rich foods per day, including nonfat/low-fat yogurt or milk, reduced-fat cheese, fortified soy milk, frozen yogurt or low-fat ice cream, beans, and broccoli.

Kissable Lips

how to get KISSABLE LIPS

HERE'S HOW TO GET A SUPER-SMOOTH KISSER...

{ready for tonight!}

1. Exfoliate: First apply a thick slick of lip balm to soften lips and leave for 10 minutes. Next gently exfoliate away dry, flaky skin with soft baby toothbrush using light circular motions.

If you suffer from super-dry lips exfoliate once a week until your lips are completely smooth.

2. Moisturise: Apply a creamy balm containing petrolatum, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, or ceramides. Avoid waxy formulas (their ingredients may not penetrate) as well as anything heavily flavoured or fragranced (which can make chapping even worse).

3. Add colour: Try a tinted lip treatment like Lanolips that is super-hydrating and super-glossy

Beauty-Full Eyes

expert tips for BEAUTY-FULL EYES

SOME {REFRESHER} TRICKS AND TIPS FOR GORGEOUS EYES...

{Note-To-Self: The skin around your eyes is much thinner than the rest of your face so it requires special attention.}

To delay the signs of aging, gently pat on an eye cream both day and night, being careful not to drag the skin. Store eye cream in the fridge to make it feel more soothing.

To reduce any puffiness and stimulate the lymphatic system, gently press along your eyebrow and around your eye socket with your middle finger.

Instant glow-getter: Draw a fine line above the lashes of your upper eyelid, taking it out slightly at the corners. Sweep a neutral shade shadow across your brow bone and a medium shade over the eyelids.

Next brush a pale, shimmery shadow on the lower inner corner of your eyes to open up the eye and brighten up your whole face. Finally try a burgundy coloured mascara. It's much softer than black and much more surprising than brown - and it really brings out the colour of blue and green eyes.