Smokey Eyes & Mack the knife it!

I really should scream and throw myself out the nearest window!
Okay! Here we go! Once and for all! Next one to ask me about Smokey eyes is going to get an extra large make-up brush stuck in their nostril, SO PAY ATTENTION!

After applying your foundation on cleansed skin you start working on your eye area. Remember to sprinkle loose translucent powder under your eye area and on your cheek bones (The Smokey eyes look is very messy and the colours used are dark, which when falling onto the rest of the face can cause a horrible mess and ruin your day/night).
Choose which type of Smokey eyes you want, there’s the classic which is shades of black graduating to grey or the more adventurous, where you can use any shade you want from the colour wheel. You can use shimmer or matte eye shadows.
Step 1: Apply the lightest shade of your colour of choice to the whole eye-lid area stopping 1cm above the crease line (apply with a brush, sponge applicator, and/or fingers).
Step 2: Smudge the darkest shade over the eyelid stopping right in the crease line.
Step 3: Use a liquid liner (or a brush dipped in non-alcoholic toner swirled in the darkest shade) along the lash line. Then remove the translucent powder with a big brush, brushing in an upwards and outwards motion (this adds highlighting).
Step 4: (Recommended) curl lashes, apply false eyelashes (either individual lashes or pre-shaped & cut strips), and re-apply darkest shade to disguise any traces of lash glue.
Step 5: Use loads and loads of mascara both on upper and lower lashes. Then add Highlighting shimmer just under the eyebrows at the brow line and blend into brows.

There you go! That’s the Smokey eyes look, it’s easy to do, just like finger painting. It can be fun, but I am just not that into it.


This month discusses Cosmetic surgery invasive and non-invasive techniques, to further your understanding and to enable you to make an informed decision whether to go under the knife or not. How to go about making your own mind up and not succumbing to peer pressure.

Mack the knife it!

As a beauty therapist and professional Styling Image Consultant, I come into contact everyday with ladies who ask me if I approve of plastic surgery. To which my reply is usually a resounding yes, I believe that we all have something we do not like about our appearance, so, if there is a way of changing it and you can afford it, you can always convince yourself that it is an investment for the future, then, do it! But be aware that plastic surgery is an invasive act (there are less invasive procedures nowadays which I recommend that you research before going under the knife) and that it is not without risk, be it paralysis or death.

Before succumbing to the lure of “Mack the knife” (as I fondly call it), you can stave off the affects of ageing (let’s face it the is one of the most common reasons for surgery) by using less invasive and less harmful techniques a woman shouldn’t think of cosmetic surgery until after she reaches a certain age, and that is above 55. I know it seems as if the world has suddenly been struck by an epidemic called “Deviated Septum” (that’s what I get told from the women who suddenly have a new nose!), the enticing call of the knife is like a siren’s song to most women, but believe me it is not the best thing to do, plastic surgery like house hold products has a “expiry” date which depending on if you are a smoker or not can be shorter (if you are), the Classic full face lift lasts about 7 to 10 years (some lucky people it’s even longer). Note that if you are doing corrective surgery which is different from cosmetic, it is better to do it after the age of 25 when your body has reached full maturity, and when it still is producing enough Collagen to make the skin bounce back and resilient.

Here is a list of non-invasive procedures to try out before going under the knife:
Microdermabrasion (Crystal peeling): This is a system where you blast small crystals, which is like when you clean the surface of a building from dust and grime, the effects can be seen almost immediately, the skin has a glow the reason being that the dead skin cells have been removed and blood is circulating faster. This makes your creams more effective, it doesn’t involve any pain, and there is no downtime (the time you take off to recover from surgery). Works best with light therapy, which is recommended for oily skin and aged skin.

Laser: This procedure is used for wrinkles and scars (can also be used for hair removal, but that is a different laser and with a different wavelength). Some people swear by this, as it is a bit invasive I would not recommend it, especially if your skin is a dark shade, you must avoid the sun for at least 2 months after doing it, and the first few weeks avoid any contact with people especially small children of school age. Your skin is totally defenceless from any attack of viruses or bacteria, so be careful (down time for this procedure is usually 2 weeks, sometime more).
Restylane (Hyaluronic Acid): This is a synthetic derivative of an acid which is produced naturally in our body. This is called a filler something like Collagen but lasts longer can be used anywhere on the body to fill lines and scars. This is one of the few fillers that doesn’t cause an allergic reaction in people (as with all foreign matters put into the skin you can’t be 100% sure that it will not cause an allergy, so be careful you can develop an allergy to anything, even if it say “Hypo-allergenic” on it).
Peels: These come in various forms and strengths, and can be Fruit or chemical based for example Alpha-Hydroxy, Beta-Hydroxy, Glycolic, Retinoic & Phenol acids, these strip away layers of the skin (depending on the strength) they cause redness, irritation and skin flaking. Your skin literally starts to peel off (Max strength), turns red (Med to light). When a skincare cream promises you that your wrinkles will disappear in a few days, it usually contains one of the fruit acids, which irritate the skin causing it to swell, thus diminishing the appearance of the lines.
Whitening and laminating your teeth: Would you believe it that by whitening your teeth with a mild bleaching agent can actually make you look younger, strange but true. Laminating a sort of epoxy layer that is put on the exterior of the teeth to make it whiter and stronger, ideally used to correct minor flaws.

These are a few non invasive procedures that can stave of the knife, there are dozens more but that is up to you to research, or write to us asking specific questions and we can answer them, we have Mz.Velour who is and expert and has many connections and she’ll answer your questions for you ( Mz.Velour@jormall.com ).

Now on to the more invasive procedures, I personally believe in corrective surgery, cosmetic surgery is up to your vanity. A lot of unscrupulous doctors are out there, they think of the cash register and not the individual, that’s why we have production line breasts and noses (seriously since when do we Arabs have ski-slop noses or pug noses as we call them), the amount of nasal mistakes I have seen are innumerable. Some doctors are behaving in an irresponsible manner by giving their patients whatever they ask for, well, that’s very worrying, they seem to be ignoring the fact there’s a disease out there called BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) a psychological disorder in which a patient cannot see anything except their imagined flaws, whatever they may be.
Over the years plastic surgeons have realised that it is better to target problem areas than to go on a full frontal attack, this means that if you have bags and lines around your eyes, the doctor would suggest an eye lift rather than a whole face lift. This could be a blepharoplasty (the removal of fatty deposits from around the eye area) plus the removal of saggy skin in the eye crease area this would immediately tighten the skin and give your face a youthful appearance; this could be topped with Restylane filler in the nasolabial folds plus lip plumping. This one variation, another is that when you have decided to go under the knife, you could get several procedures done in one go, something like chin liposuction (a thin needle that suctions out fat from specific targeted areas), endescopic- eyebrow lift ( three to four small incisions made in the hair line through which small flexible tubes, which are a camera and several instruments are inserted to manoeuvre the muscles and lift the eyes) , full body liposuction, and breast augmentation (sounds a bit like extreme makeover does it not!). You must take time off from work and avoid strenuous exercise, and for you Yoga aficionados out there you must NOT do yoga if you’ve just after you’ve had any form of these surgeries performed.

A new trend has been on the rise, and that is the one where you can combine a holiday to the far-east with a cosmetic operation, you can book these online and then travel to Malaysia or somewhere equally exotic, you will stay in a 5 star hotel which is connected to the hospital, and after you’ve finished with the surgery your recovery will take place in your very own hotel room with a trained nurse in attendance then a few days later you can go down to the beach and be lazy there, the good thing about that is that you will not be the only one looking like a survivor of a train wreck (you will bruise) that’s the upside, the downside is this, you cannot ask for the doctors credentials and you cannot be guaranteed the results.

Which brings me on to the next word of warning, the truth is in the pictures. I mean that before undertaking any form of cosmetic surgery you should research the physician thoroughly, you should ask to see his work, you should ask around about him and if you feel uncomfortable when you meet with him and /or if he is evasive and non-communicative, you should get up and leave his office as fast as possible, this is your health and body you are gambling with and should not be left in the hands of someone you are not comfortable with or who is not forthcoming with the pros and cons of any surgical procedure, this is called informed consent, and is very vital to any form of treatment.
You can research everything on the net, but beware there are a lot of charlatans out there, if you are considering surgery in the states or in the United Kingdom, you can always check if your physician is board qualified or not. If not run for the hills. If you feel daring you can go to Brazil, where most cosmetic procedures tried and untried have been perfected, they are the geniuses of the makeovers and experimental surgical techniques.

The truth is that the only one who can decide whether you should have cosmetic surgery is yourself, not anyone else, if your spouse starts to suggest breast augmentation you suggest penile implants, never ever undertake surgery because you are depressed and you somehow might think it will change the outcome of your life, the reality is, it will not. You have to make a serious mental examination to see where and why you dissatisfied with your life, there are people who espouse the philosophy of looking good feeling better, but that doesn’t extend to surgery, it is a philosophy used in the make up world to boost confidence and self-esteem in cancer patients, not just because your nose appears to be too big.

There are several excellent doctors in Jordan, for legal reasons we don’t mention any names, and you can find out about them researching and word of mouth, but remember as good as the doctors are there will always be that one patient whose results didn’t satisfy them. Also worth remembering that the cosmetic surgeons cannot perform miracles so do not expect that either, not to mention the fact that also your own body has a say in the results. If you smoke there will be consequences, if you are prone to hypertension you should inform your physician, about this and all other ailments you might have before you go under the knife
I know several people who have had something done and they do feel better about themselves, and I also know the opposite, as I wrote before it is a very personal issue that only you can decide on, and no matter how many people you consult it still is up to you.

You can contact me at: SXTZ@jormall.com

To help you make an informed decision I have found two books which I tell all my friends to read, they are:

“CHANGE YOUR LOOKS, CHANGE YOUR LIFE” By Michelle Copeland, D.M.D, M.D (Harper Collins). This book is written from the viewpoint of the physician it details the cost, recovery time, upsides and downsides of most surgical and non surgical procedures, plus the estimated costs in US dollar.

“DIARY OF A FACE-LIFT” By Toyah Willcox,(Michael O’Mara Books Limited) celebrity singer/actress/ famous personality chronicles her face lift, right from the decision to have a face lift and a detailed blow by blow account of what she went through. It is written in a light chatty humorous manner and is rather a fun read. She erases the taboo on discussing subjects like a face lift; it is a testament to her courage in revealing that she had a facelift. She has written this book as a helpful guide to what people go through prior and post operation.

BE YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD FAIRY

BE YOUR OWN HOUSE FAIRY BY STEFFEN

While wandering around the house one day, I saw a few of our metal house hold items that were in need of polishing, a sudden thought struck me, and that was if there were alternate ways to polish things without using extremely toxic materials and at the same time being cost effective (my mind works like that, I see things and wonder about them then experiment!). Remembering my late grandmothers tips and advice, I decided to try some of them out.
I have only listed metal polishers here:
(Remember that after cleaning and rinsing metals in warm water, you must dry them with a soft cloth that is clean and dry).
· BAKING SODA: This is excellent as an all-round multi purpose polisher/ cleaner. It can scour metals yet is so gentle as not to scratch them.
· BRASS: A piece of lemon dipped in salt will do wonders, for tougher stains you can try some household Ammonia (though I wouldn’t). Rub on and wipe off with a soft cloth.
· SILVER: Toothpaste the classic ones and preferably the cheaper ones, are excellent for polishing silver. Also try taking a piece of Silver/Aluminium foil and place in a tub, next add Salt, pour boiling water on it, and then add the pieces that need shining (some people use baking soda, but if used to often it can remove the silver, especially on silver plated metals), leave the pieces there for a few minutes, and voila! You have shiny silver. Always remember to rinse and dry the metals after polishing.
· PEWTER: Since as a metal this doesn’t have the lustre of gold or Silver avoid trying to polish it too much, try this cabbage leaves to polish it, yes, Cabbage Leaves. Also try with extremely fine and soft steel wool dipped in vegetable oil.
· COPPER: Lemon juice, vinegar, get this even your common tomato juice will do the trick, actually anything acidic based is good, rub it on, then leave for a short while if it doesn’t work instantly, try adding some flour to make a paste spread it on thickly then rub it off. Of course the old remedy of salt wedges and salt will do.


· STAINLESS STEEL: Toothpaste (again non gel types work best), this can be used for quick clean ups. Ammonia is used for tougher clean ups, use a dry clean cloth to apply, then you let dry, wipe off dry completely.
· PLATINUM & GOLD: The same rules as Silver apply, but, be very cautious, especially if there are precious stones involved, consult a professional jeweller prior to trying.
· RUST REMOVAL: Go to your supermarket and see if they have cream of Tartar , and if you do happen to stumble across it then get some, mix it with some Hydrogen Peroxide (most pharmacies have as Oxygen used in hair dying) make a paste rub on rust stains. Or for a less messy alternative, you can soak a showerhead’s and corroded pieces in Vinegar until the rust begins to dissolve.

OPTIMISTIC ME?

OPTIMISTIC ME? BY STEFFEN

Happiness & peace of mind those elusive treasures that we sometimes feel are unattainable, that is why everyone is rushing around trying out every fad that there is, and they all promise you that YOU WILL BE HAPPY! As if happiness is something that you can order from Aramex or Sabeel, IT IS NOT!
The chemistry of happiness is a little chemical called Serotonin, it is produced by the pineal gland in the brain, and it is the size of a very small pea, it triggers the flow of serotonin into your blood and your feelings are enhanced (this is precisely the spot on which MDMA a major component of ecstasy, and a few brand name anti depressants work similarly) the low levels or non existence of serotonin in the body can lead to chronic depression and sometimes suicide, that is happiness dears, so if you want to be happy you have to learn how to regulate that flow!
Now before I go further, let me explain to those of you who do not know that SADNESS IS NOT DEPPRESSION! So those of you who run around saying that you are depressed STOP IT! You do NOT want to experience true clinical depression. While sadness is a normal reaction to being smacked about by life, feelings of grief and remorse are perfectly acceptable they pale by far to the bleak enduring numbness in that void of clinical depression that the sufferers of said disease inhabit, during these periods most sufferers say that they feel absolutely nothing, and that is not a normal state of things.
When doctors talk about depression these days, they are talking of a debilitating and even life threatening disease, a physical brain illness, most of the times its cause is genetic susceptibility, and while some anti depressants can correct the molecular imbalance, shortly improving mood and restoring energy in just enough quantities for them to undertake other methods as well, such as psychotherapy, they will not be transformed to HAPPY people in an instant, but they might be transformed into functioning human beings.
I for one am a realist (okay a cranky cantankerous old wreck) but that is the natural state for me, I love winter and all the dark and gloomy feelings it brings with it, the cold reminds me of the coldness of the grave that we all will end up in eventually, MOMENTO MORI (remember you are mortal), it makes me pep up with energy and to appreciate my life to the fullest. There are some people out there to whom fall/winter is crippling, that is a form of disease called Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. for short, it affects the people in the north mostly, the places where there is not much light in the winter times, this is easily treated by white light therapy. Personally I doubt that this would work on me, but it really does seem to work on a lot of people, some companies in Scandinavia have made rooms for just that purpose for their employees.
In the process of finding information for this article I came across a common ground, a recipe if you will for reactivating your happiness modes, it goes as follows:
· BREAK big problems down into small ones and acquire a sense of perspective. Ask yourself will this matter in a weeks time?
· DISTINGUISH between self-awareness, which can remove the blocks to happiness, and self-absorption which cannot.
· AVOID comparisons with other people, and at the same time tame envy, do not wonder or speculate if others are better off than you, and do not assume that they are, I can assure you, they are not, they might not have your worries, but I am sure that they have their own problems which are just as weighty as yours.
· SEEK meaningful work, try and find out what makes you happy work wise and work in that field, too many people choose fields that eventually will make them depressed, get out of any job with negative atmospheres, find a job that fulfils you and stimulates you mentally and gives you a sense of accomplishment, at the same time fighting boredom.
· INSIGHTS can help break negative thoughts and behavioural patterns; analysis is NOT a dirty word.
· ACCENTUATE the positive, I know I know in our society where complaining has become an art form and whining is the thing, that it is hard but try, it will do you a world of good, stay away from psychic vampires (those so called friends who drain you of all energies, taking everything and never giving you anything in return), keep a little note book in which you write things that make you happy, fulfilled and relaxed, things that you are thankful for (i.e. that you can breathe and walk), YES, I know I sound like Oprah Winfrey, but it is true, if you remind yourself of the things you have, the little things that count, then you are well on the way.
· INSPIRE yourself by exploring things you never thought you would try, take up a new hobby, something that is so far away from what you do in everyday life. Flying, Rock climbing, Parachuting (okay I know that these are extremes but you get the picture).
· GET with it Exercise is the best way to maintain a slim figure and mobility, plus it stimulates the production of all the little chemicals that make you feel content, also it dispels tension and aggression.
· DO unto others as they do unto you, if people upset you tell them, if they irritate you tell them, keeping things in is NOT healthy. By the way retaliation can be fun, but do not let your thirst for payback rule your life, Karma will eventually hit the wrongdoer, and fate will place you in the spectators seat to see the downfall.
· TREAT Drugs with the fear and respect they deserve, alcohol, cigarettes, amphetamines, ecstasy, and any form of poison out there. They can alter your mind and mood, they can also lead to clinical depression, psychosis, schizophrenia and all the mental ailments as well, yes, even coffee can trigger anxiety attacks!

To round things off I will say these few words, only new lovers and children can run around in a constant state off happiness, for the rest of us short bursts of euphoria are allowable. As T.S. Eliot once said “Mankind can not bear too much happiness”, too much of that (happiness) and some neurotic will point a finger at you and say that you are stark raving mad, and then follows the speculations if it is caused by drugs, genetics, a cult, your parents, too much sun, alcohol etc. Whatever the cause you will be classified as abnormal, for the norm is not running around with a beatific grin like a demented Buddha, the norm is facing the realities of the grim realities.
Happy people make us suspicious, they unnerve us, make us feel uncomfortable, they do not observe what we see, they do not see how we see. Happy people are scary (so are Teletubbies and Barney), they smile a lot, they show teeth in the same way rabid dogs do and insane people too. They wake up happy, they go to sleep happy, they say nice things all the time and do not gossip, they wear bright colours, they live in their own worlds, they think the sun shines out of each others…Heads! They have the kind of inner peace that should only be found in death. They see the glass as half full rather than empty (whereas I see it as broken, go to your therapist with that one dears, and let us see what happens!).
One thing is for certain the older I get the more I think of the infamous Tennessee Williams quote when asked to define Happiness: “Happiness? Insensitivity, I guess.” I am cranky, unstable, impossible, unbalanced, and unpredictable, living with someone like me is living in the last few seconds before a hydrogen bomb goes off, tension, nerves and definitely not boring! And you know I feel just fine like that, that is the way I am, and those who know me like me and hate me for it, so as disenchanted as I am, I am after all optimistic, tomorrow after all is just another day.
OPTIMISTIQUE MOI!