Thursday 2 November 2017
Monday 16 October 2017
Tuesday 10 October 2017
How to Choose a Beard Oil
The clean-shaven look might be a timeless classic, but it fails hard at showcasing your style and uniqueness–unlike a big, bold, beautiful beard. Having the ability to grow lion’s mane whiskers is flat out impressive. Although less gifted men would never admit to it, in their minds, they’re bending at the knee in your kingly presence. A beard worthy of royalty requires significant care, however. If you wish to keep your face fur healthy and pleasing to the eye, you’re going to need a quality beard oil.
Picking a Beard Oil That Suits You
If you’re new to beard oils, there are a few basic things that you’ll need to know before you can make an informed purchase.
Reviews.com polled 100 beard oil users to learn more about their habits and their preferences.
Benefits of Beard Oil
What is the purpose of a beard oil, you ask? Basically, beard oils keep your beard and the skin it attaches to moisturized and healthy while enhancing the ease of styling. If you have scraggly or curly hair, these oils will make combing easier by aiding in straightening the hair to prevent painful catching and pulling. They greatly reduce itchiness and flaking and provide the added benefits of improved looks and pleasant odor. The specific ingredients used in a beard oil will determine its appearance, aroma, and performance.
Carrier Oils
The primary component of a beard oil is called carrier oil. Carriers are most commonly extracted from nuts or seeds and give your beard oil its lubricating and moisturizing properties. They can be found in a wide variety of beauty products since they are organic and extremely hydrating. Being of the natural world, carrier oils are considered to be very beneficial for skin and overall health and have replaced many chemicals that were once added to such products. Some of the most popular carrier oils include grapeseed, argan, jojoba, hemp seed, pomegranate, and sweet almond.
Essential Oils
Combined with carriers in very small amounts, essential oils are secondary oils that give beards a burst of personality. Like spices sprinkled onto a plate of food, essential oils are the kicker that provides the beard oil with flavor and scent. Additionally, different essential oils feature different wellness qualities. For example, sandalwood oil is an antiseptic.
More expensive beard oils typically include multiple essential oils while lesser types may contain one or two. From cedar and tobacco to licorice and citrus, there are flavor profiles to suit whatever your preference may be. If you prefer something non-scented, there are basic beard oils that only contain the carrier.
Application of a Beard Oil
Using oil is easy. First, ensure that your face and beard are dry. Next, apply a dime-sized amount to your hand, rub your palms together, and massage into your beard. Attack your beard at all angles with your fingers to really get the oil absorbed. Afterwards, use a comb or brush to evenly distribute the oil when styling. According to many experts, the ideal time to apply beard oil is post-shower when the skin craves moisture.
It's Up to You
Growing a magnificent beard takes time, dedication, and plenty of care. Give your hard-earned whiskers the treatment they deserve by using a quality beard oil. You’ll find numerous variations of beard oils on store shelves, but only you can decide which is best for your personality and budget. If testers are available, apply each one onto your wrist to reveal flavor profiles and reactivity to your skin. You’ll likely go through a handful of oils before you discover the perfect one, so don’t be afraid to try before you buy!
The post How to Choose a Beard Oil appeared first on VALEXTINO.
Thursday 14 September 2017
The fashion Trends you can expect for Autumn and Winter 2017-2018
The 2017 Autumn and Winter fashion trends have been set. The creativity that has been seen on the catwalk indicates a bumper year of new styles and looks that everyone can take advantage of. Businesswomen, students and socialites can all find a great piece because of the rich variety on offer.
Have a quick glimpse of some of what will be on offer:
Belts
Defining the waistline is a theme that will run through the Autumn and Winter fashion trends this year. Starting with Louis Vuitton’s cinching belts, Isabel Marant follows through in the trend with her stark black waistband that defines any shape clearly. Set aside the fabulous day and evening wear, those belts show up everywhere. The wraparound belt ingeniously integrated into a full length blue coat by Celine reinforces the importance of the belt as a defining part of the outfit this upcoming season, whether it’s sleepwear or outerwear, you can be sure that all the fashion outlets are going to follow suit and stock the belt to define your waist.
Glitter Bombs and Gold
We all know that all that glitters is not gold, but in the fashion world you could be forgiven for forgetting this. Shining clothing is to be found everywhere, whether is the imitation of the space programme or the glitter bombed clothing or even more so the latest in gold cloth adorning our women. With the appearance of these trends thanks to Jason Wu and Tom Ford on the catwalk you will be able to knowingly recognise them as they appear in the windows of our favourite boutiques and fashion outlets.
Power dressing female Business attire
When the boss walks through the door and she’s wearing that suit from Alexander McQueen or Celine, you’ll understand that feminism in fashion has never gone away. This year the suits are designed for comfort, have a looser appearance and are freer flowing. Jacket lengths are longer even suggesting a hybrid trend between jacket and coat, bringing an interesting combination of power dress without the stiff appearance. The female city bosses are going to turn heads with a completely different look in their suits in the upcoming colder seasons.
Leather Pants
Leather never really goes out of fashion. It is simply reinvented every year and the possibilities seem endless. As source of warmth and designs easily woven to create whichever look you can desire the designers have not disappointed this season. Altuzarra has created something of an enigma with a fashionable biker leathers look, that are neither jeggings nor jeans. The loos biker style makes a statement of its own. Whether its Proenza Schouler or Calvin Klein that you prefer as a trendsetter, the loose leather look is in this year. Put your tight leathers away for another time.
Frills Feathers and lace
While the leather pants may lend a tomboyish look that so many girls love, there is much to be seen in the rising trend of the prettier pieces this year. Frills and feathers have been introduced as the appropriate accoutrements for this year’s evening wear and occasion wear. You can blame this trend that will not die out on the likes of designers like Giambattista Valli and the house of Burberry.
Oversized Sheepskin jackets
Every year, it’s something new to keep us warm, but still looking good and this year is no different. Sheepskins are in and abundantly so. The Sheepskin jacket may be the design and the style, but the oversized, slightly larger than life look is the trend to be expected. The designs interestingly while oversized do not leave the wearer looking like they’re wearing something three sizes too big. You can thank Marc Jacobs, Coach and Proenza Schouler for these appearing on the shelves this Winter season.
Off the shoulder
That sleek off the shoulder look is back again and has found its way into daywear as well as eveningwear. Weather it’s that sexy leather look from Brandon Maxwell or that daytime well-dressed look so perfectly mastered by Dion Lee, the trends have been set. Expect to find these styles adorning the racks in all your favourite high end fashion stores. Jason Wu has introduced an off the shoulder trend that is certainly going to take off, with the business women, his outfits being brought to us in a two piece suit like style.
Functional Fashion
Not seen for a while is a little edge on functional fashion, where style and function come together. If you look carefully you should be able to find those quilts and blankets reinvented as ponchos, throws and wide scarves.
The post The fashion Trends you can expect for Autumn and Winter 2017-2018 appeared first on VALEXTINO.
Monday 7 August 2017
6 Fashion Items That Deserve to Be in Your Closet
In the vast world of fashion where certain pieces either have the lifespan of a fruit fly or become swallowed by the sea of garments produced every day, it’s important to stop and reexamine our choices. There are items in that forgotten or overlooked universe that definitely deem our attention, so it’s time to take a long hard look and correct the injustice. To that end, after careful scouting, we’ve come up with a list of six items that definitely deserve to be gracing your closet and your body.
Black with a twist
Many women will often see a great pair of black trousers and just keep on browsing. In a world of florals, stripes and other splashes of color, black pants are often left behind in the race and that’s wrong for more reasons than one. First of all, black is slimming, timeless and sophisticated, and there’s no arguing that. Secondly, if fashion guru and all-round styling icon Tim Gunn says that every woman simply has to own a pair of black dress pants, we should take note. Finally, black pants don’t by any means have to be ‘boring’, especially if you go for paper-bag waist pants. The reasons these in particular deserve a spot in your wardrobe is the fact that the cinched-in waist isn’t only flattering, but it creates mini ruffles along the edge for a sweet and preppy effect.
Where there’s black…
…there’s bound to be white. One simply cannot and should not live without a white top, preferably a crisp white shirt. It can be fitted, long, shorter, oversized, take your pick, but definitely go shopping for one ASAP. The once staple piece of the corporate world has finally been recognized for its ‘outside the workplace’ potential and versatility. The amazing thing about this garment is that it cooperates well and easy with anything you throw at it – jeans, dress pants, skirts, shorts, and look different every time. Plus, there is an air of casual sophistication to it, and you’ll never look over or underdressed when rocking a white shirt.
A touch of edge
It’s no secret that a woman should definitely own a mini dress, a few of them for that matter. However, they don’t all have to be ‘regular’ and fit the norm. Sometimes you need to shake things up and spice up your wardrobe with an alternative fashion piece that will definitely stop traffic. The pin up retro style is a great way to go, not just because the pin up girl style is gaining momentum as we speak, but also because it carries an innocently sexy vibe with it. The lesson is, forget the sheer romantic dresses for now, and look for something sweet with an edge, with cute and strange prints, and of course, don’t forget a belt to emphasize that waistline.
Stand out
Yes, yes, we all love our ankle boots, and for a good reason – they’re comfortable yet chic and have the ability to elevate even the most casual of outfits. However, aren’t you a bit tired of the same old choice you make season after season? You know what we’re talking about, you always go for regular black or camel ones. Well, it’s time to get creative and give your feet some love with a pair of boots equally comfortable but way more fun and interesting. The tortoiseshell heel, pearl-embellished racing stripes, or a satin bootie with a cool angular block – take your pick and make everyone take note of what’s happening south of your ankles.
The indulgent item
Not to bring Tim Gunn’s name again, but we’re going to. Contrary to what you may believe, bags aren’t just meant for carrying your things, and sometimes, like now, you simply need to splurge on a bag that you definitely don’t need but you want it nonetheless. This is your indulgent item, to splurge away. Of course, we’re talking about the ‘just because’ mini bag. It can barely hold some cash, a lipstick and your phone, but you want it anyway because it’s gorgeous and makes a statement. It can be a quirky geometric clutch, or something featuring pixels. It doesn’t really matter what it is exactly, just as long as it’s quirky and plain fun.
Always know what time it is
Gals tend to shy away from watches, following the notorious Carrie Bradshaw mantra of being charmingly late. Well, newsflash, no one appreciates being kept waiting, so one of the items that need to be on your wrist every time you leave the house is a watch. We’re not going to tell you what kind it should be, choose one based on your personal style, although you can’t make a mistake with gold or rose gold.
The post 6 Fashion Items That Deserve to Be in Your Closet appeared first on VALEXTINO.
Sunday 16 July 2017
Wednesday 12 July 2017
Through thick or thin – your eyebrows are yours forever
Eyebrows are one of those features that women never seem to be happy with. Sure, there are some women who resign themselves to their eyebrow characteristics, but they are few and far between.
Eyebrows are a bit like body weight, women seem to think they can never be too perfect!
Thick eyebrows are one of those characteristics that produce this circular paradox. Women with thick eyebrows, simply want to thin them out and get rid of some of the hair. Girls with thin eyebrows simply wish they were thicker so they’d have more to work with, when finishing off their beauty regime.
There is however much that can be done with thick eyebrows. Here a few tips to make the ladies that feel a little on edge about the extra eyebrow hair
Quick Fix
For Thick Brows that lay any which way, a little eyebrow gel goes a very long way. In fact, not just for the untidy hairs, the gel can also be used to reinforce the shape. So, eyebrow gel is an essential in your beauty box
Plan ahead
When deciding to get down and do something about those wayward eyebrows decide on which shape you’re going to create first. Removing eyebrow hairs doesn’t work well with the idea of just shaping it as you go along and see what result you’ll get.
That’s a recipe for disaster that can take months to get back to square one. Choose the point at which the eyebrow should start and end and identify the highest point of the arch, don’t be fooled by eyebrow stencils, they aren’t designed to take into consideration the shape and contours of your face. Use them only in the context of what you visualize for your overall facial appearance.
Try trimming
Trim your eyebrows. If the hair is long enough to trim, you’d be surprised at the difference that alone will make. Occasionally trimming the hair to below the upper eyebrow line in all you need to do, however in some cases you will also need to thin out the bulk.
The tweezers matter
Acquire a quality pair of tweezers. It’s a small investment in your appearance and will make all the difference. Apart from reducing your grooming time, it’ll save you the frustration experienced when cheaper tweezers either break you hair or you can’t get a decent grip on the hairs.
Start at the top
Trouble always starts at the top. If you have errant hairs that cause problems at the top of your eyebrow line, go against the advice of your youth and deal with them first. You can either trim or pluck depending on the bulk your trying to preserve or remove. This gives the eyebrow a clean, well defined look.
Use the right products to fill in the gaps
In the event of over plucking – Yes it happens, you’ll need to fill in the spaces. Use mousse, powder or a pencil to achieve the look with it looking painted on. Beware of the products or techniques that you are using to achieve that natural appearance. When shopping select a shade that blends with your brow regardless of color.
Keep your distance
How close you are to the mirror will make a difference. Too close means you won’t see the wood for the trees. Too far means you won’t see the detail. Find a comfortable distance that you can see what you’re doing taking your entire face into perspective.
Symmetry doesn’t always work
Perfect symmetry is unlikely to ever happen in nature and don’t think that two perfect arches or circles are going to make everything right. While building those arches always remember the shape of your face
Don’t go cold
Using a cold compress or ice is a real No. Simply don’t do it. It causes your skin to contract and your hair follicles become tighter. This is not what you want to happen when removing hair from your eyebrows. Use a warm cloth or do your shaping regime straight out of the shower. If the pain factor really is too much to bear then try using some Emla cream or a numbing spray.
Say no to shaving
Shaving your legs is fine, shaving your eyebrows is not. Don’t be fooled by the little eyebrow razors available on the market. The effect is very short lived, the stubble is far from flattering and your skin is thin and vulnerable around your eyebrow.
Technique is everything
Make sure your tweezing technique is good. Hold the skin taught and tweeze. Don’t dig into your skin when the hair is short. The damage and bleeding isn’t worth it. Waiting a little bit for the hair to gain some length is.
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