Venusian*Glow: 01/01/2010

Freya Bras With Wider Underwires Do Exist !

Freya bras are known for narrow underwires (also for colour & fun patterns, and a full size range). While they are perfect for more closely-set boobs, girls needing wider underwires usually go for Panache or Fantasie. If you have been drooling over my Freya bras post but you can't wear narrow underwires, here is a chance for you to get a piece of the action !

Here are some Freya models that have wider underwires than a typical Freya.

Antoinette
Eleanor (pictured above)
Pollyanna
Rio
Tia (tight band, unusual for Freya)
Tigerlilly
Madison
Iona
Mischa

Update: these underwires are medium width, not as wide as Panache, so dont buy them if you need really wide underwires !

Stretchy band reminder:
Most Freyas have a very stretchy band, so you should try a band size lower than usual. Don't forget that it means that you need to simultaneously go up a cup size, since cups are always relative to the band. So, 65D -> 60DD

Where to buy these beauties ?
Some great online stores and Ebay.

PS. A big warm thanks to those who answered my survey ! If you haven't yet, please do, it's only 2 questions !

*Source: Lobby Biusciastych*

What's Wrong With Adriana Lima In This Picture ?

Spot the mistake(s) It's not a hard one, I'm sure you guys can do it.

Forget The Cleansing, Toning & Moisturising Routine

You don't have to cleanse, tone and moisturise. Not even in that order (often I moisturise, tone and then cleanse). Ok, you definitely should cleanse, moisturising is recommended, and the toning... I'll talk about toning in a while.
The cleansing-toning-moisturising mantra has been drummed into us, but I declare it overthrown.

Cleansing:

You do need to cleanse, unless you wear absolutely no make-up and live in some Himalayas, light years away from dirt and pollution. I suggest cleansing in the evening, to remove war-paint and dirt collected during the day. You don't need to cleanse your face in the morning if you've done a good job of it at night. (Note: if you're waking up with an oily, grimy face, you probably need to change your food & hydration habits. Unless you are at puberty, in which case you'd still want to do that.)
To remove both water-soluble and oil-soluble dirt I recommend the double cleansing method.

Toning:

Toners are meant to restore the acid mantle of the skin after cleansing. If you are cleansing with oil, almond meal or a pH-neutral cleanser, you might not need a toner at all.
Alternatively, you could be using a toner to lightly cleanse your face in the morning, or to freshen up during the day. Read all about it in my post about toners.

Moisturising:

Skin after double cleansing (oil and water) usually doesn't need moisturising. Also, Dr. Hauschka recommends leaving your face naked at night, apparently night creams interfere with the skin's own night repair processes.
So you might find it best to apply moisturiser in the morning. The skin absorbs what it can within the first 15 minutes, so you could cleanse it off if you feel it attracts dirt. Others prefer to keep it on as a barrier against the environment.
However if you are using sunscreen, then that's applied best on naked skin. Anyway, most sunscreens are pretty moisturising by themselves, so you don't really need a moisturise and sunscreen.

So now it's up to you to understand you skin and try things out. Should you start the day with moisturising ? Or a toner ? Or sunscreen ? Try out what works !

Tips for using an epilator on different body parts

A list of tips and tricks to help you epilate each part of your body. Pain-o-meter included.

Once you've braved the basics and became an epilator whiz, you might be wondering about what else you can epilate. It's easy and mess-free, and the results are long-lasting, what's not to like ? Ah yes, the pain of the first few sessions.

Here are my tips for using the epilator on every body part, from top to bottom:

Top:

Any part of your face is best left to tweezers, threading or the Epilation Wand.

Armpits:

The first few times is very very very painful, but the slow regrowth time makes this really worthwhile. After some months of epilating the armpits hurt less than legs, actually they stop hurting at all.

The best position for armpit epilation: Stand in front of a mirror, and lean your elbow against it. Place your thumb on your shoulder, and stretch the armpit skin with your fingers. Epilate with the other hand. Your reflection will help you with spots you can't see very well.
You might need to make passes in different directions, since the armpit hair grows in all directions.

   Don't apply any kind of deodorant for several hours afterwards, and don't use soap. You could epilate before bedtime, or apply deodorant before epilating. I really seriously recommend switching to a gentle deodorant free from alcohol, aluminium and perfume.

Arms:

This area is not very painful and the skin is naturally taut. Just watch that elbow crease !

Bikini area:

   Ouch ouch ouch. If you attempt this, you're braver than me. You'll probably need to do just a tiny part at a time. And watch out for loose skin, stretch, stretch and stretch it. You might want to use just the roller attachment (or whatever head is least likely to grab skin).

Legs:

   It's a big area to cover, so you might be tempted to go fast. Don't this will only cause the hair to break. Be careful with the area behind the knee: hold the skin very taut and stretch the leg.
   Also, take a good look at the back of your leg, we tend to do the front better, but it's the back that is more on display !

Toes:

   For anyone dreading Hobbit feet, a few passes on the toe knuckles once a month is all you need.

*** I'm not saying that you need to epilate each and every of these areas. Keeping or removing body hair is a personal decision. Whatever you decide, rock it ! ***

Did I miss anything ? Care to share your epilating tips ?

Photo by Nerijus Rimkus

How To Use Optical Illusions For A Visually Uncluttered Home

How come stuff some people's homes just looks so harmonious and pulled together, while yours looks like clutter ? How can you get that calm and stylish ambience without actually throwing most of your stuff away ?

Here are my tips:

Remove labels

... from shampoos, conditioners, containers, condiments... especially in the bathroom and kitchen. you'll be surprised what a big difference this makes. Containers are rarely pretty, and labels are made to scream for our attention. Once the labels are removed, a lot of "noise" disappears form the room. The naked containers are usually not too ugly.
If you have a separate products for every family member, label the containers prettily with a waterproof marker, to prevent mix-ups. Do this also, with stuff that might be unrecognisable when naked. But mostly a ketchup bottle still looks like a ketchup bottle, even without it's label.

Keep it white (or neutral)

   White stuff just blends into white walls, and kind of disappears off our radar. (If your walls aren't white, you have another neutral in your home: find it !). Even mismatched dishes look great if they are all white.
   My rule when buying goes: "either gorgeous or white". That means if an object of daily use (think toothbrush holder, dishes, desk lamp,) isn't available in 'very pretty', then I get it in white.
   Yes, white does show dirt, but believe me: an uncluttered white looks cleaner and more peaceful than a jumble of colours anyway.

Have a minimum of colours & materials

   I admired a friend's modern kitchen: every surface, electric appliance, utensil and thingie was steel. This uniformity gave the space a minimalist and very sophisticated look; though in reality it was neither minimalist nor very expensive. The steel was contrasted by the white walls and wood beams, and it all looked so effortlessly stylish.
   You can try for the same by establishing which colours, materials and patterns you want in each room. The wall and floor colours are a good place to start. (Mine goes like this -- bedroom: medium walnut wood + brass + sunset-hued fabrics + deep blue; living room: pine wood, glass, turquoise).
   Boring ? Of course you add a splash of colour, but let this splash be something beautiful(like my friend's mustard-coloured couch), and not the trash can or toilet brush.

Repeat

One red thing in the room looks like an afterthought at best. Three red things look like a beautiful colour accent ! So take a look at your space, and look for colour, material or style orphans. Either support them with more of the same, or keep them in closed storage.

Group like things together

Gestalt psychology states that our mind groups similar things into "one" unit. So a group of glass vases look less uncluttered than randomly scattered ones.
Just don't do it like the Germans do, they have a penchant of lining up three exactly matching vases with three exactly matching flowers... and making it look terrible. Do repeat, just remember to make it slightly off-balance, add an element of whimsy. Like the full jar, or the variety of colours.
Japanese aesthetics states that odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye than even ones !

Trays and Bowls

A bunch of random objects, placed on a tray... call it an arrangement. I love to use shallow wooden or brass bowls for my collections of crystals or knickknacks. In my kitchen it's little wooden fruit boxes. A tray or bowl instantly pulls together a bunch of things that look otherwise scattered.

Uniform storage boxes & containers

They simply look, duh, uniform. That's why I love IKEA; you can always buy more of the same later on.
Do this with boxes and baskets in the living room, toy storage containers, herb jars and laundry supply boxes.

Hide visible cables

This is probably the single best thing you can do to a room. There are many ways to hide, eliminate or at least organise cables, just Google for ideas. Just don't follow this to the point of obsession, and think of electromagnetic waves before going completely cable-free.

Somewhere, leave an empty space It could be just a part of the shelf. A bit of space that looks like it's still free, still capable of holding more, makes the whole area look lighter somehow.
Don't think of empty space as screaming to be filled up. If you can't read up on empty space in photography, painting or Japanese aesthetics.

Some things just have to hide

Certain items which simply look cluttered, no matter what you do with them. Common culprits are piles of papers (put them in magazine holders), kitchen sink paraphernalia (try tip-out trays) and packaged foods (no cereal boxes on top of fridge, please ! Identify them, and try to keep them in closed storage.

Have I exhausted the list ? I don't think so. I'd love your comments, your tips and photos of how you do it at your home !

PS. Sorry for posting Weekend reads on Thursday (FTW?) I don't even have an excuse, except a wooly head.

Click on photos for sources

Bra Brands: Freya -- Colour, Fun And Narrow Underwires

Freya bras are known for bright colours & wild designs, a great size range, quite stretchy bands. Here is my review about the ups, the downs and the cups of this brand.

Aesthetics:

Colourful and whimsical, in a fresh, bold kind of way. Lots of sheerness, lightness and playfulness. Interesting prints and polka-dots and delicate embroidery. Even their beige and white models are never boring !
I could say that many of the bras are not my style, but seriously it's impossible to find something ugly at Freya's.

Sizing:

The bands are pretty stretchy, so in most models you need to take a tighter band than you normally wear. For detailed info on which model has tight/stretchy bands as well as cup size bigger/smaller than standard, check out my bra band table and bra cup table.

Sizes Available:
Bands: 28 to 40 (EU 60 to 95), in practice 30 to 42, see above.
Cups: B to K (UK)

Models & Styles:

A lot of gorgeous soft-cups, in a delightful assortment of styles and sizes. Mainly half-cups.
Some really good sports bras like the reader-recommended Freya Active that goes up to a H cup and doesn't give you a mono-boob.
A couple of pretty nursing bra models, not really worth recommending.
Freya also has an interesting swimwear range with bra cup sizes, up to cup G.

Interesting models:
The Freya Arabella a sheer light sexiness up to J cup, beloved by bigger-busted ladies that are used to heavily-constructed bras.
Freya Retro Plunge is what I'd call a pro push-up. Unlike a cheap push-up, it gathers the breasts from the sides, creating a spectacular cleavage without squashing the boobs.

Bra Fitting

Pretty good, the ladies modelling the bras are mostly really well fitted ! Watch and learn !

Prices:

A bit pricier, but still affordable: prices start at £25.00at UK sites. Due to their stretchiness they are less durable than Panache, but are usually prettier (if you are looking for fun, bold unmentionables !)

Where to buy:

Freya stores locator
Try these online stores.
There are lots floating around on Ebay, often dirt-cheap.

Websites:

http://www.freyalingerie.com (UK)
http://www.freyalingerie.fr/ (FR)
http://www.freyalingerie.de/ (DE)

Recommended for:

* Those searching for pretty colours
* Big cups in delicate styles
* Anyone who needs narrow underwires (boobs that are close together)

I hope this helps ! Another brand I have covered so far is La Senza.

How To Speak English Only

... in India.

Once I found myself translating for two people... both of who were both speaking English language only. And neither understood much of what the other was saying.

Sometimes it's hilarious.
Like when a guy tells you he bought a dress to wear at a function, but he is worried that he is getting too healthy for it, because he takes fatty food at hotels only, so he has to reduce.
Translation: dress is clothing, healthy means, umm, fat (politely), (and not athletic, as you'd imagine). A function is a ceremony or festival of some sort. Hotel is restaurant, so a real hotel is a lodge. reduce means loose weight. The only... well, you add it at the end, for some reason.

Some situations can be really embarrassing. Like when you don't understand that someone that has expired is... dead.

Step in if of Chilled Beering age

Learn with me: when you're out of station, you're out of town (remnants of colonial Britain, there). When a movie is timepass, it's good to pass the time. When you wear a halfshirt, the shirt is actually whole, it's just the sleeves that are half. A bottom is the same as a lower, both mean trousers.

They speak english only.

Have you ever had funny situation when you couldn't understand local variations of english ? I do remember a friend stories about being told to "lux the mess" in NZ... or was it Australia ?
Also, forgive my weirder and wirder english. I'm living in a country where they think a handy is a cellphone, and body is a kind of clothing, and a pullunder is... the opposite of a pullover. Over to you now.

How To Epilate Correctly For Smoothness & Long-Lasting Results

Many of us get stuck with the nervous and jerky epilating techniques from our beginning days full of shaking hands and apprehension. I was having issues with my epilator breaking the hair instead of pulling it up, and less-than-smooth skin after epilating. I was on the verge of buying a new one (epilator, not skin) when I realised that the problem was me: I was still using quick, jerky passes instead of slow smooth movements.

Whether the epilator breaks the hair off at skin surface or pulls them out by the root depends greatly upon your epilating technique. Hair that is just broken, not plucked, re-grows the next day just like it would if it were shaved.

Here are tips to epilate right, and get the smoothest skin and longest-lasting results possible:

Exfoliate before epilating, but not right before. Try a couple of hours or one day earlier. If you do exfoliate right before epilating, keep it dry (see below).

Don't shower right before since that makes the hair softer and more prone to breaking.

Drag the epilator slowly along your skin. From ankle to knee it should be a span of 15 seconds. If you go faster the hair will break and it will cause ingrowns. And you'll have to repeat the area more times.

Hold the skin taut !

Don't press the epilator down. Touch it lightly on your skin, it will work better.

Keep the epilator perpendicular to your skin, not at an angle.

Moisturise after epilation ! Use a gentle ie. fragrance-free and alcohol-free product. I recommend Aloe-vera, or Jojoba oil with a drop of lavender (to soothe the skin).

What are your tips on getting a smooth epilation ?

Your First Time... With The Epilator. The Almost Pain-Free Method

The first time with an epilator is the hardest. This is the only time you'll be shaving all of the hair of the area at once (next time only some of the hair will have grown back), and your skin nerves are not yet used to it.

Epilating is probably the least time-consuming and practical form of hair removal, so it's worth taking the effort and time to get over the initial learning curve. Here are some tricks to make that first time doable:

First time epilating for the chicken:

For those scared and with a low pain threshold, this brilliant technique is from Mark Twain (no, no the Mark Twain, besides she's a female).

Do not attempt this just before or on the first days of your period. That's the time when the skin holds water and it's more painful.
Take a long, hot bath, if this helps you to relax the skin. For me, the opposite is true: epilation hurts more after a bath.
Start with your legs, they are usually the easiest to do.
Shave.
Be prepared to have hair all over the place, so do it in the bathtub or spread a towel.
Use an ice-pack to numb the skin. Dust legs with talc (or better: cornstarch).
Use the Epilator on just shaved skin. Yes, there will be hardly any results, but there won't be any pain either, and your muscles will relax; it's important to get into the habit of relaxing while epilating, this reduces the pain greatly.
Maintain flat, taut surfaces by straightening the legs and stretching your skin. Otherwise it might pinch !
Repeat next day (except, of course, no shaving). Heck, repeat later same day. You will achieve the results gradually while staying within your comfort zone as far as the pain goes. Do it every day until you feel in control, then gradually reduce the time interval between epilations to up to a month.
When you begin feeling pain on one leg, switch to the other. Somehow that reduces the pain.
Use long, quick strokes until you are comfortable.
Holding the device so that it rotates in the direction of the hair growth makes the process much more gentle on you and more time consuming.
If you feel like giving up at any point, remember the 2nd epilation will be nothing like the first; the 3rd will be a breeze.

Brilliant ! Yes, this does take more time, but you won't get traumatised and discouraged by a hard first time. If you're not chicken, I'd still suggest epilating stubble (2-3 days after shaving) rather than long hair (which is way more painful).

FAQ:

What ? Blood ?
Yes, you might see some blood drops. That's quite normal the first or second time, and after that it usually doesn't happen any more.

My legs are all red and irritated !
That will go away after some hours or a day. After you've got used to epilating, you skin won't get irritated anymore.

Can I use soap, spray tan or real tan ?
After the first time, don't use any of these for at least 24 hours.

It snagged my skin !
I told you to hold it taut.

After you've gotten used to epilating, it's time to change your technique ! Often the painful and clumsy epilating at the beginning forms bad epilating habits. My next post will deal with how to epilate for that smooth effect, and deal with ingrown hair.

Photo by tear.drop.

Epilation 101 For Those Scared To Try

Why it's worth a try, regrowth and ingrown hair, pain and body parts, and other epilator FAQs

Why should I try epilating ?

    You won't be a slave of daily shaving, and you never ever have sandpaper legs. Epilating is greener than shaving or depilatory creams, and much cheaper in the long run. It's less messy than waxing, and I suspect it's more throughout (I never did get the hang of waxing).

What are the main downsides of epilating ?

   The pain and irritation in the beginning. Also, you might develop ingrown hair if you're not careful.

Does it hurt ?

    It's mostly just the first time, since that's the only time you'll be epilating all the hairs of the area at once. Hair regrows gradually, so the next time you'll be epilating the one-third that grows back by that time. Also, nerves get numb already after the first few strokes (you might notice starting each area is more painful, then it gets better). With time, the nerves on epilated areas learn to ignore the depilator and you'll be doing it without the slightest grimace.

So, how bad is that first time ?

   What's your pain threshold ? Think waxing/tweezing. People who wax don't find epilating tolerable even the first time. People with low pain thresholds have a much harder time. My next post will deal with tips on making the first time less painful.

Does the hair have to be of a certain minimum length ? Do epilators deal with the finest hair ?

   If someone tells you that epilators need the hair to be a minimum length, or that it misses finer hairs is either doing it wrong or has a crappy depilator. My ancient Braun Silk-Epil grips with even the tiniest and the finest hair (although I do need a few passes to get complete smoothness)

Does the hair regrow coarser, or finer ?

   If the hair is regrowing coarser (hint: the tips are blunt, not pointed) then your epilator is breaking the hair instead of pulling it out. You're either doing it wrong, or your gadget is crap. My upcoming posts will tell you how to deal with this problem.

What about ingrown hair ?

   You might get it, it depends on your skin. The trick is to exfoliate often, and moisturise the area.

Which part of my body can I treat with an epilator ?

   Legs and arms is standard and easy, but it's also possible to do your armpits, chin (for intermediate users) and even back and front bikini area (experts only ! I still cringe even at the idea.)

What type of epilator should I get ?

   If your pain threshold is low and you have serious doubts, try borrowing one at first. When buying, go for Braun or Phillips, EpiLady products are much lower quality. Cordless is less green than ones with cord, and usually the cord is long enough to use comfortably. You also don't have an additional chore to remember (keep the batteries charged), but then cordless may be handier while travelling. Read reviews on Amazon, and remember that you don't need the latest and most expensive one to get the best results.

   In my experience, most people who get their fingers burned during epilating get discouraged by the hard first time. Don't worry, it gets way better, and check out tomorrow's post for tips on dealing with your first time with an epilator !
   I realise I've said "doing it wrong" several times in this post. It's because I've been having problems with my depilation and I thought I needed a new epilator... but then I realised it's my technique that was causing the problems. My ancient Braun, I'm keeping you.

Have you ever tried an epilator ? Love it or hate it ?

Photo by Brennana9

The Easiest Root Lift Ever

For those of you fed up of intricate blow-drying for root volume: try this at home. After washing your hair, tie it on the top of the head, and air-dry. The bun will look as sexy as Little My's in the picture above, so feel free to wash your hair in the evening and sleep with the bun. It's guaranteed to give lift and volume when you open the bun !

Oh, and use a soft scrunchie, not an elastic that will pull or break the hair.

And here's another tip: don't condition the roots, only the tips !

Update: winter 2010
I sleep every night with my hair piled on top of my head. I love the volume I get. I don´t use a scrunchie, but one of those huge toothy hair grips.