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Bare-faced confidence comes with age, new statistics reveal
Forget mascara, lippie and foundation: 46-plus women are anything but concealers
Half of women let their partners see them with no makeup all the time, research by Fragrance Direct has revealed, and women aged 46-plus are most likely to let a partner see them without cosmetics after spending just one day together.
The bare-faced approach is by far the most popular. Across all the combined age groups, 50 per cent of women go makeup-free around their partners all the time. This surpasses the small number who answered that they never let their partner see them makeup-free (two per cent) and those who answered ‘only when I’m ill’ (two per cent). Slightly more said they only bare all straight after a shower (four per cent), or just before bed (seven per cent), and more women still (35 per cent) said their partner sees them without makeup ‘around the house’. However, the clear favourite indicates that regularly going makeup-free is the preferred choice during a relationship.
The poll found that it is most common to reveal a makeup-free face to a partner within the first month (with 46 per cent of respondents waiting this long). However, women aged over 46 are the quickest to go without cosmetics in front of their partner, with the highest proportion of women who said their partners see them product-free the next day after starting a relationship being in the 46-plus age bracket.
Anne, 41 year-old personal trainer and weight management coach discusses the possible reasons for the apparent increase in confidence that allows more women aged 46-plus to go makeup-free: “I feel that as you get older, people see you in a different light, or are looking for different things – it’s as though they are looking for the ‘real’ you.”
Anne goes on to talk about the role of makeup within a relationship: “There are probably less games to play as you get older, so not wearing makeup at all isn’t really a big deal. When you are younger you have the feeling that you need to continuously impress.”
Testing the Playstation 4
Recently Frost was lucky enough to attend an event held by Argos showing off some of the top gifts for this Christmas. Among them was the much anticipated Playstation 4 which we were lucky enough to try. Unfortunately there were no games available but there was a demo showing off some of the potential of the machine.
In the demo I’m shown I sit down to see myself on the screen in front of me! The playstation camera which also acts as a motion sensing device beams me onto the screen but there’s also a floating robot head sitting next to me. What’s really clever is how the motion sensing device picks up your depth of field. I can interact with my robot friend my tickling him for example.
The demo also shows off the new controller’s capacitiative pad. By flicking the pad i can bring out more interactive robot heads and do a whole load of different things. I can even hoover them up and make them laugh.
Games are getting more real as the capabilities of the hardware grows. I was also lucky enough to try Oculus Rift recently which really blew my mind but that’s another story. It’s undoubtedly an exciting time ahead. It was very absorbing and a little overwhelming at first. I totally lost myself in it and in my excitement I smashed the glass of orange juice sitting next to me! My bubble was broken and I returned to the real world. It was clear to see this is a very powerful piece of hardware and I can’t wait to see what software designers are going to do with it but there is definitely tremendous potential.
Look out for the PS4 at Christmas from £349 $399
Liz Earle’s Skin-Saving Salads & Dressing Recipes for Summer Picnics
Liz Earle on sensational salads and skin friendly dressings
The perfect choice for Bank Holiday picnics
Heading out for a family picnic? Look no further for some healthy pack-and-go recipes from Liz Earle, creator of the award-winning Liz Earle Beauty Co., mother of five and organic farmer. When time is tight but you still want something tasty everyone will enjoy, try these simple summer salad suggestions packed with skin-saving goodness to help nourish sun-kissed skins.
SENSTAIONAL SALADS
Chopped salads are a simple way of combining local, fresh and seasonal skin-friendly foods in one healthy picnic dish. Each of the recipes here is designed to be prepared in advance and put into plastic boxes, perfect to keep fresh when travelling. They make great office lunch-boxes too. Here are Liz’s personal favourites:
Sunshine Salad
Serves 6
For the dressing:
150ml (1/2 pint) cold pressed olive oil or rape seed oil
25ml (1fl oz) fresh lime juice
2tsps French mustard
freshly ground black pepper
For the salad:
4 large carrots, scrubbed and grated
225g (8oz) mixed salad leaves, such as spinach, radicchio, frisḗe, oakleaf and Batavia leaves, endive and lamb’s lettuce
50g (2oz) sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
50g (2oz) hazelnuts, almonds or pecans, finely chopped
Combine the salad ingredients together in a large bowl and mix thoroughly before transferring to a picnic box. Next, mix together the dressing ingredients and store in an airtight container or jam jar, ready to shake and drizzle over the salad just before eating. Sun-dried tomatoes keep well for picnics but you can also replace with twice the amount of cherry tomatoes, which also travel well. Both kinds of tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, an important antioxidant that may help prevent sunburn, reddening of the skin in the sun and even some kinds of skin cancers.
Herb Salad
This tasty all-leaf salad makes a great accompaniment to a cold pasta or rice salad. Don’t be tempted to make a more complicated dressing – let the herb flavours speak for themselves.
Serves 4
300g (11oz) mixed salad leaves such as; spinach, radicchio, frisee, chicory, rocket (argula)
50g (2oz) mixed fresh herbs such as; chevrl, basil, parsley, coriander
2tbsps (30ml) olive oil, rape seed or walnut oil
1tsp (5ml) lemon juice
Mix the salad leaves and place into a picnic container, or put into a bag ready to tip into a salad serving bowl. Mix the remainder of the ingredients in a travel container or jam jar. Shake well to mix before drizzling over the salad before serving. Green leafy salads, such as baby spinach, rocket and lambs lettuce, are an especially useful source of skin-friendly beta-carotene, an important antioxidant that helps prevent the free-radical cell damage that leads to premature skin ageing. Each of the plant oils suggested here is a good source of the skin-plumping essentially fatty acids that help keep skin soft and smooth.
DELICIOUS DRESSINGS
Dressings are the fastest way to liven up raw vegetables and salad combinations, making summer salads tastier whilst adding more skin-saving nutrients. The thicker dressings are based on yoghurt and can also be used as dips for raw veggie crudités. For the thickest dips, use a Greek-style yoghurt. Quick and easy to prepare in advance, simply store in a plastic sealable pot or jam jar to pack with your summer picnic.
Fine French Dressing
If stored tightly sealed in the fridge, this dressing will also keep for up to a week.
Makes 300ml (1/2 pint)
175ml (6fl oz) unrefined sunflower or safflower oil
120ml (4fl oz) freshly squeezed lemon juice
freshly ground black pepper
1/2tsp mustard, Dijon or whole grain can be used
1/2tsp freshly grated root ginger
1-2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
Put all the ingredients in a screw-top jar, replace the lid and shake vigorously to mix well. This twist on the traditional classic has added fresh ginger for a unique zingy freshness. Works especially well when combined with skin-cleansing salads based on cucumber, chicory and fennel.
Cucumber Dressing
A delicious, refreshing dressing that also works well on sliced avocados, one of the richest sources of the skin-saving antioxidant vitamin E.
Serves 2-4
150g (5oz) cucumber
150g (5oz) natural low-fat, plain live (bio) yoghurt
1tsbp cider vinegar
1 sprig of dill
½ tsp dried sill seeds
Blend all the ingredients together in a food processor (or hand-held whisk) until the dressing is smooth and creamy. The bio yoghurt is packed with healthy acidophilus, the beneficial intestinal bacteria that can also help to keep skin clear.
Yoghurt and Chive Dressing
Serves 2-4
150ml (1/2 pint) natural low-fat, plain live (bio) yoghurt
1tbsp lemon juice
1tbsp Dijon mustard
2tbsp chopped chives
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
freshly ground black pepper
In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together, adding black pepper to season, and stir vigorously. Alternatively, place ingredients in a large, screw-top jar, replace the lid and shake well. Yoghurt and chives are a tasty, skin-friendly combo containing calcium and vitamin C.
Orange and Tamari Dressing
Tamari sauce is made from soya beans and is similar to soy sauce. This tangy recipe works very well with raw baby spinach or dark green salad leaves. It is also a useful dressing for those who dislike vinegar.
Serves 2-4
150ml (1/2 pint) freshly squeezed orange juice
1tsp grated orange peel
2tbsps tamari sauce
1tsp finely chopped fresh root ginger
3tsbsps cold-pressed olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together and stir well before using. Alternatively, put the ingredients into a large, screw-top jar, replace the lid and shake well. Use organically grown oranges where possible, alternatively, scrub the skins in mildly water to remove fungicide residues and rinsing well before grating. A cleansing and refreshing dressing, rich in the skin-saving antioxidant vitamins A (in the form of beta-carotene from the oranges), vitamin C (also from the orange juice) and Vitamin E (from the olive oil). Orange peel also contains skin-friendly bioflavonoid nutrients and fresh ginger is a traditional intestinal cleanser.
Follow @LizEarleMe on Twitter for more tips on wellbeing.
Liz Earle is backing this year’s Sunlight Campaign run by the National Osteoporosis Society to show people how to safely embrace the sun to protect their health. For more information head to: http://www.nos.org.uk/page.
82% Of Couples Admit To Selling Wedding Gifts Online
- 42% of guests admit that they find buying a wedding gift ‘stressful’
- More than one in ten wedding guests (12%) said they were often embarrassed by their gift choice
- One in five fully expect their gifts to be left unused, returned or sold
- One in ten will decline a wedding invitation altogether because of worries over the gift
Photo credit: TrueMalyugin
New research reveals that 82% of newlyweds admit to selling wedding gifts on internet sites like Ebay.
Despite the use of wedding lists and the amount of thought guests put into selecting the perfect present, it seems that most newlyweds still end up with impractical presents that they just don’t want or need.
Couples taking part in the research revealed some very strange gifts indeed, with one receiving a tarantula and another couple who were presented with a gift-wrapped banana.
It also seems that many guests give presents expecting them to be sold on. More than one in ten wedding guests (12%) said they were often embarrassed by their gifts and one in five fully expect their gifts to be left unused, returned or sold.
The research indicates that more practical gifts or even group gifts are the solution, for example contributions to the honeymoon or money for house improvements would be welcomed.
42% of guests admit that they find buying a wedding gift ‘stressful’.
Worries over what gift to purchase have resulted in one in ten Brits declining a wedding invitation altogether, believing that a bad gift decision could cause an argument between friends. 6% even believe it could end a friendship.
The research was done by One4all, a gift card from the Post Office,
Top Beauty Tips for Brides
Photo credit: TrueMalyugin
We have some Top Beauty Tips for Brides from highly experienced facial therapist Amanda Elias; the brains behind effective yet affordable skincare brand, Bravura London. Amanda really knows her stuff so enjoy.
How to Prep Your Skin for a Wedding
Don’t try any new products, skincare, hair care, make-up, even washing powder 3 weeks before your wedding, any kind of a reaction could take a couple of weeks to calm down and that’s the last thing you need before your big day!
Don’t leave it until the last minute to think about your skin, the longer you have to correct any skin issues, the better! Using products that contain AHA’s will help to remove dead skin which tends to leave our skin looking dull and lifeless, removing this dead layer will leave your skin looking fresher and more vibrant.
If you’re getting married abroad, make sure you wear SPF 50 as soon as you arrive and re-apply regularly. Don’t risk sunbathing, you don’t want to get married looking like a lobster! Don’t forget your ears, lips and the back of your neck.
To avoid any fake tan disasters before your wedding, book yourself in for a spray tan the day before, you’re a lot less likely to end up with any streaky patches. Make sure you have a trial tan before the big day to make sure the colour suits you and to avoid any chance of a reaction.
Make-up sits better on exfoliated skin, using a cleanser that contains AHA’s daily can help to remove the dead skin so that your foundation lasts longer.
If you suffer with blackheads or hormonal spots on your chin, try using a salicylic acid product daily. This will help to exfoliating the skin and clear out the pores, salicylic acid also has an anti-inflammatory effect so it’s great for spots that can also become inflamed.
If you have a lot of redness left over from acne, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about a short course of hydrocortisone which can dramatically help to reduce the discolouration.
There’s going to be a lot of focus on your hands on your big day, to keep your hands and nails in peak condition, massage sweet almond oil in to your hands and nails daily, a month before the wedding. By your big day your nails will be stronger and your hands will be supper soft. If your hands tend to be flaky, mix a little olive oil and sugar, gently massage in to your hands, wash away and then apply your sweet almond oil.
Don’t forget your lips, wear a good quality lip balm and re-apply regularly throughout the day, especially before bed. Do this for at least a week before your wedding and your lips will be super soft and kiss ready.
Do you have any beauty tips?
Snap-Happy Brits Take Over 600 Million Photos a Week
· The UK is a nation of snappers taking over 600 million photos every week
· 52% of Britons take photos on their phones and store an average of 180 pictures on their devices
· Around 1 in 5 snappers have lost photos due to a broken device, 5% due to a stolen device and around 3 in 10 Brits do not back up their digital photos
· People (51%), landscapes (19%) and animals/ pets (11%) are our favourite subjects
Thanks to smartphone, tablet and digital camera technology, image hungry Britain now takes an average of over 600 million photos in the week. According to an online study commissioned by SmugMug* the world’s largest independent photo sharing website, which launches to the UK public this week, most of our snaps feature our friends and family, followed by our beautiful countryside with our pets coming in third.
With the advancements in technology, our photography habits have changed irrevocably resulting in a photographic Tsunami. The online survey found that Brits take a mean average of 19 photographs in an ordinary week (not taking in account holidays or special occasions). With 47.75 million* adult residents in the UK, that’s a lot of photos – SmugMug estimates over 600 million in fact**.
Over half of Brits online (52%) take photos primarily on their phones and 32% keep them there. Of those that do an average of 180 photos are currently stored on their mobiles.
Yet when asked how many of us had lost images due to a broken (21%), stolen device (5%) or human error (30%), 56% replied yes they had. Furthermore almost 3 in 10 (28%) Brits admit that they do not back up their photos, with women (32%) being the worst culprits at not ensuring their photographic memories are safe for the future.
SmugMug commissioned the survey to discover more about the photo-storing and sharing habits of Britain ahead of launching its first fully formed consumer offering in the UK this week.The company will launch its cloud based photo service, already a major hit in the US to UK customers, offering a safe and secure home for the best and most important of our images. With high level security settings, our 600million photos are safe from theft or copying, yet through links and passwords, our images can be shared with friends, family and loved ones.
*Conducted by YouGov for SmugMug
** SmugMug have used an adult population figure of 47,754,569 as a base, and then taken 70% of that (as 30% of the original sample does not take photos during an averag
Win a Bundle of Summer Books
Nothing to read? Let us fix that. We have a free copy of all of the books below for a lucky reader. Enough to keep you entertained this summer, and probably next too.
With the heat wave set to last until August, Harlequin UK is on hand to provide their readers with the very best books to stay entertained in the sun. Whether you want to escape with some fabulous women’s fiction, indulge in a brilliant bonkbuster or sample some of the hottest newcomers’ debut novels, Harlequin has something for everyone. With tales of love and loss, sauce and scandal, check out what are set to be five of this year’s biggest summer reads.
To win follow @Frostmag on Twitter and Tweet, ‘I want to win the summer book bundle with @Frostmag’ or like us on Facebook. Alternatively, sign up to our newsletter. You can comment below which one you did if you want an extra chance of winning.
For fans of rom-coms…
For fans of bonkbusters…
For fans of romance…
For fans of chick lit…
For fans of erotica…
