Craving: Baked By Melissa & Georgetown Cupcake

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Photos via georgetowncupcake.com & bakedbymelissa.com

the 10 Commandments for Youthful Looking Skin - Part 2

Here's part 2 of the 10 commandments for youthful skin via SELF.com

Read part 1 here

6. GET EVEN

Don't neglect skin below the neck: Brown spots on the chest and on the backs of hands are red flags of aging just as much as when they appear on the face. Fade them away with creams with niacinamide, and vitamin C and/or treat yourself to an IPL (intense pulsed light)/laser treatment which gets rid of such pigmentation.

7. FIRM UP

Though age and sun damage can cause skin to lose elasticity over time, fighting back is getting easier: Recent research shows that maintaining a healthy, moisturized epidermis will help prevent the breakdown of the skin's collagen and elastin infrastructure. Also, look for creams containing barrier-strengthening elements. RE9 Firming Body Cream is pretty well known and celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe recommends the lavish Acrona 'Instant Magic' Reversal Serum

8. ERASE WRINKLES

The best way to banish wrinkles before they begin is to develop good habits, such as vetoing sunbathing and cigarettes, which trigger free radicals that damage DNA in cells Regular application of creams that have niancinamide head to toe will also help thicken skin and boost collagen synthesis, and keep skin hydrated. Thirsty skin means fine lines will be more apparent. 

9. BRIGHTEN UP

Glowing skin can make you feel better and define your body in a way that you look skinner too! But we all know we want to avoid the harmful rays so self tanners that react with your outer layer of skin cells and turn them brown. A daily lotion with a low does of DHA (responsible for the reaction) will allow a gradual and subtle glow to appear. My personal favorite is the Jergens' natural Glow. Available for light to medium and medium to tan skin tones. In just three days you really see a natural looking and gradual even tan on your skin.

10. LOOK AHEAD

Protect your skin for a beautiful future. A full-on solar defense starts with broad-spectrum sunscreen that guards against both UVB and UVA rays by using a mix of physical blockers and chemical blockers. Make sunscreen the first step in your regimen: applying it to bare skin, therefore binding it to cells, boosting its efficiency.

This ELLE approved Neutrogena sunscreen is great (Elle recently had a huge feature in it's july/august issue about the sun and protection from its harmful rays. LVP will be summarizing that for you very soon!). And if you've read my previous posts, Neutrogena is a personal favorite as it's dermatologist recommended and is trustworthy as all the products of theirs that I have used, I have been happy with!

Text adapted from SELF.com

Photos via Pinterest.com

A Thought, & Some Chocolate Ganache

How to make chocolate ganache in 3 minutes with Georgetown Cupcake

Optimism?!

Video via TLC

Photo via Pinterest

A Small Hello From Paris..Well Kind Of..

My father was just in Paris for a business trip...just towards the end of Paris Fashion Week, lucky him...however that is irrelevant, as he knows as much as about PFW as I do about finance and all that he does, which is 1.5 on a scale of 1 - 10!

However, he did come back with a very special treat!

Photo by LVP via instagram

Fresh LaDurée Macaroons!!

Coffee, Chocolate, Vanilla, Raspberry.... Delish!

See the missing one, yeah that's the one I had in my mouth while taking the picture!

He was also in the city the day of DVF's Fragrance Launch so I sent him over to Sephora, Champs Élysées on the day of. Unfortunately he didn't make it in time for catching a glimpse of Diane herself (according to her twitter, I understood she was there) but he did catch some of the dancing that still went on after Diane had left.

He also brought back a sample of the perfume for me, and I'll tell you, it is 'LVP approved'. I'm usually very picky with scents, avoiding too spicy and too sweet scents. This scent is..different, in the good kind of way. Very mature, and a perfect blend of floral and musk scents!

He also brought back a sample of Miss Dior Cherie, which is just as elegant smelling as it's ads - which I've also always loved

Last but not least, he brought back samples of a 'traditional soap' (meaning it's made the good ol' fashioned way) which is made mostly of vegetable oil

These are the two that he got as samples.

Olive/Lavender & Coquelicot.

I already love the smell of the Olive/Lavender one & I can't wait to try them out. Who knows, it might even make it to a new feature LVP is thinking of starting 'Tried and Tested'...Stay tuned!!

- Come back tomorrow for Part 2 of the 10 Commandments for Youthful Skin

Photos by: LVP via instagram, tumblr.com, pinterest.com, shopmania.fr, 

Harper's Bazaar Arabia: World of Fashion

Are you guys ready for a week of fun and fashion? For those of you here in Dubai, Harper's Bazaar Arabia is hosting World of Fashion at Mall of the Emirates from today: 7th of October to 20th October 2011

The schedule of events can be found on their website

We are especially looking forward to their shoe playground event, cuz we're all about the shoes!

Other events include multiple runway shows, which are all free, and other beauty and make-up related demonstrations and shows.

Pick up the latest Harper's Bazaar Arabia copy to get more information and extra style tips from MOEments embassadors such as make up guru Huda of hudabeauty.com & Tala Samman of MyFashDiary.com

Picture via the coveteur

Lace & Vanilla Fall 2011 Look Book

                                                     Open publication

lace & vanilla

I'm having a 'Bow Shoes' moment...

Right now, I'm loving shoes with bows on them, especially right in front. I first fell in love with these shoes when I spotted Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere sporting these Miu Miu beauties.

Here are some of my other faves.

See by Chloé

Cute flats by Bottega Veneta

I love these timeless jelly flip flops by Valentino. So Versatile

Also available in Black and Dark Pink

My cousin owns a pair of this studded version, and they look amazing, every time!

Stuart Weitzman

Fendi

Toodles!

All photos via: Net-a-porter.com, Saksfifthavenue.com, cupcakesandcashmere.com, Pinterest, & Valentino.com

the 10 Commandments for Youthful Looking Skin - Part 1

SELF.com explains to us how to keep our skin naturally glowing, free of impurities and looking young!

Some of this we already know, but sometimes we need a reminder or reassurance! 

Enjoy...

1. RUB IT IN

Hydrated skin not only looks great - glowing, healthy, and even-toned - but it is also stronger, more resilient and better equipped to fend off irritation. So obviously don't stop drinking water, but also, to keep skin supple post-shower, use a body wash that contains hydrating ingredients - such as jojoba butter - or even try an in-shower body lotion. 

Moisturizers contain two skin saving components: a) Humectants - e.g. hyaluronic acid - draw water from the air into the skin & b) Emollients - e.g. mineral oil - strengthen the lipid barrier, thus holding in moisture.

2. CALM DOWN

If the skin's lipid barrier is compromised, and irritants slip through, the resulting inflammatory response leads to: redness, itching, and overall discomfort...so prevent this by using fragrance-free lotions (bonus: with niacinamide - a skin-strengthening and protecting derivative of vitamin B3). To calm skin quickly, spot treat areas of concern with cold compresses/packs. This will help draw redness away from skin's surface.

3. SNACK SMART

Your diet doesn't just affect your waistline - it can also save your skin: 

Green tea is a given and we've mentioned this one before, which not only protects collagen, it could also help prevent skin cancer.

Wild salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which aid skin's battier-repair function.

Sweet potatoes are chock-full of antioxidant beta-catotene.

Blueberries' antioxidant content protects precious cells inside and out

Spinach's antioxidant lutein helps preserve your vision (less squinting = fewer wrinkles ;) )

4. BEAUTY SLEEP
While you're fast asleep, your body is busy releasing hormones that boost cell turnover. Take advantage of this nightly skin-renewal window by applying age-fighting actives that include beta hydroxy acid and retinoids. BUT if you're not the cream applying kind of person, personally I think just drinking lots of water and getting a good amount of sleep can be a natural age fighter!

Satin sheets, however, are a good idea. Trade up to satin sheets if you want to realize your dream of sag-free skin. Over time, rubbing and reduced circulation caused by tossing and turning in rougher sheets can create more friction = break down collagen = leading to wrinkles

5. BRUSH IT OFF
Dead skin cells? Yuck! Keep skin smooth and boost radiance with cell-sloughing (shedding) exfoliation. A physical exfoliant such as a scrub, or a body wash with gentle beads, buffs away debris, while alpha or beta hydroxy acids dissolve the bonds between cells, so the old cells easily wash away!
Revealing...soft, glowing skin.

There are many recipe for home made scrubs (they often include coarse particles such as salt, oats, sugar, etc. and oils to moisturize and scent, but search up some recipes, they work really well!). In-store options - especially the body washes - are also great and hassle free!

...to be continued....

PS. Come back for Part 2 (and all other LVP posts) later this week!

Text: From via SELF.com - Some text was adapted/paraphrased for this post.

Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9