BEAUTY

7 Steps To Younger-Looking Skin

To give your skin a youthful glow, the best advice is to keep it simple.

1. Take Sun Protection Seriously

To prevent lines, wrinkles and age spots, you need to wear sun protection all
year round. Anything with an SPF of 15 will help prevent wrinkles and
ageing, and if you’re serious about avoiding sun damage, go for high UVA
protection. Even if the sun’s not out, UVA rays can penetrate.

2. Buff… But Gently

Skin buffing shifts dull flakes and boosts healthy cell renewal – the key to a fresh,
smooth complexion. But go gently – with a normal facecloth is fine. Over-exfoliating
your skin can damage its protective barrier and make it red, flaky or sore, so avoid
intensely gritty exfoliators if you have sensitive skin, eczema or acne.

3. Be Hand-on
Five minutes’ daily massage will give your skin a lasting glow. Massage boosts
circulation and may also help your anti-ageing cream’s active ingredients penetrate
deeper. Cleanse skin, dab on cream, then sweep firmly upwards and outwards over your
throat, cheeks and forehead. Gently pinch along your jawline and eyebrows, then use all
your fingertips to tap along your cheekbones from inner to outer eye corners. To finish,
cup both palms over your face, close your lids, breathe deeply – and relax.

4. Plan A Brighter Future

Skin tone plays as big a part in making us look older as wrinkles. Blotches and brown
spots can add five years to our looks, whereas even-toned skin looks both healthier and
younger. Radiance-enhancing foundations and moisturisers not only blur imperfection,
but also help to reduce them. Since 80 per cent of what ages us is a combination of poor
skin tone, lines and wrinkles, working on them all at the same time may be the smartest
choice.

5. Don’t Forget Your Neck

Neck skin is thinner, dryer and often more sensitive than the face. Firming neck creams
are often richer than face creams. Key ingredients are retinols (derived from vitamin A)
and protein-boosting peptides that help to prevent creepiness and “necklace” lines. Don’t
crash diet. Skin thins with age as you lose the underlying fat that “fills” it up, and since
your neck is thinner than your face to start with, some fat here makes a real difference.

6. Don’t Overdo Your Make-up

As we get older, a common mistake is to over-apply foundation and powder, which
makes our skin appear dull, mask-like and more wrinkled. Try using an illuminating base
for radiance, a natural-toned bronzer to shape the face and give a healthy glow and a
sheer, non drying lipstick that tints and plumps lips without feathering. Like hair, the look
should be softer as we get older.

7. Spend Your Cash Wisely

Whatever you use, use it well. For anti-ageing creams to make a real difference, you need
to apply the recommended amount daily for at least six weeks. And don’t keep products
in your bathroom cabinet for weeks without using them.

HEALTH
Ways To Protect Your Heart
Follow these seven simple steps to improve your heart health

1. Know Your Symptoms

Heart disease claims nearly twice as many women’s lives as cancer. Knowing how to
sport the symptoms could help save your life. Women are less likely to have the classic
heart attack symptoms of sever tight or crushing ventral chest pain. We’re more likely to
suffer pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, which may feel like indigestion. You
may also feel a dull ache in your chest, feel tired, short of breath or dizzy. The pain can
radiate to the neck, arms or jaw and other symptoms include nausea, vomiting and
sweatiness. Getting help early is crucial, because medication can limit the amount of
damage to heart muscle and reduce the risk of potentially fatal irregular heart rhythms.
2. Ask For A Heart Risk Assessment
If you’re over 40 you’re entitled to a routine cardiovascular risk assessment – so see your
GP. Having regular assessments is essential because most of the risk factors, including
raised cholesterol and high blood pressure, don’t cause any symptoms until you actually
have a heart attack or stroke. Your GP will ask about your lifestyle, medical history and
your family history. Prevention is better than cure – a regular check could help detect any
early warning signs.

3. Watch Your Cholesterol

Cholesterol is actually vital for good health, but too much can block arteries and lead to
angina, heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol is often undetected until you have a blood
test or even begin to develop symptoms of heart disease itself. Raised cholesterol is the
single biggest risk factor for heart disease and your risk increases steeply once you go
through the menopause. Have it checked regularly – the lower it is the better.
Occasionally, high cholesterol can be seen in yellow deposits on your eyelids or as a
white ring round your iris. Speak to your doctor if you spot these symptoms. Making
simple lifestyle changes such as eating well, exercising and not smoking will go a long
way in lowering your cholesterol.

4. Eat Well To Stay Well

We all know that a healthy balanced diet is the key to good heart health. Your risk of
developing heart disease doubles if you’re obese and if you’re a typical apple shape, with
 extra weight around your middle, then your risk is higher still. Your waist
measurement should be below 80cm (31in), otherwise speak to your doctor about
sensible ways to lose weight. Stick to a diet low in saturated fat and salt, with lots of
fruit and vegetables. Include two portions of oily fish every week, as studies suggest
that Omega-3 found in oily fish can protect you from heart disease and stroke.

5. Top Up Your Vitamin D

If you’re over 50 and have low levels of Vitamin D you could be at higher risk of
suffering a stroke or developing heart disease. Research has suggested that those who
suffer from heart disease generally have lower levels of Vitamin D, so keeping yours
topped up could help protect your heart. A recent study by US researchers has discovered
a link between high blood pressure and a gene variant that reduces Vitamin D levels.

Wellbeing
Want To Avoid A Spring Cold?
Exercise
Three to five sessions of exercise a week will keep your body’s defence system working
efficiently. Studies show that women who exercise regularly have half the sick-leave
days of those who do nothing. And if you do get a cold, you can still exercise if your
symptoms are limited to sneezing and sniffling. But don’t exercise if you’re coughing,
feel your breathing is constricted, or are feverish.

Wash Your Hands

One study showed that people who washed their hands at least five times per day cut their
risk of infections by half. But remember that taps in public places carry lots of germs,
too.

Make Time To Laugh

Laughter reduces stress hormones such as adrenaline and this increases the number of T-
cells in your immune system – the ones that protect you from viruses.

Food
Comfort Food To Improve Your Mood
Feeling fed up and finding yourself reaching for calorie-laden foods? Here are the food
options you can have to lift your spirits without putting on weight.

Bowl of steaming porridge with brown sugar

Why? Made with 40g of oats and skimmed milk, the slow-release energy in the porridge
will help to keep your mood and energy levels on an even keel over the morning ahead,
avoiding the sugar highs and lows which drive you to the biscuit tin. A teaspoon of
brown sugar won’t disrupt this effect and makes it feel more of a treat. A glass of orange
juice will boost your vitamin C.

Pea & mint soup with a chunk of warm granary bread

Make the soup by melting a knob of butter in a pan, adding a finely chopped onion and
cooking for five minutes before adding 500g of frozen peas, 1.2 litres of stock and some
sprigs of mint. Bring to the boil and simmer for five minutes, season, blend and serve.
With a chunk of granary bread, it has just 300 calories in total.

Beef casserole with baked sweet potato

Using very lean beef (100g per person), make a casserole packed with nutritious
vegetables, such as carrots, onion, leeks and mushrooms. Cook these in a tablespoon of
olive oil for five minutes and then add the beef and brown it before adding a dash of
Worcestershire sauce, and simmering for 90 minutes. Serve with a delicious baked sweet
potato. This hearty meal has just 350-400 calories per serving.
Winter fruit salad with creamy yogurt
Make it with 100g of dried fruits; anything from apricots and prunes to dried apple slices
and figs. Just simmer in water with a cinnamon stick for 20 minutes, until tender, and
serve with a spoonful of yogurt. It feels creamy and luxurious while the dried fruits give
us mood-boosting iron, and make up just 300 calories.

Chicken stir-fry with noodles

This is fast food with a health tag. Stir-fry about 100g of chicken breast, cut into strips
per person, in a heavy pan brushed with a teaspoon of oil. Then add some garlic, freshly
chopped ginger, lots of stir-fry vegetables and some soy sauce to taste. Ginger is
energising and will give you a natural lift. Serve with 80g noodles. The whole meal
comes in at only 400 calories.

Travel
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city of Malaysia. It is defined within the borders
of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and is one of three Malaysian Federal
Territories. It is an enclave within the state of Selangor, on the central west coast of
Peninsular Malaysia. Residents of the city are known as KLites.
Beginning in the 1990s, the city has played host to many international sporting, political
and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the Formula One
World Championship. In addition, Kuala Lumpur is home to the tallest twin buildings in
the world, the Petronas Twin Towers.
It is served by two airports: the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang,
the main international airport for Malaysia, and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in
Subang, which handles general aviation and turbo-prop flights.
Climate And Weather
Protected by the Titiwangsa Mountains in the east and Indonesia's Sumatra Island in the
west, Kuala Lumpur has a year-round equatorial tropical rainforest climate which is
warm and sunny, along with abundant rainfall, especially during the northeast monsoon
season from October to March. Temperatures tend to remain constant. Maximums hover
between 31 and 33 °C (88 and 91 °F) and have never exceeded 37 °C (99 °F), while
minimums hover between 22 and 23.5 °C (72 and 74 °F) and have never fallen below 19
°C (66 °F). Kuala Lumpur typically receives 2,266 mm (89.2 in) of rain annually; June
and July are relatively dry, but even then rainfall typically exceeds 125 mm (5 in) per
month.

Parks
The Perdana Lake Gardens, a 92-hectare (230-acre) manicured garden near the Malaysian
Parliament building, was once home to a British colonial official. The park includes a
Butterfly Park, Deer Park, Orchid Garden, Hibiscus Garden and Kuala Lumpur Bird
Park, Southeast Asia's largest bird park.[66] Other parks in the city include, the ASEAN
Sculpture Garden, KLCC Park, Titiwangsa Lake Gardens, Metropolitan Lake Gardens in
Kepong, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Taman Tasik Permaisuri (Queen’s Lake
Gardens), Bukit Kiara Botanical Gardens, Equestrian Park and West Valley Park near
TTDI, and Bukit Jalil International Park.
There are three forest reserves within the city namely the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve in
the city centre, the oldest gazetted forest reserve in the country 10.52 ha/26.0 acres, Bukit
Sungai Putih Forest Reserve (7.41 ha/18.3 acres) and Bukit Sungai Besi Forest Reserve
(42.11 ha/104.1 acres). Bukit Nanas, in the heart of the city centre, is one of the oldest
virgin forests in the world within a city. These residual forest areas are home to a number
of fauna species particularly monkeys, tree shrews, squirrels and birds.
5 Ways To Get Supple As A Couple
Do you and your partner need to tone down
and shape up? These five weight loss tips are
especially geared for couples - and
they'll help you get to know your man (or
woman) in a whole new way!
1. Don’t clean your plate just because your partner does. Studies have shown that
when we're with other people, we eat more even though we're not actually
hungry. To stay thin, don't eat as much as your husband does. If you let him serve
your plate, he heaps on way more than you would normally eat, and if you don't
watch for the moment when you reach ‘full’ (which easily happens if we're
watching TV and eating), you'll eat way more than you need. The second most important weight loss tip - after dealing
with emotional eating - is to eat normal portions of food, and stop stuffing yourself.

2. Pack lunches for each other. An effective way to lose weight as a couple is to put notes and encouragements in each
other’s lunches. And, pack your partner’s lunch full of healthy, delicious, satisfying foods. It's less tempting and easier to
manage someone else's meals and snacks than to plan your own!

3. Do different types of exercises together. Do Pilates, yoga,

It’s Good To strength training, and kick boxing together with exercises’ videos.
Talk To burn fat with your spouse, vary your exercise routine. Don’t
just jog, hike, or cycle together…the more variety you put into
your fitness life, the more excited you’ll be to exercise, and the
more weight you'll lose.

4. Average your body weights and body mass indexes. Treat your
health as a combined system, not two separate individuals. For
Being happy and keeping in touch with friends and instance, add up and average both of your cholesterol levels, blood
family is good for your health. Fresh research has pressure readings, and body fat percentages. Then, work as a team
revealed that loneliness and stress could be linked to a to lower your combined scores. This fosters connection, mutual
higher risk of developing cancer. The US study also support, and an awareness of how much spouses influence each
found that certain factors such as isolation and other.
anxiety could contribute to more aggressive forms of
cancer and longer recovery time - so it pays to have a 5. Don’t go on a diet if you want to get supple as a couple.
positive outlook. Research shows that diets don’t work because they deprive people
of delicious food and increase the chances of a binge later. Plus,
most diets aren’t sustainable (you can’t be on a diet for the rest of your life!). Instead of focusing on low-fat foods,
follow the Mediterranean eating plan. Eat healthy olive oils, real mayonnaise and real butter (they have more flavour,
which will help you feel satisfied and not deprived). When you’re shopping, don’t buy processed food or white food
products (eg, white bread, white crackers, white sugar, etc).

Instant Health Boost

GOING UP…
Coffee
A few cups of coffee a day could actually help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. According to research
moderate coffee drinking could cut coronary heart disease risk in women by up to 18 per cent.
GOING DOWN…
Hangovers
Coffee has health-boosting properties, but researchers believe drinking it to fight a hangover is risky because the caffeine
 Coffee has health-boosting properties, but researchers believe drinking it to fight a
hangover is risky because the caffeine makes you feel you’re not drunk - when actually
you still are. So, it’s back to sipping water then!

Keep Catching Bugs?

It could be down to eating fatty foods. Scientists have found they can weaken the immune
system leaving your more at risk of catching bugs. Eat plenty of fruit and veg to help
fight them off.
A daily dose of pistachio nuts could reduce your risk of developing some cancers,
according to US researchers. They’re rich in Vitamin E, and will help boost your immune
system and protect against the disease.

Are You
Romantic Enough?
We are all romantic at heart and love to love almost as much as
we love to be loved. But if there are clouds on the sunny side of
your romantic life even if you are a success at everything else
perhaps you are not romantic enough. Have you realised that
charming romantic love within you? Let’s see, shall we?

1. How could you describe your attitude toward romance?

a. Nothing special
b. Aggressive
c. Very enthusiastic

2. Which would you consider a romantic date?

a. A lakeside dinner
b. A luxurious holiday
c. A moonlight beach-walk with your partner
3. Which kind of movies, do you think are romantic?
a. Action movies
b. Wedding related
c. Love stories

4. Which is the most romantic city in the world?

a. Rome
b. Switzerland
c. Paris

5. An ideal romantic moment would be:

a. Never thought of it
b. Your wedding
c. When your significant other proposes to you

6. What do you think is the most romantic gift

a. Soft pink teddy bears
b. All heart shaped gifts
c. A red rose

7. Your idea of a romantic day is

a. Never thought of it
b. A holiday at a deserted beach
c. Spending a day with your loved one

8. Which ice cream flavour do you like most?

a. Strawberry
b. Chocolate
c. Rose

Mostly As
You need to start spending less time thinking work-related, and spend more time discovering the bliss that is
romance. Your spouse may not say much, but such unadventurous relationships may be hurtful to both him
and you in the long run. Be wise.

Mostly Bs
You do know your way around planning that romantic date with your loved one, but it’s never a bad thing to
listen to your spouse and share ideas. Incorporating his idea of what’s romantic with yours may be that extra
spice you’ve been waiting for.

Mostly Cs
You sure have mastered cupid’s 101 on romance. You’ve earned yourself a guaranteed ‘happily ever after’.

Tell Her All About Love

Talking to your little one about love and marriage can be quite a hassle. The truth of the matter is that you
really just can’t explain ‘love’. No one, not even an adult will ever understand the depth of love unless they
actually experience it. Think about it this way: Remember when you discovered what love is? It was through
dramatic phases of intense emotions and sincere body-language comprehension that we all got to learn the
true value of the word. The most common and successful way to approach such topics is by teaching the
basics. Here’s how you can start sharing grown-up matters with your little darlings.
Talk About Love
Explain that there are many different kinds of love to honour such as family love, romantic love, for friends,
spiritual love, love for pets, love for the environment and so on.

Talk About Why Hearts Are Associated With Love

If you like, read your children a couple of love poems to help explain why people connect the emotion of
love with that part of the body.

Explain The Connection Between Flowers And Romance

Centuries ago, a “language of flowers” was developed in Persia and Turkey, and then spread to Europe.
Each flower had a different meaning, and flowers were sometimes used as a code for lovers to exchange
messages. A red rose has come to mean “love” and “beauty,” although its meaning used to be “bashful
shame.”

Work And Motherhood

Traditional family roles are evolving as the fabrics of the social
system change. Earlier, it was an accepted belief that the man was
the provider in the family and the woman the homemaker. In
Pakistan, women may still be fighting against the old order, some
definitely see hope but it is not because women are beginning to
realise that there is a world outside their kitchen windows. They are
also entering the work force in great numbers due to the economic
necessity clouding around their families.
As is the case in every social change, there is a gap between attitude
and action. While people may be willing to accept the idea of a career woman, they are not willing to
excuse them from their duties as mothers. The attitude towards working women seems to be that while
people have no objection in availing their talents and abilities outside the home, they are not allowed to
compromise on their family life. Moreover the term 'working mother' is misleading because mothers are
working round the clock even if they don't go to an office. Being one is not the easiest job in the world;
some are good at it, some don't have a choice and some don't even try it. The point is that it is the women
who should have the right to decide whether to work or not, and if they do decide to pursue a career, it is
important for their families to be supportive.
Mothers who have a choice have to consider many things before they decide. First of all, they need to be
clear about their priorities. Does the family come first or is a career and financial security more important?
They have to realise that by deciding to work, they will probably miss out on all the major milestones of
their children’s lives. They need to realise that a job is demanding in terms of time and energy. Women
spread themselves really thin trying to juggle work and family life.
Ameena Azeem gave up her career as a law consultant with a multinational and started her own web
design firm so that she could work from home. She says, "After my daughter Nafisa was born, I decided
that I couldn't go back to working at a job with such long hours. I didn't want to miss out on any special
moments in my daughter's life. But I didn't want to sit at home either because I really enjoyed working. So
working from home was the only option I had."
Some women have no choice. Kiran Shafiq had to start working because she and her husband realised that
his salary would not be enough to live on once they had children. Kiran started working as a receptionist
when her son was an year old. She says, "I felt terrible leaving my son at such a young age, but I had no
choice. It's not easy being a working mother. I come home tired from work and I have to look after my son,
cook and clean. I get so irritated with everyone and I have even started resenting my baby's demands; all
because I'm so tired. Moreover I don't like my job. I'm just doing it for the money."
Fatima Farooq dreams of becoming a partner in the law firm she works for. She says, "My job is stressful
because of long hours, but I am determined to make it to the top. I live with my in-laws and they are all
very supportive, even my husband. I know that my mother-in-law will take good care of my daughter so I
can work without any worries."
Mothers quiet often worry that their babies won’t recognise or remember them when they return to work.
But they shouldn’t fear because babies recognise their mother's voices right from birth. Hence they won’t
forget even if their mothers are away for the whole day. The question then is when is the best time to go
back to work? According to Dr. Iqra Bashir, "Ideally a working mother should only return to work when
her baby is at least one year old. Otherwise, there is a danger that the baby may develop separation
anxiety."
It is not the quantity of time that mothers spend with their children but the quality that matters. A working
mother who spends one hour of quality time every day with her child will probably bond with her child
much more than those who are at home nagging the child. Dr. Iqra says that working mothers have less
time to spend with their children than the mothers who are at home, but that doesn’t mean that a housewife
is better than a working mother. Even if the working mother is pressed for time, as long as she spends
quality time with her child it is enough.
Sometimes mothers are around the house the whole day but they don't give much attention to their
children. They provide them with food and other facilities, but their involvement is minimum. They think
their presence is enough, but that is not true. It is quality time and the way you interact with your children
that makes the difference."
If a working mother asks her child what he/she has been doing the whole day and accepts the reply, she
will have a better bond with her child. On the contrary a child will feel rejected if a mother who has been
home the whole day has not bothered to see what her child is up to. It totally depends on the kind of
communication and bonding that mothers have with their children.
Quality time does not mean that she must cram loads of activities in the little free time that is available. It
is enough to just spend time together doing routine things like eating together or just cuddling each other.
Mothers should talk to their children telling them about their day and asking about theirs. Given the fact
that time is of the essence, mothers need to prioritise household chores and only do those that are
absolutely essential on a daily basis.
Despite all this, in the long run if both parents are working and not spending enough time with their
children, it can have an adverse effect on the child's development. Dr. Iqra says, "Children will feel
neglected and will seek attention outside the house. Servants can look after a child's basic needs, but they
cannot contribute for the child's intellectual, social and emotional development."
In her experience, Dr. Iqra has found that very often, mothers who have to go back to work are not happy
leaving their child at such a young age. They feel guilty and anxious and their anxiety is transmitted to the
child. Probably the best thing for women to do then is to get a part-time job or get a job that has flexible
working hours. However, in cases where mothers have no family at home, leaving their children in day-
care may be an option to consider.