Star Jewelry Designer Spotlight

Kwiat
Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Natalie Portman (at left) and Hilary Swank have all donned Kwiat on the red carpet. The renowned jeweler's Decades collection, which celebrates 100 years in the business, includes breathtaking baubles that highlight periods from its glittering past—including Art Deco-style necklaces and a '70s-style flower ring.



Chopard
Chopard bijoux are tailor-made for the spotlight. Whether it’s a diamond-and-sapphire cuff with divine cutout work or a showstopping pair of diamond-and-peridot earrings, Chopard finds the link between monumentality and wearibility. "The big pieces have to be lightweight," explains Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, co-president and creative director of the feted Swiss company, whose celebrity following includes Gwyneth Paltrow (at left), Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson.



Jamie Wolf
"I love feminine, intricate patterns," says New York-based jewelry designer Jamie Wolf. "I believe that femininity is timeless, and that beauty is often found in the finest details." Influenced by her career as ballet dancer, Wolf infuses her delicate aesthetic into each of her rose, yellow, and white gold pieces. No wonder stars like Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel (at left), Penelope Cruz and Hayden Panettiere are fans.



Ippolita
"Being bold is a part of being fashion-forward," says the New York-based designer, Ippolita. "It's amusing to wear an enormous piece. Bangles are also good—they make music when you move. It's nice to be seen and heard." Born in Florence, Italy, this up-and-coming talent hammers out link necklaces, chains and bangles in beautiful asymmetrical shapes and sculptural forms. She tosses diamond accents and sumptuous semiprecious stones into the mix for star clients like Kate Hudson (at left), Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez.



Lorraine Schwartz
"We make the metal so fine that the light shines through," says Lorraine Schwartz of her ethereal pieces made from diamonds and precious gems. Beyonce Knowles (at left), Jennifer Lopez and Cate Blanchett have all worn Schwartz's jewelry. "Some people don't believe it's real," she says.



L Frank
"I design jewelry that could be old or could be new," says Liseanne Frankfurt, who has bedecked celebrities such as Demi Moore (at left), Cindy Crawford and Christine Taylor. The jeweler's timeless oeuvre is informed by art and history, but no one specific period, and she works with emeralds, tourmalines and pearls in the way nature intended. "I don’t like overly faceted stones as much," she says.



Cartier
Since opening in Paris 150 years ago, Cartier has stood for bold yet timeless style. The prestigious gems that were once crafted for the exclusive diamonds-for-royalty business now glitter on red carpet stars like Fergie (at left), Debra Messing and Halle Berry. The Le Baiser du Dragon collection (at left) is a cocktail of rubies, black onyx and diamonds reminiscent of the Asian-inspired line the three Cartier brothers created in the early '20s. In recent years Cartier has also worked with celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna and Usher to design their own Love Charity bracelet. Each uniquely colored Love Charity bracelet benefits the charity organization of their choice.



House of Waris
"I am strongly influenced by the romance and history of Italy and India," says designer Waris Ahluwalia, who has ateliers in both countries. "I was in Rome doing a Wes Anderson film and fell in love with the history that permeates everything." The actor-turned-jeweler—whose baubles are coveted by Cate Blanchett (at left), Lauren Hutton and Chloe Sevigny—marries ancient techniques from Italian and Indian cultures to hatch marvelously modern designs.



Katherine Azarmi-Rose
"It all goes back to nature for me," says the Tehran-born Los Angeles designer who lives in a rustic log cabin and travels the globe for inspiration. Her design interpretations seem like a delightful Dr. Dolittle world, but Azarmi-Rose reimagines these critters in her own luxurious idiom of turquoise, ebony, diamonds and rose gold. Star fans include Penelope Cruz (at left), Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz and Courteney Cox.



Lucifer Vir Honestus
Luna Scamuzzi named her luxe line of jewelry after a 14th-century Italian goldsmith. Once a student of architecture, the Milan-based designer now prefers jewelry design for its naturalistic possibilities. Her sculptural and artful bibelots are designed by hand, rendered in rose gold, and decorated with irregularly shaped gems. She counts on stars like Sarah Jessica Parker (at left) and Cameron Diaz to show off her pieces on the red carpet.



Erica Courtney
"My jewelry is modern baroque," says the L.A.-based designer whose intense love affair with jewelry is embodied in her collection. "People realize that the flamboyance is meant to be fun. If you buy a piece you really love, and no matter how outlandish or traditional it is, you will wear it all the time." Celeb fans include Sandra Bullock, Eva Longoria, Ashley Judd and Jessica Alba (at left).



Robert Lee Morris
"My mission statement from day one has been to make designs in balance and harmony with the natural world," says Robert Lee Morris, winner of the 2007 Geoffrey Beene Award. For almost 40 years, Morris has sculpted gold, silver, brass and copper into pieces with an organic beauty. "The jewelry is as sensuous as the human body—it just happens to be made of metal." Halle Berry (at left), Bridget Moynahan and Ashley Olsen are just a few of his celebrity fans.



Van Cleef & Arpels
In the world of this legendary French jeweler, the most whimsical touches are pulled off with virtuosity. Case in point: The Zip, a diamond stunner from the thirties, takes the form of a zipper—and actually works. Chinoiserie-style earrings have Art Deco touches, while sweet bracelets evokes love, luck and nature with hearts, clovers and butterflies. Celebrity fans of this famed jeweler include Leighton Meister (at left), Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson and Julia Roberts.



Emily and Ashley
Siblings Emily and Ashley Green hatch jewelry designs that are redolent of the Orient, but their starting point is far more personal. "It began with our grandmother's jewelry box—she wore onyx pieces and all the colors of the rainbow," says Ashley. The New York City duo update vintage styles with Indian details like flat diamonds inset in semiprecious gems and such talismans as the Tree of Life. Their unique designs can be seen on stars like Julianne Moore (at left), Sarah Jessica Parker and Demi Moore.

Taken From : http://www.instyle.com





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Olympic fashion parade

Team USA looked dapper in their navy Ralph Lauren sportcoats and white berets.



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Lopez Lomong of the United States Olympic men's track and field team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Team Great Britain arguably had the best uniforms of the night: simple navy suits with white jackets and matching belts



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Mark Foster of the Great Britain Olympic men's swim team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The Aussies opted for comfy sandals instead of formal footwear.



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: James Tomkins of the Australia Olympic rowing team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Swiss channeled a skateboarder look.


BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Roger Federer of the Switzerland Olympic men's tennis team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

The Spanish women's bright yellow jackets matched their enthusiam.



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Spanish athletes enjoy the atmosphere during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

The Spanish men stood out in glowing red suits and matching shoes.



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: David Cal of the Spain Olympic canoe/kayak team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The fashion-forward French women donned berets, and trendy leather wraps.


BEIJING - AUGUST 08: The France delegation enters the stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

The Georgian delegation kept cool in all white.



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Ramaz Nozadze of Georgia carries the national flag during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Argentina also opted for white with light-blue stitching.


BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Basketball player Fabricio Oberto of Argentina walks with his delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Team Italy made a bold choice: tailored jackets and cargo pants.



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Antonio Rossi of the Italy Olympic canoe/kayak team carries his country's flag to lead out the delegation during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Germans were also decked out in grey and white. The water polo accessories were unofficial.



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Team Netherlands' orange ties popped against their grey suits.



BEIJING - AUGUST 08: The Netherlands delegation enters the stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Taken From : http://sports.yahoo.com



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Fashion : Anne Hathaway

I still believe that Anne Hathaway is the most classy and elegant!



Designer Dinners for Gucci, Marchesa, and Celine



Anne Hathaway and Sienna Miller, at the Private Roof Club of the Gramercy Park Hotel for the launch of Twenty8Twelve



Anne Hathaway, at the Cinema Society's screening of Becoming Jane, sponsored by The Wall Street Journal.



Anne Hathaway in Valentino, Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry, and Brian Atwood shoes



Anne Hathaway, in a Marc Jacobs dress, with Jimmy Choo sandals.



Anne Hathaway, in Chanel



Anne Hathaway, in Dolce & Gabbana



Anne Hathaway, in Louis Vuitton, with the house's Jean-Marc Gallot



Anne Hathaway, in Marchesa and Harry Winston jewelry



Anne Hathaway, in Marchesa with Cartier jewelry



Anne Hathaway, in Nina Ricci



Anne Hathaway, in Valentino



Anne Hathaway, in Zac Posen



Erin Fetherston - Backstage



Marc Forster Evening at MoMA



Raffaello Follieri and Anne Hathaway, in Valentino



Julia Stiles, Anne Hathaway, and Mischa Barton, all in Roberto Cavalli
Taken From : http://www.instyle.com

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Graff Unveils 224-Carat Diamond Necklace

By Ellen Groves
From WWD

MONTE CARLO, Monaco — British jewelry firm Graff on Thursday unveiled what it’s billing as one of the most important diamond necklaces ever assembled.



The Lesotho Promise, a 223.35-carat necklace, is made up of 26 white D-flawless diamonds, the most valuable on the grading system. All 26 were extracted from the 15th largest rough diamond ever found, a 603-carat stone discovered in a mine in Lesotho, South Africa, last year.

Graff displayed the Lesotho Promise at the palatial Salle d’Empire at the Hôtel de Paris here, which was filled with other rare gems, including The Flame, a 100-carat pear-shaped D-flawless diamond, along with an array of Graff’s multicolored diamonds and emeralds.

The Promise is the culmination of 18 months of painstaking work in the company’s diamond-cutting facility in Antwerp, Belgium, a process Graff is retelling in a documentary and a book.

While the 26 stones forming the necklace had an estimated value of $50 million, executives wouldn’t disclose the asking price for the finished piece, revealing only that several buyers had already been turned down before it was officially unveiled. “We’re still waiting,” said Laurence Graff, Graff’s chairman and founder. One client’s offer was too low, while another had proposed buying half. “We’ll never split the stones,” Graff insisted.

It’s unlikely the company will have to wait too long. The necklace elicited gasps and wows at a cocktail event for clients, who included local socialites and Russian billionaires. And, as the world’s economy weakens, that class of superrich increasingly counts diamonds as a hedge against inflation.

“We’re dealing with a clientele that manipulates so much wealth, and knows it’s important to have a certain percentage of that wealth in jewelry,” said Henri Barguirdjian, chief executive officer and president of Graff USA.

“In bad times, the diamond jewelry business is very successful,” added managing director François Graff. “It’s another class of investment, increasingly recognized by new economies like Russia and China. They consider it to be treasure, something safe to pass on for generations.”

“I’ve never seen stones like this,” said iconic British singer Shirley Bassey, a Monaco resident. “I had to come because of my song — ‘Diamonds Are Forever,’” she joked.



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Erin Wasson, Designer

By Sarah Haight

From WWD

Next up on the roster of catwalkers turning to other careers: Erin Wasson.

The model-stylist-skating enthusiast has added clothing designer to her résumé, hammering out a three-year deal to design Erin Wasson for Rvca, the spring 2009 collection of which has been snapped up by Opening Ceremony.

It was, fittingly, at the beach that Wasson first came onto the radar of Rvca founder and pooh-bah of all things Orange County — that would be surfing, skating and tagging — Pat “PM” Tenore. Two years ago, Tenore’s teenage son was participating in a shoot for Australian Vogue at Bondi Beach, where Wasson was the hired model and the main attraction. “He came home and said, ‘Dad, I met the raddest girl!’” says Tenore, who founded the surf- and skate-inspired clothing company out of his Costa Mesa, Calif., garage nearly seven years ago. “I had met her at Rvca parties, so I called her up to see what she was working on, and she had all these amazing ideas. She has a very strong view on what she likes, and she’s a natural at design.”

Amid fashion circles, beyond gracing campaigns from H&M to Balenciaga, Wasson, 26, is perhaps best known for her collaboration with Alexander Wang, whose last two shows she styled and for whom she has served as a sort of in-house muse (Wasson met Wang when he moved into an apartment two floors below hers in Manhattan’s East Village). “Tomboy chic” is what Wasson deems their shared aesthetic — scrawny tanks, lots of denim. “We have the same thought about what a girl should look like,” she says. “Strong girls who are really confident.” Wasson’s jewelry line, Low Luv, was also featured in Wang’s fall 2008 show, though she recently came under fire in the blogosphere for the line’s similarities to designer Bliss Lau’s body chains. “I have the utmost respect for Bliss Lau,” says Wasson. “I admire and appreciate what she has done for the jewelry industry.”

Though they remain good friends, Wasson and Wang are no longer professionally tied, which has freed her to craft a collection that pretty much mirrors her daily uniform and will most likely speak to exactly the kind of woman Wasson is: active and unafraid to show a little skin. For spring, there are Pima cotton tank tops and denim cutoffs, a wool miniskirt and a silk button-down emblazoned with tiny thunderbolts, even a jaunty blazer with an unexpected zipper running up the back.

“I think the problem with surf and skate companies is that the girls’ stuff tends to be a lot of pinks and blues, and [they] just assume that that’s what girls want to wear,” says Wasson. “So I’d buy from the men’s section in the skate shops.”

To be sure, there are no girlish pinks or baby blues in Wasson’s line; the blacks, grays, and whites are hues you’d find upon opening Wasson’s own closet doors (she recalls that as a child growing up in Irving, Tex., her mother “fought to get me into a dress”). A flowered shift is the only piece that could be considered truly feminine (Wasson says she’d toughen it up with combat boots or Vans), though there’s no shortage of sex appeal. The tanks, which retail for $55, are cut low, and the frayed denim shorts, $230, skim the upper thigh.

No doubt the photo-shoot set will find Wasson’s wares perfect additions to a wardrobe suited for nights at the Beatrice Inn, but that was the last thing on the model’s mind when she and Tenore joined forces. “I’m going to get my rocks off seeing girls in California skating around wearing my clothes more than I think I will seeing it in the fashion world,” admits Wasson. All of this is not to say, however, that her posing days are anywhere over. “Oh, no, honey,” she says with a laugh. “You don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”



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Skin Care Wrinkles

Wrinkles are usually result of the growing age. As a person gets older, the wrinkles start developing on his skin and keep growing with the age. So in a way it could be said that the wrinkles are one of the symptoms of old age. But it is not always so. There could be other reasons also behind development of the wrinkles like skin disorders, environmental pollution and improper diet.

But there are several ways, which could help you not only check the development of wrinkles but also reduce them. Then there is also medical treatment for the wrinkles or you can follow some home remedies as well to get rid of the wrinkles.

ANTI WRINKLES TREATMENT

Though it is true that the wrinkles are consequence of aging but still each one of us wants to get rid of wrinkles. Well, this could really be done by the use of various anti wrinkle cosmetics. Some physicians and dermatologists now prescribe a wide range of products to repair sun-damaged skin and for facial rejuvenation. Anti Wrinkle Creams And Cosmetics
The cosmetics, if applied properly, can produce surprising effects in camouflaging the signs of aging skin, including the wrinkles and other age spots. Moreover, such cosmetics offer several additional benefits also by retarding water loss and providing a physical barrier to Ultra Violet radiation of the sunlight.

Moisturizers

* You should always apply the moisturizer before the foundation.
* In case the reddish discoloration is extensive on the face or the skin is sallow then tinted moisturizers are very helpful.
* The tinted moisturizers can be worn either alone or under foundation.
* Usually most of the moisturizers contain combinations of these and sometimes they have other ingredients as well such as AHA, sunscreens, collagen and keratin.
* Collagen and keratin, present in the moisturizers, leave a protein film and thus temporarily stretch the skin.
* The moisturizers range widely in price, though there is little difference in general between the more and less expensive products.

HOME REMEDIES FOR WRINKLES

Wrinkles are something that reflects your growing age or unhealthy skin therefore each one of us wants to get rid of the wrinkles. There are several ways to control the development of wrinkles. One of these ways is the ’Home-made beauty recipes’. The home remedies for wrinkles include face packs, facial masks, scrubs, hair care, dandruff care and body wraps, which are usually based on herbs and other natural ingredients. All these help improve the skin disorders and detoxify by providing natural oil and moisture to the skin.

Well, it is suggested that you should not use any home remedy or other self-treatment without being advised to do so by a physician.

Skin Wrinkle Treatment

Regular facial is very effective in controlling the wrinkles because massage increases the blood circulation. It further results in tightening of the muscles and tissues of the skin and thereby reducing the fleshiness of the skin and thus restoring a young look. However, this process is very slow.

* Remove the make-up to open the pores of skin.
* Remove oiliness by applying limejuice or cleansing milk.
* Massage the face by applying a good quality cream with a firm pressure with help of fleshy tips of fingers.
* Start the massage from the neck upwards and end at the forehead.
* Do not apply pressure around eyes.
* Continue massage for about 15 minutes.
* Wipe off the face with wet cotton.
* For fast removal of wrinkles you should massage with the fingers of both the hands rapidly in circular motion.
* For removing the wrinkles on jaw, pinch the skin between your thumb and fingers.
* Pinching is also good if you have double chin.

Other Wrinkle Treatments:

* Rub the core of pineapple on the face for a few minutes and leave for 10-15 minutes. This is excellent for fine wrinkles.
* Apply juice of green pineapples and apples on the face daily and leave for 10-15 minutes. This is excellent for fine wrinkles as well as cracked skin.
* Blemishes and age spots can become fainter by applying lemon juice a few times a day.
* Apply a paste of turmeric powder with sugarcane juice to remove wrinkles and to prevent skin ageing.

Foundations

* In order to protect your skin from wrinkles note that large areas of the face could be best covered with a moderate-coverage foundation with a matte or semi-matte finish.
* The facial powder reflects light and thus minimizes the wrinkles but the people with dry skin should avoid it.
* In case the blemishes are especially prominent on the skin then colored undercover foundations, which are called ’neutralizers’ are very effective.
* Always keep in your mind that the green neutralizers mask red lesions, purple helps camouflage yellowish blemishes and the white, pearled base is recommended for the people with dark lesions.
* These all also helps in minimizing the wrinkles.

Blushes

* The cosmetics that are effective for anti wrinkles also include the Blushes and color washes.
* These can help conceal the spidery network of dilated capillaries on the nose and cheeks of your face.
* Usually the powder blushes are preferred because they blend easily on top of foundations.

Eye Shadows

* Usually the powder eye shadows are easily applied on top of a moisturizer and therefore they are preferred to cream-based shadows.
* The appearance of deep-set eyes is best offset with light-colored eye shadow. It should be applied along the upper eyelid crease and also above the iris.
* After that a slightly deeper shade of the same eye shadow color should be applied to the lower part of the eyelid and drawn out to the corner.
* Always remember that the skin under the eyes is very thin and it does not produce as much of the protective oils that keep the skin soft and supple.
* The cosmetics such as the under-eye gels are aimed at reducing puffiness and dark circles.

Lips

* You should apply a lip setting cream or facial foundation before applying lipstick.
* Doing so will help prevent it from bleeding into surrounding wrinkles.
* Always remember that the lips should be lined with a lip-pencil because it acts as a border around the lips.
* Matte lipsticks with low petroleum content are especially recommended.

HOW TO PREVENT WRINKLES

Wrinkles are part of the natural ageing process. Therefore they have to be accepted as such. However there are certain tips, which could help you prevent or at least reduce the development of wrinkles. So in order to control the onset of wrinkles and further progression of those already present you should know the following tips...

Usually the clouds and haze are not protective for the skin because sometime they may intensify the UVB rays, which are harmful for the skin.

The intensity of the Ultraviolet rays depends very much on the angle of the sun and not on heat or brightness of the sun.

In fact the sun lamps and tanning beds provide most of the UVA rays. And some of the experts also believe that 15 to 30 minutes at a tanning salon are as dangerous as a day spent in the sunlight.

How to prevent the development of wrinkles?

* Actually the best way to prevent the skin damage in any case is to avoid episodes of excessive sun exposure.
* One should particularly avoid the sun exposure during the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM because in this duration the sunlight pours down about 80% of its daily UV rays.
* In this duration the reflective surfaces such as sand, concrete and white-painted areas should also be avoided.
* Sunscreens and sun blocks, when used generously, could also help prevent the skin ageing and thus skin cancers.
* Remember that you should not use sunscreen in order to stay out in the sun for a longer duration because it could paradoxically allow deeper skin damage including wrinkling without the warning of sunburn.
* However it does not mean that the people should avoid sunscreens but that they should always use them in combination with other sun-protective measures.
* In fact any sunscreen should contain a wide spectrum of UVA-blocking ingredients, which include butyl methoxydibenzoyl-methane (also called avobenzone or Parsol 1789), dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, methyl anthranilate, octocrylene, and octyl methoxycinnamate or ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate.
* The waterproof formulas for this purpose last for about 40 minutes in the water whereas water-resistant formulas last half as long.
* The sun blocks prevent nearly all UVA and UVB rays from reaching the skin but in order to be fully protective they must contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
* The SPF is an indexed number based on the amount of UV radiation required to turn the sunscreen or sun block - treated skin red compared to the non-treated skin.
* Always keep in mind that the sunscreens should not be used on babies younger than six months.
* It is advisable that the older children should apply sunscreen of at least SPF 15.
* Whereas for the adults, any sunscreen or sun block used should have an SPF factor of 15 or higher. However the adults who rarely tan and burn easily should use SPF 30.
* The sunscreen or sun block should be applied liberally for about 15 to 30 minutes before venturing outdoors and reapplied every two hours or so even on overcast days and especially after exercise or swimming.
* Everyone, including the children should wear hats with wide brims.
* Wearing sun-protective clothing is extremely important because it protects the skin even better than any sunscreens.
* Today even the clothing is being designed for blocking UV rays and is being rated using SPR ratings or the UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) index, with 50 UPF being the highest.
* The people should look for loosely fitted, unbleached, tightly woven fabrics.
* Washing clothes over and over improves the UPF by drawing fabrics together during shrinkage.
* It is advised that everyone over age one should wear sunglasses as it blocks all UVA and UVB rays when in the sun.
* People are encouraged to wash their face with a mild non-soap cleanser. Alkaline soaps, especially with deodorant should be avoided.
* The skin should be patted dry and immediately lubricated with a water-based moisturizer (ideally with SPF 30 filter) to prevent further dehydration.
* There are so many creams and lotions are available, which claim to provide wrinkle-protection.
* Some immediate strategies, which could be initiated for wrinkle protection, are to check your skin care products to make sure that you are using only neutral ph balanced soaps, body washes and moisturizers etc.
* You should also make sure that you avoid harsh irritants such as perfumed soaps, chlorinated swimming pools and hot showers and moisturizers regularly.
* In addition to creams and other topical products, many people are turning to Cosmetic Doctors for rejuvenation techniques to reduce the wrinkles. These techniques include injectables, fillers and chemical peels.
* Regular facial is also very effective in controlling the wrinkles.

* However, the best long-term prevention for wrinkled skin is a healthy lifestyle with daily exercise to keep the circulation moving, a diet with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, staying out of the sun as much as possible, wearing sun-screen and on-going methods for reducing stress and tension.

Taken From : www.womanjunction.com

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Alcoholism

Definition:

Alcoholism is a disease in which a person drinks alcohol even though drinking hurts his or her life. Alcoholics often find that they have problems with people close to them, with school or work, and with other parts of their lives.

Alcoholism can happen after a month or years of drinking. It is a disease that gets worse the more the person keeps drinking. Without treatment, it can destroy both emotional and physical health and can lead to death.

Alcoholism is often called a family disease because it hurts the lives of family members and others who are close to the alcoholic. For the alcoholic to get well, family members often must take part in treatment.

People with alcoholism:

* Can be any age
* May feel a physical need or craving for alcohol
* Cannot be cured, but must get treated to stop drinking
* Often don't think they have a drinking problem
* Will develop serious health problems if the disease is not treated
* Can recover and get back their lives, with treatment

What are the symptoms of alcoholism?

Symptoms are different for each person. Just a few, or nearly all, of the following symptoms may be present:

Early stages

* Drinking for relief from problems
* Need for more and more alcohol to feel drunk
* "Blackouts:" Not being able to remember events or blocks of time that happened while drinking
* Hiding alcohol or sneaking drinks
* Thinking more and more about alcohol
* Planning activities around drinking

Middle to late stages

* Drinking more than planned
* Not admitting to having a drinking problem
* Trying to control drinking by using mind games, such as deciding to never drink before noon
* Breaking promises
* Having personality changes and mood swings
* Drinking as soon as they wake from a night's sleep

Late stages

* Having severe withdrawal symptoms (symptoms when the body is no longer getting alcohol) such as delirium tremens (also known as the DTs or morning shakes)

What causes alcoholism?

There is no single cause for alcoholism. A person's emotions, physical health, and upbringing can all play a part. Alcoholism runs in families, which suggests it may have a genetic cause.

An individual may also drink to get over difficult feelings or emotions caused by a treatable illness. Others may drink to lessen feelings of guilt, loneliness, or confusion.

How can I know if I am an alcoholic?

A person trained in treating alcoholism can tell if you or someone you care about is an alcoholic. This person may ask a series of questions. This information is also used to select the best treatment, if needed.

How is alcoholism treated?

Treatment for alcoholism can be different for each person. If the person has a serious physical illness due to the alcohol, he or she must get medical care right away.

Treatment often begins with "detox," or detoxification, which is the body's withdrawal from alcohol. After the body is clean of alcohol, the alcoholic enters a counseling program. The goal of counseling is to help the alcoholic face emotional issues that lead to drinking and to learn ways to stop drinking. Medications may be given to curb a physical craving for alcohol.

Treatment programs can last from a few weeks to years. Places for treatment include hospitals, live-in treatment centers, clinics, and counseling offices.

Where can I get help?

For referral to drug and alcohol treatment programs in your area, call:

Assessment Center Drug and Alcohol Abuse Hotline
1 (800) 234-0420

National Alcohol and Drug Help Line
1 (800) 821-HELP (4357)

Can't find the health information you’re looking for? Ask a Health Educator, Live!

Click here to go to the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology Web site.

Know someone who could use this information?....send them this link.

This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 2/3/2005
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