sharing beauty facts from yahoo

The obsession to beauty dates back to antiquity

Students from the Paris Opera Ballet school in Nanterre apply make-up at the Opera Garnier in Paris before performing on stage, March 2009. The desire to look one's best has been a human obsession since the dawn of time, and the seeds of today's cosmetics industry were sown in antiquity, an exhibition on the history of personal grooming in Paris shows.

PARIS (AFP) - – The desire to look one's best has been a human obsession since the dawn of time, and the seeds of today's cosmetics industry were sown in antiquity, an exhibition on the history of personal grooming shows.

"The Bath and the Mirror", which traces the importance of bathing and body care from the Greeks and Romans to the Renaissance, has been jointly mounted by the Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris and the Chateau d'Ecouen, which houses the national Renaissance collection (until September 21).

The theme is particularly apposite at the Cluny site, which includes the remains of public baths dating from the Roman empire. And the bulk of the 350 exhibits are set out in the newly-restored "frigidarium", the cool, dry north-facing part of the baths, which contained a plunge pool.

This is where bathers would go to relax and socialise after working out in the gym, where they rubbed their bodies with oils to protect their skin from the sand, or sweating in the hot rooms.

"Going to the baths was part of daily life. Even people from relatively modest parts of society went, it was not reserved for the elite," says curator Isabelle Bardies-Fronty.

Most of the everyday toiletry necessities from that era have come down to us thanks to the custom of burying such items with the dead for use in the after-life, she explains.

Tombs have yielded up mirrors, combs, hair-pins, tiny boxes or "pyxides" of make-up with spatulas to apply it, "strigils" to scrape off rough skin, and also "aryballos" -- a globe-shaped flask in thick glass used to carry oils.

Researchers at the Louvre museum and the cosmetics giant L'Oreal have taken miniscule amounts of the residue of powders and unguents and subjected them to high-tech analyses by particle-accelerator and electro-microscopy to determine their composition.

In Roman times pale complexions were admired, so faces were whitened with chalk and kaolin, even toxic lead, and the equivalent of today's blusher contained madder root, kermes or some other red mineral.

Flowers were macerated in almond and olive oils for body rubs and perfumes.

As early as the 6th century BC, luxury packaging had already become important as a sign of wealth and status: the exhibition includes exquisite mini amphora in moulded glass and alabaster and little bottles shaped like shells for cologne, silver mirrors and powder compacts that are breathtakingly modern.

Long before women's magazines, fashion was a concept, but propagated quite differently. For example, hairstyles were copied from coins and medallions which circulated throughout the Roman empire, and from busts of the emperor and his consort erected in public places.

"What better way to be in fashion than to wear your hair the same as the sovereign or his wife? It was also a sign of social integration," says Bardies-Fronty.

In the Middle Ages, flowing tresses were considered beautiful and women dyed their hair wearing wide brimmed hats to protect their pales faces from the sun, pulling their hair through a hole in the top to dry.

Mixed sex public bathing was the norm in many parts of Europe in the late Middle Ages, according to rare engravings by Albrecht Durer in the second half of the exhibition at the Chateau d'Ecouen. The titillating scenes, often with women in suggestive poses, fell out of favour with more prudish later generations and the engravings were mostly destroyed.

The chateau has a suite of private bathrooms, rarely open to the public, to which rain water from the central courtyard was channelled and then purified for the use of the aristocratic elite in their ablutions.

A lady's toilette in the Renaissance was a very public affair, so items used in the ritual were appropriately extravagant and precious, from enamelled boxes for potions to silver toothpicks and ear-cleaners.

Because of their high value, like the bejewelled segmented pomanders worn on chains or attached to a belt, they have been passed down to posterity.

Hugs in US schools not allowed....

It's been a trend among teens to hug each other as a way of greeting.  However, this practice had gotten out of hand. These students just openly and unnecessarily hug each other anywhere inside the campus and this has called the attention of school authorities.  Now the practice of hugging is no longer allowed.  Hugging on campus is prohibited as a form of greeting most especially if it takes longer than 2 seconds.

Shaking of the hands or merely nodding of the head with a smile is enough greeting while on campus. Hugs are unnecessary and too distracting to the school environment.

it's white!

By Ryan Patterson

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -Hope you enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend! If you go by the old style rule, you can officially wear white now!

But white can be a little trickier to pull off, because it’s less forgiving than darker colors. InStyle Senior Style Editor Sydne Bolden Long shares her tips for how to do white right.

“For white jeans, which I think are a must-have for Summer, I suggest cutting out the front pockets for a clean look. Many designer jeans have faux front pockets. But I think if you find a flattering jean, just take it to your tailor and have them cut the front pockets and sew them closed.”

“I think the most universally flattering pants on most body shapes are the classic sailor pant in white. It’s a fun look; the wide leg can balance hips and if you have a boyish figure go for a trimmer leg and a heel to add length. Nautical is always a Summer trend,” according to Sydne.

“This season, white is a great base for the bright pink, yellow and orange neon accents in clothing. It makes those colors really pop!”

“I absolutely love a white t-shirt with everything this season - under a vest, under a boyfriend blazer with skinny jeans, underneath a wispy camisole dress… so fresh! My all time favorite is either Petit Bateau or 3 Dots,” says Sydne. “They are thicker and you don’t have to worry about the sheer factor.”

Sydne stresses that “nude underpinnings are a must when wearing white. Nude full cut panties are my favorites with pants and skirts because they add extra coverage and comfort. You can even go for a slimming one underneath garments for added smoothing.”

The above article explains everything.

bags to die for: Hermes!

Hey, don't just look, but take a real close look at these bags that are worth a house and lot each. Yep, the famous Hermes line that local celebrities like Sharon Cuneta, Gretchen Baretto, Ruffa Mae Quinto, and even Korina Sanchez have possession of.  In fact Sharon and Greta are rumored to have not only one but a collection of these high-end imported crocodile and Ostrich bags by Hermes.  The estimated worth per bag? Php 3.5 million!  Huh!  I could get a house and lot for a million. Aaahhh....totally sinful!

when attire is "strictly formal"

When you attend a party and the invitation card indicates "strictly formal", this means gowns for women and suit or tuxedo for men.  Some women make the mistake of wearing cocktail clothes, you know, knee-length but still dressy, but this is not the right one to wear at a very formal occasion which requires one to wear an evening gown.  It is important to know what the dress code is when going to a party.  Most parties have themes or motif and you might want to be in synch with the party's theme. You don't want to show up at a party looking like you're so out of place. Party organizers or planners should also indicate in the invitation what the visitors are expected to wear.