GEEK GLASSES - IN OR OUT

When I was younger, about 14 -15 years old, I used to get jealous of girls in my school with black glasses. I thought they looked smart and cool and always asked if I could fit them, but of course I couldn't wear them longer than a minute or my eyes started to hurt! This was in 2004, ten years ago that I already started to notice the bigger and chunkier frames were on the rise. 

Since two years the geek glasses have really made their way into "IN" fashion town, fashionable guys and girls bought the big black frames. Bad eye sight didn't matter, everybody wanted the hip accessory. People weren't even trying to fake they needed glasses, they just wore the frames without glasses in them!

Fact is, the nerd glasses can add a fun touch to every outfit and make you look more stylish and put together. At least, for the last two years... But are they still in? 

Me with glasses...

or without?

I got this pair from New Look for €6,99. 

Personally I'm still loving the trend. My eyes are perfectly fine, but I love to wear the vanity frames on occasion. I've been going to a lot of job interviews lately and think I look more intelligent with glasses than without. So I secretly put these babies on right before I go in! 

My boyfriend thinks it stupid to wear glasses when you don't need them, he's a survival of the fittest kind of guy. And I do understand his point, glasses can make you look more vulnerable or weak. 

But this is also about fashion and fashion doesn't need to make sense. It's all about personal taste, it's an expression of your unique character. So I don't even try to explain it to him. Poor guy is always wearing the same white shirt and blue jeans...

So what do you think? Are you over the geek glasses trend or are you still wearing yours?

x x x

MAKEUP WHILE WORKING OUT - DO OR DON'T

When you go to the gym, you can spot two types of girls. The ones with clean natural faces and the ones with a full on makeup glam face. Usually the full makeup ones are also focused more on texting on their phones and talking to boys than on working out.. 

I ALWAYS go to the gym to work my ass off but I can be seen with or without my makeup. It depends upon the day. When I'm at home all day I won't put on makeup for my workout, but if I worked all day or went shopping I won't take off my makeup either. 

Besides dripping foundation and smudged out mascara, I wondered if there were any other unfavorable effects on working out with makeup on. 

Skin specialist Debbie Thomas says: 

"When we get hot, several things happen to the skin. The first is sweating and the second is a slight relaxing and enlarging of the pores. When you add a layer of even the best makeup on this, you will end up with streaky makeup, but you're also increasing the likelihood of a breakout. Your skin needs to breathe, during a good workout even more so. Mix in sweat, heat and open pores and over time the skin will become blocked. Not everyone will get spots, but most will get blackheads coupled with dulling and possible uneven skin texture." 

So how should we go work out? How can we prepare our skin in the best way possible?

"Ideally you should cleanse your skin first, then apply a light serum which is suitable for your skin type and penetrates quickly. A heavier product will probably sweat off anyway. We create free radicals when we exercise, that's why it is important to make sure there are enough antioxidants in the skin to counteract them.  

After your workout it is recommended to use a light cleanse and apply your normal day or night creams. 

But what if you have a spot, or are too insecure to exercise makeup free?

For example when you're trying to impress a guy.. Afterall, it is easier said than done to go barefaced... Then you should try to reduce your makeup to a minimum. Some examples:

Curl your lashes, but leave out the mascara (even if it's waterproof!). 

Ditch the foundation, and opt for a tinted moisturizer. 

Groom your eyebrows instead of filling them in. 

Opt for chapstick or tinted gloss instead of lipstick. 

And run harder, so you will get a rosy blush.

Also remember all the positive effects exercise will lead to. Exercise will get the blood flowing, more oxygen will be carried by the skin which leads to improved skin health. Your skin will begin to produce more of its' natural oils and will be left with a beautiful natural glow. 

So even if you're a bit sceptic to go natural in the beginning, think of all the positive effects in the long run! 

x x x

Sources: 

Debbie Thomas, Vogue.co.uk

Huffingtonpost.com

EverydayHealth.com

KATE MIDDLETON'S TATTOO

Apparently Prince Harry isn't the only one in Buckingham Palace with a Rock'n Roll edge to him. Over the weekend news got out Princess Kate Middleton has been hiding a secret.. she has a tattoo! It isn't as drastic as Rihanna's chest eagle or a bum full of flowers like Cheryl Cole, the princess has opted for something smaller and more subtle. Some people might not even consider it a tattoo. However permanent ink and a needle have been used, so technically it is a tattoo. 

The Duchess of Cambridge has a cosmetic tattoo on the eyes, also known as permanent makeup. Thanks to two thin black lines Kate looks awake and  put together at all times. In the pictures below you can see the results pretty well. 

You can see the permanent eyeliner right below the waterline, it goes perfectly through the bottom lashes. 

So what exactly is this permanent makeup Kate has on? And how permanent is it? 

"Permanent makeup is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the dermis) as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyelining and other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips and eyelids." "Most commonly called permanent cosmetics, other names include dermapigmentation, micropigmentation and cosmetic tattooing, the latter being most appropriate since permanent makeup is, in fact, tattooing." 

What are the results when you opt for permanent makeup? 

There are immediate results and long term results. At first the permanent makeup may look darker. This is due to color remaining in the outermost epidermal layers of skin at the start. In the next days the colors will soften because of the healing process as the upper layers of epidermis slough and are replaced by new epidermal cells. How long your makeup will last depends from person to person and will be influenced by different factors. For example sun exposure will fade the colors faster. 

What if you don't like the results?

It is possible to remove the permanent makeup, like you can remove any other tattoo. BUT its is difficult and expensive. Common techniques used to do this are laser resurfacing, dermabrasion (physical or chemical exfoliation) and surgical removal. Do take in mind that the removal is often more painful than the tattooing itself! 

Permanent makeup - eyeliner and eyebrows

Although I like the look on Kate and understand why she has opted for permanent eyeliner, as she gets photographed everyday and everywhere, I would never consider permanent makeup myself, certainly not on my face. Even in the best beauty salon, the procedure could still go wrong or you could end up not liking the results. Just imagine getting your eyebrows filled in and the color turning out too dark or the wrong shade.. Then you will be stuck with them for the next 10 years. Also trends and personal preferences change. Black eyeliner has been a pretty steady makeup trend over the last couple of years, but will it still be in by 2020? What if white or blue is the "in" color by then? Or what if you go from blonde to black hair, would your permanent eyebrows still match? 

And besides, sometimes a natural and bare face is the prettiest look you can wear. Just ask your boyfriend! ;) 

But what do you think? Would you ever consider permanent eyeliner? Or any other permanent makeup procedure? Let me know in the comments, I want to hear about your personal thoughts and experiences! 

x x x 

YAEBA - CROOKED TEETH TREND JAPAN

Big, straight, pearly white perfect teeth. It is a common wish of a lot of young women and men. Braces and teeth whitening are in the Western culture a part of personal hygiene.

People with visibly bad teeth often go trough life with low self-esteem and are sometimes even afraid to talk to others. Because what would they think? "That you don't brush your teeth often enough, you're lazy", "That you can't afford to go to the dentist or are too scared", "Or that you eat lots of sugar and don't take care of your diet", and so on.

A lot of people with crooked teeth are even scared to smile. They can't let themselves go during a laugh and try to cover their teeth with their lips or hand, or look away when they really can't control themselves.

I should know,  I used to be one of these people. I had two "vampire teeth", as I like to call them, until I was 20 years old. I had never worn braces because my teeth were fairly straight until I was 15, but those two fangs just kept on growing.. And because fangs on a 19 year old girl weren't exactly "in", this was in the days when Twilight hadn't boomed yet, I decided to do something about it once and for all.

I got the Invisalign braces for 10 months. Yes my braces HAD to be "invisible" because I was too insecure to walk around with normal braces at 19 years old...

Ohh that perfect smile.. So taken for granted when you got those pearly white Britney teeth, so desirable when you don't.

This is why I had to blog about a trend from Japan I recently discovered. Japanese girls aren't fixing their teeth to perfection, no they want the crooked ones! Young women undergo procedures with a price tag of $200-$500 to get imperfect smiles.

This makeunder is called yaeba, and means "double tooth". The look can be permanent or temporarily. And men in Japan seem to love it! They find women sporting these teeth attractive because of the youthful look it gives them. Pop stars, celebs and fashionistas in Japan have made this trend popular.

But what do you think? Will this be a trend that will blow over? Or will we all be heading to our dentists for some crooked teeth soon?

SHEER - SEE TROUGH FASHION

Sheer clothing can be sexy, cute, classy and sophisticated all at once. But there is a fine line you need to be aware of. If you cross this line and go to the extremes with the trend, you will be looking like you didn't have enough money to buy the rest of your outfit...

Sheer fashion remains a trend for Spring and Summer of 2013, so I thought I'd give some tips to rock this chique style.

First of all, let's start with how you don't want to look.

DON'T do this

Nipple slips

OK when it's by accident, but not wearing a bra under see trough fabric...Hmmm.. only when you're out for a publicity stunt or if you're auditioning for Pretty Woman. 

Trashy look

This was a look of BitBit back in her Darker Days. Combining too many colors/accessories. Plus the bra isn't appropriate to show off in public, not stylish enough. 

Completely sheer skirt

Showing off all the goodies for free. Not very classy.

Completely sheer leggings/trousers

Even with a high and tight booty, it's not showing any class.

DO this

Dresses
Opt for dresses that have cut out sheer parts but still cover enough of your body to keep it sophisticated. 

Take a completely sheer blouse dress and put on an opaque under layer.

Dresses with accent sheer sleeves.

Blouses & Shirts

Always wear a nice, basic or lace bra/top under your blouse. Keep the rest of the outfit simple, with a high waisted leather, a pair of black leather leggings or a pair of jeans. 

Skirts
Make sure the skirt is only see trough where you want it to be. Opt for flashy or girly colors like bold blue and soft pink to create a flirty look. 

Do you have any favorite sheer pieces in your closet?

x x x