Notes for the season

Thu, Sep 15, 2011

Recently packing for a trip to New York has made me take a hard look at my beauty routine. Could it possibly take that many products to get me out the door? And what about out of the country? My God, have I turned high maintenance or is this all perfectly normal?

Putting on the style

Thu, Sep 15, 2011

“Help, I’ve nothing to wear,” is an all too common wail from women. Despite having wardrobes full to bursting point with outfits for all occasions many of us still find it near impossible to make a choice.

Helping men dress for success

Thu, Sep 08, 2011

Some men effortlessly exude style. Everything they wear looks good on them be it denim jeans, a casual jacket and trousers combination or a sharp suit. Sartorial elegance is their middle name.

Is your metabolism stopping your weight loss?

Thu, Sep 08, 2011

There are three main keys in genuine weight loss — food, exercise and correcting your metabolism faults. Your metabolism refers to a complex series of chemical processes that convert food into energy as well as establishing the rate at which your body burns calories.

Your thyroid gland, your adrenal gland, your liver, your digestive system, your blood sugar levels, and your hormone balance are some of the key components of your weight loss. The health and functioning of these components has enormous control over how successful your weight loss will be and how much you will get from your dieting and exercising. This is the very foundation of good weight loss.

Acupuncture relieves anxiety and depression

Thu, Sep 08, 2011

Acupuncture can relieve feelings of anxiety and depression, and can give a person a feeling of wellbeing and self-confidence. Acupuncture can provide a safe and effective tool for stress. It will not, of course, change the circumstances of a person's life, but it will usually produce a feeling of wellbeing. The practitioner can help restore balance and thus protect health by identifying each individual's unique energy profile to see where the weak spots are and where support is needed to restore balance. Acupuncture can open a window of opportunity. As the heavy feelings of stress are relieved, a person feels more confidence in his/her ability to cope with unpleasant aspects of his/her life situation and make necessary changes.

New venue and new ventures in yoga at the Yoga Shala

Thu, Sep 08, 2011

David and Laragh Cunningham, who run yoga schools in Galway city and Barna, are among Ireland’s most respected yoga teachers. They are now opening a third venue at Ocean Fitness in the Salthill Hotel. Their work with the Connacht rugby team and Galway footballers has encouraged more men to try yoga, and their commitment to staying at the cutting edge of yoga and health has paid dividends as the Yoga Shala is the only yoga school in Europe to teach a style of yoga called yoga synergy.

Scallywags opens in Barna tomorrow

Thu, Sep 08, 2011

Scallywags the company which sells a top range of children’s clothing in stores in Mayo and Galway, has just opened a new store in Barna.

A step in the right direction at Born footwear

Thu, Sep 08, 2011

It is fair to say we did not have much of a summer this year so it is no surprise that autumn has crept into our lives without any radical changes. But there has been a shift — the days are growing shorter and in the last week or so temperatures have certainly dropped. With this change we will also see an adjustment in our wardrobe — the sandals and flip flops will be packed away for another year and we will all reach for our sturdy boots and cosy footwear.

Notes for the season

Thu, Aug 18, 2011

MAC’s colour corrector, in radiant rose, can be used as undereye concealer. Alona, MAC make-up artist in Brown Thomas Galway, taught me this. If you are naturally very pale and have a tendency to get blue bags under your eyes as I do, this is the dream product. If you have yellow undertones, and your under eye area looks red, use the Light Boost in yellow. I love when a product is clever and you can use it for a purpose other than what it was originally intended. I have had a love affair with concealer for over three years, and ditched it in a heartbeat for this product, never looking back. Alona is a genius make-up artist who gives great individual tips; she told me to bring my corrector further down my eye area than I think, and my blush higher up than I think , and this made a huge difference. March into the Mac counter and ask her anything about your make-up routine. It’s like she has taken the Hippocratic oath, except for make-up artists, first doing no harm — she assesses what needs correcting and sets about doing that while explaining what she is fixing. She is amazing.

The sunglasses cleaning kit. I’m serious; I’m not just saying that in a moustache-twirling, trying-to-get-you-to-spend-your-money kind of way. You worship at the altar of Tom Ford, you spend all that money on an amazing pair of shades, why balk at spending an extra €10 on a cleaning kit? It comes with a mini screwdriver to tighten the frames, a washable cloth, and a silicone based spray that puts a protective coat on your glasses to prevent nicks and scratches. At Brown Thomas we even refill the spray for free.

Autumn/winter trends at Born

Thu, Aug 18, 2011

Colour blocking has been a huge trend so far this year and this is set to continue as we move into autumn/winter. Here at Born the store is awash with 'boozy colours' — our new arrivals feature burgundy, mustard and berry tones that give you a lovely warm comforting feeling, a necessity with the weather we have been having of late.

Weight loss — ask an expert

Thu, Aug 18, 2011

A. This is all down to changes in your metabolism. As we get older our metabolism is rapidly changing. Thyroid function declines, male and female hormones decline, our digestive function declines, liver function declines, blood sugar rises, and these are just a few of the changes. These are all critical factors for weight loss.

Acupuncture to assist fertility

Thu, Aug 18, 2011

Acupuncture is one of the fertility treatments being sought by a growing number of women who are not able to get pregnant using more conventional methods.

Laughing Matters

Thu, Aug 18, 2011

Laughter is good for our health. It relaxes our bodies, relieves stress, boosts our immune systems and helps protect our hearts.

Sharpen up your look

Thu, Aug 11, 2011

Sharpen up your look with this season’s tailored pieces for a grown-up and elegant style.

The important link between immunity and digestion

Thu, Aug 11, 2011

What do food intolerances, allergies, IBS, cancer, asthma, hayfever, coeliac disease, behavioural issues, and countless other increasingly common conditions all have in common? They are all symptoms of immune system dysfunction. Not many people realise this but approximately 70 per cent of our immune system resides in the gut, which is why probiotics — ‘good’ bacteria — has become such a buzzword in recent times, and need to be replaced after taking a course of antibiotics. Many people develop food intolerances or are even diagnosed with coeliac disease after suffering from viruses or similar immune dysfunction. This is because the good flora in the gut, which is so important for healthy digestion, has often been affected by the illness or even the medication for treating it.

AcuGraph — combining ancient acupuncture techniques with new technology

Thu, Aug 11, 2011

AcuGraph is a digital meridian analysis that tests your energy levels or qi (chi) in the meridian system of your body. It combines the ancient practice of medical acupuncture with modern technology. By using a gentle probe it reads from key acupuncture meridian points on your hands and feet the energy levels in your body relating to each of your organs. It gives you a graph reading for you to see on screen which can be discussed with your acupuncturist.

Fake it

Thu, Aug 11, 2011

Keen to retain your golden glow while the sun continues to shine? Then check out Uriage Gelée Autobronzante Hydratante (€15), a three in one (self tanning, tinted and moisturising) gel which is non comedogenic and is suitable for all skin types, including the most sensitive.

Bags of style

Thu, Aug 11, 2011

Embellished, bejewelled, crystal encrusted, studded and pleated - for stylish bags - the Dice label is hard to beat.

Perfect nails

Thu, Aug 11, 2011

Nothing says preened and polished like beautifully presented nails. Achieving a salon style finish at home for less is now possible with the help of Aldi’s Lacura Nail Care Assortment Range (€1.99 each).

Sunshine Season Essentials

Thu, Aug 11, 2011

This season get the summer siren look with L’Oréal Paris’ top beauty essentials - dramatic lashes, glossy lips and a natural tan, in short everything you need to achieve a fresh and sensual summer appearance.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.