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Calvin Klein CK IN2U
Calvin Klein just released their latest perfume CK IN2U Him and CK IN2U Her following its successful CK One. CK IN2U Him was created by Bruno Jovanovic & jean Marc Chaillan. It has a nice spicy-fizzy opening with lots of citrus and pepper; the foody notes in the heart are rather subdued (the chocolate is noticeable without being overdone) but add some interest to the proceedings. The ultra-vetiver is more watery fresh than earthy. The dry down is the largely the same clean musk you find in CK One, rendered cleaner, soapier and warmer in the CK IN2U, and accented with a touch of vetiver and some pale woods.
The notes are citron vert "gin fizz", polelo leaves, frosted tangelo, cacao bean, jamaican pepper, shiso leaves, white musk, white cedar and ultra-vetiver.
CK IN2U Her was created by Loc Dong & carlos Benaim. Start with some achingly sweet fruits, throw in a dash of bright citrus (screechingly high pitched, in this case), add a blur of unrecognizable flowers in the heart, finish it off with some pale musky woody stuff, more clean than not, and a big dollop of vanilla.
The notes are pink grapefruit, bergamot, currant leaves, sugared orchid accord, white cactus, neon amber, vanilla souffle and red cedar.
Nutrients of Healthy Skin
I found this interesting article about healthy skin and I would like to share it with everyone. The article talks about the most important nutrients for healthy skin.
Having a healthy skin is crucial for everyone. It is not just about the beauty outlook; the skin is an indicator of your health. Wrinkles, dry or oily skin, acne and inflammation all are signs of poor internal health, often brought on by consuming unhealthful foods and avoiding skin-healthy nutrients.
According to recent research, the skin reacts particularly well to certain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that nourish the skin, making it appear youthful and healthy. The following nutrients are among the very best to consume for healthy, young-looking skin.
Silica
Silica is a trace mineral that strengthens the body's connective tissues - muscles, tendons, hair, ligaments, nails, cartilage, and bone - and is vital for healthy skin. Silica deficiency can result in reduced skin elasticity and can hamper the body's ability to heal wounds. Food sources of silica include leeks, green beans, garbanzo beans, strawberries, cucumber, mango, celery, asparagus and rhubarb.
Zinc
The mineral zinc is an important component of healthy skin, especially for acne sufferers. In fact, acne itself may be a symptom of zinc deficiency. Zinc acts by controlling the production of oil in the skin, and may also help control some of the hormones that create acne. Zinc is also required for proper immune system function, as well as for the maintenance of vision, taste, and smell. Zinc consumption is also strongly linked to a reduction of prostate cancer. Foods rich in zinc include fresh oysters, pumpkin seeds, ginger, pecans, Brazil nuts, oats, and eggs.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Dry, inflamed skin or skin that suffers from the frequent appearance of whiteheads or blackheads can benefit from supplementing with essential fatty acids (EFAs), especially omega-3s. EFAs are responsible for skin repair, moisture content, and overall flexibility, but because the body cannot produce its own EFAs, they must be obtained through the diet.
The typical diet is overabundant in omega-6 fatty acids found in baked goods and grains, and lacking in omega-3s, found in cold-water fish such as salmon and mackerel, as well as flaxseeds and safflower oil. Simply balancing the intake of omega-3s with omega-6s can result in smoother, younger-looking skin. EFAs are also available in supplement form - such as fish oil capsules or evening primrose oil - and are effective at treating a wide range of disorders, from depression and cancer to arthritis and heart disease. Good sources of omega-3 oils include chia seeds, flax seeds and, for non-vegetarians, wild-harvested fish oils.
Selenium
Selenium is an antioxidant mineral responsible for tissue elasticity. It also acts to prevent cell damage by free radicals and is will known to be correlated with a reduction of breast cancer risk. It may play an important role in preventing skin cancer, as it can protect the skin from damage from excessive ultraviolet light.
Dietary sources of selenium include wheat germ, seafood such as tuna and salmon, garlic, Brazil nuts, eggs, brown rice, and whole-wheat bread. Brazil nuts are perhaps the best source, and eating just 3-4 Brazil nuts per day provides adequate selenium intake for most people.
Vitamins C, E and A
Vitamin C is highly effective at reducing free radical damage, such as that caused by overexposure to the sun or pollution. Free radicals consume collagen and elastin - the fibers that support skin structure - and can cause wrinkles and other signs of premature aging. Vitamin C is especially effective at protecting the skin from overexposure to the sun when combined with vitamin E. Foods high in vitamin C include acerola (a cherry-like fruit), red and green bell peppers, guava, kale, parsley, collard greens, turnips, and broccoli.
Wherever possible, consumers are advised to get their vitamin C from a whole food source, and not to confuse synthetic vitamin C (ascorbic acid) with the real thing from plants (which is full spectrum vitamin C that goes way beyond ascorbic acid).
Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that reduces the effects of sun exposure on the skin. When combined with vitamin A, vitamin E is especially effective at preventing certain skin cancers. Vitamin E also reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and, when applied topically, soothes dry or rough skin. Food sources of vitamin E include wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, safflower and sunflower oils, almonds, spinach, peaches, prunes, tomatoes, cabbage, asparagus, and avocados.
Vitamin A promotes proper repair and maintenance of the skin, and deficiencies can result in a dry, flaky complexion. Topical vitamin A treatments are often used to treat acne and other skin ailments. Foods high in vitamin A include liver, chili peppers, dandelion, carrots, apricots, collard greens, kale, sweet potatoes, spinach, and cantaloupe.
It's best to consume vitamin A from natural food sources rather than supplementing it, as vitamin A can be harmful if taken in excessive amounts in supplement form (vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin). You may also wish to consider taking beta carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A and has none of the overdose concerns of vitamin A.
Finding the Right Scent
Finding the right scent isn't just a matter of choosing celebrity you like best. It can be quite complex with the thousands of scent available in the market. Perfume styles come and go just as fast as the fashion trends. Nowadays attitudes are changing about scent, and with those changes are come genuinely new trends.
Perfume is a paradoxical business. Sometimes it seems as if it’s all about fancy packaging and overwrought marketing. The truth is, perfume is much more complex than just the packaging and the marketing. It is a work of art, perhaps even more so than fashion. Perfume can contain hundreds of ingredients in one packaging just to produce a unique desirable scent ie. Beautiful by Estee Lauder has 700 ingredients to create its sensual scent. How amazing.
A scent itself can be artistically complex so understanding the notes is very important. A scent has top notes, what you smell immediately; middle notes, the scents you pick up after a few minutes; and a base notes, which remain after what the industry calls “dry down”. To find the right scent you have to keep an open mind when you go shopping. Do not assume you love florals or don’t like orientals until you actually smell some.
Generally fragrances come in different concentrations: eau de perfume, eau de toilette, eau de cologne and body splash. eau de perfume has stronger concentration than others so it tends to be more expensive.
When you try on a scent, spray it on a pulse point. Try to pick up the top notes, middle notes, and bottom notes. Remember to leave about 20 minutes for dry down before you try another scent. Do not try more than three or four fragrances per shopping trip cos you will easily lost touch of how each scent smells.
It is very common that people want uniqueness; they don’t want to smell like anyone else. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars to custom made fragrance that suits you and just to feel different from others, there are thousands of scent available in the market for you to choose from. You just have to take it easy and take your time to find the right fragrance for yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect choice, but it definitely should be a choice that makes you feel good about yourself and perhaps, the people around you. Normally people like to wear lighter scents during the day or during warm weather and heavier scents at night.
Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette, or Eau de Parfum?
Eau de Cologne, Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum are all alcoholic solutions of fragrance oils. They differ in the percentage of fragrance oils, and the grade of alcohol. Eau de Cologne is a 3-6% solution of fragrance oil in a 70% grade alcohol (The grade of alcohol denotes the % of alcohol to water). Eau de Toilette is a 6-15% solution of fragrance oil in a 80% grade of alcohol. Eau de Parfum usually contains 15-25% fragrance oil in pure ethyl alcohol.
For men, it is a little different. Eau de Toilette and Eau de Cologne are actually the same concentration. The word ‘Cologne’ is used because it appeals more to men.
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