Jewel & Jewel

Prices for rough diamonds obtained from the Diamond Trading Co. (DTC) have gone up a cumulative average of 16 percent over the course of 2008, the DTC announced.

The DTC announced its average cumulative increase for the 2008 sights at the request of sightholders. This figure includes all increases since January 2008 and includes any increase implemented at the August sight scheduled to take place this week.

DTC spokesperson Lynette Gould said specific price increases for August were “nothing of any note,” and that the 16 percent cumulative increase is mainly a reflection of the price hikes implemented at the July sight.

Prices there went up an average of 5 percent across the board, and as much as 15 percent for larger goods.

In the release issued , the DTC states that, not surprisingly, the goods more strongly affected by the increases over the course of this year have been larger, higher-quality goods; boxes of rough that will yield the “highly sought after” polished stones of above SI clarity and over 1-carat in size.

Source

1 egg yolk, 1 heaped tea spoon of runny honey, 2 avocadoes (mashed banana is a good alternative)
1) Mix all the ingredients together and apply to your face
2) Apply to your face and leave for 10 minutes
3) Wash off with warm water

Source

Arielle Kirk, 15
Far Rockaway, N.Y.

Arielle’s high school doesn’t require a uniform, but for the past year or so, the rising sophomore has sported one of her own creation: Starburst-colored polo shirts by Ralph Lauren and Le Tigre (she owns 11), a pair of snug jeans and one of 18 pairs of pristine Nikes (she scrubs them down with soap, water and a toothbrush after each wearing).

“It’s ridiculous,” groans mom Deloris Kirk, 45, gazing at the seemingly identical orange shoeboxes neatly stacked on the floor of her daughter’s tidy closet.

“It’s like a filing cabinet,” says McBratney of the display below the double-dutch medals hanging from the doorjamb. And when collared shirt after collared shirt emerges from within, Mom, an assistant preschool teacher, shakes her head: “I would love to see you out of that polo, Arielle.”

Source

Is your sweaty old tracksuit a fashion statement or just comfy clothing?

A new exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum explores how high fashion and sport have paired up over the last decade to become a potent clothing and retail force just in time for the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The curator of the V&A’s “Fashion V Sport” exhibition argues that the role of sportswear has increasingly come to be viewed as couture rather than just jogging or gym attire.

“More and more we are seeing fashion brands getting involved in sports like the Olympics or Wimbledon or the U.S. Open,” Ligaya Salazar told Reuters.

The compact display of the interaction between contemporary fashion and global sportswear brands is on at the museum in central London until January 4th, showcasing some 60 outfits, design drawings, photographs and films demonstrating sporty dress sense, design, advertising and collections.

Some fashion brands taking part in this demonstration of how sport crosses the divide from the frumpy to the fashionable may surprise visitors more used to seeing well-known fashion names on catwalk rather than on the sports pitch.

The show is broken up into sections entitled “Dare,” “Display,” “Play,” “Desire” and features designs by such well-known names as Prada, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, and Yohji Yamamoto alongside sportswear makers like Adidas, Reebok and Nike.

Source

The first thing that gets you noticed is your face and therefore it is very important to stay healthy to keep it looking young, fresh and attractive. A smart skin care routine should include the basics of cleansing, toning, moisturizing and adequate sleep with a healthy balanced diet to help you reflect this on your face.

This is where the role of skin cleansers and top skin toners comes in: the best skin helpmates are products that clean your face without damaging the ph level and tone and revitalize your skin to give you a youthful and glowing appearance.

Why toning at all?

Toning is important for both men and women as it is the protective step after gentle, but thorough cleansing of skin as it keeps pores clean, skin healthy and breathing and thus more receptive to ultimate in nourishing care that comes with moisturizing. For men, the need for narrowing down on top skin toners may be significantly more than women since they have about fifteen percent oilier skin and considerably larger pores than women.

Thus, their skin gets dirtier and requires more frequent deep cleansing and timely toning to look fresh and healthy. Skin care experts reveal that the top skin toners and cleansing products should be as chemical-free as possible and persons with dry or sensitive skin must avoid use of deodorant soaps.

Source

• A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.
• Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this in your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.
• Cucumber is a natural cleanser. Mix cucumber juice with milk and use it instead of a cleanser.
• Take 1/3-cup cocoa, three teaspoons of heavy cream, 1/3-cup ripe papaya, 1/4-cup honey and three teaspoons of oatmeal powder. Mix it all together. Apply on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water. This is best for oily skin
• For oily skin, apply a mixture of grapes, lemon and egg white. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. While lemon acts as a natural cleanser, grapes will soften your skin and egg whites will tighten it. Don’t be alarmed if your skin tingles.
• Cut the lemon and rub the wedge all over your face. Leave it for about 20 minutes, then rinse off with cold water. This will refresh your face. Avoid doing this if you have dry skin.
• Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil .This mixture is a good moisturiser for dry skin. Apply this mask for 10 minutes.
• Apply the mixture of honey and milk on the face . This will make your skin glow.
• Prepare a mask by mixing a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.
• Mix half-a-cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.
• For a soothing body pack, prepare a paste of mint leaves and almonds. Mix it with warm water and apply all over your body. Leave it till it dries and rinse with warm water.

Source

Beauty Girl TV: How to curl your hair with a flat iron from Monique Hankins on Vimeo.