A Tailored Skincare Routine

Like a tailored suit or well-fitted dress, a skincare routine should suit you. Different skin types, concerns, age groups and lifestyles imply that one size does not fit all. Research and innovation have paved the way for us to create our ideal routines. In particular, the Asian beauty market is home to a plethora of key ingredients, formulations and techniques.

Double cleansing is a transformational step. The first cleanse should focus on removing makeup and the day's "dirt". The second is about treating the skin, cleansing pores and promoting a healthy complexion.

Hydration is key to radiant and plumper skin. It is fast becoming one of the most focused on skincare steps. One tip is to layer products onto damp skin. This allows for better absorption through the skin's outer barrier. Those products will then seal that moisture in. Soothing floral waters or an essence can boost results of the steps applied afterwards.

Korean skincare routines pride themselves on the use of essences. Their formulations range in viscosity and are patted on allowing high concentrations of ingredients to enrich the skin. The Western market has taken note on the importance of this step with brands such as Estee Lauder and Origins bringing their own versions to the table.

Similarly, serums provide targeted treatments. They contain a few key ingredients, void of thickening agents or heavily moisturising factors. A little goes a long way with these silky, concentrated formulations.

Moisturise with a formulation to suit. Gel textures are ideal for oily/combination skin types. Thicker creams packed with niacinamide and butters may suit more mature or drier skins. Oils can nourish and deliver a healthy glow or boost your current moisturiser with a few drops.

Protection is key. A sun cream with UVA, UVB and HEVL protection is ideal no matter the season. HEVL rays are responsible for 50% of skin sun damage due to oxidative stress. It activates the process of cell tissue turnover (matrix metalloproteinases) which can cause wrinkles and uneven pigmentation.

With increasing research on the effects of pollution on the skin coming to light, your morning skincare needs to be your shield. Choose effective products that will protect your skin from sun rays and free radical damage.

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and brings a fresh layer to the surface; brightening your complexion. There are a variety of products on the market,

with different concentrations of AHAs and BHAs to suit varying skin sensitivities.

Masks give skin the suited attention it needs. Sheet masks have become a big deal in the Western world with many seeking out Korean brand favourites. Not only do they provide an incredible hydration boost but they allow active ingredients to effectively penetrate the skin via osmosis.

Our skin is our largest organ. Its changes daily, if only in small ways. Whether we notice these changes in the short term or not, protection, cleansing and hydration are key to healthier skin. With a wealth of leading-edge products and ingredients on the market, we can tailor ourselves a skincare routine that merges effortlessly into our lifestyles.

Author Bio: Sarirah is a software developer from London who writes the beauty and lifestyle blog Pretty Not Included. Her passions focus around skincare, beauty trends and efforts to merge the tech and beauty industries. 

“Fashion meets Fragrances” By Max Forti.

Fashion came first than fragrance followed... The fact of the matter is that both have been walking hand-in-hand for centuries now and even more so in the past couple decades, gaining popularity and strength among people worldwide, there's even a community called the ''FragComm'' where aficionados and connoisseurs do reviewers and follow their favorite brands, you can find them on social-media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and Facebook just to name a few of the most prominent means. When we take a closer look in the world of fashion with its cyclical notions and facets we can attest that the same applies to fragrances. For instance as we witness the great house of Roja Dove releasing amazing gems which brings the classic genres of the past fused with newer nuances of modern times with delectable desert-like gourmands. We can clearly see the evolution and the transformation of both fragrance flavors and fashion styles embedded in today's society...

And how magical is this fragrance world? You might ask... Well, just take a close look on what the involvement of many celebrities, musicians, actresses and public figures getting drawn in more and more each day in the fragrance industry. As studies show that by the year 2008 the perfume industry had become a massive juggernaut generating a whopping $10 billion plus a year. Both men and women of today have a fragrance wardrobe of several different fragrances rather than just one single signature scent, just like clothes people tend to have a multitude of scents based on their moods, on the weather and occasions...

Just as fashion, the fragrance industry focuses in the possibility of becoming timeless and as such it is subject of a trend or hype as we call it, and have seen it closely with the 2010 release from the house of Creed, called Aventus, which has a cult following that won't think twice before calling it a perfect scent... With this parameter, both mediums (fashion and fragrances) find themselves in a constant and never ending battle and state of pursuit - a chase of tastes and desires to perhaps capture a singular and boundless moment in time with the perfect garment or the perfect scent. 

While fragrances may imitate fashion in terms of its industry structure and limits, it engages more broadly with shopper's awareness. This marketing potential, and accessibility, makes fragrances a crucial business component of the luxury fashion market segment of today- not every consumer may have the ability to afford to have these brand name super-pricey fashion garments hanging in their closets, however a larger majority is likely to have their fragrances sitting in their bathroom counters or bedroom dressers. The endurance of a fragrance offers the opportunity for a long-lasting customer relation and loyalty. While the clothes and fashion depends solely on seasons and cultural cycles, concepts and tastes at the time...  Hence branded fragrances remain available at beauty counters for years or even decades, may achieve the immortal status as we've seen with many of the greats, like Chanel no. 5 for example: a true statement of elegance, class and sophistication.

Both garments and fragrances are born in someone's mind as a thought, an idea with endless possibilities... We all have that perfect pair of jeans or that gorgeous suit or dress (night gown) that we love to complement and give it the finishing touch with that amazing new scent or that timeless favorite one... I believe that you can't have one without the other, they go perfectly together. It would be a sin to have a perfect outfit without the perfect scent to go with it!  

THE SCENT OF FASHION.

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In 1912 famed Parisian couturier Paul Poiret launched the first parfum by a fashion designer, 'la Rose de Rosine'. Thus began over a century of fragrances created to underscore the image of the designer's fashion house. Today, emerging fashion brands share the same dream of creating their own fragrance in a beautiful bottle. 

From development to consumer recognition, every step in between signifies the designer's aspiration for their own creation. Having a fragrance of your own defines culture and philosophy.  It is a one-of-a-kind celebration that will create a lasting tradition. We believe that a fragrance underscores a brand's DNA and intimately shares its message with their clients. When a distinctive scent is presented in an exciting bottle, it is set to raise the recognition exponentially. Creating a fragrance not only marks a milestone of a brand's achievements, but announces a new status. 

The scent of the fragrance is an alternative form of recognition. In this world today it is about finding your own place and being part of it, and a fragrance can promote a sense of belonging that brings the customers together.  

Every established fashion talent should have their own signature scent.  Having their fragrance in the store adds external and internal value to the brand.  It offers an experiential sensation that creates a connection between the brand and the customer. 

Today, changing attitudes and tastes in fashion have created a new retail phenomenon.  Suddenly after years of complete dominince by the major brands with licenses from established fashion houses, the educated consumer is demanding that retailers present fragrance offerings from emerging fashion designers that are fresh and uncomplicated for today's lifestyle. In terms of sales, not only will having a signature fragrance bring incremental dollars in the designers own boutiques or at department stores, but purchasers who like the fragrance and are unaware of the designer's fashions will be drawn to see the line and become devotees. The bottle is a key ingredient of the presentation. Marc Rosen says that 'the bottle is the silent salesman' ensuring that the consumer will want to touch it, open it and smell it.  Hopefully purchase it.