The big day is fast approaching, but how do you make sure your skin stays in check? Whether you’re the groom, a groomsman, or simply a guest, you’ll reap the benefits of adopting a proper skincare routine, and treating yourself every now and then. Here are 5 skincare tips that every guy should know:
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1. Daily cleansing
Sounds like a simple task, but it is all about consistency. This should be done every day, morning and evening. We don’t realise the amount of dirt that our skin comes into contact with from the polluted air, along with touching our faces throughout the day. Cleansing properly ensures that these impurities are effectively removed, to give your skin the best chance at being healthy.
2. Hydration is key
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Hydrated skin appears healthier and plumper, and develops wrinkles at a slower rate. Beside drinking an adequate amount of water, try to ensure that your skincare products contain an added H2O boost that your skin will thank you for, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin.
3. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
For a deeper clean, exfoliate your skin bi-weekly with a scrub that can reach a little deeper than just the surface. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells and gives you a brighter complexion over time. Exfoliants don’t necessarily have to be very abrasive either, as a gentle one with slow, circular motions will do the job just as well.
4. Sunscreen is crucial
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We cannot stress this enough. The sun’s UV rays cause a lot of damage to our skin far beyond what we see. Wrinkles, sunspots and cancer are just some of the side effects that come with not being adequately protected. SPF 30 is a good protection level whether you’re in direct sunlight or not.
5. Swop your razor cartridges regularly
It’s very important to replace your razor cartridge on a 6-8 shave basis. Razor hygiene is really important in keeping your skin free from razor burn and ingrown hairs. Change the blade often to ensure better hygiene, which in turn would give you better skin.
By Yashna Balwanth
Feature image: Unsplash
Lighting is very important, after all, it enables us to see. Besides seeing, lighting can create a special mood, a warm ambiance and a wonderfully romantic atmosphere. As…
The wedding bouquet is one of the most important elements on the big day. As a bride makes her way down the aisle, she holds a bouquet of flowers. It’s a pretty embellishment that completes the bride’s look. Take a look at a few of the different types of wedding bouquets:
Nosegay
A small flower bouquet that features tightly packed flowers of the same length.
Hand-tied
The most popular choice among brides, the hand-tied bouquet is a simple and elegant choice. It consists of a bunch of flowers tied with a ribbon or florist wire.
Biedermeier
The biedermeier is similar to the nosegay bouquet. However, the biedermeier is tightly arranged to form a circle. It usually features a contrast of colour for a dramatic flare.
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Cascade
If you’re looking for a statement, opt for the cascade bouquet. This flowing flower arrangement is a classic and can be customised according to size preference.
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Composite
The composite bouquet is very detailed bouquet and is made up of hundreds of single petals that have been tied together on a single stem. It gives the illusion of it being one flower.
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Pomander
This bouquet forms a ball shape of flowers. It is usually carried with a ribbon or rope loop.
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Single Stem
A single flower is held by the bride. This is a simple and classic look, especially if the flower is quite unique.
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Feature image: Unsplash
Table numbers are essential for weddings with assigned seating, so why not have some fun with them? These creative table number ideas will allow you to express your…
Are ties out of fashion and has the bow tie taken over? The answer is NO! Both are equally acceptable and both are the ultimate accessory. As a groom, one of the most important fashion decisions you will need to make is whether you’ll be sporting a tie or a bow tie. With a variety of shapes, patterns, colours and styles, you really cannot go wrong with either, so here are some pointers:
The Tie
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Can you think of a more complementary pair than a suit and tie? There is no doubt that they just go hand in hand. When you want to keep it classic and slightly more traditional, the tie is for you.
A well-tailored suiting option is perfectly highlighted with a tie. It will complete the look, leaving you looking utterly dapper. The tie has many elements to consider, like the type of occasion you are going to, as it could work for a formal/semi-formal and smart causal event, but remember a tie should end near the middle of the belt buckle in all cases.
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Tie knots is where it gets a bit confusing because there are so many styles. Consider the type of shirt you’re wearing and the collar type of the shirt. A large triangle-shaped tie will look better with a widespread collar. A narrow knot will pair well with a straight point collar shirt
The Bow Tie
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Although you can wear a bow tie anytime, they definitely help you to stand out from the crowd. On your wedding day, you may want to keep it classic with black or white but this will not limit you, due to the variation of patterns and colours available.
The bow tie is clean and looks different, but remember to keep the rest of your outfit muted in order to let the bow tie make a statement.
If you are playing around with patterns, then stripes and polka dots are your go-tos. You can also play around with a variety of colours if you don’t opt for the classic black. Normally, the bow tie is classified as part of a more formal attire alongside the category of a black or white tie, but it doesn’t have to be as formal – we like to play it up, don’t we? But if you are associating it with a classic tuxedo, without a doubt, you’ll reach for your bow tie
It can also be worn outside of the formal bracket. This is where funky colours and patterns will play a big role as it can soften the formality and be more of a casual accessory, adding a bit of spark to just about any outfit.
By Amy-Lee Steenkamp
Feature image: Unsplash
After the big proposal comes all the planning. You and your partner will usually decide on who you’d like by your side on the big day, which will…
Flowers play a huge role in most weddings. They are used in many parts of the wedding decor, from ceremony to reception, and add a romantic and personal touch to the big day. A big question, however, is if you’re going to use fresh or fake flowers. But before deciding, you should know what the differences between real and artificial flowers are.
Before weighing out the pros and cons, it’s important to keep a few things in mind:
– Both options can be expensive, especially if a florist is involved.
– Most of the time, your guests won’t be able to tell what’s real and what’s fake.
– If you can’t decide, you can always mix and match with both. Use fake flowers for certain things and real for others.
– You can save money by having multi-use floral pieces. For example, you can use some of the floral arrangements from your ceremony and bring it over to the reception decor.
The differences:
Real flowers
Nothing compares to fresh, beautiful flowers. They are authentic and sweet-smelling. Using real flowers is genuine and no matter how realistic a fake flower is, it will never be able to compare to the real thing.
Besides originality, there are a few downsides to having fresh flowers:
– They can be more expensive, especially if you are having them arranged by a florist or imported from overseas. You will also pay a lot more if you’re looking for a specific flower and it’s not in season.
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– As beautiful as delicate flowers are, they’re unfortunately higher risk in terms of being damaged. They will eventually wilt and if it’s hotter, they fade faster. Fresh flowers are easily damaged, whether it’s a wild flower girl having fun or a bumpy car ride.
– The real deal can also be a lot heavier than opting for the fake alternative.
Artificial flowers
Fake flowers aren’t as plastic as you think. There are natural-looking silk or other fabric-based flowers available that almost look like the real thing. If you decide on artificial flowers, you’ll never have to worry if they’re in season or not. These fake alternatives are also a lot lighter than the real thing and therefore easier to carry around, transport and arrange.
Artificial flowers can last for a long time and you will be able to keep them for sentimental purposes. You might even be able to reuse them in future events, depending on the quality. Since they’re fake, there won’t be any allergy issues either, which is great if you or any of your guests are allergic.
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Fake flowers can be a lot cheaper depending on the quality, specifics and where you buy them from. If you’re not looking to purchase the fake flowers, then renting it is also an option. Since you can purchase artificial flowers in advance, you can buy a few each month, thereby not having to fork out a huge amount in one go.
Feature image: Visual Poetry Photography