furry's fit

do you recall the time when you saw a picture of someone's pet dressed not as a pet? what was your first reaction? did you gush and download or share the image? if you are a pet owner, what are some tips to take note of if you are going to dress your pet up? i managed to get an expert from the animal kingdom to help me on this...

image from whatthecool

pet retail experts estimate that americans will spend a record $370 million this year to dress up their pets for Halloween. according to the national retail federation, the sale of pet costumes is one of the single largest categories that contributes to making halloween such a big holiday from a retail perspective.

picture from i-mockery

no matter how cute you think boxer looks in his pirate costume, most pets don’t like the constraints of costumes. do experiment to see how your pet reacts to being in a costume. here are some things to consider before dressing your pet up and bringing them out for the day:

1) avoid costumes with accessories your pets can eat. costumes with a lot of buttons, buttons, or bits that easily be pulled off or get snagged could be dangerous for your pet. especially if your pet is going to get antsy and start attacking the costume they’re wearing.

picture from 103.7 Lite FM

2) make sure it’s a comfortable costume. you have your comfort and tolerance levels with your own fashion. so do your pets. they are less inclined to suffer an uncomfortable costume.

taken from venganza

3) ensure the costume doesn’t impede your pet’s ability to walk and/or see. this falls back into comfort. If you pet can’t walk or see, there’s a greater chance they will try to remove the offending costume. hence if you have problems walking in a straight line wearing a patch over your eye, chances are that your pet is not too happy going around as batman.

image from gatewaypets

4) go slow and be liberal with the treats. most pets are used to running around in the covering god gave them, so they might be resistant to the hotdog costume you’re trying to put on them. give them treats after getting a paw in a sleeve or the zipper up a little. treats will make costuming a happy experience for your pets.

graphic from zujava

5) do not cross-dress your pets. i find it distasteful when pets are made to cross-dress so that we humans can have a laugh. it is not funny. 

fash'on... BAM!

pretty scary

the scary part about theatrical make-up is not the final effect that you are trying to achieve but the process of application. in this case, only practice can make it perfect. for the rest of us, it just becomes a hot mess. hence if you are planning to do something really dramatic, i would seriously advise you to spend a little money and hire a professional to help you in getting the look that you want.

image from bestmakeup.info

however, if you are adventurous enough to try applying your own make-up / face paint, i have a tip for you (this was shared to me by a fellow actor) especially if you sweat buckets. before application of your first layer, apply a thin layer of peel-off masque. of course, you need to stretch out your face when doing that. when it dries, you can apply the makeup over the masque.

picture from favim

this little tip was good in a number of ways:

1) easy removal: because you were essentially painting on the masque, when it's time to be removed, just peel off. the colour does not stain your real skin. the last thing you want is to still have a green glow during christmas (unless you are the grinch).

2) longer lasting: this is a personal thing. compared to application on bare skin, the face paint seems to stick on longer when applied on the layer of masque. i remember having to do only minor touch ups for a good half a day and when it comes to touching up, it was just re-apply the masque then makeup over...

3) smoother application: because you are 'painting' over the masque. it gives a smoother texture and an easier face to work on. 

4) better skin: i totally agree with my fellow actor on this one! instead of having harsh make-up on the face, you are having a daily routine of masque application (we were in a two month production!) instead of emerging with outbreaks, we had much better skin to boost of.

image from fanpop

on a final note, you can also try other types of facial masks to achieve the look that you want for halloween BUT do try it out. under conditions of stress, we usually mess up our own makeups. anyway, another video to help you along.

fash'on... BAM!

five types of skin

we've gotten two of the big things out of the way, hair and body. so hopefully, from henceforth, when you are engaged in a discussion, you can use phrases like... that's a lovely dress but i don't think it is suitable for my apple-shaped body. i will also prefer pants because they compliment my perm. sounds like a fashionista eh? 

well, for tonight, we shall continue the basics series and talk skin. i did do a brief introduction on skin here but it was more focused on skincare and how it's important to keep skin moist. this post focus purely on what skin types there are. once again, there are five. if you are not sure which skin type you belong to, you can head over here for a quick check.

image from samrx

skin types can be dry, oily, sensitive, normal or combination. know that it can change throughout the day. for instance, my skin tends to become very dry after swimming. when skin types change, so must your regime. so while it is good to have your regular stock of skincare, do have one or two items that are suitable for other skin types. (tip: ask for samples or trial sizes. there is no point in buying a huge bottle / jar and not finish using it.)

next point to note about skin products (and i learnt this very early on) is that there are oil-based and water-based ones. hence, you have to pay attention to that little detail in your buys. i remember in my youth, i used an oil-based series and my skin (face) did not react too well to it. outbreaks were pretty common, i thought it was my diet and i even avoided oily food for three months. after a switch to water-based products, everything cleared up within two weeks.

anyway, here are some pointers for the different skin types.

dry skin: hydrate regularly from the inside (yes, drink lots of water) and outside with mists, rich hydrating creams or lotions. i would recommend you pick up products that claim long hours of moisture lock-in.

oily skin: prone to acne if not cared for. doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that you should steer clear of oil-based products. on the good side, oily skin generally remains younger looking. keep blotters handy but don't overdo the blotting... herbal steam treatments and clay masks are good.

sensitive skin: reacts to environmental conditions and do not take well to cosmetics containing alcohol, synthetically manufactured oil type ingredients, fragrance oils and artificial colours. you will benefit more from natural, gentle products and treatments.

normal skin: (i hate these fortunate souls!) you will benefit from regular cleansing, toning and moisturising. also if you send me cash (i take all currency), your soul will benefit from it as well. good karma follows.

combination skin: (welcome to my nightmare world!) i had combination skin for a while. this means different parts, different conditions. 

image from skin of life

usually you will have an oily 't-zone' area which covers the forehead, nose and chin while skin around cheeks, eyes and mouth is dry. this means different parts, different treatments. after six months of trying to DIY, i gave up and went for regular facials... let other people do the work. 

on a final note, skincare is essential and not just for the face. we have five senses as human and two of them relate to our skin. how we look and feel will determine how someone else responds to us. you don't really want to feel like sandpaper when someone holds your hand, right?

fash'on... BAM!

nothing comes between me and my Calvins

and i'm not talking about the jeans... but before i get onto the subject of discussion... here's the advertisement that made the headlines...

this is going to be about your (or rather mine and everyone else's) tighty whities! i was wondering what to talk about... after all, i am still a coach to students and given their talent on the internet, they might be reading my blog too, i don't want to write about anything too graphic YET! (*sinister laugh*) so when it comes to your (more particularly, men's) undergarments... here are some tips: 

1) Do replace old underwear
2) Do have a collection of men's underwear
3) Do find your brand
4) Do wear a variety of styles
5) Do wash your underwear every time
6) Don't go commando
7) Don't wear man-panties
8) Don't tolerate stains
9) Don't wear boxers under trousers
10) Don't show off your underwear

if you have a little more time for details... click...

coincidentally... i misplaced a pair of my black CK briefs in the gym yesterday... yes, i didn't realised that it was left in the locker till i got home... so i'm left with my white one! the little ironies of life... 

finally, i must do Calvin Klein tighty whities justice by featuring the ad that 'changed' the world (most thought it was Mark Wahlberg and Kate Moss but it isn't...) parental guidance is advised... haha...

Tom Hintnaus, 1983

BAM!