If you want to know what you are likely to be wearing in the summer months then look no further than the floral trend. Floral prints are set to be huge this summer, with floral dresses being the most popular and accessible look of all.  Floral dresses, particularly those in a sundress style, are the perfect look for summer, and take minimal styling as they are effectively an outfit within themselves; all you need to complete the look is a selection of casual jewellery; a stack of bangle bracelets being a great example. These styles are easy and chic to wear and are perfect if you want to keep cool in the sun but don’t want to spend a fortune on your look. If you are planning on attending any of the major music festivals in the summer months then these easy-to-wear dresses would be perfect to take with you.

It is not only women that are getting in on the floral trend; there are many options available that are designed to help men get in on the look. If you are a man yourself and are doubtful that this trend could work for you then why not try incorporating one or two subtler nods to the trend in your wardrobe; a full-on floral shirt may overwhelm, for example, and, if you are uncomfortable in your look then it will usually show on your face. Instead, you could consider adding a floral tie or suit handkerchief to your look instead.

Breast cancer is a worry for all women.  Research has shown that five to ten per cent of women will inherit breast cancer from somebody else in their family and the disease is more common in women over the age of 55.  Obviously these are risk factors that cannot be altered, yet there is evidence that shows certain life choices can reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Cut back on Alcohol

Alcohol can elevate the level of certain hormones which have been linked to hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.  Evidence shows that between women who don’t drink at all and women who have a few drinks throughout the week, the women who drink are 15% more likely to contract breast cancer.  Making interesting non-alcoholic beverages and swapping beers for the alcohol free versions will go a long way to reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Eat healthily and exercise

Women who are overweight are more likely to suffer from breast cancer because of the heightened levels of estragon produced by the fat cells in the body.  Regular exercise, even if it is walking round the park once a day will help women stay fit and healthy and keep their weight down.  A good diet is important for many reasons.  30-40% of breast cancer cases are linked to unhealthy diets and whilst simply eating correctly alone will not cure or stop breast cancer from developing, the vitamins and minerals found in healthy foods will act to boost the immune system and help the body combat any unwanted diseases.

Keep vitamin D levels high

Vitamin D helps the body in various ways including boosting the immune system.  The sun is the best source of Vitamin D but because of the risks of skin cancer, it is advisable to wear protection.  15 minutes a day, three times a week is thought be sufficient sun exposure to keep Vitamin D levels healthy.  However women need to be sensible, as 15 minutes at the height of the suns strength is ample time to be burnt.  Women may choose to eat vitamin rich foods or take supplements on their doctor’s advice.

Many women will not consider leaving the house without full make-up, whist some women never wear make-up and others wear it when they have the time or for special occasions.  Although make-up is great for enhancing a woman’s natural beauty, it is not essential to spend 20 minutes every morning applying make-up in order to look great.

Treat from the inside

Skin is a great indicator as to what is happening beneath its surface.  For instance, if a person eats a lot of foods containing toxins, one of the exit routes of those toxins is via the skin.  This creates spots.  Lack of sleep will cause dark circles.  So to get even, fresh looking skin, it is important to eat healthily, drink lots of water to help naturally flush the body’s system and ensure enough sleep is being had each night.  Experts recommend 8 hours sleep each night to increase overall wellbeing.

Good cleansing routine

It is essential that skin is kept clean.  Washing the face with an exfoliating scrub twice a day is quick and easy.  Dirt, grease and dead skin cells are removed.  This keeps the skin follicles clear to prevent spots as well as encouraging rejuvenation of healthy skin.  The cleansing routine is completed by using a good moisturizer to keep the skin soft and supple.

Sun Care

Protecting the skin against harmful UV rays is important.  The sun’s ray’s age skin dramatically so a good sun protector should be used at all times.  Again, this does not have to mean extra time and effort, there are many moisturizers on the market that protect against UV rays, killing two birds with one stone.

Frame features

Whilst make-up can enhance features, framing them correctly can be equally as effective without having to apply a stitch of make-up.  Keeping eye-brows neat and trimmed will frame the eyes perfectly and work wonders.  Choosing a hair style that frames the face is also important.  If a woman is not sure, the best thing to do is to ask a hairdresser that they trust as it is their job to know which hair style suits an individual.

Model, actress, TV presenter – Alexa Chung is certainly a busy young lady.  Her style is incredibly unique and she has become a definite trend setter for women and girls not only in her native Britain, but worldwide.

Alexa’s style

Alexa has been known to say that she doesn’t like to appear too neat.  Her look is one of minimal effort but super trendy.  Alexa’s fashion she can often be seen to match colours, prints, materials and shapes that many people would not even consider pairing and yet she looks great.  Layering is also key point of Alexa’s fashion style.

Get the look

Key elements for anyone trying to re-create Alexa’s look are:

• Dresses with feminine prints
• Cable knit cardigans
• Skinny Jeans
• Rock T-shirts
• Mini shorts and skirts
• Blazers

How to wear it

• Buy over-sized items – Alexa is never seen wearing anything figure hugging.
• Choose one feature to show off – Alexa is known to wear short dresses and shorts to show off her incredibly long legs, but she keeps the rest of her body completely covered in loose clothing.
• Mix it up – Choose a cardigan or blazer that is shorter than the t-shirt it will cover to create visual impact and that “just rolled out of bed” look that Alexa does so well.
• Don’t be too feminine – Teaming a floral print dress with thick socks and chunky masculine shoes will make the look edgy and trendy rather than girly.
• Have fun with colours and materials – Don’t be worried about matching everything, Alexa loves to put items together that most people never would and the result is effortless chic.

Make-up and hair 

Alexa’s hair and make-up is just as daring as her clothes.  Whilst most stars are seen with perfectly quaffed hair and obvious make-up, Alexa keeps everything as natural as possible.

Light foundation should be used to even the skin tone without looking overly made-up.  In the same way that only one feature is emphasized with the clothes, the same is true for make-up.  Define eyes with eyeliner and mascara but keep eye shadow to a minimum in neutral tones or even none at all.  Air should be kept clean but slightly messy.

Boosting the immune system is important in the fight to keep healthy and the good news is that there are plenty of different foods we can eat that will help to increase immunity. Being ill can really get a person down so trying to find ways to prevent this from happening is very important. The following are a few foods that can help with this:

• Garlic has long been known as a fantastic food for keeping us healthy. It helps to fight infection and increases white blood cells and antibodies which will improve this. Fresh garlic is much better than dried garlic and it can be used in cooking things like sauces and soups for example.
• Spinach is full of vitamin A and vitamin C and these are fantastic at helping to boost your immune system as they fight infection. They will also prevent infections from occurring. Spinach can be eaten in cooked food or in salads etc.
• Red apples contain quercetin which is a flavonoid and this will prevent your immune system from decreasing when you get stressed out. Flavonoids are important in preventing the formation of tumors and cell damage.
• White cells are the ones that fight infection and the production of these cells are stimulated by vitamin B12 which is found in cottage cheese. You can eat cottage cheese on its own or in salads and sandwiches.
• Tuna fish is another great food for boosting your immunity because it contains vitamin B6 and selenium.

There are many different ways that a ponytail can be worn and below are just ten ideas:

1. Choose a low side ponytail and add a boho braid to your fringe or layered hair to keep it off your face.
2. If you would like to have an elegant side ponytail but want the front of your hair to frame your face then you can backcomb your hair and then gently pull it into a ponytail to one side.
3. A ponytail at the back of the head with a stylish bump will look elegant and trendy. You can tease your hair to create the bump before you pull your hair back into the ponytail.
4. Sleek and high is another great style for a ponytail. Slick back the hair to create a sharp look and make sure the hair is gathered high on the head into the ponytail.
5. You can borrow from the 1960s look to create a glamorous updo.
6. A low ponytail to the back is a stylish way to wear your hair.
7. Pulling your ponytail back in on itself if a fabulously elegant way to wear your hair. Simply pull your ponytail up and stick it inside your hair above the ponytail band and then pull it through.
8. A messy ponytail is very popular at the moment and you just have to grab your hair into a ponytail without brushing it to create this effect.
9. Gather curls to the side into a low ponytail for a romantic look.
10. A ponytail low to either side of the head is another great look that is very popular.

Most people will only ever visit their doctor if there is something wrong with them. And while there is nothing wrong with attending the doctor when you have a problem, you should never underestimate the importance of a medical checkup. Preventative care is just as important as medical treatment and that is why so many more people are now choosing to have regular checkups every year. The following are just a few reasons why a medical checkup is so important:

• Not every serious condition has symptoms when it is in the early stages but if you had a physical examination, these conditions might be picked up. When it comes to conditions such as cancer, it is vital that they are detected as early as possible as this gives a greater chance of success.
• If you get a physical examination, it may be the case that conditions which are not life threatening in themselves, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, could be treated. The issue with these problems is that they can lead to serious problems such as strokes and heart failure and need to be dealt with to prevent these from happening.
• You may have a number of small problems that are bothering you but that you don’t want to make a special appointment for and if this is the case, then you can discuss them with your doctor at your checkup appointment. Your doctor may be able to help relieve these problems for you.

Jessica Biel is not only a great actress, but also one of the most desired female celebrities on the planet; no wonder it has been rumoured that Jessica and her on-off boyfriend Justin Timberlake have recently rekindled their love. Sadly we cannot help you land a Justin-lookalike of your own, but we can, however, give you the secrets behind Jessica’s hot look and how to get it for yourself.

Part of Jess’s appeal is her girl-next-door looks; although she can vamp it up with the best of them, she also knows how to work her natural beauty. A typical daytime look for Jessica consists of minimal make-up, but expertly applied; the trick here is to use the make-up to enhance your natural looks, rather than using it as a mask. Eye-shadows should revolve around warm tones and focus on green and brown shades; these colours look great on Jess’s hazel eyes and would suit darker brown, and green eyes also. If you have blue eyes then you can make them really pop by adding a subtle touch of a sandy-coloured shimmer; if you eyes are greyer, then a subtle palette of blues will work best for you. The hair is a key factor in getting Jessica’s low-key sophisticated look just right. The hair should look healthy and never over-done. Her go-to look is a centre-parting with a loose wave; just lightly tong your hair with a large-barrelled styling wand.

Skin should look fresh and healthy; Jessica is lady who takes her workouts very seriously and not only does she have a great body, but her skin glows with health. You can recreate the same look by following a strict routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising and eating plenty of fresh fruit and veg; of course if it is the body you also want then I am afraid you will just have to get yourself moving and work for it. Jess is rumoured to workout at least five times a week and favours high-intensity training to get her lean and toned look.

With constant airbrushed images in the media, and the pressure on young women to be “perfect”, many women find themselves beginning new fitness regimes at multiple times during a year in an effort to get the body of their dreams; the annual week in the sun can often be a source of panic and worry for women when they consider donning a bikini. Now, there is new form of exercise available aimed at kick-starting your metabolism and promising a guaranteed weight loss; the fitness boot camp. First made popular in America, these army-style exercise classes have now spread around to many other countries and become increasingly popular; many celebs have been spotted attending boot camp classes in an effort to maintain their A-list bodies.

So what do these boot camps consist of? Fitness boot camp classes are usually at least two hours long and focus on very high-intensity cardio and army-style training. A lot of the activities are similar to exercises performed regularly in the army to keep the recruits in tip-top condition. These lessons are performed outside and are usually led by a number of instructors who aim to constantly push your fitness to its limits. Do not let this approach put you off though; the instructors aim to get the very best results for their clients and many attendees report loss of inches within the first week. A course of these boot camp classes can help get you beach ready in no time, as long as you put the maximum amount of effort in.

There are also many boot camps around the country that offers residential courses where you stay on-site for one or two weeks; this is usually only recommended for clients who require a significant amount of weight loss or have a desire to completely overhaul their current lifestyle, and they usually require you to have checked with your doctor that you are a suitable candidate for the course. During these residential courses meals are provided and are aimed at providing all necessary nutrition whilst cutting out all junk food and unnecessary refined sugar.

It may be surprising to you, but a person’s hands are often one of the first things we notice about them; one of the best ways to keep your hands looking healthy and neat is to perform a DIY manicure. Although there are a plethora of nail colours available to use, one of the chicest looks is still considered to be a French manicure; this can be achieved easily at home with the purchase of a manicure set which will contain all the polishes and implements you need to get this look yourself.

The first step is to prepare your nails by cleaning and moisturising your hands. Afterwards smooth cuticle cream over your nail bed and into your cuticles; this softens the skin so that you can push back your cuticles easily and define the shape of your nails. The next step is to use the nude polish on your nails and wait to dry; you may find you need two coats for even coverage. Next you use the vial of white polish to carefully paint a white horizontal stripe along the edge of your nail; the thickness will depend on your personal preference, but too thick and it can tend to look unnatural. Once your nails have dried the final step is to use a clear topcoat over the entire nail to seal the polish and make it last longer without chipping; now you can enjoy admiring your version of the classic manicure.