Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i Fairlady

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and his soon-to-be ex-wife, MacKenzie, said such great things about each other in the run-up to their impending divorce that you almost want to revoke the right to divorce and insist they stay together. In an interview with his journalist brother Mark two years ago, Jeff described the quality he looked for in a wife and found in MacKenzie: ‘I wanted a woman who could get me out of a Third World prison.’ I really love that as a criterion for a partner. None of that ‘completing’ him nonsense, or obligatory shared interests or being beautiful or accomplished – just someone he knew would be resourceful, strong and sane when the chips were down. Sounds like a proper partnership to me. When they announced their divorce, their…

Italian cosmetics brand RVB’s V-Lifting range is designed to counteract the effects of time. The paraben-free products contain a patented 51+3 Hyalu Complex that restores firmness and defines contours. The velvety 24H Tensor Effect Cream stimulates the production of collagen and elastin and strengthens the anchoring structures, the Instant Wrinkle Filler plumps and smoothes and the Remodeling Eye Contour Cream is designed to combat skin relaxation around the eye area. THE HAMPER INCLUDES: V-Lifting 24hr Tensor Effect Cream (50ml), V-Lifting Instant Wrinkle Filler (15ml), V-Lifting Remodeling Eye Contour Cream (15ml). WRITE TO letters@fairlady.com…

‘If we feel hopeless all the time, if we’re always in crisis, the natural response is to give up and stop trying altogether. But we can’t let snark win.’ ‘It’s easy to watch rolling news and get the idea that the world is getting more miserable by the minute,’ writes Helen Russell in the foreword to her book, The Atlas of Happiness. But statistically, we are better off than previous generations: in the past 25 years alone, world hunger, child mortality and extreme poverty have all declined dramatically. It may seem as if we are living in bleak times,  but it’s important to remember that the good stuff doesn’t usually get the same media attention as the bad. As humans, we’re also vulnerable to something called negativity bias – which…

Whizzing along on the sky train at 160km/h into the beating heart of Tokyo, I am humbled to be welcomed into this ever-moving, ever-changing city; a city that manages to embrace the advances of technology yet still maintain its sacred past, ancient traditions and unique culture. As soon as I leave the train station, I really am in a totally foreign world. Nothing is in English any more. I float along with the crowd, my heart beating fast in a combination of excitement and panic. My Airbnb gave me an address I hand to my taxi driver and we arrive at my ‘box’ apartment. Nothing is in English any more. I float along with the crowd, my heart beating fast in a combination of excitement and panic. As per Japanese…

Gatineau is a global leader in skincare. Rooted in the principals of beauty therapy, Gatineau products combine natural ingredients with cutting-edge biotechnology to create advanced skincare that aims to anticipate the needs and expectations of its customers.  It demonstrates remarkable innovation and dedication to science and technology in the cosmetology industry. The first to recognise the powerful anti-ageing properties of retinol, Gatineau launched nourishing and regenerative skincare enriched with retinol in the 1980s. Today the brand is sold worldwide and continues to make scientific breakthroughs, with world-famous products such as Mélatogénine, truly cementing its global reputation as an anti-ageing specialist and the enduring legacy of Jeanne Gatineau. Hamper includes: • Futur Plus mask 75ml • Melatogenine Youth Activating Beauty serum 30ml • Soothing cleansing milk 390ml • Soothing toner…

1 Eat for your gut Focus on wholefood, plant-based meals, urge Du Toit and others, including Cape Town registered dietician Claire McMahon – vegetables, fruits, whole-grains, legumes; with some chicken and red meat (for B vitamins for brain health). Have two servings of fatty fish a week or a small handful of walnuts or flaxseeds a day (for omega-3 fatty acids). Include cultured foods such as maas and yoghurt (check labels for live cultures), and fermented foods (sauerkraut, miso, kimchi), which contain beneficial microbes, says McMahon. Cut back on processed foods and sugar, on which bad bacteria appear to thrive. And cut back on saturated fats (animal fats), which seem to speed up the formation of amyloid plaque that develops in the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s. ADHASA also advises…

I was once sent a patient who had had a breast reduction done by her GP. The GP actually performed these procedures in a freestanding medical centre, not one attached to a hospital. When the patient came to me she had two completely different-sized breasts and the nipples were at completely different heights. It looked like someone had photoshopped two different women’s breasts onto her chest. I also had a patient who’d had a breast augmentation done by someone who wasn’t a plastic surgeon. Within a year or two, she had complications with the implants, so she came to see me. She was worried about the breasts not looking or feeling the same, and there was substantial bulging on the one side – in the area above the nipple, which…

Q: I’m on antidepressants but they’ve made me pick up a lot of weight. How do I combat this? A: Recognising depression in yourself and getting help is a really courageous thing to do, so well done. But it’s equally important that you take further steps to look after yourself. Unfortunately, antidepressants can lead to weight gain even if you’ve never had weight problems before. They can also tip you over into obesity if you’re already overweight, which puts you at risk of diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. The first step to avoiding weight gain is understanding why you are putting on weight. Antidepressants can often stimulate your appetite. And just that slightly bigger portion of pasta or sneaky late-night biscuit will add up to an extra kilogram…

A La Une www.a-la-une-label.com African Extracts available at selected Dis-Chem, Clicks and Pick n Pay stores Avene www.eau-thermale-avene.co.za Beaucience www.beaucience.co.za Bioderma available at selected Dis-Chem and Clicks stores Caolion www.kbeauty.co.za Colette Hayman 021 937 4686 COSRX www.glowtheory.co.za Cotton On 011 268 3700 Dr Gobac 011 314 9222 EarthSap www.earthsap.co.za Elizabeth Arden available at selected Edgars stores Elemis available at selected Edgars stores and spas Eucerin available at selected Clicks, Dis-Chem and Foschini stores Filorga available at selected Edgars stores Freeman available at selected Clicks stores G-Star Raw www.g-star.com/en_za Gatineau available at selected Woolworths stores and spas H&M 086 0690 707 Heliocare available at Skin Renewal and selected dermatologists Kalahari www.kalaharilifestyle.com J.One www.glowtheory.co.za Katie McKenzie katiemckenzie.co.za Kiehl’s available at selected Edgars…

SORBET RADIANCE BODY WASH I’m not mad about over-scented soaps and body washes, which is why I like this one. It’s got a lovely foamy texture and a refreshing but subtle fragrance that fades quite quickly: just about perfect, in my view, because it doesn’t overpower or outlast my fragrance. PEAR AND ELDERFLOWER SPARKLING DRINK I spent Dry January on the lookout for a non-alcoholic drink that felt like an occasion, and this did the trick. I love the subtle flavour – and the fact that it only contains 4g of sugar! Their Cucumber and Ginger-flavoured drink is also good. THE MARVELOUS MRS MAISEL (AMAZON PRIME) We nearly stopped watching this at least four times in the first episode because it seemed so twee – and it is…

IT’S been more than 14 years since the final episode of Friends and, though we’ll probably never really get over it, Jennifer Aniston certainly has. In that time she’s established herself as a true Hollywood elite with a slew of diverse roles. She’s proven her acting chops time and again in indie darlings such as The Good Girl, Cake and Office Space, and never been afraid to throw off her sweetheart persona to take on villainous characters such as Dr Julia Harris in Horrible Bosses (she came back for more in the sequel) and Carol Vanstone in Office Party. But while Jen has finally managed to shake Rachel, there’s one topic that has followed her throughout her career, a subject she was recently forced to discuss at length again in…

HOW TO GET THERE: Emirates flies to Tokyo (Narita and Hanida airports); in January, the cheapest flights were around R11 500 for a springtime return ticket. GETTING AROUND: The sky train, bullet train, metro and taxi systems are all very effective. None are cheap, but all are highly reliable. ACCOMMODATION: Several big hotel chains are available, or you can find Airbnb and guesthouse options. The Airbnb option is far more affordable. Depending on your requirements and the level of privacy you prefer, prices start in the region of R200 per person, per night. FOOD: The food at the market, grocery store and the supermarket-style eatery was affordable; equivalent to South African prices. Restaurants are somewhat more expensive. WHEN TO GO: Spring is cherry blossom season, but Tokyo has something different…

Scrolling through Facebook the other day, I came upon one of those stock motivational posts presented in a decorative frame as if it were an addendum to the Ten Commandments. This one was about walking away: from toxic people, from uncomfortable situations, from anyone or anything that gets up your nose. Just turn your back and head on out, it instructed, because you deserve nothing but the best in life. I stared at this apparently encouraging message for a while, noting my mounting irritation. My first thoughts were: ‘Who writes these things – and on whose authority? Since when do we take to heart a trite set of guidelines attributed to something called soul-juice or cosmic-intention.com?’ (I’ve made up these names, but you get my point.) It took me a…

• The brain in your skull has around 100 billion neurons, the ‘second brain’ in your gut has around 100 million, and the two are connected by the vagus nerve, which sends signals in both directions. In a study (in the journal of the US National Academy of Sciences), feeding mice a pro-biotic lowered the level of stress hormone in their blood – but when their vagus nerve was cut, the probiotic had no effect. • Your ‘two brains’ are also linked by neurotransmitters that control your emotions. Many, including serotonin (widely believed to be linked to depression) and GABA (linked to depression and control of fear and anxiety) are produced by both the cells in your skull brain and the cells in your gut – and by the trillions…

I’m So Tired of Mediocre Men Running Things by Rebecca Davis I was on my way to Cape Town’s Women’s March when a close friend phoned. Aneeqah wanted to vent. She is a medical professional working in a private practice, under a male boss who is technically less qualified than her, and she was at a breaking point. ‘He constantly undermines me,’ she fumed. ‘He doesn’t trust me to make any important decisions, and if I independently take on high-profile clients, he demands that I turn them over to him so that he can treat them instead.’ As I listened to Aneeqah, a rolling stream of flashbacks unspooled. Her words were familiar to me as I’d heard it from countless other female friends over the years. The details changed, the…

While the rest of us have been plodding along with our three-step skincare routine (cleanse, tone, moisturise; maybe with some sunscreen or a mask thrown in if you’re a real fanatic), Korean women have turned skincare regimes into something of an art form. (Look up the term ‘glass skin’ if you don’t believe me.) When I first heard about the 10-step routine, I assumed it was a night-time thing; one that you spread out over the course of the evening. But step 10 (spoiler alert!) is SPF, so I guess not. You might have to get up a tad earlier to work it all in. Or save it for a Self-care Sunday session. The most important take-home, however, is that it is all about layering your skincare properly. If you…

1. Don’t make something you’ve never made before ‘There’s already enough pressure on you to cook and serve the food, so don’t add the unnecessary stress of having to learn something new.’ 2. Choose your menu wisely ‘There’s nothing worse than having to prepare 10 different items that cook at different temperatures in the oven. Choose dishes that can easily cook at the same time.’ 3. Prep as much as you can ‘The last thing you want is to be slaving away in the kitchen and not spending time with your guests.’ 4. Get them involved ‘Invite your guests to have drinks in the kitchen with you while you finish preparing the starter. It makes everyone a little more relaxed.’ 5. Assign seating ‘You know your guests best, so you’ll…

Pisces 19 Feb – 20 Mar Expand like an elastic – and make sure you focus on the stretch rather than the destination. A plethora of fantastic goodies is up for grabs on the relationship and fun fronts, although recycling a career or hobby gets a look-in too. Generally, whatever you fancy is likely to land in your lap – with the usual disclaimer, of course: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Aries 21 Mar – 19 Apr You’re still battling for control and feeling frayed around the edges, but honestly: things are good – far better than you realise. That indomitable Aries chutzpah has pushed the envelope far enough in a positive direction – so while you’re not quite there yet, the gruelling uphill…

WINNING LETTER Cool to be kind In your piece on New Year’s resolutions, Janine Nortje writes that she wants to ‘[just] be kind. Kindness can transform any given moment, someone’s day, outlook or life’. It resonated with me. In 2018, I often saw that people were just not remembering to be kind to each other. Employers were talking rudely to employees who were clueless as to what they had done to deserve the way in which they were being addressed. I experienced it first-hand and saw it happening to others. We all want kindness and it takes far less effort than unwarranted abruptness or rudeness. But somehow we forget the importance of being kind. So I ask all who are reading this, please, please: won’t you try harder at being…

1. ‘It’s like all my life everyone’s told me, “You’re a shoe! You’re a shoe! You’re a shoe!” Well, what if I don’t want to be a shoe? What if I wanna be a purse or a hat?’ 2. ‘We are dessert stealers. We are living outside the law.’ 3. ‘You decorate dad’s office and now you’re a decorator? Okay, I went to the zoo yesterday and now I’m a koala bear.’ 4. ‘Who’s FICA and why is he getting all of my money?’ 5. ‘Monica, I’m quitting, I just helped an 81-year-old woman put on a thong and she didn’t even buy it!’ 6. ‘Well, maybe I don’t need your money. Wait ... I said maybe.’ 7. ‘That’s a great story. Tell it while you’re getting me some iced…

AIRBNB EXPERIENCE: PADDLE WITH THE PENGUINS DURATION: Approximately 2 hours PROVIDED: Kayaks and paddles, a rash vest and personal flotation device TAKE: Clothes to paddle in that are comfortable when wet; towel; change of dry clothes if need be; sunscreen; hat; water COST: R400; since this is a social impact experience, it all goes to AfriOceans Conservation Alliance I was ready for an adventure – in my head, that is. In body, not so much. And it speaks volumes about my ignorance of the sport that I turned up at Shark Warriors for a two-hour, 3,5km kayak around the Seaforth/Boulders coastline, feeling completely cavalier. I was unfit but undaunted: how hard could it be? Add to that the fact that the weather couldn’t quite make up its mind, and you…

Anyone who’s watched Taraji P Henson on screen or stage has probably thought she’d be fun to hang out with. And I’m here to testify: it’s true. ‘Authenticity’ has become a buzzword for the subtle art of selling us everything from social causes to superstardom, but Taraji is unmistakably #relatable. It’s a testament to the 48-year-old Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner’s talent that someone so humble is known for playing a character that arrives at board meetings draped in colourful furs and head-to-toe leopard print. We’re talking about Cookie Lyon, the fierce, fearless and fashionable matriarch of hip-hop’s first family on the TV drama Empire. ‘There are some similarities,’ Taraji says of the character she’s played for the last four years. ‘We’re both the type of person who champions…

‘Hidden in the walls of the digestive system, this “brain in your gut” is revolutionising medicine’s understanding of the links between digestion, mood, health and even the way you think.’ Depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, ADHD … if you or someone you know doesn’t have these or other mental health issues, you are unusual – or undiagnosed. And if you’ve been diagnosed, chances are you’re on antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds or other drugs that act on the brain. But that’s the brain in your skull. What of your other brain? Today there’s increasing debate about a second brain: in your gut. As researchers at Johns Hopkins research university in the US put it: ‘Hidden in the walls of the digestive system, this “brain in your gut” is revolutionising medicine’s understanding of the links…

1 Oil cleanser This first step is all about removing surface grime, including toxins, pollution and build-up. According to New York dermatologist Shari Marchbein, dirt and pollution cause oxidative damage to the skin, and ‘they contribute to the breakdown of collagen and development of wrinkles and sun spots’. You don’t want that. An oil cleanser is great for dissolving makeup and breaking down SPF and sebum on the surface of your skin. Massage the oil cleanser in thoroughly and rinse with lukewarm water. 2 Foam cleanser Yup, we’re cleansing yet again, this time working up a good old lather with a water-based cleanser. It removes residue from the oil cleanser, plus it penetrates deeper, removing sweat, bacteria and old skin cells. 3 Exfoliator Don’t go exfoliating every day – twice…

CHERRY & WALNUT SMOOTHIE Prep time: 15 minutes (+ standing) Serves 4 You need to start this recipe the day before. • ½cup (50g) walnuts •1/3 cup (55g) almond kernels • 1¾ cups (430ml) water • 750g frozen pitted cherries • 2teaspoons pure maple syrup • 1tablespoon black chia seeds • ¼cup (25g) extra walnuts, chopped coarsely • crushed ice, to serve 1. Rub the walnuts in a clean tea towel to remove most of the skins. Place walnuts and almonds in a medium bowl; add water, cover and stand overnight. 2. Blend nut and water mixture for 2 minutes or until smooth. Strain the mixture through a muslin or tea-towel-lined sieve over a medium jug; twist and press the cloth to extract as much nut milk as possible. Discard…