Viva Magazine : Local Talent : Chantel

Natural effect: A thin line along the top lash line brings out your eyes and gives them a natural definition.

Widen out: A thin line that thickens toward outer corners can help close-set eyes look wider apart.

Expert length: Don't extend liner line past your outer eye corner by more than a hint.

Line change: Dark, thick lines under the eye weigh down your eyes. Try a lighter, softer colour. If you use brown on top, try taupe at the bottom. Apply a finer line and smudge it, so it looks like a shadow cast by thick lashes.

Great change: If you've always used black eyeliner, play with a brown or gray shade, for a slightly softer effect.

Drama tips: A slightly thicker line that is smudged gives a more dramatic look. But don't go too heavy or let top and bottom lines meet at outer corner. This makes eyes look smaller.

Arch expertise: To get the right arch look straight in a mirror. Hold a pencil vertically against one nostril. Angle it outer side of pupil. The spot where the pencil hits brow is where it should arch. Repeat on other side.

Great endings: To see where the brows should end look straight in a mirror. Hold a pencil vertically against one nostril. Angle it so it aligns with outer corner of the eye. Where the pencil hits the brow is where the brow should end.

Right start: To see where the brows should start hold the pencil vertically against one nostril. Where the pencil meets your brow is a good starting point. Tweeze in middle between there and the other brow. Repeat on other side.

Shape up: Now create your most flattering shape by brushing brow down. Observe you brow's natural line. Where needed - fill in with soft strokes of a brow pencil. Brush brows back into place and blend with brow pencil.

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Lips Lips Lips Lips Lips Lips

Some of us have less perfect lips than others. But don't despair! There are plenty of tricks of the trade to help make your lips more balanced and beautiful. Some of the most effective solutions:

**To stop lipstick from bleeding, use a lip liner, or apply foundation over the lips first.

**If you have big lips, use muted colours such as purples, browns and bronzes.

**If you have small lips, avoid dark colours.

**Make small lips look larger - Apply a little Vaseline or lip gloss to the middle of the bottom lip, which brings the lips out, making them look larger.

**Make large lips look smaller, use the deeper colours in your palette (deep colour makes the lips recede), and stick to a matte formula; keep away from shiny glosses.

**The best lip colour fixative, a thin layer of chap stick. The formula holds lip colour like crazy as it heals and protects.

**For longer wear, blot lips after applying lipstick to set colour and remove excess. Add a thin layer of loose or pressed powder, then apply colour again.

**Turn down too much shine by holding a single-ply tissue to your lips and pressing a little loose powder through it - just enough will sift through the tissue to adhere to colour and reduce the shine.

**Turn up the shine with a thin layer of clear lip gloss over lipstick or alone.

**For fuller lips, spotlight lip gloss right in the center of your mouth.

**Keep matte lip colour from drying your lips, use a lip primer or lip colour fixative before you apply the matte colour.

**For evening special-effects, apply a sheer lip gloss in silver, gold or an iridescent shade over the lip colour.

Omega -3s – The Oily Truth

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. They are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. For this reason, omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from food. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other marine life such as algae and krill, certain plants (including purslane), and nut oils. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development.

There are three major types of omega 3 fatty acids that are ingested in foods and used by the body: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Once eaten, the body converts ALA to EPA and DHA, the two types of omega-3 fatty acids more readily used by the body. Extensive research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent risk factors associated with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. These essential fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to be particularly important for cognitive (brain memory and performance) and behavioural function. In fact, infants who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids from their mothers during pregnancy are at risk for developing vision and nerve problems. Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include extreme tiredness (fatigue), poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation. The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA and EPA) found in oily fish have a particularly flexible chemical structure which allows them to be absorbed in to cell membranes and nervous tissue. Because of this unique structure they're very important for human health. Their role in curbing inflammation is probably the reason why they can protect against a wide range of allergies, inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and irritable bowel, some cancers, heart disease and even Alzheimer's disease.

Additionally, EPA has blood-thinning properties, which give further cardiovascular protection. Some researchers believe that we evolved on a diet uniquely high in these fatty acids, which then permitted our brains to develop in such a sophisticated way. Children in particular may benefit from these fatty acids early in life when they're being incorporated into brain and eye structure. So important are these omega-3s to babies that human breast milk is particularly rich in them. Research is also showing that learning and behavioural conditions, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), can be significantly improved in some children by supplementing omega-3s.

The best sources of omega-3s
l Fish with high amounts of omega-3 includes tuna (fresh), mackerel (fresh or smoked), salmon (fresh or smoked), sardines (fresh or canned), herrings, anchovies, pink trout, kippers, mullet, sprats, sturgeon and eel.

l Fish with medium amounts include halibut, smelt, shark, oyster, swordfish and trout.

l Fish with low amounts include tuna (canned in any way as it is defatted before canning), bass, bream, cod, coley, prawns, mussels, haddock and of course, fish fingers and fish and chips.

We're advised to eat two portions (150g/6oz) of fish weekly, with one portion being oily fish. Because of problems with pollution in fish higher up the food chain, pregnant women are advised to avoid shark, swordfish and marlin, and limit tuna to one medium steak or two cans per week. Many people prefer to get their omega-3s from fish oil supplements (which are made from fish muscle meat or krill) rather than cod liver oil, as there is more risk of environmental contamination in liver oils. Cod liver oil is high in vitamin A and should be avoided if planning to conceive - too much can adversely affect the developing foetus.

Plant Based sources
Leafy Green Vegetables – For a double hit make a spinach and walnut (see below) salad. Add any other ingredients of your choice.

Nuts – Walnuts, Brazil Nuts, Hazelnuts, Pecans. Brilliant as a snack instead of chocolate or sweets. Toast slightly under grill for a great taste.

Seeds – Choose a seeded roll when you go shopping. Sesame seeds also complement any slightly sweet or spicy chilli dressing.

Tahini – Tahini is a sesame seed paste that is used itself as a dip, and also as a base for some Middle Eastern sauces such as curries, as a 'roux' would be in European cooking.

Houmous – A great tasting chickpea dip (one of my favourites) made with a tahini base!

Oils – Soya Bean Oil, Canola Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Linseed/Flaxs-
eed Oil. Most of these can be found in your local supermarket. Experiment when cooking, marinating and dressing.

Eggs – Egg yolks, both chicken and duck, are a good source of omega 3 fatty acids.
This information is given for educational purposes only. Please consult with your chosen healthcare practitioner before altering any existing regimen.