Paint on these fashionable nail polish colors for Fall 2013

With 123 days left before Christmas, there is no denying the onset of the “ber” months. In the fashion and beauty industries September brings the Fall collection.

Stylish nails can be the finishing touch to your over-all look. Here’s what’s trendy for the last quarter of 2013.

Black nails—Take the black from your LBDs on to your nails because black nails are scorching hot this season. For black polish, Chanel’s Black Satin and Nars’ Back Room are hot, hot, hot!

Indispensable

Nude nails—From basic black to the essential and indispensable nude color, nude nails are chic and certainly in great style this season (and forever!). Definitely a classic. Try Nars’

Vestale and Chanel’s Emprise for your shot of nude.

Greens and teals—I’m a huge fan of every green shade available. From teals to olive greens, the color is certainly chic and stylish, and goes well with everything.

Moss green polish is all the rage now—try Chanel’s Alchimie (Limited Edition). For brighter green, try MAC’s Screening Room, a bright mid-tone teal in creme finish.

Purple nails—For a dark but not completely black color for your nails, try raspberry purple-colored nails. MAC’s Nail Lacquer in Rebel is that perfect raspberry that is a mid-tone creme plum.

Navy blue nails —Navy blue nails are so basic and chic this season. You can’t go wrong with the essential navy blue that looks so effortlessly stylish and sophisticated no matter how you wear it. Try Chanel’s Bel-Argus for a metallic twist on your navy blue.

Glitz and glamour

Bold-colored nails—Bold colored nails look great on anyone. It brightens your hands and gives them a youthful feel. A current favorite is the bright, warm pink Impassioned by MAC.

Gold nails—For glitz and glamour, you can’t go wrong with a gold manicure. Look extravagant without having to spend your hard-earned cash—wear gold nail polish. Gold nails look great with an all-white ensemble, or a charcoal-gray outfit. Check out a sparkling true gold color, Magnificent Feast by MAC.

Metallic nails—Metallic nail color is certainly a great way to express your artistic and creative vision. Look effortlessly cool and stylish with MAC’s Over Indulge.

Nail art—Making a statement starts with the little details. Nail art has evolved into a person’s style statement. From embellished nails to exotic skin manicures—with nail art, it’s absolutely no-holds-barred.

Tickle your fancy

Lulu Nails and Dry Bar —Pampering your nails (and your hair) has never been so easy. With La-Z-Boy couches and spacious nail care sections, pamper yourself with the special services that Lulu Nails and Dry Bar offers. Its diverse spa treatments for your manicure and pedicure, and its wide range of designer nail polish colors, will surely tickle your every fancy.

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Pretty Is Just A Social Construct, And We All Learn the Skills To Fit In

"Pretty isn't about how my face happens to look due to my genetic makeup. Pretty is about what I do with that."

So writes Emily Armstrong on the Huffington Post in "Pretty Is a Set of Skills." She goes on to describe the other aspects of her appearance that required her to learn a set of skills: make-up, hair, clothing.

Armstrong has a very valid point. Just think back to what you looked like when you were 13 — odds are, it was frizzy hair and too-tight pants galore. In our culture today, there is a significant part of our idea of beauty, or "pretty," that involves modifying what God gave us. I, like Armstrong, spent years wishing I had straight hair, until I realized my naturally curly hair was better suited to my round face shape. But wait — when I say naturally, I mean almost-natural-except-for-a-curling-iron. And, guess what? I get way more compliments on my "naturally" curly hair when I've tamed it at least a little.

"Pretty is artifice. Pretty is a construct, and a social construct at that."

So if the desirability of wearing makeup is a social construct, are bare-faced ladies revolutionaries? Well, actually, they sort of are, since they're ushering in a new definition of what beauty can be. Few women would go to a job interview without at least a coat of mascara on. It's not because long lashes means you're better at crunching numbers, or whatever it is you're applying for. It means you're conventional, which is still a pretty desirable — even required — trait in many settings.

"Pretty is like good design. It is a skill, or rather, a set of skills."

I've often fantasized about staging a sort of social experiment where I could be in a room with all the other women I know. In this experiment, we would all be completely bare-faced, buck naked, and have our hair tightly wound up in a slicked-back bun. With no clothes, makeup, or hair to flatter, would the tables be turned? Would the girl everyone envies be revealed as just a regular, real person, who just happens to be really skilled with a mascara brush and a straightening iron?

If I have a good hair day and sport a brand new outfit, I feel pretty confident about my looks. Unfortunately, frumpy me with old wrinkled clothes, frizzy hair, and a few pimples on my bare face doesn't quite cut it the same way. This is pretty bad, since I know it's all in my head. But recently, I've stopped wearing makeup and started sporting practical buns and more comfy clothing. Basically, I'm slowly unlearning what I thought I had to learn as a teenager.

Although Armstrong's piece isn't exactly ground-breaking news, it serves as a nice reminder that what we tend to pine for, what makes us insecure about our looks, is often just something that comes in a lipstick tube. Or with a pair of designer jeans. And if you're still having trouble putting things in perspective, just keep this no makeup Barbie in mind.

Underneath it all, we're just real women who spent way too much time learning to fit in.

10 Home Remedies for Clogged Pores on Nose and Chin

Wondering how to get rid of clogged pores on nose and chin? It's an attainable goal, with a bit of patience and the right skin treatment. Check out the best home remedies to help you get rid of stubborn clogged pores on the nose and elsewhere.

1. Steaming

A steam treatment can help loosen clogged pores on nose and elsewhere. Keeping a warm cloth on your face until it becomes cool and dry will have the same effect.

2. Orange Peel Scrub

Clean and exfoliate your skin regularly to remove dead cells and grime which thicken your pores. You can make your own scrub using grounded orange peel and grounded almonds – very effective in shrinking clogged pores on nose and face.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice can help purify the skin and shrink clogged pores on nose and elsewhere. To prepare a cleansing lotion, mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 cup of rose water, add 1/2 cup of cucumber juice and apply wherever pores are visibly larger.

4. Papaya Facial

Applying mashed papaya on your face can help exfoliate the skin, remove excess oil and clear clogged pores on nose and face.

5. Ice Cubes

Ice cubes are an instant remedy for clogged pores on nose, chin and forehead. Apply ice cubes wrapped in cloth over the pores, exercising gentle pressure. This will make your skin firmer and remove excess oil. You can use this method before applying makeup.

6. Oatmeal Face Mask

An oatmeal face mask can also act as a natural remedy for clogged pores on nose and face, while enhancing your skin tone. To prepare it, mix oatmeal, apple cider vinegar, and honey.

7. Honey

Use honey mixed with a little sugar and lemon juice to get rid of clogged pores and blemishes. Rub it into your skin, leave it on for a few minutes and rinse off with warm water.

8. Egg White Face Mask

An egg whites and lemon face mask can also help shrink large pores. Beat 1 egg white with a few drops of lemon juice. Apply evenly on your face. As egg whites dry, they will lighten the skin and unclog the pores.

9. Yogurt

Apply fresh yogurt on your skin daily before taking a bath. This will help tighten the skin, slough off dead cells, and reduce excessive oil secretion.

10. Almond Mask

An almond mask is one of the best natural remedies for clogged pores. Leave almonds soaking in hot water overnight. In the morning, mash them into a paste, adding 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply over your face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Model Emma Noble's magical wedding at Canterbury Cathedral

Model and actress Emma Noble's wedding to businessman Conrad Baker is exclusively featured in HELLO! magazine this week.

In an exclusive interview to accompany the stunning shots of the romantic ceremony, which took place at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, the 42-year-old reveals she was walked down the aisle by her son Harry, 13, as her father was too ill to attend.

"Harry had been so excited about the wedding," she told HELLO! "He was so wonderful in the car on the way to the Cathedral. He said 'Are you still nervous Mummy? Don't be, I'm her'.

"My family love Conrad and are overjoyed that I have found someone who cares for me and the boys so deeply."

Emma also reveals that her plans for a low-key big day were scuppered as Conrad had set his heart on getting married at the Cathedral, having been given permission to do so as a former scholar of King's School.

"I was all for having a low-key wedding with a bit of a festival vibe," she explained. "Then Conrad broke it to me that, actually, he'd been waiting for this moment since the age of 13 and that there was no way we were getting married anywhere other than at the cathedral.

"I needed to be sure that, with Conrad and me, our wedding day was about us – that it was a romantic day, not a showy day.

"I wanted my and Conrad's wedding to be about what really matters; the vows we were taking and our love for each other, because it’s so easy to lose sight of the whole reason for the occasion."

And it was worth it. Speaking of the moment he glimpsed his bride for the first time, Conrad said: "I knew that she would look incredible but she surpassed anything I could ever have envisaged and my jaw nearly hit the floor. When she reached me, all I could say was 'Wow, you look amazing.'"

Guests at the wedding included DJ Sonique, Mica Paris and Royal dress designer Elizabeth Emmanuel, along with Harry - Emma's son from her first marriage to James Major - and her and Conrad's two-year-old son Roman. Conrad told the magazine that he loved his stepson as if he was his own.

"He's such a wonderful boy and we got on well right from the start," he said. "I love Harry as a son and Emma has done so amazingly to bring up such a wonderful boy. It's just one of the many things I love about her."

To read more of the interview with Emma and Conrad, including details of the wedding dress, who performed at the reception and what was said in the moving wedding speeches, pick up the latest copy of HELLO!

Beauty fix: Rose Facial at Neal's Yard Remedies

You may have spotted the recently opened Neal's Yard Remedies boutique on Hollywood Road, but it will probably come as a pleasant surprise that it also has a spa hidden away on the second floor. The British brand offers a menu of facials and massages priced between HK$380 and HK$980.

It's a welcome addition to the spa scene, which helps to fill a gap in the market for mid-priced treatments. And it's also one of the few to offer an expert facial massage using reputable, eco-conscious products - many of which are organic and sometimes vegan.

When I visit to sample their hour-long rehydrating rose facial, I'm led upstairs to their spa section, which is a single treatment room. The space feels more like a dermatologist's clinic than a deluxe retreat, but it is comfortably fresh-looking and clean. The single bed rules out treatments for couples but on the upside, it also means no bumping into hen night or someone you know from the office.

First, a chamomile cleanser is applied to remove make-up, followed by a rose toner to make sure there aren't any lingering traces of dirt on my face. Once the therapist has a clean canvas, she dabs on a facial polish and starts to exfoliate the skin. It's from the rose line but also contains traces of sunflower and geranium.

An antioxidant facial mask with elements of maple, marigold and macadamia nut comes next. The therapists' massage is so skilful, I'm tempted to snooze even though it's 4pm.

After a few minutes, she exits the room while the mask's moisturising effects sink in. When she returns, on goes a hydrating eye cream, a serum and yet another rose-scented moisturiser, leaving my face plumped full of moisture.

I did miss the hot-tub soaking and sauna lounging that usually comes after a luxury hotel spa treatment, but if you don't mind skipping that part and are focused on improving your complexion, Neal's Yard Remedies comes highly recommended.

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Bella Freud: The wind in the woolies

Fashion is a funny old business: celebrating a knitwear collaboration between Bella Freud and Barbour on one of the hottest days of July is just one quirk of an industry that traditionally clears out its swimwear stock in August to make room for winter coats. But while the surprisingly seasonal warm weather makes the arrival of knitwear feel a tad premature, it's inevitable that winter is coming. And when it does, those early adopters of this range of covetable, comfortable, collaborative sweaters will have more than a sense of smug satisfaction to keep them warm.

In designing a collection for that venerable British brand Barbour, Freud has instigated a coming together of two great dynasties – she is the daughter of the painter Lucien Freud who, in turn, was the grandson of Sigmund Freud – but it's not something that she has particularly considered. Freud, who launched her eponymous clothing line in 1990 to great acclaim, is something of a serial collaborator having brought her talents to bear for Jaeger, Miss Selfridge and Biba but she is perhaps best known for her slogan knits declaring “Ginsberg is God” and “Je t'aime Jane”.

When asked by Barbour to create her latest collection, Freud had to ask herself “what does Barbour represent and how can I do my version of it?” she explains. Straightforward enough one would imagine – surely everybody has a fondness for one of the biggest British labels that has undergone something of a transformation in recent years.

“There are a lot of affectionate associations with Barbour, which is always a good hook with people. Lots of people have resonance with it – which is helpful when you're trying to distil how something feels.

“It's one of those classic English brands,” she continues. “It's got so much heritage, and is so linked to the countryside. It reminds me vaguely of growing up, not that we particularly lived a very Barbour lifestyle. We had such an unconventional upbringing – it didn't involve any clothes like Barbour.”

Although Freud's upbringing in East Sussex may have been unconventional, there are certain elements that many of Barbour's legions of loyal customers will no doubt relate to: “I grew up in the countryside and I was obsessed with horses and wildlife,” she says. This has evidently informed her designs this season, featuring as they do a whimsical array of flora and fauna: “The rabbit and lambs [designs] are my favourites,” says Freud. “They make me laugh. I like to think about how people will relate to you with that image on your jumper – they'll end up having their own take on it as well. Everyone has a feeling about a lamb – their green hooves were inspired by Andy Warhol.

“It was important to me to try to find some common ground that I could do something I would definitely wear, rather than the token nod towards something that leaves one feeling quite cold. What I like doing is imagery that can be interpreted in any particular way by the person who wears it.”

It is notable that while almost everybody will coo over things small and furry, it is the “moonscape” motif that is one of the most evocative of the collection: the black and white silhouette telling a romantic tale of “tramping through the woods at night and coming across a country house”. While Freud wanted the separate illustrations to have “some sort of relationship” to each other, her drawing style for each takes inspiration from different schools of art.

“I looked for things that had resonance with Barbour, then tried to make them my own version without it being alienating to them, or their customers.” Ah, the Barbour “customer” once so easily defined, although not necessarily flatteringly so, the 119-year-old label was a firm favourite with the country set – farmers, landowners and gentry.

But a few years ago, a fascination with all things bucolic intersected with celebrity fans such as Kate Moss and Alexa Chung adding some rock'n'roll credentials to the brand. Since then, waxed-jacket sightings have been plentiful in cities, too. It's no happy accident that Barbour has crossed over to have such mass appeal. Freud is the latest in a long list of collaborators who have helped to invigorate the brand. Indeed, Alice Temperley, Paul Smith and department store Liberty have all brought their own irreverent, distinctly British style to past collaborations.

For Freud, this collection – which also features hoodies, sweater dresses and oversized knits crafted from merino wool and luxury blends of cashmere and angora – is a chance to appeal to a new customer base.

When she tells me she sees “rebellious young girls” wearing her designs, I can't help but feel she's imagining her animal-obsessed, unconventional younger self.

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Best Whipped Foundation

Whipped foundation, also known as mousse foundation, has a light touch that makes it easier to apply in the thinnest layers. Try the best whipped foundation makeup products and find out the right ways to apply them.

Ideal for dry skin because of the smooth application, whipped foundation is compatible with all skin types and it can help you achieve the perfect makeup.

Revlon Whipped Foundation: ColorStay Makeup for Normal/Dry Skin SPF 15

It gets some of the best whipped foundation reviews and that's because it delivers what it says. The Revlon ColorStay product is easy to apply evenly and has the most noticeable effect on normal to dry skin, where the risk of caking is bigger for classic foundations. Its oil-free formula also helps control excess oil, keeping your makeup smudge free.

Maybelline Whipped Foundation: Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation

Available in 6 creamy shades from porcelain ivory to pure beige, this Maybelline whipped foundation promises baby-smooth skin perfection. Thanks to its excellent hydrating power (up to 14 hours), it's considered by many to be the best whipped foundation. Oil-free and non-comedogenic, it will keep your pores clean and your complexion flawless throughout the day.

Colorescience Sheer Creme Foundation, Not Too Deep

With a high content of vitamina A, C and E, the whipped foundation from Colorescience delivers a smooth application and seamless coverage. Use it to conceal an uneven skin tone and other imperfections for a flawless finish.

Sue Devitt Triple C-Weed Whipped Foundation, Quiet & Still

With a soft and light texture, the Sue Devitt is praised as one of the best whipped foundation products thanks to its nutrient and antioxidant rich ingredients, which vary from seaweed to vitamin C and chamomile extract.

Erno Laszlo Absolute Finish Foundation SPF 15

With a smooth texture that also comes with broad-spectrum UV protection, the Erno Laszlo whipped foundation helps you get the right coverage and protection for your skin without the feeling of heaviness.

How to Apply Whipped Foundation

Once you've applied one of the best whipped foundation makeup products, all you need to do is learn how to apply it properly to get the best results.

Start applying the product on one area at a time. It's important to blend well and fast. For the best results when using whipped foundation, use a stippling brush dipped lightly in the foundation. Use gently circular movements to ensure a smooth and full-coverage application.

Wedding Planning Don'ts You'll Want To Avoid

Of course you want to have a fabulous big day, so you must plan accordingly to avoid any potential pitfalls along the way. Take a look at these all-too-common “please don'ts.” (Psst! They're all avoidable.) Remember: Forewarned is forearmed!

1. Don't be superbride.

You're smart, you're focused, you're energetic. But you're still one woman. Superbrides -- those engaged gals who devote every waking hour to wedding planning, brushing aside all offers of help -- eventually run out of steam and end up near the big day with favors unassembled, invitations unstamped, shoes undyed, heads uncounted. How to avoid this fate? Call in your trusty sidekicks before you're really scrambling. Here's a little secret: People want to help. So do yourself a huge favor and accept their kind offers. Then, once you've got a cadre of pals stuffing your envelopes, sit back and have your toenails polished. You deserve it.

2. Don't have a cash bar.

Forcing guests to reach into their sequined clutches every time they want to enjoy a celebratory champagne or a refreshing gin and tonic is just plain rude. Think of it like this: You invite people to a party -- your wedding, for heaven's sake! -- and then you ask them to shell out for part of the fun. It's a recipe for bad feelings! Keep in mind that you don't have to have a top-shelf bar; in fact, there are plenty of other ways to serve and save. You could offer wine and beer only or create a signature cocktail. You might have an open bar during the cocktail hour only and serve wine at dinner. Ask your caterer to suggest lower-cost options.

3. Don't include registry info on invites.

Registering is a good thing for everyone. When gift buyers are steered to the things you actually want and need, it saves them time -- and saves you from having to contend with a pile of cut-crystal candy bowls. Registry info, however, does not belong on your wedding invitation. Why? Giving wedding gifts is never mandatory, though the vast majority of attendees will naturally want to do just that. Best way to get the message across is by word of mouth on the part of your mother or your bridesmaids or on bridal-shower invites.

4. Don't be bossy with your bridesmaids.

In the most traditional sense, your bridesmaids, in particular your maid of honor, are there to stand up for you as you take your vows, to act as witnesses to this solemn event. Somewhere along the line, bridesmaids have become, well, more like maids, and to an extent there's nothing wrong with that. These are your sisters, cousins, best friends, future in-laws, and there's something sort of sweet about the way they gather around you, wearing finery you picked out, helping you pin up your bustle, holding your flowers. But some brides ask (or worse, demand) far more: They expect their bridesmaids to shell out for needlessly expensive outfits, to run endless errands, to wear their hair just so, to attend (and buy gifts for) countless all-for-you parties. Don't let this happen. Be sensitive to how you'd feel if the tables were turned. Gifts to the maids are always welcome, of course, but a little kindness and care go a lot further than any pashmina shawl or monogrammed trinket.

5. Don't make guests cool their heels for hours between ceremony and reception.

I once attended a lovely wedding in a quaint wooden church in a rural area. Beautiful. Then I checked my invite. What?! The reception was scheduled for much later in the day, at a location that was a good 45-minute drive away. Sometimes it can be hard to plan a perfectly seamless wedding timeline, especially if your heart is set on sites that are wildly inconvenient to one another or if your ceremony and reception times don't line up. But do your best. If you really must wed at, say, your childhood church, confine your search for reception locales to local spots. If that's truly impossible or if you can't avoid a time gap, provide transportation and/or a comfortable spot for guests to hang out while they wait.

6. Don't plan a difficult destination wedding.

Ah, the lure of the exotic faraway wedding -- you can just picture it, can't you? Exchanging vows on top of a volcano in Hawaii... or how about in a ski gondola or on a majestic slope in the Austrian Alps? Hmmm, nice idea, but will Grandma Gert be up to the trip? Will your college pals drain their bank accounts to get there? No, and no. Destination weddings can be terrific, but as with any wedding, it's not only about you, it's also about your guests. While some friends and families welcome -- and can afford -- an Alpine adventure, others will end up resenting the cost and hassle or simply decline the invitation. Make it easy for everyone by (a) choosing a well-traveled locale, (b) planning well in advance and (c) providing information and help (securing group rates, for example). Bon voyage!

7. Don't go DIY crazy.

You know that clever bride who sewed her own dress and designed and made her own invitations? Or the one who baked her own three-tiered cake? Everyone's in awe of the girls who can do these things, and I say good for them -- if they did it because they really, really wanted to, and if they managed not to get stressed out. The point of these projects is to use your craft/sewing/baking/designing skills to save money and to put a one-of-a-kind stamp on some aspect of the wedding. But if you are really not the hands-on type, don't drive yourself crazy hot-gluing tulle and folding fiddly favors until 3 a.m. Only take on DIY projects that you can handle, and beg, borrow or buy the rest.

8. Don’t let parents steamroll your invite list.

Back in the days when parents footed the bill and brides were barely out of high school, the guest list was more Mom and Dad’s idea of a good party than the couple’s. Times have changed, but that doesn’t stop some pushy parents from insisting on having the whole book club, golf club or garden club at the wedding. Brush up on your guest list negotiating skills and start early. Once you have a budget in mind, you can rough out the number of guests it’s feasible to invite. Then ask both sets of parents for invite lists, in order of preference, so you can cut from the bottom if necessary. Stay in charge!

9. Don’t forget about your fiancé.

It may not seem like something you’d do, but plenty of women surprise themselves. We've got our heads stuck in a glossary of floral terms (stephanotis? anemone?) when all our men know is that there will be flowers at the wedding. We’re neglecting our regular TV and pizza night in favor of dress fittings. Hey, listen up: You’re not just having a wedding, you’re getting married -- to that guy over there, sitting on the couch, munching a cold slice of pizza. Put aside the bridal to-do lists and go give him a hug, would you? This is not just party-planning time, it’s major life transition time. So talk to each other. Talk about your life together. Talk about what color you want to paint the bedroom, what you want to name the puppy you’ll adopt -- whatever. Anything but flowers and crab-cake appetizers, please.

10. Don't bow to bridal peer pressure.

It’s insidious. You just got back from a friend’s wedding and you’re battling the green monster: She had an eight-piece band while you booked a DJ. She had Dom Perignon, you’re having sparkling wine. Well, stop right there. If you scramble your plans to best hers: 1) You’ll go over budget, and 2) You’ll hate yourself for it. Worse, you’ll veer off the course you set for your own dream wedding. She made her wedding hers. And you’re making your wedding yours. And that’s an “I do!”