8 signs that you're healthy

You can be working out five times a week and doing everything by the book, but how do you know if all your hard work of healthy eating and regular exercise is actually paying off?

Good health is more than a slim physique and buffed muscles, and your body is pretty clever about letting you know when things are on-track, or not.

1. Your Urine is Light in Colour

Your urine isn't something you probably check all the time, but if it's light in colour you're in luck - your kidneys are in fine working order! Darker urine can indicate you're not drinking enough clear fluids.

2. You Have Regular Periods

Ladies, regular periods are a great way to know your reproductive system is healthy. Missed or delayed periods could indicate things like malnutrition, over-exertion or even polycystic ovaries.

3. Your Lips Are Pink and Uncracked

Cracked lips can be a result of dehydration, but small cracks in the corners of the lips can be caused by a lack of B vitamins and zinc.

4. Your Wounds Heal Quickly

Small wounds like cuts and grazes should generally heal within a day or two. But if you find they're taking a long time to close over (or never heal) you could have a problem with your body's blood clotting properties or have an infection brewing.

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5. You Have a Good Resting Heart Rate

If your resting heart rate is between 60 to 80 beats per minute, good news - all that cardio is paying off. If it's higher than 80 you know that you need to add more cardio workouts like running, cycling and swimming into your weekly routine

6. Your Nails Are Pink and Soft

When you're healthy you nails will be pink, have a smooth surface and be firm to touch. If they have any of the following signs it's best to get checked by a doctor.

Weak, brittle nails: This comes with age, but can also be due to the overuse of salon treatments like acrylic nails or harsh nail polishes.

Yellow: If your nails have a slight yellow tinge to them it could possibly be a fungus (eww) or psoriasis, and best to get this one checked out.

Vertical ridges: This can be a result of hormonal changes, stress or even other diseases like diabetes or thyroid issues.

7. You Have Lots of Energy

If you're bounding out of bed each morning, chances are you're a healthy one. Good nutrition, adequate sleep and regular exercise mean you'll have enough energy to do most day-to-day tasks. If you're feeling tired and lethargic this could indicate poor sleep or nutrition, but could also be a result of a bigger health issue.

8. Your Body Mass Index is in Range

Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a great sign of your overall health. It can give you a pretty good idea of whether you're underweight, overweight or an ideal weight for your height. Everyone is different so it's best to use a BMI calculator to get an accurate reading.

Empowered women and powerful ideas

The label Mahnoush represents a number of attributes beauty, spirit, empowerment, ambition and passion. Here are the five women that Amin feels embody these qualities and represent Pakistan in the best light — master couturier Bunto Kazmi, the fearless filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, artist-extraordinaire Shahzia Sikander, dynamic social entrepreneur Roshaneh Zafar and leading athlete and sporting entrepreneur Naseem Hameed.

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy

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Fearless Film-maker

Amin says that Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy was chosen for bringing worldwide fame for Pakistan as the recipient of both an Oscar and an Emmy, and highlighting the plight of the less fortunate through her critically acclaimed work.

The first non-American to win the Livingstone Award for young journalists, Chinoy was conferred the Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan and was also included in Time magazine’s 2012 annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

“Mahnoush has chosen to celebrate Pakistani women who are passionate and dynamic and who represent the best of Pakistan, and that speaks volumes about the brand and its vision. Women in Pakistan are spirited and ambitious and I support a brand that looks to embrace and espouse these values.”

“I am honoured to be celebrated in such auspicious company. I feel the brand is authentically connected with people instead of on a surface level by shining a light on women who have defied the odds and succeeded,” adds Chinoy.

“It’s no secret that I have always had an ambitious spirit and I’ve always been passionate about the empowerment of women and communities. I always endeavour that my work as a filmmaker and a voice for Pakistan embodies the very ethos of passion, empowerment, truth and spirit.”

Bunto Kazmi

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Master couturier

Bunto Kazmi was chosen for the way she has reached the pinnacle of her career with her customary grace, according to Amin.

She creates not just beautiful clothes, but works of art, heirlooms to be passed on from one generation to the next. With intricate workmanship and motifs that ultimately save the best of our sartorial traditions for coming generations, she is a living legend.

“I feel extremely humbled to be celebrated as one of Pakistan’s most formidable women,” says Kazmi. “I think I embody passion the most, as I have always gone the extra mile to fulfil my work commitments, and ensure that each outfit is a labour of love,” she adds.

Shahzia Sikander

Artist extraordinaire

Shahzia Sikander was chosen for her immense achievements in the international art scene, according to Amin.

She is responsible for re-inventing miniature painting as practised in Pakistan today. Her multimedia work in video, animation, mural and installation has pioneered a new discourse in the arts by bringing contemporary miniature painting into the international arena. She was recently awarded the MacArthur Genius Award and is currently working on a new project commissioned by the Samdani Foundation, Dhaka.

“I am proud to be a Pakistani Woman and to be celebrated in the company of other women I admire and respect. For me, art is not just an impulse to make aesthetically pleasing objects. It has been an instinct to think and imagine the future. Ideas are a powerful entity. In re-imagining lies the ability to break moulds and re-examine the norms,” says Sikander.

“Creativity is genius and the more we strengthen and build cohesion in the creative capital drawn from the diverse communities of our great nation, the better we will be to address our current and future challenges,” she adds.

Naseem Hameed

Athlete and sporting entrepreneur

Naseem was chosen by Amin not just for getting a gold medal in the SAF games, but for setting up an academy to train young sportsmen and sportswomen.

“It’s a great honour for me that I was selected as one of these five women being celebrated, and being part of the campaign with the likes of Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Bunto Kazmi, who have promoted the positive image of Pakistan in the world,” says Naseem.

“I believe my spirit, passion and ambition are reflected in everything I’ve done and hopefully in all that I will do as an athlete and as an entrepreneur,” she adds.

Roshaneh Zafar

Amin says that Roshaneh Zafar was chosen for the wonderful work she has done for bettering the lives of thousands through micro-finance opportunities.

She is renowned for her pioneering work in helping women in lower-income groups achieve economic parity. The Kashf Foundation has disbursed over 2.2 million loans and redirected the lives of thousands of households.

“For me, this is about upholding Pakistan’s traditions of art and design. It’s about combining the classic woman with modernity and about promoting one of Pakistan’s most vibrant industries — textiles. At one level it’s also about being a supporter of women led businesses, which Mahnoush as a brand represents,” says Zafar.

“I am sure there are many other women who deserve this title, especially the low-income women entrepreneurs who I work with, who are truly formidable. I have deep respect for the women of Pakistan who despite all the challenges they face are able to realize their dreams. I hope being part of this campaign will encourage other women to excel in other fields,” she adds.

NARS stylist: Not a plain Jane

YOU don’t have to be conventionally beautiful to be beautiful, said Jane Richardson, international lead make-up stylist for NARS. “I prefer to work on faces that are different, that have a stronger element in them.”

While she has come across her fair share of drop dead gorgeous women like Diane Kruger, Mena Suvari and British model Holly Willoughby throughout her illustrious career, it was Tilda Swinton’s adrogynous features that captivated her the most.

“She has the most incredibly interesting face and she’s just so graceful,” gushed Richardson, referring to the time she worked on Swinton for a critically acclaimed one-woman-runway show called The Impossible Wardrobe at Au Palais de Tokyo in Paris in 2012. An unorthodox beauty herself, with flaming burgundy hair and an icy cerulean stare, the London-based Richardson was handpicked by NARS founder Francois Nars as they share the same philosophy.

“A lot of women are so busy trying to conform to the images they see and put on make-up like everyone else. Don’t try and make (what you have) different. Be who you are,” said Richardson, 40, who was in Kuala Lumpur recently.

This paint-pot magician wasted no time wowing her beauty industry peers with her ubiquitous presence in fashion publications like Elle, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and behind the scenes at runway shows. As an international lead make-up stylist, Richardson works by Nars’ personal ethos of “Don’t be so serious, it’s only make-up”.

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Unique to NARS, “wardrobing” is a technique used to help women understand make-up. The concept was explained by Richardson: “You need your ‘Wardrobe Basics’ – the things that you really can’t do without. Then you need your ‘Modern Classics’, which are all about the things that suit you – those that bring out your eyes, your hair, your skin tone, or that simply work with your bone structure. Then, there are the ‘Fashion Accessories’ which will ensure that you are not going to wear the same look for the next 20 years.”

She believes the key to improving oneself is to break a few rules once in a while. “When we’re learning to do make-up, you’re breaking it down into stages and steps. But at some point, you have to relax and not take it so seriously. If not, you won’t be playful, you’ll be wearing the same thing over and over.”

Richardson is never spotted without bright lips (“It’s the DNA of the company”) but, true to her words, her obsession with colours and textures runs the gamut with each passing season.

“I’ve worn a lot of reds, but now, I’m into pink,” she said mischievously. “I’m now obsessed with 413 Bleaker; I think I need therapy! But today, I’ve mixed it with Tim and Fire – the new mandarin red – for a Spring touch,” she said.

According to Nars himself, the palette “mimics an island getaway: rich, glistening, and saturated from the sun”. Inspired by Helmut Newton’s photography from Monte Carlo, the collection features a range of shades and finishes “from shimmering sheer to bold washes of colour”.

The resulting look, which can be spotted on model Toni Garrn in the spring 2014 ad campaign, is “very relaxed yet glamorous”.

To recreate Garrn’s look, Richardson said on should start at the base, with NARS’ complexion products. “The lovely thing about these is that they are designed to manipulate how light falls onto the skin. It’s like having your own lighting crew follow you around.”

Richardson, who uses NARS’ Multi-protector primer SPF 30 herself, said it’s the one thing she cannot live without. “I wish I used SPF earlier in my life. I burn very easily, so I use it every day even if I don’t wear any make-up. It gives you a pearlescent sheen.”

Meanwhile, NARS will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year and Richardson – who recently got a sneak peek of what’s in store – cannot contain her excitement.

“It doesn’t matter how long I’ve worked for them, I still get excited when I see the new collection. You still want it. You know it’s going to get bigger,” she concluded.

For a harmless Holi

A day in the sun with your loved ones and a whole lot of colour sounds fun. But gulal and other colours — unless you're using the eco-friendly ones — are not derived from natural sources.

They contain chemicals, particles of mica and even lead, which harm your skin and accumulate on your scalp. Moreover, exposure to sun tans the skin and makes it dry due to depletion of moisture. So, don't let this Holi end on a sour note with skin and hair woes. We give you a checklist of things to do before and after rang barse... to keep your skin and hair looking clean and fresh.

POST-HOLI ROUTINE After-care post your Holi celebrations is important. Keep away from any harsh treatments for your skin and hair.

SKIN

Do not wash your face with soap immediately, because soap is alkaline and causes further dryness. Scrubbing is a strict no-no too, as your skin isn't ready for exfoliation at this stage; it needs to be treated gently. So, use a cleansing cream or lotion. Apply and massage it on the face. Then wipe off with a moist cotton ball. Also, gently cleanse the area around the eyes with a cleansing gel or a make-up remover. This will dissolve the colours and facilitate their removal. It will help seal in moisture too. If you're experiencing any kind of redness, rashes or irritation, an ice pack will take care of it. After icing, apply a gentle moistur iser - a must-do for dry skin.

Tip: If you have sesame seed (til) oil in your kitchen, you can use it to remove colours from the body and counteract sun damage.

HAIR Rinse your hair with plenty of plain water to wash away the dry colours and tiny particles of mica. Then, apply a mild herbal shampoo, specially made for dry hair. Massage the scalp gently and rinse thoroughly with water again. In a mug, add lemon juice and water and use this as the last rinse. This will help to restore the acid-alkaline balance of the scalp. Follow up with a regular conditioner.

Beer can also be used as the last rinse. In fact, it will soften and condition your hair. Add lemon juice to beer and pour the mixture all over your hair after shampooing. Leave on for a few minutes and rinse off with plain water.

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If you're experiencing an itchy scalp, add two tbsp of vinegar to a mug with little water and use it as the last rinse. This will reduce the itching. However, if the itching continues and causes redness, it may be a sign of allergy. Consult a doctor at the earliest.

GIVE YOUR HAIR A NOURISHING TREATMENT

What you'll need: Pure coconut oil: 1 tbsp and Castor oil: 1 tsp

Method: Mix the above mentioned oils. Heat and apply on the hair. Dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Leave it on for five minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap procedure three or four times. This will help the hair and scalp absorb the oil better. Wash your hair after an hour.

TO MAKE YOUR OWN HAIR MASK What you'll need: Henna powder: (depending on the length of your hair), Lemon juice: 4 tsp, Coffee: 4 tsp, Egg yolks: 2 eggs, Olive oil: 2 tsp and Curd: enough to mix into a paste.

Method: Apply on the hair and wash your hair after an hour.

Inputs by beauty expert Shahnaz Hussain

MAKE YOUR OWN SKIN CLEANSER What you'll need: Cold milk: ½ cup, Til/Olive/Sunflower oil: 1 tsp

Method: Mix the above ingredients. Dip cotton wool into this mixture and use it to cleanse the skin.

MAKE YOUR OWN FACE MASK

The day after Holi, you may have to deal with the effects of sun exposure, like dryness or tanned skin. Applying a homemade face mask will work wonders on your skin.

What you'll need: Honey: 2 tbsp, Curd: ½ cup, Turmeric: ½ pinch

Method: Mix the above ingredients in a bowl. Blend the mixture well. Apply this on the face, neck and arms. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off with water. Honey will soften the skin, while curd will nourish and restore the normal acidalkaline balance. It will also remove tan.

PRE-HOLI ROUTINE Add a protective layer on your skin and hair to keep the colour from seeping in. For the same, go for simple ingredients that are gentle and effective.

SKIN

Don't allow the colours to touch your bare skin. A thick layer of sunscreen on your body, as well as face, will help you do this. Use a sunscreen of SPF 20 or more. If your skin is prone to pigmented patches, select one with a higher SPF. Most sunscreens have built-in moisturisers. If your skin is very dry, first slather the sunblock, wait for a few minutes and then apply a moisturiser. Apply the sunblock at least 15-20 minutes before you head out. The SPF keeps the sun from harming you and the moisturiser protects your skin from drying chemicals in the colours.

HAIR

Coat your hair with a generous amount of nourishing oil. You can choose between almond oil and olive oil. Or apply a protective, leave-in conditioner or hair serum. They form a layer over your hair and protect it from chemicals in colours, pollutants and sunlight. They also add shine to your mane.

NAILS

To avoid your manicured nails from getting ruined, coat them with a vitamin E-enriched base coat. Also, drench your cuticles in cuticle oil to avoid them from soaking up the colours. You can also paint your nails with multiple coats of nail polish.

Sarah Jessica Parker May Have an Awesome Shoe Line, But Her Promo Style Is Awful

Fashion it-girls are a dime a dozen in today’s fame- and style-obsessed world, but at the end of the day, it’s the lasting style icons who are the only ones who truly matter. We’re talking ladies like Kate Moss, Anna Wintour, even Michelle Obama — ladies who can practically do no wrong, no matter what gorgeous, fashion-forward, and sometimes-risky outfits they sport. And up until recently, we thought the ever-stylish Sarah Jessica Parker fit that bill pretty well — until she started showing up at appearance after appearance wearing ensembles that even Carrie Bradshaw might look at with confusion, that is.

We were beyond thrilled when, months ago, we heard that Parker was launching her own footwear line, and were even more excited as images of the polished, cutesy, and slightly quirky designs started to trickle in. Now that the line — sold exclusively at Nordstrom — has actually launched, however, we’re feeling pretty let down. And not over the shoes, but over the outfits SJP has been wearing to promote them.

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First came the highly questionable denim overall capris that she donned on Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime talk show while talking up her SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker shoe line, which she completed with an off-the-shoulder white blouse and an admittedly adorable pair of teal suede pumps. Sure, that wouldn’t be our choice of outfit while promoting our new shoe brand on national television, but it is probably an outfit that Carrie Bradshaw would both approve of and wear herself.

The real problem arose when SJP ditched her glamorous gowns, tasteful frocks, and sleek skirts in favor of tween-tastic dress-and-T-shirt ensembles. First, she showed up to a pop-up shop event in New York City sporting a white lace crop top over a plain, long-sleeved black dress and tights, then she headed to a Nordstrom-hosted event in Los Angeles wearing a white lace dress over a black long-sleeved shirt, black tights, and the same teal pumps she wore on Ellen. The most recent disaster happened when she donned a red, lace tank dress over a puffy white button-down, sheer navy tights that stopped at the ankle, and a pair of black T-strap heels to a launch event in Florida.

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The dress-over-shirt ensemble isn’t a bad one in and of itself, as we’ve seen stars like Alexa Chung pull this look off perfectly again and again, and it can be a chic way to warm up a summer dress for cool, winter weather. But there’s simply no excuse for a woman of Parker’s sartorial caliber to don a look so uninspiring not just once, but three times over the last few weeks.

And it’s not even that these outfits are so wacky that they borderline on good (or at least intriguing), because we could understand that coming from SJP. (After all, this is a woman who’s worn a leather jacket over a ball gown and the world’s most insane headpiece to the Met Gala). Rather, it’s that they’re so un-noteworthy, average, and just plain boring that we can’t believe one of today’s living fashion legends would dare to step out in them.

Not that it’s our job to put the Carrie Bradshaw in her sartorial place, but we do have a few sage pieces of advice that Parker may want to consider next time she throws on a lace dress over a T-shirt and tights.

First, try a little statement jewelry. That white lace dress would have had at least a little visual intrigue had she traded out her tiny pendant necklace for a major bauble à la the one she wore to last year’s AOL Digital Content NewFront event.

Second, if you’re going to tuck a button-down shirt under a loose-fitting lace dress, be sure to choose a slim-fit blouse to avoid drowning in a ton of unnecessary fabric. And finally, when all else fails and you really can’t think of anything more exciting to wear, it never hurts to throw on a bright, bold red lip.

Listen, we love Parker more than your average girl, so that probably explains why her promo style is upsetting us so much. But is it too demanding to ask for one of our favorite style icons to put in at least a little effort on her latest fashion adventure? We think not.

Kendall Jenner, Off Duty: Style and Beauty Lessons to Learn From the New "It" Girl

It’s difficult to separate Kendall Jenner from the Kardashian empire, but the 18-year-old seems to be doing everything she possibly can to do so. Jenner stunned the fashion world when she walked the runway at Marc Jacobs’ Fall/Winter show in New York last month, and while rumors swirled whether it was a one time thing, Jenner has proven she’s here to stay.

Since then, Jenner sat in the front row next to Anna Wintour at the Topshop Unique show in London and has walked for Givenchy and Chanel this Paris Fashion Week. Being part of a famous family surely helped her become recognized, but her poise and professionalism (and that supermodel bod of hers) have definitely earned Jenner a ton of respect as a high-fashion model. I doubt that Karl Lagerfeld gives two shits about what family she belongs to, so if she gets the Kaiser’s seal of approval, I think we can all expect to see more of Kendall Jenner the model in our future.

She may be getting all of the attention being on the runway, but Jenner’s off duty style is pretty enviable, too. Because she may be fashion’s next “It” girl, here are a few lessons you can learn from the model herself.

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NOURISHING YOUR BODY IS KEY TO OUTER BEAUTY

Taking care of your body and mind is just as beneficial as any skin cream or beauty product can be.

BAND TEES ARE STILL IN

Sure, snack-inspired shirts and parody tees still reign supreme, but your favorite tattered band tee, like Jenner’s Lynyrd Skynyrd top, will never go out of style. Don’t be afraid to represent.

LAYERING CAN LOOK SEXY

Yes, it’s still cold outside and while you’re itching to show some skin in your cute spring dresses, it’s totally possible to look and feel sexy all bundled up.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO KEEP THINGS CASUAL

Unlike her older Kardashian sisters, Jenner likes to keep things casual when she’s off duty, sporting her favorite comfortable sneakers and a backpack, albeit super-chic, to throw everything in.

WHEN IN DOUBT, WEAR RED

Even when you’re having an off day or aren’t feeling particularly pretty, there’s nothing a swipe of red lipstick can’t fix.

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Paris Fashion Week: Is Karl Lagerfeld off his trolley? Audience strips shelves after Chanel show

Karl Lagerfeld staged his autumn/winter 2014 Chanel collection in a recreation of a supermarket. The shelves were stocked with faux Chanel-branded products - everything from “Jambon Cambon” ham, to camellia-festooned rubber gloves. Lagerfeld went for a simple, direct title: “Chanel Shopping Centre.”

That all sounds funny. And expensive. It was both. It also says a lot about the state of the fashion world today. Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel collections often feel like a supermarket sweep, a riot of tweed and chains, pearls and cashmere. Like those mega-marts that pepper industrial wasteland, it can all feel a bit overwhelming. But once you find the aisle with the stuff you like, it’s easy to make your purchase, and a swift exit. That’s Lagerfeld’s formula: he lays his wares out and you pick and choose, like a Chanel salad bar.

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Equally, that supermarket can be seen as a metaphor for how designers plunder the stocks of fashion’s past with gleeful abandon, throwing everything into the trolley and seeing what they can cook up when they get home. Lagerfeld does that better than anyone. The man invented the revival of the designer brand when he first clocked into the Chanel HQ on Rue Cambon over 30 years ago. And he still cherry-picks through those references best. Today, alongside the eternal tweeds, there was a hint of the early ’90s with moth-eaten leggings and trainers, and of Lagerfeld’s back-catalogue of sarcastic Chanel-isms like a leather-intertwined chain shopping basket or 2.55 handbag wrapped in cling-film.

Finally, a supermarket sates appetites – en masse. After Lagerfeld took his bow, the entire audience surged forward to grab and bag those Chanel-ised everyday staples in a fashion free-for-all. Lagerfeld, ever-impassive behind sunglasses, coolly fielded questions while mobs stripped the shelves. Security guards confiscated the lot when guests reached the door. Everything will be going into Chanel’s boutique window schemes this autumn.

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Chanel’s supermarché worked because it wasn’t merely a superficial staging tag-on. There’s a depth. Lagerfeld is a master at catching the mood – in this case, the commerciality and safeness that has infected many a collection. Sometimes, that shapes up into refreshing realness. Other times it means the clothes lack the frisson of forward-thinking that gives them true catwalk validity. They’re pure product, like all that Coco Panettone on Chanel’s Shopping Centre shelves.

Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen shows aren’t about reality. There’s a commercial collection in the showroom to shore up this considerable business. The catwalk is where Burton allows herself – and us – a flight of fancy.

This time, the theme was beauty and the beast, usually fused in dresses that collided lace and lambskin, tiered ruffles against tough, even visceral sproutings of fur or hard patent leather. A trio of sheath dresses disintegrated into animalistic fronds of pelt at the hem. You couldn’t help but place Burton’s tour de force (for it was) in a deeper context, like that afforded Lagerfeld. Maybe the beast is crass commerce, the beauty that form of catwalk artistry and make-believe rapidly falling out of fashion. The industry today is an unholy, uneven marriage between the two.

Not at McQueen. As a pair of gossamer gowns ethereal in their loveliness closed the show, Burton’s beauty won through. To dress? Perchance, to dream.