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Summer in the UAE is no picnic. It’s harsh, humid and pretty harrowing. The mercury climbs upwards of 45°C, bringing with a great incidence of heat stroke, exhaustion and dehydration. Humans can tolerate internal temperatures above 41°C for only very brief periods of time.  The response of the body to this involves increased blood circulation and sweating to keep the body cool. However, prolonged exposure to heat can be hazardous.     “When this happens, the body's core temperature rises and the heart rate increases. As the body continues to store heat, the person begins to lose concentration and has difficulty focusing on a task, may become irritable or sick, and often loses the desire to drink. The next stage is most often fainting and even death if the person is not cooled down.  When the body’s fluid levels are dangerously low, vessels contract and blood pressure levels drop. The lack of electrolytes in the blood means vital organs do not get blood flow. This can ca

The Brand - Aveeno ,  suitable for the treatment of extra dry, itchy and irritated skin through its distinctive formula of natural Colloidal Oatmeal blended with rich emollients. The Aveeno scientists have been experimenting for over 60 years with the natural properties and chemical compounds of oats, renowned for their ability in providing relief to those suffering from dry and irritated skin. Today their range still maintains its original skincare philosophy and all products contain naturally active Colloidal Oatmeal and oat extracts to nurture and transform skin to an enhanced state of natural health and beauty. The Product: Aveeno Hand Cream with Colloidal Oatmeal The Claim:  Aveeno products actively relieve and protect skin by replenishing and locking in moisture for a full 24 hours. The Result:  I loved it! I wouldn't say that it lasts the full 24 hours, but it does last longer than any other hand cream I have used. When I applied it at night before bed it

Hair washing and blow drying aren’t the only culprits behind those stray hairs in the sink; breakage can lead to excessive hair loss in damaged hair. The new Syoss Anti-Hair Fall* Fiber Resist 95 range with phyto stem cell extract strengthens and fortifies brittle hair. Hair will then grow long and strong again, boasting its usual natural shine and manageable texture.  The Science The new Syoss Anti-Hair Fall* Fiber Resist 95 strengthens the hair from root to tip. It does this with help from a phyto stem cell extract derived from botanical stem cells, which stimulates the hair’s energy metabolism in the roots where the hair grows. This in turn activates the roots. For best results, use both the shampoo and conditioner. This will lead to 95% less hair loss caused by hair breakage. Syoss Anti-Hair Fall* Fiber Resist 95 – optimum protection for the scalp, strong roots and hair that can stand up to anything.  The Result As you already know, I test all the products befo

Fungi are widespread in the environment so it is not unusual that a large amount of fungi and their spores end up being inhaled into the lungs or landing on the skin. Under conditions of moisture, warmth, irritation and injury these fungi grow rapidly and may cause infection. Fungal infections of the skin that usually result in red, flaky patches on the skin cause physical stress and lead to mental distress. The hot, humid weather of the UAE is the ideal breeding ground for these infections and it is advisable to take precautionary actions. Dr. Khushbu Goel, Specialist Dermatologist at Medeor 24x7 Hospital outlines some of the more common infections and how to treat them: Athlete’s Foot : Medically known as Tinea Pedis, this infection occurs in the feet and is caused by a fungus that lives on dead skin cells. It leads to peeling, redness, itching and in severe cases blisters and sores. The common fungal infection thrives on moist, warm environments and spreads through direct contact.

The Noodle House has added a whopping 28 new items to their menu and I was one of the first few to taste it. A bunch of bloggers were invited down to the DIFC branch where we devoured the new menu and had a master class in the art of making the perfect dumplings. Not to brag, but I passed with flying colours. After wrapping, frying and tasting my own dumplings it was time to feast of the delicacies prepared by the chefs. We started off with the soups, the tom yam goong and the Singaporean laksa. The tom yam (pictured above) was more of a water based soup with a punch of spices on the other hand the Singaporean laksa was a creamier coconut milk based soup, the flavour of which really appealed to my taste buds. Both the soups were a mix of various seafood items and veggies. Singaporean Lasksa Prawn Chips The wasabi prawns were tossed in a marinade of wasabi and served topped with nuts and cilantro, which gave it a creamy yet nutty flavour. The brisket noodle

India is a country full of culture, languages and ingenuity. We are known for being the largest democracy in the world, we are secular, we have a rich and dense history and our food is found in every part of the planet. And I am proud to be an Indian.  We received independence from the British Raj on August 15, 1947 and today marks the 69th anniversary of a fight that lasted for almost a 150 years. During these years we lost a number of freedom fighters trying to bring us the freedom we have today. 'Shaheed' is what we address and remember our heroes as, so lets take a moment and remember them and the unsung heroes of our freedom struggle. Happy Independence Day to every Indian all over the world. Jai Hind! - Komal R. Lakhani

Nilo Haq I always support natural beauty, but sometimes there are days when you have to head out to a party, a trip or a special dinner and your skin is just not up for it! It's one of those days when you have to dig in to your make up kit and cover up the untimely flaws. But many a times we make a mistake when it comes to selecting the right product. To help you with this dilemma make-up artist & Pond’s Arabia brand ambassador has shared with Komal's Korner the common skin issues faced by most people and how to deal with them using makeup: Problem: Dark Circles Dark circles are a problem most girls have.  Besides trying to get your 9 hours of uninterrupted beauty sleep, drinking the recommended intake of daily water and eating well there are some makeup tricks that can hide them in a jiffy. Generally dark circles are blue or brown based in color, so after applying foundation use an orange color corrector and apply a tiny amount on top of the dark area evenly. T

I've started to love these cute little invisibobbles . The reasons are quite simple, so I will get right to it. First, and the most important they are gentle on the hair which leads to less hair breakage (don't you hate it when you take of your hair tie and it's covered in your precious hair that it painfully pulled out while not letting go!).  Second, they don't leave any of those terrible dents in my hair (especially the ones you get from a sleek high ponytail).  Third, they do stay pretty firm in the hair without reducing the volume (useful if you are doing a messy or low bun).  Photo courtesy Invisiboble Fourth, they distribute pressure evenly throughout the ring, which means less headaches! This is one problem I don't face much but I know my sister does. So if you get headaches from tying your hair very tight, invisibobble can help. Photo courtesy Invisiboble Fifth,  they are easy to wash. Even your hair ties need to be clean