In what has to be THE craziest diet move of all times, 23-year-old model Bria Murphy (Eddie Murphy’s daughter), has revealed that many models eat cotton balls to stay thin. Unfortunately, she is not the only one to have brought this frightening fact into the limelight – enough models and minders have spoken about the “cotton ball diet” in the past to have us realise that this is indeed a “trend”.
And exactly how is this savoury dish served up? Cotton balls are dipped in orange juice and then swallowed. The reason? You feel full sans any calories as the cotton balls just dissolve away after a while – they don’t add any fat or calories to your body.
Sick as it sounds, this is just another version of extreme dieting that’s prevalent in the look-good-despite-feeling-awful circles. Earlier in the year, former Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Kristie Clements described similar behavior in The Vogue Factor
Forgive me for sounding lame and untrendy but I was always under the impression that one ate food for the nutrition that a body needs to function. Am sure that nobody here needs a refresher course in what happens when the body is starved of life-sustaining vitamins, minerals, proteins and even (gasp!) fats and carbohydrates. Not to say anything about what a steady infusion of cotton balls and tissues would do to the digestive system.
Head. Spinning.
What about you? Tempted by the cotton ball diet? What’s the craziest or most extreme diet trend that you’ve come across?
is still one of the brand’s bestselling lines.
, the first double-ended mascara and 
, a loose powder eyeshadow in a clever box that delivers the right amount of powder onto the built-in brush. Today, the emphasis is on color – ranging from neutral shades to vivid hues – and making Parisian style accessible to women across the world. The Bourjois catalogue includes over 400 shades and that 100 of these are renewed every year. And for collectors who just can’t resist those original iconic Little Round Pots, Bourjois regularly launches limited edition vintage series.
has a fruity-floral fragrance laced with greenness. It’s replete with sparkling bergamot, dew-kissed blackberry buds, the bitter greens of ivy and fern, white blossoms, water lily, earthy geranium, creamy clouds of musk, willow and moss… a very pretty scent whose sweetness is evident without being overwhelming. In fact, this is actually an almost-clean fragrance on me once it settles – just the way I want a summer bath-time ritual to feel like. $18 upwards
with two types of Hyaluronic Acid for a serious moisture hit. Bid goodbye to dry and tight skin for good! $40
. Billed as a shine-enhancer, rather than a gloss, the nourishing formula bolstered by cupuaçu and mango butters goes on velvety smooth, without any trace of stickiness – a God-send for lip lacquering. The familiar faintly citrus scent of the original balms is also present, as is the signature blend of reparative oils. I am already stocking up! $18.50
is perfect for creating a flawless, semi-matte finish that lasts all day. It’s chockfull of oil-free, oil-controlling ingredients that have serious all-day staying power, even through heat and humidity. Added bonus: it now comes in even more shades than before. $44 / INR 2,535
, there is now a limited edition shade for the royal baby-to-be: 
. The polish was named after an expression used by doting grannies hoping for grandchildren: “Will we hear the pitter patter of little feet soon?”. I was secretly hoping the shade would give us a slight hint to the baby’s sex (bright pink!), but the gorgeous aubergine shimmer could go either way. $15
. Bursting with sunshine and freshness, it’s a delicate yet sophisticated floral scent of citrus and musky top notes. It’s what I am spritzing on every day – this is true love. $90 / £42.75
is terrific for illuminating alfresco dinner parties or creating a soft glow for private reflections. $48
And since all dresses are samples, sewn to fit tall, thin runway models rather than actresses, one of the most indispensable elements is an expert seamstress – one who can raise the hems, narrow the sleeves and magically extend the waistlines. In the case of vintage gowns, one ingenious trick is to dismantle matching dresses from the same collection to carve out extra fabric. I’ve got to remember this one for future endeavors of the vintage kind.
went to the top of the bestseller charts after its launch last year. This year, it won best new female fragrance at the FiFis (the Oscars of the fragrance industry). Mr Saab, as he is referred to by his staff, was involved in every part of the process – right from the selection of the scent to the complex design of the bottle, which mirrors both his love of squares and the flowing cut of his dresses. Even the box is designed in his signature ‘Elie Saab beige’, accompanied by a flash of gold to evoke a ‘touch of Lebanon’. Perfect for the red carpet.
) while browsing in Sephora. To be honest, I’ve never been a huge Cavalli fan (leopard print just isn’t my thing) so I wasn’t overly optimistic. Plus, from the packaging I was expecting it to be overpowering and sweet, something along the lines of 
.
and 
may find it to be love at first sniff.
