Every VIP guest at Audrey Magazine’s 5th annual fashion show, Audrey’s Night Out, will not only be able to sit right in front of all the action, but he/she will also be able to take home a gift bag worth over $100.00! Check out which items will be included in each gift bag.
The gift bags ready for our ANO VIP’s!
Courtesy of www.USA.Melvita.com
According to the California Science Center, about 60% of the human body is made up of water. Just like we need water to prevent dehydration, our skins need to be taken care of the same way. Keeping the biggest organ of the human body moisturized, smooth, and looking healthy should be everyone’s priority and incorporate it into the everyday lifestyle. This is especially true, and quickly becomes an exigence, when the seasons begin to change. The days of extremely hot and exhaustingly sunny weather of summer will soon turn into days of cold and dry for the fall. When it comes to treating and nourishing your skin this fall, check out organic, natural skin treatments and creams from Melvita.
Melvita is an organic cosmetics company founded by a French biologist and beekeeper, Bernard Chevilliat, in 1983. Having a strong passion and belief in nature, specifically in bees and flowers, Chevilliat and Melvita promises to use ingredients from responsible organic farms. Not only is its formulas comprised of natural components, but everything from testing to their packaging are eco friendly.
Continue reading to discover Melvita’s best skin products for the fall!
Neon outfits, hip hop and urban inspired head-to-toe looks, outrageous and daring hairstyles filled the streets of Downtown, Los Angeles on Friday night, August 24, 2012. If you didn’t know any better, you would’ve thought there was a costume party somewhere in the middle of L.A. Live. No, there wasn’t a costume party nor an early prep of Halloween that night; instead, it was 2NE1’s “New Evolution” concert at the Nokia Theatre – their first official World Tour. After wowing Newark, New Jersey, the melting pot of Los Angeles got the chance to witness South Korea’s very own piece of swag, urban, and pop: Dara, Minzy, Park Bom, and 2NE1’s leader, CL live. South Korea’s hip-hop girl group of YG Entertainment, one of South Korea’s biggest and prestigious recording label, brought together people of all ages, race, and gender that night. Strobe neon lights and urban stage props filled the stadium as 2NE1 danced and performed songs from their debut album, To Anyone, to their latest single, “I Love You.” Continue reading for more details and photos from the concert!
Courtesy of Live Nation
Elaine Truong (left) and Jenny Bui(right) | photo provided by Calvin Eusebio
Meet Jenny and Elaine: together they own Antoinette’s Boutique, an online and non-profit store of handmade, vintage jewelry. The Boutique that’s only about a year old is divided into three sections: “handmade,” “vintage,” and “global.” These jewelries are either handmade by Jenny and Elaine themselves, made and sold by other local boutiques or online stores, such as Etsy, or they come from third world countries, which are made by the women there. Despite the fact that the idea of the company was created a year ago, they have created: partnerships with non-profit organizations and other similar jewelry stores, an up-to-date website that channels their vision of French chic-ness, and have already been mention in established publications such as, Teen Vogue, Seventeen magazine, and Pasadena Star News. Oh, and did we mention that they’re only sixteen and eighteen-years-old?
Continue reading for the full interview and for more pictures!
As the U.S. Supreme Court debates the constitutionality of President Obama’s historic Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have a big stake in the results. Why you should care about health care reform.
ISSUE: Summer 2012
DEPT: Beauty Kit
STORY: Regina Ip
It’s a story heard over and over again. You graduated college several years ago, but you’re one of the 50 percent of struggling college grads who is either unemployed or underemployed, according to an April 2012 Associated Press report. Unable to find a job in this tough labor market, you move back in with your parents.
On top of your mounting student loans, your stress levels are at an all time high. Soon, you start to feel sick. First, some migraines. Then, minor chest pain. You’re hesitant about seeing a doctor, which could set you back between $80 to $200. You couldn’t afford to pay that for one visit, let alone any medical treatment if it turns out you actually have a health problem.
In the past, you would have had to pay up. Health insurance companies could remove children as young as 19 from a parent’s health plan. But the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), the largest overhaul of the health care system in U.S. history, enacted on March 23, 2010, changed that. Now, you are one of 97,000 young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (collectively, “Asian Americans”) who are covered under your parents’ health plan until the age of 26, according to the Asian Pacific Is- lander Caucus for Public Health.
It’s just one of many health care reforms provided under the ACA, not the least of which include a provision that prohibits denial of coverage due to a pre-existing condition, as well as an individual mandate that will require every American to have health insurance. But the legality of the ACA has been challenged and soon the United States Supreme Court will render its decision on the law’s constitutionality. The Court’s decision is likely to have a major impact on Asian Americans, who face significant health disparities and suffer some of the lowest rates of coverage in the U.S. One in six Asian American adults and one in 10 children do not have health insurance, according to the Asian Pacific American Legal Cen- ter (APALC). This translates into almost 2.5 million Asian Americans who are uninsured (162,000 of which are Pacific Islanders). Compared to 13.3 percent of percent of the U.S. population) in 2010 are expected to more than double to 43 million, or 10 percent of the population, by 2050.
These statistics perhaps explain why Asian Americans are twice as likely than both non-Hispanic whites and African Americans to have not seen a doctor in the past five years, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s 2008 National Health Interview Survey. And yet Asian Americans face serious health disparities that include disproportionately high rates of certain types of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Three in 10 Asian Americans are living with asthma, diabetes or hypertension, according to the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), a national organization that filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case. Asian Americans are also disproportionately affected by certain chronic diseases, like hepatits B, the leading cause of liver cancer. “Disparities are greatest for Asian American women, in particular,” given the low screening rate for cancer, says UCLA Public Health Associate Professor Ninez Ponce. “The importance of preventive services — pap tests, HPV vaccinations, mammography — those are really critical for Asian American women.”
Ponce, who specializes in cancer prevention and control research, says that the ACA expands health care access for the community. “These prevention services, part of the essential health package, also would not require co-pays or high deductibles. The cost of getting that would be virtually zero, which would mean no financial barriers for Asian American women.”
How the ACA Affects You
According to the APALC and APIAHF, some of the benefits under the ACA include:
- Children may be covered under their parent’s health insurance plan until age 26. As a result, 97,000 Asian Americans have gained coverage.
- Various preventive care services — such as cancer screening tests, flu shots and mammograms — must be provided without any cost or co-payments by the patient. About 2.7 million Asian Americans with private insurance have been affected by this.
- Insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to individuals with pre-existing or chronic conditions, nor can they rescind coverage by searching for errors or other technicalities on a customer’s application.
- There are no more lifetime dollar limits on insurance coverage. More than 12 million Californians now have increased coverage without lifetime limits.
Many previously uninsured individuals are benefiting from the ACA, including people with pre-existing or chronic conditions, small business owners and the elderly, says Elena Ong, the communication chair for the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus for Public Health, an affiliate of the American Public Health Association. In addition, Medicaid will be expanded in 2014, with as many as one in eight Asian Americans projected to gain Medicaid coverage, according to the APIAHF. In California alone, it is estimated that more than 140,000 Asian Americans would be eligible for coverage under an expanded Medi-Cal program. Ong says that already 2.6 million Asian Americans are now receiving preventive services without cost sharing — she herself did not have a co-payment for her physical examination, flu shot or mammogram last year, she adds.
In addition, there is the formation of statewide exchanges that allow consumers — who do not have employer-based health insurance — to buy affordable health insurance and receive premium subsidies for lower- income households.
Another benefit is the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchanges, which will allow small business owners to purchase affordable health insurance for their employees. As a result, an estimated 1.5 million Asian American businesses in the country will be eligible for this benefit. Moreover, small businesses can take advantage of tax credits of up to 30 percent for providing health insurance for their employees. Up to four million small businesses are eligible for these tax credits, but many do not know about them. These changes are particular important to the Korean American community — one in four Korean Americans do not have health insurance because many are small business owners who cannot afford health insurance for themselves or their employees.
According to Kathy Lim Ko, president and CEO of APIAHF, the ACA also provides for improvements in health care quality. With more than 50 ethnicities and more than 100 different languages, the Asian American community’s diversity sometimes makes access to health care difficult. The ACA requires that insurers translate vital documents like benefits summaries into a number of languages, provide consumers with assistance over the phone and in person, and write materials in plain language so that documents are culturally and linguistically accessible. In addition, the ACA will help increase the number of Asian American health care workers who can provide culturally competent care.
To better inform Asian Americans on the benefits of the ACA, the APALC recently launched a health care initiative called the Health Justice Network. Launched in California, the state with the largest proportion of Asian Americans, the collaborative is part of APALC’s Health Access Project, the first grassroots program in the country to address the health care needs of Asian Americans. The project is made up of an initial network of 20 nonprofit organizations throughout California, including groups that serve the Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Filipino, Thai, Guam, Japanese, Cambodian, and Hmong communities.
“Many Asian Americans are deprived of access to health insurance and find that they are suffering from various illness, oftentimes without any recourse to health access,” says Stewart Kwoh, executive director of the APALC. “[The ACA] is a great opportunity to increase access to affordable, quality health care for the Asian American community, as well as other millions of Americans in the country.”
The Future of Health Care
“The ACA has provided quality, affordable medical care for millions of Americans,” said United States Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) in a statement. “Thanks to this remarkable law, we no longer have to feel threatened by pre-existing conditions, the Medicare ‘Donut Hole,’ or lifetime dollar limits on medical coverage.”
Yet Kwoh is worried about the future of the ACA. “[The ACA] has many features — many of which are very positive — that may not be utilized by the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities,” he says. “That would be a major tragedy.”
With the Supreme Court expected to render their decision on the constitutionality of the ACA by the end of June, the Asian American community will just have to wait and see if the ACA provisions will remain in effect.
Ong speculates that the Supreme Court will not vote in favor of the individual mandate portion of the ACA. “It was the least popular aspect of the Act, by both ends of the political spectrum,” she says. But whether the Court will uphold the rest of the ACA remains to be seen. “Frankly, it is premature to discuss the Court’s outcome.”
Meanwhile, “it is important to move forward with implementation,” says Ong, “as the need is still present.”
ISSUE: Summer 2012
DEPT: Beauty Kit
- The lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer for Asian women is more than double the lifetime risk in non-Hispanic white women?
- Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV?
- At least 80 percent of sexually active females will acquire genital HPV by the age 50?
The human papillomavirus, or HPV, usually causes no symptoms, so a person can have the virus for many years before it is found or causes health problems. That means a man or woman can pass on HPV without realizing it. So what can you do? There are two ways women can screen for HPV and cervical cancer, which is the easiest female cancer to prevent:
- The Pap test (or Pap smear) helps find pre-cancers, or cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.
- The HPV test checks for the virus (there are 40 different types) that can cause these cell changes on the cervix. It may be used to screen for cervical cancer, along with the Pap test, in women 30 and older.
The bad news is there is no HPV test for men, and the virus is spread by sexual skin- to-skin contact — it does not require penetration or an exchange of bodily fluids, like some STDs. So while a condom reduces the risk significantly, it does not eliminate it. The only sure way to prevent it is not to have sexual contact or get vaccinated by your mid-20s.
ISSUE:Summer 2012
DEPT:Beauty Kit
Protecting your skin from the sun is no laughing matter, especially when such rampant sun worshipping leads to premature aging, unsightly sunspots and even cancer. But what’s not commonly known is that while skin cancer affects more Caucasian Americans, Asian Americans and other people of color are more likely to diefrom melanoma than their Caucasian counterparts. (Did you know that reggae musician Bob Marley died of skin cancer at the age of 36?)
Strangely enough, melanomas in Asians, including Filipinos, Indonesians and Native Hawaiians, most often occur on non-exposedskin with less pigment — in fact, up to 60-75 percent of tumors show up on the palms, soles, mucous membranes (the mouth!) and nail regions. And among non-Caucasians, melanoma is a higher risk for children than adults: 6.5 percent of pediatric melanomas occur in non-Caucasians.
So what do you do? First, get checked. Look for moles or spots that change over time, get crusty or bleed. The Skin Cancer Foundation is once again launching their Road to Healthy Skin Tour (skincancer.org/tour) this summer. Get a free full body skin cancer screening, the latest info on preventing skin cancer, and samples of the latest Aveeno products, including their genius Hydrosport Sunblock Spray (yes, you can spray on wet skin).
Secondly, always, always, always wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days. Confused by all the different ingredients and SPF labels? One easy way is to look for the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation (check out skincancer.org/sealfor details).
Contouring’s always gotten a bad rap, but when I read recently that the best makeup tip Kate Moss — that icon of bone structure — has ever gotten was contouring, I decided to give it a second look. “The contour powders of today are much softer, more natural than in the ’80s,” says Filipina American celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal, creator and president of Mally Beauty. “Contouring doesn’t warm your skin like bronzer does; it just mimics the natural shadows of the face.” The secret is to blend well, “so you get that soft, shadowy effect.” We asked Mally to get us started.
ISSUE: Summer 2012
DEPT: Beauty Kit
What kind of contour powder should we look for?
Look for a product that is actually meant for contouring, with words like “contouring” or “shaping” in the name. They are less pigmented and super easy to blend, so they won’t be too heavy or dark. Never use a brown or taupe eye shadow, which will be too heavy and too pigmented.
Can we use concealer to contour?
Yes, absolutely! This is one of my favorite makeup artist tricks. On moisturized and primed skin, take a concealer one to two shades darker than your skin tone and apply it in the hollows of the cheeks, along the top of the forehead, on either side of the nose. The darkness is going make everything recede. Then, take a concealer one to two shades lighter than your skin tone, and apply it on the tops of the cheekbones, on both sides of the mouth, down the center of the nose, on the brow bone, and in the center of the chin — the lightness is going to bring everything forward. Gently blend any edges, then apply your foundation as you normally would.
What kind of lighting is best when I’m contouring?
If you can work in a room with lots of natural light, that is going to be your best bet. If you don’t have access to natural light, just make sure to avoid overhead lighting, which can cast unnatural shadows.
Contouring 101
Chinese-Malaysian American Audrey Cleo, a reporter for the TV Guide Network, knows contouring. “Under harsh TV lights and especially under what’s called ‘flat lighting,’ the natural angles of my face get blown out and dis- appear. Not hot,” she says. Here, her own step-by-step guide to chiseled cheekbones:
1. After applying concealer and foundation, coat the top of a flat topped contour brush with a powder three to four shades too dark. Suck in your cheeks as if you’re making a “fish face.” With a light hand, apply the dark shade in a line from the highest part of your cheekbone into the hollows of the cheeks, right underneath the apples. It will look like you just drew two lines in the shape of a “V” on your face.
2. Continue applying the dark shade along your jawline and blend a little under the chin and into the throat area. This creates shadows along your face and neck.
3. Using a small powder brush, apply a powder three to four shades too light just under the dark “V” lines. Blend to soften lines.
4. Dip your small brush into your highlighter and apply above the apples of your cheeks towards the temples and above the “V” shading from step 1.
5. Finish with blush on the apples of your cheeks and soften any harsh lines by applying your regular face powder with a buffer brush in a light circular motion.
The only consolation about fighting acne and wrinkles simultaneously is that I’m not alone in this sad, sad battle — anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of adult women (yes, even those over 40) suffer from adult acne. Fortunately, skincare lines have responded to our need to fight these two banes of our existence with super advanced formulations made to baby our grown-up skin.
ISSUE: Summer 2012
DEPT: Beauty Kit
Get skin as clear as 30-something China Chow, host of Bravo’s Work of Art: The Next Great Artist.
Salicylic Acid
An anti-inflammatory that unclogs pores.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Kills the P. acnes bacteria.
Tea Tree Oil
Not into chemicals? Try a more au naturel approach.
1.This creamy, cooling cleanser features encapsulated salicylic acid that works even after it’s washed off. Murad Anti-Aging Time Release Acne Cleanser. 2. A potent combo of salicylic acid, lipo-hydroxy acid (LHA) and glycolic acid clears blemishes and mattifies while providing 24-hour hydration. Vichy Normaderm Triple-Action Anti-Acne Hydrating Lotion. 3. Micronized benzoyl peroxide gets deep into pores, while LHA exfoliates to minimize post-blemish scarring. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment. 4. My go-to treatment, this lotion attacks the source of hormonal acne, DHT. Clearogen Acne Lotion. 5. Liquefied benzoyl peroxide is 1/10,000 the size of other similar products, which allows it to penetrate deep into the pore rather than just sit on the surface. Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Therapeutic Lotion. 6. A soothing gel that mattifies on contact and dries up pimples. Lush Grease Lightning. 7. Apply this mask at night and the next morning blemishes are smaller, calmer. Sanitas Skincare Tea Tree Mask.
When asked to describe the new and emerging Malaysian singer, Yunalis Zarai, or her stage name Yuna, the word “unique” should come up. Everything about Yuna, who hails from one of Malaysia’s federal capital, Kuala Lumpur, is simply unique. From her music to her journey to where she is right now is just unique. Her hit single, produced by Pharrell, “Live Your Life,” and the rest of her songs on her first album, “Yuna,” is the type of music you can’t categorize or label it a genre. Even Yuna, herself, can’t seem to classify it, let alone describe it. However, that’s the beauty of Yuna and her music. As she claimed during our interview, her voice is the only component in all of her songs that holds them together – the rest is just a little bit of everything: everything from Malaysia to America. Her soft, folk-like voice with a twist from her Malaysian accent that sings songs that were inspired from her travels is another element that makes Yuna unique and is what made Pharrell want to jump in the studio with her and her recording label, Fader. In a society where its pop culture is a pool of artists with a pattern of similar types of music and personas, Yuna isn’t afraid to be herself – especially when it comes to her music.
Having an updated vlog on YouTube is another way that Yuna shows to her fans who she really is and how genuine her music is. She claims that she doesn’t need to put up an act around her fans and she most definitely prides herself in not being a gimmick in current day’s pop culture. This is why she is not afraid to reveal that she has learned and grown from working with Pharrell and that her knowledge in music has expanded since her music days in law school. That’s right, Yuna was once a law school student and once had dreams of becoming a lawyer. However, she discovered her talent in songwriting and music during her final year in law school when she began to hang out with independent musicians and decided to chase after a career in music. Letting her strong intrigue in their mere independence in music guide her, she soon began to teach herself how to play the guitar, write songs, and produce them. Her unique style in music and her voice is just what this society needs: genuine, real music with no outrageous costumes, smoke machines, and flashy lights. Continue reading for the full interview and for her music!
Courtesy of www.ThisSoundGoesAround.com
