There are so many reasons to follow some basic house rules about looking after your skin. Not only will it help to keep you looking younger and healthier, in the longer-term it will protect you from a range of debilitating and potentially lethal diseases. So what are the most basic, crucial aspects of skin care you should be most concerned about?

Exposure to the sun

Of all the environmental issues that can have considerable impact on your skin, exposure to the sun's rays definitely tops the list. The importance of protecting yourself from the sun cannot be overstated. Sun exposure is at the root of a diverse range of damaging issues to your skin. It can cause age spots, wrinkles, blemishes, and various other skin problems. Needless to say, the worst of these is increasing your risk of developing skin cancer.

So what are the best ways to go about protecting yourself from this silent menace? The optimum method of avoiding damaging rays is to keep in the shade. No matter where you are in the country, the sun approaches its zenith between 10 am and midday, and stays potent until later in the afternoon. During this period its rays are at their fiercest.

If you do have to go outdoors then you should always employ a suitable sunscreen. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15, reapplying the lotion on a two-hourly basis. Should you happen to be on holiday in a climate that is particularly hot, as this will cause you to perspire you will need to reapply your sunscreen even more frequently. The same goes if you have been indulging in any watersport activity such as diving, sailing or swimming.

Protective clothing is another excellent way of combating sun exposure. You should cover your skin with long sleeved T-shirts and wear trousers that cover all of your legs. Wide-brimmed hats or baseball caps with a peak are also good choices. Laundry additives give your clothes an extra layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain period of time – but not indefinitely. Check the manufacturers' recommendations on the instructions.

Non-smoking

You only have to look at seasoned smokers to see the destructive effect this habit has on their skin. Smoking has the effect of making skin look older, contributing to the wrinkles that can make even middle-aged people appear elderly. The reason for this phenomenon is that when people smoke it narrows the blood vessels in the outer layers of their skin, thus decreasing the blood flow to this part of their body.

Smoking also has the effect of depleting vital nutrients that are so important to the health of anyone's skin. It also starves the skin of oxygen. Adding to the negative effects of this habit, it damages the fibres that give your skin its elasticity and its strength – collagen and elastin. This is what makes your '20 a day' addicts such a leathery appearance!

If smoking couldn't get any worse, the action itself - pursing lips around the tip of the cigarette for inhaling, squinting eyes to keep out excess smoke, and repetitive facial expressions - all contribute to creating excessive wrinkles.

By far the best way to look after your skin in this respect is to not smoke. If you are seriously addicted to nicotine, you can refer to your doctor for advise about stopping.

Siam Piwat introduces revolutionary retail concept to Thailand with opening of new ‘Siam Discovery' on 28th May as the ‘Biggest Arena for Lifestyle Experiments'.

Bangkok (13 June 2016) – Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., the owner and operator of prestige retail developments such as Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, and Paradise Park, as well as the joint venture partner of ICONSIAM, announced that Siam Discovery has opened its doors as Thailand's ‘biggest arena of lifestyle experiments' on May 28th 2016 after a US$112 million re-build.

The new Siam Discovery, spread across 40,000 square metres of space, is Thailand's largest lifestyle specialty store, placing special emphasis on allowing visitors to experiment by trying out new products and new ideas and giving them opportunities to to discover and re-discover themselves.

Mrs. Chadatip Chutrakul, Chief Executive Officer of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd. said: “Its innovativeness will reinforce Siam Piwat's reputation as a thought-leader in Thailand's retail sector capable of creating unprecedented destinations that compete with the best of the world as well as support Bangkok's appeal as the retail hub of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and a favourite shopping destination for the world.”

More than US$8.5 million is being spent on the grand opening event and opening promotions.

Mrs. Chutrakul added, “We have created a venue where thousands of lifestyle brands are brought together under a single universal concept that puts customers at the centre. That means everything presented at Siam Discovery is not organized by brand, or category, as in traditional retailing, but by visitors' interests, because our purpose is no longer just to sell products but to provide an extraordinary and emotional experience that allows visitors to discover and express themselves.

"We then enhance that experience by adding a very strong story-telling component. As visitors move through the various parts of Siam Discovery, they are immersed in the intangibles of a brand and a category. They are also drawn into stories relevant to their interests, their beliefs, as well as trends, rather than just being presented a selection of products.

“These experiences are highly interactive and with lots of opportunities for visitors to personalize their purchases. We also empower visitors to make statements about their life preferences, whether it be about sustainability or a love of nature, and to support those preferences through their purchases, and through occasions to interact with like-minded people and communities. And then we further enhance those experiences through the power of the most advanced digital technology. It's a totally new and an extraordinarily exciting way of presenting products and their associated lifestyles,” she said.

“Our role as a retailer has advanced to another level and become one of managing visitors' experiences and emotions, rather than just one of managing products, categories and displays,” she said.

“We target all genders and age groups, and estimate doubling Siam Discovery's per-square-metre sales within a year,” Mrs. Chutrakul said.

She expects the new Siam Discovery to attract, in the first year, 100,000 visitors a day, with around 35% being international visitors.

Products are presented are in five different categories including Everyday Products, Trend Products, Innovative Products & Services, Sustainable Products, and Collaborations and Absolute Siam Products.

Oral hygiene is one of the most important considerations when it comes to personal health. A great number of germs and other foreign bodies can access your body via this orifice, so it's of the utmost importance to keep it as clean as possible.

An oral irrigator is perfect for the job. So how do these gadgets actually work? Basically, an oral irrigator provides your mouth with its very own jet wash. Pressurized water is aimed at its target, cleaning unwanted plaque, as well as other food particles that might be lodged between the teeth, and also around the margin where your teeth meet the gums.

Irrigators are sometimes known as water jets, for obvious reasons. They are most popular for those of us who struggle to get the task done with toothpaste and flossing alone.

Types of oral irrigator

Counter top water irrigator

This type of irrigator is mains-powered. They will contain extensive reservoirs of water for the task, meaning that they are suitable for multiple uses. The irrigator's large reservoir is connected to the handle by a flexible tube. The flow of the irrigator is managed by a setting on the irrigator, which can be adjusted. Similarly, a button on the handle can help to control the rate of water flow.

Cordless water irrigator

These units are built with a re-chargeable battery, and the reservoir is built into the gadget's handle. They are equally as powerful as the counter top water irrigators, but they tend to have fewer adjustable parameters. This means that they are not quite as reliable as the counter top water irrigators. Where these machines really come into their own is in bathrooms that don't have a dedicated shaver socket. They are also ideal for anyone who has to travel a lot.

There are a variety of irrigators on the market. Some have large enough reservoirs to get that mouth rinsed for four separate uses. With up to 10 pressure controls and as many as six different styles of tips, these are often quite rightly regarded as the ultimate in luxurious water flossers. Most of these units have been upgraded to work on British shaver sockets.

Nano versions are useful because they are so cost effective. One advantage of these smaller, more compact irrigators is that they are much quieter than their more powerful counterparts. Although they have fewer controls, they are very flexible for bathroom use, coming with a to-pin shaver plug.

Air Floss irrigators are relatively new in the market, but one particular model that is already making a name for itself is the Philips Sonicare AirFloss HX8111/2. Philips are quite rightly regarded as purveyors of quality products, and this one is no exception. It uses a type of patented technology know as ‘microburst', which is extremely effective at delving into the gaps between teeth; and between teeth and gums. This is also a cost-effective irrigator as it only requires a fraction of the fluid, compared to other irrigators.

They are popular because the low volume of water means you don't suffer from excess water trickling from your mouth. Its affordability means that you can also afford to splash out on your favourite mouthwash.

When choosing the right outfit for daily wear, we often are befuddled if our pairings may turn out right or end up a disaster. Despite having studied multiple fashion icons, sometimes we may find ourselves stumped and staring at the pile of clothes on the bed, wishing you had a fashion advisor. Before we bring out the big guns, let us take a step back and remember our basics.

Most importantly, recall what compliments your body shape. If you are bottom heavy, you want to create a slimmer illusion to balance out your top. You may want to put on a loud top to draw attention away from your bottom but don't forget to accentuate your curves. If your curvy lacks the curves, it is safest to put on blouses with ruffles or frills and a pair of shorts or skirt to show off your legs.

Remember that every person's body shape is different and as such, you have different assets to flaunt. If you have a small waist, a simple shift with a fun belt wrapped around it will make you the envy of others. For girls with longer torsos, a high-waist mid-thigh length skirt or shorts will make balance it out. With petite or smaller stature girls, a maxi dress will work in your favor.

Lastly, don't forget that shoes and the right accessories go a long way in ensuring your outfit is completed. Keep your outfits simple if you are planning to display that gorgeous accessories but do not use too many; we want to look amazing and not like a walking Christmas tree. We can never go wrong with heels but think of your poor feet. If it will be a long day, ensure it is comfortable and appropriate for the places you are heading to. If you find yourself undecided, remember that ballet flats are the most versatile pieces you have to suit any formal or social events.