The spoken word has power. But not nearly as much as one would like to believe. Quite frankly, the verbal level of communication is lost ground, as the non-verbal approach makes up around 97% of direct communication between people. In other words, it is not so much about what we say, but how we conveyit.

In the fray of multi-faceted gestures and facial expressions, how we look at somebody plays a special role. It is, so to speak, the alpha and omega of expression by means of body language – independent of age, gender and culture. A brief glance is sufficient to gain insights into the frame of mind of the other person. Sympathies and antipathies are determined within the first moment. And here they are again – the magic three seconds – covering all major communicative actions – be it shaking hands, a hug or, on the other hand, a threatening gesture. Those who look a stranger in the eye will soon realize that the three-second rhythm has also been ingrained into humanity in this regard. After this amount of time has passed, we tend to either blink or look away.

Sleep makes you attractive

The idea that the eyes are the window to the soul is therefore not just a romantic idealization, but part of our conscious and subconscious reality. And the colloquial term “to make eyes at somebody” is definitely justified. What is deemed beautiful depends on different factors.

A study published in the “British Medical Journal” in 2010 took a closer look at so-called beauty sleep and proved a direct correlation between sleep duration and attractiveness in the course of the experiment. The result: In a sleep-deprived state, test subjects were perceived as less attractive, less healthy and significantly more tired.

The correct care – sparkling eyes

Eye care therefore plays an important role when it comes to improving one’s own outward appearance. Men and women can have sparkling eyes at any age. With the right care, wrinkles can be significantly refined. They do not, however, reduce the feeling of attractiveness as long as the complexion is even, the eyes are rested and the expression signalizes attentiveness. Wellness for the eyes therefore also means – if necessary – not shying away from suitable optical aids.

Nobody has to wear contact lenses if they have problems with them. Beautiful eyes can be accentuated much better with well-adjusted glasses than if they are red and irritated. Chamomile tea bags have a soothing effect on reddish eyes and a few slices of cucumber provide the sensitive skin around the eyes with the required moisture. Those of us lacking the necessary time should rely on trusted cosmetic helpers. The use of high-quality natural cosmetics already shows visible effects after only a few applications; with the advantage that the natural ingredients simultaneously develop a long-term effect and counter a wrinkled, tired appearance: The skin is smoother, stronger and is supplied with all the vitamins it needs.

Ancient Arabic features no less than 33 metaphors to describe hair on the head – from “darkness” and “net” to “night,” and right up to “raven.” A groomed, full head of hair has always been seen as both aesthetic and erotic in men and women. The remaining body hair, on the other hand, has always been seen as an annoying nuisance, to be dealt with by whatever means and techniques necessary. A hairless body signalled diligent care, while those who let hair grow on their body were viewed as sloppy and soiled. Even works as early as the “Ars amatoria,” written by the Roman poet Ovid, supplied instructions on how to correctly care for the female body – shaving was a “must.”

Over the course of time, women have especially refined their rituals on how to remove unwanted body hair – on the legs, in the armpits, but also in the pubic area. In the hammams, for example, an abundance of hair removal creams and salves were used, including “Halawa” – a mixture of lemon juice, water and sugar, which similar to removing hair by means of waxing, was ripped off the skin and removed the hair with its root. This method, which was known as “sugaring” and was handed down over centuries, still causes tears to spring in the eyes of men and women today. Just imagine people wincing in the ancient bath houses from the same pain as today in modern hair removal studios. And this act of torture always had the same goal: to be beautiful and desirable. But such endeavors are not for every type of skin.

Soft and smooth

Wet shaving is still the most skin-friendly method for hair removal. It does entail having to make use of the razor more often in order to obtain that silky skin feeling, but on the other hand, correct handling with a “solid tool” and high-quality shaving care products allows you to deal with far less redness, inflammation and ingrown hair than alternative methods such as waxing or plucking.

However, there are a few things that need to be kept in mind to achieve optimal results: Hair should not be longer than about a third of an inch as it will not stand up otherwise and will be difficult to shave off. Especially sensitive areas such as the armpits or the pubic area require taught skin in order to be shaved completely and safely. Furthermore, the blade should only be guided against the growth direction of hair in areas where the skin is not sensitive. The regular final touch should be achieved by means of peeling. It removes shed flakes of skin and avoids ingrown hairs.

If you follow these hints and tips, you will be astounded at how soon the skin returns to youthful suppleness. At this point, it is best to let someone else stroke it and one thing is bound to happen: the “wow – how smooth!“ effect, and maybe even a little bit more…