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21st-century Smile

Back in the day, dentists were there to be dreaded and endured during a six-monthly visit guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye. And what did we have to show for it? A numb face and a mouth full of dark fillings. How times have changed. Nowadays, though, you’re more likely to walk out of the surgery with renewed confidence than a sore mouth. Modern dentistry has much to offer, from sparkling white teeth that have been professionally straightened to a smoother, more youthful complexion.

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Suitably Shady

Most people know about the harmful effects ultra violet (or UV) light can have on the skin. But whilst people regularly use sun cream for protection, is the same consideration being given to exposure of the eyes? In normal day-to-day life, the eye is more than capable of coping with exposure to UV radiation. However, at other times – sunbathing, surfing, sunbeds, skiing, welding – the eye’s protection can struggle to cope and damage can occur. So what effect can the sun have on our eyes and what should we be doing to protect them?

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The Power of Pilates

‘If at the age of 30 you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If at 60 you are supple and strong then you are young.’ So said Joseph Pilates (1880-1967), one of the first people to recognise the link between the mind and the body. The aim of his exercises is to develop your body’s core strength, improve flexibility, balance and stamina through a series of low-impact conditioning and stretching exercises. As a result you can expect an improvement in posture and overall mobility, so Pilates can help you maintain a full and active lifestyle in your later years.

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Chic in the Country

Never believe the London-centric view that one can only shop successfully in the metropolis. If they would but admit it, women who inhabit the capital often make some of their best fashion finds outside the M25. This April, with summer fast approaching, colours are hotting up and fabrics are cooling down. Make the most of the boutiques on our doorstep and find some smart styles that are refreshingly different.

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Broaden Your Contacts

At its basic level, it is much easier to wear contact lenses in the drizzle than to have to keep cleaning and drying your specs. And, of course, contact lenses are frequently seen as the ideal way of correcting vision while playing sport, where unobstructed peripheral vision can be critical and wearing spectacles hazardous. With modern materials and lens designs, almost anyone can wear contact lenses. It is very unusual for someone to be unable to put lenses in and out, and care systems are now so simple and safe that there is very little fuss in looking after them from day to day.

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Put the ‘Happy’ Back into Christmas

Is Christmas tiring you out already? Save your energy by doing all your shopping locally, then take a break from the preparations and book yourself in for a lovely, relaxing complementary therapy instead. Traditionally, women spend a lot of time over Christmas worrying about whether everyone else is happy and can tend to forget about themselves, but everyone deserves a rest from work sometimes. Allow yourself to be pampered for a change.

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The Great Cover-up

Coats may be primarily for keeping us warm but, as Fashion Editor Jane Garner reveals in the October issue, fashion still plays a large part in the overall look. After all, women can be warm and stylish at the same time. From cuddly fleeces and textured knitwear, quilting and fur, to chic Sunday coats, smart trenches and posh parkas, there’s masses of choice. Brown and black are predominant, though real colours shine through in berry reds, lively fuchsia and a handful of blues. Plus the summer’s penchant for neutrals, white and cream continues, offset by big cat prints, subtle or overt.

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In the Swim

There is always something exciting about a trip to the beach, whether you’re a little kid with a bucket and spade, or a big kid strolling down to the water for that first paddle of the year. The sands of Somerset are wonderful, especially at Weston-super-Mare where the walk to the water at low tide can be up to a mile! So get ready this July for a Somerset summer… and if you take the same care over swimwear selections as you do buying lingerie, you’re guaranteed to look great on the beach.

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Back to Nature Beauty

I am going back to nature. This doesn’t mean that I will swap my kitten heels for Jesus sandals, or that I will be crunching on mung beans rather than crisps. No, instead I will be taking a long, hard look at what I had previously slapped on my body, with carefree abandon, in the name of beauty. After all, many of the bottles lined up on our bathroom shelves are full of unpronounceable chemicals; this May it’s time to try some more natural alternatives

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Fashion Swings Full Circle

Spring is in the air and colour is creeping into the landscape all over Somerset. Finally, we can forget winter and look forward to better weather. And as Easter is coming, the year’s first long weekend is just around the corner. The early spring/summer arrivals have been in the shops for a few months but, as the season starts in earnest, the ‘Somerset Life’ Fashion Editor checks out the new (and not-so-new) looks for 2008.

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Pampering the Extremities

When it comes to winter beauty routines, don’t forget those all-important hands and feet. After all, it’s tempting to give up on beauty regimes during the chillier months especially in January when, depressingly, we must wear thermals up to our necks. Our hands, however, still get maximum exposure to the elements and can also be in direct contact with harsh detergents and hot water, which makes them especially vulnerable. The key to having hands which look the same age as the rest of you is to moisturise throughout the day.

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Immunity Gone Wrong

More and more people are suffering from allergies in this country – why? The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee warned recently that allergies are reaching epidemic proportions in the UK. In the last 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the instance of allergies, giving the UK one of the highest rates of allergic disease in the world.

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Somerset Walks

Whether you choose a woodland trail, a stroll through Lorna Doone country, a walk centred around impressive geological features or on spectacular viewpoints, our wonderful selection of Somerset walks, which feature monthly in the magazine, will bring you chance encounters with Exmoor ponies, feral goats, rabbits, kestrels, buzzards, red deer and butterflies.
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Garden Visits

Inspirational visits to gardens across the county feature in Somerset Life every month and here we give you a taste of just six of them, most of which are open to the public and guaranteed to enlighten and enthral.
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Celebrity Interviews

Characters from the county talk to us every month about their lives and loves, and this selection captures the flavour and variety of six of these celebrity interviews. You can catch up with the latest interview in the current issue of Somerset Life.
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10 good reasons to visit...

In this popular series which features every month in Somerset Life, we take a deeper look at what there is to see and do in villages and towns across the county.
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