Discover the Timeless Beauty of St. Marylebone Parish Church

St. Marylebone Parish Church is a beautiful and historic place of worship, fellowship, and community service in the heart of London, England. Located in the borough of Westminster, the church has a remarkable history and has been an essential landmark in the area for centuries. 

It is one of the city’s oldest and most beloved parish churches. It was constructed in 1740 – 1742 and dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The church was built on the site of a medieval chapel, which had stood there since 1222, and was the only parish church in the area until the late 19th century.

The church is a breathtaking sight, with its imposing tower and spire standing proudly amid the bustling city. As one of London’s few surviving Georgian churches, it has been awarded the highest preservation honor, Grade I listing. Its neo-Gothic architecture is both beautiful and awe-inspiring and is the perfect place to begin any visit to London. 

Inside the church, visitors can find a wealth of history and features, including the original pulpit, font, and other woodwork from the 18th century. The church also has a number of windows that feature stained glass from the 19th century.

Over the years, the church has been an integral part of the community. It has been the venue for many baptisms and funerals and a place of worship for those living in the area. The church is also a popular destination for weddings due to its beautiful setting and grand architecture. 

If you’re looking for a truly beautiful and historic church to visit in London, then St. Parish Church is the perfect place for you. It is a beautiful reminder of the past and provides a truly unique and inspiring experience. No matter your reason for visiting the church – whether it’s to attend a service, explore its history, or admire its stunning architecture – you’re sure to have a memorable experience.

By John Salmon, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12334886

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Does hyperpigmentation?go away?

It may take a long time for hyperpigmentation to fade away, depending on the underlying cause. Darkened skin won’t go away entirely in some people. If the darkened skin is due to a wound, the discolouration will fade as the skin heals since the healthy tissue reabsorbs melanin. However, because darker skin contains more melanin, darkened skin is generally more severe and long-lasting in persons with darker skin tones, making it all the more vital to take preventative steps like applying sun cream.

How long does hyperpigmentation last?

Its duration varies from person to person. Without any treatment, the discolouration caused by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) can take three months to two years to diminish, depending on how dark the areas are, to begin with.

Whether skin darkening is caused by damage to the epidermis or the dermis will determine how long it lasts and whether it may be cured. Treatments like laser therapy are commonly used to eliminate or significantly lessen dermal skin darkening. However, epidermal skin darkening may respond better to specialised skincare treatments.

How to make hyperpigmentation go away quicker

Darkened skin can be reduced or eliminated by a variety of methods. Keeping up regular skincare practice that includes steps to heal and renew the skin is one method. Many of the products we formulate at Epara Skincare, targeted towards women of colour, are made to reduce the appearance of darkened skin. Applying our moisturising serum and face cream to the affected region daily can help you recover from darkened skin much more quickly.

What does a cosmetic dermatologist help with?

Cosmetic dermatology, also known as aesthetic dermatology, is a subset of dermatology and is concerned with the look and feel of facial skin, body skin, nails and hair.

Reasons to Get a Cosmetic Procedure

Aesthetically enhancing treatments have massively increased in popularity in the past few two decades. Motivation includes:

  • Keeping up with trending beauty standards
  • Increasing confidence in the treatments
  • Retention of a youthful look
  • Regain a youthful look
  • Increase in self-confidence and overcoming shyness

Types of Procedures

A very wide range of issues can be addressed through a number of different procedures including:

Laser Therapy – can address numerous skin areas such as signs of aging (wrinkles and fine lines), sun damage, hyperpigmentation, scarring, spider veins, rosacea, stretch marks, benign moles and tattoo removal.

Chemical Peels – using various types of exfoliating and stimulating formulae, peels can tackle acne and acne scars, rough skin, coarse wrinkles, fine lines, cellulite, irregular pigmentation and sun damage.

Dermabrasion – a deeper treatment than microdermabrasion performed in beauty salons to rejuvenate the skin.

Dermal Fillers – includes treatments like Botox injections, fillers plump up areas that have lost elasticity due to reduced collagen and elastin.

Body Contouring – examples include liposuction and CoolSculpting to remove subcutaneous fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.

Other less common procedures to tackle the same kind of issues as listed above include hair restoration, PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections, microneedling, mesotherapy, cosmetic cryotherapy and photodynamic therapy.

A professional cosmetic dermatologist or a medical spa is always a better choice than DIY solutions or over-the-counter products that produce minimal results. Always choose a well-reputed cosmetic dermatology clinic.

What to expect at the BFI Film Festival 2022



The 2022 BFI Film Festival will be in its 66th edition. The London film festival showcases the best in the world of cinema. Here is what to know about this year’s edition.


What is the BFI London Film Festival


The annual festival takes place in mid-October and has been held since 1956. Audiences are treated to a selection of more than 300 films ranging from shorts, documentaries, and features worldwide. The films represent diverse genres, languages and film-making styles. The festival is meant to celebrate the work of filmmakers around the world concerning their originality, imagination, creativity and vision. Furthermore, the festival also holds events such as film masterclasses, Q&A forums, lectures, industry events, and public forums.

Dates and venue for the 2022 BFI London Film Festival


The 2022 edition will be held for 12 days between 5th October – 16th October 2022. The grand event will bring together some of the greatest actors and actresses as they receive awards, mingle with fans, pose for photographs on the red carpet, and share their experiences in films. The internationally acclaimed film festival attracts the best local and international filmmakers. Film screenings take place at various venues in the city, such as Haymarket Cinema, Curzon Chelsea and Cine Lumiére, among others. However, the main events at the festival take place at BFI Southbank. If you intend to visit the city for the 2022 film festival, it is advisable to book your stay early to avoid inconveniences.

Portobello Road

Well-known for its bustling street market. The Portobello Road and the side streets immediately next to it are the locations of a multitude of little boutiques in addition to numerous big retail stores. Along with being home to one of the most culturally diverse communities in the UK, this road is also the location of one of the most well-known street markets in the world. Every year since the 19th century, the market has been frequented by millions of people from all over the world. The market stalls are dispersed in an area that is one mile long and may be found all the way down the road and around the bend onto Golborne Road. Take a stroll down the road and take in the sights and sounds of the city while people watching, shopping for a deal, or stopping for a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants along the way!

What to Expect

As the location of one of Europe’s most renowned marketplaces, it is now a thriving commercial and tourist destination. It is the UK’s largest antique market, with more than 1,000 vendors located here.

Known mostly for its second-hand clothing and antiques, Portobello Road Market is also a shoppers’ haven, with store after shop, corridors and alleys stuffed full of merchandise. This mile-long whirlwind of color, people, and product includes not just retail businesses but also food stalls, street entertainers, and singers.

Fungal Skin Infections: What You Need to Know


Our skin can sometimes fall prey to fungal skin infections. These are infectious and can spread to other family members, unless rigorous hygiene is practised. These fungal infections can occur on the skin of almost any part of the body, including:

Nails: which can suffer from onychomycosis, which causes the nail to thicken and lift from the nail bed. It is known to affect elderly people, with up to 20% of sixty-year olds and up to fifty percent of seventy-year olds suffering from it.

Chest or Back: which is where pityriasis versicolour (also known as tinea versicolour) appears, showing as a mottled brown and white discolouration which can also make your skin in the affected area quite flaky.

Head and Scalp: tinea capitis is also called ‘ringworm of the scalp‘. It is a fungal infection, not a worm, despite the name, and is very common in children. Each lesion is roundish with well-demarcated edges, and it can be very itchy.

Feet; Between the Toes: tinea pedis is better known as athlete’s foot and takes the form of itching, flaking skin. It is often caused by wearing close-fitting shoes while exercising, which creates a warm, sweaty environment in which the fungus thrives.

Groin: Most commonly known as jock itch, tinea cruris, is a red itchy and painful rash that appears around the inner thighs, the gluteal cleft and groin. Similar to athlete’s foot, it is thought to be caused by becoming warm and sweaty, such as during exercise. Conditions like diabetes, obesity or a weakened immune system can make people more prone to it.

Diagnosis of fungal infections is usually fairly simple: many medical professionals can do so with a visual examination of the afflicted area, although some conditions may need a swab to be taken to ensure that it is not a bacterial infection with similar presentation.

Treatments for fungal infections of the skin include topical creams, which must be applied for several weeks, until after the visible infection has cleared up.

If you have any worries about fungal skin infections, the best course of action is to book in and see a qualified dermatologist who can then provide you with the best possible treatment path that has been adapted to your skin.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – dates and what you can expect to see

Hyde Park has been home to Winter Wonderland for the past 15 years. Sitting on 350 acres at the heart of London, Winter Wonderland started as a Christmas market but has now grown to be a whole extravaganza packed with activities during the festive season. For 2021/2022, the dates to visit are between 19 November 2021 and 3 January 2022. Here are some of the things expected to feature in the park.

Photos taken at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London, in 2011.

Ice Skating – Visitors get to grab their skates and have a fun session at the ice rink

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is the ideal place to winter skate in London. Situated perfectly under a canopy of twinkly lights, you can hit the ice rink from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. Visitors will also enjoy nice music while they skate. It is great for first dates and play dates.

Zippos Christmas Circus is back- Expect jaw-dropping acrobatic magic

Ringmaster Paul Winston will be in attendance to entertain the crowd with endless antics and feel-food family fun. For an unforgettable experience, the circus Megadome is the place to be. Additionally, their gigantic inflatable fur bears make the event a guaranteed 50 minutes of comfort.

Ice Sculpting Workshops- Learn from UK’s best artists

Learn from the finest sculpting artists and create an ice sculpture masterpiece of your own. The session will also include entry into the Magical Ice Kingdom. Here is a site with more information about Hyde Park Winter Wonderland:

Located right in the centre of London, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is the best destination for festive fun in the world. There are loads of amazing things to do and see during the day and after the sun has gone down.

By Garry Knight – Flickr: Winter Wonderland 2011 – 35, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17855815

By Garry Knight – Flickr: Winter Wonderland 2011 – 19, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17855803

Stretch mark removal

Stretch mark removal is the process of eliminating the creases and scarring that result from the skin’s elasticity being strained.

Risk factors

The risk of getting stretch marks is higher for some people. Among the possible risk factors include:

  • Being female
  • Having a family history of stretch marks
  • Overweight
  • Pregnant
  • Losing or gaining weight quickly
  • Using corticosteroids
  • Having breast augmentation
  • Having a genetic mutation that causes a disease, such as Cushing’s or Marfan syndrome

Treatment Methods


Although prevention of stretch marks can be challenging, several therapies exist that may help reduce their visibility.

Retinoid cream

One topical medicine derived from vitamin A is retinoid cream. The use of retinoids may help your skin seem better, especially if your stretch marks are still in the early stages of healing. The collagen in your skin is restored, and the marks are less noticeable after using the lotion. If you are pregnant or nursing, you should discuss the treatment with your doctor because the risk-benefit ratio of using topical retinoids during these times is unclear.

Laser therapy

Another method that uses lasers to lessen the appearance of stretch marks is laser therapy. Increased collagen and elastin production in the skin is one of the benefits of laser therapy. Your doctor can advise you on the best laser therapy option for you.

Glycolic acid

Alternative remedies for stretch marks include glycolic acid lotions and chemical peels. The costs associated with several of these options can be high and may not be covered by your health insurance. Although they help reduce the visibility of existing stretch marks, they do not prevent other markings from appearing.

The history of Buckingham Palace, London

Today, the Buckingham palace is popularly known as the prime residence of the British Monarchy, but this was not always the case. The new addition to the royal family’s collection of homes, serve as a crucial setting for handling political matters and hosting various ceremonies. In this article, the history of the Buckingham palace will be explored to determine its origin as a home for the royal family.

Transforming into a Palace

Though the palace is relatively new, the land on which it is built has been owned by the British Royal family for 4 centuries. King James 1 acquired the land as a garden for the royal family, although he also intended to use part of it for silk production. Notably, the property had a house which was passed on to different successors among then John Sheffield who acquired it in 1698. Sheffield later became the Duke of Buckingham hence the name of the property.

After acquiring the property, he decided to build a new residence in 1703. The Buckingham house remained in his care until King George III bought it as a family house for his wife in 1761. Before this, the royal family had only resided at the St. James’ Palace. However, after acquiring the property, the royal family moved in, and the house acquired the name, “Queen’s House”.

Though the house underwent numerous renovations, it was during the era of King George IV, that the building became a palace. John Nash turned the structure into a large U shaped building with an additional west wing and branches in both north and south. However, it was not until Queen Victoria ascended on the throne in 1837, that the Buckingham Palace became a home for the royal family. Today the Buckingham Palace is still home to the reigning monarchy led by Queen Elizabeth II.

Conclusion

Though the Buckingham property has been in the ownership of the British monarchy for centuries, it was not until 1837 that the Palace became a home for the royal family. Today, the palace is a tourist site and an important location for engaging in political matters as well as holding ceremonies.

K West Hotel & Spa is launching special black friday hotel deals during the month of November.

Explore Thailand: Founder Rama I

The king the world remembers as King Rama I of Siam was born as Thongduang. His own country, now known as Thailand, remembers him as Phraphutthayotfa Chulalok. He was born on the 21st March 1737 in the city of Ayutthaya, located in central Thailand, north of Bangkok.

His mother, of mixed Chinese and Thai origin, was the wife of a top court official in Ayutthaya. He became King of Siam in 1782 after defeating a rebellion that had deposed the previous king, Taksin. Thongduang, as they then knew him was then, a successful military leader.

Thongduang led campaigns against Burmese and Cambodian invaders. He rose to become the highest-ranking among the nobility of the region. After the fall of King Taksin, he took the throne and crowned himself the king of Siam.

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Achievements of Rama I’s Reign

He set up his capital at Rattanakosin, known today as Bangkok. During his reign, Siam asserted itself as a powerful nation. Under Rama I, Siam defeated Burmese invasions. It asserted its influence over Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Rama I was a wartime king rather than a peacetime king.

He constructed temples and monuments. This gave his people work after the losses incurred by wars and invasions. He was the father of 42 children, by his wife and various concubines.

Legacy of Rama I

King Rama I died on the 7th September 1809. Although an 18th-century king, Rama I’s influence has endureded in Thailand, as Siam now called. History remembers him as a majestic warrior king. His country also remembers him as the founder of the Chakri dynasty. Each year on 6 April “Chakri Memorial Day” is observed as a public holiday to commemorate the founder of the Chakri dynasty. This is the dynasty that reigns over Thailand until the present day.

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The capital city of Bangkok to this day sets itself apart as one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Far East, with cuisine that draws people from all over the world. Dishes that unite the flavours from Chinese, Indian and seemingly international dishes, when in fact it is Thailand that was the original for these flavoursome dishes.