Life’s a b*tch, and then you die. With only a finite amount of time on this planet, sometimes it feels like it’s hard to escape that ever-ticking biological clock. Women worry about being able to have kids. Men worry about losing their hair.

But both men and women worry about wrinkles. Skincare is important no matter who you are, but it’s safe to say that men are more guilty of neglecting their skin than women (how many blokes carry a tube of pawpaw cream around?).

But men should care more about their skin. It’s the body’s biggest organ, after all (yeah, yeah, we know what you’re thinking champ, keep it to yourself).

Dr Michelle Hunt, Director of Inner Sydney Dermatology and an internationally-published authority on skincare, spoke exclusively to DMARGE about what men should be doing to better care for their skin, and the biggest misconceptions Australian men have about skincare.

“Firstly, [men think] that it’s only for women,” Hunt relates.

“And secondly, that it’s all too complicated. If men want to look their best, then they should follow a good skincare regime too. All it takes is a few basic steps.”

Dr Hunt suggests that men should follow a smart, no-frills skincare regime:

1. Cleanse (especially at the end of the day): “To remove dirt and pollution, which damage the skin by the production of free radicals.”
2. Moisturise: “To keep the skin hydrated and maintain the skin barrier. Moisturisers containing antioxidants will also help repair damage.”
3. Apply a broad-spectrum, SPF 50+ sunscreen: “This is probably the most important part of a good skincare regime, to help prevent premature ageing and skin cancers. Apply half an hour prior to going outdoors, and if outside, reapply every 2 hours. Improvements in sunscreen technology mean that there are now a number of lightweight/invisible sunscreens available.”

Unless you’re Eddie Redmayne levels of pale, most men don’t consider applying sunscreen as something you need to worry about outside of going to the beach. But Dr Hunt strongly recommends applying sun protection as part of your daily routine.

“Many of the skin changes that we associate with ageing (such as wrinkles and blotchy pigmentation) are actually caused by exposure to UV radiation i.e. sun exposure, and are therefore preventable.”

The sun might be responsible for all life on Earth, but it’s also responsible for premature aging. A photo of a truck driver went viral in 2012 that shows the damaging power of the sun on skin: the left-hand side of the then 66-year-old Chicago native’s face, unprotected from the sun, looks years older than his right-hand side, The Guardian illustrated.

Read Next

• Common Habits That Are Secretly Sabotaging Your Skin
• The Best Skincare Products For Men

The post Keeping Your Skin Young, Divulged By A Dermatologist appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’ve covered how not to be an Australian cliche abroad, travellers’ guiltiest Instagram habits and New York slang only locals understand.

But there’s one skill that, if you don’t master it, could render your pigeon French and frequent flyer points null: the ability to be in the moment.

Otherwise known as immersive travel, this aptitude for, say, enjoying a coffee without fretting about the million sights you’ve got to see this afternoon, is as useful as it is elusive.

That’s according to Pico Iyer, an iconic author who Outside Magazine once called “arguably the greatest living travel-writer” and whose recent piece in the BBC made us consider how immersive travel could be the difference between returning home with souvenirs and returning home inspired.

How to do it? We’ll allow the essayist, novelist and adventurer to take it from here.

Referring to a sublime moment in Antarctica when he felt a deep sense of clarity after standing amongst penguins and orcas, Iyer asked his readers: “What was it that had transported me so profoundly…?”

“Of course, there’s a special clarity in sailing through a noiseless world where there’s often no sign of human habitation. And nearly all my fellow passengers seemed as liberated as I by the fact that phone calls were almost impossible on the ship… Yet the deepest reason why I was moved, I came to realise, was that I spent so much of each day sitting still.”

So far so cliche, you cynics might think.

But give him a chance; there’s real insight for everyone here: “It’s a relationship that has come to haunt me more and more over 46 years of travel: my capacity to be stirred is in direct proportion to my ability to be quiet,” Iyer continued. “That’s one reason why, whenever I visit Midtown Manhattan, I reflexively seek out St Patrick’s Cathedral to inhale, in silence, everything I’ve just experienced and to prepare myself for the honking horns and noisy meetings to come.”

“It’s also the reason so many of us try to sit on a rock in Petra before the tour buses arrive, or walk along the treeless emptiness of Iceland at 02:00 in mid-June when the sun is just beginning to sit on top of the sea.”

“We’re most transported when we’re least distracted. And we’re most at peace – ready to be transformed, in fact – when most deeply absorbed,” Iyer added.

“I’d much rather converse with one sight for 60 minutes than 60 places for one minute each. When I travel with the Dalai Lama – as I’ve done for 10 recent Novembers across Japan – I’m convinced that the wide-awake responsiveness he brings to every last convenience store and passing toddler is partly the result of the three hours he spends at the beginning of every day in meditation.”

“Destinations can only be as rich as what we bring to them.”

Though we’d argue an epic destination can awaken something ~better~ in even the most grey porridge travellers, it’s a point well made and (here at DMARGE, at least), well taken. It would also be quite ironic if, coming out of lockdown, we saw an uptick in silent retreat bookings.

Your Himalayan Airbnb booking awaits.

Read Next

• Secrets To Finding A City’s Best Food, Revealed By Top Travel Writers
• Anthony Bourdain Rant Reveals The Problem With Modern Foodies

The post Immersive Travel: The Secret Explained appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’d all like arms like Thor and a face like Hemsworth. Unfortunately, the latter is not achievable in the gym. The former, however, could be yours if you play your weights right.

Helping you develop frigate-like forelimbs is a ‘ratio rule’ which fitness coach Peter O Reilly recently took to Instagram to explain.

The main idea? Work your arms with 80% compound exercises and 20% isolation ones. For compound exercises, think: chin-ups, close grip bench press, dips and bent over rows; for isolation exercises think bicep curls, tricep pushdowns, preacher curls and overhead extensions.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Peter O Reilly FRCms P.T. (@p.t.pete) on Jun 7, 2020 at 8:14am PDT

Especially if you’re after big gains, skimping on the compound exercises is a no go. As O Reilly puts it: “The fastest way to grow huge guns is by focusing on heavy, compound lifts.”

“Compound exercises and heavier weight loads will lead to a greater release of your body’s natural growth hormone, driving your overall muscle mass.⁣”

⁣”Although accessory movements (aka isolation exercises) can give your arms a fuller appearance, it will not be the main driver of muscle growth as compared to compound movements⁣,” Reilly finished.

Read Next

• Fitness Coach Reveals The Push Up Mistake You’re Probably Making
• Fitness Coach Busts The Myth Men Still Believe About Progressive Overload

The post Smart 'Ratio Rule' You Need To Follow If You Want Huge Arms appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

With international travel severely locked down thanks to The Bat Kiss, most of us can only dream of flying. Or maybe some would consider flying a nightmare right now, what with the whole lack of social distancing and prospect of breathing in recycled air for hours (even if there are hospital-grade filters, the idea is still off-putting).

While the epicentre of the pandemic has shifted from Asia to the Americas, countries like India, China, Iran and Turkey still have a large number of cases, and you’d have to be pretty brave to be travelling around just for kicks.

YouTuber ‘The Luxury Travel Expert’ recently posted a video of a business class flight they took with Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Dragon from Phnom Penh to Hong Kong in late February. This journey, recorded at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, is an intriguing insight into how airlines have been handling flying during what’s been one of the most challenging times for the industry in living memory.

Departing from the small but very modern Phnom Penh International Airport, our expert’s flight to Hong Kong only took two hours. One commenter observed how weird it was that “the airport and lounge was pretty chilled given that the pandemic was building up at that time.”

It was interesting to see how Cathay Dragon’s staff were adapting to the pandemic – wearing facemasks, handing out antiseptic towelettes instead of hot towels, and a much slower boarding process than normal.

Otherwise, things weren’t as grim as you might think. A full, decent meal served in normal tableware – hell, you even got a full tub of Häagen-Dazs ice cream! Not bad for a two-hour flight.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cathay Pacific (@cathaypacific) on May 14, 2020 at 2:56am PDT

Measures have become more drastic since the video was filmed in February. Since May, Cathay Dragon has required passengers to wear facemasks as well in order to travel, and flights across the world have become far less frequent than normal.

Cathay Dragon, a subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, was one of the first airlines to implement safety measures because of COVID-19 as it flies to many destinations inside China. Australian airlines are no doubt looking to how Asian airlines have dealt with the pandemic now that Asia seems to be recovering quickly compared to other regions. It’ll be interesting to see how the mood then compares to the mood now in airports around Asia, Australia and the world.

Read Next

• The Sad New Reality Of Flying Domestically In Australia
• Why Flying In Business Class Is Actually More Stressful Than Economy

The post Flying Business Class During The Pandemic appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Is there anything quite as annoying than the painfully millenial term ‘adulting’? That’s not a dig at millenials specifically, just that f**king term. These affectations? So bloody played out. People should stop trying to make lacking life skills cute. It’s not cute.

And that’s the crux of this article: it’s not cute when your partner doesn’t have their sh*t together, so what do you do?

Triple J’s The Hook Up podcast reached out to A/Prof Leah Ruppanner from the University of Melbourne to dive deep into why many relationships have an imbalance where one partner does much more of the domestic heavy lifting than the other.

While it’s widely acknowledged that women spend more time physically doing housework than men, Ruppanner says we also need to consider the concept of ‘mental load’ – that is, the intellectual division of labour within a relationship.

That can be anything from organising holidays or chore schedules, remembering key dates or deadlines, and even just the mental toll of shouldering responsibilities more broadly. For example, it’s not enough to just to cook dinner. Creating a meal plan, a shopping list and considering people’s dietary preferences is all part of the hidden labour of making a meal.

Of particular importance is how this ‘mental load’ is disproportionately shouldered by women in heterosexual relationships, Ruppanner explains. For example, one guest on the show shared how a sticking point in her last relationship was how her ex never did his own laundry, and if she didn’t do it, he’d just go out wearing dirty clothes. What a f**king manchild.

This example is hardly unique, and many men are guilty of this sort of unacceptable behaviour. The big takeaway? Don’t let the burden of having to organise your sh*t to your partner. Women “don’t want to be anyone’s mum,” The Hook Up host Nat Tencic related. Don’t let your partner fall into burdening the mental load by default.

While men may be the worst offenders, women can still be guilty of not doing their fair share of the mental load too. Like always getting ready at the last minute or never putting out the rubbish…

Regardless of who you’re into or how much you have your sh*t together, the key to any successful, happy relationship is being considerate and able to compromise. Both parties need to be upfront and clear about their expectations. Things don’t have to be perfectly 50/50, either, as long as you’re both happy and you’ve had a conversation about it.

i am 25 and completely burnt out. what am I suppose to do for 50 MORE years? maintain a yard? bitch about traffic? keep buying spinach and watching it die? get oil changes? fucksake

— ditch pony (@molly7anne) October 25, 2019

No-one’s perfect. Maybe your partner’s a bit messy or terrible with money, or are living out of home for the first time and not used to dealing with every aspect of managing a household. There’s nothing wrong with not knowing how to do something. Maybe their parents never taught them, for example. If your partner needs help learning how to do something, then teach them if you can, and be patient.

But if they’re unwilling to learn, then consider if the relationship’s got legs. If they don’t respect you enough to even try to meet you halfway, why stick around? Even I can do a passable attempt at a hospital corner. Another guest on The Hook Up shared how her manchild partner also didn’t do his own laundry, but when she tried to teach him how to do it, he “wasn’t interested in learning”. Absolutely pathetic.

Read Next

• You Haven’t Got Your Sh*t Together As A Man Until You’ve Hit These Milestones
• Stuck In A Dead-End Relationship? New Research Suggests Why

The post Lazy Partners & Husbands: What To Do appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Depending on who you believe, Virgin Australia is either set to return a prettier competitor to Qantas or a toothless crone set to putter until Singapore Airlines takes over.

But putting the fear-mongering aside, there are a few pieces of solid information among the rumours Australian travellers ought to know.

Of course, no-one has a crystal ball. But industry experts’ predictions are the next best thing. Enter: Cyrus Capital (one of the two remaining firms left in the bidding for Virgin Australia) senior advisor, Jonathan Peachey, who recently said Virgin had become too “complex” and “corporate” as it had become a full-service Qantas rival.

Crucially, as the Sydney Morning Herald reports, “After running at a loss for each of the past seven years, Mr Peachey said Virgin’s financial performance could be turned around within two to three years if it was simplified and focused on profitable routes, subject to how quickly the market recovers from COVID-19.”

As for stock holders: “We absolutely believe the business can return to the public markets as well,” Mr Peachey said. “We’re fully expecting to remain involved to that point and then beyond.”

“There’s no intention or need to do a ‘quick flip’ here.”

Mr Peachey, who previously ran the Virgin Group in the USA, also said: “We would like to bring back that core DNA of the Virgin brand and reinvigorate the service and the culture,” relaunching Virgin Australia as a smaller, simpler middle-market airline.

This would include a savvy-priced business class alongside cheap (but not Jetstar cheap) leisure travel fares.

“The business… should sit below that very top tier of where Qantas plays so strongly in, and above and maybe overlapping slightly where Jetstar sits.”

“We don’t intended to take the business right the way down to the ultra-low cost space – we don’t think the market needs that with Jetstar’s presence.”

As Professor Rico Merkert, Professor and Chair in Transport and Supply Chain Management at the University of Sydney (and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Air Transport Management) told DMARGE recently, this could be the perfect time to make such changes: “Having the fleet currently grounded due to COVID-19 is actually good and potentially a perfect time for a take over as there would be no disruption to the operations and as it will take at least another 2-3 months before the skies are open again.”

“There would also be some time for re-branding campaigns etc.”

Professor Merkert also told DMARGE: “If Virgin gets one strong holder and a clear strategy that focuses on a simplified domestic network then I would see them as a profitable, economy supporting and job generating enterprise in 5 year’s time.”

How might this be achieved? One example of cutting complexity, turning back to Cyrus advisor Mr Peachey, would be to shut down Virgin Australia’s loss-making budget wing Tigerair – something Mr Peachey has suggested would happen in the event of a Cyrus takeover.

This is also something that appears consistent with Virgin Australia’s current CEO’s plans.

As The Sydney Morning Herald reports, “Stripping Virgin’s domestic fleet back to its Boeing 737s (it has 85 in the group) and replacing its long-haul Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s with new Boeing 787 Dreamliners is a key part of current Virgin CEO Paul Scurrah’s turnaround plan.”

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Peachey endorsed Mr Scurrah and his management team and said Cyrus was “we are very much in alignment with them.”

Read Next

• Virgin Australia Could Look Like This In Five Years, Experts Claim
• Virgin Australia’s Potential New Owner Could Deliver Shock To Velocity Members

The post How Long It Will Take Virgin Australia To Become Profitable, According To Aviation Advisors appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

For freelancers, working from home isn’t a big deal. It’s got its pros and cons: you’re less productive than you would be in an office, but you can spend more time with your pets.

But from the way many (former) Office Warriors have been behaving during social distancing, you’d think that working from home was high torture. Australians have been going a bit loopy during lockdown, it seems, and social media hashtags like #todaysoffice, #workfromhome, #lockdownlife and so on have exposed the lengths some punters are going to in order to keep sane.

View this post on Instagram

Today’s office #wfalife #todaysoffice #CarpeDiem

A post shared by Andy Willis (@andywillis1960) on Jun 11, 2020 at 2:31am PDT

It’s not a bad idea to stretch your legs and leave the home office once in a while – working outside is a great way to make sure you get some Vitamin D, fresh air and headspace. This bloke’s taken that idea a little too far, however. Crescent Head’s coastal breezes might be refreshing but surely all that wind would make teleconferencing a total nightmare.

I think I finally figured out my work from home setup. #wfh #lawtwitter pic.twitter.com/5CtbSzx69s

— Spencer Keys (@spencerkeys) June 13, 2020

And they say men can’t multitask! Having to both homeschool your kids and remain productive for work at the same time is a challenge, but it’s good to see some Aussies are rising to the occasion.

Unfortunately, not everyone is succeeding in their work from home habits, with one Aussie succumbing to the refrigerator’s siren call…

Working from home has been sooo bad for my diet because I can’t stop snacking just made some snacks to grab when I open the fridge 500 times looking for chocolate pic.twitter.com/PipCWjuk0H

— yanita calmdown (@yanitacalmdown) June 14, 2020

… another committing the cardinal sin of boasting of her view (does it get more ~Sydney~?) on social media rather than working…

Week 13 of working from home. Looking forward to easing of more restrictions. pic.twitter.com/Y0urnGqxHG

— Yvonne (@yvonnebachiller) June 15, 2020

… and others wiling the day away on Netflix.

Whether you’re isolating, or on your working from home lunch break, everyone’s tuning into @NetflixANZ at one point or another

You won’t get past him Here’s what’s on at @BenWarland1‘s house – https://t.co/KMJs41q1QN#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions pic.twitter.com/vKlOkv9h4v

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) June 12, 2020

Of course, all this pales in comparison with the Australian couples in the honeymoon stage of their relationship, who, as we recently reported, benefitted most from lockdown.

In any case, it’s all entertaining, right?

Something that’s been the opposite of entertaining, however, is the absolute onslaught of inspirational quotes from two-bit influencers flooding any ‘Work From Home’ hashtag. And it’s not just Australian influencers doing this… Check out this lad from India:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ravinder Singh (@ravindersingh_official_) on Jun 14, 2020 at 8:01pm PDT

“Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to stand in front of their expensive German car.”

Or what about this Dutch influencer:

View this post on Instagram

BE YOUR BEST SELF

A post shared by JOËLLE FITNESS | NUTRITION (@joelledenice) on Jun 11, 2020 at 7:57am PDT

It must be hard trying to work from home when you can’t help but ogle yourself every time you pass a reflective surface (to be fair, we’re probably all guilty of this).

Oh and, of course, in America, we have the Duracell Bunnies (apparently) taking their one-hour lunch break for a ride (under the hashtag ‘work from home’ no less)…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nikki Mo (@nik_mo_) on Jun 14, 2020 at 3:39pm PDT

Who knows, maybe letting people have a bit more freedom is good for productivity?

Read Next

• Hilarious Tweets Reveal Growing Frustration With ‘Lockdown Beard’ Trend
• Why Lockdown Could Be The Best Time To Find ‘The One’

The post Work From Home Habits Exposed appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

When you think of luxury watches, you tend to think of Switzerland first and foremost. And why not? Some of the world’s most famous watchmakers call the tiny alpine country home: Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, Rolex, Omega, IWC… The list goes on.

But Germany, Switzerland’s biggest neighbour and a country world-renowned for precision engineering, isn’t quite as well known for its timepieces. Which is a shame, because some truly world-class watches come out of Deutschland. Renowned brands like A. Lange & Söhne, Montblanc and Tutima all hail from the home of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and BMW.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Glashütte Original (@glashuetteoriginal) on Jun 6, 2020 at 7:25am PDT

Much like how the Jura Valley is the epicentre of Swiss watchmaking, many of Germany’s finest watchmakers call the small Saxon village of Glashütte home. One of the best is one named after the town: Glashütte Original, which has been making exceptional timepieces for almost 200 years.

Glashütte Original remains one of the few watchmakers that manufactures its own movements: every part of their watches are made right in the town of Glashütte. Classy, understated and torchbearers of the classic Glashütte style – a more traditional style than what most Swiss manufacturers exhibit – Glashütte Original is widely respected as one of the finest watchmakers in the world.

View this post on Instagram

Just unveiled: Dive into the Original and discover the latest versions of the SeaQ Panorama Date.⁠ Gold or bi-colour – which one is your favourite?⁠ ⁠ Elegant red gold encounters powerful black, bi-colour meets intense grey. In 2020, two new versions of the SeaQ Panorama Date diver’s watch make their appearance in our Spezialist collection. ⁠ ⁠ The new bi-colour version will be available from all Glashütte Original Boutiques and selected retailers as of July 2020. The SeaQ Panorama Date in red gold will follow this fall. ⁠ ⁠ For more information check glashuette-original.com or visit your Glashütte Original boutique or authorised retailer.⁠ ⁠ #GlashütteOriginal #GlashuetteOriginal #SeaQ #PanoramaDate #Spezialist #blackdial #greydial #vintageinspired #divewatch #diverswatch #sportswatch #madeingermany #GOnovelties2020 #goldwatch #DiveIntoTheOriginal⁠

A post shared by Glashütte Original (@glashuetteoriginal) on Jun 9, 2020 at 8:01am PDT

In 2019, Glashütte revived their tradition of making exceptional combat watches and debuted a new model: the SeaQ. A classic diver’s watch par excellence, the SeaQ was a perfect addition to the German watchmaker’s storied stable, harking back to the exceptional Spezimatic Typ RP TS 200 from 1969. Glashütte have recently debuted two new SeaQs for 2020 – the Panorama Dates above.

These gorgeous twins, part of the technical ‘Spezialist Collection’, are a beauty to behold. The red gold model keeps things classic (Glashütte watchmakers are known for their love of golds). Its sheer black dial and Super-LumiNova details make it not only a practical diver’s watch, but a dapper one at that.

However, our pick of the new pair of SeaQs is the stainless steel model, which features a unique galvanic grey dial with sunray finish that produces a somewhat iridescent effect, mimicking the dappled way light refracts underwater. It’s a subtly brilliant touch that elevates an already delightful timepiece.

Read Next

• A. Lange & Söhne Opens Debut Boutique In Sydney
• 50 Watch Brands That Every Man Needs To Know

The post Glashütte Original Revives Past Legends With These Twin SeaQ Panorama Dates appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

While quarantine restrictions are easing gradually around Australia, the humble gym still remains out of reach for many of us. The fitness industry has been struggling across the country, while sales of home gym equipment have skyrocketed, the ABC reports.

Some people miss the gym because there’s some exercises you just can’t do easily at home (not everyone has space for an elliptical). But there’s some exercises that maybe you shouldn’t do, like, anywhere.

Luke Zocchi, best known as Chris Hemsworth’s personal trainer (and mate), debuted an insane workout earlier this year that’ll build some serious muscle… While seriously breaking your bloody floor.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

When you have enough strength to do body weight movements comfortably it’s time to focus on power and speed! This little circuit is designed just for that. By using a slam ball and concentrating on being explosive and fast 3-5 sets is enough with at lest a 1-2 minutes rest in between sets, so you can come out firing #strength #power #speed #functionaltraining #bang

A post shared by Luke Zocchi (@zocobodypro) on Jan 25, 2020 at 11:27pm PST

This explosive circuit looks like it’d destroy most men’s arms in a heartbeat, as well as most floorboards. Zocchi’s a fitness genius but this workout is more ‘Incredible Hulk’ than ‘Thor’ – although we reckon the floor of that gym’s probably made out of Asgardian steel to be able to withstand Zocchi’s reps with the slam ball.

Zocchi’s training style is all about variety: throwing different, inventive workouts into the mix to not only work different muscle groups but keep his clients interested. From sled pulls to battle ropes to goofing off with kettlebells, he knows how to get the most out of a training sesh.

Read Next

• Luke Zocchi Reveals The Crucial ‘Back To Gym’ Exercises You Need To Be Doing
• The Best Gym Tops & Singlets For Men To Buy
• This Simple Test Will Reveal Your Post-Iso Fitness Level
• Best At-Home Equipment For Conquering Your Workouts

The post Chris Hemsworth Arm Workout appeared first on DMARGE Australia.