Category — Health

Since the FDA approved Botox Cosmetic over ten years ago, millions have had themselves injected. Botox is actually botulinum toxin, which is a protein and a neurotoxin that causes botulism. However, in the FDA approved form, Botox has several medical and cosmetic uses, like reducing the appearance of frown lines in the brow area and crows feet around the eyes. Botox will not improve the look of wrinkles that come from sun damage or gravity, and it will not last forever.

The results of Botox injections can last anywhere from four to eight months. The toxin is actually injected into the muscle and prevents the muscle from receiving signals from the nerves. This means that the muscle no longer contracts and the wrinkle relax and seem to soften. For the week prior to the procedure, it is a good idea not to drink any alcohol or to take any aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications. The procedure only takes a few minutes and doesn’t require any anesthesia. There is usually just a slight pinch and minimal discomfort.

Botox can move around once injected, so don’t rub the treated area for at least 12 hours or lay down for a few hours. Once finished, it can take three to seven days to see the full effect of the procedure. Some people experience a little bruising or slight headache, but nothing too bad. Many people are very satisfied with the results and continue to have the procedure repeated as needed.

Some of the best and most cost-effective skin and hair products are natural ingredients that are also environmentally friendly. Instead of using a harsh astringent to clear out pores after you wash your face, try using witch hazel instead. It is much less abrasive but provides the same cleansing and antiseptic properties. Once pores have been thoroughly cleaned, whip up an egg white and chill it for 5 minutes. Then apply it evenly to skin for a few minutes and feel those pores tighten and shrink.

To keep hair looking bright, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to lukewarm water for an after-conditioning rinse. If it’s been a long day and the eyes are looking tired soak a couple green tea bags in cool water then apply to eyes while you relax for a few minutes. The naturally-occurring caffeine will tighten under-eye skin in no time.

A little baking soda on your toothbrush can whiten teeth as well as fingernails with a gentle scrub. Be sure to rinse well though. These quick and easy fixes already exist in most homes, we just forget to give them a chance in a new role sometimes. Give it a try!

A smile may be one of the most attractive facial features we as humans have. It’s also one of the first things that people notice about you when you meet and greet. In order to have a dazzling smile, start with a healthy mouth. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing should be daily habits for everyone both at morning and at night. Choosing products with whitening agents such as baking soda or peroxide can help to reduce discoloring and prevent further stains. In addition, there are several products out there to help whiten teeth for all budgets. From $5 gels like 5-Minute Whitening to $40 Crest Whitening Strips, you can find an at-home product to use regularly. Be sure to follow the instructions and discontinue use if sensitivity occurs.

Once the inside of the smile is healthy and happy, make sure the frame is in good shape as well. When brushing your teeth, gently brush over lips to remove any dead skin cells. Even if you do not wear lip color, be sure to protect lips with a gloss or chapstick that contains an SPF of 15 or higher. Blistex has a great line of lip protection that offers a tiny bit of natural color, a little sparkle and even age-defying nutrients. Once your smile is prepped and ready to go, use it often and with everyone you meet.

It’s summertime and the tank tops are being worn in all their sexy shapes and sizes. I love it! But I don’t love seeing a nasty arm pit on me or anyone else. Ladies, in addition to smelling lovely, those little pits should look as good as the rest of you. Make sure to keep the skin smooth. Arm pit hair grows in several directions, so be sure to shave in every possible direction in order to keep the area smooth.

For many, the skin under the arms can become dry and flaky due to a fungal or bacterial growth. If you find yourself with this condition, an over-the-counter anti-fungal cream applied daily to clean skin both in the morning and at night can remedy the situation.

f you are a sun-kissed goddess, PLEASE be sure to rest your hands on top of your head from time to time while soaking up rays to avoid that blinding white underarm area. Skin tone should be even from head to toe with the possible exception of a tan-line or two but only if from clothing. Finally, choose an antiperspirant/deodorant that doesn’t leave a white residue. Some products, like Dove’s radiance line, even offer nutrients to help improve skin while offering protection. So raise a toast to summertime and look good doing it!

Staying healthy is an essential part to any beauty regimen.  Detoxifying the body can help to improve overall health and well-being.  Of course, avoiding processed foods and living a more natural lifestyle is ideal, but in today’s fast-paced world that is often easier said than done.  To help counter some of the toxins taken in daily through from the environment, try some (or all) of these at-home practices.

1.      Drink plenty of water.  A well-hydrated body is better equipped to eliminate toxins on its own.  Hot water is especially effective because it is more potent and flushes the body’s systems better than cold.  To make sipping on a warm glass of water more appealing, add some lemon juice which also improves the function of the liver, the body’s natural detoxing machine.

2.      Walk briskly 15-20 minutes each day.  By keeping a brisk pace, circulation and sweat increase and the body is more able to cleanse the lymphatic system.  The act of walking also improves colon function by utilizing the lower abdominal muscles.

3.      Try the ancient Ayurvedic practice of dry skin brushing.  By using a natural bristle brush over the entire body (except the face) in long strokes moving toward the heart, toxins are eliminated.  This also removes dead skin cells and debris which encourages the body to release even more toxins.

4.      If sipping hot water isn’t appealing, try enjoying some other detoxifying drinks such as apple and cranberry juice.  Green tea is a natural detoxifier and anti-inflammatory that can be even more effective when flavored with lemon, ginger, or peppermint.

5.      Soak in a nice warm bath that includes either Epsom or seaweed salts.  Both of these will help to pull toxins from the skin and encourage the release of toxins from vital organs.

6.      Practicing yoga daily can also help to release toxins in the body.  A simply version of the Sun Salutation done in the morning and at night will help to increase circulation and massage vital organs that will aid in the detoxifying process.

Healthy hair is shiny and soft to the touch, but often in the process of creating the perfect hair-dos, we use a lot of hair-don’ts.  Always avoid styling products that contain alcohol.  The alcohol in many hairsprays and gels can dry out hair, leaving it dull and lifeless.   Once you’ve chosen a good (alcohol-free) product, keep it off the scalp.  Putting products like mousse, gel, and pomades on the scalp can clog the pores and lead to flake-causing build-up.

As you are creating the perfect style, remember that hot air can damage hair as well as heat-styling products.  Change the hair dryer setting to cool, especially if you are also using a straightener, curling iron, or hot rollers.  To speed up the drying process and keep the heat off of your hair as much as possible, try towel drying your hair and then doing the other things in your morning routine such as brushing teeth and applying body lotion as the hair has a chance to air dry.

Finishing any hairstyle with a leave-in treatment such as Redken’s Extreme is always a good idea and a win-win for your hair’s look and health.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and, according the ancient Chinese, our third lung.  Not only does taking good care of this vital organ make us feel better, but it also increases our natural beauty.  The daily stress of life causes the skin to look older and less vital.  Although reducing stress doesn’t always seem possible, there are steps to take to reduce the impact that stress can cause.  Beautiful skin truly does start from the inside, and by following these suggestions, you can improve the way you look and feel.

*Start by getting enough beauty sleep.  During the restful periods of sleep, the skin has a chance to regenerate collagen, elasticity, and healthy cells.  This is also the time when the body starts to balance the hormones and chemicals from the day.

*Drink plenty of water or eat foods high in water.  Consuming 64 ounces of water a day is the minimum. Increasing that amount by just a glass or two more can help the body to clear out extra toxins that start to build up over time.

*Exercise not only increases overall health, but also improves circulation and helps to detoxify the body.  The increased blood flow helps pump more blood to the skin’s surface while sweating helps to release extra toxins.

Regardless of the routine you follow, remember that true beauty lies within and is greatly accentuated by being comfortable in your own skin.  Being true to yourself, smiling, laughing, and embracing your natural beauty will lead to a more gorgeous you.

“I’m just too tired to worry about skin care.. or anything at all!” How many times in your life have you thought something similar? I thought so. When you get tired, you simply don’t want to worry about any of those little old beauty issues. It’s easy to fall back on, especially after a long day at work. If we were able to convince ourselves to at least do one or two simple things before heading to bed, our skin would begin to adore us.

First, no matter how tired you are, you should always wash your face. Getting off all of that makeup really helps out your skin. It lets it breathe, which is never a bad thing! All it takes is a few minutes in the bathroom, a bit of warm water, and a hint of gentle soap. You don’t even have to use a fancy scrub or wash (though I encourage you to, if you have the time!) to do the job.

Second, a moisturizing cream should take a place next to your bed. As you climb into your comfy covers and get ready to lay down, just grab that cream and massage it into your face. No need to get out of bed for this one! It will make your skin feel incredibly soft by the morning, which will feel like a special treat, considering that you didn’t even have to move from your bed to make it happen.

In exchange for just a few minutes before you head to that wonderful dreamland, your skin will reward you with feeling better than it has in awhile. So the next time you’re ready to crash without doing anything, just remember how fast and easy it will be.

Scars, if you are self conscious about them, can be very in-the-way and frustrating. More than once, I have seen people wearing long sleeves to hide them or even asking people to Photoshop them out! There are creams that you can apply that will lessen their appearance, but this does take time. In the meantime, why not just cover them up with makeup?

There are actually creams, such as DermaColor or Dermablend, that help you do just this! You apply them in a similar fashion as any concealer; making sure to cover your scar completely, and that’s it! Cover with a powder, and tada! Your scar is neatly hidden underneath a layer of makeup.

This technique also works with birthmarks or discoloration. In fact, I recommend it for simply evening out skin tone in small amounts as well! Small defects can be embarrassing to some, but don’t worry. There is always a way to make yourself feel beautiful again.

If you’re a teen on your way to a beautiful smile, you may have to put up with braces for a few years. You can still have a beautiful smile in the mean time. These days it seems everyone has braces, so it’s not quite the social negative that it used to be back in the day. No more “brace face” for today’s teens. Now, teens can even have fashion fun with their braces, by choosing the colors of their bands each time they go in for an adjustment. It’s fun to wear orange or black bands at Halloween, or red and green ones for Christmas time!

Make sure you are taking good care of your teeth and your braces to maintain your smile beauty while you work your way to straighter teeth. For starters, keep them clean! Food particles hanging around in your braces are REALLY unattractive. Even food as seemingly innocent as rice can be one of the worst things to stick and hang around your otherwise pristine smile! Carry a little brush with you at school to touch up your smile after lunch. Keep your orthodontist appointments, or reschedule them so you can minimize the duration of your treatment which will no doubt be long enough already. Most of all, don’t be afraid to smile, even with your braces!