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My Little Ponytail Holder

It was all about the braid at this year’s Alexander Wang show. Fashion week unveiled many interesting trends that are being forecasted for Spring 2010, but the sight of the side braid made my heart skip a beat. The side braid has been my favorite style with long hair. As a matter of fact, I grew out my hair with the intention and hope that one day, I might have a long wild side braid, and sure enough, I got it. I wore one today! Extra messy with pieces falling around everywhere. It’s nice to see such an extraordinary designer such as Wang to catch on and showcase this look. Let’s just hope he doesn’t forget about the girls he got the inspiration from…yeah right, only in dreams!

Until then, we’ll be happy to watch from the sidelines and admire.






The stylists really nailed the messy factor. These side braids are inspired by a number of things: two that come to mind for me are wholesome Midwest farm girls that are born with those long, thick manes and wild bohemian artists that go to sleep and wake up with that side braid for days at a time…hence the messy, bed head component. As I sing all the praise for the hair, the eyebrows on the other hand make my stomach cringe. They look like Edward Scissorhand brows and really creep me out. They also look like stitches. More creeps. Love the nude lips and dewey skin. Aside from the eyebrows, I strive for this look on almost a daily basis. Natural, wild, yet well kept.

A small, almost minute detail that can make this amazing look all possible? The hair tie, rubber band, ponytail holder, whatever you refer to it as…that pulls this all together. Unless you have a short pixie haircut, you must need one or look for one at some point throughout the day when you can’t stand your hair anymore. Like many young women my age, I like to keep one on my wrist in case of an emergency. My favorite brand is Goody. They make an Ouchless metal free design which keeps my locks from being ripped out by tiny pieces of metal.

Halloween Makeup on Sale

f you plan on scaring the bejesus out of people with your Halloween costumes this year and need to save some money, check out these deals on costume makeup that will help you create a face only a mother can love:



BuySeasons Stenciling and Face, Painting Kit: $24.75 Now: $19.04



BuySeasons Camouflage Make Up Kit: $19.99 Now: $14.99 Found on Smarter.com for $11.99



BuySeasons Skull Makeup Kit: $22.99 Now: $18.99

Severe Trauma Makeup Kit: $18.95 Now: $16.95

And for pretty costumes:



Glitter Makeup Kit: $3.99 Now: $2.49



Princess Makeup: $19.50 Now: $15.00

Shop for more costume makeup at Smarter.com.

Beauty Coupons: Save on the Products You Can’t Live Without

Even if you are low on mula these days, you can still find deals and discount codes for the online stores that carry the beauty products you absolutely can’t go a day without. Check out these coupon codes for top health & beauty stores:

FragranceNet.com: $20 off your bottle of perfume – LSEXPW (Exp: 09/30/09)

Kiehls.com: Free shipping on any orders of $75 or more – KIEHL (Ongoing offer)

BenefitCosmetics.com: Free shipping on orders over $50 – PRETTY50 (Ongoing offer)

Folica.com: Save 10% on all hair care products – HAIRCARE1o (Exp: 04/05/09)

ShopManhattanite.com: 25% off $100 or more – SPRINGBREAK (Exp: 04/03/09)

SallyBeauty.com: $5 off $25 or more – 555202 (Exp: 04/30/09)

Perfume.com: Save 10% on all orders – couponmountain10off (Ongoing offer)

VitaminWorld.com: $5 off $50 or more TAVW550 (Exp: 04/04/09)

YvesRocherUSA.com: 15% off entire order – YR15OFF (Exp: 04/08/09)

Health and Beauty Store Coupons Expiring Soon!

24HourFitness.com: Three, 50-minute personal training sessions $119 – AMT4PRYNTV (Exp: 05/31/09)

Beauty Ticket: 10% off entire order plus free gift with $20 purchase – COUPONCABIN (Exp: 06/09/09)

Find at BeautyTicket.com: Smashbox 2-Piece “Tips of the Trade” Makeup Bag Set: $3.99



ELF Cosmetics: Free 5 piece brush set with any $25 purchase – FREEBRUSH (Exp: 06/01/09

GNC: Save 20% off site-wide – JUST4U (05/31/09)

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: Receive a free full size Glitter Lip Balm – Lips11 (Exp: 06/15/09)

Find at BobbiBrownCosmetics.com – Beach Body Scrub: $35



GreatSkin.com: $60 off $300 – Spring60 (Exp: 05/31/09)

Murad: Free gift with your $95 – G9CAT (Exp: 06/01/09)

Find at Murad.com: Sun Undone Active Radiance Serum: $89



Sephora: FREE Smashbox Photofinish Primer – PRIMER (05/31/09)

The Body Shop: Free Mini Body Butter – MAYDAY (05/30/09)

Find at TheBodyShop.com – Tea Tree Oil Face Mask: $15.50

Makeup Deal: A Fresh Palette for Summer

I do love when cosmetic companies issue out some neatly packaged new color palette that basically has the right amount of everything you’ll need for three or four months, even longer sometimes. I used to indulge frequently in seasonal beauty palettes because not only do they boast great new colors in one set, (along with fancy makeup brushes and pint size lip glosses) but they are also reasonably priced for getting all of that product. Right now if I were to shell out for one, it would be this Tarte Spring Greening Reusable Straw Palette ($20).



The packaging on this is so cute and summery! It is a sustainable and reusable straw palette that is filled with a bamboo eyeshadow brush, six new shades of mineral eyeshadow and three lip glosses. The tray inside is made of post consumer waste and can either be recycled when you’re done using the shadows. The products themselves are all paraben free and the lip glosses are infused with acai, pomegranate, and gogi berry.

Use coupon code 3SJ9HQ at checkout at Sephora.com and get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25.

Beauty Deals: Coupon Codes Expiring Soon

BobbiBrownCosmetics.com: Free Full Size Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner – BEST5 (Exp: 10/15/09)

CoastalContacts.com: Save 10% on all Halloween contacts – CREEPY10 (Exp: 10/31/09)

ContactsAmerica.com: $5 off all orders of $199 or more – USA-WC09 (Exp: 10/31/09)

DermaDoctor.com: $5 off skincare purchases over $75 – DD5OFF75 (Exp: 10/10/09)

DrLeonards.com: Save 10% off your order – DLHALW (Exp: 11/04/09)

EyesLipsFace.com: Free false eyelashes and eyeliner – SPOOKY (Exp: 10/31/09)

H2OPlus.com: Receive the Sea Pure Autumn Beauty Bag – fallbag28 (Exp: 10/15/09)

JuraSkincare.com: 10% off Juara Skincare – OCT09 (Exp: 10/31/09)

PerfumeWorldwide: 10% off entire order – tenofforder (Exp: 10/31/09)

Supplementstogo.com: 5% off your order of Aci Berry 60CT – stgacai5 (Exp: 10/31/09)

VictoriasSecret.com: Free Shipping on $100+ – FREE100 (Exp: 10/20/09)

Great Makeup Deals at Drugstore.com

Everybody loves a good deal on makeup! Drugstore.com has some SUPER deals right now:

Buy any Revlon cosmetic item and get 50% off the second equal or lesser priced item!

This is what I’m getting:



Revlon Beyond Natural Skin Matching Makeup, Light-Medium $12.99

Covers imperfections and evens skin’s appearance. Patented ingredients made with innovative micro-color beads adjust to your exact skin tone upon application.

I love this stuff! I don’t need a heavy foundation and my skin is really dry and this is like wearing nothing at all!



Revlon Matte Lipstick, In the Red $8.00 $4.00

I haven’t tried this shade yet, but for 50% off I can experiment! I love a true red like this one!

If you’re not a Revlon girl, Drugstore.com has the same great deal on Cover Girl and Maybelline cosmetics too!

Colored Contacts… Are they fooling anyone

Actually these colored lenses featured on Heidi Klum and Paris Hilton are for Halloween and are therefore forgivable because they are meant for theatrical purposes and look great! (Well on Heidi Klum at least…)

But the inspiration for this post is for all those ladies and even gentlemen who rock colored lenses on the day to day. I just got back from China and the stewardess had thee cheesiest colored lenses on. The irony is I am absolutely certain she was not trying to sport obviously fake lenses for shock value or theatrical purposes but was genuinely trying to convince the populace at large that she and Elizabeth Taylor both were born with violet irises.

I found the whole thing so disconcerting that when she walked over to my seat to ask what I dinged her for, I completely forgot and instead stared blankly at her retinas. I bet she thinks people are so mesmerized by her fake purple eyes that they become speechless. Ummm – newsflash lady that is not the case! More like staring at a colored sphere floating over your natural brown eyes, you’re fooling no one.

I actually don’t have anything against colored lenses in general and in fact use to wear grey ones in high school. I guess my issue is when they don’t fit right and move and shift mid-conversation OR when the color is soooo unbelievably light or unique that you almost look like a cat or hypnotist.

PLUS – I think when colored lenses are combined with super dyed or fake hair, fake nails, fake tan, fake designer clothes… fake-fake-fake-fake… well the whole thing pretty much screams OVER KILL! No me gusto.

Exhibit A:



By the way, did you guys know that Paris Hilton wears colored contacts and that her eyes are naturally brown! And is it just me or did she have work done on her nose? Mmmm, then again it could just be the natural progression of age. Maybe…

Christy Turlington, Yoga Goddess

We might not all be able to look like the timeless beauty Christy Turlington, and we might not all be able to live like her: model from the age of 15, spokesperson, activist, mother of two, wife and now grad student at Columbia University in Public Health making a documentary on women’s health. But, there is one thing we can all aspire to and look to dear Christy for advice and inspiration: Yoga! Turlington has sworn by yoga’s empowering exercises for years, and there’s no reason why without a few good tapes, some mats and some dedication, you can emulate the lifestyle choices of Christy in your own home!

Some starter kits to get the beginner’s going: remember, Yoga is more about the movement then the equipment. So start small; you really don’t need any of the materials, and many can be substituted with normal household items: (try a towel instead of a yoga matt, a jump rope instead of a cotton strap, Tupperware containers or boxes for support bricks, etc). But here is a super cheap starter kit with matching colors (and a video!) to get you started on the right foot, if you don’t know where to start at all:

Yoga Starter Kit with 6” x9” x 4” Yoga Mat, Foam Block, 6’ Cotton Yoga Strap, and Yoga Postures Poster: $29.99 (marked down from $49.99)



If you have some back problems and want to get some super supportive yoga mats, the Yoga Monster Mat is for you!

Yoga Monster Mat: $28.99 (marked down from $52.99)



If Yoga is a bit too relaxed for you and you want a harder workout that will get the muscles really burning and focus on strengthening more than stretching, you may want to try Pilates instead of Yoga, or a combination of Yoga and Pilates (known as Yogilates. So fun to say!)

Complete Pilates Mat Workout DVD: $34.99 (marked down from $39.99)



Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more yoga equipment.

Celebrities are Bringing the Thick Eyebrows Back, Thank God

Unlike the high fashion runway models, I’ve been noticing that more and more celebrities are not afraid to let people know that they have eyebrows. I mean, really, why should they? Full eyebrows that are groomed and shaped make your face look more naturally radiant.

I think skinny eyebrows first came into style when Brooke Shields threw
away her tweezers in the 80’s. A lot of people were scared by this look–but come on, her eyebrows are a little wild to say the least. You really can’t help but notice that Brooke’s face would be even more gorgeous if she’d trim her brows. As a result, this fear of the eyebrows as inhibitors of our optimum beauty took control and so began the relentless plucking obsession.



I think Tyra Banks is the prime example of the classic omg-what-did-I-do-to-my-eyebrows moment. In her picture on the left, you can barely tell that she has any hair follicles at all above her eyebrows–giving an alien-like illusion to her face.This is a definite DON’T! Natural beauty is the last thing that this look produces.



If that didn’t scare you, check out Pamela Anderson’s awkward face. Let this be a lesson to all of you. Drawing in your eyebrows does not fool anybody.

Finally we’ve reached a decade in which more celebrities are discovering the obvious in-between. Something not as manly as Brooke’s brow nor as freaky as Tyra’s or Pamela’s eyebrows.



Hayden Panettiere from Heros has eyebrows
that look groomed, yet naturally stunning.



Anne Hathaway’s dark, full eyebrows seem to compliment her face very well and she’s definitely got that natural beauty.



Image Sources: Annehathawaygallery.com, celebritybeautybuzz.com, blackhairmedia.com, broadwayworld.com

Shop for tweezers at Smarter.com, but don’t get carried away!

Tyra Will Reveal Her Real Hair Today

Throughout the course of her career in its entirety, Tyra Banks has always worn a wig, weave, or extensions. America has never seen what Tyra’s hair actually looks like; however, Tyra’s big unveiling is happening on her talk show today. We’ll finally get to see what Tyra naturally looks like. This is part of her season premiere and a means to garner audience interest.

I mean, sure it’d be nice to see what her hair looks like, but it’s not exactly Earth shattering as she’s making it out to be. The idea behind it is noble–she’s encouraging natural beauty. Personally, it’s hard to take her seriously because her fame and success roots from her modeling–an industry that revels in fakeness. So she’s basically saying natural beauty is ideal on her talk show, but it’s still okay to promote unattainable heights of beauty through her other show Top Model, which is all about unnatural beauty.

Banks told Radaronline that, “It’s just me coming straight out of the shower with wet hair. My hairdresser’s going to do my hair live on stage.”

Subsequently, she’s going to be talking to audience members who don’t feel good about their natural hair. I’m sure Tyra’s going to show us her real hair but then return to the next red carpet event with yet another wig. So what good does that really do? This all just seems like a novelty gimmick because I can bet on the fact that Tyra will not take her own advice, her role in the supermodel industry prevents this from happening.

How Lauren Conrad Got in Shape

Right before Lauren Conrad left her reality TV shows on the Hills, she was going through a period in which she had very low self-esteem, she told Shape magazine.

She said she just didn’t feel very good about herself because everyone was doubting and underestimating her. So she decided, that’s it: I’m making a huge decision to leave the show and do something that I know I’m good at to prove everyone wrong.

She wrote a book, “LA Candy” about a girl, much like herself, who spent her late teen to early twenty years filmed in front of a camera on a reality TV show. Not exactly original or creative, but it’s a huge accomplishment–writing a NY Times best selling book. In fact, she’s already writing another one.

This is also around the time that she launched her new clothing line at Kohl’s, which she describes is “much more me” than her other high end designs.

In the midst of all this change and breaking out of her shell, she proved herself that she is determined and can stay committed to becoming and staying fit. She has been practicing a strict regiment of eating healthy and exercising every day.

Her diet consists of watermelon, organic salad greens and tuna. She does a workout regiment that you can do anywhere–which helps because she’s on the road so much for her book signing, etc.

One of her workout plans is doing 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps of squats, in order 2 or 3 times a week. You should rest for 30 seconds between sets.

How to:

Works legs, butt, and shoulders
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and loop the center of a resistance tube under your arches. Hold a handle in each hand next to shoulders with palms facing forward. Bend knees, lowering hips until thighs are parallel to the ground, then rise up as you press your hands overhead. Return to start position and repeat.

Holiday Beauty Update: Wintergreen Nails

As I gave myself a manicure during this recessionary holiday season, I decided I wanted something more festive for December. With everyone talking about “going green,” and with green as fall/holiday’s trendiest color, I opted with the color green for my nails. Or should I say… wintergreen!

Trend: Turns out that Chanel created a patented Jade nail polish color (no. #407) to resemble a tweed suit in the Fall 2009 fashion collection. As it just came out a couple months ago, most celebs like Rachel Bilson, Drew Barrymore, and other beauty queens have become jaded for Chanel’s nail polish.



Do it Right: Nail polish with bold or trendy colors look best on well manicured nails with short or medium length (most flattering on natural nails). With the green color trend for the fall/holiday season, it is best to use more subtle tones to match with daily outfits and everyday makeup. Don’t go for the dark forest or neon shades… you want your festive hands to look more feminine and chic; not like you got your manicure from a leprechaun or forest ranger.

Check out how choosing the right color for your nail polish can complement most wardrobe color schemes and prints:





Make it your own: Choose your own wintergreen. Your nail polish should be a neutral tone that coordinates with your holiday wardrobe and will not attract too much attention. From denim foundations and basic blacks, to sparkly sequin pieces, this wintergreen shade should be a complementing beauty accessory. I chose a light green shade with a hint of gold from the drugstore. Remember that to make your polish last longer, you should use a base coat and top coat (when using cheaper polish, if you do not use a base coat your nail can turn a gross yellow color). Keep in mind that if you want your nails to match the color on the bottle, then multiple coats are needed. If you can’t seem to find the right shade, go for the layering affect. Mix colors together, or choose a flat green and layer with a gold or silver shimmery polish. Picking the right shade of green will help make your nails look more like a fashion statement than an actual “green thumb”.

Click here to see which green shade works best for your holiday wardrobe.

Mohawk Madness

I first started noticing this trend years ago on male party goers all over Southern California. And then this hair craze become popular among kids of younger hip parents (one of the cutest kid’s cuts I’ve ever seen). Now I’m seeing females rockin’ this look such as Rihanna and Pink did during the Grammy Awards. An ultra trendy hairstyle on the streets and on celebs, this punk rock mohawk look is the new LA look for the rebellious.

A mohawk is a statement hairstyle that became popular in the early 1980’s among the punk subculture. The sides of the hair are shaved or cut extremely short in length, and the center strip of the hair is exaggerated and longer. The center hair piece is styled accordingly, and has been styled with many variations to give it a more feminine and fashionable look. I think this look exemplifies a tough girl look, and can be balanced out with feminine wardrobe pieces giving a more mainstream appearance. If I had the right face structure and the guts to do it… I would! I commend these strong songstresses on their gutsy new do.

Do you think you can pull off this style? You’d definitely need a good hair gel!

Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair

Take a bobby pin (or a couple), a flower from your garden, and add a twist to classic ponytails or curls. Your natural beauty and floral radiance will set you apart from the crowd, and the best part is that you won’t need to break the bank or set foot in a salon. Here are three ways to wear a unique, natural, and beautiful self-designed look:



(1) Add some contrast to your short hair, side bangs, and basic colors. Pick a medium-sized flower to wear casually or formally.

(2) Highlight the more monotonous tones that you are wearing (for example, complement subtle auburn colors with bright orange). Add curls for a feminine twist. Don’t have the right curling iron? Try one with a 1- inch barrel.

(3) Wear with bright makeup with a bun, ponytail, or side braid. Pick a flower size that works with your style’s volume and length.

Pick of the Week: Chanel Makeup

We all want to be as classy and timeless as Coco Chanel. We imagine her life as effortless but legacy, quality without looking like we’re trying too hard. We find this principle embodied perfectly in the vintage Coco Chanel we find at the local consignment store or in the contemporary Chanel collection.

Now, we can pair our perfect perfume and delightful clothes with the timeless elegance in cosmetics: look for CHANEL new Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour, a throwback in style and lip coloring from the turn of the century. Available in muted brown, red and pink tones with decadent names like rouge orage and byzantin, the new Chanel lip colouring is a top blogger pick for the week due to it’s elegant design and desirable colors.



Check out Chanel Rouge at Smarter.

Tanning Beds Are a Dangerous Trend

As someone who has two of her best friends working at tanning salons (neither of whom actually tan, but just needed jobs in this desperate economy), I’ve heard a lot of terrifying stories of guys and girls, young and old, buying monthly or yearly memberships and baking themselves in the tanning booths. They tell me about the lotions, and the bronzers, and the self-tanning sprays that they sell behind the counter, but nobody seems to buy them: everyone thinks the most effective way to look beautiful and get tan is to use the tanning booths.

They are terrified of skin cancer just by proximity to the machines, and while I’m worried for their well-being, I’m also worried about the people who go to tanning salons: what is it that makes lying down in a UV booth so desirable? What do you feel like afterwards? You must know the effects of tanning - the statistics are out there. Do you feel healthy and happy afterwards? Why put yourself at such risk? While I can’t seem to answer that question, clearly these patrons of the tanning salons can – because they return, day after day, week after week, month after month to tan themselves in the name of beauty. But at what cost?

Seventeen Magazine is taking a stand in their May issue to inform teenage girls on the risks of tanning. In a recent poll, Seventeen discovered that while 90 percent of their 18,000 polled teenage girls were savvy to the skin cancer side-effects of tanning beds, and only 12 percent wore sunscreen everyday. Theeditor-in-chief of Seventeen Magazine, Ann Shoket, is passionate about inspiring creative, healthy, beautiful lives in young teens and encourages healthier options for a bronzed, just-off-the-beach look.

Tip #1: First of all, Protect your Skin! See a dermatologist yearly, but don’t forget to be your own advocate: keep a look out for odd moles, bumps, and swollen lymph nodes. Put on sunscreen daily, and don’t use tanning beds! They are much more harmful and intense than the natural sun. Try using foundation or moisturizer with SPF.

Tip #2: Fake it! Try a little self-tanner or bronzer to recreate that sun-kissed glow. Use both products with moderation: orange skin is not attractive, and neither is especially sparkly and pixelated cheeks.

Tip #3: Develop a Healthy Natural Glow! You don’t have to fake it with waxy tanners and plastic sprays. Exfoliate weekly to bring out a healthy glow, moisturize after a day on the beach that zaps your skin or elasticity and energy, and don’t forget to drink lots of water. Your skin will show the results!

Get all the affordable skin cream that you need from Smarter.

Inspired and informed by the Seventeen Magazine May beauty article “The Tan You Could Be Risking Your Life For.”

Homemade Facials: Beat the Spa Prices

Whenever I get my bill back from the salon, I cringe – the standard facial and pedicure that used to rejuvenate my skin, refresh my attitude, and give me a healthy beauty boost used to cost around $50 total, including the tip: now that be upwards of $100 or $150! I use spa days to relax more than as a standard part of my beauty regime, and the inflated prices do not help my relaxation or stress levels. To combat this problem, I’ve recently turned to homemade facials and a little TLC time spent in the comforts of my own home. Here are some standard homemade facial recipes and their bottled equivalents. Whichever one makes you feel better, you can decide! Let me know what you think.



My Favorite Soothing Recipe:

Use a warm cloth to open up your pores, then smear on some organic honey. Leave on for 15-20 minutes, rinse with warm water, and then apply a cold water cloth to your face to close pores. To add a little extra nutrients and exfoliate, mix a little ground oatmeal into the honey for the mask. Repeat as necessary: three days in a row for extra cleansing.

The Store – Bought Equivalent:

Korres Thyme Honey Mask for $27.00. Spend the extra bucks to ensure sanitation of the materials and ultimate elasticity for your skin.

Best Exfoliating Facial Recipe:

Mix three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and one tablespoon of kosher salt to make a grainy paste. Rub into any dry or dead skin, especially good for knees and elbows. Be careful on the cheeks, chin, and forehead, and don’t get anywhere near your eyes! The skin around your eyes doesn’t usually need exfoliation anyway, and believe me you don’t want to end up with kosher salt in your eyes.

Store-bought equivalent: Zia Natural Skin Care Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask for around $17. Definitely better if you are looking for an all-around, natural exfoliate that won’t be too harsh or grating for your face. Uses natural pumpkin puree and carrot juice to create a textured mask without the harsh application. Worth the money!

What do you think? Are spa facials worth the expense? Do homemade facials match up to the hype? Can you get the same result with store bought products?

Seasonal Trends: Sexy Tousled Hair

Springtime is wisking through the air, whipping through the trees, tousling the green and yellow leaves, and…leaving our perfect coiffures in a wreck? Take out the bobby pins, undo the hair elastics and thin leather headbands, and get ready for the opening season of carefree curls, luscious waves, and long-haired babes. Us that are on the short end of the hair strands are not going to be left behind: there are plenty of sexy wind-tousled, carefree looks to try! I’m so excited to get out of the dull and drab and go on the quest for the perfect just-off-the-beach, tousled hair look. Here are some tips and products I can’t wait to try!

Tip #1: Long-haired Beauties are going to want to get those loose curls cascading down their backs: for that perfect look, pair velcro rollers with the Tresemme line of Heat Tamer hair sprays and gels. Blast with a hair dryer and don’t frizz, the product will smooth your rough edges and give your curls some body and volume. Success!

Tip #2: Medium-length Babes are not going to have the length necessary for the velcro rollers. Pair hand-rolled technique and hand-tousled and scrunched curls and waves with your secret weapon, a sea salt spray. It will give you texture and that beautiful, naturally beachy scene that will keep you glowing from inside and out.

Tip #3: Short-haired sisters are edgy, and I count myself among the bunch. You are going to want to go piecey and texturize: my favorite products for short hair are Bed Head, especially the new Bed Head Mastermind, a perfect sculpting gel. Remember, for short hair to get an out of control look, keep the brush at bay: you shouldn’t have any knots or snarls in the shorter locks, so leave the brush on the shelf and instead piece and curl with your fingers and make small loops tied up with bobby pins for extra volume and curl. Don’t be afraid to throw in a thick, colorful printed headscarf to to brighten things up.

What do you think? Any tips or tricks you’ve discovered about perfecting the springtime tousled look? Do you have a favorite beach hair spray? How about hair curlers?

Seasonal Highlight: Working the Cuff Sandal

I recently went shopping for new sandals for the Spring season: it was a hot day outside, and the sandals were an emergency. The only open-toed shoes I had were ragged old flip flops from Summer ‘09, and the thong part of the shoe ripped out as I tried to skip across the street: in a moment of dire necessity, I hobbled my way to the shoe store up the street, dreaming of the gorgeous gladiator sandals and studded flats from the summer before, praying for a beautiful pair to fit my aching, shoe-bare feet. I was shocked and amazed (which quickly changed to adoration!) when I was confronted with this season’s gladiators, the queens of the summer feet, the cuff sandal! Rows and rows of them, I tried them each on, delighted by their buckled details and leather linings. I couldn’t wait to gobble them up, and I could tell all of my female companions in the store felt the same. Instead of buying the sexy new cuff sandals, I bought more sturdy walking shoes, and vowed to come back with my next paycheck and splurge on the summer babes. My boyfriend was relieved – he asked ‘why would you want to buy cuff sandals? They give you instant cankles!’ Horrified, I was.

What do you think? Are cuff sandals the best look this summer? Or are they an unflattering fad?

While I debated this question, I decided to spend my paycheck on beautifying my feet, so no matter what fashionable sandal I choose, my toes and feet will look fabulous. I bought myself a new scented moisturizer and a fabulous dark purple nail polish. No matter what your sandal choice, make sure your feet are prepped to look their best!

Glitter: Yay or Nay?

We’ve all got memories of that first seventh grade dance where you wanted to get all dolled up for the boys. You saved up your allowance to walk to the local drugstore with your girls after school and buy the necessary makeup and beauty supplies: of course, glitter was always part of it. Because you wanted to stand out and be beautiful, and quite literally shine like a star. But the glitter got everywhere, especially that gunky kind that slicked in your hair like hair gel and was filled with paper stars. Yick!

Can glitter be recovered? Is there a way to wear glitter and “shine” today, without looking like a clown or a disco ball?

Of course, because it’s all about moderation.

Tip #1: Pick a “shimmer” eyeshadow. Glitter implies large chunks of reflective material. You want “shimmer,” just a light-catching dust powder that you can spot on your eyelids.

Tip #2: Refrain from jeweled fake eyelashes, jeweled fake beauty marks, or jeweled fake anythings. You don’t need to be fake: you’re beautiful the way you are.

Tip #3: Pick a bronzer with a little bit of shimmer in it. That way, you can dust your body and have an all-around glow without the fake tanner. You’ll want a big brush for the all-over application on your chest and arms, but be careful: you don’t want to overdo it! Especially if you are wearing a white dress. Lethal!

What do you think? is beauty glitter the herpes of makeup supplies?

Put Your Best Face Forward: Digital and Makeup Touchups

We all want to put our best face forward, especially when it comes to portraits and photographs that are going to last for longer than a day’s makeup regime. While analog photography meant the unhappy hair days and unfortunate blemishes were buried in rolls of undeveloped film, the advent of digital photography and social networking means our beauty upsets are documented and archived for all to see, on the Internet. The Internet is useful for so many things – stalking that boy you like, searching for the perfect eyeshadow, looking up new ways to apply self-tanner…but who knew the Internet could be so cruel!

Well turn the digital fairy back in your favor with PicTreat, a website that lets you digitally retouch your photographs with the simple click of the button! Check out some of the before and after results: it’s amazing how PicTreat can give you a natural beauty by slightly warming your skin tone and removing certain blemishes. It’s super auto-correction color tool makes sure you don’t turn your skin a hair too orange with the color correction, and it’s automated face recognition technology and color-alarm system easily detects red eye and hot spots and smooths them out right away. Give it a look!

And if you’re tired of running all of your photos through a digital retouching tool, why not reach for the lighted mirror before and after you apply your makeup for the day (and definitely before you head out the door!) Sometimes the light in our bathrooms or bedrooms, which may be more flattering, are not going to reveal the smudges, lines, and imperfections that the camera will. Having a mirror with a back light insures you get a clear picture of what the camera will be capturing.

The Many Faces of Christina Aguilera – Did she get work done on her face?

Let’s face it Mrs. X-tina LOVES the make-up! She has never shied away from laying the stuff on thick and cakey… but in her defense I do recall thinking that:

She would be so much prettier without all the crap on her face
Minus the drag queen cosmetic application the lady can wail!! The lass can belt out a tune, whereas I always felt that Britney was more an “Entertainer” and required much “synthesizing” in the musical arena.
Well my question is has she had plastic surgery done on her face!?

The recent release of tour photos and images…

For The Goth Girl In You, Wait… The Emo Girl In You.

I love shiny black things: shiny black heels, shiny black bangs, shiny black nail polish, shiny black tights. Hmm…Could it be the goth girl in me? Now that black is the new black, and biker chic, is well, so chic, I say hurrah for black lip gloss! I know I may not be of popular opinion and really, one couldn’t rock this look everyday but hot damn, it is just so… HOT. Could you wear it to a Kings of Leon concert? Yes! Yes! with a cropped denim jacket and fierce heels. This look debuted on Fall runways and lo and behold, when Yves Saint Laurent came out with their Pur Lip Gloss this fall, the gloss sold out immediately…

Make-Up Trends – Colored Masacar

So one of the gifts I received this Christmas was a package of assorted “colored” mascaras!

I hesitate to name the brand I received because I have yet to try them and don’t feel like endorsing them just yet. I want to see if they are any good first before I give them a thumbs up.

Anyhow, the mascara package contained the following colors; blue, maroon-ish, yellow and green. Umm, Hi! It’s like mascara by Dr. Seuss. Well being the adventurous freak I am at the core; I dig it. I definitely want to…

Have You DYED Your Eyelashes? – I am thinking about it.

My friends and I are going to Vegas in a few weeks and we are all going to a spa together. Part bonding, part we don’t gamble and don’t have anything else to do while the guys gamble…

So we were perusing the features available at the hotel we are staying at and we all decided that we want to get facials, massages and one of my friends suggested we get our eyelashes dyed!

Hmm… interesting. I have never done this and I was wondering if it’s a good idea? I mean not to be silly but if you don’t have much

Size and Beauty: What Should It All Mean?

I have to admit, that sometimes, I get a little too obsessed about my physique. I’m about medium build, and in a world where I’m surrounded by images of super-thin women, I wonder whether I should be trying harder to slim down. In school, as an English major, and as a female, I’ve heard so many perspectives of what beauty should be: ignore the magazines and TV, don’t listen to others, follow what’s hot, accentuate your best features, it’s what’s inside that counts, etc…

For the most part, I try to focus on my happiness and health, but it’s frequently hard for me to avoid wanting that I don’t have: a stick-thin-figure. When I was younger, I had a hard time shopping for clothes. I stopped growing when I was about 13, and while all my friends were wearing smalls, I fit into a medium or large. In horrible denial, and I would frequently try to force myself into a small. Yuck. Those days were awkward and horrible.

As I grew older, I started seeing beauty in so many new places. I saw beautiful women of all colors, shapes, and sizes. Then, I realized that I was beautiful too… even in my size large.

So with respect to my question - “what should it mean?” – it should mean exactly what you want it to. Once you stop worrying about whether you are thinking “correctly,” you can start to feel more comfortable in your skin, whether your perspectives of beauty are complex and academic or skin deep.

I’m a perfectionist, and I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t settle with my flaws: I try to hide or get rid of them. At the same time, I don’t let me flaws get me down. I try to improve, but I focus on the strengths that will ultimately make me better. With this mindset, my confidence shines through, and I feel even more beautiful.

Is Daring Hair Color a Beauty Faux-Pas?

At work, I can get away with a lot: flip flops, jeans, tee shirts, hoodies. I’ve even seen some (tasteful) short skirts, shorts, and tights around the office. Even with such a relaxed dress code, I’m surrounded by women who look beautiful, upkept, and fashionable. Who needs a strict office dress code with skirts and slacks? In any case, there are a couple of things that I probably couldn’t pull off: swimwear, excessive amounts of cleavage, facial piercings, booty shorts, and crazy hair color.

With my natural black hair, the most daring hair color that I would pick is probably a subtle mahogany undertone. I commend the girls who can put together a more vibrant and drastic look. I would love to be able to go from blonde to redhead to brunette. Sadly, my dark skin tone makes this dream impossible.

My overall look is fairly conservative, but I remember that when I was 13, I really wanted pink hair. I never actually followed through with dying my hair hot-magenta because my private school dress code prohibited the trend, and then, I lost interest. Now, to be quite honest, I would never even consider an outrageous hair color – not because I think that the look is tacky (to each their own) but because I look better with a natural shade.

What’s the consensus on bright colored hair? Love it or hate it?

For a daring look, shop pink hair color at Smarter.

Miss Venezuela is Crowned Miss Universe

For the second time in a row, Miss Venezuela was crowned the 2009 Miss Universe last night. This is the sixth time that a Miss Venezuela has received the title of Miss Universe. What is it about the Venezuelans that’s so charming? This was the first time in history where last year’s Miss Universe (Dayana Mendoza) crowned a new queen from the same country.

It can’t be that Venezuelan grace. There were a couple of awkward moments when Stefania Fernandez was crowned onstage. Both her sash and her crown fell in a clumsy moment as the former Miss Universe passed the reign on to Miss Venezuela.



Probably ever beauty pageant’s nightmare. This just goes to show that even beauty queens aren’t perfect. BUT, with her scholarship, new NY apartment, vacation to the Bahamas, and a new wardrobe as part of her Miss Universe winnings, I think 18-year-old Stefania will get over it.

Bangladesh Police Learn Beauty & Hygiene

We’ve all read about proper work attire and etiquette in the office–but who knew that in some countries, appearance counts even if you’re in a profession outside of an indoor office setting–say, for instance, when you’re out fighting crime.

Lesson #1: Before you start the day, make sure you coat at least two or three layers of extra strength Mitchum solid scented deodorant under your arms so that you’re fresh and ready for those common five hour stake outs.

Sounds bizarre.

Police chiefs of Sharda Police Academy in Bangladesh rank personal hygiene right up there next to labor relations and law enforcement. BBC recently reported that officials hired a notable beautician to teach new men and women recruits that in order to be “world class police leaders,” you must be groomed and presentable. It’s the first time ever in history that a beautician gave lessons to a police academy.

It’s amazing that they can take time and money out for top beautician Kaniz Almas Khan to teach them about such relatively trivial matters. What is there, low crime rate in Bangladesh? That can’t be it–Bangladesh is one the most poorest developing countries in the world. Also, what happens if you’re a great police leader, but you’re unkempt–does your credibility really go down? Who knew.

Apparently, they learned everything from how to correctly match their uniforms to just how important odor really is. They learned how to choose the right perfume and aftershave. The overall course included grooming, personal hygiene, physical fitness, skin-care, diet, and dining etiquette.

Khan told BBC, “It’s great that people are becoming more conscious of their looks.”

….Why exactly? I understand that world leaders and politicians are always presentable because it enhances their approachability–but why do police leaders need an extensive course on body odor and matching attire in order to be considered world class leaders?

To be honest, being that conscious of your looks is a sign of weakness. Worrying about armpit stains and breaking a nail when you’re on the job in which people’s lives are a stake is frankly a little prissy . These are not adjectives that I would want to use to describe a nation’s “world class” police leaders. Officials defend the beauty boot camp by saying that the idea is to make them fit to serve in United Nations peacekeeping missions anywhere on the planet. Beautification should not be a priority for these aspiring police leaders because etiquette various from country to country. They should be more focused on peaceful law enforcement and civil communication rather than try to win this unofficial beauty contest.

These people are training to work hard on a job that takes skill and perseverance as they risk their own life for law enforcement on a daily basis. If I were them, I’d want to be proud of the sweat on my shirt.

Info & Image source: BBC.com

Beauty Queen Goes Bald

It’s not exactly a fashion statement–it’s something much more commendable than that.

Miss Virginia of 2008 shaved her head yesterday as part of a fundraiser for pediatric cancer.

She said in a press release, “As Miss Virginia 2008, I want to use my title to do the most good possible and prove that beauty is as beauty does.”

She’s an ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network.

It’s been three months since she retired as the beauty queen of the 2008 and it’s good to see her really care enough to make a bold statement like that even after her reign is over. In fact, pageant officials did not let her shave her head while she was still Miss Virginia, which is why she had to wait until her reign is over.

According to the official website of St. Baldrick’s Foundation, she danced in a marathon and went 48 hours without sitting or sleeping to help raise over $4.1 million for this cause.

“As an ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network in Virginia and I have befriended many children suffering from cancer who have forever touched my life; little girls who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment, and who are often made fun of at school for being bald. Imagine if those little girls got a visit in the hospital from Miss Virginia who was also bald…I am doing this for them.

I’m also doing this for a young woman who did not win her battle with cancer. I recently spoke at a middle school and, after giving a presentation, a 6th grade girl came up to me and gave me a bracelet that said “Kassidy Our Champion” on it. She told me that Kassidy was her sister who had died last year of cancer when she was 12-years-old. I wear it every day. And every day I work to be worthy of having it.”

Dark Circles: Is There Any Hope?

I am fair skinned, have allergies, and don’t get as much sleep as I should. The dark circles under my eyes are a huge problem. I have spent hundreds of dollars on various creams with no results. Concealer works to a point, but if you aren’t very careful you can end up with bright white circles around your eyes. If money is no object, you can get Restylane injections under your eyes, but because the skin there is so thin, the chance of weird side effects is great–some women get lumps and bumps around their eyes that can last for a YEAR! Eek! So what can we do? Is there any hope?

For people who aren’t sure why they have dark circles, he recommends topical products that contain a plumping agent or alphahydroxy acids, which can thicken the skin, or vitamins C and K, which can inflame skin and add volume.

But considering the glut of products on the market with a variety of active ingredients, Dr. Persing said, “If there are that many of them available, that usually means they’re not terribly successful.” (read more)

image: bloggerbase

Designer Inspired: Natural, Beautiful Eyebrows

The cloaks, trench, and quilted coats on models are a big focus, in addition to their bushy eyebrows. According to style.com, Diane Kendal- makeup artist for the show wanted to create a more fresh look for the spring season. “Eyebrows define and frame the face. They’re a great way to give an edge to a natural look,” Kendal said.



These bushy-eyed beauties are a great example of next year’s beauty trend for eyebrows. Go natural! Keep your brows cleaned and groomed by plucking only the stray hairs. These are the hairs that located outside of your brow bone and growing in a different direction than your other hair. Try brushing your brows first, and see which hairs need to be plucked (make sure you use angled tweezers). If hesitant, try using white liner over the stray hair that you plan to pluck. This technique will help give you an idea of how your overall brows will look. Next, use an eyebrow liner to fill in the gaps or space between each hair on your brows. Try a color that is close to your natural hair color, and do not be afraid to keep your brows lighter than hair. Use feathered strokes along your brows to create a full effect. After, brush finger tip along brow to smear the liner for a more natural look.



Winter is here, and we have some time to grow out our brows before spring. In the meantime, try using eyebrow pencils like Givenchy Powdery Eyebrow Pencil that have a round brush at the end. This type of pencil provides the perfect precision while defining the brows. The eyebrow pencil is long lasting and gives you a well-groomed look.

Image Source: style.com, us.strawberry.net.com

See also:

How to Fix Over-Plucked Eyebrows
Celebrities are Bringing the Thick Eyebrows Back, Thank God

Hair Color Trends: New Year, New Do!

Hair color trends are like clothing trends and are ever changing. Depending on silhouettes and color direction for each fashion season, a hair color trend will complement the overall seasonal look. When deciding to alter your hair color, it is imperative that it complements your skin tone and hairstyle. If you choose to go for a new color this season, the hair color trends for 2010 are Platinum Blondes and Redheads.



Platinum Blondes: From Marilyn Monroe to Gwen Stefani, women from the past years have rocked this hair color ever since and have looked good doing it. Now, more and more celebs are choosing to upgrade their treasured tresses from gold locks to platinum! Besides Britney Spears and Charlize Theron, other style icons like Lily Allen and supermodel Kate Moss have been going brighter and lighter. This color looks great fair skin tones, unless you want that overprocessed typical Hollywood look.



Redheads: Isla Fisher, Julianne Moore, and Lindsay Lohan are well known for their red hot locks. This season and new year will bring out the fire in us all. This color trend can be easily manipulated into different shade variations to flatter most skin tones. Neutral makeup, like violet and greens, complement red hair best.



With my olive skin tone, I cannot pull of a fiery redhead or a platinum blonde look. My personal choice would be to go with a tint of the red. As a brunette, it would be best for me to stick to a natural look and accent it with a red tone. I feel that the new color trends are perfect to pull off into the spring. Blondes and redheads will easily garnish new seasonal colors such as lilacs, canary yellow, and turquoise. These hair color choices are reliable not only for winter, but also for the spring fashion collections. As we end this year with overspending and overprocessed hair, seek a practical hair process that works with your hair and financial situation. Seek professional advice by a good colorist at your salon. Also, check out Smarter and see which hair color would work best for you.

Preview of Chanel’s Spring Collection

We all can admire Coco Chanel: the tweed suits, quilted bags, oversize glasses, and even the movie (not the Lifetime movie…the one that was actually in the theater)! Let’s not forget about Chanel’s cosmetics. Chanel has been known to develop a cosmetics line that accentuates your features with neutral tones. Chanel’s cosmetic lines have always been a quality mineral base of color for our skin. Besides the sleek packaging, this brand has always been a quality product and favorite of makeup professionals. They don’t create an edgy look; rather, these cosmetics create a classic impression. Take a look at Chanel’s new Spring Collection for 2010:



This new 19 pc. collection was created for the Spring 2010 cosmetics line. This immaculate collection should be available now at Nordstrom’s or Sak’s Fifth Ave. With neutrals, pinks, warm browns, and beige, these colors are ever so subtle, and they flatter most skin colors. Eye makeup ranges from brown tones in a quad color palette, to iridescent and soft touch eyeshadows (the difference results in shimmery and matte effects). With plums and mauve colors for lips and cheeks. This beautiful neutral ensemble completes the new spring look: bushy eyebrows and lighter hair tones. Face, cheeks eyes, lips, and nails: the new year brings us a newer fresher face. Now get some rest!

Beauty in the Workplace: Brains, Beauty, or Both?

The other evening, I signed on to my AOL Instant Messenger account to talk to a friend. My AOL News popped up, and I felt captivated by this article about women in the workplace. I just entered the working world, so I’m always thinking about what to wear to work. At my last job where I worked for five months, I dressed up in slacks and a dress shirt. At my current job, we dress pretty casually in jeans, tee shirts, and trendy outfits. We all look well dressed and tasteful, but we have our own style of professionalism.

Anyway, this news article that I read discussed how women should dress and mentioned that taller and “prettier” women are, on average, paid much higher than women who are overweight and short (man, who defined standards of beauty here?!). Furthermore, the article encouraged women to wear high heels, style their hair, wear “just enough” makeup, and dress in a stylish way. Let me say that I don’t necessarily agree with these opinions, but I’m curious about what kind of pressures women face in the working world. Is it always the “prettiest” and “trendiest” who succeed, or is there something more to it? Is it unfair that women have these kinds of pressure?

In my opinion, it’s true that women face pressures. In any case, I believe that both men and women face pressure to look good. I’ve been in the working world for less than a year, so I don’t really have a completely formed opinion on the subject, but I’m curious about what others have to say.

Side Bangs: Gone for Good?

I remember when I first started seeing side bangs maybe six or seven years ago. Over the years, the style remained strong, and bangs varied in terms of length, thickness, and angles of cut.

I’m thinking of getting my hair done soon, and I’ll be staying clear of bangs for now. I think that bangs make me look kind of young, and I want to look polished and professional. I haven’t seen many cuts with bangs in fashion magazines or on actresses on TV.

Does this mean that bangs are gone for good? I hope not. I really liked the look!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/sometimes_sam/4004312856

There’s Something About Cougars

This morning, I was listening to Jack FM, a local Los Angeles radio station. As it turns out, they are hosting a cougar competition and have narrowed their selection pool to about sixteen over the top, busty, partial-Playboy wannabe women. Round four takes place this Sunday, and final votes will be cast on April 2. The winner gets a Nissan 370Z.

I browsed this website to find some questionable (but work-safe) photos of women in lingerie and bikinis. Jack FM’s Cougar mania is superficially hilarious with its collection of fake boobs, platinum blonde, and sparkling-white teeth galore.

The marketing language is even better: “Push Up Panthers, Saberfoothed Sirens, Den Mothers W. Benefits, and Cub Rustlers.”Jack FM is definitely dragging the public through a hazy mess of something funny, awkward, and maybe kind of wrong.

On my quest for more insightful interpretations of the term “cougar,” I discovered Urban Dictionary’s take: “an older woman who frequents clubs in order to score with a much younger man.” Other favorites include “overly surgically altered wind tunnel victim” and “35+ year old female who is on the hunt.” As always, thank you Urban Dictionary.

Jack FM & Urban Dictionary are undeniably funny, but my rational senses wonder if I should be offended. I mean: promoting all kinds of “gold-digger” stereotypes about women? Look hot, and flash your teeth for a new car?

I’ve always thought of the term “cougar” as one of empowerment: stay beautiful at any age, look how you want, and don’t be afraid to age. After all, the fierce cougar persona comes from within.

I’m 23 and by all means, not a cougar, but let me tell you: each year after my 21st birthday has been terrifying! There’s so much pressure for women to stay beautiful as they age. My male friends have often joked, “Men look better as they grow old, but women just go downhill.” Ack! In a world where people actually believe this garbage, cougars give me hope that I can stay young, vibrant, and beautiful.

So what happens when Jack FM objectifies the ever-so powerful cougar? Should the beautiful women of the world scowl and turn away, or do we laugh along with this practical joke on female empowerment and beauty?

Is there justice in the world for cougars? Or will the term forever describe the over-the-top ladies that young women and men simultaneously mock and admire at clubs?

How To Get the Smoothest Legs Ever!

Some of you might think I’m crazy for recommending this, but I swear by it now. Shaving my legs with hair conditioner has changed my life! As someone with super sensitive skin, it was impossible to shave without getting out of the shower with little red shaving cuts all over both of my legs. But now! The difference is amazing!

I used shaving cream for many years, and then made the switch to an eco-friendly shaving cream. The eco-friendly one, made by Kiss My Face, smelled great but was actually worse on my skin that traditional shaving creams I had used in the past. I was complaining about my shaving cuts one day when my girlfriend suggested using hair conditioner, I had heard of this trick before but never tried it. I happened to have an old bottle of Charles Worthington London Moisturizing Conditioner in my shower. A light formula, it was perfect for shaving and I’ve used it since, with no more cuts to complain of.

How is this eco-friendly? Well, you aren’t having to buy so many different products, first of all. You can buy one conditioner and make it last for use on your hair and legs. This is economical. Fewer bottles means less waste of course. Not convinced? Okay, if you really want to get crazy, go buy a bottle of eco-friendly, natural conditioner and use that for conditioning and shaving. Whatever you end up using, your legs will be smooth, and I think the shave lasts longer. I couldn’t find the exact Charles Worthington Conditioner that I’ve been using, I know it’s from Walgreens but it wasn’t on their website. I did dig up a couple of different ones that can be used just the same…you’ll have to report results now!



Organix Hydrating Tea Tree Mint Conditioner: $6.99



Yes To Carrots Pampering Hair Mud Conditioner, Paraben Free: $7.99



Vitamin Conditioner, Blueberry Avocado: $6.99

These are just a few moderately priced eco-friendly conditioners for normal to dry hair. You can, of course, go cheaper or more expensive based on what you like to treat your hair with. $1.99 Suave would probably work great on your legs, but I also know this doesn’t quite do it for every woman’s hair. As far as razors go, I don’t spend a lot of money on the fancy ones anymore. Perhaps this is why my legs suffered? Who knows…but they are happy now!

See also:

Smooth Legs Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Best Shave Cream: Skintimate With Soy
Best On-The-Go Razor Ever
Nivea Men’s Shaving Gel and Nivea Shaving Balm
How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs
Tips on How to Treat and Prevent Bikini Razor Burn
Drugstore Miracles
In Love with LUSH
Beauty Blog Weekly Round-Up

Olay Ultra Moisture In-Shower Body Lotion

Those of us with dry skin really should invest in this product. The Olay Ultra Moisture In-Shower Body Lotion is excellent because it works with your shower’s steam and heat to give you the most optimum moisture ever. It’s a lotion that you use in the shower. Brilliant. They advertise that in just five days, your skin will dramatically and noticeably improve. I’ve been using it for a few days now and it’s definitely working better than other products.

This isn’t really a cleaning product so you still have to use a shower gel or soap before you apply this lotion. This just replaces the lotion that you would put on after you come out of the shower. This way, you get everything done in the shower and you’re ready to go! I don’t know about you guys, but sometimes I just don’t have time to put lotion all over after I get out of the shower. This makes it easier. You also bypass that heavy feeling of lotion on your skin. At first I was skeptical–why would you want a lotion that rinses off? But in fact, it’s better to use it in the shower because of the heat that causes your pores to open and allows maximum moisture to reach in the depths of your skin.

Just as heat opens your pores, you should always finish of your shower with cooler temperature water because cold water closes your pores so you have skin that’s smoother.

Shop for more body lotion at Smarter.com.

See also:

No Ashy Skin, Plus Smell Great – Coco Chanel Body Lotion
Neostrata Ultra Smoothing Lotion
Body Lotion – Try Gloves in a Bottle
Body Wash Does a Body Good
It puts the LOTION on it’s skin, or else it gets the HOSE again!
Another Lotion? This Bottle is One Worth Picking Up
Beauty Review:Skin MD Shielding Lotion
Dry Skin? Condition your parched skin with Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter Lotion
Rediscover the Art of Bathing

So Long Lady Speed Stick, We’re in the Eco Age

In this age of eco-friendly, I’m sure you all have seen an all natural deodorant out there when browsing the personal care product aisle. Maybe you haven’t, but either way…they’re out there. They being the natural deodorants. I’ve seen crystals, rocks, sprays, solids. All kinds of “all natural” deodorants. The crystals and rocks do not interest me in the least. I know my underarms, and I know a rock that you splash some water on just isn’t going to do it for me. I could be very wrong, I usually am. If you see a post pop up in a few weeks claiming how wonderful and miraculous crystal deodorants are, don’t be surprised. Then there’s Tom’s of Maine deodorants. I bought the gel solid with a lavender scent to it. There’s all sorts including peach too! Didn’t work. In fact, it made the moisture under my arms worse and the lavender didn’t mask a thing. So now I’m back to my good old Soft & Dri with conditioning silk, and even that gives out mid-day. I have not tried spray deodorants. These I am curious about. Weleda makes a sage spray deodorant, and my girlfriend uses this. Never heard a complaint from her, but then again she looks like the kind of gal that doesn’t get very sweaty. I like the idea of a spray though. It looks refreshing. Sephora seems to be up on the natural and organic trend and it was on their website that I found this…



Lavanila Laboratories The Heathy Deodorant in Vanilla Lavender $18

Apparently this stick is 100% natural, but uses a beta-glucan technology. Don’t ask me what this is. The good news is it does not contain aluminum or mineral oils. These ingredients can clog the sweat glands. It’s also paraben, sulfate free and all that other good stuff–Sephora is slapping their natural seal on it. Lavanila comes in a few different scents that sound better than the tired old baby powder scent I’ve been using for years: Vanilla, Vanilla Coconut, Vanilla Lavender, and Vanilla Grapefruit. It’s no mystery why the company is called Lavanila. But $18 bucks? Really? I’m sure it will last long and there will be no irritation under the arms, so it’s probably worth it. Besides I would rather smell like yummy vanilla and know that my underarms are safe from harmful chemicals, trying this would be a fun experiment.

Shop though a variety of deodorant at Smarter.com.

See also:

Natural Deodorant that Works
BODY ODOR ATTACK – Embarrassing, Uncomfortable and Repugnant
Lip Gloss Versus Lip Stick – What team do you play for?
Test Drive: TESS Skin Care Products
Perfume: Making Sense out of Fragrances and Scents
L’Occitane Foaming Bath Soap with Lavender Essential Oil

Not Your Typical Travel Size Amenity

If none of you out there have ever been introduced to Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap…the day has finally arrived. This stuff is amazing, strong, but amazing. I’ve been using Dr. Bronner’s for a few years now, and was introduced to this after a facial piercing phase I went through in college. It’s just a very pure, all natural form of liquid soap that cleans gently but thoroughly. I have a lot of friends that use this soap and love it. It’s basic, and gets the job done. It also comes in neat little bottles that you can bring with you on travels. I only recently started finding the tiny travel sized soaps and mine came in super handy this weekend while I was away. Now, ideally I would love to bring my regular face wash, toner, and luxe bar soap on my trips–but this can be such a hassle. Anyone of you who travels frequently will understand. So instead, I took a little risk and only brought my travel size Dr. Bronner’s, and I used it in the shower, and on my face. It will leave your skin squeaky clean so use sparingly, but it’s a perfect way to simplify your travel beauty routine by bringing this all-in-one. This specific formula comes in several different scents (all natural oils of course), and the peppermint is a popular choice among many. My personal favorite is the almond, it smells sweet and soft.



Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-One Hemp Almond Pure Castile Soap, $1.59

If you wash your face with this soap, try your hardest not to get it into your eyes–since it is pure castile soap, it will sting (just like any other soap would.) On the label you will find the thing that might fascinate newcomers the most, which is the eighteen different uses for this soap: one of them includes washing hair with! A wise thing to do is try a small version of this stuff before buying a big bottle–it comes in a few different sizes. Other scents include lavender, rose, peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus. Dr. Bronner’s is totally eco-friendly, biodegradable and is packaged in post consumer waste. The organic oils it is made with include organic olive, palm, coconut, hemp and jojoba. This also makes for excellent hand soap in the bathroom. This would also make a great gift for Christmas or just something to stock up on before holiday traveling.

See also:

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas: Vegan Friendly Travel Treats by Pacifica
Body Wash Does a Body Good
Happy Earth Day! Let’s Check Out Organic Cosmetics
Beauty that Travels – Frequent Traveler Alert, Pocket Sized Freshness
L’Occitane Foaming Bath Soap with Lavender Essential Oil
The Sweet Smell of Saipua Soaps
What is the Best Hand Soap?
Beauty Blogging Week in Review
The Body Deli – Fresh Food for the Skin

In Love with LUSH

A few short years ago, I had a slight obsession with a certain bath and body store. I’d wait for the annual sales and throw down serious cash for lotions and shower gels that smelled extremely strong in the bottle but never lasted more than an hour on my body. One day while on vacation in Canada I stumbled upon the Lush Cosmetics store and I was forever changed. The smell in the store almost knocked me over it was so strong but it wasn’t an artificial floral or candy smell (like that other popular mall standard). The scent was unique, I smelled rosemary and herbs and a clean soapy smell. It smelled organic and grown up.

So what makes Lush so unique?

“Our Core Beliefs

We believe in making effective products from fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics.

We invent our own products and fragrances. We make them fresh by hand using little or no preservative or packaging, using only vegetarian ingredients, and tell you when they were made.”

And you know what? They aren’t lying! You feel the love in every Lush product. Nearly all of their products are vegetarian or vegan friendly. On every bottle is a sticker with a picture and name of the person who made it by hand and the date they made it. Every single product I have purchased has improved by skin, my hair, or my mood. Sometimes all three! Let me introduce you to my all-time favorite:



BIG Shampoo $21.35

“Lemon-lime margarita shampoo adds shine and body to fine hair. The difference between a hefty, healthy hairdo and a lot of limp, lackluster locks? It’s this saucy, sassy, salty shampoo! BIG combines shine-enhancing citrus juices with the beautifying, hair-buffing impact of sea salt and genuine sea water for a body-building regimen your fine hair won’t sweat over.”

This stuff is fabulous. The scent wakes up up and it leaves your hair shiny and soft. You don’t even need conditioner! If I could marry this shampoo I would! Just kidding……or am I?

Shop for more shampoo at Smarter.com.

See also:

AXE Hair Products: Recommended for All Guys
A Formula for Beauty Success: Rosewater and Glycerine
The Body Deli – Fresh Food for the Skin
Love Samples – Check this Out!
Dry Shampooing: Yay or Nay?
Economics & Beauty: My Basket of Goods
Delicious Beauty – Philosophy Red Velvet Cake
Body Lotion – Try Gloves in a Bottle
Makeover Your Nails in Minutes

Rediscover the Art of Bathing

As early as ancient Egyptian Civilizations bathing has been an essential element of one’s health, appearance, and peace of mind. Bathing is one of the most accessible, exotic and rewarding beauty rituals that you can perform. Showering will get you clean, but fully immersing your body in water is true bathing. For me it is a perfect end or beginning of my day. After a bath filled with lavender and chamomile I feel beautiful, healthy and renewed. Loving and caring for the body is an obligation and bathing was one of the first ways people began to respond to caring for the body.

Bathing will help you reap the following benefits:

relaxes tense muscles
opens clogged pores
removes dirt, bacteria, and environmental toxins from the skin
gives strength to your body
restores moisture to your skin and tissues
adds a healing dimension to your day
reconnects you to your body, mind, and spirit
To get the most from your bath time, first of all, prepare your bathroom. Your bathroom should be clean, fresh, and soothing. Lighting a candle or incense and playing some soft music may help to set the mood. Make sure your slippers, towels, and robe are close by.

Next, prepare your tub. Draw water that is very warm but not hot. Water that is too hot will actually do harm to the skin. Add natural ingredients to your water such as pure essential oils, salts, herbs, and plant oils like jojoba, avocado, almond, and apricot. It is important that you use live natural ingredients as they help to keep your skin healthy and alive. Natural soaps, herbs, sea salts, and clays are also helpful.

Bathing is a healing activity, so you especially want to avoid synthetic fragrances, harsh soaps and other bath additives that will strip moisture from your skin and create a toxic bath. Once you have prepared your bath, dry brush your skin to help get rid of dead skin cells, and to open the skin so that it can absorb the water, and additives in your bath. Soak for 20-30 minutes, taking deep breaths, which help rid your lungs of toxins. Relax and appreciate the water, and the benefits of the natural ingredients in your bath. and then use a natural sponge or cotton washcloth to clean your skin. Massage your skin in a circular motion. You should also use a foot file to remove old skin from your heels.

Pat your skin dry, and, starting at your feet, apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. One of the best moisturizers is raw, unrefined shea butter. When applied to the skin, it’s rich fatty acid and vitamin a content will help to seal moisture into your skin. This step will help to prevent dryness and cracking and helps to keep your skin from aging. Pure unrefined Shea butter is available at PrettyNatural-inc.com.

Your mind, body, and spirit all gain strength from bathing. Rediscover the art of bathing.

image: fairygodmotherinc.com

See also:

DIY Beauty Recipes: Exfoliate with Fresh Strawberries
L’Occitane Foaming Bath Soap with Lavender Essential Oil
Relaxing Deal: Epson Salty…but Oh So Sweet!
The Ultimate Bath with Bubbles, Salts, and Pillows
Olay Ultra Moisture In-Shower Body Lotion
Dead Sea Wonders – Dead Sea Minerals in Moisturizers
Another Lotion? This Bottle is One Worth Picking Up
Drugstore Miracles
Sweet Relief: Natural Remdies for Puffy Eyes

Body Wash Does a Body Good

I just had a refreshing revelation when I was running out of my body wash in the shower. After squeezing the wash like a stubborn ketchup bottle and with complete frustration, I questioned my choice of cleanser: body soap vs. body wash. I ended up reaching to the neglected shelf in my shower and made use of the decorative soap bar, which wasn’t quite effective as the luxurious wash I had. Having the option to use both, I preferred the latter (the lather).



Body wash is packaged in a container, unlike soap tablets which can stick and slip in the shower. The pump or squeeze action allows you to get as much wash as needed, and you don’t have to worry…

The Ultimate Bath with Bubbles, Salts, and Pillows

After a rough day or job well done, I like to reward myself with peace of mind. With all the emotions a woman experiences (pleasurable or painful), life can be very draining spiritually and physically. In society today, we all deal with different levels of stress. We all deserve an outlet (not a shopping outlet) for these feelings to transcend into peace, within a serene environment. With the recessionary shopping season, retail therapy doesn’t always help. Drawing yourself a nice warm bath is the best way to do so.

In order to achieve an ideal amount of relaxation, have the right bath products to make your bath the ultimate experience.



Bath Pillow/Headrest: make sure your head rests on

Valentine’s Gift for Her: Spa Baskets

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
-Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Every woman loves to pamper herself. Whether it’s a luxurious beauty treatment at a spa or indulging at home with scented beauty products, we all should make time for relaxation. Consider a beauty gift for your beautiful Valentine, and purchase an affordable spa basket. An elegant basket full of beauty and bath products helps create the ultimate experience for her. Give a gift of relaxation in a basket! Or better yet, make one yourself… the more customized a gift, the more meaningful. Remember, it’s the thought that counts.

Make it your own: Purchase a basket or container at any general merchandise or crafts store. Pick a color or material that suits her best. Choose a set that is her favorite color or print, and get an idea of the type of beauty products she uses for her daily regimen. Next, shop for items according to your budget. Here are a list of some items to look for:

Bath Soap
Shower Gel
Bath Salts
Loofah or Bath Sponge
Body Scrub
Body Lotion
Bath Oils
Slippers or Eye Mask
Candles or a Book
Towels
Another creative idea would be to add a back scratcher or body massage tools. This is a fun bonus to add to make her time of leisure a pleasurable experience. When buying products, get artistic and find a common theme or color packaging. Create a unison and consistency with the products (for example, get all lavender or vanilla scented products). Finally, arrange products in the basket or container of your choice, and wrap it with a clear wrapping paper. Top it off with a color ribbon and tie it in a ornamental bow. This is the sweetest thing anyone can do for a busy woman. Continue reading

Economics & Beauty: My Basket of Goods

The Thought:

Ever heard of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)? It’s a metric that is used by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics to approximate the average price of the basic goods and services that a household needs to operate. I’m a demographics nerd, so I’ll avoid discussions of weighting schemes, etc.

Instead, I’ll get straight to the good stuff. The CPI approximates how much an average household must spend on a typical “basket of goods.” Just as a house needs a basket of goods that includes food, energy, and other basic items, I use a basket of beauty goods to keep my face looking fresh.

I thought that it would be fun to create a list of everything that I used this week. After drafting my list on three Post-It notes, I was a little surprised by how much I use for a very minimalistic look. Keep in mind: I’m not a high maintenance girl. I spend no more than half an hour on my daily routine, and I wear jeans and flip-flops to work.

The Basket:

Alba lip gloss: I use the pineapple quench flavor to keep my lips hydrated throughout the day. I like how the gloss keeps my lips smooth without going overboard on the shine. ($2.87)

Aussie Hair Insurance Leave In Spray: I use this while my hair is damp before blow-drying. It does a great job eliminating tangles and smoothing frizz without leaving my hair heavy from a typical after-product sensation. I really hate using products, and I haven’t even touched gel, mouse, or spray in years. This stuff is a perfect supplement to my everyday conditioner. ($3.69)

Garnier Fructis Hair Gloss: Did I mention that I hate using products in my hair? I hate feeling grimy and heavy-headed with a passion. This stuff gives me just what I need to smooth out my ends after blow drying and flat ironing. All I need is one bottle for the year. ($5.70)

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Shampoo & Conditioner: Drugstore shampoo and conditioner tend to kill my hair pretty quickly. According to my hair stylist, this is because a lot of non-salon products contain high amounts of alcohol. I’ve been told that Herbal Essences is one of the best drugstore products that you can get. I alternate shampoos to try out new scents and feels, but I’ve definitely maintained a long term relationship with Herbal Essences Long Continue reading

Put Your Best Face Forward: Digital and Makeup Touchups

We all want to put our best face forward, especially when it comes to portraits and photographs that are going to last for longer than a day’s makeup regime. While analog photography meant the unhappy hair days and unfortunate blemishes were buried in rolls of undeveloped film, the advent of digital photography and social networking means our beauty upsets are documented and archived for all to see, on the Internet. The Internet is useful for so many things – stalking that boy you like, searching for the perfect eyeshadow, looking up new ways to apply self-tanner…but who knew the Internet could be so cruel!

Well turn the digital fairy back in your favor with PicTreat, a website that lets you digitally retouch your photographs with the simple click of the button! Check out some of the before and after results: it’s amazing how PicTreat can give you a natural beauty by slightly warming your skin tone and removing certain blemishes. It’s super auto-correction color tool makes sure you don’t turn your skin a hair too orange with the color correction, and it’s automated face recognition technology and color-alarm system easily detects red eye and hot spots and smooths them out right away. Give it a look!

And if you’re tired of running all of your photos through a digital retouching tool, why not reach for the lighted mirror before and after you apply your makeup for the day (and definitely before you head out the door!) Sometimes the light in our bathrooms or bedrooms, which may be more flattering, are not going to reveal the smudges, lines, and imperfections that the camera will. Having a mirror with a back light insures you get a clear picture of what the camera will be capturing.

What do you think? Try out PicTreat and let me know!

See also:

Makeup on Paper is Different than Makeup on my FACE!
Must Have Makeup: the Everyday Face
Translucent Face Powder
Saving Face: The Search for the Right Foundation
Face Primers: Is It Worth It?
Pur Minerals Makeup is BETTER than Bare Minerals Cosmetics
Keep Your Face Protected this Winter
Stainless Steel Tweezerman Tool – Squeeze Out Blackheads, Roll-Out Whiteheads
Makeup on Men – Rockstars, Freaks or Geeks?

Review of Acqua Essentials Caviahue

While the weather is changing, our skin needs to adapt. A meteorologist would tell you that it has to do with the moisture in the air and the imbalance of dry heat from our homes being turned on one day (when it decides to pour outside!) and turned off the next, when it’s 80 degrees outside. How is your skin supposed to cope? All of the fluctuation results in imperfections and dry spots in the parts of your body that are most exposed to the weather (mostly your hands, face, and feet). Feet you need to take special care of, because soon they are going to be out in the sandals, and you don’t want them scaly and dry. You need to protect your skin with moisturizers that address the specific needs of your hands, feet, and face.

Recently, Acqua Essentials sent me a product to try out: the Acqua Essentials Caviahue Nourishing Moisturizing Cream with Thermal Water from Caviahue, Patagonia. Acqua Essentials is a company new to the United States originally from Spain: but they have been having so much success with their thermal water products that they decided to branch out the company.

Thank you Acqua Essentials: now I’d like to provide my unbiased review. As with any product, this one certainly comes with its positives and negatives.

The thermal water is pretty cool: it activates the moisturizer to better absorb into your skin. The downside is it’s a thick cream that smells slightly like vaseline, and though it recommends for the face I think it’s a bit too oily for that. I like it much better for the hands and feet. I’m not sure whether I’ll be buying this for my face since I’d prefer a product that is a little less heavy and overwhelming.

Acqua Essentials has a boatload of products to enjoy, including thermal mud masks and anti-wrinkle creams, all with their special thermal water agent. I’m going to test these out next, and I’ll let you know what happens!

Note: these are not my hands, and the actual results may vary.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/stephenkwilli/3258065448

See also:

Favorite Mens Fragrances – Acqua di Gio Cologne
Bag Balm: Udderly Wonderful!
Beauty Review:Skin MD Shielding Lotion
Drugstore Miracles
Beauty Blog Week in Review
A Formula for Beauty Success: Rosewater and Glycerine
Cleavage Enhancing Make-Up Kits – Little Boobs No More

Daily Fitness Tips

These days we live in a very fast paced society where we do not have the time to learn about the foods we consume or the health we should maintain. Whenever we are hungry we eat the food that is easily available. We are in such a hurry that we do not bother to learn whether the food we are consuming has the proper nutritional value or whether it is a balanced diet with proper concentration of essential elements required by our body. If we want to have any amount of weight loss we will have to pay attention to what we are eating and engage in some form of physical activity.

Since we are so busy at work there is no proper eating schedule, we have foods at parties and gatherings, we have food at hotels and dhabas, we have food at road side stalls and finally all this over calorified unhealthy food takes its toll on the day we turn into a plump person putting on a lots of body fat turning us into a unfit individual.




In this fast pace society it’s too tough to cook a calorie wise meal rather than consuming a high calorie fast food. But one should know that a hamburger with 17 gm fat contains 2000 calories that will take 500 minutes of walking to spend all the calories.

You can consult nutritionists, doctors or even online calculators to calculate your recommended weight and calorie intake according to your age and height. Next you should use a caloric counter that will inform you about the amount of calories certain foods have in them. Now keep a record of the foods consumed. This may further help you plan a body fat loss diet. Now calculate how much you are over your ideal body weight. Keep in mind that 1 kg contains about 7000 calories. So this will help you calculate the total overweight of your body.

We can lose weight by consuming the body fat loss diet with recommended caloric value and regular exercise. It will not only burn off the extra calories but also help to keep you slim. Health conscious people must maintain a regular exercise plan and must adjust their exercise routine for the early morning. This is the best time of exercising because the body uses the stored up fat in the body during workout and continues the process for next hour approximately. So postpone the breakfast one hour after exercise routine.

Next you must have a body fat loss diet containing one item each of protein, carbohydrate and fat six times a day rather than three. These are the key to lose weight, body fat and remain healthy and lead a fit life

Pleasure Trip - Make it healthy and rejuvenating

Despite the need for personal relaxation and rejuvenation, we tend to ignore vacations and make holidays boring. The truth that today most of the workers lack vacation time or the interest on vacations is a serious concern. Most of the companies today organize for OBL (Outbound learning) sessions to entertain their employees and relieve them from daily stress. The increase in productivity is noticed by the bosses on conducting such sessions.

Your family needs it too.. We are always with colleagues and vacation with colleagues is good only once a while. Find that moment of escape. Take a few days off... zoom with your family. Playing on the beach with family, fishing, barbeques, amusement parks, trekking, spa are those activities that rejuvenate and relaxes. Everyone needs vacation and this is kind of basics.

How do you choose a place for vacation?

Choose a place of excitement, hills, waterfalls, beaches, sky-diving, paragliding, fishing, wildlife safari, etc. The reason to choose these places is, you tend to come out of all those tensions in life and be a totally relaxed person. You get into unforgettable moments in life by clicking those photographs and shooting with your webcam.

Warning! Do not carry your official mobile phone, as there is no meaning for a vacation then.

Heart full of Love

On Valentine’s Day, a close look at how love is generated and how it works on health and body.

Valentine’s Day – a day when love is in the air, hearts and fluttering eyelids. It is a day when the young exchange gifts to express their love swelling in their heart. Why young? Even golden oldies have started joining the love band-wagon and rediscovering life.

You must be wondering what has Health to do with love. Heart is understandable, fluttering eyelids, well – passable, but love? Well, scientists consider love as a drug that is good for your heart and brain.



It might sound unfair to clinically dissect love and term it a function of a few naughty genes or chemicals with a few ‘college-going’ molecules or proteins that have mastered the art of sending a few lovelorn SMS to the brain. Probably Dr Spock of Star Treck would have loved to knit his brows and wonder why people go crazy over love.

Studies have shown that falling in love physically is very similar to taking drugs. It has an effect on the heart, shows typical signs of withdrawal symptoms and a few may get addicted too! That later.

Being attracted to someone is actually the result of a series of chemicals and hormones at work. The first spark comes from the brain that releases a neuro-transmitter chemical called dopamine. This results in a chain reaction leading to the heart pounding three times faster than normal. The extra gush of blood finds its way to the cheeks and sexual organs. This sudden diversion of blood makes your stomach feel a bit empty and this causes the feeling of butterflies in the stomach. Since the blood goes to specified areas, the hands and legs get a diminished supply of blood resulting in the palms getting cold and a slight shiver setting in. This is why many in love look a bit disoriented, nervous and they wear a new colour on their face.

Did I hear you say ‘how unromantic’? Well there is more.

How does the body benefit while in love? When in love, the body releases special chemicals that make you feel good, content and happy. This can spur creativity and that probably explains why most poets, artists, writers and people with extraordinary talents are also good at love.

Love can result in sexual activity and this can affect the entire body – from head to toe. Doctors believe that love-making is a good aerobic exercise that improves the circulation and can do wonders to the heart. Studies have shown that sexually active people tend to suffer from fewer heart attacks may be due to their better fitness. But you need to attain the right age to do this so that it can benefit the body.

It can also benefit in weight reduction. Intercourse can burn around 200 calories. And all this happens in just a few minutes work compared to a 15-minute workout on a treadmill at a gym.

In love-making the body releases endorphins, which can mitigate chronic pain of back ache, arthritis and migraines. Since brain chemicals are involved, sexually active people are less vulnerable to depression and suicides. Love-making is also good to calm anxieties, ease fear and can break down inhibitions – all this because of special hormones released by the brain and body.

Some research work has shown that frequent love-making can boost levels of key immune cells that can help fight colds and other infections.
A small study has shown that oxytocin and DHEA hormone released during love-making may prevent breast cancer cells from developing into tumors. Frequent love-making has also been linked to longer life – may be due to the beneficial effects on the heart and immune system.

But if love is just a chemical reaction, why is it that we do not fall head over heals over everyone. Why is that we get attracted to some and not to all? Well, again a bouquet of chemical is at work. Researchers say that the body releases special chemicals that the nose does not catch, but the brain does. And the brain selects the odour of somebody who has a very different immune system. That is why you seldom fall in love with a close relative.

For survival, mankind needs as diverse a gene pool as possible. Otherwise one disease will wipe out the entire humanity.

But if you thought that love involves a huge part of the brain, you are mistaken. In 2000, Andreas and Semir Zeki of University College, London, located the areas of the brain activated by romantic love. They took students who said they were madly in love, put them into a brain scanner, and looked at their patterns of brain activity. The results were rather surprising for such a wonderful emotion called love. The research showed that only a relatively small area of the human brain is active when a person is involved in deep love. But more parts of the brain are active and involved when the motion switches to ordinary friendship. “It is fascinating to reflect”, the pair conclude, “that the face that launched a thousand ships should have done so thorough such a limited expanse of cortex.” (As quoted in The Economist).

The second surprise was that the brain areas active in love are different from the areas activated in other emotional states, such as fear and anger. Parts of the brain that are love-bitten include the one responsible for gut feelings, and the ones which generate the euphoria induced by drugs such as cocaine. So the brains of people deeply in love do not look like those of people experiencing strong emotions, but instead like those of people snoring coke. Love, in other words, uses the neural mechanisms and pathways that are activated during the process of addiction. “We are literally addicted to love,” Dr Young observes.

When a person is in love, the special chemicals and hormones give the body an extra-ordinary feel-good envelope – an effect that is very similar to what cocaine or the drug Ecstasy does to the body and mind. Addiction experts say that attraction and lust are very similar to drugs – it leaves you wanting more. However, the ‘high’ is only temporary – just like in cocaine.

Brain scans have also revealed that the different flavours of love come different spots in the brain. Researchers say that love primarily comes in three distinct flavours: lust, romantic love and long-term attachment. In many cases there can be an overlap, but in essence these are separate phenomena.

Studies have proved that a dip in the chemicals and hormones involved in love result in a decrease in sexual activity. That is why people on drugs for certain ailments find themselves less active sexually because their chemical pool gets altered. Age will also do the same thing.

But love is much more than just genes, chemicals and hormones. So forget all this and just celebrate the different hues of love on Valentine’s Day. You can always fool the body’s chemicals and as someone said: love is in the mind and heart. Life, they say, is like a game of tennis. You need to first serve and it all begins with LOVE ALL.

Swine Flu (H1N1) - causes and prevention tips

All about H1N1 Swine-Origin flu

Swine influenza is an infection caused by any of the several types of swine influenza virus.

Swine influenza is also called as H1N1 flu, swine flu, hog flu, and pig flu. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.
Swine flu is quite common among pig population. Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. However, the meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.
Its not really Swine Flu

Swine flu is an acute respiratory disease of pigs caused by a virus that belongs to the influenza A virus group. Mortality rates are generlly low and pigs recover within 5 to 7 days after initial symptoms

The virus currently infecting humans is a form of a swine flu virus and not the actual one

It has jumped from pigs to humans and contains genes from pig, bird and human flu viruses

A more appropriate name would be swine-origin flu and not swine flu.

1 A Classical Swine H1N1 virus and a Human H3N2 virus combine to form a Swine H3N2 virus
2 The Swine H3N2 virus combines with an Avian virus to form a Swine H3N2 Triple reassortment virus
3 Swine H3N2 Trple Reassortment combines with Classical Swine H1N1 to form Swine H1N2 Triple Reassortment virus
4 Swine H1N2 Triple Reassortment virus and a Eurasian Swine H1N1 virus join to form the Swine-Origin Influenza Virus 2009
The Lethal Leap

Every virus has 8 genes

Strains of flu viruses jump from one species to another without the 8 genes changing (no genetic change) or with a reassortment of the 8 gees (antigenic shift)

An example of reassortment is

a duck passes a bird flu virus to a pig
a person passes a human flu virus to the same pig
if the viruses infect the same cell in the pig, the genese from the bird strain cn mix with the genes from the human strain to form a new virus in te pig. This can also occur in a human or chicken infected with different strains
Prevention / Remedies Tips

Tulsi leaves are used for preventing cold, cough and other related diseases. Tulsi leaves are supposed to be the best natural anti-viral herb that builds immunity levels against such diseases.
Tulsi leaves soaked in hot water along with little honey and ginger can be given for kids. This can help in flu prevention.

Avoid going to crowded places like malls, theatres, markets, etc.
Avoid diets which have curd, cold food, cold drinks, fruit juices, fermented food, ice cream
Drink hot water
Drink decoction made of any one or combination of tulsi, ginger, termeric, black pepper, long pepper and guduchi in the morning
Ayurvedic medicines like sudershanghana vati and sudershana churna will improve body's defence mechanism

Dengue - fatal disease, causes and cures

How to fight Dengue? Causes and Prevention of Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is a flu kind of illness spread by mosquito bites. Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by any of the dengue family virus. This is also widely known as 'Break bone fever' due to the severe joint pain caused during the attack. Dengue can be diagnosed by blood test. The infected person as such cannot spread the infection but can be a source to spread it.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is often complicated and severe. This rather can be termed as a complication dengue fever. Those bitten by the mosquito can get dengue fever and those already infected once if infected again are prone to higher risk of getting dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Dengue is an infectious disease causing frequent epidemics. There are various factors that contribute like lack of effective mosquito control, lack of public health systems to control the epidemic, the increase usage of plastic items which are the breeding sites of the mosquitoes.




Dengue is spread by the bite of an 'Ades' Mosquito. This mosquito bites the infected person and then bites someone else who is not affected thus transmitting the infection. These mosquitoes are active during the day time and spread the infection during day time. These mosquitoes live among human beings and breed in discarded tyres, flower pots, water stores etc.

Kaiser Quotes health insurance for individual quotes

Dengue fever starts suddenly accompanied by headache, severe joint pain ,rashes, nausea and lack of appetite. The illness can last up to 10 days and the complete recovery could take about four to six weeks. Widely the dengue infections result in relatively mild illness however in some cases it may lead to the dengue hemorrhagic fever. In the complicated stage the blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding through mouth, nose and gums. This is most prevalent among children and young adults. This stage requires close medical attention.
Treatment for Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic fever

As far as the treatment is concerned there is no specific course, However the affected person is treated with Paracetamol to bring down the fever. The person is usually adviced to drink lots of fluids. The infected person should be isolated until recovery from the rest of the family to prevent further infections.

Although there is no vaccine to prevent this epidemic certain preventive measures as specified below can be taken to control the epidemic.

Preventive Measures to control Dengue Fever

Use mosquito repellents.
discard all unwanted items getting gathered around the living area to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes.
Keep the water stores clean and closed.
keep yourself well covered when outside.
Take prompt medical advice once fever starts.

Ginger - Health Benefits

Zingiber Officinale or Ginger is known for its pungent taste and medicinal properties. The plants botanical name is thought to be derived from its sanskrit name 'singabera'. Basically Ginger belongs to the Turmeric family. The plant's under ground stem is used for medicine and flavouring. Ginger is a perennial plant.

Ginger is said to have originated in china. The Chinese have relied on ginger as a medicine and flavouring agent for more than 2000 years. Although a native of southeast Asia the top commercial producers are India, Jamaica, Indonesia, Australia. Ginger adds a special flavour to the food.

Its available all around the year. Ginger is also available in several other forms including crystallized, candied and pickled ginger. Fresh ginger can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks if it is left unpeeled. Stored unpeeled in the freezer, it will keep for up to six months. Dried ginger powder should be kept in a tightly sealed glass container in a cool, dark and dry place. Ginger is also used for flavoring cookies and cakes. Ginger can be freshly grated and used in cooking.

Ginger contains approximately 1-4 % of volatile oils. These oils are responsible for its medicinal values. The health benefits of ginger come from the gingerols and shogaols, that give ginger its spicy and pungent taste. Ginger does not interact with any other nutrients or drugs in the body and hence is very safe.

Ginger is very effective in curing gastrointestinal distress. Ginger's anti-vomiting action has been shown to be very useful in reducing the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. The 'Gingerols' present in ginger reduces the pains in people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Ginger's therapeutic properties stimulate circulation of the blood, cleansing the bowels and kidneys.

Ginger promotes sweating which is helpful during Influenza. The sweat contains potent germ-fighting agents. While sweating the Dermicidin that is manufactured in the sweat glands are transported to the skin surface which helps fight bacteria like staphylococcus. Ginger is the best medicine for relieving motion sickness, nausea, dizziness, controlling pain etc.,