Archive for the ‘Beauty’ category

How to Have Whiter Teeth

May 29th, 2011



People are social beings and they need to interact with their fellow human beings everyday. Would you believe that having uneven, yellowish teeth can ruin your chances of making more friends and even getting into serious relationships? People who are not comfortable with their teeth rarely or do not smile at all, and this may give others the wrong impression that you are a snob.

You can put a stop feeling miserable about your teeth by resorting them with whitening procedures. You can acquire brilliant teeth and have a great smile you can flash around. The rewards are great and it will also boost your self confidence.

Teeth whitening spas are mushrooming in practically all cities all over the country, but you need not drain your pockets if one is not available in your area. There are so many options for you to choose from. The methods vary from cost-efficient methods to the more expensive ones which needs the services of a dentist.

Readily available is the use of whitening strips which can lighten the color of your by several shades. Whitening strips can be bought at drugstores and pharmacies. You have to wear a whitening strip for half an hour twice each day. This is effective and cost efficient compared to other methods of teeth whitening procedures.

Whitening paints or gel can also be used to whiten your teeth. The paint or gel can also be bought in drug stores and pharmacy outlets anywhere. You can whiten your teeth by several shades whiter by putting the paint or gel in your teeth while you go to sleep at night.

Brushing your teeth using toothbrushes and toothpaste with teeth whitening ingredients is another way. Some toothbrushes are made specifically to work better in removing stains and lighten the shade of your teeth.

If you want instant results, you can opt for the laser whitening or Zoom treatment which is fast gaining popularity. The process may be time consuming as you have to make several trips to the dentist and the price is quite expensive but the result is instant and usually worth it.

Food For Healthy Skin – What Should You Eat to Get Vibrant, Beautiful Skin?

May 28th, 2011



The best way to improved health and looks is without a doubt a well-balanced diet. People often don’t think about what the right food for healthy skin is, and only look at what topical care products they are using.

But the truth is that for optimum skin health you’ll want to look at getting all the nutrients you need to be healthy first, and after that look at your topical products.

Most food for healthy skin is mostly delicious too, so it’s a win-win situation. Those foods are often rich in antioxidants, which are great for anti-aging not only for your looks but for the whole body.

The Best Food for Healthy Skin

Some of the best foods for healthy skin are them containing vitamin C, like kiwifruits, oranges, papayas and any kind of berry.

This is because vitamin C assists the production of collagen, the protein which makes the skin firm and youthful. It also strengthens the skin and blood vessels, and helps wounds to heal quicker.

Another powerful vitamin is vitamin A, which is often referred to as a beauty-vitamin. It is found in foods like carrots, spinach, eggs and fish. Vitamin A produces new skin cells, protects the skin against damage and prevents topical problems and diseases.

Foods like nuts, bananas and avocados are rich in vitamin B5, a great nutrient for accelerated cell growth and repairing of skin damage.

Minerals are also of great importance for healthy skin, for example zinc and magnesium. These are found in for example Brazil nuts and dark leafy greens.

If you find it all too hard and want an easier way to insure you’ll get a healthy, vibrant look then start taking high quality natural dietary supplements – this way you don’t have to worry about it.

When you are sure you are getting all those nutrients for healthy skin, start thinking about your present topical care regimen. Are you using products filled with harmful chemicals? Does your skin cream contain proven effective ingredients?

Teeth Whitening Products – Teeth White Strips

May 26th, 2011



Teeth white strips are the ideal choice if you want whiter teeth. Let’s face it, today people are very conscious about teeth. Straight white teeth are the norm even though they are not natural and take effort to get them that way. Luckily, great advancements have been made in teeth whitening procedures so you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars at the dentist’s office anymore if you want beautiful white teeth thanks to teeth white strips.

Teeth white strips are very convenient. You can use them in the comfort of your home any time you get a few spare minutes. Some strips need to be left on for up to 30 minutes; some only require 5 minutes. Other strips slowly dissolve in your mouth which makes them perfect to use on the go. Typically, teeth white strips are applied twice a day for a period of a week to ten days. The treatment will probably need to be repeated about once a year to remove coffee stains and the natural yellowing that occurs with aging.

Teeth white strips are affordable too. You could easily spend hundreds of dollars to get your teeth whitened at the dentist office. You can buy a box of teeth white strips for less than $50. Some brands are less than $25. You can catch them on sale or use a coupon and get them for even less. To get the best price, shop online where you can compare prices among several different stores. If you order online, don’t forget to factor in the cost of shipping.

The best thing about teeth white strips is that they really do work. The convenience and price wouldn’t be all that appealing if they didn’t do a good job of whitening your teeth. You can expect anything from a half a shade to 3 full shades whiter depending upon the brand of strips you use.

There is a difference among brands. The procedure for using them is different, the prices are different and the results are different. You will need to choose the brand of teeth white strips that are best for you depending upon how you intend to use them and how much whiter you want your teeth to become.

Are you wondering if teeth white strips are safe? Most home teeth whitening products work on the same principle, applying hydrogen peroxide to the enamel. This has proven over time to be safe. The degree of whitening you will achieve depends upon the percentage of peroxide the product contains and the length of time it comes into contact with your teeth.

If you want whiter teeth, then using teeth white strips is the best way to go. You can lighten your teeth gradually over time so they appear more natural. You won’t have to deal with messy gels and devices. The best part is you won’t have to take time from your busy schedule to spend an afternoon at the dentist and shell out big bucks to get the same results you can get on your own at home using economical and easy to use teeth white strips.

Professional Teeth Whitening Products – Smile 4 You

May 23rd, 2011



The UK based company Smile 4 You are the new and only representatives of the very latest and most highly regarded home teeth whitening kit. ‘Dr George’s Dental White’ teeth whitening kit; the number one teeth whitening choice in America by dentists and consumers alike for over 15 years, has recently made its debut in the UK and is already creating quite a stir. Unlike many other D.I.Y home teeth whitening kits, this is clinically approved by dentists and the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and has been used in preference of going to the dental surgery by many as professional results can be achieved safely and quickly at a much more purse/wallet friendly price.

It is made up of a professional-strength preparation frequently used in dental surgeries all over the world; these brilliant whitening kits can help to lighten your teeth by up to 11 shades in just a fortnight. The ingredients used in the preparation are 16% Carbamide Hydrogen Peroxide (exactly the same gel that a dental professional would use when whitening your teeth) Propylene Glycol, Water, Glycerine, Carboner, Mint and T.E.A flavouring.

First tested and developed in 1989 by one of America’s most prestigious dentists; Dr George Madray DMD, using a very straightforward 4 step process, the patented whitening gel works by drawing out the moisture from the user’s teeth through tiny pores in the enamel, the bleach then enters the pores and then begins the procedure of turning the teeth white without any damage to the tooth enamel. The manufacturers claim that the gel gets to work in just 30 minutes!

The gel in the teeth whitening kit has a PH level of 6.7 to 7.2 which is standard dental surgery strength and recommended on all teeth whitening products to get a desired result. It comes complete with mouth trays that are customisable that whiten all upper and lower teeth at once, you can expect to see those pearly whites brighter and whiter than ever before within a few treatments. The kit has a long storage life of 2 years, offering truly great value for money so it can be used whenever you wish for as long as you choose to get sparkling white teeth every time.

For those of you anxious to get that Hollywood smile very quickly, you can also purchase a blue laser light that transmits UV rays for an even faster activation of the gel and get whiter teeth 50% more quickly.

Undergoing A Laser Teeth Whitening

May 23rd, 2011



Do you dream of having that flashing, brilliant smile sporting a pearly set of white teeth? Well, they do not exist in the movies anymore. You too can lighten your teeth several shades whiter and get quicker results. The laser teeth whitening could be the solution for your needs.

Laser teeth whitening is one procedure which could assure you of lightening your teeth up to five or six shades whiter. The process involves painting a bleaching product onto your teeth and shining a laser light to activate the chemical reaction on the whitening ingredient.

With this procedure, you can achieve a quick result compared to other procedures. This is the difference if you use other teeth whitening products like toothpastes, home whitening kits, and other procedures.

Before you undergo laser treatment, you should consult a dentist because he or she can assess your teeth and make sure you are suitable for the treatment. This treatment can cost you about four to five hundred bucks, again quite higher compared to other procedures or when you just buy a home teeth whitening kit, but do not expect immediate results if you use home methods. Your advantage is if you want instant results, you can get it with a laser treatment.

You do not have to spend your life savings to avail the procedure because it is readily accessible nowadays. Almost all, if not all dentists offer this service to meet the growing demands of the customers. This become the latest trend, naturally dentists and teeth professionals everywhere are taking full advantage of this need.

Just a few clicks on the internet will make information about laser teeth whitening available right at your fingertips. You can book appointments online to get those bright, pearly white teeth.

Tooth Whitening Products – What’s the Difference?

May 21st, 2011



Are you embarrassed by yellow teeth? Do you want to bleach, but do not know which product to use? Are they all the same? Of course they are not.

As a registered dental hygienist, I have studied the different tooth whitening products. Here is what it all boils down to. It’s all in the percentage of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The higher percentage will give the best results. For over-the-counter whitening products, federal regulations will only allow up to 10% H2O2. For example, Crest Whitestrips contains 6%. Whitestrips will lighten your tooth shade by maybe 1 or 2 shades. For people with already white teeth but just need a little extra help, this will work fine for them.

For those who need more help, there are alternatives. You will need to get these from your dentist. Professional strength whitestrips are 14% peroxide. These work great for many people. These may lighten your teeth 5 to 7 shades. The kit contains 21 days worth of strips. Use these only 1 to 2 hours a day.

The next step up is bleaching trays. Your dentist will have to make these for you. These will be customized to fit your teeth. You buy the bleach to put in the trays. The bleach for these trays comes in 10%, 15% and 20%. Most people cannot handle 20% as it makes their teeth very sensitive. Usually the bleach comes in 4 syringes. It is enough for 4 weeks if you bleach 1 time a week.

Then there is the professional in-office bleaching. And again, there are different strengths. Zoom, Bright Smiles, and Opalescence range from 10% to 38%. Zoom and Bright Smiles uses a light to help. Opalescence does not use a light. Studies have shown that the light does not do really do anything. The tooth bleaches to a certain shade with or without the light. The 38% peroxide will lighten from 15 to 18 shades. This is not always the case. Everyone is different. Yellow teeth bleach easier than gray teeth. Tetracycline stained teeth may need 2 professional appointments with a series of at-home treatments. Please discuss with your dentist or dental hygienist which option will work best for you.

Cost will make a difference in your decision.
1. OTC whitestrips – $30.00
2. Professional whitestrips – $ 60.00 – 80.00
3. Bleaching trays – $150.00 – 300.00
4. Bleach to put in trays – $30.00 – 50.00
5. Professional in-office bleaching – $200.00 – 600.00 (some include trays)

Stains from cigarette, coffee, tea, wine, and food must be removed by a dental hygienist before whitening. The bleach cannot reach the teeth through these extrinsic stains.

If your teeth become sensitive after bleaching, here are some things you can do. Gel cam is a fluoride gel in a tube that works very well. You can rub it on your teeth and leave on for 4 minutes or put it in bleaching trays for 1 hour. Gelcam can be bought at a store like Wal-Mart or your dentist office. Fluoride rinses from the drugstore are milder but will help a little. Some dental offices carry desensitizing gels.

I hope I have made your tooth whitening decisions a little easier. Everyone feels prettier when they have a beautiful smile.

Foods For Healthy Skin – Breakfast Style

May 21st, 2011



For many of us, the morning alarm rings far too early and often the last thing on a struggling-to-wake-up mind is a nourishing breakfast, especially a nourishing breakfast that meets diet-for-good-skin criteria. If your AM attitude needs a stumble to the coffeepot before becoming presentable and a nutrition for healthy skin tune-up, maybe it’s time to try a new routine.

The first thing to realize is that breakfast, a word first coined in the mid-15th century, comes from the term “break the fast”. It is meant to be the meal that breaks the fast from supper the night before. When people explain their reasoning behind not eating breakfast, it is often that they are not hungry. Once their dietary habits are examined, however, it seems the lack of hunger in the morning is often because they eat their evening meal too late or snack after supper.

In order for the body to have ample time to digest the last meal of the day and then be able to spend energy on other tasks such as elimination-a process you want working well if you want clear, healthy skin-it is best to finish eating by 7:00 or 8:00pm. If late night snacking is curtailed, the body usually feels much more like digging into hearty morning fare that supplies the essential nutrients needed for body and skin health and less like settling for a quick cup of Java.

Even for those who wake up hungry, morning time constraints often mean breakfast is skipped or minimized. Unfortunately that means insufficient calories or nutrients are taken in before beginning the day’s many tasks or what is grabbed is deficient in the protein, A and B vitamins and zinc that growing healthy skin requires. If, contrary to the children’s song, daybreak does not find you in your place with a bright, shiny and clear skinned face, how about giving the following diet-for-good-skin suggestions a try:

1.

The Magical Ingredient in Teeth Whitening Gel

May 21st, 2011



There are many kinds of teeth whitening products out there and a lot of those products come in the form of gels. Teeth whitening gel is something that we can all use to get that brighter and whiter smile. But what is the major ingredient in a teeth whitening gel?

The Magical Ingredient

Peroxide is one of the main ingredients in teeth whitening gel. It works as a bleaching agent to remove stains from the surface of the tooth’s enamel. The word peroxide can frighten some people who think it could be a harmful substance to use on their teeth. As a result, people who’ve never tried a home teeth whitening kit often wonder if these products are safe to use. Given that they contain a diluted concentration of the ingredient they will not damage the insides of the mouth, teeth and are gentle on your gums. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), peroxide is a safe and effective whitening agent. The FDA has declared peroxide safe too.

Home Teeth Whitening Vs The Dentist

Most of the home teeth whitening products contain the exact same ingredients that a dentist would use to make stained teeth brighter and whiter. The reason that the home products are chosen rather than a trip to the dentist to get the job done is because it’s more affordable to do it yourself. It is also very convenient and more comfortable to do it at your own pace and in your own time. Having the freedom and choice to do it yourself is far more fun than going through the hassle of booking an appointment and going to the dentist isn’t it? Not to mention some people actually dread the thought of sitting in the dentist’s chair. If you were one of these people, wouldn’t you rather be spared the ordeal?

Differences Between Gel based Whiteners

When you check out the difference in one whitening gel over the next, you’ll see that the active ingredient is the same for all of them. So what is the difference in Product A or Product B?

The difference lies in the concentration of peroxide. Some whitening gels contain lower levels of peroxide whilst other gels contain a higher concentration of the ingredient. They are all effective but lower concentrations are a big plus if you have or are concerned about teeth sensitivity.

How Long Do Teeth Whitening Gels Take To Work?

A factor that influences the time taken to whiten your teeth is the condition of your teeth to begin with. If you have severe stains on your teeth-say you’re a heavy coffee drinker – then it’s going to take longer to lighten your teeth than the person who doesn’t drink coffee. Your lifestyle and diet does indeed play a part in how good or how bad your teeth look. As you can see the state of your teeth will play a part in how long it could take to get that cleaner, whiter smile.
Something that no teeth whitening gel can change is the color of crowns or fillings. Gels also will not bleach veneers and in some cases, it’s not safe for everyone to use whiteners but those cases are usually reserved for people who don’t have healthy teeth or gums.

Nothing To Fear!

There are definitely a lot of choices out there when it comes to selecting a suitable teeth whitener, but it should put your mind at ease at least knowing that you have nothing to fear from the all important teeth whitening ingredient – peroxide.

3 Important Habits For Healthy Skin

May 20th, 2011



Healthy and radiant skin is not something you are born with, but something that you need work on daily. Although some women are blessed with good skin, the vast majority of us have to really take great care to achieve radiant and healthy looking skin. As a rule of thumb, the health of your skin is a reflection of your overall health. Your skin is one of the first places where an unhealthy lifestyle starts to show.

So, how can you get and maintain this radiant and beautiful looking skin? Well, its starts with your daily habits – and its not just habits of skin care, but lifestyle in general. Here are 3 very important habits for healthy skin.

1. Eat Fresh
Diet is the determining factor of goo skin. A bad diet usually reflects in bad skin and if you are suffering from acne, dry skin and skin that looks lifeless, then chances are that your diet is not conducive to healthy looking skin. A lack of fresh food in your diet is one of the biggest reasons for skin problems and you simply cannot afford to live off junk food. Load up on a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. Its packed with natural fibers and nutrients that feeds and nourishes your skin.

2. Easy On The Products
If you use a lot of products on your skin, then you need to take particular care in the quality of these products. If you wear a lot of make up – especially if you wear it to cover up spots, then you need to be careful as many products don’t allow your skin to breathe and can actually make the problem worse. Its important to keep your skin clean as well. If you live or work in areas with high air pollution then you have to pay particular attention to cleaning the surface of your skin clean.

3. Watch The Sun
The sun and its harmful UV rays are much more dangerous to your skin than you probably realize. Indirect exposure for short periods of time is not really a big deal, but if you are exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time, then you skin is at risk. Sun damage is the number one cause of premature aging and certain types of acne are actually worsened by exposure to sunlight. Although sunscreen helps, its not nearly sufficient to completely stop the damage.

Soft Healthy Skin For All Ages

May 20th, 2011



Getting soft healthy skin is possible with the right habits. From diet, to skin regimens, and to lifestyle, soft healthy skin can be achieved if you know what to do and how to do it.

As you get older, your skin tends to get drier and it loses its ability to retain moisture. However, don’t despair as soft healthy skin is still possible to attain. Though diet and proper hydration can help give you smooth skin, applying moisturizers may become a necessity as the effects of aging get more noticeable.

Collagen and elastin are two proteins found in the skin. They are responsible for keeping skin firm and elastic. These are naturally produced by the body. However, production slows down as one gets older. Other factors can also destroy the two proteins such as UV rays from the sun, smoking, and stress.

To get soft healthy skin, you need to use moisturizers to help keep your skin hydrated. Usually, the best time to apply moisturizers is after taking a bath and every time your body gets wet like after washing your hands. Nighttime is also an ideal time to apply moisturizing treatments for maximum effects.

Applying lotions and creams to your body is not enough. You need to know what is inside these products to ensure that you are really providing nourishment to your skin. A lot of products out in the market contain a lot of harmful chemicals like alcohol, fragrances, dioxanes, and parabens. These can be very irritating to the skin and can even cause cancer.

Choose products that contain ingredients that are proven to be effective and safe. Cynergy TK is a skin care breakthrough that stimulates the body’s natural ability to produce collagen and elastin. It also improves the skin’s ability to retain moisture, making it softer and smoother.

Nano-lipobelle, a form of CoQ10, is a very potent topical antioxidant. It helps fight free radicals that cause cell damage and death. Because of its special formulation, it is able to effectively penetrate deep into the skin.

Phytessence wakame is also of benefit to the skin as it promotes tissue repair. It is also valuable in preventing a harmful enzyme called hyaluronidase from breaking collagen and elastin apart.

Learn how to check the products that you apply to your body by reading the label. This is important to ensure that no harm is caused to your body. More importantly, live healthy to ensure that you get to have soft healthy skin, no matter what your age is.

Beauty and Health