Taking Care Of Your Teeth

Tooth-Whitening Products
Some toothpastes claim to whiten teeth. There's nothing wrong with using whitening toothpastes as long as they also contain fluoride and ingredients that fight plaque and tartar. But these toothpastes alone don't contain much in the way of whitening ingredients and probably won't noticeably change the color of your teeth.

It's easy to be lured by ads telling people they need gleaming white teeth. But these ads are really targeted to older people. The truth is that most teens don't need tooth whitening because teeth usually yellow as a person gets older. If you think your teeth aren't white enough, though, talk to your dentist before you try any over-the-counter whitening products. Your dentist may be able to offer you professional treatment, which will be suited to your unique needs and will work better than over-the-counter products.

Be careful when buying over-the-counter whitening products. Some bleaching agents may damage your gums and mouth. So always follow the instructions on any whitening product you use.

The Nutrition Connection
Eating sugar, as you probably already know, is a major cause of tooth decay. But it's not just how much sugar you eat - when and how you eat it can be just as important to keeping teeth healthy.

When you eat sugary foods or drink sodas frequently throughout the day, the enamel that protects your teeth is constantly exposed to acids. Hard candies, cough drops, and breath mints that contain sugar are especially harmful because they dissolve slowly in your mouth. Many experts suggest that you take a 3-hour break between eating foods containing sugar.

Sugary or starchy foods eaten with a meal are less harmful to your teeth than when they're eaten alone, possibly because the production of saliva, which washes away the sugar and bacteria, is increased. Eating sugary foods before you go to bed can be the most damaging (especially if you don't brush your teeth afterward) because you don't produce as much saliva when you sleep.

For most people, it's hard to cut out sweets completely, so try to follow these more realistic guidelines:

Eat carbohydrates (sugars and starches) with a meal.
If you can't brush your teeth after eating, rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash, or chew sugarless gum.
Don't eat sugary foods between meals.
If you snack, eat nonsugary foods, such as cheese, popcorn, raw veggies, or yogurt.

An Overview Of Sun Damage

Your Skin And The Effects Of The Sun:

Sun damage of the skin, also known as photo damage can be either acute, as in a sunburn or more commonly, chronic, seen as gradual changes in the skin caused by an accumulation of sun exposure throughout one's life. Chronic photo damage results in either a cosmetic change in the skin's appearance called photo aging, or changes that are of medical and health concerns such as pre-cancerous lesions and skin cancers. The evidence is very strong that ultra-violet light is the cause of most of the changes that we consider to be associated with aging of the skin.

Sunshine, although essential for health and well being, is certainly a hazard for the skin. For many people it feels good to spend time outdoors and this makes it difficult to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Most of the sun exposure we accumulate throughout our lives, is thought to be the effect of multiple short periods of time outside. If the ozone depletion continues this may also increase our lifetime exposure.

Those living in sunny areas are clearly at risk for photo damage, as are those with occupations that require working outdoors. Activities such as skiing, sailing, and gardening can contribute to chronic photo damage. Even one-time sun exposure, causing a tan, results in damage to the skin. There is no such thing as a 'safe' tan.

Individuals with fair skin are clearly at greater risk although sun damage can occur in all skin types. Tanning studios are popular amongst many and this also adds to an accumulation of photo damage.

Smoking is another environmental factor that contributes to premature aging of the skin. Early recognition of sun damage will provide a better chance of reversal of the cosmetic appearance as well as reducing the number of skin cancers.

EYE MAKE UP TIPS

Making the eyes come alive is a real art and like any good artist you will have to first leam the exacting techniques of accurate Brush work and careful .colour-blending. Almond shaped eyes are considered to be the ideal. So when making-up eyes, one tries with the help of light and dark eye make-up to inake the necessary changes to give the eyes an almond appearance.

Eye is a part of your body and beauty. Make-up can adorns your beauty only if it is applied very carefully. Your Eyes are the window to your soul. Eye makeup is a complex set of steps. Select a foundation that is conformable to your skin tone and dab some spots around the center of your face. Put your foundation first over your whole face before you start on your eye makeup. Mix the foundation using a make-up sponge or your fingertips till it covers your entire face.

Be particularly careful about mixing your foundation at the edges so that it does not look like a mask. Apply an eyeshadow primer from lash to brow to make your eye makeup remains last. You can skip this step if you prefer. For your eyes, select the eye shadows in compatible shades. Actuate the lightest shade just below your brow bone, and the medium shade over the rest of your eyelid. Apply the dark eyeshadow into the crease of your eyelid to deepen your eyes. Combine the two where they meet with your fingers to give a more natural look.

Apply the light shadow from lash to press at the center of your eyelid. Putting on liquid eyeliner does take some exercise, so have a bottle of makeup remover to hand until you are confident in the technique. There are two sections of eyeliner, wet and dry. Wet eyeliners attend to give a darker, more dramatic look. Dry eyeliners are milder and better for creating a smoky look. If you purchased eyeliner which is a pencil or stick, draw around the rim of the eyes in a straight line.

Not to use a lip liner if you wish for your face to look slimmer and if you must use one, line your lips after putting lipstick as then you won’t be left with a grisly looking lip outline when the lipstick wears off. Avoid using lip liner which is too dark. Use a brush to fill in your lips with the desired color. Don't draw the pencil across your eyelid as this could result in elongation of the skin. Inspite, apply the color to the palm of your hand, pick up some of the color with your pinky and apply softly to eyelid.

Eye Pencils
Whether they are being used to shade or define the eyes, lips or brows, pencils should glide on smoothly, without dragging the skin, If they seem to be too soft and crumbly, place them in the freezer for a few minutes to harden before applying, Ifthey are too hard and pull at the skin, soften the point first by gently running it over the back of the hand.

An eye pencil is used in the crease of the lid or as an eye liner. Eye pencils come in many colors, and the newest are creamy enough to spread like cream eye shadow. Used with shadow, pencils can effectively compliment your eyes.

An eyebrow penciI is harder and is made to be used on the eyebrows.

Eyebrow Pencils
These can be used to fill sparse brows and enhance the overall shape, Take a sharpened pencil in the shade closest to the natural colour of your eyebrows and fill any open spaces using short irregular strokes to simulate real hair, When defining the brows, avoid drawing on one strong line as this will look false, Work over the brows in small feathered strokes, If the definition is too strong, soften it by dusting with translucent powder or roll a cotton bud over the brows.

Applying Eyeshadow

Eye shadow, in striking, slightly shimmering tones, applied with a light hand, can give the face an air of lumrnosity. EYESHADOW should always glide on smoothly, and can be used to subtly change or enhance the shape of the eyes, to add simple definition or to make a strong impact, depending on your choice of colour. It is also useful to disguise the blueness many of us have on the skin on our eyelids.
More on Eye Shadow

Eyeliner Application

EYELINER Application requires a steady hand, Ifyou find it difficult to apply liner with precision, try drawing it on using small feathered stokes and then blend with a fine-tipped brush or the point of a cotton bud , To make things easier, put a mirror on a flat surface and then work looking down into it.
More on Eye Liner

Eyeliner is gettable in a wide range of hues, from the common black, brown and grey to more adventurous shades such as bright primary colors, pastels, frosty silvers and gold. Using lipstick with moisturizers and sun protection is one efficient way to ward the lips from weather changes. Lipstick adds the finishing touch to any makeup application. For longer-lasting lip color, shade both lips with lip liner after outlining them.

Face powder is among the few beauty essentials. Mineral face powders are chemical and fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Powder gets stick on eyebrows and eye-lashes, if not cleaned with an eyebrow brush. A powder must always be applied after the foundation and earlier the eye makeup. Opt for an oil-free powder if you have oily skin. Avoid applying large amounts of powder under the eyes. Always remove the excess powder with a clean brush. Apply cream blusher in light downward direction to prevent it from creasing in specks of color from catching in the fine hairs on your face.

Eyebrows

Factors to be considered before shaping your brows:

The facial distance from hairline to chin.
The distance between both the eyes.
The hair color and color of eyebrows.
The facial distance from hairline to chin.
The width of the forehead from temple to temple.
The thickness of the brows

Small eyes: Don't use too much shadow or liner - it will make you eyes look smaller. Apply a light color on eyelid, use a darker color in the crease and use a highlighter under the brow.

Large eyes: Wear darker shadow on the lid and extend it to the crease. Use a flat color under the brow to highlight.

Deep-set eyes: Use light colors on the eyelid and under the brow. Use a medium color in the crease. Emphasize the outer corners with shadow.

Wide-set eyes: Use darker colors on the inner corners of the eye.

Hooded eyes: Apply light colors on the lid. Use darker colors from the center of the eyelid to the outer corners and blend.

Round eyes: Make round eyes longer by using color all around and extending toward the outer corners.

Asian eyes: Apply highlighter under the brow. Use light shadow on the inner half of the lid and a darker color on the outer half.

How to apply eye mascara

With modern mascaras there is no need to pump the wand in and out of its container before applying, This can actually cause overload and result in clogged lashes, You need only enough product on the wand to coat the lashes, so any excess should be wiped off with a tissue, Roll the wand through the lashes to help curl-definition, Always work on the upper lashes from underneath to avoid overloading and keep mascara on the lower lashes to a minimum, especially if you are looking tired or have a tendency to rub your eyes a lot.

HEALTH TIPS

1. Shake your Body!

Every day find new ways to move your
body. Use the stairs rather than an escalator or elevator. Walk your dog (or a
neighbours' dog if you don't have one!) , chase your kids, play ball with
friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness
tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't
have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute cardiovascular class or body pump
or kickboxing. Move more and feel better!

 

2. Cut the Fat

Don't eat the obvious fat in your
diet such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats. Eat dairy products like
cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich
meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited
amounts and even then in their low fat verions. Most are available in lower fat
versions.

 

3. Reduce Stress

Stress busters come in many forms.
Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30
minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e., go back to number one above!,
exercise is a great stress reducer, Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a
park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing
music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate.
Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult
people when possible.

 

4. Stop Smoking

All the experts agree on this one.
Ever since 1960 when it was announced that smoking was harmful to your health,
people have been reducing their use of tobacco products. Just recently, we've
seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Warn your children of the
false romance or 'tough guy' image of smokers. Find ways to quit smoking
hypnosis, support groups and even prescription medicine such as Zyban is
available to help you..

 

5. Reduce your exposure to Pollution

Not everyone can live in a smog-free
environment, but we can all avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas,
breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise
outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning where
air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution
deterrent. If you ride a bicycle in traffic, where a small pollution mask over
your mouth and nose.

Dress Your Personality

SPORTY:
Remember-casual doesn't mean sloppy.

Wear layered coordinates-always pulled together with a vest, blazer, or anorak style jacket.

Head Gear like baseball caps can give many just casual outfits that sporty feel

FREESTYLE:
Arty, funky style always with a twist. you will try the latest trend but adapt it for your figure. You love hats & look terrific in them.

CLASSIC/ELEGANT:
Your clothes never enter the room before you do! You are known for clothes in the best fabrics, simple style, one good piece of jewellery, genuine leather accessories.

SEXY:
You enjoy clothes that enhance your curves-fluid fabrics, deeper necklines, waist treatments, sensual fabrics like silk, cashmere, slinky knits, & leather.

ROMANTIC:
You love being a woman & enjoy lace touches, soft florals, & pearls

Instant Hair Tricks To Slim Your Face

Most hair stylists will tell you that a good starting point to a face slimming hair style is to give your hair a svelte look. How do you do that? Here are some hair tips that can work for minimizing fuller face shapes:

Don'ts
Just as clothes with horizontal strips add the elusion of weight, hairstyles with blunt edges can make your face look much wider than it really is. Avoid styles or cuts that have any type of strong lines that will make your face look larger than it really is.
Avoid hair that is either too long or too short.
Avoid big hair, lots of curls, wedge styles or super short cuts.
The Square and Pear shapes are also not suited for super short cuts that will highlight the jaw or the chin.