Stretch marks and cellulite repair

Finally, the truth on which promising products will actually help -- and which are just money-wasting hype

Many of us are genetically destined to get stretch marks and cellulite. (Yeah, thanks, we know!) But thanks to expert help from two of the country's most famous rock star-level skin gurus and 200,000 unbiased beauty product reviews from TotalBeauty.com readers, you can effectively prevent and minimize the appearance of these bummer issues. Get the real scoop here. Get the facts

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Best Bronzed Celebrities

Follow the lead of these A-listers and warm up post-winter skin with expert self-tanner and bronzer tricks

Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Victoria Beckham have mastered the natural-looking faux-glow -- proving that self-tanning now is more about looking healthy, than fresh off a tropical vacation. Use these application tips to get your own red carpet-worthy tan -- the safe way. See tips

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9 Supposedly Long-Lasting Lipsticks

Do they really stay on? Read this real-woman road test

Slicking on a coat of lip color every five minutes lost its allure after junior high. Nowadays, we want color that lasts hours and a product that doesn't suck moisture from our lips. The Total Beauty Squad tested nine contenders to find ones with real staying power -- enough to withstand cocktails and kisses. Find out which products delivered and which disappointed. See lipsticks

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30 Days of Green Tips

Quick, tiny ways you can reduce your carbon footprint, starting today

It's not easy being green. There's so much conflicting advice out there that it's tempting to just give up on being environmentally friendly. But before you throw in the towel, check out these 30 tiny things you can do to help stop global warming. You might even save some cash -- bonus! See tips

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Emami Naturally Fair Pearls Herbal Fairness Soap

(Guest post by Karuna)
I happened to see the advertisements of Emami Naturally Fair Pearls Herbal Fairness Soap splashed on a leading woman’s magazine and was quite impressed with it. My skin tans horribly in summer and I would love to try a product that effectively deals with suntan and makes my skin appear fair – let me use this soap and see if it lives up to its claims.

What Emami states:

Based on herbal principles, Emami Naturally Fair Pearls Herbal Fairness Soap is a unique blend of rich natural extracts and real Pearl dust for imparting fairness and freshness. While it gently cleanses your skin, its natural sunscreen protects skin from harmful UV rays, promoting a fairer and vibrant complexion.

Chief ingredients in Emami Naturally Fair Pearls Herbal Fairness Soap:

Pearl dust, Spanish saffron, aloe vera, sandalwood, liquorice and chamomile.

Emami Naturally Fair Pearls Herbal Fairness Soap

P.S: If any of you have already used this soap, please do share your experiences in the comments below; it might help us all.

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No Marks cream: Review

A few years back, a really bad attack of pimples had left behind a few scars on my face. At that time, I had purchased ‘No Marks Cream’. If I remember correctly, this cream had several natural ingredients such as Aloe, Damask Rose (Rosa damascena), Turmeric (Haldi), Sandalwood (Chandan), Tulsi (Basil) and wheat germ oil to name a few and besides doing away with scars and other blemishes, this cream’s formulation was supposed to diminish and gently fade under eye dark circles, post pimple marks, minor burn marks and stretch marks. It was a fragrant cream and when applied on the skin, it felt soothing and cool. I had used it for more than a month, but it did little to lighten the spots left by pimples. I did try some home-remedies later and they were much more effective than this cream. Perhaps if I had used this cream for a longer period, it would have yielded better results.

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Sanitize your toothbrush

We have such grandiose plans for improving our health and well-being and making our lives easier and better; but most of the time these plans are hardly implemented and we continue leading our monotonous lives as before. Why is it so? The problem with most of us is we tend to think in terms of big things, whether it is about losing enormous amount of weight or following a strict diet plan. We often neglect little things of life; but little things do matter.

Take the case of brushing and flossing teeth for instance, it’s such a simple routine but we tend to overlook its importance. Of course, most of us brush and floss our teeth religiously to maintain good oral hygiene, but did you know that it could also help cut down the risk of contracting heart diseases? The average mouth houses over 6 billion bacteria, which almost equals the number of people on earth, and some of these are responsible for causing bad breath, tooth decay, and inflammation. Researchers at Columbia University of Minnesota say that these bacteria can also cause thickening of the carotid arteries, a precursor to heart attacks and strokes. A recent US research has once again reiterated the fact that people with the germiest mouths are most likely to have heart attacks. Furthermore, another research has confirmed that bad oral hygiene could also lead to complications in pregnancy and problems for babies—in fact, bacteria from a mother's mouth could be transmitted through the blood and amniotic fluid to her unborn child. Researchers caution that this could increase the risk of a premature delivery, a low birth-weight baby, premature onset of contractions, or infection of the newborn child. A simple improvement in dental hygiene is what is required to help ward off incidence of infections and deadly diseases.

But remember that good oral hygiene alone won’t prevent tooth decay, gum disease or other infections; you need to sanitize your lowly toothbrush too. It is highly recommended if someone in the family is ill with an infectious disease. A toothbrush is literally a Petri dish! For one thing, it mostly resides in the moist environment of the bathroom which is ideal for germs, viruses and harmful bacteria to thrive. These bugs from your toothbrush are then transferred to your mouth every time you brush. Even the best-rinsed toothbrush harbours these unhealthy bacteria. Sanitizing a brush involves much more than just a quick rinse under the sink when you're finished brushing. You should eliminate these germs by submerging the bristles in a glass of antiseptic mouthwash like Listerine after brushing. A wet brush is also a breeding ground for wandering microorganisms, so allow the brush to air dry. However, don't soak it for hours together in any antibacterial rinse—15-20 minutes is more than enough. Also don't put a cap or store your brush in a closed container or a drawer, for this may trap bacteria inside and closed environments with moisture are found to be most conducive for their growth. Always store it upright in an open container and do remember to change your brush every three months.

Another good way to sanitize a toothbrush, as suggested by the Reader’s Digest magazine is to place it in a microwave for 15 seconds. The microwave radiation kills the germs, bacteria and microbes that dwell on your toothbrush. If you don’t have a microwave, you could sanitize your toothbrush by boiling it for about five minutes. This will kill most bacteria, but it could wear out your toothbrush bristles faster. You could also use toothbrush sanitizers for your brushes. Some use ultraviolet sterilizing lamps to sanitize the toothbrush, killing harmful bacteria and viruses, while others use steam and dry heat. You may look for these products at Amazon and buy only those that are most effective and approved by the FDA.

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Ayur herbal deep pore cleansing milk:Review

Ayur Herbal Deep Pore Cleansing Milk.
(for all skin types)

A deep pore cleansing milk to get rid of the stickiness and grime during summer months is a must for me. I always make it a point to cleanse my face with it and also with a deep pore exfoliating face wash as soon as I reach home in the evening. I’ve used this homemade cleansing milk as well as Lakme Deep pore cleanser. But most of the time I use Ayur Herbal Deep Pore Cleansing Milk and I have found that it works well for me. With a creamy texture, it has the goodness of natural herbs like organic aloevera, emollient oils and rose water and its cleansing action gently removes deep seated dirt, sebum, sweat and make-up residue, making my face appear clean and soft. Plus, it’s quite inexpensive and costs only Rs. 36/- for 100 ml. I also use this cleansing milk before applying a mask (I use multani mitti cleansing face mask in summer.) and while removing makeup.

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Interesting facts

Did you know that
-- a new study has busted decades of belief that anorexia is mainly caused by social factors, after researchers have found some girls are born to be anorexic.
-- pregnancy with male foetus is riskier; a new study provides scientific evidence that a male baby comes with a bigger package of associated risks than his female counterparts.
-- Age-related mental decline starts in the late-20s. Declining mental function is often seen as a problem of old age, but certain aspects of brain function actually begin their decline in young adulthood, suggest a new study.
-- according to new research, mothers of multiples have 43 percent increased odds of having moderate to severe depressive symptoms nine months after giving birth compared to mothers of single-born children.
-- researchers have found that certain energising sports drinks are so acidic that they can weaken the teeth after just a few mouthfuls.
-- a new study suggests that adults who suffer migraine headaches are more apt to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population.
-- a new study has revealed that eating chocolate can improve the brain's ability to do maths as well as boost your energy level.
-- according to an Australian study, surfing the internet for fun during office hours increases productivity.
-- very hot tea may cause throat cancer; Iranian researchers said that people who regularly drank tea less than two minutes after pouring were five times more likely to develop the cancer compared to those who waited four or more minutes.

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The 13 Worst-Hair Cities

These towns have the worst conditions for hair. Is it time for you to call the movers?

We all have bad hair days, but instead of cursing the mighty hair gods and calling in sick, you might want to consider packing your bags. There are a number of factors contributing to frustrating frizz and dried out strands, but as it turns out it, they could all be due to the city you call home. From looking at national averages of humidity/wind/rain/sun, water-hardness, pollution levels and even the number of salons in the area, Totalbeauty.com has located the worst cities for your 'do. Did your city make the list? See the list

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