Best Anti-Aging Serums

From Avon and Olay to Madonna's rumored fave, find out which wrinkle treatments really work

Finding the perfect balance of moisture and effectiveness in an anti-aging treatment isn't easy, but with the help of TotalBeauty.com product reviews, you can pinpoint the right skin care serum for your budget and skin type. See serums

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Juices to work on you inside out

* For acne: Drink lime, papaya and cucumber juice to cleanse your system.

* For heartburn: A combin ation of carrot and cucumber juice to cleanse your system.

* For asthma: Try juice of apricot, lemon, pineapple, peach, carrot, radish and celery.

* For obesity: Lemon, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, papaya, tomato and lettuce juice are recommended.

* For detoxification: Wheatgrass juice removes toxic metals from the body and restores vitality.

(Guest post by Smitha)

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Do beauty products contain actual fruits?

A lot of beauty products supposedly contain fruits, but in what way? No one’s been around squeezing fresh mango juice into a vat of your favourite shampoo. If that were the case, you’d have to store all such cosmetics in the refrigerator. “The label may read ‘papaya’ or ‘orange’ but most of the time, ‘fruit’ means ‘extract’-material taken from the skin or pulp that has had some of the phytochemicals removed from it” says Rebecca James Gadberry, an instructor of cosmetic sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles. Look at the ingredients, and you will see that words like “acid”, “extract”, “oil”, or “enzyme” follow the name of the fruit. The higher this component is on the list, the more potent the concentration.

(Guest Post by Smitha)

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Matrix Biolage Smoothing Serum

Soothe your mane with Matrix Biolage Smoothing Serum. It’s a very light leave-on conditioner made up of vitamin rich avocado, jojoba and grape seed oils that relaxes your hair, controls frizz and seals in smoothness without weighing hair down. Simply apply the serum to shampooed and conditioned damp hair and blow-dry; or use it on towel-dried hair and voila – you get detangled, smooth and shiny hair!

Matrix Biolage Smoothing Serum

(Guest post by Smitha)

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Vichy Oligo 25 Foaming Cleansing Face Wash

If city pollution is wrecking the glow on your skin, give it an instant radiance boost with Vichy Laboratories Oligo 25 Foaming Cleansing Face Wash. It not only helps you get rid of impurities and dead cells but it also smoothens out the texture and gives your face a healthy radiance. On contact with the air, the pink liquid instantly becomes a rich, lightly-fragranced cleansing foam. Applied to the face and then rinsed off with water, this soap-free foam is suitable for removing make-up and provides ultra-efficient, gentle cleansing for all skin types, even the most sensitive.

Vichy Oligo 25 Foaming Cleansing Face Wash

Caroline James, Scientific Advisor for Vichy Laboratories explains: To achieve a healthy glowing complexion, Vichy Laboratories has developed a formula that works not only to smooth the surface of the skin but also to activate skin's micro-circulation, the source of skin radiance. The stress hormone nonadrelaine causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing skin micro-circulation, slowing down cellular renewal and resulting in a build-up of dead cells on the skin's surface, making the skin look pale and dull. The presence of the trace element Manganese in Vichy’s face wash blocks the release of noradrenaline while the ingredient Polyfructol TM, a natural polysaccharide boosts natural exfoliation to clarify the complexion. Available at leading pharmacies in India, a 150 ml bottle costs Rs.950/-

(Guest post by Smitha)

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AminoGenesis Wrinkle Cream Giveaway Winner

The winner of AminoGenesis Wrinkle Arrest, a moisturizing day cream worth $59, and a beverage booster HealthDropz is Marta, comment no:2. Congratulations Marta, I have emailed you, please respond immediately with your full name and residential address. A big Thank You to all those who participated in the giveaway.

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Bleaching your skin? Follow these dos and donts

In fact, so obsessed are Indians with a fair complexion that in addition to fairness creams, usage of cream bleaches to lighten skin colour also is on the rise. A survey conducted by a leading bleach manufacturer has in fact revealed that around 90 percent of women bleached for a fairer complexion while only 10 percent bleached to camouflage superfluous hair. If you are fond of bleaching, here are some points to keep in mind to make the maximum use of this cosmetic preparation.(A few tips about bleaching, the benefits of bleaching, precautions to follow while bleaching etc are mentioned in these posts: The wonders of cream bleach and How to apply cream bleach. Do read those posts as well.)

* One should not bleach too often- once in a months should be alright.

* Store bleaching products in a cool, dry place.

* Before you apply the bleach, wash the area to be bleached with mild soap and water. Then dry it.  

* Always conduct a patch test on the elbow before applying bleach in the face. Apply little bleach under your elbow and let it stay for 48 hours. If you experience any irritation, redness, inflammation or any kind of discomfort takes place, do not use the product.

* A slight tingling sensation while the cream is working is normal, but it shouldn't be painful. A strong, burning feeling is a good indicator it's too strong for your skin, or you're allergic to a bleaching ingredient.

* Also do not bleach after a hot bath as the skin is more sensitive then.

* Leave the skin free to breathe for 6-8 hours after bleaching. It is always best to bleach the skin at night or late in the evening.

* Keep bleached area out of direct sunlight for at least 24 hours.

* If you are using Retin A, Alpha Hydroxy, or Glycolic Acid on your skin, it’s recommended that you shouldn’t bleach that area of the skin.

*Always prepare the bleach mixture as much as you require and do not disproportionately change the ratio of ingredients to be mixed, wrongly assuming that a stronger preparation ensures better results. Always prepare the mixture as soon as you are ready to begin. And discard any leftover mixture; do not reuse it.

* However you can do some slight modifications. When bleaching the face, mix a little less of ammonia crystals than recommended. And when your bleaching your arms or legs, mix a little more of the crystals.

* Gently cover your skin area with bleach, do not rub it vigorously into the skin.

* Do not leave the bleach mixture for a longer time than specified on the package. You can wipe away a bit using the spatula to see if the hair is of desired colour. If not, reapply on that part and check again in a few minutes but in any condition do not leave the bleach for more than 15 minutes.

* Don’t use bleach on areas where you shouldn’t - near eyes, eyebrows, inside nose, for instance. Also don’t use it on extremely sunburnt, irritated, burnt, chapped skin or an area that is freshly tweezed or shaved.

* Don't bleach if you're trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or think you may be pregnant

* Once the hair is all lightened, rinse off the bleach using cool water and gently pat dry with a smooth towel.

* The skin pores get thoroughly cleansed by the hydrogen peroxide in the bleach. Hydrogen peroxide has been universally acknowledged as a cleansing agent. But hydrogen peroxide can also lead to temporary increase in growth of facial hair, which soon subsides. However if the rate of growth appears to be high, discontinue bleaching for some time. That’s why, if you are undergoing laser treatment for hair-removal, it’s highly recommended that you forgo bleaching.

* Incidentally, if you do come across a defective bleaching cream, complain to the FDA authorities.

* Inspite of all precautions if you do experience a burning sensation or there are rashes on the face after bleaching, gently rub pure coconut oil over that area and wash it off with cold water. Alternatively, one can rub ice over the affected allergic area for 10 to 15 minutes or a little longer and at intervals till the reaction subsides.

(Guest post by RJ)

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Budget Beauty-Top Makeup Finds for $5 or Less

Save money with almost-free beauty products from your favorite brands

If your budget's not what it used to be, your makeup doesn't have to suffer. Take comfort in these consumer- and editor-approved, quality finds -- all available either online or at your local drugstore. See makeup

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