Skin Hair and Nails Beauty Health Tips

Perm / Curl Hair Heat Free with Socks Bun

2011-09-03T05:58:00.000-07:00

Perm or curl your hair easily without heat by using socks. This type of curl is not permanent and will be gone once you wash your hair. This method is good as it is less damaging to the hair compare to permanent curl using chemical or hot iron. Here is good video tutorial on how to do it. Enjoy !!!

Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur Asia Glatt Shampoo Review

2011-02-25T06:59:00.000-08:00

I just love Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur Asia Glatt Shampoo!! It does wonders to my hair.
Gliss Kur Asia Glatt Shampoo
My hair type is straight, thin and it tends to get oily if i don't wash it everyday. So if 'dared' to skip one day washing my hair, FIRST, there will be the continuous uneasy feeling of oils filling up on the top of my head, SECOND, i'll tend to play around with my hair (scratching the scalp,twisting my hair,etc.) leading to hair fall...Oh no no no... then THIRD, there might be someone say.. "Hey, did you just wash your hair?".. then i'll say "uhm..yeah.."(walk away...)(>.<). Some people might just mistaken oiliness on the hair looks like wet hair at first glance. It was so embarrassing.. haha... That was last time before i know the secret or at least great tips to manage thin and oily hair(click here to find out more).

Now it is better, if i skip a day (and not two) my hair still looks OK but i'll still feel the FIRST symptom. But at least no more THIRD symptom :) Apart from the tips from the link above, i'll like to give a review of Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur Asia Glatt Shampoo. Purple in color, it has a nice fruity smell and it makes my hair looks shinier and less frizzy. It is not that my hair is very frizzy, as i mentioned, my hair is straight type, but after using this shampoo, my hair seems to look fuller and sleeker. The thing that i like most about it is it adds life to my hair. No more limpy, dull and oily hair. So i'll give it a five star for it and recommands it for people who have similar hair type as mine.

Getting Rid of Dandruff using Apple Cider Vinegar

2011-01-14T06:35:00.000-08:00

Bragg - Apple Cider Vinegar Designer Water Spray Bottle

One of the natural remedy for getting rid of dandruff is using ACV or Apple Cider Vinegar. It's simple.

Things you'll need:
Apple cider vinegar and empty spray bottle.

Below are the step by step guide on how to get rid of the pesky dandruff for good ;)

Mix 1 cup apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water.
Pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle.
To use it, just spray it on to your hair and scalp while avoiding the eye and ear area.
Leave it for about 15 minutes to an hour, and rinse throughly. Repeat this once to twice a week.

Read more about other ACV or apple cider vinegar remedies:

How to get rid of acne naturally?

How to get shinny hair naturally?

Braun Silk Epilator for Hair Removal Review

2011-01-14T05:46:00.000-08:00

Braun SE3170 Silk-épil SoftPerfection Epilator
I've bought this product about a month ago and I must say, I'm actually very happy with it. For those who still don't know what does an epilator do, well, it removes unwanted hair and keep it away for longer duration than shaving does ;)

Why epilating better than shaving?
Epilating removes unwanted hair from the root while shaving just remove the hair from the top of skin surface. Naturally, epilating will keep the skin hair free longer compared to shaving. Also, shaving might cause razor bumps. Some even claimed that if you remove the unwanted hair using tweezers or epilator often and for longer durations, the hair will even stop growing. I'm keeping my finger cross on this one :p

Does using epilator hurts?
I would be lying if i say it does not hurt at all. It does, but it is bearable. If you can endure the pain that caused by removing hair using tweezers, then it should be a piece of cake for you. If that is too much for you, then maybe you should think twice, haha.

Braun Silk Epilator product features:

Silky smooth skin from top to toe for up to 4 weeks
4-way moving pain softener makes epilation extra gentle
Small tips integrated into epilation head lift the hairs so that even short hairs flat lying hairs can be removed efficiently at the root
Two active massage rollers stimulate the skin before and after the hair is removed to minimise the pulling sensation

You can read other Amazon customers review here. It is rated as four stars in Amazon.com :)

Dare to try it?

How to Remove Acrylic Nail with Acetone

2010-09-30T06:54:00.000-07:00

Things you'll need to prepare to remove acrylic nail:

Acetone Nail Polish Remover

Newspapers

Petroleum jelly (e.g. vaseline)

Nail clipper

(Seki Edge Toe Nail Clipper)

Glass bowl

Cuticle Oil

(Seacret From the Dead Sea Cuticle Oil)

Hand cream / moisturizer (optional)

(Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream)

Steps to remove acrylic nail safely:

Prepare all the things mentioned above. Place a thick layer of newspaper on the table to protect if from damage from acetone nail polish remover if it spills.
Cut your acrylic nails as short as possible to ease the removal process.
Pour the acetone nail polish remover in a glass bowl just enough to cover your finger tips when you dip your finger in it.
As acetone can cause skin to dry up, therefore, coat the skin part of your finger tips (avoiding the nails) with petroleum jelly to protect it. You need to avoid coating your nails with vaseline as this will block the acetone from loosening the glue that holds the acrylic nails.
Once done, dip your nails into the bowl and soak it for about 30 minutes till you are enable to peel off the acrylic nails easily. If there is any resistance in peeling it off, DO NOT force it. Just dip your nails again for another 5-10 minutes. Otherwise, you can damage your natural nails which is connected to it.
After removing the acrylic nails, there might be some acrylic residue. Just use nail buffer to remove it gently.
Once you manage to get all of the acrylic nails off, wash your hand with soapy water and use hand cream or cuticle oil to your finger tips. Also, gently massage cuticle oil on each nails to finish.

Posture Correction Exercises Video

2010-07-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some good exercise video for good posture from youtube you can try at home.

Thing you might need:

Exercise Balls

Yoga Mat

Hand Weights

Video 1: Posture exercise for shoulder

Video 2: Posture exercise for middle body

Video 3: Core strengthening exercise for good posture

Simple Steps to Correct Poor Posture

2010-07-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

Did someone (probably your mom) ever pat you on your back and said "Stand up straight. Don't hunch."? Well, thank them. It is really for your own good. But for somehow, if you are like me, my body normal relax position is actually bad body posture. Yes, I like to hunch and do feel like I look like a cave-man walking... yikes..

In order to correct my poor posture, I did a lot of posture exercises and practice yoga. Yoga is really beneficial to correct your posture. Below is what my yoga instructor will always instruct us to do to stand with correct posture.

1. Stand up tall

2. Bring up your navel upwards

3. Now some might probably curve the backbone outward too much. So pull your tailbone downwards or inward.

4. Roll your shoulder from front to up to back and open your chest.

5. Ensure that your neck and head are held high and look forward. Also, ensure that your shoulder is not tight a bring it down away from the ears.

Leg Cramps Causes and Remedy

2010-07-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

What is leg cramps definition?
Leg cramp is a sudden, involuntary, painful contraction of the leg muscles. Leg cramps usually occur at the calf, hamstring and / or quadriceps. This muscle cramp pain will last about less than a minute to about a few minutes before it subsides. Leg cramps more common with older people (>50 years old), pregnant women and people with heavier weight. One of the more common leg cramps is Nocturnal leg cramps which is a term use to define leg cramps that happen when we are sleeping and jolting you awake.

Nocturnal leg cramps

Leg cramp causes?

Muscle overexertion
Dehydration
Low potassium (a mineral that is important in rregulating body chemistry. Can be found in salt.)
Alcohol
Medication

How to remedy leg cramp fast?
Massage the affected leg muscle. Don't point your feet downwards. Instead, make you leg straight and gently point your foot upwards toward the knee. You can also apply a cold pack on the affected area or take a hot shower to relieve the pain.

How to prevent leg cramps?
Always drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. If you sweat a lot due to exercise or work, drink more to replace the lost fluid.

Always stretch and warm up your whole body before an engaging in any sport or exercise.

Avoid sleeping in the bed cover tucked tightly at the foot of your bed. Loosen the bed cover, otherwise, this might cause you sleeping with the foot pointing downwards which increases the risk of getting leg cramps.

Stretch your leg muscle or ride on a exercise bike for a few minutes before sleeping.Mini Exercise Bike

Drink a cup of warm milk before sleeping.

If you always wear high heels, try to use better support shoes instead.

When to consult doctor?
If you often experiencing leg cramps, visit your doctor. Thorough medical examination could find the underlying root cause of it.

Best Anti Cellulite Cream Review

2010-06-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

With so many anti cellulite cream in the market, which one works and which just don't. Also, some are even skeptical that anti cellulite cream would help to reduce the cellulite at all. The reasoning is that they doubt tropical creams are able to penetrate the skin deep enough to work on eliminating cellulites.

However, before selecting or buying any anti cellulite cream it is best to do some research and read user reviews first. Also, using purely cellulite cream to get rid of cellulite would not work without maintaining low fat diet, exercise and drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day.

Below my Top 3 anti cellulite cream:

Cellulean Topical Cellulite Reduction Gel is still new in the market but fast gaining popularity. What makes the product work is their main active ingredient, Aminophylline, a common asthma treatment drug that was found to have a unique capability to reduce fat cells below the skin. They have done 9 clinical trial in major universities to prove the effectiveness of the cream. The test concluded to reduce 78% of the dimpled cellulite appearance within 1 month. Here's another great new, they are giving out free trial for you to try as part of their promotional offer. Get your FREE Cellulean Cellulite Cream here.

Neutrogena Anti-Cellulite Treatment, Retinol Formula, is also another good product with great review from users in Amazon. Rated 4.5 star at the time of writing. It has be clinically test to able to reduce the cellulite by 29% in 4 weeks, 39% in 8 weeks and 50% in 12 weeks. It has light oil free cream texture and it main active ingredient is retinol (purest form of vitamin A) with seaweed and caffeine to work deep in the surface of the skin in getting rid of the cellulite.

Bliss FatGirlSlim(TM) diminishes cellulite with its main active ingredient of qusomeE-encapsulated caffeine. Based on independent clinical study, 87% saw a firming effect, 85% felt a slimming effect, 73% noticed a reduction in the appearance of cellulite after a 28-day period.

How to Get Rid of Cellulite in Thighs

2010-06-07T03:58:00.000-07:00

Cellulite basically forms due to accumulated water toxin, fat and fluid in certain parts of the body. These fats, toxin and fluid are trapped between skin and muscle gives the lumpy orange peel texture to the outer skin. Most common problem area where cellulite forms is in the thighs. Currently, my cellulite is only at first stage. But this still worries me. Read more of stage of cellulite here: How to get rid of cellulite: Introduction.

Upon knowing that cellulite is forming, actions must be taken in order to get rid of cellulite permanently or at least control it so that the cellulite condition does not worsen.

How to get rid of cellulite in thighs tips:

Anti cellulite exercises
Muscle toning and strengthening is the key. Also exercise more on the targeted problem area. If there is cellulite in your thigh, try doing side leg lifts, squats and lunges. You can also opt to use specialize leg execise equipment as shown below.

Stamina 15-9003 Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent / Rower

Leg Magic Exercise Machine - rated 4 star in Amazon (click for user reviews)

If possible add some weight about 5 pounds on your ankle will do. Aerobic, cycling, yoga and swimming are also good form of exercise to reduce cellulite.

Wrist/ankle Weight from Amazon

Prevent cellulite through diet
Choose low fat and low calorie diet. Cut down on fried oily food and red meats. These are high in saturated fats. Increase the amount of fresh vegetable and fruits intake.Mind what you eat. Eating a balance diet is important. Also you can take 5 small meals distributed through the day instead of just 2 or 3 big meals. These method can help to increase metabolic rate and thus burn more calories or fat. Below is a good recipe book to help you out :)

5 Square Low-Carb Meals : The 20-Day Makeover Plan with Delicious Recipes for Fast, Healthy Weight Loss and High Energy

Wash down the cellulite with 8 glasses of water
Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. By drinking more water, body will be more easily flush out the toxin in the body and this will help in losing those cellulites. Also, you need to drink more water and less sodium in your diet to prevent water retention.

Message with essential oil
Through messaging cellulite problem area, it will help to slowly minimize the appearance of cellulite. Kneading and gentle rubbing from the message helps to improve circulation. It breaks up the fatty deposit and drains the retention of water and toxin which causes the lumpy fat appearance. Juniper, rosemary and lavender essential oils is commonly used to while messaging as it helps to stimulate fat cells.

Essential Oil - Cellulite

How to Get Rid of Cellulite - Intro

2010-05-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

What is cellulite?
Does "orange peel skin" or "cottage skin thigh" rings a bell? If not, at least it will trigger the brain to form an image of dimpled and bumpy looking skin especially in thigh area. It's definitely not a pretty sight. Imagine a skin texture similar to the orange skin picture below on your skin.

According to a study, about 90% of all women have cellulite. Then you might think, is 90% of all women is overweight? Nope, the high percentage of women having cellulite is because even slim and slender women also can have cellulite. I know it is hard to believe but it's true. Also, the chances are higher is you are over 30 years old. But not to worry, with the correct diet, exercise and lifestyle you can minimize the formation of cellulite
What is cellulite stages?
Initial stage of cellulite is not very obvious. One simple test to see if you have cellulite is to pinch your skin lightly. If the pinched skin texture is a little bumpy or dimpled looking, well that's cellulite. You can try on the skin at your thigh first because most cellulite form there first.

The second stage of cellulite is more obvious where you can easily see the cellulite when you are standing up. Skin maybe discolored and have a orange skin peel like texture

The third stage is where the cellulite appearance is much more severe. It is said to look more like cottage cheese like texture with multiple visible lumps on skin.

More on tips of how to get rid of cellulite in my next post.

How to Apply Eye Majic Instant Eyeshadow

2010-05-04T06:43:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, if you haven't heard about this new and revolutionary product, then you should. If you think instant noodle is a great invention, wait till you hear about this; Instant eyeshadow! Here's a video on how to apply Eye Majic Instant Eyeshadow. This product has already been in the market for more than 3 years back and even featured in Oprah.

Most suitable for busy people and also people who just find it hard to blend eye shadows. But for me, I just feel it is too interesting not to try it.

Where you can buy Eye Majic Instant Eyeshadow?
- Buy online. E.g buy from Amazon.com
- Beauty shop like SASA

How to Protect Hair From Damage When Swimming

2010-04-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

Swimming is one of my favorite sport or form of exercise. Apart from the nice relaxing feeling, it also helps in burning those calories, oh yeah!! The only thing I have against swimming is it the damaging effects of the chlorine water. Even worse if you have colored or dyed hair. Hair tend to be dry, brittle and discolored with green tint from unprotected over exposure of high chlorinated water. Hope that the tips below will help to lessen the damaging effect from swimming :)

How to Protect Hair From Damaging Chlorine Water WHILE Swimming

1. Wet your hair before jumping in the swimming pool

Here's the reasoning. Dry hair behaves almost like a sponge. If you wet your hair thoroughly using non-heavily-chlorinated water (e.g. from shower pipe usually available beside the pool) before jumping into the pool, your hair will be saturated with the 'safe' water and won't be able to absorb much of the chlorine water. Also, it is best if you rinse your hair with the 'safe' water every 30 minutes or so, so that the chlorine build up is not so severe.

2. Coat your hair using hair conditioner or oil

Another more effective method is to coat your hair with conditioner or oil (e.g. olive oil or coconut oil) before heading to the pool. Oil and water does not mix. Therefore, the layer of oil will protect or seal the cuticle of your hair shaft from the chlorine water. Just apply a thin layer of oil will do.

3. Use a good swimming cap
Swim Cap with Chin Strap - White
Speedo Silicone Swim Cap (Pink)

Choose a rubber-like swimming cap that will fit well with your head. Ensure it manage to cover up all the hair and tight enough to prevent the chlorine water from seeping in.

What To Do AFTER Swimming

Directly head to the showers. Don't allow the chlorinated water to dry on your hair. It's a big NO NO.

Rinse your hair using 'safe' water for about 5 minutes and use a good swimming shampoo to remove all the damaging chemical residue from the chlorine water. Below is an example a good swimming shampoo with good review from Amazon. You can click on it to read more of the product review.

UltraSwim Chlorine-Removal Shampoo

Talika Eyelash Lipocils to Grow Eyelashes Naturally

2010-04-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

Naturally long, thick and curly eyelashes or using mascara or false eyelashes? Which option do you choose? Obviously the first one, right? For those who have sparse, fine or short eye lashes, there is hope still.

As for me, thin and short eye lashes like mine is just not flattering. Luck was on my side when i stumbled into a product that will help to lengthen and thicken your eyelashes. Talika Lipocils eyelash gel seems to look promising. After reading lots of good reviews about this eyelash extender gel, I decided to try it. You can read some of Talika Lipocils Eyelash product review in Amazon here.

Talika Lipocils Eyelash Conditioning Gel with Vegetal Extracts

How to apply?
Application is easy enough. Just start with applying the roots of your top and bottom eye lashes using the sponge tip. Then for the top lashes, use the mascara looking brush to brush the whole length of eye lashes, same way as if you are applying mascara. The gel is clear and dries up pretty fast. Also, it does not sting the eyes.

What are the average result from testing?
According to a testing done by Talika with 30 women during 30 days, it lengthens the participants eyelashes by an average of 36% or 2.4mm and color darkens by 50 %. Plus, Talika has been the specialist in eyelash growth for 60 years already in France.

I'll update on my progress on this eyelash extender gel product. So stay tuned and wish me luck =)

How to apply false eyelashes tutorial

2009-11-23T05:21:00.000-08:00

Do you wish you have those gloriously long and thick looking eyelashes? Eyelashes have always been a sign of femininity and definition of beauty. If you want longer looking eyelashes the easiest solution is to apply false eyelashes. So, now how to apply false eyelashes? I hope that you'll find the tutorial below useful:)

Various design of fake eyelashes available here

Here's the step by step guide on how to apply false eyelashes:

Choose the type of false eyelashes design that you like

Measure the length of the false eyelash by placing it on your eyes. If it is too long, cut it on the outer side of it (the part with longer lashes). You can use a small scissor to do this.

Apply lash glue onto the base/bend of the false eyelashes. You can use a toothpick to hold a bit of the glue and apply it evenly on the base of the lashes from one end to the other.

You'll need to wait about 30-45 seconds for the glue to be a little bit dry or tacky so that it won't move about after it is placed.
Place the fake eyelashes as close to the lash line as possible. Stick it in the middle first. Then use your fingers or twizzer to push then to the eyelid on both ends.

Use your fingers to press together the fake eyelashes to your eyelash and the lash line so that it'll hold firm

In case if there is a small gap between the lash line and the line where you manage to paste the false lashes, just use eye liner to camouflage the gap ;)

Blink blink ^^* and yes, you're done!!

Also, what a better way on learning how to apply fake eyelashes than to see it yourself. Here's one of my favourite video which guide you through all the process.

How to repair cracked heels?

2009-09-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

Cracked heels or heel fissures is not a preety sight especially for those to loves wearing sandals or open sole shoes. The linear cut wounds or cracks on the heel initially affects the top surface level of the skin called epidermis. But, sometimes, this crack or fissures might deepen and causes pain once it cuts though the inner layer of the skin called dermis.

One of the main reasons for cracked heels is because we don't take enough care of it. For example, if it were your face skin, you'll definately take care of it, washing it with facial wash and putting on moisturizer and maybe even serum so that it look fresh and radiant. But your feet, the part of the skin which endure lots of impact while walking or even standing and have to withstand harsh surfaces is always being forgotten.

Our heels usually are dry and thicker compared to other parts of the skin. If excessive feet activity is not balanced with good caring of you feet, the dry skin around the heel will soon crack or peel.

Cracked heel remedy:

Soak you feet with lemon juice or warm soapy water for 10 minutes and use a brush to lightly brush off dirt trapped within the cracked heel.

Use any moisturizer, shortening or hydrogenated vegetable oil and apply it generously on your cracked heel. Then, wear a pair of socks and leave it overnite. Repeat till the cracked heels are repaired. This might take about a week.

The above remedy is easy to do and all you need might already available in your home. But, I would like to recommand a product, which is a specially formulated foot cream if you want a faster result. You can read the product review here:
Cracked foot cream review

NaturOli Deep Penetrating Foot Creme

Hisamitsu Lifecella Orange Face Mask review

2009-08-18T05:35:00.000-07:00

I've always seen Hisamitsu Lifecella Orange Face Mask selling over the counter in many shops. But have not tried it before. Just recently, I've bought it, in fact i bought 8 of them. Ok, they were on sale, so that's why I bought so many of them.

The first time I tried it, I was quite surprise. This lifecella mask is not like other face masks which are normally wet and messy. The mask is a gel type. Imagine this, a piece of orange color cloth, inner side is a film of gel or jelly and the outer side is dry and clean cloth surface. The gel or jelly contains a lot of the good stuff for you skin. The longer you put it on the skin, you'll notice the thinner the gel or jelly will be as the nutrients are being absorbed through the skin. Also the mask is separated into 2 parts; top and bottom.

How to use:
After washing your skin (or for better effect, exfoliate your skin), pat dry your face and apply the gel mask on the skin. According to the instruction from the wrapper, leave it for 15 minutes. However, I like to leave it longer since it is so convenient and non messy. You don't have to rinse after using. Recommanded to use it twice a week. You can also use it everyday.

Benefits of Lifecella Orange Face Mask:

Simple and convenient to use
Non messy - you can even wear your spectacles (if you use them) and go about doing your daily routine in the house.
Skin have a nice cool feeling even long after removing it. Approximate 3 hours and longer.
Skin is well moisturized. Skin remained oil free even without moisturizer for half a day.
Relaxes the skin

However, it is required to use this mask often for a noticable effect on the skin. Have you use it before? If yes, what do you think about this face mask?

Tips on plucking and shaping your eyebrows

2009-08-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

Ouch... plucking eyebrow is never fun and always painful. But, unless you're born with perfect eyebrows plucking and shaping your eyebrow is a must to look presentable and give you a boost of confidence.

TOP 8 tips on plucking and shaping your eyebrows

Ask for a professional help to shape for the first time (sort of getting the blueprint). Then, just trim or pluck the other newly grown hair outside the shaped eyebrow time after time.

Use a good quality tweezers. It can fasten the procedure by avoiding it from slipping due to the oil or breaking the hair halfway.
Tweezerman Stainless Steel Slant Tweezer

Consider threading your eyebrows instead of plucking using tweezer or waxing. Refer to the threading eyebrow post here.

Plucking your eyebrow can be quite painful. Minimize the pain from plucking your eyebrow using the tip in my previous post here : Tips to minimize pain when plucking eyebrow

If you have to shape your eyebrow yourself, do look at more tutorial first and understand fully how to nicely shape your eyebrow. Watch the the eyebrow shaping tutorial video here again.

Always use a eyebrow pencil (white/black/other contrasting color of your skin and hair) to mark the area where hairs should be removed.

Always check back the whole picture of your eyebrow after a few plucks. This will ensure that you don't over pluck. Less is more here. If you are doubtful whether to pluck a certain strand or not.. then don't pluck it. Wait till it really annoys you and you are certain that strand should not be there.. then pluck it.

Practice makes perfect. The more you practice the more you'll know how to shape and pluck your eyebrow effectively.

Threading eyebrows tips and how to

2009-08-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

Threading eyebrows is gainning popularity nowadays. Threading is an ancient method hair removal originated from China, Middle East and India. It can be used to remove not only eyebrows, also other facial hair from upper lips, cheek, sideburns, etc and even leg hairs:P.

How to thread eyebrows?
Basically, eyebrow threading uses cotton thread which tied together at the end to create a loop and then twisting it in the middle a few times. Using this cotton thread and your fingers, place the thread on the skin where you want to remove the hairs. Use your finger to move the twisted part of the thread over it to remove unwanted or stray hair.

Confused? I was before too. So, let's speed up thing by watching the video tutorial below. It also has very useful eyebrow shaping tips you should know before threading your eyebrows.

Eyebrows threading pros and cons
Pros:

Less painful compared to plucking eyebrows using waxing or tweezers
Faster as it can remove a line of hairs in single movement
Neat and precise. Since threading eyebrows method removes hair in a line, it is helps while shaping eyebrows.
Better than waxing eyebrows because waxing takes off part of the upper layer of the skin and might cause premature wrinkle.
Suitable for sensitive skin as theading does not use any chemical that might cause allergic reaction

Cons:

Eyebrow threading needs some skill and not as straight forward as using tweezers.
It not done correctly, it might cause hair breakage, ingrown hair, out of shape brows and unnecessary pain. However this disadvantages also apply when shaping and plucking eyebrows using tweezers and wax.

Plucking and Shaping Eyebrows Tutorial Video

2009-08-07T18:11:00.000-07:00

What is a better way to learn how to shape your eyebrows than watching a video tutorial on shaping eyebrows. Here's and informative video on how to shape your eyebrows by using tweezers.

Tips to minimize the pain when plucking eyebrows

2009-08-07T06:43:00.000-07:00

Tweezerman Stainless Steel Slant Tweezer

Tips to minimize the pain of plucking eyebrows using tweezers.

Invest in a good tweezers (e.g Tweezerman tweezers). Saves plucking time and avoid mistakes like slipping due to the oil or breaking the hair halfway.
Rub ice on the eyebrows for about 1 minute to numb the skin around it. Repeat when required
Wet a piece of towel with warm water and place it over the eyebrows for awhile open the pores. Alternatively, pluck your eyebrows after a hot shower. The hair will be able to be plucked with less resistance as the pores are opened.
Pluck your eyebrows the week after your period begin. Skin is less sensitive toward the pain by then
Tout the skin in the direction of hair growth while plucking the eyebrows
Pluck one strand of hair at a time
Pluck near to the roots with a short and fast action
Pluck in the direction of hair growth
Apply Anbesol, Orajel or any children teething gel on the brows to reduce pain
Apply aloe vera gel after plucking to reduce the redness and soothes pain Fruit Of The Earth Aloe Vera

How to whiten yellow finger and toe nails naturally ?

2009-08-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

Here's how to whiten nails naturally in just a few simple step. Yellow stained finger nail and toe nails are definately not flattering. Frequent use of dark nail polish are one of the main factors causing yellow nails. Also, for some part of Asian countries, where the food uses a lot of spices (especially tumeric or 'kunyit' in Malay language), this can easily cause yellow nails if they use their fingers to handle food.

If you are interested on how to whiten nails right at the comfort of your own home, below are several method on how to whiten nails naturally that you can try :)

Use baking soda and hyrogen peroxide to bleach nails
Mix1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 2 tablespoon of baking soda to create a paste. Apply the paste all over each nails and also under the tips on the nails. Leave it about 5 minutes and then wash off.
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)

Use denture cleaner tablet
Dissolve a tablet of denture cleaner and soak your nails for 15 minutes. Stain-Away Plus Dental Cleanser received good reviews in Amazon. It if can clean and brighten your denture well, it will work the to remove stains in your nails too:)
.Stain-Away Plus Dental Cleanser

Use toothpaste and toothbrush
Apply some toothpaste on your soft toothbrush and scrub your nails for a few minutes. You may leave them for another 5 minute for more effect.
Rembrandt Toothpaste for removing intense stain

Lemon juice and peel to whiten nail naturally
You can opt to soak your nails with lemon juice diluted equal part with water for 10 - 15 minutes or rub the lemon peel or skin with their juice for 10 minutes. Lemon is a natural astringent to remove a lot of household stains also.

Use nail whitening pencil for a quick fix
Last but not least, if you want instant whitening effect, just use nail whitening pencil and run it underneath your nails. French manicure in a instant. You can find this nail whitening pencil from Amazon.

Nail Whitening Pencil : Star Nail 7

How to whiten teeth naturally?

2009-08-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

Yellow teeth is not flattering. Do you wish you have those white sparking teeth to show whenever you smile? The ones like Simon Cowell's, it really stands out whenever he smiles in American Idol :P

Smile like you mean it:D

So, how can you whiten teeth naturally without spending a fortune on whitening kit? The best natural teeth whitening solution is to use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Baking soda helps to kill bacteria causing plaque and reduce acids that harm tooth enamel. Meanwhile, hydrogen peroxide also assist in removing the stain from the teeth. Both works well to whiten teeth naturally.

Things you need to prepare:
Baking Soda Hydrogen Peroxide

1 tablespoons of baking soda
1 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide
Toothbrush
1 small container with cover ( you may use small bowl with plastic wrapper also)

Steps to whiten teeth naturally:

Before begin, it is not adviced to whiten teeth if you have cavities, gingivitis or any gum problems. See your dentist first.
With that aside, take the containter and mix 1 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide together. You may add more baking soda till it has the concentration of the normal toothpaste.
Apply the mixture on the toothbrush and brush normally. Leave the teeth whitener mixture for about 2 minutes and rinse it throughly afterwards. Do not swallow.
Keep the remainder of the mixture for your next use. You can cover the containter with its lit or if you are using a bowl, cover it with a plastic wrapper to avoid the mixture from drying up.

Please take note that only use this natural teeth whitening solution ONCE a week only. Too often might cause damage to the gum tissue.

Brittle nails causes, prevention and treatment

2009-07-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

Brittle fingernails can be painful and it is also not a pretty sight. In order to prevent and treat brittle nails, let's first learn the causes of brittle nails.

Causes of brittle nails:

repeated wetting and drying of fingernails
repeated or excessive exposure to harsh solvents (detergent, soap and even nail polish remover)
Harsh treatment of hands and nails due to work (e.g construction, gardening and other manual labor)
underlying medical condition, such as Raynaud's disease, low thyroid function, skin diseases (psoriasis, lichen planus, alopecia areata) , endocrine disorders, tuberculosis, Sjogren's syndrome, malnutrition and even Selenium poisoning.

Here I'll only discuss the remedy for brittle nails caused by the first three causes above and not due to underlying medical conditions.
Tips to prevent brittle nails:

Wear rubber gloves when doing any work that exposes your fingernails to water, detergent or other solvents such as washing dishes, washing cloths, gardening, etc.
If you are doing the work mentioned above for a longer duration, consider wearing a thin cotton glove under the rubber gloves to absorb the perspiration from the hand to avoid moisture on the nails.
Do manicure often and always keep your nails nicely trimmed to prevent crack or tear.
Consider to trim nails right after shower or bath to achieve a more even and neat cut. Also use good quality ones to get a nice clean cut everytime. I recommand using Seki Edge Stainless Steel Fingernail Clipper as it one of the best to do the job.
Avoid habits of nail biting or using your nails to pick on things such as removing staplers, twisting screws etc.
Ensure you are getting enough nutrients so that the body can produce strong and healthy nails. Also message your fingers and nails several times a day to promote blood circulation in that area. This will help in absorption of nutrients.
If your nails are dry, apply moisturizer or olive oil on it and message them in.

Treatment for brittle nails:
Taking biotin supplements helps in promoting thicker nail, faster growing nail and reduce nails tendency to split or break. You can read more about Biotin for hair skin and nail in my previous post here. Non the less, do consult your doctor before taking it as a safety measure.
Example of biotin supplement

Pore minimizing in 3 steps

2009-07-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

Put your hands up if you have those pesky enlarge looking pores especially around the nose and cheek area. If you don't have, great. But really? Anyway, here are some of home remedy to minimize pores you can try:)

First step:

Always ensure that you keep your skin clean. If you wear makeup, clean your make up before going to sleep. One of the reason for enlarge pore is due to the pores clogged up by dirt, oil and even cosmetic products for extended period, making it even harder to minimize. Also, if you don't keep your skin clean, acne and blackheads might appear causing these enlarge pores. One cost effective product for deep cleansing your skin effectively is Neutrogena Pore Refining Cleanser. You can see the Amazon customer review from the link below.

Neutrogena Pore Refining Cleanser for deep cleansing

Second step:

Use toners after washing your skin with a cleanser. Choose alcohol free toners or another solution is to use natural homemade toner using Apple Cider Vinegar. For more information on how to make Apple Cider Vinegar toner and benefits from it, please refer to my previous post.

Third step:

Exfoliate skin once a week and also use mask. Clay mask helps in reducing oiliness from skin and also helps in minimizing pores. You also can opt for a more cost effective solution which to use homemade mask using egg white to tighten pores. You can refer to the egg white mask recipe and steps in my previous post also.

Do try these basic pore refining tips and I hope these tips works for you. I'll add more tips on how to minize pore in my future post. Stay tuned :)