Body odor, bad breath, smelly feet. At one time or another, we’ve all been plagued with a scent less fragrant than flowers.

Never before have personal-care products been so well-stacked against stink. And when it comes to fighting foul odor fast, natural products do the job just as well as those more dependent on chemical ingredients.

Here are some tips to protect against the most unpleasant of body odors using natural products.

* Shower power: A shower is a great pick-me-up that can make you smell and feel fabulous. Ingredients like rosemary, cucumber and peppermint will awaken the senses. Aveda’s Rosemary Mint Hand and Body Wash is a gentle yet effective way to “come clean” without drying out your skin.

* K.O. the B.O.: When it comes to deodorant, look for what is left out rather than what’s put in. Many deodorants contain aluminum chlorohydrate, an ingredient that is believed to clog underarm pores, and propylene glycol, which can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Try Nature’s Gate Organics Fruit Blend deodorants, which combine certified organic fruit, floral and herbal extracts with baking soda to neutralize odor.

* Hair affair: Ingredients like ammonium sulfate are harsh and can strip hair of its natural oils, making it dry and brittle. Use a light and fresh shampoo like The Body Shop’s Nettle Oil Balance Shampoo, which helps reduce excess oil with nettle leaf, a natural astringent. Locks end up luscious, soft and clean.

* “Scent-sible” scents: An all-day fragrance is one that’s subtle, not super strong. Fragrances that center around earth-inspired ingredients are enhancing without being overbearing. For hundreds of years, Acqua di Parma has offered a cologne that balances the natural sensuality of Sicilian citrus, lavender and Bulgarian rose.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags: ammonium sulfate, propylene glycol, rosemary mint

Many consider the removal of unwanted hair to be merely a cosmetic concern. However, the effects of having unwanted or unsightly facial or body hair can result in far reaching emotional and/or social problems. Here we will look at several different methods of hair removal, both temporary and permanent.

Hair can be removed temporarily by either depilation or epilation. Depilation removes the hair above the skin’s surface, whereas epilation removes the entire hair including that which is below the skin’s surface.

The most notable methods of depilation are shaving, depilatories and friction. Shaving is done manually with either a manual razor or electric shaver. Depilatories are creams or lotions which dissolve hair through the use of chemicals. Friction uses a rough surfaced tool to buff hair off of the skin.

Epilation is longer lasting than depilation and can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Epilation is done by tweezing, waxing, sugaring, threading or rotary epilators. Tweezing is performed manually and consists of pulling individual hairs out by the root. In waxing, a layer of either hot or cold wax is applied to the skin and then quickly pulled off with strips of cloth. Sugaring is similar to waxing, but uses a “sugary”, sticky substance instead of wax. Threading is a method of removing hair by using a twisted thread which catches hairs as it is rolled back and forth on the skin. Rotary epilators are implements which grab hairs and pull them out by the roots. Rotary epilators are often electric or battery-powered and are more efficient than tweezers because they remove many hairs at a time.

In searching for more permanent hair removal, there are several options which have varying degrees of success. There are a number of methods available which use chemicals, electricity or both.

The most highly regarded of these permanent methods is electrolysis. It is the most “permanent” of all the methods when executed properly. A hair-thin metal probe is inserted into the hair follicle without puncturing the skin. Then an electric pulse is sent through the probe to the follicle, which in effect kills the follicle so that it can no longer produce hair.

The next most successful method of hair removal is done with lasers. While some people have reported permanent hair reduction, there isn’t much known about how long the reduction typically lasts or how often the reduction truly is permanent.

In laser hair removal or reduction, a specific wavelength of light is transferred from a hand-held wand into the skin. The dark pigment in the hair attracts the laser light. This causes damage to the hair follicle so that new hair growth is diminished or non-existent. There is no damage to the surrounding skin. Dark hair seems to have the higher success rate in removal. Lighter hair does not have as much pigment to attract the light.

There are also various methods of restricting hair growth through the use of prescription medications. These methods need to be discussed with a physician and most require a doctor’s prescription. There are a variety of oral medications as well as topical medications which can be used with varying degrees of success in eliminating unwanted hair.

If a person chooses the more permanent routes of electrolysis or laser treatment, he or she should spend some time researching the availability of each in their area. They should then contact several different clinics and gather as much information as possible. It is always a good idea to check out the office or clinic for cleanliness of the establishment and staff. The staff should be friendly and welcome questions.

Ask for rates and payment options. Get a written copy of any guarantee the clinic may make in regards to results and always get a copy of your consultation form. Visit several places offering either electrolysis or laser before making your decision. Doctors are essentially salespeople, too, and they want your business. Make sure you are familiar and comfortable with everything involved before going forward with your treatment.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags: electric shaver, permanent hair removal, twisted thread

Definately without a doubt it was a new image that was needed for my summer holiday. I was sick and tired of looking like the queen with the same hairstyle for as long as I could remember.

Well that was all about to change as I went on a rampage emptying every shop shelf of every glossy magazine that I could find. That evening all engagements were cancelled with Coroanation St, Emmerdale and Eastenders. Sacrafices had to made as I was on a mission to find the new me.

Settled down for the evening with every brochure and mag at my side, flicking through every page not leaving one unturned. Surely there had to be a style in one of them that was going to help me in my quest in finding the new image that I so badly craved.

A couple of hours of browsing had elapsed, and low and behold jumping out at me as plain as day, was the most wanting to die for hairstyle you ever did see. This was it with out a doubt. The style that I knew was going to give me a new lease of life.

After a visit to the shops, armed with hair colouring lotions conditioners scissors etc. I raced up the stairs to the bathroom missing every other step, I was so excited, Why would I not be excited? tomorrow I was to be a different person. No animosty spared between the old image in the mirror as I said my goodbyes

Smelling like a peroxide skunk I carried on following the instructions on the box. No matter how sweet scented that sachet of conditioner was it was not powerful enough to rid the odour that lingered all around. It was all going to be worthwhile I said to myself glancing down for about the hundredth time at the picture in the mag.
Forty minutes was up and it was now time to rinse dry and style.
(Enter the blonde bombshell)

Staring down at the photo in the magazine and back to my reflection in the mirror, something was wrong.

Two styles couldnt be any more different.

I followed the instructions as prompted, where have I gone wrong I yelled out loud.

I will tell you came a voice from the other side of the bathroom door. It was my husband who on hearing all the fuss decided to check out what was going on. Let me tell you what is going on I screamed back at him.

Explaining about how I felt about myself I handed him the magazine with the picture of this fabulous hairstyle on this beautiful model. He looked for a long while at the photo and then back at me, repeating this motion many times.
Darling I do not want to upset you he replied, but the reason that you will never have that look is because you do not have that face.
So why not make do with what God gave you. I have made do with what god gave you for 34 years and I still like what I see.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags: blonde bombshell, image in the mirror, shop shelf

If you want to know where American food traditions are headed, look back. Many of today’s most healthful eating trends bear a strong resemblance to yesterday’s: Nearby farms offering nutritious, peak-of-season produce; slow-cooked dinners that foster leisurely family meals; an emphasis on meatless dishes and minimally processed foods.

Fortunately, these five food trends provide exactly that — flavorful, nutrient-rich meals that are easy to prepare and can help you fulfill many of your dietary requirements.

Flexitarianism

Like vegetarians, “flexitarians” eat a primarily plant-based diet composed of grains, vegetables, and fruits, but they occasionally obtain protein from lean meat, fish, poultry, or dairy. A quarter of Americans fit the description, consuming meatless meals at least four days a week, according to the American Dietetic Association.

Locally grown foods

As people seek fresher foods, they have begun to connect with local family farms. Community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs and farmers’ markets give consumers direct access to produce, meats, cheeses, breads, honey, and other foods that are produced in nearby communities. In the past 10 years, the number of local farmers’ markets has more than doubled — it is up from 1,755 to 3,706, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

Functional foods

Functional foods are enriched with nutrients that may not be inherent to a given food. Familiar examples include orange juice fortified with calcium or milk fortified with vitamins A and D. As sales of these foods have soared in recent years, more functional foods have reached the market, such as eggs and pastas with omega-3 fatty acids, sterol-fortified chocolates and high-fiber, high-protein flours.

Organic food

These are foods produced following a government-regulated practice of growing and processing that minimizes exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals used in traditional farming. Organic food is one of the country’s fastest-growing market segments; sales have risen more than 20 percent per year since the 1990s, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service.

Slow food

Launched in Italy 20 years ago by restaurateur Carlo Petrini, “slow food” was originally designed to protest the encroachment of fast food on the traditional Mediterranean lifestyle. The trend’s principles — choosing locally grown and produced items, preparing them in traditional ways, and eating with friends and family — celebrate a relaxed approach to living that provides a welcome contrast to the fast-paced, eat-on-the-run lives many people lead.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Tags: agricultural marketing service, american dietetic association, omega 3 fatty acids

Gold is a precious metal that has been loved by women throughout the world. Its yellow color glitters brightly and is unparalleled in beauty. Gold rings have been worn on the fingers for centuries. Earlier, gold rings were simple hoops worn around the ring finger and thumb.

In Greece gold bands were worn. In Rome, only people of military or civil rank were allowed to wear gold rings. Later, freeborn citizens were allowed to adorn gold rings. The middle ages saw the advent of the gold engagement ring set with precious gemstones. Gold rings marked a kings coronation and a gold seal ring with St. Peter in a fishing boat is given to every Pope and is destroyed after his death.

Gold rings made a complete transformation over time and now are found in a variety of shapes, sizes, and set with precious gemstones, which enhances their beauty. Gold rings are now worn on every finger and are also decorated with enamel and stones. Gold rings with intricate designs like netted and floral designs are more expensive than a plain one, as it involves a lot of time and workmanship to create such masterpieces. The Victorian collection is said to one of the finest jewelry with detailed designing.

The gold engagement rings, wedding rings, memorial rings, mourning rings, and several others became the order of the day and fashionable. The gold wedding rings that signify commitment were originally worn only by the woman, but now it has become common for both the bride and groom to wear them.

It helps to know a bit about gold before venturing to buy a gold ring. As gold is considered to be a soft metal, it can lose shape easily. For regular wear, a ring made from lower karat gold is advisable, and the rings that will be worn sparingly can be made with 24 karat gold, which is pure gold and is more expensive. 18 karat gold is made with 75% gold and 25% alloy, and this makes it stronger but less expensive. For an engagement ring or a wedding ring, which need to be worn on a daily basis, it is practical to buy 14 karat gold rings, which are the most popular. Gold rings need to be washed with soap and warm water and dried properly before storing them in their original boxes.

Gold rings make perfect gifts for any occasion. A single large sapphire set in gold brings a glint to the eye and so does a ring with three small diamonds set closely. Most rich families hand down gold heirlooms on special occasions such as weddings. There could be no better pleasure in life than slipping a beautiful gold ring on the finger of a beloved.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags: gold engagement ring, gold engagement rings, gold wedding rings