Beauty and Personal Grooming

When you consider the many health-related services that could benefit the world's poor, check-ups, immunizations, and dental care are probably some of the first options that come to mind. If you even think of plastic surgery (and most people wouldn't), it is likely to be the very last item on a long list of potential assistance required by the under-served masses. And yet, it seems that beggars can't be choosers. The industry has become so popular in Brazil (which ranks second in the world for plastic surgery consumption) that many clinics are now offering discounts and even free procedures to the poverty-stricken masses in an effort to give something back to the community and offer underprivileged parties an opportunity to improve their lot. If it sounds strange to you, just imagine how people who can't even pay for an annual pap test feel.

There are all kinds of myths pertaining to food and skin care . For example, we've all heard the one about how eating junk food can cause breakouts . In truth, touching greasy foods and then touching your face can definitely lead to clogged pores . But simply ingesting a piece of pizza has not been shown to have any direct effect on the state of your skin (unless you happen to be allergic to pizza). That said, you are what you eat to a certain extent, and your overall diet can definitely play a role in pallor, puffiness, and other skin-related conditions. So here are just a few good food choices that could have a major impact on the appearance of your skin.

If you want to work in the beauty industry, the answer here seems pretty self-evident. Or is it? While you certainly have to learn the proper technique, earn practice hours, and pass an exam in order to become certified in your chosen field, you could potentially make it through without ever setting foot inside a classroom (literally or virtually). But why reinvent the wheel by going it alone when there are so many options for schooling in a wide variety of price ranges to fit nearly any budget? Like any pursuit in life there are bound to be pros and cons to pursuing a course of continuing education. So here are just a few things you may want to consider before you decide to pay your dues and hit the books or shine on beauty school in favor of a different approach.

Turn your bathroom into a beauty counter with homemade skin treatments.  Spring has just begun and sunnier days are ahead, so now’s the time to build your supply of sunscreen, lip balm and moisturizers.  By cooking up your own skin care collection, you’ll save cash that you can stash for your next getaway.  Plus, DIY skin care means using natural ingredients with no added chemicals. 

Summer is fast approaching, which means you’ve probably already stashed your new bikini and flip-flops into your beach tote. Add a pedicure and some sunscreen, and you’re good to go. However, while you may love those beachy waves in your hair and the glow of your tan skin after a long day lounging poolside, summer sun and surf can cause some serious damage. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to minimize harm to your hair and skin before, during and after your time outside. After all, you should be able to enjoy summertime hassle-free.

When you look at the glossy pages of fashion magazines or watch celebrities walk the red carpet at premiers and award shows, one of the first things you probably notice is the flawless finish on their faces. And while you may chalk it up to expensive beauty treatments and the costly creams that make up their daily regimen, the truth is that a good portion of how celebrities look on camera can be attributed to the skills of their makeup artists. While you probably can't afford to hire these industry cosmeticians, you can steal the secrets they use on celebs to improve your own beauty routine. And here are just a few of their top makeup tips to have you looking flawless in no time.

Whether you're hitting the red carpet, celeb style, preparing for your wedding day, or simply heading to a daytime picnic in the middle of summer, you might be worried about the ongoing state of your makeup. When you are under hot lights, surrounded by a crush of bodies, battling the sweating that often comes with high stress, or trying to shun the sun, your makeup can become a telltale indicator that you're starting to feel the heat. And it can result in oily patches, smudging and smearing, and even outright running of makeup. So unless you want to look like Tammy Faye Baker after a crying jag, you need to take steps to keep your makeup in check (especially if there are cameras present). Here are just a few tips to help you look cool and controlled at any event.

Here's the thing the interesting thing about cosmetics: While we customarily call what we put on our faces "makeup", if you're doing it right and well, made up is last thing that should be on a person's mind when they look at you. It was a wise person who once said that makeup is not so much about changing a person's look, but enhancing the natural beauty that they already have. In order for cosmetics to bring out the best in you, here are five common makeup mistakes to avoid.

If you’re suffering from dry, dull or damaged skin, why not revitalise your complexion? Wave goodbye to flakes, sores and pimples and reveal your natural luminosity in style and in spring– here’s how.

We've all had those days where we wake up feeling awful but roll ourselves out of bed and drag ourselves to work anyway. Often we do the bare minimum (we'd wear sweats or pajamas if we could get away with it) and pretty much anyone who sees us knows that we're not exactly firing on all cylinders. But if you've decided that you're not quite ill enough to justify taking a sick day, then you might as well make the effort to mask your condition from coworkers (not that you would mind if they avoided you like the plague - you might actually get some work done). So here are just a few tips to look like you're on top of the world even when you feel like you're six feet under.

Most women are willing to shell out major money to hang on to the appearance of youth. We're constantly looking for the next best thing in beauty, whether it's a miracle cream, a rare and exotic serum from nature, or a costly and painful procedure. And while some of us are limited by funding, still we'll likely splurge on at least one product that we swear is doing the trick. If we could, we'd all be signed up for regular facials and other spa treatments, in addition to a slew of expensive beauty products from industry heavyweights like La Mer and Chanel . So whether you're looking to blow some dough or you just like to dream, here are a few of the priciest beauty treatments on the market and how they can help you to be mistaken for your teenage daughter's sister rather than her mother.

Now that he’s popped the big question – mazel tov, kudos and congrats! You've got a beautiful ring and wonderful fiancé! But, before the wedding planning starts, you have engagement pictures to take!    Everyone knows engagement rings are the main focus of the photos, so why not make yours pop with the perfect manicure? Believe it or not, your manicure can make a big difference in the way your engagement pictures turn out – you want your sparkly new engagement ring to be the center of attention!

The other day I was observing my domestic help. With flawless, dusky complexion, she was slim and svelte. It could have been her genes but then mopping, swabbing and walking without the use of any means of transport also did their bit in keeping her physique in top form. I then gazed at her hands. While her figure was something to be envied, her hands were a total wreck - they looked aged beyond years and completely worn-out.  All that years of toiling and contact with detergents and the like had taken their toll. Her hands were rock-hard with calluses and even affected with what is called as 'housewife's eczema' - the one that is caused by constant exposure of skin to water, detergents, bleaches & other house cleaning agents.

Toe Nail Fungus is a common problem that affects most people and men are four times more likely to get it. Vicks VapoRub as an ointment for this malady is believed to offer some relief. Similarly the application of pure henna (Mehendi) paste continuously for a fortnight on the affected toe nail also yields good results. But home-remedies don't work in some instances. In such cases, it's better to consult a doctor who'll probably prescribe antifungal drugs. However the healing procedure is extremely slow and sometimes it might even take up to a year or sometimes more not to mention the side-effects of the medications.

You don't really appreciate the importance of efficient hair removal until you move in with someone. When you're dating, you can just pretend that you're just naturally hairless. You spend the odd Saturday at a salon or in the bathroom burning, then stripping your legs. Then you spend the rest of the time pretending it was never there in the first place. If you remove regularly, your significant other will never know what sort of hairy animal you really are. It’s not so easy once you move in. During those first few months, you have this inconvenient impulse to spend all of your waking hours with your new roomie. It’s blissful, but there’s no time to get rid of the forest erupting from your skin. You can get up at four in the morning on a Saturday but then you have to explain your afternoon naps and the wax all over the sink. Shaving isn't really an option for those of us with stubbornly tenacious hair. By the time you dry off, those prickly hairs start rearing thei...

Just the other day, an over-ripe banana in my fruit-basket caught my attention. Since it didn't look good enough to eat (I don't like the taste of an over-ripe banana), I decided to whip up a DIY recipe for my hair . I had just returned from a place that had an extremely dry climate and all this had taken its toll on my tresses. So I was thinking of going in for a deep-conditioning hair treatment to rejuvenate my dried-up, dull & lifeless hair. To my thrifty self, a homemade hair pack appeared more viable than an expensive salon treatment. So I concocted an easy recipe with the minimum ingredients. Here's the  recipe: