Brighten up that smile with strawberries!

Strawberries have been used for years as an economical solution to an age old problem – yellowing teeth. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on professionally whitening your teeth, try mashing some strawberries and gently rubbing your teeth with the pulp. Be careful not to rub too hard, as the seeds can be damaging to both your gums and tooth enamel. Afterwards, rinse your mouth out with water, floss and brush with regular toothpaste to remove the natural sugars and acids that can lead to tooth decay. A warning to those with sensitive teeth: gently brushing with baking soda may be a better alternative to strawberries.

Though you may not see results as fast as visiting the dentist’s office, with a little patience, your teeth will be noticeably brighter. Smile!

Big luscious lips have been the must have fashion accessory for well over a decade now. Achieved by make up or lip augmentation, an Angelina Jolie-style pout is the envy of most women around the world. But this wasn’t always the case.

Back in the 1940s, regular-sized lips were attractive, when coated in rich red lipstick. It was bold and drew immediate attention to the mouth.

These days, more natural hues reign over bright red.

Don’t forget to change your skin care regimen now that warmer weather is here! Because of the increased humidity in the air, a lighter moisturizer and other lighter products are generally all that’s needed until the fall and winter.

Researchers have discovered that a woman’s hairstyle can tell a lot about her personality. For example, women who have medium length brown hair are generally perceived as fun loving and smarter while women with long blonde hair are seen as affluent and less intelligent.

Where your hair is parted can also mean something, and the theory goes for both men and women. If your hair is parted more on the left side of your head, then it means you think more logically and are detail oriented. If it’s on the right side, then it means you’re more emotional and tuned into people’s feelings.

Balanced between the two is hair parted in the middle. This type of person tends to be less stressed. They think both with their emotions and logic.

But what about those people with no discernible part at all? Well, they’re considered to be the trendsetters.

Learn more about what hair is all about at our Learning Centre.

Ever wonder why having a tan is so popular, despite it being damaging to the skin?

Blame it on designer Coco Chanel for popularizing the tan.

Up until the 1920s, pale and untanned skin was the standard for beauty, until Chanel went on a cruise. When the cruise ended and she stepped off the yacht, her once pale skin was a golden brown. Being a fashion magnate, Chanel’s bronzed skin set a trend that equated tanning with a lifestyle of leisure and privilege, as well as of being a necessary fashion accessory.

Got an oily nose? For those of us with that problematic T-zone, it can be harder to handle in the winter, when the rest of your face is dry. To deal with excessive grease in the chin, nose and forehead area, try using an alcohol-free toner in those problem areas, followed by the application of a good moisturizer to the whole face. The type of moisturizer to use should be one that is in lotion form, since it’s lighter than a cream, and is absolutely oil-free. Also, it’s probably best to avoid washing your face more than twice a day, because it will dry out the already dry parts and irritate the oily parts, triggering more oil production.

Keeping a supply of blotting paper (with powder) and/or applying a mineral based powder that doesn’t clog pores can also help.