Are You Photogenic?
Yes, it is possible to make friends with the camera. Photographers, fashion designers, make-up artists and models all know the tricks of the trade. Everyone doesn't have that luxury, so we've got some handy tips to help you manipulate the outcome.
It's no surprise that those who don't like to have their pictures taken are the same people who feel they are not photogenic. Most of us can remember a time when we saw a picture of our self and wished we had looked better.
It's usually an important event, such as a wedding, birthday, reunion or public appearance when we can't avoid the camera. However you look at it, you're going to have your picture taken -- so it's best not to put up a fuss.
Put your Best Face Forward
Practicing good hygiene is not only good for your photos, it's good for your self-confidence. Show up with clean hair and flawless make-up. To reduce facial shine, try Lancôme Photogenic Foundation (oil-free formula) for great coverage and a matte finish.
Never try new makeup for the first time on the day of a photo shoot, unless a professional is hired to apply it. For indoor pictures, you may need to apply your eye shadow, blush and lipstick a little heavier than what you're accustomed to. Take them along in your handbag for quick touch-ups.
If you're teeth are getting a little bland, have your dentist whiten them up -- or plan ahead and use a home teeth-whitening kit for a dazzling smile. Keep in mind that orange and coral lipsticks have a tendency to make your teeth look yellow. If this is an issue, stick with pink, plumb or rose shades.
Relaxation
The more poise you have, the more likely you are to look natural and show your best smile. The most attractive pictures are a result of someone who is comfortable around the camera and knows exactly what they want. This can be learned.
It's all in the Pose
Most people have a "good side" and a "bad side." If you haven't noticed this, you're lucky. However, by taking a close look at yourself in the mirror, you will probably discover that one side looks better. Maybe it's a scar on your face or the way your hair falls. When you learn which side looks better, you can angle yourself so that your best side is prominent. If you're posing for a casual group photo, be the first up there so you can choose your spot.
Accentuate your best features and pose your body in such a way to hide your flaws. You may feel silly, but you can practice posing in a full-length mirror. Rest assured, you're not the only one who has taken this approach.
Practice good posture. Sit and stand up straight. Present yourself with pride and it will be evident in the pictures. How you perceive yourself is how others will perceive you.
If you're having your pictures taken outdoors, avoid direct sunlight and don't squint. Unless it's a scheduled event such as a wedding, don't hesitate to reschedule an outdoor photo shoot if the weather isn't favorable. Rain, clouds and wind can ruin your chances before you've even begun.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
What is hydrogen peroxide and what is it used for?
Hydrogen peroxide is used as bleaching agent in tooth whiteners and in some toothpastes and is a highly reactive chemical containing hydrogen and oxygen. It is used mainly in the production of other chemicals and to bleach paper and textiles. Moreover, contact lenses can be disinfected with highly diluted hydrogen peroxide.
What health effects of hydrogen peroxide have been observed?
Swallowing a large dose of hydrogen peroxide can be lethal.
Highly diluted hydrogen peroxide solutions are non-irritant or mildly irritant. However, animal tests have shown that, when exceeding certain concentrations, hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation of eyes, skin, and the inside of mouth, stomach, and intestine. The use of eye drops and contact lens solutions containing some hydrogen peroxide can irritate the eyes.
Mouth rinses that contain small amounts of hydrogen peroxide and are used once or twice per day do not seem to harm the inside of the mouth, even in the long term. On the contrary, they can improve gum health.
Hydrogen peroxide can act as a weak cancer promoter, meaning it can slightly stimulate the growth or multiplication of cancer cells. There is not enough data to evaluate potential effects of hydrogen peroxide on reproduction and development.
People with certain genetic disorders are more vulnerable to hydrogen peroxide because their bodies cannot break it down effectively.
How is hydrogen peroxide used to whiten teeth?
Tooth whitening products can be applied at home in three different ways:
Hydrogen peroxide is used as bleaching agent in tooth whiteners and in some toothpastes and is a highly reactive chemical containing hydrogen and oxygen. It is used mainly in the production of other chemicals and to bleach paper and textiles. Moreover, contact lenses can be disinfected with highly diluted hydrogen peroxide.
What health effects of hydrogen peroxide have been observed?
Swallowing a large dose of hydrogen peroxide can be lethal.
Highly diluted hydrogen peroxide solutions are non-irritant or mildly irritant. However, animal tests have shown that, when exceeding certain concentrations, hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation of eyes, skin, and the inside of mouth, stomach, and intestine. The use of eye drops and contact lens solutions containing some hydrogen peroxide can irritate the eyes.
Mouth rinses that contain small amounts of hydrogen peroxide and are used once or twice per day do not seem to harm the inside of the mouth, even in the long term. On the contrary, they can improve gum health.
Hydrogen peroxide can act as a weak cancer promoter, meaning it can slightly stimulate the growth or multiplication of cancer cells. There is not enough data to evaluate potential effects of hydrogen peroxide on reproduction and development.
People with certain genetic disorders are more vulnerable to hydrogen peroxide because their bodies cannot break it down effectively.
How is hydrogen peroxide used to whiten teeth?
Tooth whitening products can be applied at home in three different ways:
- using strips that are stuck onto teeth
- custom made mouthguards that maintain the whitening product on the teeth
- gels that are painted directly on the teeth
Tooth whiteners use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as the whitening agent. Peroxide acts by passing into the tooth and reacting with the molecules that cause stains or discoloration. In general, the more peroxide, the greater the whitening power. Depending on their peroxide content, tooth whitening kits are either freely sold over the counter for home use, dispensed by dentists for home use, or exclusively applied by dentists in their offices. In the European Union, oral hygiene products may only be sold freely to consumers if they contain no more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide whereas in the USA, whitening products are sold at higher concentrations.
The length of treatment depends on the level of discoloration and the whitening product used. It ranges from short interventions in the dental office to applications at home lasting minutes/hours per day and repeated over a number of days.
Some toothpastes also contain small amounts of hydrogen peroxide.
How much hydrogen peroxide is an individual exposed to during tooth whitening treatment?
Concentration of hydrogen peroxide on the gums falls rapidly during treatment.
How much hydrogen peroxide is released into the saliva during tooth whitening treatments depends mostly on the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the product being used and the product type and only partly on the amount of saliva produced.
During a tooth whitening treatment procedure, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide on the gums and in the saliva falls rapidly because hydrogen peroxide is broken down quickly.
It is estimated that up to 25% of the hydrogen peroxide applied by tooth whitening products is swallowed.
What should be considered before a tooth whitening treatment?
Before engaging in tooth whitening treatment, a dentist should be consulted.
Above 0.1% hydrogen peroxide, tooth bleaching is not just a simple cosmetic procedure. It is important that the dentists diagnose the cause of the staining, predict whether the stains can be removed or not, check whether patients have any other oral health problems, and counsel patients about the best way of dealing with this esthetical problem. As already mentioned above, common undesirable side effects of tooth whitening treatment are increased tooth sensitivity and mouth irritation. Such effects usually disappear within a few days. The surface of fillings and other restorations can be affected. Hydrogen peroxide can act as a weak cancer promoter, meaning it can slightly stimulate the growth or multiplication of cancer cells. Tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and specific genetic predispositions increase the risk of oral cancer. Hydrogen peroxide may therefore further increase this risk, especially when the treatment is repeated. This may be of concern as smokers are likely candidates for tooth whitening. The risk of harmful effects may be greater for people who have pre-existing oral diseases.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
StandoutandShine!
Who doesn't want a shiny hair? Whether your hair is long or short, straight or wavy, blonde or brunette, there is nothing like a healthy shine to ensure that you get noticed. Did you know that there are a few secrets to shiny hair that you can try from the comfort of your own home? Healthy, shiny hair results from a combination of healthy living and choosing the right products for your hair type. Whether it comes to cleansing, styling or rinsing, you can do much to give your tresses that shiny edge that you are dreaming about.
1. Keepitclean. If your hair tends toward the dry end of the scale, make sure that you look for a moisturizing shampoo. If you usually use a lot of heat to style your hair, in the form of blow dryers and curling irons, look for a formula that is heat activated. And if your hair runs on the oily side, don’t forget to use a clarifying shampoo regularly to strip your tresses of the excess oil that can wear hair down and dull the shine.
2. Rinseitout. It is very important to thoroughly rinse your hair after shampooing, but a mere water rinse may not be enough. First, a cool water rinse will go a long way in smoothing the cuticles – a sure shine enhancer. You can even take your rinse a step further by adding a shot of lemon juice if you are a blonde, or a dash of apple cider vinegar if your hair is brunette or red. Beer is another good shine enhancing rinse for any hair color.
3. Stylewithcare. Putting heat on your hair regularly is one of the fastest ways to suck the shine right out of it. If you simply cannot live without your blow dryer or hot rollers, make sure that you are using shampoos, conditioners and styling products that are specifically designed to be heat activated. This way that shot of warm air from your blow dryer will actually shine your hair up instead of drying it out and dulling it down.
4. Pickyourstylingproducts with care. Hairspray is a great way to keep your do in place, but a hairspray with shine enhancers is even better. Look for leave in conditioners and styling gels that are specially formulated to bring out the shine. Even some hair colors are designed today to make the most of your natural glow. Let your products pick up where Mother Nature left off to step up your shine factor!
5. Give your tresses the royal treatment. Once a week, give your hair a complete pampering, using a commercial hot oil treatment or one that you whip up in your own kitchen. For shine power, select ingredients like strawberries that are pureed or olive oil that has been warmed up. A drop or two of rosemary will give a boost to darker hair, while chamomile oil will do wonders for lighter hair colors.
Shineon!
Who doesn't want a shiny hair? Whether your hair is long or short, straight or wavy, blonde or brunette, there is nothing like a healthy shine to ensure that you get noticed. Did you know that there are a few secrets to shiny hair that you can try from the comfort of your own home? Healthy, shiny hair results from a combination of healthy living and choosing the right products for your hair type. Whether it comes to cleansing, styling or rinsing, you can do much to give your tresses that shiny edge that you are dreaming about.
1. Keepitclean. If your hair tends toward the dry end of the scale, make sure that you look for a moisturizing shampoo. If you usually use a lot of heat to style your hair, in the form of blow dryers and curling irons, look for a formula that is heat activated. And if your hair runs on the oily side, don’t forget to use a clarifying shampoo regularly to strip your tresses of the excess oil that can wear hair down and dull the shine.
2. Rinseitout. It is very important to thoroughly rinse your hair after shampooing, but a mere water rinse may not be enough. First, a cool water rinse will go a long way in smoothing the cuticles – a sure shine enhancer. You can even take your rinse a step further by adding a shot of lemon juice if you are a blonde, or a dash of apple cider vinegar if your hair is brunette or red. Beer is another good shine enhancing rinse for any hair color.
3. Stylewithcare. Putting heat on your hair regularly is one of the fastest ways to suck the shine right out of it. If you simply cannot live without your blow dryer or hot rollers, make sure that you are using shampoos, conditioners and styling products that are specifically designed to be heat activated. This way that shot of warm air from your blow dryer will actually shine your hair up instead of drying it out and dulling it down.
4. Pickyourstylingproducts with care. Hairspray is a great way to keep your do in place, but a hairspray with shine enhancers is even better. Look for leave in conditioners and styling gels that are specially formulated to bring out the shine. Even some hair colors are designed today to make the most of your natural glow. Let your products pick up where Mother Nature left off to step up your shine factor!
5. Give your tresses the royal treatment. Once a week, give your hair a complete pampering, using a commercial hot oil treatment or one that you whip up in your own kitchen. For shine power, select ingredients like strawberries that are pureed or olive oil that has been warmed up. A drop or two of rosemary will give a boost to darker hair, while chamomile oil will do wonders for lighter hair colors.
Shineon!
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