I know some of you out there watch TV shows for the interesting plot lines, comedic relief or just to see Playboy bunnies frolic with an 80-year-old man, but for me, it's all about the hair.
Call me sad, but my TiVo lineup is largely influenced by either gorgeous or ridiculous hairstyles, and there are plenty of both on TV these days. Check out a few of my faves below, and since I know that I left out some classics (give me a break, it's impossible not to!), weigh in on your favorite and least favorite TV hairstyles here.
OK, this is a no-brainer, this hair cut practically made the show and made Jennifer Aniston a household name. Fess up -- how many of you had "The Rachel"?
To be fair, they really improved her look in the later seasons, but in the beginning Miranda was the standout frump among the foursome.
This look almost makes me want to dye my brown hair blonde and add in some extensions, it's so gorgeous. At least I can imitate the beachy yet cool waves (with help from these tips).
Oy, the frizzy, curly bangs just break my heart. Roseanne had numerous hairstyles through the run of the show, but few were anything you'd want to try at home. While I'm not from the Mid-West, I have to believe the women there have more style than this.
Are these all my picks? Of course not (I watch way too much TV for this to be it)! See the rest of the best and worst TV character hairstyles here.
• Don't believe that Miranda's look really was that bad? Check out these pics of the cast through the years -- I think I prove my case.
• Can you believe "Friends" ended so long ago? It feels like I was watching it yesterday (oh wait, I was, on TBS)! Can you guess how old Jennifer Aniston is now? You won't believe it!
• They may not be on TV, but who can forget these iconic hairstyles?
I guess I shouldn't be that shocked, but it's still pretty weird to think that on an average day, we've got more than 500 chemicals hanging out on our bodies, according to this research.
Where does it all come from? Think about it. We step out of the shower (likely with some lingering body wash on us) and apply deodorant, body lotion, perfume, moisturizer, makeup and who knows what else. It all adds up pretty quickly. The study found that fragrance alone can add 400 chemicals to your body! (So if you're going to use it, better make it a good one, like one of these.)
Now, to be fair, the study didn't specify how many of these chemicals are actually harmful to us, but as this article shows, there are plenty of common ingredients in beauty products that can really do a number on our health.
What do you think of this study: is it an eye opener or a yawn? Will you do anything different in your beauty routine? Maybe try some homemade products? (I swear it's not as hard as it sounds, especially with these recipes.)
• Looking to detox your life? Get help here.
• Are homemade products a bit too extreme for you? Then check out these earth-friendly beauty products, no assembly required.
• A tad skeptical about this whole "green movement"? You should be. Get the facts here.
You know, acne is all well and good for teenagers (especially since I'm not one anymore), but adults just shouldn't have to deal with it, don't you agree? Sadly, nature does not, since almost half of adults over 25 have some acne, according to The International Dermal Institute.
So what can we do? I'm so glad you asked. Luckily, there's this handy little guide of everything you need to know about adult acne: what causes it and how you can get rid of it. Check it out in full here, or just look at a few of my favorite pieces of advice below:
One, the most important thing you can do to stop adult acne is work on the cause of it. For most of us, this is stress. Stress causes our adrenal glands to increase hormones that cause acne (read more about it here). So if you want to cut down on your breakouts, you need to start replacing your incessant blackberry checking with some deep breathing.
Two, we can't just revert back to the uber-drying acne products we used as teens. Adult acne is totally different (see why here), and needs to be treated different too. Adults need to look for products that won't be drying and that also have anti-inflammatories and anti-oxidants, since we have the so-fun task of dealing with aging as well.
Three, if you can see a dermatologist, definitely do so. They can help determine both the cause of your acne and the appropriate treatment, whether that's oral antibiotics, birth control or topical products. It can be expensive, I get that, but for anyone suffering from serious adult acne, it's worth the investment if you can swing it.
If you can't visit a professional, you can try this acne-fighting skin care regimen, it will at least get you on the right track. Because while some of us might like to re-live the glory days of high school, no one wants to re-live the zits.
• On a budget? Then you'll love these affordable acne-fighting products.
• Need help covering up those pimples? We've got it here.
• Of course, you should never, never pop pimples. BUT, if you're going to, at least do it correctly, with help from this video.
I just got my first e-vite of the season for a holiday party, yay! I've dropped my LBD off at the cleaners and picked up my hostess gift, now it's time to focus on the most important part -- me! (Please note the sarcasm in this last sentence; of course I'm not the no. 1 aspect of a party, just in the top 3 or so.)
Luckily, I came across a ton of how-to videos that'll help me with everything from the perfect updo, to covering up the inevitable holiday breakouts (who would have thought present wrapping could be so stressful? I blame the ribbons). Check out a few of my faves below:
For the perfect holiday hair color: This video will show you how to do it at home -- meaning you won't have to squeeze in a hair appointment on top of everything else on your to-do list this season. My favorite tip: apply hair color to grays first; they need longer for the dye to penetrate.
For fuller lips: This video shows you how to get them in under a minute and without any of those painful plumpers! It's really the best of both worlds, you get full-looking lips that people won't regret kissing under the mistletoe (trust me, guys are not fans of kissing lips with stinging gloss on them). My favorite tip: Apply a dot of clear gloss to your lower lip for a plumping optical illusion.
For flawless-looking skin: Get help covering anything up with this video. Because let's face it, between holiday stress and all those cookie binges, who doesn't need help with their skin this time of year? My favorite tips: For a more natural finish, apply concealer before foundation.
For glowing skin from head-to-toe: Get thee a subtle coating of self-tanner, applied perfectly with help from this video. As long as you keep the application light, you'll just look like you have a nice glow, not like you've been fake baking for weeks. My favorite tip: Blend, blend, blend! And when you think you're done blending, blend some more! It really is the key to a streak-free finish.
For a truly relaxed state of mind: Get a friend or loved one to watch this video of tips to give a great back massage. It's the perfect way to get in a relaxed state before any big party or event (you'll probably have to reciprocate though, so you may want to check the video out yourself too). My favorite tip: start with a body brush to exfoliate, detoxify and prepare your skin to be massaged.
Get even more help with pre-party prep with these:
Prepare yourself, because I'm about to drop a major bombshell on you: Celebrities lie about their age! Has your core been shaken, do you need a moment?
OK, so maybe you weren't shocked, or even a little bit surprised. In our youth-obsessed society, of course celebrities lie about how old they are. The fun part comes in when we get to guess how old they really are. Check out the quiz here, can you pick out these stars' true ages? I was pretty stumped, however, I've already admitted that I suck at guessing people's ages.
Other things celebs lie about:
• Their natural hair color. Steal their tricks here.
• Their lack of cellulite. Or maybe they're just using these wonder-products.
• Their clear skin (Photo Shop really does wonders). Get real-life help for your complexion here.
Feel like a celeb (sans the annoying paparazzi or need to lie about your age) by winning this $10,000 Sephora Shopping Spree!
Congratulations to the following six lucky ladies who have won the tarte femme naturale eye palette and tarte lifted natural eye primer with Firmitol!
Gina Barksdale
Linda Do
Angela Rodriguez
Anna Rice
Evelin Martinez
Ashley Wood
Winners, please email intern@totalbeauty.com with your Full Name and Mailing Address within five days to claim your prize. If we do not hear from you, we will pick another winner in your place.
Want to win fun prizes like this? Then follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook!
I'm sure you've seen these before and after shots of Sammy Sosa making the rounds on the Internet. Sosa claims that a product he uses to soften his skin is responsible for making it lighter as well.
I have to wonder about this. First, there are a million creams out there (like these) that will soften your skin without also bleaching it, so unless he has really limited access to skin care products (which I doubt), he's using the product to lighten his skin and the softening is more of a cover/bonus.
Skin bleaching has its place in beauty, be it for sun damage, acne scars or melasma, but Sosa has clearly gone far beyond this realm. Now there's even talk of him becoming a spokesperson for this mystery cream. I will say that however you feel about Sosa lightening his skin, you have to admit that the product gets results.
Share your thoughts about Sammy Sosa's skin lightening here.
Got your own skin issues to deal with? I hear ya, get help for them here.
For more of the latest in beauty news, follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.
I tend to turn a blind eye to infomercials -- anything from a blade-less shaving razor (yeah, that sounds effective) to trading your gold for cash (they really expect you to mail in your jewelry on blind faith!?) sounds like a big four letter word to me. Yeah. S-C-A-M.
So when I caught the infomercial for Wen by Chaz Dean on TV, my immediate reaction was "Yeah, right." But when several friends brought up the brand (in separate conversations, mind you), I thought it would be worth it to do some digging.
Lucky for me, many TotalBeauty.com readers have no qualms over dialing in and handing over their credit card number, so I was able to find out their experiences. If you're one of the people wondering if Wen products really work, check out the best and worst of the brand below. Turns out, as-seen-on-tv products aren't all as bad as I thought …
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.9 (out of 10)
Why: Readers say this product gives you "mediocre results for the money." Even after using the product as directed, there is "no noticeable change" in the look and feel of their hair, and one reader says it even dried it out more. "I could not do anything with my hair. It would not hold style or shape," she says. "It actually made my hair worse," says another reader. "I purposely washed with my regular shampoo [a week later] and saw a big difference." Several readers say, "the scent takes some getting used to" and label it as "hype" that is "not worth the price."
The Best: No. 6: Wen Tea Tree Cleansing Conditioner, $28
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7.3
Why it's great: This "amazing" product is perfect "if you have scalp issues," because it "takes away dandruff, cleanses and conditions hair, strengthens hair [and] moisturizes" all in one. "After several uses I felt for the first time in my life that my problem had been cured," raves one reader. "I can tell a noticeable difference in my hair's ability to maintain moisture." Another reader says it keeps her red hair beautiful and vibrant, and "the longer you use [it], the better your hair will look and you'll be amazed at the shine!" Readers love the "clean, tingly feeling" it leaves on the scalp, and the way it leaves them with "salon hair everyday!"
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7.4
Why it's great: "Wow, what a difference this product has made!" readers rave. "This stuff has some awesome moisture in it." One reader loves how her hair "had body, bounce, super-shine, and dried in about half the time." It left another reader's hair "wonderfully soft" and "easier to brush." Readers say while they found they needed to wash their hair less often with this product, it still left their hair "clean and manageable with no residue."
Still not convinced that it's worth the price? Check out these top drugstore hair products instead.
If you won this $10,000 Sephora Shopping Spree you'd never have to pay attention to infomercials again.
Scouring HSN and QVC is no way to do your holiday shopping. Get help for the task here.
All right, I know what you're thinking: "Uh, hello, it's winter, no one is seeing my body for a good five months, what do I need body-fixing products for?" But seriously, hear me out. A lot of these products -- like miracle-working stretch mark creams and cellulite reducers -- take some time to work. So if you start using them now, then come spring you'll be looking fab from the neck down and ready to face bathing suit season with confidence (keeping up with your exercise and diet are necessary too, but I'll leave that to my girls over at Healthy Living).
So don't wait until the weather starts warming back up to whip your bod into shape, start now with these amazing products.
• I'll admit, some of these miracle workers are pricey. But if you win this $10,000 Sephora Shopping Spree, you can afford all of them and tons more!
• Do you have bigger concerns that a few stretch marks? Get help for them here.
• My cure-all for body woes: this.
The pumpkins and candy corn have been tossed, and now its time to move on to more pressing matters: holiday shopping. Sure, you could wait until after Thanksgiving and battle the crush of people at the mall … OR … you could check out these tips to easier, stress-free shopping.
I don't know about you, but I would love a holiday season that doesn't involve me frantically buying (and paying way to much for) lame scarves or snow globes or whatever's left a few days before Christmas. This year I'm pledging to shop early, shop smart and not shop often (well, we'll see about this last one, despite the crowds I do enjoy a nicely decorated mall around this time of year). Check out a few of my favorite smart-shopping tips here, here's to making this holiday season the most relaxing ever!
• Step 1, how to shop, complete. Now on to Step 2: What to buy.
• Another fun (ha!) holiday chore: tipping. Find out how to do it right here.
• Holiday shopping would be a cake walk if you won this $10,000 Sephora shopping spree sweepstakes, right?!
