Are Parabens Really Safe
September 22, 2007
You’ve probably heard the news stories about parabens and the controversy surrounding their use in personal care products. Here’s a brief, but fair, look at this complicated issue:
No cosmetic can ever be truly “natural”-no matter what the manufacturer claims-but some ingredients are closer than others. Parabens have long been considered an ideal compromise and until quite recently were considered one of the safest preservative methods available. But an article published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology has cast doubt on the safety of parabens and, especially, their potential role in the development of some types breast cancers.
Scientists have known for some time that parabens can mimic the effect of estrogen when used on lab animals but in early 2004, British researchers from the University of Reading announced that they had found parabens in in the cancerous tumors of human breast cancer patients. Equally concerning is the fact that researchers believe that the form of parabens found in those tumors indicate that the parabens were absorbed topically and not taken orally. But most frightening is the fact that parabens were found in EVERY sample.
Menswear ? Putting Together A Business Wardrobe - Part 3
September 21, 2007
It’s easier for men to build a professional wardrobe, but as with many other things, it’s getting started that is the toughest! Let’s talk this time about Accessorizing your Business Wardrobe, and look for additional articles Dress Shirts and my article on Caring for Your Wardrobe.
Okay, guys, we’ve talked about suits and touched on the foundation garments known as dress shirts, let’s talk about accessories. I suggest you take the conservative road with regard to your business suits, especially when you are just building a wardrobe.
Conservatively-styled suits may not get you noticed at a dance club, but they will certainly be a better investment for your professional life. A good, basic man’s suit will last for years, especially if you’ve taken into account my tips on fabric, construction and color.
Accessorizing your suit with relation to neckties and cufflinks are just one way you can add a unique personal touch to your look. Let’s start from the bottom and work our way up.
When selecting shoes to complement your business wardrobe, consider your own likes and dislikes. Do you prefer lace-up shoes or loafers? Lace-up shoes are a bit more conservative, so if in doubt, start with a lace-up shoe. Loafers are perfectly acceptable, though I would emphasize that you should look for a sleek, lower cut shoe rather than a pair of penny loafers.
Buying Home Whitening Kits like Whitestrips
September 20, 2007
Tired of stained, yellow teeth? Want to give yourself a beautiful, whiter smile? Then perhaps you have thought about at home teeth whitening kits. In January 2004, Consumer Reports wrote “Home kits do whiten teeth for far less than you’d pay for a professional treatment.”
Along with the above quote, Consumer Reports rated Colgate Whitestrips as “good” while Crest Simply White Night was given a rating of “very good.” Both were said to help in whitening the tester’s teeth and both were recommended products.
But which of the two is most right for you? When deciding to buy an at home teeth whitening kit, keep in mind of what is most convenient for you. The main difference is that Crest Whitestrips are nearly invisible sticky strips that are worn twice a day, for 30 minutes at a time, (or you can do a single one hour session) while Colgate Simply White Night is a gel that is brushed onto your teeth before you sleep. Neither are flavored and after a few days, most people get accustomed to either method. However, the main reason consumers do not get the full benefits of their whitening kits is because they prematurely stop usage before the recommended time (usually 14 days).
Tanning Booths - Safer Than You Think!
September 19, 2007
Visiting a tanning booth to tan may be safer than you believe. You have to understand that skin cancer has a 20-30 year latency period, so most stories that you hear now are from the people who way back when thought that getting sun burns would fade into nice looking tans. This approach was not very good nor did it work at all. If you decide to try out a tanning booth the only thing you need to worry about is wearing protective eyewear.
The thing that causes skin cancer is the repeating pattern of getting sunburned. If you can avoid getting sunburn while using a tanning booth then you will not have much to worry about. Also, with using a tanning booth the UV rays are controlled and you can easily set your exposure time to them by using the bed. That way, you will be safe to tan for about 10-20 minutes depending on where you are at.
If you plan on using a tanning booth for the very first time and you do not tan very easily it is recommended that you do it for only 5 minutes for your 1st and 2nd sessions, and then move up to 10 minutes for the next few, then after that move to 15 then 20 minutes. You should never go past 20 minutes in one session unless the bed specifically instructs that it’s safe to.
Menswear ? Putting Together A Business Wardrobe - Part 2
September 18, 2007
Here’s the second installment of the "Menswear" series, on adding dress shirts to your professional wardrobe. Let’s go guys!
Dress shirts come in a lot of different styles, fabrics and colors. Your choices should reflect not only your coloring (cool or warm) but your business field (banking vs. advertising, real estate vs. entrepreneurial, etc).
Here’s a couple of rules of thumb: first, purchase 100% cotton whenever possible. They feel great against your skin (important, since you’ll have them on for 8 ? 10 hours a day), and can be laundered and pressed / ironed either at home or professionally.
If you’re not handy with an iron (and gentlemen, you really SHOULD be), or want to avoid the expense of professional cleaning, you can also opt for "no-iron" or "wrinkle resistant" shirts. The cotton fabric of these type of shirts is treated to resist wrinkles, but you’ll pay approximately $15 ? 20 extra per shirt for the convenience. They’ll only need a light touch with an iron after cleaning instead of a firmer hand.
Risks Of Tanning Beds - Not All They Are Hyped Up To Be
September 17, 2007
The risks of tanning beds aren’t all that it’s hyped up to now-a-days. For example, all of the skin cancer horror stories that you hear about all came from people who went about tanning the wrong way 20 to 30 years ago. You see, skin cancer has a latency of about 20-30 years. That long ago almost everyone that that getting a sunburn would fade into a nice looking tan, so most people would go to the beach and keep up with a pattern of getting sun burnt. This is what causes skin cancer, the repetitiveness of getting sun burnt. So there is common misconception of the risks of tanning beds. It’s not all cancer in a box as many people say.
Some other risks of tanning beds are your eyes. There is some risk if you choose not to wear safety eyewear, or the goggles. This is a requirement for all tanning salons to provide safety eyewear, but no one can actually make you wear them. Without wearing them, the risks of tanning beds increase. You can get an early form of cataracts and you could even have temporary or complete blindness. Although using the safety equipment can leave almost unnoticeable white circles around your eyes, the risk of not using them does not make up for it.
Yet More Care Hair Myths - The Truth And The Lies
September 17, 2007
Those hair care myths just keep coming! In this third of 3 articles, we examine some of the most widely known myths - and dig out the truth?
1. Hair should be washed every day
FALSE: There is no correct schedule for washing hair. Every person should shampoo according to the specific needs of their hair type and texture. While some people do benefit from a daily shampoo, others benefit from a variety of shampooing schedules.
2. More lather = a more effective shampoo = cleaner hair
FALSE: Lathering agents are often added to shampoos, but more foam doesn’t mean cleaner hair.
3. Hair develops immunity to the same shampoo over time
FALSE: There is no scientific evidence to prove this myth.
4. Brushing your hair is better than combing it
FALSE: Actually, your hair reacts better to a comb than a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair breakage.
5. Split ends can be repaired without trimming
FALSE: The only successful treatment for removing split ends is with a scissors. Some hair care products may temporarily merge split ends together, but this only lasts until your next shampoo. Always remember that damaged ends tend to grow slower than healthy, well-maintained, trimmed hair.
More Care Hair Myths - the Truth and the Lies
September 16, 2007
We all have a favourite myth about hair care ? some of them are as old as the hills! In this second in a series of 3 articles, we examine some of the most widely known myths - and seek out the reality?
1. Dry hair is damaged by too-frequent washing
FALSE: Hair is more likely to be damaged if it’s left too long between washes. Not washing can cause the scalp’s natural oil to be blocked, and unable to lubricate the hair shaft. As a result, hair can become dry and brittle. Things that damage hair include bleaching, coloring, styling and brushing when wet.
2. To stop the frizzies, use shampoo only twice a month. The rest of the time, rinse daily with conditioner
FALSE: Oil becomes rancid when it stays on the surface of the scalp, so regular shampooing is required to keep hair and scalp clean and healthy. Avoid frizzies by conditioning after every shampoo and try a leave-in conditioner, too.
3. A rinse out conditioner does not provide benefits because it is rinsed out
FALSE: Rinse out conditioners applied to your hair after washing will leave a deposit of moisturizing proteins and other ingredients on the hair shaft giving hair that is softer, shinier and better conditioned.
Menswear ? Putting Together A Business Wardrobe
September 15, 2007
We’re going to discuss some specific aspects of Men’s business dressing, which has different rules than women’s. Ladies, if you have a husband, son, brother, good friend or other relative that could use this information, please feel free to pass it along. Enjoy this segment, and come back for the others!
Whether you are a new college graduate, just joining the working world, changing jobs due to a merger, acquisition or "dot-bomb" or just feel the need to update your professional look, putting together a business wardrobe can be a scary prospect.
In the next installments of this article, we’ll discuss the components of a great classic wardrobe that will have you well dressed for years, and will prove to be wise investments.
Let’s start with the potentially most expensive, yet most important part of your business wardrobe ? your suits. Rather than buy the latest cutting-edge, designer look of the moment that will be dated and obsolete next year, select 3 ? 4 classically tailored suits in year-round fabrics and conservative colors.
If you’ve seen my articles about Color and it’s effect on you, you’ll know that men also fall into the color "Seasons", and there are suggestions for colors in those articles. I’ll also include some hints and tips in this article regarding colors for men’s suits.
How To Recognize an Essential Oil?
September 14, 2007
A selection of essential oils is now available from health food shops, chemists and by mail order. When you are buying them, be careful to choose essential oils, not perfumed oils. Although these may well smell delicious they are not benefecial for aromatherapy.
An essential oil is:
Perfumed oils will always smell pleasant whereas essential oils often have more of the effect of smelling salts.
All essential oils fall into three basic categories:
You’ll notice essential oils are always sold in tinted glass bottles (if not, be suspicious). This is becaiuse they are special oils that need a little care. They are damaged by light and should always be stored in a dark, cool place. Be careful to keep the lids tightly screwed on your bottles, otherwise you will be disappointed to discover your oils have evaporated into thin air.
