Category — Ask the Experts

Some of you have written in asking about eye brow threading versus waxing. I happen to prefer threading as it tends to hurt me less and doesn’t leave the skin red and irritated, the way that eye brow waxing does. I will say though that I recommended it to a cousin of mine and she couldn’t wait to call and yell at me because she said that the pain was worse. So the degree of pain may be an issue for some. That is something that you will just have to test for yourself.

Threading tends to give a cleaner look, in my opinion, as you can really target stray strands and you are less likely to take off more than you want. Eye brow waxing can end up stripping you of much needed stands.

Here is a video by NBC on eye brow threading so you can see the exact procedure.

” How to Straighten hair with a blow dryer ? ” is a question that I get asked alot. For beauty questions like these, I really like to give you a visual demonstration. So without further ado, here is your hair tip video of the day:

Strong healthy nails are a priority for most women. Sure you can paint them and buff them but if they break off at the merest flick of your finger, what is the point?

Getting strong healthy nails starts from within. Brittle nails can be a sign that you are not getting enough protein and vitamins. Fortunately this is easy enough to correct.

1. Up your protein intake.

2. Add B vitamins, vitamin A, calcium, zinc, iodine and iron to your diet. You can generally get all of these from a good multi-vitamin.

I have also found a great nail and skin supplement from Perricone that can make a huge difference in the look and feel of both your skin and your nails - N.V. Perricone, M.D. Skin and Total Body Nutritional Supplements This is the supplement that I personally use and after about two weeks it made my nails, well strong as nails.

Here is a great video that I found about how to get strong healthy nails:

Having healthy attractive nails is easy. It just takes a bit of planning.

Whitening your teeth does not have to be expensive. Ok yes, I admit that I love Gosmile. It has does wonders for mine. But for those of you on a serious budget there is an old favorite that works wonders and costs pennies a day - Baking Soda. Yes, there is a reason why you see it in most toothpastes.

Brushing with baking soda and water a few times a week will result in whiter teeth. And when you use baking soda as a skin whitener you don’t have to worry what other chemicals are being put into your body. Remember the cereal commercials with the kids reading the back of the ice cream containers? Well the same can be said for some of the toothpastes out there.

Not into the slight mess of using baking soda for brushing? Well then try Tom’s toothpaste, it is all natural and environmentally friendly. And he has a whitening formula as well.

Laser cosmetic surgery is one of the newest, most innovative ways to perform cosmetic surgery.  Many people are weary of having cosmetic surgery performed through a laser beam, yet it is a delicate and painless process that demands results.  Lasers are used in many facial surgeries such as dermabrasion, facial resurfacing and more.  They are also used in eye surgeries.  The process is normally fairly quick and it leaves virtually no scarring making better than other facial options such as a facelift.  Even though, cosmetic surgery through the use of a laser cannot remove skin as in a face lift it is an excellent alternative to chemical peels and for people who are not looking for a face lift, yet they would like the fine lines and wrinkles to disappear.

There are a variety of different lasers that can be used.  Each has a specific light or beam color that is used in accordance with the type of procedure and the skin color of the patient.  This helps to prevent discoloration in the pigment of the patient’s skin.  The different types of lasers include the Yttrium Aluminum Garnet or the YAG, the pulsed dye laser and the Carbon Dioxide laser or the CO2 laser.

The surface of the skin is prepared before the operation starts so that there are no interferences between the skin layers and the light beam.  The laser is essentially a light beam that is projected onto the surface of the patient’s skin.  The light beam is rather hot and it is used to project its heat onto the skins surface.  This way, the skin cells literally burst due to the heat, and then that particular layer of the skin dissolves leading way to a new layer of skin.  The laser is used to break up these skin cells until it gets to the root layer of where the root problem is.  For example if it is a tattoo or a wrinkle, the laser continues until it reaches the layer of skin where there is no wrinkle or ink.

Tattoo removal takes several sessions and can be quite painful. My sister had this done and she swore that the pain was worse than getting the initial tattoo.  Then again I believe that she was inebriated when she got it so I am not sure how seriously to take that statement.

One of the best results that come from the performance of a laser surgery operation is that while the laser is burning off layers of the skin, new collagen is able to grow on the new slate of skin.  So far this is the only process of facial surgeries where collagen naturally grows on its own.  This is important because it is the collagen that gives the face its youthful look.

Now if you are thinking of getting this done, I will warn you that you may have redness and other discoloration for a few days or more, depending on the procedure and how sensitive your skin is. Ask your doctor about Arnica gel. Many surgeons recommend this all natural gel to help bring down swelling and discoloration.

I have used it for falls and bruising and it works wonders.

Think of makeup like fresh fruit. If you don’t consume it within a certain amount of time it will go bad. Unlike that crispy new apple, it may not be as readily apparent that your makeup has turned. Applying old makeup and skin care products to your face can actually be doing more harm than good. Bacteria can get into even the most expensive brand name products and irritate your skin.

Mascara is a prime example. Old mascara is a prime target for bacteria and can lead to eye infections. So throw out those old clumpy tubes. I don’t care if you have a date. Which is worse for your guy to see - macara-less lashes or the inside of an emergency room?

Here are some rules of thumb when it comes to your makeup’s expiration:

1) Unopened cosmetics and skin care products have the longest shelf life. Keep all cosmetics in a cool dry environment. Hint, your bathroom is probably not the best place to store your cosmetics.

2) If your makeup looks like it is separating ( i.e. if it looks like there is liquid sitting on top of a thicker substance) then it is more than time to toss it. Don’t try shaking it to try to reblend it, unless the product specifically says that this is normal.

3) Don’t put the makeup directly on your hands, straight from the bottle. Use a cotton swab or double folded tissue paper.  Your fingers have germs and natural oils that can easily get into your products with repeated use.

4) Keep jar sealed tightly. Yes, I know that you are in a hurry to get out the door but this only takes an extra second or two.

5) Replace mascara at least every three months and really make sure that it is sealed tightly between uses.

These are just a few tips on how to keep your makeup fresh so that you can continue to have wonderful glowing skin and less skin reactions. These tips are even more important if you have any type of problem with acne. Don’t let your makeup be one more battle between you and your quest for clear, beautiful skin.

Hi all

We talk about skin care a lot on this site and most things I truly believe you can take care of with maintenance. Use a high SPF moisturizer every day, drink plenty of water, excercize and 90% of your natural beauty can be maintained. There are a few things though that gravity outweighs preventative anti-aging measures. For those of you who believe in skin care and plastic surgery there is a new site that has a ton of articles on the different techniques that are out there today to help you look young and youthful. Cosmetic Skin Surgery is a great site for expert information and advice on Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic techniques and Plastic Surgery Costs.

It has articles updated daily plus information on some great books to read before considering surgery. Check it out for yourself:  http://www.cosmeticskinsurgery.info

Hi all

More and more, in the news, I have seen reports of incidences of heart disease going undetected in women. This is a very personal subject for me because my grandmother, who lived with us until I was eighteen years old, died of heart disease. Not one doctor detected that she had it and yet when she passed away over 50% of her heart had been affected. I received the call that she was in the hospital and before I could even buy a plane ticket she was gone.

One of the reasons that heart disease goes undetected is because the amount of blockage seems to be less  than in men, so many doctors don’t do enough follow up. Women also tend to let things go. We are so busy taking care of our family and careers that we forget to double check and make sure that we are ok. Here are a few things that you can do to improve your heart health and make sure that you get adequate health care:

1) Eat foods high in omega 3 like sushi and sashimi.

2) Eat foods that contain onions. Yes I know it isn’t great for your breath but they are thought to be very good for your heart. So have your meal and then some mint tea afterwards. ( The mint will settle your stomach and freshen your breath).

Here is a list of 25 heart healthy foods: http://www.webmd.com/solutions/healthy-heart-guide/top-foods

3) If you feel any tightness or odd sensations in your chest, tell your doctor immediately. Insist on getting an EKG and a stress test from a qualified cardiologist. Your doctor may just think it is heartburn and maybe he or she is right but why take chances. The earlier this is diagnosed the better.

4) If your doctor is not the type to listen to your concerns find a new doctor. This is your health and your money is paying for insurance so you deserve the best health care available.

Every one of you who read my blog is important to me. Do yourself and your family a favor by taking care of your health.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

This week a friend of mine and I were looking at Wedding Invitations online at http://www.1st-class-wedding-invitations.com . The thing I really like about this site is that it has a zoom feature. Instead of just looking at a still image, you can actually zoom in on various sections of the card so that you can really see the attention to detail. They have everything from contemporary to fairy tale styles to cards that look like they were hand made.

Anyway, while we were going through these cards, we started to talk about the funniest weddings that we had ever been too. Her funniest experience was going to an old girlfriend’s wedding and finding out that she had dated the groom. And mine was when my cousin decided to “style my hair better” and ended up using so much hair spray that my hair actually caught on fire. She was so buzzed that I ended up having to put it out myself.

Some more friends dropped by to help pick out invitations and after a bottle of wine or two ended up sharing their wedding bloopers. One gallant groom decided to start out the marriage with a show of chivalry by pulling the chair out for his bride to sit. Well they had decided on a poolside wedding. Needless to say he zigged when she zagged and her initial first official day of being “Mrs. Gallant” ended with a splash. We still aren’t sure how they got her veil out of the filter.

Do you have any funny wedding stories to share? Write them up and send them in. I will post the funniest ones that you come up with.

If you are about to tie the knot yourself check out http://www.1st-class-wedding-invitations.com . They really do have a nice selection and make it easy to find, click and order. I remember helping a friend pick out wedding invitations years ago and having to sift through book after ten ton book. Buying your invitations online will save you time, energy and gas money.

I also urge you to really enjoy the experience. So many brides are in such a frenzy to find the “perfect” card. Break out a bottle of wine, have your girl friends over, and reminisce about other friend’s weddings until you can relax enough to realize that it doesn’t have to be perfect and if some minor glitch occurs you will all be laughing about it years later.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Hi all

I found yet another site to cash in on some major coupons for your favorite brands like thisProFlowers gift code discount coupon. The site is called:http://www.1-coupons.com and it has a huge selection of top brands to choose from.

Here is a brief sampling of what they have to offer:

Save 25% on Inspiron  Computers plus get free standard shipping 

$500 off of a  Pavilian Computer

Save $75 or more on your next vacation

Enjoy these savings and more. I love saving money on things that I need anyway, don’t you? I wish I had had these computer coupons when my last computer crashed a few months ago. It would have saved me a bundle. And I will definitely be checking back for even more vacation discounts and coupons. Paying full price for luxury vacations is so unnecessary. Every four and five star hotel that I have stayed at over the last few years has been found online at a discount. Paying retail anymore, especially in this economy, is just silly.

Thank goodness for sites like this that help us save and still enjoy all the pleasure of life.

Happy Shopping and Happy Saving!

Sincerely

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls