Listed below are some products that are found in every household and can have a detrimental impact on the skin of the child.

Laundry detergents, fabric softeners and fragranced products may cause itching, redness, or other skin irritation in sensitive children. Additionally bar soaps and antimicrobial hand soap can also have adverse affect on the skin.

Products labeled “natural” or “organic” contain botanicals which can cause children’s skin allergies. Likewise the innocuous appearing air fresheners, incense can irritate young skin.

Pets are a common source of skin allergies, sneezing, and itchy eyes. Therefore, if you have a pet at home, you need to clean the home more often. Bathe your pet at least once a week. As far as possible, keep the animal outside or limit your child’s exposure to the pet.

Yes, these products do make a positive impact but it is the food that we eat that really ensures that the skin is gleaming and radiant.

Options galore when it comes to picking food for good skin. Ideally one should alter the diet to include the food that has a favorable impact on the skin.

Almonds: Extremely good for the brain and no less important for the skin, almonds can reduce the severity of condition of skin diseases like rosacea and eczema. The rich Vitamin E present in almonds maintains skin moisture, repairs skin tissues and thus gives it a shining look.

Berries: Be it strawberries, blueberries or blackberries, they all have antioxidant properties which prevent skin damage. These berries make for a scrumptious on-the-go snack.

Green Tea: Green tea has antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in thwarting bacteria and protects cell membranes. Green tea is also high in polyphenols, compounds that gets rid of cancer causing elements. Prevention from sunburns are an added advantage of green tea.

Mangoes: Yum to eat, ideal for weight loss and fantastic for skin, does one need a reason more to eat mangoes?

Spinach and Carrots: Spinach and Carrots are another rich source of vitamin A, which is required for developing and maintaining skin cells. Spinach and Carrots can be eaten in raw form or can be used in salads or cooked with other dishes.

Yogurt: Low fat dairy products like yogurt are a rich source of vitamin A. Not only does it do wonders for your skin, it is also useful for people with medical conditions such as thyroid problems or diabetes.

Water: Had it not been an alphabetical listing of the foods, we would have put water at number one. Good hydration is skin’s best friend. And the best source of hydration for the skin is water. Needless to say water is extremely beneficial for the other organs of the body. So make sure to gulp down that glass of water regularly. If you want a figure to this, it is two liters per day.

Thus by essentially eating and of course drinking right, you can have that glow that you always yearned for.

Health is wealth is an old adage that needs to be followed strictly in life. However, the extremely busy office schedule or domestic constraints may thwart one from going out for a brisk walk or hitting the gymnasium.

Read on to know some really effective exercises that can be done at home and that too without any equipment.

Push-ups, if correctly done, not only build up your stamina but also rev up pecs and triceps. All one needs to do is lie face down with palms on the floor about shoulder width apart from each other. Then push the whole body up with your back and legs in a straight line and then lower yourself back down towards the floor.

Repeat the exercise and gradually increase the number of push-ups over a period of time.

To strength then the hip flexors and abdominal muscles, sit-ups are a great exercise that can be done anywhere. One needs to lie on the back with the knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Cross the arms across the chest and raise the body up to try and meet your knees.

To strengthen the thighs and buttocks, squats is the best exercise. Stand straight, bend the knees with the arms stretched outright parallel to the floor. Bend until the thighs are parallel to the floor. Squats also help build stamina.

These easy to do exercises will go a long way to keep the ‘axe’, read ‘my body’ in good shape.

Simple precautions taken against the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet rays can help ward off this problem.

While on the beach, it is advisable to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and apply it repeatedly. It is a good idea to wear a hat and sunglasses with a UV filter.

It is not only about the beach that one has to think about sun protection. The habit to safeguard self should be incorporated into everyone’s daily routine.

Wearing a hat and seeking shade when the sun is strongest is highly recommended. Using a sunscreen with moisturizer every day would do a lot of good.

A sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 30 or higher should be used. It is important to use such a sunscreen even on cloudy days because clouds do not block the most damage forms of UV light.

New research indicates that people who do not brush their teeth twice a day are more vulnerable to heart diseases vis-à-vis their counterparts who complete this activity to ensure that their teeth remain pearly white.

In the latest study, termed as the Scottish Health Survey, researchers looked at the lifestyle habits such as smoking, overall physical activity, and oral health routines of 11,000 participants.

After accounting for risk factors like obesity, smoking, social class, and family heart disease history that make a person more susceptible to cardiovascular risk, the researchers established that people who did not brush their teeth habitually had a 70 percent extra risk of heart disease.

“Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease,” maintained Richard Watt, DDS, of University College London.

“Furthermore, inflammatory markers were significantly associated with a very simple measure of poor oral health behavior,” added Watt.

The findings of the study cannot be considered shocking as it is a well known fact that swelling in the body, be it in the mouth or the gums, can lead to clogging of arteries, which in turn can lead to a heart attack. If one does not brush the teeth, the mouth can become infected with bacteria which can lead to inflammation.

The findings of the study have been published in the British Medical Journal

The hazardous nature of visceral fat is related to the discharge of proteins and hormones that can cause swelling and soreness. This inflammation can harm arteries and has the ability to enter the liver and adversely affect how the body breaks down sugars and fats.

Indicating how important the size of the waist is, David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum in the UK, says, “Waist circumference is the best predictor of risk of future health.”

Surprisingly, nine in 10 people are not even conscious of the risks of carrying that additional fat around their waistline.

“Most overweight people still see themselves as having a body image issue not a health problem and they need to understand the health benefits of weight loss as well as the cosmetic results,” claims Dr Terry Maguire, honorary senior lecturer at Queen’s University in Belfast.

• All-over eye-shadow base. The color, which is applied from the lashes up to the brow bone, should blend with your skin tone. Eye dos: White, bone, toast, sand or banana. Colors to avoid: Red-toned shadows — they can make you appear tired.
• Lid shadow. Use neutral shades to enhance your eyes. For blue eyes — ashy taupe, gray or heather. For green ones — yellowy taupe, camel or heather. And for brown — rich taupe, sable or mocha. Want to complement your eye shadow with an optional contouring color, to further define by day or add a dramatic touch by night? Go with a shade that’s not too dark, such as brown, slate or mocha. Brown’s word of warning where contouring is concerned: “Smoky black lids are for rock stars and supermodels only!”
• Liner. Go for darker shades, not bright ones — mahogany, charcoal or navy can be nice.
• Mascara. Black is makeup expert Brown’s favorite, but not for women with fair skin and light-colored hair and eyelashes — for them brown mascara can create a look that’s less harsh.

What about going beyond the basics to try trendy for a change? That can be OK, but only if the color doesn’t clash with your skin tone and hair and eye color. And if you’re older, bear in mind this added pointer from Rockville, Md., makeup artist Barbara Roybal: Stick with matte-colored eye shadows — and stay away from frosted ones — to minimize the appearance of wrinkles.

Brooke Shields may have turned heads with her bushy brows back in the ’80s, but impeccable eyebrows have become big business in recent years. “Eyebrows frame your face like a beautiful painting,” explains New York City celebrity makeup artist Rochelle Weithorn. “If they’re shaped to compliment your eyes and face, you will always look well groomed.”

You’ve got two choices when it comes to eyebrow grooming: to wax, or to tweeze. While waxing can be less painful, it’s often difficult to do at home. Plus, tweezing gives you more control, since you pluck just one hair at a time. Below, tips for getting the perfect arch.

For starters, you need to use the right tool. Weithorn suggests using a tweezer you are comfortable holding, and one that grabs hair securely.

Before tweezing, apply some ice to the brow to numb the nerve endings so there will be less pain.

To determine where to tweeze, use an eyebrow pencil to fill in the shape you want, then tweeze any hair outside the lines.

If you’re not sure where your brows should begin and end, place an eyeliner pencil along the side of your nose, then tweeze any hairs that extend inward past the pencil toward your other brow.

Next, angle the pencil outward toward the outside corner of your eye and tweeze any hairs that extend outside the pencil toward your ear.

If you have a low hairline and high, stray eyebrow hairs that merge into it, tweeze those away, too.

Finally, tweeze any stray hairs beneath the brow.

The right hairstyle for you
Tired of trying out different hairstyles and coming up with ghastly results? Many of us don’t realize that only a particular kind of style will go well with our facial structure.

The right way, say stylists, is to find what works with the structure of the face and looks flattering. A flattering hairstyle can be the most important single factor in your appearance. Not only does it tell about your character, it balances your body, frames your face and complements your clothes and lifestyle. A really professional haircut is a valuable investment, because it will make you feel good as well as look good.

When choosing a new hairstyle you should look carefully at the shape of your face.

What kind of face do you have?

Oval Face:

If you have an oval face, you are lucky, as any style will suit you. A long face is best complemented by short hair that is quite full, with a fringe. Don’t go for a severe long hairdo that will only make your face look longer.

Round Face
If you have a round face, you should aim to add length. If you don’t want long hair, part your hair on the side or add fullness on top. Avoid a neat bob with a fringe. A round face gives an overall appearance of roundness. A full face is flattered by a short, layered cut. The top of the head should be given a ‘long’ look with a layered, curly style, extending to the back. If making a topknot, get a lot of elongated tendrils out. That balances your face. A lot of volume to the hair will give it a flat look. A severe, tied back style also makes the face look rounder. Avoid it.

Square Face
A wide forehead and square jawbone means you have a square face. A style with the hair 2.5 cm, or so below the chin sits pretty on a square face. If your hair is thick or wavy, you can go all one length. With straight or fine hair, you can opt for a slight angle in the front. Don’t go in for bobs. Blunt clipped bangs are also not recommended because they would emphasize the square ness of your face. All a square face needs is a little softening if the jaw line is too heavy. Draw the attention away from the jaw with a diagonal fringe forward from the hairline and around the ears if you wear your hair up, or long loose hair with a bit of bounce below chin level.

Heart Shape

A Heart shaped face is also easy to flatter. All you need to do is avoid a heavy slab of fringe that will make your face into a triangle. A softer fringe will help. Try a soft fringe too for a high forehead, or try a very heavy fringe that stars quite a way back is ‘V’ – shaped, with the point of the ‘V’ in the center of your forehead. If you have a receding or double chin, you need to draw attention away from it. Your hair will look best either piled to the top and back of your head, to balance the chin, or hanging loose to hide it. A large nose needs a short, fluffy style anything sleek or straight will only over-emphasize it.

Long Face :

A long, thin face with a narrow chin is oblong. A short, perky bob will go very nicely with your kind of looks. It should be short at the back and the angled chin length, in the front. Wearing it with a side parting, with bangs brushed to the side, rounds out an oblong face. A longer bob, about five-cm, below the chin, will also look good on this kind of face. Layered hair will not suit you at all. Long hair, too, makes the face seems lengthier.

Great Things about Short Hair

• Blunt Cutting

• Clippers

• Graduated hair

• Layering

• Slide cutting

• Razor cutting

Short hair shows you are a woman on the move – cool, confident, in control, and too busy to spend hours fussing with your hair. A dramatic cut shows that you are happy to take new challenges.

Five great things about short hair.

1. Short hair look attractive. It allows a man to see you and your personality.

2. Well cut short hair emphasizes femininity, especially if you get chunky layers and softness cut into the style.

3. Your hair looks thicker and glossier. Shorter hair looks healthier as the hair is newer than the dull, damaged ends of longer hair. Its a good option for people with fine hair.

4. Its easy to manage. Its like a great dress – you just step into it and go.

5. You can look younger. The straight line of long hair emphasize wrinkles, but the softer shape of short hair makes them less obvious.

Common Dos and Don’ts:

• Don’t use any old rubber band just to keep hair off the face. Rubber bands tend to break or split hair. Instead just use a scrunchy or a fabric coated elastic band.

• Don’t brush wet hair too harshly because its three times weaker and more likely to break off mid strand. Towel dry hair first, then gently detangle using a wide tooth comb.

Don’t suds up more than once unless your hair is extremely greasy else it’ll become too dry and frizzy. Oil hair before every wash. Massage oil well into the scalp and keep for a minimum of half-hour. This keeps your scalp nourished and conditioned.

Excessive use of conditioner can your hair and cause split ends. Protect from over conditioning.