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Health & Beauty

Use an Electric Toothbrush – Lower Your Dentist Bills!

use an electric toothbrushWant to save on dentist bills by keeping your teeth healthy?  Use an electric toothbrush!  If you hate going to the dentist as much as I do, you will consider it.  I recently started to use one and I can really feel the difference.  After I brush, my teeth feel extremely clean.  It took me a while to be convinced.  After a recent visit to the dentist and a “small procedure”, I was willing to try anything!  My husband has been using one for over a year now and he bought me one but I stubbornly continued to use the old-fashioned kind, until now!

Electric toothbrushes cost from $20 to $30 and the replaceable tops can add up.  I recommend buying the toothbrush tops bulk at Costco or at another wholesale store because they are a lot cheaper than if you buy them in small quantities at drug stores.  All in all, I consider electric toothbrushes to be a small investment in promoting good health that can save you tons of money in the long run.  

Although there is some controversy over whether or not electric toothbrushes really do work better than manual ones, a review of 21 studies over the past 37 years found less dental plaque and gum disease in people who used electric toothbrushes. 

I use Oral-B Vitality and it has a built in timer that lets me know when I’ve brushed for 2 minutes.   I prefer the small circular brush heads over the larger, more bulky ones.  I find they work better for me. Don’t be stubborn like me and refuse to try one out.  Although they may seem expensive at first, you will likely end up spending less on dentist bills so the investment is well worth it.

June 11, 2009
Health & Beauty

5 Ways To Use Olive Oil As a Beauty Product

use olive oil as a beauty productBelieve it or not, olive oil makes a great beauty product!  It is natural and inexpensive if you buy the regular kind.  No need to buy the more expensive extra virgin olive oil for anything except cooking, however, there are some oils you can use for just about anything!  If you read up on this Gundry MD Olive Oil review, for example, you’ll find that there are a number of uses.  Next, check out these 5 creative uses for olive oil that you might not have expected.  Who would have thought that oil could make you more beautiful! 🙂

 1. Get rid of acne.  Make a paste by mixing together salt and olive oil.  Rub it on your face, let it sit for about 3 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water.  Do this for about a week and then do it less frequently (2 to 3 times a week).  The salt exfoliates your skin and the olive oil moisturizes it.

 2.  Use olive oil as a massage oil.

 3.  Use it as a hair conditioner.  Shampoo your hair first, and then apply the olive oil to your hair.  Be sure to rinse thoroughly.  Another option is to heat up some olive oil, apply it to your hair,  wear a shower cap or wrap a plastic bag over your hair for about 30 to 40 minutes and then wash your hair with shampoo.  Olive oil will moisturize your hair and make it look shiny.

 4.  Soften your cuticles before a manicure by dipping your fingernails in olive oil.  Rub the oil into your nails.

 5.  Use olive oil in place of shaving cream.  Women can use it to shave their legs.  Men can use it on their faces.  It is a great alternative for anyone with allergies or for people with dry skin.

May 12, 2009
Health & Beauty

Go For A Walk

If you are trying to find ways to get exercise without spending money on a who needs a gym pass? why not walk?gym pass or exercise equipment, consider going for a walk. Walking is free and fun! If you don’t live in an overly pleasant neighborhood, consider driving to a nearby park or even a shopping mall to get your exercise. Don’t limit yourself to just one location for your walks or you will get bored and be less motivated. Find a friend to walk with so you can have company along the way and keep each other accountable. Increase your pace at the beginning of your walk rather than at the end to maximize the health benefits. Doing this will cause your heart rate to increase and remain high and you will get the best work out. Walking not only provides physical benefits, it also does wonders for me mentally- it works almost like a therapy. Whenever I need to think something over or if I am upset, I find a walk really helps. Sometimes it’s nice to bring along an mp3 player and listen to music. Do whatever suits you, the main thing is that you keep your body healthy, and walking is a great way to do it without spending a penny.

April 21, 2009
Health & Beauty

Natural Facial Masks

If you enjoy pampering yourself with a facial mask once in a while, rather than buying expensive concoctions that are made up of chemicals, here are some suggestions of ways to make your own masks with common household products.

1. Mix clay cat litter, yes, cat littler, with warm water to make a thick paste. Rub it onto your face and let it set for 20 minutes. The clay cleans out your pores and detoxifies your skin.

2. Mash up a ripe banana into a paste and then apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water. Believe it or not, bananas moisturize your skin and make it soft.

3. If you don’t like the idea of smearing banana all over your face, you can try honey instead. Honey also moisturizes your skin and cleans your pores.

4. Mashing egg whites together into a frothy mixture and then gently applying them to your face and neck also works well.

So, next time you want to pamper yourself, try one of these natural alternatives at home and see how it works for you. Beauty doesn’t have to cost a fortune!

April 14, 2009