10 Beauty Uses For Vinegar

You may be stocking your fridge with apple cider and white vinegar for silly things like salad dressing, but you are missing the whole point. Yes, you can use vinegar in cooking but it also has a treasure trove of awesome beauty uses – so you may want to start buying the supersize bottles.

Clear up acne

Vinegar can help to clear skin issues and stop acne. The vinegar’s acidity will dry out pimples, allowing healthy and fresh skin to come in, says Lynda Torrey, Director of Education at Woodhouse Day Spa. Some additional benefits of vinegar to the skin include regulating pH levels, promoting blood circulation in capillaries that irritate the skin, and reducing scaly or peeling skin.

Cold sore remedy

If you have a painful canker sore that is giving you grief, dab it with vinegar a few times a day. It’ll help to reduce the swelling and the pain, and also help to keep the area clean and non-infected!

Longer lasting manicures

Sometimes, it’s the base that creates the manicure. Before you even start, soak your fingers in a bowl of vinegar for a few minutes. This will help to remove any residual surface oils from your nails, creating a longer lasting manicure!

Mouthwash

Though gargling with vinegar doesn’t sound super appetizing, it is a great way to get rid of stinky garlic breath in a pinch. Mix a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and swish. You may not feel minty fresh, but you won’t stink!

For dull, lackluster hair

Harsh shampoos often strip hair of its natural moisture, leaving it feeling dry all over. The acidity of apple cider vinegar counteracts that process and helps revitalize your hair, leaving it soft […]

Probiotics Aren’t Just Good For Your Gut

You know those special yogurts and fermented drinks that promise to fill your tummy with friendly flora and good bacteria? Now they have that for your face.

In case you’ve never watched Dr. Oz or stepped into a Whole Foods, these beneficial bacteria are referred to as probiotics: microorganisms similar to those that naturally populate your gut. Depleting these micro-critters through poor diet or taking antibiotics can cause major digestive problems. As it turns out, your skin works in a similar way.

Studies like this one, published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, and these reports, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, suggest that probiotics can help reduce skin inflammation–acne, rosacea, eczema, even wounds–by crowding out harmful bacteria (just as they do in the intestinal tract).

Participants in most of the studies took oral probiotic supplements, but topical probiotics can be found in skin care brands like TULA, which I recently tried out.

A relatively new line, TULA incorporates probiotics in its entire range of skin-balancing products. They sent me four samples to try: The Illuminating Face Cleanser, Illuminating Face Serum, Hydrating Day & Night Cream, and Revitalizing Eye Cream.

With a mild, clean scent, the products were lovely and luxurious to use. My favorite was the super hydrating Day and Night Cream. Its rich texture was reminiscent of Greek yogurt, and it felt soothing when layered under my sunscreen. The eye cream was similarly rich and velvety. I especially liked popping it in the fridge before use as an under-eye moisture mask.

Filled with antioxidants, the serum was much lighter and thinner in texture, making it ideal for those with oily skin. The cleanser, however, was a bit drying for my skin.
Aside […]

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    Update! New Skin Care Launches You Need to Get a Better-Looking Body

Update! New Skin Care Launches You Need to Get a Better-Looking Body

 

We know you care about makeup and hair in the Summer, but let’s get real: the body may just be the most important part. There’s no more time to procrastinate on your skin and body care routine because bikini season is here! Any day now you’re going to head out to the beach, where 80 percent of your skin will be on display. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best beauty buys that cater to perfecting your complexion from head to toe. Everything from wrinkle fighters to self-tanners and sunscreens can be found below, and all these launches are brand-new for Summer.

Tula Skin Care Discovery Collection ($49) is packed with the same good-for-you ingredients as your breakfast. Probiotic skin care? That’s what we call skin food . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally published on POPSUGAR. Read the entire article here 

6 Unusual Uses For Natural Probiotics

Natural probiotics are popping up everywhere. Here are 6 unusual places you might find them.

Okay, so we’re all familiar with the importance of natural probiotics for gut health (those Activia commercials make indigestion look so fun, don’t they?) – and word has it they’re also being used in a number of wild and wacky (but apparently effective) ways. Let’s explore them, shall we?
Here are 6 unusual uses for natural probiotics:
1. Cleaning your home
The idea behind natural probiotics in household cleaners is that our cleaning products tend to temporarily sterilize the area you’ve cleaned, but there’s nothing to prevent the pathogenic bacteria from sprouting up again. By using cleaning supplies that contain probiotics, you’re essentially giving your home a shot of “good” bacteria to protect it from the “bad.”
2. Healing cuts and scrapes
Natural probiotics may also come in handy for minor injuries, like small cuts and scrapes, to keep them infection-free and reduce inflammation.
3. Maintaining oral health
Bad breath is usually caused by a build-up of icky bacteria in your mouth, so it adds up that adding natural probiotics to your oral health routine – like probiotic-spiked mouthwash or toothpaste – could help stave off a case of the nasties. There’s even a case built on the potential benefits ofprobiotic chewing gum. For real.
4. Fighting nasal congestion
Also coming to a medicine cabinet near you: Natural probiotics may help treat sinus congestion and other sinus issues. One study found that a probiotic supplement helped decrease “bad” bacteria in nasal passages, while another found it helped to reduce hay fever symptoms.
5. Improving skin
“Probiotics” has become a big buzz word in the beauty biz (try saying thatfive times fast!), and using them topically has become known as the new frontier. “The American Academy of Dermatology has called probiotics one […]

Feel Great, Look Better, Save Time

Dr. Roshini Raj joined Working Mother Radio to share her tips on balance, healthy living and gorgeous skin and to talk about why she incorporated probiotics into her skin care line TULA.

 

To listen to the entire interview, click HERE

Q&A Interview With Dr. Roshini Raj

Roshini Raj is a gastroenterologist, media personality, and co-founder of the new skin care line TULA, which recently launched exclusively on QVC.com.

Q: How does one choose a specialty in medical school? What inspired you to choose gastroenterology?

A: You consider a lot of factors when choosing a specialty. Do I like working with my hands? Do I want to have long-term relationships with people? Do I like working with a team, or do I prefer to be more independent?

For me, I knew I loved doing procedures and surgery because of the immediacy—knowing I could literally look inside someone’s body and see what is wrong with them and then fix that problem.

Q: What are the most important skills and experiences for a young medical graduate to have?

A: The most important thing is having a passion for your work. Medicine requires tremendous dedication and a lot of work. It is truly a 24/7 career, and if you do not love doing it, you will not be a good doctor and you will not be happy.Being a good communicator is another crucial skill.. You may be the most brilliant doctor in the world, but if you can’t translate that knowledge to your patients in a way they understand, then you will not be able to heal them.

Q: You wear multiple hats during a regular day—what are some of the ways you stay balanced with such a hectic schedule?

A: The only way I maintain the energy to meet the many demands of my day is by staying as healthy as I can. For me, that means at least eight hours of sleep a day, regular physical activity, and eating plenty of fruits and veggies. I also am not afraid of saying no to things, I always ask for […]

The Topical Benefits of Probiotics

Doctors, yogurt commercials, and even estheticians have long preached the benefits of adding probiotics to your diet, but did you know they can also be used topically? Gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj, who’s created her own line of probiotic creams, discusses how they work, inside and out.

What are probiotics?
“Probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeast—organisms that offer [multiple] benefits to the human body,” says Dr. Raj. She goes on to explain that a bacteria imbalance can result in disease or inflammation, and probiotics help maintain a balance. In forms like yogurt, Kefir, and supplements, probiotics can reduce gut inflammation, restore the lining of your intestine, and aid with autoimmune diseases and I.B.S. But some studies have noted that ingesting probiotics also reduced skin redness, irritation, and inflammation. Topical application is the new frontier. “The American Academy of Dermatology has called probiotics one of the new beauty breakthroughs as they’ve been shown to help with clearer skin, decreased skin sensitivity, redness, and inflammation,” Dr. Raj says. “You may also see a reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increased elasticity.”
So can I just put yogurt on my face?
Yep. Though applying probiotics to your face may seem like a new trend, it’s not. “In India for many years they’ve been doing ceremony day before the wedding where the bride and groom apply yogurt and turmeric to the skin to give a healthy glow,” says Dr. Raj. “Yogurt has naturally occurring probiotics, that’s why it’s beneficial when used as a topical mask.” To use yogurt yourself, look for products that contain live and active cultures. She recommends Activia and GoodBelly, a dairy-free option that comes in yogurt shots and juice. You can find it at Whole Foods, Safeway, and natural […]

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    Beauty Experts on the Best Beauty Advice They’ve Ever Gotten

Beauty Experts on the Best Beauty Advice They’ve Ever Gotten

The Fashion Spot asked some of their favorite makeup, skin and hair pros, including co-founder of TULA Dr. Roshini Raj,  for the best beauty advice they’ve ever received.

“My mom, a gastroenterologist as well, was an interesting and inspirational role model for me. The best beauty advice I got from her was that we need to take care of our insides to look good on the outside. There is no miracle in a bottle that will give you gorgeous skin if you are not living a healthy lifestyle and managing sleep, stress, diet and exercise. This advice later became a foundation for my new skin care line TULA.”

Read the entire article here: The Fashion Spot 

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    10 Beauty Product Launches You Have To Check Out This Summer

10 Beauty Product Launches You Have To Check Out This Summer

Summer’s hottest beauty product releases

While you’re out soaking up the sun this summer, don’t forget to stop by your favorite beauty hotspot to check out these cool new product releases from some of our favorite brands (and a few new faves too).

1. Lancôme Grandiôse Mascara

They’ve done it again. The mascara genies at Lancôme have broken beauty boundaries with Grandiôse, the first ever Swan-Neck mascara. Curved at a 25-degree angle, the Swan-Neck wand gives lashes lift, length and volume by mimicking the curves of your face and grabbing lashes at the base to fan them out and nix nasty smudging. Even better? The wand’s three-dimensional curve mixes and keeps the formula fresh by sealing air into the bottle.

Availability: Grandiôse hits Lancome.com and Lancôme counters nationwide Aug. 6

Price: $32
2. Dial Acne Control Collection

The brand’s first foray into the acne realm features a trio of body acne fighters. The Face Wash, Body Wash and Face & Body Bar work overtime to banish pesky body acne resulting from workouts, general sweat and more. Dial worked with dermatologists to create the exciting new line.

Availability: Available July 2014 at grocery, drug and mass retailers nationwide

Price: $5-7 for the collection
3. fantasy Britney Spears Stage Edition Eau de Parfum

Oops she did it again. Britney Spears adds to her line of successful scents with her newest fragrance called fantasy Britney Spears Stage Edition. Inspired by some of Brit’s most memorable moments on stage, the fragrance itself is the ever popular fantasy scent and features a limited edition collectible bottle. The cool packaging pays homage to one of Britney’s most talked about performances, “I’m a Slave 4 U” from the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards (aka the python performance), and the bottle features a snakeskin-patterned wrap embellished with jewel-toned accents.

Availability: […]

5 Health Summer Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore

It’s summer. Naturally, our top priorities during this fine season include dabbling in the art of alcoholic popsicle making and spending as much time as possible near a body of water. Any thoughts of winter and along with it, illness, have been banished to a far-away part of our brains. But getting sick in the summer does happen, and while it’s easier to brush off symptoms in favor of continued carefreeness, doing so can lead to more pain and even a trip to the E.R. (Who wants that?)

 

To help us decode our summer aches and pains we chatted with Roshini Raj, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at New York University and founder of TULA Skin Care Line. Cross-check your symptoms below to see if whether you need just need to book it to bed or check in with your doc.

TUMMY TROUBLES

With all the summer BBQs, picnic potlucks, and rooftop happy hours on the agenda, it’s not uncommon to experience some mid-section aches in the form of bloating, nausea, or the not-so-cute… gas. The best fix is, of course, to avoid overloading on alcohol and fatty foods, but if the pain continues for more than a few days, it could be a sign of acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome. “Try cutting out caffeine, citrus fruits, and chocolate for a week and see if discomfort subsides. If it does, it is most likely an acid issue, and you should try to avoid foods that can trigger this. Lactose sensitivity can also manifest itself in these symptoms, so cutting out dairy may also help,” Raj explains.

SAND IN THE EYE

Frolicking in the surf can leave us with the feeling of literally having sand in our eyes. Often a quick flush with water or eye drops […]