Toothpaste

What could you do without for 40 days and 40 nights? Not food, not sleep. Give up sex? Maybe. The question is, could you do what Nicky Taylor did? The 42-year-old woman (no relation to the '90s megamodel) went for that long with no cosmetics or toiletries. That means no shampoo, no toothpaste, no deodorant, no makeup—and no showering, either.

Taylor, a documentary filmmaker, was used to spending £2,000 (around $4,000) per year on beauty products. Disgusted by her high levels of consumption and concerned about the number of chemicals that were going on her skin, she decided to try an experiment: For 40 days, she'd throw her grooming routine out the window. She explains:

"I always think I look absolutely terrible if I haven't washed my hair that morning, when the reality is that other people don't really notice at all," she says. "The idea that we need all these products and that we have to be clean at all times is endemic in society, and I wanted to see what happened when I stopped washing altogether. Would I lose all my friends? Would I stink to high heaven? Or would life just carry on as normal?

To find out what happened, read more

Thanks to our very generous friends at Sephora, we've been giving away a different product every day throughout the month of June. Congratulations to Joyceay, who won yesterday's giveaway for a Bliss Sinkside Six-Pack.

This week, we're featuring airline-approved beauty—great products that you can take on an airplane without dealing with any security hassles. Today's giveaway is the GoSmile Jet Set Kit ($12). There's a toothpaste for the morning, and one for the PM—and both are formulated to keep your teeth clean and white. (I took this kit to Paris and felt oh-so-glamorous brushing my chompers.)

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 29, and we'll announce the winner Monday. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. You must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, click here. Good luck!

If you are looking for a new way to make your teeth look even more beautiful, you might be interested in Crest's New Natures Expressions Toothpaste, $2.99. It will be available in stores this April in three exciting flavors: Pure Peppermint Fresh, Citrus Clean Mint and Mint and Green Tea Extract.

These toothpastes are bursting with flavor! People believe that energizing properties add special touches to their day to make them more beautiful. These toothpastes make you feel energized, invigorated and refreshed. The concept behind this new line is that women are moving toward products that are all natural but they feel conflicted leaving their loyal brands they grew up with.

Crest is expanding so you can continue to be brand loyal to a company that's been creating toothpaste for 50 + years. They have natural flavors and are minimally processed (it won't alter their molecular make-up).

Its unique formula balances health and beauty benefits that, with regular brushing: fights cavities and tartar buildup, removes plaque, helps freshen breath and helps whiten teeth.

To read more about why peppermint, citrus and mint and green tea flavors were chosen, read more

Models, celebs, fashionistas and anybody who's anybody these days whitens their teeth so that they can be red carpet and paparazzi ready. The problem, however, is that not everybody's teeth can handle constant bleaching. New from GoSMILE is ZEN Toothpaste, $18, to help alleviate sensitivity in over-processed teeth.

There are of course other reasons for sensitivity such as: gum recession, tooth decay, aging, clenching or grinding of the jaw/teeth. Even overaggressive tooth brushing can cause heightened sensitivity. It causes erosion on your teeth/gums that leads to exposed dentin tubules that have a direct communication to the nerve. Believe it or not, one in five Americans lives with sensitivity in their mouth but now. Thanks to GoSMILE, brushing doesn't have to be painful - it can be ZEN.
This toothpaste is formulated to both strengthen and soothe. It contains a high level of Potassium Nitrate, which is supposed to treat sensitivity because it blocks the exposed dentin tubules. The fluoride in the formula prevents decay and promotes strong tooth enamel. When combined, these two ingredients help to seal any exposed areas, which may cause sensitivity.

What also makes this toothpaste special is its unique blend of white cranberry and lavender oils. The white cranberry extract helps the health of your gums by breaking down the bacteria that sticks to the root surface. Not only does is smell zesty, ZEN-like and relaxing, but it has a yummy flavor.

These designer whitening toothpastes are all the rage with product and hygiene junkies. They have actually turned into cult items. These pastes are minty fresh and contain whitening ingredients to help remove nasty stains that cause yellowing and discoloration.

However, consider yourself warned: these little tubes are made with top of the line ingredients which means they cost about two to three times the price of regular drugstore brands. I have tried them all and find them delightful. I can't wait to hear what you think.

Denblan Whitening Formula Anti-cavity Fluoride Toothpaste is made by Darphin and is $20 per tube. It contains: papaya, pineapple, lichen extracts, and essential oils of mint, fennel and parsley. This toothpaste helps fight cavities and strengthens your teeth as it whitens them. It also helps reduce gum sensitivity and will increase the resistance of gum tissues. Lastly, it helps fight tobacco stains without scratching your teeth. It has a very subtle mint flavor and will leave your mouth feeling fresh and invigorated.

Marvis Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste is $8.95 and has been brought to the US by an Italian apothecary company. I happen to love the classic mint flavor and texture of this pure white and dense paste, and it also comes in an array of flavors (and colored tubes) for those of you who are more adventurous. All of the flavors include whitening ingredients and have been proven to help your overall oral health. Check out the funky retro packaging!

One more, so read more

Picking out a toothpaste can be more than a little confusing because there are so many choices. One freshens breath. One is good for sensitive teeth. One whitens. One brightens. One removes tartar. One prevents gum disease. Ahhhh??!!??

So how do you choose?

The popular brands, like Crest and Colgate, all contain pretty much the same ingredients - abrasives, detergent, binding agents and humectants (to keep it moist and together), flavoring (mostly sugar), preservatives, fluoride, and water. Yum.

You should try to pick one that contains fluoride, but whichever one you choose, they all pretty much do the same thing. It's the actual act of brushing that helps to remove tartar, plaque, and food.

Use a soft bristle toothbrush, and replace it every 3 months. I change mine with the seasons and always put new toothbrushes in my family's stockings (Christmas is so close to Winter Solstice). Brush along your gum line in a circular motion, making sure to clean every inch of tooth. End with a couple of brushes on the surface of your tongue to get rid of the bacteria that causes bad breath.

Fit's Tip: If you're looking for a natural toothpaste that doesn't contain artificial ingredients or dyes, think about switching to Tom's of Maine toothpaste. It's flavored with natural oils instead of sugar.

One thing I love about all of the pink products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is that it gives me an excuse to try new stuff, and I'm particularly excited about the GoSmile Morning Rush Toothpaste. Packed in an adorable pink tube, this paste not only whitens your teeth but also helps battle tooth sensitivity. The refreshing formula is made with essential oils of lemon, lime, and orange but flavored with crisp peppermint. Plus, 20 percent of the sales from this product will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. You can pick up a tube for just $5 here.

Breath Palette naturally derived toothpastes are a radical departure from your run-of-the-mill mint. In an attempt to make tooth brushing more of a treat, Breath Palette's products come in 31 wildly different flavors, including green tea, cafe au lait, Indian curry, and blueberry. The company promises that the bizarre tastes will still leave your mouth feeling fresh and clean.

Now, for a limited time only, you can get all of the varieties together, in the Deluxe 31-Flavor Toothpaste Kit, available here for $160. If 31 flavors seems a tad excessive, you can also buy just one tube in the flavor of you choice for $4.49 here.