BellaSugar

Bellissima! TePe Tongue Detox

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:00:00 PST

This new Tongue Detox Device from Tepe ($9.18) is all the rage in Europe and l've finally been able to find an online retailer that will ship it to America. When I first read about it, it reminded me a lot of the Breath Rx anti-bacterial tongue spray and tongue scraper, and as I researched it more and more, I came upon a dozen or so tongue devices created to kill bacteria and scrape away the white scummy film that causes bacteria build-up and bad breath.

Who knew this was such a diverse market? Apparently, tongue cleaning devices have been around for centuries. They help control plaque, bad breath and unwanted bacteria that can cause tooth decay and mouth and throat infections.

Tongue Detox stands apart from the crowd for several reasons. Not only is it double-sided, dishwasher safe and coated with mint to help with fresh breath, but it also comes in four bright colors, it is made from recyclable plastic, and has a slim design to help avoid the dreaded gag reflex.

Sounds to me like they've thought of everything. Are you even aware of the smell of your breath? To find out if Tongue Detox is something you should consider, lick the back of your hand, wait a few seconds and then smell your hand. If you sense any kind of an unpleasant odor, chances are you have bad breath.

The How-To Lounge: Freshen your Breath without a Toothbrush

DearSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 10:00:00 PDT

Sometimes we aren't as prepared as we wish we were. Have you ever spent the night out and forgotten your toothbrush or gone out unexpectedly from work without being able to freshen up? Well I have, and there is nothing worse than facing the public with bad breath so here are some tips to make sure you leave with fresh breath even if you don't have a toothbrush!

Click here to

Be sure to drink a lot of water. Dehydration can give you bad breath so be proactive and stay hydrated
If you just ate, rinse and swirl some bubbly water around in your mouth to get rid of any lingering food particles in your teeth or the back of your tongue
Certain foods actually cleanse your teeth so stick to apples, oranges, celery, cucumber, and lettuce if you won't be able to brush your teeth after a meal. Parsley and mint are great herbal fixes to getting fresh breath, but don't swallow them, just chew
If you have toothpaste, but no brush, use your finger! It's not the best method, but it's better than nothing
Flossing is crucial for fresh breath so even if you don't have your toothbrush with you, floss if possible
Always keep gum or mints in your purse but make sure they are sugar free as the sugar can feed bacteria on your tongue

I hope these tips help the next time you forget your toothbrush and like always, if you have any tips that work for you, please share them below - the more we know about fresh breath, the better! Source

Bellissima! Breath RX Daily Tongue Care Kit

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:57:45 PDT

Bad breath happens to be something of a sticking point for me. I know it's terrible, but if I am talking to someone who has it, I can't seem to concentrate at all. From the moment I realize it all I can think of is how to get out of the conversation. It immediately makes me thing of germs and poor hygiene.

I know what you're thinking: relax, girl. Sixty million Americans suffer from bad breath and, really, it can happen to anyone. Bad breath is caused by a buildup of bacteria that gets caught in your tongue.

When I discovered this Daily Tongue Care Kit from Breath RX ($9.99) I thought I had found gold. They should really start passing this stuff out in schools at a young age so that people get into the habit of buying it as commonly as they buy toilet paper, tampons and Q-tips!

The kit includes an anti-bacterial tongue spray and two tongue scrapers. These tongue scrapers are gentle, flexible and have a gag-proof slim structure. The spray kills bacteria on contact and helps combat bad breath. Hallelujah!

Charlotte Ronson Fall 2012

Hannah Weil — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:04:45 PST

Charlotte Ronson showed off warm, gorgeous color on an urban-cool collection for Fall 2012. She delivers both sophistication and cool-girl edge in the same breath, working graphic print, slick leather, and a brilliant palette onto slim knits paired with menswear-inspired trousers. We get a little of the designer's après-ski influence on a fresh reinterpretation of Winter knits done in cool camel and yellow. But it's mostly Ronson's eye for balancing downtown street-chic with uptown polish we love; how she gives us both a sharpness and a sense of femininity that's entirely wearable.

Trends: Leather, fur, cutouts, menswear-inspired trousers.
Colors: Black, red, yellow, camel.
Key Piece: The black leather jacket over the femme red pleated dress and tights; the utilitarian tweed jacket with zips and pockets.
Accessories: Lace-up ankle boots, knee-high boots, black pumps, black and white tights, leather gloves, and Ronson's new collection of handbags.
Who Would Wear It: The modern urban girl who craves the cool factor with polish; Ronson fans like Whitney Port and Nicky Hilton.

Relaxing Ways to Stay Healthy and De-Stress

Leta Shy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:38:17 PST

Exercise is a proven way to beat stress, but if you're more in the mode for relaxation, here are some ways to ensure you stay healthy and stress-free without a bead of sweat.

Eat fresh: Greasy, fried foods may be endorphin-boosting since they're addictive, but in the end, they'll only make you feel bloated and tired. Instead of eating processed foods, reach for feel-good foods that will not only help you get the nutrition you need but will also boost your happiness, like these five foods that fight stress.

Think low-intensity, not no-intensity: On those lazy days when you don't want to sweat it out, there's ways to still burn calories and boost endorphins. Whether you're walking or practicing restorative yoga, make sure you stay moving when you're feeling especially overwhelmed.

Read on for more tips after the break.

Virgin America Brings a Breath of Fresh Airline to Philadelphia

Sponsor — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:00:00 PST

Heading to Philly? This Spring is a great time to check out the city - especially with Virgin America launching its low-fare, high-frills daily nonstop flights from LAX and SFO to PHL as of April 2012. Known for its tricked-out new planes, touch-screen entertainment, and amenities like fleet-wide WiFi, the airline has created a cult-like following on the coasts. And the airline's in-flight entertainment does credit to its California roots - with an iPad-like seatback touchscreen for flyers with 35 films, live TV, Google Maps, video games, seat-to-seat chat, music videos, a 3,000-song library, an on-demand menu, and more.

To mark the quickly growing airline's Philly launch, Virgin America first shared the news with its social media fans via a video that spotted the beloved and mysterious "Greenman" from the hit FX television show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia near a Virgin America aircraft. In addition to grabbing those super-low fares to Philly, visitors to the airline's Facebook page can enter for a chance to win round-trip flights and the ultimate It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia fan pack, consisting of seasons 1-6 DVDs, a Paddy's Pub t-shirt, the official board game, and a guide to the characters' favorite haunts. Oh, and of course, you can check out It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia en route at 35,000 feet on Virgin America.

No-Sweat Ways to Burn 100 Calories in 30 Minutes

Leta Shy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:05:33 PST

Sometimes you just don't want to sweat. Or you're so exhausted from the week's workouts that you can't give it your all. You can still burn a decent number of calories with some low-impact activities. Here are a number of no-sweat ways to burn 100 calories in 30 minutes.

Walking: Stretch your limbs and breathe some fresh air without the hard impact that comes from running. Walking at a leisurely pace (about three miles per hour) will burn 103 calories in 30 minutes.
Pilates: Pilates can definitely make you sweat (staying in Plank position isn't exactly easy), but it's a good option if you aren't in the mood for a heart-pounding workout. A 30-minute beginner Pilates class will help you burn 109 calories.

Read on for two more low-intensity workout ideas.

Gwen Stefani Sets Sail With Nautical-Themed Harajuku Mini Collection For Target

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:32:11 PST

Anchors away lil ones! It's safe to say that we flipped for Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Mini line for Target this year. The collection of affordable pieces for infants, toddlers, and tweens - many relaying positive thoughts about lil girls - was a breath of fresh air in the kids' clothing world, and from the looks of things, you all agree!

Now that the holiday rush is over, the rockin' mama is turning her thoughts to Spring with a new, nautical-inspired Harajuku Mini collection. Packed with anchors, starfish, and plenty of nautical knots - as well as some fun mini mermaid and shark backpacks, the collection is hitting stores now (all priced between $4 and $30) and may just inspire some planning for an upcoming Spring break! Take a look and tell us what you think in the comments below!

Breathe Deeply, Improve Your Running

Susi May — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 02:40:24 PST

Breathing. You're doing it right now without even thinking about it. Put a little thought into the action, and you just might find yourself soaring through your next tempo run. When you're going the distance running, swimming, cycling, and even rowing you need to power your muscles with fresh oxygen. To do this, you need to breathe deeply. Unfortunately, most of us are just breathing into our chest and not fully utilizing our lungs. Cross-training with the noncardio workouts of yoga and Pilates can help. Along with strength and flexibility, these forms of mind-body exercise help you learn to breathe deeply and effectively.

Basically, your lungs are just a bit smaller than your rib cage, but we all tend to breathe in just the top third of the lungs. One reason is that, like all muscles, the intercostals, which run between the ribs, can get tight and inflexible, limiting the expansiveness of your lungs. With a little training and some stretching, you can breathe to your full potential and increase your endurance.

Learn a supersimple breathing exercise, simply read more.

The Burning Question: Is Doing a Detox a Good Idea?

Health — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:12:46 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

Cleanses have become a "celeb trend", but are they really safe?
By Health.com

NO: It's risky — and you don't need it.
Glenn Braunstein, MD, professor and chairman, department of medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles

Our bodies have built-in detoxifiers.
The liver, the kidneys, and the colon are naturally designed to remove toxins and eliminate them through our waste, so there's no need for additional help.

A (Safe!) Jump-Start Cleanse

It's potentially harmful.
Many extreme programs, like fasting, juice diets, and the Master Cleanse, can leave the body weak and devoid of vital nutrients, like protein and essential vitamins, even if you do them for a short time. Colonics — which flush the colon with warm water to remove a supposed buildup of waste there — carry the risk of dehydration, infection, and even perforation of the colon wall.

Diet Tricks the Pros Tell Their Friends

Detoxes can create more toxins.
Plans that severely restrict food can cause the body to burn fat for fuel. Burning large amounts of fat releases chemicals called ketones into the blood — and a buildup of these can cause bad breath, loss of appetite, nausea, and in rare cases, coma or death.

Keep reading to hear the argument for detox cleanses.