BellaSugar

3 Toothbrush Tricks (That Don't Involve Your Teeth)

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:00:54 -0700

I'm hoping you recognize these items - you should be using one daily to keep those pearly whites white. But, did you know those bristles can do even more beauty good? In addition to exfoliating lips for making gloss glide on smoothly, a toothbrush can come in handy. Check out three more tips that don't involve opening your mouth.

Hair: If you've spent time perfecting your blow out, yet still find some wispies left at your roots, add some hair gel to the brush. Make small, light strokes starting at your forehead to smooth back those bits without ruining a sleek look. Same thing goes with hair color - touch up just the roots for an easy, glove-free application!
Brows: Don't let unruly brows rule your life - spritz a brush lightly with hairspray and comb them back into place. Start at the center and work your way up and out in the direction of the hairs' growth for the best results.

See the last tip when you read more.

Mascara: Clumps begone when you very gently sweep your lashes with a toothbrush to get the gobs out.

And, PS, please use a different, clean brush for all three!

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Get The Most From Your Makeup: Your Old Toothbrush

BellaSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 11:00:35 -0700

About to throw out that old toothbrush of yours, are you? Whoa Nelly, hold your horses. Your used toothbrush can also double as an eyebrow brush! I know it sounds kind of disgusting, but if you clean it properly, it's not going to transfer any cooties-I promise!

First, disinfect it by soaking in it hot water infused with liquid anti-bacterial soap. Then, instead of spending more cash on a brow brush or a brow gel, just spritz a little bit of your favorite light hold hairspray on the bristles of your toothbrush to help hold the shape. Voila, you've got yourself a brow brush! For more ideas on how to save money and get the most from your makeup, click here.

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A Tale of Two Toothbrushes

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:00:17 -0700

Yes! Daneen at Spoiled Pretty has said what I've been thinking all along: Colgate's new Wisp product is an environmental fail. Wisp is a wee single-use cleaner that has a pre-soaked scrubber on one end and a pointy pick on the other. It's about the size of a lipstick, so the idea is to tote it with you and whip it out whenever spinach-teeth becomes a threat.

Unfortunately, Wisp can't be recycled or even re-used. So every time you unwrap one and use it that little Wisp will head off to a landfill. I'm all for convenience, but not at the expense of being environmentally sensitive. Disposable stuff is so passé. So instead, I tote this Preserve toothbrush, which is made from recycled yogurt cups. It comes in a tube, so I can toss it in my bag and go. And when the toothbrush wears out, Preserve will recycle both the brush and tube into plastic lumber that can be used in parks. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

One More Use For Your Toothbrush

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:00:00 -0800

I regularly brush my tongue and roof of my mouth at the advice of the dentist but I've taken to brushing another part of my mouth . . . without toothpaste, that is. Using a clean and dry toothbrush, you can buff your lips by gently brushing them, too. Not only will this remove flaky skin, it also helps smooth the surface. Just like exfoliation primes your face for makeup, removing dead skin from your lips will help lipstick glide on more evenly for a smooth-looking smile.

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Do You Ever Use Other People's Deodorant?

BellaSugar — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:00:14 -0700

This week, and I'm not entirely sure why, I've got deodorant on the mind. Perhaps you took my deodorant quiz? All this talk of the odor-fighting product got me to thinking. In a pinch, I've shared my deodorant with only my family and closest friends, and they've shared their deodorant with me in my times of need. Sharing a toothbrush may be one thing, and sharing a razor may be another, but when it comes to swapping deodorant, are you OK with giving and/or receiving, or do you think that's the pits?

Five (Cheap!) Tips For Getting Whiter Teeth

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:00:23 -0700

The rich and famous trek to Beverly Hills to get a brighter smile from Dr. Kevin Sands, who you might have seen on Dr. 90210. But if you can't make it in for an appointment, here's the next best thing: Dr. Sands's advice on getting whiter, healthier teeth at home. (Be sure to check with your own dentist before starting a whitening regimen, of course.) For his five easy and affordable ways to get your gleam on, keep reading.

Best of Bella

BellaSugar — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:00:43 -0700

Five tips from YSL's Dell Ashley
How to twist your braids like LC
That headband costs how much?!
Heavy eyeliner, three ways
Are you stuck in another beauty era?
Toothbrush tricks that don't involve teeth
What women buy in Sephora France
Brush up on beauty phobias
Does the "star-faced teen" have a legal case . . . or did her story change again?
Time to Kate Gosselin yourself, if you dare
Turn down the lights for your perfect nighttime makeup
How-to: Kerry Washington's CFDA makeup
Are these beauty products named for real people?
Love it or hate it? Rihanna is punk-meets-pompadour

Should Taxpayers Pay For a Politician's Makeup?

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:00:18 -0700

Over in merry olde England, there's a big, nasty poopstorm going down thanks to some members of Parliament. A recent newspaper report revealed that MPs have been submitting receipts for personal items, and those expense reports are reimbursed with taxpayer dollars. Jo Swinson, a 29-year-old MP who earns the equivalent of more than $101,000 for her job, submitted receipts for an electric toothbrush, hairdryer, eyeliner, and lip liner. Swinson insists that she needs these items because she commutes to London from her home, and that she never expensed eyeliner. Do you think that politicians should have these expenses paid for, or are they just getting greedy?

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What to Do If You Run Out of Toothpaste

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:01:12 -0700

A few weeks ago, I ran out of toothpaste. I'm not sure how it happened, but when I went to grab a new box from my toothpaste stash, it turned up empty. (I'll blame it all on Mr. Bella.)

Whatever the case, I didn't have time to go out and buy a new tube right then and there, and I had already cut it open to squeeze out the last remnants the night before. I ended up making a homemade paste from basic ingredients in the kitchen. Find out what I used, along with some more ideas for cleaning and freshening sans paste, when you read more.

Do what I did: Blend two parts of baking soda with one part salt and sprinkle over a toothbrush that's been moistened with water. This mixture helps whiten teeth and freshen breath. The flavor takes some getting used to, but it's pretty effective and super easy.

Raid the fridge: Chewing on mint or parsley will help neutralize odors until you can make your way to the store to restock on the toothpaste. FitSugar has more foods that help freshen breath, like carrots and yogurt. Apples act as great natural teeth cleansers, too.

Hit up the pantry: Chew on anise, dill, sesame, or fennel seeds; cardamom pods; cloves; or cinnamon sticks, which all help clean and polish teeth.

Peroxide: In a jam, you can also tip your toothbrush in germ-fighting hydrogen peroxide and brush your teeth like "normal."

Scrape your tongue: Using a spoon, scrape your tongue to help remove bacteria. I do this trick even when I have a supply of toothpaste readily available. It works amazingly well to keep bad breath at bay.

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Mascara + Air = Bacteria

BellaSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:00:45 -0800

Avid Bella readers may recall that mascara is the first makeup to spoil. But my ever curious (and frugal) side wondered . . . why does it have to be my pricey DiorShow that gets the curse of the short shelf life?! Since the idea of bacteria near my eye doesn't apply to the reasonable realist in me, I figured if I knew why it went bad, I'd better understand when to toss.

Turns out mascara is more prone to the harboring of bacteria because of the way it's used – first you pull the wand out, then you put it back in. Think about those of you who reapply, or never leave the house without at least three coats. (You know who you are.) Each time you do that air gets into the tube.

If I haven't scared you off yet, find out what happens next read more.

Not only can "pumping" mascara cause it to dry out faster, that addition of air creates a veritable breeding ground. Each application introduces bacteria to the wand and pushes it into the tube. As you do so, both the (potential) bacteria and air inside are increased and trapped, and thus begins the reproduction. Gross already but then the relatively humid, closed environment becomes even more susceptible to bacterial growth (like closed toothbrush containers).

When pulling out the wand, make sure to do a twisting not pumping motion to minimize the trapped air for as long as possible. The good news is that mascara includes an antibacterial agent (commonly PVP or VP) to stave off this infection and keep you safe for a few months . . . after that, you may be sorry.

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