16 New Quick Hairstyles to Try

Knock off these celebrity styles -- in a flash

Need a style update but don't have time to hit the salon? No worries -- these celebrity hairstyles are incredibly easy. See hairstyles

17 Funniest Beauty Product Reviews of 2008

Lip stains that smell like horse hoof balm?! These strong opinions make beauty so much fun

TotalBeauty.com reader reviews help you decide which products are must-haves and which ones to avoid like the plague, but they're also an endless source of amusement. Here are the reviews that had us spewing coffee from our noses. See reviews

Total Moisture Dry Skin Lotion:Review

Total Moisture Dry Skin Lotion, with Vitamin E, 10 oz

Vaseline Intensive care - Total Moisture Dry Skin Lotion seems to be a good product. I’ve used it and it has certainly worked to my advantage. Especially in winter when my skin becomes a bit rough and dry, I need to apply a good hand and body lotion several times a day and this came in handy. Though it’s a little sticky, it does get soaked into the skin fully. Mildly scented and enriched with vitamins E & A and other essential minerals it nourishes dry skin on hands and legs considerably well, leaving it smooth and silky. You can see the effects within 4-5 days of application; just move your hand over your skin and you can feel that smoothness instantly. Ideal for dry skin and in winter.

Best Celebrity Bangs

Photos of fringe we love on everyone from Ashlee to Reese

Looking for a new look for the new year? Why not try bangs? Check out these celebrities with fringe and find a style that will work for you. See bang photos

Red Lips Mystery Match-Up Game

We love bold crimson lipstick and putting your celebrity knowledge to the test ...

So we challenge you to pair your favorite stars with their perfectly lacquered lips all before time runs out. Play the game

Smart contact lenses to treat glaucoma

Glaucoma is a dreadful disease that affects the eye's optic nerve and results in vision loss and blindness. Glaucoma occurs when the normal fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises and damages the optic nerve. One of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, glaucoma has been rightly nicknamed the "sneaky thief of sight" because the loss of visual field often occurs gradually over a long time and may only be recognized when it is already quite advanced. As the disease progresses, a person with glaucoma may notice his or her side vision gradually failing. They would not be able to se things from the corner of the eye and in due course, without any treatment they will slowly lose their peripheral (side) vision. They seem to be looking through a tunnel. Over time, straight-ahead vision may decrease until no vision remains. There is no complete cure for this disease but with early diagnosis and treatment, one can protect the eyes against serious vision loss. Know more the risk factors for glaucoma, types of glaucoma, treatments available for glaucoma and other facts from here.

Enormous research is being done in the U.S particularly, to learn what causes glaucoma and to improve its diagnosis and treatment. A result of one such research is “smart contact lenses”. These smart contact lenses are supposed to measure pressure within the eye and dispense medication accordingly and this could be made possible using a new material developed by biomedical engineers at UC Davis. They have developed a method for placing powdered silver on a material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in a precise pattern, to create conductive wires. The silver also has antimicrobial properties. The researchers were able to shape the PDMS-silver into a contact-lens shape, and show that it could function as a simple pressure sensor. A contact lens that could continuously measure pressure within the eye and relay the data to a computer would allow doctors to learn more about glaucoma and improve patient treatment. The researchers plan to apply for approval to begin trials of the lenses in humans.

Everyuth Cream Face Wash for dry skin

Everyuth Cream Face Wash

I simply can’t do without cleansing my face at least twice a day; it’s a must for me or else my face ends up looking dull, tired and oily. This practice is continued even in winter when my skin tends to become quite dry. But I do avoid certain strong, anti-bacterial face cleansers meant for zit-prone, oily/greasy skins and my winter skin care routine does include frequent application of a good moisturiser to keep my skin well nourished and hydrated. Last winter, I preferred a gentle face cleanser like Himalaya Gentle Face Wash Cream over other harsh ones. This winter, though, for some reason I used Everyuth cream face wash for dry skin and it isn’t bad either. Specially formulated for dry skin, this 100% soap-free face wash contains rich, natural moisturizing ingredients like peach and aloe along with wild cherry which helps to rejuvenate and refresh the facial skin. Highly recommended for dry skin and in winters.

Home remedies for hardened palms

Have you been neglecting your hands lately? You are not alone; most Indian women do – all that household work of cleaning, swabbing and doing the dishes takes a toll on their hands. Their hands take more abuse than just about any other external part of their body; they lose that youthfulness and look rugged and aged beyond years. Their palms especially are more vulnerable and become rough and hard over a period of time. The skin on the hands, as we know, is protected with a coating of oil/sebum. This is what keeps it moist and prevents dry skin. Constant immersing of hands in water, repeated washing with soaps and contact with harmful chemicals in detergents and floor-cleaning liquids (there is very little awareness in third-world countries) make the hands dry and cracked and often causes eczema (also known as housewife’s eczema) and some people are more prone to develop hand eczema than others are. And if this repeated exposure continues, hands also become red and inflamed.

Speaking of house-wife’s eczema or hand dermatitis, the cracks, lesions and fissures usually start on the tips of the fingers, but sometimes the palms get affected as well. There may be scaling, redness and crusting on the hands. Occasionally the edge of the nails become involved, in which case, the nails will become very rough and irregular. Though hand eczema is not contagious, it’s nevertheless a vexing skin condition that causes lot of inconvenience and embarrassment, especially for women who like to have beautiful soft hands.

Therefore, it’s highly imperative that you follow a proper hand care routine and a bi-monthly home-manicure to maintain the beauty of your hands and palms. Act before it’s too late - do not allow all that household chores to suck the life out of you – take some time to cleanse, pamper and nourish your hands. Try and wear gloves when working with household chemicals or gardening to protect the hands and nails. Excessive use of harsh soaps should be avoided. Use healing hand care lotions like Skin MD Natural Shielding lotion and Gloves in a bottle a few hours before and also after doing dishes, gardening or house-cleaning. You could also consider going to a beauty salon or spa and leave the professionals take good care of your hands with a specialized hand care treatment. But if you don't have the time or money to go to a beauty salon/spa or if you cannot afford to buy expensive lotions and moisturizers, then taking care of your hands at home is really easy. Do go through some of the homemade recipes and tips for hand and nail care from here. As for your hardened palms, try your hand at some of these home-remedies. Before that go through the post how to massage your hands the right way.

Home remedies for hardened palms

Get soft palms with butter

Massage the palm with butter, the cracks will disappear and skin will becomes soft and smooth.

Hand skin care with milk and lemon juice
Boil a cup of milk and cool it. Mix two tablespoonfuls of lemon juice and a teaspoonful of glycerine with this milk. After half an hour, massage the palm with this mixture gently. Repeat this treatment everyday.

Olive oil/coconut oil hand care

Gently massage your palms with warm olive oil/coconut oil, leave it on for about ten minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water and a mild soap. For an intensive hand care treatment leave it overnight, but wear some cotton gloves.

Oats hand mask

Mix one teaspoon of oats flour, olive oil and glycerine with water. Mix all the ingredients to a paste of desired consistency. Apply this paste on your hands and palms with a gentle massage. Leave it on for twenty five minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water and soap. This oats hand mask acts as a gentle scrub as well and is softening and gentle on the sin as well. You may also try this other hand mask.

Honey mask for your palms

Boil and mash a potato add a few teaspoons of milk and 3 tsp of honey. Blend this mixture really well and then massage this onto your hands and palms. Leave it for about 15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water and a mild soap. This hand skin care recipe will nourish and rejuvenate your hands and soften your palms.

Get soft hands with kokum butter

Melt 2 teaspoons of kokum butter by placing the bowl on a dish of warm water. Add 2 tsps of almond oil and 5-10 tsp of cucumber juice. Mix well and apply this hand cream by gently massaging it in. Add more almond oil to the mixture, and bathe your hands on it for five minutes to intensify the effect. You can also try making Satin hand cream, Almond hand cream, few homemade hand lotions and this wonderful homemade hand cream too.

For those you who do a lot of typing, you need to relax and soothe those tired fingers and palms from time to time and it certainly doesn’t take much time. Here’s what you should do. Squirt a small amount of moisturizer onto your hand and then using the fingers of your other hand start massaging the fingers from base to tip. Gently press your thumb all over palm as well. Do so until the moisturizer disappears. Repeat the same procedure for the other hand as well. Not only feels great but relaxes you in seconds flat; additionally it softens your palms also. You may also want to check some exercises for your hands and fingers and a few terrific exercises for your wrists as well.

Related Reading: Home remedies for corns and calluses

Your Makeup Horoscope

Find out your best beauty look for 2009

Try a new makeup look and improve your life at the same time by choosing makeup colors that mesh with your zodiac sign. See what you should be wearing in the new year. See eyeshadows