Beauty and Personal Grooming

Anyone who travels with makeup has likely had a terribly experience by which a bottle of liquid foundation breaks, soaking through your makeup bag and onto your clothes, or a container of loose powder cracks, dusting everything in your makeup kit and making for a messy retrieval. The last thing you need when you're on vacation is to have to replace your clothing and makeup the minute you arrive at your destination. It's an expensive and time-consuming hassle that most of us would rather avoid, if possible. So you need to take extra care when it comes to packing your cosmetics, and here are just a few tips to get the job done right.

When it comes to the state of our skin, most of us simply resign ourselves to the fact that we're never going to look like the flawless models and celebrities that we see plastered on billboards and in magazines. Hey, they're airbrushed anyway, right? However, we can always look a little better than we do, and in some cases it's as simple as wearing sunblock, using the right cleanser, or hitting up the dermatologist for a special treatment once or twice a year. So if you're looking for a few ways to brighten up your skin tone or get rid of blemishes, sunspots, and other signs of aging, here are a few tips that are dermatologist approved.

Most women wouldn't shell out crazy amounts of money for a diamond-crusted tube of mascara or lipstick ($14 million from H. Couture Beauty) or even a fake firearm full of Dior Cosmetics ($17,000 from Dutch jewelry designer Ted Norton). But most of us are willing to spend quite a bit for cosmetics that will make us look younger and prettier, or that claim to. The only question is: do makeup brands that cost more actually offer better quality than the bargain brands at the pharmacy, or are you paying a lot more for a label? Here are a few things to consider before you lay down your cash on a gloss or shadow that may give you nothing more than the artificial prestige of a name.

It's not news that women tend to cling to the fashion and beauty trends that were popular when they felt they were at the height of their beauty (which is why so many of our mothers, now nearing the age of retirement, still wear the high-waisted, tapered-leg "mom" jeans that gained popularity in the early '80s). The truth is it's easy to get stuck in a rut with your beauty routine once you're comfortably ensconced in a long-term relationship. And why would you want to change a routine that clearly worked (it helped you nab your partner, right?). But when you suffer a breakup, whether it's years down the road or mere months after the first flush of romance, you're going to need a little pick-me-up to make yourself feel attractive again. So consider this the perfect opportunity to update your makeup look.

Celebrities spend a fortune on cosmetic procedures, relaxing massages and lunchtime treatments – but there are ways to pamper and preen on a budget. Not all beautifying techniques are expensive, so here’s how to look great without breaking the bank.

We all know that exercise does a body good. It can help you to lose weight, build and tone muscle, and look and feel great. As an added bonus, it generally boosts energy and reduces stress, to boot, not to mention reducing cholesterol , hypertension , and the possibility of heart disease. In short, exercise has the potential to help you look and feel great all around. But did you know that there's even more benefit to be had from a regular workout schedule? In case you didn't know, an ongoing exercise regimen can actually have a positive impact on the state of your skin. You might be worried about additional sweat causing further skin issues, but the truth is that exercising can provide a surprising supplement to your regular beauty routine. Here's how.

If you've ever stood at the beauty section and wondered why hair masks are so expensive, then you have a reason to be confused.  While name brand products can cost a hefty pile of money, the truth is that you can get the same, if not better, results on your own with just a few regular ingredients you will normally have in the fridge and pantry.  Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't take a big time investment to make your own hair masks and the natural ingredients you use will be much more beneficial for the long term health of your hair than the chemical additives found in store-bought products that can strip and damage your hair over time.  Here are a few ideas to make your own hair mask and create a healthy hair shine at only a fraction of the cost.