3/6/14

State legislators in New York and California have recently introduced bills that would ban skin care products that use artificial exfoliants in their composition. The reason? Many beauty product brands use something called microbeads, which are microscopic plastic beads that help slough off dry skin. The problem is, plastic beads do not biodegrade and end up in waterways like lakes and oceans where they become part of the microsystem. Fish ingest the beads and, over time, the beads become a chemical compound that pollutes our waterways. The solution? Avoid plastic microbeads and use natural scrubs like sugar, coffee and salt to keep your skin glowing.

3/5/14

If you have a stash of unused or about-to-go-bad beauty products at home, here are some easy tips to save them before they end up in the trash. Foundation that is too dark for your skin tone can be remade into a bronzer for your legs -- just mix it with moisturizer and apply to give your legs a sun-kissed glow. Old perfumes can become room diffusers -- just leave the caps off, and they'll gently evaporate as air deodorizers. And nail polish that's dried up in the cap? Add a few drops of nail polish remover and shake -- it'll loosen the paint and make it as good as new.

3/4/14

Dog owners, listen up: Be sure to give your pooch the right type of haircut for their breed. You may be burning up in the hot summer months, but cutting your dog's fur too short to help them cool off can actually do more harm than good. Dogs that naturally have long, thick fur have it on purpose; it helps block harmful UV rays from giving their skin heat and sun burns. And in the winter months, letting the coat get too long can actually cause them to overheat, even if the temperatures outside would suggest otherwise. Rule of thumb: Ask the groomer to recommend the right level of grooming to make sure your best friend is comfortable and protected.