Getting a brighter, whiter smile does not have to cost a fortune. In fact, some of the easiest ways to whiten your teeth start at home.

We turned to dentist to the celebs Dr. Lisa Torrado for some simples ways to get a glowing smile.
She told us:

• Over the counter whitening strips are an inexpensive alternative to professional bleaching kits or office bleaching
• Daily brushing and flossing after every meal is the most inexpensive and easy way to maintain a healthy, beautiful looking smile
• Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, table salt and a dab of toothpaste are the perfect ingredients to a home whitening concoction
• Do not use teeth whitening recipes that involve lemon or orange peels- they decalcify and de-mineralize your enamel making it more prone to decay
  

Thank Dr. Torrado for these great tips. Click here to contact Dr. Torrado for more dental information.

Labels: Teeth-whitening tips

Labels: Bucket bags are back for spring

Thanks to our friends at the Mother Nature Network for this great information on Proctor & Gamble shampoos. They are reporting that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics says 18 shampoos in the Herbal Essences line will be reformulated to reduce levels of a cancer-causing chemical called 1,4-dioxane.

The founder of the Green Patriot Working Group (GPWG) tested the product and found levels of the chemical that violate California’s Proposition 65, the toxic enforcement act- – so P&G agreed to reformulate the recipe.

MNN reports P&G has been working hard on sustainability and does not test beauty and grooming products or individual ingredients on animals. Although, P&G has more work to do on eliminating potentially harmful ingredients from products. Hello Hydration, by Herbal essences contains additional ingredients that considered potentially dangerous.

Labels: Cleaning Up Chemicals in Herbal Essences Shampoos

Handbag Designer 101, the world’s handbag designer resource, announced today that WorldofGood.com by eBay, the largest online marketplace for socially and environmentally responsible shopping, will sponsor the “Most Socially Responsible Handbag” category for the 2010 Independent Handbag Designer Awards (IHDA). This partnership will recognize the world’s most socially responsible designers' bags that meet certain ethical and moral standards in regards to production, employment and philanthropy while impacting the local culture.

The Winner of the 2010 ‘Most Socially Responsible Handbag’ category will receive featured coverage on WorldofGood.com’s community as well as guidance on how to become verified by a third party trust provider organization and sell on the WorldofGood.com marketplace.

Labels: “Most Socially Responsible Handbag”

Gilt Guide is a member’s only shopping site that features great deals on designer clothes for men, women and children as well as housewares. This weekend (March 12-14) in is their wedding weekend featuring bridal gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses, wedding gifts and so much more. And, we have your invitation to joing Gilt Groupe below.

They’ll also have jewelry, shoes, suits for the groom, get-pretty prep packages for the bridal party, decadent lingerie, and stuff-of-dreams honeymoon packages courtesy of Jetsetter. And if your head’s spinning with the task at hand, chin up — Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings has culled her personal picks to help aide in the planning process.

Shop sales from Caroline Herrera, Vera Wang Lavender Label, Thread, Temperly London, Judith Leiber, Tara Pearls, Lu Lu Frost, Tutu Couture, Checkerboard Stationary, juice cleanses, chic hotels and more.

Normally you need to wait for an invitation- so good thing we are friends- we’ll invite you! Click the link for your invitation to join- courtesy of Indulge:

http://www.gilt.com/invite/jpini

Labels: Invitation to Gilt Groupe's wedding weekend

Congrats to the winners of our Axe Hair products giveaway (and thank you to all who entered)! Below are their names and a little blurb about their wackiest hairstyle. Hopefully these Axe products help!

If you did not win our contest, you still have a chance to win Axe’s contest … details below.

Winner #1 Colin K. from Red Bank NJ
His wackiest hairstyle: “My craziest hairstyle would have to be from my punk years. I had 1.5 ft. liberty spikes in high school all over my head (Google image Liberty Spikes). I used to use Knox gelatin and hair dryer every morning, creating each spike, one by one. This would take about 45 minutes but it was so worth it! These spikes were so bad a** and it was my signature style in high school! They would not move no matter what I did. I could walk down to the beach in a hurricane with this set-up and nothing would move above the ears.”

Winner #2 Peter C. from Massapequa, NY
His wackiest hairstyle: "8 inch mohawk. Used elmer's glue to spike it. Was a real pain to wash out.”

Winner #3 John T. from Spring, Texas
His memorable hairstyle:
“The worst has to be my first Army haircut.”

Winner #4 Bruce G, Fort Collins, Colorado
His wackiest hairstyle: "I have had two pretty wacky hair styles. Once, I did a reverse mohawk with the middle cut out and the sides pretty much straight out. Did get the looks, but lost a bet to my kids. Another time, I did the multi-color in the design of a Bengal Tiger. I though it looked pretty good until new hair started to grow, so I had to "un-dye" it.”

Labels: winners of our Axe Hair products giveaway

Branché Silk Charmeuse Pillow Covers keep your curls in order the natural way- without all the chemical-laden products. Made from the finest quality mulberry silk, Branché pillow covers let hair slip and slide while you toss and turn, preventing against hair loss and breakage, and smoothing frizzy curls as you sleep.

Branché Pillow Covers, however, are made of a lofty 22 momme weight silk, and are naturally enriched with 18 amino acids that nourish the hair throughout the night.

Perfect for curly girls who are tired of the time-consuming treatment their hair requires daily, Branché Pillow covers are a luxurious yet simple way to let their locks indulge.

They average about $75 online, with more detaila found here: http://branchebeautysleep.com/

Labels: Naturally tame curls while you sleep

Unless they are embarking on GLT, the ‘beauty routine’ of a man can be pretty low maintenance – so having the right products is essential. If you’re a reader of Indulge you know one of our favorite brands for men is Axe. Not only are the products high-quality, they smell great and are extremely affordable.

From Just Clean Shampoo to Just Soft Conditioner or Clean and Control 2 in 1, the men’s shampoos and conditioners have a rich, masculine scent. They leave your hair soft and clean and smell great when used. One of the biggest differences between Axe and regular shampoo is some of Axe's formulas are created specifically for cleaning hair of styling products. One of our favorites for that is the Deep Clean Shampoo – find out how to get it free below.

If you want a hint of fragrance, go for the body spray. Our favorite is Instinct, which features the rich smell of leather – but you really can’t go wrong with any of them (used in moderation.) Axe Deodorant Body Sprays kill odor-causing bacteria and smell terrific.

Axe also has an impressive line of styling products that leave hair in place, but not sticky or gummy. Depending on your style, we like the Shaggy look- great for the surfers and snowboarders (Shaun White- we recommend this for your hair). Another of our favorites is the Refined, for the clean-cut look (used daily by my lovely financial analyst fiance) and we also love Charged styling putty for the spiked up look. The spiked hair-look is one of the hardest styles to achieve without having a sticky, crunchy feel. This is a great product for getting that look while maintaining a smooth, soft texture.

In honor of our love for Axe products, we are giving away (3) Charged Styling Putty and (3) Deep Clean Shampoo Hair Scrub- to de-glue and remove oil. Just send me an email at Indulge@Captivate.com with your name, address and age (must be a US resident with aUS Shipping address over age 18- full rules can be seen below this post) along with a line or two about the best, funniest or craziest hairstyle you’ve ever had. The winners will be chosen at random on March 9, 2010.

More prizes ... in the Hair Action Challenge

But, that’s not the only contest we have on our radar. Axe is also doing a “Hair Action Challenge” in which AXE Hair is giving guys and girls a chance to win cool prizes by uploading their best Hair Action moments. Prizes include two tickets to a major sporting event in 2010 and AXE Hair prize packs . Visit Facebook.com/AXE for more information.

Thanks Axe, for this great giveaway!

GENERAL SWEEPSTAKES RULES1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.2. ELIGIBILITY: Each promotion is open to legal residents of the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) and Canada who are 18 years or older at the time of entry unless otherwise stated. Employees of Captivate Network (“Sponsor”), Gannett Co., Inc., and each of their subsidiaries and affiliated companies, advertising and promotional agencies, and the immediate family members of, or any person domiciled with, any such employees are not eligible to enter or win. You are not a winner until you have been notified as a potential winner, your eligibility has been verified, and you have complied with all terms of these rules.3. HOW TO ENTER: [Send an email to Indulge@Captivate.com with a line or two about the best, funniest or craziest hairstyle you’ve ever had (to run with the winner's first name, last initial and city on Indulge), along with your name, age and address where prize can be shipped. Contest opens 12am EST 3/2/2010 and closes 12am EST 3/9/2010 THE FIRST NAME AND CITY OF WINNERS WILL BE POSTED ON INDULGE, PERMISSION IS GRANTED BY THE WINNERS BY SENDING IN THE EMAIL ENTRY. The Sponsor is not responsible for incomplete, lost, late, postage-due, misdirected or illegible entries, or for failure to receive entries due to transmission failures or technical failures of any kind, including, without limitation, malfunctioning of any network, hardware or software, whether originating with sender or Sponsor. All entries become property of Sponsor and none will be returned4. SWEEPSTAKES WINNER SELECTION & ODDS: Sweepstakes winners will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received by Sweepstakes deadline. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.5. PRIZES: [2 Axe Deep Clean Shampoo, retail value of $5.99) [2 Axe Charged Pomade, retail value of $6.99)6. WINNER NOTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE: Winners will be notified at the email address and/or U.S. mail address provided on winner’s entry form. Email or mail notification: Sponsor will email or mail notification at the address provided. Return of prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and an alternate winner may be selected from among all remaining eligible entries. Failure to comply with any term or condition of these Official Rules, may result in a winner’s disqualification, the forfeiture of his or her interest in the prize, and the award of the prize to a substitute winner.7. PRIZE TERMS: PRIZES WILL BE MAILED TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED BY THE WINNERS Winners may waive their right to receive prizes. Prizes are non-assignable and nontransferable. No substitutions allowed by winner. Prizes and individual components of prize packages are subject to availability and Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. Winners are solely responsible for reporting and payment of any taxes on prizes. Acceptance of any prize constitutes winner’s consent to the publication of his or her name, biographical information and likeness in any media for any commercial or promotional purpose, without limitation or further compensation. Prizes not won and claimed by eligible winners in accordance with these Official Rules will not be awarded and will remain the property of Sponsor.8. PARTICIPATION: By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify persons found tampering with or otherwise abusing any aspect of this Sweepstakes as solely determined by Sponsor. In the event the Sweepstakes is compromised by a virus, non-authorized human intervention, tampering or other causes beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper operation of the promotion. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate any promotion at any time. Should a promotion be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, Sponsor reserves the right to award prizes based on the eligible entries received before the termination date.9. CONSTRUCTION: The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any such provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained therein.10. The decisions of Sponsor regarding the selection of winners and all other aspects of a promotion shall be final and binding in all respects. Sponsor will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the promotion. If you have questions on a specific sweepstakes, contact: [Jacqui Pini 978-845-5042], or for a list of winners: send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Jacqui Pini Captivate Network 2 Executive Drive, Suite 301, Chelmsford, MA 01824].

Labels: Win great prizes and products from Axe