The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. Your skin has a pH measurement too. When substances with different pH levels come into contact, chemical reactions often occur. The soaps, lotions and other products you use can have an effect on the pH, and thereby the health, of your skin.
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Cutting back on sugar doesn't have to mean going without sweets. A new brand of naturally-sourced sweeteners is popping up in foods that can soothe your sweet tooth without causing surges to your blood sugar. These misleadingly named "sugar alcohols"
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If you've got tingly fingers and toes, you may wonder whether they indicate something serious. That prickly sensation can have a variety of causes, from benign to sinister. Once the tingling spreads to your face, it's time to find out what you're dealing with. Consult a medical professional for a full diagnosis.
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Scary though they may be, palpitations are rarely threatening on their own. However, in some cases they are indicators of underlying problems. If you don't get enough exercise, heart palpitations might be your body trying to send you an important message.
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An ecosystem is a living system that includes the sun as an energy source, soil, rocks, water, air, plant life and living beings. We humans are only one part of any ecosystem, but many people believe that we have a disproportionate effect. Our actions tend to affect not just our surroundings, but the world at large.
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If you're in a hurry, washing your hands after using the restroom may seem like more of an inconvenience than it's worth. In fact, even though nearly every bathroom in America provides soap and water, we don't always choose to use them on our hands.
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Blow-drying your hair can give you a more controlled style. It can also take a long time and damage your hair. Air-drying, on the other hand, is healthier but can leave you with wet hair for hours. It's up to you to decide which hair-drying method suits your lifestyle. Here are some facts and ideas to help you choose.
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If you suffer from eczema, you'll try just about anything to ease the discomfort of this itchy, painful skin ailment. Steam rooms and saunas present an interesting conundrum on whether the extreme heat and humidity will alleviate symptoms or worsen them.
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Cocoa butter and shea butter are two of nature's richest moisturizers, all-natural beauty products that can do wonders for your skin. Each has been used for centuries as a beauty product, and both are commonly found in creams and lotions.
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Charcoal and soap—two words that don't seem to go together. Yet in recent years, activated charcoal—a specially processed form of carbon—has increasingly been used in natural soaps and cleansers. Charcoal, it's said, draws impurities and toxins out of the skin, helping to relieve acne and other skin problems.
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If you've got dry skin and whiteheads, you're not alone. Unfortunately, even those of us whose skin always feels parched can still have recurring acne problems. As it turns out, acne can even be worsened by dry skin. To alleviate your dryness and make the whiteheads go away, your skin may need special treatment.
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If you've ever had a hair perm, you probably noticed a strong chemical smell in the salon, and maybe some minor hair loss or sensitivity once the treatment was done. Yet for many women, the after-effects of a "permanent wave" or other chemical treatment can be nothing short of disastrous.
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Stevia Rebaudiana is an herb that grows wild in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. Its leaves contain a glycoside called Stevioside, which is incredibly sweet. Called Ca-he-he in South America, Stevia has probably been used as a sweetener for centuries.
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Ideally, makeup can make you look and feel glamorous. However, at times makeup can show its ugly side if you have a reaction to it that causes your eyes to swell and become itchy, watery or painful.
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Solar panels, or photovoltaic panels, are designed to collect sunlight and turn it into energy. They don't rely on the power grid to work. If there's a power outage, solar panels will continue to work.
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Modern running shoes are feats of design. As the single most important piece of equipment a runner needs, shoes have to provide support, flexibility, grip and stability.
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Olive oil is more than just a healthy food: it's an effective beauty product, too. Women in the Mediterranean region have used it for millennia as a moisturizer, cleanser and general tonic.
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If you take supplements such as Vitamin E or fish oil, you've probably encountered soft gel capsules. Usually oblong and translucent, these capsules have an appealing look and a smooth finish that makes them easier to swallow. But what are they, exactly?
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If you have limited space or a short growing season, you may be considering growing food in small containers. "Container gardening" is a fairly common practice, and plastic buckets are the medium of choice. However, with new information about plastic safety, you may be worried about chemicals leaching into your food.
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The U.S. National Institutes of Health classify magnesium as "an essential mineral for human nutrition." Many people, however, don't get enough of it. Research shows that a magnesium deficiency can have serious consequences, including low serotonin. That's right: a lack of magnesium can make you sad.
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