When it comes to teeth, it seems like you can have too much of a good thing. I find the glaring white enamel reverberating off the pages of celebrity gossip magazines to be blinding. Are human beings supposed to have teeth that practically glow in the dark? That said, there is nothing quite like a naturally bright smile. And though it’s inevitable that our teeth can be stained by our daily cup of English breakfast tea or evening glass of cabernet, it’s good to know that we can do something about it.

Recently, I’ve noticed that my own smile is tarnished by an unsightly yellow hue — almost like my teeth are in a photograph snapped in 1975. Here’s what I’m doing to get whiter teeth safely:

• Eating crunchy fruits and vegetables. Carrots, apples, celery and other produce are natural tooth-scrubbers, and they’re good for you too! Check out more cavity-preventing foods.
• Flossing. Removing the gunk that’s stuck between your teeth helps you to not only avoid cavities, but also prevent staining. Whiter teeth are just the motivation I need to put flossing on my daily to-do list.

• Using safe teeth-whiteners. I need my teeth whitening to be easy and healthy. Crest Whitestrips (also the sponsor of my blog) have received a coveted green label from the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database, so they can be used with little to no concern over safety. The strips are simple to apply, and they work fast. Try it!

What do you do to get whiter teeth? Tell me below or tweet me @Completely_You

Marisa Belger is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She penned the natural beauty and sustainable living column “GreenDAY” for TODAYShow.com, and her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health and Prevention.

Several years ago, I discovered that the fragrance found in most conventionally scented products — air fresheners, household cleaners and perfume — was developed from toxic chemicals. This was alarming but not surprising. I always found the heavy-handed aromas wafting from the average bathroom cleaner or perfume counter to be an olfactory assault. And I didn’t want my bathtub to smell like “morning dew,” or my pulse points to vibrate with “happiness” or “obsession.” Plus, morning dew doesn’t smell like that. I’ve sniffed my share of dew at dawn, and it’s fresh, damp … and subtle.

I was so offended by the arsenal of artificial aromas floating around restaurant bathrooms and emanating from the cheeks of subway-riding gentlemen doused in aftershave that I steered clear of any personal fragrance for years. The fact that these scents were concocted in laboratories from chemicals associated with asthma, headaches and contact dermatitis only encouraged my contentedness with my own bouquet. I lived scent-free for most of my adult life, resting comfortably in the knowledge that my own pheromones were enough.

Until they weren’t. Sometime after the birth of my son, I began to crave a personal fragrance; an olfactory calling card that loved ones would associate with me. The scent would be earthy and 100 percent natural, of course. I tried the pure essential oil route, but I found the single note experience of grapefruit or geranium to be aromatherapeutically beneficial but flat and uninspiring.

Enter the natural perfume community!

In the past few years, perfumes made from natural and organic ingredients are becoming increasingly available. And just in time. It’s no longer necessary to walk around in a cloud of pachouli or lemongrass. Natural perfumers like Tsi-La — one of my favorites — are concocting interesting, inspiring scents made from ingredients that I can feel really good about: essential oils, antioxidants and active plant extracts. And just like conventional perfume, which you can buy at a drugstore or at pricey retail counters, natural perfumes come in a variety of forms and price points.

I tend to favor perfume oil (it glides on easily and is less of a hit to the wallet), though my goal is to be the proud and divinely scented owner of Honore des Pres Love Coconut made from the pure extract of white coconut milk and coriander leaf. I’m convinced I’d be floating around like an exotic Mai Tai. Yum.

What’s your favorite scent? Do natural scents matter to you? Talk about it below or tweet me @Completely_You

About Marisa Belger  
I’m Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. I penned the natural beauty and sustainable living column “GreenDAY” for TODAYShow.com, and my work has appeared in Travel + Leisure Family, Natural Health and Prevention.

Why buy it when you can make it?
 

When I gave birth to my son four years ago, he not only kick-started my days as a genuine adult, but he launched me into a new skin care category. After a lifetime of coasting by with blissfully normal skin — not too parched, not too greasy, rarely a pimple, nary a wrinkle — I was now officially dry.

This was not your average epidermal dehydration. My skin was arid — a desert landscape. I searched desperately for the balm that would soothe my thirsty face, quickly discovering that the usual lotions and creams would not cut it. I looked for potions primarily composed of oil — the greasier, the better. My skin hungrily sucked up avocado oil, coconut oil and olive oil. I’d wake up, agitated and anxious, from dreams in which I’d been caught raiding the refrigerator butter compartment, swiping sticks across my forehead and under-eye area, leaving buttery fingerprints all over the kitchen.

After a few years of this, I discovered the facial mask. I was elated to add this step to my moisturizing regimen. Hydrating masks, applied diligently once or twice a week, played a key role in taming the dryness that threatened to take me over. Buying these masks was easy … and expensive. My skin care budget was already embarrassingly high (soft and supple skin doesn’t come cheap), so I recently decided to take matters into my own hands … and into my own pantry.

I started with oatmeal. Skin care aficionados know that oats are supremely moisturizing and incredibly gentle. Oats do much more than fill hungry bellies. Empowered by DIY pride, I set about making my own oatmeal and honey mask. I experimented with an oatmeal mask for three weeks, applying a mask each week. The result? Softer, smoother skin that’s no longer insatiably thirsty. And it’s practically free!

Here’s how to do it:

1. Start with rolled oats. The quick or instant kind can’t stand up to manipulation.

2. Quickly blast oats in a food processor or blender to get oat flour that can be easily combined with other ingredients.

3. Add a couple of tablespoons of honey to 1/2 cup of oat flour. Honey, a natural antioxidant, is supremely sticky and supremely soothing. Stir in some water to thin. You can also add lemon, which brightens the skin. (Try this recipe.)

4. Use enough liquid. Your mask should be able to be spread easily around the nooks and crannies of your face.

5. Leave your mask on for 15 minutes, and then gently remove it with warm water. Pat dry and follow with your favorite moisturizer.

6. Tweak your recipe for summer. For a more cooling mask, substitute 4 tablespoons of plain yogurt for the honey. Yogurt has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Regular topical use can help you achieve that coveted natural glow.

Just be sure to warn the UPS deliveryman before opening the door mid-mask.

Want more? Check out this recipe for a hydrating banana oatmeal mask and let me know how it all turns out.

The past few weeks, I’ve written about a bunch of common beauty mistakes we make — in the morning, in the shower, with our makeup and throughout the day. And now here’s my last post in this beauty tips series, taking you — appropriately — to the end of the day. Here’s what to do every night to ensure you wake up beautiful.

Bedtime Beauty Tip No. 1: Always wash up.
I’m guilty of skipping this step — and I’ve got to stop! Sweat, dirt, makeup, the day’s grimeys … all of that sits on our face at night, clogging our pores and aging our skin. So use a gentle facial cleanser and lukewarm water before going to bed, and follow up with a mild toner. (I will too. Pinky swear.)

Bedtime Beauty Tip No. 2: Never sleep with your hair in a ponytail.
No matter how exhausted you are, it’s important not to leave your hair elastics in, because they can cause breakage. If you want to avoid morning tangles, try sleeping on a satin pillowcase. It’s easier on both your hair and your face.

Bedtime Beauty Tip No. 3: Brush and floss every night.
If you skip the dental care at night, you’re not just in for a huge lecture at your next dental cleaning; you might actually be making yourself look older too. Brushing removes stains between and around your teeth, and you’ve got to floss too: Poor gum care can cause your gums to recede, making your teeth look longer — and you older!

Bedtime Beauty Tip No. 4: Let your feet breathe.
Keeping your feet in socks may keep them feeling toasty, but it also creates a moist environment where foot fungus can breed. Yikes!

Bedtime Beauty Tip No. 5: Get your beauty sleep.
I know you really want to stay up to catch “Chelsea Lately” tonight, but beauty sleep is no myth. Your skin needs time to heal and restore and get its glow back on.

Got more bedtime beauty tips and tricks? Share them below or tweet me @Completely_You

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/chrisgramly

Elena Donovan Mauer is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She has written for Self, The Knot and iVillage, and is the co-author of two books on relationships, The Good Girl’s Guide to Living in Sin and Have Sex Like You Just Met … No Matter How Long You’ve Been Together.

1. You don’t check the mirror.
Most of us ladies make frequent bathroom trips during the day. Even if you’re in a rush to get back to work (or whatever it is you’ve got going on), take a few extra moments to check your makeup. Lipstick on teeth, wayward eye shadow, and raccoon eyes are easy to fix, but you won’t know you have them if you don’t take a close look. Keep a few makeup basics in your purse or desk drawer so you have the tools you need to make touch-ups every few hours.

2. You reapply powder without blotting the oil away.
If your skin gets oily, blotting papers are essential. Always use one to blot away shine before reapplying powder. That’s because when powder mixes with the oils on your face, it can get really cakey. Blotting wicks it away and gets your skin prepped for a little powder. (Hey, without the shine, you may not even need the powder!)

3. You touch your face.
Whenever you touch your face, you transmit bacteria and oil, which can cause breakouts and skin irritation. So keep your fingers away from your skin as much as possible. Also, remember that using the same phone over and over can do the same thing, so periodically give your phone a good cleaning with an antibacterial wipe.

4. You pick, pop or nibble.
Some bad habits can really ruin your look. Hair-chewing can cause split, broken ends. Nail-biting can ruin your manicure. Popping pimples can make your skin look a mess and even cause scarring. So take the first step: Admit you have a bad habit, and train yourself to quit it! Need some help? Read more about how I broke my nail-biting habit.

Elena Donovan Mauer is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She has written for Self, The Knot and iVillage, and is the co-author of two books on relationships, The Good Girl’s Guide to Living in Sin and Have Sex Like You Just Met … No Matter How Long You’ve Been Together.

So you’ve resisted the urge to hit snooze and you’re up (yay!). But some things you’re doing in the morning are making you look like you belong back under the covers. These common beauty mistakes are huge no-no’s.

1. Skipping SPF.
OK, so sun damage might not affect you today or tomorrow. But years from now, you don’t want to be mourning your formerly lovely skin. We all know that sun damage can happen from spending time in the sun, but plenty of people only use SPF when they’re going to spend a day at the beach or the park. But since damage can be cumulative, you should be wearing SPF 30 or higher every day. Look for a sunscreen that’s made with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, sine those are less likely to irritate your skin.

2. Applying pink or purple eye shadow.
These hues seem like they’ll brighten up your look, but their pink cast can actually bring out any redness in your eyes and make you look a little ill.

3. Overdoing the coffee.
Sure, you want to feel awake. But coffee is also dehydrating, and if you’re dried out, it will really show in your skin. A huge jolt of caffeine will also wear off quickly, leaving you sluggish in the morning. So, if you really need a caffeine boost, stick to a small amount of coffee — just a cup. Or better yet, sip some green tea!

4. Not hydrating.
Did you have your morning glass of water? Me neither! But I should have since there’s no better way to boost your skin’s tone, texture and general dewiness than by hydrating with some H2O. Squeeze in some lemon for collagen-building vitamin C. Read more about the benefits of lemon water here.

5. Skipping breakfast — or having the wrong one.
Running out the door without eating is bad for your energy level and your metabolism. If you’re tired and sluggish, there’s no amount of mascara that’s going to make you look good! You also don’t want to eat those sugary cereals, since sugar can inflame the skin and may even cause wrinkles! So be sure to eat something healthy — plenty of fiber and protein, like yogurt with fruit and granola — before you get going.

What’s the morning ritual you never miss? Share below or tweet me @Completely_You

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/skynesher

Elena Donovan Mauer is Completely You’s beauty and lifestyle blogger. She has written for Self, The Knot and iVillage, and is the co-author of two books on relationships, The Good Girl’s Guide to Living in Sin and Have Sex Like You Just Met … No Matter How Long You’ve Been Together.