Productopia | Health & Beauty

It's a typical scenario: You're looking for a new beauty product and find one that calls out an ingredient you actually know. Retinol -- you're sold! You probably won't even bother reading the ingredient list on the back because you can't decipher those long scientific-looking names. But have you ever wondered what they mean and which ingredients are bad for your skin? We break it down for you. The bad, the controversial and where you'll find these sneaky ingredients. Read more

Natural is a big buzzword whether it is marketing food or beauty products and nail polish is no exception. But pop your head in a nail salon and the smell can be overwhelming. How can a scent that potent be "natural?"

It can't. "A truly 'natural' nail polish does not exist on the market. The alternative nail polish formulas have been designed to reduce or eliminate the more toxic ingredients," says Jim Hammer, cosmetic chemist at Mix Solutions. Polishes without the toxic trio (Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Toluene and Formaldehyde), also known as "three-free"; for example, are less toxic. Read more

When it comes to maintaining healthy, wrinkle-free skin, the sun is your worst enemy. The UV rays emitted by the largest star coupled with other environmental factors further the aging process. As easy as it is to age your skin, it's just as simple to protect it. Here are three ways to stop wrinkles now!

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If your dentist is doing his or her job, you know that you should be flossing -- it is a crucial piece of the good oral hygiene puzzle. Yet, it is often forgotten. For some, it is a difficult task to perform due to lack of dexterity, dental devices, such as braces or implants, which are hard to maneuver around or gum disease. Luckily, there are alternatives. Oral irrigators, also known as water flossers, do an excellent job of cleaning between teeth and are more gentle than dental floss. Read more