Beauty Myths – Busted!

Get the facts on looking fabulous.

by Tracey Middlekauff Posted: Tue., Sep. 25, 2007 , 4:21 pm EDT

Myth: Chocolate, sweets, and fried foods cause acne.
Fact: Don’t blame that last slice of pizza for your pimple; blame your genes and pesky hormones instead. Hormonal fluctuations brought on by your period, menopause or even stress can spark increased sebum (oil) production, leading to bacterial growth that can cause a “plug” in your pores. Result: a pimple. Those food cravings you get around your period or when you’re stressed are probably what are behind this myth — eat greasy food, touch your face, plug your pores and presto! You’ve got a blemish. To fight acne, Diane Madfes, MD, a New York dermatologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology, recommends cleansers with salicylic or glycolic acid and topical creams with vitamin A or retinol. Got sensitive skin? Look for products that contain lactic acid.

Myth: Drinking lots of water will “plump up” your fine lines and wrinkles.

Fact: Dr. Madfes calls this one a “partial myth.” The skin on your face does need to get moisture, both internally, from the fluids you drink, and externally, from your moisturizer. But you don’t have to gulp down H20 exclusively — it turns out, things like juice and tea will also get the job done. While drinking liquids won’t eliminate those fine lines and wrinkles, drinking enough to keep your skin well hydrated — about six to eight glasses per day — will allow it to regenerate and look its healthy best. And in a pinch, you can always apply a topical cream to temporarily plump up those fine lines.

Myth: The higher the SPF in your sunscreen, the better.
Fact: A higher SPF number is not necessarily better. The most important thing is that your sunscreen is broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against both the UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays of the sun. If you reapply often, a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen is just as effective as an SPF 50 one; the 50 might just buy you an extra 20 minutes in the sun.

Myth: You can repair a split end.
Fact: While certain products can temporarily “seal” split ends, the only way to get rid of them is to cut them off like a freeloading boyfriend. To prevent (or at least delay) them, try to cut back on the heat abuse from flat irons, curling irons and hair dryers.

Myth: For shiny hair, brush it 100 times each night.
Fact: It may have worked for Marcia Brady, but it’s not going to work for you. Brushing can pull out hair that wasn’t ready to fall out, and it can weaken or even break individual strands. For shiny hair, you’re much better off using a good conditioner and shine serum. And never brush your hair when it’s wet — always use a wide-tooth comb.

Myth: If you have cellulite, you must be overweight.
Fact: Anybody can get cellulite, regardless of weight. That dreaded dimpled look is actually caused by tiny fibrous bands under the skin, which pull down around pockets of fat. It can get worse as you age, because the collagen in your skin loosens, but the fibrous bands don’t. Exercising to increase muscle and reduce fat can help, but there’s no permanent, easy solution. According to Dr. Madfes, firming creams such as Clarins Total Body Lift (link) can temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite by causing constriction in the skin — good to know if you really want to don that miniskirt and paint the town red!

Myth: Cocoa butter prevents stretch marks.
Fact: Actually, anything from baby oil to hand lotion will work. It’s not the cocoa butter, it’s the massaging and gentle stretching action when you smooth in the cream that preps your skin to stretch without leaving telltale “marks” behind. If you already have stretch marks, Dr. Madfes suggests prescription retinoid creams — but you can’t use these while you’re pregnant.

Myth: Green tea boosts your metabolism.
Fact: Despite all the hype over green tea — which does have many health benefits — there’s still no magic weight-loss bullet. Recent studies have indicated that roughly six to 11 cups of green tea per day may increase the rate at which you burn calories after a meal, but that’s not the same as raising your metabolism. According to Suzanne Farrell, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, the only proven way to do that is to exercise, build muscle and eat throughout the day. As for green tea supplements? Farrell doesn’t recommend them: “You’re just being a guinea pig,” she says.

Cool sports for hot days.

Tracey Middlekauff

Summer’s here and the time is right for getting out of doors and into shape. “Exercise has to be fun — not just work,” says Grace De Simone, national fitness expert for Gold’s Gym. First, prepare your body. “You want to be in shape to perform at your best and lower your risk of injury,” De Simone says. So get into the habit of exercising and stretching to make sure your body is up for a new physical activity. Read on to find the sport that’s perfect for you.

Serve It Up on the Sand
Want a great set of gams? Think Gabrielle Reese and beach volleyball. Thanks to the lateral movements and quick bursts of speed, this cardio-intensive sport also delivers a serious core muscle workout to sculpt your quads, calves and glutes. “Beach volleyball is a combination of strength and quickness,” says Danalee Bragado, a pro-level coach and owner of the Aloha Ball Club in California. Run on the beach to get your “sand legs” and do circuit weight training. Then get a ball; many beaches already have nets set up. Look online for a beach volleyball club in your area.
Calories burned per hour: 480

Make Some Waves

“It’s much more fun to be skiing than to be in a gym,” says Lisa St. John, former world champion and competition director for USA Waterski. Not to mention that water-skiing looks really, really cool. Locate a qualified instructor near you through USA Water Ski. Lessons will last around half an hour; expect to stay up on the water for eight or nine minutes at a stretch. “It’s very physically demanding,” says St. John. “It uses every muscle group, and it’s cardio-intensive.” De Simone recommends prepping by doing wall sits — lean your upper back against the wall and slide down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. For more intensity, hold a medicine ball out in front of you.
Calories burned per hour: 360

Rule the Court
All you need for the civilized sport of badminton is a net, a couple of rackets, a shuttlecock (also known as a birdie) and a partner. “Badminton is much easier to start playing than tennis, so you can have more fun early on,” says Martin McGrogan, women’s badminton coach at Irvine Valley Community College in California. You set the aerobic intensity — anything from slow volleying to a lightning-fast exchange. Along with the cardio benefits, De Simone says badminton will help “stimulate your ability to react quickly.” Check out the Web site usabadminton.org to find local classes.
Calories burned per hour: 300

Take the Plunge
Quit lounging poolside — dive in and swim! “It doesn’t matter how ugly or beautiful your stroke is; you’ll get a cardiovascular workout,” says Kay Smiley, specialty consultant for aquatics and scuba for YMCA of the USA. “And if you do perfect your stroke, you’ll get the breathing down better.” Anyone can sign up for swim lessons at the Y or visit the community pool. (Just make sure the instructor is also certified as a lifeguard.) Start with three 20-minute sessions weekly, adding two to four lengths each time, says Smiley. Swimming is great for overall tone and, depending on the stroke, will also work your lats, pecs and/or delts.
Calories burned per hour: 360 to 660, depending on stroke and pace

Power Up With Paddling
Water, a lovely view and a canoe all add up to a great workout where you control the intensity. “Start with nice, calm, protected water,” suggests John Edwards, executive director of the United States Canoe Association (USCA). “Shallow water is good because you can stand up if you tip over.” You can find an instructor who is familiar with proper safety procedure through the USCA or the American Canoe Association. Even at a leisurely pace, canoeing will work your lats, upper body, shoulders and core muscles, according to De Simone. The downside? If you get serious, you’re going to have to buy a boat — which can run anywhere from $500 to $3,000 — and outfit your vehicle to tow the thing.
Calories burned per hour: 300 to 420, depending on intensity

Hit a Homer
Joining an amateur softball team is a great way to make friends. But ask yourself: “Am I competitive, or do I just want to have a good time and hang out?” says Glenn Moore, women’s softball coach at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Then honestly assess your fitness level to choose the right league. On the field, the squatted and semi-squatted fielding positions are great for the hamstrings, quads and core abdominals. (Note that you’ll want to strengthen your back to avoid injury.) For the serious softballer, Moore recommends water activities to get you in prime condition, such as a water aerobics class or (with supervision) moving laterally in fielding positions in neck-deep water.
Calories burned per hour: 300

Get a Green Thumb
Believe it or not, gardening not only helps you get in touch with Mother Nature — it helps you stay fit, too. All that digging, weed-pulling, squatting and reaching will burn a bunch of calories! But be careful not to hurt yourself, especially your back, warns De Simone. To build strength, do some Pilates plank exercises. (Click here for an example.) Other suggestions to get into good shape to garden: upper-body twists, wall push-ups and squats. Remember to do a series of stretches before and after gardening and to protect your knees with a kneeling pad.
Calories burned per hour: 300

Enjoy Some High-Flying Fun
Time to test that endurance with Ultimate Frisbee! Most fast-paced games last between 70 to 90 minutes and work the legs, core muscles and arms. Think of it as “a combination of football and soccer in terms of field space, passing, scoring and running,” says Michael Degnan, spokesperson for the Ultimate Players Association, the sport’s national governing body. Many cities offer summer leagues captained by seasoned players, and Degnan says beginners are always welcome; it may boost your social life as well as your body! “Ultimate Frisbee is a great way to meet people,” Degnan says. “Everybody is happy to be there.”
Calories burned per hour: 480 to 600

The Six Hottest New Workouts

Tired of the same old?
Jump-start your fitness
regimen with these sizzling routines.

by Tracey Middlekauff

Denise Weighs In
	Here’s something to sneak into your smoothies: deep red, purple or blue foods (think blueberries, cherries, strawberries or raspberries). They contain phytonutrients called anthocyanins, which have been linked to lower heart disease and cancer risk.

Yesterday’s Moves: Yoga Today’s Routine: Disco Yoga If you’d rather take a nap than do one more Downward Dog, maybe you need a healthy dose of the Bee Gees when you strike a pose. With Disco Yoga at Crunch Fitness, “Participants hit poses and hold them, like John Travolta in ‘Saturday Night Fever,’” says Donna Cyrus, director of Crunch National Group Fitness. You’ll get all the benefits of a regular hatha yoga class — core strengthening, flexibility and balance — plus more of a cardio element, because Disco Yoga moves quickly between poses, says Cyrus. The extra oomph will help you burn between 200 and 400 calories an hour. Yesterday’s Moves: Step Aerobics Today’s Routine: Circus Acrobatics All that stepping up got you down? Defy gravity with circus acrobatics. You’ll learn to fly through the air while simultaneously working all the major muscle groups. Repeatedly climbing up to the platform and kicking off works the shoulders and thighs, and after six months on the trapeze “women develop beautiful arms and lats,” says Jonathon Conant, founder of Trapeze School New York. Unlike the muscles you develop at a gym, Conant says, working against gravity gives you a natural musculature. More muscle means you’ll burn calories more efficiently, too: up to 221 an hour. “Moving your total body mass rhythmically can also make it a real cardio challenge,” adds exercise physiologist Michele S. Olson, Ph.D. Yesterday’s Moves: Boot Camp Today’s Routine: Dodgeball 101 Dump the drill sergeant: It turns out you can do interval training without the barking orders. Dodgeball at Crunch is just like you remember it from childhood, only now nobody is going to throw the ball at your head. After a 20-minute warm-up, participants play four 10-minute, high-intensity rounds. If you get “out,” you’re sent to the corner to do push-ups or sit-ups. “There are huge cardio benefits,” says Dr. Olson. “Plus the breaks help reenergize you so you can work harder.” Cyrus says dodgeball particularly targets the thighs, upper body and abs; and thanks to all that jumping and reaching, you can burn up to a whopping 500 calories in this action-packed hour.

Yesterday’s Moves: Kickboxing? Today’s Routine: Stage Combat or Body Combat? You’ll pick up real fight choreography in a stage combat class, challenging your brain as well as body. Broadsword fighting (using a hefty curved weapon) starts after a three-week safety phase, says John Ficarra, a certified fight instructor and owner of New York’s Combat Incorporated. (Visit www.safd.org to find local instructors.) “You’ll immediately feel it in your forearms and legs,” he says. “As you get more advanced, you change levels and use your core to twist.” Or try Body Combat at Gold’s Gym, in which you learn choreographed fight routines put to high-energy music. “You’ll see significant results in your cardio capacity and muscle tone,” says Lori Lowell, national group fitness director for Gold’s Gym International. Expect to work off 450 to 600 calories per hour. Yesterday’s Moves: Jump Rope? Today’s Program: Hula Hoop? Drop that jump rope: The hula hoop has made a comeback! Actually, today’s exercise hoops are bigger and heavier than your old one, which makes it easier to keep them continuously spinning. It’s a great low-impact aerobic workout, plus you can get creative and twirl the hoop around your arm. “Isolating different muscle groups for a high number of reps mimics weight training,” says Olson. Just remember to switch directions so you get an even workout! Visit hooping.org for more info. Or check out Bally’s Total Fitness, which offers cardio-intense hoop workouts using specially constructed Heavy Hoops (www.heavyhoops.com). You can burn approximately 600 calories an hour. Yesterday’s Moves: Walking? Today’s Routine: Qigong Walking? Adding qigong — sets of simple, repetitive movements designed to promote healthy energy flow — makes walking more of a total body workout with its swinging arm and torso movements, says Olson. A very popular form is called Fragrance qigong, which consists of three sets of five movements each. The key is to keep your walking rhythm smooth and relaxed, never straighten your arms, and repeat each motion 36 to 45 times, according to New York tai chi and qigong instructor Tzyann Hsu. Get a taste of what it’s all about by trying the following: Bring hands together at waist level with fingers softly touching; gently swing arms left to right. Then, with hands still together, swing them vertically so that your fingers point up toward your chin, and then down toward the floor, just below waist level. Next, separate your hands; let your arms swing down naturally and then up to just below chin level, with your palms facing each other, forming a reverse V shape. Modifying your walking effort this way will help you work off 264 calories an hour. Find out more at the Qigong Association of America (www.qi.org). .