From sexy off the runway looks to the hottest makeup trends for fall, nothing is more important to achieving an effortlessly chic fall look than a bright white smile.
Celebrity Aesthetic Dentist Dr. Jonathan B. Levine whose A-list clients include Sarah Jessica Parker, Christy Brinkley and Victoria ’s Secret Model Allesandra D’Ambrosio offers these tips that will brighten your smile INSTANTLY, without expensive procedures, whitening strips or even toothpaste! (Although he created my favorite teeth whitening product–GoSmile!)
1. Whiten While you Chew
Everyone knows that red wine and coffee stain your teeth, but some foods can actually work to whiten your teeth while you eat! The following foods remove stains by exfoliating teeth before the stain molecules have the time to attach deeply to the surface. It is like a skin scrub for your smile. Foods that whiten teeth include:
- Apples
- Celery
- Carrots
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Lettuce
2. Kiss the Stain Away
Some lip colors can actually make your teeth look significantly whiter (and darker!).
If you have grayish teeth:
*Avoid: Red Lipsticks with blue tones
* Try: Cool tone with a brown base. Nude pinks with an almost brownish hue are best.
If you have yellowish teeth:
* Avoid: Deep, dark shades. Bright Shades. Super shiny glosses
* Try: Pink shades that have blue undertones. Nudes
3. Go Bronze (you still can before winter!)
Golden and tan skin tones (from a bottle not from harmful UVA/UVB rays of course) not only give you a more toned, healthy appearance but also make your eyes pop and your teeth look brighter! Some of the most natural looking new tanners include:
SkinCeuticals Sans Soleil – a unique self-tanning lotion that delivers an even, natural looking tan without exposure to the sun’s harmful rays. Price: $32.00 at SkinCeuticals.com
DuWop Revolotion Body – Unlike traditional bronzers, Revolotion is actually a moisturizer that contains SPF 15 sun protection along with a kiss of bronzing pigment and subtle shimmer. The streak free, easy to apply formula is meant for legs, arms, back and decollate. Anywhere you want to show off perfect, glowing skin. Price: $28, available at Sephora and www.beauty.com
(I personally love Aqua Tan!)
4. Accessorize
Try wearing shimmering white rhinestone jewelry or gleaming silver to make your teeth appear whiter. Stay away from gold, which exaggerates any yellowish tones in teeth.
5. Clothing
A bright white shirt will only accentuate less-than-white teeth. Choose an off-white or cream-colored shade instead. Reducing the contrast will result in the appearance of a brighter, whiter smile.
Have any easy teeth whitening tips? I'd love to hear them!
Shannon Nelson is the beauty blogger behind A Girl's Gotta Spa! and Makeup Minute. Come check her out at her guest panel at Milwaukee Fashion Week.
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GREAT tips! I love Kiss the Stain Away. Avoiding red lipstick with blue tones is a great one. Interesting about a white shirt accentuating the whiteness (or lack of white) in teeth.
As we age, natural blondes' teeth and whites of eyes will yellow; natural brunettes' will gray (regardless of current coloring.) Therefore, the under-shade of the lipstick, as you touch on, should be in the color family opposite the wheel from yellow or gray (blue.)
My green eyes, fair skin and bright blond hair makes me look find in coral or pink lipstick… UNTIL I SMILE. Then it's British-Granny-Mouth, yuck! (And I don't even drink coffee, wine, tea or smoke or anything!) This coloring works best with a mauve or berry, even sheer; undertones of blue make the yellow look whiter, and a matte texture, as you say, is best. Origins makes a perfect fat lip pencil in 'berry' — I own 20 of them in case they discontinue!
If you must use pink as a true blonde, use it against the skin-edge of your lips; use the berry on the teeth-side of your lips. And if you have narrow or thin lips, place a little of the darker color in the corners of your mouth and a little lighter color or gloss on the upper and lower center of your lips; the illusion is that your lips are plumper, fuller when 'shaded' that way.
Please pardon the long post! (Oh, but if you do use strips, I get great results with the Crest premiums that have upper and lower on one strip. Even used only every other day, they work.)