Do facials really make a difference?(face treatments)(Brief Article)

Although you probably know a woman with a flawless face who's never seen a pro skin-tender, facials do improve your complexion. "As your skin cells die, they clog pores and make your face look tired and dull," says Cornelia Zicu, a facialist at NYC'S Peninsula Spa. A professional facial (which involves cleansing, toning, exfoliating, and a mask) is the most thorough way to remove dead cells and uncover glowing new skin. If you can't afford to see a pro, get some of the same benefits of a facial by using a mask tailored to your skin type once a week. We like Biotherm Intensely Moisturizing Mask, $19 (for dry skin), and Avon Pore-Fection Mask, $8 (for oily or dull skin).

bright-smile strategies

My teeth are a yucky yellow hue. What's the best way to lighten them?

Your best bet for achieving pearly white perfection is to use a bleaching tray, which you fill with lightening potions and slip over your choppers. A dentist-created customized tray ($250 to $500) will fit your teeth superprecisely and provide wow-worthy whitening after just two weeks of nightly use. A cheaper way to get your grin gleaming: new drugstore trays you mold to your teeth yourself and pop in for an hour each day. You should see results in about three weeks. Try Rembrandt Plus Superior Bleaching System, $32.50. Until the regimen you pick has worked its magic, sport cool-toned lipsticks (meaning ones with a blue or purple base), which make teeth look whiter, says makeup maven Joey Roer, owner of Joey New York. Try Joey's Opti-Brite Lipslick Swirl, $17 (below left), or Max Factor Lipfinity in Vivacious (a cool pink), $12.75.

stretch-mark menders

Help! I have stretch marks on my thighs. Is there anything I can do to get rid of them?

Unfortunately, those unsightly suckers are extremely hard to remove. Stretch marks are caused by a loss of collagen and elastin (due to weight fluctuations or hormonal changes), ...