Power Balance Bracelets and Other Quack Products

So, it's a new year and I'm sure many of you have made resolutions to be healthier and look better. And, if you need help, several companies are selling products designed to help you reach your goal. But, are they really worth it and most importantly do they work?

Well, in a recent Washington Post article, Power Balance admitted that their Power Balance bracelets do NOT improve balance, strength and flexibility. HA! I knew it. I tried one of these on a few months ago and did not feel a difference at all! But, then again, who really believes that a $29.95 rubber band with a hologram is going to improve their energy? Apparently, celebrities and athletes like David Beckham, Robert DeNiro and Lamar Odom believe in it. Hey, to each their own. If it's a lucky charm for you, work it.

The next one is for the ladies, although gentlemen can be included in here, too. Blackheads. We all get them and they are not nice or welcome. So, what do you do when you get them? Usually, if you get a facial, the esthetician will extract them for you. But, what if you can't afford facials? Well, you can try removing them at home with a mild exfoliant combined with alpha hydroxy fruit acids. This will help expose the blackhead and then you can use a acne gel to help clear it up. Whatever you do don't waste your money on those expensive blackhead vacuums which claim to suck up blackheads. Also, remember to keep your face clean which will help prevent those nasty suckers from coming back.

Most ladies want fuller lips. And for those who are genetically blessed with them, you're lucky! For the others, there are lip plumpers designed to increase lip fullness. All you do is swipe it on like a normal lip gloss. I tried several lip enhancers and my favorite by far was Too Faced Lip Injection. It costs $16 a pop, so it's by no means cheap, but I did notice my lips got tingly and then looked "bee stung." The effect lasted about 30 minutes and then it was just like wearing a regular lip gloss. But, you can always reapply to keep the juicy lips going.

How many of you have heard of Acai? Touted as the magic berry, acai is high in antioxidants and some people have even claimed it aids in weight loss. This brings me to MonaVie, a company that sells the acai juice in a fancy glass bottle for around $40 a bottle. That's quite expensive for some juice and they don't even have a guarantee that it will work. Beside being expensive, it's sold by distributors in a pyramid which makes me doubt this product even more. Don't believe me? Head over to Lazy Man and Money and read his MonaVie scam post.

Looking for washboard abs, but don't want to invest time on crunches? The Flex Belt supposedly tones your abs by contracting your muscles. Umm yeah, sure. I believe it. Just wear a belt around my waist for a few minutes a day and my stomach will magically transform into abs of steel. According to several reviews from users who have actually purchased the $200 device, the belt will work in making your midsection more defined, but it won't give you the abs of steel that they advertise. Save your money and do some crunches. It's really not that hard.

The Shake Weight is another innovation that has taken over the country. In just 6 minutes a day, you will get incredible arms just from holding the 2.5 lb weight. At $20 a pop, you too can have sculpted biceps and triceps. There are mixed reviews on the Shake Weight, some people say it works, others say it's a waste of cash. Personally, I think you can get some dumbbells for $5 at Target and just shake them if you'd like to achieve the same effect. I wish six minutes a day was all it took to get sleek, sculpted arms. No pain, no gain!

Cellulite is evil and some women are prone to getting it. If you don't want the cottage cheese thighs, there are products out there claiming to smooth over the bumps. Bliss offers Fat Girl Slim, a cream (containing caffeine) which claims to fight cellulite. User results are mixed and at $29 for a mere 6 ounces, I would probably skip this product. I heard that rubbing a mixture of coffee grounds and olive oil on your problems areas will give you the same result at a fraction of the price. Don't forget, proper diet and exercise will combat cellulite too.

What are some health or beauty products that you think are a scam? What are your alternatives to those products?