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Beauty Review: Biore Steam Activated Cleanser

As promised, I bought the new cleanser from Biore- the Steam Activated Cleanser. This minty smelling cleanser has steam activated beads that works with the steam from the shower to wash away makeup, oil, and dirt that is in your pores. I waited until after I had shampooed my hair and my shower was nice and steamy before I lathered it up and let it settle on my face for a few minutes. After washing it off, my face felt refreshed and cool, but I didn’t want to get too excited right away. I kept using it daily in the shower, and I can say after 1 week, my skin feels a lot better and is improving in appearance. I am glad to report this isn’t a skin care product that makes your face a lot worse before it gets any better! (I just hate that.) I would definitely recommend this cleanser, and the price is reasonable as well, right around $8 at local drugstores.

Sunglass Style for the Summer

Summertime is right around the corner (finally!), and my favorite accessory of the summer is sunglasses! I have three pairs from last season sitting in my car, but I decided I don’t like any of them anymore- of course. So I am looking forward to shopping for some new shades this week. Fitness Magazine put out an article on finding the best shape of sunglasses for your face. It’s a great article, with advice on the most flattering shapes for your face and even some suggestions thrown in there. My face is more of an oval shape, so my best glasses would be an aviator type. I never would have tried on aviators, but I will give them a shot when I shop! Check out the full article here to find your best sunglasses!

Beauty Review: Biore Pore Strips

Lately, I’ve been really upset with my pores. I never had an issue with acne until just recently, and one thing I’ve noticed that I have enlarged pores especially around my forehead and cheeks. I tried a few different remedies to see which worked the best, and I have to say I am really liking the Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips. Just twice a week, I stick the strips onto my forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin, and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Once stripping them off, I can see everything it took off- whiteheads, oil, dirt. It’s kind of disgusting really looking at the dirty strip, but I feel like they are really effective. And the oil on my face has significantly decreased after only 2 sessions with the strips. The best part for me is they are relatively inexpensive. I got a box with 8 strips for only $7.99 at the drugstore.

The next product I am going to try is also from Biore, and is the Steam Activated Cleanser. The SteamActiv beads helps open the pores, better removing acne causing dirt and oil. Look for that review in a few weeks!

Gisele Bundchen Launching Skin Care Line

Would you wear skincare products by Gisele Bundchen? The supermodel and new mother is launching her own skincare line to be called Sejaa Pure Skincare, set to launch today. Bundhchen’s agent confirmed the news to People.com, saying the line contains all natural ingredients and the packing comes in recycled paper. Bundhcen is also a UN ambassador for environmental issues.

Beauty Review: Telescopic Explosion Mascara by L’Oreal

I decided it was time for me to try out a new mascara. Even though I am liking my collagen enhanced mascara from L’Oreal, I wanted to try something new, hopefully something better. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it. Instead, I bought the Telescopic Explosion mascara from L’Oreal, hoping that the small wand would help transport my small lashes into long beauties like it promised. It didn’t.

Since the wand is so small, it took twice as long for me to apply the mascara. Then, the mascara was incredibly clumpy, even by the third time I used it. Yes, it does get to all my lashes, even the corner lashes, but it does nothing for length or volume. Instead, I get a clumpy mess of lashes and I was late for work. I would skip this mascara, especially since it has a higher price tag.

Beauty Review: Idealist by Estee Lauder

I was one that never really understood what having pores meant; didn’t understand when other’s fretted about their large pores. Then just recently I started noticing a change on my face. I could see my pores, larger than normal, and I started feeling very self-conscious about it. Pores, which are tiny openings in the skin that provide a way for the oil glands underneath to lubricate and protect the surface of your skin, can become enlarged for various reasons. Puberty, increased amounts of oil on the face, and picking at blemishes are some of the more common reasons.

Fortunately for me, my roommate works for Estee Lauder and suggested a product after I complained to her. She recommended the Idealist, a pore minimizing skin refinisher. She got me a sample for it, and I began using it in the morning before applying my moisturizer. She did warn me that is could cause breakouts in the beginning, but works really well with continued use.

It did make me break-out within just two days of using it; I noticed my chin especially looking worse. But my skin is clearing up, and I do so an improvement. My pores look smaller and face feels better in general. The skin feels softer and has a more even tone to it. I would recommend this product for those who need to shrink there pores, but would advise against starting it if you have a big event coming up, as you will break-out right after beginning use.

You can pick up the Idealist along with other great skincare products at Estee Lauder stores or online at EsteeLauder.com.

Source: http://www.betterbodz.com/library/enlarged_skin_pores.html

What is Eyebrow Threading?

Fact: I unfortunately do not have nice, groomed eyebrows. Ever since I was young, my brows have just been out of control. I started getting them waxed around the age of 13 because I hated them so much, and the myth that the more you wax something the less hair grows back over time is a lie. I’m going on 23 and the hair still grows in just as thick and just as fast. I have grown accustomed to the waxing procedures and teaching myself how to pluck fairly evenly in between my monthly waxes.

When I was visiting my family in El Paso, Texas over Christmas I saw a stand in the mall for eyebrow threading. Upon closer inspection, I saw a woman moving a piece of thread along other woman’s eyebrows, cleaning up her brows and shaping them at the same time. I was intrigued- especially after I saw that the woman’s forehead wasn’t bright red after she was finished like mine always is after waxing. I decided to give it a try.

Eyebrow threading is a form of hair removal that originated in parts of India, the Middle and Far East. The cotton thread is twisted and rolled along the surface of the skin entwining the hairs in the thread, which are then lifted quickly from the follicle. Threading is becoming more popular in the United States because it is inexpensive- it cost me $10- as there are no chemicals being used. It also does not leave the skin irritated because it is not ripping off the top layer of skin, instead getting underneath the hair follicle and removing the hair in one smooth line- making the shape of your eyebrows look even better.

I will say that I liked eyebrow threading because it was quick, cheap, and my eyebrows did look a lot better than they would if I had waxed or plucked them. It didn’t last any longer than waxing though, and it was incredibly painful for me. After my aesthetician had done one eyebrow, I wanted to ask her to stop because the pain was almost unbearable. It almost felt like someone was taking a razor blade to my eyebrows, and I honestly thought I was going to look in the mirror and see a bloody face when she had finished. Of course I didn’t, I had beautiful looking eyebrows, but I can’t say I will do eyebrow threading again. Waxing is actually less painful in this game of beauty we play.

Source: www.eyebrowthreading.com

Are Teeth Whiteners Safe?

Teeth whitening has become increasingly popular throughout the years, with more and more people purchasing over the counter products and getting costly procedures done at their dental offices. But just how safe is bleaching your teeth?

At the start of my college years I joined the bleaching craze. I bought a huge box of white strips and eagerly came home and placed one on the top and bottom rows of my teeth. Within just a few days I could tell a difference with my teeth color. I was thrilled that it was working and I didn’t just waste $35. But then, something happened. If I was chewing food that was either real warm or cold, my teeth would ache. Eating ice cream or other cold treats were out of the questions. Even taking drinks from a water bottle or cup became a painful process, and I had to start drinking everything out of a straw because the pain was too bad on my teeth. I had suffered from sensitive teeth in the past, but this was an extreme pain that was making the small task of eating or drinking nearly impossible.

After researching my problem on the internet, I scheduled an appointment with my dentist to see what was going on. Turns out, the white strips were slowly stripping my teeth of their enamel, causing intense sensitivity. I had to immediately stop use of the strips and after time the sensitivity disappeared and my mouth felt back to normal.

That was four years ago. A few months back I bought a different type of tooth whitener; this was a gel that I placed over my teeth with a q-tip and let sit for five minutes once a day. This process took longer to turn my teeth a whiter color, but I have experienced no pain or sensitivity, just better looking teeth.

So what are the differences with teeth whiteners and how can you be sure you are getting a safe product? I found an article on Yahoo! Health that helped answer some of my questions, and the answers made me less confident in my daily whitening routine. Research has shown that using an at home whitening procedure for 2 weeks at a time once or twice a year should have no long term effects, but those chances decrease if you use a whitener daily. Also safe: a one time visit to the dentist for a whitening procedure, or a dentist prescribed whitening tray worn at a night a few weeks out of the year.

The dangers of tooth whitening are more than just pain and sensitivity, but can include gum irritation, bluish enamel, uneven whiteness, and can even lead to needing a root canal. This can occur if the bleach seeps into a crack in the teeth or an unfilled cavity.

So what is the safest method for whitening your teeth? The American Society for Dental Aesthetics states they are only comfortable recommending a custom fit whitening tray from a dentist. The tray will help keep the bleach from spreading on the gums and other tissue in the mouth, decreasing any harmful effects. If you do want to try an at home treatment to save money, check with your dentist first. There might be a cavity that needs taken care of before you start bleaching, or other dangers lurking in your mouth that your dentist would recommend against doing a teeth whitening kit.

Source: Laurel Naversen Geraghty, Prevention

Relief For Dry, Damaged Hair

All this dry weather does nothing good for my hair, which is naturally uncontrollable. My hairdresser is always suggesting using a deep conditioning treatment about once a week to help breathe some life and moisture into my locks, so I finally decided to see what it’s all about. I browsed online looking for some at home treatments because a friend had told me she makes her own recipe instead of buying expensive bottles at the salon. So I figured I could do the same, save myself some money and get better looking hair.

The recipe I settled on was from RecipeZaar.com and seemed pretty straightforward. Ingredients: 1 cup of mayonnaise (preferably room temperature), ½ cup of olive oil, and three eggs. Blend all ingredients together, then apply thoroughly to hair, adding more on the ends. Use a shower cap or old towel to wrap around your head, keeping the heat on your strands. Leave on for 10-20 minutes depending on the length of your hair, then wash out thoroughly. Don’t shampoo after you use this treatment! The next day when you shower, shampoo and condition as usual.

My hair did feel better after using this treatment, though for that first day it did feel a little oily, so I would suggest making sure you do it when you are not going out! But after the next shampoo, I could tell that there was more shine, and it felt better to touch. If you are suffering from dry hair as well try out this or another deep conditioning treatment to get some results!