My Beauty Space : Product Reviews, Tips and Experiences

I like the better results I get when I roughly massage my cellulite afflicted areas of my body, the thighs being the worst on me personally, however, I’m also fairly prone to easy bruising and that can be a problem when you are massaging very hard to help smooth out the bumps that cellulite produces in this area.

Today I had the pleasure of having to shower in an unfamiliar shower and get ready where I didn’t have all my beauty stuff at my fingertips and it drove me nuts.  It’s amazing how you can get so used to having everything exactly as you like it, where you know it’s going to be, and it’s there when you need it.  And then when you pack to get ready somewhere else and go through your whole getting ready routine, you feel lost without something or other, it’s inevtiable.

Today I had to shower at the gym where I work because we’ve been out of power for three days at our house due to high winds and widespread power outages.  I thought I had packed all my necessities for my hair and my face, but lo and behold I did forget something important for my hair.  While I remembered all the right makeup, I forgot to bring my round brush for blowing out my hair, and boy could you tell when I blew my hair out!

I also wasn’t happy because I had to set my whole bag with my makeup in it on a bench in the same room that I took a shower in, separated only by a flimsy curtain, and my makeup pad got moist just from being exposed to that little bit of steam from my hot shower.  Oh and the hot water ran out on me at one point too, and I dropped my expensive Sedu hair dryer and thought I broke it but I didn’t.  Our power’s back on and I couldn’t be happier.  I’m going to take a bath in our new bathtub and soak - ah, the luxuries of getting back the necessities! 

We all want white, pearly healthy looking teeth and gums, but do we ever think of what we are using to clean our teeth on a daily basis?  There are many different varieties of regular toothbrushes available from a soft bristle to medium to hard bristle to manually meet our oral hygiene needs for oral health.
However, to do an even better job of maintaining our teeth and gums, there are professional grade toothbrushes to assist us in preventing gum disease.  One variety that caught my eye on my last dental visit was the Rota-dent one step.
The Rota-dent one step has patented brush tips to reach and clean problem areas.  The Rota-dent one step removes plaque and bacteria twice as fast as a regular toothbrush.  The effective plaque removal in difficult areas such as the gum line and small grooves and pits that regular toothbrushes can’t reach helps prevent both cavities and gum disease.
The brush tips featured with the Rota-dent one step include the hollow cup brush head, the short pointed tip brush head and the elongated tip brush head.   The hollow cup brush head cleans below the gum line and between teeth and is effective for stain removal and polishing your teeth. 
The short pointed tip brush head works well for people with braces, removable bridges or crowded teeth.  The elongated tip brush head effectively cleans large spaces between teeth or under fixed bridges.
Four brush heads are included with your original Rota-dent one step and additional brush heads can be ordered.  The Rota-dent one step is available only through your dental professional.  It is comparable to the equipment used to professionally clean and polish your teeth.
The Rota-dent one step comes with a lifetime warranty.  More information can be obtained about the Rota-dent by logging onto www.prodentec.com.

Let me begin this review of Lash Blast by Cover Girl, a new mascara that they have apparently spent loads of money on advertising with Drew Barrymore as their spokesperson, that I am still and will always be a die hard user of L’Oreal’s Lash Out mascara.  That said, I wanted to buy this mascara and try it out because I have to admit I was intrigued by the commercials and thought that maybe it might finally bump me onto something new as far as mascara was concerned at least. 

Now, the first thing I noticed about Lash Blast was that it is in a ridiculously large tube.  That I do not like, because the wand part that you hold with your hand is so big that I find it difficult to work with.  Then again, to be fair, I’ve used Lash Out for so long that I’m used to it’s slender, ribbed wand and find that to be easier to use.  Some people may find the larger wand grasp fine, and even prefer it though.  The packaging for Lash Blast is also pretty flashy and I have to hand it to them for marketing here, it does get your attention when you’re browsing down the makeup aisle!

Now, onto the review of how this mascara actually works.  Lash Blast has a large lash wand too, the part with the brush is much thicker in diameter than most mascaras, and I think that’s part of the design to get more plumping power, so I recognize the effort.  It also does have several small bristles which helps lend to the thickening, lengthening and separating aspect of mascara application that makes it look good and makes you lashes really stand out.  Another good point for this mascara!

Althought the brush design may be good, I felt like I had to apply this many times over each time I used it (I used it about five times so far, accounting for the fact that mascara usually requires some loosening up when you first buy it, just like Lash Out does too, you have to give it time to build up on your brush in other words).  

I didn’t like the fact that the formula didn’t seem to want to adhere to my lashes very well and that I had to keep wiggling it up the base of my lashes several times to even get any kind of definition.  Therein lies the problem with Lash Blast - I think it’s the actual formula that is sort of weak on this product, not the package design or brush.  All in all, you can get defined lashes by using it, it’s just time consuming if you’re impatient.  I still am a staunch follower of L’Oreal! 

I had purchased a 60% acid peel a few weeks ago, by Skin Laboratories, who seems to be the biggest offering agent of at home, clinical strength acid peels for the face and decolletage area (if indicated).  I chose to purchase the one that blends both glycolic acid and lactic acid because I wanted some of the strength of the glycolic, but not all of it, and I wanted the lactic acid because it is good for people who have had acne for their scars, and it is a bit more gentle than the glycolic, although some think not as effective overall because it does not slough as much skin off.

The formula I bought is 25% glycolic and 35% lactic acid.  It is a small bottle, about 1 fluid ounce of product, but a little bit goes a long way and I expect to get at least 10 to fifteen peels out of this small bottle since only a thin layer is needed to do the job.  The indications in the directions are to put the product on, using a brush or perhaps some other instrument like a cotton ball.  I chose to use a makeup brush that I never used because it allowed me to more precisely target where it needed to go.

You are only supposed to leave these peels on for about 3 minutes and possibly less if you have particularly sensitive skin. Believe me, even three minutes can be a bit challenging at first because after you apply the peel , it does begin to burn a bit, and it even tingles and starts to itch a bit after it’s been on there for a minute.  The first time I had trouble leaving it on, but was determined to get the most out of it, although this was directly in conflict with the directions since you are supposed to rinse it off if you feel a lot of discomfort.  I don’t recommend what I did, but I was fine.

Before applying the peel, they also instruct you to first wash your face and also use a toner, I’m assuming to remove all surface gunk, oil and debris so the peel has maximum effect.  I did this and allowed my face to completely dry before brushing on the peel.  I am now on my third week of applying the glycolic and lactic acid peel, and I think it is lightening my age spots and scars slightly although I think it will take quite a few more to make a big difference.

I did happen to break out with two huge zits on my nose, and I think this was because my pores were clearing out from the lactic acid.  I’ve noticed that my nose blackheads have diminished greatly, as in I can’t really see them any more.  I will continue to use this for the amount of time indicated, which is 5 weeks on and one week off, and let you know about the results a little later.  So far, so good, and it’s only about $20 for the bottle, which is nothing compared to what an in office peel will cost you.

We recently went on a trip to an all day amusement park affair, and I forgot my self tanner, which I really needed because I would be wearing shorts or cut off pants (capris), and my legs were as white as a ghost.  So, we stopped at the local store and I ended up picking out a gradual self tanner after much debate, since they didn’t really have many full-on self tanners there, so I really had to choose from one of the ones that are displayed year-round since we are coming up on fall here in Ohio, which narrowed it down to the slew of gradual self tanners that have come out from the makers of moisturizers.

I ended up deciding on a Nivea product, because I do like the Nivea line of moisturizers, and thought that since I know they have a high quality moisturizing line and even some decent cellulite treatment products, how could I really go wrong with their gradual self tanner?  So I settled on one called Sun-Kissed Firming Moisturizer, which is both a firming agent as well as a touch of self tanner in it, for a gradually worked on glow.  I bought the self tanner that was made for those with “medium to dark skin”, although I am fair skinned, since I wanted quicker, darker results that would be overnight almost or maybe two nights since I didn’t have much time for my self tan to develop.

The Nivea tanner comes in an 8.4 oz container, and runs about six bucks which isn’t half bad at all cost wise.  The consistency of the product is very watery in my opinion, so if you try it, you’re gonna want to make sure you don’t squeeze too hard or too much product will come out and you’ll have to distribute it over more surface area than you thought to get it to sink in without wasting it. 

There is a faint smell of DHA to it (the chemical that causes the darkening of the skin in self tanners), but nothing too offensive.  It rubs in right away, so you have to be careful not to over do it in some areas since it absorbs very quickly.  I found that I over did it on my feet, which I had already applied moisturizer to as a prevention measure against it getting too dark down there sincce the drier areas do tend to darken more easily, but I still got a darkening there that didn’t quite look right. 

As far as the smell when you are wearing it, it’s not too bad once the DHA activates, although you can smell a faint smell again when it activates.  The Ginkgo extract is a nice touch for a shimmery and firming quality added to the cream, and you won’t find me complaining about any product that adds firmness while also creating a nice self tan. 

The color was to be expected, pretty much the same as any self tanner, only much lighter since the DHA concentration wasn’t too heavy.  Overall, this isn’t a bad choice for a gradual self tanner, just don’t expect a huge change in color - it does still take time, even if you buy a shade darker than your natural skin tone, which is what I did. 

It’s 9/11/08, the seventh anniversary of the most horrific terrorist attack ever to take place on US soil, and I wanted to take a moment of silence for those that were lost in this senseless act of violence.  May we never forget what happened, but allow it to strengthen us and to appreciate those that we love even more and live our lives to the fullest every day we have on earth. 

It’s a double review today!  I wanted to quickly review two hair products that I have recently used, one of which I have actually used before a few years ago and really liked and just recently repurchased and tried again still with high marks for performance, L’Oreal Color Vive Dry Defense 3 Minute Treatment, which is an uber-emollient and thick conditioner for those of us that color our hair, which quite often is anyone over the age of 35 or so since this is when we ladies tend to start noticing grey hairs.  For me, I was 32 when I noticed my first real grey hair.

I love L’Oreal hair care products, and usually theirs is the only home hair color I will buy and use because I think most other hair color products are inferior, but that’s just my opinion and personal taste.  The Color Vive 3 Minute Dry Defense Treatment is excellent for both right after you color, or also for the weeks following because it is so moisturizing and rich, but also because it contains a UV filter which helps to prevent against your color fading from the sun’s rays, one of the primary culprits of your hair color getting dull before it should.

It comes in a generous 6 oz. tube which lasts a long time because it is so rich and thick that only a small amount needs to be used at a time.  I remember the first time I used it I was amazed at how slippery it made the bottom of my shower because of it’s emollience, so be careful because it does make the shower floor very slick when using it.  It makes your hair so moisturized that you can comb right through it with no problem because it instantly detangles. 

I do notice a lot more shine after i use it to, and it seems to be manageable.  Now mind you, I have a thicker and more coarse hair texture, so this may not be the best product choice for those of you with thin or wispy hair because it may actually weight it down and be too moisturizing.

Now, for the review of Natural Instincts Hair Color by Clairol, which is not usually a hair care product line that I recommend.  However, I think they have a good thing in their Natural Instincts line, which is a non-permanent hair color that lasts several weeks, but does not permanently color the hairs on your head. 

It doesn’t contain ammonia, so while it is still slightly irritating to the scalp and still requires a little beating up of the hair to color it, it’s not quite as bad as those other permanent ones that have all the ammonia and other harsh ingredients in them so that they can be more permanent.  And honestly, I think it lasts quite a while, in fact, almost as long as the permanent ones, as long as you don’t wash your hair every day, like I don’t. 

It comes with an awesome after color conditioner that is better than L’Oreal’s after color conditioner in my opinion.  It imparts a great shine and makes your hair super manageable, so their conditioner is one of the biggest reasons to buy the color kit, because it really sets the color off nicely by making it stand out a lot more.  I bought the medium golden brown shade because I stay away from any browns with even a tad bit of ashiness to them, since I think this often washes a person out. 

It’s something that some American advocates are jealous of and want to happen over here in America, but it may not because of the lobbying going on, or at the very least may take longer for anything as radical as this to happen over here, but in Australia, the government arm that controls tanning and beauty salons is reportedly forcing tanning salons to post skin cancer warnings after lobbyists have complained that the indoor tanning industry does not post warnings against skin cancer.

The indoor tanning industry over here in the US has long denied that frequent indoor tanning has any effect on the likelihood you will get skin cancer in it’s most deadly form which is the melanoma form of skin cancer, but the statistics have shown that skin cancer has increased almost 50% amongst the age group of women who also happens to be the demographic that goes to tanning salons the most.  It’s a young age to be diagnosed with such a serious skin cancer, and many researchers point to the popularity of indoor tanning as the primary culprit.

While I agree that frequent indoor tanning definitely damages the skin cell’s DNA and leads the way to melanoma cancer, I also think that avoiding the sun all together can be dangerous as well, since the sun is our primary source of producing vitamin D on our own (and the best, most cancer-protective form of vitamin D can only be made by our bodies via sun exposure and vitamin synthesis from that). 

I think that as long as you wear sunscreen during long exposures to the sun and take into consideration your concentration of melanin for the amount of sun you do get, you should be fine, but little jaunts into the sun without covering up head to toe can actually be more beneficial in the end as far as creating this protective vitamin that trying to avoid sun exposure all together.  This is all just coming to light in a body of research about vitamin D’s protective and preventive qualities when it comes to cancer because it was found that vitamin D lacking patients who had cancer had less chance of surviving the cancer than those who had enough vitamin D. 

Do I think Australia’s warnings are a good thing?  Absolutely!  It’s the real sun that is most therapeutic to us anyways, so the indoor tanning salons really are harmful because of the way people tend to use and abuse them and go way too often to form a deep tan, which is very damaging to the skin and can definitely lead to skin cancer in the end.  There’s always your best buddy if you really want that deep tan, self tanners nowadays are my favorite fashion accessory because the create that deep tan without all the damage to your skin. 

I received this question on permanent body hair removal, it’s possible side effects, and also a question on whether they can be used on the face, which usually varies per product. 

Question : Hi,
 
I was just searching on net if there is any product available to remove hair permanently.
I found a cream that you are selling and would like to ask if the cream could give side effects. Can I use the cream all over my body including face? I am just worried in case something happens.
 
It will be gratful if you would replay back to me.
 
thank you
Best regards
Answer on hair removal :

Many people find that after using a hair removal product such as this for a while, they eventually barely even ever have to do upkeep because it inactivates the follicles after a while, almost like they sort of “give up” on growing new hair.  Good luck and hopefully you can find the right product to ease the pain of shaving, waxing or plucking