How To Achieve Supermodel Legs
Mom’s Review – Completely Gone Hair Vanishing Lotion
Well readers I have a treat for you today. My mom makes her beauty product reviewing debut! We were sitting around joking about who had the hairiest legs (… I know, I know). I explained that I was letting the stubble grow out a little because I had this depilatory lotion, Completely Gone, to test out and that in my experience they work a little better when you have a little more hair for it to grab on to. She proclaimed there was no WAY my legs had more hair than hers and upon comparison, I agreed. (She is going to kill me for this…) So I suggested perhaps she would like to try the product out. After all, having a beauty blogger living under her roof entitles her to join in on the fun every once and a while, right?
Later that day she came downstairs while Mr. Boyfriend and I were watching the hockey game. “I have a review for you!” she announced, setting the can gingerly down on the coffee table, “stay FAR away!”
Oh, my poor mother. She explained to us that she sprayed a little of the foam on her leg to do the recommended patch test. More came out than she anticipated, and not wanting to be wasteful she decided to just go ahead and smear it all around and hope for the best. After all, who has time for a pesky patch test? I know I’m guilty of skipping them, are you? Well, by the time she’d done that it covered about half her leg so she just went oh heck and did the other half of her leg too. At that point it just had a slight tingle, which she explained didn’t worry her because after all it’s dissolving hair.
“But then after a few minutes…it was on FIRE!” she exclaimed, “I wanted to cut my leg off, GNAW it off!” So she turned on the water for the shower. Now, we have a big house. It takes a little while for the water up in that shower to get warm because the water heater is about as far as you could possibly put it away from her shower. You can imagine how fun waiting a couple minutes with her leg on fire was, right?
At this point the boyfriend and I are like “OMG!!!” and asking her if she’s okay, haha. “Yeah I just squirted practically half a bottle of aloe on it and it feels a little better” she says.
Then Mr. Boyfriend pipes up “but does it remove hair?” Men. Always wanting to ask silly questions.
Not very well, apparently. This probably has to do with the fact that she only had it on a couple of minutes. The directions say to leave it on for 4 minutes, and no longer than 10 minutes. She said she had it on for about 2 minutes. Then we got sidetracked into a conversation about the horrible aftermath that could have occurred if she had been so bold as to apply it to other “more sensitive” areas of the body, cackling away at the possible scenarios.
“Oh, mom, it says it doesn’t have a smell…how’s the smell?”
“REEKS!!!!” she yells. “The cat was curled up against me but took one sniff and ran into the other room! Should you put that in the review too?”
Yes mom, of course.
Don’t Forget: Summer Smooth Skin Giveaway
Hey everyone! Don’t forget that the Summer Smooth Skin Giveaway is still going on! You have until July 31st to enter, and I will pick the winners on August 1st. Since my blog has had some technical difficulties, I may be lenient on the end date depending on how many entries there are.
Also…if you entered already and you do not see your entry, I DO have it. The comment system didn’t “eat” it, it’s just not showing up on the blog. I’m SO sorry about that guys. I apologize if there’s any confusion about entries because of it.
All you have to do is go to the giveaway’s page and comment about your most “unsmooth” or embarrassing moment! There are 2 winners and both win fabulous prize packs to keep their skin smooth all summer long and beyond. :)
Summer Smooth Skin Giveaway
Edit: Because of technical difficulties experienced with the blog, the entry deadline is extended to August 2nd at midnight, PST.
Schick Intuition Razor Review
It’s not a new product, but there are some limited edition handle designs out right now that are super cute. This is the one I have, which is pink for the special pomegranate extract in its conditioning solid.
Nair Shower Power Review
You know those famous last words, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I picked up Nair Shower Power on my last trip to CVS because I’m going on vacation next week and worry-free hairless legs is such a tempting concept right before vacation, isn’t it? The packaging looks like this:
Shower Power? What sorcery is this? This particular product is designed to be used in the shower (derr). The instructions tell you to apply it to dry legs and wait 1 minute before entering the shower. Then go about your normal shower routine, leaving the cream to work on your leg hair for a few more minutes as you do your thing. The claim is that the thick formula will stay on your legs in the shower (avoiding putting your legs in the “direct stream” as if to rinse them, yes) while you go about your business washing your hair, blah blah blah. It sounds cool, doesn’t it? I got the sensitive formula, as I have very sensitive skin, especially on my legs.
Nair Shower Power comes with a little application sponge. You’re supposed to apply the cream with the blue side of the sponge, rinse it out, and then remove the cream with the white side (what the difference is, I really have no idea…?) once you’re ready.
Alright, so that’s how it’s supposed to work. How did it really work? Oh let me tell you.
I applied the cream to both legs. The instructions are very clear that you have to cover all of your hair completely. It took a lot of cream to actually cover, and now my tube has quite a dent in it. The sponge seems to absorb a lot of product too, so it might actually be better to don some gloves (or plastic sandwich baggies on the hands) and apply it that way. I allowed it to sit on my legs for a minute or two before I entered the shower. One thing I noticed right away is it does not smell nearly as bad as other Nair products I’ve experienced in the past, which basically smell like you lit a dumpster full of hair on fire except that the dumpster is attached to your body and there’s no escaping it. Even raspberry-scented Nair smells like a dumpster of hair on fire with raspberries on top. There’s just no masking that smell. But somehow, maybe it’s the thicker version of the cream, this doesn’t smell as bad.
In the shower it didn’t immediately rinse all off (which is kind of what I expected despite the product’s claims). The instructions warn that a little rinse-off is normal, so I wasn’t too concerned when I saw that. So it does actually stay on for shampooing etc, which is kind of cool! Unfortunately Nair Shower Power’s charm wore off quickly.
After about 6 minutes total after application my legs started feeling irritated, so I decided it was time to remove the cream. The little white sponge is totally rubbish for removing this stuff. I had to scrub it off. The sponge is so freaking useless. I could wipe once, and then so much cream built up on the sponge that I had to rinse or I ended up just smearing it around instead of removing it. So I wipe, rinse, wipe, rinse. The process was really tedious and the scrubbing irritated the hell out of my legs. Not to mention the fact that there was still a considerable amount of hair on my legs afterward.
Nair Shower Power is supposed to be on your legs up to 10 minutes, and I took it off after 6. So it could be argued that if I left it on a few more minutes it might have done a better job at removing hair. Except my answer to you is okay, you leave this stuff on your legs for 10 minutes. I had it on for 6 minutes and that combined with removing it had my legs feeling like I’d sandblasted them. Ouch!
After my shower I had to blot my legs dry because rubbing them with a towel was uncomfortable due to the irritation. Once the burny ouchy feeling went away, I did find that rubbing them vigorously with a towel did dislodge some of the remaining hair. The problem is, there is still a lot left. And now my legs are way too sensitive to shave them any time soon. Awesome.
So my results: sensitive (the burning went away but they’re still sensitive to touch, shaving is completely out of the question), red (there goes that summer skirt, or god forbid a bathing suit!), semi-smooth legs.
Next time I’ll just suck it up and shave. This is what I get for straying from my winning combination of Venus Embrace razor + Kiss My Face Moisture Shave (LIFE-changing). I haven’t had irritation on my legs this bad since the last time I skipped the KMF moisture shave. Shame on me.
Thank god I wasn’t planning on swimming any time soon. Our pool/jacuzzi is salt water. *shudder*
I’m still debating on what to do with the remaining product. Ritual burning is tempting but it would smell bad I’m sure. There’s returning it, because I think “burned the hell outta my skin and didn’t do what it was supposed to” is a perfectly valid reason for returning, but because of the nature of the product there’s a ton missing from the tube and I think returning very used products is tacky. :\ Ugh. What would you guys do?
Gotta Have It – ELF Hand Sanitizer
I’m not exactly a germaphobe or anything, but I absolutely MUST have hand sanitizer on hand when it comes to doing my makeup. Touching your face with dirty hands can cause breakouts. Ew.
So when mommy darling got me a couple of ELF’s new scented hand sanitizers for xmas, I was pretty stoked. I got Vanilla Coconut and Cherry Berry. Okay guys, GET you some cherry berry. It smells just like Kool-Aid Burst. SO yummy! When you initially pump it onto your hands it smells like alcohol (duh) but after you rub it in the dry-down is pure cherry kool-aid yummyness (that’s the scientific word for it; I’m an expert). The best part is my hands don’t feel sticky, or like the sahara afterward. That’s because the formula is infused with Vitamin E. Yay smooth clean hands!
The hand sanitizer is $4 for a 6.7 oz pump bottle. It’s available in a few other scents and non-scented, too. Go get some! It’s great!
Available @ ELF’s website: ELF Hand Sanitizer
Men’s Shaving Tips
This is a guest post by the wonderful and talented Nicole Sommers of Gents. Nicole is a licensed esthetician and she volunteered to do a Q&A with my darling Mr. Boyfriend aka Nick for the blog. Unfortunately, Nick is like most guys and he doesn’t even know what questions to ask when it comes to shaving or skin care. Luckily Nicole is a total pro, and she has come up with the questions men *should* ask, and her brilliant answers. :) Men can shave their faces 20,000 times in a lifetime, don’t you want them to do it correctly?
Q: When is the best time to shave?
NICOLE: The best time to shave is in or immediately following a shower or washing your face. Wash your face with a natural cleanser like Osea Ocean Cleanser. A warm moist face equals easier hair removal. Alternatively, you can apply a warm moist towel to the face for 2 to 3 minutes prior to shaving in order to soften the skin. The warmth of the towel swells the hair shaft, allowing the blade to cut the hair, not your skin. Never shave cold or with a dry face!
Q: What is the best type of shaving cream to use?
NICOLE: Massage a quality shave cream, like Earth Science Shave Cream into the skin with upward motions. The best products will lock moisture into your whiskers and do not foam up – foam is merely soap filled water. Work that shave cream into your beard well to make sure your whiskers are softened into submission. Dry, rough beard hair can easily get entangled into your razor. Leave on one to three minutes before starting to shave.
Q: How often should a man change his razor blades?
NICOLE: No matter how much you believe your razor is good enough for 1 or 2 more runs, any sight of rust is a bad sight. Always use a sharp blade. A dull blade is responsible for many shaving cuts as it drags over the face and catches the skin along with the hairs of the beard. Replace the blade every three to seven shaves.
Q: In what direction should you shave?
NICOLE: Shave with the grain of your hair growth – this can be in different directions on your face versus the neck area. Shaving against the grain causes ingrown hairs (razor bumps) and is advised only as a way to donate blood. Using short strokes, and using your free hand to pull your skin taut and flat. Start your shave with the sideburns then move to the cheeks and neck. Finish with upper lip and chin last, since whiskers are heaviest in this area. Do not apply too much pressure – razor burn is no one’s friend.
Q: What is the best post-shave care for your skin?
NICOLE: Rinse your face with cool water and pat dry with a towel. Never rub. Shaving can remove up to two layers of skin which is why it’s important to use a quality after-shave moisturizer. The best products like Lev8 replace lost moisture and soothe, cool and refresh the skin. Forget alcohol heavy concoctions – they’re all pain, no gain.
Unwanted Facial Hair
Hey everyone!
I got a note in my suggestion box asking me how I get rid of unwanted facial hair and how long it lasts me, so dear reader (who sent the suggestion anonymously, so that’s all I can call them), here is your answer!
First of all I’m really only concerned with 2 things: my brows, and sometimes my upper lip. I don’t have much of an issue with the peach fuzz some gals have on their cheeks, and thankfully for me those crazy chin hairs that some women get with age are still a bit far on the horizon for me. I do have suggestions for those issues though and I’ll add them in with my recommendations below. :)
Eye Brows
I have insane brows. Genetics bless us in awesome ways sometimes, and not so awesome in other ways. I got my dad’s good hair and mom’s big expressive eyes, but I also inherited a crappy metabolism (really mom, why can’t I have yours????) and some crazy eyebrows. They’re crazy in that they have very little natural shape. Left to their own devices my ‘eyebrows’ would cover half my face, I think. They’re just creative, I guess…not the color in the lines type. So yes, I have strays all over the place and a “unibrow” area that need tending to on a very regular basis. My weapon of choice is:
Semi-regular threading. I get this done at a threading studio local to me. I reviewed it on Yelp, so you can find the review on my Beauty Destinations widget over on the sidebar on the right if you are in Orange County and looking for a great threading studio. Threading is a very old Middle Eastern technique for getting rid of unwanted facial hair where the hairs are pulled out using a piece of thread. There are tons of videos on Youtube about how to do it yourself, but I’d prefer to let the experts handle it. It costs $8. Like most beauty procedures there is an up side and a down side. Pros are: no hot wax that could burn you, cheap, fast, easy to get a precise shape, significantly less irritation/redness afterwards. The catch? It hurts! A lot! Like waxing the first few times are the worst and it gets progressively easier, but it is painful. Luckily the pain doesn’t last very long. Just suck it up and get ‘er done! I only have my brows threaded, but you can have your face/lip etc. threaded as well. I’m just too much of a wuss for my lip and don’t need anything else.
How Often: Every 3-4 months. I can go this long between threadings because I maintain with trimming and tweezing when necessary. My E.L.F. tweezers (all 3 pairs!) are my lifesavers. They’re great little slant tweezers that really get all the hairs, and they only cost $1 a pair. For trimming I’m ashamed to say I use desk scissors. But this is VERY dangerous. Do not follow my lead. Use little tiny cuticle scissors or something. MUCH safer.
Upper Lip
The upper lip thing mostly started as me being overly self conscious and a little bit nuts. I mean really I don’t need to worry about this, but it makes me feel better so why not, right? It’s just a little lip grooming and if it makes you feel good, go for it. For getting rid of the little hairs on my upper lip I like…
Hair removal cream. I got a box from Sally’s for a few bucks. It contains baby oil and some other soothing ingredients. I swipe a little on the desired area for hair removal, let it sit as many minutes as it says on the directions (I think it’s 5?) and then rinse it off with cold water. It’s easy, effective, and totally painless. The reason I prefer to do this for my upper lip is this area is particularly sensitive to waxing and threading, and for me I am prone to break out in this area when I thread or wax it.
How Often: Every 4 months or longer. Like I said, the hair here is very fine and just being honest, not very noticeable. I’m just a spaz and I like to get rid of it.
Other Areas
If you are interested in getting rid of hair in other areas (such as cheeks, the “sideburn” area, or maybe your chin), I highly recommend the Lindo Twist ‘n Roll Tweezers I reviewed semi-recently. They are PERFECT for this. It hurts a little bit and takes some getting used to, but it really is simple and very effective. Or try the cream I mentioned from Sally’s. That’s about as easy as it gets and it is very effective.
Post Hair-Removal Care
A lot of people don’t like to mess with their facial hair because after removing it they might break out or have irritation. The skin on the face is very sensitive and delicate, so this issue is common. Here are my tips to avoid it.
– Start with a CLEAN face and hands. Even better is after the shower. For some reason hair comes away easier after being in a steamy shower.
– If you’re tweezing or using a facial threading device, make sure to keep those clean as well.
– If you experience redness or irritation after hair removal, apply a soothing topical such as azuline oil (available at most beauty supply stores), witch hazel, or noni gel. I do not recommend aloe vera even though it’s very soothing in general just because whenever I get it near my eyes they water like nobody’s business.
– If you don’t want to purchase another product to soothe irritation with, or for severe redness, soak a cotton ball with cold milk and apply to the affected area.
– If you are removing hair with threading or tweezing it is possible to open your skin a little which will bleed a tiny bit. If this occurs, clean the area thoroughly and apply polysporin.
– I actually prefer to apply polysporin to the entire area after I’ve done hair removal. I swear by it for preventing post hair removal breakouts. Every time I get lazy and skip that, those red bumps appear. D’oh!
Hope all of that info really helps you with your grooming and primping. :) If you have any tricks or tips, let me know in the comments!