Tag Beauty
Review of Nutree Brazilian Bottox Expert
My hair was always straight throughout childhood and adulthood, to the point where it often fought any type of curl or wave I tried to create. Then menopause hit, and my hair mutated into a super wavy, frizzy, unmanageable mess. To give you an idea of how wavy my hair became after the “change”, let’s just say that as my hair air dries after I wash it, it looks like I had put my hair into two pigtail braids and left them that way overnight, then unraveled them to release intense waves. On the rare occasion when I am rushing around and unable to run the flat iron through my hair once it has completely air dried, a few friends have witnessed how wavy my tresses have become. Despite the fact that those friends have remarked that they think it looks pretty, I cringe when I realize that someone has noticed the change in my hair texture.
I wouldn’t mind the waviness in my locks if 1) the wave was evenly distributed (the right side is considerably wavier than the left), and 2) my hair didn’t expand as it dried, creating a frizzy mushroom-shaped mass. I honestly feel a bit like Roseanne Rosannadanna when my hair is in the process of drying, and I fight it like crazy, using a brush-style blow dryer, hair oil, and shine serum. I have tried to skip the flat iron, but I truly can’t stand how my hair looks without that final smoothing step. I am always bound and determined to kill that hormonal squiggle which runs through my hair!
So when Nutree asked me to review their Brazilian Bottox Expert, I gladly agreed to do so, since I am always in search of products and treatments which can calm my unruly mop. This is considered a professional treatment, and the chemicals are rather harsh, so I strongly urge you to work in a very well ventilated room, wear gloves, and even wear protective eyewear if you have sensitive eyes like I do. Though I didn’t use my onion cutting goggles, I honestly did consider wearing them while I applied the treatment and for the 40 minutes during which I had the product penetrating into my hair. Even when I blow dried and flat ironed my hair, some of the fumes made me choke a bit, and my eyes teared a bit then as well.
Since Brazilian Bottox Expert is a thermo multi-control mask, and fills in the hair cuticle so that it is nice and smooth. So what you can expect from this treatment is hair which is shiny, smooth, and more manageable. The large jar should be enough for three treatments on my thick, waist-length, half-Asian hair, which I guess is acceptable. There is a sweet, bubble gum/fruity smell to the product, but that smell can be pretty strong when the product is being applied, or when a hot styling tool is introduced. That being said, the fumes are tolerable.
The first thing I did was wash my hair with an anti-residue shampoo, then allowed it to dry completely overnight while I slept (I’m lazy like that, and prefer to let my hair air dry). I then sectioned my hair into six sections, put on a pair of gloves, and applied the product to each section. I also made sure to comb the product through from roots to ends to make sure the product was distributed evenly. I set my timer for 40 minutes and made sure to sit in a well-ventilated room.
After 40 minutes, I lightly rinsed my hair, making sure to leave a thin layer of product in my hair. I could tell that there was a thin layer of product by the slippery quality in my wet hair. I towel dried my hair, then blow-dried it with a round brush. I will admit that this took FOREVER because I have very thick, long hair, and also because I detest blow drying my hair. One of the reasons why my hair is so healthy is because I only wash it twice a week, and I only run a brush-style hair dryer through my damp hair for about 3 minutes to speed up the air-drying process. So what I did was split up the blow-drying into three sessions, with about 20 minutes in between each session.
Once my hair was completely dry, I flat ironed my hair, taking small sections and running the flat iron 12 times through each section. The heat from the flat iron really kicked up the fumes, and my eyes began to water a bit, but I toughed it out. The result was incredibly smooth hair, without that nasty frizz I have been getting after washing my hair.
About three days after I applied Brazilian Bottox Expert, I washed and conditioned my hair with Amazonliss Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner. As my hair dried, I noticed that the wave in my hair had relaxed somewhat, which surprised and delighted me since the product is not considered a straightener or relaxer. Right before my hair was completely dry, I ran a hair dryer through it, but it took no time to get it to dry, and my hair looked smooth and relatively frizz-free, with no mushrooming out (no more Roseanne Roseannadanna!). I could actually tolerate the amount of curl in my hair, but I still ran the flat iron through it.
I absolutely LOVE how my hair is significantly tamer, much more manageable, with less wave and considerably less frizz. The other bonus is how shiny my hair is now! I am hoping that this will last a couple of months, because it has completely changed how I feel about my hair now. Brazilian Bottox Expert is a complete gamechanger for me, and I honestly believe that anyone who is dealing with excessive curl and frizz and wants to make their hair more manageable should try this product.
Great Mineral Oil Free Product For Angry, Reactive Dry Skin
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Image ID : 104888033
Copyright : magone
I had spent the last two months of 2020 searching high and low for a natural, rich, mineral-free cream which I could use on my very parched, eczema-tortured skin which developed as a result of an overly aggressive CO2 laser treatment, a 2 month reaction to mineral oil, and the cold, dry winter air. After searching high and low in an effort to find a solution, I stumbled upon a product which fit the bill: Ultra Repair Cream from First Aid Beauty. From the very first application, I got INSTANT relief, and my skin drank this stuff up. I slathered it all over my neck, chest, shoulders, and forehead, and all the itchiness went away almost instantly. Ahhhhhh…
While the cream is extremely thick, almost like frosting, it absorbs quickly and beautifully, and hydrates like a dream. Another thing I appreciate is the fact that this product is fragrance free, and that there is just a nice, clean, very faint neutral scent from the ingredients themselves.
Though I suspect that I will go through the 8.8 ounce tub pretty quickly in an effort to finally heal my angry skin (my entire upper body is suffering), I think it is well worth it, especially since so few creams out there are mineral oil free, and also since this, along with only two other products I have tried (Skyn Iceland Arctic Repair Cream, and La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Balm), have the ability to calm my reactive skin to a point where I don’t feel like I have a million ants crawling all over me.
I will most definitely purchase this cream again. And again. This may be a new holy grail of moisturizers for me!
One Theory Complete Collection Skincare Line
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. I was provided with free product in exchange for my unbiased review.
Every once in a while, I encounter a skincare line which impresses me so much that I want to praise it from a mountaintop. This is definitely the case with One Theory Complete Collection, which I recently got a chance to use and review. You can see in the YouTube video review which I have shared at the top of this post that, though I am not standing on a mountaintop, I am definitely a fan of this skincare line, which is paraben-free, fragrance-free, cruelty-free, and is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin like mine.
The Complete Collection includes the following products:
Morning Beat™ Vitamin C Serum | 1 fl oz
Millionaire Sugar™ Retinol Serum | 1 fl oz
HydraMatrix Amino Tea™ Peptide Serum | 1 fl oz
La Rituelle™ Kojic Acid & Green Tea Replenishing Moisturizer | 1.7 oz
One Theory recommends using the following products in sequence for your morning ritual after cleansing and toning your skin:
Morning Glow Routine:
Morning Beat™ Vitamin C Serum
HydraMatrix Amino Tea™ Peptide Serum
La Rituelle™ Kojic Acid & Green Tea Replenishing Moisturizer
In the evening, you will use the following products in sequence:
Night Flow Routine:
Millionaire Sugar™ Retinol Serum
HydraMatrix Amino Tea™ Peptide Serum
La Rituelle™ Kojic Acid & Green Tea Replenishing Moisturizer
One Theory Complete Collection
Morning Beat™ Vitamin C Serum:
Probably my favorite aspect of this serum is the fact that it features the more stable magnesium ascorbyl phosphate molecule as its Vitamin C antioxidant. This particular form has both hydrating and calming properties, making it ideal for all skin types. Vitamin C is terrific for combating environmental skin stressors, and it brightens skin beautifully. When I apply this onto my skin, I get wonderful hydration, great absorption, and a glowy tone.
Millionaire Sugar™ Retinol Serum:
Though I am not the biggest fan of retinol (I just don’t like walking around with flaking skin), I do honor its ability to increase cell turnover and refine the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Millionaire Sugar™ features a slow release, active 1% microencapsulated form of Retin-A which prevents the retinol from breaking down before it penetrates your skin. The result is improved skin texture and improved skin renewal.
Imagine my surprise when I developed absolutely NO flakiness or peeling from this product. My skin was already more radiant after using this product for a few nights. I am in love with this retinol product, and look forward to rejuvenating my skin each night as I sleep with this wonderful serum on my face.
HydraMatrix Amino Tea™ Peptide Serum:
This product boasts a collagen-boosting peptide known as Matrixyl 3000® which is phenomenal for the area around my mouth and eyes, because it just smooths out fine lines and rough skin patches (which I developed from a fractional laser procedure in November of last year). The addition of cucumber and green tea make this gel incredibly soothing, something my skin really appreciates. It’s incredible how this serum seems to normalize skin, balancing out redness, dry spots, and oily spots (yes, I still have some oiliness in my T-zone even though I am over the half-century mark).
La Rituelle™ Kojic Acid & Green Tea Replenishing Moisturizer:
Whenever I find a great moisturizer, I get almost giddy with excitement, because they honestly are difficult to find. From the first time I ever used La Rituelle™, I was completely hooked. It nourishes my parched skin without sending it into an oily mess, absorbs completely, and imparts such a smooth, amazing finish to my skin that I often don’t bother using finishing powder (I don’t use foundation, just finishing powder to combat shine).
La Rituelle™ provides a gentle barrier to moisture loss and works beautifully with all three facial serums in the One Theory line. Kojic acid, Willow Bark extract, Green Tea, and Ginseng are combined with a bit of glycolic acid in a Hyaluronic Acid base to create a magical moisturizer which has become a personal favorite.
I never recommend products which I do not personally use, so when I say that I am over the moon with the One Theory skincare line, I truly mean it. My skin is luminous, hydrated, and happy with all four products in the One Theory line. I am also so excited to try their cleanser and toner when they become available, because I have no doubt that they will be outstanding!
To order the One Theory Complete Collection, just click on the link below:
Review of Pure Beautanics’ Restore Formula with Collagen
Please check out my YouTube review of Restore Formula by Pure Beautanics!
Mineral Oil Sensitivity
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Image ID : 33900955
Copyright : thodonal
Ever since I was a baby, I have had wicked reactions to mineral oil, and consequently have avoided it for the bulk of my life. My poor mother was unable to apply Johnson’s Baby Oil on me, and had to find other options to moisturize my skin.
Whenever mineral oil is placed on any part of my skin, I experience intense itching within a couple of minutes which starts at the point of contact with the oil, then about a minute or so after that, I develop a fine, sandpaper-like, incredibly itchy rash over my entire body. I must immediately wash off the oil, then take an antihistamine. The rash takes hours to subside.
In case you think I am making this up, I have gone for massages and hadn’t paid attention to what oil or cream the therapist was using. There have been numerous incidents in which I reacted to an oil in the manner I just described above, and upon querying the therapist, discovered without fail that they had applied baby oil, i.e. mineral oil, to my skin.
Strangely, I have never had a pronounced reaction to any other mineral oil based products such as petrolatum, paraffin oil, or paraffin wax, so I have kept items like Vaseline and Aquaphor on hand, and I have never concerned myself with small amounts of mineral oil in body lotions. However, I have never been comfortable with the fact that mineral oil is ubiquitous, used in everything from lotions, to cold creams, ointments, cosmetics, and personal care products. Mineral oil is very inexpensive, and helps to lock in moisture, making it desirable for use in skin products.
Source: 123rf.com
Image ID : 81118389
Copyright : Dmitry Pichugin
But let’s think about where mineral oil comes from. When crude oil is refined to make gasoline and other petroleum products, such as diesel fuel, jet fuel, asphalt, lubricating oils, and biofuels, mineral oil is one of the by-products which is used in household and personal care products. I know that there are purifying methods used to guarantee that the substances used in personal care products aren’t toxic, but I am a bit bothered by the usage of crude oil distillates and by-products in this way, and would prefer to avoid them.
The reason why I bring all this up is because I had the worst reaction ever to a post-laser treatment cream which I was instructed to use immediately following a fractional CO2 laser treatment which took place in mid-November of 2020. I hadn’t used the cream much during the first 36 hours following the procedure, but began using it 5-6 times a day from the 36 hour point on. Within a couple of hours, I began noticing an incredibly itchy, fine, sandpaper-like rash which appeared on both arms, my chest, belly, hips, neck, and shoulders. I kept using the cream, and the rash became angrier, and completely robbed me of sleep for the next 2 nights before I decided that I had better check the ingredients on the post treatment cream. Of course the second ingredient listed was mineral oil.
Hence began my quest to find a rich, emollient cream which would soothe my laser torched skin without exposing me to petroleum products. I couldn’t use Aquaphor because it had petrolatum, so I turned to a shea butter cream I had…which also had mineral oil. I broke out horribly. My next idea was to use cocoa butter cream, but that also had mineral oil in it, so the rash persisted. In desperation, I turned to raw mango butter, but I discovered that my skin wasn’t fond of that substance either.
It has been nearly impossible to find rich, emollient creams which are free of mineral oil. I have been on the hunt since November, and have looked everywhere. I know there are others who have sensitive, reactive skin, and I had even focused my search on treatments for eczema and psoriasis. What shocks me is that the majority of products for those conditions have…mineral oil. It’s enough to drive one mad.
It has now been over SEVEN weeks since I had the laser procedure, and since that time, I have been on oral antihistamines, gave myself two hydrocortisone injections, and used everything imaginable to try to get my skin not only to calm down, but to also offer hydration. Incidentally, my skin is so leathery and parched, that I must apply emollient creams every hour to replenish moisture, and I am STILL battling a constant rash and hives all over my upper body. The combination of the fractional CO2 laser and the mineral oil cream have essentially ruined my skin.
For anyone who even dares to argue that mineral oil sensitivity is not a thing, I challenge you. Honestly, I’ve lived with this condition for my entire life, and I am extremely irritated by the fact that dermatologists foolishly avoid the subject, as if it was some forbidden topic. An article by
Hopefully there is a light at the end of this skin rash tunnel. There are three emollient creams which I have ordered which are free of mineral oil and other petroleum substances, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of them will give me blessed relief.
Scent Beauty Has Incredible Fragrances!
I’ve been working with Scent Beauty as one of their brand ambassadors for several months now, and I absolutely love the fragrances they sell. So far, I have seven scents from their line:
- Intention, Transcend, and Balance from the Phluid Project
- Rise and Shine, I Am Bright, and So Serene from Scent Organix
- Cher – Fragrance Foundation’s 2020 Awards Winner
Here are links to the fragrances I just mentioned:
https://scentbeauty.com/collections/house-brands
https://scentbeauty.com/products/cher-eau-de-couture
So you may be asking, do I actually use any of these fragrances? The answer is a resounding YES.
Intention by The Phluid Project
Intention from the Phluid Project is the perfect blend of spicy, floral and sweet, with the following scent profile:
–
SCENT PROFILE
Pink Pepper, Rosebud
TOP
Cherry, Saffron
HEART
Tonka Bean, Cedarwood
BASE
Intention has only a hint of sweetness which comes from the cherry, but is well balanced with the other tones. I love this fragrance and wear it often.
—-
I also love the dual phase feature of all three fragrances in the Phluid Collection. They are just gorgeous! All you do when you need to use a Phluid Collection fragrance is to shake the bottle to mix the phases, then spray onto your skin!
Transcend by The Phluid Project
Then there’s Transcend, which is mildly reminiscent of Prada Candy, but is a much softer expression, a tropical beach with hints of fruit and sea salt and sultry warm notes like vanilla. It is my current favorite!
–
SCENT PROFILE
Dragonfruit, Pineapple Leaf
TOP
Tiare Flower, Sea Salt
HEART
Palo Santo, Vanilla Orchid
BASE
Balance by The Phluid Project
In stark contrast, Balance is a very clean, crisp fragrance, and one which to me is a men’s fragrance, despite Scent Beauty’s claim that all of its scents are unisex. Here are the notes:
–
SCENT PROFILE
Cardamom, Iced Grapefruit
TOP
Black Tea, Clary Sage
HEART
Vetiver, Atlas Cedar
BASE
Rise and Shine by Scent Organix
Rise and Shine from Scent Organix is a beautiful, light, clean fragrance which just makes me happy when I smell it. Here is the scent profile for Rise and Shine:
–
SCENT PROFILE
Tangerine, Lemon Spritz
TOP
Hibiscus
HEART
Peach Blossoms, Orange Zest
BASE
I Am Bright by Scent Organix
I Am Bright from Scent Organix, while also light and fresh, has more of that tropical citrus vibe. This is more fruit-forward than Rise and Shine, but not in an overt fashion. I love it as well!
–
SCENT PROFILE
Juicy Pineapple, Salted Coconut
TOP
Tiare Flower
HEART
Orange Flower, Lemon
BASE
So Serene by Scent Organix
Then there is So Serene, which I love to wear when I go into the office. It is very subtle, and no note overpowers any other. It imparts a relaxing vibe which keeps me at an even keel.
–
SCENT PROFILE
Mandarin, Violet Leaves
TOP
Wild Freesia
HEART
Green Tea, Lime
BASE
Cher Eau De Couture_Icon
The last scent I have in my Scent Beauty collection is Cher Eau de Couture, which is a very intense, smoky, deep and complex fragrance. It’s as commanding as Cher is! It just declares itself, as a sultry, clove-dominant scent. I do love it, but I don’t think I would ever dare wear it during the day. This is something I can imagine someone of either gender wearing on a steamy date night!
–
SCENT PROFILE
Bergamot, Clove, Neroli
TOP
Jasmine, Rose, Orange Flower
HEART
Vetiver, Sandalwood, Vanilla Orchid
BASE
To order any of these amazing fragrances, please use the following link so that Scent Beauty knows that I referred you:
I’m A Jasmin Influencer!
I am so thrilled to be a Jasmin Influencer! I have been with them since early December, and I have a blast creating highlights for the site and posting every day. Yes that’s right, every single day, even on holidays and weekends!
Please follow me at www.Jasmin.com/staceynaito and check out my highlights and daily story elements! You can also direct message me anytime through the site, and I also make myself available for Video Calls for a pocket of time every day.
Topics I cover include:
Dating
Relationship
Soul Mate
Fitness
Flirt Advice
Beauty
Lifestyle
Travel
Fashion
I haven’t posted anything on Dance, but who knows? I may talk about my three year stint with salsa dancing on the Jasmin platform!
You can sign up for FREE and get 15 FREE CREDITS!
I am also always open to suggestions on topics which you would like to have me cover. Want more nutrition tips? Beauty hacks? Travel deals? Relaxation techniques? On the go workouts? You tell me, I’m open!
The Bush Is Back In Style, Ladies…
source: 123rf.com
Image ID : 99058606
Copyright : Vladimir Gjorgiev
If you’ve spent many years battling the crop of hair which continues to grow in your nether regions, I have some good news for you. The bush is officially back in style, so much so that celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow are rocking their pubes like it’s 1971. Now you can be free of stubble, razor nicks, the pain of having a wax infused muslin strip ripped away from your groin, and the piercing pain of laser pulses deranging your hair follicles.
Of course, if you have had any treatments to impede hair growth (laser, IPL, or waxing), it may be challenging to get the lawn to grow in fully. A hair transplant clinic in London has actually answered that lament by offering pubic hair restoration for women who have had it removed by laser. Apparently this service is increasing in popularity too.
This also may be good news for men who prefer a lush, full pubic bush framing the garden in which they enjoy frolicking. I wonder if this somehow follows on the heels of the lumber-sexual beard trend which some men chose to adopt in recent years? In true hippie, or as the trendy term goes, bohemian, style, I guess we are all reverting to a freer time. It’s time to back away from laser hair treatments, waxing, plucking, and shaving, in favor of a return to what Mother Nature intended us to sport under our skivvies.
Moreover, there are numerous benefits to allowing pubic hair to return to its original, uncropped and untortured state, which are listed in this article:
https://www.bolde.com/full-bush-trendy-relieved/
source: 123rf.com
Image ID : 116442280s
Copyright : Olena Kachmar
Have patience while you let your magic carpet grow in. And once your muff mop returns to its unrestricted state, you can even improve it with products like Fur Oil, which is specially designed to condition its thicker texture. A UK-based company named Two L(i)ps sells a charcoal infused vulva mask which apparently “detoxifies” your vajajay, and works just as well if your kitty is as bald as a baby bird or if it rocks a shaggy mane. I simply must share some of the musings of Imogen Edwards-Jones who wrote a hilarious article for Get The Gloss in which she reviews this bizarre product:
“…I am not a woman who gives her wazoo much thought. I do rudimentary minge management. I wax and clip and occasionally when I’ve been a little too busy, I’ve posted the straggling escapees back under my bikini while relaxing by the pool. But basically my vagina and I, we get by.”
Here are her initial impressions of the mask:
“…Initially, it made me desperate for the loo. It was like wearing a cold, wet, swimming costume, unpleasant enough to trigger a virulent episode of cystitis. Then after about five minutes, it warmed up. Somehow that was worse. Perhaps I had peed myself unawares?”
The company recommends that you apply a mask every day for 5 consecutive days, which comes to a whopping $120. Now, I honor and appreciate my goodie parts, but I certainly am not about to fork out over 100 clams (pun intended) to see how this product might yield a brighter, toxin free cootch.
Whichever you direction you ladies decide to go in, shaved clean, cropped, or a mop, rock it the way you know best!
Vajazzling
source: 123rf.com
Image ID : 113005851
Copyright : Irina Timokhina
When I was researching the topics which comprised my two previous blog posts, I ran across vajazzling, a ridiculous trend which somehow caught on with women about ten years ago. Wikipedia defines vajazzling as:
“A vajazzle (also spelled vagazzle) is a form of genital decoration, formed by the application of crystal ornaments on the shaved mons pubis of a woman. The process is known as vajazzling, a portmanteau of “vagina” and “bedazzle”.”
Source: 123rf.com
Image ID : 82512498
Copyright : Marina Foteeva
I suppose vajazzling is better than genital tattoos or genital piercing, since it is painless and temporary, but I honestly don’t understand the appeal of affixing crystals onto your hoo-ha. Vajazzling art lasts anywhere between several days to 3 weeks, but you have to be careful about wearing tight clothing, because the fabric will cause all the baubles to rub off. You can expect to pay anywhere between $24 to $300 for an aesthetician to create a small masterpiece on your mound of Venus.
Here are a couple of videos which discuss vajazzling:
The adhesive which is used is medical grade, so the gems tend to stay in place quite well, even while swimming. But vajazzlers want women to be aware that frequent bathing may cause the stones to loosen more rapidly. My guess is that if regular bathing is discouraged to an extent, those private areas would need the extra ornamentation in order to lure their partners!
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