Lately, family members have commented on my teeth. They've remarked that my teeth look much whiter than they normally do...and I'm thrilled to hear that! Especially since I haven't done anything drastic to get whiter teeth.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I bought Sonicare toothbrushes. I've been using my SonicCare at least twice a day ever since. I don't use a whitening toothpaste because I love, love, love...and exclusively use...cinnamon flavored toothpaste (and it's really hard to find a cinnamon whitening toothpaste). I also use ACT Restoring mouthwash twice daily. Apparently my new toothbrush is doing the trick.
I know Sonicares are rather pricey, but I think they're worth every penny! I don't need to use any whitening products, which saves me both time AND money, and I am getting a better, more efficient cleaning every time I use the Sonicare.
I bought my Sonicare at Costco, and if you're in the market for one, you should certainly check out their prices. They have some pretty decent deals. And if you do switch over to a Sonicare, remember that you'll be using something that's pretty powerful. It may take a few brushings to get used to it. When I first started, the darn thing made me laugh! Now? It's no big deal.
So I guess I figured out how to get whiter teeth: use a better toothbrush. D'oh!
Whiten Up!
Beauty Quickies, Part 2
As we are all painfully aware, money is tight at the moment. These beauty and personal care products will make you feel pampered without having to spend a lot:
MS. MANICURE
One easy thing to cut out of your budget are all the extras...you know, morning coffees from Starbucks and regular pedicures and manicures. I can't help you with the coffee thing (actually, I can! Pick up a Keurig and brew single-serve coffee at home before heading out for work or school), but for your nails, I whole heartedly recommend Ms. Manicure products.
I've mentioned them before, but I was using a Ms. Manicure nail kit the other day and was impressed with the number of tools you get for next to nothing. Their Handy Dandy Mani solves all of your impromptu nail issues. Featuring Cuticle Nippers, Nail Clippers, Nail Scissors, Wood Cuticle Sticks, a Nail Brush, a Washable Salon Board, 4-Way Nail Buffer, and Slant Tip Tweezers, this beauty booty will keep your nails looking fresh and clean. At just $9.99 for the kit, you can keep on at home and stash one at your desk (or in your locker). Nice! Click here for more info.
ECO-TOOLS BRANCHING OUT
I really like Eco-Tools makeup brushes because they're inexpensive, high quality, and are made from good-for-the-earth materials. Now Eco-Tools is coming out with personal care products like “Clean Skin, Cleaner World” Body Wash ($7.99), “Sustainable Softness” Body Lotion ($7.99), “One Hand Helps the Other” Hand Cream ($7.99), and “Blooming Planet” Body Mist ($7.99). Their new line of products is 98% from nature, paraben-free, phthalate-free, dermatologist-tested and cruelty free. Check their website for retailers.
MOUTH FRESHENING TRIO
So you've spent a ton of time (and money) making sure your skin is perfect, your makeup amazing, and your body perfumed and primed for the day. But don't forget to focus on your breath! If you want to get long-lasting freshness and a very clean feeling mouth, try the new trio of Crest Extra White Plus Scope Outlast ($3.25 for 4 oz. or $4.25 for 7.6 oz.), Oral-B Advantage Floss Picks Plus Scope Outlast Flavor ($3.49 for a bag of 75), and Scope Outlast mouthwash ($4.99 for 750 ml or $5.99 for 1250 ml).
These products is infused with the advanced Outlast technology that binds tightly with select receptors in your mouth, triggering a minty fresh sensation that lasts longer than ordinary products. I've been using the trio for a few weeks now and WOW! They really make you mouth minty and fresh. And fresh breath is a perfect fashion accessory since it's always in season! Look out for them at drugstores and big-box retailers this month.
Product Update: Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal
I mentioned a while back that I was testing out the new Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal kit. I've since finished my treatments and here are my thoughts:
EASY TO USE
The new Advanced Seal strips are thicker than strips we've used in the past. And because they're more substantive, they're a little easier to apply. And once they're on, they feel secure. In the past, I've had strips slip off mid-treatment. Not cool. These strips stay put, just like they say they will. And you really can drink water and talk normally while wearing them.
FUN TO PEEL OFF
Because the Advanced Seal strips cling better to the teeth, they're kind of fun to peel off. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. They peel off with a bit of effort, and it reminds me of using a peel-off mask for my teeth. Good times!
EFFECTIVE AND FAST
After just three days, my teeth were noticeably whiter. I hadn't whitened my teeth in quite some time, so my pearly whites were in need of a good brightening. Now, my teeth look lovely and white, just the way they should be.
CAUTION! INCREASED SENSITIVITY
I almost always notice that my teeth become sensitive during the whitening process. I don't have sensitive teeth at any other time, but whenever I whiten, my teeth ache a bit. This is just a temporary problem, though, and a day or two after ending the whitening treatment, the sensitivity went away. I guess I have to suffer for my white teeth!
All in all, these were effective and easy to us. I loved that they really didn't slip off, because in the past, that was really frustrating. If you try these out, let me know your thoughts!
Don't Forget to Enter!
Don't forget! I'm giving away two sets of the new Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal to two lucky readers. I've been using these new whitestrips and they rock! You really can wear them while living life....you can talk normally and even drink water without fearing that the whitening strips will fall off. And the best part? Peeling these babies off your teeth once time is up. It's like a peel-off mask for your teeth.
Be sure to enter by midnight Pacific time tonight (Tuesday, March 17th). And entering is a snap...just leave a comment on this post.
Good luck!
Crest Whitestrips Giveaway!
Yesterday I mentioned that I am going to whiten my teeth using brand new Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal kit. Well now you can try these whitestrips out right along with me!
The good people at Crest are giving away two Crest Whitestips Advanced Seal kits to two lucky Kiss and Make-up readers. All you need to do is leave a comment on this entry by next Tuesday, March 17th. Be sure that I have a way to contact you. Winners will be drawn at random and will be announced on Wednesday, March 18th.
Good luck!
Product Preview: Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal
I haven't whitened my teeth in ages and they're looking a little...well...dingy. I normal dread whitening my teeth. The drugstore whitening strips often slip off--especially on my bottom teeth--and it's a hassle to find the time to sit, do nothing, and wait for the flimsy strips to do their job.
Crest has a new whitening product on the market, one that promises to be easier to use. It's called Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal. According to Crest, these new strips allow for a secure fit to your teeth, allowing you to talk and even drink water while whitening. Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal because it doesn’t interfere with daily routines, allowing us to whiten anytime, anywhere.
Hmmm....This sounds promising!
I have a package of these strips and will start my whitening cycle tonight. I'll report back soon to let you know how it's going!
If you're interested in trying this one out for yourself, click here for more info. Be sure to let me know what you think!
Make Your Pearly Whites Whiter
A fresh, bright, white smile never goes out of style and is the perfect compliment to any look. Here are some tips from Women's Health about brightening up your pearly whites:
Before you bleach
Consult your dentist, because not all teeth react to whitening the same way.
If you go to a pro
The whitening agents dentists use are up to three times more powerful than at-home versions, so you'll see results faster than if you go solo.
No-tech tricks: Bring on the baking soda
The refrigerator deodorizer also removes discoloration on your teeth.
Feel the crunch
Snack on food that are high in cellulose: the strong starchlike compound is found in celery, carrots, and apples and can act as a natural abrasive, cleansing teeth and removing surface stains naturally.
Be a little shady
Stick with blue-based red and pink lipsticks or clothes in dark colors. Warm colors (yellow, orange, brown, warm shades of red) worn close to your mouth will only bring out the yellow in your teeth.
Read the Women's Health review of the at-home whitening kits to find what's best for you by visiting their website. They're also giving away some fun goodies--check that out while you're at their site.
Monday Quickies!
Become a Dior Diva and join an amazing auction! Click here to register as a Dior Diva. As a diva, you'll get exclusive updates, diva points for every dollar spent, and you'll be able to participate in an online auction that starts today. Not only does the auction feature fabulous items to bid on (items like a day of beauty on Park Avenue in the Big Apple, backstage beauty lessons from a Diorshow makeup artist, or a couture handbag filled with the best of Dior's makeup collection), but all proceeds go to a very worthwhile charity, Look Good...Feel Better. This charity helps women dealing with cancer.
What's Your Catch Phrase contest. Starting today, you can enter a fun contest from Crest--they're looking for the new catch phrase that will appear in an upcoming Crest commercial. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse is famous for his food, restaurants and above all the word “BAM!” Crest Whitening Expressions pastes, available in Wintergreen Ice, Vanilla Mint, Cinnamon Rush and Extreme Herbal Mint, are packed with so much flavor they might just be bigger than BAM! But what’s bigger than BAM?! Emeril and Crest are turning to America to find the answer to this question…click here to submit your catch phrase and vote for your favorite!
Free BareEscentuals 10-Day Trial from Ulta. This offer expires Saturday, September 20th. If you purchase ANY BareEscentuals product online at Ulta.com, you can get a free 10-day trial of BareEscentuals foundation and a mini kabuki brush. What a great deal, especially if you have any traveling planned in your near future. Click here for all the details.
What's In The Bag?
As a proper girly-girl and makeup lover, I'm almost always packing...a handful of makeup goods that is! I've been known to lug around more than my fair share of lipsticks, but when I'm trying to travel lightly, I carry only a handful of beauty essentials.
Here's what you'll find in the very cute Vera Bradley bag in my purse:
- A nail file. I swear by Tweezerman's Filemate. Why? Because for $5, I get a decent file with a cute design and a durable plastic case. The importance of the case shouldn't be overlooked. It seems that I get gunk in the bottom of my makeup bag and purse, but my file stays clean thanks to its sheath!
- Tweezers. It always seems that the best lighting is in my car. So when I find a stray hair that needs to be plucked, I always have tweezers at the ready. Really...it seems like there are a million uses for tweezers, so I just keep a pair with me at all time. While I use Tweezerman at home, my Anastasia tweezers go with me in my bag.
- Burt's Bees Lip Balm. Ah, the ubiquitous Burt's Bees! I think everyone in the world has a tube or two of this stuff floating around. I love it, my husband swears by it, hell--even my 6 year-old nephew loves it!
- Oral B Floss Picks. My sister uses these and told me about them. She loves them and so do I! You never know when you have something yucky stuck in your teeth, and who wants to run around with a big chunk of parsley in their teeth? These floss picks are really great. They're easy to pack into my bag and they even easier to use. They let you get the back teeth with agility and have become a beauty bag essential for me.
- My lipstick du jour. I'm trying to get better about carrying around only the lipstick I actually need for the day. Above I have a tube of Bare Escentauls Buxom Lips...I'll tell you about that in a future post!
- Pressed powder. Cover Girl pressed powder is cheap and convenient. It keeps the shine down and sets my makeup, allowing for an instant beauty pick-me-up.
- Eyeglass lens cleaner. I wear glasses--I have since I was 12 and don't plan to change my 4-eyes ways. I always have pre-moistened eyeglass cleaner with me to swipe away any fingerprints that inevitably end up on my lenses.
- A compact. I have a cute little Kuromi compact that I picked up in the Hello Kitty store in Seattle's International District. Just because I'm over 30 doesn't mean I can't have anything fun and cute in my life!
What do you carry in your bag? What are your portable beauty essentials?
Sunday Quickies!
Wow! What a week I just got through. I worked overtime every day (Monday through Friday) and then had to pull a full day on Saturday. I'm exhausted, I'm sick of computers, and I'm fed up with florescent lighting and bosses who know no boundaries between work and life. And the sad part is that things won't be letting up for me any time soon. I am going to do my best to keep the blog moving along without interruption, but there may be absences every now and then throughout August.
My thoughts are scattered right now, so I am just going to give you a few little morsels of beauty product advice to keep you all sated. Here's goes:
LAST CHANCE TO ENTER TO WIN ANASTASIA PRODUCTS!
I'm giving away some Anastasia brow products. A winner will be picked tomorrow, so enter NOW! Click here for details.
TREAT YOURSELF AND SAVE MONEY!
The other day, I posted an entry about overly expensive beauty products that I refuse to try because I am far too cheap. In that post, I mentioned that I've never bought GoSMILE products, and many of you agreed. GoSMILE makes insanely expensive oral hygiene products, including "designer" toothpastes in flavors like lemon and mango. One tube of their toothpaste can cost as much as $16! $16!!!
Well...here's a way to save some cash and use fancy-pants toothpaste at the same time. Try out Crest Whitening Expressions. For less than $4 a tube, you can brush your teeth with good-for-you whitening toothpastes in yummy "designer" flavors like Wintergreen Ice, Extreme Herbal Mint, Refreshing Vanilla Mint, or (my personal favorite) Cinnamon Rush. See? You CAN add some luxury to your daily toothbrushing routine without spending a ton of money. Take THAT GoSMILE!
BOOTS PRODUCTS ON SALE AT CVS.COM!
From now until August 15th, for every two Boots products you purchase on CVS.com you will get one free! And if you purchase $50 or more, shipping is free. Boots, the British drugstore that makes a whole line of skincare and beauty products, has some great stuff. I love their lip balm and their Quick Thinking 4-in-1 face wipes. Check out CVS, stock up and SAVE on some high quality beauty goods! You'll be happy you did.
OTHER RANDOM THINGS TO CHECK OUT
- My friend and fellow blogger, Phairhead just indulged in some retail therapy at The Body Shop and wants you to do the same. Click here to find out why.
- There are a lot of revolutionary changes in the mascara world. I've been wanting to write about this for a while but have just not had time. Thankfully, the Beauty Bug has been mascara obsessed as of late. Click here to read about what changes you can expect to see in the wonderful world of mascara.
- Allure is giving away tons of free stuff and Lipstick Graffiti wants you to win. Click here for details.
Why So Serious(ly Expensive)?
As a beauty blogger, I try to test out products from all different price levels. One week I'll review a $24 lipstick and the next I'll sing the praises of a $4 mascara. I am not a beauty snob...well...not really any way!
For whatever reason, there are a few products I refuse to try, simply because I think that cost too much. Here's my off limits list:
- Anything from Fusion Beauty. Their lip products are supposed to plump your lips and make them look good. They supposedly blend together the latest, greatest technologies and breakthroughs to make amazing products. But lip gloss for $49 a tube? No thanks! I actually tried a sample of LipFusion and was not overly impressed. I think Maybelline Volume XL Lip Seduction gave me better results, more color options, and left far more money in my wallet.
- GoSMILE Products. I got a sample of GoSMILE's whitening ampules earlier this year and was very impressed with the results I experienced. However, I haven't bought anything from GoSMILE because I just can't find it in my to cough up the $90 for their teeth whitening system. Maybe I'm just being cheap. Who knows!
- StriVectin. Apparently StriVectin products can turn back the hands of time, reducing wrinkles and building up collagen. I will never know what StriVectin can do because I refuse to pay $135 to find out. I think I'll just stick with my Olay products!
