November 4, 2012

I may have just found a blowout product that's near perfect. Alterna Perfect Blowout Cream has lots of things going for it that my hair absolutely loves:

• Fighting humidity.

• Creating lots of shine. Lots.

• Protecting the hair from heat damage.

• Enhancing smoothness, softness, and straightness.

• Reducing frizz.

• Never getting crunchy, stiff, sticky or goopy.

That's a lot to love! There's just one thing that keeps Alterna Perfect Blowout Cream from being completely perfect. Alterna says their products are not animal tested, and I've seen comments online from people who have emailed Alterna for confirmation, and have gotten it. I thought Alterna's products were not animal-tested, and that's why I've been comfortable buying them.

However, PETA's Caring Consumer web site doesn't list Alterna on the “does test” list or on the “does not test” list. That means they're one of the many companies in-between. Maybe they don't test and they haven't documented it yet for PETA. Or maybe they outsource their testing so their hands don't get dirty. At this point, I don't know why they're in limbo land.

I haven't contacted Alterna directly myself yet, so I don't have any first-hand information. I'll report back with anything I find to give us a comfort zone with Alterna products.

If indeed Alterna does NOT animal test, then yes, this blowout cream would literally be perfect. Utterly, astoundingly, stunningly perfect. It's that good. I really hope I can keep using it.

~BigSis

October 23, 2012

This quarter's QVC New Beauty Test Tube that arrived a couple of weeks ago, came just in time! I had recently run out of both of my Wen Cleansing Conditioners and was using something else that I didn't like as much.

I was also in desperate need of a new eye firming product since my crow's feet seem to be getting worse by the minute and there's no room in my beauty budget for some much needed botox! 🙂

The QVC New Beauty test tube always include great products that I've never tried before and some that I've never even heard of.

Here are the eight awesome products in this quarter's test tube.

• Wen Cleansing Conditioner  (I received the Tea Tree formula.)
• Perricone MD High Potency Eye Treatment
• philosophy full of promise restoring cream
• Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse
• bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss
• Smileactives Tooth Whitening Pen
• Perfect Formula Daily Moisture
• Mally Evercolor Automatic Eyeliner

Of the products I've tried so far, my favorite is the philosophy full of promise restoring cream.

A 2 oz. jar sells for $65.00 which less than the $90.00 for a 2 oz. jar of the Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream that we both loved from last quarter's test tube. I'm still not sure, though if this one works quite as well as the Algenist.

I also love the Perricone MD High Potentcy Eye Treatment because I do notice a little tightening around the outside of my eyes, but at $98.00 for a .5 oz. bottle, I don't think I'll be buying this any time soon. I'm going to try to make the .17 oz sample last as long as possible.

I really like the Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse, too. I had never heard of this brand before, but this stuff really works! In looking at the QVC site, I noticed that this product has won several customer choice and best of beauty awards. If you have thin or fine hair; this mousse is definitely worth a try. Since I have quite a bit of hair already, I use it sparingly and only put a little at my crown for some added body. It retails for $26.00  for 5 ounces.

I really like the way the bareMinerals lipgloss feels and I love the scent, but like most lip glosses, it doesn't stay on for very long.  I'm also going to start using the Nail Daily Moisture soon and will report back if I see some improvement in my sad little fingernails.

Thanks again, BigSis! I can't wait to hear what your favorites are from this test tube.

Note from BigSis: I'm glad you're enjoying the Test Tubes, LilSis! I haven't tried many of the products from this quarter's treasure trove yet, but I have used the Dr Perricone Eye Treatment and I absolutely LOVE it! It's a serum rather than a cream, so it melts in immediately, and it WORKS. Also, I've never used a product that cooperated with under-eye concealer as well as this treatment does. There's no pilling or caking at all. This is a winner!

~LilSis

September 8, 2012

Earlier this week I mentioned that I received my New Beauty Test Tube from QVC for this quarter. BigSis has been receiving these fun quarterly products from QVC for a while now and she was sweet enough to sign me up to receive one each quarter!

We both received ours around the same time, which has probably been a little over a month now and I started using a couple of products as soon as I could get this cute little pink cylinder unpacked! 🙂

I love the the Laura Geller waterproof primer and the Jose Maran Argan Oil, but my favorite product out of this quarter's goodie box of surprises is, without a doubt, the Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream.

Here's how Algenist describes this product:

This ultra-firming and restructuring cream tightens and lifts while reinforcing the skin structure. The unique combination of Alguronic Acid + ProPeptide³ boosts production of skin's key structural proteins: elastin, collagen, and proteoglycans to rebuild firmness and tone the skin. Facial contours are redefined to create a more toned and sculpted appearance.

After we had both been using this product for a couple of weeks, we chatted on the phone about it. I thought it was my imagination that I noticed results within just a couple of weeks while I was just using it once a day. When BigSis told me that she was using it twice a day and she definitely noticed a tightening in her skin, I immediately started using mine twice a day.

My skin is definitely tighter, yet softer, and I think, maybe, just “maybe”, some of the wrinkles are a little less noticeable!

Here are Algenist's 3rd party Clinical and Consumer Testing Results.

A third-party clinical study of 20 women, aged 45 to 60 years, examined the ability of the Firming & Lifting Cream to firm the skin and increase elasticity over 10 and 28 day periods. Through scientific measurement, the Firming & Lifting Cream is clinically proven to increase skin firmness and elasticity by 15% in 10 days.

We've both tried a lot of skin care products and different creams that claim to work miracles; some working better than others, but this one definitely gets 5 stars from me.

The 1/2 oz. sample size will probably last another week or so, so I would say I might get six weeks out of it. The only drawback I see right now is that the 2 oz. size of the Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream is $94.00.

When I get my beauty product budget back up to par, I do think that it would be worth it because the 2 oz. will probably last almost six months.

Note from BigSis: I agree, LilSis! I do think this product tightens my skin. Now, I'm not saying it looks like I've had a facelift or anything that dramatic, but I did notice that my jowls weren't quite as droopy after I used this cream for just a few days. I had the opportunity to test another Algenist product in a previous Test Tube. I got a nice size jar of their Anti-Aging Moisturizer, and I liked it just as well as the Firming and Lifting Cream. A 2 oz. jar of it sells on QVC for $90, which is a bit pricey so I haven't bought it. I think the alguronic acid must be effective for our kind of skin, since both of these products contain it.

One good thing about QVC is that they put together “try me” kits where you get several products to test, rather than having to buy full-size items before you know if they work for you. I wish they had a kit with both of these products in it, but all I see now is a firming kit and an anti-aging kit.  One last note: Algenist's web site says that they do no animal testing, which makes us happy!

~LilSis

September 4, 2012

A few weeks ago; I was pleasantly surprised when the UPS driver rang the doorbell and dropped off a package containing another New Beauty Test Tube.

BigSis sent me my first one a few months ago but I didn't know that she signed me up to receive one each quarter. 🙂

THANKS again, BigSis.

Here are the eight awesome products that came in the Test Tube this quarter.

• Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream
• Laura Geller Waterproof Eye Spackle Pen
• smashbox Photo Finish
• Mally High Shine Liquid Lip Color
• philosophy love sweet love shampoo, bath & shower gel
• bliss lemon+sage body butter
• Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
• Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner

I haven't tried all of these products yet; but so far I really like the ones that I have used. Stay tuned; I'll be back in a day or two to tell you about my favorite.

And, I think BigSis might agree.

~LilSis

August 19, 2012

Maybe we don't want our hair QUITE this shiny!

Did you know that apple cider vinegar is actually good for your hair? You might think it would dry out your hair and scalp, but that's not the case. I have very dry hair, and have been using this natural treatment for a while with only great results.

Apple cider vinegar purifies the hair; removing product build-up from the hair and scalp. It adds softness, body and shine.

It's a natural product, it costs just pennies, and most of us probably already have it in our pantry.

Here's how you do it:

• Make sure that you use apple cider vinegar, not white distilled vinegar. I've used the more expensive organic apple cider vinegar in a pinch, but I usually just buy the cheap store brand and haven't noticed any difference. I know organic is always preferable when it comes to what we put in and on our bodies, but in this case I'm not stressing about it.

• Shampoo your hair as usual, rinse and towel dry. Gently sprinkle the vinegar onto your head aiming for your scalp rather than the hair ends. I say “gently” because you do NOT want a drop of this vinegar flying into your eyes! I probably use around 1/4 cup of vinegar, but you don't need to measure. Just keep sprinkling until you feel like your head is saturated.

• I usually do this over the sink instead of in the shower since I want to leave it on for a while. I think the chance of getting vinegar in your eyes in the shower is greater too, with all that water spraying around. If you're doing this treatment in the shower though, make sure the container you take into the shower isn't glass.

• Once you get the vinegar on, massage it into your scalp and work it around, again being careful to protect your eyes from any wild splashes. Work it through to the ends, and use a wide tooth comb to distribute it. Be careful, wet hair is fragile.

• Leave the vinegar on for a few minutes. I usually aim for around 15 minutes.

• Thoroughly rinse the vinegar out in cool water. I think cold water adds shine too because it closes the cuticle of the hair. Massage your scalp to rinse free any build-up the vinegar has dissolved, and rinse, rinse, rinse.

• Condition and style as usual.

You might notice a lingering trace of vinegar aroma for the next couple of days when your hair is wet, but once it's dry there's no tell-tale smell. No one will accuse you of smelling like a salad!

I like to use this treatment once a week if possible to keep product build-up to a minimum. Give it a try!

Photo credit: Rapscallion's Flickr Photostream

~BigSis

July 12, 2012

Actually, that's not exactly true. At least it isn't the whole story. ShiKai Borage Therapy Dry Skin Lotion isn't just the best vegan body lotion I've ever used. It's the best body lotion I've ever used, period. Vegan or non-vegan, it's the best by a mile.

What's so great about it? It works!

The bottle claims that instead of working on the skin's surface, Borage Therapy works at the cellular level, fighting the cause of dry skin and healing it.

It also claims to relieve dry itchy skin quickly, and says that the skin will retain moisture to become healthier and more supple.

I don't claim to know what's happening to my skin at the cellular level, but here's what I do know for sure:

• My skin is softer and smoother than I've observed with any other body lotion.

• The softness stays. Even though there is no stickiness or greasiness, this lotion keeps working. When I shower the next day, I can feel a soothing layer of healing lotion rinsing from my skin. I didn't even know it was still there, but it was still doing it's thing.

• When I apply ShiKai Borage Therapy, it sinks in immediately. It doesn't go white on my skin, and it doesn't take a while to absorb into the skin. Who has time in the morning to wait on your body lotion to absorb before you can get dressed for work? Not me.

• I use the lightly-fragranced variety, and I love the scent. It's a very soft, almost citrusy scent. There is also an unscented formula if that's your preference.

• There are no animal ingredients and no animal testing is used. Sweet!

I found ShiKai Borage Therapy at my favorite hippie health food store, but you can also find it at Whole Foods, through ShiKai's web site, or at Amazon.com at a great price. I highly recommend it if you want to say goodbye to dry skin!

~BigSis

June 5, 2012

Want to know how to make a grown woman scream with excitement like a little kid on Christmas morning?

If so, I'll let you in on a little secret.  If you know someone that loves trying new products and loves surprises, you'll be her new BFF when you surprise her with one of these New Beauty Test Tubes from QVC! 🙂

I was thrilled when I received my Spring 2012 Test Tube from BigSis.

Even after several wonderful presents and a surprise visit for my birthday, BigSis sent me one of these just weeks after my “big” birthday. I've been on a bit of a “beauty product budget” lately so it was extra special receiving this Test Tube!

If you want to make sure to get one of these quarterly Test Tubes, you need to order it as soon as you see it advertised on QVC because they only have a limited quantity. Here are all eight of the products that were included in the Spring 2012 Test Tube.

First of all, I was really surprised to see the generous size of some of these products. There are usually 8 different items in each $29.95 kit, plus a New Beauty Magazine which would set you back $10 if you bought it alone. Many items are full-size, like eye liner, mascara, eye shadow and lip gloss.

Out of the 8 products in this test tube, I've tried five of them and these three are my favorites.

Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Regenerator (1 oz size retails for $68)

I fell in love with this product from the very first time I used it! It claims to regenerate, moisturize, firm and calm the appearance of dull, damaged and overexposed skin. It's also supposed to help diminish fine lines and wrinkles and give a more even skin tone and texture.

Because of it's unique pink gel-cream formula, just a little of this product goes a long way. It glides on so smoothly and makes your skin feel super-moisturized and hydrated. Here's a little description from Peter Thomas Roth about the ingredients:

Helps diminish the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles leaving skin radiant and younger looking. Advanced formula is infused with Dragon’s Blood (a red resin drawn from the Amazon’s Croton Lechleri tree, a centuries old native secret), Niacinamide PC (multi-functional antiaging ingredient), Hexapeptide (helps regenerate collagen & elastin) & a perfectly balanced cocktail of intense skin protectors & moisturizers including exotic extracts of Dragon Fruit, Red Poppy, Fire Tulip, Japanese Cherry & Purple Orchid (to help the appearance of a more even skin tone, a smoother looking texture & increased radiance).

I just used this product at night instead of twice a day and the 0.5 oz sample size lasted me about a month. I really did notice a difference in the overall texture of my skin and some of the very fine lines were diminished after just a month.

It's a little bit of a splurge at $68, but as soon as I've got some shiny gold coins in my beauty budget, this will be my first treat to myself.

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (6.6 oz. retails for $24)

This is another product that I loved the first time I used it. It's got a fresh, fruity scent and foams up just right with a very small amount of product. The little tiny exfoliator beads feel so good on your skin yet are much more gentle than most exfoliating products.

Here's a short description from Bliss:

A two-in-one oil-free exfoliating wash for all skin types, this fresh, fruity cleanser contains rose hip extract, milk thistle, passion flower and chamomile in a non-stripping formula that rebalances even the most schizophrenic of skins.

Bliss even states that guys have been known to sneak some as a shaving cream stand-in.  That's so funny to me because this is the first cleanser, in over 20 years of trying, that I've been able to get my husband to use in the shower instead of his Irish Spring bar soap. 🙂

Wen Cleansing Conditioner – This conditioner comes in several different scents; in my test tube, I received the Pomegranate, BigSis received the Cucumber Aloe, while others received the Lavender. It also comes in Fig and Sweet Almond Mint.

A few months ago I received a special offer on a four product Wen kit for $9.99 so I jumped on it! The products that I received were in the Sweet Almond Mint scent and I've been using the cleanser regularly for awhile. I like the results from the Pomegranate cleansing conditioner just as well but I like the Sweet Almond Mint scent better. This cleanser makes my hair super soft and shiny, but it does take getting used to because it doesn't lather up like other shampoos and you may not feel like your hair is getting clean enough.

The Wen by Chaz Dean products are not cheap when you pay full price for the individual products so if you're interested in trying them, check his website for the 30 day supply kits. The 30 day supply for $29.95 is still a good price considering that you get four products. I love all of them: the styling cream, the intensive hair treatment and the texture balm and I'm still using the ones that I received months ago.

BigSis has received several Test Tubes so far, and loves them so she's on auto-delivery to get the new Test Tube once a quarter. Her favorite products have been Wen Cleansing Conditioner in Winter Vanilla Mint, a full-size Mally Voluminous Mascara (retail value of $20 for one, or $28 for two), and most of all, a .5 oz bottle of Kate Somerville's incredible Exfolikate (2 oz goes for $85 on QVC).

She also says the only downside is that lately a few products have been repeated. The last Test Tube included another Wen Conditioner, but this time in the less desirable (in her opinion) Cucumber Aloe. Philosophy Shower Gel has also been repeated, in different scents.

If I've peaked your interest in the Test Tube, the next time it becomes available on QVC, I'll give a “shout out” on our BigSisLilSis Facebook page. So, if you don't already like us on Facebook, now is the perfect time to do so! 🙂

~LilSis

June 1, 2012

Scary, huh? What in the world is going on here?

Remember when I told you about the Indian Bridal Mask a couple of weeks ago? I had seen it on Doctor Oz, and whipped up a batch from turmeric, chickpea flour and almond oil.

Well, I mentioned that I might take photos on my next use of the mask, and LilSis pretty much dared me to show the dirty reality of this process.

So, without further ado – and certainly without any pride or ego – here are the photos I promised/threatened to share!

When I said it was messy, I wasn't kidding and I wasn't exaggerating. You schmear it all over your face and pretty soon it looks like your neon mustard color skin is melting off your bones…

Be sure to avoid your eye area with the mask.

Now that I've been through this process twice, here are my Top 10 Indian Bridal Mask Tips:

1. Keep the concoction away from your eyes.
2. Even though the mixture smells kind of interesting, don't eat it!
3. Mix the ingredients up in a plastic or paper bowl, and use a plastic spoon so you can toss it all in the trash when you're done.
4. Half or quarter the recipe if you don't want to have a lot of leftovers hanging around. Store any leftover mask in the fridge in a glass container.
5. Wear gloves when you apply the mask and when you remove it.
6. Wear old clothes when you do this treatment, just in case! Any miniscule drip or crumb of this mask will cause a HUGE yellow stain.
7. Protect your sink and application area with paper towels.
8. Remove the excess product with damp paper towels before you rinse. Don't use a washcloth until all traces of yellow are gone from your face.
9. When you think your face is clean, rinse it even more. Pay special attention to your eyebrows, hairline, neck and nostrils.
10. Gather up all of your trash items, and check your bathroom carefully for any stray mask bits before you leave. Examine the bottom of your feet or shoes to make sure you don't track yellow all over your house.

If you follow these tips, your chances of a yellow disaster should be lessened. You'll have nice, smooth, silky skin to enjoy and that makes us girls very, very happy. All of the care that you took with this process will be completely worth it!

Happy face…anticipating the silky smooth skin!

PS: I was clearly overdue for botox (7 months) in these photos, and I'm smiling even more now that I just took care of that little issue!

~BigSis

May 20, 2012

I love the Doctor Oz Show, and record it every day like clockwork. I always learn something from it. It might be a supplement I never heard of, a medical issue to be aware of, or a new beauty product I need to try.

About a month ago, I saw a Doctor Oz segment on ancient skin secrets from other cultures. His guest was Shalini Vadhera, who has written a book called Passport to Beauty. Two of Ms. Vadhera's treatments intrigued me.

One was a Korean rice water treatment to fade brown spots. I haven't tried that one yet, but I will. Even with sunscreen, I still end up with brown spots on my face, mostly on my upper cheekbones just outside the protection of my sunglasses.

The other treatment that caught my attention is called the Indian Bridal Glow Mask. Indian women use it on their face and body to make their skin smooth, bright and soft for their wedding day. It sounds pretty simple.

Just mix 1 cup of chickpea flour with 3 tablespoons of turmeric, and add enough almond oil to make a paste. The chickpea flour absorbs oil, the almond oil moisturizes, and the turmeric is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic.

The directions are to apply the paste to your face and let it sit for a few minutes. Instead of just removing it with a washcloth, you rub it off with your hands to exfoliate, which also is supposed to take off some of the peach fuzz that most of us have on our cheeks.

I finally tried the Indian Bridal Glow Mask today, and am pleased to report that it was surprisingly effective. Dare I say it was incredible even?

My skin feels softer and smoother than I can ever remember it being, even after using my favorite exfoliator; the amazing Exfolikate by Kate Somervell. I only have a small sample size tube of Exfolikate from a New Beauty Test Tube a while back, but if I bought a small 2-ounce size tube it would cost me $85! (PS: if you aren't getting the Test Tubes, you HAVE to do it! You will thank me.)

So, I could spend $85 for 2 ounces of a fabulous professional exfoliation product, or I can spend a couple of dollars on simple ingredients that I might already have in the house (which I did). Which is more appealing?

I can tell you I'd spend that $85 if I had to in order to get great skin, but if I don't have to, I'm spending that $85 on something fun, like shoes, workout clothes, craft supplies, a kitchen gadget, or anything pink.

Back to the Indian Bridal Glow Mask. I just used it on my face, and saw amazing exfoliation. My pores look smaller, my skin texture is smooth, and there is absolutely zero irritation. Lots of heavy-duty scrubs and masks can leave behind redness, and inflamed delicate areas that can start to peel in a day or two. That is not the case with this mask.

I didn't see a complete removal of  peach fuzz, but I think some of it is gone. The demonstration on Doctor Oz showed that the mask was drier than mine was, and when it was rubbed off, it actually came off in blobs. Mine was creamier than that, so the exfoliation was probably milder on my skin. I didn't feel that I added too much oil though; just enough to make a peanut butter consistency paste.

I have lots of the mask left, so I put it in a glass jar to save in the fridge until I do the next treatment in a week. I think it should be ok. If not, then next time I'll decrease the batch by about 75%.

One huge word of caution about this mask: BE CAREFUL! I cannot tell you how messy this concoction is! The turmeric will stain everything it comes in contact with. I'm not using the mask on my body as suggested, since the turmeric would absolutely instantly cause a huge yellow stain in the shower that I don't want to imagine.

I recommend mixing the mask in a plastic or paper bowl with a plastic spoon so you can throw it all away. When I was rubbing the mask off and wiping the residue off with wet paper towels, I had a couple of layers of paper towel in the sink to catch any drips. Otherwise I would have been scrubbing a yellow sink for a while.

Make sure you wear gloves when you work with the mask. It will stain your fingers and fingernails. Strangely enough, it didn't stain my face at all. Not sure why, but it didn't.

I'll use this mask again next week, and might let it sit on my skin a little longer to dry out more. I may get a photo of it actually on my face…it's pretty scary looking!

I highly recommend this treatment and am really excited about it! I love that it was effective, inexpensive, and completely natural, and I can't wait to try the Korean Rice Water Treatment next. I think that Shalini Vadhera just might be on to something!

~BigSis

March 3, 2012

I love BigSis' tutorial on Depotting the MAC Eye Shadows! Since my shadow collection is very similar to hers, with just over 50 of the adorable little pots, I'm going to try to find some time to depot mine soon.

My makeup drawers have become annoyingly messy, so I'm working on a little reorganizing project that I'll be sharing with you soon.

Here's what my MAC shadow drawer looks like now.

As long as we're talking about MAC, I thought it would be fun to share with everyone a couple of my new favorite MAC products.

BigSis gave me a MAC gift certificate for Christmas and I had just run completely out of my eye cream, so I decided to give MAC's Fast Response Eye Cream a try.

Here's what MAC says about their Fast Response Eye Cream:

The super-charged, caffeinated cream with instant effects. De-puffs, erases the look of dark circles, firms, soothes and softens skin around the eye. Special optics act like magic to fade away lines.

Sounds good, huh? Since this eye cream is caffeinated, I use it first thing in the morning and I use a different one at night. So far, I'm happy with the results I see from this Fast Response Eye Creme.

I've noticed some firming around the outside of my eyes and it definitely helps with the morning puffiness, which I seem to have almost every morning these days. And, most importantly, this eye cream doesn't leave my under eye area dry so my concealer still glides on nicely on top of it.

Another MAC product that I've been using for awhile that I really love is MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural.

I used MAC's loose powder for years and besides the fact that it didn't last long enough, they made the container smaller so I stopped buying it.  For $29.00 versus the $23.00 for the loose powder, the Mineralize SkinFinish Natural compact is a much better bargain because it lasts so much longer.

It doesn't take much of this product to get nice coverage. I just swipe my big powder brush over it a couple of times and the powder goes on in a really nice matte finish. It evens out my skin tone so much better than the loose powder. There are about nine shades to choose from so there's something for everyone. My shade right now is Medium Dark and I love it! If you aren't happy with what you're using now, I would highly recommend giving this a try!

Even though I don't have quite the collection of empties that BigSis has now, I just discovered that I have six empties so it's time to head to the MAC counter to pick out a new lipstick. 🙂

If there are any other MAC fanatics out there that have a new favorite product or a favorite eyeshadow or lipstick shade that they'd like to share, we would love to hear from you!

~LilSis