October 4, 2008

The battle against cellulite is never-ending, isn't it?  Since we didn't get SisMama's cellulite-free genes, we'll always be looking for the new best cure for the dimply little problem.

I really did like the FatGirlSlim.  I used it for quite a while.  It smelled nice, the cream soaked into the skin well without leaving any stickiness, and it really did seem to give the appearance of smoother skin, thanks to the caffeine in it.

BTW, why does topical caffeine reduce cellulite and eye puffiness, but eating or drinking caffeine-laced products is thought to make it worse?  I don't get it.  Anyway, I bought it several times at $25 for a 6 ounce jar, then it went to $27 and I kept buying it.  What's 2 more dollars in the search for smooth thighs?  But when it went to $29, I was out.  The jar doesn't last very long, and I had reached my budget threshhold.

I searched around on the reviews on MakeUpAlley, and found recommendations for a couple of products.  Neither was too pricey, so I gave them a whirl.  Loreal's Sublime Slim is another caffeine-containing product.  It's more of a gel consistency, and again soaked in well, and did make my skin feel smooth.  At a price point of only around $15, it seemed well worth it.  However, I did get to the point where I wanted to eliminate caffeine from my life for health reasons, so my Sublime Slim had to go.   Bummer.

Next, I tried Weleda's Birch Cellulite Oil.  It comes in a 3.4 ounce glass bottle, which wouldn't be my packaging preference since it is an oil and your hands get slippery.  You can usually find it for between $15 and $20.  I have to admit it's a little hard to get used to at first.  It's an all natural green oil with a very strong herbal aroma, which comes from birch and rosemary.  You don't need much of it, maybe a nickel-sized amount, so the bottle lasts a long time.  It does a good job of moisturizing, and I like that it gives your skin a warm feeling when you massage it in.  I'm not sure how much of a tightening effect I see, the jury is still out on that.  I'm using it now, and alternating it with the Forever Spring kit that LilSis talked about.

I like the Forever Spring Body Smoother kit fine, but I'm not sold on it yet.  The soap smells nice and the loofah does what it's supposed to do – exfoliate, but I have a little bit of a hard time getting much lather from the soap since it's encased in the loofah.  The Firm-It gel reminds me of an aloe vera gel, it feels nice and cool, but I'm not sure how much smoothing I'm seeing, and it seems a tad stickier that the Sublime Slim gel.  The lotion in the kit seems to be a nice standard body lotion.  The kit costs $38.50, but you can buy the loofah soaps separately.

So.  I've eliminated the products that I think are most effective since they containe caffeine.  I'm going to keep using the Weleda Cellulite Oil and the Forever Spring kit since they're my best options right now.  Maybe something new and cool will come along meanwhile.

~BigSis

October 4, 2008

Okay, let's be honest… If we're going to talk about what women, especially “more mature” women in their forties, are concerned about, we have to talk about cellulite. I know it's the nasty “C” word. It's a nasty, ugly word! More nasty and ugly than the other “C” word!

Maybe there are a few lucky women that don't have to worry about this issue, but I'm not one of them. It's in the genes; on D's side of the family; not from SisMama.  Unfortunately, this is yet another thing that Big Sis and I have in common.  For years, we have both been trying to find ways to prevent and/or diminish the scary “orange peel” or even worse, “cottage cheese” thighs!

Listen up you “twenty-somethings” and “thirty-somethings”! If you don't have it already, do everything in your power to prevent it.  When I was in my late thirties, I was actually in the best (Ephedra enhanced) physical condition of my life.  I had several friends who were over forty at the time that kept telling me, “You just wait til you turn forty.  Everything gets harder.  You have to eat less and workout more.” And, guess what? They were right!

I run, I do yoga, I ride my bike and I rarely have one day where I don't do some form of exercise. I also drink lots of water, which is good; but I also consume some alcoholic beverages, which is bad for cellulite. Wouldn't you know it?

I haven't wasted much money on a bunch of creams, lotions, and potions because I knew deep down that they wouldn't produce the results as advertised. A couple of years ago, BigSis turned me on to the Fat Girl Slim products from Bliss. I did love Fat Girl Slim but I finally realized that the caffeine in the products was in fact responsible for my worsening insomnia. So, I gave all my jars to Big Sis. I also liked the serious seaweed cellulite soap. A single bar is $14.00 and a three pack is normally $42, but is on sale right now for $38.00.

Years ago, I used a product that SisMama had purchased as a gift for me. I recently bought it again and I really like it. I might actually be noticing a difference in the tightness of my skin. Or it could just be that I don't have my glasses on when I examine my thighs. The product is from Forever Spring. I bought this Body Smoother Set for $38.50. It comes with a Loofah Algae Soap, Firm It Gel, Body Cream, a Body File and a Pumice Stone.  The Loofah Algae Soap is actually my favorite item from the set.  You can purchase the Loofah Algae Soap separately for $14.00 for a twin pack. I'll definitely buy more of the soaps.

In my never ending quest to fight the battle of the cellulite, I've actually decided that I may need to start doing some of my work standing up at the laptop instead of sitting on my fanny!

Any words of wisdom, BigSis? I know you were going to give these products a try. What did you think? Or have you discovered any new fancy miracle products that you can share?

~LilSis

October 2, 2008

Great stash, BigSis! Just a quick response to your question.  I must admit that I couldn't get my entire drawer in the photo. I think it cut off a row in the front and the back, so a good “guestimate” is that I have just shy of 50 of these lovely little compacts.

I've got a new favorite MAC lip gloss and a slimshine lipstick that I'll have to share with you soon.

~LilSis

October 2, 2008

Hey, LilSis!  How many of those little babies do you have?  I think you're WAY ahead of me!  I counted only a mere 40 precious little pots and 2 palettes.

Here's the photo of my MAC stash.
Alas.  I'm sorry to say that the bathroom in my condo doesn't permit me to dedicate a whole drawer to my MAC stash.  Can you believe it?  Boo hoo.  It's a tragedy of epic proportions.  But we make do with what we have…

My newest purchase and latest love is “Bold and Brazen”.  MAC  describes it as frosty light copper with a Starflash finish.  Even the description makes me happy!  And can I tell you how great it looks with blue eyes?!  LilSis, you need this one!  MAC says “Bold and Brazen” is often purchased with “Go”, which is a frosted bronze in the Starflash finish, and “Glamour Check” which is a frosty reddish brown with Starflash.  If you get those two (which I don't have), then you'll see that “Go” is often purchased with “Grand Entrance”, a frosty neutral peach beige with Starflash, and “Dreammaker”, a frosty yellow gold with Starflash.  Can you see how the addiction begins?  One leads to another to another to another…

Honestly, I've wasted SO much money on drugstore brands that it's ridiculous.  They don't stay on, their color selection is skimpy, and frequently the color fades and changes before it disappears into the night (or noon) completely.  Spend around $15 on a MAC eye shadow, and you know it's going to be your buddy until the pan's empty.  And then, guess what?  Save up 6 empty containers, and you get a free lipstick!  Can you do that at the local Wally-mart cosmetic department?  Heck, no!  Do yourself a favor, and try just one MAC eyeshadow.  If you're uncertain about which one to start with, just ask one of the incredible makeup artists at the MAC counter or store, and they'll steer you to the right choice.  We promise, you'll be a MAC addict and eyeshadow snob, just like we are!  Let us know how your first MAC experience goes!

~BigSis

October 2, 2008

Our MAC Eyeshadow Fetish. This is one of the fun things that Big Sis and I have in common. We are both obsessed with our MAC Eyeshadow! Who can blame us, though? We've both tried dozens of other brands and these shadows not only have fabulous colors, but they really do stay on until you take them off.  On the rare occasion that my head hits the pillow before removing my makeup; the next morning it actually looks like I just put it on.

Whenever I go to Dallas for a visit, usually our first evening out goes like this:  Big Sis picks me up from the airport and we head straight to  Mia's, our favorite Mexican restaurant. We have a great meal usually consisting of chips, salsa, guacamole, tostados, and tacos. Then we're off to our favorite department store to get our “fix” for more MAC shadows.

I'm going to try to list a few of my favorite shades, even though I love them all.  The ones I use every day are Cork for my brows and Vanilla for highlighter under my brows.  Some of my all time favorite daily shades are Gleam, Antiqued, Paradisco, Expensive Pink, Swish, and All That Glitters.  My latest purchases are Moons Reflection, a mid-tone blue with white/blue reflects, Pandamonium, a frosty gun metal with white pearl, and Grand Entrance, a frosty neutral peach beige.  The colors just almost make me salivate.

Here's a photo of my MAC shadow drawer.

Big Sis, let's see a photo of your MAC drawer. I'm positive it will be more perfectly organized than mine, but that's okay. Some of mine are sorted more by “used most often” versus by “shade”. I haven't seen your new bathroom since you moved into your new condo, so I hope your little MAC pots have a drawer of their very own.

~LilSis