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Glamnetics Press Ons

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Glamnetics Press Ons

You may be thinking, “Glamnetics press ons? Press ons in general? Really? You?”

I don’t blame you. They’re out of character. They’re not something I’d normally go for. A freak set of circumstances led me to try them, so here’s what I think.

First: if you’re new here, I like doing my own nails. I do DIY gel polish or overlay manicures. Lately, I’ve done them less often because I’ve needed to prioritize my time in other ways (though I’m getting back into doing my nails because I feel better with them done).

I don’t use glue-on or press-on nails. In fact, the last time I used press-ons was when I was a literal child. The closest I’ve come to a false tip is Gel-X, which I tried once and ultimately deemed not for me.

So, as I am now a thirty-something, suffice it to say, press-ons have evolved. Glamnetics Press Ons kit is cute enough, and I was pleasantly surprised. For only ~$7, they featured:

  • a short, approachable length suitable for folks who need to do things with their hands, vs gazing at them in admiration.
  • adhesive tabs pre-installed on the nails, so all you do is peel the backing and stick.
  • prep supplies included in the package (small buffer and cuticle pusher).
  • a fair (but not amazing) number of sizes.

What I Liked

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TPDTY: Salicylic Acid Might Not Help

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salicylic acid molecule

I, and countless other people navigating acneic skin, have at one time or another bought and used a whole slew of salicylic acid skincare products to try to deal. My family’s favorite when I was growing up was pHisoderm, and if you’re a Millennial or older, you probably remember TV infomercial darling Proactiv.

What is Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), is oil soluble – so it is good at:

  1. helping dead skin cells slough off
  2. penetrating deep into pores to break down sebum and gunk
  3. reducing inflammation (legacy wisdom described crushing aspirin and making a paste to apply to blemishes)

But it isn’t always the answer for addressing acne. Salicylic acid isn’t a silver bullet, and it can even make things worse.

Time Matters

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Worth It? ecoTools Daily Brush Cleaner

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ecoTools Daily Brush Cleaner

Precious few of us wash our makeup brushes as often as we should – but ecoTools Daily Brush Cleaner makes it easier for me to pull off.

Although washing our brushes at least weekly is high up there on the list of things we can do to improve both our application and skin’s health, a lot of us non-professionals just don’t do that. It is a bit silly when you think about it: caring for your tools – whether they are makeup tools or powertools – helps them last longer and perform better.

I used to use Cinema Secrets to buy time between proper soap washes, but when I saw that ecoTools, a more accessible and affordable brand, had a similar product (their ecoTools Daily Brush Cleaner), I wanted to try it out. Both less expensive and easier to get, it seemed a good fit as long as it worked.

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Use a Contact Lens Case for Travel Products

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Use contact lens cases for travel products and toiletries and save money!

In June, to my dismay, I had to travel for work for the first time in five years. It was my first flight at all in five years – so I was well out of practice doing things like creatively stuffing a quart bag with toiletries. I saw some awesome wisdom from frequent flyers to use contact lens cases for travel and stop blowing money on waste generating, expensive price-per-ounce/mL travel sizes.

Let me explain.

Times Change

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WOW: ILSO Super Melting Sebum Softener

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I explored SO much in my early days of discovering beauty and skincare, I don’t encounter too many products that blow me away these days. But I had a chance to try a new K-Beauty product that blew me away: ILSO Super Melting Sebum Softener.

Managing Sebaceous Filaments

I’ve talked about sebaceous filaments a lot on this blog. I’ve derided Biore strips and similar products. I find that managing them with a good cleansing routine, a silicone facial cleansing brush or washcloth (yes, a washcloth) keeps them sufficiently in check.

ILSO Super Melting Sebum Softener (long, name, I know – we love them here) is a thin, watery solution in a twist-top dispenser bottle. I got the kit linked above, which comes with some thin woven cotton pads. You saturate those pads with the solution and then lay onto your skin in your target area ensuring good contact with your skin. It is easy and not messy.

Then, do something else for ten minutes. When those ten minutes are up, you remove the saturated strip and go about your extractions. ILSO sells the pusher/scraper tool for this separately (it came in my kit), but they mention that you can alternatively use cotton swabs. I used a metal extraction tool I already had since I wasn’t (yet) sure how to use the tool.

ILSO Super Melting Sebum Softener Blew My Mind

And oh my god, the amount of stuff that just glided off my skin with no pressure! I was and am awestruck. Normally, when I do extractions even with steam, I have to apply some pressure with my tools or use tweezers to remove individual sebaceous filaments. Not so with this.

I saw some other reviews wondering if the stuff that comes away is just the product. No – it isn’t. I know. It is night and day.

Now, I will say that it may not be for everyone. My sebaceous filaments tend to slightly firm up and I can feel them if I touch my nose. I can often tweeze and remove them (and often do as part of how I manage them). That isn’t the case for everyone. If it isn’t for you, then this might not blow your mind.

I’m super curious about whether this could have any impact on keratosis pilaris. That’s next on my list to try, and I’ll report back on that.

Price

This is a pricier product in my lineup these days – but it is outstanding at its stated use case.

The kit I got is currently nearly $40, but that comes with the tool. If you don’t want the tool or are restocking, it is around $25. Their strips are convenient, but if you run out of those before you run out of the solution, you can buy more or just use thin cotton pads like these, which I keep on hand to use for nail polish remover.

The Bottom Line

My nose is eerily smooth even two days later. It’s hard not to want to touch it in disbelief. I don’t yet know how frequently I will use this, but I suspect around 1-2x per month. I’ll report back if that estimate is wrong. Even if it is once a week it is incredible! I also expect this bottle to last me at least 6 months.