Drugstore

L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara Update

by

L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara Carbon Black

I’ve been using L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black for years now. The price (<$10) is nice, I love the brush, and it works well for my needs. Although I try other things occasionally, nothing has convinced me to stray.

A (temporary) Choice

Last time I needed to repurchase, though, Target was out of the Carbon Black (black tube) variety I typically go for. I settled for Blackest Black (gold tube) and called it a day.

The Difference

I’ve been using L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara Blackest Black since about November, now. Overall, the shade isn’t as dark as Carbon Black. It’s far from a crisis and literally no one but me notices. I’m not unhappy with it, but it isn’t quite the same.

I find that the classic L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara formula does not lengthen (or appear to lengthen) my lashes as effectively as the Carbon Black formula does. It does give some slightly-enhanced fullness, but fullness isn’t a concern for me right now.

The Impact of Pigment

Read more

Worth it? Amlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion

by
AmLactin Moisturizing Body LotionAmlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion, $14

Although I primarily use physical exfoliation for my body, I’ve dabbled in chemical. One such experiment was buying and trying Amlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion. I’ve had good luck with AHAs in my facial routine, so I figured I’d give it a shot for my skin. I purchased the Daily Moisturizing variety.

Cost

Read more

January 2018 Favorites

by
January 2018 FavoritesJanuary 2018 Favorites
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly, $22 / Jergens In Shower Sunless Tanning Lotion, $7 /
Tresemme Heat Protectant, $4 / MiroPure Straightening Brush, $40

Unsurprisingly, when I wrote the title of this post, I wrote 2017 instead of 2018. My January 2018 Favorites are short and sweet.

Read more

Worth it? MiroPure Straightening Brush

by
MiroPure Straightening Brush // straightening brushesMiroPure Straightening Brush, $40

No matter what I seem to do, I can’t seem to bring myself to stick with consistently styling my hair. I’m not particularly good at it. I like sleep more than I like fiddling with my hair first thing in the morning, and that often means my hair isn’t as smooth and visually tidy as I’d like. Late last year I became aware of thermal straightening brushes and shared my initial thoughts in November. Since, the MiroPure Straightening Brush arrived and I’ve used it more times than I can count.

First, we’ll get into how straightening brushes work, then to my review.

How do Straightening Brushes Work?

All brushes are designed a little differently (here’s a Dafni, for instance), but the core concept is the same. The back plate of the brush (analogous to the cushion area) is heated just like the plates of a flat iron. Likewise most or all of the, “bristles,” or, “teeth,” are constructed of or surrounded by that same plate material and are heated.

Read more

Remember: Exfoliate During Winter

by

Exfoliate During Winter

Many people do not exfoliate during winter or, if they do, it takes a back seat to other things. Once the cold sets in and we start piling layer upon layer, some eschew certain grooming procedures (like shaving). There seems to be a notion of, “Why does it matter? I’m all covered up anyway/everyone looks blah during winter!”

I challenge that line of thinking. To think of exfoliation (or even hair removal) as a chore you have to get out of the way in order to bare some skin is looking at it all wrong. That is ludicrous – you don’t just stop bathing as often in winter, do you?

Exfoliate During Winter

…because exfoliation isn’t a seasonal or, “do it once-in-a-while,” skincare behavior. It:

  • gets rid of dead skin (ew) and promotes cellular turnover
  • makes skin appear more radiant
  • makes skin look and feel smoother
  • can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • evens out skintone
  • facially, removes with sebaceous filaments
  • bodily, prevents or frees ingrown hairs
  • preps the skin for hair removal
  • improves the efficacy of other skincare products (like serums)
  • prevent and minimize the impact of blemishes

Read more

Invisalign Oral Hygiene Series :: Mouthwash

by

Invisalign Oral Hygiene Series :: Mouthwash

Mouthwash

In my opinion, mouthwash or mouth rinse is not a critical part of an oral hygiene routine. You can have healthy teeth and a healthy mouth without it. That said, with my cavity-prone teeth, I do like to use it. Right now, I’m being a little extreme keeping three varieties on hand. See which ones and why.

Read more