DIY Teeth Whitening Trays!

 Hey, everyone! It's good to be back after a long hiatus from Blogger. Things have been super stressful lately but now that they(and myself)are finally starting to calm down I thought I would make another post for you all!

 Teeth whitening! Once a trend primarily popular in the larger part of the Americas it has now begun slowly spreading to the East. Everyone wants to get those pearly whites but not everyone wants to shell out $400-500 USD to do so. So here is a quick and easy way to whiten teeth gradually that costs less than $10 and shouldn't cause sensitivity.

Here's what you'll need:

• Teeth whitening tray

• Plus White Gel

• At least 5 minutes

 I got my whitening tray off of Ebay for only $1.49 w/free shipping from Hong Kong. It arrived in about a week. Just search the words "whitening tray" and you will see many similar results. For those who are curious I bought mine from the seller "love*phoenix".

 Instructions will typically be listed on the item page instructing you on how to form them to fit your teeth. In case yours does not contain instructions I will list them here:

1. Boil the water and pour into a clean dish.

2. Hold the tab and submerge in the water for approx 3-5 seconds.

3. Place the tray in the mouth and bite down, pressing around the front of your mouth with your fingers.(I find it helpful to suck in like you're sucking on a lollipop)

4. Cut the tabs off and they are ready to use.

Here's what they will look like before(left)and after(right):

Here is what I like to use for my whitening gel:

 This is a simple peroxide based gel that won't damage your enamel like acids and bleach can. It's usually very cheap. I like to paint it on with a cotton swab or a nail art brush in a thin layer and then put in my trays and leave it for about 15 minutes. Usually I will do this during a shower or bath. Try to avoid the temptation of applying too much gel thinking this will whiten your teeth better. It will really only foam and burn your gums as well as making you look like you are rabid. So try to stick to a thin and even layer. Also, please make sure to brush/rinse beforehand and dry your teeth before applying it.

 Hope this helps and hope you all enjoyed reading and give this a shot yourself. You should see big results in one week! Have a lovely day! xx

How to apply false lashes(on the waterline!?)

 Eek! It's been so long since my last post. Things have been insane I my end. I have been recording YouTube videos like crazy and also looking into attending school to become a licensed cosmetic esthetician. But, I'm back and not feeling very well today(curse you ragweeeeeed!)to bring you a new way to apply your falsies.

 We've all been there girls. You've got your Kim Kardashian smokey eye all perfectly applied and blended and all the look is lacking is a nice pair of falsies to complete the look. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done...

 You coat the lash band with a thin strip of duo glue and carefully grab them in the center with your tweezers, even opting for the glue that dries clear(despite the intensity of the liner)just to be on the safe side. After the token 20 seconds has passed to allow the glue to get tacky you carefully lower the lash band down on top of your own lashes only to discover that, despite your caffeine deprivation, your hand shook at just the right moment to somehow smear that tacky glue halfway down your eyelid. "No worries", you think. "The glue dries clear so no one will notice.", and you carry on applying. But, soon you discover that the glue that has now become translucent on your lid was necessary to adhere the band to your lash line. The lash won't stick. Disaster ensues. Sound familiar?

 That's why I am making this post. I have recently discovered a new way to apply my false lashes that is way more comfortable(no more tight feeling lash lines and dry eyes), looks more natural, and doesn't require a bit of eye liner! This will include pictures because I really want you guys to be able to notice a difference and try it out for yourselves. I find it way easier. So break out the lash glue from wherever you buried it after your last lash tantrum and let's do this thing!

 Here's everything you'll need:

Please excuse my grubby duo tube.

• A small pair of scissors
• Lashes of your choice(preferably invisible band)
• Tweezers
• Lash Glue

 Start by trimming your lashes into smaller pieces. At least 3 and at most 5.  If you don't cut it into at least 3 pieces it will be hard to fit it onto the curve of your water line. This technique can be used for both upper and lower lash application and is safe for your eyes. I like to start at the outer corner of my eyes and work my way inwards. Be sure to leave 1/4 inch of space free from the tear duct just like you would with normal lashes.

 Take the outer piece of lash with your tweezers and coat the band of the lash with a thin strip of glue. Allow the glue to get tacky for 20 seconds but no longer than that or it will not stick. If it takes longer than 20 seconds your have applied to much glue. Wait for the glue to dry completely and remove it by pinching the lash band between your fingers and gently pulling it off. Then, simply reapply the glue thinly.

 Gripping the lash piece in your tweezers use a finger from your non-dominant hand to gently hold your eyelid up slightly(just like you'd do for eyeliner)and, looking down into a mirror, gently place the lash onto the waterline as close to your lashes as possible. With the opposite end of the tweezers or a clean finger/cotton swab gently dab the lash band onto the waterline to secure into place. Make sure you allow it to dry completely before curling or anything else. Then simply repeat the process working your way in! Here are some pictures to compare and give you a closer look. I apologize in advance for the extreme close up:

On the left are my natural lashes and on the right is with the falsies. Sorry my hair is frizzy.

Here is a shot close up to show you what it looks like on the waterline.

And here is with both eyes done. The result is really natural looking because it seems like they are just growing out like your own lashes do. Invisible falsies!

 I hope you all try out this technique. If you do please comment down below and let me know. Just ask if you have any questions as well. Have a great day, guys!

Review: Skin79 Oriental Gold BB Cream

 Hey, Guys! Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I've been really busy lately and have been getting more and more into uploading videos onto my YouTube beauty channel. I wanted to share with you today a video review that I did on that channel. Sometimes it's just faster to film and edit a video than to write a blog post with pictures, etc. I hope you all enjoy and have a lovely day. Subscribe to my channel and follow my blog by e-mail to see more!

Review: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream No.21

 Hey, everyone! Hisashiburi desu(Japanese for: 'It's been a while')! I have been really looking forward to making this review for you all about this cult favorite among beauty lovers. You may have already read my "BB cream haul!"post and been waiting for this. Even if you haven't you are obviously curious about the features of this lovely Korean Blemish Balm. Let's get crackin'!

 Today I'm going to go over all of the basics including: Color, texture, lasting power, how it feels on the skin, price, ingredients list, product claims, etc. I always find it frustrating when I hunt down a blog post review on a product I'm interested in and find it to be somewhat lacking in the detail department. So we'll cover all the bases today!

Here's what the packaging looks like:

 First off I love the packaging. It comes in a sleek red tube with a pretty golden sheen(a big selling point for us packaging girls!). But, if that didn't impress you enough the tube is squeezable and comes with an easily controllable pump. I'm all about the pumps! It makes the product easy to dispense and keeps it from getting contaminated by organic matter. So far, so good. Now on to the finer details! ^^

Here is what the product claims:

 It did also state on the box to leave it for five minutes before attempting to build it up further or powder it in order to avoid caking. This seems to indicate that the product sets on it's own but we'll get into that later on in this post.

These are the ingredients:

Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide

 
Inactive Ingredients:
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Arbutin, Triethanolamine, Iron Oxides, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Methylparaben, Fragrance, Propylparaben, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Caviar Extract, Adenosine, Algae Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide 3, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract.




  One thing that I do notice right of the bat is how much silicone is in it. But it does make up for it's somewhat questionable artificial ingredients with plenty of skin loving extracts and seed oils.

Price & Availability:

 I bought mine off of Ebay from the seller PinkGelee for $16.49 with free shipping. It ships out of Walnut, CA and takes a very short time to reach you. So the shipping speed is great and the price is half of what you'd usually pay for it off of Missha's official website. However, this Ebay seller does not ship worldwide. In fact they only ship to the US which is kind of a bummer for my foreign readers. But, there are plenty of honest sellers out there. Make sure to read their feedback carefully if you decide to buy off of Ebay. You can also purchase it off of www.sasa.com and they do ship worldwide. Just be prepared to pay about $30(USD) with shipping and tax.

Color Selection & SPF:

 On Missha's Official website there are 5 shades ranging from #13 Milky Beige to #31 Golden Beige. Compared to most BB creams which only have 1 or maybe 2 shades this is very impressive. As mentioned in the title I chose shade no. 21. Usually this would match my skin perfectly but right now I still have a bit of a tan left from my trip to Florida so I have to mix it with a darker foundation to get it to match. My skin will go to about an NC25(mac colors)in summer since I am half Puerto Rican. Usually, though I am an NC20 so if you are an NC20 this will be your closest match. I do think that it could also suit an NW20, though, as it is not overly yellow but more of a neutral grey-toned shade. It has an SPF of 42 PA+++ as determined by the KFDA(Korean Food & Drug Administration). This is a pretty strong factor since they put their sun protection through more rigorous testing than elsewhere in the world due to their cultural love for fair skin. Here's a picture so you can compare the color:

Left to right: Everyday foundation(Missha BB cream and Fit Me 210);Mac NW20; Missha BB cream no. 21.

As you can see the BB cream is slightly peachy toned with a lot of grey in it. It's more neutral compared to the very pinky orange mac shade or the yellow-olive toned maybelline fit me cocktail.

Texture/How it feels on the skin:

 When I apply a bit on the back of my hand it feels wet and cool. When I spread it out a bit I notice that it feels quite creamy(think sour cream texture)and thick but melts slightly with the warmth from my finger. It is thick enough to dispense into a stiff peak instead of coming out as a runny puddle. Here's a picture so you can see for yourself what I mean:

 As far as how it feels on it is very light. Although it gives a medium and slightly buildable(not full coverage)coverage I really don't feel anything on my skin. It feels somewhat powdery and silky as you blend it in(fingers are the best for applying BB cream). I feel like I have no pores when I wear it. Due to the high concentration of silicone it sits in the pores nicely and fills them in making your face look flawless. It smells like sunscreen since zinc oxide is in it, but the smell isn't overpowering and fades throughout the day.

Longevity:

 This definitely does set but not to a completely matte finish like a foundation. BB creams are usually dewy but this one sets to a sort of demi-matte/satin finish. It keeps your face from looking overly shiny but you have a diffused glow on the high points of your face. Basically you look healthy and perfected but still natural. It doesn't look or feel thick on the skin and a little goes a long way which is great for the hot summer months. It does a good job of lasting all day. My blush and bronzer stay put over top of this and very little oil breaks through around the sides of my nose and a little on my chin after maybe 5 hours of wear. If you have very oily skin I suggest bringing some blotting sheets and a powder just in case. I touch up once with powder where I get oily and it lasts just fine for my combo skin. Also, I do not set all of my face with a powder because I don't feel it's necessary. As I get older my skin is getting less oily. So I really only powder through the center of my face and over any blemishes I've concealed, and it still lasts wonderfully! The only negative thing I would say is that if you have dry skin I would skip this one. Silicone tends to stick to and lift up any flakes and dry patches so this will accentuate dryness.

My Final Opinion:

 This is a great product for almost anyone to try. Application is quick and easy. It's very affordable and easily accessible. This would be perfect for busy mamas on the go or students who are rushing off to class. It mixes great with other foundations to adjust the color if you need to and the shade range is pretty broad so most everyone can get their right color match. I love how long it lasts and how well it camouflages my imperfections. I would recommend this to anyone with normal to oily skin.

 Well, that's all for today, guys! Keep an eye out for more BB cream reviews coming soon. Also subscribe by e-mail to be notified when I post a new article and to support my blog if you like. It would mean a lot to me! So, I hope this helps some of you to decide if you'd like to try this BB cream or not. I hope you all are having a lovely day so far. I'll talk to you all very soon!

How to(ACTUALLY)Cure Seborrheic Dermatitis

 Hello again everyone! It's been a while. I just got back on Tuesday night from my anniversary trip to Universal Studios Orlando. We had a wonderful time there at the resort and visiting both parks. I even got a little bit of a tan and the rides at the parks were amazing! Islands of Adventure was my favorite. But, on to the topic at hand!

 Seborrheic dermatitis is a condition more commonly known as dandruff. Most often it will effect the scalp and hairline but it can also occur anywhere that you have oil glands(face, chest, arms, etc). This is because the true culprit behind Seb. D. is a tiny fungus called malassezia globosa. Now don't freak out and try to scrub your scalp with dish soap. This fungus is present on all humans and is part of our natural flora. It only becomes a problem when there is an overabundance of it. It disrupts our cells normal renewal cycle and causes it to accelerate rapidly leading to little white flakes of dead skin appearing(aka dandruff). So how do we stop the fungus from growing?

 It's important to recognize that even this microscopic bad boy needs to eat. What does he eat? Oil. More particularly your oil. Our oil glands produce what is called sebum and is a normal part of our skins acid mantel which protects our skin from bacteria and other foreign substances. Sebum is Latin for 'fat' and is made up of wax, triglycerides, and fatty acids. This poses a problem. Because, the more oil our skin(scalp in this case)produces the more food the fungus has to eat and therefore the more it grows(disrupting the cell cycle and causing flaking/dandruff).

 The natural reaction to hearing this is to wash your hair every single day to rinse out the oils so the fungus can't feed and grow. And, this is what many shampoo companies will tell you. Unfortunately, if you do that you will never be rid of Seb. D. and you will be fighting it for the rest of your life. Here's why...

 By now you are at the end of your rope, am I right? You've tried Head & Shoulders, Selsun Blue, T-Gel, Denorex, and several others and nothing has worked permanently for you. I completely understand and believe me when I say that I have been there. A few months ago I had a really bad flare up that spread onto my forehead, around my eyes, and on my chin. It was redder than a fire truck and itched like crazy even forming rough little bumps and, of course, flaking profusely. There is a huge problem in each one of these shampoos mentioned. They all contain harsh chemicals similar to or the same as you would find in dish detergent. I know you have heard a million times in various magazines/online not to over-wash your oily skin or it will have the opposite effect and kick your oil glands into overdrive. This is because your skin is smart. It knows when it has been stripped clean of it's natural acid mantel and needs to produce more sebum to compensate. The only trouble with this is that when this happens your skin has a strong tendency to OVERcompensate. Thus feeding the ever present fungus.

 To get rid of Seb. D it is vital to note that your scalp is a part of your skin and needs to be treated with the same delicate care as your face. For example, after we cleanse our face we don't just leave it dry. We apply a moisturizer in place of our natural oils so that the skin can repair itself and be protected. Our scalp is the same way. It needs to maintain a certain balance of oil levels and have that constant fatty acid mantel to protect itself. If we strip all of that away frequently with harsh shampoos then our skin on our scalp is just going to react by over-producing sebum and feeding the fungus until again we have flakes forming and red, irritated skin. So, how can we avoid this then?

 Since the oil stripping chemicals are the main problem we need to avoid using any shampoo that contains them. These include but are not limited to: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Ammonia(Laureth)Sulfate, and Sodium Myreth Sulphate. The fungus is always going to be there in some amount because it is a natural part of human flora so our focus should not be killing the fungus but to treat what is feeding the fungus so that it's levels will naturally taper off on their own. Reducing the fungus population by normalizing oil levels and repairing the acid mantel will let your cell renewal cycle return to normal and stop the flaking.

 Another, thing you should avoid is using piping hot water. This can also strip oils from the hair. Try to use at most luke warm water but it's better to use cold. If you can't resist a hot shower try to avoid getting your head under the hot water. Point your shower head lower or get one of the ones that detach into a handheld sprayer.

 Try not to wash your hair as often since washing too often even with a sulfate free shampoo can disturb your scalps balance. At most wash it every other day. It should take 2 weeks to repair the irritation and restore balance to the skin. If you have any bad flare ups try using apple cider vinegar as a rinse in the shower. Allow it to sit for at least 5 minutes(the acid creates an inhospitable environment for the fungus >:-] )before rinsing. If this does not work try using a normal shampoo that contains selenium sulfide. It must be selenium sulfide since pyrithione zinc or coal tar will not kill the fungus. At first you will find that it will be a little worse. Your hair will be quite oily and flaky. But you have to give it time so that your skin can have time to see that it doesn't have to over-produce oil anymore.

 Back in the early to mid 1900s people only washed their hair every ten days and didn't put nearly the amount of products in it. This is because leaving the appropriate amount of natural sebum in your hair makes your locks shiny and healthy. It protects against an irritated scalp and prevents split ends by giving the oils your skin produces a chance to make it all the way there. Shampoos and frequent washing were only made popular in the 1970s by the propaganda and marketing of the companies who produced them. Nowadays about 2/3 of Earth's population suffer from Seb. D. because of this. So shampoo less often, with less chemicals, and cooler water. It's what your body expects and it will thank you for it.

 This same principle works for your skin anywhere else on your body. Try to avoid harsh cleansers and taking too hot of a shower if you have this condition elsewhere on your body. Also make sure to get your probiotics in, as these fight fungus. I like the Silk Dairy-free Soy Yogurts myself since I am lactose intolerant. And, if you will be adding in some probiotics make sure that you get plenty of fiber since that's what probiotics eat. Eating foods with fresh garlic and vinegar is also very good to fight fungus from the inside out. One last tip is that when you shampoo massage gently with your fingertips(no nails!)and leave the shampoo in for 5 minutes.

 I sincerely hope that this helps at least one person out there who is having to deal with this condition. I know from experience what a strong effect it can have on your self-esteem. Let me know if you would like a post with some product recommendations. I have a BB cream review coming up next so don't miss out! Subscribe by e-mail. It's free and you'll make my whole week = ). Have a great day everyone!