Beauty is Easy

Tips, tricks and reviews for effortless beauty

Archive for November, 2007

Product Review: Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-step Facial Cleanser

Monday
Nov 26,2007

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple, one-step facial cleanser is a dream come true.  I recently received a sample size bottle of this cleanser and decided to take it on a trip.  I have acne prone skin, but am starting to experience some dryness as well, so it’s hard to find a cleaner that is tough enough on my acne, but doesn’t overdry my face.  My skin also has a tendency to freak out when I travel - dry airplane air, less than stellar diet when visiting family in the midwest, irregular sleep patterns and an exercise routine that is non-existant - all usually combine to create a nasty breakout a few days in to my tip.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-step Facial Cleanser

This cleanser, however, helped keep the breakouts at bay.  It also removed all traces of my eye makeup and left my skin feeling soft.  I even like the scent.  Non-medicated, but not flowery either - it smells fresh and slightly lemony.

I think I’ll still need to use a stronger exfoliating cleanser a few days a week to help combat the acne, but this will definitely be replacing my daily face cleanser.  I think this would also make a great addition to your guest bathroom, since it is suited to all skin types.

Share with us your favorite skin cleaners!

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    • Beauty Retreats at Home - Yoga/Meditation Retreat

    Tuesday
    Nov 20,2007

    Sometimes you don’t have the time or money to go to a yoga or meditation class.  Sometimes you want to do yoga at 6am in your pjs or meditate at 1am to help calm your mind so you can sleep.  Setting aside a corner of your room or an entire room as a yoga and/or meditation retreat is the key to making this happen.

    After you’ve taken some yoga or meditation courses, you can start your own self-practices.  But there is something about having someone help direct you or the calming atmosphere that keeps us going to a class.  It is hard to clear your mind when you know there is laundry piling up or bills to be paid in the other room.  Here are some tips to help you create your own quite space:

    1. Designate a space that will only be used for yoga/meditation.  If you have a room with a door that can be used for this sole pupose, great!  If not, try to find a corner of a room you can section off with a screen or other furniture. 

    2. Decorate this space with soothing colors, art, plants and music.  If you can repaint the space, opt for a neutral or soothing color.  Add simple art if you have it - you don’t want want to add too much though and make the space visually distracting.  Definitely add plants to bring a sense of nature to the space.  If you have a CD player or speakers for your iPod, add that too.  Playing soothing music can help cover up any distracting noise (like the sound of the dishwasher or your neighbor’s tv) and transport you to a calmer place.

    3.  Add tools.  If you use a meditation cushion in class, buy one.  If you don’t have your own yoga mat (or block, or bolster, or strap), buy one.  It’s much easier to follow a practice if you have the right tools.

    4. Get media assistance.  I can’t practice yoga on my own for more than 15minutes before I get distracted, so I use DVDs.  Using a DVD can help you relax about your practice since you don’t need to think about what pose to do next.  It can also be helpful for reminding you about correct posing (like remembering to relax your neck or straighten your arm) as well as reminding you to breath.  Same goes for meditation - a voice to help guide you can help keep your mind from wandering off track.  So use your tv, a portable DVD player, a laptop or a CD player to help you in your space.

    For yoga and mediation tools, I like to visit Gaiam.  They have props, mats and clothing, as wells as one of the best selections of DVDs.  You can also find plenty of DVDs and relaxation CDs on Amazon.com.

    What do you do to help create a yoga or meditation retreat at home?  Share your tips by leaving a comment.

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    • Product Review: Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment

    Wednesday
    Nov 14,2007

    I was shopping at ULTA a few weeks ago and they were promoting Ojon hair products.  Ojon uses ojon oil that have been used by the Miskito (or Tawira, as they call themselves) Indians of Central America who are called the people of beautiful hair.   The company works with the Miskito people to harvest the ojon nuts and create the oil, as a sustainable relationship.  You’ve gotta feel good about a company that works with the local producers for their product, rather than exploiting them for their resources.  Ojon has a whole line of hair care products from shampoo and conditioner, to styling products.  I got a sample of the Restorative Hair Treatment to try out. 

    Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment

    The Restorative Hair Treatment uses a high concentration of the ojon oil.  It’s consistancy at room temperature looked a bit like a brown sugar body scrub.  You are supposed to take some of the treatment and rub it between your palms to warm and re-liquify the treatment.  You then apply it to your dry hair, repeating with warming the treatment until your hair is coated.

    The first thought I had when applying the treatment was PEE-EWE!  This stuff does not smell very good.  My husband and I were trying to pinpoint the smell and decided it smells like the wood paneled and shag carpeted living room of a someone who likes to smoke and burn incense.  I also realized that I had unfairly thought the lady at ULTA stunk, because this is what she smelled like when she offered me the free samples.  Although the directions say you should leave the treatment on for 10 - 20 minutes or longer, I jumped in the shower to shampoo it out after 5 mintues.  Needless to say I wasn’t very impressed with the results.  After shampooing, conditioning and styling as usual, I couldn’t tell a difference in my hair.

    A few weeks later my hair was feeling really dry as the weather was turning colder and we’d had the heat turned up for a few weeks.  I was painting a bedroom and decided to give the treatment another shot while I was dressed in old clothes and covered in paint.  I kept the treatment in my hair for about 4 hours.  While the smell was pretty yucky at first, the paint fumes covered it up pretty quickly.  After I washed out the treatment and blowdried, I was seriously impressed with the results!  My hair was super silky and shiny.  I did catch the occassional whif of the treatment, but it was more subtle than before. 

    The results have lasted for over a week now and I’ve had quite a few comments on how nice my hair looks.  A few people have even said that my hair looks longer.  I’m not claiming that the product made my hair grow, but maybe it just looks so much nicer that people are noticing it.  My hair also seems to have more body and dries faster (anyone know why that would be?). 

    I think I’m ready to use the treatment again.  This time I’m going to use it overnight with a showercap to protect my pillowcases from the greasiness.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

    Have you tried this or any other Ojon products?  Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

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    • Product Review: Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle

    Friday
    Nov 9,2007

    When I was browsing at Sephora the other day, a clerk gave me samples of Peter Thomas Roth’s new Un-Wrinkle.  I’m still young, but am getting a crease in my brow from constantly squinting, due to my less than stellar eyesight.  Although slightly insulted at the unsolicited suggestion that I have a wrinkle to get rid of, I am, nonetheless, a little self-concious about it.  I’m also pretty skeptical about products that make strong claims, like this one, “up to 52% reduction in wrinkle size in just 28 days”, but thought I’d give it a try.  Hey - who doesn’t love a free sample?

    Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle

    The packaging suggests there is a very potent cocktail of anti-aging ingredients including:
    - SYN-AKE, a neuropeptide, which mimics snake venom activity.  Yes, snake venom!  The things we do for beauty!
    - SNAP-8, a neuropeptide, an alternative to the Botulinum Toxin (like used in Botox).
    - Bisabolol, which has anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
    - Hyaluronic acid, which is thought to help with tissue repair
    -Vitamins A, C & E and pro-vitamin B5

    The package says the product can be used up to twice a day and on all skin types.  I have acne prone skin and most anti-wrinkle and anti-aging products don’t work for me.  The heavy moisturizers in them usually make me break out.  Despite the products claims that it would work on all skin types, it did make me break out.

    I used the product once a day for three days.  I discontinued using it because I starting getting a crop of whiteheads between my eyebrows, where I applied the product - one of the few places I never get acne.

    But….THIS PRODUCT REALLY WORKED!  I was amazed at how quickly my wrinkle started to smooth out.  It’s been a week since I stopped using it and the wrinkle is still less noticeable.  I’m bummed that I couldn’t keep using the product, because I’m really curious to see what it could do if I let it work its snake venom and botulism magic longer (curse you acne!).

    I’m going to give the rest of the sample to my mom to try and will let you know what she thinks of it.  If you’ve tried it, share your opinion with us, by leaving a comment.

    I give this product a 4 out of 5 for making good on most of its claims.

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