Every Man Jack Beginner’s Luck Starter Kit

Q:  Tell me how the shave gel was different from the shave gel or cream that you were using before.

A:  I really appreciated that this shave gel was fragrance free.  I don’t wear cologne so I find the strong scent associated with most shave gels to be really overpowering.  I only have to use a tiny bit to create a good lather, so the [7 oz] can lasts a long time.  I actually love the design of the can!  It has a specially designed cap that keeps the top clean and prevents any gel from oozing out.  I can throw it in my dop kit without worrying about it spilling!

Q:  Describe the hydrating formula shave cream and your experience with it.

A:  I’ve heard of this type of non-lathering shave cream before, but this is the first time I had an opportunity to try it.  It comes in a tube and is more like a lotion than a shaving cream, which doesn’t dry out your skin.  It has a super light fragrance, which again I really appreciated in contrast with the heavy fragrances in most men’s shaving creams.

Q:  Would you continue using the face wash?

A:  I don’t use the face wash everyday, but I do think it’s a great product to have.  It smells minty and feels really soothing and refreshing on my skin.  It’s a gentle cleanser so I use it as a contrast when my regular soap or exfoliant is drying my skin out.

The Every Man Jack products come in sleek modern packaging and are extremely affordable!  The Every Man Jack Starter Kit is only $25 and comes with all of their signature products and a toiletry kit.  I also love the Travel Kit for $8 that comes with mini sizes of their essential products, SPF 15 lotion, and a clear travel pouch for carry-on.  These are such great gifts for men for the holidays!

Every Man Jack products are available online at EveryManJack.com or at stores like Target and Walgreens.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Every Man Jack Skin Care Gift for Men

If you haven’t seen the advertisements, the Colgate Wisp is a new on-the-go toothbrushing product that is disposable and requires no water or rinsing.  The Wisp is about half the size of a regular toothbrush and has a much smaller head.  Each Wisp is individually wrapped in a package of four, so you use the product once and then toss it.

Sometimes I try new products and I think, eh I don’t really have a use for that, but I am so excited about the Wisp!  I think I am going to be hooked on it forever.  It seems strange that a dry toothbrush could give you a just-brushed feeling, but somehow it really does!  It has a “freshening bead” at the center of the brush that releases fresh taste when you brush it on your teeth.  It also has a pick at the opposite end to use for cleaning between your teeth.

Everyone is paranoid about fresh breath these days and chewing gum all the time is not very good for your jaw.  This new product is perfect for a quick clean-up right after a meal when you don’t time have time to run home to get your toothbrush.  I used to carry a spare toothbrush in my purse for brushing during my lunchbreak at work, but this provides a much more convenient replacement.  Oh yeah and I also heard that the Beckhams are obsessed with these little Wisps!

My only problem with the Wisp is that it does feel a little like you should rinse and spit when you’re done, but maybe that’s something you get used to.  It’s also not very environmentally friendly, but if you only use it in emergency situations and not a few times a day then it’s not a big worry.

The Colgate Wisp is available at most drugstores and online at drugstore.com for $2.39 for a 4-pack or $7.99 for a 16-pack.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Product Review: Colgate Wisp

I’ve never even thought of my heels as a part of my body that needed special attention, but I received a sample of HeelTastic Intensive Heel Therapy and decided to try to heal one of the under-appreciated parts of my feet.  HeelTastic comes in a cylindrical stick similar to deodorant and has a strong fragrance with hints of lemon and ginger.  The stick is really soft like butter, so I applied it with the stick and then massaged it into the heel until it is absorbed completely.  HeelTastic is made from Indian Neem and Karanja oils, which have been used in ancient medicines for their restorative properties.

I like to pamper my feet once in awhile, so I like the new idea of using a special product designed just to treat my heels.  The heels definitely get a ton of damage from rubbing against the back of your shoes, so it’s a good idea to use an intense moisturizer that has special oils for healing this type of skin.  I have definitely tried regular body lotion on my heels for years and never had any results, so I was excited to find a product that was actually strong enough to treat this rough and calloused area.

HeelTastic is available at most drugstores or online at www.heeltastic.com.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Review: HeelTastic Intensive Heel Therapy

I just read an interesting article on WebMD by Colette Bouchez called The Lowdown on Mineral Makeup.  Mineral makeup is supposedly made from finely ground minerals and does not contain chemicals, dyes, and preservatives that could irritate your skin.  Skincare professionals greatly differ on their ideas about the legitimacy of mineral makeup, but it is good to be an educated consumer to find out about the possible controversies behind the product.

• The “active” ingredients are not exclusive to mineral makeup…they are important ingredients that are already contained in most makeup products.

• You shouldn’t use it exclusively as a sunscreen.  Mineral makeup contains zinc oxide, which is an important ingredient in sunscreen but it is suggested that you use sunscreen lotions in tandem with the topical powder.

• There are no regulations for the title “mineral makeup” so don’t assume that all products with this title are actually  natural.  Check the ingredients to see what is really contained in the product.

• Bismuth oxychloride is a byproduct of lead and copper processing that could be contained in mineral makeups.  I just checked bareMinerals and their regular foundation does indeed contain this ingredient.  This chemical can be a skin irritant.

• Minerals act differently at nanoscales.  Pulverizing the minerals into makeup can possibly cause the minerals to have different and potentially toxic properties.

If you have been wearing mineral makeup for years, don’t immediately throw out all of your expensive powders!  Do a little research into the brand that you are purchasing to make sure that you are getting what you are intending when you purchase a product marked as “mineral makeup.”

Image: sxc.hu

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Is Mineral Makeup Really Better For Skin?

Rosacea affects three times more women than men, so women oftentimes try to cover their distinct splotchy redness with concealing makeup.  Layering pore-clogging products on your skin could potentially worsen the condition, so I was interested in finding out about a new product from Obagi that calms the rosacea instead of covering it up.

The Rosaclear System from Obagi includes four products that are designed specifically for rosacea.  The Gentle Cleanser, Metronidazole Topical Gel (Prescription only), Hydrating Complexion Corrector, and Skin Balancing Sun Protection SPF 30 are a prescription-based system formulated to calm irritated and sensitive skin, which decreases the redness.  This is a great system that can replace a regular skin care routine with products specifically designed to decrease inflammation and heal skin affected by rosacea.

Obagi Hydrating Complexion Corrector $59

If you don’t want to completely switch your skin care routine, the Hydrating Complexion Corrector is a great product to use as a supplement.  It uses glycerin, licorice, aloe, lavender, sea whip, and mica to dramatically reduce redness and calm skin.  It contains light reflective minerals that display a more balanced looking complexion, which is an added bonus as the product heals the skin.

Although I don’t suffer from rosacea myself, I have known many men and women who are constantly annoyed by their recurring redness.  I hope that products like Obagi Rosaclear continue to be researched and advanced so that someday there will be a cure for this common skin problem.  You can find out more about the Obagi Rosaclear System and purchase products online at www.LovelySkin.com.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Products to Help Treat Your Rosacea

The Venus Embrace just won one of Allure magazine’s 2009 “Best of Beauty” awards after being tested by top beauty experts and editors!  The Venus Embrace has five flexible blades, which obviously is going to give you a super close shave.  No more stray hairs!  It also has a protective ribbon of moisture, which makes your shave super smooth…I barely even use shave gel.  It also has a soft grip handle for extra control when you’re slippery and wet, and a new feature called a ShowerPod that attaches to your shower wall for convenient storage.

To enter the Splendicity and Venus Embrace Giveaway to receive one shaving kit (Venus Embrace, razor pack, and shave gel) you must leave a comment on this post by Sunday, November 22 at 11:59pm answering the question:  What do you wear with your silky freshly shaved bikini line or legs?

Five winners will be randomly chosen and will be contacted after the giveaway has closed to be sent their prize.  To find out more about Gillette Venus products, please visit the Gillette Venus website.

Good luck!

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Giveaway: Venus Embrace Shaving Kit

Bryan Meehan “made organic food sexy in the UK” with his Fresh & Wild organic food markets.  He wanted to create a natural skin care line that would allow his customers who valued a natural diet the opportunity to avoid using chemicals on their bodies as well.  He became interested in the scientific research on probiotics and decided to base his skin care line on this natural method of treatment.  Probiotics are the “good bacteria” contained in plants and foods that are similar to those found naturally occurring in the human body.  Research has shown that probiotics can help the body to protect itself against the “bad bacteria.”

Probiotics is an exciting field and I believe that Nude is implementing new scientific research with its probiotic-based products.  Probiotics protect the skin naturally against environmental factors to keep it healthy and moisturized.  Nude products are proudly all natural and free from parabens, sulphates, PEGs, TEA, DEA, propylene glycol, GMO, mineral oil and silicones.

I had the opportunity to try the Nude Cleansing Facial Oil and Nude Miracle Mask.  I have never cleansed with an oil before!  It seems a little counter-intuitive to add oil to your face while cleansing, but it is actually a really effective way to remove makeup and avoid drying out your face.  Foaming cleansers can easily cause dryness, so it was refreshing to try the oil.  It simultaneously cleanses, nourishes, and protects.

The Miracle Mask was also quite different from any mask that I’ve used before!  It was clear and gel-like instead of thick and muddy.  It felt tight after it set for five minutes, and my skin definitely felt extremely soft and moisturized when I washed it off with a warm towel.  The products both had a unique smell, which reminded me that I aren’t using a product full of chemicals and perfumes but was applying natural ingredients and bacteria to my skin.

The Nude teams works to incorporate environmentalism into every aspect of their business from their green office to their recycled card cartons.  The aesthetically pleasing matte finish mushroom and ivory colored round-edged skin care packages are made from 40% recycled plastic.

You can find out so much more about fabulously environmental Nude Advanced Probiotic Skincare on their website.

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Nude Advanced Probiotic Skincare

Skin care brand Surgeon’s Skin Secret developed a special line of moisturizers to treat eczema.  These products use natural beeswax as a special ingredient that protects skin from dehydration, moisturizes skin, and heals affected areas.  I don’t have eczema, but I would also use the beeswax moisturizers to protect my skin from the cold weather and hydrate super dry areas like my elbows, heels, and hands.  I love that is made from all natural beeswax!

Surgeon’s Skin Secret Moisturizing Stick

The most popular product for the beeswax moisturizers is the moisturizing stick.  It seems super easy to use and apply to specific areas of your body.  The idea of lotion in a stick seems like a pretty great invention to me!  It comes in ten delicious flavors including Honey & Almond, Lavendar, and Rose.

Surgeon’s Skin Secret Beeswax Moisturizing Cream

If you would rather use a traditional cream, the 25% beexwax cream comes in tubes or jars and is also available in a variety of scents.

You can visit the Jamark Labs website to find out more about Surgeon’s Skin Secret beeswax moisturizers and how to use them to treat eczema and other skin problems related to extreme dryness.  Winter is definitely the time to start protecting your skin from the elements!

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Beeswax Moisturizers a Remedy for Eczema

Image: sxc.hu

Lately I have been working on my feet a lot so I have been interested in learning about spider and varicose veins.  These tiny purple squiggles are a common occurrence on women’s thighs and calves and since I am still young, I would like to know if it possible to avoid getting them.

Spider veins are tiny twisted blood vessels that are visible through the skin, and varicose veins are larger twisted blood vessels that become purple and puffy.  Defective blood flow valves allow blood to flow backwards and pool inside the vein, which builds pressure and causes the valve to weaken and twist.  These twisted veins become spider and varicose veins.  Although these veins are unattractive and most women hate getting them, they really don’t pose any serious health risks.  Sometimes they can be associated with aching, cramping, and swollen ankles but rarely ever develop into blood clots.

Visit your doctor if you want to find out if your spider or varicose veins are a serious problem.  There are also a few simple ways to treat your varicose veins at home:

• compression stockings – I just discovered Juzo compression stockings, which improve circulation and relieve pain and discomfort in legs with problem veins.  They have socks and tights that are perfect for work and quickly ease pain associated with these conditions.

Image: Juzo

• exercise regularly – If your varicose veins are caused by being overweight, regular exercise can definitely help.  Keeping your leg muscles toned keeps blood flowing in the direction that it should.  Try walking as exercise and decrease the salt-intake in your diet.

If your at-home treatments don’t produce any results, there are also various medical treatments like sclerotherapy and laser therapy that can destroy blood vessels and close off veins.  Please ask your doctor about these more serious approaches.  Visit WebMD’s Spider and Varicose Veins Slideshow to see images and learn more about treatment.  I am definitely getting myself a pair of compression stockings as a preventative measure…maybe they will start making them in cute patterns for fall!

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

How to Treat Spider and Varicose Veins

With technological advances in skin care procedures also comes scientific advances in skin care products.  As a user of various skin care products, it’s always great to stay updated on the new ways that the forefront of science can be incorporated into our everyday routine.  The concept of AminoGenesis products is that vital skin proteins like collagen, elastin, lipids, and cell tissue have amino acids as their base.  The skin care products nourish the skin naturally with amino acids, which repairs the skin’s proteins as the break down over time.

DermaScyne 2 Intense Daily Serum with Natural Moisturizing Factors supports key proteins like collagen and elastin to intensely moisturize and reduce signs of aging.  To enter the Giveaway to receive DermaScyne 2 Intense Daily Serum, you must leave a comment on this post by Friday, November 13 at 11:59pm answering the question:  Do you struggle with a recurring skin problem? One winner will be randomly chosen and will be contacted to be sent their prize.  This contest is only open to US residents.

You can find out more about AminoGenesis and the importance of amino acides as vital ingredients online at AminoGenesis.  The DermaScyne 2 Intense Daily Serum is available for purchase online for $139.

Good luck!

Post from: Splendicity. Check out our new community features!

Giveaway: DermaScyne Intense Daily Serum