Product Review - Secret clinical strength and waterproof deodorant!

I have always used Secret deodorants and have always been pleased with the level of protection they provide. Secret's newest product Clinical Strength claims to be waterproof and will provide protection against wetness and odor all day. The instructions for application are to apply at night and in the morning. The premise behind application at night is that the active ingredients work best at the body's normal temperature. At first I thought it odd but after I thought about it most of us apply deodorant right out of the shower when the pores are open thus the deodorant absorbs right into the skin.

The fragrance was pleasant although I thought it to be a little strong. I usually use fragrance free deodorants. It also glided on smooth and didn't leave a "really wet" feeling like some deodorant do. I also noticed that this deodorant didn't flake or rub off on my clothes under my armpits. I never experienced any skin irritation from this product even though it is almost as strong as a prescription strength antiperspirant/deodorant.

I never really had the chance to put the deodorant to the test with high heat and humidity as the temperature in my neck of woods has only reached about 72 degrees. So haven't been to the beach or broke out into a sweat yet. Additionally I perspire very little and have no need to try over the counter prescription strength deodorants.

The packaging was disappointing as there was nothing indicating that the packaging was made from recycled products or that the product container was recyclable. I sure wish companies would consider "green" packaging and less plastic.

Price - the product seems a bit pricey, however if excessive sweating or odor is a problem for you then it surely would be worth the investment to try it.

Get your clinical strength Secret

Disclaimer:  I was not paid by the manufacturer to write this post.   These are my opinions.

For more skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Finding the Perfect Red Lipstick

Did you know lipsticks and most other makeup for that matter are categorized into warm, cool or neutral colors? Additionally, your skin tone can be categorized into these three basic tones. Therefore, those people with a warm skin tone generally look best in reds that have a yellow undertone, and those with a cool skin tone look best in reds that have a blue undertone. What about a neutral skin tone, well lucky them, they can wear just about any color red, however neutral skin tones will have a predominant warm or cool tone. Also, no matter what your skin tone, everyone will look good in a true red.


If you are unsure of what your skin tone is, here is a general guideline to get you started. Look at the inside of your wrist in a natural light, if the skin shows red or orange undertones your skin is considered warm, if the undertones are peach, yellow, or olive you have a neutral skin tone, and finally if your undertones are blue or pink this means you have a cool skin tone. Read more about determining your skin tone.

When shopping for your lipstick, hold the lipstick up to a white piece of paper, does it have blue undertones indicating a cool color or does it have a yellow undertone indicating it is a warm color. Additionally most people sample lipstick on the back of their hand, when actually sampling the lipstick on the pad of your finger is more indicative of your lip color and texture.

Now that you are armed with the perfect color, get the perfect application! First and foremost a lip liner is required for red lipstick as it has a tendency to bleed and the lip liner will keep your lipstick in place. Lip liner also makes a great lipstick base. Use the same color lip liner as your lipstick to avoid altering the color of your lipstick. Secondly consider a good lip brush, this gives you more control on shaping, and the amount of color you want to apply. Apply a light layer then blot lips and apply a second layer gradually working up to the depth you like. Apply light layers at a time and this will keep your lipstick working for you throughout the day. Thirdly, and this is new one I just heard about, prior to applying your lip liner or lipstick, brush your lips with a toothbrush. This supposedly exfoliates dead skin, promotes circulation and plumps up the lip.

When wearing a bold, beautiful red lipstick, keep your eye makeup and blush minimal. For a complete daytime at the office look, just define your eyes with a little black liner at the outer corners of the eyes and apply some mascara. Brightly colored eyes and red lips are only appropriate for the night life.
 
 

Get this True Red from Revlon


Innovative pigments provide immediate, high-pigment color release on lips with a featherlight feelMoisturizers and antioxidants, including sweet almond oil, improves lip texture. Elasticolor technology hugs lips with burst of vitually weightless color and moves comfortably with lips like a second skin. Contains film-forming polymers for longer wear and skin conditioning properties. Naturally fragrant with Vanilla Absolute and is Paraben free.





Just not ready to sport some red lipstick! Consider a lip stain, read about lip stains and watch a video

Visit  Complete Skin Care Therapy for more skin care articles and beauty tips.

DIY Sunscreens - all natural and eco-friendly

Summer is here and so is the need for sunscreen. Unfortunately with all the negative information about the dangerous chemicals in sunscreens and their impact on your health and the environment it makes you wonder if sunscreen is doing more harm and than good.

After visiting the Environmental Working Group's web page, I found that they did a study on the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens in 2009. They studied 1,572 skincare products containing sunscreen and found that 3 out of 5 products actually provide inadequate protection from the sun. However, this was an improvement from last year, when 4 out of 5 failed to meet the EWG's standards for safe sun care.

While I could write this entire post about the harmful ingredients in sunscreens which are detrimental to your health and to the environment, I suggest that you visit the Environmental Working Group's web page and make your own decisions about what you want to apply to your skin or that of your children. With that in mind, below are some sun block recipes that are Eco-friendly and do not contain any harmful ingredients.


Below are recipes to make your own sun block:


Sun Block Recipe 1
5 oz grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon Shea Butter
1/2 oz beeswax
*4 oz lavender hydrosol or rosewater (or any other hydrosol you like)
2 tablespoons zinc oxide

Mix the oil, Shea butter and beeswax in a 2 cup heat proof glass or Pyrex measuring cup, place the measuring cup in a pot partially filled with water (to act as a double boiler), melt over medium-high heat. Add the zinc powder. Allow to cool until a crust starts to form around the edges. Using a hand blender, begin to slowly pour the hydrosol into the oil. Keep mixing until all the hydrosol is fully incorporated and the cream is smooth. Pour into a clean, sterilized jar. Store in the refrigerator.

* Hydrosol - is the condensed water that is left behind when plants are steam distilled to make essential oil. Similar to waters made from roses and lavenders and other herbs, except more pure and a little more concentrated. You can make your own waters, just by steeping an herb in warm water and straining. Learn how to make rosewater here.


Sun Block Recipe 2
1 Tablespoon zinc oxide
1 1/2 tsp light sesame oil
1 Tablespoon rosewater (learn how to make your own rose water here)
Couple drops of essential oil - your choice or try peppermint, lavender, rosemary

Mix together the zinc oxide and sesame oil. Heat the mixture gently, using a double boiler, and stir well to mix. Remove from heat and slowly add the rosewater and essential oil, as you continue stirring. Allow to cool completely, and store in a clean container with a tight lid, in the fridge. Yield: 2 oz. Keeps: Up to 10 days in the fridge.


Sun Block Recipe 3
6 Tablespoons avocado oil
3 Tablespoons Shea butter
1 Tablespoon beeswax
1 teaspoon soy lecithin
1 capsule vitamin E
1 Tablespoon aloe Vera gel
2 Tablespoon zinc oxide
3-5 drops essential oil (optional)

Melt the Shea butter and beeswax in a double boiler. Mix in the avocado oil, lecithin, aloe Vera gel, zinc oxide, and essential oil. Store in clean container and refrigerate.


As you can see by the above ingredients, zinc or titanium oxide is the active ingredients in these sun block recipes. Unlike sunscreens, zinc and titanium oxide block all sunlight (both UVA and UVB rays) from the skin thus providing a high SPF.

Get your ingredients at:








If mixing up a batch of your own sun block does not interest you, consider these products for sun protection. They are the top sunscreen brands recommended from the Environmental Working Group. You can also visit The Daily Green and see the top 21 Natural Sunscreens.

Desert Essence Daily Face Cream. In addition to protecting skin against damaging UVA and UVB exposure,Desert Essence Age Reversal in SPF 30 also contains the antioxidant grape seed extract, which helps prevent the signs of aging. It also contains Vitamin Ewhich moisturizes and helps prevent wrinkles, and pomegranate extract, which supports a healthy and even skin tone.










  Soleo Organics lists organic ingredients and is recommended for both kids and adults, offering broad spectrum protection (both UVA and UVB rays) for the most sensitive of skin using a 100% chemical-free zinc oxide natural ingredient.

Soléo's formula is made from 22.3% zinc oxide, along with natural ingredients like oils, beeswax, green tea and chamomile.

Badger's Balm SPF 30 natural sunscreen is formulated to protect and moisturize with FDA-certified organic ingredients. As you'll find in the ingredients list of Badger and in all of the EWG's top 10 sunscreens, for truly effective sun and health protection, zinc oxide (along with titanium oxide) is used to deflect the sun's rays, rather than synthetic chemicals which absorb rays, raising health concerns because they penetrate the skin and enter your bloodstream. 
Zinc oxide provides protection from UVA/UVB rays, while extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, cocoa butter and Shea butter keep the skin moisturized. Badger sunscreens are water resistant up to 40 minutes, and use natural ingredients without fragrances, preservatives or dye.

For more skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy