Day 33: Cake beauty products

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 33: Cake beauty products

It’s not often that I endorse a product, but in the case of Cake, I’ll make an exception.

Last Wednesday I needed hand cream and went to Drug Market. While there were plenty of lotions, the choice in hand creams was limited. Always on the lookout for something new, I noticed Cake. Pretty little tubes in pastel colors, describing the main ingredients.

I picked up a turquoise tube, paid and headed back to my office. However, when I put my glasses on I noticed that the turquoise tube was foot cream. So, back to Drug Market.

This time I had my glasses with me and noticed three different hand creams by Cake. Something with vanilla, something with shea butter and something with raw Tahitian coconut elixir called Desserted Island.

The tube stated:

We pour in: coconut fruit extract, mango butter, shea butter.

We leave out: parabens, phthalates, GMO.

Sold.

The first time I used it I was amazed. Cake states that their products are to die for, and I fully agree. The hand cream was superior in every way. Yes, the cream was a little expensive, but I’m prepared to pay a little more for quality products.

What I cannot understand is why Drug Market keeps Cake on the bottom shelf of their display cabinets. Cake should be at eye level, or chest level, not ankle level where hardly anyone sees it.

Next, I visited Cake’s website and noticed that they have a range of other products available. Body wash, body lotion, deodorant, lip balm, washes, scrubs, etc.

https://www.cakebeauty.com/

Some people might wonder ... why pay more for a hand cream when there are so many cheap ones. The answer is simple ... the cheap hand creams are glycerin-based and glycerin is a very bad ingredient. In fact, it’s the bottom of the barrel.

While you may like the feel of glycerin, thinking that it feeds moisture to your hands, it does quite the opposite, it robs your skin from its moisture. Glycerin has been known to draw moisture to the surface. So rather than giving, it takes all the skin’s goodness.

So next time you go shopping for hand cream, or any kind of lotion or cream for that matter, check the ingredients. If you see glycerin or parabens in the lineup, walk away. Give Cake a try. It really is to die for and you’ll go straight to heaven.

Day 17: The secret to beautiful healthy hair will surprise you

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 17: The secret to beautiful healthy hair will surprise you

Whenever inspiration is in short supply, I do what I always do … I take a walk. Today that walk took me to the Bloor Mall and more specifically to Drug Market.

Wandering along the aisles, I’m always surprised at the number of hair care products: shampoos, conditioners, mousses, oils, etc. Over the years I have used a great number of them, and I can tell you with absolute certainty … none of them delivered on their promises.

Next, I looked at the magazines. One of them also focused on hair. How to get longer hair, stronger hair, straighter hair, curlier hair. Out of curiosity I paged through the magazine, found the hair advise section and looked at the recommended products for hair problems.

One thing immediately became clear, whoever wanted his or her hair longer, stronger, straighter or curlier better be prepared to pay a hefty price for it.

I couldn’t help but smile. I doubted that these products were any different than those on the shelves of Drug Market, promising a lot but delivering very little.

Now it so happens that I have a hair problem myself. After a lengthy illness, I have a lot less hair than I used to have. It’s not surprising really, during my illness I suffered pain, stress, lack of appetite and weight loss 10 kilos (20 lbs), all factors that impact hair, especially lack of appetite.

When someone is not eating right, or not eating enough, hair is one of the things that get affected. The hair no longer receives the vitamins and minerals it needs and more importantly, it no longer gets proteins. The result, hair breaks and/or falls out.

When I went looking for a remedy to whip my hair back into shape, I didn’t look at any pills or creams, or any beauty product that promised me miracles, I consulted Mother Nature. Or rather, I turned to Google and researched what Mother Nature had to offer.

As it turns out, the best thing for hair was right in my fridge and costs only a few cents … an onion. According to experts, red onion juice is the best thing for hair.

First-time users are advised to peel and chop one or two onions into pieces and boil them in water for twenty minutes. Remove the onion pieces and let the water cool. Put the water in a bottle and sprints all over the scalp, apply the water with a soft brush, or pour the water all over the scalp.

If the smell doesn’t bother you, you can also use pure onion juice. For this method put on or two onions in a blender. Pour the mixture through a cheesecloth or other fine material and sprits the juice over the scalp or apply with a brush.

Whichever method you prefer, you can leave the onion juice (pure or diluted) on your hair for twenty minutes (if you’re in a hurry) or two hours if you have the time. Afterward shampoo and condition as usual.

There you have it. According to the experts, you don’t need expensive concoctions to prevent hair breakage, to regrow hair, or to just keep your hair in top condition. An onion will do better than anything you buy in the store.

Personally, I’m going to try it tomorrow and I’ll keep you updated on my hair’s progress. Don’t expect miracles though. All the articles I’ve read state if you use onion juice twice or three times a week, it may take four to six weeks to give results.

Day 14: Shellac vs. Acrylic Nails

Between You, Me and the Lamp Post

Day 14: Shellac vs. Acrylic Nails

Many years ago, I worked with a woman who had the most beautiful nails. The length, the shape, the polish, everything was just perfect.

“Thank you,” she said when I complimented her on her nails, “but I’m not sure it was a good idea. I only got them yesterday.” Seeing my puzzlement, she added, “They’re fake, my nails are not real. They’re acrylic nails.”

Acrylic nails?

She went on to explain that acrylic nails were artificial nails applied by a nail technician and didn’t come off no matter what. If the day came when she no longer wanted the nails, they had to be soaked off in acetone.

After years of trying to get beautiful nails, I did some research on acrylic nails, made an appointment with a nail technician and a week later I had beautiful nails too.

After a few days I was used to them and they didn’t bother me in the least. I typed with them, did all the house chores, even took part in a week-long national ten-pin bowling competition (where I took 2^nd place in the ladies doubles).

Everything went fine until the day it went horribly wrong. I opened a desk drawer, my finger slipped off the rim of the drawer and my nail split in two – from cuticle to tip.

I went to see my nail technician, she soaked the nail off and applied a new one. The accident was forgotten.

A few months later, I went bowling, threw my ball wrong and that same nail again split in two. This time, however, the nail split from side to side and the two edges embedded themselves in the nailbed. Oh the pain, I nearly hit the roof.

I made an emergency appointment with my nail technician and it was clear that she didn’t like what she saw. “There are two things you can do,” she said, “either go to the hospital and have the nail removed, or I can apply a layer of acrylic over the broken nail. It will take away the pain, but it will take months for the nail to grow out.” I opted for the latter.

For the next 18 months, I made monthly appointments with my nail technician and always had beautiful nails. Eventually, though, long nails were no longer fashionable, and I had the acrylic nails removed.

Fast forward some twenty years and during that time I always kept my nails short. That is to the day that I started working for a company where just about every woman had beautiful nails. Not long nails, their nails only peeked out about a millimeter off their fingertips, but they were just perfect.

Finding myself hiding my nails all the time I thought the time had come again to have artificial nails. I made an appointment and voila, within the hour I had beautiful nails.

Even though they were fairly short, I found them troublesome. Typing and working with them was no problem, but ten-pin bowling was another matter. I remembered the pain of the split nail all to well and it affected my bowling.

After some deliberation, I decided to have the acrylic nails removed. I was back to having unattractive nails but at least I could bowl carefree.

“Why don’t you try Shellac nails?” the nail technician asked me. “The color gets applied to your own nails and stays perfect for two weeks, three or even four if you wear gloves while doing dishes and other work.”

So I gave it a try and couldn't be happier or more satisfied.

If you’re not happy with your nails, I strongly recommend you give Shellac a go before you try anything else. I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Day 24: The 8 best beauty investments of all time

My Project: 365 Creative Writing Prompts

Day 24: Give advice

The 8 best beauty investments of all time

Even though everybody agrees that real beauty comes from the inside, looking good on the outside is important too.  If it wasn’t, the cosmetics companies wouldn’t be a multi-million dollar industry.  Some visit a spa every so often, others make regular visits to the beauty salon, while others still try every miracle product that comes on the market.  Just what are the 10 best beauty investments of all time?

1. Moisturizer

If you want to keep your skin soft and supple and keep wrinkles at bay, a moisturizer suitable for your skin type is imperative.  A moisturizer will feed your skin the nutrients it needs and slow down the aging process.

2. Sunscreen

Nothing ages you faster than the sun, so you should make sure to wear this all year long.  Look for one that provides broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays.

3. Dermatological check-Up

Any untreated condition is only going to get worse, especially acne, varicose veins, or in the worst case scenario, early signs of skin cancer. Invest in regular checkups to stay ahead of any potential problems.

4. Good haircut

A good haircut makes hair easier to maintain and won't require as many damaging styling products to make it look good.

5. Hand lotion and cuticle cream

You don't need a specially formulated cream for your hands - any rich body lotion will work -- but you do need to make sure to moisturize your hands and cuticles often. Your hands give away even more about your age than your face.

6. Fresh fruit & vegetables

No matter how many vitamins and supplements you may take, nothing can replace the nutrients you can get from food. Try organic produce to ensure you're not eating additives you're not expecting. Plus, seasonal produce will not only taste better but will ensure you're eating food at its height of freshness and nutritional value.

7. Gym membership, bicycle, or fitness equipment

Exercise not only keeps you fit and healthy but relieves stress, the effects of which can take a huge toll on your skin and cause premature aging.  The Mayo Clinic recommends 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity a few times a week.

8. Comfortable mattress and pillow

The old adage about getting your beauty sleep is true; you should strive to get at least 7 hours each night. Since many of us have crazy schedules that make it hard to get your hours in, wasting an hour tossing and turning on an uncomfortable bed will only set you back.

Invest in yourself. It won’t be long before you’ll experience the benefits.

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Best Wrinkle Creams

Generally, women and wrinkles are natural born enemies.  Manufacturers of cosmetic creams know this and have developed a series of wrinkle creams that are overwhelming to say the least.  They all promise to erase wrinkles, lighten dark eye circles and firm sagging skin.  If you’re wondering which cream is right for you – that’s hard to say. 

Everybody’s skin is different and what’s right for your friend may not be right for you.  If you’re happy with the first cream you try, great.  If not, you might have to try another and another.  Following are some wrinkle cream tips that should help:

Tip #1:  Use, application, and suitability

Perhaps the most important tip is that a wrinkle cream should be used every day, preferably twice a day.  When applying, the cream should not be smoothed on the skin, but lightly tapped in with clean fingertips.  Equally important is that the cream should be suitable for your skin type. 

Tip #2:  Research a wrinkle cream before purchase

As an example, Olay Total Effects claims to treat more than wrinkles by also targeting age spots, dryness and puffiness with the end result being smoother skin texture.  This wrinkle cream promises a lot, but on-line reviews question its ingredients and state that the cream actually lacks the promised human stem cells and peptides that are supposed to fight wrinkles.

A word-of-mouth recommendation is always helpful in trying to find a wrinkle cream that really delivers on advertising promises.

Tip #3:  Consider some highly rated wrinkle creams

·       LifeCell: Currently rated very high is a product called LifeCell with a key ingredient called Deanol.  This substance causes skin cells to expand, causing skin to look fuller and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.  Another ingredient is antioxidant Ascorbyl Palmitate formulated to improve the overall appearance of your skin.  Not only will it attack wrinkles, it will also reduce the appearance of pores and age spots.

·       Roc:  Not only has Roc been trusted by women since 1957, it is also one of the most economical wrinkle cream fighters.  Roc uses Retinol to not only encourage skin renewal, but to tighten skin.  After regular use, many women claim that their skin is softer and suppler with less noticeable wrinkles. 

·       DDF Wrinkle:  DDF Wrinkle is a doctor formulated moisturizing serum that uses quite a unique approach in the fight against wrinkles.  Instead of tightening the skin or using fillers, DDF Wrinkle uses a peptide complex to relax away wrinkles as well as restore your skin’s collagen while, at the same time, exfoliating and minimizing pores. 

·       Bambola Beauty:  If you don’t trust chemical based products and prefer natural ingredients on your skin, there are many companies now that offer plant and mineral based products.  A good example is Bambola.  Their Intensive Eye Cream deals not only with wrinkles, but makers claim it also attacks moisture loss and collagen breakdown.  Bambola offers a wide range of skin products without the use of parabens, preservatives, artificial colors and fragrances

Tip #4:  Wrinkle cream cautions

These wrinkle cream tips also come with a word of caution.  As with all wrinkle-fighting creams, some ingredients can cause irritation, a burning sensation, dryness, a rash, peeling and inflammation.  It is recommended that before buying a cream, you should test it on the skin of your neck and wait at least 24 hours.  Even if the wrinkle cream is safe for your skin, stay out of the sun as wrinkle-fighting creams do not react well to direct sunlight.

Think before you buy a wrinkle cream and do your research.

The 8 best beauty investments of all time

Even though everybody agrees that real beauty comes from the inside, looking good on the outside is important too.  If it wasn’t, the cosmetics companies wouldn’t be a multi-million dollar industry.  Some visit a spa every so often, others make regular visits to the beauty salon, while others still try every miracle product that comes on the market.  Just what are the 10 best beauty investments of all time?

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