The Lost Post

Hi Guys!
Again, sorry for the lack of posts. Everytime I have a difficult time with my skin, my posts fall off, while I try to figure out what my problem is and how to fix it!

I have been doing a lot of research on skin care ingredients. I have more irritations than I realized and now am reading all I can on various irritants that may do the following:

1. Make my eyes itchy and red
2. Activate my allergies (my nasal and sinus passages specifically)
3. Create large pores and pimples

Number 3 is lower on the priority list now that I've found a workable skin care regime. BTW - this has changed since I last posted so I will do an update at the end of the post.

See my previous post on ingredients that can cause a flare up.
I'm going to add these items to MY list:

methylisothiazolinone
parabens - Methyl and Propyl and Butyl and Ethyl Paraben
Petrolatum
Glycol - often used as solvents for preservatives and other materials. Examples are Propylene, Butylene, Pentylene, Hexylene, and Caprylyl Glycol.
PEG - Polyethylene Glycol - https://www.truthinaging.com/review/what-is-it-pegs 

Phenoxyethanol - "2-hydroxyethyl phenyl ether and 2-phenoxy-ethanol. Other names, however, could be a bit trickier to spot, such as rose ether. To make matters more confusing, some manufacturers don't even disclose the preservative on their product labels. Phenoxyethanol can also be used as a fragrance, and in some cases, manufacturers simply list it as "fragrance" on the product label. So, if a label states it contains "fragrance" but does not specify what kind, be aware that it may be phenoxyethanol."

The thing is... some of these items are ok for most people and that there is debate as to whether there is a danger for any of these ingredients. I've read some forums where a few people report their sensitivity to Butylene Glycol, but not Propylene Glycol and vice versa. Petrolatum for example is in most lip products. Some say it's just plain bad. Others say it's only bad if it's not from a plant based source.  On some lists Aloe Vera is also listed! So it really depends on who you are listening to.

What I've learned from all of this is that everyone has different sensitivities; mine are very particular. Yours will be too. You will have to test out different products to narrow down your trigger. Because I am so sensitive I am trying to weed out the offending ingredient. It means that I have to find the line between clear skin, eczema and all the other symptoms I've displayed recently.  
In the last few months, I've been reading blogs and science articles on chemicals, and watching youtube videos that describe skin care products that are supposed to be natural and not irritating. I find that a lot of products that tout themselves as natural still have one or more ingredients that can be irritating to some wearers. I read a lot of reviews before I try something. I've found that even after a lot of research,  and four stars, I will have a reaction with that item.

My goal now is to simplify my regiment. I've been using a lot of hydrating products, and some of them were contraindicating. Some are only good for me during the day, while others I use only at night.

The quest continues!

On my pinterest board, I've posted some items that I've either tried or want to try. I also note in the description the name of the ingredient that may be a point of sensitivity.

Update: Bad Breakouts and Eczema

Hi Again, Guys!
Sorry I have not posted in a long time. Holidays + Stress. I just wanted to update you on some findings that I have on what sparked my current problems with my skin.

We were correct with the diagnosis of a cheese allergy. Cheese created a very specific reaction in my skin. Itchiness to the point of raised and broken skin began to plague me. It was very distracting. After cutting out most cheeses I found that I could still have mozzarella, but because it's buffalo dairy, not cow's dairy.

While at Jessa's Skin Care, Jessa mentioned salt(excluding sea salt) as being a possible problem. I found that if I stick to sea salt, I don't have a bad outbreak. After lot of testing, I found that Ritz crackers are both my weakness and my downfall. After eating a few, I will have a ferocious outbreak around my chin.

If I don't eat Ritz, my skin is dry but I don't have outbreaks.

Still on the quest to find the right hand cream. Just came back from Arizona a few days ago and my hands have not recovered.

My advise for you... test a few things that you are eating, if you find that your eczema AND blemishes flare up!

Write a comment below if you have any tips for me!
Happy New Year!

Recent Bad Acne Breakout + Eczema

Hi Guys,
It's been awhile since I last posted and there is a reason. At some point in the last two weeks, I had a very very bad reaction on my face to something. It's still unclear what that item is. At the moment, it could be any of the following: cheese, soda, stress, peri-menopause, a new product. I'm sure there are more possible culprits, but after seeing my aesthetician, I'm thinking it's a combo of those main items.
Because my eczema is a fairly new diagnosis and also because until two years ago, I had near perfect skin (THANK YOU MOM!), I reacted poorly. In my home lab, I experimented with everything. I threw anything I could think of, at it. I also pulled back on all of my usual products and habits. In the end, all of that was WRONG!
I forgot some very basic things...
1. You cannot treat 41 year old skin like it's 16. Applying hot water and then cold water, and not using moisturizer, is NOT the answer. DUH
2. What works for everyone else (your husband, your dad, your coworkers) may not work for you.
3. Picking at it like a teenage boy isn't a good habit.
4. Be careful about changing your habits. Using new hair products could impact your eczema or skin care regimen. 

Not ever having had a bad acne breakout, I had no tools in my arsenal. I never had picked at my skin. I had rarely popped a pimple successfully. Why I didn't go straight to my dermatologist or my aesthetician, I don't know. I just freaked out! I picked and poked and applied products that were too strong, I didn't change my diet, and stressed out more.

I've decided to follow a regiment that is informed by my aesthetician and use products made by their company that are all natural and some products that I already use that fill the regimen that they suggest. I plan to adjust their prescribed regime to my preferred products after my face calms down. Hopefully this is a one time deal and not an ongoing problem, though I understand that acne can be about managing it and not eliminating it.

First things first:
1. swap out cotton pillow case with satin
2. wash two times a day. (previously I washed once and used a facial wipe at other times, to avoid drying out the skin)
3. Change the order of "applications" after showering and in the AM. Face first, body, and then hair.
This is in response to the idea that a new product was the culprit.

At the moment, I am using the following, in this order:
1. EO Products Cleanse for face
2. adding Jessa Vanilla-Soda Blemish scrub to my face cleanser every other night
3. Jessa Anti-oxident Blemish Toner
4. Hada Labo Hyaluronic Moisturizing Lotion- tap into skin
5. 100% Manuka Honey Hydration + Mask 1oz - use as mask every other day for moisture. 

6. Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation®  for moisturizer

I'm on day 4 after my visit to the skin care specialist and most of the blemishes are scarring over, a few are less red and a few are erupting after microderm treatment.

So the following posts will be about my journey. I considered posting pictures, but I will be participating in a video series by my aesthetician. Those photos will be good quality and hopefully we will see some good BEFORE and AFTER comparisons.

I hope you will join me in my Journey!

If you have any comments or suggestions, I will take them. Comment below!

Review: One's Care Snail Mask Sheet

I had heard about snail masks as having some great results while watching youtube videos and other skin care sites. So I chose one while on my usual shopping trip for skin care.

The Rating: ★★★☆☆

This mask had great moisturizing, and felt good while I was wearing it. I felt my skin was softer after wearing and I thought my skin looked plump afterwards. Also, I felt the few pimples that I had, were reduced afterwards. The problem was the next day. Intense itchiness and redness around the nose, made this a "never use again" product for me. If you don't have sensitive skin and are not prone to eczema, this mask may be great for you. For me it was so uncomfortable and distracting the next day, that I'm going to have to say no thanks to another use.

Review: Glysolid Glycerin Cream for the skin

I have been struggling with trying to find a suitable moisturizer and body lotion. If I don't use any lotion, I feel uncomfortable, distracted and my skin looks dull. If I do use something, I often have a reaction. I've been reading labels and doing a lot of research on what is working for others. So far, everything I've tried has not been great. I end up using anything with a scent only on my feet because my feet are rough anyway. I have to wash anything with a fragrance off of my hands before I go to bed. It's a real pain.

Features and Benefits:

Glycerin and Allantoin is designed to treat sensitive, stressed and damaged skin.
The Glycerin used in Glysolid is vegetable based.
Principle effect of Glycerin: A skin softener; it keeps skin cells supple and flexible.
Principle effect of Allantoin: Stimulates skin cell regeneration and the healing of small injuries, nicks, scrapes and minor burns.

The Rating: ★★★★☆

I finally found something that works well enough for the eczema. Glysolid Glycerin Cream, 3.38 oz jar. I am using the cream that comes in a red tub. It's very thick and paste-like, which is not ideal for my taste, but the product itself, once rubbed into the skin, helps with itchiness and moisturizing. I apply it twice a day and like the way my skin feels afterwards.  I want to point out that I did not try the version that comes in the tube. I would like try the tube version to see if the formulation changes between the two dispensers. I personally like a product that is a little thinner. If you like a super thick application, you will appreciate this item.

The Ingredients:

Glycerin, Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Oleate, Ceteareth-12, Allantoin

Dimethicone, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Ceteareth-20, Silica

Review: Hask Macadamia Oil Hydrating Deep Conditioner with Keratin

As you know, I am still looking for the holy grail hair conditioner for my 4a hair. I have reactions to various ingredients: the ubiquitous "fragrance", parabens, possibly witch hazel. It's difficult to know what will create a "flare up," so I am testing all types of hair conditioners. I have such a dry scalp, that nothing has relieved it so far except avocado applied to the scalp as a pre-treatment. But I continue to try various products. So here is my breakdown for this item.

Product's Benefits

• Repairs dry, damaged hair
• Enriched with Keratin
• Moisturizes hair

My Process

I used these products, in this order, with a rinse between each application:

1. Free & Clear™ Shampoo
2. Beyond the Zone Shock Therapy Extreme Clean Clarifying Treatment
3. Hair One Hair Cleanser and Conditioner with Argan Oil only applied to the back
   
4. Ovation Cell Therapy only applied to the front hairline, above the forehead.
5. Free & Clear™ Conditioner

The RATING: ★★★☆☆

This was ok at conditioning. Very shiny curls, no itchiness. I had some flaking by the end of the week. There is a scent and as you know I am sensitive to fragrance. This one is pleasant and not too heavy and it does disappear. You won't smell it the next day or on your pillow.

If you are interested, my husband's feedback: "There's a nutty aspect to the scent that makes your general scent less earthy, more nutty."

In general, this product is great as a deep conditioner unless you have allergies to fragrances and have dry scalp and dandruff. If you are like me, you would need to apply a pre-shampoo treatment. This isn't the holy grail but it's nice. I probably won't stick with it, because there are other conditioners that worked better.

Ingredients:

Water/Eau(Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Lanolin, Quaternium-18, Macadama Ternifolia(Macadamia Nut) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Keratin(keratin Protein), Silk Amino Acids, Juglans Nigra(Black Walnut) Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis(Jojoba) Seed Oil, Panthenol, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Caramel, Yellow 5, Green 5, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance/Parfum

Review: Touch Theraphy Total Defense Deep Moisture Ampoule Mask

On a recent trip to Japantown in San Francisco, I stopped in at a beauty store. They had a whole section with just face masks. Now, I am of the age where face masks were mud, peel off, seaweed or some packet of cream that you applied and kept on for a 10 minutes. This type of mask is fairly new to me. As I've stated in other posts, I am just now paying attention to my skin since my early 30s. I've since tried about four different types. I was very excited to try the Touch Theraphy Total Defense Deep Moisture Ampoule Mask when I first saw it.

This item has argan oil and I've been trying everything that I see that is affordable that has argan oil. I just want to see if this is a good additive or just a trendy thing. Other sites have listed this item as having hyaluronic acid which I like to use anyway to enhance the moisturizing properties of whatever I use right afterwards.

The Rating: ★★★☆☆

I liked this mask because of the moisturizing. It has a stronger fragrance than I prefer. For many, this will not be a problem. For me, fragrance of any kind, even if it's pleasant to me, can be a problem.

The fluid was kind of soupy. I'm not sure of any other way to describe it. After I removed the mask, and tapped the rest of the product in, it appeared to take over an hour to absorb into the skin and felt tacky for way too long. I went out for the evening and it still felt a little tacky, hours later. I'm not entirely sure what that means. Was my skin not able to take the product?

Another issue with this product was that it contains parabens. I'm kind of ok with this, but who is to say that my itchy eyes was not due to that. Hard to know. For this reason, I am giving it 3 stars. I may try it again. I have another to use. If that trial goes well, I'll be sure to let you know.

If you've tried this product and had similar or different results, please comment below!

Update: I've tried this mask a second time, and with good results. The fragrance was not irritating the second time and I felt that the mask did a great job with moisturizing. No irritation the next day and I felt that the results were lasting. 

Review: Philosophy Time in a Bottle

I've been wanting to pay more attention to my skin for awhile. When I was pregnant with my son five years ago, I was very sensitive to scents, as most women are. They didn't necessarily make me nauseated. Some did, but some scents just gave me a headache or feel itchy and flared up my allergies. I used to be able to use any and all types of cosmetics and creams. All of a sudden, that ended. I was sensitive to fragrances, animal smells, and my moisturizer and hair spray!(Please notice below that I've bolded the ingredients from this product in bold if they are also on the Avoid These list.

I ended up not using any moisturizer on any part of
my body for five years. The only thing that worked was a humidifier. Anyone who has been pregnant knows that your body is working so hard and that dry skin becomes a problem during this time. This is also a time when a lot of women get a bloody nose while

sleeping. At this time, you tend to slather on any and all moisturizers. I had to do something to alleviate my cracking skin and the uncomfortable dryness.

So it's been five years, two kids and I haven't been washing my face in the morning and I haven't been using moisturizer. I know, weird. Even when I was 13 I used a moisturizer. It's the one thing I always did. Wash, tone, moisturize. But here I am. Looking at my skin through the eyes of a 41 year old woman and thinking, "Oh I really let myself go!" I needed some real help. Philosophy's Time in a Bottle is one of the first things I tried.

According to the product information:
Time in a Bottle daily age-defying serum helps defy the appearance of all major signs of aging with a breakthrough dna renewal complex and high-potency vitamin c8 activator. The packaging shows a side by side view of before and after results.
*clinical study, 120 women, ages 25-55, once daily use. measurement of aging not yet visible on the surface using cross-polarized light to reveal sub-surface signs of aging in the epidermal layer.

Features and Benefits:

• transforms your skin inside and out at any age by targeting the source of aging: your skin's dna
• helps skin appear radiant, poreless, even, wrinkle-free, smooth and firm
• fresh-pour system triggers the highest level of activity and potency by mixing the serum and activator prior to first use

My Usage and Rating: ★★★★☆

I did not have to mix the contents for this sample of product. If you purchased the full size, you would mix the two liquids and must use it within a certain amount of time. 

I applied this at night after my evening shower for several nights in a row, about 10 days. I saw visible results. I really liked the product because I saw a smoother texture, looked better rested and saw that other products were proving more effective as well. I can honestly say I look much younger.

This is exactly what I was looking for. One of the problems with this product is that it lists some ingredients that are on my MAY-POSSIBLY-CAUSE-IRRITATION list. See below for the ingredients list. (I have marked in bold the offensive items)  So overall I would give this a Rating of 4 stars for myself. If you are especially sensitive then this might not be for you. I did not have a real problem with it, but I have since found some other items that I like just as well. The other problem with this product is the price point. It's about $74. For me this is a deal breaker. For some of my friends, it isn't. For this mom of two on a budget, this wasn't something I could get used to.

Suggested Usage:

-Prior to first use, pour the entire vial of high-potency vitamin c8 activator into the serum, and fasten pump to the bottle. 
-Shake well for 20 seconds. The serum will turn light pink, indicating it is ready to begin transforming your skin. 
-Use morning and/or evening by applying to clean, dry skin. 
-Follow with moisturizer, if needed. 
-Use within three months after mixing for best results. 

Ingredients:

serum: aqua/water/eau, dimethicone, alcohol denat., bis-peg-18 methyl ether dimethylsilane, cyclopentasiloxane, peg-8, butylene glycol, polyethylene, glycerin, dimethiconol, methoxy peg-18, camellia sinensis leaf extract, coffea arabica (coffee) seed extract, pongamia pinnata seed extract, angelica archangelica root extract, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) peel extract, punica granatum fruit extract, plankton extract, ptfe, bifida ferment lysate, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, squalane, ascorbyl palmitate, silica dimethyl silylate, tocopherol, polysorbate 60, lecithin, sclerotium gum, hydrolyzed soy flour, retinyl palmitate, propylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, micrococcus lysate, bacillus ferment, magnesium aluminum silicate, maltodextrin, trisodium edta, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, disodium edta, sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, potassium phosphate, potassium chloride, sorbic acid, adenosine, sodium benzoate, citric acid, parfum/fragrance, 1,2-hexanediol, silica, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid, lactic acid, sodium chloride, alcohol, acetic acid, phenoxyethanol, bht, mica, titanium dioxide (ci 77891).
activator: butylene glycol, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, aqua/water/eau, fd & c red no. 4 (ci 14700), d & c red no. 33 (ci 17200).

Avoid These Skin Care Ingredients that can cause an Eczema flare up

Here is a list of ingredients to look out for if you have sensitive skin or eczema. You may only react to one or few of these items. Test out items within your comfort zone to figure it out. I'd add the generic "fragrance" to this list also.

• Acetone
• Alcohol
• Witch hazel
• Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid)
• Benzoic acid
• Bronopol
• Cinnamic acid compounds
• Dowicil 200
• Formaldehyde
• Lactic acid
• Propylene glycol
• Quaternary ammonium compounds
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Sorbic acid
• Urea
• Vitamin C

Source:
Baumann, Leslie. "The Skin Type Solution." Bantam Books. 2006.

Review: Hair One Olive Oil Hair Cleanser Conditioner For Dry Hair

If you've read my previous hair product blogs, you'll know what I'm dealing with here. To read some previous posts on similar items, check out this post on Mystic Divine Argan & Monoi Oils Nourishing Mask.

My Process

I used these products, in this order, with a rinse between each application:

1. Shampoo - Finesse Clean + Simple
2. Beyond the Zone Shock Therapy Extreme Clean Clarifying Treatment
3. Hair One Olive Oil Hair Cleanser for Dry Hair
4. Ovation Cell Therapy
5. Free & Clear™ Conditioner

The RATING - ★★☆☆☆

I compared this to the Hair One Argan Oil product. This one was not as good at moisturizing. My curls were shiny, but did not seem as moisturized. My scalp was still itchy afterwards and flaked near the end of the week. The scent was okay and tolerable, but it still did not please me. The product did not impress me enough to try again. It would work fine for someone who had just moderately dry hair. But if you have extremely dry scalp, are prone to eczema, have dense African American hair like I do, this may not be enough for you. Applying avocado straight to the scalp before washing may be better.

If you had different results or want to share your experience, please post a comment below.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, CID 157846, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Menthol, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum)

Review: Every Drop Beauty and Lip Spatulas

I was just going through my makeup and skin products, realizing that I have a lot of unused product. I found some very expensive moisturizer that was housed in a glass bottle. I really like the product, but was using the pump tube, to get the rest of the product out of the bottle. There are some suggestions online to get extra product out of tubes and plastic bottles, but it's difficult to remove this product out of a GLASS container.

There are a couple of options out there, but I wanted to try something fairly inexpensive first. Here are the options, I was looking at:

SEPHORA COLLECTION Bottom’s Up Beauty
ProBeauty Tools
Every Drop Beauty Spatula

I opted for the Every Drop Beauty and Lip Spatulas because they were at the Container Store and I was already there. But I believe you can get them at Walgreens, on Amazon, etc. for a comparable price. 


I found that using them together for the glass moisturizer bottle worked best. I needed the larger one to get the sides and the bottom of the bottle. I used the smaller one intended for lip gloss, for the area behind the neck of the bottle. the results are below. 

Bottle after product is removed. 

What you see in this pot(right) is only a portion of
what I got out of the bottle. I took this photo
2 weeks after I used the spatulas. So you are seeing
this after I used two weeks of product. 

I've since used this with three bottles of lotion and toothpaste and have extended my regular usage by additional two months. For plastic bottles, I can easily cut them open and scoop the remaining product into a jar or a wide mouth travel bottle. Once you cut open a plastic bottle, the remaining lotion or product tends to dry out, so you need to have a clean container on hand. Hope this helps!

For more useful reviews on hair products or other beauty products, please go to Chardonnay's Reviews!

Review: Mystic Divine Argan & Monoi Oils Nourishing Masque

Still in a quest to find a the holy grail of curly hair deep treatments, I tried a Mystic Divine Argan & Monoi Oils Nourishing Masque sample. I did not clarify this week, because I hadn't been using a lot of product.

For the last few weeks, I have been applying fresh avocado to my scalp, leaving it on for a half hour prior to washing. This is just some background, so that you know what I was starting with.

Hair Type:

3c, 4a curliness, SUPER dry hair with DRY SCALP, not colored, shoulder length, brown. Washed once a week, due to SUPER dry skin and hair. I used this product in conjunction with Finesse Clean + Simple Shampoo.

Product's Listed Benefits:

•     Eliminates Frizz
•     Restores Shine
•     Conditions and smooths dry damaged hair

Application Instructions:

Place a small amount of Mystic Divine Nourishing Oil Treatment in hand and smooth evenly through wet or dry hair.

The Rating: ★★★★☆

This product was way more than I expected. Having had an interesting experience with another Argan Oil product, I was not really looking forward to using it.  I am extremely sensitive to fragrances and my experience with Argan Oil was so far, less than pleasing. I was pleasantly surprised. This product had a pleasant LIGHT scent. Beyond that, it distributed easily through my dense curly hair. I separated my mass of hair into approximately six sections and applied the product to each. I could feel the hair become slippery. Sometimes items that tout themselves as detanglers, don't really appear to penetrate or moisturize while using them. This one was GRREAT! It is the next day, and I love the way my hair feels. 

I decided to wait until after one week to finish this review to see if the product held up to my usual routine. By day 6, I had extreme dandruff and itching, more than my usual. I was determined to give it a second try. This time I used my usual applications of products, not skipping any steps. I applied the masque directly to my scalp and waited 30 minutes, before washing it out. Then I used my regular shampoo, clarified with Shock Therapy, reapplied the Masque, my Ovations cell therapy (hair treatment only) to my temples, and rinsed. Then I applied my regular conditioner (Free & Clear). 

The next day, I straightened it. My hair was unusually manageable when brushing through with a Michel Mercier thick hair brush. The hair feels really good, conditioned and smooth. I am optimistic that I will have better conditioning results this time around. If your hair is less dry and you wash and condition more often than once a week, then this is for you. 

Ingredients:

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Dmdm Hydantoin, Tetrasodium Edta, Peg-4 Laurate, Citric Acid, Amodimethicone, C11-15 Pareth-7, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Trideceth-12, Laureth-9, Sodium Pca, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Yellow 6, Red 4, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal

Review: Beyond the Zone Shock Therapy Extreme Clean Clarifying Treatment

Because I don't use any product in my hair daily, I don't use a clarifying treatment regularly. As my hair is getting longer in some areas and breaking off in others, I'm giving in and am starting to use gel to keep the stray curly hairs around my hair line, controlled. Now I find that I should probably start clarifying again. I used to make my own, but my time is scarce now, so I'm trying some samples and testing them.

Hair Type:

3c, 4a curliness, SUPER dry hair with DRY SCALP, not colored, shoulder length, brown. Washed once a week, due to SUPER dry skin and hair.

I used this product in conjunction with the following products at different times:
Finesse Clean + Simple Shampoo
Ovation Cell Therapy Hair Treatment
Hair One Hair Cleanser and Conditioner with Argan Oil

 or Hair One Olive Oil Cleansing Conditioner for Dry Hair

Free & Clear™ Conditioner

Application Instructions:

Wet hair with warm water. Open packet and pour treatment evenly across wet palm. Rub hands together while adding one ounce of water to dissolve crystals and create a rich lather. Apply evenly throughout hair, scrunching ends and most affected discolored hair. Allow to remain on hair for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and follow with conditioner.
For maximum lather, shampoo prior to application. 

The Rating:  ★★★★☆

I really really like this product. I love that it's a powder and that you add water to activate it. Depending on how much hair you have, you can use as little or as much as you like. I have a lot of hair, but didn't find it necessary to use the whole packet. I felt the hair extremely clean after using it. I conditioned again after application. I dried and straightened my hair. I found that my hair felt smoother, took products applied and kept my styles well, during the week. No offensive smell. I will definitely continue to use it.

Ingredients:

Glucose, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Disodium Edta, Sodium Gluconate, Polyquaternium-10, Allantoin

Review: Hair One Hair Cleanser and Conditioner with Argan Oil

Let me begin by telling you what the situation is. I have 4a curly hair. Ok, possibly 3c, or something in between the two. This is a degree of curliness (http://www.naturallycurly.com/hair-types).

Since I have curly hair, I only wash once a week. I am also used to dry scalp and occasional dandruff and/or itchiness. The itchiness was becoming so bad, that I thought I should begin to deep condition. Yes, I know. I should have been doing this regularly, but I have two little kids and a full time job. I don't even use product in my hair. Some days I'm lucky if I remember to brush my hair. (I wear it straight most days).

So I went to Sally's and bought some samples of clarifiers (see an upcoming review), and various samples of conditioner. I tried this one first as a conditioner.  

My Process

I used these products, in this order, with a rinse between each application:

1. Shampoo - Finesse Clean + Simple
2. Beyond the Zone Shock Therapy Extreme Clean Clarifying Treatment
3. Hair One Hair Cleanser and Conditioner with Argan Oil
4. Ovation Cell Therapy
5. Free & Clear™ Conditioner

The RATING: ★★★☆☆

I loved the results. Very shiny curls, no itchiness, no flakes. I did not like the very strong musky smell. It bothered me all week. I had to get it out! The smell was so overpowering that my allergies acted up, my pillow smelled musky and I was distracted. For the smell alone, this item does not get 4 stars. 

I went to look up whether Argan Oil is supposed to have a scent and all of the research said yes, but the descriptions did not describe what I smelled. I read that Argan Oil by itself had a subtler scent and that whatever I smelt was an additive. It's also possible that the Argan Oil was not pure or that this batch had gone "bad" or rancid. If you have a different experience, please post below!

So, in conclusion, if you like a musky smell on your hair, hands and pillow or you can tolerate perfume, then have at it! I just wish that I could. 

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, CID 157846, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernal Oil, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Rosa Roxburghii Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Menthol, Polysorbate 60, Citric Acid, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum).

Use iExplorer to transfer game progress between idevices without Jailbreaking

Have you ever wanted to transfer a game from one device to another, without losing your status? or wanted to restore a game's progress? This is how I did it.

 

BACKGROUND
I play Smurfgrabber on the iphone. It does not transfer game status by using Game Center even though Game Center registers its existence. I wanted to play the game on the iPad without losing my status or progress. I asked on the forums and found from Beeline that you can't do this transfer (like you can with many other games) with this game. But I found a solution.

[If you've had your new device for some time, you cannot "restore" using an old backup to sync your single game. You've already started playing other games, and you have data that you don't want to disrupt. All you want to do is sync up this one game. Restoring using an old backup would revert not just this game or app, but EVERYTHING.]

Another use for these directions is to save your Game Saves for a game that you want to move off of your device. Maybe you want more space for games and apps that you use more regularly and only want to come back to the game when an Update is released.


DIRECTIONS
Download the app from the App Store for the Game that you want to transfer.
Do NOT open the App until you are completely done and ready to Test.

Download iExplorer from http://www.macroplant.com/iexplorer/index-c.php?utm_expid=15979170-15

Plug in your original device

Find the game or app that you want to transfer or back up

Double click on the App in the middle panel until you find the Documents folder. In some cases the Documents folder is not enough to do the complete transfer, so for safety's sake, also find the LIBRARY folder.  You might not need it, but if you do end up needing it, you won't need to go back and plug the original device in again (like I did).

Right click on the Library folder (or choose Action in the menu above) and choose Export to Folder.
Unplug original device and plug in new device if you are doing a transfer. If you just want a back up, you're done. Now save these folders in a Safe place, LABEL it with the Name of the GAME! And then bookmark this page.


Wait for the software to recognize your new device.

Find the same Document folder once your new device is  mounted. Delete the Document Folder Contents.

Drag and Drop to Replace the contents of the corresponding Document Folder with what you saved on your desktop.

To test, open the App on your new device and check to see if your progress corresponds to your old device.

If you see none of your progress, your transfer failed. You may have to try the Library Folder.
Repeat the process.  Before you Test, delete the App from your new Device and reinstall a clean version. Then copy over both Document AND LIbrary Folder contents.

MacMail: Hide Flagged Folder in Mountain Lion and Mavericks updates

I just updated my OS to Mountain Lion. With this update, your MacMail user interface is slightly changed. Most of the changes don't bother me. I've been through this before and I know how to fix most of the issues.

But with this update, by default, a FLAGGED folder is listed below your Inbox. I do NOT like this. The number 35 to the right of FLAGGED, nags at me.

I already know that I have these flagged and there is a reason that I want them flagged. Also, many of these are flagged from previous years. I need to find these in the future, but I can create a smart folder to triage them. (that was done last year).

So I was looking for something to remove them. According to the APPLE forums, there is no easy way to remove or hide them.

But, here is a solution!

Eelco Lempsink of Tupil (creators of Beamer) has already done the work and included an auto - Installer for it. Yah!

Download this for Mavericks OS X: http://eelco.lempsink.nl/NoFlaggedMailbox.zip
(Contact me for the previous version.) Download and double click on the Install file.

Eelco's contact info
Tupil: http://tupil.com
Beamer: http://beamer-app.com

Find the original thread here: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/62614/how-to-hide-the-flagged-folder-in-mail-app-mountain-lion

Note: with the OS update 10.8.4 from Mountain Lion, this plug-in is disabled. But all you need to do is download the plugin software and install it again. It worked for me. Let me know if it works for you!

Convert .mpg file to .mp4 using VLC for Mac

Backstory

My kids participate in studies for Infant Cognition and Language Lab at UC Berkeley. This last visit, I asked if they could forward a copy of the videos to me afterwards. Because my husband went into my son's study and I went into my daughter's study, we both wanted to see how the other kid participated. They are about 20 months apart, so they are studied and separated into different age range and development groups.

The Lab shared the video by google docs and I was able to download the .mpg. My husband didn't have the ability to open the .mpg without the mpeg 2 plug-in for quicktime. So I wanted to use VLC and convert it so my husband wouldn't have to download new software.

BTW - I have a mac and my husband uses a PC and he is NOT tech savvy.

Objective

This tutorial will help you  maintain the audio. I made various choices in the past that did not allow me to maintain the audio. No watermark is made by this software onto your final file. You will end up with an .mp4 that you can listen to on your device or within iTunes and Quicktime.

Steps

Drag and drop your file into the window shown above and into the Playlist folder.

Go to the FILE pull down menu and choose Streaming/Exporting Wizard.

Choose Transcode/Save to file and click Next

 

Select the actual file. Click NEXT

 

Check Transcode video and choose the MPEG-4 Video Codec. 

Check Transcode audio and choose MPEG 4 Audio. Leave the bitrate for both alone.

 

 Choose MPEG 4/ MP4, click NEXT

Click on Choose

A drop down will appear. Insert a file name. Do NOT use an file extension. Choose the file or folder where you want to find your file after export. Click Save.

Check the extension that appears after you click Save. It should be .mp4. If not, go back and check your settings so far. Do not check the box for Local playback. This will only slow your export down. Click NEXT.

 

Click Finish.

http://www.macxdvd.com/mac-video-converter-free/
An easier to use piece of software: MacX Video Converter Free Edition
This will allow you to choose the actual use (iphone, ipad, itunes, Music) and it makes the decisions for you! If I didn't already have VLC, I would have only downloaded this software. I am going to use both in the future, depending on the ultimate use.