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Makeup and Beauty Tips for Breast Cancer Patients: Staying Beautiful Inside and Out!; Product reviews – Bath & Body Works In Touch Breast Self-Exam Glove; Tarte’s Sweet Dreams Lipstick

October 12th, 2007 by Karen 32 Comments

Makeup and Beauty Tips for Breast Cancer Patients: Staying Beautiful Inside and Out!

This is a picture of my friend, Mary Anne. She’s a breast cancer survivor and the coolest dentist I know.

maryanne-headshot

We met a few years ago at UC Davis (GO AGS), where she had the annoying habit of getting good grades in organic chemistry!

It seemed like our lives were destined to follow a certain track: finish school, get great job, find kick-ass boy, etc.; so when she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year it was really shocking. It felt like it was only yesterday when we were at her house at 2:00 in the morning “studying,” aka pigging out and watching Jerry Springer.

Next thing I know we’re kickin’ it at the chemotherapy ward and making jokes about the IV she’s toting around.

Yet despite this difficult and emotional year, I’ve watched my friend handle this challenge with grace and positivity.

One of the many challenges for Mary Anne was navigating the world of makeup and beauty as a cancer patient. How do you deal with losing your eyebrows? What do you do when you feel a hot flash coming on? These are just a few makeup/beauty issues that she had to deal with.

So without further ado, here are a few great tips that she’s learned this past year on how to stay beautiful both inside and out.

And if you have a friend or a relative who has breast cancer or was recently diagnosed please forward this post to her. Let’s make someone feel hopeful today!

Makeup and Beauty Tips for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors from the Lovely Mary Anne

Name
Mary Anne

Age and occupation
31 years old (My 31st birthday was very special. It happened to be my last day of radiation!)
Dentist
When were you diagnosed? How did you find out?

During a routine physical exam in October 2006, my primary care physician found a lump on my left breast. Prior to that, I had no idea it existed and never had any symptoms. Nine days later, the pathology report was in. I was in total disbelief when the doctor said “malignant invasive ductal carcinoma,” all I could do was cry.

After feeling the lump for the first time, I thought to myself, “It’s so obvious; I should’ve found it earlier! I did not do monthly breast exams and thought I was immune to cancer because I was young, strong, and heading to the top of my career. Cancer was NOT on my agenda. Little did I know, it was going to be my only agenda item for this year.

Self-breast exams are recommended every month after our menses. Palpating your breasts in the shower with soap is the perfect time to get to know your breasts. Be sure to lift your arm and check the underarm areas as well.

What are makeup/beauty tips that you’d give to a woman who has breast cancer to stay beautiful on the outside?

Here they are in order of importance! I had to figure most of this stuff on my own, so I thought I should share them all.

– Hydrate daily. Drink plenty of water and moisturize your body including your lips. I like Cetaphil and Eucerin products.

Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, about $11 for 16 oz bottle, at your favorite drugstore
cetaphil

– When you feel tired, your body is telling you something. It’s saying REST, I’m tired!

– With clearance from your doctor, EXERCISE! If you are taking steroids to counter the side effects of chemo drugs, don’t be surprised if you find yourself a little plumper.

fussy-tabby-fitness

– Eat healthy but don’t deprive yourself of an occasional treat. Ask your doctor to speak to a nutritionist. Some hospitals offer complimentary consults. If needed, you may also want to consider speaking with a cancer psychologist as well as a social worker to assist with financial aid and participation in cancer programs.

– FLOSS! See your dentist for regular dental care. Post chemo and radiation, I now have xerostomia (dry mouth) and gum recession. Some cancer patients also experience cold/canker sores. I recommend topical fluoride treatments (like Omnii Pharmaceutical’s varnish) and regular cleanings with clearance from your medical physician. Saliva acts as a buffer against the acidic environment that causes tooth decay; so lack of saliva (dry mouth) may result in increased cavities. Speak to your dentist about Biotene (for xerostomia), Periomed (which contains stannous fluoride), Prevention Oncology Rinses (found it in Walgreens, soothing to the tissues), and Colgate’s Orabase (it contains cyanoacrylate, the same stuff in crazy glue, it’s palliative for cold sores). Chew sugar free gum with xylitol. Brush twice a day.

floss-pimp

– Before your hair falls out, try a funky, new, bold short haircut to minimize messy floors and clogged drains. It was only two weeks into chemo that my hair started falling out in clumps. A very sweet hairdresser, Jessica, at Thirteen Salon in Walnut Creek, CA shaved my head. It was one of the most liberating things I have ever done.

Halle Berry with a short style
halle-berry-cute-short-hair

Alyssa Milano with cute, short hair
alyssa-milano-short-hair

– Anastasia’s Eyebrow Kit. I was never one to draw in eyebrows. The kit has everything for a beginner — stencils, mascara, the perfect eyebrow brush and colors.

Anastasia Five Piece Brow Kit, $65.00, anastasia.net or Sephora
anastasia-brow-kit

– Find pretty nail polish. Chemo drugs such as Adriamycin and Cytoxin will turn your nails black. I prefer darker colors like OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark and Mrs. O’Leary’s BBQ.

OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, $7.50 at Amazon.com
opi-lincoln-park-after-dark

– Treat yourself to a nice scarf. I found a classy large scarf at H&M for $8!

– Try NARS bronzer and blush. Apply a little bit to give yourself a healthy glow. It works!

Nars Orgasm Blush and Laguna Bronzer duo, $36 at Sephora
nars-orgasm-laguna

– Attend Look Good, Feel Better, a seminar held by the American Cancer Society free of charge for cancer patients. They give $200-$400 worth of brand name cosmetics to each attendee. They also give free wig and make-up tips. Call your local society for more information.

– Carry hand sanitizer wherever you go.

– When a hotflash comes on, just imagine that you’re in a sauna and think peaceful thoughts. Get a meditation CD.


What beauty tips would you give to a woman who has breast cancer to stay beautiful and positive emotionally?

– Pray. Meditate. Yoga. Walk.

– This really helps: Whenever I was feeling down, I started to count my blessings. I thought of all the things I am thankful for i.e. mom, dad, sisters, brothers, nephew, relatives, friends, advances in health care, food on the table, plumbing, clean water, chocolate.

– Remember, life is worth every minute. You can choose your thoughts. Keep a positive attitude and if there is any time to erase negativity in your life, it’s NOW. Choose to LOVE LIFE and never lose HOPE. Plus, when your kids see you love life and do good for others, they will be happier and will contribute more to this beautiful world in their lifetimes. As you go through this challenge, you will be amazed by your strength, courage, and stamina. You will also be amazed by the resilience of your body.

– Growing up, I have always believed that there are virtues that no one can ever take away from me like integrity…same goes for your HOPE, FAITH, and your ability to LOVE.

– Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Truly Forgive.

– SMILE, it doesn’t cost you anything.

– Dance, it doesn’t cost you anything.

– It’s okay to cry. It can be very cleansing. Lean on your family and friends for support.

that-girl-before1a

– Take a picture of your baldness. I wish I did.

– Do something good for yourself everyday.

– Meet other cancer patients and survivors. Make friends at the infusion center. Might as well make your 3-5 hour infusions pleasant.

Welcome to the sisterhood, sista! When you are done, you will come out with GRACE, SERENITY, and POWER! This is where true beauty is found in your heart and soul. There are people who are fighting for you and who want you to win this battle!

What are you looking forward to most in the next year?

I’m looking forward to enjoying family, friendships, life, more rigorous workouts, learning how to cook gourmet meals, travel, and mission trips. I’m looking forward to practicing dentistry again. I love my patients. Oh and, taking a picture with the kitty on this website.
fussy-tabby-closeup

More Fab Breast Cancer Awareness Products

It’s not too early to start thinking about stocking stuffers for Christmas! One gift I plan on getting all the women in my life is In Touch Breast Self-Exam Glove, which you can purchase at Bath & Body Works for $9.00.

bathandbodyworks-intouch-glove

This reusable glove reduces friction by 50% and increases sensitivity, so your fingers can glide smoothy across the breast during your monthly breast self-exam. This kit also includes complete exam intsructions, a monthly reminder calendar, and a pretty travel satchel for your glove.

I just tried this glove during my last breast self-exam and it really does make it easier. I now keep the kit in my bathroom and just check off date on the calendar so I can keep track of my exam dates. Every woman on my Christmas list is getting one of these!

Another great stocking stuffer is tarte’s inside out lipstick in the shade Sweet Dreams, which I reviewed a few weeks ago.
tarte-inside-out-lipsticks-zen-sweet-dreams

October is a great month to pick up this pretty dusty-pink rose lippie, because 20% of the retail sales will go to Young Survival Coalition, youngsurvival.org. You can purchase Sweet Dreams inside-out lipstick at Sephora stores nationwide.

Ladies, please do a monthly breast self exam and encourage the women in your life to do the same!

Hugs to you and to all the breast cancer survivors fighting to stay healthy.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Beauty Tips, Drugstore Beauty Finds, Hair, Makeup, Makeup Tools, Nails, News, Product Reviews, Skin Care

Hair Product Reviews – Phytodensium Anti-Aging Shampoo and Serum

September 26th, 2007 by Karen 25 Comments

circa 1989
fussy-tabby-circa-1989
I can’t lie; my 21st birthday was over a decade ago. Yes, it’s been a little weird for me to see teenagers wearing stuff I wore 15 years ago and to see makeup trends get recycled, but so far getting older has been pretty cool. I can eat brownies for breakfast if I want (which I did this morning); I’m better at real-life problem solving because of various experiences with work, people and life in general; and I understand myself much more than I did as a young lass of 21.

And although I still feel very young (a big YAY for both immature behavior and years of dedicated sunscreen use), I’ve noticed subtle changes year after year. My skin is a little dryer, there’s an occasional white hair on the top of my head and my hands look different.

So lately I’ve been exploring the world of anti-aging products.

If you’ve spent any time in a drugstore or a department store you may have noticed that everyone and their momma is selling something to tighten this, erase that, etc. etc. Although I try lots of products, I don’t always feel comfortable writing about it on the blog because I find it really hard to quantify the results. I don’t have a lot of wrinkles to start with and it’s often hard to see a real difference after only few weeks.

When I evaluate anti-aging products I think about the packaging, the texture and scent, what the active ingredients are and the price. It’s really hard to determine efficacy, and what works for me may not work for you, so please take it all in with a grain o’ salt. Now let’s get to the good stuff!

Hair Product Reviews – Phytodensium Anti-Aging Shampoo and Serum

phytodensium-shampoo-serum
Products: Pytodensium Anti-Aging Shampoo and Anti-Aging Serum
Price: $24 for the shampoo, $32 for the serum
Use: to strengthen weak and fragile aging hair
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you probably already know that I’m extremely picky about my hair because it’s hard to manage. I figure, we wear our hair every day, so I can justify spending a bit more on hair products that I like.

Phyto is a brand I’ve been using for years. The love affair started in 2001, when I got my first tube of Phytodefrisant and a bottle of their Phytonectar shampoo for dry hair. I like that the products don’t have heavy silicones, are full of botanicals, and don’t strip my dry, colored hair. They recently released an anti-aging shampoo and serum, which I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.

What it does
Phytodensium is an anti-aging shampoo and serum that targets aging hair, and claims to help restore strength into weak and fragile hair.

Active ingredients include:
– Gatuline age-defense (derived from walnet extracts) to protect against free radicals
– Black currant seed oil as a source of oemga-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to regenerate hair
– Botanical protein complex to increase hair’s elasticity

What I liked about it
I shampoo just once or twice a week (the rest of the time I wash with conditioner…there’s a bunch of weird things you have to do with wavy hair to keep it happy) so I’m extremely picky. I like the product to be moisturizing, to not contain any heavy silicones, and to not strip my color.

Phytodensium shampoo delivers on all three of these demands. It cleans without being harsh, and leaves me hair and scalp feeling refreshed. It has a light, slightly floral scent that’s very pretty and it doesn’t leave my hair smelling too perfume-y, which I can’t stand.

The serum is a light, thin, non-oily liquid that I first apply into my palms with the dropper. I rub my palms together and then massage the product into my scalp and hair before styling. It has the same floral scent.

What I found interesting about this combo is that using both products relaxes the wave in my hair. It goes from a one-inch s wave to a one and half inch wave. I like the look or relaxed, beachy waves (think Giselle’s, long flowy locks) so I loved this nice side effect. And the effect is consistent, too, which is a minor miracle when you have hard-to-tame hair.

What I didn’t like about it
I can’t tell if these products are really helping to assist my hair in the anti-aging department. They smell great and give me a beautiful loose waves, but I can’t say for sure if my hair has become stronger or younger-looking.

The final word
I loved this shampoo and serum combo, and I would definitely buy it over and over again, but mostly for the gentleness in cleansing and the wonderful after-effect of loose waves rather than for the anti-aging claims. If you’re trying to avoid silicones, or are looking for products that loosen your curl, then it is definitely worth a try.

You might need anti-aging products if…

– You didn’t get an e-mail account until you took a class that required you to get one…in college.
– You own a mix tape that you made off of the local hip hop station; extra points if either Salt & Pepa’s “Push It” or MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This” is on it.
– You remember when girls did not talk about waxing or tweezing their eyebrows.
– Your O.G. “skinny jeans” were of the Bongo or Guess variety, and they were so tight that after lunch you could barely breathe as you sat in history class.
– You had or knew someone who had a spiral perm gone wrong.
– Your bullshit-o-meter is so finely tuned because you’ve heard it all before.

How are you feeling today? I’m a little on the emotionally exhauasted side. I love watching movies and last night I saw a fantastic documentary called God Grew Tired of Us, which follows three of Sudan’s “lost boys.” The lost boys were the 20,000 children who were orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War. The story follows three refugees, John, Daniel and Panther, who find their way to America, where they experience electricity, running water and supermarkets for the first time. The film is so touching and well made (it even won an award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival) and I was teary through most of it. I thought about it as I was falling asleep last night and I’m still thinking about it this morning.

Watching it made me think what sort of impact that we can make on other people. I know that this lil’ beauty blog isn’t going to stop any wars or make any large scale global changes, but I hope that every once in a while I get to help you, even if it’s just to to make you laugh out loud during your day.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 25 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Hair, Product Reviews

Hair Product Reviews – Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo, Curls Milkshake and Champagne Curls & Kaviar Kinks; Just for fun – I’m going to see Justin Timberlake Tonight!

September 23rd, 2007 by Karen 15 Comments

Amongst the cameras and extra batteries and gum that I carried in my bag during SF Fashion week last month, there was also this save-the-date-card and a ticket to Justin Timberlake’s concert that my good friend Chris sent me:

justin-timberlake-save-the-date-carda

(Chris, you’ll be happy to know that several models and makeup artists thought your JT artistry was top notch.)

You’ll notice that the card says September 12th. Unfortunately JT cancelled that concert date, but tonight is the rescheduled concert date, so WOO HOO! I’m going with a bunch of girl friends, so I won’t be the only over-30 woman in hizzy and admiring JT’s sexy back!

These days, we all know JT for his closely cropped hair. (And I have to admit that like my girl Toya over at Life of a Lady Bug, I am an admirer of the shaved head look.) But does anybody remember Justin during his curly haired days?

justin-timberlake-curly-hair-final

How do you feel about this version of Justin? More hot? Less hot? Honestly, I can’t really blame the boy for shaving all his Adonis curls off. I have wavy hair, and even though I love it sometimes it’s a big pain in the ass.

Sometimes I get tired of my hair too, girl, but you have to step away from the sheers until it passes
britney-bald

For many curly/wavy haired girls and guys, the mission to find holy grail hair products is unending. I have a few products that I am loving on at the moment, like Clairol Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel, but I’m always game to try more because you just never know what your curly/wavy hair will like.

So when I got the chance to try a few products from the Curls line I was really excited. The line is formulated for curly haired, multi-ethnic customers. The products are made from natural oils, butters and botanicals. They also have a cute line for kids called Curly Q’s, which tugged at my heart a ‘lil bit because the information booklet included several pictures of cherubic looking multi-ethnic children of various shades of brown in their before and after pictures, awwww.

Anyway, here’s the skinny on three of the products I tested: Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo, Curls Milkshake and Champagne Curls & Kaviar Kinks.

curls-products

Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo, $12.00 for an 8oz bottle
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B-

What it does:
– Clarifies product build up
– Infused with pineapple and grapefruit extracts

What I liked about it:
– Light citrus smell
– Nice texture

What I didn’t like about it:
– Felt like it clarified almost too well
– Had to use a lot to build up a good lather
– Cap on bottle is a screw cap, which I felt made me use too much product; wish it was a flip-top cap instead

You might like it if:
– You have thick curly or wavy hair that you don’t color
– You use lots of products on a daily basis

This shampoo smells yummy, and I like that it’s not too expensive. Plus, it’s silicone-free.

It does a great job of clarifying — almost too great! My hair felt super-squeaky clean, but I swear my highlights looked like they were stripped of some color afterwards. I won’t be using this shampoo again because of this.

I think for my hair clarifying shampoos in general are just too harsh. Right now I only shampoo once or twice a week and I only use gentle, moisturizing formulas.

However, you may like this is you use a lot of product – and for many of us curly/wavy haired girls that’s simply our reality- and need a uber-clarifier to remove it all. And if your hair is thick and doesn’t have any color then you may also like this as well.

Curls Milkshake, $17.00 for a huge 8oz jar
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C

What it does:
– Styling product that softens, hydrates, defines curls and defrizzes all curly hair textures
– Made from coconut milk and organic aloe leaf juice

What I liked about it:
– Delicious coconut smell
– Does a fantastic job of weighing hair down
– Didn’t leave my hair feeling crunchy
– You can really make this go the distance because you get a lot of product for the price and don’t have to use that much
– Thick texture that isn’t sticky

What I didn’t like about it:
– Delicious coconut smell became extremely overwhelming after a few hours
– After I washed it out I got a few pimples on my back and shoulders (but this could’ve also been because I started using a new medication)

You might like it if:
– You have very thick, unruly, hard to tame curls that need to be weighed down
– You like smelling like a coconut

I really wanted to fall in love with this stuff because at first whiff it’s delicious! I love tropical smells, so I happily applied it to my hair with thoughts of Hawaii and all the great memories I have associated with surfing and the beach.

Unfortunately the coconut scent stays strong and doesn’t fade at all. After a few hours I couldn’t smell anything else but coconut, and it made me nauseous. My nose is very sensitive though, so it might not bother you as much as it bothered me.

Two big plusses with this product: does a great job of taming unruly hair and doesn’t leave it feeling sticky or crunchy. These two factors unfortunately don’t outweigh the fact that shortly after I washed this out of my hair I got a few pimples on my back and my shoulders, and I NEVER break out in the those areas. I have to acknowledge that at the time I started a new medication so it could’ve also been that as well, but I didn’t love this product enough to take that chance again.

Champagne Curls & Kaviar Kinks – $22.00 for a 2oz bottle
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B-/C+

What it does:
– A hair restoration treatment that encourages growth replaces lost keratin
– Improves elasticity, flexibility and shine

What I liked about it:
– Light citrus smell
– Good texture that isn’t too heavy or oily
– Full of natural ingredients

What I didn’t like about it:
– Can’t really say if it helped my hair grow or if it improved its elasticity and flexibility

You might like it if:
– You need something to make your hair glossier

Like the other two products, the light citrus scent from Champagne Curls & Kaviar Kinks initially drew me in. The natural ingredient list also impressed me. The first three ingredients are Tahitian Coconut Oil, Sweet Almont Oil and Olive Oil.

I can’t really attest to this products’ claims of hair growth because I have thick hair to start with.

It does give hair a nice shine though. For me, this really isn’t a “must have” product, but if you want a silicone-free glosser then you might like this.

Unfortunately being a beauty blogger does not earn one a backstage pass Justin Timberlake concerts (DAMN!), and I’m pretty sure our seats are of the nosebleed variety for tonight’s show. I’m bringing my uber SRL camera though, so I’ll try my best to work the zoom lens to my JT-admiring advantage. Hopefully I’ll snap a few drool-worthy pictures, which you an admire for your, ahem, own personal use.

Have a fantastic rest of your weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. You know that your weekend isn’t complete without the Weekend Beauty Roundup![Continue reading…]

There are 15 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Hair, Just For Fun, Product Reviews

Product Review – Bespoke Labs T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer

August 13th, 2007 by Karen 19 Comments

t3-featherweight-2

Discovering the Bespoke Labs T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer was one of those rare life-changing beauty moments. Simply put, this hair dryer makes my hard-to-manage hair look fantastic, and gets the job done fast. I’m talking about clouds-parting-angels-singing-good!

(Oh, and for the record I’m no hair dryer blow out amateur. Before I started wearing my hair curly, I blew out my hair two times a week for seven years. Don’t even think about making me take out my round brush, because I can bring it.)

The marketing for the T3 hair dryer makes several better-hair-through-technology claims, which I initially thought was a bunch of broo-ha-ha. It’s made from “100% crushed Tourmaline jewels” which generate “Tourmaline negative ions” and “far infrared heat” which give you the benefits of both 1.) a quicker blow dry with at least “60% faster drying” and 2.) shiny hair because the “negative ions add moisture and sheen.”

Um…what? “It’s just a hair dryer,” I thought to myself. “I don’t expect it to take me to the moon.”

I’m usually skeptical of product marketing that tries to blind you with science, but after three blow outs with the Bespoke Labs T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer I have to say that this piece of equipment just might live up to its hype.

This is you before you the T3:
that-girl-before1a

The Benefits of Ionic Hair Dryers

You’ll often see the key words ions, ionic, infrared heat and tourmaline. So what does all this mean to your sexy-maned self?

Apparently this new-fangled ionic hair dryer technology is everywhere, and there are several different companies that make and sell them at different price points. Some pricier ionic hair dryer brands include BaByliss, Sedu, and of course, the T3. Lower priced brands that you’ll find at Target, like Revlon and Con Air, make ionic driers too.

Ionic hair dryers are all about negatively charged ions. An ion is an atom or group of bonded atoms that have lost or gained one or more electrons, making them negatively or positively charged.

The presence of these negatively charged ions in your hair dryer supposedly make your hair smoother by both closing the hair’s cuticle layer to create a smooth surface and by sealing in the hair’s moisture.

I’ve also read that the T3 breaks up water molecules into smaller sizes on the hair surface, which make the water evaporate more quickly for faster drying and penetrate the hair shaft more easily for added moisture.

And this is you after:
after-t3

How is the negative charge created?

Different brands have different ways to create this ionic charge.

Some dryers have an ionic spray coating inside of the dryer’s barrel, and others use ion generators. The T3 relies on tourmaline, a gem that occurs in nature, to generate the negative ionic charge. When tourmaline (pronounced tur-muh-LEEN) crystals are warmed they become positively charged at one end and negatively charged at the other. The T3 actually has the Tourmaline injected into its parts (like the fan and the motor mounts).

Why is the T3 different?

Over time, other dryers with an ionic coated barrel may lose their ability to create a strong negative charge, as the air speed and intense heat can eventually wear off the ionic coating, causing the dryer to lose its ionic and infrared power.

The T3 is supposed to be different because the injection of the tourmaline into its parts allows the dryer a continuous source of ionic and infrared “juice.”

What’s the deal with far infrared heat?

The T3 also is supposed to damage your hair less because it delivers far infrared heat deep into the hair shaft, as opposed to the surface of the hair, to heat the hair gently from within.

What I liked about it

There are so many pluses to this dryer, but the best part is that it gets the job done fast, and now I get an extra an hour and a half every week. It used to take an hour to blow dry my hair with my old hair dryer. With the T3 the time is cut down to 30 minutes. And a good blow out on Sunday means that I won’t have to bother with my hair until Friday — so ultimately, I save 10-15 minutes per day. That’s at least 50 minutes over the course of five days!

Also, the results I get from the T3 are far superior to my old hair dryer, which left my hair birdsnesty and frizzy. I definitely get a smoother, silkier blowout with the T3.

birdsnext-hair

There are a few tiny touches that I really appreciate. The diffuser is shaped perfectly for use with a round brush. There are also rubber “stoppers” placed on both side of the barrel. This keeps the dryer in place and prevents it from falling into the sink, which is what my old dryer would do all the time.

And did I mention that it’s extremely lightweight? So even if you have no upper body musculature a la Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen you can still get your blowout on, girl!

What I didn’t like about it

Obviously the price of this dryer is a big fat pain in the ass. I am still having a difficult time coming to grips with the fact that I spent $200 on a hair dryer, although that was money that I had previously budgeted for makeup. Also, the last time I bought a hair dryer was in 2001, so it was due time for a replacement.

A minor caveat: at 1800 watts, this dryer requires a lot of electricity, so if you live in an older building you may end up blowing the electricity out. My building is old so I knew there was chance of this happening, so I decided to test it out before I started using it.

curly-hair-befre-t3

First I kept my receipt in a safe place, just in case I couldn’t use the dryer and would have to return it. The husband and I turned off all the lights and appliances, and made sure that any open documents on the computers (which are always on) were saved. I then went into the bathroom and waited for El Hub to let me know when to turn the dryer on and off as he tested turning on different lights and appliances in the house. I was relived that the T3 worked fine, although I did notice that the lights in the bathroom dimmed a little bit when I put it on high heat.

One last thing — I’ve read on a few forums and reviews of instances when the dryer spontaneously died out or did not work. The product comes with a warranty, so take advantage of that and register your T3 either online or by mail once you bring it home. And always, always, always keep your receipt in case you need to return it!

The final word

This is an expensive product. There’s no way of getting around that. Makeup and Beauty Blog realizes there are times in life when you gotta count every last penny. So if you don’t want to throw down the money for the T3 (and who can blame you, it’s hella expensive) then check out Revlon Tourmaline Ionic 1875, which is recommended by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and a mere steal at only $29.99.

straight-hair-t3

And although the T3 is an excellent dryer, the mere use of it alone will not get you sexy, silky hair. It’s a hair dryer, not a Christmas miracle. To get a great blow out you’ll still need the rights tools and products (I use a round boars hair brush and Phyto Defrisant) as well as good technique.

Despite the steep price, I still highly recommend this dryer, so start a T3 fund if you think that it could work for you. It’s one of those rare beauty products that actually delivered great results and changed made my life for the better by making it easier. A Makeup and Beauty Blog winner!

Oh! If you want to see the T3 in action, here’s a clip I found of it from the Home Shopping Network. Why they used a model with stick straight hair is a mystery (they should’ve done the demonstration on the girl with the bride of Frankenstein do’ that’s sitting next to her) but I guess there are some things in the universe that shall always remain unknown.

Last night I ended up going to bed late once again! It wasn’t because I was up watching bad reality television – it was ’cause I found my journal circa 2001 while I was looking for some old CDs. I stayed up and read the whole thing. It was weird, I found entries from September 11, my first day at my old corporate job which I held for five years, living with crazy roommates, and meeting El Hubby. There were so many things that I wrote about that I don’t even remember happening!

When I finished reading it I thought, “Wow, am I that much of a mess? I just might be nuts!” Seriously, if you want to have a free and everlasting source of amusement, try keeping a journal, even if it’s just for a few months in your life.

Anyway, we are now off to conquer Monday! Gird your loins, ladies!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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Categories: Hair, Product Reviews

Product Review – Salon Grafix Spay Powder Shampoo for Brunette Shades

July 31st, 2007 by Karen 13 Comments

salon-grafix-dry-shampoo

I thought this stuff was going to change my life. I really did. When you haven’t slept in a week and the paper pile on your desk has somehow erupted into a non-stop lava flow of things to do I guess you vulnerable to the enticements offered by a can of powdered dry shampoo. [Continue reading…]

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Categories: Hair, Product Reviews

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Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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