Whiten Up with Supersmile

 

I drink a lot of coffee. And I also love red wine. So my teeth need constant whitening. That’s why Supersmile is so great. It was created by a dentist, Dr. Irwin Smigel, to whiten conveniently at home and on the go.

The Professional Whitening System ($36.00 USD sm. $75.00 USD lg) – is made up of two items; the Supersmile Professional Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste with CALPROX® and the Supersmile Whitening Accelerator (with carbamide peroxide).  The Website touts, “The Supersmile Whitening System is the perfect bleaching solution for everyone interested in safely and gently whitening teeth at home without messy trays. Just brush and whiten! Supersmile not only enhances professionally bleached teeth – but – most importantly, causes no sensitivity – and the Supersmile Professional Whitening System is the only system that will restore bonding, porcelain veneers, crowns and even dentures to their original color.”

To Use the Professional Whitening System, combine both products on a dry toothbrush and brush for two minutes, then rinse. I have been using the system for a couple of weeks and my teeth are at least a couple of shades whiter. This is so much easier than whitening trays and don’t bother my sensitive teeth as much.

Supersmile also sells fun, on the go products. Supersmile Quikee ($16.00 USD)-  “Just a drop of our new pocket-sized Supersmile Quikee Whitening Tooth Polish with CALPROX® smoothed over your teeth with the tip of the tongue after eating or drinking, freshens breath while fighting cavities and plaque–anytime, anywhere. Quikee conveniently and effectively removes stains caused by coffee, tea or red wine while it helps maintain whiteness.” This tastes really sweet and minty and is easy to use. I like to concentrate it at the base of my teeth.

Also convenient is the Supersmile Single Dose Powdered Mouthrinse (60 Packets$29.00 USD –24 Packets $16.00) “Supersmile Single Dose Powdered Mouthrinse is a quick and convenient solution when there’s no time to brush. Just tear off the top of an individual-use foil packet, add water, swirl and rinse. CALPROX® attacks plaque and stains, and baking soda assures fresher breath and assists in cavity prevention.” This is not my favorite of the products. It was gritty, but did leave my mouth minty and clean.

One of my favorite Supersmile products is the all natural Sugar-free Supersmile Professional Whitening Gum with CALPROX® (Gum Box – 12pcs – $4.00 USD-Gum Jar – 100pcs – $24.00 USD). It, “quickly and effectively whitens teeth, freshens breath, promotes healthier gums and removes superficial surface stains with every use. And Supersmile Professional Whitening Gum is sweetened with XYLITOL – the natural cavity inhibitor preferred by dental professionals.” Plus it tastes yummy and makes my breath very fresh!

Visit the website at www.supersmile.com to learn more about Dr. Smigel and his fabulous products. They just might make your smile a little whiter!

Kiss My Face Potent and Pure Face Care

 

Kiss My Face makes natural and organic skin care. I was lucky enough to try items from their Potent & Pure line. The system was created by combining scientific knowledge with botanicals, vitamins, extracts and minerals. Potent & Pure is safe for sensitive skin and does not contain parabens, phthalates, SLS, artificial colors and fragrances, and is not tested on animals.  

The products I tried are:

Start Up® Exfoliating Face Wash ($15.00 USD) “Cleanse and exfoliate skin with organic ingredients. Clarify, cleanse and luminize skin with this revitalizing blend of natural green tea and other pure renewable plant sources, many certified organic. Gently exfoliate with natural fruit acids.” Contains Natural Fruit Acids, Lemongrass oil and green tea.

Shea Soy Facial Cleansing Bar ( $13.00 USD ) – “Gently cleanse and calm with organic ingredients. This creamy, fragrance free bar contains organic oils, shea butter and aloe to moisturize while you cleanse. Your skin will feel fresh, smooth and hydrated.” Contains shea butter, aloe and soy oil.

Cell Mate® Face Crème & SOF 10 Sunscreen ($21.00 USD)  – “Lightly moisturize and protect skin while reducing the signs of aging with organic ingredients. Instantly enhance skin tone, reduce fine lines and protect from environmental stresses. Antioxidant vitamins and botanicals soothe and revitalize throughout the day while natural mineral sun block helps protect skin.” Contains titanium dioxide, lavender and horsetail.

Eyewitness™ Eye Repair Crème ($19.00 USD) –  “Reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness with organic ingredients. Smooth the appearance of wrinkles and moisturize the delicate skin around your eyes. Natural and organic oils and butters leave skin looking hydrated and rejuvenated.” Contains hawthorne Bery exrract, shea butter and rose hips.

So Refined® Jojoba & Mint Facial Scrub ($15.00 USD) –  “Exfoliate and polish the skin’s appearance with organic ingredients. This non-drying, natural humectant gently exfoliates and purifies skin by removing dirt with organic jojoba beads and other natural and organic herbs and plant oils. Helps skin look visibly younger and refreshed.” Contains jojoba beads grapeseed oil and mint.

Pore Shrink™ Deep Cleansing Mask $15.00 – “Organic ingredients detoxify skin and diminish the appearance of pores. This deep cleaning clay mask helps to remove oils and bacteria from the skin. Cloves, tea tree, lemongrass and other natural, organic and aromatherapeutic® botanical extracts clean and smooth skin’s appearance. Contains bentonite clay, teat tree oil and lemon grass oil.”

I really liked both the face wash and the cleansing bar. My skin is combination, so both worked for me. The face wash smells citrusy and is refreshing. The bar is very mild. Both left my skin clean and fresh-feeling.  Also very cleansing, (and exfoliating) is the facial scrub. This smells very minty and feels great on. Once its rinsed off, my face is very smooth.

My favorite product is the cleansing mask. I love clay masks. They get rid of all of the gunk in the pores. Plus it is green and I got to chase my 5 year old around screaming, “Green Mommy Monster”, so that was a plus!

Probably my least favorite was the face cream. Since it does contain sunscreen, it left a white film on my face that took a while to soak in. I had to wait a bit in the morning to apply my makeup. Besides that, it is a nice cream as is the eye cream.

I really recommend this line. It is very good for you and affordable, too. Check out the website at www.kissmyface.com to check out the Potent & Pure line and other great products. They also have a store locator so you can find a retailer near you.

Shop Frilly Lilly for Unique Bath Products!

Mandarin Twist Bundt Cake
Mandarin Twist Bundt Cake

I love discovering fun products that are unique. The Canadian company Frilly Lilly makes beautiful bath products that are wrapped in vintage-inspired packaging and are like nothing I’ve seen before.

I especially like the bathcakes. They are essentially bath bombs that are in shapes and “flavors” of bundt cakes, cupcakes and petit fours. The website instructions states, “Dissolve your Frilly Lilly Bathcake™ in the tub under running water to release the soothing oils and delicious scents. Lock the door, give yourself plenty of time to soak, and indulge without ever gaining a pound!”

I tried the Mandarin Orange Bundt Cake. It was a very pretty light orange with frosting and sprinkles on top. As it dissolved in my bath, it released a fragrant orange aroma. Very fun!

Visit the website at www.frillylilly.ca and enjoy!

Want to Cover the Grays Naturally? Try Clairol Natural Instincts

Natural Instincts' Golden Cappuccino
Natural Instincts' Golden Cappuccino

 

For my last review in my hair-stravaganza week, I decided to review a home hair color. In this crazy economical climate, I need to cut at lease a few corners when it comes to beauty. Clairol, a leader in the home hair color arena, is a good one to try.

A few weeks back, I attended a webinar on home hair color featuring Clairol’s Natural Instincts (approximately $9.49 USD). It touted Natural Instincts non-permanent, ammonia free color as a healthy alternative to harsher products. The color lasts through 28 shampoos and is gentle enough to be used once a month.

Something interesting that was featured on the webinar is that you can use a shade that is lighter than your natural hair color, and it won’t change the color, but enhance it.

So far I have tried Golden Cappuccino from the Golden Shimmer collection. It is a dark golden brown that is very pretty. It gave my hair a warm, golden tint. Next I am going to try Clove, a medium ash brown. It’s a very pretty cool color that will add a different hue to my hair.

To check out the different colors and types of Natural Instincts as well as other Clairol hair color, visit the website at www.clairol.com.

Save Your Hair Color with Redken’s Color Extend Line

Redkin Color Extend
Redken Color Extend

 

Redken has released their Color Extend line. Their website reads:

As the leading haircolor company in the professional industry, Redken is also a proven authority in the care of color-treated hair. Combining this expertise with its continued commitment to innovation, Redken introduces Redken Color Extend, advanced shampoos, conditioners and treatments dedicated to the care and preservation of color-treated hair.

The products in this line are:

Color Extend Shampoo ($13.00 USD 10.1 oz)- Gently cleanses and protects to leave hair manageable, refreshed and shiny.

Color Extend Conditioner ($14.00 USD 8.5 oz)- Detangles and smoothes hair for a finish full of color reflection.

Color Extend Total Recharge ($16.00 USD 5 oz) – Inner hair fuel delivers anti-fade color protection and cuticle reinforcement to maintain color vibrancy and shine.

Color Extend Rich Recovery ($15.00 USD 8.5 oz)- Protective treatment provides deep conditioning to leave hair treated, manageable and vibrant.

Color Extend Shine Enrich ($16.00 USD 3.4 oz) – Protects haircolor while helping to seal split ends, smooth flyaways, and impart mirror-like shine.

I really love this line. The shampoo not only cleans and protects, it make the hair super soft. My daughter Abby,  whose hair is always a tangled mess, has been trying the shampoo and conditioner and her hair is now extremely comb-able! 

After my shower, I like to spray on the Total Recharge, and leave it in. You can rinse it out, but I need all the help my frizzy hair can get! After my hair is dry, I run a little Shine Enrich through it, to give some much-needed shine. Voila! Great hair!

Once or twice a week I like to used the color exctend Rich Recovery. Like a hair mask this makes hair soft, shiny and my color looks so rich. I plan on coloring my hair again this weekend, and I know that the products in this line will help so much!

Visit the Redken website at www.redken.com to purchase the products or to locate a salon near you. Then, enjoy your beautiful hair!

Aveda Shampure Shampoo and Conditioner

Aveda’s vision is to, “connect beauty, environment and well-being”. Their wonderful spa products that are infused with natural ingredients, seem to do just that.

I have tried both the Shampure shampoo and conditioner.  The products in this line are very gentle and good for every type of hair.     

Shampure Shampoo ($9.50 USD for 8.5 oz) – “Our pure, gentle daily shampoo—with MorikueTMprotein—cleanses and fortifies any type of hair. Infusing it with one of Aveda’s original aromas: a calming mix of 25 pure flower and plant essences.”  Coriander oil, Eucalyptus oil, Lavender oil, MorikueTM protein, Orange oil bitter, Wheat conditioners, and  Babassu are some of the ingredients.

Aveda Shampure Conditioner ($9.50 USD for 8.5 oz) — “provides daily protection from environmental stress and damage.” The conditioner has the same basic ingredients of the shampoo. I really like both products because they clean and moisturize my hair without harsh chemicals leaving me with soft, silky hair.

The wonderful fragrance is also available in a candle ($28.00 USD). Visit Aveda’s website at www.aveda.com for more information and locations where you can receive spa treatments as well as purchase the products.

Sally Hershberger Supreme Head for Normal to Thin Hair

Sally Hershberger is a celebrity stylist who has recently launched a line of haircare that is sold at accessible stores such as Walgreens.

I have been trying the Supreme Head for Normal to Thin Hair line. The products include:

Shampoo and Conditioner ($9.50 USD each) — The website states: “The shampoo gently cleanses while building volume and the conditioner detangles while adding shine and volume, Both contain Supreme Volumizing Complex to texturize thin hair. Formulated for color-treated hair. ”  I really like that these are safe for color treated hair. The ingredients include African Baobab Tree extract, mineral water and rice proteins.

Primer ($12.50 USD) : This is an interesting product. You work it through your hair like a mousse to prepare hair for styling. The website claims it, “Increases shine, gives fine hair guts and makes locks easier to style, boosts performance of styling products, easily layers with other styling products to create gorgeous, sexy hair and provides a veil of thermal protection from hot styling tools.”

Supreme Lift spray ($12.50 USD) : This product is a, “light formula adds power to limp hair and maintains flexibility with a thicker, sexier texture. The light mist spray prevents hair from being weighed down and layers well with other products. Heat activated polymers condition and protect hair from heat styling.” I spray this at my roots and comb it down with my fingers. I then blow my hair dry.

Using the entire product line does create more volume for my limp hair. The scent is a bit perfume-y, but nice. These products are affordable and you get good quality for the price!

Discover more about the Sally Hersberger line by visiting the website at www.sallyhershberger.com. You may purchase them at the website or visit Walgreens.

Affordable Quality – Herbal Essences’ Hydralicious Self-Targeting Collection

I have been reviewing a lot of high-end haircare lately, so it’s nice to try an affordable, quality shampoo and conditioner. At the $3.99 – $4.99 USD range, and smelling so fantastic, Herbal Essences makes great hair products that are accessible to all.

I have been using Herbal Essences for a couple of years now.  My favorite is the Hello Hydration with the scent of orchid and coconut milk.  It leaves my hair very soft and smells wonderful.

They have recently released the Hydralicious collections; Featherweight, Self-Targeting and Reconditioning. I have tried the Self-Targeting Shampoo and conditioner. The scent is red vanilla and whipped aloe. The idea of the Self-Targeting is that moisture will be deposited on the strands that need the most help. This is a really cool idea and it seems to work.  My hair was quite moisturized after shampooing and conditioning.

Learn more about the Hydralicious line at www.herbalessences.com. You can purchase the products at most drugstores and supermarkets.

Perfect Your Hairstyle with Oscar Blandi Products

Oscar Blandi creates quality hair care that are made for specific needs. With products such as the Crema Line for overstressed hair, glosses and masks, color conditioning shampoos and conditioners and the fun products I’m reviewing; Pronto Dry Shampoo and Onde Wave Enhancing Spray, you can surely find what you need to make your hair look great!  

Pronto Dry Shampoo($19.00 USD for 2.5 oz $11.00 USD for 1.0 oz travel size) : The Oscar Blandi website states, “Natural rice, oat, and tapioca starches cleanse hair by absorbing excess oil, product, and grease and increase hair volume at the roots without weighing hair down. Triclosan and tea tree oil help treat the scalp and reduce the occurrence of dandruff, while the invigorating lemon verbena fragrance leaves hair smelling and feeling fresh.” Dry shampoos are really hot right now, and this is one of the best I have tried. The applicator is a nozzle that makes it easy to place the product right on the roots. After I apply it to my roots I message it in, then run my fingers through my hair. I look good and smell clean with the lemony scent!  

Onde Wave Enhancing Spray($18.00 USD):  The website proclaims, “Onde is a wave enhancing spray that brings back natural movement and enhances the underlying body of hair. Enriched with wheat proteins to strengthen and fortify the hair, Onde helps retain recoil in wavy hair, and activates movement in any degree of wave.” My hair is fairly straight with a little wave to it. To bring it out, I spray my towell-dried hair with Onde, then twist my hair into little coils and bobby-pin them to my head. I then spray a little more Onde to the coils and used my blow dryer until almost dry. I then unpin and mess it up a bit with my fingers, till I have a head full of waves. Very fun!  

You may purchase these products and many others at www.oscarblandi.com and they are also available at Sephora, Sephora.com, Ulta, and Beauty.com

Let Your Hair Go Green with the TIGI Love, Peace & the Planet Collection

Love, Peace & The Planet Collection
Love, Peace & The Planet Collection

 Hi all, welcome to my Hair Extravaganza Week! I am reviewing only hair products this week at Forty, Flirty and Fabulous! 

Tigi is introducing it’s Love, Peace & The Planet eco-friendly line. This line of six products is made from natural, paraben free, and mostly organic ingredients that are as good for the planet as they are for your hair!

The products are:

Eco Awesome Cranberry Orange Mint Moisturizing Shampoo ($19.95 USD) — This is the BEST hair scent ever! When you first sniff the bottle, the smell of mint is dominant. But when you shampoo, the cranberry and orange infuse the shower with this incredible fragrance! This is great for the scent alone, but the organic aloe leaf juice, organic geranium, organic lavender and rosemary seed extracts and organic jojoba oil make this shampoo both cleansing and softening.

Eco Awesome Cranberry Orange Mint Moisturizing Conditioner ($19.95 USD) — Same fantastic scent as the shampoo! The conditioner includes organic aloe leaf juice, organic olive fruit oil, organic white tea leaf extract,  and organic glycerin. This product claims to moisturize, impart shine and help fight humidity. My hair does seem less frizzy when I use it.

Let it Be Cherry Almond Leave-in Conditioner ($18.95 USD) — This product has a creamy, comforting scent and is great when you don’t have time to condition in the shower or need an extra moisture boost. The ingredients include: mucor miehei and shiitake mushroom extracts, glycerin, organic shea butter and organic hibiscus and horsetail extracts.

Freak of Nature Lavender Citrus Eucalyptus Volumizer & Thickener ($18.95) — This is a good product for me since my hair is rather thin. The scent is nice but strong, you can really smell the Eucalyptus! I rub this into damp hair, making sure I get the roots, then blow dry. The ingredients include: organic Japanese green tea extract, organic pomegranate extract, organic nettle, organic glycerin and wheat amino protein.

Eco Freako Cherry Almond Texturizer ($22.95 USD) — This texturizer paste includes carnauba, soy and beeswax, hydrolyzed wheat starch, hydrolyzed soy protein and hydrolyzed wheat protein plus organic safflower oil, organic shea butter and organic jojoba seed oil. It adds shine and texture and you can mold your hair into fun and funky ‘dos.

Free Ur Mind Cherry Almond Firm Hold Hairspray ($22.95 USD) — This hairspray gives a firm hold without feeling sticky. The ingredients include: organic lavender, chamomile, geranium and aloe vera gel, panthenol and essential oils.

I highly recommend this line for healthy, green (haha) hair! Check out a TIGI retailer near you!