Thursday, November 29, 2018

SKINCARE 911: WHAT TO DO WHEN A SKINCARE DISASTER ERUPTS BEFORE A HOLIDAY PARTY


It's something every woman fears: Waking up on the day before or day of a big holiday party with an unsightly skincare emergency. How many women have cancelled an invitation because a cold sore erupted? How about cystic acne on your chin that appears New Year’s Eve? While neither of these are "life threatening" conditions, for a woman, they might as well be. There are solutions. Dr. Manish Shah is a Denver Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. As a father to girls, he can relate to these skincare 911s and shares his expertise on what can be done to mitigate various conditions.


Problem: Cold Sore

Solution: Dr. Shah offers cortisone injections to patients who want to look better faster. "Very diluted cortisone into the cold sore, this can bring the inflammation down quite rapidly," he says. If you are afraid of needles, call your doctor and ask him/her to call in a prescription for Valtrex, Famvir, or Acylovir, Dr. Shah says. You can pick up Abreva, an over-the-counter medication. If you can't make it to the pharmacy, you can try some old-fashioned remedies: Visine will help take the red out. You can also use a cold compress and Tylenol or ibuprofen.


Problem: Allergic Reaction

Solution: The first thing you need to do is stop eating or using whatever is causing the allergic reaction. If the reaction happens a few days before an occasion, Dr. Shah recommends using hydrocortisone cream twice a day and taking Allegra, Claritin or Zyrtec which are longer acting and less sedating than Benadryl. Try a whole-milk compress for 10 minutes twice a day. For allergic reactions, use the hydrocortisone cream and then cover up redness by canceling it out entirely. The opposite of red is green, so apply green tinted concealer on the red area. The combination will create a flesh-toned hue. A good quality tinted moisturizer naturally has green/yellow undertones and also provides moisture to dry skin. "If this type of reaction is something you have never experienced before, go immediately to your dermatologist," says Dr. Shah.


Problem: Cystic Acne Breakout

There are some people who use a lancet or small knife to cut into a cyst and fish out the clogged part of the pore. "Cutting open a cyst is extremely risky. You not only run the risk of getting an infection, but you also run the risk of scarring, as in a permanent skin indentation or protrusion," says Dr. Shah. And what if you cut open a cyst but can't squeeze out the root clog? You don't know where the root is or how deep it resides inside your skin. You can't even be 100% confident that you will be able to completely remove the hardened plug of the cyst. If any remnants of the clog remain, the cyst is likely to get re-inflamed and come back even worse. It's also not exactly good to cut open skin and dig around and squeeze the wound. Doing so will only make a bloody mess, increase the chance of skin scarring, and prolong the time it takes the cyst to heal.

Solution: Here's a secret that many a supermodel or actress use: Steroid shot. Dr. Shah explains that, "when we discuss treating acne with cortisone or "steroid" shots, we are referring to the process of gently placing a very dilute quantity of a "glucocorticoid" steroid into the cyst. Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid molecules that are naturally produced by our bodies and have numerous functions including the regulation of human metabolism, immunity, and inflammation. They have very potent anti-inflammatory effects, so they are often used to treat inflammatory diseases in medicine. They can be formulated as creams to treat skin rashes or as pills to treat systemic disease. They can also be injected directly into local areas of inflammation such as in arthritic joints and inflamed acne cysts. Within one or two days of injection into a cyst, the steroid will shrink the inflammation producing relief of pain and almost immediate cosmetic improvement."


Problem: Puffy Eyes

Solution: The key to reducing the puffiness of puffy eyes is having something cool applied to them. "A cool compress or cooled cucumber slices applied for 5 to 10 minutes can constrict blood and lymph vessels," says Dr. Shah. You can also use cool tea bags, which contain tannins that will help reduce swelling. And since puffy eyes can be caused by a high salt diet or alcohol, try to cut out both before an important occasion.


Problem: Sunburn

Solution: Take a cool bath or shower. Set the water to a cool temperature that's just below lukewarm and relax for 10 to 20 minutes. The temperature will ease the pain, and the water will stop your skin from becoming as irritated. Repeat as often as you need to. Avoid using soap, bath oils, or other detergents as you bathe - they'll irritate your skin and possibly make it even worse. If you have blisters forming on your skin, take a bath instead of showering. The pressure from the shower might pop your blisters. When you get out, don't rub your skin dry with a towel. Instead, let yourself air dry, or pat the towel over your skin in small, gentle movements. Apply cold compresses to your skin. If you're not in a situation where you can bathe, or you'd just prefer not to, you can instead apply cold, wet compresses to your skin. Dampen a washcloth or other piece of fabric with cold water and lay it over the affected area for 20 to 30 minutes. Re-wet it as often as you need to. Apply aloe vera to burned skin. Using the pads of your fingers, gently apply the aloe to your sunburn. Don't "rub it in" all the way, like you might with a regular lotion. Leave it a bit goopy and moist on top of the burn - this helps prevent the skin from drying out and becoming more irritated. Reapply as often as necessary. Treat inflammation with cortisone cream (optional). Cortisone creams contain a small dose of steroids that can work to reduce inflammation to your sunburn.


Problem: Too much filler

The Solution: Dr. Shah suggests doing fillers no sooner than 1 month before a big event to allow time for healing and touch ups. One of the reasons Dr. Shah leans toward hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane is because they are easily reversed with Hyaluronidase. This product dissolves and degrades the Restylane, Juvederm or Perlane so as to reverse the results of the initial injection. It's a great insurance policy when choosing a practitioner. Make sure yours has it at his/her disposal. Most patients find the immediate results of soft tissue filler treatments very satisfying. If an undesirable result occurs, your treatment provider should be able to discuss and carry out all of the treatment options. Removing the effects of a "filler" treatment can be difficult. This is why any filler treatment needs to be done carefully, conservatively and only by very experienced and Board -Certified Specialists. Hyaluronic Acid based dermal fillers have the additional benefit of being partially or completely reversed with time or with the injection of a commercially available enzyme known as Hyaluronidase.

I hope you enjoyed these beauty hacks as much as I did and can put some of them to use.

Amy xo



About Dr. Manish Shah
Plastic Surgeon Colorado | Dr. Manish Shah, M.D. | Denver

Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Canada and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a degree in biomedical engineering. He then completed his medical training at the University of Virginia, earning his Medical Doctorate. During this time he also completed a one-year fellowship in microsurgery research at the New York University School of Medicine / Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. As a prelude to his plastic surgery training, Dr. Shah completed a rigorous five-year training program in General and Trauma Surgery at Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia. His formal training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was completed at the Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine – Chattanooga Unit. After completing his plastic surgery training, he moved to New York City when he was selected for the prestigious Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. He underwent extensive, advanced training in aesthetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body at the hands of some of the most renowned cosmetic surgeons in the world. This fellowship is widely considered to be the best of its kind in the world. Dr. Shah is one of only a select few plastic surgeons in the country who have undergone formal post-graduate training in aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Shah’s specialties include revision facial aesthetic surgery, rhinoplasty (“nose reshaping”), and aesthetic surgery of the breast (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction). He is, however, well-trained in all areas of aesthetic surgery.
Dr. Shah’s aim is to obtain a natural appearing transformation that complements the real you!

Dr. Shah is a past Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center based at Denver Health Medical Center, the Rocky Mountain region’s only academic Level I trauma center. He is a past Chief of Plastic Surgery at Denver Health Medical Center. He also maintains a private practice in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery on the Dry Creek Medical Center campus (DTC/Denver) and up in the Aspen Valley (Basalt – in the office of MDAesthetics – Tim Kruse, M.D.).

Dr. Shah is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Shah is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.


*Guest Post. Not Sponsored.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Live Clean Holiday Hand Soaps Including the New Gingerbread Latte!

 

Live Clean is back with their Holiday Hand Soaps and better than ever! This time they've added a delicious new scent, Gingerbread Latte! I think this is the perfect addition to the lineup which already includes Holly Berry and Vanilla Peppermint.

My personal favourite has always been the lightly sweet scent of Holly Berry, now it's a tossup between my old fav and the new Gingerbread Latte. The Gingerbread Latte is also lightly scented with a hint of sweetness plus the yummy scent of ginger- it really does smell like a Ginger Latte! So perfect to get you into that holiday spirit.

The packaging is so festive and adds a holiday feel to any room in your home. Each bottle is a generous 500 ML and has a pump which I always appreciate.

Like all Live Clean products, these are clean, natural, non-toxic, and eco-friendly, all at an affordable drugstore price. SRP $4.99-$5.99 CAD.

Vanilla Peppermint
Enriched with vitamins B and E, these soaps hydrate and restore moisture while gently cleansing your skin.
Gingerbread Latte
Plant-derived, and free of SLS/Sulfates, Petroleum, DEA, Parabens, Silicone, Phthalates, and Phosphates!
Holly Berry

Knowing that I can purchase all natural, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and dermatologist tested products like these from Live Clean at such affordable prices, I would never even consider some of the alternatives that I've seen on the market that use artificial fragrances and toxic chemicals! Live Clean rocks and I still don't know how they make these amazing products at such great price points! But, I'm not complaining.

Please enjoy these Holiday Hand Soaps and in the words of Live Clean, this holiday wish: "Live Simple, Live Beautiful, Live Clean."

Holiday Moisturizing Liquid Hand Soaps in: 
Gingerbread Latte, Vanilla Peppermint, and Holly Berry
500 ML
SRP $4.99-$5.99

Available at Walmart, Loblaws, Pharmasave, Sobeys, Amazon.ca, Well.ca.


🎁🎁🎁
#crueltyfree

Not sponsored. No affiliate links. PR samples

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

The Perfect Gift For the Natural Beauty Lover | Organic Skincare Co Lip Service Lipsticks



If you have any natural beauty lovers on your gift list, this post is for you!

The Organic Skincare Co. is an all natural and ethical beauty brand based out of New Zealand. They make non-toxic makeup and skincare products. They are eco-friendly and plant a tree for every purchase made. They are also cruelty-free, vegan, and work with Indian Community Farms where they source many of their certified organic ingredients.

This post features 2 of their Lip Service Lipsticks. These 100% natural shades are BioGrow certified organic and free of parabens, Nanos, bismuth oxychloride, gluten, and talc. These are common ingredients in many lipsticks and it's better to stay away from them. Carmine is another common ingredient in makeup that is made from ground-up insects! Ya, gross, I know! Luckily, The Organic Skincare Co.'s products are completely vegan, therefore they are free of carmine, too! 

The Organic Skincare Co. also features Supercritical Extraction which is a breakthrough in herbal extraction. "The cleanest, purest way to extract all of a plant's goodness and deliver it to your skin." The process is quite scientific and you can read more about it on their site if you wish.

The Lip Service lipsticks are long-wearing and non-drying, The Organic Skin Co. lipsticks are packed with organic ingredients like calendula and rosemary, which moisturize and soften the lips and prevent chapping - Especially helpful in the drier months. When used regularly, these lipsticks lead to healthier, softer, more supple lips



Packaged beautifully with sustainable materials.

Pictured: Flame on the left, Blossom on the right

Every time you purchase one of their products, they will plant a tree!


Ingredient list. I'm impressed!


Made with 71.7% certified organic ingredients!

Flame on left, Blossom on right
These stunning shades captured on a beautiful day in natural light. 

I have my eye on some of the nude shades, no surprise there! So, I have already packaged these beauties up for some natural beauty lovers on my gift list!

If you'd like to check out more about The Organic Skincare Co's products click HERE. (non-affiliate)

Happy gift-giving! 


Not sponsored. No affiliate links

Monday, November 19, 2018

Zoella Beauty Limited Edition Cosmic Christmas Collection- Star Bather Bathing Set Giveaway!


Just in time for the holidays, Zoella Beauty has just released some fab new Limited Edition products that are perfect for gift giving this holiday season! ⭐

If you're not familiar, Zoella Beauty was created by the infamous Vlogger Zoe Sugg who goes by the name Zoella on her YouTube channel.

Zoella's Cosmos Holiday Limited Edition Collection features a variety of bath and beauty products that have lovely scents that are sure to delight and are perfect for the holiday season. With crisp and uplifting notes of mint and delicious red fruits, and vanilla and peppermint, there is something for everyone.

This limited edition lineup includes several items, including the Bubble Soak Bubble Bath, Cosmic Creme Body Lotion, Milky Way Bath Milk, Exfoliating gloves, Star Glazer Lip Balm Duo, Reach for the Moon Hand Cream, and Four Lucky Stars Fragrance Mist Quad.

I'm so happy to be bringing you a giveaway for one grand prize of Zoella's complete Cosmic Star Bather Bathing Gift Set! 

Zoella's Cosmic Star Bather Bathing Set (shown in the photos) will give you the ultimate bath-time experience! This selection of products is enriched with skin-soothing vanilla and peppermint and will leave your skin cleansed and nourished, and silky-soft!

Zoella's Cosmic Star Bather Bathing Set
The Cosmic Star Bather Bathing Set includes the following full-size products:
  • 1 x Bubble Soak Bubble Bath 250 ml
  • 1 x Cosmic Creme Body Lotion 160 ml
  • 1 x Milky Way Bath Milk Powder 120 grams
  • 1 x Exfoliating Gloves

This gift set is sure to be a hit whether you want to treat yourself or a loved one! 🎁

Zoella Beauty is a cruelty-free brand and is available at London Drugs, select Pharmasave, and Familiprix stores, as well as online at Farleyco.ca.

Onto the giveaway deets....

This giveaway is open to Canada only due to shipping restrictions.

One reader/follower will win Zoella's Cosmic Star 4 piece Bather Bathing Set.

Entering this giveaway is super easy:

1. Like this Instagram post
2. Follow FarleycoBeauty & HealthandBeautyGirl on Instagram (links also in IG post)
3. Tag your friends and family!

That's it!

Note: All instructions are included in the Instagram Giveaway post.

Giveaway ends December 1st at 11:59pm (EST)

Winner will be selected by a random generator and announced on the Instagram giveaway post.

Good luck, everyone!


Not sponsored. Products are generously provided by Zoella Beauty and Farleyco 💝

Friday, November 16, 2018

Distracted Driving | One Split Second Can Change Your Life!



Today's post is a bit of a departure from my regular posts. I'm writing this post to bring awareness of the devastation that can occur as the result of distracted driving. Most of us, myself included, are guilty of distracted driving at one time or another. We often become complacent and are so busy multitasking these days, constantly reaching for our smartphones, or maybe we are distracted for other reasons.

Did you know that distracted driving is the #1 cause of deaths on Ontario roads!?

Last week, my uncle was struck by a car. He was out for his daily walk and the driver wasn't paying attention, ran a stop sign, and hit him. My uncle incurred a traumatic brain injury, 6 skull fractures, and remained in a coma until the other day. He is now somewhat awake but we have no idea what the outcome will be, as the doctors say things can go any way. My Uncle is hooked up to about 20 various tubes and also has tubes draining the blood and fluid from his brain (among other things) to keep him alive. At this time, all we can do is wait on pins and needles, pray,
 hope for the best, and wait and see what happens while the Doctors do their best to help him recover.




Despite my Uncle's injuries, I also cannot imagine what the driver must be going through. I know I couldn't live with myself if I hit someone. So, I am hyper-aware while driving now. I hear about too many people getting hit by distracted or impaired drivers all the time. Just the other week, there were something like 16 pedestrians hit by cars in Toronto, Ontario. 

Many of us are guilty of being distracted while driving, myself included. But I am making sure I pay full attention at all times now and I want to bring awareness to this to save lives! I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of the person hit (I was hit by a streetcar many years ago and it was life-changing for me), nor would I want to be in the shoes of the person who has hit a pedestrian. 


There are brand new laws on distracted driving that will be in effect on January 1, 2019. The new laws will be much tougher on drivers. If you hit a pedestrian while driving distracted, you can even face jail time!

Distracted driving statistics: (source:  https://www.ontario.ca/page/distracted-driving#!%2F12)

In Ontario, deaths from collisions caused by distracted driving have doubled since 2000.

Ontario data on collisions from 2013 show:

  • one person is injured in a distracted-driving collision every half hour
  • a driver using a phone is four times more likely to crash than a driver focusing on the road (8X per CAA, linked here.)

What is considered distracted driving:
Distracted driving isn't limited to those handling their phones while driving. You can read more about what constitutes distracted driving HERE.

Here are some of the acts that would be considered being distracted while driving (resource Narcity.com):
  • Simply holding an electronic device in your hands (hand-held communication during driving is against the law)
  • Using a cellular phone to talk, text, check maps or switch playlists
  • Eating (there may not be a licence suspension, but the RCMP warn you could be fined or given six demerits depending on the food)
  • Reading books or documents
  • Typing a destination into the GPS

How can you help:

Take the pledge against distracted driving: http://distractionfree.ca/

With the ambitious goal of gathering more than 20,000 pledges, the campaign aims to raise awareness across the country and encourage positive driving habits. Each pledge will result in LGM donating $1 towards education and research on road safety, up to $20,000. Proceeds from the dollar-per-pledge initiative will go to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF).

Purchase a Drive Safe Keychain. $1 from each sale of the keychain will be donated to charity to help those who have been affected by impaired drivers. https://dudaad.com/blogs/news/drive-safe-campaign

There are many more resources you can find by searching the internet. 

With it becoming darker much earlier, we have to be even more vigilant while driving. It can be very difficult to see pedestrians, especially if they are wearing darker clothing. I have to admit, that I no longer take walk outdoors, with the exception of trails out in nature. There are just too many people getting hit by distracted drivers. 

If this can happen to my super health-conscious Uncle who is always so careful when he goes for his daily walks, it can happen to anyone!

My family really appreciates all the well wishes and prayers that we have received from everyone! Thank you!

December 4th, 2018- Update- My Uncle remains in a coma.



Not sponsored.
#drivesafe #savealife

Sunday, November 11, 2018

A PLASTIC SURGEON UNVEILS BEAUTY HACKS THAT WILL COST YOU LESS THAN A STARBUCKS COFFEE



We all know that cosmetic-plastic surgeons and dermatologists earn their living by operating or non- invasive procedures. Most of these endeavors are costly for patients.  It’s rare that any aesthetic surgeon will let us in on things we can do daily that don’t require us to visit them!  We are fortunate to have Dr. Manish Shah, a Denver board -certified plastic surgeon share secrets with us, that in many cases cost nothing or less than a gourmet cup of coffee.   

DR. MANISH SHAH’S TOP BEAUTY HACKS 

1.    Cleaning your phone screens – Dr. Shah offers that, “A great way to avoid blemishes is to routinely clean the makeup and bacteria off of your phone screens. It is easy to spread harmful skin bacteria from the surface of your phone. Washing your hands goes a long way to avoid skin contamination as well.”

2.    Make your own exfoliating scrub at home – Dr. Shah shares that, “A woman I consider my second mother taught me how to create my own organic exfoliating scrub. She would dry peeled skins of oranges, lemons, and limes in the sun. She would then finely grate the white inside rind of the peel and then mix it with any facial cleanser or even add it to fine facial oils. Using the scrub would exfoliate the skin, treat it with Vitamin C, and prevent over-drying of the skin because of the fruit oils.”

3.    I recommend treating the enlarged pores of the T-zone with over the counter hydrogen peroxide. The bacteria in the pores create inflammation that increases pore size, and this leads to blackheads and whiteheads. Dr. Shah explains that, “These bacteria can’t survive in high oxygen environments. 3% hydrogen peroxide is available over the counter quite inexpensively. Treating only the T-zone at night kills the bacteria, reduces pore size and blemishes. Because it can be quite drying, takes breaks from its use every now and then.”

4.    Avoid fake nails. They harbor tons of bacteria that are easily transferred to the face when you touch your face. Instead, focus on growing your own nails with the help of oral vitamin C and any good quality hair, skin, and nail vitamin-like Nature’s Bounty Extra Strength Hair, Skin, and Nails.

5.    For teens, especially, it is so important to wash their pillowcases routinely. Dr. Shah is the father of three teens. From his first-hand knowledge, he says that “Teens aren’t very compliant when it comes to skincare and they suffer from hormones in a bad way. This 1-2 punch makes acne and blemishes the bane of most teens’ existence. Going to sleep at night on clean pillowcases after washing your face goes a long way to reducing the bacterial burden and allows blemishes to heal.”

6.    If you suffer from puffiness around the eyes, a quick trick is to use black tea bags. Wet them in ice water and lay them onto the eyes to soothe. The caffeine in the black tea causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing edema or swelling in the delicate, thin eyelid tissues.

7.    Add baking soda to your toothpaste to easily polish away stains to keep your teeth white. Instead of bleaching your teeth, baking soda actually breaks the molecules that stain the teeth. It is less irritating to your gums as well, and way cheaper than teeth whitening strips.

8.    Eat the rainbow- A white bread-based diet does not for clear skin make. That’s why Dr. Shah makes sure his diet is packed with brightly-colored fruits and vegetables.  He says, “Fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants which give glow to the skin.” Specifically, research suggests that pigments called carotenoids—found in foods like carrots, spinach and other leafy greens, and tomatoes have been linked to good complexions.” Adding fish oil to your diet also improves skin compliance and radiance.

9.    Avoid Hot Showers- Disappointing as it may beDr. Shah says, “Hot showers remove too much of your natural oils and brings blood circulation to your skin, creating inflammatory reactions that result in rashes and aggravate those with eczema or dry patches.”

10. You may just need a brow wax instead of a lift
“I had a patient who wanted a brow lift because she thought she looked angry all the time. I sent her for a brow wax instead. It took 15 minutes, she looked great, and she saved herself thousands.” Other brow techniques like brow tinting can change how your eyebrows frame the eyes, improving on your looks.



About Dr. Manish Shah
https://drmanishshah.com/

Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 
the Rhinoplasty Society, and the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery. After completing his formal plastic surgery training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine, he moved to New York City and was selected for the prestigious Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. He underwent extensive, advanced training in aesthetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body at the hands of some of the most renowned cosmetic surgeons in the world. Dr. Shah is one of only a select few plastic surgeons in the country who have undergone formal post-graduate training in aesthetic surgery.
Dr. Shah’s specialties include revision facial aesthetic surgery, rhinoplasty (“nose reshaping”), and aesthetic surgery of the breast (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction). He is, however, well-trained in all areas of aesthetic surgery. Dr. Shah’s aim is to obtain a natural appearing transformation that complements the real you!



Guest Post. Not sponsored

Friday, November 2, 2018

Monthly Empties | Health, Beauty, Makeup, Skincare!





Happy November, everyone! I don't know about you but I'm actually glad that November is here. No idea why, maybe new month, new start!? Anyhooo, it's time for another empties post. Sorry for the lighting in the photos, it's been raining all week and the lighting was terrible, to top it off my bottle of Glycine wouldn't cooperate and pose properly for the photos! 😂

As always, I will share links to products in the titles and mini reviews.

Health

PhiNaturals Collagen Complete
I liked this collagen powder as it didn't have any taste, mixed well in my smoothies and it's also non-GMO and grass-fed. However, I have switched to Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate as it is pasture raised and grass fed which is a better choice. I also feed the collagen to my cat for all the same reasons I take it. There are too many benefits to get into here but one Google search will fill you in if you're not familiar with some of the benefits. A few benefits are joint health, gut health, restores bone density, helps with tissue repair and is reported to be good for hair, skin and nails, too!

Repurchase- No (will purchase Great Lakes Collagen)

Now Glycine Pure Protein Powder
I've talked about Glycine a lot on my site recently. Although I purchased this for the reported sleep benefits, I actually found that it helped with daytime stress rather than my sleep. I take 1 heaping tsp in a bottle of water and sip it throughout the day.

From iHerb:
Glycine is the smallest and simplest amino acid, making it versatile for use in a wide range of functions. Glycine is necessary for the production of glutathione, DNA, creatine, bile, hemoglobin, and most proteins. It also helps to promote glycogen storage, thereby making glucose readily available for energy production. Glycine also functions as a calming neurotransmitter in the brain, where it facilitates nerve impulses and is important for the maintenance of healthy sleep patterns.

Repurchase- Already have!

Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails Gummies
I like to take these for my hair and skin health. I really only notice my nails growing like crazy when I take these, so I know they're doing something! These contain biotin, vitamin c + E. For some reason, biotin on its own makes me breakout but these do not.

Repurchase- Yes

Jarrow Max DHA
These have been my favourite fish oil caps for a long time. I try others but always come back to this one. The gel caps are small and I don't get fishy burps. Plus, I get a higher dose of DHA which is the predominant fatty acid in the brain, nervous system and retina of humans and also supports neurological function. 

Repurchase- Already have

Schuessler Tissue Salts- Nerve Tonic
It's been years since I took tissue salts. I was introduced to them when I developed my severe insomnia and discovered homoeopathy while looking for help with my sleep issues. I saw these in the store and decided to give them another try since it has been so long (since about 2002). I didn't really notice anything though. Tissue salts come in single remedy form or compositions such as this one.

About Tissue Salts:
Tissue Salts are specially prepared micro-doses of the body’s 12 essential minerals. These minerals are important for the functioning and health of the body; if deficiency or imbalance occurs, common ailments or illness may result. With today’s reliance on highly processed foods, keeping a healthy balance of minerals in the body is often difficult.

Repurchase- At some point. Perhaps the next one will be a single remedy tissue salt

Bach Rescue Remedy Night
Bach flowers are another form of homoeopathy. I had taken the very popular Rescue Remedy drops before the night version was available and unfortunately, it didn't do anything for me. However, I do find the Rescue Night formula helps my sleep somewhat. I take it before bed and if I wake too early it often helps me fall back asleep. The other great thing about homoeopathic remedies is that there are no contraindications with medications. Note: I find the actions are very subtle. I don't feel sleepy after I take this but it does help with my sleep somewhat.

Repurchase- Already have

Beauty

Prescription Retin-A 0.04% (RX only)
I've been using this Retin-A for years. It's Retin-A Mirco 0.04%. It has never been harsh nor irritated my skin, I didn't even need an adjustment period when I started it. The only time I needed an adjustment period was when I started using it on my neck, and even then it was minimal. If you've had a hard time adjusting to typical Retin-A, ask your Doctor about this one.

Repurchase- Yes

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask
This was a great mask for pulling impurities out of my skin and getting a little exfoliation in as well. My skin really did glow when I used this. Whenever I use a mask like this one, I like to follow it up with something very hydrating- either a hydrating mask or Essence followed by my serum, moisturizer, and sometimes oils. This product is Vegan.

Repurchase- Possibly, I have so many other to use up first and I'd like to try some of the other ones from this line.

Elf Perfect Finish HD Face Powder
I purchased this with one of my iHerb orders. It was a steal and lasted for a long time. It definitely blurred my pores and killed the shine on my face, I'm pretty oily. It is a white powder though, so a light dusting is all you need, probably why it lasted so long! This product is cruelty-free!

Repurchase- I would but I have SO many others to use up first

Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray (Sample)
I loved this product and it was my first experience with Living Proof products. I get the feeling that this brand will work really well for my hair type, so I am eager to try more from them. I have naturally super frizzy hair, plus it's damaged hair from bleach and this spray did a great job at smoothing my frizz without weighing my hair down. I was impressed!

Repurchase- Yes

Anbber Beauty Sponge 6 pc
I ordered these makeup sponges from Amazon on a whim many months ago. I was blown away by the quality! These are my HG sponges! They are super soft, they don't absorb your product, they blend makeup really well (I use them damp), there's no funky smell, and none of mine have developed mold like some name brands sponges that I've used. I use each sponge for 3 months and then throw them out, even though they still look fine and have no tears or mold.

Repurchase- Yes

Sonia Kashuk Lipstick in Sheer Pink Lust
My HG lipstick of all times! This had such an anti-aging effect on my lips and the colour was so perfect! But, sadly Sonia Kashuk is no longer selling makeup. :(

Repurchase- No. Discontinued

Ecotools Mask Mates / Cleansing Sponge
I cannot rave enough about this sponge and the brush the came with it! At first, I thought these were just some gimmick to get us to purchase more unnecessary items to add to our beauty routines. These are NO gimmick at all. The brush (included in the kit but not shown) is wonderful and actually makes masking less messy and just easier and more enjoyable. The sponge is made from the same materials (natural pulp) that they use in high-end spas! It makes mask removal easier and less messy, plus you can use them daily with your cleanser. They really help to remove every trace of makeup while gently exfoliating the skin. I adore these!

Repurchase- Yes!

Misc.

Kirkland Face Wipes
I love to stock up on these. You get a huge box and it even contains a few packs of wipes for travel. The wipes are huge, nicely saturated and very gentle on my skin. I use one every night to remove my makeup before cleansing.

Repurchase- Yes

Himalayan Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste
I really enjoyed this toothpaste and loved the cinnamon taste. It checks off all the boxes that I look for in a natural toothpaste, it's free of SLS, fluoride, carrageenan, and gluten. However, after one tube of it, I can't say that I'm converted from my favourite Now Foods Xyliwhite cinnamon toothpaste. Although I love my Xyliwhite, I always love trying out other natural toothpaste.

Repurchase- I've already gone back to my Now Foods Xyliwhite

Sleep

Homeocan Insomnia Homeopathic Remedy
This product didn't fit into my photo of health products, and I figured that it deserves a spotlight all on its own. I've used a ton of homoeopathic remedies over the years. Some single remedies, some compositions and I've had some success with many of them. I think my body got used to many of them and they no longer worked for me. I came across this one by Homeocan which I had never tried before, so I figured I had nothing to lose. It really helped with my sleep issues and I've sadly run out and need to get some more asap!

Repurchase- ASAP!


I hope you enjoyed seeing this month's empties and hopefully, you found some of the information helpful.

Here's to a new month! May it be a happy and healthy one!

Always consult with your Doctor before beginning new supplements





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