Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Care and Treatment for Allergies and Sensitive Skin, and Going Alcohol Free: An Overview

I know I've not been around much lately and I could go on about my personal life and everything going on, but I don't want to bore you guys. You're here for skincare and makeup and to talk about sparkly things. This post won't be so much on the sparkly side, but a rather long overview of how I'm currently caring for my allergies, sensitive skin, breakouts, and how I've gone heavy chemical, sulfate and alcohol free in many of my body and skincare products.

I have to start off by saying that I am not a physician and you should not take anything I say here as concrete medical advice. Always consult with a physician before you begin any new or radical changes in your medications or skincare routine. I have seen a dermatologist and an allergist now, so I would highly recommend that if you suffer from allergies and skin conditions like I do, consult a doctor as they will be able to tell you what you need more than I can.

ALLERGIES

Many skin conditions are related to allergies. Most people don't realize that sometimes when they have chronic dry or itchy skin, they are actually allergic to something in their environment that is causing the issue. For me, my allergist recommended something as simple as dust mite covers for my bed and pillows, and I am curious to see if that makes a difference in my overall health. 

I consulted an allergist last week because I've had off and on allergies for most of my life. They usually involved skin and sinus reactions, but more recently I've had a few anaphylaxis reactions and it scared me into consulting an allergist. I had extensive testing done, including a scratch test involving approximately 90 pricks to my skin. But that's a story for another day.

ALLEGRA/ZYRTEC/CLARITIN: These are basic anti-histamine, Fexofenadrine based, daily pills. They are available over the counter now and the price will vary depending on where you purchase. Allegra and Claritin are 24-hour doses, but the Zyrtec is labeled as 12-hour, so keep that in mind. As this is over the counter, you do not need a prescription (this is in the United States but I'm sure the rest of the world has similar products) BUT you will want to talk to a doctor about the differences and what will work best for you. I take Allegra but my brother takes Zyrtec. I get mine from Costco for around $31 for 90 pills (a 3 month supply). This helps with day to day allergic reactions: coughing, sneezing, sinus congestion, headache, and can also help with physical reactions such as anaphylaxis and dry skin.

SINGULAIR/MONTELUKAST: Montelukast is generic Singulair. This is available only by a prescription from a physician. This works in conjunction with Allegra or Claritin to further help alleviate allergy symptoms. If you have occasional seasonal allergies, your doctor probably will not prescribe this to you. I actually have not started taking mine yet, so I cannot tell you of any side effects or how I feel about the medication. It is just what I was prescribed. (Price will vary depending on insurance and where you purchase it. I got mine from Costco for $27.49, 30 day supply. It was the cheapest place by far.)

VENTOLIN/ANY INHALER: I was given an inhaler due to my throat and chest tightening reactions from an unknown allergen. Many people with asthma also have allergies, and the asthma is a symptom of the allergic reaction. If you have EVER had the sensation of your throat tightening, chest constricting, or had difficulty breathing, you'll want to see an allergist and talk to them about carrying an inhaler. Keep in mind that just because the reaction wasn't severe initially, over time you can have more and more severe reactions to allergens, which can eventually lead to an emergency room visit or even a fatal reaction if you can't react fast enough. (My Ventolin inhaler was $40 with insurance coverage.)

Your doctor may also prescribe you an Epipen for serious allergic reactions. If during the allergy scratch test, you react severely at all, or if you've ever had an anaphylaxsis reaction, be prepared to receive a suggestion to carry one of these on you. They are incredibly pricey for most people, and I actually have not gotten one yet because of the price. The base price is $250.00. I won't go into too much about these, but I just wanted people to have the information.

HAIR CARE

I've had "dandruff" for most of my life, cycling in and out of not very bad to absolutely awful. I learned from my dermatologist that dandruff is actually seborrhoeic dermatitis, and can be chronic and constant in many people. Dandruff should not be confused with a dry, flaky scalp. Often dry and flaking scalps are from using products that are stripping oils from the scalp, thus causing excess dead skin to build up and flake off. Now, I do have patches of true "dandruff", where I get red and itchy scale sections on my head, but many of my flaking issues were from products I was using.

I found, like many have recently, that using sulfates on my scalp caused a lot of issues. Some people can use them their entire lives and never have single flake on their scalp, while others like myself go through periods of non-stop flaking, itching and discomfort. My mom, for example, can use the cheapest shampoo possible and has never had flaking problems. If you have a lot of problems with your scalp (and many think that they "only get it when winter comes around", and in reality need to change their hair care), you may want to consider what you are using on your hair. If you have color-treated hair, this becomes very difficult. The main culprit is sulfates, as I said above, in ANY form. Keep in mind that sulfates are not good for color treated hair as they can leech the hair color out faster. A little fun fact for you: all the sulfates do is make the product lather. Ever notice that you really never see sulfates in conditioners? That's why.

Going sulfate free is a long and arduous road, but for me it has made a huge difference in the condition of my hair and scalp. Watch out for some companies that don't use sodium lauryl sulfate directly, but will use "sulficcionate" and other related items. Google an ingredient if you aren't sure. Many of these derivatives will still irritate your scalp! I found that I cannot use L'Oreal Ever Pure even though it doesn't have any of the traditional sulfates. Whatever it has instead irritated my scalp just as badly, but it would take months of use to show up.

GIOVANNI MAGNETIC ENERGIZING SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER: So far, this is one of the best sulfate AND chemical free shampoos that I've found. If you aren't trying to go more natural, there are a lot more options out there for you in terms of hair care. With me wanting to steer clear of alcohol and other bad chemicals, I had a hard time finding safe options. I've been using this for about 3 weeks and I love it. I have not tried the conditioner yet, but am currently using the shampoo. I barely have to use conditioner with this as it leaves my hair that soft. Giovanni's range in general is fabulous, including Smooth as Silk and the Tea Tree Oil line, but when I went more natural I had to steer clear. I would highly recommend the brand overall for sulfate-free hair and body care. (Giovanni ranges from $5-$12 for their products. This shampoo was approximately $8.)

Other sulfate-free lines: L'Oreal EverPure, Aveeno, Pureology, Organix, Jason, Tigi (SOME products, not all), Alterna, Redken (SOME), and many others. Right now, many of the sulfate free lines are higher end and thus more expensive, but cheaper lines are starting to launch sulfate-free products. However, ALWAYS check the labels before you get sucked into buying any "sulfate-free", "gentle", or "color protecting" hair care. Sometimes they will label the product as such, but when you read the ingredients, you'll find that it has the same ingredients as all of their other products. Pantene is famous for this (and Pantene is also one of the worst products EVER for your hair!). 

MACADAMIA OIL HEALING SPRAY/TREATMENT: I've started using this to treat my ends as it's difficult to go silicone free like I did, as you will tend to feel like your hair is more dry. Unfortunately, silicones leave a coating on your hair and don't actually do much for the condition, so while your hair FEELS soft, it's actually quite often damaged underneath. Now, this spray does have some questionable chemicals in, but I've found that compared to others (Moroccan oil), it doesn't have AS many chemicals and silicones. This is also great for fine hair as it's quite a light oil. For me, argan/moroccan oil is heavy and I find it makes my hair greasy. There are versions of moroccan oil out there that do not contain silicones. (Approximately $30, but I got a deal on mine in a pack of 2 for the same price at Target. I don't know if they still carry it in a 2 pack.)

CLOBETASOL SOLUTION: My dermatologist prescribed me this for my scalp when I do have issues. I haven't had to use it much since I got it, but this is good to have on hand while you test out new haircare, just in case something irritates your scalp. My doctor gave this to me in a dropper form, and you apply it to your scalp after washing your hair to any itchy or painful areas. It has a slight cooling sensation. (Unsure of the price, I think it was around $14 with insurance.)

You'll also want to avoid ANY form of alcohol in your hair products. In all seriousness, no matter whether you care about silicones, sulfates or going natural, alcohol is terrible for your hair. The bottom line is that it is not necessary to put in a hair product. Alcohol is drying, and many companies put small amounts of it in their products supposedly to "thin" the consistency out, but as with many body lotions, it's ACTUALLY to keep you using the products. Your hair gets dry, you use the product and for a while, it makes your hair super soft and nice. So you keep repurchasing. And the cycle continues.

BODY CARE

Many people with allergies also suffer from skin complications, from dry and flaking skin, to itchiness, to redness and sensitivity. I have all of the above, unfortunately. I went to see my dermatologist, and through his suggestions and my own changes to what I use, have found a routine that works pretty well for me using these products:

AMMONIUM LACTATE LOTION: There are generics of this behind the pharmacy counter, but there's also branded versions such as Amlactin. I found that Amlactin was pricey and my pharmacy carried a generic version for about 1/3 of the price ($5 versus $15). This is most commonly used to treat a condition called Keratosis Pilaris (or KP), and it is a form of eczema that appears as red or white bumps along the arms, face and legs. I have this condition on my arms and the tops of my thighs, but this lotion can also be used for general dry skin, flakiness and irritation. The chemical in the lotion helps to break down the skin nodules that build up on people with KP and other eczema. Mild exfoliation can also help to remove them as well, in combination with the lotion. I don't know about Amlactin, but I will note that the generic version I got of this smells a little funny. Just something to be wary of... it is fragrance-free but the petroleum base makes it smell a little plastic-like.

EUCERIN ORIGINAL LOTION: I use this as a general body lotion on anywhere I don't use the Ammonium Lactate one. I found it very difficult to find body moisturizers that again, do not contain alcohol. This is also fragrance and dye free. I've only used this a few times but I really like it so far. It's quite rich and emollient but not greasy at all. I use it before bed but can also use it after I get out of the shower, and I don't feel like it transfers to my clothes. (This was $12.99 at Rite Aid on a BOGO1/2OFF deal, but it's a very large bottle of it.)

NIVEA CREME: This comes in a large blue tub (and when I say large, I mean huge) and I know for sure that it is sold in almost every country in this form. Instead of being a lotion like the Eucerin, this is closer to a barrier cream. This does contain lanolin alcohol, but through my own research, I've found that lanolin alcohol is not drying like cetyl or stearyl alcohols. I was using this for a while as a general body moisturizer, but due to it's thicker consistency, found that it wasn't good in warmer temperatures or over large areas of skin. This is, however, great for elbows, knees, feet and hands. This is a good as a general skin protectant, especially if you expect that you will be in colder temperatures for long periods of time. (This is around $8 for a "very large tub".)

DOVE NUTRIUM MOISTURE BODY WASH - SENSITIVE: I just started using this about 2 weeks ago and I love it so far! In addition to being alcohol and sulfate free, it's also fragrance and dye free. It has some good things it in for your skin (coconut oil is one, if I recall correctly) and I've already noticed an improvement over using the crappy, super smelly Caress body washes. As this doesn't have sulfates, it doesn't lather and it more like a creamy lotion. I'm used to it, so it doesn't bother me at all. **I'm reading some reviews saying that this isn't fragrance free, but I do not have 'fragrance' listed on my bottle, so I'm not sure.** (This was around $9 for a large bottle.) NOTE ADDED 12/13/2012: I've looked at my bottle and realized that glycerin is the second ingredient in this, while it says 'soap-free'. It also has 'fragrance' yet says unscented on my bottle. I am contacting Dove's customer service and will update this ASAP.

EUCERIN CALMING BODY WASH OIL: This is another new purchase and as I've only used it once, I can't say much about it yet. It's definitely an oil consistency, which makes it a little strange to use, but it does "soap" up once you begin to rub it into your skin. On the ingredients, there is something that contains 'sulfate' on some listings online but my bottle doesn't say that, so I am concerned over what exactly this contains! I will also add that it smells funny... not in a slightly bad way, but bordering on a REALLY bad way. I'll get through it, but I'm not a big fan. (This was around $8.)

EXFOLIATION: Gentle exfoliation is good once or twice per week to help get rid of dead skin buildup and flaking patches. Never exfoliate open wounds or acne sores as you can allow bacteria into the affected area, leaving yourself open to a skin infection. I am currently using the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for Sensitive Skin, but I am switching away from that once I run out and find an alcohol-free exfoliator. A friend suggested the Tree Hut Sugar Scrubs, which as far as I can tell are alcohol free, so I look forward to testing them out.

- Random tip: Carry a small bottle of soap with you in your handbag if you do tend to have sensitive skin. Once you've found a soap that works for you, this is really helpful when you're in a public bathroom. I find that many generic soaps used in bathrooms irritate my hands like no other, but for some reason Bath & Body Works Soaps don't, so I keep one with me in a hand sanitizer bottle. I also have one at the sink in my office for when I use the restroom at work, so that I can wash my hands and not have to worry about the itchiness and hives that happen when I use the regular soap in the bathroom. 

FACIAL CARE

This section will be short and sweet because I am still switching up my facial products to better items. It's a slow and grueling process!

NEUTROGENA CLEAR PORE CLEANSER/MASK: I personally use this only as a mask once per week. It works great for that purpose, but I admittedly have not tried it as a cleanser! I feel like it's so thick that it wouldn't work in that manner. This is alcohol free, light on chemicals, and leaves my face feeling smooth and cleansed. I've noticed a decrease in acne since I started using it. (This varies from $4-$7.)

CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE SOLUTION: This is only available by prescription. This is a topical acne solution that can be used all over as a facial cleanser for widespread and severe acne, or as a spot treatment. I use it as the latter, on a q-tip twice per day on any acne breakouts. I have a love/hate relationship with this because it works on some breakouts and not others. Now that I've seen an allergist, I've learned that I may actually have a few spots of ongoing hives on my face, and that may be why at times this doesn't seem to work. If you get a regular acne spot on your face, this works pretty well to shrink it down within 2-4 uses (so 2 days). (I don't remember how much this was.)

If anyone has suggestions on a good alcohol and dye free facial cleanser and moisturizer, please let me know!

I hope this was helpful to some! I know that a lot of people have dry and sensitive skin and may not even realize that they should really consult a physician about those issues. Sometimes it's really down to what products you are using. Going alcohol, silicone, sulfate or general chemical free is never easy, but it's a decision that I'm glad I made as I see a huge difference in my skin!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Friday, November 23, 2012

FOTD: Mmm... Cranberry Sauce!

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving. This is what I wore to my family dinner. I probably should have taken a picture of my outfit, but with the temptation of a feast five minutes away... err, I forgot.



 



 


FACE:
- Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation in Nude
- Mac MSF Natural in Light
 - Maybelline SuperStay Concealer in Cream
-Mac MSF in Light Year

EYES:
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
- Mac eyeshadow in Amber Lights
- Mac eyeshadow in Coppering
- Mac eyeshadow in Cranberry mixed with plum from Sleek Monaco
- Browbone shade from Wet n Wild Sparkle 'Til the Morning palette
- Sephora waterproof eyeliner in Flashy Bronze
- Dark brown 'definer' eyeshadow from Wet n Wild Sparkle 'Til the Morning palette
- Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara

LIPS:
- MUA Lipstick in Shade 9
- NYX gloss in Cosmo

Saturday, October 20, 2012

FOTD: Off Into the Sunset

Sometimes when I get bored, I play with makeup. Don't we all? I was feeling like layering metallic red and orange over black after a post I saw from Robyn earlier. It somehow started going a little Arabic so I ran with it. I really needed false lashes for this but I'm sat around at home and can't be asked. The golds in Sleek Sunset make for a perfect highlighter, and it's what is on my cheeks and brows.







 

FACE:
- L'Oreal Magic Lumi Face Primer
- Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation in Nude
- Mac MSF Natural in Light
 - Maybelline SuperStay Concealer in Cream
-Mac MSF in Light Year
- Sleek blush in Honour

EYES:
-Too Faced Shadow Insurance
-Bourjois Smokey eyeliner in Black
- Sleek Sunset palette (the matte black, metallic reds, plummy color, both golds and orange)
- Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara

LIPS:
- MUA Lipstick in Shade 9
- Femme Couture gloss in Sahara Rose

Friday, October 19, 2012

I've Started a Fashion Blog...

Yeaaaah. There's not going to be a set schedule right now, but I've got a lot of content planned so far, including 3 outfits of the day. Check it out if you're interested!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

And the winner of the Disney palette is...

I'm sorry for the delay on this! I've not only been busy at work, but I've been sick and also had immigration stuff to deal with. Without further delay...


ANGELAMHIERE!

(for her Twitter entry).
Angela: Please email me at turtlebeauty at yahoo dot com with your mailing address. Thank you! :)


 

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

FOTD: Violet Rain

Nothing super exciting today kids, just a look with the Estee Lauder gloss I raved about in my September Favorites. Siiiiigh. It's so pretty.






FACE:
- Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in #21
- Mac MSF Natural in Light
 - Maybelline SuperStay Concealer in Cream
- NARS Blush in Sin

EYES:
-Too Faced Shadow Insurance
- Maybelline Color Tattoo in Blue on By 
- Mac eyeshadow in Stars n Rockets
- Jesse's Girl Eye Dust in Secret Weapon
- Kiko eyeliner in Bright Lilac (waterline)
- Maybelline Mega Plush mascara

LIPS:
-Estee Lauder True Color Sequins gloss in Violet Rain

Don't forget that I have a giveaway going on here!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

e.l.f. Disney Villains: Cruella Palette Review + FOTD (and GIVEAWAY!)

Today I have for you a review, swatches and FOTD of the e.l.f. Disney Villains: Cruella palette. There is also a giveaway of this palette at the end of the post, so be sure to scroll to the bottom and follow the instructions!





I found the palette at Walgreens on a special display for $9.99. Inside, you get a small mirror, 2 face charts, 8 eyeshadows, a set of false lashes with glue, an eye primer, 2 lip and cheek colors, and a liquid eyeliner. The palette is cardboard and lightweight, but relatively sturdy. I love the packaging for this; the face charts with half of Cruella's face are brilliant. The instructions are great for people that are newer to makeup. My only complaint with the packaging is that the lip and cheek colors were incredibly difficult to remove!

First up, the eyeshadows. These are swatched over the included eye primer:



Left to right: Puppy Love, Coat of Dreams, Cruelty and Sewage

This row is decently pigmented. Puppy Love is matte, which is appreciated in a heavy shimmer palette. My favorite is Cruelty by far; it's a really interesting minty olivey green. Also, why Sewage? What a weird name!



Left to right: Spelled, Maniac, Little Beasts and Extinction

This row is also pretty pigmented, just slightly less so than the top row. Maniac has amazing gold shimmers, and so does Extinction. Little Beasts is another matte; this one was a little drier than the others but it would work great in the crease or even on the brows.


A shot of all of the eyeshadows together. I think that this palette has good cohesion overall. The shades are neutral (with a pop of color from Cruelty) and you've got a mix of shimmer and matte finishes. Pigmentation is decent, with the only slightly problem shades being Sewage and Little Beasts (a little dry and hard).


The top is the liquid liner, which is a rich black. This is approximately 15 seconds after application and you can see that it is still quite wet and glossy. I would give this a fair amount of dry time to prevent smudging.

The bottom are the lip and cheek colors, which come in a pencil form. As far as I can tell, these do not have names. The lighter milky pink was drier in texture and harder to apply while the red was lovely and smooth. I don't know about using either of these as cheek colors, they may be too awkward!

Overall, I think this palette is a decent value for the money. The shadows are certainly worth $9.99 in my opinion. The eye primer is also decent, and the red lip color is another good value.

Here is a look that I created with the palette using the shadows Spelled, Maniac, Little Beasts and Cruelty. On my lips is the red lip pencil with Mac Amourous Dazzleglass over the top.






Thank you for reading all the way to the end! Here is your chance to win a brand new, unopened Cruella palette. This giveaway starts on October 2, 2012 and will end on Sunday, October 6, 2012. It is open internationally. Please note that the winner will be announced here on the blog; I will not be contacting you via email. Please do not provide your email address on this post as I cannot be responsible for any spam you may receive.

For your chance to win, you must:
- Be a subscriber through NetworkedBlogs or Google
- Comment on this post telling me your favorite Disney villain

For additional entries (1 each):
- Tweet the following: "Check out @CydonianMU giveaway for a Cruella e.l.f. Disney Villains palette here! http://tinyurl.com/94bm2un"
- Blog about this giveaway with a direct photo link
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/guitarsoloist07 (and tell me your username in the comments, this is also for current Youtube subscribers)
- Repin the following pin on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/149885493819693547/

Good luck!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

September Favorites

In case you didn't know, I'm in a collab group on YouTube with a bunch of other amazing bloggers. I've put up my September Favorites on that channel. Be sure to subscribe to see more videos :)



In case you can't watch the video, here's a bit of information:

What I'm Wearing:
Top: Old Navy
Makeup: Wet n Wild Silent Treatment eyeshadow palette, Mac Black Line Pearlglide liner, Chanel Rouge Allure in Passion with Mac Sonoran Rain over top

Products Mentioned:
- Stila Lovely in London Palette
- Benefit Bella Bamba mini
- Sleek Blush in Honour
- Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Lash Mascara
-  BeautyUK Metallic Sparks pencil (olive green)
- e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Coffee
- NYX Glam Shadow Stick in Rose Gold
- NYX Glam Liner in 24 Karat
- L'Oreal Le Gloss in The Mystic's Shine
- Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Ivory
- Estee Lauder True Color Sequins Gloss in Violet Rain
- Eslee Lauder blushes in Radiant Peach and Peach Nuance
- Sleek Eau La La Liners

What have you been loving this month?

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Kat Dennings Picture Tutorial

My friend Amanda wanted to know how to do a look like Kat Dennings has in these photos:



I decided to do a picture tutorial to help her out, and post it here for you guys! The pictures aren't great, I have to admit. They are a little blurry and dark, and in the flash photos at the end, the coppery color is showing up as really browny orange and it totally wasn't! Anyway, I hope you enjoy.



I started off by applying Laura Mercier Foundation Primer in Radiance all over my face. Then I applied the Physician's Formula Youthful Wear Foundation in Fair. Kat has more of a matte coverage with a subtle radiance underneath, so I figured this would be a good combo for that look.


I applied Too Faced Shadow Insurance and a shimmery cream eyeshadow on the lid. The cream eyeshadow is optional, but I used Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Beige.


I used the Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette for the eyes. To make it easier, I will be referencing the eyeshadows as they are labeled above (1, 2, 3 and 4).



I first applied #1 to one half of the lid with a flat eyeshadow brush. I also started to apply it into the inner corner.



I used #2 in the upper crease with a pointed crease brush, and then blended out with a fluffy blending brush. This may take a few layers to get the desired opacity. Just be sure to blend the edges lightly; these shadows are very soft.




Apply a mixture of #3 and #4 into the outer lower crease with the same pointed crease brush, and blend with the fluffy brush. Again, this may take a few layers.



Use the same #3 and #4 mixture (more #3 than #4) on the outer bottom lashes. Be gentle in this area -- the shimmer can easily get into your eye.


Apply #1 into the inner corners.




Using Wet n Wild eye pencil in Black, I first used the pencil straight from the "tube" and applied a thin line to my upper lashline. Immediately after, I used an angled eyeliner brush to smudge the line out. This gives a softer look. I also used the brush to wing out the edge.


Using the same angled brush and what was left over from the upper lash line, I smudged the black liner onto my bottom lash area. I would not recommend putting this particular pencil directly against your skin there; it's not super soft and it will also create a really harsh line.



Apply mascara (I used Rimmel Sexy Curves in Black) and you're done with the eyes!



For bronzer, I used the Barry M Natural Dazzle bronzer and focused on contouring my cheekbones, forehead, and jaw. For blush, I used NYX blush in Terracotta, and kept it mostly towards the back of my cheeks. Highlighter is optional; I skipped it because the NYX blush is pretty shimmery.




The lip was pretty difficult to match on this, and even this combo will not look the same on everyone. I got it as close as I could on my skintone. First, I applied NYX lip liner in Nude all over my lips and followed by patting on Maybelline ColorSensational in Let Me Pink. It's important to pat this on instead of applying it strongly from the tube, if you want to match Kat's lip color. On top, I applied NYX gloss in Cosmo in the center of the lips for a bit of sparkle and shine.

And you're done! Hopefully you get a bit of Kat Dennings' famous pout going...