Beauty Tip | Hand & Nailcare

This is yet another post that I have been meaning to write for the longest!  I feel like I've written this post a hundred times, but every time I look at my drafts its still there and empty!  What gives?!

Anyhow, let's get to it!  Nailcare, just like skin and haircare are very important.  All too often we don't give our hands the TLC they need.  In recent years, I have been pretty gun-ho about taking care of my nails, even thoughout my rigorous military training.  I'll say that I grow my nails out good and long about 4 times a year.  Once I grow them out, I usually wear them long until I break one and them its like a dominoe affect and they all break!  I do take a prenatal right now, which is really good for hair, skin, and nails, but even before I became pregnant I took a multi-vitamin and hair, skin, and nails one.  I will say that while the vitamins make a difference, the major thing that I do to enhance and maintain nail growth and health is a good diet, keeping them filed, and coated with a protective, strengthening polish of some sort. 

I file my nails at least once if not twice a week and apply a protective top coat at least once a week.  Right now I'm using the Sally Hansen Triple Strong.

I really like it, although it tends to be a little more pricey than some of the other Sally Hansen products, its good stuff.  It has Epoxy, Calcium, and Titanium and is in essence an advanced nail fortifier.  The con of this product is that even though the bottle says two coats, you really only need one, because as the product ages it gets thick.  Also, after the product has dried, it doesn't create a longer wearing surface and lent tends to get into it.  This product also doesn't wear for very long at all, if anything no longer than 72 hours and then it needs to be removed and reapplied.  Now I know this sounds like a lot of cons, but the pros of it outweigh the cons.  I find that my peeling-prone nails tend to not peel as much and feel much stronger with using this product.  They also seem less prone to breaking and are overall stronger.

So for me, I keep it pretty basic, a nail file and some clear top coat.  I do occasionally paint my fingernails, and when I do I always use a base.  I do two layers of base coat, then two layers of polish, and then a top coat.  If I use Triple Strong as my base coat, then I do one layer of it and keep the same routine for the polish and top coat. 

I do my toenails about once or twice a month, and keep the maintenance on them minimal.  I clip my toenails, sometimes file them, do a base coat, two or three layers of polish, and a top coat.  I have a little bit of left over fungus on my right big toe, so every so often I use a little bit of Lamisil.  Its been clearing up recently and I let my feet air out a lot to keep them dry.  My toenails grow extremely fast, like werewolf fast, so I typically have to do them twice a month.  Its a little harder while pregnant, but I get it done.  I mean come on now...it is summer and I have to keep my feet right!

As far as cleaning and moisturization of both finger and toenails, I wash (of course!) and moisturize daily.  My hands are always getting washed, so in turn they are always getting moisturized.  I moisturize my feet after showering and most nights before bed.  In the winter time, my feet have to be moisturized before bed, because I hate getting in bed with dry feet.  Ugh...it gives me the heebie geebies!  In the summer, my feet tend to sweat, so I lighten it up on the moisturizers overall, so not every single night I moisturize them if I don't shower that night.  However, if I shower or soak my feet then they get moisturized.

One last thing, I never buff my nails.  Even though I don’t do it, I felt it was important to cover the topic…at least from my perspective.  The only time I have had my nails buffed is at the salon and when I use one of those four-sided nail file/buffers. I recommend using one of the four-sided buffers, unless you have very rigid nails or nails that peeled a lot.  Even though my nails tend to peel, I don’t like sanding down my nail beds.  Of course you can choose to just buff the part of your nail that is rough or peels.  I like the four-sided buffer, because oftentimes you can get a really nice shiny polished finish that will last you a few days, especially if you don’t have time to apply a clear coat or prefer not to.

These will typically run you around $4-$8.  A lot of times you see people selling these in kits at the mall.  You know those little kiosks in the middle?  Yep, they run out and try to grab your hands to demo on and then tell you it’s a miracle product, charging you $20-$30 for the kit.  All you really need it some lotion, cuticle oil (or any type of oil, olive or coconut is good), and one of these files.  Should cost you half the amount they try to sell it to your for.

My nails

So if anything to take away from my post, its maintenance and consistency.  If you dedicate just a few minutes once or twice a week to your nails, then they will not only look good, but be strong and healthy.  Keep in mind that if your nails are week, seem to break easily, not grow, or have white spots on them, this can suggest a vitamin deficiency, so you should consult your physcian.  It might just be that you need to change your diet, adding more protein into it and increasing your water intake.  I’m not a doctor, so I’m just speaking off of what I know.  Your doctor would be able to pinpoint exactly what’s going on with you and give you the correct guidance to improve your nails.  Oftentimes, your hair, skin, and nails tell a story of your overall health, so pay attention to all three and consult your physician if something seems off or not quite right.
Hope this was helpful!
Happy bumping!
xxoo,

July 2013 Birchbox Unveil

Here it is, July’s Birchbox and the goodies I got in mines:

I have to admit that I haven’t even used one single product from my May and June Birchboxes.  Its not because I’ve been lazy, its been quite intentional.  I have been trying to decrease the amount of products I use while being pregnant, because I don’t want to put a lot of different things on my skin with baby in tow.  Skin absorbs anything you put on it, and thus its gets into my system and passed to the baby.  I will however have tons of products to try out once baby is here, so I’m super excited about that.

Yes, that means the reviews on my different Birchbox products won’t be out until several months from now, but rest assure I will delve into a few of them. 

In the meantime, for your viewing pleasure I have included a few pics and my Youtube video on July’s box.

Let me know what you think!

Have you tried Birchbox?  If so, do you like it?  Have you tried any of the products I received?  I would love a heads up on anything you may have tried that either worked or didn’t work for you!

Happy bumping!

xxoo,

Bodycare | Hair Removal

We all do it...well most of us!  Whether you do it once, twice, three times a week or every day we all know how much of a pain shaving can be.  Now, imagine trying to do this with a large protruding belly.  Shaving has yet to become a challenge, however I know in the coming months that it will present itself as one.  Fortunately for me, I can get away with not shaving my legs on a weekly basis...I can push it to about a week and a half maybe two weeks.  However, my underarms arms and other areas require weekly attention.  To me, pregnancy is no excuse FOR ME, to let these things go by the wayside.  In general, I hate having hair in my unmentionable area, because it's simply uncomfortable and itchy.  My underarms, well that's pretty self-explanatory, I mean come on its summer!  I don't grow a bush under my arms, but I grow enough hair that it is noticeable a few days after it starts growing back.  I'm fortunate to have pretty fine textured body hair, but it still requires some maintenance. 

 

 

Of course there are many alternatives to shaving, such as waxing, laser hair removal, epilators, and depilatories like Nair.  I'm not a fan of waxing at all, because I have little tolerance for my hair being ripped out of my skin.  For many, waxing doesn't bother them at all, but for me it would be a last resort or special occasion type of thing.  I have never used an epilator, but from what I hear of them they remove hair by mechanically grasping multiple hairs simultaneously and pulling them out.  As far as I know they cause no or little pain and irritation, however they supposedly feel similar to waxing.  There are actually three different types of epilators, spring, rotating disc, and tweezer. 

 

 

Spring type - The first type of epilator was the original Epilady released in Israel, and manufactured by Mepro, in kibbutz Hagoshrim in 1986.[1] The design incorporated a coil spring, which was bowed into a curve such that the coils on one side of the spring were squeezed tightly together while on the other side the coils were spread apart. The motor in the epilady rotated the spring, causing it to flex as it rotated. Moving the rotating spring across the skin caused the hairs to be caught up in the spring and pulled out the hair.[2]

 

Because the springs flexed continuously, they were subject to occasional failure and were sold separately as a replacement part.

 

Rotating disc - The Remington Lady Remington Smooth and Silky was designed to operate in a similar way to the spring type Epilady, except that a series of metal discs were used instead of a spring. It was the subject of extensive patent litigation in Europe due to a conceptual similarity to the spring type epilator.

 

The failure of Epilady to defeat Remington in the patent litigation effectively opened the door for other manufacturers to produce designs based upon rotating discs.

 

Tweezer type - The rotating disc design has been refined such that, in modern designs, the plates are no longer complete discs. The head of a modern epilator incorporates a series of metal plates mounted in a plastic housing. The ends of the plates may be exposed at one or both sides of the housing. As the head rotates, the tips of the plates move together and apart once per revolution. This creates a tweezing effect, where the hair between the plates, when they close, is pulled as the plates rotate away from the skin, then released as the plates separate. This allows a continuous cycle of gripping, pulling, extracting and discarding the hair as the epilator is moved across the skin.

 

Depending upon the strength and brittleness of the hair, some may snap off rather than being pulled out. Because those hairs snap off just above the skin surface, they can look somewhat like stubble from shaving, but are far more sparsely spread because the other hairs have been pulled out entirely. As with waxing, because of the phases of growth that occur with hair, there is not as much regrowth following the first epilation. Regular epilation of regrowth is less painful than the initial epilation and the number of broken off hairs diminishes with regular epilation.

 

There are now numerous brands of tweezer type epilator available. Even Epilady discontinued their spring type and now produce a variety of tweezer type models.

Source: Wikipedia.com

 

When it comes to using depilatories, the most popular ones on the market are Nair and Veet, but there are many other brands, including ones for men. Many choose to use these are their bikini zone and legs for a smooth feel without the hassle of shaving or waxing.  The downside is the smell!  Depilatories are chemical creams/lotions, and that's exactly what they smell like.  Every single depilatory I have ever smell, smelled atrocious even if it was supposed to have some type of floral, sweet, or fresh scent to it.  These products come in a lotion formula for the most part and are low maintenance.  Some like Veet, come with a little mock razor looking device to remove the cream/lotion with, however most just rinse or wipe off.  Caution, do not use these products on your face by any means!  At the ripe age of 15 I decided to do this and ended up with literally straight line for brows.  I clearly did not read the directions, which stated not to use on the face.  Also, if you have sensitive skin, I caution you from using depilatories, they can be harsh and irritable.  My husband, who doesn't have sensitive skin, was using one by Nair for men and it broke him out.  He was using it to menscape his chest and stomach hair, but has since stopped and returned to the old trusty clippers.

 

 

 

Last but not least, there is laser hair removal.  I almost forgot about this one, mainly because I don't feel I have a need (or the money) for it at this time.  In a nutshell,

The primary principle behind laser hair removal is selective photothermolysis (SPTL), the matching of a specific wavelength of light and pulse duration to obtain optimal effect on a targeted tissue with minimal effect on surrounding tissue. Lasers can cause localized damage by selectively heating dark target matter, melanin, in the area that causes hair growth, the follicle, while not heating the rest of the skin. Light is absorbed by dark objects, so laser energy can be absorbed by dark material in the skin, but with much more speed and intensity. This dark target matter, or chromophore, can be naturally-occurring or artificially introduced. Source: Wikipedia.com

 

Like any bodycare product, you have to use what works for you.  There are many products on the market, but it doesn't mean that they will all be effective.  You also have to use what's in your comfort zone.  Like I stated before, I don't care for waxing and I don't like the chemical smell of the depilatories, nor the fact that they are chemical based.  So, this leaves me with the option of shaving, which is just fine with me. 

 

What's your preference when it comes to hair removal?  Any bad or negative experiences with hair removal products?  Holy grail ones?

 

Happy Bumping!

 

xxoo,

 

Birch Box June Reveal

Birchbox is the best way to discover new beauty, grooming and lifestyle products. Join to receive monthly deliveries of top product samples from high-end brands.
June’s Box

xxoo,
Tenns

Pregnancy Knowledge | Skincare...fun in the sun.

Skincare is extremely important while pregnant, especially during this time of the year when the sun is bright in the sky.  Due to the hormones surging through the body during pregnancy, it makes skin much more susceptible to harm.  Although my skin is of a deeper complexion, I still burn, especially on my back, shoulders, and nose.  No one is exempt from the sun's damage to skin, so diligence is key.  Yesterday at my 20 week appointment my PA told me that there is an increased chance to develop brown spots during pregnancy because of the increased hormones in the body.  That means its that much more important to wear sunscreen and limit time in the sun.  Now, don't get me wrong I love the summer, the sun, and the hot weather, but fortunately I work inside all day long at my job, so I don't have to worry as much as someone whose job or lifestyle gives them more exposure.  However, I do love the beach and it will be even more vital that I slather sunscreen all over, especially on my bump this year. 

Important things to remember about sunscreen while pregnant is:

• Level of sunscreen you need for your skin type.  Typically 30 is good across the board, but if you are pale or ivory you may need a higher number.

• The type of swimsuit or summer clothing you are wearing.  Now I know we all like to show off those bumps, but it may be best to not have it exposed to long periods of time.

• How long you're in the sun.  This is important, because you will need to continuously reapply throughout the day if you are spending a long time outside.  These even applies on cloudy days.  Another note, it is easy to get dehydrated while out in the sun, so hydration is key for your insides and outsides.

• Don't forget your hands and feet.  This may seem like common sense, since you are using your hands to apply the lotion, but someone could very well be doing it for you and you miss both, and they burn too and can get harmed.

• Also, don't forget your ears...and eyes!  Of course you can't put sunscreen in your eyes, but make sure you have a nice pair of UVA/UBA block sunglasses.  Pregnancy can do a number on the eyes, from affecting vision to drying them out, and combo'd with the sun...its not a nice feeling.  When it comes to ears, well its easy to get the face, but the ears could easily get forgotten.  Make sure you apply sunscreen to them as well.

• If you have a daily moisturizer, its best to have one that contains an SPF.  I use the Aveeno Daily Essentials, which has SPF 30 in it.  Many foundations and BB creams on the market also have SPF in them, so its easy to ensure that the face in covered.

• Lips...now mines don't do very well with SPF laden chapstick, but this might be an option for you.  I will have to trial and error a few, but in the past they have dried out and chapped my lips.  I do know that Maybelline's Baby Lips has SPF in it, so I might try that out, because the traditional chapsticks just don't work for me.

I think I've covered all the bases, but this is not by any means an all inclusive list.  Use your own discretion and even that of your medical professional went it comes to skincare if need be.  We all have different skin types and the ways to cater to them might be different, but most importantly the end result is that we our skin healthy and unharmed.

Happy Bumping!

xxoo,

Tenns