Beauty Scribbler

Dior Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil review

2011-11-29T23:26:00.001-05:00

This is my new favourite brow pencil. After breaking and losing too many inches of pencils from poor pencil sharpening skills, I went out looking for the ultimate brow pencil. What I needed was a perfectly neutral brown shade with no red tones, a lead which doesn't crumble on the skin and a fine tip which will never require sharpening. I'm pleased to report that I found all this in the Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Styler.

The Brow Styler comes as a retractable pencil. Although the tip is ultra fine, it doesn't feel brittle or prone to breakage. The lead is slightly dry and matte (it's somewhere between waxy and powdery), which makes it perfect for sketching into sparse areas without looking drawn on. Unlike the Dior Powder Brow Pencil which was an old favourite of mine, there's minimal fallout from the lead.

The colour is designed to be a universally flattering shade to suit all skin tones. It's an ashy, mid-dark brown which blends in easily with my naturally black brow hairs. I'm not sure it would look particularly natural on very blonde eyebrows, but I can see it suiting all brows mousy and upwards.

The Brow Styler also comes with a convenient spoolie brush on one end which is great for running through the brows to soften up any hard lines.

Now for the before photo. The shape of my brows is not too bad but the hairs aren't very dense, so without brow pencil, my face just looks like an egg... no structure or framing. The sparseness also makes my brows look grey.

Below is a photo after I have shaded them in with the Brow Styler. Even without any other make-up on, I feel so much more polished and presentable with my brows shaded in. It also helps my brows look more matched with my dark brown hair colour.

The Diorshow Brow Styler was quite expensive for a brow pencil at $28. But I do really love it, and I'm sure it'll last a long time considering I'm not sharpening it all away!

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base review: A must have for crease-free eyeshadow

2011-11-27T21:23:00.001-05:00

This is my second tube of NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base so it's probably about time I gave it its own post.

I'm sure most of you will already know what an eyeshadow/eyelid primer does but if you're not sure (hey, I only started using an eyelid primer two years ago), here's the blurb for this one by NARS:

What it is:
A lightweight primer that creates a seamless canvas that keeps cream and powder eye color looking brilliant, fresh, and just-applied all day.

What it does:
This smudge-proof eyeshadow base uses a unique polymer and mineral powder blend to get a firm grip on color for long-lasting, gorgeous wear. Fortified with a special deep-sea extract and an antioxidant rice extract, it dries on contact and keeps the delicate eye lid smooth and ready for eyeshadow application.

In short, if I don't use an eyelid primer underneath my eyeshadow, it completely fades off and creases within hours. I must have ultra greasy eyelids. In fact, I know I do, because if I don't wear an eyelid primer, even if I'm not wearing make-up and I'm sitting around at home, my eyelids start feeling really sticky and baggy from the oil... eww I know.

I used to use Urban Decay Primer Potion but I bought the NARS version because I'd heard that it was slightly easier to blend eyeshadows on than Urban Decay. I find that Urban Decay is just too grippy and once eyeshadow is on top of it, it's difficult to blend out the hard edges.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base comes in a no-fuss tube (no genie bottles here!) with a doe foot applicator. I used to like the old slanted applicator wand on Urban Decay Primer Potion because the slant made it easy to pick up all the product on the inner sides of the tubes, but this is fine too. I actually noticed that Urban Decay Primer Potion doesn't even have an applicator at all now and that it just comes in a squeezy tube. Personally, I like having a wand applicator... it makes it easier to get the right amount out.

For such a powerful product, the formula is surprisingly thin and smooth. It's not tacky or heavy at all. It spreads easily with fingertips with no dragging and is completely weightless and invisible once it's on. It just feels like applying a light eye cream.

The difference is only when eyeshadow is applied over the primer - it makes eyeshadow more opaque and vibrant and locks it in place until I remove my make-up at the end of the day. There's zero fading or creasing for at least 16 hours. I don't know how it works, but it literally stops any hint of oil breaking through. I even wear it when I'm not wearing eyeshadow, just to stop that icky heavy eyelid feeling I get when they're oily. I literally cannot go without wearing it!

I find the results pretty much the same as from Urban Decay Primer Potion. I think it is slightly easier to blend eyeshadows on than Urban Urban, but only marginally. The main deal breaker for me between the two is really now just the fact that unlike Primer Potion, the NARS product comes with an applicator wand so I don't have to worry about squeezing out exactly the right amount from a tube.

The full ingredients of NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base are:

Isododecane, Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Carbonate, Peg-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Phenoxyethanol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Oryza Sativa [Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil Extract], Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Castor Oil Phosphate, Sea Whip Extract, Mica, Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride).

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base costs $24/£18. It's a little more expensive than Urban Decay Primer Potion, but the difference is really quite insignificant considering my last tube lasted me every day for a year!

MAC purchases: Some hits and some misses

2011-11-25T21:40:00.001-05:00

For a beauty blogger, I don't really own many MAC items. I used to hate the experience of browsing crowded MAC counters/stores in the UK, with the swarms of shrill teenage girls and overly made-up shop assistants. However, it turns out the beauty department in Bloomingdales is practically deserted on weekday evenings, which means a much nicer shopping experience. It was so peaceful that I even let a make-up artist/sales assistant apply make-up on me.

I picked up what I thought were great staples but had a massive case of buyer's remorse when I got home. Fortunately, the make-up artist told me I could always bring items back for a refund if I changed my mind... and after much deliberation, I took advantage of the relaxed returns policy and returned used make-up for the first time.

Before I returned the products (btw they took them back, no questions asked), I took photos of everything, so I might as well still write about them.

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

I bought this because every beauty blogger seems to love using it as an eyeshadow base. I thought it would act as an eyelid primer and brightener all-in-one, but while it has a really nice, matte texture at first, it melts into an oil slick by midday on me, leaving me with creased eyeshadow and eyeliner transferred under my brows. The colour is nice though... it brightens up and evens out my eye area without adding any colour, and eyeshadows apply well over it. It cost $17.50.

Verdict: Kept because it stays put as long as it's applied over a proper eyelid primer (my current favourite is NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base)

MAC Eye Shadow in Wedge, Saddle and Brown Down

From left to right: Wedge, Saddle and Brown Down

From left to right: Wedge, Saddle and Brown Down

These were my most regretted purchases. I protested against the warm tones of Saddle and Brown Down to the make-up artist but I let him talk me into trying them. "Wedge" is ok... it's a matte, taupey beigey brown shade which is good for contouring. However, I just couldn't get "Saddle" and "Brown Down" to work on me when I got home... they're just too warm/red-toned and make me look ill. I tried many times but maybe my make-up skills are just too poor. Each eyeshadow cost $15.

Verdict: Kept "Wedge" because of the contouring possibilities, and returned "Saddle" and "Brown Down" because they were literally getting me down thinking about them sitting there probably to be unused for the rest of my life.

MAC Opulash Mascara in Optimum Black

This wasn't tried on me in the store.. I just bought it based on the make-up artist's recommendation that it was MAC's latest mascara and that it would thicken and create plush lashes in one coat. The brush is huge and the formula is very dry (contains kaolin and alcohol) and a little clumpy. I couldn't get any length from this mascara but it does thicken lashes as advertised. I find it better on lower lashes where I'm not so bothered about length but I do want thickening. The big brush makes it hard not to get mascara under the eye though. The staying power is great - it doesn't smudge at all. It cost $15.

Verdict: Kept for use on lower lashes (but it was a close call).

Here was one of my attempts of using the eyeshadows and mascara...

MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul

Finally, a purchase I'm pleased with! "Warm Soul" is a bronzey peachy blush which gives my cheeks an instant healthy glow. I would never have picked it out by myself because it looks really sparkly/glittery when swatched and I usually go for pinker blushes. However, I have to admit it does look better on. Under some lights, you can notice sparkles on the skin, but it's not as bad I thought it would be. As it's bronzey and sparkly, it also means I don't need to bother with contouring or highlighting with separate products when I'm feeling lazy. It cost $22.

Verdict: Kept and using every day. I want to check out the other blush colours in the Mineralize collection now!

Here is a picture of me wearing MAC Mineralize Blush Warm Soul.

MAC Lipstick in Twig

This lipstick was depressing me. Every time I tried to wear it, it got me down. In the store, I liked the smooth pigmentation and it looked pretty... kind of pink and elegant. Apparently it "suits everyone". But when I got home and tried it again, it looked too warm, too dark and too ageing. It cost $14.50.

Verdict: Returned! I felt like I had a massive weight lifted off my shoulders afterwards.

MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush and 252 Large Shader Brush

I love the Eye Shader Brush ($24.50) - the natural hairs are firm but so soft and smooth that it makes putting on eyeshadow feel like a treat. The hairs are dense yet non-scratchy and can really pack on the colour. I was told to only use this brush for powder eyeshadows because creamy formulas will clog up the hairs.

The Large Shader Brush ($30) is good for covering larger areas when I don't need any precision e.g. for covering the entire eye area up to the brow with the Painterly Paint Pot. The bristles are artificial and a bit stiffer, but not scratchy at all.

Verdict: Kept!

MAC Brush Cleaner

Yep, I've never had an official brush cleaner before. I've only ever washed my brushes in handwash. It seemed to do the job, so why pay $13 for a big bottle of what is basically mostly alcohol? Turns out this brush cleaner does actually get out a lot of grossness embedded deep inside brush hairs. The instructions are to use it on damp brushes and then wipe onto a cloth/tissue, rinse thoroughly then leave to dry. I couldn't believe how much came out of one of my blusher brushes - by the end, I had five large, thick tissues which were covered in what looked like creamy foundation where all the old blusher and bronzer was melting off! Gross! No wonder the brush had started to smell like socks!

Verdict: Kept and feeling sheepish for not investing in a brush cleaner before now.

Bit of a long post... but hopefully there is something of interest somewhere here! God bless America and its lax returns policies.

Black Friday 2011 beauty and fashion coupon codes: Online shopping fest!! (US-only)

2011-11-24T14:21:00.001-05:00

A friend posted this video on Facebook and I swore to myself I would never, ever shop in a store on Black Friday. No siree! It's online shopping all the way for me. Scroll down to see my top picks for online shopping this weekend, and let me know if you find anything else!

"GOD DAMN!" (0:49)

Beauty Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

BeautyTicket.com - 25% off everything (end date unknown)
Code: cyber25
www.beautyticket.com

BH Cosmetics - 45% off eyeshadow palettes and 35% off all make-up brushes from now to Friday 11/25 midnight PST
No code required
www.bhcosmetics.com

Coastal Scents - 50% off until Tues 11/29 9am EST
No code necessary - discount will become visible during checkout
www.coastalscents.com

Anastasia - 35% off any order from now till 11/28 for registered customers (you need to be logged in)
Code: THANKS
anastasia.net

Eve Pearl - 40% to 55% off Eve Pearl products now to 11/28 11pm EST.
Code: BPTG2011
www.evepearl.com

Cherry Culture - 20% off everything now until Sun 11/27
Code: TGS20
cherryculture.com
Top pick: NYX HD Eye Shadow Base

Bliss - 20% off on Bliss, Remede and Elemis purchases from now til 12/05
Code: THANKS20
www.blissworld.com

Korres - 20% off entire purchases from now to Sunday 11/27 plus free shipping on any $50 purchase
Code: FF2011
www.korresusa.com

Smashbox - 20% off from now to Mon 11/28
Code: SBXFF11
www.smashbox.com

Inglot - 15% off entire order + free shipping from now till Mon 11/28 3am EST
No code required
www.inglotusa.com

Shu Uemura - 20% off plus free shipping with any purchase over $50 from now to Tues 11/29
Code: WISH2011
www.shuuemura-usa.com

YSL - 20% off + free shipping on every order from now to Sat 11/26
Code: CYBER
www.yslbeautyus.com

LA Splash - 40% off from now to Weds 11/30
No code required
lasplashcosmetics.com

The Balm - 40% off on Fri 11/25 from 9am to midnight PST
Code: BLACKFRIDAY
www.thebalm.com

FACE Atelier - 30% off on Fri 11/25
Code: THANKS
www.faceatelier.com
Top pick: Ultra Foundation (see my review here)
Thanks Arianne (aka Glitter Geek) for the tweet!

Rain Cosmetics - 40% off everything on Fri 11/25
No code required
www.raincosmetics.com

Josie Maran - 25% off from Frid 11/25 to Mon 11/28
Code: GIVEBACK (excludes Good Buys)
www.josiemarancosmetics.com

Milani Cosmetics - 50% off everything + free shipping from Mon 11/28 8am to 11/29 PST 8am
Code: CYBER
www.milanicosmetics.com

Kate Somerville - 30% off Fri 11/25 to Mon 11/28
Code: HOLIDAY2011
www.katesomerville.com

Laura Gellar - 20% off everything until Mon 11/28 11:59pm PST + free shipping on orders over $50
No code required
www.laurageller.com

Origins - $10 off + free shipping on orders over $25 until Mon 11/28
Code: TENOFF
www.origins.com

Ricky's NYC - 20% off professional haircare, Mattese Elite cosmetics and hair appliances and 50% off holiday gift items until Fri 11/25 11:59pm EST
Code: BEAUTIFUL20
www.rickysnyc.com

Pür Minerals - 25% off everything + free shipping + free quilted wristlet with any orders over $25
No code required
www.purminerals.com

Sue Devitt - 20% off all orders until 12/05 11:59pm EST
No code required
www.suedevittbeauty.com

SkinStore.com - 20% off everything (end date unknown) + free shipping on orders over $49
Code: GIFT20
www.skinstore.com

Tarte Cosmetics - 15% off
Code: GGD
tartecosmetics.com

ULTA.com - Big savings on select products from Fr 11/25 to Sat 11/26 plus additional codes below
Codes:
Free shipping on orders over $25 with code HOLIDAYSHP25 or 51532
Save $15 on orders over $75 with code SAVE15ON75
Save $10 on orders over $50 with code SAVE10ON50 or 10199
Save $3.50 on orders over $10 with code 61733
www.ulta.com/blackfriday

Urban Decay - $20 off Book Of Shadows IV to the first 1000 customers on Fri 11/25 only
Code BLACKFRIDAY11
www.urbandecay.com

Clothing and shoes Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

American Eagle Outfitters - 40% off entire order from now to Sat 11/26 11:59pm EST + free shipping
Code: 72429831
www.ae.com
Top pick: Jeggings which come in short, regular and long lengths!

French Connection - 30% off any purchase (end date unknown)
Code: FCBLKFRI
usa.frenchconnection.com

Tobi - 30% off sitewide till Mon 11/28
Code: SHOPPER30
www.tobi.com

Loft - 40% off everything (+free shipping on orders over $125) (end date unknown)
Code: SHOP40
www.loft.com

Ann Taylor - 40% off everything (+free shipping on orders over $150) (end date unknown)
Code: THANKS
www.anntaylor.com
Top pick: Perfect Patent Pump

Banana Republic - 35% off from now until Fri 11/25 + free shipping on orders over $50
Code: BRFRIDAY
bananarepublic.gap.com

Piperlime - 20% off from now until Mon 11/28 + free shipping on all orders
Code: TWENTY
www.piperlime.com

GAP - 20% off (plus already reduced prices) + free shipping on orders over $50
Code: GAPTHANKS on Thurs 11/24 and GAPSHOP until 11/25
www.gap.com

Steve Madden - 30% off all purchases + free shipping (end date unknown)
Code: TURKEY
www.stevemadden.com
Thanks Angie!

Aldo - Extra 30% off all reduced footwear (end date unknown)
No code required
www.aldoshoes.com
Top pick: Kalfa which I bought at full price in August!

Levi's - 30% off entire order + free shipping on orders $50 until Fri 11/25 11:59 pm PST.
Code: BLACKFRI
us.levi.com

Lands' End - 30% off entire order + free shipping on orders over $50 until Mon 11/28 11:59pm CT
Code: STUFFING & Pin 5847
www.landsend.com

BCBGMAXAZRIA — 50% off ALL sweaters, outerwear, leather & boots (end date unknown)
No code required
www.bcbgmaxazriagroup.com/fall2011

ASOS - 20% off everything including on-sale items + free shipping (dates unknown)
Code: BLACKFRIDAY2011
us.asos.com

ESPRIT - 40% off entire site until Tues 11/29
Code: BLKFRIDAY11
www.espritshop.com

Express - 40% off everything from now until noon Fri 11/25
No code required
www.express.com

Happy shopping (err.. I mean Thanksgiving)!

Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum review

2011-11-04T00:21:00.000-04:00

Another pleasing US drugstore find to report on! You may have seen the lash boosting liquid liner from Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For... well, this is the cheapo drugstore version from Physicians Formula (around $11 compared to $28 for Peter Thomas Roth) and I love it.

Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum is a liquid liner that boasts 24-hour wear as well as a lash enhancing formula. It contains the ingredient, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, which is a peptide that encourages eyelash growth by stimulating keratin genes. Not to be mistaken for prostagladin products, this peptide doesn't come with the freaky list of side effects associated with the likes of Latisse, LiLash, RapidLash (skin darkening, eye colour changes, irritation etc).

The blurb:

High-tech formula enhances the appearance of lashes while providing the instant definition of a liquid eyeliner, in one easy step!

Lash Boosting complex targets the base of lashes where it is most effective.

Innovative and easy to use eyelining tool delivers effortless definition.

High-tech Japanese formula is long-wearing, water-resistant and smudge-resistant.

The pen itself is a nicely weighted metal-cased pen which looks and feels much more expensive than it actually is. The pen contains a ball bearing inside which helps to keep the formula mixed and smooth. The instructions say to shake before use.

The brush tip is an actual brush, not a felt tip pen type of nib. It's very finely pointed and stays in shape without any sign of fraying or blunting. There's always a perfect amount of product on the brush - it never globs up with excess product or dries out.

The liner is the perfect consistency - it comes out smooth and inky with no gaps and no feathering. It feels more like applying a gel liner with a brush than using a liquid liner pen. The lines on my hand below are rushed and messy but if you have a steady hand you'll love how neat a line you can get with this liner in one stroke. The brush is ultra precise, so you can go as thick or thin as you like. The swatches below are the Ultra Black colour.

Here is the liner as I wear it (medium thickness and slightly flicked):

The lasting power of this eyeliner is phenomenal - it doesn't smudge, flake or fade. I for once have to use a proper eye make-up remover because it literally stays immaculate even after attacking it with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and a large dose of hot water and scrubbing. I swear it stays on like tar.

I'm not actually sure of the lash boosting effects because I'd already been using Wet 'n' Wild MegaLash Clinical Serum for several weeks which contains the same lash growth peptide ingredient and so my lashes are already "boosted" (they are longer and more plentiful). But it can't hurt using two products for both night and day!

This eyeliner comes in Ultra Black, Black and Brown, and can be found at most drugstores in the US. Mine was from guess where... Duane Reade, my second home. I paid around $11.

The full ingredients of Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum are:

Water, Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sd Alcohol 40, Beheneth-30, Ammonium Acrylates/Methyl Styrene/Styrene Copolymer, Glycerin, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Black 2.

Happy eyelining!

HappyMe Overnight Pimple Eliminator review: A spot treatment that works..?

2011-10-18T00:41:00.003-04:00

On another one of my Duane Reade drifts, I came across this interesting little bottle called HappyMe Overnight Pimple Eliminator. Being a romantic, I picked it up for $8.99 as a "gift" for my husband who regularly gets a good batch of a under-the-skin spots from aeroplanes and general stress.

As well as the cute 15ml bottle, this is the product description that initially sold me:

Works Wonders Overnight!

Safer & More Effective than Benzoyl Peroxide
Works Immediately
Sulfate & Paraben Free
Dye Free
No Animal By-Products or Testing - Cruelty Free

With all natural essential oils of lavender, rosemary and tangerine. Natural sulfur and zinc oxide starts to eliminate pimples on contact!

The formula is a soothing, milky substance which is applied using the wand in the cap. The fragrance is faint and smells of the essential oils if anything. Thankfully, it doesn't smell of rotten eggs, which is the more well-known smell of sulfur/sulphur.

The substance dries to a white, chalky layer within minutes. This is strictly an overnight treatment - there's no way anyone can leave the house with this stuff dotted all over their face! Once dry, it flakes off quite easily on contact (so no touching).

This stuff really, really works! After just a few hours after application, even angry, raised spots flatten and diminish to barely noticeable light pink dots. It also doesn't seem to dry out the surrounding skin as much as products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (not that I would ever recommend using benzoyl peroxide anyway - it's evil and harsh on the skin).

This is one spot treatment I am happy to give my double thumbs up to. I think it's going to be particularly good for under-the-skin and "greasy" spots rather than simply blocked pores and such, but it's definitely a handy bottle to have lying around.

Hare are the box instructions and full list of ingredients of Happy Me Overnight Pimple Eliminator:

In the US, HappyMe Skincare products can be bought from the Happy Me online store or from drugstores like Duane Reade and CVS (see their website for a list of stockists). Unfortunately it doesn't look like HappyMe is available internationally yet... sorry!

Creating tousled waves with Goody Spin Pin

2011-10-16T23:28:00.000-04:00

Greetings! When I was on holiday in Mexico last week, I found a whole new use for Goody Spin Pins (see my original review here) - creating tousled waves. I was using the pins during the day to keep my hair up but found that after a day of salt and sunshine, my normally stick straight hair was retaining the curl in the evening after taking the pins out.

The above picture was after I had my hair up in two buns (like in the video in my review). I'm now on the lookout for a good surf spray to recreate the curls without having to be on a beach!

As a side note, I also spotted Goody Spin Pin Mini in the shops (in New York anyway) which is a pack of three shorter pins if you find that the original Goody Spin Pins are too big for your hair type, or if you just want to create styles with smaller buns.

Is anyone else using the Goody Spin Pin to create curls? Any recommendations for a good surf spray?

Hope everyone is enjoying the start of autumn. As one of my friends put it, "love autumn in London, it's like summer but wearing the right clothes..."

A little Boots Smooth Skin PLUS giveaway!

2011-10-04T23:52:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post to say I am doing a Boots Smooth Skin PLUS giveaway on my Facebook page. Come and join the discussion on beauty chores and the beauty gadgets you wish someone would invent. Two winners will each get a Boots Smooth Skin PLUS unit all for themselves. Come by before 14th October 2011 if you want to enter! www.facebook.com/beautyscribbler

An eyeliner that stays on my waterline: Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner review

2011-10-02T00:47:00.000-04:00

The title says it all really - I have finally found an eyeliner that actually stays on my waterline all day. Well done Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner!

I've always had a problem wearing eyeliner on my waterline (but not on my eyelids) - even Urban Decay 24/7 and Avon SuperShock gel eyeliners vanish or gloop up in the corners of my eyes within ten minutes. My eyes are not at all watery, so I can only imagine I have oily tears which melt even the most industrial eyeliner formulas. Without any exaggeration, Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner stays put all day, with no glooping or smudging.

The formula glides on smoothly without dragging. The colour is very, very black with a non-shiny finish.

This eyeliner also doesn't irritate or leave my eyes red like the aforementioned Urban Decay and Avon products (which did whenever I tried to use them on the inner rims of my eyes).

Despite the hardwearing formula, it comes off easily when I want it to. I use a face wipe to remove make-up before cleansing with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and that's all that's required to remove every trace.

The eyeliner comes in a twist-up, retractable pencil, so no wasteful sharpening is required. It's not in the picture, but there is a lid as well.

The formula contains "skin-balancing" Amazonian clay - perhaps the reason it lasts so long even on my oily waterline...? Other ingredients noted on the packaging are vitamin E, mineral pigments and a "botanical waterproofing agent". Also nice to know is that Tarte cosmetics are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate and synthetic fragrance.

The full ingredients of Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner are:

C11-12, isoparaffin, trimethlysiloxysilicate, polyglyceryl-3 stearate, ozokerite, polyethelene, beheneth-5, phenyl trimethicone, tocopherol, synthetic wax, sorbic acid, BHT, silica, kaolin, carmine (CI 75470), mica. (+/-): Black 2 (CI 77266), ferric ferrocyanide (CI 77510), iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), manganese violet (CI 77742), titanium dioxide (CI 77891).

The only bummer is that this particular eyeliner is currently exclusive to QVC in the US (find it here) so you can't just pick it up from Sephora. I paid $18 + shipping. As far as I can see, they don't even sell it on the Tarte website. Tarte has a few other eyeliners that I haven't tried so I'm not sure if they're as good as this one.

I bought the Black version, but this eyeliner also comes in Brown and Plum.

Hope this review helps anyone who has the same problems as me keeping eyeliner on the waterline!

Natural Angel Lash Extender review: Bargainous brush-on fibres

2011-07-31T19:39:00.003-04:00

One thing I love about Manhattan is the number of huge drugstores everywhere. I can't walk a block without popping in to a 24-hour Duane Reade for a "quick browse". I could spend three hours in some of the fancier ones and still not feel like I've had a good enough look at every piece of make-up.

This weekend I found myself in ol' Duane again and randomly came across something called Natural Angel Lash Extender, hanging up with the make-up accessories. It was only $10 and I figured I'd never know if it works if I didn't try it. Check out the "after" pic on the packaging below - it's not digitally enhanced at all(!) Anyway, it turned out to be quite a nice little find...

If you've seen the ModelCo Fibre Lash mascara which had a big PR push lately, you'll be familiar with the brush-on lash extensions concept -

"Instantly brush on hundreds of tiny lash hairs in seconds! Natural Angel Lash Extender instantly and dramatically lengthens, adds volume and strengthens your lashes. Delivers longer, fuller, thicker, healthier lashes in seconds."

The instructions are to apply mascara as normal, then layer on the fibres to just the tips of lashes while the mascara is still wet, then finally seal the fibres in with another layer of mascara.

The applicator of Natural Angel Lash Extender is basically just a little stick covered in millions of little black cellulose fibres, each measuring about 1.5mm long.

Because the fibres are so minuscule and lightweight, they get everywhere. Using a tissue to catch the strays fibres is essential in order to avoid a hairy face.

Applying the fibres is a cinch and takes just seconds. I can literally see my lashes getting thicker, plusher and longer with one sweep of the wand.

Once the fibres are on, I find it best to use a "wet" mascara to seal them on e.g. Max Factor 2000 Calorie. If the mascara is too dry, it can end up pulling the fibres around too much (which happened to me when I was taking photos for this post) instead of just sticking them in place. The fibres are black so are easily covered up.

Weirdly, it doesn't matter how much mascara is loaded on top of my newly extended lashes, it doesn't drop the curl from using eyelash curlers. As anyone with straight lashes knows, this is truly a miracle.

While the final coat of mascara is almost dry but not yet fully dry, the "extensions" are very pliable and can be pushed with a finger to get a extra bit of curl at the ends of the lashes.

Here is a photo of my everyday lashes with one coat of mascara. I can't usually go much thicker with (non-waterproof) mascara because my lashes would end up straightening out from the weight:

And here is the result of Natural Angel Lash Extender. The result is a little clumpier than it should be because I was faffing around too much with the camera between coats and the mascara I used was too dry. The fibres would otherwise normally lie flat and be smoothly blended into my lashes.

I'm really pleased with Natural Angel Lash Extender - it thickens and lengthens my lashes in a way that no other mascara can do on its own. I also love the way that I can load up my lashes without the curl dropping out. I now have a use for all the mascaras I almost threw out for not holding a curl.

If it works on my pitiful lashes, it wouldn't surprise me if you could achieve a similar effect to the absurd "after" pic on the packaging if you have naturally long and curled lashes.

I have been known to wear false lashes on the rare occasion but I always feel self conscious wearing them (I'm permanently convinced they're peeling off but no-one's telling me), so I think I'll be swapping them for brush-on fibres from now on.

The application of the fibres is so quick that I would even use the product for days I'm not doing anything special. It makes my normal lashes look so wimpy in comparison. The only thing that would put me off using it every day is having to brush off all those little fibres which fall on my face.. it takes ages to get them all. I need a little lint roller for my face!

I don't notice any flaking when I'm wearing the fibres - as long as they're sealed in with enough mascara, they stay put until I remove my mascara at the end of the day.

Overall, a big thumbs up from me!

Ingredients of Natural Angel Lash Extender

Cellulose, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Cynara Scolymus, Oscimum Basilicum

If you can't get hold of the Natural Angel brand of brush-on lashes, there are some similar products available in the UK and US from around £13 and $15:

Talika Lash Extender
Divaderme Lash Extender - pretty much identical ingredients to Natural Angel Lash Extender
Japonesque Fast Lash Thickening Fibers - but fibres are white
ModelCo Fibre Lash - includes mascara too, but fibres are white, and expensive at £35 / $43

Update: I'm thinking white fibres might actually be better because they won't look so much like facial hair when they fall on my face!

How to stop glasses or sunglasses slipping down your nose: Ear grips!

2011-07-11T22:28:00.008-04:00

I'm surprised that these nifty little ear grips aren't more well known. Sure they're not sexy but they are incredibly effective! If you have an insubstantial nose bridge (like me) or a sweaty nose in the summer (like me), then you'll know how it feels to be constantly pushing up glasses and sunglasses.

Before I had my laser eye surgery, I had ear grips on my glasses but I left them on the frames when I gave them away to be recycled. Then I bought these Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses and although they stayed put initially, it was a different story once I got them out on holiday in Bermuda recently where not only was the sun blazing but it was also 80% humidity. The sunscreen and sweat basically meant I gave up on wearing them completely. Aviators seem to be particularly heavy for some reason and I just couldn't fight gravity.

So this weekend I bought this super stylish "deluxe eyeglass repair kit" which contained nice, new ear grips...

The ear grips themselves are flexible, tadpole-shaped pieces with holes which you slide the arms of your glasses through. If the ends of the arms are too wide to fit through the holes (but skinny otherwise), you can use the screwdriver in the kit to detach the arms from the frames then slip the grips on from the other end. I had to do this with my Ray-Bans. It literally takes minutes.

The ear grips that came in this particular kit are discreet and transparent so they're virtually invisible when worn. I had to try quite hard to get a photo of them showing up.

When you're wearing frames with these ear grips, you'll find that the centre of gravity shifts from the nosepieces to the ear grips. So the frames will be much less dependent on gripping the bridge of the nose and will instead balance between the ears and nose. So glasses/sunglasses are much more comfortable to wear, your nose gets a rest, and those pesky red nosepiece indentations are no longer a problem. Plus I've heard that wearing heavy glasses can slowly form a bump in the nose over time!

The ear grips are particularly handy for when you're looking downwards (e.g. when reading) or jumping around, because they hook onto the backs of your ears and stop the glasses sliding forward.

There you go. That is the secret of keeping glasses and sunglasses at the top of even the most flat and sweaty noses! I could do a cartwheel wearing my modded sunglasses and they'd still stay in place!

Don't go into an opticians asking about these ear grips... they'll have no idea what you're talking about. I've only ever seen them in cheapo "spectacle repair kits" that are the kind of thing you'd find in pound shops or on eBay. I bought this particular kit from the pharmacy, Duane Reade in New York for $4.69.

LORAC Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder in Luminous - My new favourite highlighter

2011-07-10T19:33:00.002-04:00

I have been looking for a while for a new powder highlighter ever since I dropped my NYX Mosaic Powder and it smashed to smithereens. I really liked the NYX powder but I took the incident as an opportunity to look for a new highlighter that would give a softer glow and wasn't so "white".

Over the course of several weeks, I literally tried every single highlighting product in Sephora and finally plumped for LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil-free Luminizing Powder in "Luminous" which was the only powder that gave a candlelit glow without any glittery sparkles or overly golden tones (gold-toned make-up makes me look ill). I really love it!

Here's how the powder is described:

Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder instantly puts your face in its best light, giving your skin a luminous Red Carpet glow. This oil-free, velvety powder brightens and evens, helping skin appear naturally radiant. This unique luminizing powder helps diminish the appearance of imperfections by optimizing the effect of light, for a youthful, luminous, glowing complexion.

And here is a heavily applied swatch of the Luminous shade. There are two other shades available - Radiant (golden brown) and Spotlight (warm beige) but I like Luminous because it's more a pearly cream than gold. It gives a really nice delicate glow to the face and instantly transforms flat, dull skin to radiant, healthy-looking skin. The powder doesn't contain talc or kaolin so there's little chance of it looking chalky, and it's addictively silky to use.

The mirrored compact comes with a round, flat sponge inside, but it seems a bit useless as an applicator. I use a fan brush to lightly dust the powder over the tops of my cheekbones to make them look more pronounced than they actually are. This is how it looks on my beige skin tone:

LORAC Perfectly Lit Luminizing Powder is designed for use all over the face, but the Luminous shade would be difficult to use all over unless your skin tone is very pale. As a highlighter, I can see it being great for most skin tones. The other two darker shades might be better if you're looking for an all-over brightening effect.

The full ingredients of LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil-free Luminizing Powder are:

Mica, Nylon-12, Zinc Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Methoxyxcinnamate, Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Octyldodecanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Tocopherol. May contain Bismuth Oxychloride, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ci 77499.

I have nothing bad to say about this product! If you can get hold of it, it's a must-have! Only a small number of Sephora stores seem to stock LORAC these days but you can buy it online from DermStore.com here for $32 with free shipping which is where I ended up buying from because the shade I wanted was out of stock in my local Sephora. I apologise profusely to readers in the UK because I can't find an easy way you can get this other than putting it on your shopping list for next time you're visiting the US... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Goody Spin Pin: Review and a video of me putting buns in my hair

2011-06-26T19:54:00.002-04:00

I received a press release last week about Goody Spin Pin and it reminded me to go out and buy it. Apparently the Goody Spin Pin has sold out across the UK thanks to a successful TV ad campaign. Keep on reading to see my (debut!) video demonstration and a few pictures of the buns I've been making with the pins.

I've never had any success with hair buns because my hair is abnormally thick and straight so I've been meaning to try Goody Spin Pin ever since I heard about it last year.

The instructions are really simple - just spin the two spiral pins into your hair and you'll end up with a nice, secure bun - no hair bands or other pins required.

To show you how the pins work, I thought it'd be easier to record this video. I've never filmed a video of myself before (my facial expressions make me cringe) and it turns out I had my camera on some rubbish recording resolution so the video is quite blurry *sigh*.

Here are a couple of photos of the buns I've made using Goody Spin Pin - a standard centre bun and a side bun thrown in for good measure. These buns are quite loose but you can create neat ones too.

In the UK, Goody Spin Pin is available from Boots, Superdrug and Claire's Accessories for around £4.95. In the US, I bought it from Duane Reade for $7.

Update (16th October 2011): I found out that Goody Spin Pin is also perfect for creating tousled, beachy waves - read my post here!

Belated update on my laser eye surgery... Good news!

2011-06-14T00:31:00.004-04:00

This photo was taken by the brilliant Kensa Photography at a very fun wedding in Taunton, Somerset that I was at a couple of weekends ago. I'm using it because I am doing my best "stock photo" face which I feel conveys the elatedness of being able to see perfectly without contact lenses or glasses.

I was meant to blog after my two month check-up but it's actually been four months now since I had my epi-LASEK laser eye surgery in February. I am pleased to report that at my two month check-up, my vision was tested to be better than 20:20 at 20:15 (which means I can see at 20 feet away what normal people can see at only 15 feet).

For those of you who checked in with me about my left eye which I said was a little less sharp than my right eye, it still isn't quite as sharp as my right eye. This isn't to say that the vision in my left eye is bad - it's just that my right eye is extra, extra sharp now. I would never know that my left eye wasn't as good as my right eye if I didn't keep covering up each eye in turn to see the difference. The difference is only at very far, far away distances and is only noticeable for things like text.

Apart from the vision, I'm also happy to say that I'm not getting any glare/halos, dryness or any other common issues. I was worried I might end up with these problems but it turns out I had nothing to worry about.

I can't describe how great it feels to go from being -4.75 and -5.00 to seeing perfectly. I went to a ballet performance recently and sat quite far back so the dancers were just tiny figures in the distance. But I could see them with a crispness that I've never had before even with contacts. It's like switching from normal TV to HD.

I love being able to see when I wake up, having naps without contact lenses suctioning onto my eyeballs and not having to remove and clean lenses every night. But so far, the best it's been is travelling and not having to quadruple check that I've got all my contact lens supplies and just being on flights and not having to wear my milk bottle glasses. There was also that one time after a long, hard week and one too many gin and tonics that I passed out fully clothed on my bed and woke in the morning thinking "WOOHOO I haven't done that since I was 16!! God bless laser eye surgery!"

So as you can probably tell, I'm ecstatic with the results of my laser eye surgery. It couldn't have gone any better, so I feel really lucky.

As I said in my last post about my laser eye surgery, the only thing I would change is to have had the surgery in a less dry season. The humidity in New York was 10% for weeks after I had my surgery (optimal humidity is around 50%), so even humidifiers couldn't help that much (especially not when I was out and about). My first few weeks would have been a lot more comfortable if I'd had the surgery during Spring! I would also have taken more days off work because my eyesight was unworkably blurry for two weeks, although my recovery was probably hindered by the dry air.

Anyway, a few of you wanted to see the video that was recorded during the surgery, so I finally got round to uploading it. The video is just of my right eye because the treatment of my left eye is exactly the same. But I'm warning you - don't watch the video if you are squeamish or if you are considering having laser eye surgery and don't want to see the gritty details of what actually happens in case you chicken out. Just a reminder - I had epi-LASEK, which is the procedure which doesn't involve cutting a flap in the cornea.

Thanks everyone for all the tips, moral support and general curiosity over the last four months!

[Update: For those of you who asked whether it was uncomfortable or painful during the surgery, I literally couldn't feel a thing! I was completely dosed up on Valium and I'd had a bucketload of numbing drops put into my eyes (which stop the blink reflex as well as numbing any feeling).]

L´Oréal Lash Architect 4D false lash effect mascara: Review

2011-06-12T21:42:00.007-04:00

I was in London the last two weeks and bought a tube of the new L´Oréal Lash Architect when I saw it at the introductory price of £7.99 (usual price £10.99) in Boots. I quite liked the original Lash Architect Midnight Black, so I thought this might be a successful buy too.

The mascara claims to provide a false lash effect, leaving lashes volumised, lengthened, texturised and curved. It also apparently contains "sculpting fibres".

I'm not sure if you've seen the TV ads for this mascara but it looks like L'Oréal have finally got the message that we're not fooled by mascara ads with ridiculously obvious fake lashes on the models. Milla Jovovich appears in the ad with her real lashes loaded up with mascara. As much as I realise the make-up artist probably didn't use the advertised mascara on Milla at all, it still made me curious to try it.

The wand of this mascara is relatively skinny and slightly angled just below the brush, which some people might find handy for reaching every single lash, but you could also just bend any old mascara wand and get the same effect. The brush comes out of the tube looking heavily loaded with mascara, but it transfers evenly onto the lashes.

The mascara formula itself has an elastic quality to it, and does in fact feel like it's stretching and lengthening the lashes. However, it also has a stickiness which glues lashes together, giving them a spindly look and completely destroying any volume.

Here is what my lashes look like curled but BEFORE mascara...

And here's how my lashes looked AFTER one coat of L'Oréal Lash Architect 4D mascara...

I found the mascara dropped the curl out of my lashes quite quickly so as well as them being spindly, they were also pointing in different directions and generally looking messy and not very plush. The only good thing I have to say is that lasting power is great... even after a sweaty, humid day in New York, my lashes were still shiny and black, with no transfer or flakiness under my eyes. Yet it removed easily with a face wipe.

But hmmm... I definitely wouldn't buy (or even use) this mascara again. There is nothing "false lash effect" about it at all! Back to Maybelline Volum' Express The Collosal for me...

Update (16th October 2011): I've been perming my lashes and am finding that this mascara is brilliant as long as lashes are already curled and so the problem of curl drop no longer exists. It thickens and lengthens in one coat, with no smudging or smearing. And because I don't need to worry about it weighing down my lashes, I can brush more of it on, giving a more sculpted and dramatic look than I achieved on my non-permed lashes. If you have naturally curly lashes, I recommend trying it! Here's an updated photo of L'Oréal Lash Architect 4D on my permed lashes (about two weeks after the last perm):

NIA 24 Sun Damage Prevention UVA/UVB Sunscreen SPF 30 PA+++: Review

2011-06-12T11:38:00.005-04:00

During the summer months, I always switch from using a moisturiser with SPF to using a "proper" sunscreen to make sure I minimise the number of new freckles that crop up on the tops of my cheeks.

This summer I've been using NIA 24 Sun Damage Prevention UVA/UVB Sunscreen SPF 30 PA+++. It caught my eye because it's a chemical sunscreen rather than physical sunscreen (physical sunscreens which contain Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are reflective and thus make me look like a shiny greaseball) and it's also PA+++ which is the highest rating of UVA protection (equates to 4-5 UVA protection stars in the UK).

The product description was appealing too:

Patented Pro-Niacin® rebuilds the skin barrier, your skin’s natural protective and moisture barrier and is clinically proven to visibly improve skin tone, texture, fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots and hyperpigmentation. Chemical sunscreens protect against UVA & UVB rays, together providing the ultimate in sun protection and repair in a lightweight, hydrating formula.

This sunscreen isn't designed to be a moisturiser on its own, but it does have some moisturising properties. I use it straight over my serum in place of a moisturiser and my (usually dry) skin hasn't complained so far.

I really like the way this sunscreen is non-greasy, silky and lightweight to apply and just feels like wearing moisturiser. Most sunscreens with this level of UVA protection are really thick and heavy on the skin and make my skin feel like it can't breathe. There aren't any weird, reflective patches on my skin when wearing this either so it's great for everyday use.

I'm not sure if this product will noticeably improve existing freckles or improve skin tone and texture, but I'm just content knowing that I'm wearing a good sunscreen (with bonus skin benefits) when the New York sun is beating down on me.

This sunscreen costs £37/$45 for 75ml which sounds quite pricey for a sunscreen, but that's how much I would spend on a moisturiser anyway (which generally lasts me around six months), so I would definitely shell out for another tube next summer when this PR sample runs out.

You can see more product details on the NIA 24 website or on the Space NK website.

Note that this is a different product to the NIA 24 100% Mineral Sunscreen which is a physical sunscreen and works by reflecting UV rays rather than absorbing them.

The full ingredients of NIA Sun Damage Prevention UVA/UVB Sunscreen SPF 30 are:

Active Ingredients: Homosalate 7.50%, Octisalate 5.00%, Avobenzone 3.00%, Octocrylene 2.60%.

Inactive Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Dipropylene Glycol, Myristyl Nicotinate, Polyester-8, Caprylyl Methicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Ceramide 2, Ceramide 3, Lycium Chinense Fruit Extract, Vaccinum Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Cetyl Alcohol, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyidimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Polyacrylate-15, Polyacrylate -17, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide.

Disclosure: PR sample

Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow in Where There´s Smoke: My new favourite taupe

2011-05-24T23:40:00.003-04:00

I haven´t written a make-up post in sooooo long. The truth is that I moved to New York with very little make-up in my luggage and the rest I shipped over along with furniture and general "stuff". It took three months to arrive and in that time I got used to wearing the same eyeshadow, eye liner, blush etc. every day.

Now I'm more settled and no longer toiling in the office until 10/11pm every evening, I'm starting to get back that thrill I used to get cruising for beauty products. I'd lost it for a long while but I spent about an hour in Sephora the other day looking for nothing in particular, so it must be back.

While in Sephora, I found this Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow in the shade, "Where There's Smoke". I can't believe I've never seen it before because I've been looking for an eyeshadow this exact colour for literally four years since my trusty Revlon "Taupe Star" eyeshadow was discontinued.

This eyeshadow feels great to use and applies smoothly and velvety like its name.

It's a neutral-toned, slightly murky, pewter grey. I usually have a real problem wearing grey on my eyes because it makes my skin look orange in contrast. But this shade has just a hint of brown in it which stops it doing that. It's also not too dark, so I can just slap it on without worrying about harsh lines.

The shadow has a satin finish with a very fine, multi-faceted iridescence. This is my favourite type of finish because the light-reflection hides clumsy application. I'm really not someone who spends ages (or any time at all) layering and blending eyeshadows.

Here's a swatch...

And here I am wearing it....

This Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow cost me $18 (around £13.50 in the UK) for 3g.

Boots Smooth Skin iPulse PLUS: New and improved!

2011-05-09T00:22:00.054-04:00

[Update 21st September 2011: Boots Smooth Skin PLUS now has £50 off at Boots.com (no promo code required). This takes the total Boots Smooth Skin PLUS price down to £349.99 (free delivery or collect from store). Plus don't forget to use your Boots Advantage cards for 1396 points!]

It's finally here! A new, improved Boots Smooth Skin PLUS is now available to buy in-store or from here on the Boots website! As you know, I'm a huge fan of home IPL hair removal, having bought the original Boots Smooth Skin exactly two years ago.

However, as much as I loved the hair-free results, the original Boots Smooth Skin wasn't without its issues - overheating and the long wait between zaps were my major complaints. Then in November last year, I was really excited to hear that the iPulse team had taken on customer feedback to develop a more user-friendly model. I was sworn to secrecy until launch, but can now give all the details as well as some answers to frequently asked questions.

Make yourself comfortable... it's going to be a long one!

Quick recap on Boots Smooth Skin iPulse

The Boots Smooth Skin brand (or just "iPulse" as it's called in other countries) is an IPL (intense pulsed light) system that offers clinically proven, permanent hair reduction. It uses flashes of light to target the pigment (melanin) in hair, to disable follicles and stop new growth. The suggested usage is once a week for 6-12 weeks, at which point hair growth should be significantly reduced, and a quick top-up session is then only required every three months or so to keep the strays away.

Note that once results are achieved after 12 weeks, you still need to keep hold of the unit for top-up treatments every few months (more frequently at first) to stop new hairs from appearing. Don't be disappointed if hairs do start growing back at first. The regrowth becomes less over time until the point that it's barely visible, even up to six months from the last treatment. Trust me, the perseverance is worth it!

What's the difference between Boots Smooth Skin PLUS and the old model?

The new model has 20,000 shots of power (compared to 10,000 from the original Boots Smooth Skin). This is more than enough to treat the whole body for the entire course of use, and for subsequent top-up treatments. I've personally never had to replace the handset on my old model.

There is now significantly less waiting time required between shots, meaning a much faster treatment time. The pulse repetition rate is 3-6 seconds as opposed to 6 seconds on the old model.

The internal cooling system has been improved, which means less overheating.

There is a new, ergonomically-designed handset which will feel more familiar to using an electric shaver or epilator. Treating the underarms will require much less awkward positions!

The iPulse PLUS now comes with an "Electronic Skin Tone Sensor" device which takes the guess work out of choosing the appropriate skin type setting for each part of your body.

There are now four skin type settings instead of just three.

The new model looks infinitely better and more streamlined than the original Boots Smooth Skin. Gone are the foot spa resemblance and lilac trimmings.

The new model boasts a longer handset cord, which means more flexibility on the physical location you can have your zapping sessions. No more sitting right next to the power socket. The cord can now also wrap around the base for tidier storage.

The Boots Smooth Skin PLUS is a little more expensive than the original model at £399.99 vs the current price of the original model at £281.90. The old model will still be available to buy, so the new model is more of a "deluxe" model rather than a complete replacement.

Why can I not use Boots Smooth Skin on my tanned or dark skin?

Darker skin tones absorb too much light during treatment which can cause serious skin injury (or a painful burning sensation at the very least) and will mean that the IPL is ineffective on the hair. The same is true if a tan is achieved from fake tanning products (so give the fake tan a break before using Boots Smooth Skin!).

See below for a photo I took of the skin tone chart from the product box (the colours will look different on different screens so I'd recommend checking against the box in-store).

Why does IPL work better on some areas of hair than others?

The hairs on our body, face and head are completely different types of hair and will respond differently to IPL or laser treatment.

The hair that most of us generally want to remove is "terminal" hair, the visible, pigmented hair, as opposed to "peach fuzz" hair. There are different types of terminal hair - asexual hair (e.g. eyebrows), ambisexual hair that appears from puberty (e.g. armpit, pubic and lower leg hair) and sexual hair (e.g. facial hair).

IPL will achieve the best results on ambisexual hair which is why women find that it works so well on underarms and the bikini line. I can personally vouch for this!

However, "sexual" hair, the hair that is stimulated by the male hormone, androgen, is the hardest to treat and the slowest to respond to IPL. This includes facial hair, which on women is caused by hormonal imbalance. Women using IPL on facial hair are likely to find that hairs grow back, even after 12 weeks of treatment. This is not because IPL was unsuccessful on those treated follicles, but instead due to brand new hairs growing from previously inactive follicles (i.e. hair that hasn't been treated by IPL).

Unfortunately, as we're completely covered in dormant hair follicles, and our hormones mean that these follicles can start sprouting hair at any point, we can only really use IPL as a "maintenance programme" on facial hair, rather than a truly permanent solution. Having said this, women find that facial hair becomes finer, lighter and less visible once they start using Boots Smooth Skin, and can go months between top-up treatments.

Note that IPL only works on pigmented hair - not blonde, red or grey hair. The light energy needs to be attracted by pigment and carried down the hair shaft to the follicle to disable it.

Why does facial hair keep growing back even after 12 weeks of treatment?

See above.

Can I use Boots Smooth Skin if I have PCOS?

In the past, there was confusion over whether Boots Smooth Skin could be used by women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome) as the Boots website said it shouldn't be used, yet scores of women with PCOS were leaving rave reviews about Boots Smooth Skin changing their lives.

To put it simply, Boots were just more zealous than CyDen (the company behind iPulse technology) with their usage advice. Boots have loosened up their advice to reflect the real situation and now say "The Boots Smooth Skin PLUS system may be less effective if you suffer from Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS)", instead of forbidding usage outright.

The reason why IPL may be less effective if you do have PCOS is again because of "sexual" hair growing from previously dormant follicles. This is not to say that IPL doesn't offer help for women with PCOS - any regrowth should be softer, finer and lighter in colour.

I should mention that some drugs and thyroid issues make the user more sensitive to light, so if you are using any drugs, check the list in the manual before using Boots Smooth Skin.

Can I use Boots Smooth Skin for a full "hollywood" / "brazilian"?

I can never remember which is which.. or whether they're the same thing, but yes it is possible to achieve the completely bald look if that's your thing. But I quote from the manual:

"DO NOT treat the delicate, highly sensitive areas such as the inner area of the vagina (known as the Labia Minora) as this is a mucous membrane and treatment will cause a serious adverse reaction.
DO NOT treat directly on the anus as this is also a mucous membrane and treatment to this area can cause a serious adverse reaction."

Just remember that results are permanent! You'll probably be grateful for some "coverage" when you're 90 years old and everything's wrinkly and saggy. Think about it.

How short should the hair be prior to treatment?

Hair needs to be shaved before treatment to get the hair shaft short enough for the light to reach the follicle. However, don't epilate, wax or treat the area with hair removing creams because this may remove too much hair and stop the Boots Smooth Skin system from working effectively.

Note that Boots Smooth Skin may still work on hairs that haven't quite reached the surface of the skin yet. So make sure you treat entire areas even if it looks like hair hasn't grown through yet.

[Update 12th June 2011: I saw that the people at iPulse posted this very useful guide in reply to a question on their Facebook page about shaving prior to treatment: "IPL uses the hair to travel to the base of the follicle and disable it. Hair should be just visible above the skin. Depending on the razor used, you may need to shave the day before to allow the hair to regrow a little so that it is just visible on the skin's surface. We recommend using a single blade razor of clippers to trim the hair down to the skin. In both cases the hair should not be more than 1mm. Be aware that some of the more complex razors can actually pull the hair out. This is not what we want with IPL as the hair is needed to act as a conduit for the light, hence recommending simple single blade razors."]

Can I use Boots Smooth Skin on my eyebrows

Use of Boots Smooth Skin (original or PLUS model) on eyebrows or around the orbital bone is not approved. The reason being that eyebrow hairs grow erratically under the skin you might quickly end up with no eyebrows (not a good look).

Can I use Boots Smooth Skin during pregnancy

If you are pregnant, it's advised that you avoid using any electrical device due to changes in body temperature. It's recommended that women start or resume usage of Boots Smooth Skin after breastfeeding. Again, the reason being that hormonal changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to body hair coming back with a vengeance from dormant follicles, and any IPL treatment before stopping breastfeeding may be less effective.

Why do I need to use the Activator Gel?

Don't skimp on the Activator Gel - it serves a few important purposes. One purpose is simply to cool the skin down during sessions. I personally keep the gel in the fridge to get it even cooler. Just remember the fridge is good, the freezer is a no-no. Ice particles in the gel will reflect light and render the IPL less effective.

The Activator Gel also acts as a "light coupler" which basically means that it helps trap and guide the light the right way. It is similar to the gel used in ultrasounds, but has been specifically designed for use with Boots Smooth Skin iPulse, so don't be tempted to use any other gel!

Another purpose of the gel is just to help the user see the areas they've already treated (i.e. through the flattened areas of gel).

If you're treating large areas like the legs, it's better to apply the gel in patches as you go along rather than slathering it all over at the beginning. This will minimise mess and drying out.

Do the shots get less powerful over time?

No, the last shot (right up to the point that the handset needs to be replaced) is the same strength as the first.

Is there a risk of cancer when using Boots Smooth Skin?

Not at all. The light used in IPL is visible light that is physically incapable of penetrating the lower levels of skin.

Will the light from Boots Smooth Skin damage my eyes?

The Boots Smooth Skin device has the British Kitemark which means that it has been independently tested and exposure to this level of light is not expected to cause adverse health effects. However, it is still not advised to look at the light directly. It should be quite difficult to look directly at the light anyway, as the trigger only will fire a shot if all contact points of the handset are in contact with the skin.

Note that epilepsy sufferers should not use Boots Smooth Skin. You should also avoid using Boots Smooth Skin if there are children or pets in the room.

Is Boots Smooth Skin really as effective as IPL in a salon?

The only differences between Boots Smooth Skin and salon IPL treatments are the cost, convenience and the range of skin types that can be treated (a salon may be able to treat darker skin types).

There has been a lot of comparison of "joules" (power) of different products, but the truth is that the joules from different machines will act differently. So "30 joules" from a salon device may actually be the same as "10 joules" from a home IPL device. iPulse just makes IPL more accessible. Not everyone wants to make recurring appointments at the salon or wants to have a therapist prodding at their hairy areas.

What is the difference between IPL and laser hair removal?

Laser is monochromatic which means it's a single beam. IPL (intense pulsed light) means multiple beams. They are both effective at permanent hair reduction but IPL is often reported to be more safer for a wider range of skin tones, less painful, and easier to use on large areas.

Most products on the market (at the time of writing) use IPL technology (the main exception being TRIA which is meant to be pretty good too). Beware - I've been told that some other home "laser" devices have as much power as laser pointer pens and as such are completely ineffective for hair removal.

Can Boots Smooth Skin be used on children or teenagers?

Using Boots Smooth Skin on children or teenagers under the age of 16 is not recommended. There are too many changes going on with young girls' skin and hormones which will mean new hairs may grow back and IPL just won't be as effective on them as on adults.

Why isn't the treatment window bigger than it is?

Ahh, if only the treatment window was 3x the size, it'd be so much faster to treat large areas like the legs! Alas, the size of the window is as big as it can be to direct the light energy at the required concentration to disable hair follicles. If it were any bigger, the light would be diluted and thus less effective. Unfortunately, even just a slightly bigger window would require a huge step up in energy, which just isn't physically possible at the moment. The treatment window is currently 12mm x 25mm (see below photo).

Can I share Boots Smooth Skin with a friend?

There's no technical problem with sharing Boots Smooth Skin with a friend and splitting the cost. But you might find that he or she ends up hogging it all the time. If you do decide to go halves on the device, at least think about getting your own handset so that you each have 20,000 shots and there's no chance of either party using more than their fair share of shots. An additional handset will be around £160.

[Update 23 May 2011: I just found out that the handset is not detachable from the Boots Smooth Skin PLUS unit so it won't be possible to purchase an additional or replacement handset. Once the 20,000 shots are used up, the whole unit needs to be taken in-store for re-servicing where it will take 3-4 weeks. I think this costs around £100.]

Also, remember that after you've achieved hair-free results after 12 weeks or so, you still need to have top-up treatments every 3 months (more frequently at first), so you can't hand down or sell the unit once you're "done" with it.

Will I get faster results I use it more than once a week on the same area?

No, using Boots Smooth Skin (or any IPL device) more than once a week is just a waste of your time and lamp shots. The reason you need to treat areas once a week is because IPL is only effective on hairs that are in their "anagen" (active growth) phase. As only a proportion (up to 90%) of hairs will be in the anagen phase at any one time, you need regular treatments to catch them all. Once a week is more than enough to keep up with them.

My tips for getting the fastest results is to use the highest strength that you can manage that isn't too painful, and to make sure you don't miss too many patches on each treatment. If you find it difficult to keep track of your progress on large areas, try using a white eyeliner to mark out a grid to follow before you start.

Why are there different levels of power if the minimum setting is enough for permanent results?

While all levels have been designed to achieve permanent hair reduction, the lower settings may just take longer to achieve desired results. Which means that if you are on the darker side of the skin type scale, you may find that you will need more treatments than someone with very pale skin. I recommend using the highest setting you can manage (obviously don't use a setting if it really hurts).

Is Boots Smooth Skin suitable for use by men?

Yes, although using it on the beard is not advised. Hairy cheeks, back (you'll need someone to help you), chest etc are fine.

Is it worth paying the extra £120 for Boots Smooth Skin PLUS over the original model?

I say it's definitely worth paying extra for. The original model has been out for two years now - which is a lot of time to take on customer feedback and improve the product. It would be crazy to buy the old model now!

How can I buy the iPulse outside of the UK?

Get in touch with the iPulse team using their international sales email address which you can find on the iPulse Facebook page.

The iPulse device is dual voltage so is also usable in the U.S.

Useful links

Buy Boots Smooth Skin PLUS from here on the Boots website (free delivery or collect from store)

Download the Boots Smooth Skin PLUS instruction manual here (large PDF file)

iPulse website: www.ipulse.co.uk
iPulse on Twitter: twitter.com/iPulseSmooth
iPulse on Facebook: www.facebook.com/iPulseSmoothSkin

My previous posts with reviews of Boots Smooth Skin and comparisons of different home IPL products:
Philips Lumea vs. Boots Smooth Skin iPulse vs. Remington i-Light
Boots Smooth Skin review (after 48 weeks)

Ok, I think I'm finished now... that was a looong post!

If you found this post useful, feel free to "like" the Beauty Scribbler Facebook page to be updated whenever I write a new blog post. It's the first "like" button below :-)

Disclosure: Original Boots Smooth Skin unit bought by self, Boots Smooth Skin PLUS unit was provided for review.

SLS-free shower gel: Dr. Organic Body Wash review

2011-04-10T21:52:00.004-04:00

Just a quickie review. I have been using these Dr. Organic body washes and they're a real treat to use and have made a big difference on my dry skin. They don't contain any SLS/ALS so they're really gentle and I find that my skin is noticeably softer and silkier after showering - no more scaly skin! They don't lather as much as shower gels containing SLS, but they cleanse thoroughly without stripping the skin, and they smell good too.

I have the Virgin Olive Oil and Royal Jelly body washes, but they also come in Aloe Vera, Pomegranate, Tea Tree, Vitamin E, Lavendar, Manuka Honey, and Rose Otto. See all ranges and benefits on the Dr. Organic site.

In the UK, Dr. Organic products are available from Holland & Barrett at £5.19 for 250ml, but there is currently a promotion for 2 for £7.78. I'd definitely recommend giving these body washes a go if you have dry or sensitive skin. I've used a few SLS-free body washes in the past, but these are my favourite so far. While you're there, check out the Dr. Organic body lotions as well - they've really impressed me too (see my review here).

The full ingredients of the Dr. Organic Royal Jelly Body Wash (I'm too lazy to type up the other bottle!) are:

Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Aqua (water), Sodium cocoamphoacetate, Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Lauryl glucoside, Coco glucoside, Glyceryl oleate, Shea butteramidopropyltrimomium chloride, Royal jelly extract, Mel extract, Trifolium pratense flower extract, Calluna vulgaris flower extract, Parfum*, Juniperus virginiana (cedarwood) oil, Citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) oil, Pogostemon cablin (patchouli) oil, Citrus aurantium amara (bitter) orange leaf oil, Santalum album (sandalwood) oil, Sorbitan sesquicaprylate, Citric acid, Ascorbic acid, Potassium sorbate, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, Citronellol, Hexyl cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene. *Natural and food grade

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster review: WOW!

2011-03-29T23:54:00.005-04:00

The other day in Sephora, I received a free trial size bottle of Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster. That night, I tried it and loved it so much after one use that I went out and bought it the next day after work.

Ole Henriksen is a brand I've found interesting (no parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals etc.) but never got round to trying. It was a good job I was given the initial freebie otherwise I might never have discovered this product!

Okay, the reason why I love this serum so much after so little use is that I used it overnight under my usual night moisturiser (currently Forest Secrets iRejuvenate Step 1), and woke up with the softest skin I've had since... hmmm well, a very long time. Have I mentioned the air is SO DRY in New York in winter?? It's SO DRY. No-one believes me until they get here and their lips immediately start cracking and bleeding. Anyway, it makes it extra difficult to achieve radiant skin. I can't wait for it to warm up here.

Back onto the serum. Even after cleansing and drying my face in the morning, my skin still felt noticeably soft and smooth. I kept touching my face because I was so confused, until I remembered that I had used the serum the night before. I've now used the serum morning and night for a few days and I feel silly for saying this, but my skin is looking more even-toned and has more "clarity" about it. I don't have any major complaints with my skin... but I do feel in the last couple of years I've been losing the fresh-faced, woman-child skin I used to take for granted. Somehow, this serum has airbrushed my entire face and just makes me look so much better even without a scrap of make-up.

After the first use, I thought to myself, "Wow if this is the effect after just one use, what will happen if I use it for a longer period of time...?" and that's why I went out and bought it.

In terms of the serum itself, it's an orange-coloured, tangerine-smelling, viscous watery substance. It's not a silicone-based serum, so it doesn't have that slick or slippery feeling. It absorbs almost instantly (I have to spread the serum across my face really fast before it sinks in) and just leaves the skin feeling fresh and bare. I don't find it offers much moisture but I do have exceptionally dry skin, and I use moisturiser over the top anyway. I have quite sensitive skin, and this serum doesn't irritate it at all.

The main active ingredient is high potency Vitamin C to calm and heal skin and strengthen collagen. But another interesting ingredient is licorice extract which helps to even out pigmentation. I should point out though that I'm not expecting this serum to lighten any of my UV-induced freckles. I think I'm stuck with those for good!

The Sephora description of the serum is:

What it is:
A high-potency vitamin C complex that prevents and corrects signs of aging while promoting brightness.

What it is formulated to do:
This amazing ten-percent vitamin C skin booster and antiaging treatment firms and smoothes, delivering more radiant skin. The weightless, fast-absorbing, oil-free formula penetrates to deep layers of the skin, offering instant and long-term hydration, nourishment, and antioxidant protection against environmental aggressors.

The full ingredients of Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster are:

Water (Aqua), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Calcium Acerbate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Euphrasis Offinalis Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Oleth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thioctic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Fragrance (Parfum), Yellow 6 (CI 15985).

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster is quite pricey at $48 for 1oz (30ml). I feel like I have to use quite a lot of the product each go because it absorbs so quickly and if I don't use enough, I end up dragging my skin while I'm trying to spread the serum. So the bottle probably won't last that long. But for the results I've seen so far, it's worth it! I've used some much more expensive serums that didn't have even show a tenth of the effects of this stuff. Thumbs up!

Park Avenue Laser Epi-LASEK review: Five weeks after laser eye surgery

2011-03-16T00:01:00.006-04:00

Helloooo anyone still there? I thought it was about time I did a follow-up post after my laser eye surgery which I had about five and a half weeks ago. I had my 1-month checkup last week and everything seems to be going swimmingly so far. I know a lot of you are interested in how it went because you're either considering having laser eye surgery or you've already had it done, so here we go...

[Previous posts: Getting laser eye surgery and My laser eye surgery consultation]

One week before surgery

I phone up Park Avenue Laser to upgrade to the "Platinum" package which is $1,000 more expensive than the plan I'd originally chosen, making the surgery $6,000 in total. The difference is that I'll have Epi-LASEK instead of LASEK, so instead of having the epithelium of my eyes removed by the surgeon, it would be removed using an automated tool, which apparently means a cleaner cut and thus shorter healing time. I decide if I can stretch to the extra cost I should just do it just in case the healing process ends up being really uncomfortable.

Day of surgery

At the surgery centre, I'm given countless eye drops as well as Valium to take. Everyone has to wear showercap-style hats and paper booties to cover our shoes before going into the operating room. I'm given more eye drops, including numbing drops. There are lots of instructions on what to do and what not to do. The Valium starts making me sleepy. My husband is given instructions on what to do and say at certain points during the surgery (e.g. to count down the remaining seconds on the laser because it will supposedly be more relaxing for me than hearing the doctors' muffled voices through their masks).

I'm feeling very relaxed at this point, probably due to the Valium. I keep dozing off even during the drama and shouting that occurs in the room around me (more on that later). When everyone's ready, the surgeon tapes a patch over my left eye and then clamps my right eye open with an instrument but I literally cannot feel anything due to the vast amount of numbing drops I've had in my eyes.

The surgeon uses another tool on my eye, but this time right on the centre. He then drops a solution (presumably something to loosen the epithelium/skin of my eyes) through it. He removes this tool and brings forward another while telling me that everything will go dark for a few seconds. Something is pressed hard onto my eyeballs (I assume the automated tool that cuts the epithelium). I can definitely feel the pressure on my eyeballs but it's not painful. Everything goes dark, then the tool is lifted away. There is some swabbing and then I briefly see a round piece of my epithelium being lifted away.

At this point, my right eye is ready to be lasered. I'm put back under the machine and given instructions to focus on the right dot once it appears. The total laser time per eye will be 40 seconds. The red dot appears and I hear the laser going to work (a repetitive click-click-click sound) but I swear the red dot's darting around. I don't know whether this is my own focus moving or the red dot moving, but nevertheless, I move my focus back onto the red dot. The laser stops abruptly, there is some huffufle, and I'm told the laser stopped after detecting movement and we have to try again. Whoops.

I try extra hard to stay focused on the red dot. I had prepared myself for the smell of burning flesh that other people have reported post-laser surgery, so I'm surprised to smell only the faintest whiff of singed hair for just a second (and I have an ultra sensitive sense of smell). Before I know it, voices tell me I'm doing "really well" and start counting down to zero. I've felt absolutely no pain or discomfort at all during the whole procedure. The laser just feels like a light with a clicking noise.

A bandage contact lens is then placed on my right eye and it's all done. The whole procedure starts again with my left eye (while my right eye is patched). This time the laser completes its work in one go.

I'm told to sit up, and look around. The first thing I notice is two random people from the street standing in the corner, less than a metre away from me, with their outdoor coats still on, and who have been watching the whole time. I think "What the...???" (Park Avenue Laser are really big on having potential patients watch surgeries to see how simple and painless it is - but still, I'm annoyed that these people were just allowed in when everyone else had to wear all this protective gear. What's the point then??). The surgeon tells me to look outside the window and read what's on the road sign across the street. Previously I couldn't even see, let alone read it. My sight is much better than it was before without my lenses/glasses but I still can't read the sign completely clearly. I'm prepared for this though. I'm not expecting 20:20 vision immediately after the surgery.

A doctor puts collagen punctal plugs into my tear ducts to help with the dry eye symptoms that I'll get post-op.

I'm given more instructions which I know already, e.g. keep my eyes closed for as many hours of the days as possible until I come back to have the bandage contact lenses removed, remember to take all the pills and eye drops I've been prescribed, continue to use artificial tears regularly etc.

I drop my old glasses into the recycling jar knowing that I'll never need them again. This feels great.

We go home. I have a bite to eat and pass out from the Valium.

One day later

I wake up, accidentally move my head too fast and feel a sharp pain in my eyes as if I've left my lenses in overnight and my eyelids have stuck to then. I put some artificial tears in. The pain lasts for just seconds. I take care to take all the medication and drops I've been told to use. These include ibuprofen pills and anti-pain drops which I use, but I don't really feel like I need. There's no pain whatsoever. It just feels like I'm wearing old contact lenses (which I guess I am).

I go back to the surgery for my 1-day post-op checkup. All is fine.

At home, I still have more Valium tablets which make me woozy, which is great for forcing me to sleep weird hours.

Three days later

Up until now, I've spent most of my time in bed with my eyes closed, on the phone to friends or listening to audio books. I have an appointment at the surgery to have my bandage contact lenses removed, but after inspection they decide my epithelium needs another day to grow over completely. My eyes still feel fine... just a bit like I'm wearing old lenses.

My eyesight is good. Not sharp, but fine for walking around.

Four days later

I go back to the surgery and my eyes are ready to have the bandage contact lenses removed. After having them removed, my eyes instantly feel very naked and dry, and my eyesight is substantially worse. I'm told this will be expected until the skin of my eyes fully heals and smoothes over.

The winter air is so dry in New York. Even with a humidifier going full blast and constantly using lubricant eye drops, my eyes still feel uncomfortably dry.

Five days later

I go back to work (picking up a humidifier for my desk en route) because apparently my eyes should have healed enough to allow me to work now. They haven't. Everything on my screen is a big blur no matter how large I make the text. I literally cannot read a single thing on my screen. It's frustrating because I can't even see anything if I put my face right up to the screen. I don't get anything done. I swear my eyesight is worse than yesterday.

Six days later

I go to work again but my eyesight is definitely worse than the day before. It almost feels like how I was before the surgery, without my glasses (except now I can't see distance or close-up). I'm a bit worried at this point so I call the surgery and am told to go in as soon as possible. I'm there within an hour, and during the checkup the surgeon tells me the surface of my eyes "looks like crap". Apparently my eyes are extremely dry (despite me using drops constantly) and this is slowing down the skin of my eyes healing.

One of the doctors puts new punctal plugs into my tear ducts to help with my dry eyes, this time permanent ones. This hurts like mad. Afterwards when I move my eyes to the side, I get a sharp pain in the inner corners of my eyes (I get this for days afterwards).

I struggle to find the correct subway station to get back because my sight is so bad and I can't read the signs. When I leave the office later that evening, it really feels like being shortsighted and not wearing glasses. All I can see is glare from street lamps and store signs and not much else.

Two weeks later

Up until this point, I've been going to work but have frustratingly managed to do very little because it's still difficult to read anything on my screen, especially after midday when my sight blurs considerably. But exactly two weeks after the surgery, I realise I am still managing to read my screen okay-ish in the afternoon. I feel that in hindsight I should have taken more time off work because I probably just slowed down the healing process by attempting to go back to the office too early.

I go to the cinema for the first time and have absolutely no problems seeing detail on the big screen. But I do notice that the "EXIT" signs on either side of the screen have halos around the red, lit-up lettering.

The dryness of my eyes is barely noticeable now. But I'm still using thick artificial tears as frequently as possible (every hour or so) as a precaution and to help the skin of my eyes heal over quicker.

Three weeks later

There's been a turning point. My eyesight has suddenly become sharp overnight, particularly in my right eye which feels just as sharp as it was when I was wearing contact lenses. My left eye seems a tiny bit shortsighted still in comparison. The dryness has been basically eradicated. I'm only using the artificial tears out of habit and precaution rather than necessity. I am pretty much back to efficiency at work.

Four and a bit weeks later

I have my 1-month post-op checkup. I can almost read the bottom line on the chart but it's mostly just shapes and I can only guess the letters. So I'm not quite 20:20 yet. The doctor is pleased with the way the surface of my eyes have progressed and has no concerns that I haven't achieved 20:20 vision yet. He tells me that the reason my sight has been a bit off until now is that they overcorrected my vision in order to compensate for the natural deterioration that my eyes will get over the next few years (so that I won't need an "enhancement"). My eyes have just been adjusting to that over-correction.

My left eye is still not as sharp as my right eye.

At home, I watch the DVD I was given after my surgery. I guess there's a video camera in the laser machine because the film is of the complete surgery, with my eyeball filling the entire screen. When I watch it, I feel sorry for my husband having had to sit through the surgery watching this in real life. He must be traumatised. The procedure is gruesome. The worst part is the instrument that they push onto my eyes (at the point where I feel pressure on my eyeball and everything goes dark) which cuts the epithelium. It's pushed onto my eyeballs so hard that when it's lifted off, it leaves deep impressions in the whites of my eyes. Another horrible bit is seeing where the epithelium has been taken off, and you can see the leftover edges where the circle of skin has been lifted off. I can't believe that my eyes were able to grow all that skin back under the bandage lenses in just four days! The human body is an amazing thing. I was going to post the video on my blog, but it would only put everyone off having laser eye surgery. So it's best you don't see it!

Five and a bit weeks later (now)

My right eye still sees great, I can really notice that "hi-def" treatment I had. Everything's really sharp and crisp. My left eye is still not as sharp as my right, but seems to be slowly catching up. My left eye was the one that had a slightly higher prescription before the surgery.

Overall thoughts so far

I'm really pleased with the results of the laser eye surgery so far and have no regrets. I just hope my left eye become sharper and that I don't need an enhancement later on. I hear it can take eight weeks or more to achieve the best vision. I love not having to wear contact lenses or glasses. It seems strange to think that I used to put foreign objects into my eyes every day and touch my eyes to get the lenses in and out all the time. That doesn't seem healthy when I think about it.

Honestly, there's been no pain at all. The punctal plugs were probably the most uncomfortable bit - and they weren't even part of the surgery!

The dryness only lasted the first two weeks (but it was quite severe during that time due to me having naturally dry eyes anyway, and also the dry air in New York). I'm glad I went for (Epi-)LASEK because since having the surgery, I've seen "dry eye" forums online where people rant about not being warned about the severe permanent dryness they've been left with after LASIK.

There is some glare and halo-ing around lights. This only happens when the lighted object is on a dark background, like the red EXIT sign at the cinema like I've mentioned, car headlights, street lamps etc. It's strange because the halo effect is similar to seeing lights while shortsighted, except everything else that isn't a bright light on a dark background is still really sharp. For example at night, car headlights have faint haloes around them, but the characters on the number plates are super sharp and clear. I'm not sure whether this is permanent. It's not really that bad or uncomfortable, but definitely noticeable. So far, I haven't had any light sensitivity in bright light.

If I could go back and change anything, I wouldn't have gone back to work so early. I would have waited at least a week and a half after the surgery. I didn't get much work done and it probably just slowed down the healing of my eyes.

It's great to wake up being able to see, and to skip one step in my pre-bedtime regimen. I feel liberated. I wish I could live certain parts of my life again with my new eyes.

Park Avenue Laser is a bit of a weird place. The surgeon, Dr. Chynn, is obviously very experienced and good at what he does but he's constantly shouting and swearing at and demeaning his staff, even when there are patients and/or customers around. I can't even describe the full extent of it! I'd read reviews saying the same thing before I went there, but I thought people were just exaggerating! All the other staff are great and really helpful, especially Dr. Chynn's "fellows", Dr. Puri and Dr. Almeida, and the receptionist, Liz. Most of the staff have had laser eye surgery themselves so they know the experience first-hand.

I'll update you next time I have anything new to report about my eyes.

I hope this post has been helpful! If you have any questions from anything I've said above, leave them in a comment and I'll try my best to answer them soon (although don't forget to read my two previous posts as well in case I've already mentioned what you want to know)!

[Update (14th June 2011): Don't forget to read my latest post, Belated update on my laser eye surgery... Good news!]

Look mum I'm on TV! But if you blink, you'll miss me...

2011-02-01T23:07:00.002-05:00

The other day, my friend in London messaged me to say she swore she saw me in a TV ad. At first I was like pffftt whatever. But she found this YouTube video and it turns out that the "swish" that I filmed at the Pantene Aqua Light stand at The Clothes Show 2010 made it into one of their TV ads! Can you spot me at 0:32? (Tip: I'm so small you'll probably need to watch in HD and on full screen.)

Sadly, this doesn't even count as my 5 minutes of fame because I'm on the screen for literally just 2 seconds... maybe not even that. Ah well, I'll take what I can get.

And that's Jen from Beauty Junkie London in the bottom right hand corner as well, looking like a total shampoo ad pro!

My laser eye surgery consultation!

2011-01-28T00:37:00.008-05:00

If you've had a chance to read my previous post (here), you might remember that I had finally taken the plunge and booked myself in for a laser eye surgery consultation. I had the consultation on Monday, decided I was ready to book the surgery while I was there, then had more tests and eye scans the following day. My surgery is booked for next Friday! Now I'm really hoping I've retained enough information to pass onto those of you interested in getting laser surgery yourselves.

I went to a place called Park Avenue Laser (the website is very "American" and garishly sales-y, which initially put me off going there, but after deciding I wanted LASEK not LASIK, it felt sensible to go to a centre which specialises in LASEK rather than a centre which offers LASEK as a secondary option.

In my consultation, it was mostly about me telling them why I wanted to get laser eye surgery, what concerns I had etc, and about them telling me more about the procedures and answering any questions I had. All in all, it was a very positive experience and made me feel like I was making the right decision to get LASEK. I spoke to several people, including the surgeon himself, one of the "refractive fellows" and an intern who had had the LASEK procedure himself recently.

Rather than walking you through my entire consultation (it was about 1.5 hours long), it's probably more useful if I go through some of the things I learnt while I was there when I bombarded them with questions...

Does the flap created in LASIK really never fully heal?

It heals, but the bond between the eye and the flap is never going to be as strong as when it was one piece (imagine slicing a block of glass then gluing it back together), which is why it is forever susceptible to being unstuck.

Why is LASIK still so popular if LASEK is "better"?

LASEK is a newer procedure than LASIK, and requires surgeons to retrain, which is a heavy investment of time, especially when there is no shortage of customers perfectly happy to go with LASIK (the recovery time is shorter). As with any relatively new treatment, it will take a while for LASEK to be fully phased in (as more and more people become qualified to perform it).

What is the difference between PRK and LASEK?

PRK (where the epithelium (skin) of the eye is scraped off before lasering) was an early procedure of "surface ablation" laser eye correction. LASIK (cutting a deeper flap under the surface) was introduced later and resulted in less patient discomfort and quicker recovery time. But LASIK created new problems, such as flap-related issues, permanent dry eyes and night glare. So surgeons revisited "surface ablation" methods, and came up with LASEK, which removes the epithelium in one clean piece, rather than scraping it off in bits (which heals less effectively).

Is it worth paying extra for Epi-LASEK over LASEK?

Epi-LASEK is where the epithelium is lifted using a special cutting blade, rather than the surgeon loosening it with an alcohol solution and then moving it to the side by hand. Epi-LASEK creates a cleaner, more precise cut, so the healing time is usually reduced by a day (from 3-4 days). Apart from the healing time, the final results are the same.

How soon will I be able to see clearly?

There will be minor discomfort and blurry vision for a few days after surgery until the epithelium (skin) of the eyes grows back and is fully healed and smooth. The blurry vision is nothing to do with the reshaped cornea, and is just down to the fact that the epithelium is growing back.

What are the chances of scarring?

Chances of the eye scarring after the surgery are virtually zero as long as the patient follows the medication instructions properly, and takes the prescribed steroid pills and uses the steroid eye drops for as long as instructed.

What happens if the eye scars?

Scarring of the eye will make vision cloudy, like a dirty glass. If caught early, it can be reversed using prescribed medication.

How long will the actual lasering take?

For my prescription, it will take about 45 seconds in each eye. It's less for lower prescriptions.

Those were the main questions I wanted to know and that I needed to be reassured about. Some other bits I learnt that I hadn't picked up in my mammoth research session on the internet were:

The prescription for glasses and contact lenses go up and down in increments of 0.25, meaning if you're somewhere in between, your glasses are going to either undercorrect or overcorrect your vision. Some "hi def" laser vision technologies can correct vision in much more precise increments of 0.01, meaning that you may actually achieve sharper vision after laser eye surgery than you had previously wearing glasses or contact lenses.

The night glare and halos that are common complaints from LASIK patients are most commonly caused by the eye and flap being two separate planes stuck together, which make light refract in two places rather than one (i.e. it has to pass through the join as well).

There is a LOT of medication to take before the surgery and after the surgery. This really scares me because it suddenly makes me realise that the surgery is no small deal and I'm messing around with nature. I was given a (literal) stack of prescriptions to take to the pharmacy for various medications such as antibiotic drops, anti-pain drops, weak steroid drops, strong steroid drops, steroid pills, valium, drops to increase tear production. Some of these meds need to be taken/used for several months after the surgery.

For one to two weeks before the surgery, contacts cannot be worn because time needs to be allowed for the cornea to get back to normal "topography" (i.e. get back to a normal shape). Contact lenses can warp the cornea, meaning that the laser correction won't be as accurate.

Starting at least one week before the surgery and continuing for three months afterwards, vitamin C tablets need to be taken to help prevent scarring, and aid healing.

In preparation for the surgery, preservative-free artificial tears eye drops (in vials) need to be used frequently in the days/weeks leading up to the surgery, to get the surface of the eye as smooth and healthy as possible so that the laser can achieve more precise results.

During the laser surgery, the laser tracks the eye's movement and stops if the eye moves too much. But results are much more accurate if the patient fixates fully on the red dot of the laser. I'm really worried that I might not be able to fixate the whole time. What if some strange reflex makes my eyes dart around? I do find it really hard to focus normally...

It's not physically possible for the cornea to regrow or retreat to its previous shape. The laser has reshaped it permanently. Any minor changes in prescription in the years to follow are due to other issues, like age.

It is common for surgeons to purposely overcorrect a patient's vision to account for future degeneration of sight due to age. For example, they plan to slightly overcorrect my vision, because they expect it to then be perfect in three years time. At first it will feel like wearing glasses that are a tiny bit too strong, but just like glasses, the eyes adjust and vision feels normal quickly.

It's a requirement (not a suggestion) to have a friend there with you during the surgery, and to take you home as you'll be all drugged up. If you can't bring a friend, this particular centre charges $100 for the use of an intern to be your "friend" (it's kind of depressing to have to resort to that, so I'm having my surgery next week when my husband is in town).

What next?

I was given a choice of five different "tiers" of surgery packages during my consultation, ranging from I think $3,000 to $7,000. I definitely wanted the "hi def" procedure, which strives to correct eyes to 0.01 of my prescription, so that left me with the packages from $5,000 upwards. I had gone in with a price in mind of $5,000, but I hate that there are tiers of healthcare. They make me feel like I am compromising on my health if I don't get the top package.

The next tier up ($6,000) was Epi-LASEK, which was why I asked them whether it was worth paying extra for. I was told that the surgeon has performed the LASEK procedure so many times (over 15,000 patients), that he can lift the epithelium almost as cleanly as a blade and the healing time is thus sped up anyway. So I went for the $5,000 "Gold" LASEK package. If you're wondering what the top package included, it was just loads of extra drugs thrown in, plus free "enhancements" over a longer period of time (the lower packages included free "enhancements" required in just the first year).

I had to read and sign a consent form of about 20 pages long. It was very scary reading. As with any surgery, you have to accept that there are small risks of infection, blindness, death etc. Horrible.

I've swapped my contact lenses for glasses since Saturday, which is the longest period I've ever worn glasses for. It actually feels really good to let my eyes breathe. I've started taking vitamin C tablets and these smelly "fish, flax and borage" oil tablets which I've heard help with tear production. I'm also using eye drops throughout the day and before I go to bed.

I've booked Friday and Monday off work, to give myself four days of recovery. In that time, I have to keep my eyes closed as much as possible because the eyes won't heal if they're open. It's going to be booooooring!

I have a bit of a phobia of medical stuff, so I felt slightly nauseated leaving the centre on my second appointment there. I'd had countless drops put into my eyes, including numbing drops to stop me blinking so much when they were trying to take scans of my eyes. That was a yucky feeling, having numb eyes. It's like when the dentist anaesthetises your mouth and everything feels numb and big, but it's your eyes instead... *shudder*

So wish me luck! If I felt like that after just the tests, what will I be like when I'm having my eyes clamped open and someone poking at my eyes...? I have to keep reminding myself that millions of people have had laser eye surgery and recommend it! Thank you to everyone who left comments on my blog post, Facebook and Twitter with your testimonials!

Getting laser eye surgery...

2011-01-23T15:05:00.013-05:00

Yesterday was one of those days (that I have about once a year) where I spent an entire afternoon researching laser eye surgery online. I usually start off excitedly thinking "I'm going to do it! I'm going to call up and make an appointment right now!" and then after a few hours of reading about what it actually involves, and then all the potential side effects, I get burned out and decide to leave it for the time being. After all, we only get one set of eyes in our lifetime.

But, this time, I think I really am going to do it. I've booked a consultation at least (for tomorrow no less).

Just to give you a background, I am very short-sighted. I think it's from being a bookworm as a kid (I used to read titles such as "50,000 Facts about the World, with 10,000 Extra Facts about Space", cover to cover, in a day). My prescription is -5.00 in one eye, and -4.75 in the other. I've been wearing contact lenses for 14 years. When I'm not wearing my lenses, I have to hold things up about 6 inches away from my face to see them in focus.

Wearing contact lenses has never been a big deal for me. I've always suffered from dry eyes, but I've tried out most lenses on the market in order to find the most comfortable ones for me (currently, Acuvue Oasys). I never wear glasses out in public. At my prescription, it doesn't matter how expensive the lenses are, they're still thick and heavy at the edges. And I have lop-sided ears, so my glasses end up all wonky on my face.

Why I'm considering laser eye surgery...

Waking up and not being able to see anything makes me feel so lethargic. It's easier to stay in bed and keep my eyes closed than face the blurry day.

Travelling and having to constantly make sure I've got spare contact lenses, a lens case and enough lens solution gets boring after a while. Not to mention the fact that I have to wear my dreaded glasses out in public on the flight. As if I don't feel awful enough with the dehydrated (but shiny at the same time) skin, and badgers' breath.

My overuse of contact lenses has resulted in lots of little red veins on the whites of my eyes, where I am depriving my eyes of oxygen. I hear that these "veins" are actually new blood vessels that have been created to try to take in more oxygen. I've had these veins for several years now. I don't know if they're reversible. I really hope so.

I just want the freedom of being able to see clearly, all the time. It's fine when I'm in familiar surroundings because I know exactly where everything is, so I can feel my way around when I don't have my lenses in. But when I'm somewhere new, I bump into and trip up over everything. The other day, I couldn't find my glasses after moving apartments, but I couldn't see anything to find them. Argh!

Oh, I almost forgot to add about the annoyance of wearing contact lenses on holiday (aside from the travelling). I always avoid going into the pool or sea, fearing that I'll get an infection in my eyes from bacteria getting under my lenses, or my lenses will fall out, or that the chlorinated/salt water will just dry my lenses to a crisp. Then during the day, when I need to shower and freshen up, I have to remove my lenses before removing make-up or washing my face, and it just makes me feel like a slave to my lenses. And if I dare to nap even for a few minutes, the lenses dry out and sucker themselves to my eyeballs... *sigh*

Why I've been put off having laser eye surgery in the past...

I'd heard that the surgery makes dry eyes even more dry where it cuts off the corneal nerves that tell the eye to blink.

I've never liked the sound of zapping away bits of my cornea, leaving it permanently thinner. As laser eye surgery hasn't been around that long really, no-one really knows what the effects are after say, 30 years.

Vision can still deteriorate years after the surgery (or maybe not achieve 20:20 vision first time round), meaning that I'd either have to go back to using contacts/glasses anyway, or get more laser eye surgery and once again reshape the already thinned out cornea.

I've heard that the flap on the surface of the eye that is cut in the LASIK procedure never really fully heals ever. So if the wind blows a little too strongly, or if someone whacks you in the eye with their elbow, the flap can swing open again (gross).

Apparently it's common that night vision is impaired long after the surgery, where glare and halos around light (e.g. car headlights) can become quite uncomfortable.

I've needed to wait until my sight prescription becomes stable (it's been the same for a few years now, finally).

There's more chance of not achieving 20:20 vision the higher the original sight prescription.

Watching videos or hearing stories about laser surgery makes me gag.

It's hard knowing where to go to get the treatment done. The popular, mass-market laser surgery centres sound a bit cowboy-ish based on the reviews I've read. Who can I trust with my eyes instead?

Options available...

LASIK

This seems the most commonplace and cheapest procedure, having been around the longest (I think it's up to £3,000 for both eyes depending where you go). A thin flap is cut into the eye's surface using either a blade or a laser, and then lifted up. A laser then reshapes the cornea (basically by chipping off bits of it), then the flap is replaced and remains in position by natural adhesion until it heals. Recovery time is reputedly fast, and some patients manage to go back to work the next day. The actual surgircal procedure takes just minutes.

PRK

Rather than the surgeon cutting a thicker flap into the eye's surface (as in LASIK), the surface cells of just the ultra-thin, "epithelium" layer are scraped off. The laser is then applied to reshape the cornea, before a no-prescription contact lens is placed over the eye to act as a bandage until the epithelium grows back (about 2-4 days supposedly). The recovery time is longer and more uncomfortable than with LASIK, with vision taking weeks or months to become clear, while the epithelium heals fully. But at least there's no flap cut into the eye, and the corneal nerves are also left intact.

LASEK

LASEK is similar to the PRK procedure above, in that the thicker LASIK-style flap is not cut into the eye. But unlike PRK, instead of the epithelium layer being scraped off and removed completely, in LASEK the epithelium layer is simply loosened using a weak alcohol solution, which the surgeon can then peel back, before lasering. The epithelium is then moved back into place to act as a natural bandage (although a "contact lens" would still need to be worn for a few days until the new epithelium grows back). Again, the recovery time is longer and more painful than with LASIK. The advantage of PRK and LASEK over LASIK is that there is never a thicker flap cut, which means less flap-related complications (e.g. the flap lifting up, or wrinkling) and more cornea is preserved.

Epi-LASEK

From what I've seen, Epi-LASEK is similar to LASEK, except that the thin epithelium flap is lifted using a special blade/tool.

ICL (implantable contact lenses)

Also known as "intraocular contact lenses", ICL is a much newer procedure. Plastic "contact lenses" are implanted in the eye in place or on top of the natural lens. The procedure is supposedly quick, less risky and reversible. I don't know what makes me more uncomfortable - having plastic bits implanted into my eyes, or having a laser resurface my corneas. Anyway, ICLs are expensive - around £6,000 per eye, so that's that ruled out.

My next steps...

Tomorrow I have my consultation at a place which specialises in the LASEK / Epi-LASEK procedures. From my laywoman's point of view, it sounds like LASEK would alleviate some of the concerns I've always had with laser eye surgery. It sounds like it would put me out of action for maybe a week (eyes need to be closed as much as possible, no work and no looking at screens), but I prefer the idea of not having a thick flap cut into my eye, lessening the chance of even drier eyes, and leaving a thicker cornea (in case I ever need follow-up treatments).

Obviously, all this is from just what I've read on the Internet... so I might be completely wrong. Or, maybe I'll speak to the doctor, hear some hard facts and decide once again not to have laser eye surgery because my eyes are too precious to mess around with (although apparently laser surgery is safer than wearing contact lenses every day).

I will come back and report after the consultation. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on laser eye surgery? Have you ever considered it or even had it done?

Disclaimer: I am in no way a "medical" person, so no quoting of anything I've written in this post please! Any information I've typed up is just a summary of about a hundred pages I've read and a few videos I've watched from the magical place they call The Internet.

Back on air shortly!

2011-01-21T00:25:00.000-05:00

I realised I've been away from the blog for well over a month with no explanation, and even my posts just before "the holidays" were a bit lacklustre. Everything is going great in New York and I've settled in much faster than I'd imagined. But my day job is more of a "day + night" job at the moment, giving me literally zero life outside of the office.

I really miss the blogging, the community and responding to all your comments and emails (I've had such a sweet bunch of them lately!). I know I have a load of comments I still need to reply to. I'm sorry to everyone who has commented over the last couple of months and have given up coming back to see if I've answered. If it's any consolation, this plays on my mind constantly!

I moved into a new apartment last week, with no furniture except an airbed I bought to tide me over until some furniture arrives from the UK. So it's kind of difficult to blog at the moment... the effort involved to get the camera out, find decent lighting and edit my thoughts into something presentable is just a bit too overwhelming!

BUT I will be back soon!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and new year / "holiday"! (I totally got used to saying "happy holidays" by the way. I quite liked it too.)