Beauty Solutions: Mini Wax Kit by Anastasia

Eyebrow hair is like no other hair. It colors and bleaches within seconds and grows at an amazing rate (of course it has a mind of it’s own and can stop growing just because it felt like it). That is why it’s such hard work taming eyebrows. I, personally, get them tweezed by a professional once a month but, to maintain at home between visits to the salon I sometimes use wax. A nice kit that helps me have brows that frame my eyes instead of distracting from them is the Mini Wax Kitby Anastasia.


The wax is sugar based so it’s gentle on your delicate skin. It has the wooden spatulas and the muslin cloths, as well as the wax and instructions. This particular kit uses warm wax so you must heat it in the microwave. Not that I need to tell you, but follow instructions carefully – you don’t want to burn yourself, much less in your eye area! A good trick to know if the wax is too hot is to test it in the inside of your wrist; if it feels just warm, then it’s a good temperature to be used on your face.

This Mini Wax kit has 14 muslin cloths so, depending on how much hair to want to wax, it will last you for up to 14 uses.

Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration
Micky

Beauty Solutions: Mini Wax Kit by Anastasia

Eyebrow hair is like no other hair. It colors and bleaches within seconds and grows at an amazing rate (of course it has a mind of it’s own and can stop growing just because it felt like it). That is why it’s such hard work taming eyebrows. I, personally, get them tweezed by a professional once a month but, to maintain at home between visits to the salon I sometimes use wax. A nice kit that helps me have brows that frame my eyes instead of distracting from them is the Mini Wax Kitby Anastasia.


The wax is sugar based so it’s gentle on your delicate skin. It has the wooden spatulas and the muslin cloths, as well as the wax and instructions. This particular kit uses warm wax so you must heat it in the microwave. Not that I need to tell you, but follow instructions carefully – you don’t want to burn yourself, much less in your eye area! A good trick to know if the wax is too hot is to test it in the inside of your wrist; if it feels just warm, then it’s a good temperature to be used on your face.

This Mini Wax kit has 14 muslin cloths so, depending on how much hair to want to wax, it will last you for up to 14 uses.

Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration
Micky

Contest: To Shave Or Not To Shave?

That is almost always the question when it comes to dealing with the bikini area. Shaving certainly is convenient. It's there when you need it, you don't have to make an appointment, you don't have to bare your unmentionables to a stranger and it's free (except for buying the razor, that is).

Of course, after even the best of shaves, that little unwelcome visitor, stubble, rears its ugly head and makes you remember why you hate shaving! The itching, the discomfortand that's AFTER the red, raised, bumps and irritation that happen right after shaving. When you put it all together, maybe shaving isn't the best way to clean up that bikini line. So, short of leaving the area untamed and unworthy of even a modest one-piece bathing suit, what's a girl to do?

Today, there are lots of alternatives to sending your hairs under the blade, if you will: Waxing, electrolysiseven laser hair removal. Understanding the benefits and not-so-great sides of each method will help you make the best decision for you.

And even if you're committed to keeping your razor, there are a host of products and techniques that you can use to minimize, or even eliminate, those notorious "bikini bumps."

If you appreciate the always-ready convenience of shaving, there are a few things you can do to minimize the "bikini bump" syndrome that often accompanies this home hair-removal method.

First, be sure to adequately wet the skin and the bikini hair. Since pubic hair is much more coarse than hair on other parts of the body, this saturating step is very important. Using a large amount of a moisturizing shaving cream, such as Aveeno Therapeutic Shaving Gel or Whish Shave Crave - Almond used with Whish Original Body Brush, helps soften the hair even more, making shaving easier.

When you begin to shave, pull the skin tight with your non-shaving hand. Then shave in upward strokes. Make sure there is adequate shaving cream on the hair and skin before each stroke. Without this protection, you're likely to get red and bumpy after you shave.

Some experts recommend rubbing an ice cube over the shaved bikini area to reduce redness and discomfort. A nice application of a soothing after-shave product, such as California North After Shave Care can help make you more comfortable. And if those nasty bikini bumps do appear, try MD Formulations Glycare Acne Gel, which is great for sending them packing.

Rubbing alcohol-based shaving bump products have made a name for themselves but be careful. Alcohol can actually worsen the inflammation. And the active ingredient in most of these products is nothing more than aspirin. So consider taking a Tylenol or Advil before you shave to reduce the amount of inflammation that may arise. You'll be able to skip the alcohol and still reap the benefits.

Another option to reduce skin inflammation: look to GHK Copper Peptides. Best known for their use in skin rejuvenation, these handy little molecules first made their presence known in the wound healing world. Try a dab of Neova After Shave Therapyafter shaving and see if you don't get some well deserved relief.

Are you acne prone after shaving? Then fall back upon a standard, benzoyl peroxide to be precise. No longer relegated to prescription status, using a bpo based product such as B. Kamins Medicated Acne Gel with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide or MD Formulations Benzoyl Peroxide 10 can make a world of difference. Follow this up with one of your favorite options above and wear your bikini with flare!

And finally, to decrease the discomfort of the soon-to-return stubble, make sure to keep the area well moisturized between shaves.

Fashionwithfifi.com is giving you a chance to win SCHICK's Intuition Plus Sensitive Care kit (in Aloe & Vitamin E). The kit contains 1 razor and cartridge and 1 x 0.35 oz (10g) skin conditioning solid.

Official Rules:

1) First you must be a member of the free to join "Fashion Circle" and be subscribed to Fashionwithfifi.com. Click Here: If you aren't already a free subscriber.

2) Next you'll need to leave a comment on this post telling us whether or not you should shave and why (by wording it "to shave because... " or "not to shave because...").

3) Shipping is Free for all participants in the U.S. Winner from a country outside of the U.S. would have to pay for shipping.

4) Contest runs from now - Tuesday, October 20, 2009 through Monday, October 26, 2009. Winner will be announced on here on Fashionwithfifi.com on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

5) You must be 18 years or older to enter. Under 18 will need a parent's consent.

6) Shipping to P.O. Box is fine.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

- Suzanna

Beauty Solutions: DIY Waxing Kit

To shave or not to shave? That is almost always the question when it comes to dealing with the bikini area. Shaving certainly is convenient. It's there when you need it, you don't have to make an appointment, you don't have to bare your unmentionables to a stranger and it's free (once you buy the razor, that is). Of course, after even the best shaves, stubble, can rear its ugly head and make you remember why you hate shaving! The itching, the discomfort and that's AFTER the red, raised, bumps and irritation that happen right after shaving. When you put it all together, maybe shaving isn't the best way to clean up that bikini line.

One of the most popular methods for removing hair from the bikini area is waxing. Though waxing is not a permanent method for hair removal, when done properly, waxing can keep the bikini area smooth for as long as six weeks, says Lynn McGalliard, a certified esthetician at Parks Salon in Valencia, California (a Los-Angeles suburb). McGalliard stresses that in order to achieve the best results, you should wait until the hair has grown to at least 1/4 to 1/2 inch before scheduling an appointment. If the hair is longer, the esthetician will trim the hair with scissors before using the wax.

With that said - for the DIY (Do It Yourself) woman, I recommend using the Spa Wax Hair Removal Kit. Only $9.99, it will leave your skin smooth and hair-free for up to 8 weeks. When the hair does regrow, it is much thinner and finer. With the Spa Wax Hair Removal Kit, you don't experience that itchiness and stubble that comes with the hair growing back. The Wax Hair Removal also minimizes your risks of getting bikini bumps because the entire hair is removed; not just the surface part of the hair, as in shaving. I'd be lying if I said waxing didn’t hurt, but the process is so fast that any pain or discomfort is transient. The Spa Wax Hair Removal Kit is formulated with lavender, making this kit good for those with sensitive skin. And to top it off, it comes with a Soothing Azulene Finishing Oil.

Here are some important facts to keep in mind before you wax: First, do not to exercise prior to waxing. This can make the skin more sensitive because the perspiration just under the skin's surface can make it more difficult for the wax to adhere properly to the skin and hair. When attempting to remove the wax strip, it can pull the skin, which is very painful and can even cause bruising. Be sure not to wax after a tanning session. Also, menstruation can make your skin more sensitive, thereby increasing the discomfort associated with the procedure. And finally, if you use Accutane, or apply Retin-A and Retin-A-containing products such as Renova to the bikini area: stay away from waxing! Vitamin A meds and creams have the theoretical potential of increasing skin fragility which can result in tearing when the wax is removed. Now that you know the ins and outs of waxing - you are now free to remove your unwanted hair safely.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

- Suzanna

To Shave Or Not To Shave?

That is almost always the question when it comes to dealing with the bikini area. Shaving certainly is convenient. It's there when you need it, you don't have to make an appointment, you don't have to bare your unmentionables to a stranger and it's free (except for buying the razor, that is).

Of course, after even the best of shaves, that little unwelcome visitor, stubble, rears its ugly head and makes you remember why you hate shaving! The itching, the discomfortand that's AFTER the red, raised, bumps and irritation that happen right after shaving. When you put it all together, maybe shaving isn't the best way to clean up that bikini line. So, short of leaving the area untamed and unworthy of even a modest one-piece bathing suit, what's a girl to do?

Today, there are lots of alternatives to sending your hairs under the blade, if you will: Waxing, electrolysiseven laser hair removal. Understanding the benefits and not-so-great sides of each method will help you make the best decision for you.

And even if you're committed to keeping your razor, there are a host of products and techniques that you can use to minimize, or even eliminate, those notorious "bikini bumps."

If you appreciate the always-ready convenience of shaving, there are a few things you can do to minimize the "bikini bump" syndrome that often accompanies this home hair-removal method.

First, be sure to adequately wet the skin and the bikini hair. Since pubic hair is much more coarse than hair on other parts of the body, this saturating step is very important. Using a large amount of a moisturizing shaving cream, such as Aveeno Therapeutic Shaving Gel or Whish Shave Crave - Almond used with Whish Original Body Brush, helps soften the hair even more, making shaving easier.

When you begin to shave, pull the skin tight with your non-shaving hand. Then shave in upward strokes. Make sure there is adequate shaving cream on the hair and skin before each stroke. Without this protection, you're likely to get red and bumpy after you shave.

Some experts recommend rubbing an ice cube over the shaved bikini area to reduce redness and discomfort. A nice application of a soothing after-shave product, such as California North After Shave Care can help make you more comfortable. And if those nasty bikini bumps do appear, try MD Formulations Glycare Acne Gel, which is great for sending them packing.

Rubbing alcohol-based shaving bump products have made a name for themselves but be careful. Alcohol can actually worsen the inflammation. And the active ingredient in most of these products is nothing more than aspirin. So consider taking a Tylenol or Advil before you shave to reduce the amount of inflammation that may arise. You'll be able to skip the alcohol and still reap the benefits.

Another option to reduce skin inflammation: look to GHK Copper Peptides. Best known for their use in skin rejuvenation, these handy little molecules first made their presence known in the wound healing world. Try a dab of Neova After Shave Therapyafter shaving and see if you don't get some well deserved relief.

Are you acne prone after shaving? Then fall back upon a standard, benzoyl peroxide to be precise. No longer relegated to prescription status, using a bpo based product such as B. Kamins Medicated Acne Gel with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide or MD Formulations Benzoyl Peroxide 10 can make a world of difference. Follow this up with one of your favorite options above and wear your bikini with flare!

And finally, to decrease the discomfort of the soon-to-return stubble, make sure to keep the area well moisturized between shaves.

"Fashion Is Foremost Inspiration"

- Suzanna