Gym Beauty Bag

How to get smooth feet: UTILYZE Electronic Foot File

January 17, 2017 · 2 Comments

There are many callus removal and rough foot skin treatments including salon treatments, chemical concoctions, and even garra rufa, a fish pedicure where fish eat the dead skin off the feet! But smooth, callus-free feet are easily achieved at home with the right tool. We like the Utilyze Electronic Foot File, a powerful, rechargeable device for quickly and easily getting soft, callus-free feet with smooth, flake-free heels.

Utilize Electronic Foot File

SPRING’S ALMOST HERE: TURN FANGLY FEET INTO PRETTY PIGGIES NOW
In winter, it’s easy to hide less-than-glamourous rough and dry feet in warm, thick socks and forgiving, snuggly boots. But as of this writing, spring is only two months away, and foot-flaunting open-back shoes and sandals come with it. And if a vacation to a warm weather locale is in your immediate future, getting your feet smooth and callus-free is a priority.

Utilize Electronic Foot File

TESTING THE UTILYZE ELECTRONIC FOOT FILE

I charged the device for eight hours before use; it plugs in by the included USB port charger. Once the light turns green, it is ready for use. I went to work on my callus and cringe-worthy dry heels.

I am frequently barefoot at home and have calluses on the outer side of my big toes. I tend to procrastinate on removing these calluses because it’s tediously time-consuming filing away with sanding file sticks or pumices, and the results are often just okay despite filing until my arm gets too tired. But the removal process is simple with the Utilyze Electronic Foot File. I used the File two ways by doing one big toe callus completely dry and the other big toe callus after soaking my foot to soften the callus. Both worked very well.

Utilize Electronic Foot File

Some things I especially appreciated:

1) POWERFUL: Utilyze Electronic Foot File is a very powerful callus remover, but if you press the roller too hard to the skin, the motor stops. I like this feature so that the skin itself does not get damaged and there is no burning sensation from overuse.
2) EASY GRIP: It is very easy to grip and to use, my hand and arm do not get tired when using it.
3) FAST RESULTS: It is much quicker than using a manual file or pumice with far superior results
4) SAFETY: It is safer and more sanitary than other means of callus removal such as razors or grinders that cut the skin. It is CE international safety standards approved.
5) COMFORTABLE TO USE: It doesn’t feel hot to the touch during use, and it isn’t painful or uncomfortable to remove the dead skin.
6) EASY TO USE: With a manual sander or pumice stone, I used a lot of “elbow grease” to get the job done. But this device just requires a light, gentle glide over the skin. There is no need to rub or scrub, press or push the roller into the skin; the device does all the work.
7) LONG-LASTING CHARGE: So far the one charge has lasted through a few sessions and has retained the same level of power.

Utilize Electronic Foot File

RESULTS:

Utilyze Electronic Foot File made quick work of smoothing my heels; that happened quickly in a few minutes. The callus removal I did in two sessions, using the fine roller. Not being familiar with the device at first, I didn’t know if the skin could use a rest, but it probably could’ve been done in one session. So far, the calluses have not returned, and my feet stay smooth after a very quick treatment. I also lightly glided it over the soles of my feet and toes to remove general dead skin.

The results were better than I got from the decadent foot soak and pedicure treatment that came with a full spa day of beauty pampering at a very expensive salon. As relaxing as a spa foot treatment can be, I prefer having my own filing device to eliminate any risk of infection.

I was also surprised at *how* much dead skin exfoliated so quickly into a fine powdery dust, so make sure to use the device somewhere it is easy to clean up afterward or drape a towel, drape cloth or old newspapers under your feet.

Utilize Electronic Foot File

BOX CONTENTS:
The device comes boxed with the rechargeable file itself, instructions, a USB port charger, one fine roller and two coarse rollers, a roller cover cap, and a cleaning brush. The color choices are red or black.

Replacement rollers are available at Amazon when they eventually need to be replaced, but they are pretty solid and clean up well.

Utilize Electronic Foot File

CONSTRUCTION:
The device is well constructed with sturdy materials; it is suitable for professional use. There are no loose or shoddy parts. I like that it’s rechargeable so that it is a sealed device instead of requiring batteries. It comes with a three-year warranty program.

It is easy to switch out the roller heads by pressing the button on the side which releases the current roller.

Utilize Electronic Foot File

CLEANING THE DEVICE:
There is a small brush included in the kit to remove any dry skin dust debris from small crevices, and the roller quickly washed off under a running faucet.

CONCLUSION:
The Utilyze Electronic Foot File is a very powerful callus remover, suitable for men and women that gets the job done!

It is an easy, enjoyable beauty treatment that provides instant gratification of smooth, softer foot skin. It smoothes tough callused feet to as soft as silk.

Unlike hand-held foot files, The Utilyze Electronic Foot File gives very effective results and leaves my feet soft enough to ensure against snagging expensive hosiery or trouser socks. It also leaves feet smooth enough to go bare foot or wear strappy sandals. Better results than I got at the spa!

Find the Utilyze Electronic Foot File at https://www.amazon.com/UTILYZE-Rechargeable-Electronic-Pedicure-Turbo-Boost/dp/B00QXHH5Z2/.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2APaJosz6tY[/embedyt]

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

October 13, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Nature’s Rite promotes Muscle Honey as The Pro-Athlete’s Secret which, at first blush, might make sedentary me seem like an unlikely candidate to use and benefit from this product. But my daughter Courtney suggested I give it a try, and from the first use I became a fan.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

The honey is a light gel with nine herbal ingredients including comfrey for tissue mending, Witch Hazel for increased muscle fiber lubricity, Arnica Montana to support healing, Juniper Berry to flush lactic acid, Sweet Marjoram for cramp relief, White Willow Bark for pain relief, Peppermint leaf for circulation and physical support, Devil’s Claw for joint support and Ginseng for energy enhancement. Additionally, there is carbomer for gelling, Optiphen as a preservative, and TEA for pH adjustment.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

The directions for use is to rub liberally on the body over areas you will exercise and also post workout for enhanced recovery.

My interest in using the product stems from experiencing ongoing muscle pain and soreness associated with injuries sustained in two motor vehicle accidents occurring during the past two and a half years. The road towards achieving the maximum recovery possible has involved much treatment and physical therapy, where this former couch potato became a conscientious exerciser.

Over the course of these last 30+ months I’ve tried many over-the-counter and two prescription topical medications to try to ease both inherent (to the injuries) pain and post-physical therapy sore muscles. Additionally, joint pain from the auto accidents is a daily problem I’ve tried to alleviate with creams and gels. And, while I did experience minor relief with some of those preparations, the degree of help was not sufficient for me to tolerate over time the objectionable aspects such as burning, odor, greasiness and even staining of my clothes and sheets.

For me, Muscle Honey proved to be superior to the preparations formerly used in both results and ease of use. The gel is relatively thin which makes it easy to spread, not runny or difficult to control. It dries very quickly and is not sticky, nor does it leave any residue. When applying it has a very subtle herbal fragrance, the combination of which is most pleasant. When dry you would not notice the fragrance unless you were right up to the applied area and made a point to try to detect it.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

There is no burn or sting such as one might experience in other topical products whose ingredient lists contain menthol or capsaicin. Though made for use with exercise, you don’t have to worry that it will sweat off.

I make a point to wash my hands after applying any topical, having been (literally) burned by accidentally rubbing my eye with fingers that had residue from creams, gels or ointments containing menthol or capsaicin. It seems to me a good practice even with this product, although the risk of any untoward effect would seem much less with Muscle Honey due to the lack of those ingredients or other common irritants in the formula.

As mentioned at the top, each of the herbal ingredients has a particular benefit for helping muscle tissue. Combined, the effect seems more than the sum of the parts. Since it doesn’t have any ingredients that work by irritating the muscles and overlying skin, you won’t notice an instant response, but after a few minutes, I sensed what might be termed a relaxation of the muscle. Joints also seem calmed by the formula.

I use Muscle Honey on my right-sided injuries from neck to toe, and it has helped them feel more like my less affected left side. It’s especially useful on areas where the injury is primarily muscular but has even provided some temporary relief of a pressing problem, muscular involvement and referred pain due to a shoulder tear. While, of course, no topical preparation or even ingested meds can replace the need for surgical repair, there is no question that, by addressing the muscular component of the problem, my daily function of the area is improved for a time.

I apply Muscle Honey to most of the affected areas once a day, but if there is a reemergence of pain or soreness in any area I apply to that spot again.

Even using the Muscle Honey on five to six areas one or more times a day for awhile now, the 6.8-ounce container still seems at least half full. I’m not sure how my usage would compare to that of an avid athlete, but the 6.8 ounces would probably last a reasonable length of time for many users. I intend to continue using the product I’ve checked and see if from about fourteen dollars up to twenty dollars for this 6.8-ounce container, similar to what I’ve paid for other drugstore products marketed for the same use.

Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey

Of course, it is always wise to check symptoms with your doctor to avoid masking a serious underlying issue, but, if yours is the muscular pain and soreness associated with exercise or other common causes, you might find this product a good alternative to many others whose negatives outweigh their positives. Before using any product, read over the ingredient list and make sure that there are no conflicts with any medications or conditions you have.

I truly am thrilled to have found this amazing gel! Find Nature’s Rite Muscle Honey at MyNaturesRite.com.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzrFkJPzr-g[/embedyt]

How to Drink More Water: THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE

October 4, 2016 · Leave a Comment

BEAUTY & WATER:
One of the best beauty-enhancing daily habits you can have is to drink lots of water. It keeps your skin glowing and unclogged of toxins; it gives you energy, and it helps manage weight gain. You really can’t beat the dewy glow from being well-hydrated. This is not news by any means, but it is worth discussing because accomplishing this basic beauty habit is easier said than done: guzzling your daily water intake can seem unappealing when compared to drinking delicious coffee and sugary beverages.

But it is a worthwhile beauty goal. According to a recent study, 20% of women that drank 1.5 liters of water daily saw a reduction in wrinkles after six weeks. In another study, people reported clearer skin and less acne within a week of drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day. So how much water should you drink and what can help make that water appealing enough to meet your water consumption goal?

HOW MUCH WATER TO DRINK?
There are various opinions on how much water one should consume daily. For the sake of your skin, it is typically 4-5 glasses a day. This is the amount needed for your organs to function properly and remove toxins from your body, including the skin. This amount also helps with clearing acne. The amount of water required varies a bit from person to person based on your weight and other health issues. As a general guide, you are hydrated enough if your urine is a light wheat color. If not, you are dehydrated, whether you feel thirsty or not.

To avoid dehydration, keep sipping water throughout the day.

THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE: HOW TO MAKE IT A DAILY WATER DRINKING HABIT APPEALING
Some people like to add a slice of lemon or infuse their water with fruit. This is helpful to make your daily water intake taste more appealing. But the biggest aid to making daily water consumption easier is often the temperature of the water: chilled water is energizing and refreshing, especially after a workout or on a hot day. Cold water is just easier to drink. It is also helpful for burning extra calories: your body burns more calories with cold water than drinking tepid, warm or hot water.

The Coldest Water Bottle is an easily portable water that keeps water at a cold temperature, providing access to icy-cold water that stays at an even cold temperature all day. It is not just a water bottle with an ice core center insert that keeps the water cooler inside the bottle. The Coldest Water Bottle keeps water at a constant ICE COLD temperature for up to 25 hours, and any ice in the bottle stays in ice form during that time.

THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
Made of stainless steel, it is a long-lasting, quality water bottle that does not need to be frequently replaced like plastic bottles. It uses double wall insulation with materials designed to keep water cold for more than 25 hours with no sweating. It floats in oceans and pools and its 99% of cup holders, so you have no excuse NOT to get your daily water intake. BPA and toxin free, it is safer than other water bottles that can quickly harbor bacteria (and odor) within its’ plastic walls.

It is made for athletes but is suitable for any environmentally conscious person who wants to carry cold water with them throughout the day or for a late-day workout. The Coldest Water bottle is intended for lifetime use.

PUTTING COLDEST WATER BOTTLE TO THE TEST
THE PROBLEM: The gym I belong to has ice-cold bottled water chilled in a vending machine for $2.50 a bottle, and each pilates class or gym session I would typically need two of these 12-ounce bottles. And sometimes after a particularly busy class, the vending machine runs out of water entirely. I tried to bring my bottled water, but I wanted the *COLD* water during and after my workout. The problem is, I go to the gym after work, so if I bring water from home, it would have to stay cold for about 11 hours by the time I get to the gym.

TESTING THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE: Turns out, the Coldest Water Bottle keeps water cold for a very long time, it keeps water cold all day and keeps a full bottle cold for a late-day workout. The ice cubes stay as ice cubes; they don’t substantially melt. I filled the bottle with ice cubes and cold water from the tap at around 7 A.M. Ten hours later the ice was still in ice cube form with no melting or “sweating.” In the meantime, the bottle sat in the warm car without the benefit of air conditioning. When I drank my water at the gym, almost twelve hours later, it was still ice cold! Pretty impressive. The leftover ice stayed unmelted afterward until I dumped it out when I got home that night, a few hours after my workout, probably hour 16 at that point. Very nice!

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaymAIT94uw[/embedyt]

CONCLUSION: A sturdy, well-constructed water bottle, just fill it with water and ice and go. Carrying a Coldest Water Bottle will remind you to drink water and keep track of how much you are drinking. It is the perfect bottle for athletes, Mom’s with thirsty kids, campers, beach-goers, or anyone who wants to have access to cold water during the day. I also find it useful for keeping some cold water in a car during the summer to stay hydrated in the case of unexpected delays or emergencies.

The Coldest Water Bottle is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective choice, saving you from buying repeated plastic water bottles. The stainless steel is sturdy without being too heavy to carry in my bag. Since I have had the bottle, I have remembered to bring water with me each day, and it stays ice cold in my bag while I am in transit. The bottle does not leak, so it is safe to put in your backpack or briefcase. The stainless steel naturally is bacteria resistant, which feels cleaner to transport around places like the gym. Since I have had the Coldest Water Bottle, I stay hydrated at the gym, at work, and I haven’t had to buy chilled plastic bottled water when I am out. A very worthwhile investment that saves both the environment and saves money on bottled water costs.

Find this great bottle at TheColdestWater.com

THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE

Sensation Professional Electric Straightener Brush

September 19, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Sensation Professional Electric Straightener Brush

I have long work days, especially the days I commute into the city. My morning commute is about an hour, then a brief windy walk outside to the office building, a long day of work, and then usually some post-work socializing before going home.

My hairstyle has usually fallen flat by 5:30, so I was excited to try something that could quickly enliven my style, smooth my wind-blown hair and add some shine.
It heats up almost immediately and quickly gives a nice shiny and smooth look to hair.

The instructions outline how to hold the brush to add some volume to the roots, and the ends and length of the hair look smooth. It is no more work than brushing your hair. My hair did not feel dry or damaged like when I use hot rollers or other hot tools. My styling products such as any hair spray or spray in treatments like BlowPro Thickening Spray are not gunky or sticky after using the comb, which is a nice advantage over re-styling your hair with a curling iron.

There is a nice V-shaped tool for separating out sections – sort of a rat tail comb on one side, a thin brush on the other. I have found this useful with other styling products as well, such as when using hot rollers.

I also tried the brush on my Mom, who has dry, wiry hair that only briefly conforms to any straightening efforts with rollers. It smoothed her hair immediately with a very straightforward and quick brush through, it was smooth and shiny with a nice flip curl at the ends. It also imparted a bit of bounce.

There is an excellent swivel cord. Products often SAY they have a swivel cord, but this one completely swivels without adjusting how you hold your arm. This is a nice feature.

Of course, like other hot tools, I would advise using a thermal mat to allow the brush to cool down after use. While the handle is not hot to the touch when using it, the brush itself is 450 degrees. I use a simple thin silicone cooling sheet for cookie trays, though there are dedicated thermal mats available if you prefer that.

Sensation Professional Electric Straightener Brush

I’m thrilled with this brush and use it a few times a week. I don’t like using thermal tools too often because they damage my hair, but there seems to be far less damage and dryness using this brush than other tools, so I feel comfortable using it more often.

In the video below, it was incredibly humid all day with torrential downpours most of the day, and this brush left my mother’s hair smooth for hours. Nice!

Find it at Amazon.

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and I’ll do my best to answer it!

Travel: Mr. Sleek Toiletry Bag

September 19, 2016 · Leave a Comment

The Mr. Sleek Toiletry Bag comes in three different colors; we selected pink, and we use it to hold makeup and beauty supplies while traveling, going to the gym, or for makeup redo jobs if we are leaving for a social event directly after work.

Mr. Sleek Toiletry Bag

SIZE AND APPEARANCE
About the size of a purse, it is suitable for discretely carrying to the ladies room for a mid-day emergency beauty touchup (or total overhaul). It is also suitable for using as a handbag/carryall for the gym to hold my jewelry, phone, wallet, makeup, and toiletries for taking a post-workout shower and styling my hair afterward. There are convenient pockets to hold my gym membership card so I can quickly swipe my card and get to my workout.

Mr. Sleek Toiletry Bag

CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
There is a black plastic hook to hold it upright in place when used in a locker or bathroom, and a handle for carrying it. There is a fair amount of cushioning within the bag to keep items safe in transit. It is waterproof and leakproof, which is particularly useful when transporting multiple beauty products that could cause a mess in your suitcase.

The bag comes with a black eye mask and earplugs, suitable for use to get some sleep while traveling. This bag would be very helpful if you choose to keep your beauty supplies with you while traveling, which I prefer to do whenever possible to keep them out of my luggage and avoid hot/cold weather extremes when luggage is in the trunk of the car.

There are two internal zippered pockets for holding more fragile makeup powders or perhaps jewelry during a gym workout. I use it to hold more expensive beauty items. For example, my Hourglass powder trio is very delicate so I keep it in the box when using it outside of the house, and having a secure pocket to hold it in is very useful to keep it safe.

The deep middle pocket holds a long thin can of hairspray or dry shampoo, face wash and a ton of makeup and beauty supplies, as seen in the photos.

It has multiple side pockets for various makeup pencils, makeup brushes, toothpaste and toothbrush and makeup palettes. The inner side pocket is useful for holding a wallet and different cards, or a small book or journal. The pockets are deep enough to hold a full 8-ounce size tube of lotion or face wash. I carry hand cream in this pocket.

Mr. Sleek Toiletry Bag

CONCLUSION: Useful for carrying all your toiletries and beauty tools while traveling, post-gym workouts, or to discretely redo your look after work before a night out, the Mr. Sleek bag holds a TON of stuff in an easy-to-find internal design that keeps even delicate items securely in place.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyKQ-6XRM1A[/embedyt]

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and I’ll do my best to answer it!