Spa Economy

Spa Experience at Home

DIY Spa treatments light therapy, dermaplaning, chemical peels, hair masque, hair removal, massagers, acupressure, spa gadgets, and products. We tried a collection of hair, skin, and body pampering products and gadgets at home and report our experience.

Le Edge Full Body Exfoliator: What to Know

August 3, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Le Edge Full Body Exfoliator

Summertime skin care requires lots of exfoliating to stay smooth. But those of us with sensitive skin on our face and body often find scrubs and loofahs too abrasive. So I was glad to find this Le Edge Full Body Exfoliator, which is a no-chemical, gentle means of exfoliation. It does not irritate the skin or micro-tear the skin. The problem I find with many exfoliating methods such as scrubs and creams is that they contain harsh grains that can do damage to the healthy skin in the process of removing dry, flaky or dead skin.

ABOUT THE Le Edge Full Body EXFOLIATOR

Shaped something like a small squeegee, it has a stainless steel dull “blade” that gently and hygienically lifts and removes dirt, debris, and dead skin cells without irritating the underlying skin. The stainless steel blade will not rust and is naturally bacteria free. It is dull and smooth, you cannot cut or scrape yourself with the blade, but you can over-do it if you are too aggressive. It is intended for use on both the body and the face.

This kind of tool is different from pumices or loofahs because it just removes the skin that is ready to exfoliate away without disrupting skin that is healthy and should not be removed prematurely. There are no chemicals or drying agents, just the ability to exfoliate without introducing bacteria into the area.

RESULTS

I was surprised that such light pressure at a 45-degree angle could remove so much dead skin from both the face and the body. It is important that the skin is wet, and it is best used in the shower after the skin has had a few minutes to absorb moisture, which allows for the best conditions to remove more dead skin. I do my face first, then rinse it off and use it on my body, periodically rinsing it off in the water stream, and I use it on my feet last.

EXFOLIATING THE FACE
On the face, it helped to remove dead skin, oil, sebum and even some blackheads, especially around the nose. It did not irritate or open the skin on some healing acne I have, but it did slough off the dead skin around the blemish. I was surprised to see how much dead skin exfoliates off of the nose, chin, and jawline, as well as my throat. I made sure to use gentle strokes on the face; it seems like the tool won’t accomplish much because the stainless steel blade is not sharp, but it does remove skin quickly.

AFTER CHEMICAL PEELS
A tell-tale sign that one is using chemical peels or Retinol is a very light layer of peeling on the face. Trying to remove this light peeling is tricky since too much scrubbing or exfoliating scrubs or creams can make the peeling seem even worse.

This Le Edge Exfoliator tool is especially useful if you use AHA peels, or you are on a Retinoid or Vitamin C serum program and have some very light peeling dry skin that you don’t wish to scrub off vigorously with a washcloth or sponge, but still need to remove it before applying any makeup. This Le Edge exfoliator removes this lightly peeling skin gently so that you don’t damage the skin but can still remove light peeling and apply makeup over it.

EXFOLIATING THE BODY
Before applying lotions or self-tanning creams, this gives a smooth, debris-free surface for makeup, tanning lotions or creams to adhere. It is not irritating like a loofah or pumice could be, so the skin will not be red and sensitive after use. I was impressed to see how much dead skin comes off the feet, as well as hard to reach areas such as knees, elbows, upper arms, and thighs. I often overlook these areas during my skin care routine, but the Le Edge Exfoliator makes quick work of keeping these areas smooth.

Le Edge Full Body Exfoliator

CONCLUSION

I was impressed to see how much dead skin this Le Edge tool removes without irritating the skin. This is ideal for when you need to do more than one task on your skin that might irritate your skin, such as shaving and exfoliation, exfoliation and applying self-tanner, or exfoliating and applying makeup afterward. Particularly useful for those who use retinol, acne creams, and do at-home chemical peels and experience some light peeling of the skin which needs to be removed with care.

Le Edge Full Body Exfoliator

Find it at http://www.le-edge.us

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

Lift Care Essential Wet/Dry Callus Remover

July 1, 2016 · 6 Comments

Lift Care Essential Wet/Dry Callus Remover

This Lift Care Essential Wet/Dry Callus Remover is a rechargeable device with a rotating head that fits two different size callus remover rollers. A cool feature that it charges with a USB charger, which is convenient and fast.

My big toes and heels tend to get pretty rough over the winter, so before summer my feet generally are in need of a foot makeover. I have used manual callus removers in the past that get the job done, but it requires some elbow grease and a few sessions to get the dead skin off. The Lift Care remover exfoliates dry skin easily while I watch TV or read, it is fast to use, and it is an easier cleanup. I find it works better wet getting off the initial layer of dead skin, and dry works best for fine buffing to smooth the skin of remaining flakes.

TIP: The best way use is this to move the device slowly on the surface of the skin, only allowing it to stay in one place for 2-3 seconds at a time. If the unit stops, you are pressing too hard. It took a bit of practice for me to get used to this since I am used to applying a fair amount of pressure when using a manual callus remover. That pressure is not needed with this device. You only need to glide it over your skin to exfoliate.

It comes with a cleaning brush, and it cleans up easily in running water because it is waterproof. The two rollers heads are for working on larger or smaller areas, such as the large one for the heel and the smaller roller for calluses on the toes.

The callus remover comes partial charged but does require a full charge before use.

CONCLUSION: a very useful device that makes quick work of getting feet ready for showing off during sandal season. Charges quickly, sturdy materials, easy to clean.

Lift Care Essential Wet/Dry Callus Remover

I received this product in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

Mediderm Glow Renewal Enzyme Blackhead Peel Off Mask

June 15, 2016 · 1 Comment

Mediderm Glow Renewal Enzyme Blackhead Peel Off Mask

I am newly obsessed with Mediderm Glow Renewal Enzyme Blackhead Peel Off Mask.

I have stubborn blackheads and a few whiteheads that don’t respond to scrubbing or exfoliating, especially on the curve of my nostrils. These types of blackheads are noticeable, especially against my pale skin. I have used nose strips with limited success because they only remove parts of the sebum plug of a blackhead. So I was excited to try Mediderm Blackhead Remover to dissolve and peel away my blackheads, especially on my nose and chin.

The Mediderm Laboratories Glow Renewal Enzyme Blackhead Peel Off Mask is a thick, honey-like consistency that glides on smoothly and dries down to a thin film. It smells a bit like warm bread. After 5-30 minutes you peel it off, and dead and flaky skin, blackheads, and stubborn whiteheads come off with it. Upon removal, it feels like peeling off thin saran wrap, like the overwrap on vegetables from the supermarket. It removes cleanly in large pieces without residue but some little bits needed to be washed off in the crevices of the skin. You can see blackhead sebum and oil buildup removed instantly. The peel removed some deep blackheads and whiteheads and unclogged some congested skin on my cheeks. My pores appeared smaller once the skin congestion was removed by the peel.

I was primarily interested in blackhead and whitehead removal, but the peel is also a fading cream that helps pigmentation problems by lightening the appearance of freckles, acne, scars and age spots. My age spots faded in color, and my skin was left glowing. There was no irritation.

TIP: I found this worked even better the second time by washing my face and then holding a hot washcloth or compress on my problem areas such as my nose first to open the pores.

CONCLUSION: I am very excited about this product, it removes stubborn blackheads and dead skin without causing irritation. It is fun to peel off and leaves skin smooth. I am excited to use it again to lighten dark spots on my face and to keep my nostrils blackhead-free.

Mediderm Glow Renewal Enzyme Blackhead Peel Off Mask

Primiracle Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash

June 6, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Summer is already here, and it is time to go into skin-softening overdrive for skin that has been covered up all winter such as arms, shoulders and legs. With the hot air and moisture-robbing air conditioning, and the sun, sand, and pool water, the skin on my legs can use all the help they can get. I like to switch to a gentle hydrating body wash in the summer to maximize my moisturizing efforts. If that is a natural product, all the better.

Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash is a hydrating cleanser that lathers enough to provide a good base for shaving my legs without excessively stripping moisture. I like that the cleansing ingredients are strong enough to clean and remove bacteria, sunscreen lotions or oils, yet there are plenty of gentle ingredients so that it can be used for even sensitive skin conditions such as eczema.

USE
The bottle recommends using the wash with use a loofah, washcloth or your hands. I also found it worked well with my Clarisonic Body Brush Head or a gentle sponge. Only a small amount of wash is needed, about the size of a quarter, and if I am also shaving my legs about a half dollar total. There is a sudsy lather, and it washes away cleanly without a residue.

SCENT
A fresh but very light scent of Tea Tree, Aloe Vera, and lemons while in use, it dries down to a not-detectible scent that does not conflict with any perfumes. The lemon scent is decidedly closer to a limoncello than an artificial Lemon Pledge. I wouldn’t mind if this scent lasted on the skin afterward but I really can’t smell it on myself after use.

INGREDIENTS
Aloe Vera: Did you have an Aloe Vera Plant in your home growing up? We did, and every time someone got a sunburn, out came a cutting of an Aloe leaf and the sticky goo from inside the leaf to soothe it. Aloe Vera hydrates the skin without making it greasy, and when combined with other ingredients, it does not leave the sticky feeling associated with a direct application. Aloe Vera increases the water content of the skin, moisturizing and plumping the skin with hydration. What I find particularly interesting about Aloe Vera is how it is useful for all skin types: it treats acne, it soothes and de-inflames eczema, it tones oily skin, it hydrates dry skin. Multi-purpose Aloe Vera has Gibberellin, which stimulates the growth of new cells. It also keeps flaky, dry skin at bay. A soothing moisturizer that keeps skin hydrated during cleansing, Aloe is a great addition to a body cleanser.

Lemons are an antioxidant cleansing agent rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C assists with collagen production. Lemons also serve as a toner for the skin. Over time, they lighten dark areas such as elbows and knees and make skin appear clear and bright.

Tea Tree Oil has multiple skin care benefits including antibacterial and anti-fungal properties which provide protection against a whole host of infections.

Eucalyptus Oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, so it heals irritation and insect bites. It also soothes and treats acne and inflammation. It has an invigorating sensation when used within a skin wash.

Lavendin Oil is an invigorating form of lavender that repels mosquitos and soothes tired, aching muscles and reduces inflammation. Unlike the lavender variant that causes one to feel sleepy, this stimulating ingredient makes for a great morning pick-me-up in the shower.

RESULTS
I like that this body wash is all natural yet still leaves my skin clean and moisturized. The fine line between a body wash that is overly harsh on the skin and one that is not robust enough to remove toxins and dirt from the beach or being outside is a delicate balance. The proper ingredients in a body wash are essential, or else you negate all your diligent moisturizing efforts. I like the combination of ingredients to both clean, protect, moisturize and invigorate, and I love the lemon scent. It is powerful enough to remove residual bug sprays and sunscreen from an outdoor picnic outing yet gentle enough not to deplete skin of natural oils. A small amount goes a long way towards soft, clean skin.

Primiracle Natural Soothing Moisturizing Body Wash