• Beauty
    • Better Beauty Sleep
    • Beauty Expert Advice
    • Cosmetics
    • Discontinued Clinique
    • How to…
    • Science of Beauty
  • Beauty Devices
    • Hair Styling Tools
    • Hair Growth Devices
    • Makeup Tools & Brushes
    • Skin Tools & Devices
  • Haircare
    • Hair Growth
    • Hair Maintenance Products
    • Haircare Tools
    • Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatments + Pre Poo Hair Conditioning Remedies
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Food
    • Luxe Living
    • Tea
    • Technology
    • Travel
  • Organic
    • Clean & Green Beauty
    • Essential Oils
  • Beauty Glossary
    • Ingredient Glossary A – Z
    • Ingredient Guide
  • Skincare
    • Anti-Aging
    • Skin Devices & Topicals
    • Skincare We Love
    • Science of Skincare
  • Contact Us
    • About the Style Chicks
  • Favorite Things
    • Products We Love
    • Brand Profiles
    • Favorite Skincare
  • SC Gift Edit
    • The Gift Edit
    • Gift Ideas

Style Chicks

Where Nature & Science Meet Skincare, Haircare, Beauty & Wellness

Tea: Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

November 30, 2016 · Leave a Comment

The Style Chicks love tea. The Style Chicks love glowing skin. The Style Chicks love not feeling incredibly sore after Arm Workout Day. The Style Chicks love organic, all natural products. For all of these reasons and more, Style Chicks love Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea.

 

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

 

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea is a magnificent blend of organic powdered turmeric, ginger, fennel, anise seed, true cinnamon, and vanilla. Sounds like a Chai variant to you? It is along that flavor line, but it packs far more flavor, not to mention health benefits. It is pretty rare that I find a chai tea that tastes as good as it smells. This herbal tea actually tastes better than it smells, and it smells amazing!

The anti-inflammatory benefits of the ingredients, especially Tumeric and Ginger, are well documented. I take Tumeric supplements for its’ anti-inflammatory effects, but I am trying to use high-grade Tumeric in cooking more to get the most benefit from it. I also try to incorporate fresh ginger into recipes as much as I can. But what I like about Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea is that it contains high-grade powdered ingredients (with no additives!) in an easy to use way that incorporates seamlessly into my tea-drinking lifestyle. I stir the powder into hot water and enjoy the spicy, savory treat while getting an incredible amount of healthy anti-inflammatory benefits. I love that it doesn’t feel like I’m choosing the healthy option, but rather than I’m choosing the tasty option.

The benefits have been impressive. My skin is glowing. I had an angry blemish that was painful and very red. After a few days of drinking this tea, I noticed that while it wasn’t full flat yet, the redness had disappeared. Usually, blemishes stay red far beyond when they are flat on me, and the redness disappears over time. Because of the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of the tea, the blemish is flesh tone and far less noticeable!

My under eyes have also shown marked improvement. During Fall allergy season, my eyes always get puffy, and for the past two weeks, my orbital skin has been puffy and dark. The tea de-inflamed the area, and my eyes look great!

How the tea affects muscle recovery is also profoundly impressive. After a good Tracy Anderson workout, I tend to feel run over by a truck the next day. If I drink this tea as my recovery drink, I feel substantially less sore. It’s not just power of suggestion, either. I had a shoulder injury that leaves the joint quite inflamed. Last night I put my hand on the affected shoulder while I was in the middle of a conversation, and it was significantly less swollen than normal. Though I was absorbed in the conversation, the reduction of inflammation was enough to make me lose my train of thought. It took me a couple of minutes to realize that it is likely due to this amazing tea!

Not to split hairs, but technically this is a tisane since it is an herbal tea, not a true tea since no actual tea leaves are involved. However, this opens up options. If you want the health benefits of green tea but dislike the taste, try addition this mix into your tea, and the vegetal taste is greatly diminished. Lyn and I acquired a taste for straight green tea over time, but it took awhile (especially when we got into Matcha.) So if you are looking to start drinking green tea (or any tea), adding this mix turns a regular cup of tea into an amazingly tasty, incredibly healthy taste treat!

 

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

 

Mom tried it today and loved how full-bodied it is. She doesn’t like tea as much as Lyn and I do because it is, as she calls it, a “thin-bodied” beverage. She loves this tea because it is full bodied (think Hot Apple Cider straight from one of the many amazing New England orchards) and she considers it more of a savory snack for break time rather than just a hot beverage. So, if you are looking to cut out some calories by ditching your carby, sugary afternoon snack and want to replace it with a tasty, satisfying, healthy drink, this is ideal for you!

Lyn found that it had similar results for her in that it cut out her craving for a buttery carb mid-afternoon. As a family, buttery carbs are held in high culinary regard as a treat, so this is truly a testimony to this tea!

And don’t forget, it is all plant-based, organic, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and perfect for vegans!

Find this lovely tea at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HQWM6ZG?th=1.

And learn more about the incredible health benefits of Turmeric Curcumin!

I received this item 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!

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Anti-Aging, Beauty, Body, Food, Gifts, Health, Skincare, Tea
Tagged: Amid Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea, Anti-Acne, Anti-Aging, beauty, Body, Entertaining, Food, Skin, Skincare, Tea, Tea Tuesday, Tisane, Tumeric

Skincare: PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

October 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

ABOUT FACIAL CLEANSING BRUSHES
The facial cleansing brushes are popular because they make skin so smooth to the touch. But the benefits of a facial cleansing brush are not just softer skin: a facial cleansing brush provides a deeper clean to reduce bacteria and oil on the skin, as well as exfoliating dead skin cells, all of which result in less acne. Freshly exfoliated skin appears younger and radiant and exfoliation allows better absorption of products such as moisturizers, retinol, and Vitamin C serums. It is important, however, to exfoliate skin gently and hygienically so that any topical skin serum or product application does not cause undue irritation. This requirement makes a brush with anti-bacterial brush heads, such as the PleasingCare Facial Cleansing Brush, a real asset in skincare.

 

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

 

ABOUT THE PLEASINGCARE FACIAL CLEANSING BRUSH
The brush comes in a silvery muted glitter patterned hard box that is very suitable for gift giving. Inside the lid is packaged the sturdy zippered carrying case for the brush for storage and to take your brush while you travel. The rest of the items are placed within a compartmentalized secure base suitable for long-term storage. The box contains:

1) The PleasingCare facial brush, mine is pink
2) The brush charger
3) Three brush heads (with caps)
4) An all-cotton stretchy colorful headband to keep hair out of the way to better reach the forehead, temple and cheekbone area
5) Instruction Guide & One Year Warranty
6) A card to redeem for one year of free brush replacement heads

 

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

 

ABOUT THE BRUSHHEADS:
The brush set comes with three interchangeable heads, for use depending on your current skin care need. The bristles of the three brush heads are made of a bacteria resistant, soft material. These bristles are thinner in diameter than a human hair. None of the brush head bristles feel scratchy on the skin, but the white head (with the black ring) is the softest of the three. The ring in each brush rapidly oscillates at 300 vibrations per second. The inner circle of each brush head provides the deepest cleaning, the outer bristles vibrate but do not move, so they are the more gentle cleansing part of the tool.

1) White head: normal and sensitive skin brush
2) Green head: Acne removal brush
3) Blue head: deep cleansing pore brush, also useful for removing oily or mineral makeup debris.

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

 

I also use my brush on my throat, collarbone, decolletage and at times my shoulders. When used on the hands before a manicure, it quickly cleans up dry and flaking cuticles. The deep cleansing brush is particularly useful on the back of upper arms for tackling keratosis pilaris, those little white bumps that look similar to acne but do not respond to acne treatments. This brush provides bacteria-free exfoliation that it very useful just before the application of AHA and Salicylic Acid products to reduce or eliminate the bumps.

Both the white brush head and the blue brush head make for easy removal of oily, cream or powder makeup residue, even heavy makeup. The brush is not for use around the delicate undereye area.

PleasingCare Luxe Cashmere Brush Heads
There is also a separate 2-pack available of Luxe Cashmere brush heads which are compatible with all PleasingCare Cleansing Systems. These are as plush and luxurious as it sounds, with bristles twice as long as the other brush heads, and they softly bend for an extremely gentle cleansing, softer and more hygienic than washing by hand. I like the Luxe Cashmere brush head for skin that is very delicate due to sunburn, peeling, eczema, rosacea, or chemical peels. Ideal for ever-so-gently exfoliating wrinkles and enlarged pores, the Cashmere brush heads increase blood circulation in the skin. The Cashmere head also creates a nice fluffy foam and feels wonderful when used. Suitable for twice a day use even on very sensitive skin.

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush Luxe Brush Heads

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush Luxe Brush Head

ABOUT THE BRUSH

Some special features about this facial brush include:

GENTLE BUT EFFECTIVE EXFOLIATION:
The PleasingCare Cleansing System oscillating brush does not rotate, so it is not over-zealously “buffing” the skin like some brushes.

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

 

WATERPROOF:
The brush design is with sonic air compressor technology that makes it waterproof. It can be used in the shower, which I love because it is so convenient to use this way, and I also use it on my throat, chest, shoulders and the back of my arms. While waterproof, do not extendedly submerge the brush in water.

FAST RECHARGE:
The charger is a small inductive base about the size of a half dollar. It magnetically adheres to the front handle of the brush; there is no open hardware on the brush itself. The brush recharges quickly, the first charge takes 15 hours. A feature I like is the gentle, soothing light on the charge indicator instead of annoyingly bright light. Since I frequently recharge my devices overnight, it is nice to have a light that does not produce excess glare.

 

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush

 

EASY USE:
There are two-speed settings and one on/off switch. Once charged, the brush is cordless and portable. The buttons are big and easy to operate even with wet soapy hands.

T-ZONE MODE:
There is a built-in one-minute pulsing T-Zone timer for rapid, deep cleansing the forehead, chin, and nose. I like this feature so that I can both deep clean this oily area up to six times cleaner while still gently cleansing more delicate skin with the same brush head. This is superior to other facial brush cleansers that would require a changeout of the brush head to accomplish both a deep cleansing of the T-zone and cleansing normal skin areas.

EASY BRUSHHEAD REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT
To remove a brush head, place the plastic cap over the bristles and grasp the top and bottom of the brush in your index finger and thumb respectively. Press and twist the head counter-clockwise until the brush releases, like a medicine bottle cap. To apply a brush head, press it onto the base positioning it over the threads, turning clockwise and gently pop it into place until you hear a snap.

HOW TO USE THE BRUSH:
1. Select the brush head of your choice and put it on the brush device
2. Use the headband if desired
3. Dab a facial cleanser onto your damp skin
4. Wet the brush
5. Turn on the brush to the low or high setting (up or down). There is a built-in one-minute pulsing T-Zone timer for deeper cleansing the oiliest parts of your face.
6. GLIDE the brush head over your skin, keeping the head moving in slow, sweeping circular motions outwards. There is no need to press it into the skin firmly or to scrub your skin with the brush as if using a washcloth. Use light pressure only.
7. Do the forehead for 20 seconds, then ten seconds for each cheek, the nose, and the chin. You will feel a single pulsing surge when it is time to move to the next area.
8. Turn off the device
9. Rinse and dry
10. After each use, remove the brush head, wash the brush head with water and place in a well-ventilated area until dry.

TIP: The brush is safe for once a day use with the white, blue and green heads and the Luxe Cashmere heads can a particularly excellent value twice a day.

RESULTS
The PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush reduces and removes blackheads very quickly, especially on the nose and chin. There is also a reduction in the appearance of enlarged pores and fine wrinkles. The acne brush removes dry, flaky skin without irritating existing pimples. I especially love the Luxe Cashmere heads, they feel so soft and gentle that I was surprised to see how well they could exfoliate, but I have been very pleased with how smooth and flake free my skin is, and how soft and dewy my skin looks. My skin is gently exfoliated each day in one minute, leaving a fresh, clean surface to apply moisturizers and serums. The anti-bacterial brush heads are gentle on my skin but effective. The presentation style box makes it suitable as a gift. The PleasingCare offer of one additional year of free brush heads makes this set a particularly excellent value.

Find the PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush at PleasingCare.com and at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/PleasingCare-Cleansing-Included-Rechargeable-Cleaning/dp/B00OJFAPSY/.

You can purchase the PleasingCare LUXE Compatible Cashmere Cleanse Replacement Facial Brush Heads at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0151CK1ZA, and both are available on Prime Shipping!

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.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Anti-Aging, Beauty, Beauty Tools + Devices, Body, Gadgets, Skincare, Spa Economy
Tagged: Anti-Acne, Anti-Aging, Facial Cleansing, PleasingCare Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush, Skin, Skincare, Sonic Brush

Pimple Popping: Oak Leaf Blackhead Remover and Comedone Extractor Tool Kit

February 28, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Don’t pop pimples.

But we all do it sometimes anyways. So if you are going to mess with a blemish, at least do it right.

There is NO reason to be tempted to use your fingers to pick or squeeze a pimple or blackhead if you have this handy kit. You do your skin a world of good to give up poking and prodding your acne with your fingers (even if you washed your hands first, just don’t do it). The key is in addition to a good cleansing and exfoliating routine to reduce acne, invest in a good set of extractor tools when pesky acne crops up, which can happen no matter how much you do to keep your skin clean.

Ideally, one should topically medicate a pimple and ride it out. But, that is easier said than done. If you just CAN’T wait for a pimple to resolve on its’ own, extractors get the job done without introducing bacteria into the open area or damaging the skin. This means less redness in the area, no marks or swelling. I have used blackhead extractors for years and also started using long loops in the last couple years. Some extractors are plastic, which is not sturdy enough to apply enough force to get the job done, but is strong enough to damage capillaries. When choosing an extractor, whenever possible, invest in quality stainless steel. It lasts longer, it is durable, and it is more sanitary. This kit is an excellent investment, especially for this great price.

ABOUT THIS KIT:
I like this kit specifically because it is a nice high quality, surgical grade stainless steel, they are easy to hold and handle with grip grids on the tools themselves, and for about the price of one tool from a well-known popular brand name, you can get multiple high quality tools in this kit. It comes in a small zippered case with ample space to hold the tools securely. I like that the tools come in this enclosed case so they are not exposed to open air and stay more sanitary. The loops are large enough and sturdy enough to clean well and therefore can last for years.
The one downside I see to this kit is the lack of instructions, which is fine with me to get instructions elsewhere, or if you are someone who knows already how to use these tools, but someone who has not used such tools should review how to use these tools to remove a pimple or blackhead before use.

HOW TO USE THE TOOLS IN THIS KIT:

There are extractor round and long loops, a blackhead concave extractor, and pointed tips.

COMEDONE EXTRACTOR LOOPS: These are for pressing and extracting, especially on fleshy skin like cheeks or delicate skin.
There are three sizes of round loops. These are ideal for finding the right size and pressure on a sebum plug or puss filled pimple that is ready to come out, and these are especially useful if you know there is more contents underneath the surface. When choosing which size loop to use, you will want to use a loop that is small enough to apply pressure to the immediate circumference of the pimple, but not too small because this can push contents deeper into the skin. Once the correct loop size is selected, apply to around the pimple and drag it across the skin, pressing in only lightly when needed. Lightly sweep across the pimple a few times to pry it out slightly, then, surrounding the pimple, press very lightly to push out the contents.

LONG LOOPS: I personally prefer to use the flat sided long loops for the sides of the nose where blackheads appear and oil lays on the surface of skin. The angled tip loop is useful for hard to reach angles or to try to angle slightly underneath the pimple to urge along deeper pimples, but DO NOT use this tip with too much pressure, you can do some damage by breaking the capillaries and cause scarring. I have not had success with these for fleshy areas of the face like cheeks, but OK on forehead and nose. They are also useful on areas of the body subject to acne such as shoulders and backs.

BLACKHEAD EXTRACTOR: This one is placed with the bottom of the concave “bowl” over the blackhead and pressed down until the blackhead contents extract. It is for “dry” pimples that are not filled with puss or fluid, and it releases a hard sebum plug. The pressure on surrounding skin releases the blackhead. It might take more than one try, but don’t press down too hard, this can leave a round red mark that can be much more noticeable than the blackhead itself. Steaming the skin beforehand is helpful for blackhead removal. Use this type of extractor for a blackhead on the ear.

POINTED TIPS: This kit has a couple versions of the point, one is like a small thin pin to poke a tiny hole in a whitehead, another one is shaped like a pencil point to lightly “drill” a hole or encourage an existing pimple head to open large enough for the pimple contents to exit, and there is a tiny spade which is duller but thicker and larger than the two former.
For each of these three types of “points” you need to know what you are doing, never use these in an act of desperation or to “dig” out the contents of a pimple. Never be aggressive with the points, be gentle.

The point tool heads are for the whitehead puss filled pimple that has not come to a “head” for whatever reason including that it is not “matured” enough to develop a head yet, or if the whitehead has been there for some time, it is more debris than puss or fluid. These will not extract without some help, and the pressure of the loop alone will not extract the contents. If you use these, at least it will be less red and irritated and no infection with the least broken skin possible. The smaller and cleaner the hole, the quicker it will be to heal.

To use a piercing pin point tip extractor, it is just one poke into the top surface of the pimple, no need to drill it in deep or move the tool around in the pimple. If you need to make a bigger hole, use the javelin shaped tool to expand it.

To use the javelin shaped tool, place it atop the new hole in the pimple, and gently twirl it clockwise atop the pimple with the lightest of pressure to drill the opening, but without applying force into the pimple.

Once it is pierced, and if it seems the contents are pliable enough to remove, it is time for extraction. The long, thinner flat loop is more useful than the round loops to very lightly gather the contents and push it towards the new opening. Use an astringent applied with a cotton ball or cotton swab before and after the “procedure”. Don’t over-do it. Sometimes even making the hole and then washing your face or using a hot compress will allow the pimple contents to come out without any further prodding.
However, if after piercing the hole the contents do not budge upon an extraction attempt do not make a bigger hole. Use astringent and then apply some pimple medication directly into the pimple so it can treat from within. Some cortisone cream may also be useful to soothe the pimple at this stage.

The smallest point tip also can pierce those teeny tiny poppy seed size whiteheads that never seem to form into a head but lay just beneath the surface of the skin, taunting you. If possible, my dermatologist said it is preferable to treat these over time with a good retinoid cream. I have had some of this type that even my dermatologist won’t extract because they are in a delicate area (such as the skin underneath the undereye), so if a dermatologist won’t attempt it, don’t be tempted to do it yourself. But otherwise, whiteheads and active pimples that seem as if they are almost ready to burst are good candidates for piercing them to remove the contents.

The third type of point is a tip that is shaped like a tiny spade. It does not pierce the skin but can “pry” the pimple open a bit, such as if a whitehead is just a hard round sebum ball. Also use this tip sparingly, I actually only use something like this if I have a splinter that I can’t grab with a tweezers, or if I want to lightly poke a pimple to get a sense of how ready it is for potential extraction without grabbing it with my fingers.

A few tips:
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS clean off with rubbing alcohol or Peroxide before AND after each use. Wash thoroughly any pimple contents, blackhead plugs, or oil on the tools.
These are best used after a warm shower or applying a warm hot compress or washcloth to the pimple to loosen up the area, help the pimple draw to a head, and make the skin clean and pliable. Blackheads will extract easiest this way as well.

Don’t use too much pressure, especially with the long loops and just use gentle strokes from different angles, repeat if necessary.

Oak Leaf Blackhead Remover and Comedone Extractor Tool Kit

Oak Leaf Blackhead Remover and Comedone Extractor Tool Kit

Extractor Set Closeup Extractor Set Case

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Beauty, Skincare, Spa Economy
Tagged: Acne, Anti-Acne, Extractor, Oak Leaf Blackhead Remover and Comedone Extractor Tool Kit

Search Style Chicks

Pages

  • DEFINING BEAUTY
    Hair & Skin Care Ingredient Glossary
  • About the Style Chicks
  • Contact Us
  • Discontinued Clinique Products Guide
  • Favorite Things
  • Gifts: Find the Perfect Present
  • Skin Care Ingredient Guide

Style Chicks Topics

  • Beauty
    • Anti-Aging
    • Beauty Expert Advice
    • Better Beauty Sleep
    • Body
    • Cosmetics
      • Discontinued Products
    • Gym Beauty Bag
    • How to…
    • Makeup
    • Makeup Tools & Brushes
    • Sephora
    • Spa Economy
  • Beauty Tools + Devices
    • Hair Care Devices & Tools
    • Hair Growth Devices
    • Skin Tools & Devices
  • Brand Profiles
  • Clean & Green Beauty
  • Essential Oils
  • Fashion
    • Jewelry
    • Shoes!
  • Hair Growth
  • Haircare
    • Hair
      • Curly Hair Care
    • Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatments + Pre Poo Hair Conditioning Remedies
  • Life Hacks
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertaining
    • Food
    • Gifts
    • Health
      • Exercise
    • Luxe Living
    • New Products
    • Organic
      • Green Beauty
    • Tea
    • Technology
    • Things I want
    • Travel
  • News
  • Product Updates
  • Science of Beauty
  • Science of Skincare
  • Sensitive Skin
  • Skincare
    • Gadgets
    • Ingredient Glossary
  • Style
    • Accessories
    • Decor
    • Tips for New Bloggers
    • Vanity Table
    • Weddings

Defining Beauty: Skin & Hair Glossary A to Z

  • DEFINING BEAUTY
    A to Z Glossary

  • A Skin & Hair Definitions
  • B Skin & Hair Definitions
  • C Skin & Hair Definitions
  • D Skin & Hair Definitions
  • E Skin & Hair Definitions
  • F Skin & Hair Definitions
  • G Skin & Hair Definitions
  • H Skin & Hair Definitions
  • I Skin & Hair Definitions
  • J Skin & Hair Definitions
  • K Skin & Hair Definitions
  • L Skin & Hair Definitions
  • M Skin & Hair Definitions
  • N Skin & Hair Definitions
  • O Skin & Hair Definitions
  • P Skin & Hair Definitions
  • Q Skin & Hair Definitions
  • R Skin & Hair Definitions
  • S Skin & Hair Definitions
  • T Skin & Hair Definitions
  • U Skin & Hair Definitions
  • V Skin & Hair Definitions
  • W Skin & Hair Definitions
  • X Skin & Hair Definitions
  • Y Skin & Hair Definitions
  • Z Skin & Hair Definitions

Copyright © 2007 - 2021. All Images and Content are Copyright of StyleChicks and StyleChicks.com ·