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CHEW GUM FOR BEAUTY’S SAKE: XyloBurst All Natural Gum with Xylitol

January 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment

True Story: Once upon a Time a kid ate a poppy seed bagel before his yearbook photoshoot. The poppy seeds stuck in his teeth were NOT Photoshopped out. What could’ve saved the unfortunate “Poppy-Seed-Boy” from social ruin? Gum.

Impromptu group selfies on Social Media make keeping food OUT of your teeth a beauty priority. Here are our fast fixes for an all-too-common food faux pas.

BAD TIMES TO HAVE BAD BREATH & FOOD IN TEETH

Photo-ops aren’t the only way to be caught with food on your teeth: there is the dreaded etiquette-landmine of a job interview or business presentation taking place over a meal. Or any date or social occasion where any food is involved, even popcorn at the movies. These are all potential events where getting food stuck in teeth or breath that smells of your meal a semi-disaster. Often, you don’t notice the smell of your meal as offensive or distracting, but someone else might. Even if you ordered the same menu items, they only smell the lingering odor on YOU, not themselves. Lunchtime food odors can linger during that afternoon staff meeting or presentation. Even stale coffee breath can be off-putting to bosses and co-workers. We have two go-to, no-fail tricks:

CLOTHES: Spray Vanilla Vodka on clothes to eliminate the lingering odor of food on contact. Once dry, vanilla vodka is scentless and doesn’t harm the fabric. (Really!) Keep it in a small spray bottle.
MOUTH/BREATH/TEETH: discretely chew cinnamon gum for just a few minutes after a meal.

A healthy smile is beautiful!

WHY GUM?

Why don’t I just brush my teeth like a non-heathen? I do, but later. Because often after a meal, you say your goodbyes to your social and business meal companions before you get a chance for so much as a quick check of your lipstick, much less a full tooth-brushing and floss routine. A few minutes of chewing gum freshens your breath and removes the risk of getting food stuck in your teeth.

Why cinnamon? Because studies show it a universally liked scent that seems clean, crisp and attractive on women, not medicinal or off-putting. After reading the ADA recommendation for chewing gum after meals, we like XyloBurst.

XyloBurst All Natural Xylitol Gum

DENTAL BENEFITS TO CHEWING XYLOBURST GUM

The American Dental Association states that chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks rinse off and neutralize the enamel-harming acids released by bacteria. According to the ADA, “both the act of chewing and the flavor of the artificial sweeteners in the gum stimulate ten times the normal rate of saliva flow.”

Even if you can immediately brush your teeth, it may not be advisable. Food-based acids are in soda and other carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, and juices, wine, pickles, and honey, all of which can leave teeth enamel too vulnerable to brush for thirty minutes. In that 30 minutes, chewing gum is a gentle way to provide a mild cleansing action via increased saliva in your mouth.

XyloBurst All Natural Xylitol Gum

XYLOBURST GUM AFTER MEALS & SNACKS

The ADA indicates you don’t want just any gum, you want sugar-free gum, and preferably gum sweetened with Xylitol, like XyloBurst.

XyloBurst gum has Xylitol, which reduces decay-causing bacteria. It stops the growth of Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria that causes cavities. Xylitol also blocks bacteria’s ability to stick to teeth, stopping the cavity-causing process.

Over time, Xylitol reduces the overall levels of decay-causing bacteria in the mouth. What does this mean? Chewing XyloBurst after a meal or snack and then brushing later is better for teeth than brushing alone.

The recommended amount of XyloBurst for dental health is 6-8 grams per day, so at about 1 gram per piece, one to two pieces of gum after meals and snacks gives your mouth an optimal environment for fighting cavities.

XyloBurst is also:

Non-GMO and gluten free, with no sugar
All natural
dentist/hygienist recommended
40% more gum per package than competitors

Dental benefits aside, it tastes pretty good and quickly gives us fresh breath. We like cinnamon, but it also comes in other flavors including Peppermint. It is also ideal for low-carb and sugar controlled diets. Dieting can alter the saliva levels in the mouth and can cause stale breath. In addition to drinking lots of water, XyloBurst can help keep breath fresh while dieting.

XyloBurst All Natural Xylitol Gum

CONCLUSION

A quick remedy to beat bad breath, lingering food odors, or food particles stuck on or between teeth, XyloBurst is a superior sugar-free gum choice for after a social “eating” event. Healthy teeth goes a long way towards a beautiful smile. Chewing XyloBurst can be a good preventive measure when toothbrushing and flossing aren’t practical. By chewing a piece or two of XyloBurst gum after each meal, you can easily improve your long-term oral health in between brushing and flossing by vastly reducing the cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.

Find XyloBurst Gum at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00124WCHC/ref=twister_B00KXEX3VG?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRAyn4_ep50[/embedyt]

Style Chicks received this product in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

What to Know MAC ZOOM LASH Mascara

January 5, 2017 · 8 Comments

MAC Cosmetics ZOOM LASH Mascara

SUMMARY: MAC ZOOM Lash is a volumizing mascara that sells for $18 for the full size and ZOOM Lash little MAC for $10, an airport-friendly, purse and travel size mini.

About ZOOM LASH Mascara

LOOK: Defining and Lengthening. Makes lashes pop without looking like fake lashes, could skip bottom eyeliner entirely and eyes/lashes will still appear defined.

WEAR: Without a cream or liquid foundation, I got about 5 hours of no fallout or smudges. With cream foundation, it lasted closer to 4.5 hours.

ZOOM LASH MASCARA DETAILS:

FEATURES: LENGTHENING, DEFINING

COLOR: I got Zoom Black. The mini Zoom Lash mascara also comes in the shades beet, blue, green, plum, and gray.

WHAT MAKES MAC ZOOM LASH MASCARA SPECIAL?

The BRUSH. This is one of the selling points of the ZOOM LASH mascara, a special three-sided fiber brush geared towards lash separation, and the brush gets close to the lashline, so there is no tell-tale bare lash root and mascara starting line. The brush does exactly what it promises and gets right in close to the lash root. It looks like a regular brush, but it is not.

Examining the brush, you’ll notice a spiral binding like a coil at the base, it holds bristles snugly and makes deeper valleys between the bristled rows which allows the brush to get into spaces other brushes and mascara wands cannot.

MAC ZOOM LASH mascara brush features

THE PERFECT DREAM MASCARA WOULD…

The ideal mascara to me is both lengthening and volumizing, SO dark black, and to stay fresh without fall out. I prefer a thin consistency with no clumps but with major lash payout. Is that too much to ask? Sometimes. Here is how MAC ZOOM LASH stacked up:

PUTTING MAC ZOOM LASH TO THE TEST

IS IT DIFFICULT TO APPLY?
It is very easy; there is a quality versatile wand brush

IS IT SLOW OR FAST DRYING?
Dries quickly, especially for a strong statement mascara. There is no need to try to prevent yourself from blinking, so that you don’t smudge

CLUMPS/FLAKES: Light clumping upon application, easy to comb out with a mascara wand or lash comb. No clumping when applied with a mascara fan wand. MAC Cosmetics makes a good one. (Read more about the MAC Mascara fan brush in our recent recommendation review.)

IS THERE FLAKES AND FALLOUT? RACOON EYES?
After about five hours, it seemed to wear off somewhat and not look crisp, but I did not have raccoon eyes, it just sort of faded away without leaving large flakes on my undereye.

DOES IT HOLD AN EYELASH CURLER CURL AFTER APPLICATION?
Somewhat, I had some drooping of my lashes even after just one coat of ZOOM LASH, but not as much droop as other heavy hitters such as Benefit BadGal, Diorshow, Scandal Queen Fairy Drops or Fiberwig. The mascara does not feel heavy on the eye like some mascaras can.

BEST USE
Best used for shorter events such as having a photo taken or briefer encounters (i.e. meeting someone for coffee) to give major lash that is defined yet wispy

CONCLUSION

A solid mascara choice, especially if you favor using non-black mascara colors for a primary or secondary coat. Lashes are defined and separated for about 5 hours, but it does not last the full work or school day without a mid-day touch-up, and it requires a touch-up to complete re-do for going out after work. But a saving grace is that it is a buildable mascara that doesn’t get clumpy with multiple coats, so you don’t have to remove it, you can just reapply, and you won’t get mid-day raccoon eyes. So if touchups don’t bother you, MAC ZOOM LASH Mascara could be a good choice for full, long, defined lashes.

Find Mac Cosmetics Zoom Lash Mascara at MacCosmetics.com

Why Amoda Organic Golden Turmeric Ginger Tea is Special

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 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

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.

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!

Health: Misol B12 Spray

October 27, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Q: What did Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, International Celebrity Madonna, and Regular Person Me, have in common?

A: Rumour has it, we all tried Intramuscular Injections of the B12 Vitamin. Marge and Madge got B12 shots to have the energy and stamina to maintain their powerhouse, overpacked, ambition-driven, UK-running schedules. I got them just to try not to yawn my way through the day and have enough energy for regular people things. B12 injections are an increasingly common practice where the shot recipient reports increased energy and stamina, beyond what standard multi-vitamin supplements can offer.

WHY YOU NEED B12
B12 makes DNA and red blood cells. Without enough B12, your body runs out of steam and your mind can feel groggy. B12 is also necessary to maintain your nervous system.

Many people, especially women, tend to have depleted B12 levels. The result can be a host of health and beauty problems. Some health problems include a weak immune system, feeling tired, and weight gain caused by a sluggish metabolism. Some of the beauty problems caused by reduced B12 reserves include excess weight gain, unhealthy, brittle and lifeless hair (and in extreme cases hair loss), pale dull skin, and weak, brittle fingernails. Many hair and nail growth vitamins contain some level of B12.

Low B12 levels can also just make one feel “BLAH.” Some people impacted by low B12 just feel they are not performing as well as usual, like a perpetual “off day,” even impairing their sensory-motor control resulting in more clumsy mistakes.

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH B12?
The body does not make B12; we get it from food or supplements. Some health issues deplete B12 reserves. Vegan and vegetarian diets often lack adequate B12 nutrients and require some supplementation.

Dangerously low levels of B12 often merit a regular schedule of B12 injections followed by dietary changes and supplementation. A good supplement plan can often manage depleted but not medically dangerous B12 levels.

CHOOSING A VITAMIN B-12 SUPPLEMENT
You may already take a B12 supplement or a multi-vitamin and still not feel any benefits or see tell-tale signs of B12 absorption such as stronger fingernails. It is sometimes difficult to know if the vitamin is even working. The problem with many vitamin supplements in pill, tablet or capsule form, is they don’t contain enough B12 to make it through your digestive system, especially if there is an underlying medical condition (or medications) that hinder absorption.

B12 injections work not just because it is a super-size dosage, but because it goes directly into the bloodstream, skipping the digestive tract entirely.

INMED TECHNOLOGIES MISOL VITAMIN B-12 SPRAY: GET YOUR B-12 WITHOUT DIGESTING IT

Misol by InMed Technologies is an innovative oral spray, a very fine micro-mist concentration of B12 with particles small enough to largely surpass the digestive system and goes directly into the bloodstream. This delivery system makes for fasting acting, robust B12 in your system. If you suffer from digestive issues that impair nutrient absorption, this is an ideal supplement delivery method.

Misol B12 Spray

MISOL INGREDIENTS:
There is no yeast, wheat, animal ingredients or artificial colors or flavors. I was glad to see this since many who require a supplement due to digestive issues also have allergies to some common supplement fillers like yeast and wheat. It also meets the needs of vegans and vegetarians.

In addition to the B12 (methylcobalamin), the ingredients are Resveratrol (the antioxidant in red wine), and Potassium Sorbate which is a water soluble preservative, Stevia is a natural sweetener, and Peppermint Oil is used for natural flavoring.

MY EXPERIENCE: USE & RESULTS
For several months I have taken an expensive daily B12 supplement tablet. Some rather expensive B12 supplements work for me, but many affordable ones don’t, so I was excited to give this Misol spray a try compared to my expensive B12 Vitamins.

I shook the bottle then sprayed it into my mouth twice, one time per day. The spray is a fine micro-mist that tastes like Peppermint, it is very similar to a mint breath spray type of flavor, and is cool and refreshing. There is not a bad aftertaste like some liquid vitamins or powdered mixes. It looks like a red cough syrup, but it is not a sticky consistency when sprayed into the mouth, it just absorbs and disappears quickly, it does not need to be swallowed. It is flavored with Stevia.

Then I waited…

After the first use, I could feel my body get a “jumpstart” within about 15 few minutes of taking the spray, but not in a jittery overly-caffeinated way. It was similar to how I feel when that first few sips of coffee hit my system in the morning. And I felt more mental clarity and focus. I tried just one spray for a few times, but the two sprays per dose seems about right for me.

I was a bit surprised at this result; I didn’t expect Misol to work as well as my expensive vitamins, or even better. Looking at the InMed Technologies chart, it indicates various methods of B12 delivery and their absorption rates. An Intraoral Spray, like Misol, is 95% absorption. This is HIGHER than the B12 intramuscular injections (90% absorption) that Margaret Thatcher Madonna and I have gotten. This level of absorption is a nice find in a portable, easy-to-use spray and it sure is preferable to getting an injection.

COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION
The Misol bottle has about 200 sprays in it so that it will last about 3.3 months, which makes Misol far more cost effective than even the cheapest drugstore store generic Vitamin B12 I have tried, and it is very more effective than many supplements I have tried, being on par with my expensive B12 Vitamins.

Misol B12 Spray

CONCLUSION: Misol Vitamin B12 Oral Spray by InMed Technologies is an innovative, effective B12 spray with high absorption capability, quick results, and no objectionable filler ingredients. It is cost-effective, and the results are on par or exceed the results I found with expensive B12 Vitamin supplements. My nails have started to get stronger within a few weeks, which is a good sign to me that a B12 supplement is working for me. And I have energy and mental focus when I use it. I am very pleased to have found an effective B12 that improves my health, energy and has great beauty benefits!

Find Misol B12 Spray at Amazon.

Thanks toÂ INMED Technologies, we are hosting a giveaway of a bottle of Misol B12 starting tomorrow on Instagram, so be sure to follow us on Instagram to find out how to win a bottle of this great product!

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