May 24, 2011 | Beauty, Score!
I’ve never thought of my underarms as particularly attractive. Though I have major and minor quibbles with many of my bodyparts, I’ve always felt a little bit embarrassed about my underarms. Stubbly, sticky, bumpy, red…definitely not my best feature.:-/
So I was thrilled to hear about Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant, that softens and smooths this hard-to-beautify area of the body. I’ve been an avid Degree clear user for years, since I hate white mess on my clothing and tend to have very damp underarms year-round. (ew) Many deodorants just aren’t strong enough to combat this problem for me.
But the problem with Degree is that it’s so strong, it leaves a thick residue on me that numerous washings just can’t seem to remove completely. My underarms always feel like they’re coated with something, even after scrubbing in the bath at night – and all that scrubbing makes my skin rough, red, and tortured.
When I received Dove deodorant in Nourished Beauty, I couldn’t wait to try it. Upon application, the smell is a bit strong – kind of like baby powder with some added perfumes. But the smell fades fairly quickly, and I was surprised how even after 2 days of applications, my underarms felt…well, smoother. This may be TMI, but you know how those little bumps form in horizontal lines across your underarms the day after you shave? Strangely, this time around they were much smaller/flatter for me, and were not red at all. My underarms are looking better than they ever have…and though I never really thought about making them “pretty,” so to speak – whatever’s in this deodorant (extra moisturizers and Vitamin E and Vitamin F, according to the label – wait, there’s a Vitamin F?? Essential Fatty Acids, apparently), have really smoothed this area out! Plus it keeps underarm dampness at bay, even when I’m working out, and leaves no powdery residue when I wash off in the bath. I can raise my arm now that I’m SURE! (LOL) – that Dove has done its job.;-) (I know you’ll all be checking out my underarms in the top photo – I did no Photoshopping precisely because of that! The photo below looks…well…a little airbrushed IMHO…)
So anyway to get the word out about this new deodorant Dove has teamed up with the stylish Jessica Szohr (of Gossip Girl-fame), to inspire women to get more beautiful underarms and Go Sleeveless with Dove. As part of this campaign, you are invited to design your own sleeveless top with the Go Sleeveless Fashion Challenge app on Dove’s Facebook page, where you can also view the sleeveless top gallery and vote on your favorite designs. By submitting a unique design, each participant will automatically be entered for a chance to win a New York City shopping trip with Jessica Szohr worth $5,000!
(Entries accepted until May 27, 2011 – so get them in now!!)
According to a recent study, nearly 100% of women surveyed think their underarms are unattractive, and more than half of
these women say the condition of their underarms affects their wardrobe choices.
The above statistic had me amused, because I’d be willing to bet that most women’s first reaction when being asked if they thought their underarms were beautiful was probably “Um, I never really thought about it.”;-) Regardless of whether you’ve ever considered the question of Pretty or No? when it comes to your underarms, now you can have a chance to try this deodorant and see if it really, truly makes a difference. (It improved my skin and deodorant build-up issue for me…now if it could only do something about visible stubble!;-)
The PR company who is working with Dove is generously offering full-sized samples of Dove’s new Go Sleeveless deodorant to U.S.-based Chic Steals readers – just leave a comment with your email address on this post and I’ll pick 4 comments at random after next Tuesday (May 31, 11:59 PM PST).
Leave your email address below for a chance
to try out the new Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant!
FTC Disclosure: I received a full size of Dove Go Sleeveless deodorant, and am being provided with 4 samples for my readers. I have not received any cash or compensation for this post; the above is my honest opinion and review of the deodorant. To read my full Disclosure Policy, see here.
xoxo
Carly
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Apr 16, 2011 | Beauty, Fashion
Some of you may have noticed the clip-in bangs I wear often – I love them soooo much!
They’re so easy to attach – feel incredibly realistic – give me full, luscious bangs without the commitment – and the color is a perfect match for me! They’re actually from the Hairdo line by Jessica Simpson and Ken Paves – and I couldn’t be happier with the quality (and the price – a mere $29!!)
I bought mine from Wigs.com (color: R29S) – and paid full price…but for the next 5 DAYS they’re having a site-wide sale and you can get these bangs for yourself for only $21.75!
I also scooped up the Wrap-Around Pony [tail] at the discounted price…can’t wait to try this style out as I’ve been dying to do a long, sleek ponytail (and my hair is still a little too short to do this).
But of course, anything you buy at Wigs.com is subject to 25% off!
Just enter APRILSALE at checkout to receive 25% off all products!!
Valid until Tuesday, April 19.
xoxox
Carly
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Feb 26, 2011 | Beauty, From You
Priscilla-brand Clip-In Curly Wigpiece
from Formspring.me:
Hi there, I have been reading your blog for a while now and quick question. I don’t read or speak Japanese but think I might like a clip in ‘curly’ extension if it is indeed curly. Checked site mentioned but very lost. Any ideas for my language barrier?
Did you know you can access Rakuten.com in English? (If that’s the site you were referring to…) Or try reading the site through Google Translate? (http://translate.google.com/)
However the wig pieces appear in the photos is how they look straight out of the package; there usually isn’t any false advertising when it comes to stuff from Japan (probably because consumers won’t tolerate it!). I personally love the Priscilla brand because I find it’s high-quality, usually heat-tolerant, and I found one of their colors is a perfect match for my natural color. If you’re looking for the clip-in curly extensions, they’re called “Eriashi Wig” (エリ足ウィッグ) or “Mecha Raku Ekusute” (めちゃ楽エクステ) but I don’t see any available that are reaaaallly curly, so I’m not sure just how curly you’re looking for. Wigland (http://www.rakuten.co.jp/wigland/) is my fave one-stop shop for all my hair-pieces; maybe you could browse around in there to see if you see anything you like? (English interface: http://search.borderless.rakuten.com/borderless/search.action?l=en&sid=wigland&tl=0&p=1&vm=2&f=0&sm=0&k=&fs=1)
Good luck!
xoxox
Carly
Jan 9, 2011 | Beauty, From You
from Formspring.me:
Hi Carly! I just found your blog yesterday and I loved it so much I have been going through all your old posts! (Is that creepy? haha) This may seem a bit strange, but I was wondering if you are Irish. I LOVE your red hair!
The Internet is probably the best place for creepiness! Thanks for your kind words about my blog:-)
I am ethnically Scottish/Danish/Norwegian/Czechoslovakian. (“Cais” is a Czech name.) But both my parents are Australians and I was born in the U.S., so I was originally American/Australian… Well, technically American now since I dropped the Australian nationality off my passport (I have only visited there a couple times and though all my relatives are there, I really just identify as American).
The red hair probably comes from the Scottish and the Czech sides of my family; apparently I have a second cousin in the Czech Republic who has hair the exact same color as mine. It’s tough to keep vibrant during the winter – and as the years go by!! :..(
Aug 26, 2010 | Beauty, From You, Media
from formspring.me:
I just got back from Hawaii and noticed how flawless most Japanese women’s skin is. What make-up are they using?!
Gosh, I wish I knew for sure! The lovely skin of all the Japanese women and girls around me was always a complex for me growing up – since I moved to Japan just as I hit those ohsofun years of puberty, and experienced all the skin problems that entailed.;-) I always wanted to stop people on the street and ask them what their secrets were…
I’m by no means a dermatologist but as far as what I understand from reading Japanese mags, talking to Japanese friends, and watching Japanese TV – in general the “naked face” or “no make-up look” is not what younger Japanese women go for. It’s interesting – in the US that’s sort of the gold standard when it comes to foundation…that you look like you’re wearing nothing! (I think that’s why Bare Minerals is so successful here, as well as the almost constant advice that you look best when you just “dot concealer on your flaws and leave the rest of your face without foundation and natural-looking.”)
In Japan, the standard is TONS of makeup – so much so that they have shows on tv where girls are forced to wash off their makeup and everyone laughs at them to see that their faces are completely different (and missing eyebrows is a favorite taunt). Many young Japanese women go the whole shebang: primer, foundation, concealer, dark contour, highlight, setting powder, and oil-blotting sheets throughout the day. Their skin-care regimen is in general much more involved than that of many Americans: responding to polls many girls admit that they spend 1-2 hours in the morning on their skincare/makeup, and another 1-2 hours in the evening! (Among women under the age of 30, or at least the ones that reply to said polls for magazines and TV shows.) When it comes to makeup brands, it seems that the Japanese will buy the most expensive brand of foundation – they definitely don’t skimp there. Dior, Chanel, Lancome, Shiseido, SK-II, Kate, RMK – all mainstays in the foundation market. They use specific concealers for their pores and specific concealers for their undereye area. Even in the heat (like Hawaii, or during summer), they will still layer on the makeup, and use blotting sheets meticulously to soak up the oil and impart a layer of powder on their faces (I’m a big fan of the Biore brand of blotting sheets – why the heck don’t they make them here??). Many Japanese girls also cover up from the sun and use sunscreen religiously (though there is the contingent that uses tanning beds, though they’re not a majority by any means).
Also, I suspect a large component of their beautiful skin is diet: taking a daily vitamin is still quite a new concept since the accepted practice in Japan is to get one’s vitamins from FOOD. Even young Japanese women “on a diet”will still eat a wide variety of vegetables (prepared in a number of different ways) at every meal, a large amount of fish weekly, and use condiments that are soy-based, miso-based, and vinegar-based. The amount and variety of vegetables, seafood, and skin-healthy condiments that we use in the US pales in comparison. Plus, living in Japan in the major metropolitan areas, everyone gets tons of exercise walking around or riding their bikes or commuting – so they’re getting above and beyond that 30 minutes of recommended exercise a day, which I’m sure has something to do with their skin quality. Plus add in long, hot baths, soaking salts, and trips to the esthetician (for some), and that might just be a good picture of why the skin of Japanese women looks so fabulous. (The main dermatological complaint in Japan? Dry, flaky skin!!)
I’ve scanned a couple recent features from Vivi Magazine and S-Cawaii Magazine on how to apply foundation [click to enlarge], so you can see the method that they suggest for applying makeup. (I’d venture to guess that this method is pretty indicative of – if not a little more involved than – the average Japanese girl’s makeup routine. Imagine if they listed this step-by-step in Marie Claire or Lucky! Who would follow it here in the US??)
Japanese women or those who have more knowledge of this subject, please feel free to weigh in!
Thanks for your question!
xoxox
Carly
Aug 17, 2010 | Beauty, From You, Life
from formspring.me:
How do you keep yourself looking so good, young and skinny? 🙂
Awww, thank you! You’re so very sweet:-)
It’s probably a combination of genes and habits (and maybe Photoshop??? hehe;-).
On the beach in Hawaii. I don’t know how I survived living there for 4 years without turning into a lobster.
I’ve used the highest SPF I possibly can (that’s still affordable) since I was 16 when I realized I am just physically unable to tan. I’ve been using SPF 110 for the last year or so – I always buy the Neutrogena brand that has Helioplex in it
, and I put it on after my moisturizer, every single day, rain or shine, whether I’m going in or staying out, on my face, neck (front & back), chest (if exposed), backs of the hands, and arms (if exposed). When I go to the beach, I stay hidden under a huge umbrella, with a huge hat, huge sunglasses (yes, HUGE is the word of the day), and often drape my clothing over my head to cover myself. I always wear a long t-shirt when I swim outside (though I recently purchased a long-sleeved rashguard, so now I’m on the hunt for the perfect pair of board-shorts to go with it. Heck, I would wear something like a 1920’s bathing costume if I could just so I could be more covered-up.) All this is not exactly carefree or fun, but it’s second-nature to me now.
I’ve also never smoked or done any drugs – and was never a “partier” during my school years.
I only drink water (I hate alcohol, and cut coffee, soda, and juice out of my diet about 10 years ago or so). Sure, I might have the tiniest sip now and then of Hub’s diet Coke or Lil Tot’s apple juice, but on the whole most sweet drinks just taste too sweet to me, and soda too fizzy. I guess I’ve just lost the palate for it! (I do drink some green tea or peppermint tea once in awhile for the health benefits, but 98% of the time I’m drinking water.)
I also eat lots of fruit and raw vegetables, stopped using salad dressing like 13 years ago, eat a handful of nuts and 1T – 2T of ground flaxseed every day, and try to choose things that have more health benefits than health risks to put in my body. About 2-3 days a week I’ll only eat and cook vegetarian or vegan meals; I eat red meat rarely, though I do love chicken. (I always joke that I was a vegetarian for 6 years until KFC did me in…because I do have a terrible weakness for the stuff. But I might eat KFC like once every 6 months?? Colonel’s Extra Crispy!)
I only recently started learning a lot about nutrition and how the body works through my subscription to Health Magazine (they are the best – seriously!!) and Parents Magazine, and doing Tony Horton’s diet and exercise programs [Power 90 and P90X] through the years. There was so much I didn’t know about health and nutrition and food until I was in my late 20’s!! What a waste high school Health Class was. (Is anybody with me on this??)
So yes, I LOVE Ruffles potato chips and chocolate cake and fruit pies and peanut butter cookies and butterscotch candies and licorice and Twizzlers and shortbreads and chocolate but I do try to eat those things rarely and barter them for other things in my diet that may have very little health benefits as well.
Like I will eat only a small amount of white rice (this makes me popular with my Japanese in-laws!!) in exchange for eating a small slice of cake for dessert. I may eat an ounce of potato chips but then will forgo my serving of carbs or make my serving of meat smaller at dinner. Though I like fat free milk better, I eat my cereal with soymilk because it’s the same amount of calories with higher protein from a non-animal source, no HGH or other preservatives etc. Stuff like that adds up in the long run, I guess.
I am still trying to get back into my usual workout routine which I had to take time off from while I was sick during the Spring. Until then I was jogging or speed-walking intervals 3x a week, and did another day or two of weight-training and/or yoga or stretching. But after hitting 30 , moving to suburbia, and sitting about the house all day [in front of the computer], the pounds have definitely crept on so I’m no role model in that respect.:-)
I also take a multi-vitamin, extra Vitamin D, and a calcium supplement daily, as well as use a retinol-based serum mixed in with my night cream that has really produced visible results. Plus Oil of Olay products have also really helped the quality and texture of my skin.
Hope that answers your question!
xoxo
Carly
