Ask the Beauty Brains - Beauty Questions Answered

Question about Treseme split remedy?

rozy — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:57:41 -0500

I bought the leave in Treseme split remedy I like it but it gets these little white circles all over my hands and in my hair that look kind of like dandruff is this supposed to happen or should I call the company and get a refund?

Egg in Hair?

cyw — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:24:37 -0500

What is the deal about applying egg to hair?
So many women seem to feel this will condition and strengthen hair.
I think it is one big mess and won't be benificial. What do you think?

Is tightlining dangerous

needleusesman — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:00:00 -0500

I know your site has warned against lining the waterline and I am not sure but I think tightlining is basically lining the upper water line or is it something different I'm not sure. Heres an article explaining what it is and how to do it: http://www.beautylish.com/a/vmqmg/how-to-tightline-eyes

Can I use this as a primer?

rozy — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:59:41 -0500

Hi so I bought this product: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/organix-nourishing-coconut-milk-anti-breakage-serum/ID=prod6017173-product
and my hair is really fine I find it makes my hair look greasy, but it has silicones in it so can I use it as a primer?

Contact dermatitis on face

goughy — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:21:36 -0500

I have been suffering bouts of what my GP says is contact dermatitis around my eyes and a little on my hair line for about six months. I have been using Dermalogica Ultra calming range for over a year and was initially very happy with it as it seemed to be quite kind to my peri oral dermatitis. Having tried wearing no makeup, changing shampoo to paraben free/sls free etc I did start to wonder about the Dermalogica range and found through comments left on their website that they recently reformulated their cleanser. These are the ingredients they list on the site, although they do say that it might not be up to date. Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycerin, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Fumaria Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Fumaric Acid, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Chloride, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Glyceryl Caprylate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Panthenol, Aminomethyl Propanol. Advice appreciated as have asked Dermalogica and their response is that it is unlikely that any of their ingredients could be the cause. Sorry that is is very long winded.

Can hair spontaneously change texture?

BrainHeartBeauty — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:58:56 -0500

I've had absolutely poker-straight hair my whole life, but recently I've found a few hairs taking on a curly texture. I've eliminated all the obvious things-- change in haircare, kinks from styling, etc. Some of the strands feel really dry and damaged, and these ones tend to have a rougher texture and a less defined curl, but most of the others are as well-nourished as the rest of my hair. My hairdresser says my hair is in perfect condition.

Any clue as to how this might be happening?

Does bull semen really do anything for the hair?

needleusesman — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:19:00 -0500

I remember reading on the webs that bull semen was the new thing to make your hair healthy looking and shiny I was wondering if that could actually work?

Airtight plastic bottle ok for vitamin c serum?

Susan — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:05:12 -0500

I seem to recall seeing somewhere vitamin c serum should only be packaged in glass or metal; is that correct? I'm considering the Kiehl's Powerful Strength vitamin c serum, which seems to have everything right - airtight, amber colored bottle, 10% concentration, low ph - except it's plastic instead of glass. Ok or not?

Collagenta

mdh62 — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:15:20 -0500

Hi,

Apologies if this has already been discussed (couldn't find a topic), but I stumbled across a free trial for Collagenta

http://myskinmd.com/go/collagenta-free-trial-official-website-order-page/

and wondered if the Beauty Brains had reviewed this product?

thanks

Is this a good or bad idea

needleusesman — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:50:52 -0500

This site has recipies for DIY mascra http://www.beautylish.com/a/vmyvs/diy-mascara-recipe not sure if this sounds very hygenic and may be of risk of getting eye infection?

Has there ever been a good study on the effectiveness of a beauty product?

bluecatbaby — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:07:57 -0500

The post about Nuvosa lotion has me wondering.....

Can anyone describe a well-designed study that has been done on a real beauty product by its own company?

If there is one, can you estimate the cost to the company of conducting the study?

Finally, I have read articles about Consumer Reports testing various beauty products so that they can give ratings. Their methods seem to be good, but are they really? They often have people trained as raters (who are not using the products themselves) to assess things such as, for example, the changes in the appearance of a patch of skin after using a serum for 2 weeks.

Polyelectrolyte Complex

TheBeautyCat — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:28:14 -0500

I tried for a long time to find the original post where this complex was talked about and couldn't. The Beauty Brains said Nexxus, Tresemme and Joico K-Pak all had this polyelectrolyte complex in it that kind of binds split ends together when dried. My question is, what is are the actual ingredients that make up this complex? I feel like this is vital information since they don't list "polyelectrolyte complex" in the ingredient list, and I would like to be able to keep an eye out for more products like this. Thank you, Beauty Brains!

Why is it so hard to find sunscreen with Tinsorb in N. America?

rozy — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:18:26 -0500

Hi I was reading this article: http://www.futurederm.com/2008/07/22/introducing-the-best-sunscreen-yet-tinosorb/ and I was wondering why even though this was published in 2008 I still cant find any sunscreen with this as an active ingredient at my local wart-mal (wal-mart). You'd think with all the benefits more brands would be using this. I have burning reactions to some sunscreen ingredients and I my walmart doesnt even sell something with zinc/titanium. *annoyed face* I just bought a new sunblock to try without octinoxate hopefully I dont react to this one. I also contacted Dermstore to ask if they sell any sunscreen with this as the active ingredient and she said they don't and she hasn't heard of it so I sent her the Futurederm article.

DevaCurl and hair loss

bluebutterfly105 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 19:10:08 -0400

So. I've been fighting with my naturally curly hair since my late teens. I've recently let it grow out (mostly due to pure laziness) and have noticed in the last year to year and a half that it's been uber dry and frizzy. And of course like all us curlies I have used/tried almost every product on the market. I know the dryness is NOT from heat styling cause, well, I don't use heat on my hair. And in the last few month I've been reading a lot about the "warnings" of sulfates and silicones on naturally curly hair (that it dries it out even further etc etc).

Jump to 6 weeks ago - I discovered a new product in my area (well, new to ME anyways) called DevaCurl. It promises healthy, shiny, manageable and above all, moisturized hair. It's also "all natural" I have to prefeace this by saying I DO like the product and I have noticed my hair has felt more manageable, soft and VERY shiny. HOWEVER, I have noticed an increased amount of hair shedding - especially in the shower. Needless to say, this is freaking me out. I have heard rumours about the WEN system causing hair loss - has anyone heard the same regarding the DevaCurl system?

Best,
Michelle

Does Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo Have Numbing Agents in it?

sarahu — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:39:26 -0500

I think this is an old urban legend that has been going around for years. People keep saying that Johnson & Johnson 'No more tears' baby shampoo contains secret numbing agents so that a baby's eyes won't sting if the shampoo gets in them. I think that any numbing agent would be required to be listed in the ingredients label. They keep insisting that numbing agents are in there, despite all evidence to the contrary. Can you settle this once and for all? Is there anything in J&J baby shampoos that would numb a baby's eyes?

Is Tinsorb approved by the FDA and Health Canada yet?

rozy — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:25:45 -0500

If so when was it approved?

This this a good vitamin e cream?

rozy — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:17:07 -0500

http://www.dhccare.ca/DHC/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=102 ; Is this product a good value for what you pay and is vitamin e applied topically effective?

Change Eye Color Without Contacts

et_moi — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:14:06 -0500

I've come across various dubious sources about changing or lightening the iris without contacts. Among the things that would change the eye color are: Doing a liver cleanse or a raw food diet, eye drops from Isis cosmeceuticals which contains msm and arbutin. Just wondering everyone's opinion on this topic. Is it safe, ethical, or even effective? Thanks!

Does this serum really repair UV damage?

rozy — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:25:20 -0500

http://www.sephora.com/repairwear-laser-focus-wrinkle-uv-damage-corrector-P268300?skuId=1271782
It claims the "repairing results of a dermatological laser procedure". I doubt that but I am wondering if its possible for a topical product to reduce UV damage already done to the skin.

Are there any collagen supplments you can name that have the right kind to be effective?

rozy — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:19:32 -0500

I have heard of studies saying ingesting collagen can be of benefit to the skin but I am not sure if there are any products on the market that are actually effective, what exactly should I be looking for?

What makeup colors should I use?

rozy — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:03:47 -0500

I have very pale skin, brown eyes like Anne Hathaways color medium brown in warm tone and light brown in a cool tone. Any recommendations?

Best/favorite makeup moment...

rozy — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:55:40 -0500

I am creating this thread so people on the forum can share their favorite makeup looks of celebrities and regular people. Here's some of my favorite makeup moments:
I love Michale Graves's skull paint and basically any creepy thing The Misfits did: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/jerry only?before=20
& Dani Filfth's makeup is pretty iconic: http://tinyurl.com/b49wd8m

Perfumes and Fragrances

joanv — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 01:21:31 -0500

Long time reader, first time caller, so to speak!

I have a few questions about perfumes and fragrances that I think you Brains would do a good job of answering. I get so sneezy when a perfume is sprayed and then usually get a headache. However, I don't have this problem with roll-ons as long as I use a light hand. I just discovered Lush's Lust perfume, which I love for its jasmine scent, but bought in the form of a waxy roll-on because of the sneeze factor and the price point - it was only $12 or so compared to the perfume, which actually wasn't too expensive compared to "real" perfumes like Chanel. However it doesn't last very long and I would love to have that sexy, soft smell on me all day instead of for just an hour or 2! (Their holiday-only Midnight Jasmine massage bar also had an amazing smell, but they're all sold out :( )

Here are my fragrance-related questions:

1) How long do "real" perfumes last once you open them? How long do they last if you DON'T open them for years? (my grandma has a ton of super expensive perfumes from the 1990s never opened and wants to regift them! I think they're prime time for the trash can!)

2) Can you buy a few essential oils (like jasmine or gardenia) and dab them on yourself? Or do they need a carrier agent to stick on you and last? How long do essential oils last once opened?

3) Can you dab on a perfume that's meant to be sprayed by unscrewing the cap or do perfume dabs need to be in an oily carrier to stick?

4) Can you add perfume to plain lotion? Rubbing something on seems to not trigger the sneezing attacks like spraying something does - I think I'm just a klutz when it comes to doing anything beauty-related - someday I'll figure out how to use a hair straightening iron without burning myself, but that's a lesson for another day!

Thanks for your great blog!

JoanV

hair biology

hoconnor — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 21:15:24 -0400

Hi, Beauty Brains!

I've always heard that hair grows faster in the summer. Is this true? Why? And if so, is there a way to recreate the summer benefit in the winter (such as with the addition of humidifiers, heat lamps, diet changes?)

Thanks! Love your work!

What ingredients should we look for in products for frizzy hair?

missmonet — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 10:57:29 -0500

I know beauty brains answer the question, but most women with curly hair want can we use to make our curls look smooth not frizzy.

What ingredients we should look for in hair gels, serum, creams?

How to put on nail polish?

yummyjellybelly — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 01:52:32 -0500

So I have this annoying problem I am not very good with my hands and I always end up getting nail polish all over my hand when I try to wear it. If anyone knows how to not do that or possibly if anyone has invented a product to make putting all nail polish on better that would be handy dandy and yes I know about those nail stickers but there are so many color option with "real" nail polish.

Can I use rinseless shampoos to clean my makeup brushes?

rozy — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:37:48 -0500

Lets use this as an example: http://www.cvs.com/shop/product-detail/CVS-Foaming-Rinseless-Shampoo-&-Body-Wash?skuId=879471
Is this a good idea? I hate the rinsing part.

Retinol vs. Retinoid

TheBeautyCat — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:30:54 -0500

What's the difference between "retinol" and "retinoid"? I have read that retinol is less potent than a retinoid but I can't find that information on a credible site.

Sodium Hydroxide

TheBeautyCat — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:37:21 -0500

Why is "sodium hydroxide" in my Cetaphil moisturizing cream for my face?! I know it's highly dangerous and used in relaxers but why on earth is it in a face cream?!?!?!

What does this ingrediant advertised do?

yummyjellybelly — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 01:40:57 -0500

http://www.livingproof.com/amp/
I have fine hair so I am up for anything to make it appear to have more volume. I am not sure if PBAE can be found in cheaper products or if it is unique to this product what does it do? Thanks Brains!