http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/categories/root/p3/feed.rss Fri, 24 May 13 10:29:54 -0400 Click here to visit the Beauty Brains blog. Root - Beauty Questions Answered en-CA http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3573/do-protein-conditioners-make-hair-break Tue, 26 Mar 2013 02:01:33 -0400 LeftBrain 3573@/bbforum/discussions The Beauty Cat asks…I’ve been told that protein, when topically applied to hair, can make it break off. A girl I know said that a stylist put a protein-packed deep conditioner on her hair and put her under the dryer and her hair started breaking off (I believe she had been under there for about [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3571/how-does-chi-smoothing-system-work Mon, 25 Mar 2013 02:01:43 -0400 LeftBrain 3571@/bbforum/discussions TheBeautyCat begs to know…I was looking at the ingredients in the CHI Enviro American Smoothing System and I’m not understanding how it smooths the hair since it says that no bonds are being broken. It says it’s “formulated with amino acids, proteins, silk and pearl. The combining of cysteine can synergize with hair’s natural cysteine, [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3570/elta-md-uv-clear-spf-46-look-at-the-label Sun, 24 Mar 2013 02:01:30 -0400 LeftBrain 3570@/bbforum/discussions Elta MD sunscreen is the 20th best selling beauty product on Amazon.com this week. Let’s look at the label. Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 Ingredients Zinc Oxide (9.0%), Octinoxate (7.5%) Sunscreen actives. Purified Water Solvent/carrier Cyclomethicone Volatile silicone that acts as a spreading agent. Niacinamide Form of Vitamin B3 that can help reduce age spots. [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3569/pubic-hair-removal-is-it-safe Sat, 23 Mar 2013 02:01:22 -0400 LeftBrain 3569@/bbforum/discussions SassyORDuck says…I’ve been getting bikini waxes for years but finally decided to try lasers after they came out with what seemed to be an effective at-home model. I just bought the 4th generation Tria and was able to do one test patch under my arm without too much incident, although I had to start with [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3567/is-fluoride-toothpaste-giving-me-cancer Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:01:02 -0400 LeftBrain 3567@/bbforum/discussions Michelle says: I am not even sure I trust the dentists to do the teeth whitening. They say they can carefully control the application, but I am still really skeptical that the H2O2 itself cannot do long term damage to the enamel – and if one wants to be cynical – more business for them [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3566/why-do-fingernails-grow-faster-than-toenails Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:01:28 -0400 LeftBrain 3566@/bbforum/discussions One of our favorite daily pleasures is reading the post of the day from Today I Found Out. It’s a hodge-podge of esoteric information that never fails to entertain. Case in point – they recently addressed the question “Why don’t fingernails grow at the same rate.” Nail knowledge You should really check out the full answer, [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3564/what-kind-of-product-is-john-frieda-full-repair-touch-up-flyaway-tamer Wed, 20 Mar 2013 02:01:20 -0400 LeftBrain 3564@/bbforum/discussions LynCaf asks..This Flyaway Tamer stuff works really well at doing what it’s supposed to do. It flattens out flyaways without leaving anything heavy or sticky behind, and they stay in place all day. But $7-9 for 0.5 fl oz seems a little steep. I was thinking that I could refill the container (which is like [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3562/can-dead-hair-really-be-moisturized Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:02:49 -0400 LeftBrain 3562@/bbforum/discussions Stacy says…I believe silicones just coat your hair to give the appearance of smooth, moisturized hair. Hair is dead so you can’t really do too much to actually moisturize it within each strand. The Beauty Brains respond: Actually, Stacy, just because hair is dead doesn’t mean you can’t moisturize it. No, we’re not talking about some [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3560/are-ultrasonic-facials-any-good Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:01:52 -0400 LeftBrain 3560@/bbforum/discussions Jenjen asks…Do ultrasonic facials do anything of real value? The therapist who gave me one said it really cleans out pores. The Beauty Brains respond:  Ultrasonic facials use a process technically known as sonophoresis which involves transmitting sound waves into the skin at various frequencies. How does ultrasonic skin penetration work? The scientific literature is [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3559/hempz-original-herbal-body-moisturizer-look-at-the-label Sun, 17 Mar 2013 02:01:42 -0400 LeftBrain 3559@/bbforum/discussions This hemp-related product is one of the top sellers on Amazon.com this week. Let’s look at the label to see why it’s so “high” on the best sellers list. Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer Ingredients Water Moisturizer and solvent for the other ingredients. Propylene Glycol A humectant that helps hold moisture to skin. Isopropyl Palmitate [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3556/does-venus-olay-misleading-advertising Sat, 16 Mar 2013 02:01:41 -0400 LeftBrain 3556@/bbforum/discussions I wonder how many women have bought a Venus razor because they were told that it “helps replenish skin’s moisture” and “helps lock in moisture?” It sounds great, doesn’t it? I mean legs get so dry, especially in the winter, and it’s such a pain to shave them. So using a razor that can actually [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3555/is-this-argan-oil-product-a-lie Fri, 15 Mar 2013 02:20:29 -0400 LeftBrain 3555@/bbforum/discussions Maria via Amazon.com says…In a recent post you recommended an Argan oil product. On Amazon.com the description said “Contains 100% pure and certified Argan oil”. That is NOT true at all. It has other ingredients in it. As you can see from the ingredient list Argan oil is 4th on the list. The Beauty Brains [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3552/is-pubic-hair-dye-safe Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:01:36 -0400 LeftBrain 3552@/bbforum/discussions MS asks…I know you’ve written about hair coloring before but are there any products safe for coloring pubic hair? (The old phrase “do the curtains match the drapes” comes to mind.) The Beauty Brains respond: One does need to be careful when dying hair “down there” because of the potential for irritation. For example, one [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3550/lanza-healing-strength-neem-plant-silk-serum-why-is-it-so-freaking-good Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:01:33 -0400 LeftBrain 3550@/bbforum/discussions Laura says…I am wondering about whether or not I’m being suckered into paying more for something I could get for cheaper. My hair seems to love the L’anza Neem Plant Silk Serum that my hairdresser and apparently Allure Mag also recommended. Even though I like to baby my tresses at $25.00 a pop this is [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3548/can-i-use-oxyclean-to-whiten-my-teeth Tue, 12 Mar 2013 02:01:25 -0400 LeftBrain 3548@/bbforum/discussions Qwerty’s quandry: I spoke with someone who said they use OxiClean and water to make a watery paste to brush their teeth. They said this whitens their teeth. They said it does taste awful but it keeps their teeth looking white. My first thoughts were to ask was this safe. Does it harm the tooth [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3544/do-ingredients-in-drugs-like-retin-a-really-expire Sun, 10 Mar 2013 01:01:16 -0500 LeftBrain 3544@/bbforum/discussions Janelle asks…I have a tube of Retin A that is due to expire in about 3 weeks. I know I will not be able to finish the whole tube by then, and will be forced to use it after the expiry date. I’ve heard people say that drugs can often get more potent over time, [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3543/the-abreva-conceal-invisible-cold-sore-patch Sat, 09 Mar 2013 01:02:05 -0500 LeftBrain 3543@/bbforum/discussions Today’s post is sponsored by Lunchbox.  The NEW Abreva® Conceal™ Invisible Cold Sore patch allows you to apply make-up to your cold sore so you can conceal it with confidence! What is the Abreva Conceal Invisible Cold Sore Patch? Abreva already sells a well known medicated cream for speeding the healing time of cold sores, [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3538/which-is-best-for-hairspray-alcohol-free-or-water-free Fri, 08 Mar 2013 01:01:55 -0500 LeftBrain 3538@/bbforum/discussions Janelle just wants to know…I rely on hairspray and gels to help control the frizz. I use Tresemme’s hairspray, as it works really well for me, and I have a suspicion that it works so well because it is “water-free.” I’ve tried switching to a hairspray that was “alcohol-free”, and that hairspray made my hair [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3536/update-on-eu-animal-testing-ban Thu, 07 Mar 2013 01:01:35 -0500 LeftBrain 3536@/bbforum/discussions You’ve probably heard by now that the European Union has banned animal testing for cosmetics. That’s right as of March 11, 2013, it is illegal to sell products that have been tested on animals or products that are formulated with ingredients that have been tested on animals. The only real impact on the beauty companies [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3535/does-it-matter-if-hair-products-are-sulfate-free-and-salt-free Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:01:18 -0500 LeftBrain 3535@/bbforum/discussions NoahJenda asks…I’m trying to replace my salon-bought hair products with something less expensive that I can get at the drugstore. The alleged advantage to my current brand is that the products are sulfate-free and salt-free. Does this make any difference to hair, or is it just a marketing gimmick? The Beauty Brains respond:  Salt free [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3532/how-does-clairols-gray-solutions-work Tue, 05 Mar 2013 01:01:27 -0500 LeftBrain 3532@/bbforum/discussions Qwerty’s questions…Clairol now has something called just Gray Solution with a retexturizing pretreatment. What does the Retexturizing Pre-treatment really do and will a regular perm hair color work just as well or will this product do better at keeping gray roots colored longer? The Beauty Brains respond: Let’s start by reviewing Clairol’s instructions for this [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3528/how-can-i-tell-if-an-ingredient-will-stick-to-my-hair Mon, 04 Mar 2013 01:04:03 -0500 LeftBrain 3528@/bbforum/discussions Rozy’s request…In the post about cadavers you Brains said “Only if the keratin is chemically modified to stick to hair” so that got me wondering… how do I find a product with this kind of keratin? #leavesarahbellumalone The Beauty Brains respond: First of all, let’s explain the Sarah Bellum reference for the rest of our [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3527/pure-unrefined-shea-butter-look-at-the-label Sun, 03 Mar 2013 01:01:55 -0500 LeftBrain 3527@/bbforum/discussions The number 6 best selling beauty product on Amazon.com this week is 100% Pure Unrefined Organic Raw SHEA BUTTER. (The one pound size for $7.00!) How pure is this stuff? Let’s look at the label. Shea butter ingredients Here’s the ingredient list for Pure Unrefined Shea Butter: Shea (Butyrospermum parkii) butter That’s it. (Apparently the Shea tree is [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3526/are-these-silk-baby-sunscreen-wipes-the-safest-bet-for-my-child Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:01:47 -0500 LeftBrain 3526@/bbforum/discussions Concerned Mom has a question…I am afraid because I hear how dangerous sunblock is but Baby Silk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes says it’s natural and made of silk would this be a good substitute? The Beauty Brains respond:  While you certainly want to be careful about what you put on your baby’s skin, the dangers of sunscreen [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3523/facial-soap-vs.-cleansers-is-one-better-than-the-other Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:01:18 -0500 LeftBrain 3523@/bbforum/discussions NoahJenda says…I’m reading a lot of conflicting information about what is kinder to my face: cleaners or facial soaps. I understand that facial cleansers are detergents and contain ingredients like Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl betaine and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate. Soaps, particularly the artisan soaps I’ve been considering, often appear to be a blend of various oils such [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3520/do-you-really-want-full-disclosure-of-cosmetic-ingredients Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:01:48 -0500 LeftBrain 3520@/bbforum/discussions A claim that we often hear from people outside of the cosmetic industry is that they want companies to label all the ingredients that go in cosmetics. When we tell them that cosmetic companies already do this, they quickly point out Fragrance and “contaminants” as loopholes to the rules. We find this odd. Do people [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3519/no-wonder-everyones-confused-about-organic Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:01:31 -0500 LeftBrain 3519@/bbforum/discussions As long time readers of the Beauty Brains know, one of our pet peeves is the misuse of the term “organic.” From a technical perspective it means carbon-based but in the last several years this original technical definition has been co-opted by the Green movement and is now used loosely to describe almost anything natural. [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3516/is-pantene-afraid-of-tresemme Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:01:46 -0500 LeftBrain 3516@/bbforum/discussions While perusing the hair care aisle in my local Walgreens I was surprised by how much the packaging of Pantene’s new “Expert” collection resembles Tresemme. They both have a sleek black look. Tresemme is “Used by Professionals” and Pantene is “Expert.” They both have a stylized “swoosh” as part of the graphics. Hmmm. It wasn’t [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3514/maybelline-the-colossal-waterproof-volume-express-mascara-look-at-the-label Mon, 25 Feb 2013 01:01:02 -0500 LeftBrain 3514@/bbforum/discussions This week Maybelline’s Colossal Waterproof Volume Express Mascara is one of the top selling products on Amazon.com. But what makes it so waterproof? Let’s look at the label: Maybelline The Colossal Waterproof Volume Express Mascara Ingredients Isododecane Solvent for waxes Cera Alba (Beeswax), C8 9 Isoparaffin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Cera Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera Wax) (Carnauba Wax) Waxes and clays that [...]]]> http://thebeautybrains.com/bbforum/discussion/3511/dollar-store-danger-can-you-spot-a-fake-product Sun, 24 Feb 2013 01:01:52 -0500 LeftBrain 3511@/bbforum/discussions Take a look at this “No More Flakes” dandruff shampoo we found in a local dollar store. Only $1.25 for a 15 ounce bottle. What a deal, eh? But wait a minute…If this is a dandruff shampoo (which is an Over the Counter drug) it should list the active ingredient, drug warnings, expiration date, etc. [...]]]>