Showing posts with label dental. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dental. Show all posts

Tuesday, 13 June 2017

May Favourites



Diamond Whites Black Edition 100% Natural Charcoal Tooth Polish
To distract attention away from the wonkiness of my teeth I try to keep them looking as white as possible. I normally use Crest White Strips but they can make your teeth feel quite sensitive. Loads of these charcoal tooth powders have been popping up all over Instagram lately & as I do like to use some natural products I decided to order a tub from Diamond Whites. It is made from 100% activated coconut shell charcoal and claims to remove stains from your teeth, strengthen your gums & absorb toxins from your mouth. You just dip your toothbrush head into the pot, brush your teeth with it & then rinse really well. It literally turns your teeth black & looks really weird when you're brushing them. I find that I have to follow it up with my regular mouthwash & toothpaste to get rid of all the black residue. It makes such a mess & will turn your sink black too but I do think it works. It makes my teeth look sparkly clean & they feel thoroughly polished afterwards. These charcoal tooth powders are mainly for removing stains rather than proper teeth whitening but if you drink a lot of tea or coffee, it'll probably work well for you too. Just don't expect it to work miracles on really yellow teeth.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
The Ordinary's skincare products have fast become some of my all time favourites. The AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is truly the crème de la crème & as my skin loves chemical exfoliants this product is a dream come true. It can be difficult to find such high strength acids in the UK, the most you'll normally find is about 10% so this is a special product indeed. In the bottle this viscous red liquid looks like blood but on the face it turns into a raspberry pink which indicates where you have applied the product. It also stops you from being tempted to leave it on overnight which could cause a lot of damage. Used properly this peel does all the things that acids usually do but TO THE EXTREME. It brightens your complexion, unclogs pores & gives you the most baby soft skin of your life. It might even cleanse your soul! When I first started using it my face would experience some intense tingling but now I'm more accustomed to this acid strength I apply it twice a week without issue. I rarely use any other acid products now, this is literally all I need to maintain clear, smooth skin.

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer in White
I seem to have accumulated quite a few foundations that are too dark for my skin. A lot of the time I'll really like the formula but the brand don't offer a shade that's pale enough for me. Instead of chucking these products out I decided to pick up a white mixer from NYX. This product can lighten foundations without altering their consistency or coverage whatsoever. I really like the tube packaging as it makes it easy to dispense the exact amount of mixer you need. It's such a useful thing to have & allows me to alter the colour of a whole range of products. You can even use it on it's own as a super pale matte highlight. NYX also have five other Pro Foundation Mixers (Opal, Luminous, Olive, Warmth & Deep) so you can create a custom foundation that's especially tailored to your needs.

Too Faced x Kat Von D Better Together Bestselling Mascara & Liner Duo
Two products that you never stop hearing about in the beauty community are Too Faced's Better Than Sex Mascara & Kat Von D's Tattoo Liner in Trooper. These two powerhouse makeup brands recently teamed up to bring us the 'Better Together' collection & while most of it didn't appeal to me, I was very excited about this mascara & liner duo. For just £18 you get a mini version of each product so it's a great way to try something new without spending tons of money. I always think it's a good idea to pick up a miniature mascara whenever possible because then it won't expire before you've used it all. The Better Than Sex Mascara excels at giving your lashes both tons of length & volume. It holds a curl really well & gives you a beautiful wispy effect. I love how it spreads out my lashes & makes them look much fuller. It lasts all day without flaking or smudging & is easily one of the best mascaras I've ever tried. I've been using Stila's Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner for the past couple of years & in general it's very similar to the Kat Von D offering. They're both highly pigmented, last all day long & don't transfer to my upper eyelid. The main reason I now prefer the Tattoo Liner is the super fine nib. It allows the liner to glide on smoothly & creates a really sharp wing. It's absolutely perfect & I will definitely repurchase it in the future.



Makeup Revolution Ultra Eye Contour Light & Shade Palette
I've been wanting to buy Kat Von D's Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette for years now as it's pretty much the perfect collection of neutral matte eyeshadows. It's the kind of thing that everyone should have in their makeup stash as it's such a versatile product. However it had taken so long for Kat Von D's makeup range to be stocked in Debenhams that I kinda lost interest as I do already have several similar eyeshadows. A few months ago Kat made the mistake of blasting Makeup Revolution on Instagram for copying her palette, informing millions of beauty lovers that you could pick up a dupe of the Shade & Light Eye Palette for a mere £8. That price combined with Superdrug's 3 for 2 on all makeup offer meant that I couldn't resist buying it & I'm completely in love! Sure the shadows may be slightly chalkier & produce a lot of kickback compared to the Kat Von D palette but the colours are near identical & they blend out really nicely. I know some people take offence to makeup dupes but I'm all for it. This was the first Makeup Revolution product that I've tried & it certainly won't be the last.


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Friday, 16 September 2016

Sensitive Teeth Solutions From Sensodyne



Sensodyne Cool Mint Mouthwash* - £4.99

Having sensitive teeth can be a huge pain - literally! Even though I take good care of them, it's simply something that I've struggled with on & off over the years. Tooth sensitivity is caused by the gradual exposure of the softer part of your tooth that lies underneath the tooth enamel, called dentine. Dentine has tiny tubes that lead to the nerve & are filled with fluid. If anything causes a change in the movement of this fluid, the nerve endings react to this which in turn triggers the pain. Many things can set off sensitive teeth including food & drinks that are too hot, cold or sweet but for me the worst thing is the weather. As soon as the temperature drops my teeth react to the cold air & I'll be walking around outside in complete agony. Even getting a scale & polish can set my teeth off!

Whenever I've mentioned any sensitivity issues to my dentist they've always recommended using Sensodyne products. Sensodyne kindly sent me one of their sensitivity SOS packages which has worked a treat to curb any sharp pains. One of their latest releases is this Cool Mint Mouthwash & it's probably my favourite product out of the bunch. It has a lovely minty taste that leaves my mouth feeling really clean & fresh without being too overpowering. What I really like about this mouthwash is that it provides instant as well as long lasting relief to sensitive teeth. The fluoride formula helps to re-mineralise enamel, strengthen teeth & prevent cavities. It has also been specifically formulated without alcohol to be extra kind to sensitive teeth & gums. Including this product in my oral hygiene routine has made all the difference & it perfectly complements the use of Sensodyne toothpaste.



Sensodyne Whitening Repair & Protect Toothpaste* - £4.49
Sensodyne True White Mint Toothpaste* - £7.99
Sensodyne Precision Toothbrush Medium* - £2.99

As I don't have the straightest teeth in the world (wear your retainers people!) I try my best to keep them looking as white as possible. I often use Crest Whitestrips which are brilliant but they do leave my teeth feeling rather sensitive. If you're struggling with tooth sensitivity but still want whiter looking teeth then these Sensodyne toothpastes are a much gentler option. My personal favourite is the Whitening Repair & Protect toothpaste. Not only does it make your teeth look whiter but it actually strengthens your teeth over time. The Repair & Protect range contains patented NovaMin® which is a ground breaking technology originally developed for bone repair. This advanced technology seeks out vulnerable areas & forms a hard layer over them. When used twice daily NovaMin® is clinically proven to not only strengthen & protect your teeth from the pain of sensitivity but it can also help to repair any tiny holes in the dentine. This toothpaste has been a complete godsend when I'm experiencing tooth sensitivity. It's important to keep using it even when your teeth feel okay as the effects are cumulative. I've been using it for several months now & I wouldn't be without it!

The Sensodyne True White toothpaste is their gentlest product & has the lowest abrasion formula ever in a Sensodyne toothpaste. It is 10x less abrasive than many other whitening toothpastes & feels as gentle as brushing with water. It contains 5% sodium tripoloyphosphate which gently removes stains & prevents new ones from forming. This toothpaste helps to restore the natural whiteness of your teeth whilst minimising the wear that many other whitening toothpastes can cause. The formula feels quite different to a normal toothpaste. It has a thinner texture & doesn't foam up very much. I feel like the True White toothpaste is better when it comes to whitening but the tooth strengthening properties of Repair & Protect are much more appealing to me.

I currently use an Oral-B electric toothbrush because that's what my dentist recommends but if you're really struggling with sensitivity you might want to switch to a toothbrush that has been designed especially for sensitive teeth. This Sensodyne Precision toothbrush has silky bristles that gently clean the teeth. It also has a small angled head which allows you to clean all those hard to reach areas with the greatest of ease. If you have sensitive teeth it's important not to brush them too hard. Using a softer brush like this one will be much kinder on your teeth & gums.

I really enjoyed using all of these products & since being sent the sensitivity SOS package I have actually repurchased the Repair & Protect toothpaste and the mouthwash several times. I honestly don't think that there are better products out there for dealing with sensitive teeth & they have become a vital part of my dental care regimen.


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