5 Ways to Reduce Enlarged Pores

Originally quoted from The Beauty Isle Insider by
The Creators of The Beauty Brains

~Image from: Indian Makeup Blog~

At first glance, you may think that pore control products offer to make your pores smaller, but if you read the label carefully, you'll see that in most cases they just claim to reduce the appearance of large pores. That may sound like a subtle distinction, but it's not. There's not much you can do to physically make your pores smaller, but you can avoid making them look larger. Instead of looking for "shrinking" products, try avoiding these factors that can make pores look plump.

1. Skin debris like dead skin cells can collect in pores, making them appear bigger. Good facial cleansing is the key to staying debris-free.

2. Excessive oiliness can keep pores filled with a layer of oil that accentuates their appearance. Consider using oil-absorbing makeup or doing more frequent cleansing or blotting.

3. Bacterial growth contributes to blackheads and makes pores appear freakishly huge. Exfoliation can help.

4. Sun exposure can thicken the skin cells around the edge of pores, making them appear larger. Using a sunscreen or limiting your exposure is a good idea.

5. Genetics determines your skin type and if you're unlucky enough to be born with oily , thicker skin, your pores will probably be more noticeable. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about this.

[Sponsored: #12] Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink Review

This review is proudly sponsored and brought to you by LifeStylePost - Brand Advocates Network. Any external images, if used, solely belong to their respective owners and not to me. I only re-link and use them as part of this review.

Note that all views presented here are of my own and whether the product is sponsored or not, it's honest throughout. Only that effects will vary on the individual when applied.

WHAT IS IT: Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink

Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink" The Total Beauty brand Peripera is reproduced by science technology. Its feminine design and romantic style capture women's hearts with beauty. Crayon-like lipstick for easy application. Resulting in cherrish pink lips, tropical orange lips, or soft pink lips and gives a very nice scent to your lips!

THE PRODUCT(S):

Note: Peri's Tint Crayon gives you moisturized, softer & fuller lips in this handy auto-type container.

A little more English description for better understanding the purpose of this product.

Look at how insanely cute and adorable this lip crayon is. That pink base can be twisted like an applicator to churn out more of the lip tint crayon too. Lurve, lurve, lurve it!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

In case you are wondering exactly what shade of pink it's supposed to be, here's another look on the back of my hand instead. I personally find the pink quite alright for me, as I'm not too fond of overly pinkish things. So, this shade is just like a darling~

VERDICT: Personally, I'm not too fond of using lipstick on a regular basis unless it's really required or it's a must-wear situation. So, I tend to try and get away with just using lip balms instead. But then, just plain using lip balm alone still make me look like a denizen from a different world ^^; And I'm actually surprised nobody has gotten spooked due to my pale/ghostly skin color yet, although I'm still waiting for that day to arrive xD

Anyways, my first experience and I presume almost every girls' first experience is pretty much the same. We were somewhat exploring our mother's dresser table and came across a lipstick. We opened up the lipstick cover and is amazed at the bright red or pink color staring back at us cheerfully. And next thing we know, we applied that red/pink lipstick, not just on our lips but almost on the entire lower half of our face before our mothers found out that their beloved lipstick has been sacrilegiously manhandled and multilated by our young and innocent hands LOL

Although on the contrary, I didn't know what a lipstick was at the age of 4 and proceeded to smear it all over my face instead. Which resulted in my mother screaming at the top of her lungs and ignoring me for a couple of days as I infamously decimated her brand new lipstick into nothingness, all in the span of under 5 minutes :D Although that ended with me screaming and crying in terror when I finally looked in the mirror and thought my entire face was bloody and bleeding though.

I only recently got myself acquainted with lipsticks, and as mentioned before, my skin-tone actually varies in between pale and ghostly. Hence a little lip color is needed to tone down the paleness of my skin, so as not to accidentally spooked anyone, especially late at night after work. But then, my lips tend to get really dry and it cracked and peeled really badly. And some days, my lips looked so abused due to the dried blood on it. And despite my very best attempts at applying lip balms during the day and before bed, it just didn't help much at all. It gets even worse when it's time to remove the lipstick color on my lips, as it always ended up with my lips looking way too dry for comfort. If there's an award for over-dried, cracking, peeling and bleeding lips, I would probably win it without even having to try hard.

And by coincidence, I happened to come across LifeStylePost - Brand Advocates Network asking for brand advocates for their Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon. What hooked me the most is that it promises moisturized, smoother, softer and fuller lips. And I was instantly sold and applied to be a brand advocate. And lucky me, I had the honor of trying, testing and reviewing this awesome and adorable lip crayon.

I immediately used it the next very day, as I only received it the night prior after I reached home from work. And allow me to tell you, this is definitely one of the best lip tint crayon I've ever used in my X years of existence. It really promised and delivers. I especially love the fruity scent, as it doesn't seem too overly strong to the point of nauseating. You know how certain lip products are scented and when applied on the lips, we sometimes will lick our lips? There are moments when it gets a little too much with the scent part and it makes us go "Urgggghhh". But not with this Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon. Occasionally, when my throat is dry, I will subconsciously licked my lips for no particular reason and I can safely assure you that, I haven't encounter any bad after-effects or side-effects from licking a little lip tint off my lips.

Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon also contain sweet almond oil and jojoba oil, which in turn help keep our lips feeling soft and moisturized for long hours. It's actually akin to applying lip color and lip balm all at the same time in this lip tint crayon. The lip tint crayon itself is so easy to apply and the color literally glides onto my lips, staying there without smudging at all. Not even after 8 hours, and get this, I didn't even have to re-apply this lip tint crayon at any time during a full 8 hour test. Although I do have to point out that trying it out on the back of your hand and literally applying it to your lips does have a slight difference to it.

When I first rubbed a little on the back of my hand to see how the color would look like, I thought the color seemed a little close towards lip balm-ish color. But when I applied it to my lips, it was so pigmented and rich and the shade was a little more intense on my lips than on the back of my hand. And within a few seconds, my lips looked so cheerfully bright and happy while at the same time, looking so moisturized. And when I say moisturized, it's really moisturized. Not the waxy, greasy nor oily type of moisturized feeling or sensation. And it doesn't feel that thick, like regular lipsticks or lip tints that claimed to be lip tints but feel and look more like lipstick too.

The best part? My pinoy managed didn't claimed I looked like a char siew bao due to the lip tint color. The previous times I had to apply lipstick, it was a tad too dark and red and she thought I looked like a runaway char siew bao from 7=Eleven. Haha xD And even after dabbing the excess lip tint onto a tissue, the lip tint color is still on my lips, albeit just half a shade lighter but still visible. At the same time, even after dabbing the excess lip tint off my lips, my lips still looked sufficiently moisturized and I didn't even had to re-apply it during my entire 8 hour work shift. The color stayed and never once smudged nor came off even when I took a sip of water from my water bottle to having my meals during break time. And at the end of the day, the lip tint color comes off easily when I used my Bliss Fabulips Foaming Lip Cleanser.

Here's another look at the muted version of this lip tint crayon just this afternoon.

I got up at 8am in the morning and did my usual light make-up routine, complete with Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon in No.1 Fruit Pink. Note that I dabbed off the crayon so it wouldn't look too intense, just slightly muted and half a shade lighter.

I came back home close to 12 noon and had a change of clothes before heading out of the house again to continue my errand. The lip tint color still stayed the same, no smudging, it didn't came off and I didn't re-apply too.

Another look at close to 5pm when I'm done with my errands for the day. The color still stays, without smudging nor coming off unnecessarily at all. And still, I didn't re-apply outside the house too. The color simply stays on the lips throughout the day until when I need to remove it.

Note that it's best to exfoliate your lips prior to using Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon as even lines on your lips will show up :D

VERDICT: Lurve this to the max. At the end of the day when it's time to remove the lip tint from my lips, my lips didn't looked overly dried out at all. There were no lip peeling incidents observed and the best part of all, the color stays put on my lips without ever smudging nor coming off without warning too.

Sample Redemption: No samples to redeemed. However, you can head on down to the 9 Watsons stores listed below to get your hands on this coveted Peripera Peri's Lip Tint Crayon and many more Peripera products :

• J- Cube
• Toa Payoh (Hub)
• Marina Bay Sands
• Katong Mall
• Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya)
• Tiong Bahru Plaza
• StarVista
• Bugis Junction
• Tampines One

Why does Silicone buildup on hair?

Originally quoted from The Beauty Isle Insider by
The Creators of The Beauty Brains

~Image from: Google~

When it comes to buildup, the type of silicone (and how much is used) is more important than if it's used in a leave-on style or a rinse-off conditioner. There are many types of silicone with scientific names that can be confusing, so let's look at a few common examples.

No Buildup

One of the most common types of silicone is called "cyclic" because the chain of silicone atoms that composes this kind is linked together in a ring structure. This type of silicone evaporates and won't build up on your hair at all. It gives a silky-smooth feel and leaves the hair with incredible slip when wet. It's used in both leave-on styles and rinse-off conditioners and is commonly called cyclomethicone or cyclopentasiloxane.

Very Little Buildup

Another type of silicone is designed to be water soluble. This kind provides very light conditioning and is unlikely to build up because it washes away easily with water. It is often used in conditioning shampoos. Look for polyol in the name, as in dimethicone copolyol.

Moderate to Heavy Buildup

There is a different kind of silicone that is chemically modified to stick to your hair better. That means it conditions well, but it can also be more challenging to remove. This kind generally has amo, amine or amino somewhere in the name. For example, amodimethicone is commonly used in leave-in conditioners.

Potentially Heavy Buildup

Finally, perhaps the most powerful type of silicone is referred to as a silicone oil. It comes in many different forms but is typically used at very high molecular weights to make it highly waterproof, so it provides good shine to the hair. Because it's so water-insoluble, it can be very tough to wash off, depending, of course, on how much you have on your hair. Typically, this is used in rinse-off products. Look for it on the ingredients list as dimethicone.

9 Tips to stop smelly hair

~Image from: Get Smell Out~

It seems that a lot of people are complaining about smelly hair, and the blogosphere is constantly buzzing with tips on how to neutralize hair odors. Here are 9 ways to get rid of the odor and keep your hair smelling great.

1. Wash and condition your hair: This may seem obvious, but it's the most thorough way to get your hair clean and odor-free.

2. Hair wipes: Hair wipes are like baby wipes made especially for your locks. Ted Gibson has an excellent product that should help remove any odor from your hair.

3. Hair fragrance: One way to get rid of an odor is to cover it up with some other odor. Hair fragrances are great for this purpose.

4. Use your perfume: If you can't find a "real" hair fragrance, just improvise with your favorite perfume or cologne. Just be sure not to use too much!

5. Powder shampoo: Instead of getting your hair wet, you can use a dry shampoo to add a little fragrance and remove the odor. Just sprinkle it in and brush the odors out.

6. Leave-in conditioner or combing cream: A touch of leave-in conditioner or another styling product can mask icky odors.

7. Do a speedy, secret sink wash: Wet your hands, take a tiny dab of liquid soap and run your fingers through your hair. Caution: This doesn't work on all hair styles.

8. Dryer sheets: You'll cover up the odor and you'll get rid of embarrassing static cling.

9. Use an antimicrobial shampoo: This can help if your smelly scalp is caused by scalp fungus or bacteria.

Want Shiny Hair?

Originally quoted from The Beauty Isle Insider by
The Creators of The Beauty Brains

~Image from: Human N Health~

Naturally shiny hair has a cuticle that's smooth and flat; it's plumped up with water (about 10 to 15% by weight) and it's rich in natural oils that keep the whole thing "glued" together. Unfortunately, we're stealing shine from our hair everyday and we probably don't even realize it. If you want good gloss, you should avoid these 12 things that can rob hair of shine. Or as the experts like to call them, the Dulling Doze.

1. Flood Damage
Even "harmless" water can be a shine stealer. That's because too much moisture swells the hair shaft and causes the cuticle to buckle. The more frequently you wet your hair, the less shine you're likely to have.

2. Shampoo Scrubbing
Scrubbing bubbles seem cute but that rub-a-dub-dub lifts the cuticle even more. Using a conditioning shampoo can help because the hair shafts won't snag against each other when you're lathering up.

3. Careless Underconditioning
OK, we don't all need to condition every time we wash our hair. But if your hair is dry to begin with, it's much more likely to be damaged during and after styling if you skip conditioner. You're just giving shine away!

4. Death by towel-drying
So now your hair is wet. What do you do? Blot, don't rub! A rough towel can cause an amazing amount of damage on wet hair.

5. The brush-off
Don't fall for that old myth that you should brush your hair 100 strokes every night. While brushing does temporarily help by distributing natural oils, in the long run it strips off layers of cuticle and weakens hair.

6. Hot-styling appliances
Heat is the natural enemy of shine. That's because high temperatures damage the natural lipids (fancy word for oils) that help keep hair flexible and shiny. If you do decide to heat-style, use protection, like the silicone-containing TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer spray.

7. Protective product residue
Yes, you do need to use heat protection, but be careful what you wish for. Some leave-in creams and gels leave behind a dulling residue.

8. Color my world
Chemical coloring is very damaging because it breaks down the inner structure of hair protein. Even if you use the special conditioner that comes with the coloring kit, your hair never fully recovers.

9. Wave bye-bye
Permanent waving is another chemical process that's highly damaging.

10. Twist and shout
Twisting and playing with your hair is a dangerous habit as far as shine is concerned. That's because the torsional forces (Fancy word for twisting and bending) loosen the cuticles.

11. I dig a pony
Wearing your hair in a ponytail may seem like a hassle-free style, but if you pull it back too tightly you may be creating microfractures in the hair that will reflect light unevenly and cause loss of shine.

,br> 12. Here comes the sun
And with the sun comes damaging UV radiation that can wreck havoc on natural hair lipids like 18-methyl eicosanoic acid. Without these lipids, hair dulls quickly. If you can't stay out of the sun, make sure you're protecting your hair with a good conditioner.

Quickie Review: A Simple Guide

So, what is a Quickie Review all about?

As stated on my Facebook page over at Pu Niao's Beauty Junkie Reviews, the idea came up when I was nursing a bad headache during a 3 hour snooze break.

Even though I am running a beauty review blog, I still harbor thoughts on being able to review products that are seemingly difficult to review in as much as 4-5 paragraphs long. Suddenly, the words "Quicke Review" popped into my already "pounded-badly-by-the-headache" head. Products such as shower gels, fragrances, etc can be included into a newly thought-up "Quickie Review". Perfect for those days when I am still trying samples before putting them up for review on my blog.

To sum it up, products such as:

• Shower Gels
• Fragrances, Eau De Toilette, Eau de Parfum
• Nail Polish, Nail Varnish
• Hand Creams

Although do be aware that not every product will be put up under Quickie Review. The usual products and samples reviewing is still ongoing, but I want to be able to review almost anything and everything related to beauty products as much as I possibly can. And I personally felt that it's a little unfair that some products gets to be showcased while some have to be ignored due to the fact that it's almost impossible to thoroughly review it properly. Fragrances are such an example, to be precise. To quote a dear friend, "How on earth does one review a fragrance?" And I have to wholeheartedly agree.

The last fragrance review I did previously, in lieu of a fragrance giveaway was just so extremely hard to do so. Even after reading other related and similar beauty blogs, I was still scratching my head and feeling clueless on how on earth I have to go about writing a 4-5 paragraph review on it. Although I did manage to did it somehow, after lingering on the same subject for a day or so. But then, I still think I could have done it in another method, and much more better and easier to understand as well.

As mentioned before, Quickie Review will be in a Q&A format where it will be slightly different from the normal try-and-review formula I have come up with. I'll also introduce a "sidekick" for the Quickie Review too, to inject a little fun into it. I can't really promise too much, but what I can promise is that, I'll try my very best. So, comments and opinions and even feedbacks are more than welcome to help improve it even more.

Time to look for that forementioned sidekick then~

Take care and keep a lookout for the very first Quickie Review coming up soon :D

Shampoo Secrets Companies Don't Want You To Know

Originally quoted from The Beauty Isle Insider by
The Creators of The Beauty Brains

~Image from: Medical Daily~

While we hate to disagree with dermatologists, we don't understand why they recommend a deep-cleansing shampoo when you have dandruff. Deep-cleansing-type shampoos will remove the surface flakes, but only a dandruff shampoo can address the cause of flaking and itching. So we'd recommend finding a good dandruff shampoo instead of chasing deep-cleansing, clarifying and anti-residue products. This may seem confusing to us because the beauty companies tell you there are so many different kinds of shampoo. But in reality, every shampoo on the market falls into one of a few basic categories.

There are only 4 main shampoo types in the world

All shampoos can be categorised by their basic function. So why are there what seem like thousands of products on the market, you ask? Because companies that sell shampoo need new ways to talk about their products to keep them sounding new and exciting. There's nothing wrong with companies being creative with their names and claims as long as they are honestly depicting what their products can do. But we can be smarter consumers if we can see beyond the marketing hype and understand the functionality of these four basic shampoo types.

1. Deep Cleansing Shampoos (a.k.a volumizing, clarifying), balancing, oil control and thickening. These shampoos are designed to get gunk off your hair and scalp. They typically contain slightly higher levels of detergent so they foam and clean better. The include the examples above as well as salon products like Paul Mitchell Shampoo and Frederic Fekkai's Full Volume Shampoo.

2. Conditioning Shampoo (a.k.a moisturizing, 2-in-1, smoothing, anti-frizz, strengthening, color care, straightening and hydrating). These kinds of formulas are all about leaving a moisturizing agent, like silicone or polyquaternium-10, on the hair to smooth it. They are very good for dry hair, especially if you color-treat or heat-style, but they can weight down fine hair. Good examples of this type include most of the Pantene formulas and some products from the L'Oreal Vive collection and Dove Advanced Care.

3. Baby Shampoos (a.k.a kids shampoo and tear-free). These are milder, lower-foaming surfactant formulas that are designed not to sting or burn your eyes. They're better for babies but they don't clean hair as well. Johnson's Baby Shampoo is the classic example, but this category also includes Touch of an Angel and The Little Bath.

4. Anti-dandruff Shampoos (a.k.a anti-itch, flake control and dry scalp). These are medicated shampoos that contain a drug-ingredient that controls itching and flaking. In the United States these are considered to be over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Head & Shoulders is the leading dandruff product; other examples include Nizoral Danadruff Shampoo and Redken Dandruff Control Shampoo.

The Bottom Line

We hope this helps you better understand the marketing hype surrounding shampoo names. Nobody is saying that all shampoos are the same, or even that all shampoos in a given category type are the same. There are real performance differences so it's important for you to shop around and find a product that performs the way you like at a price that you can afford. Jut don't get too hung up on the names the companies used to describe their products. That's the marketing part of the industry, not the science part.

[Monthly: #13] 10 Great New Reasons to get fit

Flat abs? Better biceps? That's just the beginning. Exercise is the best natural fix for life's problems according to the latest cutting-edge research.

~Image Source: Health Coach Lisa~

You'll stay younger, for much longer
Astonishing but true: new research shows that by lifting weights you can actually slow the rate at which your body ages. Researchers discovered that compared with a group of sedentary people, those who strength-trained three times a week had limited damage from free radicals, harmful molecules that have been implicated in the ageing process, heart disease and some cancers. "You don't have to be in the gym all day. In this study, participants did one set each of 12 exercises, such as leg presses and seated rowing, which took as little as 15 minutes," says a lead researcher.

You'll sleep better
Dreamy news for insomniacs: performing some cardio-vascular workout, such as walking or running, for about 30 minutes in the late afternoon will help you get peaceful zzz's at night, according to researchers at the Respiratory Sciences and Sleep Disorders Centre at the University of Arizona. Exercise, they found, ensures sounder shut-eye by upping oxygen consumption and raising body temperature y a few degrees. That's enough to lull even a night owl to sleep.

You'll be a quitter
Smokers who exercise are twice as likely to kick the habit as those who lounge about doing nothing, according to a study published in Archives Of Internal Medicine. Women who did 40 minutes of cardio exercises three times a week also gained half as much weight after quitting. The natural drug effect of exercise - its stress, mood and weight control abilities - helps maintain abstinence from smoking.

You'll have a healthier pregnancy
Consistent cardio exercise, such as jogging for three hours a week, may cut the odds of miscarriage by 40 percent, say researchers at Columbia University School in New York. While the reason is still unclear, regular exercise may help fend off hormonal changes, cutting the risk of uterine contractions, which cause miscarriages. Rigorous exercise also makes sense for expectant mothers because it limits the chance that you'll have a low-weight or premature baby or suffer from postpartum depression. Discuss your exercise plan with your doctor.

You'll hit 100
Workouts will give you some immediate payoffs - say, the right to eat another donut. But they also pay off in the long term, by influencing your longevity. The reason: shapeups help ward off dangerous cholesterol highs, strengthen arteries and can significantly slash your risk of stroke. The amazing stats: 30,000 men and women in Denmark who exercise at least five minutes a week were significantly less likely to die in the following 14 years than their couch-bound counterparts. The landmark study, conducted at the University of Copenhagen, also showed that women benefitted from doing physically demanding jobs - such as cleaning or nursing. These actually seemed to decrease the risk of early death by 10 percent.

You'll toss out those painkillers
Exercisers swear by a good sweat to ease pain from backaches, cramps and more. Now, new research shows that 25 minutes of biking (or any cardio workout) can dull pain, and that the effect can last up to 30 minutes post-work-out.

You'll think faster
What's the best way to be a quick thinker? A study from the University of Illinois showed that just 45 minutes of rapid walking, three days a week can speed up your ability to reason and make decisions. Why? While the brain accounts for only 2 percent of your body weight, it uses a huge 20 percent of the glucose and whopping 23 percent of all the oxygen you take into your body! Exercise improves circulation, and the obviously, the more efficiently your body delivers oxygen, the better nourished your brain cells will be.

You'll have hot sex
Don't bother with fancy chemical and mystical herbal sex aids. Studies show that exercise may help you to do it better. Why? A healthier physique can boost a woman's self-esteem, making her feel sexier. But exercise's benefits aren't purely psychological. Physical activity improves circulation and mediates stress hormones - so that your body feels better, even sexier.

You'll feel happier
A daily 30-minute walk or antidepressant medications - which is more effective at beating depression? Powerful news for sufferers: both work equally well to relieve short as well as long -term symptoms of depression, according to a study from Duke University in North Carolina. Symptoms of depression include sleeplessness, appetite loss and lack of energy. Exercise has a feel better effect because it boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins and gives people a greater sense of self-confidence. Lowering your pill bill might also bring on a smile.