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You are here: Home / Archives for beauty

Lip Monthly: A Subscription Box for Your Lips

May 21, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

We received a sample so we could create an unboxing video and include Lip Monthly in our subscription box round up coming out later this year.

Do you like getting new make up? My daughter really does. She has taken all my makeup and whenever I get more it ends up in her collection. So she LOVES this subscription box. The quality of what we received from Lip Monthly was amazing. The colors were a lot of fun too. I’ve been using my lipstick, once I stole it back from my daughter, on my red carpet trips. She uses the lip colors for her acting classes and when she goes out with friends.

Lip Monthly good vibes bag with contents

Lip Monthly Subscription Box Opening

Lip Monthly is a subscription service where you will discover new lipsticks, lip glosses, lip balms, lip pencils and more. Each month you get four amazing full-size lip products packaged in a small cute cosmetic bag. Once you become a subscriber, you can customize one or two items every month and select your color of choice. We loved what came in our first set. Can you tell how much by the video up above?

To order your Lip Monthly subscription — simply log in to your account or create one at www.lipmonthly.com, go to the Dashboard, click the Customize button at the top of the page and subscribers will see one or two lip products and the color choices available in the next month’s bag. The monthly bags may include one non-lip product such as highlighter or eye shadow.

Lip Monthly pink polka dot bag and contents

Subscription plans: $12.95 a month and the first month is 25% off; 3-month plan is $25.90 so you get 1 bag free; 6-months is $51.80; Annual subscription is $116.55. Approximate retail value is $40-$80 a month. It’s so worth it.

Sign up and cancel at any time. Subscription info here: https://lipmonthly.com/choose-plan

twitter – https://twitter.com/lipmonthly
facebook – https://www.facebook.com/lipmonthly/

Filed Under: beauty

Take on The Role You Were Born to Play With Divatress!

March 7, 2018 by Beeb 1 Comment

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are mine.

Acting is the process of fully immersing yourself into a role. MomStart’s own Zoe is becoming a pro at this through her work on stage, embracing each character she plays and truly “Becoming” them through costumes and wigs to help make the role come alive. When Zoe was performing in the play Roe, she played two separate characters in the same show; so to help separate the two, one of the characters wore a red wig:

Zoe in character

More recently, Zoe took a page out of my own playbook with this fun pink wig!

I love how well she can pull off a wig! #thatsmygirl

A post shared by Louise Bishop (@momstart) on Feb 12, 2018 at 1:55pm PST

Every thespian needs to get acquainted with wigs, makeup, and costumes; they’re an important part of the creative process for telling a story. But even if acting isn’t on your radar, there may be times in your own life where you might want try on a character for the day by changing up your look and trying something completely different. That’s where Divatress can help! Divatress are an online store specializing in every type of wig, from synthetic wigs to crochet braids with human hair – so no matter what role you’re playing on stage or in real life, Divatress have a wig for your needs!

Filed Under: beauty, personal

Beauty Treatments at Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery: My Results

September 28, 2017 by Beeb 13 Comments

Beeb & Jai

Photo by Jason Hill Photography


Complimentary services provided for review.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to try two treatments at Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery in Portland: Laser skin resurfacing using Halo and Forever Young BroadBand Light Treatments in March, followed by Botox in July. Since my wedding was in August, I used it as a motivator to try a lot of things, like these beauty treatments, that I’ve always wanted to do – yes, because I wanted to look great in my wedding photos, but also because I wanted to make life improvements that would last far after the big day.

I’ve been so focused on my career for so many years that I have really neglected my health and a lot of other areas in my life, so the wedding was a great opportunity to shift priorities a bit and start giving other areas of my life attention again. In the lead-up to the wedding, I worked really hard and did a lot of rewarding things, like training for my first-ever race and running multiple 5ks. I also invested in a lot of new makeup and spent hours learning new techniques, because I wanted to learn how to do my own wedding makeup so that I could enjoy the results every time I put on makeup, not just for one day. It’s felt really good to take care of myself and get the chance to do things I’ve been wanting to do for years! As I wrote about in my first two posts, my experiences with Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery far exceeded my expectations, and I was so happy that I had the opportunity to try both the laser resurfacing and the Botox before my wedding day!

Wedding portrait

Photo by Jason Hill Photography – click to view larger image

When I had the laser resurfacing treatment done, I was advised that it takes roughly 4 months for the “Glow” to come through from the Halo. In fact, I received a compliment using the exact phrase “You’re glowing!” in the lead-up to the wedding!

My wedding day!

Photo by Jason Hill Photography – click to view larger image

I was so happy about my decision to get the laser treatments and Botox done before the wedding. I felt beautiful and confident on my wedding day, and I think my skin looked great both in person and in all my wedding photos! I learned so much about skin care during my experiences at Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery, and that information will serve me well for the rest of my married life, not just one day! I will definitely be getting Botox again – I’m about 2 months out from the treatment, and it’s mostly worn off, although my forehead movement is still partially limited. Because I’d never had it done before, I asked my provider, Robin Prusse RN, to do it very, very lightly – I didn’t want to roll the dice and risk looking “Weird” during the wedding, or be unable to emote, since I had no idea what it would look like on me. As you can see in my wedding video, emoting was definitely not a problem! 🙂 Now that I know how Botox works for me personally, I would like to try more units next time and see if it might last longer. That’s a great thing about it – it’s not a permanent change, so you can try it and decide how you like it!

If you’re near the Portland area and considering one of these treatments, I can’t recommend Dr. Bohley’s office enough. Their team is amazing!

For More Information:

Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery
10201 SE Main Street, Suite 20
Portland, Oregon 97216
Phone: (503) 897-8999
Web: DrBohley.com
Socials: Facebook – Twitter – Google+ – YouTube

Filed Under: beauty, personal

Getting Botox For The First Time: My Experience

August 2, 2017 by Beeb 5 Comments

Complimentary services provided for review.

Back in May, I shared my experience of getting laser skin resurfacing at Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery in Portland, Oregon. It was a really great experience – the maximum result comes through about 4 months after treatment, so I’ll be posting an update after the wedding to show the final result, but I honestly started seeing a difference in how I felt just from the consult alone – before I ever had any treatment at all. The treatment was provided by Robin Prusse RN, who impressed me with her honest and helpful skincare advice that was tailored to my specific skin and concerns. She gave me a good perspective on the condition of my skin and what I should focus on in terms of my skin care regimen.

The wedding has been a good reason for me to prioritize some of the things I’ve always wanted to do, so I’ve been taking the time to do things for myself like the laser treatment and spending time learning new makeup techniques and investing in new products. This is not because I “Have” to look a certain way for the wedding – I want to look like myself! – but because I love beauty and fashion, and have spent so much time focused on my career and other responsibilities over the last 10 years or so that I have little by little neglected self-care and the things I wish I could make time for. The wedding has been a good “Excuse” to shift my priorities a little bit and focus on other areas of my life that need attention, including some of the pampering I’ve been doing recently. Between my successful experience with the laser skin resurfacing and the makeup tutorials I’ve been following, I’ve actually stopped wearing foundation except for special occasions now – I feel so good about my skin now that all I feel I need for most days is a little swipe of eye concealer for my dark circles. As I said in my first post, I hadn’t necessarily expected a visit to a cosmetic surgeon’s office to make me feel more confident about my “Natural beauty”, but that’s exactly what happened!

One area of my face that still bugs me is my forehead lines. I mentioned this to Robin during the initial consult, and she said that the only thing that can get rid of those is Botox. She reassured me that everyone has these from a very young age and there’s nothing I could have done to prevent them; she also surprised me when she explained how little Botox I would need since my lines aren’t severe, and how affordable it actually is. I considered it carefully, and decided I would like to give Botox a try before the wedding, because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

My forehead lines have been there ever since I was in my early 20s, so they’ve been annoying me for a long time.

24 years old

Me at 24 years old – you can see the same forehead lines I have today in this photo.

Although I know the lines have deepened some since I was 24, I think they’re also a lot more noticeable because everyone has a high-def camera now. Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, people only took photos every so often, and the camera quality was pretty blurry. Now everyone has an incredible photo built in to their phones and takes 1,000 photos a day, and since I work in social media, people take my photo all the time. As a result, I feel like I’m aging faster because cameras show a lot more than they did 10 years ago. Getting older as a transition millennial just isn’t fair sometimes. 😉

April 2017

April 2017

I notice these lines every day and I’ve really disliked them for probably a decade at this point – it’s one thing I’ve always wished I could change. My forehead lines also tend to look deeper in photos than real life, so it’s annoying to feel like I look worse in photos than in day to day life, especially because I have to take them for work being a blogger. Oh, for the good old days when I sat behind a typewriter and no one knew what I looked like! 😉 Since Botox is an outpatient procedure and is temporary, I thought I should go for it and see what results I would get and how I would feel. Everyone has strong opinions about cosmetic treatments (And even makeup in general), and I totally get it. It’s not something to be taken lightly and it’s a very personal choice.

When I told Robin that I wanted to try Botox, I explained that I wanted a very light treatment and wanted to still be able to move my face and express emotion normally – I’d rather still have wrinkles and be “Me” than have a flawless, immovable face! Fortunately, individuals who have the “Frozen” look have either specifically requested that because it makes them happy, or they went to someone who didn’t have a lot of experience administering the treatment. I’d had such a fabulous experience with Robin that I trusted her to do what I wanted and be honest about what to expect, so I went in one week ago to Dr. Bohley’s office to get my first ever Botox treatment.

May 2017

May 2017 – Before Botox

Starting the procedure was very simple. Robin took me back into her office and explained the nuts and bolts of the treatment and aftercare, then put some numbing cream on my forehead. She told me that within a couple of weeks of treatment when it began to kick in, she wanted me to get some rice flour and mix it with Cetaphil face cleanser to create an exfoliant, and use that on my forehead every day to exfoliate the area and enhance my results. She said that they sold an exfoliant in the office that would also work, but it costs around $100 which is why she recommends the rice flour for a budget option. This is why I really trust Robin – she’s only concerned about telling me what works and how to get the best results from my treatment, regardless of how much it costs or whether it results in a sale.

About to get Botox

About to get Botox

Getting the Botox was very fast and simple. Robin told me to move my forehead a few times, and pricked it with a needle that felt like getting a flu shot. I could feel the cool sensation of the Botox moving through as it was injected, but it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable – Robin and I were chatting about bridesmaid dresses the entire time!

Immediately After Botox Treatment

Right after the treament, my forehead looked pretty red and had pinprick points dotted around the injection sites. I was a little nervous about this since I had a full day of back-to-back wedding appointments, but Robin assured me it would be gone quickly and that I could put on makeup about 15 minutes later if I wanted.

On the MAX

Riding the MAX in Portland 1 hour after my treatment – no makeup on my forehead

She was right about how soon the irritation went away, and I was able to go about my day as planned. You’re advised to avoid strenuous activity immediately after treatment and not lie down until it’s bedtime; you’re also told to avoid things like alcohol and ibuprofen in the first few days following treatment. But there’s no “Downtime” afterwards – I went straight from Robin’s office to a meeting with my wedding videographer, then went on to get my hair done and meet with my wedding photographer and Matron of Honor – it was a jam-packed, and great day!

One day after treatment

One day after treatment. Oh yeah, and I FOUND MY WEDDING DRESS!!!

So what does it feel like? In the first few hours after treatment, I felt a “Cool” sensation in my forehead which reminded me of wearing a gel face masque. This feeling was not unpleasant and went away in a few hours. Unlike what you see in movies, Botox doesn’t actually kick in right away – Robin let me know that it would probably take about a month to see the full results. Within a day or two, I began to notice the effects of the treatment. My forehead started to feel “Tight” – I can still move my face to express surprise, scowl, etc., but I feel some resistance when I make those expressions and my forehead doesn’t move up as high. It’s not bothersome – I feel like my forehead was “Tighter” for the first few days and now I’ve gotten used to it.

The most noticeable and exciting effect has been the reduction in my lines! It’s been kind of fun watching the treatment kick in, because I feel like I’ve been aging in reverse this week. Each day, my forehead has looked smoother. The depth and appearance of the lines has been significantly reduced – before, it was hard to take a photo of myself without the lines being extremely visible, and now, it’s actually hard to get a photo that captures the lines!

5 Days After Botox

5 Days after Botox – click to view full size

 

Selfie

Selfie taken this morning, August 2nd

I am completely thrilled with the results thus far! It’s made a huge difference in just a few days. I’m so happy with how it looks and I feel like it definitely took years off my appearance. It was such a simple solution to something that has bothered me so much for so long, and it makes a world of difference in how I feel! If I continue Botox treatments in the future – which I definitely plan on – it will also help to prevent future lines. Some people will not agree with my decision to try Botox, and that’s totally fine. For me personally, I don’t see this as being much different than the fact that I got my hair done right after the Botox treatment. After all, I’m not a platinum blonde naturally either, but I have fun playing with the look! And since this is a temporary treatment that wears off in 3-6 months, it will be gone as quickly as my platinum hair if I decide I want to do something different. I spent a lot of time looking into the pros, cons, and potential side effects of Botox and since I was a good candidate, I felt like it was worth doing. Every person needs to decide what is appropriate for them, and while this certainly isn’t desirable for everyone, it was the right choice for me and has been so rewarding. Since the full results will be visible within a month, I will be posting an update after the wedding to share the final product and any follow-up thoughts and observations – so stay tuned!

For More Information:

Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery
10201 SE Main Street, Suite 20
Portland, Oregon 97216
Phone: (503) 897-8999
Web: DrBohley.com
Socials: Facebook – Twitter – Google+ – YouTube

Filed Under: beauty, personal

Age Defying Skin Care at Home with MEG 21

June 19, 2017 by Momstart 1 Comment

I received samples of MEG 21.

I’m really not good at keeping up a daily regimen, Part of that is due to my busy schedule so my review of MEG 21 is after only using it two days in a row with intermittent usage after that. BUT what I will say is that I’m in love with these products because even only after two days of usage I really felt like my face looked amazingly vibrant!

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MEG 21 Products I used:

Bright & Clear Brightening Gel Cleanser:

MEG 21with Supplement Bright & Clear Brightening Gel Cleanser is a powerful triple-action formula and an essential first step for brightening a dull complexion, evening out skin tone, and purifying skin. This radiance-boosting gel cleanser gently removes dead skin and lifts away dirt, makeup, and oil without irritation, leaving skin refreshed and nourished. Contains patented Supplement to remove toxic sugars from skin and lighten skin pigmentation; Mulberry extract to brighten and inhibit melanin production; Bearberry extract to lighten and brighten skin; Licorice extract to diminish dark spots and discoloration; Grapeseed extract, an antioxidant, to reduce free-radical damage; Green tea extract to protect skin from free-radical damage; Vitamin B5 to bind moisture to skin; and Glycerin to soften and smooth skin. For all skin types. Clinically tested non-irritating formula.

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Bright & Clear Exfoliating Scrub:

MEG 21 with Supplement Bright & Clear Brightening Exfoliating Scrub gently exfoliates and polishes away dead skin cells to reveal your skin’s natural glow. Specifically formulated to help soften, smooth, and visibly brighten skin. Helps remove the harmful effects of toxic sugars on skin, while softening, smoothing, and visibly brightening skin for a noticeable improvement in skin radiance and luminosity. Contains patented Supplement to inactivate and remove toxic sugars from skin and lighten skin pigmentation; Ultra-fine grape seed powder to slough off the top layer of skin and as an effective anti-oxidant; Bilberry extract to diminish dark spots and discoloration; Grapefruit Peel, a mild astringent, to minimize the appearance of large pores; and Citric Acid, a natural exfoliate, to brighten skin. For all skin types. Clinically tested non-irritating formula.

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Bright & Firm Eye Treatment:

The award-winning, top-selling eye cream is proven to reverse the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles. The ingredients in Supplamine have been tested in laboratory In Vitro cell and tissue culture experiments. The ingredients in these laboratory studies have been demonstrated to intercept and reverse glycation, inflammation and metabolic oxidation caused by the same toxic sugars in skin, which in turn cause skin aging. Contains Suma Root, an excellent source of allantoin, vitamin A, E, K and essential B vitamins for healing, cellular integrity, and anti-inflammatory properties. Also increases microcirculation. Formulated with Shea Butter and Lilly Flower Extract to provide antioxidant power and moisture retention. Recommended for all skin types, allergy tested and scientifically formulated.

Smooth Radiance Advanced Formula

Skin on the neck and décolleté is tightened and smoothed with the highest concentration of Supplamine available in the MEG 21 product line. The ingredients in Supplamine have been tested in laboratory In Vitro cell and tissue culture experiments. The ingredients in thes laboratory studies have been demonstrated to intercept and reverse glycation, inflammation and metabolic oxidation caused by the same toxic sugars formed in skin, which in turn cause skin aging. MEG 21 with Supplamine is fully validated through rigorous scientific research and clinical trials that provide proof of efficacy for Supplamine, MEG 21’s proprietary patented ingredient. Also contains Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter and Squalene, all designed to increase natural moisture within the skin. With the power of Vitamin E and Green Tea, this potent formula is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Ideal for dry skin.

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Age Defying Hand Treatment:

Far more than just the best hand cream you’ll ever use, our MEG 21 with Supplamine-rich formula was developed to treat one of the most vulnerable and visible parts of your skin: the tops of your hands which is an area that is constantly exposed to the elements and close to the bone, making it an outlier for fine lines and wrinkles. The ingredients in Supplamine have been tested in laboratory In Vitro cell and tissue culture experiments. The ingredients in these laboratory studies have been demonstrated to intercept and reverse glycation, inflammation and metabolic oxidation caused by the same toxic sugars in skin, which in turn cause skin aging. Formulated with Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E to provide rich emollients and powerful antioxidants to skin. Contains Aloe Leaf Extract, which is a natural anti-irritant to reduce inflammation.

I made a video of the products I received from MEG 21

 

I want to say that I love these products. I’m very happy with the MEG 21 brand and I would buy these products on my own. I really felt that they work as they say they will work. They made me feel younger and that my face complexion was more even and bright. I felt like I glowed when I looked at my reflection in the mirror. These products cost more than the types of products you would find at Target but I believe they are worth the money, every penny.

Filed Under: beautify your heart, beauty

Fun In The Tub: Play and Bathe with Play-Doh Bath Line

June 5, 2017 by Momstart 1 Comment

We received samples from @Townlygirl to create this video and content.

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My kids still love to play in the bath tub at age 9 and 10. In fact, remembering back to my own child I have no idea when I stopped playing in the tub. When I saw that Play-Doh which is still one of my daughter’s favorite products (she likes to do crafts with it) came out with a new Bath Line I had to check it out.

I mean I had to have her check it out.  She created this video of her thoughts on the new Play-Doh bath line you can now find at TonwlyGirl.

Play-Doh Bath 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash Formula

Rinse, scrub, and play in the tub! This Play-Doh Bath 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash formula is freshly scented and convenient for the bath or shower. Boys and girls alike will love bringing Play-Doh to their bath-time, while parents will enjoy the ease of one product that makes bath time fun & functional!

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About the Product:

  • 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, and moisturizing body wash formula
  • Watermelon scented

       

      Play-Doh Bath 5 Pack Moldable Soap Set

      Bath time will never be the same again! Play-Doh Bath’s moldable soap clay will bring out a world of imagination to your little one. Kids can create fun shapes with an array of colored soaps with fresh scents. When it’s time to clean up, the clay suds up & can be used as soap, keeping your little ones squeaky clean! After bath time fun, place the clay back in the container for continued bath time play!

      About the Product:

      • 5 pack moldable clay soap set
      • Colors include purple, blue, orange, green and pink

       

       

      My son still loves to play during bath time too and it’s hard for me to have him remember to even use soap on his hair or on his body. Yes he’s nine but yes he’s also a boy. 100% boy who is more interested in fun than being clean. Interesting toys or soaps like these products get him clean while he is still having fun.

      MORE PRESS ON Play-Doh bath line…..

      Published in Women’s Wear Daily

      Play-Doh Bath Featured at the Secret Room Gifting Lounge for the MTV Movie Awards in Beverly Hills, CA

       

      2017 MTV Gifting Suite presented by Secret Room Events held at SLS Hotel on April 07, 2017 in Los Angeles, California, United States (Photo by Jose Limongi)

      Filed Under: beauty, review, toy review Tagged With: bath time, Play-Doh

      Laser Skin Resurfacing: Is it Worth it?

      May 31, 2017 by Beeb 23 Comments

      Halo by Sciton
      Complimentary services provided for review.

      I love everything relating to beauty: Hair, makeup, skin care, you name it! I’ve always paid attention to anti-aging treatments, but since hitting 30, it’s been on my mind a lot more. So when my fellow PDX blogger friend Carol Jones let me know that Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery was partnering with local bloggers to try out a new laser treatment, I jumped at the opportunity. Dr. Bohley shares an office with Dr. DeMars, who has taken great care of Carol, so I thought this would be the perfect place to get a consult and see how this new treatment might work for some of my skin care concerns.

      Outside of watching Dr. 90210, I had no idea what to expect at a cosmetic surgery office, so I brought Jai along with me for the consult because I was a little nervous. Since the beauty industry is known for capitalizing on people’s insecurities, I was a little afraid that whoever I met might take one look at me and gasp, “Oh no, your face looks so old! You’ll need to spend thousands on all our treatments to fix it!” 😉 So I wanted to have someone else there for perspective.

      Fortunately, all of those fears were completely unfounded. During my consult I met both Dr. Bohley and Robin Prusse RN, a trained laser specialist. I arrived with no makeup on so that they could see exactly what they were working with, and the reaction I got really surprised me. Both Robin and Dr. Bohley commented that my skin was beautiful and that I had done a great job taking care of myself. I’ve always been religious about using sunscreen, and apparently that has paid off as I got high praise for a job well done keeping my skin looking youthful. I really wasn’t expecting to hear that!

      Robin asked me what areas I’m concerned about, and I told her that I’ve never liked the lines on my forehead. She told me that those lines were not caused by anything that I did – everyone has those from a very young age (which explains why I’ve noticed them since way back in my 20s), and the only thing that gets rid of them is Botox; no moisturizer or routine will make any difference there, and it’s not an area that the laser can address. I asked her about my skin care routine, since I always feel adrift in not knowing what I should be doing. If you’ve read any of my previous moisturizer reviews on here, you’ll see that I try to dig into the science of products as much as I can to figure out what really works over just being snake oil, but it’s really hard to get much clarity.

      Robin told me that they have a wonderful line of moisturizers and skin care products that they offer patients, however, they wouldn’t be necessary for me until I hit my 40s. Because I have done a good job using sunscreen, Robin told me it would not really be worth it for me to invest in those product until I’m older. Robin explained that some of her younger clients in their 20s do use that skincare line because they’ve spent a lot of time in tanning beds and have premature aging to deal with, but for my situation, she recommended I continue with what I’m doing and use simple drugstore moisturizers for the rest of my 30s, as my main area of concern would simply be continuing to use sunscreen. The fact that Robin advised me to use a $7 drugstore product over a $155 RX moisturizer that they sell in the office shows me how honest they are and makes me feel like I’m finally getting some straight advice on skin care personalized to me, rather than someone just trying to sell me something.

      We then discussed the two different laser treatments on offer: The first was Halo by Sciton, the first and only hybrid fractional laser that targets concerns such as sun damage and signs of aging as well as discoloration/uneven skin tone. The second treatment was Forever Young BroadBand Light Treatments, which addresses concerns including firmness and elasticity.

      Dr. Bohley did 4 years of research before determining that Halo was a great treatment and investing in the machine for his office. Robin explained how it worked and what to expect, as well as some of the techniques Dr. Bohley uses to get even better outcomes with it. The fact that his practice is so concerned with research really gives me great confidence in them. When it comes to skin care treatments, all I care about is science and factual outcomes, and I’ve always disliked how the industry is so full of vague promises. Dr. Bohley’s practice is a perfect fit for my needs and approach.

      Since I was now confident in the safety of the laser and knew it could potentially get rid of some fine lines and promote collagen production, I decided to go for it and book my appointment. Robin was really helpful working with my schedule, patient in answering all of my many safety questions (I am extremely detail-oriented and try to plan for every eventuality, to a fault), and provided me with products to use at home for a month before to prevent any discoloration due to an (extremely unlikely) medication contraindication.

      After my consult, something I noticed was that I immediately felt better about myself and more confident. Robin gave me a little bit of a reality check and helped me realize that I’m not aging horribly like I thought. We are all our own toughest critics, and I see my own face much more closely than anyone else’s, so it was great to get some perspective. That alone was so invaluable and an immediate result! I’ve been searching for answers on my skin routine my whole adult life, so to get such great advice was another incredible benefit that I received right away. Now that I know what to do with my skin, I can stop worrying about it and stop wasting money on gimmicky products. It seems so silly, but I felt bad for years because I felt like I was aging prematurely because I wasn’t doing a good enough job caring for my skin or using the right products. My experience with Robin has relieved me of that misplaced regret and made me feel so much better.

      At the end of March, I headed back to the office, ready to get my face lasered! Doesn’t that sound like something out of a comic? I brought Jai along with me again, this time so that he could snap pics and videos. It was time for the major laser! Robin started first with a brief BBL treatment – BroadBand Light Phototherapy. The first run-through of BBL was targeting some areas of redness/rosacea, and the second run-through targets brown areas such as freckles. Robin had been very honest with me at the consult about what the process would feel like, before and afterwards, so I was prepared for process.

      Ready to go with our protective goggles!

      Ready to go with our protective goggles!

      She did a few initial zaps to let me feel the laser and know what to expect. We all wore goggles to protect our eyes, and I could still perceive the bright flash of light through my covered eyes. The first zap was pretty intense and felt like hot pins going into my cheek – I described it as a taser for the face. Robin could tell I was a little too uncomfortable (although I was trying to downplay it, because I knew what I had signed up for), so she actually changed out the head on the BBL to a smaller one which was less painful. She also gave me a cold air fan to hold towards my face and made conversation with Jai and I to distract me, so after the initial shock I did start to get used to it.

      Receiving the BBL treatment

      Receiving the BBL treatment

      Next up was the Halo Fractional Laser, which is a lot less intense that the BBL. It’s still uncomfortable and can get a bit more stingy and sharp around sensitive areas like the eyes and nose, but it wasn’t as sharp of a sensation and was closer to a tickling feeling at times. Robin was laser focused (pun intended) on her task and paid great attention to detail – you can tell by her level of focus how seriously she takes her job, which both Jai and I noticed and appreciated.

      Receiving the Halo laser treatment

      Receiving the Halo laser treatment

      Closeup of the Halo laser treatment

      Once the treatments are complete, you sit under the cooling blower for a few minutes and take some ibuprofen with cold water, then you are done and ready to go. Here’s a timelapse video of the whole procedure:

      For the first hour, your face feels extremely hot, and you have the same sensation that you might when getting a small burn while cooking, but spread all over your face. I was given an ice pack and we cranked the A/C in the car to the max, which helps. It’s definitely painful, but I also knew that the intensity only lasts for an hour after the treatment, and I can deal with discomfort when I know there’s a time limit on it. It’s been described that the sensation wears off like turning off a switch at the one hour mark, but my experience was more that the pain tapered down after about 30 minutes and just got more and more manageable, with me being able to turn the A/C off maximum blast after the hour mark. I do recommend bringing a friend with you to the procedure; I knew I wouldn’t want to drive 2 hours home by myself, and having Jai there to distract me with conversation was helpful, not to mention helping me gathering my things and exit the office, since I was hurting right after the procedure.

      We arrived back in Seaside after about 2 hours, and I had blocked out the rest of the day just to recover, since we had just traveled over 175 miles and I knew I would be tired and in discomfort. Initially, my face felt pretty hot, and when I went to apply moisturizer maybe 3 hours after the procedure, my face was so sensitive I could barely touch it. The discomfort and redness eases off rapidly and by 9pm that night, I would put moisturizer on without that pain. By the following morning, my face was looking so much better and had the same appearance of getting a really bad sunburn on your face. However, the day 2 sensation was a mild hotness on my cheeks – it was a little sensitive to move my face from the swelling, but I was really not too uncomfortable. I was impressed by the rapid recovery, especially since I have such sensitive skin and was afraid I might be looking like Freddy Kruger for a while.

      After the procedure, you are advised to stay indoors for 3 days to avoid any sun. Since I work at home, this was not a problem for me since I could schedule my work accordingly. There is also a skin care regimen that must be followed with a vinegar solution applied 3-4x daily and moisturizer as needed; I was given a starter kit of these products to take home from the procedure.

      Post-treatment supplies

      Post-treatment supplies

      You’ll also have peeling for about 2 weeks, so all of these things should be factored into your schedule when booking this treatment. I really babied my skin during the healing process, avoiding the sun and going over and above to follow the skin care instructions – like I said, I’m prepared to a fault! I documented the whole process in this series of photos:

      Laser treatment timeline

      Laser treatment timeline – click to view full size

      If you’re wondering why I look so greasy after the treatment, it’s because I was slathering my face in Aquaphor – like I said, I really took great care with my skin afterwards! 😉

      I’m just over 2 months out from the procedure now, and everything has healed; there was a small amount of peeling around my jawline that lasted past 2 weeks, but nothing that was a problem. I am being extra vigilant with my sun care routine, as that is necessary up to 3 months after the procedure, and that’s all been fine. Since I don’t have the type of sun damage/discoloration that is typically targeted with these lasers, my goal for getting this treatment was more preventative; having the opportunity to stimulate collagen production seemed like a good investment to me. Robin advised me that the maximum skin “Glow” from the HALO comes through roughly 4 months after treatment – which was timed perfectly, since I had the treatment at the end of March and my wedding is in August. I’ll post an update with photos after the wedding! They took a detailed, James-Bond-style 3D scan of my face on a computer at the office before the laser treatments, so if I can, I’d love to go in after the wedding and get my face scanned again to see the skin close up post-treatment.

      I really feel like I have gained a lot from this whole process. I feel so much more confident in how my face looks – not because of a physical change, but because of a mental change in perspective after the feedback I got. I certainly didn’t expect to leave a cosmetic surgeon’s practice with more confidence in my natural appearance, so that was a really pleasant surprise! I feel that foundation is less necessary now – I went to a yoga class a couple of weeks ago with just a quick dash of concealer under my eyes, and two of the ladies there started talking to me about how beautiful my skin was.

      May 2017

      May 2017

      Aside from that, finally getting guidance on how to care for my skin was totally priceless, and has removed the uncertainty and dread that I should be doing something different. I now know I’m doing everything I need to do to have the best skin for as long as possible, and that’s a great feeling. And because of the pre-and-post-treatment skin care routines I was following, I formed a lot of good skin care habits that are staying with me. Plus, I feel like I took a preventative step against future aging by having the laser treatments performed, so the whole process was far more productive than I expected. Yes, the procedure hurts and requires some forethought, but Halo has reduced downtime from other laser treatments, so if you decide this is something you want to pursue, I’d say it’s the option to go for. This treatment wouldn’t be for everyone, but for the right person, it can be an overall fabulous experience.

      I am so thrilled to have been introduced to Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery. Being able to find such a great provider in my own backyard is amazing, and this experience has given me the confidence and trust to know that I can (and definitely WILL!) go to them with all my future skin care needs. You don’t have to fly down to Hollywood to get A-list cosmetic treatment – you can stay right here in Portland! I’d highly recommend them to anyone in the Pacific Northwest. If you’re not sure what treatment would be best for you, my advice would be to book a consult with Robin and lay out your concerns. She can advise you if Halo and/or another treatment might be appropriate for you, and give you solid recommendations on how to care for your skin.

      For More Information:

      Dr. Bohley Cosmetic Surgery
      10201 SE Main Street, Suite 20
      Portland, Oregon 97216
      Phone: (503) 897-8999
      Web: DrBohley.com
      Socials: Facebook – Twitter – Google+ – YouTube

      Have you ever heard of laser resurfacing treatments before?

      Filed Under: beauty, fashion, personal, review

      Beauty Architects: Masqueology Face Mask Review #unmaskTheBeautyWithin

      February 5, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

      I was recently given the opportunity to try a few samples of “Masqueology” by “Beauty Architects”, along with info about each product (some included below). 
      These face masks are amazing! They are really easy to use. Take it out of it’s packet and put it on your face. Easy-peasy! After 20 minutes take the mask off and just rub the lotion in, no washing required! I do not like the feeling of lotion on my face, I like light moisturizers and this was exactly that! I tend to have an oily skin and this felt so refreshing. On the package it actually tells you to keep the pack for another day or two because you can still get some lotion out and just apply it to your face as a moisturizer – I did that! 

      image
       

      The masks come in single use packs which are very convenient because you can take them wherever, use at home, or if you’re going away. If you’re going somewhere where you will be swimming a lot or out in the sun, these are great masks to take with and apply at night as you’re getting ready for bed. I know not everyone always has twenty minutes to lounge around with a face mask on, but even if you just get some lotion on you’ll enjoy it! I know I’ll be taking a few with on my next holiday trip! They are slim packs so they’ll fit nice and easily in my toiletry bag and take up almost no space at all. And there’s very little to throw away when I’m done. 

      image
      I’m finding it hard to choose a favourite amongst the samples I was given, but I think my skin really liked the “Moisturizing Cream Mask” one. Being indoors all day with the heater going, drying my skin, this felt really good. Also, there was a decadent sensation with the idea that I was applying a mask that contained caviar as an ingredient! There are 4 types of masks for sale at the moment. All four masks are for ALL skin types, so you choose the benefits you would like: 
      Moisturizing – This one moisturizes and hydrates tired skin. Diminishes the visible signs of fine lines and wrinkles. Helps to tighten and lift the skin.
      Special Care – Calms and transforms dry, sensitive skin; moisturizes and hydrates; diminishes the visible signs of fine lines and wrinkles.
      Vita Clarifying – Revitalizes and evens out the appearance of dull tired skin. Vitamins in it help clarify the skin. Helps combat against free radicals. Diminshes the visible signs of fine lines and wrinkles. Hydrates and tones the skin.
      Collagen Lifting – Revitalizes and evens out the appearance of dull tired skin. Vitamins in it help clarify the skin. Helps combat against free radicals. Diminshes the visible signs of fine lines and wrinkles. Hydrates and tones the skin.
       
      And more good news about them? They are very inexpensive. I mean seriously. These face masks are available from Walmart and I just looked up the price and my favourite one is $1.50. Yep. A buck fifty! Of course this may be different in your area, the Collagen Lifting one is showing as $2.50.  But still, wow! What a price!! I think these will be great little additions to teacher’s “Thank you” baskets or a gift to a friend.

      FOLLOW ALONG SOCIALLY:
      http://www.masqueology.com/
      https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=masqueology
      @masqueology
      #unmaskTheBeautyWithin
      #WeveGotAMaskForThat
      #MasqueologyNowAtWalmart

      Filed Under: beauty, lynn

      Beauty Pie: Make Up Without The Mark Up

      February 4, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

      We received samples.

      Beauty Pie is a new beauty subscription calling itself “Makeup without the markup.” It allows you to buy premium cosmetics at the factory cost. The monthly membership cost is $10. We received four samples in our box from the PR company.

      image

      When you visit the website you can see the total price transparency breakdown on the products.  The products for the most part we were very happy with. I have sensitive skin and after applying them nothing bothered my face. I think it’s a fun box and a great way to try new make up products for only $10 a month.

       

      I will say that looking at the website, I know that I received samples from the PR company representing them and not their monthly subscription box. So I’m not sure what you actually get every month. The best description I found was “Every month you get (depending on your type of membership) a shopping allowance (a “Shopping Allowance”) to show how much discount you can get with your membership.”

       

      So I think I figured it out. You get a $10 subscription and then you pick out products up to $10 at factory price. You can get upgrades to purchase more products if you like. That’s my understanding.

      From their website:

      What we’re about

      WE’RE A TEAM OF BEAUTY-PRODUCT OBSESSIVES WHO HAVE WORKED IN THE COSMETICS INDUSTRY FOR EONS.

      WE ALL LOVE SHOPPING FOR THE BEST/NEWEST/ MOST LUXURIOUS COSMETICS BUT CAN’T GET OUR HEADS AROUND PAYING FULL RETAIL FOR A FIVE-STAR LIPSTICK, OR AN AWESOME BRONZER, OR THE MUCH-NEEDED-FOR-MAINTENANCE HIGH TECH SKINCARE (WHICH IS COMING SOON).

      WE BELIEVE THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER WOMEN OUT THERE LIKE US. SO WE CREATED A BUYER’S CLUB FOR BEAUTY ADDICTS.

      JOIN BEAUTY PIE

      Filed Under: beauty, fashion

      Beauty: Posh To Meet You Kit

      January 25, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

      How many of you have met Perfectly Posh? This is the best way to try Posh for the first time! #iamposh Visit: Https://AmyMorgan324.po.sh

      posh

      I tried Posh over this past month and I’m in love with it. This is a great way to get good amount of product for a great price!

      Filed Under: beautify your heart, beauty

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