January 10, 2020
SIO Beauty's game-changing, wrinkle-smoothing patches, how to make the switch to natural deodorant and the "clean" dry shampoo that gets the job done.
SiO Beauty kicks off the new year with a new look
Injectables may not be for everyone, and that’s OK because there’s more than one way to smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles. But I’ve tried more than my fair share, and my pick for the most effective no pain, all gain anti-aging results is SiO Beauty. I tried these miraculous reusable patches when they first launched several years ago, and I have a complete stash complete with options for every area of my face as well as my neck and chest. Perfect for when I go too long between Botox appointments (and inevitably wake up one morning to find that my facial muscles regained their ability to contract overnight), these patches have come to the rescue countless times.
And in some exciting news, SiO got a makeover for 2020 and the new packaging makes it even easier to find the exact patch (or patches) we need at any given point in time. The new color-coded sachets make it easy to discern between your face, body (neck, chest and hand) and combo packs of patches—as well as your man’s (if your products happen to comingle)—so you can avoid flipping through all of them and look years younger even faster.
I’m not exaggerating when I say these are game-changing, but if you don’t want to take my word for it, check out these real before-and-after photos…
I successfully made the switch to natural deodorant
There are no ifs, ands or buts about it… I’m a sweater. Not as in the cozy winter wardrobe staple—as in someone who perspires, sometimes profusely (especially when nervous or stressed). Natural deodorant has been a topic of conversation amongst my friends for several years (especially as our kids approach puberty and start to stink) but I have been a staunch defender of my aluminum-based antiperspirant because I’m not a fan of pit stains, and I don’t want to offend those around me.
As I shared yesterday, my number-one swap after becoming astutely aware of the ingredients in my personal-care products was dry shampoo—and my deodorant/antiperspirant was a close second. I receive PR emails about “clean” deodorants just about every day, and I knew it was time to give it a go. I happened to have Kai’s Rose Deodorant sitting in my beauty closet, and off I went.
For my first foray, I applied it after my post-workout shower and walked to pick up my son at the bus stop in 83-degree weather. Honestly, I was shocked that my pits remained dry and I didn’t have to halt my experiment. I will admit that I was extremely paranoid, so I reapplied when I got home. The next morning, I applied it again and took a Pilates class. Paranoid again, I told the entire class about my “switch” and apologized in advance in case I started to emit an odor. After class, my instructor literally stuck her face in my armpit and confirmed I was good—and that I literally smelled like roses.
The next day I played tennis, and it was a hot, humid morning. Yes, my pits totally got slippery (thanks to the lack of “antiperspirant” ingredients) but I swear I didn’t smell. In fact, during my second post-natural-deodorant shower, it was strangely nice to actually feel my armpit skin without the antiperspirant coating that never 100% washed away. (Which is kind of gross now that I think about it.)
There was no going back after that, and I can confidently say I’ve successfully made the switch. Sure, I apply the Kai more often than I applied my Secret (after I shower, in the morning before working out and occasionally before bed). I also picked up a travel-sized Native to keep in my bag because the struggle with BO paranoia is real. I will confess that I still plan to use my Secret for special events when I don’t want anyone to see me sweat—but those occasions are few and far between.
As an aside and for the record, I do NOT believe that traditional antiperspirants cause breast cancer (show me a scientific study that proves it does and I’ll change my tune). I’m at high risk for breast cancer and no breast specialist, radiologist or gynecologist I’ve seen has EVER suggested that I avoid antiperspirant. I made the switch in an effort to “clean” my personal-care routine—and if I was able to do it, I feel like just about anyone can.
Kai*Rose Deodorant
EWG/Skin Deep® Score: 6 (via the “Build Your Own Report” tool)
Note: Includes fragrance that may increase risk of allergies or irritation, but not cancer or endocrine disruption
Native Deodorant
EWG/Skin Deep® Score: 1-3 (depending on scent)
I'm starting the new year with a "clean" slate
Earlier this month I saw a documentary called Toxic Beauty that really made me take a closer look at the skincare and personal-care products I use every day. Although I have been more than aware of the potential problems that may be caused by controversial ingredients like parabens and phthalates for quite some time, I never really took these threats seriously. Maybe because I “came of age” in a time when personal-care ingredients were rarely the subject of scrutiny—or maybe I was just burying my head in the sand. Regardless, there’s no denying the lack of government oversight in the U.S. when it comes to the ingredients in the products we use every day. Case in point: More than 1,300 cosmetic ingredients are banned in the E.U., while only 11 of these are no-nos here. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
No joke, I started searching the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database for my most-used products that night, and it was an eye-opening experience. (Though a majority of the products I use have yet to be entered, the site lets you build your own report by copying and pasting an ingredient list from another site for a general idea.) As it turns out, my dry shampoos are among the biggest offenders—especially the aerosol ones that use chemical propellants. So the search was on for a “clean” alternative and I’m ecstatic to report I found one.
Ladies, meet Captain Blankenship’s Mermaid Dry Shampoo. Not only is it the best-smelling dry shampoo I’ve ever tried, the fact that you sprinkle it on your roots and massage it in with your fingers means my bathroom will never be covered in a thin layer of white dust ever again. (As soon as I knew it was a winner, I cleaned every single product sitting out on my counter, every tray and container and every square inch of my countertop and floor—and everything is still squeaky-clean.) Oh, and for the record, this dry shampoo just might work better than virtually every other dry shampoo I’ve tried over the years.
I think my reluctance to go “clean” with my routine may have something to do with my not-so-great beauty experience when I went organic inside and out when preparing to get pregnant. Fortunately “green” beauty has come a long way in the last 10+ years, and now I’m actually excited to start replacing the “nasties” with healthier, lower-risk options. But this doesn’t mean I won’t try new products that may not fall on the “safe” end of Skin Deep’s score spectrum, and it doesn’t mean I’m throwing all of my products away and starting over. But it does mean that I’m infinitely more aware of what I put on my body, and the potential implications my personal-care routine may have down the line.
Since so many of us are mindful of minimizing our exposure to chemicals, I’m going to start including info about the safety profile of EVERY product I feature on IBB. The FDA may not want to do it, but I’m up to the task! This is my way of saying thank-you for supporting me and the site for all these years—and hopefully keep you coming back for more!
Captain Blankenship Mermaid Dry Shampoo
EWG/SkinDeep® Score: 1 (via the “Build Your Own Report” tool)