Showing posts with label Product Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Product Reviews. Show all posts

Monday, 4 August 2014

At-Home Hair Coloring System

eSalon Review: Custom At-Home Hair Coloring System

Hair ColoringThere is an overwhelming amount of hair coloring options on the market these days, which doesn’t exactly make it easy to select the perfect product. This is why many people visit a salon so that they can get professional help when deciding on a new hair color. Unfortunately, this can be pretty costly, and those who can’t afford a salon visit must turn to at-home hair coloring kits. Assuming you fall into this category, one product you should strongly consider is eSalon custom hair color. This being said, here is a look at what you can expect with the eSalon at-home hair coloring system.

Ordering Process

Before we get into the results you’ll experience with the product, let’s discuss the ordering process at eSalon.com. The first thing to keep in mind here is that you will want to set aside around 10 minutes to complete an order. This isn’t exactly ideal for those who hate spending time making online orders, but the reason for this is because eSalon specifically formulates each bottle of hair dye for the person who orders.
The first steps to ordering eSalon involves choosing your natural hair color based on color family, then selecting your natural shade. Once you’ve completed these options, the next part entails answering questions about coloring and chemical treatments that you have recently used. Sticking with this theme, eSalon also prompts you to answer questions about your ethnicity, if you’ve ever dyed hair before, how often your hair gets colored, your hairstyle and your hair’s length.
When all of these steps have been completed, you’ll be given multiple color swatches to choose from for your desired hair color. Now that we’ve went over the ordering process, let’s look at what you receive in your personalized hair coloring kit from eSalon.

Packaging/Product

The products you’ll receive from eSalon will vary based on the answers you’ve given to the aforementioned questions. But in order to provide an example of what you can expect, let’s assume that you dyed your dark four weeks ago.
In this case, you would receive one bottle of hair dye for roots, one bottle of dye for ends, two bottles of developer, two sets of gloves, a dye brush, a dry wipe, a small package of stain remover, leave in conditioner, a small package of color guard and personalized instructions. Going back to the bottles, it’s also worth mentioning that your name is printed on each bottle, which adds a really cool touch.

Applying eSalon Hair Color

If there’s one weakness to eSalon products, it’s that most people will spend double the time applying the product (based on your specific situation). But with other hair dyes, you don’t normally get two pair of gloves, a brush, stain guard and stain remover. So basically, the abundance of accessories you’ll use adds some time to the process, which isn’t exactly a bad thing.
To start applying eSalon, you’ll first apply product to the roots with the dye brush. Once the dye has sat in your hair for a specified amount of time, you apply the second bottle of dye to your ends. Instead of instructing you to rinse your hair with water immediately after the timer goes off, they instruct you to add water to the leftover dye in bottle 2; this creates a rinse that can be used in the shower before shampooing your hair.

Overall Results

If you’ve followed the instructions carefully, the results should leave you feeling satisfied. In short, the specifically-tailored product will give you the exact hair color that you’re looking for. This is in stark contrast to many other coloring systems out there that oftentimes leave your hair too dark or a different color altogether. In addition to getting the color right on, eSalon should make your hair feel healthy and non-damaged when the process is over with.

Fading/Coverage

One of the chief concerns with many hair coloring kits is that you can miss large chunks of hair, and be left with streaks or uncolored sections. Plus you don’t have to worry about hot roots (lighter than rest of hair) with eSalon because they specially formulate the color you put on the roots with the color you apply to the ends. As far as fading goes, eSalon differs greatly from the typical drugstore brands because your color won’t fade or grow dull after just a few days. In summary, you’ll have a constant, natural-looking color that lasts for weeks.

Price/Value

At just $20, eSalon custom hair coloring system is definitely a good value for those looking for a quality at-home hair coloring product. As we discussed above, the results are pretty good for a coloring system at this price, and you get quite a bit of accessories for the money. Going further, the hair dye bottles offer more than enough product, which assures that you won’t run out.

Benzoyl Peroxide: Uses & Cautions

Benzoyl Peroxide: Uses & Cautions

Acne ProblemBenzoyl peroxide is used in a number of household products that clean and whiten. It’s also considered a medication and is used for treating skin issues. Benzoyl peroxide can be found in pharmacies or in the medication section of your supermarket. In some cases, your doctor will prescribe a more potent amount of benzoyl peroxide that can’t be bought over the counter.
Now you may have heard of benzoyl peroxide while searching for acne remedies. That’s because it’s widely used for treating mild to moderate cases of acne on both the face and body, and is a common ingredient in face cleansers, scrubs and body washes. Because of this, benzoyl peroxide often gets misconstrued as an acne cure-all because it’s one of the most powerful treatments used for preventing pimples.
The key word is “prevent” since it does not erase acne from one’s face. This type of peroxide works because it’s able to break down and destroy bacteria that causes acne. But benzoyl peroxide doesn’t have anti-inflammatory properties, which are important for clearing up any inflamed pimples you currently have. However, with proper usage it can still be a helpful tool to keep handy to prevent pimples from forming.

Uses for Benzoyl Peroxide

As we mentioned before, Benzoyl peroxide is used to prevent mild to moderate acne by lowering the amount of bacteria that causes pimples. Unfortunately, skin that’s affected becomes dry and will peel; however, this minor problem will heal in time. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe different benzoyl products that can’t be purchased over the counter because it’s essentially a medicine. Depending on your personal needs, your doctor may suggest a prescription or an over-the-counter variety that may be of lower potency.

How to use Benzoyl Peroxide for Acne

Acne can pop up all over the body, including your upper arms, shoulders, chest, face and back, which keeps a lot of people from wearing tank tops or strapless dresses. To clear up areas affected by zits with benzoyl peroxide, first wash your skin with a face cleanser. The next step involves patting your face dry with a clean towel; it’s crucial to use a clean towel so as not to add any more bacteria onto your face. Patting your skin instead of rubbing it with the dry, clean towel reduces irritation that can be caused by friction.

Topical Products with Benzoyl Peroxide

Use a benzoyl peroxide cream or gel to apply on the areas of your body that are affected by acne before bed (this includes your face). Letting the product dry on your skin is important so that the bacteria is sure to be taken care of. Gently wash the benzoyl off in the morning using a gentle cleanser – unless the product’s label specifies otherwise.
Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Improvement in acne is usually seen after three weeks of use, and you’ll get maximum benefits after 8-12 weeks of use. Apply this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day. If your condition persists or worsens, make sure to contact a doctor as quickly as possible.
If you choose a benzoyl peroxide medicated pad or sponge, you’ll still want to cleanse the surface dirt off of your skin before using the benzoyl product; use the pad or sponge as directed on the label. Depending on the product, you will need to rinse and then pat dry before continuing with your normal routine.

Benzoyl Peroxide Cleansers

If using creams or gels seems like too long of a process for you, try using a benzoyl peroxide cleanser. Wet the skin where you tend to develop pimples, and then continue using a light touch to rub the cleanser onto your skin (should be a lather) for about 15 seconds; rinse the skin well before patting dry. You can use benzoyl peroxide cleansers such as liquid, pad, or bar twice a day if necessary. Assuming your skin becomes too dry, rinse the product off sooner or use the cleanser less often. If your skin is experiencing a harsh side effect, talk with your doctor about finding a solution.

Shaving Cream and Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is even found in some shaving creams. The process of using this form of the medication is no different than using a shave cream that does not contain benzoyl peroxide. Wet the area to be shaved before applying small amounts of the product onto your skin. Rinse your skin with warm water and finish by patting the skin dry. Use a moisturizer to re-hydrate your skin and keep oil glands from becoming unbalanced.

Precautions for Benzoyl Peroxide

As with any form of medication or product, there are a few precautions that need to be taken before or during your use of benzoyl peroxide. Keep this product out of your eyes, mouth, or nose since it can cause irritation. Also, don’t apply benzoyl peroxide to broken skin; if any of the aforementioned scenarios happen, flush the area with water immediately.
When using benzoyl peroxide, it’s best to take precautions for your floor, furniture, and hair as it can leave bleach stains if left unattended. One more thing we’d like to mention is that you should wear an old shirt or a towel around your shoulders to avoid ruining clothing.