Wanna get a tan online?!?

Here's something I've been wanting to post for a long time now. It's the newest revolution!

Did you know that you can now use your computer LCD screen to create UV light that can be used to tan yourself.

I just had to bring you the good work that ComputerTan.com is doing. Click on the link to get your own "free computer tan" now.



Spoiler:
Please visit the site first if you want to experience it first. Because here comes the spoiler . . . What a concept, kinda scary actually if it were true. The website has been massively popular and contains a free trial to use your computer, but when visitors click on a free trial, the lights start, and then a message come us . . . talking about SKIN CANCER! Yup, it's actually a site devoted to skin cancer!

BTW did you really think I would promote excess tanning on this site?!? Hope you enjoy

Product Review: Simple Regeneration Facial Wash

Well, here is another product I picked up from my previous European trip. It's another product I picked up from London. I don't know what it is, but I have been giving pretty good reviews to a lot of the inexpensive products that I've been finding there! (Click here to read about Clarity by Superdrug, one of my favorite products). I've included this product review because a lot of readers were asking me to review some fragrance-free products, so here we go . . .

I've been using this product, Regeneration, by the Simple skincare company of the U.K. I've pretty much used it as an "everyday, just reach and wash" product . . . hey, I barely have time for any more than just that since I either come home exhausted from work or scramble to leave for the hospital just before the crack of dawn :-) Overall, it is just what it is, a no frills wash.

Honestly, I doubt there's much special about this product as far as any miraculous claims, but you all know that I do love the fact that there's absolutely no fragrance in this product. As far as the active ingredients in this product, well, I'll talk about that below, but here's the ingredient listing:

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decy Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Butylene Glycol, Fomes Officinalis Extract (Trunk Rot Mushroom), Sodium Chloride, Propylene, Glycol, PEG-55, Propylene Glycol Oleate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Panthenol, Glycol Distearate, Methyparaben, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Camellia Sinensis Extract (Green Tea), Polyquarternuim-39, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cocamide MEA, Laureth-10, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Citric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Glycerin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract (Oat Kernel), Anthemis Nobilis Oil (Camomile), Sodium Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, Sorbic Acid, Propylparaben.

As far as the natural ingredients in red, they certainly do have proven helpful effects. The mushroom extract, however, is the only one that is likely in any significant amount in this product. Notice that the others are all listed after the start of the preservatives in the listing (in purple). Likely that means that they make up less than 1% of the product.

A good thing about this product is the price, you can find this product for less than 5 Pounds or 8 USD or so. So, overall, decent product, good price, and overall a favorable review.

To learn more about ingredient listings you can read my previous post on how to decipher ingredient listings by clicking here! This post is a must read to bolster your ability to exam a product and its ingredients a lot more analytically!

xo

Review: Sisley Buff and Wash Facial Gel

Hello! Gosh I've missed blogging! Life's been a bit hectic for me as of late, spending way too many hours in the hospital. Anyway, I'm finally getting a chance to get through some more products. This review is on Sisley's Buff and Wash Facial Gel. Now I do have to hand it to the French, they surely do know how to market their beauty products like no one else, after all, even American lines try and pretend that they're French so they can upsell themselves (Revive, hello?).

Basically, this was a completely unimpressive product for me. Nothing really stood out. The buff, not so good, I didn't even feel like there was enough exfoliating particles to do a decent job. Cleansing was fine. Now I'll spare you a lot of the details, because, as readers of this blog, you know how I feel about the usual fragrances, preservatives, etc. Let's take a look at what this product has . . .

Ingredients: Water, glycerin, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, silk amino acids, peg-40, hydrogenated castor oil, polyethylene, lemon extract, propylene glycol, papaver rhoeas (field poppy) extract, carbomer, triethanolamine, phenoxyethanol, sodium methylparaben, sorbic acid, edta, lavender oil, litsea cubeba oil, methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben.

I've highlighted the stabilizers and preservatives in red for you above. You know I believe skin care products should have preservatives, but this seems like overkill, seriously. And the ingredient litsea cubeba is just an evergreen like shrub, most likely here because it is used as a source of citral which gives the product its fragrance.

If you like a product with a 'natural, herbal' scent, this is definitely that. The good thing is that there is no artificial fragrance (smile), but on the other hand, the litsea oil is a natural source of fragrance, however, without any known beneficial effects on the skin.

Overall, decent ingredients . . . but I'm going to give it a thumbs down . . . why? Well, it's the price baby. Just over 3 ounces of this product costs anywhere between a whopping $75 (sale price) to $120.

There is not one ingredient in this listing that could even justify that price range! Not one. And in these economic times, there are plenty better ways to spend a C-Note than on this bottle of face wash!

Shame Shame: Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo (and copycat products)!

Johnson & Johnson has been a reputable name for so many years. No doubt with the help of it's well known baby care products, who hasn't grown up with their "No more tears" shampoo?  In fact this shampoo is used in so many hospital, including the ones I have worked in. Hopefully this post will illustrate that even a big industry leader like J&J can make a stinky error of "non"-disclosure.

This is another one of my favorite topics . . . that's right, I'm talking about INGREDIENT LISTING problems!! Call it misleading or call it an omission, call it whatever you'd like!  I just wish you'd call J&J and complain (their consumer hotline is (800) 294-3632)!

The front label clearly touts "natural lavender", however, you don't find lavender in the ingredient listing whatsoever!  [BTW if you click on the picture, you can just make out the "with natural lavender" right under the word shampoo].  The funny thing: it seems like J&J was not necessarily wanting to keep from disclosing its ingredients, but, rather, this story goes to show you that the ingredient list is a lagging afterthought.  Another possibility may be that there are indeed other "natural" ingredients that are just labeled as "fragrance" and that's that! 

Copycat products with copycat osmissions!  Pick up that store-brand knock-off of J&J's original lavendar baby shampoo, and guess what?  Yup, they make the same ingredient labeling mistake.  The front says with "natural lavender" but nary an inclusion in the ingredient listing.  I believe the store brand that I was checking out at the time was Target.  Come on guys, get it together.  Let's hope the next run of these products will include a full disclosure of ingredients on their labels!

This post isn't necessarily mean to bash J&J (although I'm sure they could take it!) but to point out that ingredient errors/omissions are made by all types of companies, including those with billions of dollars and untouchable reputations!

Till next time readers!! Be well, and remember, the only good tears are those of gratitude!