Cyclopentasiloxane? Sounds like a mouthful! Does it go by any other name? Yes! It is also referred to as decamethylcyclopentisiloxane. I bet you thought it’d be something simpler, eh? Never fear, it is also abbreviated to the humble “D5” thankfully. Cycloblaaaaaah–What is it? Cyclopentasiloxane is yet another version of silicone you can find floating around in skincare and haircare products and is part of the broader cyclomethicone category. Its main purposes are as an emollient, lubricant and a solvent. But what’s the main point of it being in skincare? Unfortunately, cyclopentasiloxane doesn’t have much benefit when it comes to the
Category: Beauty
First Aid Beauty – Pure Skin Face Cleanser
Before purchasing this facial cleanser, I had been battling with another face wash that I had been testing. I didn’t like that cleanser at all. It was composed of almost everything I avoid in a facial cleanser. As a result, First Aid Beauty has been a dream come true! I love the emollient texture and the fact that my skin does not feel stripped or raw after using it. Furthermore, this cleanser actually does a pretty decent job of removing makeup. Mind you, I *do* use a makeup remover prior to using a facial cleanser, but this stuff is usually
Trash Talk, August 2020 (Empties)
Yes, what you are seeing is my attempt at a YouTube video. If I get one like, I will consider it a tremendous success! For those who aren’t into YouTube, let me share the products with you below: Elta MD – UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 – Tinted I’ve already shared my thoughts on this kick ass SPF here. It’s a 10 – Shampoo, Deep Conditioner, and Oil Treatment The shampoo and conditioner definitely did their thing, but of the three, the oil treatment is the one that I might go back for. I only had sample packets and
Finchberry Soapery – Sweet Dreams
This has got to be the most fancily packaged soap I’ve ever had in my vicinity. Suffice to say, this was gifted to me and what a wonderful little gift it was! Doesn’t the package scream “CUTE”? I held on to this longer than necessary because sometimes just looking at it gave me a happy little thrill. Talk about being a sucker for packaging! When you pull the soap out of the ridiculously adorable packaging, you find a sophisticated bar of soap that is mostly classy but is just girlish enough to add glitter on the top. YES, GLITTER. Granted,
The Return of the Nail Fail
I had a brilliant idea. I was going to do nail art that wasn’t based on anything. I would just gather up a mess of nail polishes and paint whatever came to mind. Freeform design, colors, and the knowledge that you can’t screw up a picture that was never meant to be a picture. Except you can. When you combine strange shapes, polka dots, and a glitter nail tip you get… A Toxic Toadstool! Doesn’t it look stupidly unappetizing? This is far worse than I ever could’ve imagined! Or as someone else kindly pointed out… It sort of looks like
Self Portrait #5: Quarantine and the Insidious Creep of Depression
When the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” mandate hit Washington, I was bummed. Not least of which was because that meant not being able to see the kiddos at my job. But there was a part of me that really believed I was *made* for quarantine. I’m a consummate introvert. People exhaust me. Working in my pajamas is something that appeals to me. Intersperse this with occasional episodes of I Love Lucy and Law and Order:SVU and you’ve got my personal version of paradise. It did start well enough. I’d read other’s quarantine experiences and their death spiral through the kitchen
Scent for You – Black Forest Bar Soap
While in Boston, I spotted a soap maker outside Faneuil Hall. Being the constant lover of soap, I stopped by and bought a few bars. I thought there name, “Scent for You” was cute and I figured the swirly designs on the bar would look posh in my shower. Aesthetics, people. They MATTER. Anywhooo…. The scent of this was “Black Forest” but I’ll be honest… My sense of smell kind of stinks. So either this wasn’t very scented or my sniffer conked out when I used this in the shower. Maybe the whole “Scent for You” moniker was just a
Cosmetic Ingredient: Cyclomethicone
Cyclomethicone is a common ingredient in the beauty industry. The products you can find it in run the gamut of deodorant and antiperspirants to sunscreens, hair care products, moisturizer, perfume and more. Let’s get into it! What is it? Cyclomethicone embodies both multiple and/or individual cyclic siloxane materials. It is derived from both silicon and oxygen. This ingredient is in the form of a clear liquid. It contains no alcohol and has no smell. Why is it in my beauty products? One of the benefits of cyclomethicone is its ability to provide a smooth texture that glides on skin in
Cargo – Blush in “Catalina”
Pale girls, look no further. I have found your blush. It’s this sweet baby doll pink that can either give you that just-been-out-in-cold-weather flush or that healthy coloring that tricks people into thinking you work out and eat healthy. It’s great because you have to try really hard to overdo this. Like REALLY HARD. It definitely fits the “buildable color” category more than the “intensely pigmented” side of things. I love that I can slap it on in the morning, without having to be careful with it. Ive reached for it every day this past month, and I’m falling more
Trash Talk #2
Guess what?! I have more empties and garbage to show you! Skin&Co – Truffle Therapy Cleansing Oil I was sooooo upset with myself because I didn’t fully seal this bad boy and it *somehow* tipped over in the middle of the night (I’m blaming the fiancé) and a third of it’s contents were lost to the bathroom counter! I know I have too many products anyway but I was actually thoroughly enjoying this oil! It was taking off my makeup and dare I say leaving my skin moisturized at the same time?! This was definitely good to both me and