I had to share... I just used one of the most fabulous products ever. No-Scream Cream, is just that.  A cream you apply before waxing to numb your delicate areas that need the full wax treatment.

I applied this cream before I left for my appointment this morning, and by the time I arrived, I barely felt anything. I applied a bit more as I undressed, and this numbed the bit that I could feel.

I was totally relaxed and not worried when my esthetician came close with the wax. And you know what? It really worked, as I barely felt anything. And I swear that the redness I usually see afterward was greatly minimized.

You have to try this, ladies! It retails for $15.95 per 1 oz. tube at DermStore.com.

What do you do when your 15 year old son decides that he needs to shave on a regular basis? Not just a once a week shave, but a daily shave with a real razor and shaving cream? Well, you dig into your beauty closet and get him some shaving cream.

So I did, to a new can of Nivea Cooling Shaving Gel. 

This what is supposed to do:
"Revitalizes and moisturizes while shaving. Improves the condition of the skin and helps protect against razor burns. Enriched with advanced moisturizers. Contains Menthol and Vitamin F for immediate cooling and optimal care."

Well, it didn't get too far doing what it was supposed to do. As my son depressed the dispenser on the can,  the gel would not stop coming out of the can. So I quickly ran to my daughters bathroom to see if I could fix it without it squirting out all over the floor, and when it would not stop, I decided to grab the camera and video it.

See for yourself!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qEsdoScI-Y

Sorry I had to take the actual video down off of this page because I exceeded my bandwidth for the month, but rest assured that the link will take you right to it on You Tube.

Once upon a time, I wished for a fabulous shaving cream - made just for women, that was different than a run of the mill formula found in the drugstore.

My whish was answered with Whish Shave Crave.

If you don't mind spending a few extra dollars on your shaving routine, Whish is for you.

Each Shave Crave begins with a glycerin soap base which is then combined with essential oils that deliver different soothing benefits to the skin.

Click to read more ...

My husband's skin has been acting funny lately. It has been oily and irritated more than usual from shaving. So I did a bit of research and decided that he should try a new cleanser, just for men, from Kiehl's. It is called Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash.

It is a great smelling gel that lathers just a bit when applied to a wet face. It thoroughly cleanses his skin, leaving it very fresh feeling and better yet, soft and smooth - a perfect surface for shaving.

The formula is full of great things like caffeine, menthol, vitamin E, and lemon and orange peel extracts. It is balanced just so that the oils, the ones that men seem to plagued with, are washed away without stripping the skin of the oils the skin needs - making it over-dry.

My hubby likes it, swears he gets a closer shave after using it, and I think his skin looks more evenly toned, after only a few weeks of usage.

Facial Fuel now has a permanent place in his shower. It retails for $16.00 and is available wherever Kieh's is sold, as well as kiehls.com.

Have you taken a look at some of the smaller, independent beauty companies out there?

Well, they may not be so little. And by little, I mean it in the sense that we cannot find them at our major department store, Sephora, or beauty.com.

I want to spread the word about some great little beauty sites I discovered, and hope to bring you reviews of their products soon, if I haven't already.

Ooohlala of Beverly Hills - super cute bath and body sets, bath bombs, and candles
Bella il Fiore - fun makeup, polishes, and bath & body sets
Bath by Bettijo - a great selection of natural products - soap, scrubs, shea butter and lip balm
Renee Rouleau - unique skin care products for unique skin from a celebrated esthetician
ME! Bath - home of bath ice cream and shower sorbet - yummy
Piaffe Beauty - beautiful vitamin and mineral bases makeup and skin care
Urban Apothecary - artisan quality makeup and skin care

Let me know if you have tried anything!

Yuck - the unsightly razor bumps left behind from hair removal in the bikini area. What are they exactly? I turned to Aveeno.com for some answers.

If you notice what looks like pimples, bumps or in-grown hairs on the areas where you shave, you may have "razor bumps". Doctors call this condition Pseudofolliculitis barbae , or PFB. PFB is most common in African American men and others with coarse or curly hair. It's less common in women, but it does occur. PFB is most common on the face and neck where hair is shaved or plucked. But it can also occur in the underarm and pubic areas as well as on the chest, legs or back.

What happens to cause these "razor bumps" is that shaving sharpens the ends of the hair, making it easier for the hairs to curve back into the skin. Stretching the skin while shaving can cause the newly cut hair to retract into the hair follicle. The bumps that you see are caused by skin irritation and inflammation where the hair has re-entered the skin.

There are several things you can do to help minimize razor bumps while shaving. Some doctors recommend using only electric shavers which don't give quite as close a shave, whereas double or triple-edged razors give extra-close shaves that may make the hair more apt to re-enter the skin. If you do use a blade, wash with a mild cleanser and warm water before shaving. This will help soften the hairs and help prevent a sharp edge that can enter the skin after shaving. Massaging the area to be shaved with a warm washcloth can help free the hairs and make them easier to cut. Avoid stretching the skin while shaving and shave in the direction of hair growth to minimize irritation.

Some products to try:
AVEENO Therapeutic Shave Gel
Bikini Zone Medicated Cream for Bikini Area
Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads
DERMAdoctor KP Duty Body Scrub