Why I Made the Switch to An Electric Toothbrush*

Back in April, I shared my experience with Smile Brilliant’s teeth whitening kit. As someone with sensitive teeth, whitening always seemed a little out of reach for me! Most whitening kits just made my teeth more sensitive, but I loved how Smile Brilliant helped whiten my teeth and didn’t make my teeth more sensitive.

There are so many ways my sensitive teeth kept me from trying new things when it came to my routine. One thing I’ve been slacking on for years is brushing my teeth. I was a dedicated user of standard, cheap toothbrushes. I knew electric toothbrushes were more beneficial, especially for someone like me, who struggled with prenatal and postpartum gingivitis, but they were too much for my teeth and I worried about making all my sensitivity issues worse.

So when Smile Brilliant asked me to try out their new electric toothbrush, the cariPRO**, I was a little hesitant. But Smile Brilliant had given me a whiter smile with their sensitive tooth whitening kit--so I trusted them!

Using the cariPRO

The first thing I did when I received my cariPRO was test it out! I was so excited to try it out and see if it would actually work for my sensitive teeth.

The cariPRO has 5 different settings: Clean, White, Massage, Gum Care, and Sensitive. They all have different vibration speeds and patterns.

The Clean setting is a standard setting; White bumps up the vibration to help really get rid of surface stains; Massage and Gum Care are designed to massage your gums and teeth as you brush, getting rid of plaque and stimulating your gums; and Sensitive is like the Clean setting, but dialed down.

Over the first few days of using the cariPRO, I tried all these settings. The best part about the cariPRO is that it pauses every 30 seconds--which reminds me to switch from the four “corners” of my mouth. Isn’t that genius!? Not only is the cariPRO better for your teeth and gums, it helps you brush your teeth for the amount of time recommended by dentists.

My favorite routine was to start on the Sensitive setting and brush for 2 minutes that way, then switch to White and brush the fronts of my teeth for 1 minute. It really helped give me that sparkling, clean feeling and alongside my ongoing whitening with Smile Brilliant, I’ve noticed my teeth are much whiter and cleaner feeling. Once a week, I also spend 2-3 minutes using the Gum Care setting to massage my gums. (And of course, every day when I’m done brushing, I follow up with flossing and mouthwash!)

What’s it come with?

I received the Individual Package of the cariPRO from Smile Brilliant**; this came with the toothbrush, two heads, and the charging dock. At only $119, that’s a great deal! You can also order extra heads for the cariPRO really affordably; a set of 2 is only $13**.  All the packages come with a 2 year limited warranty; that means they’re committed to getting you whiter, healthier teeth.

Right now, my readers can get 20% off their cariPRO order using the code writingbetweenpauses-20. That’s 20% off on top of the already amazing price; if you order the individual package, it will only be $95.20!

Just visit Smile Brilliant** and enter writingbetweenpauses-20 at checkout!

We all want to be our best possible selves. A beautiful smile is often the first thing we notice about other people--and we all want our smiles to be bright. And even better, we want our dentists to be impressed by our tooth health. I’ve noticed a definite improvement in my teeth since starting to use the cariPRO in July and I know you’ll love it too!

If you have any questions about the cariPRO and Smile Brilliant, check out their FAQ here**; it answers all their most common questions. And don’t forget to use writingbetweenpauses-20 at check out!

Disclaimer: As always, the asterisk (*) in this blog post indicates that I received the cariPRO toothbrush from Smile Brilliant for free in exchange for review! All opinions, however, remain my own. As well, any links marked with a double asterisk (**) are affiliate links; that means, I get a small percentage for every sale that occurs through those links. If you want to try the cariPRO or the tooth whitening kit, both of which I absolutely love, please consider using my affiliate link and discount code! It helps me keep the lights on here at Writing Between Pauses. 

Tooth Whitening Gel

Beauty Review: bliss Drench & Quench Cream-to-Water Moisturizer

Recently, I started watching the viral hit, 100% Hotter, on Netflix. Have you watched this? A team of 3 professionals (a stylist, a make up artist, and a hair dresser) makeover two people with the intent to make them 100% hotter. The premise of the show is one of those that makes me feel a bit mad: yes, some people dress outrageously bad, they don't dress to flatter themselves, and as a society we might deem it unattractive. But goodness gracious, is it anyone's business? And how cruel is it to have people rate their appearance, to their face!? 

I'm still watching it though. There are some bright spots, like the stylist pointing out that sometimes the clothes we wear are a mask to save ourselves from having to reveal our true selves, but overwhelmingly, it's a shallow little bit of television. 

However, on one episode, the make up artist tells a young man (who was absolutely gorgeous, by the way) that to help prevent oil he shouldn't moisturize in the morning. 

I nearly yelled! No, that's the wrong answer!

That used to be a commonly held belief: if you're oily, you shouldn't moisturize, especially before putting on makeup. Because that moisturizer is going to make you more oily through the day, right? 

Wrong. 

If you're like me and have oily skin (and trust me, I could run a car on my oil some days). you're skin isn't oily because it feels like it; your skin is oily because it is dehydrated. I wrote about this a bit in my post on skin congestion; dehydration can be solved by drinking more water (internal hydration) and using good moisturizers (external hydration). Dehydrated (and therefore, oily) skin is different from dry skin. We don't get dry, flaky patches; dry skin is caused by a lack of oil. Oily skin goes oily because it is overcompensating for a lack of moisture (water), so we need to add that. 

Whew, that's quite the explanation, huh? 

I'm a bit obsessed with moisturizers. I have a few holy grail favorites (specifically Pacifica's Dreamy Youth and Crystal Youth), but I love trying new moisturizers because I'm always looking for something better. 

I recently decided to try bliss's drench & quench Cream-to-Water Hydrator; it's a little more expensive than your average moisturizer, but I was intrigued by the promise of a cream-to-water formula. 

Here's what bliss says about it: 

“Feel this ultra-lightweight moisturizer transform into water on contact, surging skin with more than 10,000 marine micro-droplets for intense, yet weightless, all-day hydration. Perfectly balanced hydration disappears instantly into the skin – no greasy or heavy feeling. Skin immediately feels soft, healthy and refreshed; within 4 weeks skin’s moisture barrier is improved”

Lofty promises! It contains purified micro algae, which improve skin hydration and reduces the loss of water (dehydration); it also has milk thistle oil, passion fruit seed oil, and German chamomile. That's a lot of lovely sounding ingredients. 

Adding It To My Routine

I have a very reduced skincare routine lately: I double cleanse my face with jojoba oil and the Body Shop's Tea Tree Facial Cleanser, then tone, then apply moisturizer. That's in, easy peasy! (If I use a mask, it goes after cleansing.) 

I started using this moisturizer when I used up my tube of Pacifica's Crystal Youth; I loved that moisturizer, it was nearly perfect! 

This moisturizer is quite an interesting texture. It comes in a tub, which isn't my favorite way to store beauty products, and is blue. It feels almost like a very light, whipped marshmallow. As I put it on, I could feel it take on a more watery texture and it absorbed into my skin really quickly. It didn't feel "wet" like a water product might. This moisturizer does promise not to feel greasy or heavy, but I did find it felt quite greasy for the first 10-15 minutes after putting it on. It's not enough for me not to like it, but it definitely still felt like a cream moisturizer on my skin. 

Do I Recommend It? 

Here's the thing: I love many bliss products. 

I'm just not sure this is one that stands up to its promise. 

It sounds so promising, doesn't it? But for $20, I expect a lot more from a moisturizer! It's quite nice and I feel like it does the job, but I am absolutely not blown away by it at all. It feels like a fairly standard moisturizer once it is on. It's disappointing because the concept (cream to water? Yes!) sounds amazing, but in execution, it leaves a little to be desired. 

That leaves me using up this tub and then trying to find another holy grail moisturizer! Any suggestions? 

Beauty Review: Brite Briteplex Unicorn Masque

My hair, and scalp, has been one of my biggest struggles for the last year. I've always bounced back and forth between long hair and very short hair--but this is the longest I've had significantly longer hair. And my hair is actually the longest it has been since I was... 15 or 16, I think! 

A few months ago, I was in Ulta looking for some things to buy with a 20% off coupon and I found a bunch of hair masks from BRITE Organix. I had never heard of this brand before, but they are cruelty free and vegan, two things that are pretty important to me. I decided to go for it and try the Briteplex Unicorn Masque. Here's why: 

“You totally deserve a treat.

I’m your weekly or twice weekly repair treatment. If you want to I can even sleep over (yup you can use me as an overnight masque).

We all know things get pretty rough when you bleach and colour frequently.

Urgh even hot irons and blow outs take their toll, so we’ve created a professional hair treatment for you to use at home and added a bit of sparkle to make things super fun and sparkly while you repair your hair.

I’m packed full of bond building ingredients to repair your damaged hair, fight frizz and create healthy hair between chemical services (like bleaching and colouring).”

Those are some promises! As I've mentioned, I've struggled with dry, itchy scalp for almost a year now--probably because my hair is quite long, I wasn't using inappropriate shampoos and not conditioning my scalp, and the ends of my hair were damaged from not getting hair cuts (oops). Switching shampoos, using oil, and trimming my ends has helped my scalp problems... but the ends of my hair are still fried and I'm still putting off getting a hair cut. (I would have to stop working on one of my million projects to do it, wouldn't I? *insert panicked mom gif here*) 

This mask promises to heal hair damage, basically, and help bond hair. I use split end sealer and jojoba oil on my ends daily, and while it certainly helps, I knew I could be doing more. This mask seemed like the perfect option. 

I bought this mask for $12 at Ulta. That's quite expensive for a hair mask; however, I've used it probably 5 times already and have enough for another 1 or 2 uses. That's pretty good and evens out to a fair price. Brite is an Australian company, so their website is in AUD--however, all their products are available at Ulta, but they do also ship worldwide. 

My Experience

I used this mask after washing my hair with OGX Coconut Milk shampoo; I then put on the mask, pretty heavily, and tied my hair up in a bun. I let it sit for about 20-25 minutes while I read. It smells really good--a faintly sweet smell, not too medicinal and not too heavy. When I rinsed it, my hair instantly had that really soft feeling that often happens when I use conditioner. Once I let it dry, my hair looked a lot shinier and my ends didn't look quite as frazzled. 

You know what's odd? While reading the reviews and product description, it seems to suggest there is glitter in this mask. I didn't notice or see any glitter. Granted, I haven't used the entire package yet, but I'm squeezed up from the bottom and... no glitter or sparkle. Isn't that odd? Perhaps it's just the one I got, but that was something very strange I noticed while reading reviews. I'm kind of glad, as I'm not sure my scalp could tolerate glitter of any kind. 

Aside from that, I did really enjoy this mask. My hair felt quite soft for several days after using it. I try not to use it more than once a week, however, as it could easily weigh down finer hair. I'm quite happy with the results and will definitely be repurchasing! 

What Is Skin Congestion & How to Stop it

A few months ago, I started noticing the weirdest thing: on my temples and underneath my jawline, I started to feel very rough, bumpy skin. At first, it seemed kind of normal; I would exfoliate and moisturize, and it would go away... for a few days. Then, I would notice it again.

At the same time, my skin was improving in terms of surface acne, thanks to using jojoba oil and the Body Shop tea tree line, and my cystic acne was improving, thanks to jojoba and dropping dairy. But as the rough patches continued, I also noticed that the same areas would often breakout into clogged pores, usually related to my cycle. 

What was going on?! 

I started to research, and ask my beauty groups, and quickly realized the answer: congested skin. 

Gesundheit, am I right? 

I set out to learn everything I could about skin congestion, how to prevent it and get rid of it, and how it happens in the first place. 

What is Skin Congestion? 

Congested skin isn't just one thing; it's a lot of things. If you're skin is congested, you might notice: 

• Bumpiness underneath the skin
• Blackheads
• Small whiteheads
• Angry inflamed breakouts
• Enlarged pores
• Dull appearance
• Thick looking skin

Congested skin basically means that your pores are clogged--they're congested!

This can happen for a lot of reasons, but the number one reason is dehydrated, oily skin that is trying to produce more moisture, but dry skin, or dead skin cells, traps that oil inside the pores. Thus, you get a dry, bumpy feeling texture (almost like dry chicken skin), a thickened appearance, dullness, and breakouts related to all those problems. It's definitely not fun and a lot of people experience it. 

How to Fix It

I've been very frustrated with my congested skin, as I find that things like salicylic acid makes my acne worse. However, I knew I was going to have to break down and try something outside of my usual routine. Here's what I've been doing to help my congested skin--and I've been seeing a ton of improvement. 

1. A strict cleansing routine: The moment I'm done wearing makeup for the day, I wash my face. If I get home from work at 2pm, I wash my face immediately if I'm not going anywhere else. The less I wear make up, the less likely I am to dry out my skin and trap more oil. 

2. Exfoliating regularly. I usually keep exfoliating to every other week--but recently stepped it up to every 4 days. I started using a homemade sugar scrub, which I would normally not recommend as pieces of sugar are too sharp for the average skin. However, if you're struggling with conge sted skin, this is something you can use maybe every other exfoliation.

I also started using the Holika Pig Nose Blackhead Clearing Massage Gel; this is a Korean product that essentially acts as a peel. I apply it underneath my jawline, on my temples, nose, and chin--the places where I  have the worst clogged pores, congested skin, and general dullness. I'll have  a full review of this product soon, but let me say: it is an absolute DOOZY and has helped so much! 

3. Use glycolic acid. I was never a huge fan of the Pixi Glow Tonic... until I started getting congested skin. As much as I didn't like it before, the moment I started using it after I received a sample in my Ipsy bag, it helped my congested skin so much. It actually got rid of it within a few days of use--then I ran out and I started over at square run! Pixi Glow Tonic is a bit expensive, but it is absolutely worth it if you're noticing congested skin. 

4. Hydrate. Remember how I said congested skin is dehydrated skin? Hydration is both external and internal. If you have congested skin, drink plenty of water, slow down on the coffee (ugh, I know), and eat lots of fruit that help hydrate your skin (think pineapple and watermelon). As well, using an intense moisturizer will help plump your skin from the outside. I really like bliss's Drench & Quench cream to water moisturizer; it's very light, but also super effective. (I'll be posting a full review of this moisturizer soon as well!) 

Tackling skin congestion can feel like a never ending process; you might try things that I swear by that end up not working. But if you follow the basics--good cleansing, good exfoliating, and hydrating--you'll be well on your way to glowy skin again! 

Beauty Review: The Body Shop Tea Tree Mask

If you've been reading my blog for any period of time, you know that I struggle with oily, acne-prone skin. I've found a routine that is relatively beneficial for my skin (it involves a lot of jojoba oil and a recent addition of rosehips oil). One of my favorite products is the Body Shop Tea Tree Face Wash. 

A few weeks ago, I had a 20% off coupon at Ulta. I was in one of those moods where I didn't really feel like buying makeup. I have my routine; I have the things I use; I didn't want new eyeshadows or anything. (This may be shocking, but I believe in not buying everything out there, you know!) I was wandering through the skincare aisle, spotted the Body Shop section, and thought, "Should I buy some more face wash?" Then my eyes fell on this mask. 

It was meant to be. 

At $17, the Body Shop Tea Tree Clay Mask is one of the most expensive masks I've ever bought. But at a total of 3.85 oz, it's not a use-once-and-toss mask; this little tub will last a pretty long while!

Here's what this mask promises: 

“Cool and deeply cleanse your skin with our Tea Tree infused clay mask. Perfect for blemished complexions, the instantly cooling sensation refreshes skin, without over drying. This mask will help to clear impurities while absorbing excess sebum, leaving skin feeling smoother and clearer looking.”

Like most clay masks, it promises to clean out your pores and tighten up your skin, which is always a plus. This mask contains menthol to cool down your skin (great if your skin is feeling particularly red and inflamed) and tea tree to heal blemishes.

(As a note, tea tree oil is best used in something, not plain, as it can burn your skin; a clay mask is perfect. But just a warning to never, ever put undiluted tea tree oil on your face!) 

How I Use It

I try to keep clay masks to a minimum as they can be quite drying. Naturally, my skin is dehydrated, which is why it gets so oily. I don't want to dry it out even more! I've been struggling lately with hormonal outbreaks, as I've fallen a bit off the bandwagon when it comes to dairy (did I not learn my lesson the first time!?). 

I usually apply this mask to my t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), then on my cheeks. Sometimes, I pull it onto my neck and underneath my jaw, as I can get quite congested skin there. I use it twice a week, maximum, but usually just on Sunday evenings when I have the spare time and need it. 

My Results

This mask feels so cooling when it goes on--that's the menthol--and smells amazing from the tea tree oil. It can definitely feel a bit tightening when you first put it on, but as it dries, it feels quite good. More soothing than anything else. Afterwards, my skin always feels very smooth and clear and my pores look quite good. 

This mask is definitely best for helping heal active acne and preventing breakouts. It doesn't do much for older breakouts (like those awful cysts that in the process of healing), but it does help sooth that wrecked feeling skin. If you have inflammation, it can be helpful with that too; I always see a reduced amount of redness in the days after I use this mask and as I use it more frequently, those days last a bit longer each time. I can get quite red when my skin is dry or struggling, so that's a huge help! 

If you're in the market for a more high-quality mask, this is a great middle price option. As well, if you struggle with breaking out, inflamed or aggravated skin, or hormonal breakouts, this is a great mask to have in your arsenal to use! 

Beauty Review: Makeup Revolution Fast Base Stick Foundation

I had just started doing wear tests for my mega foundation post (you can read which foundation quiz works best, as well as my mini reviews of 6 foundations, here) when I spotted the Makeup Revolution Fast Base Stick Foundation at Ulta. At only $9, it's a super affordable stick foundation. Compare to the Anastasia Beverly Hills stick foundation ($25), the Maybelline SuperStay stick foundation ($11.99), or the OG Hourglass stick foundation ($46). 

$9, comparatively, is an absolute steal. But is it a good foundation? I wore this throughout my trip to Idaho, as it is wonderful to travel with, and then did several wear tests at home (since my skin is not its best when I'm on vacation). Here's my review!

(Purchase this foundation here at Ulta.) 

The Shade Range

First things first, the current range has 18 shades (F1 to F18). There are 9 fair shades and 9 medium to dark shades. I'm not super happy with that split; it seems to be heavy on fair shades, with multiple nuanced undertones. It does go quite dark, but ultimately, there are maybe only 4-5 shades for POC compared to 9+ shades for everyone else. That's not balanced!

When testing in store, I went with shade F2 as I wasn't sure if F1 would be too light; they looked really similar, so I just went with it. However, looking at the description now, F2 is fair with yellow undertones, which is why it's not a great match for me. I think I would have been better off with F1 or F3. 

The Formula

The intention of stick foundations is, of course, speed. That's the promise of this foundation as well. Here's the (meager) description from Ulta: 

“Foundation just got faster! Available in multiple shades and a range of undertones, Makeup Revolution’s Fast Base Stick Foundation quickly perfects, contours and highlights your complexion.”

It doesn't make any claims about finish or anything, which sometimes is a good thing. 

Here's my impression: the formula is very creamy and easy to blend. However, I found that as I blended it out, it appeared quite... powdery on my skin. It doesn't settle right on my skin and leaves the finish looking rough and spotty. It's not the ideal formula for my skin, I think, as it is almost too thick and difficult to blend out. It was also very hard to layer over setting powder, which is my preferred method of wearing foundation. The finish ultimately was very matte. 

How Did It Wear?

So, how did this foundation wear throughout the day?

As a disclaimer, I have very oily skin; almost every foundation breaks down on me, even ultra mattes that those with dry skin can't wear. I'm oily. It's who I am. This is important context.

I noticed breakdown really quickly with this foundation and it started to feel quite tacky, even with setting powder, within 1-2 hours. It also became quite cake-y and mask-like throughout the day--not my ideal look! 

This is one of those foundations that I realized, after wanting to love it, just doesn't work for me. However, a friend bought this foundation right around the same time as me and it looks AMAZING on her; it wears great, the finish is gorgeous. It really just depends on your skin.

For $9, it's absolutely worth a shot as it is now several people I know's holy grail foundation. It just isn't mine!

Everything I Used in July 2018

Another month, another empties post! Just like last month, this month felt a bit "light" in terms of things I used up. Some months, I fly through products; and other months, especially when I'm traveling, I just don't use as much. 

Here's everything I finished up in July. 

1. Precision Beauty Under-Eye Pads Cucumber

These under-eye masks are a TJ Maxx purchase--and this was actually my last one in a box of 10! I think it was $5.99 for a pack. I don't know if they actually do anything, but I do really like how they feel. They're relaxing and I like doing them before I do my makeup for the day, as I find them help hydrate my under eyes (which are unfortunately getting crepe-y as I age, sigh). 

2. Callysee Caffeine Rush Nourishing Face Mask

This mask was from my July Ipsy bag. I did really like this mask, it smelled really good, and it did make my skin quite soft--but gosh, it made me flushed! For about 20 minutes after I used this mask, my face just felt like it was warm--not burning like it was irritated, but warm, like I had worked out. It's not unpleasant, but it is a little disconcerting. 

3. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Loose Powder

This is my favorite setting powder of all time. I recently replaced it with a more affordable powder that I wanted to review and without spoiling things, let me just say, I'm already a bit sad about it. If you have oily skin, this powder is a must have! 

July 2018 Wrap Up: Road Trips & Reading

Wasn't I just writing a month wrap up? I swear, it was just yesterday. It's that time of year where time seems to start moving a lot faster than in moved in, say, January or February. I was just on the phone with a preschool about getting Forrest registered; pretty soon, it will be his birthday, then mine, then Thanksgiving. I'm excited for the Fall and Winter, but time seems to move so fast... then slams to a halt in January. Just me? 

July was a very busy month for us, and yet, I find myself not really knowing what to write for this wrap up post! 

1. Road trips

We made our annual pilgrimage to Idaho at the beginning of July. And thankfully, we got to spend one day in the pool (courtesy of my brother-in-law's wife's family, so my in-laws-in-law?). Forrest spent nearly 3 hours swimming until I had to forcibly remove him; he was so tired, but loved the pool so much! It's so funny that I hate swimming and I have a pretty severe fear of the water, and yet, Forrest has been a water baby from the moment he was born. He loves baths and swimming and pools. He's also extremely extroverted and, uh, I'm not. 

But we had a lot of fun in Idaho, even though it was hot, hot, hot the entire time! 

2. Making Time

In previous summers, I've always had these grandiose plans of things we would do... and we ended up not doing any of them because either I was working too much, trying not to spend money, or a combination of both. This summer, I decided to say: honestly, screw it! Let's just go! Yes, Wildlife Safari is expensive. Yes, gas is expensive. Yes, eating dinner out is expensive. But life is short. We only get one go around with Forrest as a toddler. We've made it to the coast so far this summer, and now Wildlife Safari, and the Boise Zoo. We have a few more things on our list, but I feel really good about making time as a family to do fun things together, make memories, and get out of the house!

3. Joining the library club

Everyone knows I'm a voracious reader. I subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, but I may be canceling that soon now that I've got a library card! I've put it off for ages because, living outside city limits, our library card costs money. However, when you divide it out, it's only $4.50 a month! I've already read 10+ books, via the library app and borrowing from the library. Totally worth it. It's made July even better1 

I hope you had as good of a July as we did! What was your favorite highlight?