(Part 3) Best products from r/TheGirlSurvivalGuide

Looks like you've already gotten some good advice, but I have a little more to add on a few of your items.

Sugar Scrub recipes? / How to remove dry skin? / How to eliminate the Red Bump Syndrome after shaving? Just get a Salux cloth and exfoliate with that (plus a little body wash) in the shower. It is MAGIC for exfoliation! I used to get the red bumps pretty bad but now I just exfoliate before shaving and I have no problems. Also, replace the blades in your razor when they start to get dull.

Ways to cure acne? This varies from person to person, but /r/SkincareAddiction is AMAZING. I wash with Cerave foaming cleanser, use their PM moisturizer (plus sunscreen during the day), make sure to wash my face AFTER brushing my teeth, and avoid touching my face much. This prevents a lot of zits for me. The ones I do get are poked with a clean lancet after washing my face and then covered with a hydrocolloid bandage.

How to whiten my smile? / bleach my hair? I saw you mention you have issues with pool chlorine--as a chemist, I feel I should inform you that commercial teeth whitening strips contain carbamate peroxide as the whitening agent and not chlorine bleach (NaClO). Similarly, bleach meant for hair is also peroxide-based. Big difference! Might want to see if they work for you, since they don't contain the chemical that was causing you problems.

Nail Care Tips THESE VITAMINS ARE MAGIC. My nails get pretty long without breaking now, and I'm really rough on my hands. They taste like candy, too. Should also be good for hair and skin!

Exercise routines...? Go learn how to lift heavy things properly. Seriously. New Rules of Lifting for Women is not a bad starting point for a total beginner. Heavy lifting has given me loads of confidence, kickass thighs, an awesome butt, and even visible abs at one point. Lifting will build muscle, which provides a nice frame even if you have extra bodyfat...how much bodyfat you carry also depends on your diet, which /r/xxfitness can help you figure out. Once you figure out what works for you, sustainably, diet and activity-wise, you actually have a great deal of control over how your body looks. (It turns out I like chocolate more than I like seeing my abs most of the time, but if I miss them and I want them visible for a while, I now know that about 1800-2000 cal/day with a high training volume will do that.) Endless cardio is not necessary if you are like me and you hate running...I only do naked cardio :D Do find an activity you love and will stick with, and make sure you get enough sleep. Don't cut calories to 1200/day and run yourself to death, it will screw up your metabolism for years and make it way harder to lean out.

Good ways to stop Cramps, or at least help make them lighter and less painful. If they're debilitating, see your gynecologist--a medical condition could be the problem. As an endometriosis sufferer, I'm on a Pill that's designed to give only four periods a year, but I take it continuously, so I don't have periods at all. That's not for everyone, but it does help a lot to start taking ibuprofen a week before your period and continue taking it (at the recommended interval, something like every 6 hours I think) until the cramping stops. Also, invest in a good heating pad. They work very, very well.

TMI Warning:

This costs an arm and a leg but is worth it's weight in gold. If you notice, it's an epilator and not an electric razor, but it has an electric razor head that's ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for what you're listing. Given a good cream, you can really go to town without any fear. Like really go if you know what I'm saying. In my 4 years of using this thing, it has never once cut me using the razor head.

Now, the epilator head is also fabulous, but I would have to be a masochist to use it on my nether regions. However, it is great for the underarms and the legs! Now, the greatest and my most favorite part of all of this is that it can be used both wet and dry while being electronic so usage in the shower with your shower shaving oil or whatever is perfect!

Again, I cannot recommend this thing enough. It is steep, but I haven't bought a single razor in 4 years.

This is a good guide! I find that leaving a small gap between my polish and my cuticle area looks much better than accidentally getting polish all over my cuticles from trying to paint too closely.

Also, if you do get any polish on your skin, you can immediately take a nail brush dipped in acetone and clean up the polish. It's easier while it's still wet in my opinion. (Though, when you're completely done painting, you can also go back and touch up anything you've missed!)

A quick drying top coat is also a must! Seche Vite makes a good one, as well as Superchic Lacquer. EDIT: These particular top coats are formulated to go over nail polish that is still wet, so it's a big plus that you don't have to wait for your color to dry before adding your top coat. As soon as you finish painting color on your last nail, you can go back to your first nail and start applying top coat until you get to your last nail again (if that makes sense).

Lastly, practice practice practice! :)
Put on Netflix or Hulu and relax and have fun with it! Good luck!

Hi, first off. I recommend checking out /r/SkincareAddiction. They know a lot about the ins and outs of products. But here's my little bit of wisdom; as someone (F23) who has been struggling with hormonal acne these past few months, I noticed the biggest increase in my skin appearance when I changed my diet. I started this elimination diet called Whole30 just over 2 weeks ago and have seen dramatic improvements in my skin this past week. You may not need to go on a 30 day cleanse, but I recommend cleaning up your diet as much as you can and then re-introducing certain foods to see if it triggers a breakout. Maybe try giving up things like dairy and sugar, and then bring them back after a few weeks to see if they may be throwing your hormones out of whack (because no doubt, your acne is a hormonal issue). Some bits about makeup and products; I stopped using a primer (Benefits POREfessional) and liquid foundation (Urban Decay Naked foundation). I don't know if these products were clogging my pores, but I feel better taking a break from them. I started to just use a set of Bare Minerals powders instead. I also use a micellar water to take my makeup off. Garnier SkinActive Micellar water (pink cap) works great, followed by a cleanser (CeraVe), toner (Thayers Witchhazel), and moisturizer (YesToCarrots Daily Moisturizer) -- this is my pm routine, as it involves makeup removal. In the morning, I use the cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and follow up with EltaMd SPF 46 sunscreen. This sunscreen is specifically made to reduce current redness from past/present acne and protect you from the sun. You need to wear it everyday. Hope this all helps! And good luck. Having bad skin can really take a toll on your self-esteem, but just remember that it's never permanent!

Edit: added links

I use a cuticle oil I got from julep on my nails but Essie makes one that Ive used before that I like.

Are you using a base coat when you paint your nails? I found that when I didnt use a base coat my nails seemed to be weaker and more flimsy. OPI makes a good nail strengthener called Nail Envy. A lot if the folk at /r/RandomActsOfPolish consider it their Holy Grail. Though I opted for Essie's Strengthener. It works really well for me.

I would also try to avoid using acetone unless its necessary, I only use it to remove glitters and harder to remove stuff since my nails seem to be sensitive to it. Then I follow with my cuticle oil.

Ive read somewhere that cutting your nails causes damage to them. Im not sure I believe that but I stick to using a glass nail file to keep them in shape and the length I like. Its easier for me to shape with the file.

There is more than one shape you can make your nails (disclaimer: I dont know how well the chart works on what nail shape works for your nails, I just thought it was a good starting point and neat :) ).

>Create

I really like the yoga pants that I got from Amazon. They're capri length and they have pockets :)

They're great for taking to the gym because you can your phone, keys, or hair band in them. I also love them because they're slimming and the best part is that they're not see through.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BHND3HN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use these and they work great. Give them a try! I also looked up a YouTube video of someone using them to make sure I did it right (cause I’m crazy and overthink everything), which was helpful the first time I used them! Super easy and effective.

I was told I had a receding gum line and would need grafts too. I got an electric toothbrush and haven't had the problem since! An electric toothbrush is also good because it helps you brush your teeth for long enough, and it typically does a better job of brushing teeth than we might do on our own (we miss spots, brush too hard, etc).

I have an Oral B brush I really like. It came with a rechargeable base and a little clock that counts down my 2 min brush time and tells me when to switch to a different part of my mouth.

Get a small, soft round brush head; those work the best. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006ANDK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

use argan oil rlly helps u can feel the softness WHILE you wash. https://www.google.com/search?q=argan+oil+shampoo&sxsrf=ACYBGNTIxNYRai38GPptzOodCwpIJDFy5g:1570949298160&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=gBv1_ni4nliSBM%253A%252Ch9d18hcWmZZ9pM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQntwYSDRatfm8rn5Fevqn9StTw4A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwil1IGX0pjlAhVCsXEKHTtbBiEQ9QEwAXoECAYQCQ#imgrc=gBv1_ni4nliSBM:

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buy those two and follow the instructions at the back x

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also when you finish washing DO NOT use a blow dryer, starightener or NOTHING ELECTRIC ON YOUR HAIR it damages it and this may be the cause for ur hair rn

in addition, when finish washing pat your hair down w a clean towel thereafter apply the argan oil (an actual oil this time x ) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Organix-Moroccan-Argan-Penetrating-Coaise/dp/B005DYJZ7M/ref=asc_df_B005DYJZ7M/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=313322780637&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16541534354524680704&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-372480236535&psc=1

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THESE PRODUCTS SMELL AMAZING LEAVING YOUR HAIR SMELLING GOOD AND LOOKING GOOD. try and wash your hair thrice in a week using this same method, your destined to achieve the results you deserve!

msg me if this helps x

I use a special eyebrow / grooming razor like this. I have crazy long sideburns & tons of fluffy blond peach fuzz. It It were darker, I swear it would look like I had a full on man beard. But these little razors are great! I just shave every few days after washing my face at night. It is so easy & affordable. As a bonus, they really exfoliate my face well. I have been using them for a few years now, and no, my hair has not grown back thicker or darker :)

I found this lotion on r/skincareaddiction and it’s my holy grail product. I’ve always struggled with backne and have tried washes, changing routines, etc and this is the only thing that made any difference. Its a little expensive but it lasts a while. I just use it every morning after I shower (I don’t do anything special in the shower). It doesn’t bleach my clothes. I think it works better than special washes because it stays on your skin longer. Highly recommend!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FX1FAH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0YLODbHJA7TRD

I am also in the market. I was just looking at straighteners on Amazon and the CHI doesn't have the best reviews. I found one I'm going to try- it's the HSI straightener and it has rave reviews (over 11k and almost 5 stars) Amazon is selling the older model of it for $40 (marked down from $200) so I thought it would be worth a try and easy enough to return on Amazon if it doesn't work. I currently have a pro solia that does not straighten my waves. I'm like you- super course thick wavy hair.

EDIT- from what my hair stylist tells me, the CHI was good if you bought it a few years ago, but as they've gained popularity and mass produced, their products don't work as well.

EDIT2- Link

Have you tried wearing something under your work tops? That way you won't have to wash them after every wear.

Also, you don't have to lie them "flat" to dry. You don't want to hang them because the weight will cause odd stretching but you can lie one over a chair, or on a rack like this.

But if you're going to spend money on dry cleaning, why not just buy some more tops instead? And check this time to make sure they hang be hung to dry or can be put in a dryer.

You can probably save space by getting a laundry rack like this one. I dry most of my delicates on one of these, and they usually dry overnight.

You can drape things strategically on there to make room for more items. I doubt your shirts have to be perfectly flat - they just need to be supported. I usually drape my shirts over 1 or 2 rungs on my laundry rack and they turn out fine. :)

I use Neutrogena pink grapefruit scrub (or any salicylic acid body wash) on a shower poof to scrub my back and shoulders as the last step before getting out of the shower. Then I use 2 other products after my shower, 2-3 times a week:

(BHA-Salicylic acid) Nature's Cure Body Acne Treatment Spray - 3.5 fl oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00027DHYM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2B8FAb6G66FBX

(AHA- glycolic acid) Alpha Skin Care - Renewal Body Lotion, 12% Glycolic AHA, Supports Healthy Radiant Skin| Fragrance-Free and Paraben-Free| 12-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FX1FAH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zD8FAbHYQ9JTC

Spray on the BHA after showering and let dry for at least 30 mins, then follow up with the AHA lotion. This has cleared up my back and shoulders 99.9%!

Make a skirt out of stretchy jersey with an elastic waistband: soooo easy! Then work your way up. Best bet would be going to the library and getting out some books on sewing. Be patient and don't spend too much money: a complex pure silk evening dress isn't going to be achievable just yet and will only frustrate you. (I've done this waay too much!!) Once you get tired, down tools, because that's when stupid mistakes happen!

Stretch fabric is the easiest to work with as it is very forgiving with fit, often doesn't fray so no hems etc etc. A good book for starting out is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Improv-Sewing-Freeform-Techniques-Accessories/dp/1603427406

https://www.amazon.com/Wegreeco-Bamboo-Reusable-Sanitary-Pads/dp/B017D8IVG6/ref=pd_yo_rr_rp_5/134-3264127-4970360?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017D8IVG6&pd_rd_r=a987f219-6e9e-47f0-a152-4cf33c36c943&pd_rd_w=gHzm9&pd_rd_wg=NY9BR&pf_rd_p=0c658712-1572-4aea-8288-836ba0ae83de&pf_rd_r=HAYS893MT21TDFZH72WK&refRID=HAYS893MT21TDFZH72WK&th=1

I am a big fan of these. There are also all sorts of handmade ones on etsy, but I don't have much experience with those. On top of saving money/the environment, I like them because they are better for your skin than the disposable ones.

John Frieda Salon Shape 1.5 Inch Hot Air Brush

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056GDG90/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_H4kCub0F8YHBN

Sorry for no formatting, on mobile. I have this and it works really nicely. If my hair isn't damp when I want to use the styler, I just spray down my hair a little to dampen it. However, It doesn't spin. I actually like that it's not moving because I'm super careful with my hair. It allows me to control how fast it moves through my hair. This may be a great option if you're looking for more bouncy volume.

It's also in drug stores like CVS but it's ~$35 there.

Hope this helps!

I love this Pacifica Persian Rose. I also have the Vanilla and Lemon as well and they're all very nice!


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006SKF8V2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

Google and You Tube, there is a lot of free helpful info. on the the web, you just have to take a little bit of time to research it.

https://www.pinterest.ca/gabrielnnancy/professional-natural-hairstyles/

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/288652657348640775/?lp=true

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3SriA7Zm88

Here are some ebooks and print books, read the reviews before you decide to purchase

https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Natural-Hair-Journey-ebook/dp/B00M5CN292

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Hair-beginners-Natural-Secrets-ebook/dp/B00V6WAEKW

https://www.amazon.com/Science-Transitioning-Complete-Transitioners-Naturals/dp/1938266129

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Another choice is to to call around for a salon in your area that specializes in black hair, talk to them about the kind of help you're looking for (learning to take care of your hair, and style it yourself) and ask your Mom to pay for a salon visit (or do some chores to earn your own money to pay for it yourself).

I use this one https://www.amazon.com/HSI-Professional-Tourmaline-Straightener-Straightens/dp/B001MA0QY2 it's pretty cheap and pretty amazing. I have 3b super curly hair and I usually only have to brush my hair dry and run it through once to get it as straight as it will go. And as everyone said heat protectant! But I have never seen people mention the heat setting, I use the HSI one at 350° or lower and it only takes one glide through and I have had no damage at all to my curls.

Get on Amazon and get yourself some OPI Nail Envy. It has worked wonders for my nail!! They're significantly stronger and keeps them the proper white color. My nails used to stain very easily and it's definitely helped with that as well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00178TVXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1405489488&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

I use this, it's a steal at $6-$7 for 13.5oz, and it works wonderfully. I don't know if I'd call it a "knock-off" since Garnier has been making it for quite a while, and micellar water works through quite a simple mechanism that the beauty industry has long made use of. It isn't anything special, basically, so I don't believe there's any real reason "legitimate" French brands would be any better/more effective.

I just did a bunch of research on this like two days ago! For my purposes, it came down pretty close between this Panasonic and this Braun. I picked the Braun and am eagerly awaiting its arrival.

I’ve used exfoliating gloves after waxing to prevent ingrown hairs. But I recently switched to a Salux cloth from the Asian grocery. It’s bigger and easier to use than the gloves, and I can even scrub my own back with it- can’t do that with gloves!

My waxing lady said wait 2 days after waxing to start exfoliating, so I don’t know if it’s the same for epilating or not, ymmv. You can also try doing the scrub cloth before epilating, and then follow up with some of the lotions and chemical exfoliators other people recommended.

exfoliating gloves- Amazon link

Salux Japanese bath scrub towels- Amazon link

Seche Vite is a pretty good topcoat. (You can also buy it at Target.)