SunSense Bracelet Saves Your Skin
According to Inventorspot.com, this summer’s fashion icon won’t be quite so chic. What’s the product? It’s called a UV SunSense bracelet, designed to save your skin – literally.
Too often, we’re prone to just one coat of sunscreen, which won’t help us after a jump in the pool or lots of hours in the sun. Reapplying is usually not high on our list of to-dos. This bracelet is going to change that for us this summer.
It works simply: the next time you’re slathering on sun block, don’t spare the bracelet. Once your original coat has stopped protecting you, the normally purple bracelet will let you know by turning brown. And if your sun time is bordering on obsessive, the bracelet with turn pink to tell you to head inside.
So next time you’re heading to the pool, don’t forget your sunscreen and your UV SunSense bracelet. This summer, they’re going to be invaluable for your fun in the sun.
Is The World Running Out of Cosmetic Scientists?
Where are we going to find the next generation of cosmetic chemists? I bet that question is not often on your mind, but it might matter – a study published October 10th, 2008, says that girls who are especially gifted in math and science often choose other career paths based on the lack of importance American culture places on math, deficiencies in the public school system, and very few women role models.
According to ScienceDaily, data reflects the fact that top mathematicians in the country are, in fact, foreigners by birth. The US is starting to let other countries fill our needs when it comes to engineers, mathematicians, scientists…and cosmetic chemists. The study shares that both girls and boys in the US find their math and science talents overlooked, or worse, discouraged. Second-generation children of immigrants from a country where math is valued are more likely to have their gifts identified and nurtured.
In younger grades, girls are often as good as or better than boys in their math classes, but upon reaching middle school, they lag behind due to peer demands and society’s attitude. By the time they reach high school, girls with this ability are likely to fall even further behind due to more social expectations and failure of schools to challenge them appropriately.
What we need to do to insure the US the future of things like the Beauty Brains Blog and the chemists that run it is to change our attitude towards math and science now – so that in the future, the brains of beauty will not be lost.
How To Cure Itchy Scalp
Taya’s trouble…Dear Beauty Brains, I just read up on your article about smelly scalps and wanted to know if there are any causes or solutions to itchy scalps. My sister started developing an itchy scalp several months back and it would sometimes get so itchy she would have to shower twice a day and she would also itch her hair/head in her sleep! One time she was so desperate that she put socks on her hands to stop her from itching. The weather doesn’t seem to affect it and she doesn’t produce a lot of dandruff and her hair looks normal in every way just the itching. We have checked for lice and there are none. She also had two spots on her head before this. My conclusion maybe, that we have a faulty shower – which can get really hot – and my sister and mother are the only two who for some reason can deal with hot water. Which seems to be the most plausible explanation. At first I thought that buying her some deep-cleanse shampoo would do the trick but it didn’t really work. We don’t think it’s that much of a deal unless she actually makes her scalp bleed (which thank goodness has not happened), also worried if it might weaken her hair follicles? I told her if she keeps scratching she’ll become bald.
The Left Brain responds:
Taya’s question prompted an interesting discussion in our Forum where Lindygirl and SarahF, and Vanyel pointed out that itchy scalp can have multiple causes.
Itchy scalp: causes and cures
Frequent washing with hot water can strip oils from your skin which could be contributing to the dryness. Dandruff is another common cause of itching. And of course there could be other medical conditions like psoriasis. My first suggestion is to try an anti-dandruff shampoo like Head & Shoulders, Selsun Blue, or Nizoral. The active ingredients in these products will reduce itchiness if indeed dandruff is the cause. She should specifically avoid using deep cleansing shampoos like you described – these are likely to only make the problem worse because they are “stronger” cleansers and can strip additional oils from the scalp. Reducing shampoo frequency may also be helpful. She might benefit using a dry shampoo on the days that she skips washing. (And if that doesn’t work she can always try rubbing whipping cream in her hair, as the Curly Girl Handbook suggests…)
If these steps don’t help, she should probably check with a dermatologist to rule out other skin conditions.
The Number 1 Danger Of Mixing Your Own Cosmetics
Crista’s question…I have a question on home made facial moisturizers. I’m a “make your own nut” with moisturizers, laundry soaps, miscellaneous cleaners, and add-ins for conditioners ( I’m big on coconut oil). Anyway enough with the jibberjabber. I start with Biosilk fruitcocktail as a base, (here’s a strange fact I was told by a cock fighting, i.e. fighting chickens, models hair dresser that it makes a good moisturizer) and then I add coconut oil and shea butter. It works for me. Just wondering your thoughts – Is it good? Bad? None of the above?
The Right Brain’s response:
Our first thought in response to your question is: Fighting chickens have hairdressers??? You’ve GOT to write back and explain that one! But let’s get back to your question.
Do It Yourself Danger
While we applaud your do it yourself attitude, you do need to be careful when mixing your own products. The number one danger is that the home made products typically are not properly preserved against microbial growth. That’s means your product could grow bacteria or mold that could end up giving you an infection. So be careful!
But for the moment let’s go crazy and ignore that danger. Does mixing Biosilk fruit cocktail with coconut oil and shea butter make a good hair conditioner? Mmmmmaybe. Coconut oil is one of the few natural oils that will penetrat hair, so it can have some benefit if you leave it on long enough. Shea butter can be helpful as a leave-on product but it won’t do much for hair is you rinse it off. So your home made mix might not be bad for your hair but we’d be surprised if it’s better than the products you can buy.
The Beauty Brains Blog Blast
It’s time for some link love. Enjoy these posts from some of our favorite beauty and fashion blogs.
The Gloss features a gallery of wacky hats.
The Fashionable Housewife is in a lather over bamboo body scrub.
The Possessionista tracks all the fashions worn on your favorite TV shows.
Cupcakes and Cashmere tells you what to wear while waiting for a train.
The Beauty Brains are all dried up when it comes to acne lotions.
Is PRAIMordial Stellar Serum Really Made With Martian Minerals?
Aussie Momma’s awesome question…Prai’s new Mordial Stellar serum is a new product that is getting raves on the beauty boards. Apparently it has an ingredient that is found on Mars. I think it is all marketing hype. What do you think?
The Left Brain’s awe-struck response:
This has to be one of the more bizarre claims claims I’ve come across. Here’s exactly what their website says:
PRAImordial Stellar Serum helps reverse this process by counteracting the loss of collagen as we age. Its luscious formula incorporates a customized blend of ingredients including Iron Rose Crystal derived from Hematite discovered on Mars, D-Galacturonic Acid, a powerful peptide/protein complex, and thirst – quenching hydrators, all working together to support, maximize and preserve collagen levels for younger-looking skin.
What is hematite and what does it do for skin?
Hematite is form of iron oxide, specifically iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3.) Its rust-red color makes it useful as a pigment in paints and even in blushes. But it’s not a good ingredient for providing skin moisturization benefits. In fact, in concentrated form it can be irritating to skin – the ancient Egyptians took advantage of this fact and actually used it to booby trap at least one mummy’s tomb. (According to Wikipedia, archeologists had to put on full body suits to protect their skin before entering the hematite filled chamber.)
Martian Mordial?
So it it true that hematite was discovered on Mars? Well, yes, NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor and the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft both located the mineral on Mars through its spectral signature. But I fail to see how that’s relevant to the product proposition. The entire idea is laughable – do they really mean to imply that they mined the ore from the Martian surface and brought it back to Earth for use in this skin lotion? How absurd! So yes, Aussie Momma, this is marketing hyperbole!
Here are the rest of the ingredients in case anyone is interested:
PRAImordial Stellar Serum Ingredients
Propylene Glycol, Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, SD Alcohol 40B, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG/PPG18/18 Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, C4 24 Alkyl Dimethicone/ Divinyldimethicone Crosspolymer/Isodecyl Isononanoate, Tripeptide 1, Tripeptide]10 Citrulline, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Lecithin, Polydiethyleneglycol Adipate/IPDI Copolymer, Hematite Extract, Galacturonic Acid, Dimethiconol, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Zingiber Cassumunar Root Oil, Carbomer, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, alpha]Isomethyl Ionone, Fragrance (Parfum), Silica (CI 77811)Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Tin Oxide (CI 77861)