Hair in your face because of your odd shaped head?

I really can't stand the feeling of hair sticking to my sweaty face when I'm working out. I can't exactly throw it into a ponytail as I have short hair and bobby pins don't see to keep that hair out of my face because my hair is thick and stubborn. Not to mention that my odd shaped head tends to pop thicker fabric headbands straight off my head. Oh, and I find that plastic headbands squish my head from behind my ears. Yes, I have a lot to complain about. ;)

However, I did find myself the perfect solution: Lululemon's Mesh Headband

 It is the perfect width for my odd shaped head. Not to mention, the silicone strip down the middle on the inside keeps it from slipping off. It's the perfect tightness as well -- it is adjustable afterall. Most importantly, it stays on.

Wonder how it tested out? It has survived my runs and the ultimate test...my yoga class which included inversions (like handstand, forearm stand, etc.), and a lot of bending at the waist.

Find it at your local lululemon store or at www.lululemon.com

Slippery Shoes - Get back in the Bag

On Mondays, I shove my runners in my gym bag so that I can go for a run afterwork by the seawall.

The Seawall

I always place my runners in a plastic bag, but some how, in the jostle of the commute to work via train and walking, they escape and rub up against my clean clothes. Those ain't clean runners. They pick up who-knows-what when I run trails on the weekends. I really don't mind when they escape the bag and rub up against my dirty clothes though. :P

I was on Amazon and I found the perfect solution: A shoe bag. I'm not talking about the drawstring dust bag one gets for boots. I'm talking about something that will handle even the damp and dirty shoe: Pack-It™ Shoe Cube Medium.

http://www.eaglecreek.com/packing_solutions/packing_cubes/Pack-It-Shoe-Cube-Medium-41063/

Description on the Eagle Creek Website

• Capacity: 500 cu in / 8 L Weight: 4 oz / 110 g Size:12 x 7 x 5 in / 30 x 18 x 13 cm
• A lightweight shoe packing solution
• Top grab handle
• Side ventilation
• LinkSeal Mesh top for dirt resistance and visibility
• 2-way zippered opening

What I Love about it

• It's got air holes. There are grommets along the side so that your shoes can air and dry out. 
• I love the handle. Sometimes my gym bag gets super bulky, and I like to carry my shoes outside of the bag. The handle makes it easy to do this.
• There's no way my shoes are escaping this bag
• I could use it for when I travel and shove it in my luggage.
• There is enough room for the flipflops I use for showering post-run. (FYI, my foot size is 7.5).

Rating

I'm not sure why I always rate things 5/5. I only seem to review the things I love. I'm just going to nix out this section. ha ha.

Review: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock

I used to get manicures from a woman, an Esthetician who had studied laser technology, with the most flawless skin: Barely noticeable pores, unblemished, even skintone, etc. She looked like she fell out of a photoshopped studio picture. We got around to talking about skincare (because how could I not ask her about her skin?), and she said to wear sun protection everyday, even if it's not sunny out. Her biggest tip was to not rely on moisturizers or makeup that already contained SPF.

Mineral makeup with SPF? Forget it. Moisturizers with built in SPF? Slap on that layer of sun protection anyways! After you apply your moisturizer after cleansing, you should apply a separate sunscreen product. It's an extra layer of protection from the sun's harmful UV rays.

Imagine my hesitation! When one says "sunscreen" or "sunblock", I automatically think "greasy", "filmy", and "sticky". The thought of something sitting on my skin made me cringe. However, I was willing to give it a shot! I often hear about how it's good for you, and that it prevents premature wrinkling. As cute as pugs are, I don't think I can pull off that look.

Oh my! How Wrinkly!

I lucked out! The first sun protection I tried became a holy grail! I've been using it for 2 years consistently. I present to you Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunblock.

I'm not sure if you are supposed to use this for your face, as I know Neutrogena also makes sun protection specifically for the face, but I slap this on my face regardless.


Details (on the bottle)
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock provides broad spectrumUVA/UVB protection and combines it with Dry-Touch technology to give an ultra-light, on-shiny finish. This lightweight sunblock absorbs quickly and has a light, fresh scent. The non-oily formula is enriched with Vitamin A, C, and E.

• Waterproof, sweatproof, rubproof
• Non-comedogenic (won't clog pores)

Directions (on bottle)
Apply liberally 15 to 30 minutes before going into the sun. Reapply after swimming, perspiring heavily or washing. WARNING: For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Discontinue use if rash appears or irritation develops. For use on children under 6 months of age, consult your doctor.


How I Use It
I cleanse my skin, apply my moisturizer, let my moisturizer absorb, and then apply the sunblock. I currently use SPF 30, but have also used SPF 55 (because of paranoia).

Benefits

• It's everything it says on the label: Non sticky, light, absorbs quickly, non-shiny finish, and has a light fresh scent.
• Vitamin A, C, and E: These vitamins are great for anti-aging, and protecting the skin not only from UV light, but also pollution and other cell-damaging free radicals.
• It hasn't broken me out and I wear it for my runs on hot days
• Say no to wrinkles! Prevention is better than botox, or bangs that cover your forehead (especially true, if you look horrible with bangs like I do).
  

Overall Rating
5/5 - Holy grail products deserve this score. I haven't ever considered switching.

Swimmer's Shampoo - Say No to the Stench

I had taken up "swimming" a few months ago. It's in quotations because I haven't actually done a full two laps of front crawl yet. I'm slowly building up.  Since picking up swimming, the chlorine in the pool has infused my hair with stench.

After my laps, I hop in the shower at the Community Centre, lather up, and scrub down. However, I noticed that the chlorine stench stays in my hair and punches me in the face when I take my next shower.

I started my hunt for a Swimmer's Shampoo and had found Ultra Swim at London Drugs! It cost about $9.

Ingredients
Water , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Cocamidopropyl Betaine , Sodium Lauroamphoacetate , Urea , Polysorbate 20 , Coco Glucoside , Sodium Thiosulfate , Glyceryl Oleate , Propylene Glycol , Diazolidinyl Urea , Methylparaben , Propylparaben , Sodium Bicarbonate , Tocopheryl Acetate , Glycerin , Disodium EDTA , Polyquaternium-10 , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice , Fragrance , D&C Violet No. 2 , May Contain: Citric Acid and , or Sodium Hydroxide

Blurb on the Bottle
Pool chlorine strips hair of life leaving it dry, brittle and unmanageable. Ultra Swim shampoo removes chlorine and its odour from your hair while replacing lost moisture. Ultra Swim...

• Breaks the chemical bond that holds chlorine to your hair.
• Removes harmful oxidized metals
• Leaves hair feeling silky soft

Directions (on the bottle)
Wet hair and lather. Rinse thoroughly. Gentle enough for even children's everyday use, AND for permed, lightened or color-treated hair.

How I Use it
After another swim, I lathered up, massaged, let it sit in my hair, and rinsed it out. Sometimes I need to double shampoo depending on how my hair feels.

What to Expect

• No more chlorine stench: The next day, I hopped in the shower, and wasn't greeted with the strong chlorine stench.
• You may have to shampoo twice - I do most times, depending on how my hair feels. I sometimes can't get the lather going on the first go.
• Your hair will be dry, so be sure to use conditioner.
• Lovely generic shampoo scent
• Is a bit watery than my other shampoos

Recommendation and Alternatives

• I rinse my hair with water before jumping into the pool. This minimizes the effects of chlorine on my hair. 
• Use conditioner before and after the swim. If you apply the conditioner before, be sure it's a light coating on your hair. You don't want that stuff floating around in the pool in masses. (I don't, but I'm going to start!)
• Skip the blow dry afterwards and let your hair air-dry. Blow drying can further dry out your hair (unless you apply a balm first).
• Apply an after-wash hair cream, serum or oil - to further moisturize or seal in moisture. (I'm on the hunt for one)
• Wear a swim cap - but keep in mind it doesn't mean your locks will stay dry.
• After I finish this bottle, I am thinking of getting L'oreal Kids Swim & Sport Shampoo.
  

  

  L'oreal Kids Swim & Sport Shampoo

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Yes, it's for kids...but it's cheaper, smells like oranges, is gentler, and doesn't sting if I get it in my eyes. Need to finish up the big people's shampoo first though :)
  
  

Overall Rating
4.5/5 - Is a bit pricey, but it does the job!

Yoga Mat Review: Lululemon The Mat (Travel)

After practicing yoga consistently for 1.5 years, I had worn out my mat. Imagine me beating the crap out of my mat 3 to 5 times a week for that period of time. They say that the more you practice, the stickier your mat should be. Not the case with the mat I had. I was slipping and sliding all over the place. In fact, I may decide to accumulate old slippery mats, and fashion myself a Slip N Slide. Remember those? Sorry, am a child of the 80s.

I practice Vinyasa (or Flow) yoga, and one can get quite sweaty as the class progresses. With my old worn-out mat, I could feel my back leg sliding further and further away in Warrior II despite my efforts in hugging in my inner leg muscles.

Warrior II

Because my mat was slippery, I also didn't feel confident going deeper into my poses. Could you imagine trying to stick your leg up in wheel pose while on a slippery mat? Wipe out city!

Wheel Pose

So after scouring the internet, and reading many (MANY) yoga mat reviews, I finally settled on Lululemon's The Mat, the Travel version. I've been using it for almost five months now.

Hello, lover!

Lululemon does carry a non-travel version of this mat. However, I decided on the Travel mat because I do like to take my yoga mat with me when I go on vacation or business trips. However, when I'm in the studio, I throw it over my old mat just to get a bit of extra cushioning. Alternatively, I could throw it over one of the shared studio mats to protect myself from getting foot fungus...on my forehead.



Mat Details (From the Lululemon Website)

• The super grippy polyurethane top layer is ideal for hot, power, and flow yoga classes
• Due to the properties of natural rubber, the mat will have a strong smell that will fade over time
• For optimum care, clean the mat after each practice with a natural solvent
• For more thorough cleanings, completely submerge the mat in water and allow to air-dry overnight 
• Dimensions: 26" x 71", 1.5mm thick

Benefits (What I LOVE about it)

• Protection: Throw it over a shared studio mat to protect yourself from the sweat residue left by other students
• Lightweight...  so you don't have to break your shoulders carrying it around the city or across the airport. Heck, you can even fold 'er up and stick it in your tote.
• Thin!: I love feeling the earth below me when I practice yoga. This means I'm stabilized and grounded. Layering it over my old mat brings the total thickness up to 4.5mm, which is still pretty thin in my opinion
• Encourages impromptu Yoga (if you have it on you) - Oh yes, in the middle of Starbucks. I call this pose ardna tazonasana.
• Optimal for in-between sweaters: Yoga towels are great for heavy sweaters. I sweat, but not enough to use the towels. In fact, I have a yoga towel, and because I don't sweat enough, I can't get a grip on that thing.
• Absorbent: This baby absorbs sweat which makes it non-slippery - To the amazement of my classmates, I dropped a bit of water onto the mat, and within seconds, it had vanished into the mat. Magical like unicorns!
• Not smelly - I unrolled this mat, and didn't notice the strong smell that they warned about. Possibly because this is the thin version of the The Mat.

Things to Consider

• Last I checked, it only comes in black - which is fine by me!
• I usually don't get a grip on this mat until I'm warmed up (which doesn't take long). This is likely why they recommended it specifically for hot, power, and flow classes and not something like hatha, where you don't get as heated as quickly

Overall Rating
5/5 - I am a zen and happy yogi

Clarins - You've Saved me from my Workouts!

The Issue
I have gone through skin hell in the past 8 months. Having increased my workouts to five times a week (from three to four times), I started to breakout severely. I went from the skin that my friends fawned over to one riddled with cystic acne. These painful muttertruckers were along my jawline, cheek, chin, and forehead. One of those suckers would pop out, and I could feel it throbbing on my face, mocking me.

Don't think that I wasn't thoroughly cleansing, because I was. After every workout, I'd immediately hop in the shower and get into my skincare routine - but it wasn't working for my face anymore.

TIP: It's very important to shower or give yourself a wipe down with an astringent pad or towelette after you work out! When you're working out, your body is producing a lot of your body's natural oils. Once these oils cool, they harden, and lead to plugged pores. (I learned this from Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running) .


I tried just about everything, until my gf, Steph, recommended Clarins. In particular, she recommended their One Step Facial Cleanser.

Photo taken from Clarins website

I kid you not, upon using this product, my cystic acne ceased immediately.

Ingredients
Who cares? It works! Just joking! There really isn't much to it. According to their website, the ingredients are as follows:

• Ultrafine oils: thoroughly cleanse the skin.
• Moringa seed extract: neutralizes the effets of pollution and purifies the skin to restore its natural radiance.
• Orange extract: refreshes, tones, revitalizes. 

Directions (as per the Clarins website)

Shake well before use. Soak a cotton pad and begin by gently dabbing over face to dislodge impurities. Turn pad over and gently smooth over face. No need to rinse off.

How I Use It
I use it in the evening after my shower and follow up with moisturizer (Clarins Hydraquench for Normal to Dry Skin - Also awesome btw)

What to Expect

• I don't wear a lot of makeup (concealer and blush only). If I wear more makeup than I usually do, (i.e. mineral foundation), I use two cottonpads of the cleanser.
• There will be an oily residue on your face. HOWEVER, your skin will drink this up within a minute or two. This oil is quite fine and didn't break me out. In fact, it has minimized the bumps on my face.
• Pleasant, light, orange smell.
• I've been using this cleanser for 3 months, and still have more than 1/4 of the bottle left.

Overall Rating
5/5  - Hi, it's a Miracle in a Bottle!