Spearmint for Slowing Hair Growth

I have often heard positive things about using spearmint to slow down facial and body hair growth.  I wondered whether the claims were true, or if it was just another product hocked by the health-food and supplement industry to get us to spend our money.  Of course, when looking into a new product, I always check Amazon's Customer Reviews first.

First, I looked at spearmint tea.  I liked the reviews, so I decided to buy a box.  The tea was very good.  My plan was to drink 1 cup nightly before bed.  I'm not a big fan of hot beverages, particularly later in the day, so I did not stick with the tea for long.  I found myself forgetting to drink it, or just simply not wanting to bother with it.  In the end, I decided that the tea was not for me.

Then I found the spearmint capsules.  These were more my style.  I was able to simply swallow them and go on with my day.  Occasionally I took these on an empty stomach, which I do not recommend doing.  I burped up literal spearmint dust, and it was very unpleasant.  To avoid that, I just take the capsule with food or a good deal of water.  I did not notice any side effects at all, but that's not to say that there aren't any.  As with everything you put into your body, do your research.

Let's talk about my results.  Of course, since I didn't stick to the tea, I cannot offer you any real results.  But I can tell you what happened with the capsules.  I took them for two months.  Since I don't really have any excess facial hair, I decided to document my progress on my leg hair growth.  First, I took a photo of what the typical three days worth of hair growth looks like closeup (on the calf of my right leg).  Then after taking the spearmint capsules for two full months, I took another photo three days after shaving (again, on the calf of my right leg).  I was FLOORED.  I thought that I had "felt" less hairy, but I wasn't really sure as I shave my legs almost every day.  Letting the hair grow out and actually being able to see the proof in photographs was what really convinced me.  Here are the photos of my little experiment.  Both photos were taken of the same section of leg (right inner calf), and I tried my best to take them in the same spot at the same time of day (for similar lighting effects).  Please ignore the fact that my legs are SO white!  LOL  I don't get a lot of sun.

In conclusion, I think if you haven't yet tried spearmint to slow down your hair growth, you should probably give it a go.  No, it's not going to work for each and every person out there, but it's cheap enough to give it a try.


            

PCOS Tote - Stand Tall & Proud!

Show your support for PCOS with this tote that reminds us to be like trees, standing tall and proud!

PCOS Tree Tote - Stand Tall and Proud by Emmys_Place
Check out Pcos Bags online at zazzle

PCOS Water Bottle

Here is a great way to get your daily water and support PCOS at the same time!

PCOS Strength Water Bottle by Emmys_Place
Check out another Water Bottle

Meal Replacement Protein Shake Comparison

I love meal replacement shakes!  They're the easiest thing I can make/eat for breakfast, and they are down-right tasty!  I especially like that they can be prepared and taken with you if you are in a hurry.  I have tried so many different kinds, and I have charted a comparison for the 10 most popular ones.  If you're considering a meal replacement or protein shake and have no idea where to start, I hope this chart can help you decide which shake is right for you.

Of all the shakes I have tried, ViSalus is by far my personal favorite!  The taste is amazingly sweet for a shake with so few carbs!  Some of the tastier shakes only taste so good because they are loaded up with sugar.  If you're trying a low-carb lifestyle (generally under 20g carbs daily), stay away from both Shakeology and Slimfast as they will both use up more than half of your daily carbs by the end of breakfast.

Some of these shakes may contain soy, which some people believe is bad for PCOS.  Go here to see why soy is not bad for PCOS.  Not convinced?  Take a look at this article!  Need one more?  Try here!  But if you're still not willing to risk it, I have included data to show you which ones do contain soy as a primary protein source if you are trying to avoid it.  Obviously, any person can have adverse reactions to any food, so always monitor yourself and what you are consuming.  I personally have no issues with soy and consume small quantities (generally under 10g) almost daily.  For me, it has not hindered weight loss or fertility.  It should also be noted that the FDA recommends the daily intake of soy to not exceed 25 grams.

 

BRAND (Click to View)	PRICE (monthly)	TASTE	CALORIES (per serving)	PRIMARY PROTEINS	PROTEIN (grams)	NET CARBS (grams)
ViSalus	$49.99		90	Soy & Whey	12g	2g
Designer Whey	$24.99		100	Whey	18g	6g
Shakeology	$129.99		130	Whey & Pea	16g	11g
Slimfast Protein	$39.90		110	Whey	7g	11g
Quest Protein	$37.78		100	Whey & Casein	22g	3g
Dream Protein	$29.22		86	Whey	20g	3.4g
Syntrax Matrix	$29.95		110	Whey & Casein	23g	2g
Pure Protein	$27.99		150	Whey	25g	8g
Isopure	$42.79		210	Whey	50g	0g
Ensure	$34.99		130	Whey & Casein	20g	9g

*For the sake of simplicity, I only rated the Vanilla flavor of each brand.  The price for each shake is an average and may change over time.  I rated the taste according to my own personal palate, which means that some flavors that I find enjoyable, others may not (and vice versa).  Calories, protein, and carbs are all established before adding additional ingredients (such as milk, almond milk, fruit, veggies, etc.).

CharityMiles App for Smart Phones

Do your main modes of exercise involve walking, running, or bicycling?  If so, you can earn money for your favorite charity by doing something that you're already doing!  For every mile you run, walk, or ride, a small amount of money will be donated to your favorite charity.  The best part is that the app is completely FREE!  If you're already going to be doing it, why not make it count for even more?  And for those of us who *secretly* want a little recognition for our good deeds, you can even share your results to Facebook.  ;)

Click here for more information or to download the app for your smart phone.

Charities (Currently) Include:
Team RWB
Girl Up
Wounded Warrior Project
Girls on the Run
Every Mother Counts
Shot@Life
The World Food Programme
Nothing But Nets
The Partnership For A Healthier America
Feeding America
(RED)
Stand Up To Cancer
ASPCA
Autism Speaks
Habitat for Humanity
Alzheimer's Association
The Nature Conservancy
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Michael J. Fox Foundation
DoSomething.Org
Pencils of Promise
Soles4Souls
Special Olympics
She's The First
Vision Spring
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
Achilles International
the Ironman Foundation

Fill-In Hair Powder for Thinning Hair

I've done a lot of posting recently on hair removal methods.  But I haven't really talked at all about thinning hair (on the scalp).  Luckily, this is not an issue for me *knocks on wood* but is for many women with PCOS.  I read somehwere that more than 30% of women with PCOS have thinning hair or bald spots.  I know a few personally who suffer with this.  So, I started asking around.  I asked people that I knew what products they used for thinning hair.  I asked cysters and non-cysters alike, anyone who had ever expressed distaste from thinning hair.  A few different products were mentioned, but hair powder seems to be the easiest and most affordable solution (short-term). 

There are many brands of hair powder out there, but essentially they all do the same thing.  You choose a powder that best matches your hair color, and you either sprinkle it on or use a cosmetic brush to apply it to thin spots on the scalp.  It acts as a "mask" on your scalp, basically.  Where the pale scalp used to glare out between the sparse hairs, becomes almost invisible as the powder colors the scalp and "blends" the hair in.  However, this solution is only temporary.  Once you wash your hair (or if you sweat profusely, I would imagine) the powder washes away.  But other than maintenance, I've not heard any bad reviews.  It gets the job done fairly quickly and easily. 

Though I may not have issues with thinning hair, I certainly know the woes of an oily scalp!  This stuff will help remedy the oil problem as well.  If you didn't know (or if you forgot), powder absorbs oil.  All dry shampoos contain some kind of powder - it's what makes your hair appear less oily.  But if you've ever used regular dry shampoos, you know that the darker your hair is, the more the dry shampoo will tend to make it appear "gray."  Personally, I'm not ready for any gray hair just yet.  I use a colored hair powder for my "oilier" days.  The brand I like can get pricey, so for a cheaper option, scroll down to the next paragraph.  If you're interested in the stuff I use, I prefer Finley.  You just sprinkle the powder on your roots or (as in my case) apply with a large kabuki brush.

         
I've done some scouring, and I've found what I think is a pretty affordable hair powder (depending on how much you use, of course).  I'm sure better deals spring up here and there, but for those, you'll have to do the legwork on your own.  In the meantime, I've found this one for $9.57 (currently).

A Quick Note About Facial Hair Removal Methods

I do not have any official products or methods to review today, but I did want to share a few words of wisdom with all of you when it comes to removing facial hair.  I have heard people say that they tried a product, only to find out that they are allergic or sensitive to it.  In extreme cases, I've heard people say that the hair growth became worse - coarser, thicker, or darker.  To all of you who try facial hair removal methods - PLEASE test the ALL of the products/methods first on your legs!  I cannot stress this enough!  If you break out in acne or a rash, or if the hair growth becomes worse (God forbid!) it is far better to have it happen to your legs than to your face.  Even if it is a product that I have used and recommended myself, everyone is different, and therefore everyone's hair is different.  It is also important to note that there are some hair removal methods (such as shaving and laser hair removal) that are notorious for making the hair grow back in thicker.  This is not always the case, and I've seen some people have laser hair removal done quite successfully.  Yes, it may cost a bit more to test on your legs first, but by doing this you will get a better idea of what your results will be and perhaps save yourself the pain and anguish of having any negative effects on your face.

Avon's Facial Wax Strips

It's no surprise to anyone I know personally (and many readers of this blog as well) that I genuinely love Avon products.  I recently had the opportunity to try out (and now review) Avon's Facial Wax Strip Kit.  I've always stood by the Facial Hair Removal Cream, but I've had people ask how long the results of the cream last.  For me, the cream hair removal lasts for about 3 days (give or take), and I know that there are some of you out there who would like longer-lasting results.  So, I asked my Avon cyster if I could get a sample of the wax strips to test and review for my blog.  She kindly obliged, and I'm ready to give my official review.

The size of the strips is pretty standard for facial hair removal.  These strips fit perfectly above the upper lip.  I was pretty wary about using these, because the last time I tried wax strips (Sally Hansen brand), I broke out in painful, cystic acne everywhere the wax strip touched.  It was not pleasant!  But because I have faith in Avon products, I really wanted to give their version a try - and I'm quite glad that I did!  I'm not sure if it was the wax ingredients or the "soothing oil" ingredients, but I did not break out in any acne at all!  The redness only lasted for about an hour, so don't do this right before you walk out of the house.  The soothing oil feels wonderful after the hair removal, and I personally love the smell of it!  Now for those of you wondering how long the results lasted - while the cream lasted for 3 days, the wax strips lasted for about 7 days!  I don't claim that your results will be identical to mine, as it all depends on the hair itself and the speed at which it grows.  But if you're thinking about giving facial wax a try, I highly recommend that you try the Avon brand.

To see more of Avon's products, and/or to support a fellow "cyster," feel free to take a look around her Avon shop:

www.youravon.com/pcossupport

Avon's Facial Hair Removal Cream

I've always loved Avon products.  They are quality products that don't cost a fortune - two very important factors when deciding on which brand to purchase.  My grandmother shopped Avon, my mother has shopped Avon, and now I shop Avon.  I particularly like (and highly recommend) the Skin So Soft product line.  To those of you who may not know, SSS has a branch dedicated to hair removal.  The "cyster" that sells me my Avon has a few customers that swear by the Facial Hair Removal Cream.  I eventually tried this product, and here is my "official" review:


I LOVE this stuff!  The smell is a little strong (especially if applying on the upper lip), so make sure your room is ventilated.  I used this on my upper lip, and to be honest, the hair there is merely "fuzz" that you can't really see.  I left it on for half of the recommended time, because I knew there wasn't much hair there to remove.  When I wiped the cream off, not a trace of hair could be found.  More importantly though, is that there was no redness, dryness, or itchiness either.  But to remove a little bit of "fuzz" isn't such a hard task.  I wanted to really give this product a run for its money.  So... I applied a nice, thick layer of it to my LEG hair.  Before I go further, let me note that my leg hair is thick, coarse, and dark.  This time I left it on for the FULL maximum time.  The results were the same!  It removed all the hair with the first swipe!  Now, because this only removes the hair above the skin's surface, it probably will not stay gone as long as waxing or plucking.  It's especially good when you need to remove hair in-a-hurry and you don't want your skin to appear red or raw.  And there is even more good news!  They have recently released a "sensitive skin" version for those who may be extra sensitive or even a little wary.

To see more of Avon's awesome products, and/or to support a fellow "cyster," feel free to take a look around her Avon shop:

www.youravon.com/pcossupport

Also, feel free to buy me a present or two!  Ya know, Christmas is right around the corner... Just sayin!  *Winks*