Clinique's New High Impact Curling Mascara

Last year I attended an event featuring one of my favorite "must-have" beauty products: mascara.

Even better, the event focused on Clinique mascaras, including the new, Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara $14.00, a version of the popular Clinique High Impact Mascara. This new version doesn't just kick up the volume and length of your lashes, but also helps your own natural lashes to curl a bit more. One swipe of the tapered brush and your lashes seem to magically grow. Do two swipes, and you'll get near-faux eyelash drama. The smudge/flake/smear-resistant mascara can last for up to 24 eye-opening hours (not that you can, or should, wear it that long). But it is kind to eyes: ophthalmologist tested, fragrance free, and even good for contact lens wearers.

The brush is tapered with a pronounced curve in it. To me, it looks almost like an eyebrow. It follows the curve of your lashes to help get the rich black or black/brown mascara onto every single lash. My lashes didn't look that much thicker, but they were significantly lengthened and did flip up a bit more, thanks to a blend of light weight polymers and silica that coats lashes with a thin film. When it's dry, like hair spray, it actually holds the curl in place!

Warm soap and water removes the mascara when it's time to sleep. Love that! *this product is just hitting the market in February 2009 so you won't have long to wait. Meanwhile, Clinique makes quite a few other mascaras that suit every need: defining, long-wear, volumizing, lengthening, thickening, waterproof, natural look, and even a primer...there's bound to be more than one you will fall in love with!

Visit http://www.clinique.com/ for more information and ordering.

*read about more new Clinique items for Spring 2009 in the Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column ... Winter is up now, Spring column up the first week in March at http://www.advicesisters.net/whatworkscol3.html be sure to bookmark!

The Fabulous, Money_Saving Clothes Steamer from Conair

Even before it was chic to be cheap, I always hand-washed many of my clothes as much as possible. I just prefer the smell of hand-washing detergent to the smelly chemicals the dry cleaners use. I also seem to have the one thing I want to wear stuck at the cleaners. And of course, it's expensive. $8 billion is spent on dry cleaning a year, and, depending upon where you live, dry cleaning a suit can cost more than a good lunch!

Alas, if you hand wash something, you often have to press or iron it, afterwards. When an item has complicated tucks or embellishments, or it is made of a very delicate fabric, or it has a lining, or needs to be precisely pressed, this si a problem. I'm pretty good with an iron, but still, I've ruined, burned or melted my share of good clothes.

Recently, a new appliance has come into my life that's made freshening and pressing things in my house easier, better, more pleasant, and much cheaper: the Conair Deluxe Fabric Steamer (srp. $99.00). This device not only saves you money and is convenient to use, it also can save your clothes and help the environment, too. In fact, the 1400-watt Conair Deluxe Fabric Steamer is so fabulous, it's been named the exclusive garment steamer at Mercedez Benz Fashion Week for the Fall 2009 collections in NYC!

You don't have to be Michael Kors or Diane Von Furstenberg to love, or own, a clothes steamer. This Conair Deluxe Steamer is accessible to everyone. It's a pro-style, home version, that rolls from room to room to freshen everything from clothes to curtains, to bedding.

I had never used a clothes steamer before, but I loved the idea. After some very minor assembly such as putting the hose and nozzle together in the machine, you simply fill the plastic water reservoir with tap water, plug in the machine, and it's ready in minutes. You simply run the steam nozzle over your item and watch the wrinkles, almost magically, disappear! The Conair Deluxe Steamer comes with a Pro Crease attachment with a trouser clip system (looks a bit like a giant chips bag clip with holes) that does an awesome job to make a crisp crease like you get from traditional irons or dry cleaning. You don't have to use the hangar on the telescoping pole, you can lay something flat on a tabletop and "iron" with it if you wish.

I have a floor steamer, so I already know that steam can be a powerful way to clean and freshen--and it makes so much sense! The clothes steamer kills the bacteria that causes odors. While it isn't the same as washing something, it will press and freshen so at the very least, you can get more mileage out of your clothes before cleaning them. The Conair steamer made clothes smell better--honestly! It also removed the wrinkles on everything I tried, and it did so without the potential to burn or melt even delicate buttons and fabric--now that's, fantastic! The steam nozzle does heat, but it still safetly got the wrinkles out of jeans, linen, and even my husband's suit.

This steamer requires an initial investment, but it will pay dividends for years. In tough economic times, DIY makes a lot of sense. The steamer uses nothing but water to freshen and press your clothes--free! Depending upon how often you tend to clean and press things, you could save a true bundle, very quickly. There are some other savings, too. Dry cleaning not only costs money, but there's an additional cost to your health (and to the environment) from the noxious chemicals dry cleaners use.

If you live in a small space, you have to find room to store the steamer. The actual size is about the size of a vacuum cleaner, and the telescoping rod with hangar that holds the hose, collapses down, but it's still something you'll probably want to store in a closet (unless you want to dress yours up as a hat stand or something clever. *there are two smaller versions, including a compact version $34.99 and a hand-held steamer $19.99. While I'm not throwing out my bulky ironing board and iron (some thigns still benefit more from ironing), I am happy to say that since I have started using the Conair Deluxe Steamer I have made fewer trips to the dry cleaner. And now I can easily freshen my curtains and bedding (with two cats--this is a must) and made my home environment cleaner and more pleasant. You just can't do that with an iron and the dry cleaner probably doesn't make house calls! The thing I appreciate the most, actually, is that I actually enjoy using the steamer...it's easy and fast, and fun to use, and gives you instant gratification. Now that's, priceless!


The Conair Deluxe Fabric Steamer Model GSHDR is available at drug and mass retailers nationwide

Shapeways Creator- Your words in 3D

The Shapeways Creator lets you create unique and personal 3D objects that you can really use. You don't need 3D modeling skills, or any kind of artistic talent. Simply express yourself in words. Change the shape. With the click of a mouse, in just a few minutes, your model will be ready to review and order.

I ordered the Ring Poem--napkin rings that make a most unusual and wonderful wedding or anniversary gift. For a personal gift, use the couple's names and wedding date. Or, perhaps you'd like to send a personal message to someone, or a self affirmation for yourself.

For my Ring Poem, I decided to use a famous phrase from Shakespeare: "If music be the food of love, play on" My order was under $30.00 for four rings! You can write whatever you want up to a long sentence, but the more words means a larger ring, and a higher the cost. Alas, when my arrived promptly, wrapped a bit artlessly in red gift paper with pink hearts for Valentine's day, the "I" in "F" was missing, so my rings say: "Fmusicbethefoodofloveplayon" You might not get the same, romantic idea from these rings as originally intended! This was a disappointment. However, the quality and drama of the ring poem is still beautiful.

The Light Ring is an openwork votive...perfect with your own personal words of love, for Valentine's Day or a special birthday.

These products are made out of a special material called: "white, strong and flexible." As far as I can tell, the only color you can get your models in is white, but you can paint them if you want them in color.

The Shapeways creator software is really easy to use. You download it to your computer and then you can either upload your own designs, or simply type text in the box provided, pick and font, pick a shape (for the Light Ring) and see the immediate results in an interactive photo window . You can also customize existing designs.

This concept was totally new to me, and it might be to you as well, so I'm including an introductory video that gives you a better idea of what Shapeways Creator can do:

Visit http://www.shapeways.com/ to learn more and create your own, unique items!

A Bracelet That Can Help You Lose Weight

Twitter asks the question: "What Are you Doing?" but a bracelet $24.95 *plus shipping and handling developed by former yo-yo dieter Denyse Miskin, asks an even more interesting question: "Am I Hungry?"








....are you?

If you're trying not to pack on the pounds, that question could keep you from gaining weight, and it can help you take weight off, too.






The attractive, little bracelet is cleverly composed of silvery, block-letter "baby beads"spelling out "Am I Hungry?" and the rest of the bracelet is made up of semi-precious gemstone beads, including many beads from Africa. No two bracelets are exactly alike. Our was brown and silver as in the photo, but there is also a purple version, and a black version that would be appropriate for men. As a bonus, each bracelet comes with a Am I Hungry?® Tips wallet card *see some mindful eating tips at the bottom of this post.



The bracelets have a lobster claw clasp and an adjustable chain (so you can cinch it in when your wrists are thin...er). These are not just a decorative pieces of jewelry, however--they are a self-affirming device to moderate your behavior. Seeing the phrase "am I hungry?" constantly, helps you get in touch with your feelings, so you think before you eat. This is particularly good for people who are emotional eaters.



Every year, an immeasurable amount of energy and billions of dollars are wasted on ineffective dieting. According to Michelle May, M.D., author of Am I Hungry? What To Do When Diets Don’t Work. Perhaps this little bracelet will be all the motivation you need to lose the weight and keep it off. I have found myself asking "am I hungry?" a lot of more often during my waking hours. It really does stick in your consciousness.

...and if nothing else, it's an amazingly good conversation starter.


TIPS: Here are some tips from Dr. May to help you eat more mindfully:

· Recognize whether you’re hungry before you start eating. Sometimes “I want a brownie” really means “I want a break.”

· Know what hunger feels like. Hunger is a physical feeling that usually comes on gradually – perhaps an empty or hollow feeling below your rib cage, stomach pangs or growling or symptoms of a falling blood sugar level such as low energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability. More extreme hunger can cause shakiness and headache.

· When a craving doesn’t come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it. There are other things to do besides eat. Take a break, take a walk, call a friend, or Subscribe to the Advice Sisters Blog!

visit: http://amihungry.com/bracelets.shtml to order your AM I HUNGRY? Bracelet.

Johnson's Body Care Does Good Things For Your Skin

When I think of Johnson & Johnson products, I think of comforting staples such as body oil and baby powder. I'm sure my first introduction to Johnson's products was as a baby, but adults have plenty of choices from Johnsons as well, to help pamper their skin. Their line of body basics helps to smooth and hydrate skin with immediate and longer-lasting results, and with pleasant fragrances and aromatherapy bennies.

If you haven't thought about products like baby oil and baby powder for years, maybe now is a good time to check, them out, again. This year's newest collection features new and improved formulas, fragrances and packaging. For example, you'll see the words: “Body Care,” on all bottles, to reinforce the fact that these products are for adults.

One of my favorite products is Johnson's Baby Powder. It's not fancy and it doesn't have tons of high-tech ingredients, but it has been a trusted part of households for decades because it works. I think of it as "comfort food" for the body. The classic Johnsons Baby Powder $3.39 for 15oz is made from a natural mineral called Talcum (Talc), the softest known mineral on earth. The talcum powder helps to repel moisture, and also absorb excess moisture (especially in humid conditions), so your skin feels cooler and dryer but won't dry out. Talc also creates a smooth barrier on the skin, helping to protect from wetness and friction. New mothers swear by it to keep their baby's diapers more comfortable, but obviously, skin is skin, and it works for adults, too. There are several varieties of Johnsons Baby Powder made of specially-processed, pure cornstarch, derived from corn, that also help to absorb excess moisture and prevent skin irritations. There are four varieties: Calming Lavender & Chamomile; Cooling Cucumber Melon; Pure Cornstarch ; and Medicated. No matter which variety you choose, it's a great choice to help you remain comfortable now, when the temperature rises, and especially when you are anxious or stressed out. I also recently learned that if you apply baby powder to your skin at the beach, it help sand to slip off your feet and legs--now that's amazing! I particularly liked the Calming Lavender & Chamomile (with just the slightest hint of relaxing lavender scent) and also liked the Cooling Cucumber Melon 15 oz 9 oz. that smells fresh and cheerful.

Nice also to consider for the bath or shower is Johnsons Body Care Forever Fresh Refreshing Body Wash $5.49 for 20.3oz. and Refreshing Lotion $5.49 for 11oz. The generously-sized body Wash comes in a whisper-green bottle with opalescent green flip-top cab. It has one of those fresh, lively, clean scents that just makes you feel ready to start your day. The Refreshing Lotion comes in a pump bottle and features a unique encapsulated, time-released fragrance --the same lively, fresh and clean scent. When you use these two products you can't help but feel clean and energized! Other body washes and lotions include: 24 Hour Moisturizing Wash and 24 Hour Body Lotion; Deep Hydrating Extra Dry Skin Lotion and Intense Moisture Body Wash; Feeling Healthy Green Tea Lotion and Feeling Healthy Green Tea body Wash; Forever Fresh Refreshing Lotion and Forever Fresh Refreshing Body Wash; Be Radiant Exfoliating Body Wash and Be Radiant Cocoa & Shea Butter Lotion; Melt Away Stress Lavender & Chamomile Lotion and Melt Away Stress Relaxing body Wash.

Perhaps the most beloved and misused product in the Johnson's line is Johnson's Baby Oil. Luckily for me, I wasn't a sun worshipper who slathered herself with baby oil and broiled in the sun (very, very bad idea!) But it's still a great product for use at home. Apply it to your sun-parched and dry skin at bath-time and night-time-- it's a wonderful way to moisturize and hydrate your skin.

Baby Oil locks in up to ten times more moisture on wet skin that an ordinary lotion can on dry skin, but it can be a bit drippy. If you want a clean, fun and effective way to use it, try a new way to apply it: Johnson's Baby Oil Gel with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E or Shea and Cocoa Butter $3.29 for 6.5oz . The oil in gel form comes in a clear plastic bottle with flip top cap. When you squeeze out the clear gel, it stays put on your skin until you massage it in. And, it won't open up in your gym bag or suitcase, either. Baby Oil Gel is gentle enough to use on a baby's skin, but it's great for your skin, too. Apply the Baby Oil Gel when you get out of the shower and your skin is a bit damp--your skin will feel smooth and hydrated and pampered, all day. Instead of pouring the oil, it is squeezed into your palm. Feel like some scent as well as pampering hydration? Johnson's baby oil gel comes in Aloe, Chamomile, and Lavender. TIP: It's great to soften cuticles during a DIY mani/pedi, too.

Find Johnson's Body Care products in drugstores, supermarkets and mass market retailers or visit http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/

Abella Galleries has Jewelry that Gets Girls, Noticed!

Tennessee native Elizabeth Rowland is a young entrepreneur that created Abella Galleries back in 2007, with an inaugural line of custom-designed white stone and turquoise beaded jewelry. Her collection currently features some absolutely beautiful, vibrantly colored blue and green turquoise beads in a variety of shapes. Beads like these are investment pieces that will pay dividends every time you wear them, for years and years to come. But, surprisingly, these just look very expensive, and are actually, affordable!

There is so much to love in these collections, it's hard to know where to begin. But I love the sea, so my first pick from the gallery of goodies is Abella's Deep Sea Oval bead necklaces. These dark, genuine dyed howlite beads are almost jade green, featuring a delicate, dark matrix. The flat, oval beads, made in China, are strung on sturdy, Stainless steel nylon-coated wire with a medium-sized, Sterling Silver toggle clasp . The beads are are about 1 inch by 3/4 inch and the necklace is available in collar (18 inches- $50.00) or long (35 inches - $65.00) lengths. One looks lovely and classic, as shown in the photo, but wearing a long and short necklace together really makes a dramatic statement--and "big" jewelry is definitely a must for Spring.

If you want to purchase just one go-with-everything statement necklace, the Abella Galleries, 18" collar length Retro Round Turquoise Necklace $65.00 really is a stunning choice (my favorite piece in the collection). These dyed, blue howlite, blue/green turquoise beads with delicate, dark matrix are not quite as bright as in the photo, but they're not shy--they're jumbo gumball sized! Beads this big have to be strung on something sturdy (these are on Stainless steel nylon-coated wire and held with a large Sterling silver toggle clasp and fittings). My first thought when I put this necklace on was "Wilma Flintstone," but since it's 18" it lies lower on the neck so it doesn't look so "Wilma." Even though they're huge beads and they're heavy, they're actually quite comfortable to wear. As you can see in the photo, they make even a simple dress, look sensational! You can't help but turn heads wearing a piece like this. It's simply...fabulous! If you're of the "more is better" camp, add a long necklace (or two or three) of smaller, differently shaped beads, and make the look, totally modern.

Two longer necklaces that work with all of the other necklaces are the Aegean Barrel Turquoise Necklace -photos above (collar length-19 inches $50.00 or long 36 inches $65.00) and the Blue Meadow Oval Turquoise Necklace (Collar 18 inches $25.00 or long 33 inches $40.00) - photos below. The Aegean Barrel Necklace is shown in the photo above, with the dramatic, collar-length, Retro Round Turquoise Necklace.

The Aegean Barrel Necklace is fairly heavy and of dyed howlite that is a true, turquoise blue, although a bit more blue/green than shown in the photos. The beads are about 1/2 inch by 3/8 inch, strung on Stainless steel nylon-coated wire with small, Sterling silver toggle clasp and fittings. The stocky, barrel-shaped beads remind me of aged Indian turquoise, featuring a nice "crackled" matrix of light brown. You really don't need to wear another necklace with this in the 33" size, but mix it with another Abella necklace, or one of your longtime favorites, and give them both a new look!

The Blue Meadow Oval Necklace is a great choice of casual clothes and for anyone who just doesn't want to wear a heavy piece of jewelry. This one is a lightweight necklace of small ( 3/4 inch by 1/2 inch), beautiful, bean-shaped dyed howlite beads, but they're a lighter, brighter green (almost lime green) with a delicate, gold matrix. As with the other necklaces, these have a Sterling silver toggle clasp and fittings, strung on Stainless steel nylon-coated wire. What's so great about these is that you can wear them long, or wrap them twice around your neck, or several times around a wrist as a bracelet. Of course you can wear them with other necklaces too, for contrast and individuality.

Not into blue and green? The Abella Galleries Classic White Oval White Stone Necklace is Collar Length - 18 in. ($50.00) and absolutely eye-catching. A dozen, natural white stone beads (about 1 3/8 inches by 1 inch--about three times the size of a Jordan almond), are strung on a sturdy, Stainless steel nylon-coated wire. The choker lies flat and comfortable against your neck, providing a go-with-anything accent for any casual or dressy outfit. The large and easy to fasten Sterling silver toggle clasp and fittings make it easy to fasten securely.

There are plenty of stone necklaces you can purchase, but these Abella Galleries necklaces really impressed me with their quality as well as their affordability. You can feel the quality when you pick one up, and place it on your neck. Each necklace is inspected and has a satisfaction guarantee. That's good news, as is the free shipping (with purchases of $100 or more). Abella Galleries also provides free gift wrap and a customized gift note if you want it (you'll find it on the Abella Galleries checkout page). The eco-friendly Abella Galleries ships purchases in reused or recycled packaging, and you'll find your beautiful necklaces nestled into reusable velvet drawstring bags for storage and for travel.

Any or all would make a fantastic Valentine's Day gift, and a treat for yourself! Visit: http://abellagalleries.com/

Ageless Fantasy Is A Fragrance "Fountain of Youth" Finding Fans, Everywhere

When you review a lot of fragrances, as I do as a beauty expert, it's sometimes challenging to differentiate them. But occasionally, there's a new scent that really stands out. The latest I've encountered is by Harvey Prince & Co, Ltd called "Ageless Beauty." It was created to help a woman smell good, of course, but it comes with a very intriguing and provocative claim --wear it and you will be perceived as being 8-10 years younger than you really are!

The "youth-in-a-bottle" scent arrives in a simple, glossy white cardboard box with subtle pink and grey accents. Inside, the Eau de Toilette Spray bottle mirrors the simple, subtle styling of the outer box -- a slim rectangle of clear glass that lets the soft, pink juice advertise itself. An understated, rectangular black cap covers a standard, shiny silver spray diffuser top. The scent inside the bottle is in the fruity floral category. This one is assertive, bright, and clean with a drydown that is more cheerful than sexy, but still a bit sensual. It starts with top notes of pink grapefruit, pineapple, mango, apple, leafy green, and pomegranate (mango and grapefruit are perceived as "young" and joyful scents). The heart nicely blends with the fruit, providing a feminine, floral balance of jasmine, lily of the valley, cherry blossom, and peony. The bottom notes add a sophisticated finish: soft musk, precious woods, and vanilla (men find vanilla to be an aphrodisiac ). The scent feels familiar and easy to understand, but at $120 for 3.4 oz. EDT, the patent-pending perfume offers the potential for female wearers to be perceived as more youthful as well as nicely scented.


If you are dubious that a scent could make people think you are younger than you are, consider, that there are plenty of studies proving that your senses influence your perceptions. It might not be very politically correct to say this, but the scent of old age isn't all that attractive. As the Ageless Beauty Web Site explains: "As women and men age, the body produces a chemical know as "noneal", which occurs as a result of the chemical breakdown of a fatty acid know as palmitoleic in the skin. This process breaks down into a form of an unsaturated aildehype which emits an unpleasant greasy odor that experts say is the natural "body odor" scent of aging. This type of body odor is rarely present in people in their 20's and 30's, but can become quiet prominent around the age of 40. In a study published in the Journal of investigative Dermatology researchers found that women over the age of 40 have more than twice the levels of 2 -Nonenal in their skin than younger women"

If you've ever smelled a heavy or powdery floral and thought of grandma, or actually smelled an elderly grandma, or wrinkled your nose up at a hospital or nursing home, you already know that these odors are synonymous with "old." There have been a number of stories reported in the press, including in the venerable New England Journal of Medicine, about a cat at a nursing home who can predict with efficiency if a resident is about to die. If this cat sits down on a resident's bed, it's time for them to gather their nearest and dearest and say goodbye! The cat has been correct 25 times, but he doesn't have a crystal ball. Animals are simply more tuned in to scent than we are. The average person has more distractions, but we can still suss out certain smells, especially when someone doesn't smell fresh, or is ill.

Consider that a baby's skin smells fresh and clean, devoid of too many chemicals and potions. Young women also smell fresh and wear no additional scent or a very light scent. Their mothers, however, wear deodorants, skin and body lotions, cosmetics, take medications, and generally select heavier perfumes that may mask some of these odors, or compete with them. So it isn't far-fetched to assume that if you don't smell "old" you may be perceived as younger that you are. Ageless Fantasy's scent was created to mask "elderly odors" with a youthful, happy scent, and masterful blending by fragrance maker Ungerer & Company makes it appropriate and not "too young" for someone over 40 to wear. .

I can't say personally that the scent has made people think I'm younger than I am because I just haven't been able to test it scientifically that way, but the Ageless Beauty web site does have some useful information you can check out, along with lots of links to press clips and even some videos.

Even if the scent isn't the fountain of youth in a bottle, it's a nice scent that's worthy of consideration simply because it's good. It's a true conversation starter, as well. But if it does work, even a little, it possibly could do a lot more than just make you feel good. It might help you beat the competition and get a job, or help you get a promotion. It might better your love life. Cougar Women hoping to attract younger men might find smelling "younger" is the lure she's longed for. If nothing else, enjoying a pleasant perfume and feeling good can boost your confidence level. When you are feeling great, you look great, too. That's worth every penny.



Visit www.agelessbeauty.com for more information and to order your own bottle!

Tooth Soap-Cool Kind Of Clean For Teeth!

When I think of "soap," I generally think of a solid or liquid cleanser that you use to wash your skin, or clothes, or inanimate objects. I don't think of soap as something I'd want to put in my mouth. In fact, that used to be the ultimate punishment, having your mouth washed out with soap for saying something "naughty!"

I was a bit shocked, therefore, to receive a soap for teeth! That's right, Tooth Soap by Vitality Products, Inc. It comes in liquid (glass bottle with dropper) or solid Shreds (tiny shreds of a solid, waxy substance in a glass jar). It cleans teeth and gums, removing oils and other contaminants from the teeth so that teeth can "re-mineralize" from nutrients in the diet. When you put the "soap" in your mouth and start brushing your teeth with a wet toothbrush, it becomes quite foamy, allowing you to brush your teeth and gums.

According to the Tooth Soap web site, areas of decay in the tooth structure are caused by the calcium and phosphate ions leaving the tooth. The acids and toxic waste products leach these minerals right out of the tooth and they go into the saliva (which normally has high concentrations of calcium and phosphorous in a healthy person with a healthy diet). When these calcium deposits leave the tooth structure and they're in the saliva. When a cavity begins to form, some of the calcium and phosphorus ions are eliminated, but some are re-deposited. If calcium and phosphorus are eliminated faster than they're being re-deposited, the cavity, grows. However, if calcium and phosphorus are being deposited faster than they're being leached out of the tooth, that is a good thing!

Confused? I was, at bit. While the Tooth Soap® web site has not been expertly written, I did get the idea that Tooth Soap helps to keep your teeth and gums, healthy, without a lot of chemicals and other ingredients that can be harsh on skin, teeth and gums. Tooth Soap liquid, for example, contains organic RAW honey and organic natural flavoring contains saponified organic extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, filtered water, organic raw honey and organic natural flavoring. The company doeesn't add SLS (Sodium lauryl sulfate, often used in industrial products including engine degreasers, floor cleaners, and car wash soaps; as well as in household products such as toothpastes, shampoos, shaving foams, some and even bubble baths. It also doesn't include glycerin, stabilizers, preservatives, silicates, fluoride or other materials than can damage teeth. The lack of preservatives means that each bottle or jar of Tooth Soap has a shelf life of about 12 months from the "made date" on the bottle, and each jar of Tooth Shreds is best used in three months from the date you open it.

Many toothpastes on the market not only have ingredients that can irritate your teeth and gums, they often have a very strong taste that not everyone loves. While most of us are used to flavoring in our tooth cleansing products, Tooth Soap's scent and flavoring is very subtle. As the soap foams in your mouth, you can taste a bit of whatever flavor you've tried, but it isn't overpowering...it's really quite pleasant. The company uses wild-crafted or organic essential oils such as: peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon bark, citrus and ginger.

Another thing that Tooth Soap doesn't have is Flouride. The Tooth Soap web site has a fair amount of information (IN LARGE CAP LETTERS) about how Flouride is a "severe biological poision" and how bad it is for you. This bothers me. I'm not a dentist, but Flouride has been associated with the prevention of cavities for a long time. On the other hand, where I live, Flouride is already in the water I drink. As an adult, I think that's fine for me, but I'd consult a dentist before giving my children Tooth Soap.

A bottle or jar of Tooth Soap should last an average adult about two months, but at $24.95 per bottle or jar of Tooth Soap, it's not inexpensive. However, if you want to try it, the company has a 90 day no-hassle, no-questions-asked, 100% product refund policy as described on their website.

All this aside, I have discovered that I really prefer the Tooth Soap to any other tooth cleanser I have tried. I've been using just this product for the past few weeks. It's a bit wacky to use, but I think I'm hooked on it! I like the soft taste and the pleasant foamy sensation. More importantly I like the way my teeth and gums feel clean, but not tingly and I can brush longer without "gagging" on the over-the-top taste of regular toothpaste.

visit the official web site www.toothsoap.com