Excited over X'ed Out (Updated!)

This past Spring, I won a Giveaway on a friend's fashion blog, My Fashion Juice.  One of the items in the Giveaway was X'ed Out Cream by Strip: Ministry of Waxing NYC.  This stuff is amazing!  I use this after using one of Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads (my next post!).  It does not contain alcohol, which can irritate sensitive skin.  But it does contain ingredients such as Bromelain, a pineapple enzyme that prevents inflammation; Vitamin A, which prevents ingrown hairs by opening the follicles; and tea tree to calm irritated skin.  It looks like a thick product like a lotion (which you are not supposed to use on newly waxed areas!).  But when applied, it's more like a light topical cream that glides on easily on the skin.  It even has a sweet scent to it, but not like perfume (because that would contain alcohol).  I applied a little to newly shaved areas on my leg, and it works great there too.  This is definitely a MUST-HAVE.  Post-Brazilian waxing, I applied the product twice a day every other day.

Unfortunately, you can't buy this at a local salon or beauty store.  I guess I'll be making a trip to NYC soon, seeing as I plan on getting more Brazilians/bikini waxes in the future.  If anyone knows where this product can be bought, please let me know!  Or maybe my NYC friends can send some down to Maryland. ;)

OK, I totally overlooked the fact that there's a SHOP ONLINE link on their website.  So, I retract my statement that you can only buy in their salon in New York City.  X'ed Out is just a few clicks away!

Bare It All

For a couple years now, I've always been a bikini line waxing gal.  Earlier this summer, I decided to take the plunge and try Brazilian waxing!  A little nervous about it, I must have read almost every website about Brazilian - pre-waxing, post-waxing, health concerns, prices, best waxing salons, etc.  I ended up at Bluemercury in Bethesda with an esthetician, who literally loves to wax!  She promised me that once I get one Brazilian, I'll be back for it again.  Low and behold, I was back after six weeks.  Bluemercury uses a "gentle poetic-lycon aloe wax from Australia" (Bluemercury.com), which isn't burning hot, and when it hardens pulls everything it touches in one smooth, quick pull.  Kudos to my esthetician who really knows her skill.  And when I went the second time, it really was a lot less painful than the first.

Some tips I've learned along the way:
1.  Don't trim too short or else the wax won't stick and avoid shaving (if that was normal maintenance routine)
2.  Research salons that perform bikini/Brazilian waxing professionally (a.k.a. make sure they are a licenses Esthetician, not your neighborhood nail salon that just happens to have waxing as a service)
3.  If you're nervous about the pain, start off with a bikini wax, like I did.
4.  Use post-waxing care products, such as exfoliating pads and anti-inflammatory ointment
5.  Avoid exercise for at least a day
6.  Don't wear super tight clothing (panties, jeans) for a few days.  Keep it airy!

Websites to look at:
http://www.mywaxing.com/
http://beauty.about.com/od/hairremoval/ht/bikiniwax.htm