Welcome to a new series: “Beauty Booty.”
A few weeks ago, commenter Kathy wrote: ” I love to read what other products people are using. You seem to be an expert and I’m sure you’ve tried a bunch and are exposed to the best at Elle. Could you possibly write a blog entry listing your favorite products? i.e. Best teeth whitener, best moisturizer, lip gloss, etc. Kinda like the ‘What’s in your makeup bag?’ page in magazines haha.”
Um, Kathy, you have spoken to my passion of all passions. I love talking about what’s in my makeup bag. When I was at ELLE, I loved beauty way more than the beauty assistant (and she loved fashion way more than I did, so we were sort of in need of a “Parent Trap” style swap) and I cannot resist trying anything. What’s in my makeup bag? Try, What’s in my train case and three stackable storage bins? From fragrance to eyelash extensions (best. thing. ever.), I really get into this stuff.
I’ve been so excited to write about my beauty booty, I’ve just honestly been putting it off because I have so much to write about!! So I’m going to break it down each week: eyes, lips, face, etc.
So…YAY! Let’s get started!!
Any time I am faced with the positive body image “choose your favorite body part!” game, I always choose the same thing: my teeth! Without them, I’d have to survive on smoothies alone, but that’s not the only reason I love them. I’m going to go ahead and say with full confidence that they are whiter than anyone else’s you know.
So, to kick things off, let’s talk about making white teeth whiter! It’s a good place to start, because a beautiful smile is something people notice and remember, and feeling confident when you smile will hopefully make you smile more.
To to get really white teeth, I swear by two products: Crest White Strips and Listerine Whitening Mouth Wash. Every time I tell people this, they say, “Does that really work?” and I say, UM, YES. My dentist refused to Zoom! whiten my teeth because they were already whiter than the whitest shade you can get with Zoom. All from two items you can pick up at any drug store!
First, the Crest White Strips. I have been using these since they came out in 2002. My mom and I had a big fight because I wanted them and she insisted they wouldn’t work. I think she finally gave them to me for Christmas. A few months later, after my performance in the high school musical, everyone mentioned to her how white my teeth looked on stage. Victory! I have tried other whitening strips and trays; these are simply the best. Don’t go generic, don’t buy another brand. And don’t buy the paint-on gel. I’m telling you.
The biggest thing is that you have to use them. This seems obvious, but so many people puss out after doing half the box. Just commit! It’s 30 minutes, twice a day. Do one while you do your makeup and the other while you cook dinner (so you won’t snack!). Do not ask your dentist about whitening if you haven’t yet commited $25 and two weeks to CWS. (Or if you smoke. Seriously.) I do the strips about every six months.
If you don’t have the time or money for Crest White Strips, get the Listerine Whitening Rinse. It comes in a bright white bottle and this stuff will brighten your teeth in a few days. I recommended it to a friend and then forgot about it. A week later, I found myself asking him if he had bleached his teeth. Nope–just Listerine! Use it twice a day BEFORE you brush, and you will see what I’m talking about. If you have an event coming up this weekend, it will brighten them in time.
OK so those are the main things I use. That’s pretty simple! But there are plenty of other things I really like and that I use for maintenance.
Toothpaste: I bounce around and try new things, but if I haven’t seen an impressive new product lately, I stick to Crest Whitening Expressions or Crest Vivid White.
Floss: Whatever gets you to do it every day! This is seriously one of the easiest and cheapest ways to have a healthy mouth. You have to admit, your mouth feels cleaner after you do it. I always feel like a toothpaste commercial once I do.
Other mouthwash: My mom gave me some Crest Pro-Enamel mouthwash that I LOVE! You use it after you brush and my mouth definitely feels minty fresh. I’m used to using the pre-brush rinse, so I like having something to use after.
GoSmile Touch Up Minis: If you drink wine, buy these. They are critical to avoiding the dreaded “wine teeth.” You can find them in the checkout line at Sephora. They are little tubes you snap in half and then squeeze to release the gel. Rub them all over your teeth for instant brightening. Seriously, an important step between dinner and the movie. They just make your mouth sparkle. Rembrandt Whitening Pen also does the trick, but GoSmile works better.
C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Gloss: This was my must-have beauty product when I studied abroad. I prefer the tinted version. It looks great on everyone, is low-maintenance, and makes your face look healthy and bright. And the peppermint infusion makes you tres smoochable!
Toothbrush: My dentist recommended a Sonicare, and now that I’m getting older, and my gums are showing more wear, I think I might get a new one. He said it’s worth the money and a recent article I read about things your dentist wishes you knew supported this. I also saw on an episode of “The Doctors” that you should brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand to protect your gums, so I’ve been trying to do that more often!
I started whitening my teeth when I was pretty overweight, because it was something I could do immediately to feel good about myself. Your smile is something that looks great even without makeup, even with bad hair, and with or without an extra ten pounds. It simply looks best when you’re happy!
Feel free to let me know about your favorite methods of oral care in the comments below! 
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I love C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Gloss!
My sister said the Listerine mouthwash worked just as well as the strips. Do you have to use both? Or if you had to choose 1, which would you do?
I’ve tried the whitening strips before and they are kind of a pain to put up with, even though they do work. Which kind of Crest do you use? I know they have like 4 kinds now and are all pretty pricey.
Well, I think that the strips work better for the long term, but the Listerine really is good for seeing quick results and can extend the time you go between using the strips. Listerine is great for brightening, but the strips are good for actually whitening–does that make sense? You can probably get away with one box of strips a year if you use the mouthwash regularly!
What kind of strips I use honestly depends on how much money/patience I have. If you can deal with it for two weeks, get the cheapest box, which is now under $25. That’s what I generally do; if I have a big event coming up and not much time, I’ll do the 7-day ones.
Let me know if you decide to do either and how it goes!!