Self care is in. Ill-fitting wide leg sweats from Hollister are so out.
Work, kids, therapy, doctor appointments - it all takes a toll so I've recently made a few changes to my day to help carve out some "me-time" amongst the chaos that is my life. One of these things is working out. Spoiler alert: I still hate it, but I'm down almost 10 pounds since staring at the beginning of March and I'm seeing subtle changes so I guess it's worth it. Likewise, I'm trying to make a conscious effort to eat better. This is also totally lame because mac & cheese is life but at 32 years old, I can't eat like I used to and not pay for it later!
Lastly, I started whitening my teeth with Smile Brilliant! I was so excited when Smile Brilliant reached out to see if I'd be interested in testing out their at-home whitening system. It was super easy to get started and I was pleasantly surprised with the results.
This may not sound like much of a "self care" item but it totally counts! Along with the fact that I don't get a proper shower on a regular basis (thanks, kids!), I've also been using the same beauty products and makeup routine since the beginning of time. Brightening up my pearly whites was a great starting point when it came refreshing my appearance so I don't look like a total mess! I'm still on the hunt for a good under eye concealer (again... thanks, kids!) and anti-aging regimen so if you have any recommendations, hit me up.
Anyway, whitening my teeth has also given me a way to check some other things off my to-do list and focus on things I wanted to accomplish.
Here are 5 things you can do while you wait for those stubborn coffee stains to disappear...
Our master closet is usually in complete disarray so during my first 45-minute whitening sesh, I tackled that beast. It was super productive; everything got folded or hung up, things were thrown away and clothes were put into a donation bin! By the time I was ready to change over to Smile Brilliant's desensitizing gel, everything was in order.
To maximize results, I usually whiten right before bed so I'd set my timer, climb into bed and just read. It's relaxing and glorious and I need to make it a point to do it more often!
3. Work out.
Two birds, one stone! The custom whitening trays fit perfectly and I hardly notice them while I'm cursing at the TV during a cardio workout!
4. Put the kids to bed.
Alright, moms. You know bedtime is an ordeal, right? My girls are the absolute queens of stalling bedtime and it easily takes 45 minutes to an hour to get them tucked in at night. I found the start of their bedtime routine to be the perfect time to start a whitening session.
5. Blog!
You can't tell, but I'm whitening right now... ;)
I had used whitening strips in the past but never saw any real results. I think I even slept in them a couple of times in college - yikes! Smile Brilliant's system is great because you're using a product that's safe and effective, developed and recommended by dental professionals and customized to fit your mouth. Better yet, it's all done within the comfort of your own home!
The kit arrives with clear instructional cards that explains each step of the process. The first thing you need to do is make your impressions using the trays and mixing the base and catalyst paste together. I was little intimidated at first because I didn't to mess it up but the instructions are very helpful and give you examples on how to make the best impressions. The paste does not have any flavor so don't worry about having a yucky taste in your mouth.
{And side note - the paste is NOT the same as playdoh so I'd advise against giving the leftover paste to your children to play with for a few minutes... not my brightest parenting idea!}
Once your molds are set, you'll mail them back to Smile Brilliant in the postage paid envelope provided in your kit. I wasn't sure what to expect when my custom whitening trays arrived in the mail but they fit perfectly. They're made out of a flexible plastic which ensures the whitening gel is evenly distributed on your teeth during a session.
Smile Brilliant recommends whitening every other day at first, with each session lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours. I found my teeth became a tad sensitive if I wore the trays longer than an hour or so. Also, my gums would be sensitive if I whitened every day so I stuck to the every-other-day schedule. Once whitening is done, follow up immediately with the desensitizing gel for 15 minutes to help cut down on sensitivity. I was a big fan of this step - it helped so much!
I started seeing results after just 3 or 4 applications, which was crazy. The results were subtle - no Ross Geller moments here! - but definitely noticeable!
BEFORE. And sorry, I know the lighting is terrible in these pictures - I took them on my iPhone in our master bathroom at night. No editing has been done...
AFTER. Same bathroom, same iPhone but these photos were taken in the morning with natural light. Still no editing...
Definitely a change, right?! I was impressed.
And good news! If you want to get in on the action, Smile Brilliant is offering a discount code for Baby By Oakley readers! Use babybyoakley15 for 15% off your order!
And better news! Smile Brilliant is partnering with me on a giveaway for you to win a whitening system of your very own! Entering is super easy - click here and enter your name and email address. Follow Smile Brilliant on Instagram for an extra entry! Good Luck!
Tooth Whitening Gel
The kit arrives with clear instructional cards that explains each step of the process. The first thing you need to do is make your impressions using the trays and mixing the base and catalyst paste together. I was little intimidated at first because I didn't to mess it up but the instructions are very helpful and give you examples on how to make the best impressions. The paste does not have any flavor so don't worry about having a yucky taste in your mouth.
{And side note - the paste is NOT the same as playdoh so I'd advise against giving the leftover paste to your children to play with for a few minutes... not my brightest parenting idea!}
Once your molds are set, you'll mail them back to Smile Brilliant in the postage paid envelope provided in your kit. I wasn't sure what to expect when my custom whitening trays arrived in the mail but they fit perfectly. They're made out of a flexible plastic which ensures the whitening gel is evenly distributed on your teeth during a session.
Smile Brilliant recommends whitening every other day at first, with each session lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours. I found my teeth became a tad sensitive if I wore the trays longer than an hour or so. Also, my gums would be sensitive if I whitened every day so I stuck to the every-other-day schedule. Once whitening is done, follow up immediately with the desensitizing gel for 15 minutes to help cut down on sensitivity. I was a big fan of this step - it helped so much!
I started seeing results after just 3 or 4 applications, which was crazy. The results were subtle - no Ross Geller moments here! - but definitely noticeable!
AFTER. Same bathroom, same iPhone but these photos were taken in the morning with natural light. Still no editing...
Definitely a change, right?! I was impressed.
And good news! If you want to get in on the action, Smile Brilliant is offering a discount code for Baby By Oakley readers! Use babybyoakley15 for 15% off your order!
And better news! Smile Brilliant is partnering with me on a giveaway for you to win a whitening system of your very own! Entering is super easy - click here and enter your name and email address. Follow Smile Brilliant on Instagram for an extra entry! Good Luck!
This post is sponsored by Smile Brilliant. All opinions and fresh pearly whites are my own!
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