How to use Crest Whitestrips Correctly

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you I will earn a commission if readers click through and make a purchase.

We have realized over the years after trying dozens of different teeth whitening methods, our absolute favorite is Crest Whitestrips. They do the job so well and are by far the most economical choice. At around $30 a box, you really can’t beat them!

britt holding up crest whitestrips and showing the correct way to use them

Odd methods of teeth whitening that don’t work

Banana Peel: Rubbing a banana peel on your teeth will not make them whiter. This myth seemed to be all over the internet a few years ago.
Baking Soda or Hydrogen Peroxide: Rubbing plain baking soda on your teeth sounds very gag-worthy. And hydrogen peroxide sounds really dangerous. Just trust the $30 package of Crest Whitestrips.
Homemade recipes: Don’t do it. Trust the experts.
Brushing your teeth ten times a day: exhausting and no one has time for that.
Infomercial products: we spent years hosting a TV show where different whitening products came on the scene and claimed to work magic. NONE of them actually worked.

Complaints about Crest Whitestrips

There are a few complaints and concerns people have about Crest Whitestrips:

they slide off your teeth
they make your teeth sensitive
they don’t cover all of your teeth

The correct way to use Crest Whitestrips

So, here are a few fool proof ways to make sure you are getting the most out of them:

Wipe your teeth dry with a dry index finger.
Carefully apply each strip and push firmly onto your teeth.
Keep them on for 10 minutes past the recommended 30 minutes – it’s like getting extra credit!
Peel them off carefully and wipe teeth clean again with a dry index finger.
If your teeth still feel slimy – brush them without toothpaste – just use a toothbrush and water.
Try not to eat or drink anything dark in color for 30 minutes

I’m worried they will make my teeth sensitive

People with sensitive teeth have a right to be concerned using Crest Whitestrips will make their teeth even more sensitive. Brooke and I both have pretty sensitive teeth and one thing we’ve done that helps is to use Sensodyne toothpaste in the days after using Crest Whitestrips. You can buy it here. It helps to make your teeth not quite as sensitive to hot or cold. Other than that, we have noticed that Crest Whitestrips do not cause any “zinging” unlike some other teeth whitening treatments.

Two different kinds of Crest Whitestrips

There are two different kinds of Crest Whitestrips. The Classic and The Pro. The Classic has strips to last you 14 days that you wear for 30 minutes at a time. The Pro has strips to last you 4 days to wear one hour at a time. We have tried both and each product works great. However, if you want something to work FAST go with the pro. Especially if you are getting ready for a special event.

Best whitening tool on the market

We have truly tried every other whitening item on the market, along with getting professional treatments multiple times. In comparing results, Crest Whitestrips have been the winner again and again. They give you incredible results and are such a great bargain!

Check out our favorite beauty and lifestyle finds

Must-have makeup products from our group course
Are Amazon leggings really that great?

Botox vs. Dysport: An experiment on identical twins

Dr. Chidester at Form Spa asked us to test Botox injections vs. Dysport injections on our faces since we are identical twins.

Now that we are 30 years old we have definitely noticed more wrinkles in our foreheads and we are excited to see how this Botox injections versus Dysport Injections experiment works out! Our doctor told us that as far as he knows it has never been done before on identical twins!

What’s the difference between getting Botox injections and Dysport injections?

Botox and Dysport are similar products, just with different brand names. Both are a type of botulinum type A used to relax the muscles that cause frown lines and other overactive muscles of the face, like forehead lines and crows feet. Many dermatologists recommend these injections to help prevent wrinkles and fine lines from forming. Dysport is a smaller-sized molecule so it’s unit measurement is different than Botox.

The Experiment

We wanted to know which one – Botox or Dysport – kicks in faster and which one lasts longer. That is what you really care about when you go in for these procedures! Dr. Chidester first examined our faces and told us what kind of results he was hoping for. We specifically chose Form Spa because Dr. Chidester is known for natural and flattering results on all of his clients. He marked up our faces with a white eyeliner pencil that you might notice in some of the photos on the areas he planned to inject. He made sure to mark the same exact places on both of us.

The Results

Day 1:

Both of our faces look the same at this point. No noticeable changes yet in our forehead lines or crows feet.

Day 3:

It was crazy how quickly the Dysport injections started working on Brooke’s face. Within three days of getting Dysport, her results were almost fully there. Brittany’s face looked pretty much the same, albeit a very slight change in her “frown lines” on the forehead becoming less noticeable.

Day 7:

Brooke’s face had noticeable changes from the Dysport. One of our favorite things that Dr. Chidester can do with injections is a “brow lift”, this is what makes you look refreshed and more awake. One week after the Dysport injections on Brooke there was full evidence of the brow lift making her look more rested as well as almost all wrinkles smoothed out in the forehead area. Britt’s wrinkles were still intact after one week, however they were not as pronounced as they had been on Day 1. She still had lots of movement and some slight lines still visible on her forehead.

Day 14:

The Dysport injections in Brooke’s face had worked it’s magic and there were no longer signs of wrinkles on her forehead or crows feet around her eyes. The Botox in Britt’s face had worked up to a point but she still had much more movement than Brooke in her forehead. If you’re going for a more natural result where you still have lots of movement in your eyebrows, you are probably going to want to go with Botox injections. Dysport created a much faster, noticeable difference in Brooke’s face. Dr. Chidester at Form Spa said he most often recommends Dysport to his patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it hurt? The short answer is no. At Form Spa, they have a vibrating facial tool called Goldy that they use on your face while administering the injections. It really helps with the slight pin-prick of pain and makes it completely tolerable. Brooke and I are both terrified of needles and they use such tiny needles it really feels more like a tiny rubberband snap. The entire injection process takes less than two minutes. From two wimps with very low pain thresholds, we were completely fine! There is also no pain after the procedure is done.
How long does it last? Botox injections and Dysport injections last 3-4 months. They can last shorter than that or longer, it just depends on how fast your body metabolizes it.
Should I go to a Botox party or have my friend/neighbor/cousin do my injections? NO! When it comes to your face it is not worth the risk. It is important to remember that a misplaced injection could cause LIFELONG damage to your face. We specifically chose Dr. Chidester at Form Spa because he is a renowned plastic surgeon in Utah and knows his stuff! Only go to a qualified doctor. Better yet, someone where you have seen what their results look like – like Dr. Chidester!
Will my face look different? We still look exactly the same minus the crow’s feet and wrinkles! After becoming moms, we both noticed our faces looking tired all.the.time. After working with Dr. Chidester, who specifically placed the Botox and Dysport in areas to raise our eyebrows, we are happy to report that we look and feel more refreshed than we have in years. It is a non-permanent change, so you can decide how much and how often to get it done depending on your preferences.
What is the cost difference in Botox and Dysport? They are about even. It really comes to your preference and the one your doctor recommends working best for you.
Now that you have done the experiment which one would you guys recommend? We have to go with Dysport. The amount of time it takes to kick in is incredible and the results seem a little stronger than Botox. It’s worth mentioning that when we were getting our injections done and Dr. Chidester was comparing and marking our faces up, he said Brooke had deeper wrinkle lines in her “11s”, which is the space between her eyes. Now those have completely disappeared on Brooke and you can still see Britt’s when she scowls! We have also heard Dysport lasts a little bit longer so we will update this post in a few months with our take!

We highly recommend Form Spa, their staff is welcoming and professional. They are respectful and do not try to push anything on you (like so many other med spas out there!). Dr. Chidester is one-of-a-kind and very skilled at what he does. We went to see them at the Cottonwood Heights location, but they also have locations at City Creek and a soon-to-be-opened location in Riverton.

UPDATE

It has now been 4 months since we went in for our Botox and Dysport injections at Form Spa. We now 100% recommend Dysport over Botox. Brooke (who got Dysport) has had lasting results and is just barely starting to see movement and lines again in her forehead. On the other hand, Britt (who got Botox) has been seeing movement for the last month or so. If you want the option that works the fastest and lasts the longest go with Dysport!

Steal or Splurge: $50 vs. $10 Face Tanning Drops

If you go to your local Ulta store and look for face tanning drops, you will be hard pressed to find them. That’s because they are sold out! The Tan Luxe Illuminating Face Tanning Drops have become a huge hit and are now basically only available online. It’s because they actually work. Which is great, except for the $50 price tag. We found out that Ulta created their own version of the drops and decided it was time to compare the two.

What the tanning drops have in common:

Same oil in a dropper formula and bottle
You combine the drops with your moisturizer each night before bed
Easy to apply
No streaks or weird splotches, the color goes on very evenly
Does not cause breakouts

Tan Luxe Pros:

Very concentrated, you only need 1-2 drops
It lasts a very long time, even if you use it every single night
No foul smell
It works! You wake up with a face that has natural color and looks like you got a great spray tan

Ulta Tanning Drops Pros:

The price! $10!
No foul smell
Very subtle color, natural looking

We’ve been using both for several weeks and can honestly say they both work! So, some advice. If you are just dipping your toe into the world of self tanners, we suggest trying the Ulta brand. If you are picky about what you put on your face and have tried lots, we suggest Tan Luxe simply because it’s more concentrated and will give you a deeper color. We love other Tan Luxe products and regularly use them on our bodies for self tanning.

Here are links to all products mentioned above:

Tan Luxe Illuminating Tanning Drops $49

Ulta Illuminating Tanning Drops $10.99

Tan Luxe Body Tanning Mist $49

Steal or Splurge: Lipliner

We LOVE lipliner. It’s no secret. We’ve been telling you guys for years it just stays on so well, whether you wear it plain or put a lipstick or gloss on top. Lipliner is definitely a makeup must-have in our book. So, we wanted to see if the $5 version works as well as the $20 version. Watch our new Youtube video to find out!

We started a YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Hi guys!

We want you to be the first to know we have officially launched a Twin Tested Youtube channel. After being encouraged by many, we finally took the plunge. Please please go subscribe (we currently have 9 followers who are 90% family 🙂 ). We are going to post Steal or Splurge videos. Similar to what we did on Makeup Monday on Instagram, but in a much more fluid space. You will now get links to every product we talk about directly below the video and you can watch it all at once. This just makes sense for us to do and we hope you love it! Please send us your suggestions and products you would like us to test. Thank you so much for your support throughout all of our ups and downs. It means the world. Hope you all have a fabulous day! Here is our first video testing out Lululemon vs. $23 Amazon leggings.

Here are the links to both leggings:

Lululemon: Wunder Under Tight

Amazon: 90 Degree by Reflex

Makeup must-haves from our group course

Life is as busy as ever as we forge ahead with some new projects and soak in all the time we can with our baby girls. If you are new to the blog -welcome! We will be posting more regularly and will try to keep everyone updated on what is going on. We post all of our Makeup Monday’s on Instagram, so make sure to check them out each week over there. Group Makeup Classes have been SO MUCH FUN! We have loved meeting so many of you and getting a chance to be a part of your GNO’s.

Since we get a lot of questions after the classes about the products that we use I wanted to create a space where you could find links to all of them! These are all of the essentials that have been tried and tested over the years!

Step 1 Primer:

This is what you want to apply right after your favorite moisturizer. A primer gives makeup something to cling on to and helps your makeup to last longer and crease less. Our go-to right now are either a silicone based primer if you want to fill in fine lines and wrinkles Smashbox Primer or our favorite spray:MAC Prep + Prime Spray

Step 2 Foundation:

Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation is a godsend! It has 4 times the amount of pigment as other foundations meaning it gives full, matte coverage and you only need to use a little amount. Win-win! Highly recommend buying if you have a big event like a wedding or family photos coming up… or just want to look bomb every day!
If you don’t want full coverage and would like something lighter for everyday use we recommend IT Cosmetics CC Cream. It has medium coverage but what we really like about it is the dewy look it gives to your skin.

Step 3 Concealer:

This is for dark spots, under the eyes, and blemishes. Our all-time favorite is IT Cosmetics Bye bye UnderEye. It is waterproof, perfect for a long day at the pool looking flawless!

Step 4 Setting Powder:

This is a nice thin veil over the face to set the foundation and concealer that you have just applied. Our favorite is BECCA Soft Light Blurring Powder. The Ulta brand setting powder is a great cheaper option.

Step 5 Bronzer for contouring:

Our very favorite bronzer in the entire world is Vita Liberata Trystal Minerals Self Bronzing Minerals. Quite a mouthful but this bronzer is worn and raved about by celebrities like Emma Watson for a reason! It is a bronzing self-tanning powder so the color really stays on. It looks good on every skin tone we have ever put it on, we swear its magic! Plus, it comes with a nice fluffy kabuki brush for smooth application. Our second favorite bronzer is pressed powder by NARS.

Step 6 Blush:

NARS The Multiple in Orgasm just can’t be beat. It’s quite affordable considering mine has lasted 2 years! Make sure you get it in the orgasm shade – no product promises haha. We really like using the stick and powder versions. The closest cheaper option we’ve been able to find is L’oreal Infallible Blush Stick.

Step 7 Highlighter:

Becca cosmetics reigns supreme when it comes to making your skin glow. This BECCA highlighting compact is our favorite! A great cheaper highlighter is the Ulta brand.

Step 8 Eyeshadow:

Moving onto eyebrows and eyes you can do a ton with the NAKED palette by Urban Decay. This is what we use to fill in our brows, line our eyes and then apply eyeshadow. Very versatile.

Step 9 Lipstick:

To finish the look our favorite liquid lipstick is by STILA! We recommend the shade “Patina” for everyone! A cheaper option for liquid lipstick is NYX Lipstick Lingerie,

One of the most popular lipstick in class is COLOR CHANGING lipstick. It is by Lipstick Queen. They also sell a cheaper version on Amazon (here). It works the same, but is not as moisturizing.

As for tools, we prefer using IT Cosmetics brushes. We really like this set. Follow along @TwinTested on Instagram for all of the latest beauty tips and monthly challenges. We have some BIG things planned this year and are excited to share them with you!

*there are affiliate links in this article

Twin Tested: Nu Skin ageLOC LumiSpa

Anyone else dealing with terrible skin after having a baby? I feel like with all of the hormones of pregnancy and childbirth, my skin has been through the ringer. I’ve tried a lot of things over the past few months (facials, special treatments, masks, etc.) but have not found anything that really works.

I was thrilled when Nu Skin, a Utah based skincare company, asked if I wanted to test out their new ageLOC LumiSpa. It’s a device that reminds me a lot of a Clarisonic- but better. I had high hopes it would help my skin.

Instead of having a brush on the end, it has textured silicone that moves in different directions to massage the skin. It is super convenient because you can use it in the shower. I was nervous it might hurt, but the device actually turns off automatically if you push too hard against your skin.

My favorite part? The smell of the cleanser & how my face felt afterward

My least favorite part? Having to charge the device. It’s a necessary evil, just a bummer when it runs out of juice.

Does it work? Yes. My skin has been a disaster since I got pregnant and now breastfeeding it is really dry, but also sensitive. This did not agitate my skin, it actually exfoliated and made it feel much more even and soft. And the smell of the cleanser, oh my gosh, I want them to make it in a perfume. It’s so good! It’s definitely a splurge at $199, but that’s also the same price as Clarisonic, and I feel like this works better and will last longer.

The cleansers use Nu Skin’s propriety blend of ageLOC ingredients, the brand’s hero line to target signs of aging, with natural ingredients like Japanese knotweed, pomegranate extract and milk thistle. Another key differentiator, the treatment heads are embedded with antimicrobial silver, for a much more hygienic clean than other brushes on the market. So… I have been using it for a few weeks and am definitely going to keep it in my skincare rotation.

The B&B Makeup Course

One of the most common questions we get is “WHAT MAKEUP DO YOU USE?” After a decade of being on TV, we have tested thousands of products. Over time we have found our tried and true favorites. That is why we are coming together to offer the B & B Makeup Course!!

Here are the details:

– We will be teaching the classes in a group setting

– Every age welcome, from teen girls diving into the makeup world for the first time to seasoned women wanting a more refined look.

– Be ready for a super fun girls night out that will leave you looking glam!

– We come to you! Your house or meeting place.

– The course is 90-minutes long with full makeup application lesson and one-on-one attention.

– Leave with a gift bag of a few of our favorite things!

EARLY BIRD PRICING: $20 per person for the groups that book this week, $45 after that! Email either of us brooke.graham4@gmail.com or brittanygra@gmail.com

*We are NOT affiliated with ANYONE but ourselves. This is the opposite of an MLM. We will NOT be selling you anything. We just want to gather women together for a night of fun and learning!

A few things that are helping us survive the 3rd trimester

The third trimester of pregnancy is no joke – shout out to all the mamas out there that go through it without complaining! With only a few weeks to go, we are both battling swollen feet, sleepless nights, and moments of pure exhaustion. However, in the midst of all this, we are loving seeing family and friends at baby showers, prepping our nurseries, and getting ready to meet these little humans! Here are a few things that are making us feel happy right now:

MAC Concealer: Pregnancy has been a bit of a curve ball when it comes to my complexion. Thankfully this concealer is a WINNER! It is not greasy and stays put all day long. The very best part is that it is now carried at Ulta which is nice and convenient since there is one just down the street from my house. You can find it here.
Homemade Ice Cream: Instead of a birthday cake I requested homemade chocolate marshmallow ice cream from my mom. She has an ice cream maker that is old school, at least 30 years old, and makes THE CREAMIEST ice cream! Here is the recipe she uses.
DryBar Flexible Hold Hairspray: Now that I am moving into mom territory I anticipate not having too much free time to do my hair in the beginning. This stuff keeps my curls looking good for multiple days in a row. Plus, it totally doubles as a perfume in my book because it smells really good. You can find it here.
An everything bag that fits all my stuff: Rosemary Card, of QNOOR, gifted me this gorgeous leather bag for the baby and I immediately fell in love. The leather is really supple and the gorgeous caramel neutral color works with everything. Quite possibly the prettiest diaper bag of all time!
Tassel Earrings: it’s only fun to shop for three things right now – sunglasses, earrings and makeup – because they are the only things that still fit! I got bright purple tassel earrings from JCrew and have been wearing them probably a little too often, but it’s because they make it look like I sort of tried when paired with any outfit. Here are some that are similar.

The countdown is on! Here’s to a few more weeks of waddling 🙂

3 Tricks for Tired Eyes

Everyone tells you how uncomfortable you are going to get in the third trimester, but you don’t get it until it actually starts happening! Both of us are learning to survive on a little less sleep these days (don’t worry we know, we are just getting started on that journey!). We’ve found three things that have helped a little bit in the quest to look awake on television every day 🙂

Skyn Iceland Undereye Firming Gels $30 for a pack of 8 pairs, Ulta Beauty

These feel better than 100 frozen cucumbers on your eyelids. These little gel pads are great because they actually work. Pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes, then place them on your eyes and rejoice because it feels cooling, relaxing, and moisturizing all at once! We have used these for several years and always go back to them after a long night or when we just want to feel a little bit pampered. Hint: husbands love to use them too 🙂

Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Pencil $18 Ulta Beauty

This is one we learned about while getting our makeup done in Los Angeles before the Grammy Awards several years ago. The makeup artist told us she liked to use it in the waterline above the lower eyelashes to brighten up the eye. Try it yourself and you will see how much it opens up the eye and makes you look more awake. We’ve both had ours for about three years, so they last forever. I like the color of Base 1 the best for my skin tone.

(thank you internet for this creepy, but helpful waterline image if you’re wondering where to apply the pencil)

Eye drops (Visine Redness Relief, $5 on Amazon)

It sounds dumb, but these actually help a ton. We both use these on days when our eyes either feel dry and achy or just look a little tired and bloodshot.

I think it’s time for a nap 🙂

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