As I have mentioned before I am obsessed with all things beauty, and therefore I am abreast of all the latest trends and happenings in the beauty world. I am well aware of the latest beauty innovations, controversies, and movements taking place in my niche. So lately there has been a tremendous amount of buzz and sensationalism around the safety of the Brazilian Blowout hair straightening treatment. At the core of this heated debate, is the question about whether or not this miraculous hair smoothing treatment contains safe levels of formaldehyde (a known carcinogen). The manufacturer claims it has less than what is deemed a safe level and independent research samples have shown that is this product contain toxic levels of formaldehyde. The product and company are currently under investigation by FDA.

So all of this recent controversy has gotten me thinking: How far are women willing to go to be beautiful? What risks are we willing to take for our own vanity? What are the costs/risks/pain factor versus the benefits/beauty outcomes of some of today’s most coveted beauty treatments? Where do you fall on the vanity versus good for you spectrum?

Being a beauty maven, it probably will come as no big surprise to you that I am willing to take risks, go out on a limb and venture to try the latest and greatest beauty treatments. I am an early adopter when it comes to beauty, and I really like to be among the first to try the latest and greatest innovations. So I have enthusiastically tried Brazilian Straightening treatments several times (not Brazilian Blowout but other brands) and I marvel at my smooth, shiny, effortless to style hair; Years ago, I did laser hair removal on my bikini line and still can’t believe that after almost 10 years, I am mostly hair free; I adore chemical peels that make my skin as smooth as a newborn’s and I love using aggressive anti-aging ingredients like retinol and hydroquinone, all in an effort to look younger and healthy.

Usually I do all of these things without thinking about the consequences, but lately I have begun to wonder. . . . . Is my hair falling out more frequently from age or the straigthening treatments? And if I knew it was the treatments, would I consider stopping? Or although I love the constant compliments I get about my even toned, smooth skin, will I stop using retinol or hydroquinone if I knew there were severe consequences? Or what about Botox (which I recently tried)? How can injecting toxins into our bodies possibly be good for us? Yet, the results of well executed Botox injections are amazing!

Honestly, I don’t have any answers for you, but I wanted to raise some questions. I wanted to make you think about the costs and benefits of beauty treatments and encourage you to investigate before you try something all in the name of beauty.  How far are you willing to go to be beautiful? It’s up to you to decide, my pretty!