Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen

Hello to everyone out there in the blogosphere!  I’ve been missing in action for quite some time and this is my first blog for 2014 due to ongoing computer issues, but fortunately I’ve still been writing my beauty product reviews, so I have plenty of posts saved that I will eventually publish for you all to read.

The following product was sent to me by Beauty Heaven, who gave me the opportunity to test drive and review a new dental whitening pen, as part of their trial team.

Here is what I thought:

The Colgate Optic White Pen is a remarkable whitening product, combination toothbrush that conveniently and affordably delivers whiter, brighter teeth in just two days! After years of drinking my beloved coffee every morning and despite religious brushing my teeth are not as pearly white as they use to be, so the idea of a D.I.Y. at home whitening pen really appealed to me.
Presented in a clear plastic box with the traditional Colgate logo and colour scheme adorning the packaging, is a two piece set, which includes a durable toothbrush and a smaller, slimline tube with a twistable dial to dispense the polish. The duo simply snaps together, with the smaller tube fitting into the bottom of the toothbrush ready for handy storage or to use when travelling or on the go. 

The toothbrush is different to any other toothbrush I’ve used before and even though it felt slightly odd at first, due to the unique design of polishing bristles, after a couple of go’s I was so confident with it’s cleaning capabilities that I now can’t imagine not brushing with this style brush. It also has a cheek/tongue cleaner and the bristles, whilst firm, are still gentle on my gums and are ideal to help remove stubborn stains, effectively getting right into the tough spots (like around the molars) leaving me with a completely clean mouth and teeth. 

The whitening polish, which contains hydrogen peroxide and the same whitening ingredients used by dentists, has a smooth gel-like texture with a pleasant taste. Unlike other whitening products I’ve previously tried at home, this is super quick to use, with no discomfort, or unpleasant taste or odour and doesn’t leave a gritty residue in my mouth. Instead, I just brush with my usual Colgate toothpaste, turn the dial on the whitening tube once and transfer the polish onto the toothbrush, work it over my teeth in less then a minute and I’m good to go, without even needing to rinse. 

After using the Colgate Optic White Pen for the past 5 days, twice daily, I can conclude that it really does work and my teeth are evidently a few shades lighter and look shinier and brighter than before. I did notice a slight improvement after just two days, however I’m far more convinced after 5 days that my teeth are looking better than they have in years. I would absolutely recommend this as a must-have product to anyone wanting a inexpensive, quick-fix for whiter, brighter teeth that is easy to achieve at home in just 3 simple steps.

What are your thoughts on whitening products, are they just gimicks or have you tried something that you are impressed with and have delivered proven results?

The image in this post is generic.

White Glo Extreme Whitening Pen

Hi beauty lovers everywhere!  :-h  Tammerly, that you probably already know as Pink Diva from Spoilt sent me a couple of White Glo products to test drive and review for her awesome beauty website.  ;)  This next one is the White Glo Extreme Whitening Pen, which is linked here to the original.  Here are my thoughts.

In light of having limited success with various OTC whitening products aimed at disguising the slowly deteriorating appearance of my teeth, partially caused by my caffeine addiction along with the general ageing process.  :">  I was intrigued when I learnt about the White Glo Extreme Whitening Pen, a high-strength peroxide whitening gel, in a 100% safe and effective dentist formulation, for a use anywhere fast, convenient application.  It claims that you simply need to brush the solution straight onto the teeth for a whiter, brighter smile.  :D  Sounds good to me!   =D>

Considering the White Glo Extreme Whitening Pen is of similar size to a small laundry market, it has rather large packaging, with a plastic insert slipped into the bright orange, outer cardboard box, housing the pen.  Upon closer inspection, in true White Glo style, I discovered the inclusion of …….(wait for it!  :-w  ) a BONUS!   <:-P   Yes!  Added to the pack are 7 White Glo Extreme Whitening Strips, all tucked up beneath the pen, justifying the need for the more bulky packaging.  B-)  The pen is made with transparent plastic and stamped with the same orange logo corresponding with the box.  Dispensing the clear gel onto the brush-like tip requires twisting the base of the pen until the bristles are moistened with the solution.  This takes several twists on the first attempt; but thereafter the product emerges quickly requiring just a couple of turns.  The next step is quite simply, painting the gel directly onto the teeth, avoiding the gums, a process I found totally effortless.  Then kick back  (or catch up on some zzz's  I-)  ) for 10 – 20 mins as it works its ‘magic’, until it’s time to wash it off.  The formula isn’t irritating at all or unpleasant to taste, although I tried my best not to swallow or get any down my throat.  #:-S  After 20 minutes, a quick rinse with water unveils teeth that look brighter and at least a shade lighter.  Whilst it doesn’t remove any stains, it definitely brought out the white and left the surface feeling super smooth and ultra polished, like I just stepped out of the dentist.  :)

The strips were presented in foil-like sachets that tear open for a single use application.  Inside the foil are two differently shaped strips, designed to sit along the upper and lower rows of teeth.  I found these strips were rather awkward and fiddly to insert, plus they were very ill fitting.  :|  I had a little trouble getting the top strip to stay put as I applied gentle pressure to mould it place, but the bottom one wouldn’t hold at all, therefore I needed to bite down on the strip to keep it secure.  :-/  The small strips only cater for the front section of teeth rather than the entire row, so someone with big teeth would have even more trouble with the alignment than I had with my smaller teeth.  :-S  After application, the waiting time is 10 – 30 minutes, but I struggled after only 10 mins, due to the uncomfortable, annoying feeling of something foreign in my mouth,  (that kept making me gag  :-&  ) particularly since the lower strip wasn’t stable.  The formulation is tasteless and it doesn’t aggravate my sensitive gums at all, so the negative side to my experience rests with the size and application issues.  #-o  Despite being a nuisance, the White Glo Extreme Whitening Strips do work effectively, well at least on my top teeth anyway, which after just one application, appeared at least a shade lighter, as well as super smooth, bright and shiny.  :)>-

Overall, the pen was my preference of the two variations featured in this pack and I would consider repurchasing it in future as a permanent staple in my beauty kit.  Even though the strips deliver a noticeable outcome, due to the incompetent application process, I honestly doubt I could rely on them too often, nor would I buy them if they were sold separately.  :-"   For those of us who can’t afford to visit the dentist for professional teeth whitening, this DIY at home version stacks up OK and it’s just a fraction of the price.  The White Glo Extreme Whitening Pen is far more superior to similar items on the market I’ve previously tried, so I rate it with 4 stars out of 5  (*)  (*)  (*)  (*)  because it provides fast, effective results you can really see.  \:D/

Are you happy with the colour of your teeth or do you think they could be whiter?  Do you get your teeth professionally whitened for cosmetic purposes?  Have you tried whitening your teeth at home with this product or something similar?  How would you rate your experience??  :-?  Please, tell us in the comments section below! xxx ooo

The image presented in this post is generic.