I recently discovered the GlyMed Plus skincare line at the fab Sacramento salon, AJF. The esthetician there, Heather, is spectacular by the way if you're in the Sacramento area. In any case, they use GlyMed products exclusively. I was a little suspicious because I'd never heard of the line, but it turns out that is because it's a professional-grade skincare line retailed primarily through medi-spas, estheticians, and dermatologists. The line is known for high concentrations of active ingredients like glycolic acid, lactic acid, Vitamin C, and many other active ingredients including acne-fighting goodies.
During my facial, I experienced a variety of great products, many of which smelled divine. But one product in particular took the cake (so to speak). If you're having a chocolate craving but trying to watch your calorie-intake, why not treat your skin instead? GlyMed's Chocolate Power Skin Rescue Masque is the ultimate luxurious hydrating repairing mask. It is packed with active naturals like resveratrol, acai berry, jojoba, and cocoa. The ingredients are all designed to boost cell turnover, hydrate, and soften. It's a great mask to use on a weekly or bi-weekly basis (if for no other reason than it smells yummy), but it would be particularly good to use to heal skin after an aggressive procedure like microdermabrasion or a sunburn or when your skin is just dehydrated or peeling.
Needless to say, I'm hooked on the mask and bought it to use at home. I'm going to explore the GlyMed line a bit further, so check back for updates.
Showing posts with label Rants and Raves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rants and Raves. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Imported Beauty: An Introductory BB Cream
Beauty Balms (aka Blemish Balms or BB creams) have be en hot in Asia for years, but the American market has been behind the trend. That is, until now. Dr. Jart+ recently released two BB creams in the U.S., sold exclusively as Sephora. BB creams vary from brand to brand, but the basic idea is skincare, sunscreen, and light makeup coverage in one product. The advantages of BB creams is that most of them (including the Dr. Jart+ products) provide very high SPF, skin-brightening/lightening treatment (great for acne scars and sun spots), and medium to full coverage with a dewy natural ethereal finish, plus other skincare benefits one would typically find in a serum or moisturizer.
Sound too good to be true? Well, it kind of is for people with medium to dark skintones. Unfortunately, most BB creams are only available in one shade, which is supposed to "self-adjust" to match your skin, but there's only so much these types of creams can adjust. I've done some research on other brands sold in South Korea, and most of the BB creams are good for only fair to light-medium skintones. Some of them also have distinctively warm/yellow undertones or distinctively ashy gray undertones. There are a couple of Korean BB creams that offer an extra shade or two in the medium range, but I haven't seen anything in the medium-dark to dark range.
But for those of us on the lighter side, Dr. Jart's new creams are heaven. I chose the Premium Beauty Balm, which features an SPF 45 from minerals (primarily zinc oxide), a very natural and luminous light coverage, bio-peptides and antioxidants, and skin-brightening ingredients to treat those nasty dark spots and uneven skintone. Dr. Jart+ also has a Water Fuse Beauty Balm at Sephora. That BB cream has more hydration but only SPF 25 and no antioxidants or skin-brighteners. It's a few bucks cheaper, but ultimately, I feel like the Premium BB has far more benefits for $7 more.
In short, I love it. The color scared me a little at first since it comes out of the tube looking a bit gray, but it really does self-adjust (at least with my light skin) and looks absolutely wonderful. The coverage is light and natural-looking, but also can be layered as a concealer for under the eyes. I have had many complements on my skin since I've been using it. Sometimes I want more coverage and use my Bare Minerals foundation, but this product is fabulous for everyday. I love that it covers multiple steps of skincare and makeup in one, although I often use an eye cream and treatment serum under it anyway. But that's a personal preference. The moisture and anti-aging treatment in the Beauty Balm really make any additional skincare steps optional. And it makes my skin feel dreamy.
I highly recommend this product, and now that I've done a test drive in the world of BB creams, I plan to get my paws on a few Korean imports, especially one with more coverage. Check back for updates.
Sound too good to be true? Well, it kind of is for people with medium to dark skintones. Unfortunately, most BB creams are only available in one shade, which is supposed to "self-adjust" to match your skin, but there's only so much these types of creams can adjust. I've done some research on other brands sold in South Korea, and most of the BB creams are good for only fair to light-medium skintones. Some of them also have distinctively warm/yellow undertones or distinctively ashy gray undertones. There are a couple of Korean BB creams that offer an extra shade or two in the medium range, but I haven't seen anything in the medium-dark to dark range.
But for those of us on the lighter side, Dr. Jart's new creams are heaven. I chose the Premium Beauty Balm, which features an SPF 45 from minerals (primarily zinc oxide), a very natural and luminous light coverage, bio-peptides and antioxidants, and skin-brightening ingredients to treat those nasty dark spots and uneven skintone. Dr. Jart+ also has a Water Fuse Beauty Balm at Sephora. That BB cream has more hydration but only SPF 25 and no antioxidants or skin-brighteners. It's a few bucks cheaper, but ultimately, I feel like the Premium BB has far more benefits for $7 more.
In short, I love it. The color scared me a little at first since it comes out of the tube looking a bit gray, but it really does self-adjust (at least with my light skin) and looks absolutely wonderful. The coverage is light and natural-looking, but also can be layered as a concealer for under the eyes. I have had many complements on my skin since I've been using it. Sometimes I want more coverage and use my Bare Minerals foundation, but this product is fabulous for everyday. I love that it covers multiple steps of skincare and makeup in one, although I often use an eye cream and treatment serum under it anyway. But that's a personal preference. The moisture and anti-aging treatment in the Beauty Balm really make any additional skincare steps optional. And it makes my skin feel dreamy.
I highly recommend this product, and now that I've done a test drive in the world of BB creams, I plan to get my paws on a few Korean imports, especially one with more coverage. Check back for updates.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Winter Woes: Best Exfoliators
Exfoliation is especially important during the cold weather months, when the skin tends to get dry, build up layers of dead skin cells, and lose its glow. Exfoliating at least twice a week, depending on your skin-type and sensitivity, will not only help deep-clean and smooth your skin, it will also unclog pores and accelerate the skin's natural shedding process. This is key to your skincare routine because it allows your serums and moisturizer to penetrate your skin's layers to work their magic, rather then floating on the surface of dead skin cells.
I've tested a number of exfoliators lately looking for gentle, but effective scrubs for different skin types. Here are my favorites:
St. Ives Apricot Scrub
An oldy, but a goody. This classic affordable scrub is gentle and hydrating enough not to irritate dry skin, but still has enough scrubbing power to get rid of those dead skin cells. Because the exfoliating pieces are larger, this is not the best for cleaning out clogged pores despite the fact that the label indicates that it eliminates blackheads. If blackheads are a concern, I would recommend one of the exfoliators with finer particles. Otherwise, this is a great gentle scrub that most people with oily to dry skin can use at least several times a week without causing irritation. However, I would not recommend this scrub for extremely dry or extremely sensitive skin.
Lush Coalface
One of my all time favorites from my combination-skin days. For oily to normal and combination skin, this bar-form scrub is ideal. It will clean out your pores thoroughly and make your face truly squeaky clean. Seriously, very squeaky, try it. This is not a scrub for the faint of heart, but it is also surprisingly non-irritating for its effectiveness. Perhaps because it is all-natural, I can still use this scrub occasionally even though I have drier skin now, and it does not leave my face red or irritated. This is not, however, a skin-softening exfoliator. This is the best scrub for men too: it will clean out the pores around hair follicles on the face, giving men a cleaner shave and preventing in-grown hairs. My fiance's been diminishing my supply.
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate
This exfoliator is the creme de la creme of exfoliators. It's not cheap and it's not gentle, but it's so effective, all you have to do is apply it like a mask without rubbing it in and leave it on for no more than 30 seconds. The enzymes do the work for me, and my skin feels soft as a baby's when I'm finished. I can only leave it on for about 20 seconds before it starts to irritate, and I certainly can't use it more than twice a week, but it is the very best exfoliator in that my skin feels both clean and soft after use. And I feel like I really get the most out of my serums after using ExfoliKate first.
Cosmedicine Medi-Morphosis
This is a self-adjusting exfoliator with tiny scrubbing crystals that dissolve automatically when your skin's had enough. Well, that's how it's supposed to work anyway. I feel like this is THE BEST exfoliator by a landslide for those with severely clogged pores and stubborn blackheads because the crystals are so fine. That said, I cannot use this exfoliator all over my face. It's simply too irritating for my cheeks and forehead. I occasionally use it around my nose and chin when I get clogged pores, and it is supremely effective. I feel like this would be ideal for anyone with oily to combination skin no more than once or twice a week. Also, I once used this product the morning after using an acne-spot treatment, and my skin peeled. So this is simply too powerful of a scrub to mix with any acne treatments. I suspect that it would probably not interact well with retinol-based products either. This is very effective, but I would just caution to use it with care, and not at all if you have sensitive skin.
Ole Henriksen Sugar Glow Face Scrub
Alright, for those with dry and/or sensitive skin, this is the one you've been waiting for. It's from my favorite active-natural skincare line, and it's very gentle and leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated. It just gets rid of those dead skin cells, which even dry skin needs, without irritating. And it smells good enough to eat (like an orange dream bar).
Homemade Oatmeal Scrub
For those with extremely dry or extremely sensitive skin or just a glamazon on a budget, a homemade oatmeal scrub is an easy, inexpensive treat that will still get rid of those pesky dead skin cells without drying or irritating your skin. Simply take 2 generous tablespoons of oatmeal, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and add enough warm water to make a paste. Then simply scrub your face in circular motions (concentrating on the T-Zone) and rinse with warm water. Your skin will feel smooth and softened.
I've tested a number of exfoliators lately looking for gentle, but effective scrubs for different skin types. Here are my favorites:
St. Ives Apricot Scrub
An oldy, but a goody. This classic affordable scrub is gentle and hydrating enough not to irritate dry skin, but still has enough scrubbing power to get rid of those dead skin cells. Because the exfoliating pieces are larger, this is not the best for cleaning out clogged pores despite the fact that the label indicates that it eliminates blackheads. If blackheads are a concern, I would recommend one of the exfoliators with finer particles. Otherwise, this is a great gentle scrub that most people with oily to dry skin can use at least several times a week without causing irritation. However, I would not recommend this scrub for extremely dry or extremely sensitive skin.
Lush Coalface
One of my all time favorites from my combination-skin days. For oily to normal and combination skin, this bar-form scrub is ideal. It will clean out your pores thoroughly and make your face truly squeaky clean. Seriously, very squeaky, try it. This is not a scrub for the faint of heart, but it is also surprisingly non-irritating for its effectiveness. Perhaps because it is all-natural, I can still use this scrub occasionally even though I have drier skin now, and it does not leave my face red or irritated. This is not, however, a skin-softening exfoliator. This is the best scrub for men too: it will clean out the pores around hair follicles on the face, giving men a cleaner shave and preventing in-grown hairs. My fiance's been diminishing my supply.
Kate Somerville ExfoliKate
This exfoliator is the creme de la creme of exfoliators. It's not cheap and it's not gentle, but it's so effective, all you have to do is apply it like a mask without rubbing it in and leave it on for no more than 30 seconds. The enzymes do the work for me, and my skin feels soft as a baby's when I'm finished. I can only leave it on for about 20 seconds before it starts to irritate, and I certainly can't use it more than twice a week, but it is the very best exfoliator in that my skin feels both clean and soft after use. And I feel like I really get the most out of my serums after using ExfoliKate first.
Cosmedicine Medi-Morphosis
This is a self-adjusting exfoliator with tiny scrubbing crystals that dissolve automatically when your skin's had enough. Well, that's how it's supposed to work anyway. I feel like this is THE BEST exfoliator by a landslide for those with severely clogged pores and stubborn blackheads because the crystals are so fine. That said, I cannot use this exfoliator all over my face. It's simply too irritating for my cheeks and forehead. I occasionally use it around my nose and chin when I get clogged pores, and it is supremely effective. I feel like this would be ideal for anyone with oily to combination skin no more than once or twice a week. Also, I once used this product the morning after using an acne-spot treatment, and my skin peeled. So this is simply too powerful of a scrub to mix with any acne treatments. I suspect that it would probably not interact well with retinol-based products either. This is very effective, but I would just caution to use it with care, and not at all if you have sensitive skin.
Ole Henriksen Sugar Glow Face Scrub
Alright, for those with dry and/or sensitive skin, this is the one you've been waiting for. It's from my favorite active-natural skincare line, and it's very gentle and leaves the skin feeling soft and hydrated. It just gets rid of those dead skin cells, which even dry skin needs, without irritating. And it smells good enough to eat (like an orange dream bar).
Homemade Oatmeal Scrub
For those with extremely dry or extremely sensitive skin or just a glamazon on a budget, a homemade oatmeal scrub is an easy, inexpensive treat that will still get rid of those pesky dead skin cells without drying or irritating your skin. Simply take 2 generous tablespoons of oatmeal, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and add enough warm water to make a paste. Then simply scrub your face in circular motions (concentrating on the T-Zone) and rinse with warm water. Your skin will feel smooth and softened.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Winter Woes: Dryness Around the Eyes
Especially during the winter months, when skin is usually at its driest, eye makeup remover is rough and strips the delicate eye area of its moisture even more. All that dryness and rubbing and tugging at the skin around the eyes to get that last bit of mascara off inevitably leads to unwanted lines and dark circles. But a girl's gotta remove her eye makeup. So might I suggest the ever-classic and ever-affordable Aquaphor ointment, which is available in the tube, the giant tub, and the tiny tube, which is wonderful for chapped lips or travel makeup-removal (the uber-serious TSA agent at the New Orleans airport confiscated my giant tub on my return-trip even though the S.F. TSA was cool about it because it only had a few ounces of product left, not that I'm bitter or anything).
Anyway, this ointment (and the generics at chain drugstores) will effectively remove all traces of your eye makeup without stripping the skin. In fact, in leaves the eye area feeling moist without feeling greasy. And unlike some eye makeup removers which are alcohol-based, this stuff won't irritate if it gets in your eyes. It's also much more cost effective. And highly useful for other purposes including its label-designated use: dry, chapped skin. It's great for wintery elbows, knees, and feet (especially overnight with a pair of cotton socks). And it makes a phenomenal lip balm for chapped lips. Not to name names, but you'll never go back to $26 Bi-Facil again.
Anyway, this ointment (and the generics at chain drugstores) will effectively remove all traces of your eye makeup without stripping the skin. In fact, in leaves the eye area feeling moist without feeling greasy. And unlike some eye makeup removers which are alcohol-based, this stuff won't irritate if it gets in your eyes. It's also much more cost effective. And highly useful for other purposes including its label-designated use: dry, chapped skin. It's great for wintery elbows, knees, and feet (especially overnight with a pair of cotton socks). And it makes a phenomenal lip balm for chapped lips. Not to name names, but you'll never go back to $26 Bi-Facil again.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
A Dog Eat Dog Eyeshadow: Buxom Stay-There
Buxom (a Bare Escentuals derivative turned full cosmetics line) recently launched a new eyeshadow. I'm not easily tempted by new eyeshadows since I'm very picky about texture, have pretty much every color I need, and I know the brands I like (MAC, Stila, and NARS). However, this one promised something new, something different: an eyeshadow that actually stays put all day through sweat, tears, and rain. And at the same time, an eyeshadow that is not quite a powder but not quite a cream.
Well, I took a chance and bought one of the eyeshadows (all named after dog breeds). I tried Mutt, which is a lovely medium taupe shade with a bronze micro-shimmer (NOT glitter, which I hate since I am neither 14 nor Lady Gaga). This shade is THE perfect shimmery taupe and it would easily suit any skintone. I still can't figure out exactly what this shadow is, and the Buxom and Sephora web sites offer no clues except that it's formulated with Vitamin E. It has a creamy/gel-like texture, but it is infinitely lighter and dryer than any cream eyeshadow I have ever tried. Moreover, Buxom specifically says you can use it like a powder shadow with a dry brush. Intriguing. I'm determined to figure out what this stuff is. But more important than what it is, is how well it works. It goes on light and smooth and delivers a high payoff of color. And unlike most cream shadows I've tried that promise not to crease and end up looking caked or greasy, it looks and feels light and airy on my skin, and it actually does stay all day. I tested it out in New York humidity, and it survived a full day of heat, sweat, and even 20 minutes of waiting in a subway tunnel. My eyeshadow was still in place at the end of the day. I only wish they had a greater color selection, but hey, it's new.
And for all you do-gooders out there, Buxom is making charitable contributions to Canine Companions with every purchase.
Sadly, ShopSense does not have a link to Buxom Stay-There to connect you directly to the shopping, so the picture above is not a link. But you can find it exclusively at Sephora and www.sephora.com.
Well, I took a chance and bought one of the eyeshadows (all named after dog breeds). I tried Mutt, which is a lovely medium taupe shade with a bronze micro-shimmer (NOT glitter, which I hate since I am neither 14 nor Lady Gaga). This shade is THE perfect shimmery taupe and it would easily suit any skintone. I still can't figure out exactly what this shadow is, and the Buxom and Sephora web sites offer no clues except that it's formulated with Vitamin E. It has a creamy/gel-like texture, but it is infinitely lighter and dryer than any cream eyeshadow I have ever tried. Moreover, Buxom specifically says you can use it like a powder shadow with a dry brush. Intriguing. I'm determined to figure out what this stuff is. But more important than what it is, is how well it works. It goes on light and smooth and delivers a high payoff of color. And unlike most cream shadows I've tried that promise not to crease and end up looking caked or greasy, it looks and feels light and airy on my skin, and it actually does stay all day. I tested it out in New York humidity, and it survived a full day of heat, sweat, and even 20 minutes of waiting in a subway tunnel. My eyeshadow was still in place at the end of the day. I only wish they had a greater color selection, but hey, it's new.
And for all you do-gooders out there, Buxom is making charitable contributions to Canine Companions with every purchase.
Sadly, ShopSense does not have a link to Buxom Stay-There to connect you directly to the shopping, so the picture above is not a link. But you can find it exclusively at Sephora and www.sephora.com.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Scent of a Woman's Products
I love trying new products. And one of the biggest factors for me in deciding whether to buy a product is its scent. Of course, I care about whether the product does what it says it will, but when something is on your face that close to the nostrils, certainly product aromas matter. Here are some of the best and worst smelling products I've run across as well as reviews of their other vices and virtues.
The Worst
Perricone MD Cold Plasma Eye Cream
I was so excited to try this eye cream, which was praised by all the magazines as the ultimate eye cream for hydration, smoothness, and combating dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines: a true multi-tasker. Since this miracle in a jar doesn't come cheap, I sought out a sample from the friendly staff at Sephora. I eagerly cracked open my sample jar when I got home and applied. The first thing I noticed was a slightly medicinal and marine smell, but as it dried the "marine" scent went from slightly sea-air to all out dead fish. I thought that it would fade as it dried, but instead, it just got worse and more potent. I could still smell it several hours later. The final straw was that my fiance noticed it when he kissed me and commented on how bad my face smelled. At that point, I gave up and washed it off. But in fairness to the product, before I washed my face, I have to admit that my eye area looked noticeably smoother and brighter, and it felt soft and hydrated to the touch. So the eye cream does work. I went to sephora.com to read other user reviews to see if people encountered the same problem, and it was a mixed bag. About half complained about the scent and the other half seemed to think it wasn't that bad. Even though the eye cream gave great results, I'm not willing to suffer through smelling like day-old sushi. I normally love Dr. Perricone products, but this one is definitely in my no-fly zone.
Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask
Besides being a mouthful, this mask is formulated with the hottest superberry: acai. I guess it was only a matter of time before this antioxidant-laden berry made its way from our smoothies to our skincare products. I'm a big fan of Pangea, a brand whose products boast "free of" lists that are longer than the ingredients lists, a sure sign of a true organic skincare line. Their moisturizers, balancing oil, and eye cream are all fabulous organic products. But this mask was a big disappointment. Aside from the unattractive shade of brownish green, which is difficult to pinpoint without making a direct references to diapers, the first thing that I noticed about this mask was its potent smell. Again, difficult to pinpoint, but it's something of a combination of rotting wood and wet dog. And the scent is potent too, I tried to be a good sport and leave the sample on my face for the full 20 minutes, but I just couldn't take it. Rinsing it off was something of an experience too, since it clung to my skin and would not come off with water and my fingertips, so I had to spoil my white washcloth with that horrid shade of acid green/brown. I can only hope it will come out it the laundry. This mask was very exfoliating, and my skin did feel smooth afterward, although I think I had a reaction to something in it since I woke up with several irritated-skin bumps the next morning. Needless to say, I won't be trying this product again, and it gets the award for the most disgusting-smelling thing I have ever put on my face. Consider yourself warned.
Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizer Cream
This moisturizer is lightweight, hydrating, and rich with antioxidants and other good-for-the-skin ingredients. So what could be so bad? Well, this one make the list not because it's unbearable like the previous two, but simply because it has that "old lady strong perfume" smell that all cosmetics used to have, and frankly, went out with the 80's. In this time when there are so many ingredients (including and especially natural ingredients) that cosmetics companies can use to make products smell good or at least smell neutral, there is really no excuse for this heavy perfumey scent is so strong and unnatural that I can only assume that it was deliberately added to the product. Why, I can't begin to fathom.
The Best
Super by Perricone Hyper Hydrator with Coconut Water
Perricone both made by top and worst list. Super is a new line by Perricone that is marketed toward a younger, hipper, and more eco-friendly consumer. But its products are simple and great for men and women of all ages. I should note that even though this line is loaded with superfoods (hence, the name) and is formulated without a lot of the ingredients that natural-cosmetics connoisseurs avoid (phthalates, sulfates, parabens, etc.), it is not a truly natural line. It is however cruelty-free (no animal testing and no animal byproducts) and the packaging is made with recycled and recyclable products at a low-carbon footprint factory. With all that said, the Hyper Hydrator is a good and very hydrating moisturizer. It leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized yet non-greasy, and it has the light refreshing but very soft scent of genuine coconut water. My soon-to-be sister-in-law recently introduced Josh and I to coconut water when we visited her in New York, just like coconut water works quickly and effectively to quench your thirst, this moisturizer makes my skin feel instantly hydrated without leaving it greasy as many moisturizers do. And the scent is both light and delightful. At $40, it's a reasonably-priced moisturizer too.
Ole Henriksen Truth Revealed Super Creme SPF 15
This is a fantastic day moisturizer, formulated with repairing ingredients like Omega 3 and other antioxidants, makes my skin glow while protecting it from sun damage. Although it does feel a bit sticky at first, once it dried, my skin feels silky-soft and amazing. Best of all, it smells like a 50/50 bar, a light creamy orange scent. It doesn't get much better than this for yummy-smelling and feeling skin. The anti-aging benefits are just a bonus.
Korres Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipstick
So so many of the Korres homeopathic products smell heavenly that it's hard to pick just one for my list. It's my favorite of the "active-naturals" cosmetics lines. The products are great quality and they simply do what they say. I've never met a Korres product I didn't like. That said, their antioxidant liquid lipstick is AMAZING. I can't say enough good things about it. It has the color potency and coverage of a lipstick but it feels like a gloss and moisturizers my lips like a balm. I only wish they made more colors. But it's new, so I have high hopes. It also smooths the lines on your lips, making them look younger and fuller, and it gives a nice cooling sensation. I only have the Berry shade so far, but I'm thinking of getting the Natural, which is a gorgeous nude-pink. As a bonus, it smells absolutely edible, like berry-vanilla ice cream. Incidentally, it tastes like that too, which is nice because even though I hate to think about, the average woman consumes about 6 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. Disturbing, yes, but we may as well consume pleasant smelling/tasting lipstick.
The Worst
Perricone MD Cold Plasma Eye Cream
I was so excited to try this eye cream, which was praised by all the magazines as the ultimate eye cream for hydration, smoothness, and combating dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines: a true multi-tasker. Since this miracle in a jar doesn't come cheap, I sought out a sample from the friendly staff at Sephora. I eagerly cracked open my sample jar when I got home and applied. The first thing I noticed was a slightly medicinal and marine smell, but as it dried the "marine" scent went from slightly sea-air to all out dead fish. I thought that it would fade as it dried, but instead, it just got worse and more potent. I could still smell it several hours later. The final straw was that my fiance noticed it when he kissed me and commented on how bad my face smelled. At that point, I gave up and washed it off. But in fairness to the product, before I washed my face, I have to admit that my eye area looked noticeably smoother and brighter, and it felt soft and hydrated to the touch. So the eye cream does work. I went to sephora.com to read other user reviews to see if people encountered the same problem, and it was a mixed bag. About half complained about the scent and the other half seemed to think it wasn't that bad. Even though the eye cream gave great results, I'm not willing to suffer through smelling like day-old sushi. I normally love Dr. Perricone products, but this one is definitely in my no-fly zone.
Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask
Besides being a mouthful, this mask is formulated with the hottest superberry: acai. I guess it was only a matter of time before this antioxidant-laden berry made its way from our smoothies to our skincare products. I'm a big fan of Pangea, a brand whose products boast "free of" lists that are longer than the ingredients lists, a sure sign of a true organic skincare line. Their moisturizers, balancing oil, and eye cream are all fabulous organic products. But this mask was a big disappointment. Aside from the unattractive shade of brownish green, which is difficult to pinpoint without making a direct references to diapers, the first thing that I noticed about this mask was its potent smell. Again, difficult to pinpoint, but it's something of a combination of rotting wood and wet dog. And the scent is potent too, I tried to be a good sport and leave the sample on my face for the full 20 minutes, but I just couldn't take it. Rinsing it off was something of an experience too, since it clung to my skin and would not come off with water and my fingertips, so I had to spoil my white washcloth with that horrid shade of acid green/brown. I can only hope it will come out it the laundry. This mask was very exfoliating, and my skin did feel smooth afterward, although I think I had a reaction to something in it since I woke up with several irritated-skin bumps the next morning. Needless to say, I won't be trying this product again, and it gets the award for the most disgusting-smelling thing I have ever put on my face. Consider yourself warned.
Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizer Cream
This moisturizer is lightweight, hydrating, and rich with antioxidants and other good-for-the-skin ingredients. So what could be so bad? Well, this one make the list not because it's unbearable like the previous two, but simply because it has that "old lady strong perfume" smell that all cosmetics used to have, and frankly, went out with the 80's. In this time when there are so many ingredients (including and especially natural ingredients) that cosmetics companies can use to make products smell good or at least smell neutral, there is really no excuse for this heavy perfumey scent is so strong and unnatural that I can only assume that it was deliberately added to the product. Why, I can't begin to fathom.
The Best
Super by Perricone Hyper Hydrator with Coconut Water
Perricone both made by top and worst list. Super is a new line by Perricone that is marketed toward a younger, hipper, and more eco-friendly consumer. But its products are simple and great for men and women of all ages. I should note that even though this line is loaded with superfoods (hence, the name) and is formulated without a lot of the ingredients that natural-cosmetics connoisseurs avoid (phthalates, sulfates, parabens, etc.), it is not a truly natural line. It is however cruelty-free (no animal testing and no animal byproducts) and the packaging is made with recycled and recyclable products at a low-carbon footprint factory. With all that said, the Hyper Hydrator is a good and very hydrating moisturizer. It leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized yet non-greasy, and it has the light refreshing but very soft scent of genuine coconut water. My soon-to-be sister-in-law recently introduced Josh and I to coconut water when we visited her in New York, just like coconut water works quickly and effectively to quench your thirst, this moisturizer makes my skin feel instantly hydrated without leaving it greasy as many moisturizers do. And the scent is both light and delightful. At $40, it's a reasonably-priced moisturizer too.
Ole Henriksen Truth Revealed Super Creme SPF 15
This is a fantastic day moisturizer, formulated with repairing ingredients like Omega 3 and other antioxidants, makes my skin glow while protecting it from sun damage. Although it does feel a bit sticky at first, once it dried, my skin feels silky-soft and amazing. Best of all, it smells like a 50/50 bar, a light creamy orange scent. It doesn't get much better than this for yummy-smelling and feeling skin. The anti-aging benefits are just a bonus.
Korres Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipstick
So so many of the Korres homeopathic products smell heavenly that it's hard to pick just one for my list. It's my favorite of the "active-naturals" cosmetics lines. The products are great quality and they simply do what they say. I've never met a Korres product I didn't like. That said, their antioxidant liquid lipstick is AMAZING. I can't say enough good things about it. It has the color potency and coverage of a lipstick but it feels like a gloss and moisturizers my lips like a balm. I only wish they made more colors. But it's new, so I have high hopes. It also smooths the lines on your lips, making them look younger and fuller, and it gives a nice cooling sensation. I only have the Berry shade so far, but I'm thinking of getting the Natural, which is a gorgeous nude-pink. As a bonus, it smells absolutely edible, like berry-vanilla ice cream. Incidentally, it tastes like that too, which is nice because even though I hate to think about, the average woman consumes about 6 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. Disturbing, yes, but we may as well consume pleasant smelling/tasting lipstick.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Back to School: A B Vitamin C's of Skincare
After an extended hiatus from blogging (summer vacay, catching up on work before and after vacay, and birthdays), I'm back! And in spirit of the back to school season, I thought it would be fitting to do a little educational post on the skincare benefits of Vitamin C. But first, here's a little guide to some of the skincare products I've been trying and trying to find lately, all of which I'll be blogging about as I try products.
I'm on the lookout for the best of the best products to update my skincare regimen. Here's what I'm trying to find. And if you readers out there have any favorites to suggest that I try, please let me know.
To get the the maximum benefit, you want to use it just once a day during the a.m. only. And you MUST use it with sunscreen of at least SPF 30 if you're just driving and outside for a few minutes here and there, and a higher SPF if you're in the sun for any extended period of time. The SPF is essential because while the Vitamin C helps prevent and treat hyper-pigmentation, it also makes your skin more vulnerable to sun damage if you don't wear an SPF because of the increased cell turnover. With that caveat out of the way, I give you the three Vitamin C serums I've tried to date and my thoughts:
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum
Ole Henriksen is one of the latest and greatest active naturals skincare lines. It combines science with homeopathy for a truly great skincare line, free of harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. This particular serum features 10% Vitamin C for the anti-aging benefits together with Vitamin E for hydration and other active naturals like green tea and grapefruit extracts. The result is a serum that smells great, smooths the skin, and gives the complexion a radiant glow. Overall, my skin looked healthier after about a week of consistent use. On the downside, it's a little sticky, which does not work well underneath makeup. I like the results of this serum, but I really want to find a Vitamin C serum that wears well underneath makeup since it's a daytime serum.
Murad Active Radiance Serum
This serum contains Vitamin C, AHA, and Myrtle extract to help improve the skin's texture and radiance, as well as to treat and prevent sun spots. This serum is supposed to boost collagen production and guard the skin against damage from free radicals. My skin definitely felt smoother to the touch and looked more radiant immediately after using the serum. After a few days of consistent daily use (remember, use Vitamin C serums just once a day, a.m. only), my skin's texture and skin tone were noticeably improved. This serum is not as sticky as the Truth Serum, but it's still a bit on the sticky side. Not so much that I would be dissuaded if it was a serum that I could use at night, but since I wear makeup regularly, and the stickiness doesn't disappear even after 15 minutes or so, it's not the best choice for me. I did try it once on a non-makeup day and after I let it dry for a good 20 minutes and then applied moisturizer and let that dry, my skin felt soft and non-sticky to the touch after another hour or so. I did not attempt to apply makeup over it, but I think that if I had, it would have been alright. It's just quite a long wait before my skin is makeup-safe and not getting tacky clumps of makeup on my face (not a good look). Overall, I like this serum and its effects very well. I am just determined that there is another makeup-friendly Vitamin C serum out there.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
This Vitamin C serum came highly recommended from my aestheticism, who offered me a sample. I later learned that it's a three-time Allure Magazine best serum winner. It's easy to see why. This serum combines a very potent formulation of Vitamin C in the form of 15% pure L-ascorbic acid with the hydrating and reparative benefits of Vitamin E. It has all the same antioxidant benefits as the other Vitamin C serums, but in a more aggressive dosage of Vitamin C, and with ferulic acid and Vitamin E for extra antioxidant power. This serum feels like it's quenching the skin's thirst while leaving it soft and bright, not at all greasy and thankfully, not sticky. Makeup goes on smoothly. I suppose it was inevitable that the best Vitamin C serum I've tried to date would be about twice the price of the other two. And yes, you get what you pay for in SkinCeuticals products, their quality is unrivaled. However, as $141, it's still far more expensive than any other skincare product I've ever purchased.
I'm still milking my deluxe sample for now and using very sparingly. I'm hoping to find another serum that works as well, but if I can't, here is my plan and some tips for you readers who might consider this purchase: you can get SkinCeuticals products on www.spalook.com, which is always on ebates (usually around 5-10% cash back -- check out ebates for Sephora and ULTA cash back as well -- http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=zblRc6RSUiGkpTMojoGM1g%3D%3D). Additionally, Spalook virtually always has coupon codes going to get $25 off of a $100 purchase or $50 off of $200 or 20% off or something like that. Look for them in a general google search, although the codes are often on the main page of Spalook itself. Further, SkinCeuticals does sell this serum in discounted kits with other full-sized serums, saving you some money collectively. Finally, Spalook often has gifts with purchase for SkinCeuticals.
So, yes, I am considering making this obscene purchase given the aforementioned discounts and promos. Vitamin C serums are the holy grail of anti-aging serums right now. And the beauty of them is that they are ideal for women in my age group (20 and 30-somethings) looking to correct some early sun damage and prevent any further damage. And the SkinCeuticals has been praised as the best of the best, so it is probably worth the investment. Being the bargain huntress that I am, I am still going to hunt down samples and trial sizes of other Vitamin C serums and see if I can't find a better deal. But at the end of the day, this is probably the single most important category of skincare product that I can buy for my skin, so I may just have to cut cost-corners elsewhere. I will keep you posted on any other worthwhile Vitamin C serums I find.
I'm on the lookout for the best of the best products to update my skincare regimen. Here's what I'm trying to find. And if you readers out there have any favorites to suggest that I try, please let me know.
- A creamy eye cream for day that combats dark circles and works under my eye makeup and undereye concealer (many eye creams make the undereye concealer run or crepe)
- A Vitamin C serum for day that does not feel sticky and works underneath makeup
- A lightweight day moisturizer with a high SPF (30 or better)
- An eye cream for night that combats fine lines and firms the eye area
- A hydrating serum for night that firms skin and combats lines and hyper-pigmentation
- A hydrating night moisturizer with anti-aging benefits
- A spot treatment for hyper-pigmentation (sun spots)
- A spot treatment for occasional breakouts that works quickly and effectively
- A weekly glycolic peel
- A weekly moisturizing mask
To get the the maximum benefit, you want to use it just once a day during the a.m. only. And you MUST use it with sunscreen of at least SPF 30 if you're just driving and outside for a few minutes here and there, and a higher SPF if you're in the sun for any extended period of time. The SPF is essential because while the Vitamin C helps prevent and treat hyper-pigmentation, it also makes your skin more vulnerable to sun damage if you don't wear an SPF because of the increased cell turnover. With that caveat out of the way, I give you the three Vitamin C serums I've tried to date and my thoughts:
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum
Ole Henriksen is one of the latest and greatest active naturals skincare lines. It combines science with homeopathy for a truly great skincare line, free of harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. This particular serum features 10% Vitamin C for the anti-aging benefits together with Vitamin E for hydration and other active naturals like green tea and grapefruit extracts. The result is a serum that smells great, smooths the skin, and gives the complexion a radiant glow. Overall, my skin looked healthier after about a week of consistent use. On the downside, it's a little sticky, which does not work well underneath makeup. I like the results of this serum, but I really want to find a Vitamin C serum that wears well underneath makeup since it's a daytime serum.
Murad Active Radiance Serum
This serum contains Vitamin C, AHA, and Myrtle extract to help improve the skin's texture and radiance, as well as to treat and prevent sun spots. This serum is supposed to boost collagen production and guard the skin against damage from free radicals. My skin definitely felt smoother to the touch and looked more radiant immediately after using the serum. After a few days of consistent daily use (remember, use Vitamin C serums just once a day, a.m. only), my skin's texture and skin tone were noticeably improved. This serum is not as sticky as the Truth Serum, but it's still a bit on the sticky side. Not so much that I would be dissuaded if it was a serum that I could use at night, but since I wear makeup regularly, and the stickiness doesn't disappear even after 15 minutes or so, it's not the best choice for me. I did try it once on a non-makeup day and after I let it dry for a good 20 minutes and then applied moisturizer and let that dry, my skin felt soft and non-sticky to the touch after another hour or so. I did not attempt to apply makeup over it, but I think that if I had, it would have been alright. It's just quite a long wait before my skin is makeup-safe and not getting tacky clumps of makeup on my face (not a good look). Overall, I like this serum and its effects very well. I am just determined that there is another makeup-friendly Vitamin C serum out there.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
This Vitamin C serum came highly recommended from my aestheticism, who offered me a sample. I later learned that it's a three-time Allure Magazine best serum winner. It's easy to see why. This serum combines a very potent formulation of Vitamin C in the form of 15% pure L-ascorbic acid with the hydrating and reparative benefits of Vitamin E. It has all the same antioxidant benefits as the other Vitamin C serums, but in a more aggressive dosage of Vitamin C, and with ferulic acid and Vitamin E for extra antioxidant power. This serum feels like it's quenching the skin's thirst while leaving it soft and bright, not at all greasy and thankfully, not sticky. Makeup goes on smoothly. I suppose it was inevitable that the best Vitamin C serum I've tried to date would be about twice the price of the other two. And yes, you get what you pay for in SkinCeuticals products, their quality is unrivaled. However, as $141, it's still far more expensive than any other skincare product I've ever purchased.
I'm still milking my deluxe sample for now and using very sparingly. I'm hoping to find another serum that works as well, but if I can't, here is my plan and some tips for you readers who might consider this purchase: you can get SkinCeuticals products on www.spalook.com, which is always on ebates (usually around 5-10% cash back -- check out ebates for Sephora and ULTA cash back as well -- http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=zblRc6RSUiGkpTMojoGM1g%3D%3D). Additionally, Spalook virtually always has coupon codes going to get $25 off of a $100 purchase or $50 off of $200 or 20% off or something like that. Look for them in a general google search, although the codes are often on the main page of Spalook itself. Further, SkinCeuticals does sell this serum in discounted kits with other full-sized serums, saving you some money collectively. Finally, Spalook often has gifts with purchase for SkinCeuticals.
So, yes, I am considering making this obscene purchase given the aforementioned discounts and promos. Vitamin C serums are the holy grail of anti-aging serums right now. And the beauty of them is that they are ideal for women in my age group (20 and 30-somethings) looking to correct some early sun damage and prevent any further damage. And the SkinCeuticals has been praised as the best of the best, so it is probably worth the investment. Being the bargain huntress that I am, I am still going to hunt down samples and trial sizes of other Vitamin C serums and see if I can't find a better deal. But at the end of the day, this is probably the single most important category of skincare product that I can buy for my skin, so I may just have to cut cost-corners elsewhere. I will keep you posted on any other worthwhile Vitamin C serums I find.
Friday, August 6, 2010
7 Days of Nude
In my quest to find the best of the best of skincare, I decided to try a week's worth of products by U.K. skincare line, Nude. As you might suspect from the name of the line, this line is focused on bio-compatible and organic ingredients as well as recyclable packaging and fair trade sourcing (a cosmetics line first as far as I've heard). The line uses a lot of pre- and probiotics and exotic botanical ingredients. Their non-ingredient list is almost as exciting as their ingredient list. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that Nude's products are free of nearly all of the questionable stuff common in most skincare and makeup products: parabens, sulphates, DEA, and potential carcinogens to name a few. Since I dig eco-friendly and good-for-you cosmetics lines, I was excited to give Nude a whirl. If you're interested in trying Nude skincare before you buy, check out their Skincare Selections box exclusively on sephora.com for $18. It's a great way to test-drive the products before you invest. Here's what I tried:
Cleansing Facial Oil
I'll preface this with saying that I am a drugstore-cleanser girl. I've just never understood why you would want to spend a lot of money on cleanser when there are so many great drugstore options like Cetaphil. That said, this is by far the best and most moisturizing cleanser I've ever tried. I'm still not sure if it's worth the hefty $36 price-tag, but I'd consider it. It's interesting in texture because it's an oil that turns into a milky lightweight cream when you apply it to wet skin. It smells fantastic. I can't pinpoint the scent exactly, but it's light and fresh and very botanical-smelling. Besides that minor detail, it feels like you're not just cleansing your skin, but nourishing it as well. It has Omega 3 essential oils and vitamin E, which leave the skin feeling soft but clean, almost like you've cleansed and moisturized in one step. Now you still need to use a moisturizer, but I'm very impressed that this cleans as well as it does without stripping the skin. It even got off my liquid eyeliner without irritating the eye area. Usually the "moisturizing" or "gentle" cleansers don't feel like they clean that well. Overall, I'm still a little hung up on the price, but I think that I would consider it a few years down the road if my skin continues to dry out (as it seems to do each year). This is definitely a godsend for dry skin, although I think it's suitable for normal and combination skin as well.
Miracle Mask
This is supposed to be a once-weekly mask, but I got a large supply so I decided to use it twice during my week-long experiment. Honestly, this mask is so gentle, you could probably use it every day if you so desired. It's a 5 minute mask, and it's supposed to firm and brighten the skin while increasing collagen production. I did feel like my skin looked more luminous and even-toned after each use. I'm not sure that it really helped with firmness or lines, but perhaps over a longer period of consistent use, it would be good. Overall though, this is a gentle mask that does make your skin glow and eliminate redness/unevenness. Again, it's a high price to pay at $62, but still a really solid product.
Advanced Eye Complex
As far as I'm concerned, the eye cream was the weak link in the Nude line. It was difficult to blend in to the skin, and even though it eventually absorbed, it felt a bit tacky at first. Now once it absorbed after a few minutes, it left my eye area feeling silky soft. And it seemed to help reflect light to make the eye area look luminous and minimize dark circles. But I didn't feel like it helped enough with firming and minimizing lines. And at $88 for half an ounce, frankly, I expected it to do more for me. After a week of use, my eye area felt very soft and soothed but I don't think it dramatically improved the look of the eye area. It has some good ingredients like antioxidants and acacia, but I just don't feel like the results are worth the price.
Age Defense Moisturizer
This moisturizer feels very good on the skin. It's softening and hydrating without leaving the skin feeling greasy or sticky. I did feel like my skin felt a bit firmer and much more hydrated after a week of use. The long-term clinical results over a 6-week study showed some impressive anti-wrinkle results too. My only complaint (besides the price, again) is that the smell is a bit overpowering at first. It's not bad, just strong. It smells very botanical, like some sort of tree. It's not an unpleasant smell, but it's definitely noticeable while you're applying and for a few minutes before it absorbs. It wouldn't dissuade me from using it, but I know some people are very sensitive to strong scents in cosmetics. I don't think it's an added fragrance. If I had to guess, I'd say it's probably from the combination of Cupuacu, Manketti, and orchid flower oils. Overall, I liked the moisturizer and felt like it was the best-priced item in relationship to the quality of the product at $78.
Cleansing Facial Oil
I'll preface this with saying that I am a drugstore-cleanser girl. I've just never understood why you would want to spend a lot of money on cleanser when there are so many great drugstore options like Cetaphil. That said, this is by far the best and most moisturizing cleanser I've ever tried. I'm still not sure if it's worth the hefty $36 price-tag, but I'd consider it. It's interesting in texture because it's an oil that turns into a milky lightweight cream when you apply it to wet skin. It smells fantastic. I can't pinpoint the scent exactly, but it's light and fresh and very botanical-smelling. Besides that minor detail, it feels like you're not just cleansing your skin, but nourishing it as well. It has Omega 3 essential oils and vitamin E, which leave the skin feeling soft but clean, almost like you've cleansed and moisturized in one step. Now you still need to use a moisturizer, but I'm very impressed that this cleans as well as it does without stripping the skin. It even got off my liquid eyeliner without irritating the eye area. Usually the "moisturizing" or "gentle" cleansers don't feel like they clean that well. Overall, I'm still a little hung up on the price, but I think that I would consider it a few years down the road if my skin continues to dry out (as it seems to do each year). This is definitely a godsend for dry skin, although I think it's suitable for normal and combination skin as well.
Miracle Mask
This is supposed to be a once-weekly mask, but I got a large supply so I decided to use it twice during my week-long experiment. Honestly, this mask is so gentle, you could probably use it every day if you so desired. It's a 5 minute mask, and it's supposed to firm and brighten the skin while increasing collagen production. I did feel like my skin looked more luminous and even-toned after each use. I'm not sure that it really helped with firmness or lines, but perhaps over a longer period of consistent use, it would be good. Overall though, this is a gentle mask that does make your skin glow and eliminate redness/unevenness. Again, it's a high price to pay at $62, but still a really solid product.
Advanced Eye Complex
As far as I'm concerned, the eye cream was the weak link in the Nude line. It was difficult to blend in to the skin, and even though it eventually absorbed, it felt a bit tacky at first. Now once it absorbed after a few minutes, it left my eye area feeling silky soft. And it seemed to help reflect light to make the eye area look luminous and minimize dark circles. But I didn't feel like it helped enough with firming and minimizing lines. And at $88 for half an ounce, frankly, I expected it to do more for me. After a week of use, my eye area felt very soft and soothed but I don't think it dramatically improved the look of the eye area. It has some good ingredients like antioxidants and acacia, but I just don't feel like the results are worth the price.
Age Defense Moisturizer
This moisturizer feels very good on the skin. It's softening and hydrating without leaving the skin feeling greasy or sticky. I did feel like my skin felt a bit firmer and much more hydrated after a week of use. The long-term clinical results over a 6-week study showed some impressive anti-wrinkle results too. My only complaint (besides the price, again) is that the smell is a bit overpowering at first. It's not bad, just strong. It smells very botanical, like some sort of tree. It's not an unpleasant smell, but it's definitely noticeable while you're applying and for a few minutes before it absorbs. It wouldn't dissuade me from using it, but I know some people are very sensitive to strong scents in cosmetics. I don't think it's an added fragrance. If I had to guess, I'd say it's probably from the combination of Cupuacu, Manketti, and orchid flower oils. Overall, I liked the moisturizer and felt like it was the best-priced item in relationship to the quality of the product at $78.
Shine On: The Latest Glossing Cream for Hair
I recently scored a deluxe sample of Oscar Blandi's Pronto Gloss. Blandi is a big name in hairstyling and luxe hair products alike, and even though I tend to prefer drugstore hair products, I've heard good things about this glossing cream. It's supposed to smooth frizz and flyaway strands while giving that perfect magazine-woman sheen without weighing down the hair. The directions say you can use it on either damp or dry hair.
I used it on damp hair before blow-drying, and I must say, it delivered on the light-weight non-sticky texture. I didn't feel like I had a ton of product in my hair (hate that feeling). After blow-drying, I noticed my hair was definitely smoother than normal, but I still had a bit of frizz that had to be smoothed with a flat iron. The best part of this product was definitely the added shine. I have color-treated hair, and this cream left it looking glossy and fresh like it looks right after a fresh coloring. It also felt very soft and silky. It's a bit pricey at $19 for 4.2 oz, but a little goes a long way so it might be worth it. I do wish that it gave you more anti-frizz bang for the buck, but considering it's truly weightless and left my hair feeling and looking more healthy and shiny, it's definitely a product worth buying.
I used it on damp hair before blow-drying, and I must say, it delivered on the light-weight non-sticky texture. I didn't feel like I had a ton of product in my hair (hate that feeling). After blow-drying, I noticed my hair was definitely smoother than normal, but I still had a bit of frizz that had to be smoothed with a flat iron. The best part of this product was definitely the added shine. I have color-treated hair, and this cream left it looking glossy and fresh like it looks right after a fresh coloring. It also felt very soft and silky. It's a bit pricey at $19 for 4.2 oz, but a little goes a long way so it might be worth it. I do wish that it gave you more anti-frizz bang for the buck, but considering it's truly weightless and left my hair feeling and looking more healthy and shiny, it's definitely a product worth buying.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2010
New Kids on the Block
New makeup and skincare lines are popping up all the time. Some go far and some fizzle quickly, but for you product-junkies out there looking for the next big thing, I thought I'd do a quick wrap-up of what's new.
Hourglass
What It's About:
This line is all about old-Hollywood glamour and luxury. It does good-quality products with high-impact color. Best feature? The line is dedicated to paraben-free products, and most of the products are fragrance-free as well. Downside? The expense, luxury doesn't come cheap in this line. It may be expensive, but Hourglass doesn't make a bad product. You can certainly find products that are as good or better for less, but you know if it's got the Hourglass name on it, it's going to be solid and high-quality.
Who It's For:
The woman who loves quality and predictable excellence. You may be paying $26 for a lipgloss, but you know you're getting a moisturizing, non-sticky, pricey-ingredient-list lipgloss.
What to Buy:
I'm a fan of the aforementioned $26 lipgloss. I only have one shade, in part because of the expense and in part because of the limited selection. Nevertheless, it's a good every-day shade, a medium peach-nude. The best thing about this lipgloss is the moisturizing Vitamin E formula. It's very silky and lightweight, and it leaves your lips feeling soft and hydrated for hours.
The Veil Mineral Primer is another standout product. It's not cheap at $52 for an ounce, but it has SPF 15 and it leaves your skin feeling smooth and looking pore-free. It also absorbs this excess oil in the skin, so you get a perfectly matte but still luminous base for applying makeup. This is one of the best primers, if not the best, I've tried. You can read more about it in my Prime Time article.
Where to Buy:
Right now, Hourglass is available at Sephora stores and on their web site. It's also available at www.hourglasscosmetics.com and www.dermstore.com
Buxom
What It's About:
Buxom is a playful offshoot of Bare Escentuals. It started as part of the Bare Escentuals line with a plumping lipgloss called the Big and Healthy Lip Polish. From there, the line has expanded to include a plumping lipstick, lip balm, mascara, eyeshadow, and eyeliner. And it's constantly growing. Best feature? Color selection. There is truly something for everyone. Downside? VERY sticky lipgloss.
Who It's For:
The woman who loves bright colors and kitsch. Buxom is full of kitsch from the scantily-clad Buxom characters who appear on the packaging to the creative marketing, including salacious stories about the Buxom girls' adventures. (I recently bought the "Laura Does London" gift-set just because it boasted my name, so I guess I fell into the kitschy marketing gimmick).
What to Buy:
I'm just not a fan of the Big and Healthy Lip Polish. I wanted to like it, and I particularly wanted to like the shade with my namesake, but it's just not working for me so back to the store it goes. Even though I think that the colors are great, the names and packaging are cute, and the menthol-induced tingly plumping action is bearable, I just don't like the formula. It's far too sticky. Let's face it: it's silly to be walking around with sticky lips just because the package has a cute little cartoon character with your name in a pin-up costume. So the lipgloss for me is more of a "what not to buy."
The lipstick on the other hand is a winner. It gives a creamy matte finish, and it comes in a slender package, sort of half-way in shape and size between a lipstick and a lipliner. And in fact, it does both. It also comes with a detachable sharpener on the other end so that you can keep the tip sharp to line and then fill in the lips. It gives the same menthol-plumping action of the lip polish (great as long as you don't mind a lot of minty tingle but not the best plumper I've ever tried. The real benefit of the lipstick is not so much the plumping, but the smooth creamy staying power. It's formulated with vitamins A, C, and E, so it leaves your lips feeling soft. Also, a light application gives you a powerful punch of color, particularly in the bright shades. I tried Monte Carlo, a bright fuchsia-magenta shade, and I loved it. This is actually a very wearable shade for most-every skintone (I'm fair with auburn hair and green eyes), but I think it would look particularly amazing on medium tanned-to-olive skin. I'm dying to try it on my lovely Lebanese friend. She has warm medium-golden skin, and I think this shade would look amazing on her.
The Buxom eyeshadow is also surprisingly good. It's very silky and lightweight in texture. It blends easily and stays well without creasing. This is a new product for Buxom and it's still very limited in shade-selection, but I'm hoping it will expand because this has a very similar texture to NARS eyeshadow, but it's less expensive at $17.
Where to Buy:
Right now, you can find the full collection of Buxom products at Sephora exclusively, but the Bare Escentuals and ULTA web sites also have a limited selection of the lipglosses.
Josie Maran
What It's About:
Josie Maran is all about eco-friendly, organic, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging and products. The entire line of skincare and cosmetics is green, nontoxic, and free of animal-testing.
Who It's For:
The environmentally-conscious eco-chic woman who wants simple, high-quality products. All the products are made with high-quality organic ingredients, most famously, Argan oil, which is a famous beauty-secret for literally everything from skin to fingernails to hair to eyelashes.
What to Buy:
Definitely get at least a little bottle of the Argan Oil to try it. A half-ounce is only $14, and it's a great introduction to the line as Argan Oil is a star ingredient in almost all of Maran's products. But it's also a great cure-all on its own. It's rich in antioxidants and good-for-you fatty acids. It's an all-in-one skin treatment and moisturizer. It's great and very gentle around the eyes. It helps with fine lines and firming, but it also nourishes dry skin. I love to rub a tiny bit into the ends of my hair after washing and before drying to moisturize and ward off split ends. You can also use it pretty much anywhere that could use some softening and hyrdration, especially the nailbeds and lips.
I'm also a fan of the mascara. It has the Argan oil, and it also has jojoba oil, which nourish the lashes to prevent lash-fallout. If you tend to lose lashes when you remove your mascara, this one's for you. It's a lash treatment in addition to being a good basic mascara. The wand is nothing fancy, just simple and classic, but it gives good clean coverage and lengthening without clumping. This is no revolution in mascara, but it's gentle and good for the lashes, and of course, eco-friendly.
Sephora also has a great introductory Josie Maran kit with a small Argan Oil, a full-size mascara, a full-size eyeliner, a full-size lipgloss, and a cream blush for a great price, $24, which is how I got acquainted with the line. I have a link to the kit below.
Where to Buy:
You can find Josie Maran products at www.josiemarancosmetics.com, and of course, Sephora.
Illamasqua
What It's About:
This U.K. brand was designed to be an edgy nighttime line, inspired by 1920's Berlin nightclubs. The colors are highly-pigmented and dramatic. It's a high-quality and long-lasting color makeup line, meaning no skincare. If I was Lady Gaga's makeup artist, I'd use this line. Best feature? Quality product in sleek and chic packaging. Downside? Limited color-selection for the faint of heart, many of the shades are highly pigmented, dark, bright, or some combination thereof. Then again, this is only a downside for me because I'm fair-skinned and work in a conservative office environment. This would be a definite plus for many women of color who feel washed out in standard-fare lipsticks.
Who It's For:
The edgy, trendy makeup connoisseur. Also excellent for the woman of color who is looking for a selection of highly-pigmented brighter/darker lipsticks and eyeshadows that don't wash her out. But even though many of the colors are daring, Illamasqua makes one of my favorite day-time lipsticks as well.
What to Buy:
Definitely get one of the lipsticks. They're all matte in formula and very rich in pigment. They go on smooth and creamy and they stay put all day. Illamasqua has some truly gorgeous bright reds, magentas, oranges, eggplants, and even a black lipstick (not my cup of tea, but certainly hard to find for those in need of a black lipstick). For daytime, I love Scandal, a pretty medium-toned warm coral-pink. For a bit more evening drama, I think that Illamasqua makes two of the best of-the-moment orange-red lipsticks, Blaze (a true matte tangerine) and Ignite (a more reddish orange).
Check out Illamasqua's Liquid Metal eyeshadows is you like metallics on the eye. They're a light-as-air whipped cream in highly-pigmented metallic colors. It blends easily and stays well without creasing. It also makes a great base for other powder eyeshadow shades if you just want to add some soft shimmer that glows underneath your eyeshadow and helps it to stay in place all day. I tend to wear more matte eye-shades than shimmer or metallic, so I'd love it if they brought out this formula for matte eyeshadow shades.
Where to Buy:
You can find Illamasqua at Sephora and www.illamasqua.com
Hourglass
What It's About:
This line is all about old-Hollywood glamour and luxury. It does good-quality products with high-impact color. Best feature? The line is dedicated to paraben-free products, and most of the products are fragrance-free as well. Downside? The expense, luxury doesn't come cheap in this line. It may be expensive, but Hourglass doesn't make a bad product. You can certainly find products that are as good or better for less, but you know if it's got the Hourglass name on it, it's going to be solid and high-quality.
Who It's For:
The woman who loves quality and predictable excellence. You may be paying $26 for a lipgloss, but you know you're getting a moisturizing, non-sticky, pricey-ingredient-list lipgloss.
What to Buy:
I'm a fan of the aforementioned $26 lipgloss. I only have one shade, in part because of the expense and in part because of the limited selection. Nevertheless, it's a good every-day shade, a medium peach-nude. The best thing about this lipgloss is the moisturizing Vitamin E formula. It's very silky and lightweight, and it leaves your lips feeling soft and hydrated for hours.
The Veil Mineral Primer is another standout product. It's not cheap at $52 for an ounce, but it has SPF 15 and it leaves your skin feeling smooth and looking pore-free. It also absorbs this excess oil in the skin, so you get a perfectly matte but still luminous base for applying makeup. This is one of the best primers, if not the best, I've tried. You can read more about it in my Prime Time article.
Where to Buy:
Right now, Hourglass is available at Sephora stores and on their web site. It's also available at www.hourglasscosmetics.com and www.dermstore.com
Buxom
What It's About:
Buxom is a playful offshoot of Bare Escentuals. It started as part of the Bare Escentuals line with a plumping lipgloss called the Big and Healthy Lip Polish. From there, the line has expanded to include a plumping lipstick, lip balm, mascara, eyeshadow, and eyeliner. And it's constantly growing. Best feature? Color selection. There is truly something for everyone. Downside? VERY sticky lipgloss.
Who It's For:
The woman who loves bright colors and kitsch. Buxom is full of kitsch from the scantily-clad Buxom characters who appear on the packaging to the creative marketing, including salacious stories about the Buxom girls' adventures. (I recently bought the "Laura Does London" gift-set just because it boasted my name, so I guess I fell into the kitschy marketing gimmick).
What to Buy:
I'm just not a fan of the Big and Healthy Lip Polish. I wanted to like it, and I particularly wanted to like the shade with my namesake, but it's just not working for me so back to the store it goes. Even though I think that the colors are great, the names and packaging are cute, and the menthol-induced tingly plumping action is bearable, I just don't like the formula. It's far too sticky. Let's face it: it's silly to be walking around with sticky lips just because the package has a cute little cartoon character with your name in a pin-up costume. So the lipgloss for me is more of a "what not to buy."
The lipstick on the other hand is a winner. It gives a creamy matte finish, and it comes in a slender package, sort of half-way in shape and size between a lipstick and a lipliner. And in fact, it does both. It also comes with a detachable sharpener on the other end so that you can keep the tip sharp to line and then fill in the lips. It gives the same menthol-plumping action of the lip polish (great as long as you don't mind a lot of minty tingle but not the best plumper I've ever tried. The real benefit of the lipstick is not so much the plumping, but the smooth creamy staying power. It's formulated with vitamins A, C, and E, so it leaves your lips feeling soft. Also, a light application gives you a powerful punch of color, particularly in the bright shades. I tried Monte Carlo, a bright fuchsia-magenta shade, and I loved it. This is actually a very wearable shade for most-every skintone (I'm fair with auburn hair and green eyes), but I think it would look particularly amazing on medium tanned-to-olive skin. I'm dying to try it on my lovely Lebanese friend. She has warm medium-golden skin, and I think this shade would look amazing on her.
The Buxom eyeshadow is also surprisingly good. It's very silky and lightweight in texture. It blends easily and stays well without creasing. This is a new product for Buxom and it's still very limited in shade-selection, but I'm hoping it will expand because this has a very similar texture to NARS eyeshadow, but it's less expensive at $17.
Where to Buy:
Right now, you can find the full collection of Buxom products at Sephora exclusively, but the Bare Escentuals and ULTA web sites also have a limited selection of the lipglosses.
Josie Maran
What It's About:
Josie Maran is all about eco-friendly, organic, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging and products. The entire line of skincare and cosmetics is green, nontoxic, and free of animal-testing.
Who It's For:
The environmentally-conscious eco-chic woman who wants simple, high-quality products. All the products are made with high-quality organic ingredients, most famously, Argan oil, which is a famous beauty-secret for literally everything from skin to fingernails to hair to eyelashes.
What to Buy:
Definitely get at least a little bottle of the Argan Oil to try it. A half-ounce is only $14, and it's a great introduction to the line as Argan Oil is a star ingredient in almost all of Maran's products. But it's also a great cure-all on its own. It's rich in antioxidants and good-for-you fatty acids. It's an all-in-one skin treatment and moisturizer. It's great and very gentle around the eyes. It helps with fine lines and firming, but it also nourishes dry skin. I love to rub a tiny bit into the ends of my hair after washing and before drying to moisturize and ward off split ends. You can also use it pretty much anywhere that could use some softening and hyrdration, especially the nailbeds and lips.
I'm also a fan of the mascara. It has the Argan oil, and it also has jojoba oil, which nourish the lashes to prevent lash-fallout. If you tend to lose lashes when you remove your mascara, this one's for you. It's a lash treatment in addition to being a good basic mascara. The wand is nothing fancy, just simple and classic, but it gives good clean coverage and lengthening without clumping. This is no revolution in mascara, but it's gentle and good for the lashes, and of course, eco-friendly.
Sephora also has a great introductory Josie Maran kit with a small Argan Oil, a full-size mascara, a full-size eyeliner, a full-size lipgloss, and a cream blush for a great price, $24, which is how I got acquainted with the line. I have a link to the kit below.
Where to Buy:
You can find Josie Maran products at www.josiemarancosmetics.com, and of course, Sephora.
Illamasqua
What It's About:
This U.K. brand was designed to be an edgy nighttime line, inspired by 1920's Berlin nightclubs. The colors are highly-pigmented and dramatic. It's a high-quality and long-lasting color makeup line, meaning no skincare. If I was Lady Gaga's makeup artist, I'd use this line. Best feature? Quality product in sleek and chic packaging. Downside? Limited color-selection for the faint of heart, many of the shades are highly pigmented, dark, bright, or some combination thereof. Then again, this is only a downside for me because I'm fair-skinned and work in a conservative office environment. This would be a definite plus for many women of color who feel washed out in standard-fare lipsticks.
Who It's For:
The edgy, trendy makeup connoisseur. Also excellent for the woman of color who is looking for a selection of highly-pigmented brighter/darker lipsticks and eyeshadows that don't wash her out. But even though many of the colors are daring, Illamasqua makes one of my favorite day-time lipsticks as well.
What to Buy:
Definitely get one of the lipsticks. They're all matte in formula and very rich in pigment. They go on smooth and creamy and they stay put all day. Illamasqua has some truly gorgeous bright reds, magentas, oranges, eggplants, and even a black lipstick (not my cup of tea, but certainly hard to find for those in need of a black lipstick). For daytime, I love Scandal, a pretty medium-toned warm coral-pink. For a bit more evening drama, I think that Illamasqua makes two of the best of-the-moment orange-red lipsticks, Blaze (a true matte tangerine) and Ignite (a more reddish orange).
Check out Illamasqua's Liquid Metal eyeshadows is you like metallics on the eye. They're a light-as-air whipped cream in highly-pigmented metallic colors. It blends easily and stays well without creasing. It also makes a great base for other powder eyeshadow shades if you just want to add some soft shimmer that glows underneath your eyeshadow and helps it to stay in place all day. I tend to wear more matte eye-shades than shimmer or metallic, so I'd love it if they brought out this formula for matte eyeshadow shades.
Where to Buy:
You can find Illamasqua at Sephora and www.illamasqua.com
Makeup Don't: Shimmery Beige Lipstick/Gloss
This is one of my personal pet peeves, and I remember it being big in the grungy 90's era of my junior high days, but it seems that it has made a BIG comeback lately: shimmery beige-tan lipstick and/or gloss. It's particularly bad on women with tanned skin, where the lip color blends in with the skintone, creating a washed out effect. Tragically, this lip color has become popular among many Hollywood actresses who are self-proclaimed "cougars." Many women in the general populace have followed suit, and the result is not good.
It's not that shimmery beige lipstick doesn't have its place, it does. Depending one one's own skintone and the undertones of the lipstick itself (some are more cool/pink based and others are more warm/yellow based), a golden-toned beige can be a very nice shade on African American women (particularly with medium skintones, like Oprah) and on the other end of the spectrum, very pale but golden skintones and light hair color, as seen with many natural blonds (think Renee Zellweger). And even then, it looks better in a creamy formula than a shimmery formula. However, as a general rule, beige lipstick (especially shimmery beige) is the most unnatural looking lip color. And it looks terrible on women with tanned skin. It is much better to go with a sheer pink, berry, plum, coral, or something with at least a hint of color similar to the natural lip than a beige/tan/light brown shade. And shimmer just adds a layer of unsophistication to an already unflattering lipcolor. I don't tend to like shimmery lipsticks and glosses in general because they tend to look dated, but with beige or tan, it looks particularly unattractive.
Although there are many many Hollywood offenders, I offer for your consideration Teri Hatcher and Lisa Rinna, two beautiful forty-something actresses that have an unfortunate tendency to over-tan and wear a coordinating beige-tan lipstick that blends in with their skin. To her credit, Hatcher is not tanning in the photograph below, but note that the beige lipstick still looks awful.
Yet when these same women wear a more natural and flattering pink or berry shade, they look so much better (and alive!).
It's not that shimmery beige lipstick doesn't have its place, it does. Depending one one's own skintone and the undertones of the lipstick itself (some are more cool/pink based and others are more warm/yellow based), a golden-toned beige can be a very nice shade on African American women (particularly with medium skintones, like Oprah) and on the other end of the spectrum, very pale but golden skintones and light hair color, as seen with many natural blonds (think Renee Zellweger). And even then, it looks better in a creamy formula than a shimmery formula. However, as a general rule, beige lipstick (especially shimmery beige) is the most unnatural looking lip color. And it looks terrible on women with tanned skin. It is much better to go with a sheer pink, berry, plum, coral, or something with at least a hint of color similar to the natural lip than a beige/tan/light brown shade. And shimmer just adds a layer of unsophistication to an already unflattering lipcolor. I don't tend to like shimmery lipsticks and glosses in general because they tend to look dated, but with beige or tan, it looks particularly unattractive.
Although there are many many Hollywood offenders, I offer for your consideration Teri Hatcher and Lisa Rinna, two beautiful forty-something actresses that have an unfortunate tendency to over-tan and wear a coordinating beige-tan lipstick that blends in with their skin. To her credit, Hatcher is not tanning in the photograph below, but note that the beige lipstick still looks awful.
Yet when these same women wear a more natural and flattering pink or berry shade, they look so much better (and alive!).
Friday, July 30, 2010
Like Buttuh!
I am a longtime fan of LUSH Cosmetics, a fabulous skin and body care line that prides itself on natural ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, no animal testing, and many vegan products. Additionally, they just make plain good quality bath and body goodies. Everything smells wonderful because LUSH uses natural ingredients and essential oils, from yummy honey, chocolate, and cocoa butter to pretty jasmine oil and rose absolute. Best of all, after using their products, your skin will feel soft and smooth. Two of my favorite categories of LUSH products, which are related, are the Massage Bars and Body Butters. These are solid cocoa and shea butter based bars that replace a body lotion. The Massage Bars are designed to be applied to dry skin and the Body Butters are designed to be applied to wet skin in the shower.
The Massage Bars are fabulous for their titled use, but because they are made with cocoa butter, shea butter, and essential oils, they are intensely softening and hydrating, leaving the skin with a gorgeous scent that lingers throughout the day. So in addition to using them for massage, I think they make a great substitute for body lotion. They are more moisturizing than lotion, their scents have more staying power than lotion, and your skin will feel incredibly soft. My favorite scents are the Heavanilli, which is made with vanilla, jasmine, and tonka. It smells soft and beautiful but more sophisticated than the vanilla scents we bought at the drug store back in junior high school. For a lighter fruity scent, try the Each Peach bar, which has lime and mandarin oils and mango butter. As an added benefit, the mango butter helps repair sun-damaged skin.
LUSH also makes a fabulous scalp massage bar called Snake Oil that is designed to treat scalp dryness and irritation, and in particular, dandruff. It is the single best dandruff remedy that I have heard of, and it is extremely gentle and good for your hair, unlike most dandruff shampoos. And despite the name, it leaves your hair smelling good as well with essential oils like lavender, tea tree, and peppermint. Sadly, this product was discontinued in the U.S. LUSH stores, although I understand that you can still get it in the U.K. and you can order it online at the LUSH web site under the LUSH Retro list. If you are prone to seasonal or occasional dandruff or other types of scalp irritation and itching (like eczema), you should stock up on a few of these bars while they're still available online and keep them in the fridge. Most LUSH products have minimal to no preservatives, but I've found that they'll keep quite well in tupperware in the fridge. All the massage bars run $10 to $12 except for Snake Oil, which is a bargain at $8.
LUSH's Body Butters are similar but they're designed to be used on wet skin, which makes them perfect for the bath or shower. Some of them are both exfoliating and softening, like the aptly-named Buffy the Backside Slayer, which combines shea butter with ground rice, almonds, and beans to exfoliate. Many LUSH fans swear by this one to reduce the appearance of cellulite. I love it to scrub away the rough skin on my knees and elbows. Buffy leaves them feeling soft. Running to the Embassy is a body butter designed to replace your pumice stone in the shower. Like Buffy, it exfoliates, but it also adds spearmint and peppermint oils to refresh and soften tired feet. But my favorite Body Butter has to be Soft Touch, which is non-exfoliating. This one is all about the soft nourishing shower butter. It has good-for-you wheatgerm oil, cocoa butter, mango, and beeswax. Think of it as a solid body lotion that you apply in the shower or bath. The moisture and scent stays with you throughout the day, even after you towel dry. The body butters are $12 to $15.
The Massage Bars are fabulous for their titled use, but because they are made with cocoa butter, shea butter, and essential oils, they are intensely softening and hydrating, leaving the skin with a gorgeous scent that lingers throughout the day. So in addition to using them for massage, I think they make a great substitute for body lotion. They are more moisturizing than lotion, their scents have more staying power than lotion, and your skin will feel incredibly soft. My favorite scents are the Heavanilli, which is made with vanilla, jasmine, and tonka. It smells soft and beautiful but more sophisticated than the vanilla scents we bought at the drug store back in junior high school. For a lighter fruity scent, try the Each Peach bar, which has lime and mandarin oils and mango butter. As an added benefit, the mango butter helps repair sun-damaged skin.
LUSH also makes a fabulous scalp massage bar called Snake Oil that is designed to treat scalp dryness and irritation, and in particular, dandruff. It is the single best dandruff remedy that I have heard of, and it is extremely gentle and good for your hair, unlike most dandruff shampoos. And despite the name, it leaves your hair smelling good as well with essential oils like lavender, tea tree, and peppermint. Sadly, this product was discontinued in the U.S. LUSH stores, although I understand that you can still get it in the U.K. and you can order it online at the LUSH web site under the LUSH Retro list. If you are prone to seasonal or occasional dandruff or other types of scalp irritation and itching (like eczema), you should stock up on a few of these bars while they're still available online and keep them in the fridge. Most LUSH products have minimal to no preservatives, but I've found that they'll keep quite well in tupperware in the fridge. All the massage bars run $10 to $12 except for Snake Oil, which is a bargain at $8.
LUSH's Body Butters are similar but they're designed to be used on wet skin, which makes them perfect for the bath or shower. Some of them are both exfoliating and softening, like the aptly-named Buffy the Backside Slayer, which combines shea butter with ground rice, almonds, and beans to exfoliate. Many LUSH fans swear by this one to reduce the appearance of cellulite. I love it to scrub away the rough skin on my knees and elbows. Buffy leaves them feeling soft. Running to the Embassy is a body butter designed to replace your pumice stone in the shower. Like Buffy, it exfoliates, but it also adds spearmint and peppermint oils to refresh and soften tired feet. But my favorite Body Butter has to be Soft Touch, which is non-exfoliating. This one is all about the soft nourishing shower butter. It has good-for-you wheatgerm oil, cocoa butter, mango, and beeswax. Think of it as a solid body lotion that you apply in the shower or bath. The moisture and scent stays with you throughout the day, even after you towel dry. The body butters are $12 to $15.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
7 Days of StriVectin
I've been in the market for some new skincare products, so I've been trying a number of different items lately that I will post about. I tend to "mix and match" my skincare products (an eye cream from one brand, a serum from another), but I know that some prefer to use one brand for everything. Keep in mind that although chemically some products work better together to enhance the benefits, which is the primary idea behind using a single skincare line for all your needs, the main reason to use one skincare line is the convenience and ease of one-stop shopping. If you do some research and understand what types of products work best together (and I hope to demystify this process in the coming weeks with my "Magic Potions" breakdown as well as other skincare posts), you will probably get more benefit by tailoring your skincare to your personal needs and budget regardless of brands. Some skincare lines make a great eye cream but not-so-great or overpriced cleanser.
That said, if you do prefer to stick to one line for your skincare, StriVectin is certainly a beauty-insider favorite. StriVectin earned cult-status as a skincare miracle line when it burst onto the scene with its famous stretch-mark cream turned anti-wrinkle powerhouse. It then came out with an eye cream to seriously battle dark circles, even those vicious genetic dark circles that other eye creams couldn't touch. Since then, the line has expanded to include more basic skincare as well as other breakthroughs in anti-aging. I decided to try using StriVectin -- and only StriVectin -- products for seven days to see if I saw a noticeable improvement in my skin during that time. Since StriVectin does not yet make a facial cleanser, I used Cetaphil, a very gentle fragrance-free cleanser. In fairness, I will note that you won't see the maximum benefit of most skincare products until you have used them consistently (that's twice a day) for 30-90 days. However, we live in a world of instant-gratification, and many skincare products now tout their instant and short-term benefits, so while I did not approach this experiment expecting a miracle, I was hoping to see some noticeable improvement in my skin's overall appearance and texture. Here's what I tried, what it was supposed to do for me in terms of short-term benefits, and my review.
Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks and Wrinkles
This is a new-and-improved version of the original stretch mark cream that turned out to be even better at treating wrinkles on the face. After washing my face, I applied this in the morning as a spot treatment to the areas on my face where I'm starting to see some lines, especially those pesky expression lines on the forehead. Although ideal results are promised in eight weeks, I can tell you that I did see a visible improvement and softening of my expression lines in just one week. I am going to get a full-size bottle soon and conduct a full eight-week experiment and take pictures to test just how well this stuff works, but I was happy with my one-week results. I do have one complaint: this cream is very thick and difficult to blend in. The upshot is that a little goes a long way, and at $135 for a 5 oz tube, you want to use as little as possible in order to make it last. But it definitely takes some time to blend in. About twice as long as it would take to blend virtually any other anti-wrinkle treatment I've tried. That is a minus for me because I like to get through my skincare routine as quickly as possible. If it takes too long, I won't do it. On the other hand, if it really does produce the kind of results it promises (25% reduction in deep wrinkles in 8 weeks), then it might be worth the extra time and attention. Overall, I liked this product and will definitely revisit it in the future for a longer trial despite its hefty price-tag.
Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum
In lieu of the wrinkle cream, I used this as my nighttime treatment. It is a serum that comes in a dropper, but one thing that I really liked about this serum (having tried many many serums that are liquid-like in texture and drip all over the place) is that it had an almost-gel-like texture, making it easy to dispense a dropper-full of it on my finger tip and blend it into my skin without having any product slide off my finger before getting it to my face. There are serums for nearly every skintype and problem, but this one is designed to be a universal product for all ages and skintypes. The primary benefit is exfoliation or "light" resurfacing. It's nice to get exfoliation from a smooth serum as opposed to the typical grainy scrubs. It's supposed to give you brighter, smoother, more luminous skin instantly. The first thing I noticed about this is that it left my skin with a somewhat filmy/sticky feeling. That would be a death sentence if it was designed as a day treatment, since it creates a poor base for applying makeup, but as a night-treatment, that's not automatically a deal-breaker for me. What was a deal-breaker is that after a week of use, I did not see a real improvement in my skin's look or texture to the touch. I'm used to using Estee Lauder's Idealist as an exfoliating/refinishing treatment, and I must say that the Idealist makes my skin feel much smoother and silky to the touch and I can use it during the day under makeup. Idealist is also a bit cheaper than the StriVectin product, so I'm going to have to give StriVectin's overnight serum a thumbs-down.
Eye Cream
This is a multitasking eye cream, designed to combat dark circles, creases, lines, and puffiness all in one. I am a huge fan of multitasking eye creams so I was excited to try this one. Eye cream is the main skincare product that I am passionate about. The eye area is the first part of your face to show signs of aging, it's extremely delicate skin, and it's very dry even if the rest of your face is oily. I always tell people who are not into skincare, especially men, that if they do nothing else they should at least use eye cream and sunscreen. I really wanted to like this eye cream: it has a nice texture, a non-offensive scent, and it doesn't feel sticky or greasy as some eye creams can. I did notice a tiny improvement in the lines around my eyes, but my big problem with this eye cream is that I felt like it wasn't really that hydrating. The skin around my eyes is dry but normal-dry, not extremely dry. So if I feel like it's not really moisturizing, I imagine that someone with very dry eye-skin would not like this cream at all. I've tried some other eye creams lately (Arbonne, Skynn Iceland, and Korres), which I will blog about as part of my Magic Potions series that blow the StriVectin one out of the water. While I think that it does deliver on its promises to de-puff, de-circle, and de-line, it fails to do the most important things an eye cream should do: hydrate. Hydration is the key to prevention. Unless you have very oily skin around the eyes, I would look elsewhere for an eye cream.
Instant Moisture Repair
This is StriVectin's signature moisturizer. It's supposed to go deep into the skin cells to replenish cell-moisture and your skin's natural "moisture cushion." It promises to increase the skin's moisture by 30% within the first hour. Hello instant results! But did it deliver? Well yes, my skin definitely felt more hydrated than immediately before when I didn't have moisturizer on. But I don't think that is really the relevant comparison. At minimum and by definition, a moisturizer should increase your skin's moisture instantly. The relevant comparison is how well does it hydrate in comparison to other moisturizers. The answer is: better than some, not as good as others. Overall, I was underwhelmed. On the plus side, this moisturizer was very lightweight and left my skin feeling refreshed rather than greasy. My skin looked visibly healthier and softer immediately after use. On the downside, I look for moisturizers that do a little something extra for me: like giving my skin a healthy glow or noticeably firming and tightening. I just didn't get that "something extra" out of it that sets apart the cream of the crop when it comes to moisturizers. And while I felt that the hydration-level was sufficient for my summertime skin which tends to be more combination, I don't think it would provide enough moisture during my dry-skin winters. I liked it, and I think it's reasonably priced at $59 for 2 oz, but I wasn't wowed. I would recommend this as a solid introductory moisturizer for teenagers who aren't really concerned with firming or dullness yet and those who have more oily skin.
Neck Cream
I was very excited to try StriVectin's night cream because I've never used one before. In recent years, I have started to notice a loss of elasticity in the neck and general dryness, so I've been considering adding a neck cream to my skincare routine. But since it's an additional investment of time and money, I haven't really gotten serious about it until I got a small tube of this neck cream in my 7-day sample kit. This particular cream promises to smooth and tighten the neck and decolletage as well as improve any discolorations. First, the goods stuff: this cream felt fantastic going on, and within a few minutes, my neck felt firmer, moister, and more elastic to the touch. It also just looked better, less dull and more healthy in general. I would rush out any buy this tomorrow if it wasn't for one major complaint: it smells bad. It's not just that it smells bad in the medicinal way that is common among cosmetics, it's odorous. To be frank, it smells like sweat. At first, I blamed myself. It has been a hot California July, and I thought maybe something in the cream was just bringing out a smell in my skin. But after using it for one-week straight and sniffing the tube, I have confirmed that it is definitely the cream. I can smell it in the tube, but it intensifies when you apply it to the skin, even freshly-showered perfectly clean skin. It's really disappointing because it makes my neck feel and look so good. But the smell lingers for an hour at least, and god-forbid that you go to the gym after applying it or do anything where you actually DO sweat, because that will make the smell worse. And forget applying perfume to your neck because it will just get funktified. After reading the ingredient list to try to find out what could possibly be the culprit, I suspect that it's the yeast extract, which is one of the top five ingredients. I've never seen that ingredient used in a skincare product before, and I'm not sure what type of benefits it provides, but I hope that StriVectin will reconsider using it in their cream or devise some sort of a way to combat the scent. If you can get past the smell, it's a great neck cream. In fairness to StriVectin, I do have a friend in the cosmetics industry who loves this stuff, and she claims that it smells more like beer to her and it doesn't bother her. Perhaps I'm just sensitive, but I'm going to look elsewhere for a neck cream.
That said, if you do prefer to stick to one line for your skincare, StriVectin is certainly a beauty-insider favorite. StriVectin earned cult-status as a skincare miracle line when it burst onto the scene with its famous stretch-mark cream turned anti-wrinkle powerhouse. It then came out with an eye cream to seriously battle dark circles, even those vicious genetic dark circles that other eye creams couldn't touch. Since then, the line has expanded to include more basic skincare as well as other breakthroughs in anti-aging. I decided to try using StriVectin -- and only StriVectin -- products for seven days to see if I saw a noticeable improvement in my skin during that time. Since StriVectin does not yet make a facial cleanser, I used Cetaphil, a very gentle fragrance-free cleanser. In fairness, I will note that you won't see the maximum benefit of most skincare products until you have used them consistently (that's twice a day) for 30-90 days. However, we live in a world of instant-gratification, and many skincare products now tout their instant and short-term benefits, so while I did not approach this experiment expecting a miracle, I was hoping to see some noticeable improvement in my skin's overall appearance and texture. Here's what I tried, what it was supposed to do for me in terms of short-term benefits, and my review.
Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks and Wrinkles
This is a new-and-improved version of the original stretch mark cream that turned out to be even better at treating wrinkles on the face. After washing my face, I applied this in the morning as a spot treatment to the areas on my face where I'm starting to see some lines, especially those pesky expression lines on the forehead. Although ideal results are promised in eight weeks, I can tell you that I did see a visible improvement and softening of my expression lines in just one week. I am going to get a full-size bottle soon and conduct a full eight-week experiment and take pictures to test just how well this stuff works, but I was happy with my one-week results. I do have one complaint: this cream is very thick and difficult to blend in. The upshot is that a little goes a long way, and at $135 for a 5 oz tube, you want to use as little as possible in order to make it last. But it definitely takes some time to blend in. About twice as long as it would take to blend virtually any other anti-wrinkle treatment I've tried. That is a minus for me because I like to get through my skincare routine as quickly as possible. If it takes too long, I won't do it. On the other hand, if it really does produce the kind of results it promises (25% reduction in deep wrinkles in 8 weeks), then it might be worth the extra time and attention. Overall, I liked this product and will definitely revisit it in the future for a longer trial despite its hefty price-tag.
Overnight Facial Resurfacing Serum
In lieu of the wrinkle cream, I used this as my nighttime treatment. It is a serum that comes in a dropper, but one thing that I really liked about this serum (having tried many many serums that are liquid-like in texture and drip all over the place) is that it had an almost-gel-like texture, making it easy to dispense a dropper-full of it on my finger tip and blend it into my skin without having any product slide off my finger before getting it to my face. There are serums for nearly every skintype and problem, but this one is designed to be a universal product for all ages and skintypes. The primary benefit is exfoliation or "light" resurfacing. It's nice to get exfoliation from a smooth serum as opposed to the typical grainy scrubs. It's supposed to give you brighter, smoother, more luminous skin instantly. The first thing I noticed about this is that it left my skin with a somewhat filmy/sticky feeling. That would be a death sentence if it was designed as a day treatment, since it creates a poor base for applying makeup, but as a night-treatment, that's not automatically a deal-breaker for me. What was a deal-breaker is that after a week of use, I did not see a real improvement in my skin's look or texture to the touch. I'm used to using Estee Lauder's Idealist as an exfoliating/refinishing treatment, and I must say that the Idealist makes my skin feel much smoother and silky to the touch and I can use it during the day under makeup. Idealist is also a bit cheaper than the StriVectin product, so I'm going to have to give StriVectin's overnight serum a thumbs-down.
Eye Cream
This is a multitasking eye cream, designed to combat dark circles, creases, lines, and puffiness all in one. I am a huge fan of multitasking eye creams so I was excited to try this one. Eye cream is the main skincare product that I am passionate about. The eye area is the first part of your face to show signs of aging, it's extremely delicate skin, and it's very dry even if the rest of your face is oily. I always tell people who are not into skincare, especially men, that if they do nothing else they should at least use eye cream and sunscreen. I really wanted to like this eye cream: it has a nice texture, a non-offensive scent, and it doesn't feel sticky or greasy as some eye creams can. I did notice a tiny improvement in the lines around my eyes, but my big problem with this eye cream is that I felt like it wasn't really that hydrating. The skin around my eyes is dry but normal-dry, not extremely dry. So if I feel like it's not really moisturizing, I imagine that someone with very dry eye-skin would not like this cream at all. I've tried some other eye creams lately (Arbonne, Skynn Iceland, and Korres), which I will blog about as part of my Magic Potions series that blow the StriVectin one out of the water. While I think that it does deliver on its promises to de-puff, de-circle, and de-line, it fails to do the most important things an eye cream should do: hydrate. Hydration is the key to prevention. Unless you have very oily skin around the eyes, I would look elsewhere for an eye cream.
Instant Moisture Repair
This is StriVectin's signature moisturizer. It's supposed to go deep into the skin cells to replenish cell-moisture and your skin's natural "moisture cushion." It promises to increase the skin's moisture by 30% within the first hour. Hello instant results! But did it deliver? Well yes, my skin definitely felt more hydrated than immediately before when I didn't have moisturizer on. But I don't think that is really the relevant comparison. At minimum and by definition, a moisturizer should increase your skin's moisture instantly. The relevant comparison is how well does it hydrate in comparison to other moisturizers. The answer is: better than some, not as good as others. Overall, I was underwhelmed. On the plus side, this moisturizer was very lightweight and left my skin feeling refreshed rather than greasy. My skin looked visibly healthier and softer immediately after use. On the downside, I look for moisturizers that do a little something extra for me: like giving my skin a healthy glow or noticeably firming and tightening. I just didn't get that "something extra" out of it that sets apart the cream of the crop when it comes to moisturizers. And while I felt that the hydration-level was sufficient for my summertime skin which tends to be more combination, I don't think it would provide enough moisture during my dry-skin winters. I liked it, and I think it's reasonably priced at $59 for 2 oz, but I wasn't wowed. I would recommend this as a solid introductory moisturizer for teenagers who aren't really concerned with firming or dullness yet and those who have more oily skin.
Neck Cream
I was very excited to try StriVectin's night cream because I've never used one before. In recent years, I have started to notice a loss of elasticity in the neck and general dryness, so I've been considering adding a neck cream to my skincare routine. But since it's an additional investment of time and money, I haven't really gotten serious about it until I got a small tube of this neck cream in my 7-day sample kit. This particular cream promises to smooth and tighten the neck and decolletage as well as improve any discolorations. First, the goods stuff: this cream felt fantastic going on, and within a few minutes, my neck felt firmer, moister, and more elastic to the touch. It also just looked better, less dull and more healthy in general. I would rush out any buy this tomorrow if it wasn't for one major complaint: it smells bad. It's not just that it smells bad in the medicinal way that is common among cosmetics, it's odorous. To be frank, it smells like sweat. At first, I blamed myself. It has been a hot California July, and I thought maybe something in the cream was just bringing out a smell in my skin. But after using it for one-week straight and sniffing the tube, I have confirmed that it is definitely the cream. I can smell it in the tube, but it intensifies when you apply it to the skin, even freshly-showered perfectly clean skin. It's really disappointing because it makes my neck feel and look so good. But the smell lingers for an hour at least, and god-forbid that you go to the gym after applying it or do anything where you actually DO sweat, because that will make the smell worse. And forget applying perfume to your neck because it will just get funktified. After reading the ingredient list to try to find out what could possibly be the culprit, I suspect that it's the yeast extract, which is one of the top five ingredients. I've never seen that ingredient used in a skincare product before, and I'm not sure what type of benefits it provides, but I hope that StriVectin will reconsider using it in their cream or devise some sort of a way to combat the scent. If you can get past the smell, it's a great neck cream. In fairness to StriVectin, I do have a friend in the cosmetics industry who loves this stuff, and she claims that it smells more like beer to her and it doesn't bother her. Perhaps I'm just sensitive, but I'm going to look elsewhere for a neck cream.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Squeeze Me, Tweeze Me
No tool is more essential to a makeup bag than a good tweezer. For most makeup artists and cosmeticians, the main qualifier for a "good" tweezer is sharpness. You need the tweezer to be really sharp in order to grab those tiny little annoying stray brow hairs. Tweezerman makes some decent tweezers, but they're not sharp enough for my taste. I bought Anastasia's (the brow expert) tweezer a couple of year ago, which served me well for two years before dulling (all tweezers eventually dull and require replacement). To date, the Anastasia tweezer lasted the longest for me. But I recently replaced it with the Bobbi Brown tweezer, an investment at $30, but a worthy investment. This is the sharpest tweezer I have tried, eye-gaugingly sharp (seriously, this might double as a self-defense weapon in a pinch). This tweezer will scout out stray hairs that you didn't even know you had and grab hairs that have barely cracked the skin's surface. There may be better tweezers out there, but I haven't found them. You can find them at Bobbi Brown's online store, Nordstrom and nordstrom.com, and select Macy's.
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Sunday, July 18, 2010
Double Double Toil and Trouble: Magic Potions
Everyone is still looking for the Fountain of Youth. We've just stopped looking in the jungle and started looking in dermatologist's offices and department stores. I've taken pretty good care of my skin, but I'll admit that sometimes I'm not so faithful about using my skincare products EVERY morning and EVERY night as I should. But as another birthday is looming, I've suddenly noticed some lines and horror of horrors, a sunspot (also horribly known as an age spot) that were not there last year. That sent me into a panic and I went through my medicine cabinet in search of a quick fix.
The sad truth is that with skincare, there really are no quick fixes no matter what the salespeople tell you. It's all about long-term and consistent use, something I've not been very good at as of late but have recently rededicated myself to. Sure, you can find some fillers that work like shellac to instantly diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles. And a nice radiance serum or eye cream will instantly improve your skin's appearance and texture. But if you want to look younger or at least prevent yourself from looking older, you need to get OCD about daily skincare. Make that twice daily skincare. So if I'm going to invest time, energy, and money in a regimen, I want to choose the best products and get the most bang for my buck, including some instant-gratification because, like most Americans, I'm impatient.
This will be a multi-part post on the magic potions that make up a good skincare routine. I will give you my expert advice on what to look for in your skincare products depending on the three big factors: skin-type, skin concerns, and cost. I'm also going to review the products that I'm trying as I build my own skincare routine and give you some helpful reviews and information about products I've worked with in the past. I'm also happy to answer any questions you have about skincare in the comments. I'm beginning with the beginning, cleanser and exfoliation. I'll begin I'll then move on to discuss serums, moisturizers, eye creams, and a wild card category of skin care treatment extras that you won't use everyday but will see noticeable improvement from occasional use.
Before I move on to cleansers, I'd like to tell you what I'm expressly excluding: toners. Allegedly, toners should restore the PH balance of your skin. A lot of people use them to try to catch any excess oil, makeup, or grime that you miss with the cleanser. However, if you have a good cleanser, this is really not necessary. Moreover, most of them have alcohol and are very astringent, which you should never use unless you have sever acne. Even then, I would be cautious about stripping your skin of its natural moisture with astringents. Now there are alcohol-free toners out there now, and if you think you must use a toner, I would recommend these. However, I feel that this is generally an unnecessary extra step. The mild reward simply isn't worth the money and time.
On to cleansers! Unless you have sensitive skin, cleansers basically break down into three skin type categories: normal/combination, dry, and oily. Combination skin is when you have an oily t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dryness in the cheeks and eye area. This skin type can sometimes be seasonal, as it is for me. I used to have combination skin all the time, but as I get older, my skin is getting dryer and consequently, I only have combination skin during the summer when the pores tend to release more oil because of the heat. I have normal to dry skin during the rest of the year. Other than skin type, the other big factor in choosing a cleanser should be texture. Some prefer a gel or foam while others prefer a lotion. There are also solid cleansing bars and cleansing wipes for people on the go. Here are a few of my favorites.
Lush
Lush makes several excellent cleansers. For those who aren't familiar with Lush, this is an amazing all-natural skin and body care brand. Many of their products are freshly made in the shoppes, and most of their products are vegan. Most importantly, Lush has a longstanding commitment to making their products without any animal testing. But besides all that, their products are just plan good. They feel good on the skin, they smell good, and they are affordable. You can order directly from Lush at www.lushusa.com or go to one of their many free-standing shoppes. Some Macy's are now carrying the line as well.
Lush's Coalface is one of my all time favorites because it is an exfoliating cleanser in a solid bar that gives you an impeccable squeaky clean. It's perfect for me during the summer when I'm feeling grimy after a long day in the sun. It is made with charcoal, and it is as black as coal. It also contains licorice root, which is a natural antibacterial. Consequently, this cleanser is ideal for those with acne-prone, oily, or combination skin. I would not recommend this for those with dry or sensitive skin, however, since the exfloliants in the bar can be a bit rough. I don't typically use this every day myself. I like to rotate it with a more gentle cleanser. If you're not into the bar-cleanser, you can also get the same stuff in a cream with exfoliating black sugar mixed in, which is called Dark Angels. Each of these are about $11 online, although the price in the shoppes will vary since they're made in the shop and cut into pieces and then weighed for price. Both of these cleansers are vegan.
For those with normal to dry, dry, or sensitive skin, I would recommend Lush's Angels on Bare Skin, a much gentler cleanser. It is sold as a slice of a roll, which is a slightly solid creamy cleanser. It's made with lavender and rose oils, which sooth the skin and provide a very gentle exfoliation. If you tend to have lots of allergies and skin-sensitivities, Lush's Aqua Marina with calamine is another great cleanser. These cleansers also run about $11 and are vegan products.
Aveeno
Aveeno makes some truly great affordable cleansers. Positively Radiant is a fantastic lotion cleanser that is designed to give your skin a radiant glow. It's very gentle and suitable for most skin-types but it's especially great for normal to dry or dry skin. The creamy lotion feels fantastic on the face, and my skin always feels clean and nourished afterward. It's very hydrating for dry skin. You can find this at virtually any drugstore or online at www.drugstore.com or www.ulta.com. It's a bargain at $7, and it's often on sale at the drugstores.
Cetaphil
For those with ultra-sensitive skin or anyone who is looking for the ultimate value in a cleanser, you can't do much better than Cetaphil. They make it in both the bar and a creamy lotion in a pump now. It's great for virtually all skin-types, and it's especially great if you have sensitive skin or acne-prone skin. They make it in several different formulations now too, some of them specifically for sensitive, dry, or oily skin. Although dermatologists and industry-insiders have been using and recommending the original formula for years to all skin-types. It's a fantastic, affordable, reliable product. Personally, I like the bars but the lotion is also great.
St. Ives
St. Ives's classic Apricot Scrub is one of my all time favorite beauty products. It's a wonderful exfoliator with natural exfoliants. And it's very inexpensive. It's a dry scrub, which means it's in a cream base rather than an oil base. It's fantastic as a weekly or biweekly face scrub, but I also love to use it on dry patches like my knees. Unlike the Lush products, this is not a two-in-one cleansing product, so I would still recommend using another gentle cleanser like Cetaphil or Aveeno first. The original formula is really great for all skin types, but like Cetaphil, St. Ives is now making this scrub in several formulas for different skin-types. You can even get a formula of the Apricot Scrub for acne-prone skin that has salicylic acid to help with breakouts. Likewise, they make a gentler creamier formula for dry skin.
Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder makes some fantastic cleansers, but with so many great drugstore options, I tend to think that they are too expensive. I used them often when I was working for the company as a makeup artist and received free product, and they're great. However, now I'm looking for more cost-effective alternatives. I like to invest my money in eye cream and treatments, but I generally feel that the more expensive cleansers are not exponentially better. However, one Lauder product that is worth the investment is a deep exfoliator called Idealist Dual-Action Refinishing Treatment. This product was originally called Micro-D, and it was designed to be a lighter at-home version of micro-dermabrasion, but it was recently reformulated and improved to give you the benefits of both a micro-dermabrasion and a glycloic peel. It warms on your skin with water, which opens up those pores. Then the ultra-fine exfoliating spheres get deep in there and clean out those pores and banish any rough or dry patches. This product is somewhat abrasive definitely not for every day, but it's far less abrasive than micro-dermabrasion or glycolic acid treatments while offering similar results. I also would not recommend it for sensitive skin. But if you're skin is oily, normal.combination, or dry, you can use this once every week or two for instantly smoother and brighter skin. It's more of an investment at $49, but you'll feel like you just had a $100 facial, and the tube tends to last about 6 months if I use it once a week, which is not bad. This is definitely a good one to add to your skincare arsenal.
The sad truth is that with skincare, there really are no quick fixes no matter what the salespeople tell you. It's all about long-term and consistent use, something I've not been very good at as of late but have recently rededicated myself to. Sure, you can find some fillers that work like shellac to instantly diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles. And a nice radiance serum or eye cream will instantly improve your skin's appearance and texture. But if you want to look younger or at least prevent yourself from looking older, you need to get OCD about daily skincare. Make that twice daily skincare. So if I'm going to invest time, energy, and money in a regimen, I want to choose the best products and get the most bang for my buck, including some instant-gratification because, like most Americans, I'm impatient.
This will be a multi-part post on the magic potions that make up a good skincare routine. I will give you my expert advice on what to look for in your skincare products depending on the three big factors: skin-type, skin concerns, and cost. I'm also going to review the products that I'm trying as I build my own skincare routine and give you some helpful reviews and information about products I've worked with in the past. I'm also happy to answer any questions you have about skincare in the comments. I'm beginning with the beginning, cleanser and exfoliation. I'll begin I'll then move on to discuss serums, moisturizers, eye creams, and a wild card category of skin care treatment extras that you won't use everyday but will see noticeable improvement from occasional use.
Before I move on to cleansers, I'd like to tell you what I'm expressly excluding: toners. Allegedly, toners should restore the PH balance of your skin. A lot of people use them to try to catch any excess oil, makeup, or grime that you miss with the cleanser. However, if you have a good cleanser, this is really not necessary. Moreover, most of them have alcohol and are very astringent, which you should never use unless you have sever acne. Even then, I would be cautious about stripping your skin of its natural moisture with astringents. Now there are alcohol-free toners out there now, and if you think you must use a toner, I would recommend these. However, I feel that this is generally an unnecessary extra step. The mild reward simply isn't worth the money and time.
On to cleansers! Unless you have sensitive skin, cleansers basically break down into three skin type categories: normal/combination, dry, and oily. Combination skin is when you have an oily t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) and dryness in the cheeks and eye area. This skin type can sometimes be seasonal, as it is for me. I used to have combination skin all the time, but as I get older, my skin is getting dryer and consequently, I only have combination skin during the summer when the pores tend to release more oil because of the heat. I have normal to dry skin during the rest of the year. Other than skin type, the other big factor in choosing a cleanser should be texture. Some prefer a gel or foam while others prefer a lotion. There are also solid cleansing bars and cleansing wipes for people on the go. Here are a few of my favorites.
Lush
Lush makes several excellent cleansers. For those who aren't familiar with Lush, this is an amazing all-natural skin and body care brand. Many of their products are freshly made in the shoppes, and most of their products are vegan. Most importantly, Lush has a longstanding commitment to making their products without any animal testing. But besides all that, their products are just plan good. They feel good on the skin, they smell good, and they are affordable. You can order directly from Lush at www.lushusa.com or go to one of their many free-standing shoppes. Some Macy's are now carrying the line as well.
Lush's Coalface is one of my all time favorites because it is an exfoliating cleanser in a solid bar that gives you an impeccable squeaky clean. It's perfect for me during the summer when I'm feeling grimy after a long day in the sun. It is made with charcoal, and it is as black as coal. It also contains licorice root, which is a natural antibacterial. Consequently, this cleanser is ideal for those with acne-prone, oily, or combination skin. I would not recommend this for those with dry or sensitive skin, however, since the exfloliants in the bar can be a bit rough. I don't typically use this every day myself. I like to rotate it with a more gentle cleanser. If you're not into the bar-cleanser, you can also get the same stuff in a cream with exfoliating black sugar mixed in, which is called Dark Angels. Each of these are about $11 online, although the price in the shoppes will vary since they're made in the shop and cut into pieces and then weighed for price. Both of these cleansers are vegan.
For those with normal to dry, dry, or sensitive skin, I would recommend Lush's Angels on Bare Skin, a much gentler cleanser. It is sold as a slice of a roll, which is a slightly solid creamy cleanser. It's made with lavender and rose oils, which sooth the skin and provide a very gentle exfoliation. If you tend to have lots of allergies and skin-sensitivities, Lush's Aqua Marina with calamine is another great cleanser. These cleansers also run about $11 and are vegan products.
Aveeno
Aveeno makes some truly great affordable cleansers. Positively Radiant is a fantastic lotion cleanser that is designed to give your skin a radiant glow. It's very gentle and suitable for most skin-types but it's especially great for normal to dry or dry skin. The creamy lotion feels fantastic on the face, and my skin always feels clean and nourished afterward. It's very hydrating for dry skin. You can find this at virtually any drugstore or online at www.drugstore.com or www.ulta.com. It's a bargain at $7, and it's often on sale at the drugstores.
Cetaphil
For those with ultra-sensitive skin or anyone who is looking for the ultimate value in a cleanser, you can't do much better than Cetaphil. They make it in both the bar and a creamy lotion in a pump now. It's great for virtually all skin-types, and it's especially great if you have sensitive skin or acne-prone skin. They make it in several different formulations now too, some of them specifically for sensitive, dry, or oily skin. Although dermatologists and industry-insiders have been using and recommending the original formula for years to all skin-types. It's a fantastic, affordable, reliable product. Personally, I like the bars but the lotion is also great.
St. Ives
St. Ives's classic Apricot Scrub is one of my all time favorite beauty products. It's a wonderful exfoliator with natural exfoliants. And it's very inexpensive. It's a dry scrub, which means it's in a cream base rather than an oil base. It's fantastic as a weekly or biweekly face scrub, but I also love to use it on dry patches like my knees. Unlike the Lush products, this is not a two-in-one cleansing product, so I would still recommend using another gentle cleanser like Cetaphil or Aveeno first. The original formula is really great for all skin types, but like Cetaphil, St. Ives is now making this scrub in several formulas for different skin-types. You can even get a formula of the Apricot Scrub for acne-prone skin that has salicylic acid to help with breakouts. Likewise, they make a gentler creamier formula for dry skin.
Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder makes some fantastic cleansers, but with so many great drugstore options, I tend to think that they are too expensive. I used them often when I was working for the company as a makeup artist and received free product, and they're great. However, now I'm looking for more cost-effective alternatives. I like to invest my money in eye cream and treatments, but I generally feel that the more expensive cleansers are not exponentially better. However, one Lauder product that is worth the investment is a deep exfoliator called Idealist Dual-Action Refinishing Treatment. This product was originally called Micro-D, and it was designed to be a lighter at-home version of micro-dermabrasion, but it was recently reformulated and improved to give you the benefits of both a micro-dermabrasion and a glycloic peel. It warms on your skin with water, which opens up those pores. Then the ultra-fine exfoliating spheres get deep in there and clean out those pores and banish any rough or dry patches. This product is somewhat abrasive definitely not for every day, but it's far less abrasive than micro-dermabrasion or glycolic acid treatments while offering similar results. I also would not recommend it for sensitive skin. But if you're skin is oily, normal.combination, or dry, you can use this once every week or two for instantly smoother and brighter skin. It's more of an investment at $49, but you'll feel like you just had a $100 facial, and the tube tends to last about 6 months if I use it once a week, which is not bad. This is definitely a good one to add to your skincare arsenal.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Calling all Mascara Players
Givenchy has recently rejuvenated its cosmetics lines with some truly interesting products I can't wait to get my paws on (especially the odd-looking Mr. Lash Booster, but that's for another time). First up is a new mascara. Now I've tried a lot of mascaras, and much like shampoos/conditioners, I tend to get bored and start looking for the next great thing after the first few uses. Yes, I'm a serial mascara user, a mascara commitmaphobe if you will. Because mascara is something that really needs to be replaced every 4-6 weeks, it tends to go downhill fast. Each time you use it, air and bacteria get it, which quickly transform your mascara from a smooth lash-defining little black dress of makeup to a cakey clumpy mess. I realize it's not really the mascara's fault, but inevitably I take it out on the product and move on to the next. By now, I'm a bit mascara-jaded and not easily impressed. Curved brushes, plastic non-bristled brushes, combs . . . I've seen and tried them all. And I've rarely bought the same formula more than a couple of times (shout out to CoverGirl Lashblast: you made it 3 replacements before I started seeking a Bigger Better Deal). So I was excited to try this funky looking mascara from Givenchy called Phenomen'Eyes, but I wasn't really looking for a long-term commitment. I was thinking it was going to be more of a one time thing. But as it turns out, this mascara is, well, it's special.
Phenomen'Eyes is a spherical-shaped wand with well-spaced bristles of various lengths. The result is that you can reach those pesky corner lashes that other mascaras seem to always miss or pile on way too much product. Also, this shape seems to be the ideal for lengthening while avoiding clumping. It really defines all the individual lashes. For the first time, I felt like I had those unobtainable magazine photo lashes. You know the really close-up shots of lashes that always look like they must be purely computer-generated since they are long, perfectly separated lash-by-lash, and impossibly curvy. While a combination is using this product after the Shu Uemura eyelash curler delivered on that seriously defined fanned out look. I think I'm in love. It's too bad that this mascara costs $29. As often as I replace them and given my partiality to $5 drugstore mascaras, that is one expensive mascara. But I honestly think it's worth every penny. I've only used it a few times though, so I'll have to see how it does as it ages. Even though I give Givenchy credit where credit is due, I really do hope that Maybelline or CoverGirl catch on and copy this design.
Now, one problem that I've heard some people have had with this product is related to the formula rather than the design. Some have complained that it smudges too easily. I didn't have this problem myself, but I do have a solution for it if you try this mascara and find that it smudges: use a very light coat of lash primer first. The mascara will bind to the lash primer and prevent it from smudging. You don't want to go to heavy with the primer though and you need to get the mascara on immediately before the primer dries (that means you have to do one complete eye at a time) because otherwise the primer will stiffen the lashes and you'll lose the benefits of the shaping and defining properties of this wand. Hopefully, Givenchy will improve the formula regarding the smudging issue or come out with a waterproof version because the wand design is perfection.
Phenomen'Eyes is a spherical-shaped wand with well-spaced bristles of various lengths. The result is that you can reach those pesky corner lashes that other mascaras seem to always miss or pile on way too much product. Also, this shape seems to be the ideal for lengthening while avoiding clumping. It really defines all the individual lashes. For the first time, I felt like I had those unobtainable magazine photo lashes. You know the really close-up shots of lashes that always look like they must be purely computer-generated since they are long, perfectly separated lash-by-lash, and impossibly curvy. While a combination is using this product after the Shu Uemura eyelash curler delivered on that seriously defined fanned out look. I think I'm in love. It's too bad that this mascara costs $29. As often as I replace them and given my partiality to $5 drugstore mascaras, that is one expensive mascara. But I honestly think it's worth every penny. I've only used it a few times though, so I'll have to see how it does as it ages. Even though I give Givenchy credit where credit is due, I really do hope that Maybelline or CoverGirl catch on and copy this design.
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Now, one problem that I've heard some people have had with this product is related to the formula rather than the design. Some have complained that it smudges too easily. I didn't have this problem myself, but I do have a solution for it if you try this mascara and find that it smudges: use a very light coat of lash primer first. The mascara will bind to the lash primer and prevent it from smudging. You don't want to go to heavy with the primer though and you need to get the mascara on immediately before the primer dries (that means you have to do one complete eye at a time) because otherwise the primer will stiffen the lashes and you'll lose the benefits of the shaping and defining properties of this wand. Hopefully, Givenchy will improve the formula regarding the smudging issue or come out with a waterproof version because the wand design is perfection.
Prime Time Part Deaux: Eye Primers
I find that eye primers are critical to a smooth, lasting, non-creasing eye look. The right primer can also bring out the vibrancy of your eyeshadow. I love face primer, but if I'm in a hurry in the morning, I admit that I sometimes skip it. However, I never skip the eye primer when I'm wearing eye makeup. Here are a few primers I've tried in the past week. And here's how they compare to my all time favorite: MAC's Paint Pot in Painterly.
MAC
MAC is generally tough to beat in the eye makeup department. It's a good quality, highly-pigmented, affordable product. But I'm an especially big fan of MAC's paint pots. Technically, this is a creamy eyeshadow that dries smooth and long-wearing. But I am of the opinion that even though this technically is not a primer, it does the trick very nicely. I use the shade Painterly, a nice light cool to neutral toned nude-beige that matches my skintone. MAC also makes this formula is several other fleshy shades, including one that is a bit warmer, Soft Ochre, and one that is great for medium skintones, Groundwork, and one for darker skintones, Quite Natural. In addition to the smooth staying-power of these paints, I really like that they have several shades that match real skintones. Many eye primers are "one color fits all" and tend to be very yellow tones, which is not flattering for me. And personally, I feel that the yellow-based primers distort my eyeshadows in an unflattering way, making them appear more yellow on my skin. That is why I always choose eye shadow bases/primers that are as close as possible to the skintone, or slightly lighter. And at $16.50 a pop, these paints are nicely priced. Here's how the other primers I tried stacked up to my favorite.
Urban Decay
I tried a sample Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden. I was not pleased with this because it was way too yellow, but in fairness to the product, they do make a sheer nude shade that I might have preferred. The overall texture was fine, and it definitely helped my eyeshadow stay all day just as well as the MAC product I like. But I had a strange reaction to this product. My eyelids suddenly became red and irritated as the product dried. The sensation went away after about 15 minutes or so, but my eyelids were very irritated for a while, which caused me to postpone applying my eyeshadow since I didn't want to agitate the area with a brush. I don't typically have cosmetic allergies, but who knows, I may be allergic to something in the product. But I know this is a popular primer with a lot of the makeup artists I know, so it may just be me. However, if you tend to have skin allergies or sensitivities, I would do a patch test first before spreading this all over your eyelids. In any case, between the overly yellow color and the irritation, I doubt I'll be trying this again.
Kat Von D
Yes, the famed sexy tattoo artist started her own makeup line. I guess I should have seen that one coming. This is the first product I've tried from the line, and I must say especially after my Urban Decay experience, I was impressed with the High Voltage Eye Primer. The primer was smooth and lightweight. It spread easily, and I like that it comes in a wand form. However, the ease of the wand is somewhat deceptive since it holds too much product, so it's not useful for blending. You either have to blend with your finger or preferably, a concealer brush. I am used to using a concealer brush to apply my Paint Pot, so that's not a problem. I think that if you wipe the wand thoroughly on the edge of the tube, you may be able to use it to blend the product. But chances are you'll still end up blending the edges with your finger. Even though the shade of this product is not bad, a "universal" nude, it's still a bit on the yellow side for me. But my bigger complaint is that it does not come in shades to match other skintones. There is a deep dark charcoal color, but that is not going to match anyone's skintone. And while there are different thoughts on whether you really need your primer to match your skintone, my question is if you can get a product that does match, why the heck would you want to use something way too dark, too light, too yellow, or too pink? So basically, I think that Ms. Von D has a good product here, but I'd like to see her expand the options to accommodate a wider range of skintones rather than trying to mass off a warm yellowish nude as "universal."
Benefit
Benefit's Stay Don't Stray is a winner. It's interesting because it's not just an eyeshadow primer, it's also designed to primer underneath your eyes to keep your under-eye concealer form creasing. It comes in a pump format, so you can apply and blend it with either your finger or your concealer brush. Beware: I got lazy and decided to use my finger instead of a brush when I tried this, and it did not wash off very easily, even with soap. I had to break out the makeup remover. But I took that as a good sign that it was definitely going to prevent concealer and eyeshadow from running, fading, or creasing. And boy did it! This is a fantastic non-greasy gem with staying power. My under-eye concealer has never looked so good, particularly during the July heat when it tends to run and crease easily. You're definitely gonna need a good eye-makeup remover to get it off. Once again, it is only sold it one color, a "universal" nude. However, I thought that this one really was more universal because it is pretty sheer and neutral-toned (equal parts of cool pink base and warm yellow base). I'd still like to see them make at least one more a few shades darker for women with medium to dark skintones. But overall, I think that this is a great product. It's a few bucks more than the MAC at $24, but I think I would use the MAC for everyday and reserve the Benefit for days when I need a little extra staying power because of the heat or a photo shoot. This one's definitely going in my wedding makeup kit.
MAC
MAC is generally tough to beat in the eye makeup department. It's a good quality, highly-pigmented, affordable product. But I'm an especially big fan of MAC's paint pots. Technically, this is a creamy eyeshadow that dries smooth and long-wearing. But I am of the opinion that even though this technically is not a primer, it does the trick very nicely. I use the shade Painterly, a nice light cool to neutral toned nude-beige that matches my skintone. MAC also makes this formula is several other fleshy shades, including one that is a bit warmer, Soft Ochre, and one that is great for medium skintones, Groundwork, and one for darker skintones, Quite Natural. In addition to the smooth staying-power of these paints, I really like that they have several shades that match real skintones. Many eye primers are "one color fits all" and tend to be very yellow tones, which is not flattering for me. And personally, I feel that the yellow-based primers distort my eyeshadows in an unflattering way, making them appear more yellow on my skin. That is why I always choose eye shadow bases/primers that are as close as possible to the skintone, or slightly lighter. And at $16.50 a pop, these paints are nicely priced. Here's how the other primers I tried stacked up to my favorite.
Urban Decay
I tried a sample Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden. I was not pleased with this because it was way too yellow, but in fairness to the product, they do make a sheer nude shade that I might have preferred. The overall texture was fine, and it definitely helped my eyeshadow stay all day just as well as the MAC product I like. But I had a strange reaction to this product. My eyelids suddenly became red and irritated as the product dried. The sensation went away after about 15 minutes or so, but my eyelids were very irritated for a while, which caused me to postpone applying my eyeshadow since I didn't want to agitate the area with a brush. I don't typically have cosmetic allergies, but who knows, I may be allergic to something in the product. But I know this is a popular primer with a lot of the makeup artists I know, so it may just be me. However, if you tend to have skin allergies or sensitivities, I would do a patch test first before spreading this all over your eyelids. In any case, between the overly yellow color and the irritation, I doubt I'll be trying this again.
Kat Von D
Yes, the famed sexy tattoo artist started her own makeup line. I guess I should have seen that one coming. This is the first product I've tried from the line, and I must say especially after my Urban Decay experience, I was impressed with the High Voltage Eye Primer. The primer was smooth and lightweight. It spread easily, and I like that it comes in a wand form. However, the ease of the wand is somewhat deceptive since it holds too much product, so it's not useful for blending. You either have to blend with your finger or preferably, a concealer brush. I am used to using a concealer brush to apply my Paint Pot, so that's not a problem. I think that if you wipe the wand thoroughly on the edge of the tube, you may be able to use it to blend the product. But chances are you'll still end up blending the edges with your finger. Even though the shade of this product is not bad, a "universal" nude, it's still a bit on the yellow side for me. But my bigger complaint is that it does not come in shades to match other skintones. There is a deep dark charcoal color, but that is not going to match anyone's skintone. And while there are different thoughts on whether you really need your primer to match your skintone, my question is if you can get a product that does match, why the heck would you want to use something way too dark, too light, too yellow, or too pink? So basically, I think that Ms. Von D has a good product here, but I'd like to see her expand the options to accommodate a wider range of skintones rather than trying to mass off a warm yellowish nude as "universal."
Benefit
Benefit's Stay Don't Stray is a winner. It's interesting because it's not just an eyeshadow primer, it's also designed to primer underneath your eyes to keep your under-eye concealer form creasing. It comes in a pump format, so you can apply and blend it with either your finger or your concealer brush. Beware: I got lazy and decided to use my finger instead of a brush when I tried this, and it did not wash off very easily, even with soap. I had to break out the makeup remover. But I took that as a good sign that it was definitely going to prevent concealer and eyeshadow from running, fading, or creasing. And boy did it! This is a fantastic non-greasy gem with staying power. My under-eye concealer has never looked so good, particularly during the July heat when it tends to run and crease easily. You're definitely gonna need a good eye-makeup remover to get it off. Once again, it is only sold it one color, a "universal" nude. However, I thought that this one really was more universal because it is pretty sheer and neutral-toned (equal parts of cool pink base and warm yellow base). I'd still like to see them make at least one more a few shades darker for women with medium to dark skintones. But overall, I think that this is a great product. It's a few bucks more than the MAC at $24, but I think I would use the MAC for everyday and reserve the Benefit for days when I need a little extra staying power because of the heat or a photo shoot. This one's definitely going in my wedding makeup kit.
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