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 Skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skincare. 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.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Ole La
Ole Henriksen (pronounced "ooh-la") is one of the hottest new natural skincare lines from a dermatologist with a longtime celebrity cult following in Beverly Hills. Together with Korres, Ole is one of my favorite "active naturals" skincare lines for three big reasons: the products do what they promise, make my skin feel soft and smooth, and smell fabulous.
I have only tried the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Ole's line of products, but I am very impressed with what I have tried. The following is a breakdown of my 7 days of Ole experiment.
African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser
This is a very nice foaming cleanser that has a slightly herbal tea scent. The luxurious foam is softening and non-irritating. It's ideal for dry or sensitive skin. I find the $35 price point too high for a cleanser, but this is certainly a nice one if you're willing to pay a bit more to get a good all-natural softening cleanser.
Sugar Glow Face Scrub
The product is designed to be used just 2 or 3 times a week, but I honestly think it's gentle enough to use every day for those who like the feeling of squeaky clean and soft skin after a good scrub. It's made with pomegranate seeds and pumpkin for the scrubbing action, and African red tea, vitamin c, and rose hips impart gentle antioxidant benefits to keep your skin healthy while exfoliating away the dead skin cells. All and all, I think that this exfoliator is a great value. There are some exfoliators that I prefer (like Kate Somersville's ExfoliKate), but this is the best one I've tried under $50. It is $38 for a generous 3.5 ounce size. It smells like citrus and honey, which is a nice bonus.
Feel the Difference Perfecting Mask
This is the single best mask I have EVER tried by a landslide. It smells delectable (like orange cream or 50/50 bar, a common scent among Ole products), and it leaves my skin feeling as soft and smooth as a baby's bottom after just 10 minutes. What's more, it's so gentle that even when I accidentally left it on way too long (upward of 20 minutes), it did not irritate my skin at all. It's designed to boost oxygen flow to the skin, and it leaves the skin feeling slightly tingly, not in an annoying menthol way, but like a refreshing breeze kissing your face. My skin feels so soft afterward. I will definitely continue to use it 2-3 times a week. For $35, it's a bargain.
Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask
I alternated this mask with the Feel the Difference and found that it delivered amazing results as well. This one is designed to calm sensitive skin. Since my skin is not really that sensitive, I did not get that benefit. But it smells of relaxing lavender, so I still enjoyed my 20 minutes of mask time. My skin did feel smoother after using this mask, but for my dry skin, I prefer the moisturizing results of the Feel the Difference mask. I would recommend this for anyone with sensitive skin though. It was definitely a very very mild tingle and did not leave a touch of redness or irritation on my skin.
African Red Tea Face Mist
This is one of the Ole products I got in my travel-size kit I can live without. It's a spray-on toner of sorts, but without the alcohol. It contains the African red tea and pomegranate to deliver antioxidants to the skin, which is all fine and good, but I feel that serums are more effective for that purpose than a mist.
Truth Serum Collagen Booster
I wanted to love this serum. After all, it's from one of my very favorite skincare lines, it's loaded with vitamin C and many other antioxidants, and it's supposed to boost collagen production. But I cannot attest to whether it works because I gave up on it after two uses. It's simply way too sticky. I was hoping that if I let it dry for a good 20 minutes before applying moisturizer, that would help. But much to my dismay, it still made my skin feel very sticky to the touch, even after moisturizer. Needless to say, this does not work with makeup at all. Even as a nighttime-only option, I feel that there are better serums out there that don't make my skin feel so sticky so I'll pass on this one.
Express the Truth (night moisturizer)
I can not say enough good things about this moisturizer. It is VERY hydrating for thirsty skin, it's loaded with cutting edge active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, antioxidants, and macadamia nut oil. My skin smells amazing and edible when I put this on (my fiance can smell that fabulous orange-cream scent from across the room), and it feels so soft and hydrated. And even though I was a bit weary about the macadamia nut oil, I have had zero breakouts or skin irritations after using this cream for a week. This is simply a fantastic nourishing night cream, and at $65, I think it's reasonably priced for all the benefits. Note that you can also use this cream during the day with a separate SPF. I just generally prefer to use moisturizers that already have an SPF in them during the day, which is why I consider this one a night cream.
Sheer Transformation (night moisturizer)
This one is designed to help fade age spots and repair sun damage in general. It also protects the skin from free-radical damage, which would make it best for a day moisturizer. However, I used it at night because the other two moisturizers I was testing had SPF. This moisturizer, as all the other Ole moisturizers, did make my skin feel silky soft. Unfortunately, my little sample has not allowed me to use it long enough to see if it really reverses sun damage. Overall, if sun damage if your concern, this would be a good choice in that price range ($45), but I do wish that it had an SPF so you don't have the added step of putting on sunscreen. Estee Lauder's Daywear is comparable in benefits and it has an SPF, so overall, I would recommend that over Sheer Transformation.
Truth Revealed Super Creme SPF 15 (day moisturizer)
I love love love this moisturizer. It has that same orange cream scent in other Ole products, makes my skin feel like silk, and has awesome anti-aging benefits including fatty acids, antioxidants, and Omega 3. It firms and tightens my skin without causing any discomfort. It also has an SPF 15. If it was SPF 30, this would be my dream day moisturizer. But I think it's a great product and a bargain at $65.
Herbal Day Creme SPF 15 (day moisturizer)
Another fabulous-smelling Ole product. This one smells more herbal as the name suggests, but not too strong. The ingredients include Grape Seed Oil, Soybean Extract, Chamomile, Vitamins A and E, and other magical active naturals to protect and soothe the skin. Again, I wish it was SPF 30 rather than SPF 15, but it makes my skin feel amazing, gives it a healthy glow, and smells amazing.
Truth is in the Eyes (eye serum)
This is a serum that you are supposed to wear under an eye cream (after waiting for the serum to dry). It does tighten, firm, and diminish wrinkles as promised. It's also the first eye area exfoliator that I am aware of. Usually, we don't exfoliate the delicate eye area. But this serum acts as a very gentle peel to firm, lift, and exfoliate the eye area all at the same time. Fair warning: it is a peel, so even if you put eye cream over it (as you absolutely should), it tends to peel underneath concealer and face makeup, so I see this as more of a nighttime eye treatment. I like this product, and I do think it works. I would not use it with a very expensive eye cream though because I feel like it creates a barrier that sucks up some of the eye cream's moisture but not necessarily all the other benefits. To me, this is a 2-3 times a week treatment.
Visual Truth Eye Creme
This is an ok eye cream. I don't love it, I don't hate it. I just don't find it as impressive as many of the other Ole products I've tried. It is very hydrating for dry skin around the eyes, but I haven't noticed any other major benefits (like helping with lines or dark circles). I feel like this is a nice starter eye cream for teenage girls. I'm starting to see some lines, so I'm looking to up the ante personally. But this is a good one to use with the Truth is in the Eyes serum.
I have only tried the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Ole's line of products, but I am very impressed with what I have tried. The following is a breakdown of my 7 days of Ole experiment.
African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser
This is a very nice foaming cleanser that has a slightly herbal tea scent. The luxurious foam is softening and non-irritating. It's ideal for dry or sensitive skin. I find the $35 price point too high for a cleanser, but this is certainly a nice one if you're willing to pay a bit more to get a good all-natural softening cleanser.
Sugar Glow Face Scrub
The product is designed to be used just 2 or 3 times a week, but I honestly think it's gentle enough to use every day for those who like the feeling of squeaky clean and soft skin after a good scrub. It's made with pomegranate seeds and pumpkin for the scrubbing action, and African red tea, vitamin c, and rose hips impart gentle antioxidant benefits to keep your skin healthy while exfoliating away the dead skin cells. All and all, I think that this exfoliator is a great value. There are some exfoliators that I prefer (like Kate Somersville's ExfoliKate), but this is the best one I've tried under $50. It is $38 for a generous 3.5 ounce size. It smells like citrus and honey, which is a nice bonus.
Feel the Difference Perfecting Mask
This is the single best mask I have EVER tried by a landslide. It smells delectable (like orange cream or 50/50 bar, a common scent among Ole products), and it leaves my skin feeling as soft and smooth as a baby's bottom after just 10 minutes. What's more, it's so gentle that even when I accidentally left it on way too long (upward of 20 minutes), it did not irritate my skin at all. It's designed to boost oxygen flow to the skin, and it leaves the skin feeling slightly tingly, not in an annoying menthol way, but like a refreshing breeze kissing your face. My skin feels so soft afterward. I will definitely continue to use it 2-3 times a week. For $35, it's a bargain.
Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask
I alternated this mask with the Feel the Difference and found that it delivered amazing results as well. This one is designed to calm sensitive skin. Since my skin is not really that sensitive, I did not get that benefit. But it smells of relaxing lavender, so I still enjoyed my 20 minutes of mask time. My skin did feel smoother after using this mask, but for my dry skin, I prefer the moisturizing results of the Feel the Difference mask. I would recommend this for anyone with sensitive skin though. It was definitely a very very mild tingle and did not leave a touch of redness or irritation on my skin.
African Red Tea Face Mist
This is one of the Ole products I got in my travel-size kit I can live without. It's a spray-on toner of sorts, but without the alcohol. It contains the African red tea and pomegranate to deliver antioxidants to the skin, which is all fine and good, but I feel that serums are more effective for that purpose than a mist.
Truth Serum Collagen Booster
I wanted to love this serum. After all, it's from one of my very favorite skincare lines, it's loaded with vitamin C and many other antioxidants, and it's supposed to boost collagen production. But I cannot attest to whether it works because I gave up on it after two uses. It's simply way too sticky. I was hoping that if I let it dry for a good 20 minutes before applying moisturizer, that would help. But much to my dismay, it still made my skin feel very sticky to the touch, even after moisturizer. Needless to say, this does not work with makeup at all. Even as a nighttime-only option, I feel that there are better serums out there that don't make my skin feel so sticky so I'll pass on this one.
Express the Truth (night moisturizer)
I can not say enough good things about this moisturizer. It is VERY hydrating for thirsty skin, it's loaded with cutting edge active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, antioxidants, and macadamia nut oil. My skin smells amazing and edible when I put this on (my fiance can smell that fabulous orange-cream scent from across the room), and it feels so soft and hydrated. And even though I was a bit weary about the macadamia nut oil, I have had zero breakouts or skin irritations after using this cream for a week. This is simply a fantastic nourishing night cream, and at $65, I think it's reasonably priced for all the benefits. Note that you can also use this cream during the day with a separate SPF. I just generally prefer to use moisturizers that already have an SPF in them during the day, which is why I consider this one a night cream.
Sheer Transformation (night moisturizer)
This one is designed to help fade age spots and repair sun damage in general. It also protects the skin from free-radical damage, which would make it best for a day moisturizer. However, I used it at night because the other two moisturizers I was testing had SPF. This moisturizer, as all the other Ole moisturizers, did make my skin feel silky soft. Unfortunately, my little sample has not allowed me to use it long enough to see if it really reverses sun damage. Overall, if sun damage if your concern, this would be a good choice in that price range ($45), but I do wish that it had an SPF so you don't have the added step of putting on sunscreen. Estee Lauder's Daywear is comparable in benefits and it has an SPF, so overall, I would recommend that over Sheer Transformation.
Truth Revealed Super Creme SPF 15 (day moisturizer)
I love love love this moisturizer. It has that same orange cream scent in other Ole products, makes my skin feel like silk, and has awesome anti-aging benefits including fatty acids, antioxidants, and Omega 3. It firms and tightens my skin without causing any discomfort. It also has an SPF 15. If it was SPF 30, this would be my dream day moisturizer. But I think it's a great product and a bargain at $65.
Herbal Day Creme SPF 15 (day moisturizer)
Another fabulous-smelling Ole product. This one smells more herbal as the name suggests, but not too strong. The ingredients include Grape Seed Oil, Soybean Extract, Chamomile, Vitamins A and E, and other magical active naturals to protect and soothe the skin. Again, I wish it was SPF 30 rather than SPF 15, but it makes my skin feel amazing, gives it a healthy glow, and smells amazing.
Truth is in the Eyes (eye serum)
This is a serum that you are supposed to wear under an eye cream (after waiting for the serum to dry). It does tighten, firm, and diminish wrinkles as promised. It's also the first eye area exfoliator that I am aware of. Usually, we don't exfoliate the delicate eye area. But this serum acts as a very gentle peel to firm, lift, and exfoliate the eye area all at the same time. Fair warning: it is a peel, so even if you put eye cream over it (as you absolutely should), it tends to peel underneath concealer and face makeup, so I see this as more of a nighttime eye treatment. I like this product, and I do think it works. I would not use it with a very expensive eye cream though because I feel like it creates a barrier that sucks up some of the eye cream's moisture but not necessarily all the other benefits. To me, this is a 2-3 times a week treatment.
Visual Truth Eye Creme
This is an ok eye cream. I don't love it, I don't hate it. I just don't find it as impressive as many of the other Ole products I've tried. It is very hydrating for dry skin around the eyes, but I haven't noticed any other major benefits (like helping with lines or dark circles). I feel like this is a nice starter eye cream for teenage girls. I'm starting to see some lines, so I'm looking to up the ante personally. But this is a good one to use with the Truth is in the Eyes serum.
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.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Get Buzzed!
Most people are familiar with Burt's Bees lip balm (the classic soothing balm is made with beeswax and honey, but there are other variations available now), but fewer have taken advantage of their wide range of natural homeopathic products. You can find Burt's online at www.burtsbees.com and many other online retailers, but it's also commonly found at your neighborhood drugstore and Whole Foods. Here are a few of my faves from Burt's:
Hand Salve:
This is one of the most universal and useful of Burt's products. Although it's obvious use is as a salve for dry, rough, or cracked hands, I find it's also a universal salve for any dry patches. It's particularly useful for knees, elbows, and heels.
Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme:
This is a really nice softening butter for the cuticles. It's made with lemon oil, so it smells like fresh citrus, and it also has cocoa butter and vitamin E to moisturize those dry nail-beds. It's also great to use around the toenails, particularly during sandal season, to keep your pedicure looking fresh.
Beeswax and Banana Hand Creme:
To be honest, I don't find that this one moisturizes and better than any other hand cream, but it smells delicious. And the scent lasts throughout the day without being overwhelming. The moisture stays with you pretty well too, although you do have to reapply after washing your hands like many hand creams.
Aloe and Buttermilk Body Lotion:
This one is fantastic after you get a sunburn. Aloe is the best way to soothe and heal burned and blistered skin, but that green sticky formulation stains your clothes and doesn't smell that great. This one still has that aloe scent, but it's much much softer than the green gels, and it's not sticky. The buttermilk is another great natural remedy for irritated and burned skin, so the two ingredients working together in a softening lotion will have your skin feeling better in no time.
You can get a kit with trial sizes of all of the above plus more great Burt's Bees items for $13 at most drugstores, including their online counterparts and www.drugstore.com. It's a great way to check out the brand.
Hand Salve:
This is one of the most universal and useful of Burt's products. Although it's obvious use is as a salve for dry, rough, or cracked hands, I find it's also a universal salve for any dry patches. It's particularly useful for knees, elbows, and heels.
Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme:
This is a really nice softening butter for the cuticles. It's made with lemon oil, so it smells like fresh citrus, and it also has cocoa butter and vitamin E to moisturize those dry nail-beds. It's also great to use around the toenails, particularly during sandal season, to keep your pedicure looking fresh.
Beeswax and Banana Hand Creme:
To be honest, I don't find that this one moisturizes and better than any other hand cream, but it smells delicious. And the scent lasts throughout the day without being overwhelming. The moisture stays with you pretty well too, although you do have to reapply after washing your hands like many hand creams.
Aloe and Buttermilk Body Lotion:
This one is fantastic after you get a sunburn. Aloe is the best way to soothe and heal burned and blistered skin, but that green sticky formulation stains your clothes and doesn't smell that great. This one still has that aloe scent, but it's much much softer than the green gels, and it's not sticky. The buttermilk is another great natural remedy for irritated and burned skin, so the two ingredients working together in a softening lotion will have your skin feeling better in no time.
You can get a kit with trial sizes of all of the above plus more great Burt's Bees items for $13 at most drugstores, including their online counterparts and www.drugstore.com. It's a great way to check out the brand.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Home Cookin: An Aspirin a Day
For the occasional blemish, here's a recipe for a quick homemade paste that will calm redness and swelling quickly. Take a non-coated aspirin (or two baby aspirins), crush it with the back of a spoon or chop it with a knife, and then mix in a bit of water to form a paste. Apply to the affected area and leave on for about 15-20 minutes before washing with warm water and a washcloth. This makes a great spot treatment, and it actually helps kill the bacteria to keep it from spreading and causing a full-fledged breakout. It's a great quick-fix, and it's less drying than most store-bought spot treatments (and much more cost-effective too!).
You can also use aspirin to make a great purifying mask. It will help clean and minimize pores, and it makes dull dry skin soft and luminous. For the mask, take four non-coated aspirin tablets, crush or chop, add a few drops of water, and blend with a honey to form a paste. Usually, about a 1/2 teaspoon of honey does the trick but add more if it looks dry or doesn't spread easily. Apply to the full face (avoiding the eye area, just like any mask), and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. Then rinse the face with warm water.
You can also use aspirin to make a great purifying mask. It will help clean and minimize pores, and it makes dull dry skin soft and luminous. For the mask, take four non-coated aspirin tablets, crush or chop, add a few drops of water, and blend with a honey to form a paste. Usually, about a 1/2 teaspoon of honey does the trick but add more if it looks dry or doesn't spread easily. Apply to the full face (avoiding the eye area, just like any mask), and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. Then rinse the face with warm water.
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.
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
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
Home Cookin: The Oatmeal Mask
Oatmeal is a classic home remedy for all kinds of skin woes, particularly poison ivy, bug bites, rashes, eczema, sunburns, chicken pox, and general skin irritation and redness. Aveeno makes many soothing skin-care products with an oatmeal base, but you can easily make an oatmeal paste at home that you can use to soothe irritated skin. You can use this paste as a spot-treatment for bug bites, which will reduce swelling and redness, and help keep itching at bay. You can add a half-cup of the paste to a warm bath for a rash on the body or to sooth a sunburn. You can also use the paste as a facial mask to help soothe redness and irritation and give your skin a healthy refreshed glow. The paste even makes a great spot treatment for an annoying red pimple underneath the surface of the skin. It won't treat a pimple as effectively as salicylic acid, but it works well to treat redness and inflammation for those pimples that haven't quit hit the skin's surface. You can also use the paste as a refreshing mask for the feet, which helps soften callouses and soothe blisters.
Start with 1/2 cup milk and microwave it for one minute on medium-high power. Then dissolve two tablespoons of honey in the warm milk, stirring well. Next, add 1/4 to 1/3 cup oatmeal to make a paste. You want it to be thick enough that it is sticking together and all the liquid is absorbed, but not at all dry. How much oatmeal you will ultimately use can vary depending on the type of oatmeal you use (old-fashioned, 5-minute, instant) and what type of milk you use (fat-free, whole, soy, almond). I prefer to use a milk with at least a little milk-fat like a 2% and a stove-top oatmeal rather than the instant stuff. But you can use anything you have on hand. Just add more oatmeal by the spoon-full if it's too wet or more milk by the spoon-full if it's too dry. It should have the texture of a moist somewhat sticky paste, definitely thicker than a bowl of oatmeal for eating. You can use it as is or at a teaspoon of an oil like lavender oil for extra soothing or tea tree oil for acne. Olive oil is a good one for the feet.
For a spot treatment for bug bites or acne, simple apply a liberal amount of the paste to the affected area and let it dry for 45 minutes. As a mask for the face or feet, apply generously and allow to dry for 45 minutes. If you're applying it to the feet, I would suggest pulling on some cotton socks so you can be mobile while the mask dries. Then rinse with warm water and a washcloth, no soap necessary. Your skin will be soft and smooth, and it should feel a lot less irritated.
If you have a larger affected area, like a sunburn or poison oak or a rash on a large portion of your body, it's best to use this in the bath. Simply take a 1/2 to 3/4 cups of the paste and run it under warm bath water. Soak for at least a half-hour. This will require some clean-up afterward, so even though I like to have the loose oatmeal so I can rub it into any particularly bad spots while I bathe, it is a chore to clean up. Especially if you're already sore with a sunburn, etc. To avoid clean-up, simply take the paste and put it into a sachet bag to hang on your faucet and let the water run over it. You'll get most of the same benefits. If you don't have a sachet bag handy, you can make one at home with a coffee filter and just use a rubber band to tie it closed and a second rubber band to hang it on the faucet. A little sieve from the kitchen would also do the trick.
This little home-remedy may not work the same miracles as the latest $75 anti-aging serum, but it's a great easy-to-make concoction that is affordable and effective, particularly for irritated and/or inflamed skin. If you prefer to purchase the pre-made oatmeal treatments, check out Aveeno's long list of oatmeal and milk-based products.
Start with 1/2 cup milk and microwave it for one minute on medium-high power. Then dissolve two tablespoons of honey in the warm milk, stirring well. Next, add 1/4 to 1/3 cup oatmeal to make a paste. You want it to be thick enough that it is sticking together and all the liquid is absorbed, but not at all dry. How much oatmeal you will ultimately use can vary depending on the type of oatmeal you use (old-fashioned, 5-minute, instant) and what type of milk you use (fat-free, whole, soy, almond). I prefer to use a milk with at least a little milk-fat like a 2% and a stove-top oatmeal rather than the instant stuff. But you can use anything you have on hand. Just add more oatmeal by the spoon-full if it's too wet or more milk by the spoon-full if it's too dry. It should have the texture of a moist somewhat sticky paste, definitely thicker than a bowl of oatmeal for eating. You can use it as is or at a teaspoon of an oil like lavender oil for extra soothing or tea tree oil for acne. Olive oil is a good one for the feet.
For a spot treatment for bug bites or acne, simple apply a liberal amount of the paste to the affected area and let it dry for 45 minutes. As a mask for the face or feet, apply generously and allow to dry for 45 minutes. If you're applying it to the feet, I would suggest pulling on some cotton socks so you can be mobile while the mask dries. Then rinse with warm water and a washcloth, no soap necessary. Your skin will be soft and smooth, and it should feel a lot less irritated.
If you have a larger affected area, like a sunburn or poison oak or a rash on a large portion of your body, it's best to use this in the bath. Simply take a 1/2 to 3/4 cups of the paste and run it under warm bath water. Soak for at least a half-hour. This will require some clean-up afterward, so even though I like to have the loose oatmeal so I can rub it into any particularly bad spots while I bathe, it is a chore to clean up. Especially if you're already sore with a sunburn, etc. To avoid clean-up, simply take the paste and put it into a sachet bag to hang on your faucet and let the water run over it. You'll get most of the same benefits. If you don't have a sachet bag handy, you can make one at home with a coffee filter and just use a rubber band to tie it closed and a second rubber band to hang it on the faucet. A little sieve from the kitchen would also do the trick.
This little home-remedy may not work the same miracles as the latest $75 anti-aging serum, but it's a great easy-to-make concoction that is affordable and effective, particularly for irritated and/or inflamed skin. If you prefer to purchase the pre-made oatmeal treatments, check out Aveeno's long list of oatmeal and milk-based products.
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.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Quick Fix for Skin Woes
Tendskin is a longtime beauty-insider favorite for both men and women. This liquid miracle quickly and effectively treats a host of skin problems. While it was designed to be used after hair removal to prevent and cure razor bumps, razor burn, and ingrown hairs, many Tendskin-fans in the know also use it to treat acne. Unlike most acne-treatment formulas that dry the skin and cause more irritation, Tendskin is very gentle. If you get occasional spots, you can apply this product twice daily and it will eliminate most breakouts within a few days. The same formula that makes it to effective to treat bumps and ingrown hairs on the face, bikini line, or legs makes it an acne-slayer. The secret ingredient? Liquid aspirin. When used with the salicylic acid and isopropyl alcohol, the aspirin works to magically quell redness, irritation, and inflammation in the skin FAST. Best of all, the liquid dries quickly and smoothly, without leaving a film or stickiness on the skin like most acne spot-treatment products. Simply swipe the product on the skin with clean hands or a cotton-ball in any area where you have or are prone to get acne, razor bumps, or ingrown hairs.
You can use it occasionally as needed, especially after shaving, waxing, or electrolysis. For you men out there who have facial-skin sensitivity after shaving, you will LOVE this lightweight non-irritating formula. Despite some of the hardcore astringent ingredients like the alcohol and salicylic acid, the aspirin actually makes this product very soothing. You can also use it every day, which is what I recommend for preventative maintenance if you're prone to ingrown hairs in particular. Annoying ingrown hairs often emerge as the hair follicles are growing back after shaving or waxing, so using it only after hair removal won't work very well to prevent them. But after using this product every day for a full hair-growth cycle, you will see a marked improvement. I have heard that the same is true for those with moderate to severe acne: every day use will help prevent new breakouts. I would caution that even though this product is fairly gentle, it still has a laundry list of astringent ingredients that strip the skin of moisture, so if you to use this product on your skin every day, be sure to use a good moisturizer to restore hydration and prevent aging.
At $20 for a 4 oz bottle and $50 for the jumbo-size 16 oz bottle that will last you a long time, you'll find this a worthwhile investment whether you use it occasionally or everyday. Get it at Sephora, ULTA, and most fine salons that offer waxing and electrolysis.
You can use it occasionally as needed, especially after shaving, waxing, or electrolysis. For you men out there who have facial-skin sensitivity after shaving, you will LOVE this lightweight non-irritating formula. Despite some of the hardcore astringent ingredients like the alcohol and salicylic acid, the aspirin actually makes this product very soothing. You can also use it every day, which is what I recommend for preventative maintenance if you're prone to ingrown hairs in particular. Annoying ingrown hairs often emerge as the hair follicles are growing back after shaving or waxing, so using it only after hair removal won't work very well to prevent them. But after using this product every day for a full hair-growth cycle, you will see a marked improvement. I have heard that the same is true for those with moderate to severe acne: every day use will help prevent new breakouts. I would caution that even though this product is fairly gentle, it still has a laundry list of astringent ingredients that strip the skin of moisture, so if you to use this product on your skin every day, be sure to use a good moisturizer to restore hydration and prevent aging.
  |
At $20 for a 4 oz bottle and $50 for the jumbo-size 16 oz bottle that will last you a long time, you'll find this a worthwhile investment whether you use it occasionally or everyday. Get it at Sephora, ULTA, and most fine salons that offer waxing and electrolysis.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)