Giovanni Nutrafix

I rarely use the same products in the shower day to day. Even when I love something, I need variety. I need to switch it up every few days. That's how I know I'm in love with this Giovanni Nutrafix Deep Conditioner. Because I've had it for a few weeks and I've used it every single day since I got it. *cue lovebird music*

:: Giovanni Nutrafix Hair Reconstructor ::

Good things:

1. This is marketed as a deep conditioner. I don't use deep conditioners, though. If I do, it weighs my fine hair way too much and I end up looking like Olive Oyl. This conditions *so* well, but it doesn't weigh your hair down at. all. Even when used everyday.
2. Adds protein-y ingredients to reconstruct your hair shaft. Kind of a line of bologna in general, but this does seem to repair damaged hair better than any higher-priced conditioner I've ever used.
3. Has amazing slip without using silicones (which are bad for your hair) like most conditioners do.
4. Leave it on for 10 minutes, which is a long time, but it kind of forces you to hang out in the shower and pamper yourself.
5. Easily rinses clean without feeling greasy.
6. Giovanni is a natural, organic line of hair care. Good for the polar bears!
   

Bad things:

1. I can't think of a single one.

I found this in the organic section of my local Wegmans.

Revlon Beyond Natural Foundation

I'm always on the quest to find foundations that are light but give enough coverage to make your skin look its best without looking fake or overly done. I stumbled upon this because it was buy-one-get-one and I already love Revlon's Colorstay and thought I would give this a whirl. It's truly on the verge of taking over Neutrogena's Tinted Moisturizer as my new holy grail summer foundation.

:: Revlon Beyond Natural Skin-Matching Makeup with SPF ::

Good things:

1. The skin matching technology is basically that the makeup comes out of the tube almost white like a lotion and it has tiny microbeads of color that are supposed to "match" your skin magically. Doubtful that there's any magic going on, but I like that it gives sheer coverage without feeling like you've got no coverage at all.
   
2. This gave me an even, natural, semi-matte/semi-dewy finish. I felt like it was my skin showing through at its best.
   
3. Completely neutral. I *hate* when foundations have pink or peach added to them and this is one of the few drugstore lines that is a neutral/yellow base. 
   
4. Lasted throughout the day, and I've even worn it on days when I'm outside and sweating all day and my face still looks reasonably put-together.
   
5. SPF. Nuff said. If you're not using an SPF product on your face I don't even want to talk to you.
   
6. Love the packaging, i.e. love when products are in a squeeze tube so you don't have to contaminate the product just trying to get it out.
   
7. At $13.99, pretty affordable considering the quality.
   

Bad things:

1. So far nothing, but I will unload a truckload of fury on Revlon if they discontinue this.
   

Rec Request: SPF Lip Balm

You guys have been hot with the comments lately, and I love it. Keep them coming.

I had a request for a recommendation on a lip balm to replace a beloved Lip Smackers addiction. Personally I'm not a huge fan of Lip Smackers, save for the Dr. Pepper flavor which is just inexplicably addictive. (Did you know there's prune juice in Dr. Pepper?) They always feel slightly filmy to me and my lips feel drier in the long run. 

My holy grail lip balm in terms of overall delivery of moisture, shine/plumpness, and SPF content has to be Neutrogena's Lip Moisturizer. This balm makes your lips look *so* good, it glides on smoothly with no waxy feel, and it has an SPF of 15 to protect your lips from shriveling up and rotting off (as one commenter so vividly put it).

If you've never tried this, I would suggest picking up a tube. You will probably find yourself picking up a few more so you have spares. It's difficult to find but if you live in my town, you can find it at Wegman's.

Tell Me What You Love

I'm really curious about what you consider your "holy grail" beauty products. If you've just read this, I implore you to leave a comment and tell me at least one thing that you couldn't live without, or that you think is the cat's pajama. I'll probably test a few of the products and write about them here if they're enjoyable.

Skincare 101, updated

This is a long one. Brace yourself.

I've nestled into a really great skincare routine lately. One product I've been using for several months is something that I'm a little reticent to rave about. It absolutely deserves a rave, but it goes against a lot of the things I've learned about skincare and it took *me* a while to accept it, so I wonder how my faithful readers will take to it.

It's Jojoba Oil. Yes, on the face. Yes, rubbing oil onto your face. As a cleanser. Years ago I was told by a dermatologist to never use products with oil on my face, so the thought of putting pure oil on my face...well, it had me nervous to say the least. But when I read about it, and really put some thought into it, I decided to give it a try. The idea is that oil helps to attract and whisk away oil, without upsetting the natural balance of your skin. So much of the "oil-controlling" crap that we put on our faces actually makes our skin dry, and therefore it will create more oil to compensate. The oil cleansing method is supposed to gently restore your skin's suppleness and doesn't leave you greasy at all, which is sort of counter-intuitive but I assure you, it works.

Even on the first day, it *felt* right. It felt wonderful to massage it into my skin, and I noticed improvement in the texture of my skin immediately. I used it for a month, and the results were quite good. Then I got a little freaked and stopped for a few weeks. That was a mistake. I realized that using the jojoba oil as a cleanser really was making my skin soft and smooth and luminous. So now I'm hooked. I do it every morning, and I follow-up with a small dab of gentle cleanser to emulsify the oil and wash it away. I don't really need to use a cleanser afterward, because the oil itself is the cleanser. I guess a small part of me is still nervous about not getting it washed off completely. 

I use Desert Essence Organic Jojoba Oil, about $10-$15 for a bottle that will last a long time.

The other two products I've been using have reached holy grail status quite quickly:

The first is Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream. This cream was listed in Paula Begoun's media list for 2008, and got huge rave reviews from women online. I am never convinced about a product even when it has great reviews, but this one won me over completely after the first week of use. I use it at night after cleansing. It's a retinol cream, but unlike other retinols, it's so gentle and doesn't irritate me at all, but has helped to make my skin smooth and shrink pores.

The second is actually a product meant for psoriasis, Dermarest's Medicated Skin Treatment. I don't have psoriasis, but I decided to give it a try because it's really just a 3% salicylic acid BHA product and a lot cheaper than most BHA's, which tend to come in small bottles marked as "spot treatment" and cost an arm and a leg when you're using it all over your face. In case you haven't read my previous posts, BHA's are really just made of aspirin (salicylic acid) that penetrates the skin to exfoliate gently and remove dead skin cells. There are oodles of BHA's out there, some have inactive ingredients or formulas that make them worthless. This particular formulation is a gel consistency and I really love how it penetrates quickly but is easy to spread. It contains anti-redness ingredients too, which aren't necessary for me but certainly haven't hurt. This is by far the best BHA I have ever used, and I can't get over how huge the bottle is for only $10. I found it at my local CVS.

So to sum things up, here's what I'm using on my face:

::Night::

Gentle Cleanser

Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream

::Morning::

Jojoba Oil, rubbed on face and left on for a few minutes

Small dab of gentle cleanser to remove oil

Dermarest's Medicated Skin Treatment (3% BHA)

SPF 15

2008 Best Products List from Paula Begoun

She is my hero in terms of shedding light on which products are scientifically superior, not just overhyped and overmarketed.

Check out the list of products she is recommending on her 2008 Media Tour.

Skin Effects Enzyme Scrub

I recently had my first spa experience on a weekend shopping trip with girlfriends. It seemed well worth the money at the time and I loved getting my "personal prescription facial," but I couldn't help feeling guilty afterward that I'd spent so much money with no *real* lasting effects.

The one product the Aesthetician used that gave me amazing results was a high-end, European brand exfoliant that uses fruit enzymes. I was tempted to buy it at the spa, but when I saw the price tag I gulped and put it back.

At home, I was determined to research and find a drugstore product with similar ingredients and effects. This scrub is almost identical to the expensive scrub used on me at the spa. I've been using it for 2 months with great results. It's a gentle scrub (I have extremely sensitive skin) and you can really feel it working if you leave it on for a few minutes. It leaves my face bright and glowing, with no redness. It has reached holy grail status.

Oh, and the best part: only $6.99. The Skin Effects brand is available only at CVS.

Stress Control

I've been using two of the products from the new Neutrogena Stress Control line for the past month. I have to say, I haven't adored products like this in a while. I think they're putting crack in it because I *so* look forward to using these twice a day. Usually my adoration wears off after a couple of weeks.

:: Neutrogena Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Treatment ::

Good things:

1. Gel-like consistency that moisturizes but also leaves you with a matte finish.
2. BHA helps to clear acne and prevent it, and exfoliate skin.
3. Has a soothing effect that I can't really describe with words.
4. The smell is light and refreshing, though I normally detest fragrance in face products.
5. Recommended by Paula Begoun, who researches products scientifically and ignores marketing.
6. Comes in a very nice, sanitary squirt-bottle.
   
7. Around $7 and available everywhere.
   

:: Neutrogena Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub ::

Good things:

1. I *rarely* enjoy a scrub, as most are too harsh for my skin. But this one is fantastic. I use it every morning and sometimes at night too.
2. Does not irritate or dry out skin, but leaves your skin even-toned and refreshed.
3. Has a cream base that makes it easy to put on and leave on throughout your shower, so the medicine has a longer time to work into your face.

Bad things:

1. Something in it is tingly, which feels nice but sometimes those ingredients can be irritating, so be careful.

Tinted Moisturizer

Today is the vernal equinox, and with the changing of the seasons I usually change my foundation. In warm weather, I prefer tinted moisturizer over foundation. It's light and natural and just feels right.

This one is by far my holy grail.

:: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer ::

Good things:

1. Covers up problem spots without being too cakey or fake.
2. Evens out skin tone.
3. Has ingredients that improve the look of your skin.
4. Nice consistency and even application.
5. SPF formula is great.
6. Has natural, yellow undertones (hard to find in drugstore products...many are far too pink).
7. Love the pump bottle. Very sanitary and clean.
8. Great price.

Bad things:

1. Only bad thing I can think about is that it looks darker than it should in the container, but that's just an annoying thing and it goes on the color it should.

It rubs the lotion on its skin.

I am an avid hand-washer, and in the winter my hands become so dry they crack and bleed. I need a really good lotion that isn't greasy and this is one I LOVE. Holy grail status.

:: Dove Regenerating Night Lotion ::

Good things:

1. Super emollient but not greasy, absorbs insanely well and quickly.
2. Smells wonderful.
3. With continued use, my skin feels like a babys...put it on at night and in the morning your skin is still silky and smooth.
4. I noticed a more even tone in my skin as well.
5. Has shea butter beads...which absorb superbly well compared to regular shea butter, which is notoriously sticky and lays there on your skin.
6. Cheap

Bad things:

1. Some women don't care for smell...to each her own I guess.

Skincare 101

I've written before about my skin care routine, but in talking to a few of you folks I realize I wasn't entirely clear about all of the steps, so today I'm gonna break it down for you real sweet and simple. Someone I know (who shall not be named) was using Hydrogen Peroxide instead of Benzoyl Peroxide. :O| Okay if you burn your face off do not hold me responsible.

Night Routine:
1. Wash with gentle cleanser. (Summer: Basis Gel Cleanser; Winter: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser)

On lazy nights, I use CVS Brand Exfoliating Pre-Moistened Face Wipes. (Any face wipe will do, just check to be sure there isn't OIL in the ingredient list. You'd be surprised how many contain castor oil or mineral oil.)

2. Apply 5% Benzoyl Peroxide all over the face in a thin layer. Allow to dry before touching or rubbing with anything, as it will ruin towels and clothes.

There are many different brands of Benzoyl Peroxide products. Check the active ingredient list. Most come in 10% formulas because apparently Americans will only buy things that are Maximum Strength. But 10% is far too drying and irritating for most people, so try to find a 5% formula if you can. Ones to look for: Oxy Standard, Neutrogena On the Spot, Paula's Choice 2.5% BP, Paula's Choice 5% BP, Generic Brands.

3. Moisturize if necessary with an oil-free moisturizer. I usually skip this step unless my face is drying out. Sometimes I'll just do a plain honey mask if I have the time. Other good moisturizers: Wet 'n' Wild Fresh Face Oil-Free Moisturizer, Olay Moisture Therapy Cream for Sensitive Skin, Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer.

Morning Routine:
1. Wash with gentle cleanser. (Summer: Basis Gel Cleanser; Winter: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser)

2. Apply chemical exfoliant like AHA Souffle or another lotion with glycolic acid. Allow to dry completely before applying anything else.

3. Apply moisturizer with sunscreen or foundation with sunscreen.

What is all of this for? This routine is for someone with blemish-prone skin. If you have clear skin, you may not need the benzoyl peroxide but you may wish to use the AHA.

Gentle cleansers are necessary because you don't want to upset the balance of your skin or use harsh detergents that are found in many cleansers. Benzoyl Peroxide penetrates the skin and hair follicle and kills the bacteria that cause acne. It's better to use it all over the face to prevent acne rather than to use it as a spot treatment as often marketed. To get rid of the dead skin that's created it's necessary to use an exfoliant. I prefer the chemical variety because they are gentle and thorough, as opposed to physical exfoliants that are gritty and harsh. AHA is a great chemical exfoliant and it makes you skin look renewed, which is essentially what it's doing. For a gentle physical exfoliant, mix baking soda or brown sugar with your cleanser.

Sometimes using all of this stuff will cause your skin to start reacting by drying out or getting reddish or feeling funny. If this happens, just try to figure out what's causing the irritation and back off on that step for a little while...maybe do it every few days instead of every day. Most of the time, it will be the Benzoyl Peroxide that causes irritation.

It's best to get your routine down and stick to it...it will take a few weeks for your skin to calm down but once you start doing this all the time, your skin will be radiant. Don't stop doing these steps once your skin is clear...keep it up and you won't be sorry. Fuck ProActiv® Solution.

She's baaaaaaaaaack

Well kids, I've been gone a long time. And I've missed you. Tons. But, I've had a lot of time on my hands to get bored and make late-night runs to buy new makeup, which means I have tons of things to blog about in the coming weeks. So all that time apart will have done us good.

For some reason lately I've been obsessed with concealer. I've never been one to use it, as I never quite found it necessary. I've always concealed blemishes using foundation and a small brush or Q-Tip. But a new day has dawned. I am now completely sold on the idea of using concealer to "highlight" your face. You apply concealer to the shadowy parts of your face (see photo) and it makes you look dewy and glowy and like someone could eat your face like a peach!

So, on the search for a great new concealer, I decided on L'Oreal's True Match Concealer because of the good reviews it's gotten, and also because I loved the L'Oreal Air Wear but they discontinued it. Because CVS had a BOGO on L'Oreal face products, I picked up the True Match Blush as well.

I never wear blush. Ever. I've always had rosy cheeks...in fact "Rosy Cheeks" was my nickname at the nursing home where I worked in high school. So the thought of adding color to cheeks that were already chubby and red was outside of my reality. But for some reason, on this day, in this CVS, I wanted that blush. I needed it.

I went home and immediately washed my face to redo my makeup (only other addicts will understand this sort of mania). The combination of my new concealer and blush (with my already fabulous foundation and Cornsilk Powder) made me feel so hot and face-forward that I had to be seen by the world. So I drove out to Uni-Mart to buy a magazine from Apu. He dug my face. Believe me.

So here are these two new products I've been raving about. The True Match products come in three different shade areas: Warm, Cool, and Neutral. The color card they give you sucks. Here's a tip: The Warm shades are yellow based, the Cool shades are pink based, and the Neutral shades are a balance between yellow and pink. If you can't see a yellow or a pink undertone to your skin, then you're probably a Neutral like me.

:: L'Oreal True Match Concealer ::
I got this in the lightest Neutral shade. You should definitely get one a little lighter than your foundation if you want to use it as a highlighter.

Good things:
Nice consistency, very blendable and not cakey.
Color is great.
Applicator is a nice brush (as opposed to those cheap spongies) but I prefer to apply it with my foundation brush.

Bad things:
I'm still not convinced this is a holy grail concealer. I'll still be on the search for a better one.
For the price, they should give you more product.

:: L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Blush ::
I got this in Precious Peach, which is a fabulous peach shade that also is pink enough to look completely natural, not orange at all. The Innocent Flush shade also gets HIGH MARKS from reviewers, so you may want to check that one out. A few days ago I was at my friend's house and I spotted this in her makeup bag. I squealed and said, "I LOVE THAT BLUSH!" and she goes, "I FUCKING KNOW IT'S FANTASTIC!" I love when two people unknowingly love the same thing.

Good things:
Holy grail status, for me.
Not super-pigmented, so it's easy to apply without looking fake, but it also shows up in one-to-two sweeps.
Makes you look like you're glowing, but without the use of shimmer. I HATE shimmer. It makes you look like a 13-year-old whore.
Nice packaging, large surface area for optimal brush-use.
There's magic in it. I swear.

Bad things:
Not a single thing. Worth every penny.

Who needs concealer?

Not that my skin is imperfect :| but I do enjoy a good concealer to brighten up the places that are pissing me off (blemishes, eye area).

My holy grail concealer is:

:: L'Oreal Air Wear Long Wearing Concealer ::

I like this in fair and they also have a "brightener" which is quite lovely. Some days, I will just use this concealer and some powder instead of using foundation.

Good things:
This is an amazing drugstore product. Ranks up there with the department store brands.
Veils moderately dark areas. Brightens under eye areas.
Never looks cakey.
Superb staying power.
Goes on dry (make sure you moisturize if you have dry skin.)

Bad things:
There are rumors this is being discontinued. A lot of ladies are angry. Scoop up a tube if you can find one.

Moooooooooist

HOLY GRAIL SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER!!!

Sorry for shouting but this one really is great. And lots of other ladies out there agree. Best moisturizing drugstore shampoo is.....*drumroll*

:: Aussie Moist Shampoo and Conditioner ::

I use this stuff in the winter mainly because the dry air makes my hair frizzy and static-y.

Good things:
Very moisturizing without weighing hair down.
Hair feels buttery soft and satiny smooth, and bouncy.
I love the smell (some people hate it).
The name. I like seeing the word "moist" in the morning.
Cheap! You can get a bigfattypumpbottle for next to nothing.

Bad things:
As mentioned above, some people are not as turned on by the smell, and it's not for everyone. If you have very dry hair you might need something more intense.

Sulfates Suck

I usually have at least 3 sets of shampoo/conditioner in my shower, and rarely use the same one day to day. My current fave comes from Ken Pavés, Jessica Simpson's man-bitch slash hairstylist.

:: Ken Pavés Flawless No Sulfates Allowed Repairing Shine Shampoo ::

I use this with the Pavés Undamaged Goods Deep Conditioning Repair Cream. They work well together. The shampoo can feel a bit drying when you rinse, but once you put the conditioner in and rinse it, your hair feels healthy and soft without feely greasy. It's really hard to find sulfate-free shampoos in a drugstore, so I love that this is out there at such a great price.

Good things:
No harsh detergents (sulfates) to strip your hair = less lather but also less damage to your hair.
Keeps buildup and oil away.
Very high-end ingredients.
Drugstore price. (I found it at my local Weis for 75% off. I bought 6 bottles.)

Bad things:
A little hard to find.
I'm not a big fan of the scent.
I'm not a big fan of supporting any friend of Jessica Simpson's, but I'm making a rare exception here.

Squeaky Clean Face Wash

No matter how many times I try new face washes, I always come back to this one Holy Grail Facial Cleanser.

:: Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash ::

Good Things:
Ingredient list is solid. Oil-free and Soap-Free
Lathers well. All makeup gets removed.
Rinses very clean, but doesn't leave your skin feeling dry.
Cheap! About $4.99 for a bonus-size tube.
Nice squeeze tube packaging. Gel-like consistency.
Smells clean (though I would prefer fragrance free).

Bad things:
Sometimes it stings my eyes.
If you have dry skin you will definitely need to follow-up with a moisturizer.

Runners-up in Face Soap Category:
Purpose Gentle Cleanser
Clean and Clear Daily Pore Cleanser
St. Ives Apricot Face Wash - Blemish and Blackhead Control
Olay Daily Facials Night Cleansing Cloths
Dove Sensitive Skin Bar Soap (with a washcloth)
Cetaphil (both the lotion-based cleanser and the Oily Skin pump-version)

I tend to use different cleansers because I like variety and I think my face likes it too.