Bioré Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser

I bought this cleanser only because I couldn't find my regular. I haven't used Bioré products in a long time but I liked that it seemed simple.

Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Face Towelettes

I've been using these face wipes on and off for awhile now and I'm ready to jot down a little review.

The idea behind these guys is a cleansing, exfoliation and brightening in one swipe of a towel. Plus, a grapefruity scent. (No water needed.)

Aczone Prescription Topical Acne Treatment Review

I've had problematic skin forever (10+ years) and for the past couple of years I've been going regularly to my dermatologist and she's tried a few different topical combinations and most recently she prescribed Aczone for my morning face routine. I've been using it for about two months now and can review the ins and outs pretty well at this point.

Let's get a few basics out of the way...

AcneFree Therapeutic Sulfur Mask

I bought this product because I a) wanted a sulfur mask and b) didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on the more expensive brands. I've been using this now on a semi-weekly basis for over a month or two.

It's different from other masks I've used in that it directs you to massage it into your skin for 2-3 minutes until the mask turns from a creamy beige to a light blue. To be honest, I get really impatient even though it's just a couple of minutes. Like George says on an episode of Seinfeld, "it's a tough minute. It's like waiting in the shower for the conditioner to work." So I usually would work it into my skin for about a minute instead. It has these little exfoliator particles (not many, though) that tinge the mask blue once you've kind of broken them open so to speak by rubbing it in. The directions say to leave it on for 10 minutes but I rarely time it and just rinse it off once it's gotten hard and dry

Missha Speedy Solutions Anti-Trouble Patches

While I was perusing the Missha site for BB creams awhile back, I found these cheap "anti-trouble" acne patches for 50 cents for a small sheet. You get ten little clear patches on one sheet. When I had received the patches in the mail, I had just had the breakout of a lifetime so I had several pimples differing in size to try them on. What luck! Haha.

Formula 10.0.6 So Totally Clean Deep Pore Cleanser

Let me first start by saying that when I see something at a good price, I don't tend to look a lot further. I was in the market for a new cleanser and this baby was $5.99. Once I got it, I realized it wasn't a cleanser in the traditional sense but more like a cleansing toner. I wanted something I could slather onto my Clarisonic and this wasn't going to do the trick (as it's a thin liquid). However, I decided I would give it a test drive anyway and put my Clarisonic away for the time being.

My (Updated) Skin Care Routine

I posted my skin care routine back in February but since it has changed and I thought I'd post an update. If you see anything you want me to review or have any questions, let me know :)

Morning

Proactiv Solution Renewing Cleanser

Proactiv Solution Revitalizing Toner

Proactiv Solution Repairing Treament

Hope in a Jar Moisturizer

Night

Philosophy Release Me Eye Makeup Remover

Philosophy Purity Cleanser (Used w/My Clarisonic)

Proactiv Solution Renewing Cleanser

Proactiv Solution Revitalizing Toner

Proactiv Solution Repairing Treament

Proactiv Skin Lightening Lotion

Mario Badescu Ceramide Eye Gel

+ Occasional Clearasil Acne Treatment Cream for spot treatment

Masks

Every other night--or I should say I try every other night to alternate between two masks:

Mario Badescu Whitening Mask

&

Proactiv's Sulfur Mask

Arcona's Gentle PM Solution Repair Serum

I used this serum awhile ago nightly for about a month or so. I've said it before but it's important to note with these skin care products that I have problem skin. I should say problem skin. A little emphasis. My skin loves to misbehave and I'm prone to breakouts and unevenness. That being said, lets move onto my review.

You use this nightly after washing your face. The back specifically instructs you to apply it upward in a circular motion so I made sure to follow directions :) The product boasts that it resurfaces skin, stimulates rapid cell renewal, exfoliates deeply, strengthens your skin's immune system and combats free radical damage. It says it will refine pores, smooth skin and create a healthy glow.

Bare Essentials Pure Transformation Night Treatment

Pure Transformation Night Treatment in "Light"

An overnight mineral treament. Interesting?

Makes me think: Makeup you can wear to bed. Which makes me wonder--looking prettier as I sleep? Totally appealing in a very shallow way! Although, that's not what Sephora seems to focus on about the product anyway so let's see what they do have to actually say...

Lush Lemony Flutter

Let me start off by saying I really like Lush's Lemony Flutter cuticle butter. I also like how that rhymes. I love the kind of not-too-super sweet lemon scent but I might be alone on that. My sister smelled it and said she "wasn't thrilled with it" but also that she doesn't hate it. My mom said she liked it a lot but she tends to like everything... So take that with a grain of salt.

The tub says "Repair dry cuticles, dry elbows, toes and heels with our lemony butter."

I don't have dry skin because I'm a certified oil factory but I do like it for cuticles. I try to remember/make myself rub a little bit of this onto my cuticles before I go to bed or after I get out of the shower or before a manicure--basically whenever I think of it.

It softens my cuticles without being oily and it absorbs quickly so I'm not left waiting a long time for it to sink to the skin around my nails.

Basically it's a definite win for me... I like when I find Lush products that I really like because Lush is a company that I want to LOVE but don't tend to be blown away by very often.

I'd say get a sniff next time you're at Lush and if you like the scent, it's worth it. You only need a little bit so I know this little tub will last me a while. It might be considered a little pricy though and other, cheaper alternatives might be preferred for that reason.

You can get it at Lush.com for $14.95. (For 1.5oz).

b right Benefit Skin Care Products

Benefit has a few new skin care products to offer us that claim to cleanse, moisturize and leave you that lit from within look.

Let's see what they have to offer...

Foamingly Clean Face Wash

Benefit says: There's clean & there's really clean. This 1-step facial wash effectively cleanses the skin & removes makeup & impurities with a soft, gentle lather. Formulated for all skin types.

Price: $21

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream

My first thoughts when I sat down to write this was: the world is probably ending and now I'm going to review this skin cream. Hey, we need to be moisturized as we go down, right?

I've been using Yu-Be as a cuticle cream for several weeks now. I'm switching up and back between this and Lush's Lemony Flutter (review to come).

The tube says:

• Concentrated glycerin moisturizer helps hydrate, soothe and smooth rough, dry skin and treat split cuticles, chapped lips, cracked heels, calluses and burns.
• Yu-Be is safe and effective for the whole family on all dry skin areas of the body including the face.
• Non-greasy formula absorbs instantly and stays locked in for hours.

Currently Loving: Lush Bon Bon Lip Scrub

I bought Bon Bon in a little Lush haul I did not too too long ago (but before my no-buy; it's still going strong). I had already tried the sugar scrub method on my lips by mixing my own sugar lip scrub. That worked well but was kind of messy and a pain to deal with (in my opinion--lots of people love that method but I'd rather not deal with the honey and sugar mixing process and cleaning up process.

A Quick Look at Philosophy Miracle Worker A.M. Duo

Philosophy Miracle Worker Duo just hit Sephora... Let's see what it's all about...


Here's what Philosophy says:


Every day is a fresh start, so let it be a fresh start for your skin. Topical antioxidants are part of the gold standard of daytime skincare. Each pad is your skin's daily multivitamin, providing triple-action antioxidants to protect against environmental attack while improving luminosity for youthful-looking skin. Say "hello" to every new day looking radiant, feeling miraculous and ready to be a bright light to the world. 

Philosophy's Miracle Worker products feature a next-generation, high-performance retinol ingredient that diminishes the appearance of deep wrinkles like a retinoid, but with less potential for irritation. They also include HPA, a triple-action antioxidant that guards against environmental attack while helping to minimize the appearance of visible signs of aging. The formula also features a revolutionary peptide that helps improve past skin damage while promoting clarity and smoothness.

I think if you're a die hard Miracle Worker fan, this may be worth checking out. Couldn't hurt to add one small step to your morning routine but at $58 for 60 pads--is it really worth it? Anyone think this is something they could get into? Or more of a pass?

Olay Refreshing Toner (And a Bit About Toners in General)

I don't expect too much from a toner because for one, it seems as though a toner is not a TOTALLY necessary step in skin care; it's more of a way to top off your skincare routine. I've found that toners do more to make me feel like I've done something extra and special for my skin than actually really doing a whole lot to improve it. Maybe I'm using the wrong toners...

What are toners for anyway?

I've read lots of mixed ideas about what toners are for and whether or not you actually need one. Most of the time it seems to be a personal preference thing. Toners are good for removing any left-over residue from your cleanser and attempting to help even out your skin. On the other hand, others believe that toners do a lot of heavy work and are absolutely necessary.

Ideally speaking, a good toner can provide hydration, a deep cleaning, balance to your skin and can also assist in getting the most out of your other skin care products.

So does Olay's Refreshing Toner live up to these claims?

Egyptian Magic Cream

I picked this "magic cream" up because I read that it had great moisturizing and wrinkle-preventing properties.

It contains: Olive oil, beeswax, honey, pollen, royal jelly and propolis extract.

I wanted to like this, I really did... but...

DDF Glycolic Exfoliating Wash Review

DDF's Glycolic Exfoliating Wash is a cleanser that I've been using for a long, long time now. I like to use it as my sort of pre-cleanser to remove makeup and grime from the day.

Packaging It comes in a kind of rectangular bottle and you invert the bottle to get the product out. I have no problems with this packaging except that it comes with this bulky lid thing that is totally unnecessary and I end up just throwing it out--so it's a bit of a waste if you think of all the tops getting pitched. The bottle still closes without that top so it really is unnecessary and it's just making the bottle look more sleek.

Use It's a clear gel and it's a bit slippery but not in an oily way. The instructions tell you to squeeze out a bit of product, add water and then apply to face. You can get a pretty good lather (nothing crazy) from this cleanser. It's not going to be ideal for dry skin, that's for sure but it feels good and cleans my oily skin very well. No problems with rinsing it off.

My Skincare Routine

I wanted to do a post about my current skin care routine in part because I find reading other people's makeup or skin care routines interesting and also so I can keep track of what I'm doing now vs. what I'm doing six months from now or whenever.

Morning

Clarisonic + DDF Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Scrub
Philosophy Hope in a Jar Moisturizer (Review) OR Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer

Night

Clarisonic + Philosophy Purity Cleanser (Review)
Clarisonic + DDF Glycolic Exfoliating Wash
Clarisonic + DDF Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Scrub
Arcona Gentle Solution Repair PM

Nighttime Bi-Weeklies

Freeman Clay Mask, Mint & Lemon (Review)
Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid Cream, 10% (Review)

The reason I wash my face with three different cleansers at night is mostly because I'm trying to use up the glycolic acid exfoliating one and see if losing it from my routine affects my skin at all because I've been obsessively using all three for awhile now and I know it's overkill.

What skin care products are you currently using?

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask vs. Freeman Mint & Lemon Clay Mask

The Freeman Clay Mint & Lemon Mask (retailing for $3.99 at drugstores and Amazon) says that it "calms problematic skin, reduces the appearance of large pores, helps control oil production."

The Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask boasts that it "helps dry up acne, shrink pores and wash away blackheads."

MAC Lightfully Bright Now Available Online!

MAC Lightfully Bright items are now available at MacCosmetics.com. Since they aren't showing up in the "What's New" section, you need to search for any items you may be interested in individually in the search box at the bottom of the left side of the page. Searching for "lightful" will bring up the available skin care products.

Ethereal, Outer Space, Atmospheric, Astro

Lipglasses are $14.50.

Skincare ranges from $24-40.

I'm planning to get the "Ethereal" and "Atmospheric" lipglasses--what do you have on your wish list? Anything?