If you have oily or blemish prone skin then you know it can be tough to find a good cleanser. Many cleansers  on the market strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry or flaky while still producing plenty of oil. So now you have flaky skin that’s itchy AND oily. The excess oil helps keep the flaking skin in place and your pores get all clogged up and then you have new blemishes, so you go back to the super strong cleanser and the vicious cycle continues.  And then you start getting older and realize that that dry skin definitely doesn’t help with the appearance of fine lines. Suddenly the search for a gentle cleanser that can tame your problematic skin moves up the priority list.

In my quest for the perfect skin care regimen for my skin I have tried a TON of cleansers. I’ve tried pretty much every formulation out there too, creams, gels, foams, bars. Some I’ve downright hated, some have been okay, and some I’ve really liked, though I never found one that I have the desire to use and purchase faithfully…until now.

I received a gift certificate to SkinCareRx a while back and decided that it might be worth my time to buy something I needed instead of splurging on makeup like I usually do. After all, if it’s not my money  then  who cares if I’m not nuts about it, right? Two simple clicks took me to the cleansers for oily skin and I waited for something to catch my eye. To be honest, the first thing I noticed about PCA Skin’s Facial Wash for Oily/Problem Skin was the price. It’s the least expensive oily skin cleanser on the list($21.50) and I really wanted to get as much as I could out of my gift certificate.  Yes, I’m cheap, that’s how I roll. And I couldn’t be happier. (more…)

A while back one of my favorite giveaway sites featured a skincare set from Kiss My Face. I didn’t win, but I got over it quickly enough when some Kiss My Face products showed up in my mailbox a couple weeks later.

Besides the super fun name, what makes Kiss My Face different? Well, for one thing they’re no newbies to this natural skin care thing.  They sprung into action in the 80’s with a big ol’ bar of ugly green olive oil soap and have kept on truckin ever since, even after a fire wiped out their warehouse and distribution center in the 90’s. They also believe in humor and honesty, two things I look for when deciding where to spend my time and money. Hanging on for almost 2 decades in a market that is just now really starting to appreciate the value and impact of natural products is no small feat, and managing to maintain an independent spirit and sense of humor as well speaks volumes to their dedication and passion.

I tried some products from their Potent & Pure line, a selection of products that get the job done with natural and organic ingredients. (more…)

If you’re anything like me, you have a generous helping of sample size products bursting from every nook and cranny. Sometimes I get them as GWP(gift with purchase) items, sometimes it’s  those extras from my Sephora order, and sometimes I receive them from companies who want me to try out what they have to offer. The fun part about this is that I get to try all sorts of new items I might not otherwise, but the downside is that with a tiny sample you can rarely get a solid idea of how a product will perform in the long run. I don’t have enough information for a well formed opinion or an entire post after one use, right? Rather than let these tiny gems go to waste, I’d like to share my very cursory thoughts about products based on only a few uses.  After all, if you don’t like the sample enough to at least look up the full size bottle, that’s probably a sign, no? (more…)

I’ve been using the Barielle Deluxe Hand & Body Lotion after I take off my
nail polish, and after my nail polish is completely dried to help keep
my hands soft and supple. This has a soft, fruity scent that’s
definitely pleasing. It does an excellent job at keeping my hands
moisturized instead of dry after I remove my nail polish. My hands
feel very silky after using it. I think it absorbs quickly into my
skin, and it doesn’t leave my hands feeling greasy after use. Some
lotions will make my hands feel so greasy that I end up having to wash
them, which sort of defeats the purpose of using them.

I’ve been using the Yes to Carrots C is for Clean Gentle Exfoliating
Cleanser (more…)

Before I launch into my thoughts on the Garden Girl products, I just want to say that I love the fact that you can host a “Garden Party” in your home as well as simply purchasing these products online.  Just because someone is buying from a home party doesn’t mean they should be handed a bottle full of junk for twice what it’s worth. SO many home sales companies are offering little more than cheap fillers and harsh ingredients and I am so happy to see a responsible product in a setting that reaches so many more consumers. There aren’t too many consultants (yet, if you want in then do it now!) but you can have a sample party and still get some goodies for being a hostess while offering your friends some of this  paraben/petroleum/sulfate/phthalate free goodness.

Okay, that part of my fawning is over with, let’s move along….

I’m definitely not the first to get the word out about Garden Girl products, and Joycey Couture beat me to it over at Bionic Beauty, but I was pleased to read her review today and find that she had the same results I did…lots o’  love! (more…)

In 2002, Suki Kramer started her own skincare company, Suki, Inc., and has recently branched out in making a cosmetics line as well, Sukicolor. I first heard of Suki’s skincare line through my friends at Megsmakeup.com. If you haven’t had the chance, you can read my enthusiastic reviews of two of her products: Suki’s Lemongrass Cleanser, and her Sukicolor Tinted Active Moisturizer. Most recently I have fallen in love with a new sukispa product which I will be reviewing in detail soon, sukispa’s renewal bio-resurfacing facial peel!

The only thing that is better than finding an amazing skincare line, is getting to interview the phenomenal people that are behind these companies.

(more…)

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No. 14: MAC Wipes, $25

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.9*

Why they’re great: “These wipes are perfect for those of us who are too tired/lazy/intoxicated to wash our faces before bed, but who don’t like the idea of clogged pores and dirty pillow cases either…”

(more…)

If you haven’t heard or had the opportunity, LUSH is a fun, amazing beauty store that sells homemade soaps, skincare, cosmetics, and hair care products.  I have sampled and fallen in love with many of their products, including their Tea Tree Toner, Ultra Bland Cleanser (excellent for extremely dry skin), and Shampoo Bars.  DecoDiva’s favorite facial cleanser is Lush’s Baby Face Cleanser.

If you don’t have a local Lush store to shop at; you can shop online at their website and save! 

Get a $20 gift for just $5 with your next order, at checkout use the promo code: LL5GIFT08.

- Spend $70+ and get a gift worth up to $20 for just $5*

- Spend $85+ and get 2 gifts worth up to $20 for just $5 each*

This code is good only until December 22nd!

*If you would like to read more about the benefits of using shampoo bars versus regular sulfate-based shampoos, follow this link:  “Hair washing without a Bottle? Try a Shampoo Bar!”

How I love the smell and feel of handmade soaps, but from what I am learning, not all handmade soaps are created the same.  Soaps that add synthetic colors and fragrances might appeal to your senses, but can dry and irritate your skin.

 

 

But you don’t need to worry about those harsh additives with the products from Heirloom Soapworks.  Becky makes sure of it! 

Our all natural handmade soap is fragranced with only pure essential oils and herbs, and never colored. Their earthy, natural shades come from the same oils, unrefined butters and nutrients that soften and moisturize your skin.

I was fortunate enough to sample three of Heirloom soaps:  Lavender-Oatmeal, and two seasonal soaps Goat Milk - Fruitcake and Christmas Tree Soap.   I love the naturally scents of these soaps!  They lather and feel absolutely luscious on your skin.  Becky’s use of olive and saponified oils, shea butter and goat milk leave your skin feeling wonderfully clean and soft. 

All of these soaps are priced at $5.00 a bar.  Becky’s current promotion is “Buy 3 -get a terry-cloth Soap Saver FREE”  (that’s what she has been offering at craft fairs).  Customers can put their tiny “slivers” of soap into the pouch and use them up completely! 

And for some jinxy-bizarre reason, both Bionic Beauty and I both wrote up our reviews about Heirloom Soapworks on the same day!!!

Is the No. 1 wash from Clinique? Neutrogena? Nope!  I am feeling some Mythbuster Beauty validation because several of my favorite picks for cleansers are on the Total Beauty reader’s best list such as, Suki’s *Lemongrass Cleanser, Caudalie’s Foaming Cleanser, and *Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple! 

(*Click on the links to read Mythbuster Beauty reviews!)

A cleanser is a cleanser, right? Don’t they all do the same job? Hardly. Our readers gave us their two cents about which cleansers made their faces squeaky clean — without leaving their skin feeling like the Sahara. What product was ranked No. 1 by TotalBeauty.com members? Read on to find out.

See cleansers