Hyperpigmentation never became an issue for me until I hit my mid-30’s and Boom! – Larger, more prominent dark spots (and I am not taking about cute little freckles either) which started to appear around my cheeks and forehead.  At one point I made an appointment with my Dermatologist for solutions.  Over the next six months, I began a series of Glycolic Acid Peels that did help with the overall texture, clarity and evenness of my skin.  However, I did keep noticing that there were a few spots that just wouldn’t go away.  Earlier this year I started using a prescription strength Hydroquinone cream. (more…)

First off, my apologies all around for being MIA last week. My husband came home after a little bit of time in the desert and I took some time with my family for a vacation. And while it may have left you feeling unloved my dears, it was certainly worth it when I heard my 2 year old wake in the middle of the night and call for her daddy to comfort her.

So now onto the stuff you really care about, this weeks product review!
Chella Professional Skin Care is one of those companies that has somehow managed to fly under my radar for way too long. Focusing solely on their dedication to charities it’s a company I can support, but there are plenty of other reasons to try these products as well. Lots of research and plenty of proven botanical ingredients certainly don’t hurt.

With oily, blemish prone skin I have occasion to use clay masks on a regular basis. They’re great for drawing out impurities and helping to clear my skin during the most troublesome of breakouts. However, they also have a tendency to be very drying and can be too harsh for sensitive or delicate skin types, and sometimes even oily skin. Chella’s Balancing Clay Mask (more…)

I’ve actually heard the MaMa Lotion named bounced around occasionally in conversations about acne, but I’d never gotten around to trying it. Recently I got to remedy that, with the opportunity to try MaMa Lotion as well as a couple products from the newest MaMa line, M2.

The formulation for these may seem like a typical AHA product, but there are a few subtle differences. For one thing, they contain Mandelic and Malic acids. Malic acid is the acid found in tart apples and as an additive in candies like SweetTarts. Malic acid brightens and helps to hydrate the skin. Mandelic acid is derived from bitter almonds and is a great antioxidant which also has antibiotic properties, in addition to the regular exfoliating properties of AHAs. One of the key things about the choice to use Mandelic acid is that the molecules are larger than glycolic acid and are generally more tolerated by the skin. Together, these two ingredients play off one another and boost the efficacy beyond what would be available from only one of them. And, because they’re more easily tolerated than some other acid products they can be ideal for sensitive aging skin, particularly aging skin that is still battling mild to moderate acne. (more…)

It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned one my favorite all-natural skin care companies on the planet, suki.  After being introduced to suki’s lemongrass cleanser a few summer’s ago, I included it in one of Mythbuster Beauty’s very first posts.  I also was able to interview the founder and name behind the brand, suki kramer.  Since then, suki’s uncompromising integrity and skin science smarts has led to the development of the sukispa line.

The first product I tried from the sukispa line was their renewal bio-resurfacing facial peel. My face, neck and decollete feels so smooth and soft after using this.  All with no irritation, intense redness or burning like other enzyme masques I have tried. (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…)

This episode starts with not just a product, but the great little boutique that introduced me to it.

I had the pleasure of visiting Milwaukee with my husband for a few days and we stayed in the historic Third Ward District. On our last day in town we wandered down the street from an incredible pub we’d eaten at the night before (seriously, Milwaukee has great food) and happened across Blush.

Blush is a beauty boutique with an open, welcoming atmosphere. It is well lit and airy, with thoughtfully placed decorative touches and plenty of shelves and tables packed with products just begging to be explored. They have a few major anchor lines, most notably Laura Mercier, and several other lines that are slightly less known but clearly well chosen. A Laura Mercier event was starting the day we were scheduled to leave town, of course, and an artist was teaching the staff how to apply LM’s holiday looks, but everyone was still very kind and attentive. I was assisted by a lovely and helpful woman, and I asked if she was the store’s owner. She informed me with a justified glow of pride that it is her daughter’s store and she just “helps out”. It really is a family affair, with mom Jodi supporting her daughters, Sarah (owner) and Nikki (Skin care specialist). I am dying for the chance to return and try out their brow bar! If you find yourself in Milwaukee, stop in to say hi, see what they have to show you, and tell them Mythbuster Beauty sent ya! Since I can buy the major lines here at home, I asked Jodi to show me the best kept secret in their store. She didn’t disappoint, and this is what I found:

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This is a great tutorial on how to optimize your skincare regimen. 

Amp up products’ effectiveness by applying serums, creams and treatments in the right order.

 

Do antioxidant serums go before acne treatments? Eye cream before moisturizer? Does it matter? Read up to see what experts had to say about your morning and evening regimens.

View order

Okay, I’m not really very old. But, having just turned the corner into my 30’s, I’m starting to see little reminders here and there that I’m no longer a plump spring chicken. Plump, yes, but in all the wrong places…

I’m getting a few fine lines here and there, mostly between my eyebrows and a few small frown lines on my forehead. I’d like to lie and say I don’t frown, but I have 3 kids and my husband is in Iraq for 9 more months. Sometimes I’m a frown expert! I use an AHA peel regularly and I have a good cream I wear at night, but my issues mainly stem from all the movement my face does during the day, starting from the very first squint upon waking. There are times I see the benefits that lead people to Botox, but as I’ve said before, I’m really not ready to go there. I mean, I’m only 30!

So I got this handy little stick in the mail and I was instantly skeptical. I mean, look at it, it’s tiny. What on earth could it possibly do? (more…)

Yes, you read correctly.  Any Prescriptives fans out there?!  Well if you are, this is your chance to stock up or try some Prescriptive cosmetic and skincare items.  25% off and free shipping, swweet!

Some of my Px favorites? 

Px’s Flawless Face Foundation, great build-able medium to full coverage and works well on my sensitive, combination skin. 

Px’s Vibrant-C Skin Brightening Lotion Moisturizer, as Mo will attest, this moisturizer packs a nice vitamin-c brightening punch.

Super Line Preventor Xtreme - This is Prescriptive’s Pink Ribbon Item.  I just received this skin treatment for review so I cannot vouch for it yet, but for every purchase a donation is made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Site Unseen Brightening Concealer SPF 15 -  With one swoosh you can lighten and conceal your dark circles and complexion flaws and spots.  I really love this concealer!

This discount runs until Friday the 24th, and don’t forget to pick your free sample!

It’s pretty rare that you find something you love enough to save up your lunch money for the next 4 months just to get it. It’s also rare that I would ever even THINK of recommending a product that’s got a high price tag. MBBers, meet rare:

Dr. Gary Goldfaden says his career in dermatology was sparked by a skin problem he experienced during his first year of medical school. With 30 years of practice in Florida, Dr. Goldfaden knows what we do; sun, toxins, and poor care generally have a horrible effect on our skin. When he set out to find his own ‘miracle ingredient’, he settled on red tea, thanks to the lovely skin of his rough living mother in law. Goldfaden isn’t the only line touting red tea’s benefits, and it may not even be the best…but man, it’s awesome.

I had the pleasure of trying out 3 Goldfaden products; Daily Scrub, Pure Power, and 3-in-1 Daily Moisturizer.  These items are a few of their “Daily Foundations”, which cover the skin care basics most of us use daily. Goldfaden also offers Daily Complexes, Intensive Treatments, and Daily Body-Care, with a little something for everyone.  A handy drop down menu displays products appropriate to your skin issues without jumping you all over the website.

As a huge fan of manual exfoliators, I wasn’t as impressed with the Daily Scrub as I’d hoped. I found it to be overly rough and gritty in texture, especially for something meant to be used every day. While it’s labeled as “best for dry, damaged, or distressed skin” I wouldn’t be recommending it to friends with distressed or sensitive skin. I scrub the heck out of my skin on a regular basis, and it was even a bit much for me. A basic exfoliator coupled with a $65.00 price tag puts this squarely in the ‘too pricey’ range for me.

The other two items I tried though…wow.

Pure Power ($85) is an antioxidant serum that does a little bit more. In addition to red tea, Pure Power contains hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring component in skin. Hyaluronic Acid (also called hyaluronan) is involved in tissue repair. It’s important to note that excessive UVB exposure causes cells in the skin to decrease hyaluronan production and even begins to increase the rate of hyaluronan degradation, so renewing the hyaluronic acid in your skin is so important in fighting the effects of sun damage.  A fantastic serum for all skin types, this sank in almost instantly and left my skin smooth and comforted. It didn’t even feel like I was wearing anything and there was absolutely no increased oiliness from this product. I noted that the irritated blemishes on my face seemed to heal faster, and I thought I was imagining it until I began researching the ingredients*. I’m 100% sold on the comforting and healing powers of this serum.

Dr. Goldfaden’s 3-in1 Daily Moisturizer ($65) truly stands out amongst its peers. This oil free moisturizing lotion is almost more of a liquid and is incredibly light. More red tea and hyaluronic acid, as well as seaweed extract. Clearly this combination of ingredients was well thought out. I was skeptical as to how well such a light lotion could hydrate but I quickly discovered that there’s a reason I only do this in an amateur capacity. A small amount of lotion goes a long way and leaves me with quenched skin all day long. BUT, it does so without leaving a greasy or slick layer of product on my skin. I have never in my life discovered a moisturizer that does so much and feels like so little.

After weeks of using these products I am starting to wonder how I can live without them. Though they are expensive they aren’t the MOST expensive thing out there, and since it takes such a reasonable amount to feel results your dollar will get adequately stretched. If had the income to regularly purchase this, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so. As it is, I may just save up and treat myself to this for special occasions, like Mondays. My skin is as soft as my baby daughter’s and it feels fabulous. It has been a long time since I walked around all day without thinking about my skin. These products are so light and effective that my skin simply doesn’t cross my mind throughout the day.  It’s amazing how much more fun skin care is when you aren’t feeling greasy OR itchy!

The team at Goldfaden is offering a special discount code for Mythbuster Beauty readers. Type in rtea8 at checkout to receive a 20% discount! 

*I don’t poke around for info until AFTER I’ve had a chance to really use a product and formulate an opinion. I wouldn’t want to be swayed by what I read and I believe you deserve the best, most honest reviews I can give you! XOXO, Mo