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…)

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…)

A great question came my way recently:

Hi Jen, I’m searching for a natural/organic SPF face day lotion. Is the Alison Raffaele primer moisturizing enough for a daytime use?  I don’t have dry skin; I’m oily T zone, acne prone on cheeks, and can have sun spots pop up if I’m not extra-over-zealous with my SPF in summer.

Also, I’m trying a new natural/organic skin care regimen by Sophyto and they recommended a more natural SPF lotion to go with. So here I am.

Recommend something for me MBB!
Jami aka Bionic Beauty

Gotcha Jami.  You need an SPF day lotion that blocks the suns rays without causing your skin to shine and makeup to slide off.  You would also prefer an organic sunscreen lotion. (more…)

DERMAdoctor, how do we adore thee? The fun purple packaging, the helpful friendly website, and, of course, the extensive line of products giving us easy access to treatments for a variety of skin related issues that most prestige companies skip entirely. Honestly, if you’ve only ever seen DERMAdoctor on the shelves at your specialty beauty store you will be amazed at what they offer in their full product line.  From Athlete’s Foot to Tinea Versicolor (it’s okay, I had to look it up too), they have great selection of helpful products and tips to go with them. I am personally a devoted fan of  KP Duty and KP Duty Scrub (buy the kit for $60), which has done wonders for my “chicken bump” arms. Since I have moderately oily skin and have had such great results with KP Duty, I was thrilled to try out Tease Zone oil control gel. (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…)

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…)

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

I know skincare is usually Jen’s territory, but with a deal as good as 50% off I just had to seize my opening. Besides, great skin is truly the foundation to great makeup, so I think it’s totally appropriate. If I’m not back next week I guess that means Jen doesn’t agree

One of the items in the Sun Care Kit I bought from Sephora was Cosmedicine’s Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion. I have oily skin that is blemish prone, and I’m getting older, so I want something that can keep my skin clear, balanced, and help fight some of the outside factors that contribute to aging. Since I was so happy with the Medi-Matte, I picked up a First Measures ll For Oily to Oily/Combination Skin set at Sephora and took it for a spin. I couldn’t find the set on the Cosmedicine website, but it’s currently only $24 at Sephora, so it’s worth the jaunt to a store or a quick hop to Sephora.com.

The set contains 5 deluxe sample sized items: Healthy Cleanse Clarifying Cleanser & Toner-In-One, MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum, Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion (SPF 20), Opti-mologist Eye Cream with Light Diffusers, and Medi-morphosis Self Adjusting Exfoliator.

The Cleanser/Toner takes a little getting used to. Think of those hand soap pumps that dispense foam instead of just liquid soap and you’ve got an idea of what it’s like. It was quite a change for someone used to thick creamy cleansers, and I was skeptical, but it cleared away my makeup and left my skin nice and clean. The light feeling is really nice once you get used to it, though the smell is rather unpleasant. At least I know they’re not adding a bunch of unnecessary fragrances to their product, right? $35 for the full size product puts it well within the average price range, and once you stop overcompensating by pumping too much (guilty as charged) you’ll see that it really goes a long way.

The Medi-morphosis exfoliator is a bit grittier than I’m used to, but it works since the particles are much smaller than usual as well. I was really impressed with the even distribution of particles as I massaged my face, since usually everything will bunch up in one spot or another. It was surprisingly gentle, and even sensitive skin would love it, though if you are used to a more aggressive exfoliator you may want to use it 3 times a week instead of 2. At $42 for a full size tube, I find this a little on the pricey size for an exfoliator.

I’m not usually a proponent of eye creams, but since none of the other included items fit the bill as something I’d want to smear on my eyes, I gave the Opti-mologist Eye Cream a shot. I was really worried that it would leave me with greasy, shiny eyes, but it was a great product for my skin type. Just enough moisture so my eyes didn’t look crinkly, but it thoroughly absorbed quickly and left smooth skin that my concealer easily adhered to. $45 dollars for the tube is pretty average for an eye cream, but unless you really feel like you need the extra oomph, you could probably lose this product.

Next up, MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum. At $80, this is the real make or break product. Treatments and serums cost more because we expect them to do more, and with discoveries in ingredients and nano delivery systems, there’s no reason they shouldn’t. One of the things I really appreciated about this line is that it really focuses on prevention rather than just treatment, and MegaDose is no exception. Packed with antioxidants like Pomegranate and Vitamin C, as well as Dimethicone, which helps keep nasty stuff out and moisture in, MegaDose is a solid skin protector with extracts to help boost collagen. The feel is initially something like a good primer, but after a few minutes it’s absorbed and leaves a soft, smooth feeling. I appreciate that it isn’t overly heavy or greasy feeling, and I honestly feel the Medi-Matte performed better over this serum than on its own. Again, the scent isn’t great,but I’m willing to let that slide because it disappears quickly. The price is hefty, however, just a dab will do ya with this, and if you have the coin I recommend giving it a try.

The last product (and my favorite of the 5) is the Medi-Matte lotion. A thick feeling lotion, it can be smoothed on quite lightly and a pea sized amount will cover most of your face easily. It gives an extra layer of smoothing, and I’ve taken to skipping my primer altogether while I’ve been using this set. While my initial reaction to such a thick lotion would be to cringe and imagine zits aplenty later, this lotion proves that my immediate reaction isn’t always correct. Even when my skin does start to get a bit of shine, the Medi-Matte helps to keep everything in place and my perfectly applied face doesn’t slip off.

In my search for a new skincare regimen, this has been a delightful find. My skin feels a lot more balanced and the blemishes have been at a minimum. I felt like a little moisture was missing right when everything was applied, though my skin didn’t end up overcompensating with oil production so it can’t really be too bad. It was a pleasure to see a skincare line that realizes it’s not necessary to dry out oily skin and I’ve really liked what these products have to offer. Also available are collections for normal and dry skin types, so don’t feel left out if your skin isn’t oily. If you have experience with the other collections than please let us know how you liked them!!

Don’t forget! Cosmedicine just re-launched their web site and are offering a killer promotion. Enter COSLNH to get 50% off your purchase. One piece or twelve – the discount applies to your total purchase amount. It’s limited time only though – just to promote the launch (expect it to last two weeks or so).

Only one week left to enter Alison Raffaele’s Shine Buster Giveaway.  Alison Raffaele Cosmetics has come up with a fantastic set of products to offset the slippery effects of the summer skin oil slick.  3 people will be awarded a set of amazing Alison Raffaele Shine Busting Cosmetics!  

Summer is around the bend, and summer brings the heat, humidity, and the blazing sunshine. Unfortunately for oily-skinned gals, the summer heat helps create another type of shine, the skin shine that causes our makeup to slip and slide off within a few hours.

Alison Raffaele Cosmetics has come up with a fantastic set of products to offset the slippery effects of the summer skin oil slick.

Introducing Alison Raffaele’s “Shine Buster” set:

Face Forward Primer Acne Response ($44)

Alison’s Face Forward Primer is one of my favorite rave about products and was reviewed on St Patrick’s Day as a great way to go green. A little bit goes a long way. This primer not only makes my skin feel like velvet; it helps my foundation glide on beautifully, and it provides an spf 15.

• Foundation primer + acne treatment + SPF 15
• Contains proprietary, time-released (12+ hours)
• 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free
• Natural mineral-based sunscreen SPF 15 provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection
• Dermatologist Tested and Approved

Alison Raffaele Blotting Tissues ($9)

Unbleached and powder-free, these super-absorbent paper tissues remove excess oil and perspiration from the skin without disturbing makeup.

Transparent Finish To Go ($42)

• New cornstarch-based formula is talc and paraben free for your healthiest skin ever
• Although powder appears white in jar, Transparent Finish is completely clear on ALL skintones, from fairest to deepest
• Suitable for ALL skin types – will not build up or oxidize on oily skins and will not collect in the fine lines of more mature skins
• Ultra lightweight formula feels clean and comfortable on the skin
• Perfect for setting all liquid and cream cosmetics
• Will not change the color of other cosmetics
• Banishes shine and provides a natural matte finish
• May be reapplied as necessary
• 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free, Dermatologist Tested and Approved