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. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ll be dog-goned!  Almost two weeks without a flare up, and then guess who comes to visit?  A lovely, deep blemish on my chin.  With so many spot treatments available, each claiming to clear up blemishes overnight, containing ingredients like Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Sulfur, and onto “kitchen cupboard” tips like applying ice, heat, or a tiny dab of minty toothpaste.  Do any of these emergency spot treatments really do the trick?

In my four decades on the planet, I have tried MANY spot treatments, and realistically know that zits cannot go away instantly (especially the deep ones), and it will take patience (and keeping my picking-fingers away from it), to assist in its disappearance.   I want to share with you two spot treatments that I have found that really make a difference. Read the rest of this entry »

Just wanted to pass on a fabulous offer directly from Alison Raffaele!

We are having a 60% off sale on our glosses and shadows at RetailHappyHour.com…feel free to tell your friends and family, too!

Here’s the link:
http://www.retailhappyhour.com/landing-cat.php?cid=36

xox
Alison

I haven’t tried her glosses and shadows before, but if they are any bit as wonderful as her primers, foundations, and concealers, you will not be disappointed.  They put this clever countdown clock at the top of this page too, let me know what the number is when you on are on this site!  Right now it is at:  142 hours, 54 minutes, and 57,56, 55 seconds…

One of my favorite blogging friends Erin (The Cheap Chick) just asked for a list of our favorite beauty must-haves for Fall.  Mo’s post about current fall trends for eyes was awesome, as usual.  Here is my split second attempt at favorite fall beauty items:

For the dark lip look:

DuWop Private Red – a fabulous, deep red lipstick!

The smoky eye:

Smoke Out Eye Pencils from Urban Decay (on sale right now for $9)

Fun way to go smoky, and love, love, love Urban Decay’s eyeliners!

Thick, beautiful brows:

Anastasia’s All About Brows Kit

At a spa last week, the esthetician went wack-o threading my thick brows, and I am so sad! Thank goodness for this amazing brow kit – the tweezers really rock too.

Please feel free to chime in your favorite fall beauty items too!

I am so happy to be moving out of the  pastels and bronzes of spring and summer. The light soft colors are fun as the buds begin to bloom for the first time, but I’m soon anxious for a splash of color and a little more pizzaz. To be fair, some of the big trends for fall have nothing to do with color. Once again we’re seeing the super smoky eye, which is really no surprise considering that there’s only so much you can do without repeating a previous trend. Since this is the “super” smoky eye we’re supposed to feel that it’s something new and different, but it’s really just another chance for all of us to walk around looking like raccoons. Stick with your regular smoky eye look and resist the urge to follow the adage that “more is better”.  And gray shadow is popular, which can be a bit dull, though there are some lovely purple and blue hued grays that are great for day wear. Or try them in the evening with black liner for a super hot cat eye. A pop of color on eyes with a nice pink cheek and lip leave me feeling all giddy, and dark vampy lips have me practically begging the leaves to start falling and the chilly breezes to blow. Read the rest of this entry »

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 Read the rest of this entry »

I know I need to wear a daily SPF on my face and neck to avoid the damaging effects of the sun. Further more, I know that you need to be hyper-vigilant about using sunscreen while using retinoids, or after using facial skincare products with BHA or AHA’s. Even so, sometimes I still hesitate using a facial sunscreen.

Here is a list of some of the “excuses” I use to justify not using a facial sunscreen:

• the smell, many sunscreens have a chemical smell that really bothers me
• the feel, greasy and difficult to use with my existing makeup
• breakout factor, sensitivity to some sunscreen creams can cause breakouts
• the shine, even a little bit of moisture can add to my already summer oily-shiny skin
• sting my eyes,  don’t get a sunscreen close to your eyes or you’ll be teary all day long! Read the rest of this entry »

For the past 7 months, I have been using prescription strength Retin-A.

Retin-A , Renova and/or Generic Tretinoin Cream is an emollient and is much less harsh than what I tried as a teenager. I have read that every person over 30 can benefit from using Retin-A. That is unless you are pregnant.

After mentioning using Retin-A in a recent post, Marilyn made the comment:

“I used Retinoids in my 40’s – they are great – but insurance companies are extremely hesitant to cover the prescription products (Retin A comes to mind), which from my experience, give the best results. Stupid insurance companies.” Read the rest of this entry »

During this back-to-school frenzy, who acknowledges the poor parents that have to get up EVEN EARLIER, to help their children make this transition?

These next weeks are going to be brutal on all of us.  So to help ease into this early morning routine, how about a great way to rejuvenate and repair your skin in the evening time?  I think it is high time for a giveaway!

Mythbuster Beauty is going to give away one Jan Marini AGE Intervention Regeneration Facial Mask (which retails for $90 online).

The AGE Intervention Regeneration Facial Mask is an entirely new concept in topical anti-aging and skin regeneration that benefits any skin type.  It incorporates resurfacing technology with a host of powerful anti-aging anti-inflammatories including the new red wine longevity extract, Resveratrol, all combined with a remarkable skin rebuilding peptide blend.

• Gives skin a beautifully resurfaced and luminous appearance
• Delivers and infuses superb skin rebuilding, anti-inflammatory and repair properties
• Leaves skin noticeably softer and rejuvenated for days
• Provides amazing progressive benefits for any skin type and condition

The deadline for this contest is Monday, September 14, 2009. All rules are found in the Contest Machine box.

Sephora recently announced new fall trends for ‘09, one of them being “The Cat Eye.”

My beauty fall forecast?

Although this retro-drama style eye is gorgeous, many will attempt and few will succeed at pulling of this feline-orbital look.  But don’t let me discourage you completely – experimentation with trends are adventurous and gals like Mo and DecoDiva will rock it!

You didn’t ask, but I am saying it anyway: Read the rest of this entry »