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.

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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

During the month of October 10% of the sales of Suki’s Velvet Moisturizer Cream and Sukicolor’s Pure Cream Lip and Cheek Stain in Opal will be contributed to the BCA (Breast Cancer Action). 

Suki’s Velvet Cream is a greaseless, sensuous, all over body cream made with organic botanical nutrients hydrates while smoothing away bumps & imperfections for healthier, smoother skin. ideal for everyone ($26.95; sukipure.com).  

Sukicolor’s Pure Cream Stain in Opal is a gorgeous shimmery neutral with just a touch of peachy pink ($40.15; sukicolor.com).

Both beautiful for your skin and ways to support BCA.

This is a repeat post from a few months back, with some minor revisions…

Back in 1986, some of my high school friends and a few band geeks organized an event called the “Battle of the Bands.” The idea isn’t original, but their music certainly was. One of them even videotaped it and published it on YouTube! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpMhPx1B0vw) They all had visions of becoming the next Neil Young.

The memories of that teen scene bring me to the current topic. While the bands had their battles, I battled with bouts of acne as a teenager. I tried everything: antibiotics, Retin- A, benzoyl peroxide products like Clearasil, Noxema, cleaning pads like Stridex, and the lists goes on. All with varied results, I hated Retin-A.

I also loved to tan. I used baby oil and aluminum foil while laying out. Sunscreen? Are you kidding me!? I spent most of my babysitting money on trips to the tanning beds.

Now, as a mature, knowledgeable adult, I don’t tan anymore and religiously use sunscreen. However, due to hormones, stress and sun damage, I still battle with break outs!

Since a year ago, when I finally said ENOUGH, I set out on a quest for a real break out solution. I have been seeing a Dermatologist regularly. I use daily sunscreen & avoid the sun when possible. And, I invest in highly-recommended skincare lines and cosmetics.  My skin is making progress.  Slow, but real progress.

1. Consider Retin-A again, Renova and/or Generic Tretinoin Cream (it 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 or nursing…
2. Benzaclin Cream:  Px topical cream with both antibiotic and drying/healing properties. Good stuff for keeping zits at bay or spot treating an existing blemish.
3. Monthly Glycolic Peels: expensive procedure, but easy to do. There is no downtime and, over several peels, this procedure will improve your skin cell turnover rate, improve clarity, even tone, lighten pigmentation, etc.

OTC:

• Excellent Skincare Lines:  Caudalie, Suki, Cosmedicine, Kate Somerville, Philosophy… On a budget?  Cetaphil Lotion is a great cleanser.  Organic is nice to consider as well.  I try to avoid any cleansers that are harsh or that strip my skin.  Squeaky clean is not a good thing.
• Exfoliate: Lots out there, but I love Suki’s Lemongrass Cleanser, yummy lemon smell and both a scrub and a cleanser.  This leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed.  Be careful not to use facial scrubs on areas that are inflammed or currently breaking out.  Scrubs will only aggravate your breakouts.
• Facial Peels.  Removes dead skin and increases cell turnover rate.

1. Fruit Enzyme Peels.  One of my favorite fruit enzyme peels is from LooseLipsNY.com called, “Natural Pumpkin and 5% Multi Fruit Complex Peel.” Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes one a week and follow with a soothing lotion.
2. Another fantastic but not cheap peel is from Murad.  Murad’s Intensive Resurfacing Peel ($164 and used for 12 weeks) is the closest product that I have tried that is somewhat like a low concentration gylcolic peel that you would receive at a Dermatologists office.  Little bamboo beads, glycolic and salicylic acid provide a wonderul exfoliation.  The little plastic dispensers are infuriating and wasteful, but the product is great.  Both of these peels offer a good alternative to the Glycolic Peel from a Dermatologist and are a lot less expensive.

Everyone has a different skin journey to travel.  My heart goes out to those who suffer from acne.  Please feel free to share any of your solutions or favorite skincare products. 

As music legend Neil Young sings,“Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World!”

I am a fan of the Oprah show, but didn’t catch a recent episode with guest Sophie Uliano about her newly released and revolutionary book, “Gorgeously Green.” 

“Gorgeously Green is a lifestyle choice that is simple, easy and fun.  Going Green doesn’t mean you have to go without.  On the contrary, it’s the most exciting, fulfilling, and wondrous way of life imaginable.” – Sophie Uliano, Gorgeously Green

Sophie appeared with Oprah and Julia Roberts and discussed her new book, her “GG” philosophy, and some great eco-smart products.  One of the beauty products she mentioned was from my favorite skincare line, suki®! 

this mother’s day, pamper mom  + make her look + feel especially beautiful! 

all our luxurious gift sets presented in a deluxe suki® box.

nurture + nourish for a gorgeous summer glow, **special price $129

protect + enrich deep moisture, **special price $95

plus free ground shipping within the continental u.s. 

special promotion for orders placed before may 5th.

www.sukipure.com

(coupon code: “nurture” or “protect“. if you wish to order both gift boxes, please contact our customer service department at 1.888.858.suki.)

Tuesday April 22nd has been designated as “Earth Day“ for 2008. Thousands of individuals and organizations will be taking action to a make positive, healing impact on our world.

This past January, I was able to meet a fascinating and extremely smart woman named Diane MacEachern. Diane MacEachern is the author of, “Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World.” Her book discusses the fact that women make the majority of all purchases, and by their purchasing choices, can make a significant difference in what is being manufactured and protecting our environment.

The Big Green Purse Shopping Principles:

1) Buy less.
2) Read the label.
3) Support sustainable standards.
4) Look for third-party verification.
5) Choose fewer ingredients.
6) Pick less packaging.
7) Buy local.

Diane asks women to take a $1,000 green spending challenge; shifting the money we already spend and purchasing eco-friendly goods and services. She also challenges us to cut down our use of daily household products by three. I am a poor example of cutting my own personal care items because of my beauty blogging obsession. However, I would like to point out that I have made some changes and switched over to some environmentally safe beauty and household products this year.

You might be saying, “Buying organic might be great, but it comes a hefty price, and my family cannot afford it.” Making eco-friendly consumer choices can cost more, but not necessarily. On her webiste, Diane lists her “Top 10 ways to be eco friendly on a budget.” She claims by making these changes we could save $20 – $50 dollars on our monthly budget.

There are several beauty companies that are making changes and becoming more eco-friendly by choosing not to use chemicals, preservatives, colors, and fragrances that can be harmful to our environment as well as our health. Many beauty companies are going green by using only recyclable and biodegradable packaging. Here are some of my favorite eco-friendly beauty companies:

Tarte -

To celebrate Earth Day, Tarte Cosmetics is offering 20% off of all purchases at their website.

Some of my personal favorite Tarte products are: Smooth Operator spf 20 foundation, Clean Slate Primer, Cheek Stains, and their double dose berry lip glosses. All of Tarte’s products are packed with healthy, natural ingredients and free of mineral oil, sulfates, phthalates and synthetic fragrances. To receive the 20% off discount, enter the Code: EARTH08 at checkout. This offer is good until May 2, 2008.

Jessicurl -

Jess McGuinty created the Jessicurl hair care line after years of using products that didn’t work for her curly hair. The Jessicurl line uses only ingredients that offer a specific benefit to curly hair, and adds no fillers. Jessicurl makes sure that none of their products contain any animal ingredients, and they do not test on animals.

Sukipure and Sukicolor -

Suki conforms to many of Diane MacEachern’s shopping principles, including being involved in many third-party verification groups, such as The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, The Organic Consumer’s Association, and The Green Products Alliance.
Suki’s formulas are 100% natural, and are ideal for those with sensitive skin. Suki only uses non-synthetic ingredients in her beauty and body care products.

What will you be doing to celebrate Earth Day 2008?

Last week I visited with one of my best neighbor friends Stacy. Actually, I went over to pick up three of my girls that were playing with their five children. At the front door, I noticed a few more neighborhood children playing there as well. Stacy’s home is a magnet to many of the neighborhood children because she is such a warm-hearted person, and her children are such an enjoyable group to hang out with.

Such is the life of busy, big social families. It is wonderful, and a bit stressful. With a large group of kids, there is a large amount of noise, mess, and general chaos. Stacy and I got talking about skincare, and she mentioned that she has been struggling with some breakouts along her jaw line and chin areas. I have learned that these breakouts are usually associated with hormone fluctuations and stress related issues. I want to recommend one of my favorite skincare products that not only treat blemishes, but soothes and purifies the skin as well. Of all the skincare products I have tried, Sukipure’s Transformative Facial Clay would top my list.

Sukipure’s Transformative Facial Clay: green tea, roses, and white willow

Achieve real results with our uniquely powerful facial purifier. an effective cleanser, masque & spot treatment for normal, combination, & oily skin, blemishing, acne, any condition of inflammation, & for refreshing & brightening all complexion types. helps rid the skin of blemishes, impurities & toxins, evens tone & reduces inflammation in as little as 5 minutes.

I enjoy the delicate smell and texture of this kaolin clay lotion. I use this for my PM cleanser and when I need some additional purification treatment, leave it on 5 to 15 minutes as a masque. Sukipure’s transformative clay leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed. This clay is a very effective cleanser and treatment for sensitive, acne-prone, or oily skin types. The Sukipure facial transformative clay retails for $36.65 at www.sukipure.com.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/CiAOlnjpV6M&rel=1]

A very fun, informative review from The Girlfriend Lounge.  Isn’t Andrea great!?  I couldn’t have said it any better.  Well, I tried at least!

Here is my review of Sukicolor’s incredible Tinted Active Moisturizer.

Makeup Lingerie \mæk-ËŒkÉ™p lÉ‘n-jÉ™-ˈre\ n.  1. The beauty products that you cannot live without.  2.  The beauty items you always go to, the essentials, the must use them or I would feel wacky ones.  3.  The “bra and panties” that provide the foundation before you put on the rest of your daily “makeup wardrobe.”

(As in:  “I consider my makeup lingerie my mascara and my eyeliner, without them,  my eyes would be completely nondescript.”)  

- “Kate2004Rock’s Unabridged Dictionary“

After reading Kate’s post, I asked myself, what does my “makeup lingerie” consist of?  So, I decided to share with you some of my “intimates.”  Let’s start with skincare shall we?   I know skincare isn’t technically “makeup,” but your skin IS your canvas.  Beautiful and healthy skin is best way to assure everything else you put on will look its best.

A great cleanser:  Suki’s Lemongrass Cleanser.   Yeah, it is a broken record, I cannot live without it.  This was my #1 beauty find for 2007.  It is a gentle exfoliator and leaves my skin feeling clean but not over-stripped.  I use this once a day, usually in the AM.

A toner:  Suki’s White Willow Toner.   Removes any remaining cleanser product, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and balanced.   Look what Suki put in this remarkable toner!  A must for acne prone or sensitive skin.  The ingredients in this toner are:

organic rose petal, chamomile, calendula & tea tree infused in purified, filtered water, standardized white willow & chamomile extracts, white willow bark extracts distilled in fermented sugars, chamomile & rose, witch hazel distillate, pure, organic, food grade aloe vera, natural vitamin liposomes c & retinol, seaweed extracts & pure, premium, steam distilled essential oils.

A Treatment/Serum:  Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum: 

If you haven’t heard me mention Caudalie before, stop and make note.  This is a fantastic skincare line.  The smell alone, Oooh la la! Vineyard grape goodness.  Rich in antioxidants, this serum really feeds and moisturizes your skin.  Please Kate make any comments below!

This is a very good start, and I am feeling a little bit exposed right now.   Feel free to share some of your favorite “lingerie” items, and remember we’re talking about beauty products here.