Beauty Therapy: derma e skin care products for the gluten-free lifestyle

September 16, 2015 - Mel

As I’ve written about here several times, I have adopted a gluten-free lifestyle because of some health issues (still, a couple years later, without a lot of answers but at least staying gluten-free keeps my symptoms in check). I am also conscious about gluten in my beauty products — it’s incredible that I haven’t had a single eczema outbreak since I gave up gluten (and remember when I used to get patches on my eyelids???).

And this is where skin care lines like derma e® wonderfully come into my life. derma e® is an entirely gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free natural skincare company. After taking an online evaluation, their site suggested products especially for my skin concerns — and are ideal for those of us with skin sensitivities, allergies or the need to use gluten-free products. derma e® also sent me four full-size products to try out based on my evaluation (I mostly have oily skin but concerns about aging — similar to many late 30-something women): a glycolic facial cleanser, dark eye circle creme, purifying youth serum, and a brightening day creme.

While I haven’t had much time yet to use, after a couple days I am already impressed by the quality of these products. Sincerely, I can already tell you how much I love the glycolic cleanser!

To bring some additional awareness to the gluten-free lifestyle, derma e® Natural Skincare is celebrating (an unofficial) Gluten-Free Month this September — AND they’re hosting a pretty sweet giveaway! Between September 16-30, 2015, derma e® will host the #ICANTWHEAT Giveaway. One winner will get a $150 gift certificate to shop at www.dermae.com and 1,000 runners-up will win a derma e® Gluten-Free sampler kit!

Participants can enter to win here: http://bit.ly/1ESe4Oe. derma e will also be offering a 25% discount with the promo code ICANTWHEAT through November 15, 2015.

I encourage you to take the derma e evaluation and learn which products are best for your skin concerns.

Disclosure: I received four full-size products from derma e in exchange for review and promotion of the #ICANTWHEAT campaign. All opinions herein are my own.

You’ve Got Klout: Eclos skin care challenge

November 13, 2013 - Mel

Eclos™ is high-tech anti-aging skin care created from nature. Apple Stem Cells, extracted from a rare Swiss Apple, are clinically proven to rejuvenate skin and delay the signs of aging. Everyday use promises a youthful, more vibrant appearance.

100% of 20 participants in a clinical study on Apple Stem Cells experienced a decrease in wrinkle depth after 28 days. That’s a strong claim. And thanks to Klout perks, I received a package for a two-week challenge containing FULL SIZES of Skin Prep Cleanser, Daily HydraPrimer and Moisture Therapy Regeneration Cream (for AM & PM).

The cleanser is AMAZING: non-abrasive and makes my face feel really soft and clean — AND takes off even my waterproof eye makeup without scrubbing. No toner needed either!
Formulated with:
• Apple Stem Cells to help reduce appearance of wrinkles + improve skin texture.
• Ginkgo Biloba, Turmeric + Green Tea to help guard against free radical damage.
• Chamomile to help revitalize and hydrate skin.
• Cucumber to soothe skin stress.

The primer will remain in my skin care routine: tinted, with SPF — and it REALLY keeps the shine away for most of the day, especially when I’m not wearing any other makeup.
Formulated with:
• Apple Stem Cells to help reduce appearance of wrinkles + improve skin texture.
• Soy to hydrate and firm.
• Iron Oxides provide a light tint; Broad Spectrum SPF provides UV defense.
• Antioxidant Vitamin E helps scavenge free radicals.

The cream was a little too heavy for AM use (oily face within an hour of doing my makeup), but I loved slathering it on before bedtime.
Formulated with:
• Apple Stem Cells to help reduce appearance of wrinkles + improve skin texture.
• Palmitoyl Glycene, which acts as a skin nutrient, helps minimize signs of aging.
• Shea Butter & Olive Oil to nourish + moisturize. • Antioxidant Vitamin E to help scavenge free radicals.

I didn’t notice any more breakouts than I typically have (stupid hormones), but not any real changes in the structure/imperfections of my skin either. I did love the “glow” I got from using the cleanser regularly, and I also like the cleanser didn’t make my face feel tight. I’m definitely interested in including their serum into my daily routine.

I was especially impressed by their price points. I’ve been bouncing around several different cleansers and lotions and night creams for the better part of my 30s and there’s always something I don’t like. But something that does the job of preventing future aging and sun damage AND is budget friendly, this 30-something can get behind. Check out a “before” picture from this #barenaked story at Point Park News article (taken right about when I started the challenge).

Like Eclos on Facebook and purchase their products at Freeman Beauty.

Disclosure: I received product samples from Eclos, on behalf of the Klout Perks program. All opinions herein are my own.

The eyes have (and need) it: finding a new mascara

October 28, 2013 - Mel

If my eyes are not defined, I look tired, puffy, washed out… old. I’m sure most 30-something women can relate.

I was an avid Cover Girl user, until their mascara “formula” changed — this, after I used their Professional (and then, Remarkable) for nearly a decade. I knew the end was approaching when I found sale tags on their cosmetics. This was no fluke. The old “formula” was being discontinued. And I say that, because the “new” stuff with its fancy colors and change in packaging was NOT the same. I made the switch for a couple years, but I was never as happy with the new as I was with the old.

How about THAT loaded statement!?

I have basically been on a mission to find a new mascara for the last two years: Lancôme (ok), Benefit (good for nights out), Blinc (yuck!)… There are a LOT of eye products out there, and only so little time and money in the bank account to try them all.

After falling in love with Laura Mercier’s powder and primer products from samples, I decided to give the brand a try in terms of mascara.

And I am. in. love. It defines; it volumizes; it lengthens; it curls. Its awesome wand grabs those little guys that like to stay un-make-up’d. IT STAYS ON DURING THE ENTIRETY OF A ROLLER DERBY BOUT! And it doesn’t clump one bit (I even tested it with four coats. FOUR! NO HAIRY SPIDERS!) I also don’t need eight quarts of eye makeup remover to get the stuff off. This is so important for our time-sensitive eye area!

Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara: 30-something approved!

Holiday Wishes Come True: Hair Products from Folica

December 11, 2012 - Mel

Hair Wants & Wishes: all of us can admit to wanting hair that is longer or blonder or fuller or straighter. Why can’t we just accept our hair and ourselves, right? We 30-somethings can achieve semi-greatness with the right hair products, however; and that’s why I look to Folica.com for Great Hair.

Folica knows hair is your most important accessory. That’s why in December Folica.com is offering a special promotion where everyone wins up to $50 to spend on hair styling products. Through January 1st, 30-somethings (and beyond) can cross great hair off their wish lists when they enter to win a credit at Folica — 1 in every 100 wins a $50 credit to spend instantly. With over 60,000 great hair products, more than 300 beloved brands and over 70,000 customer ratings and reviews, Folica.com is helps you recreate today’s hottest hairstyles.

In Folica.com’s Hairspiration Giveaway, you can win up to $300 to shop namebrand hair styling products.
It’s a holiday hair wish come true!

On my Holiday Hair Wish List: MORE VOLUME. It’s true, I suffer from thin, flat baby hair… at age 35. My hair, it has the sad. And Folica carries a line of hair products that I SWEAR by to get the biggest OOMPH (emphasis on big): blowpro. Seen below: No Crunch Body Builder, Faux Dry Shampoo (on my no-style/lazy days), and Strong Hold Finishing Spray.

That said, because of all the necessary styling and blow outs my hair requires, I need a daily treatment. For that, I use Biosilk Silk Therapy Leave-in Conditioner (when I said baby hair, it tangles like baby hair too). This hair product gives INCREDIBLE shine and doesn’t weigh down my (naturally lifeless) hair. Tell me about your favorite hair styling brands in the comments — and don’t forget to enter the Folica.com contest to win a $300 credit!

Disclosure:. As part of the Single Edition network, I was selected to review Folica.com and highlight their services. Although they are a sponsor of this post, all thoughts and opinions herein are my own. See my disclosure page for more info.

Crest Whitestrips for your 30-something yellowing teeth!

December 5, 2012 - Mel

I joined this unknown online community a couple months ago, and only recently started receiving products to review and share. Called Influenster, it’s a place for “culture junkies to come together and share their unique opinions of products and experiences.” Active members get exclusive access to deals, promotions, and products from brand. And since I’m already a person of influence online and off, I wanted to share this community and its brands with you (if you want an invite, leave me a comment!).

My first Box included a product that I already use on a semi-regular basis: Crest 3D White Strips.

And I can openly admit here that my teeth whitening regimen has recently gone the way of non-existence… because if you’re not whitening you’re yellowing! I even had a package of the 5-minutes-a-day white strips UNOPENED in my bathroom’s beauty closet. As a 30-something — and lover of daily coffee and happy hours filled with red wine, which I have no plans to give up either — I experience tooth discoloration. And by all means, I don’t want to appear OLDER. So, I was happy to get back into the habit of daily whitening with this product.

Well, I lasted about three days before I had SIGNIFICANT teeth sensitivity (it usually ceases in a day or two); however, I was already seeing results. After THREE DAYS. Regardless, I lessened the treatments to twice a week because the sensitivity proved to be too much. Hey, I have a few extra days worth in the treatment calendar now!

From Crest: “sensitivity from tooth whitening is common and varies from person to person, and can be expected when using peroxide-based tooth whiteners like Crest® Whitestrips. We wanted to make sure you were aware that tooth sensitivity is a temporary side effect of any whitening treatment, does not cause any permanent damage to your teeth, and should go away soon, if it hasn’t already. If you notice continued tooth whitening sensitivity, consult with your dental professional.”

Based on the Whitestrips I’ve used in the past, I love the upgrade to the Advanced Seal — these strips stick to your teeth very well. And while I didn’t take before pictures, trust me, this is a product that works.

Disclosure: I received a free product from Influenster, for personal use, under no bias for compensation or review. Thoughts and opinions contained within are my own and only from personal experience. See my disclosure page for more information.

Off, Spot!

November 27, 2012 - Mel

Age spots. Sun spots. Livers spots. OFF, SPOT!

Spot removers and skin brighteners: yet more treatments in the arsenal of beauty products aimed at our age bracket. The promise? Younger, brighter skin that’s free from discoloration, age spots and uneven tone. These anti-aging creams promise to reduce, fade and prevent freckling and splotching of discolored 30-something skin caused by sun damage, acne scarring and those lovely (lovely!) hormones. If only a magic serum were that easy.

My skin has become a MESS over the last couple years of my mid-30s: blotchy areas, loose skin around the eyes (including my first few wrinkles), enlarged pores, the eyebrow “parenthesis,” dark circles, adult acne, and age spots. While aging is an ultimate concern in the physical sense, I didn’t realize how hard this stage would be mentally. And financially.

Besides regularly visiting an aesthetician for facials, I’m currently enduring a months-long wait for a dermatology appointment (completely separate from my wait for my skin cancer screening) to see what else can be done — how I can FIX and PREVENT more of this from happening. Meanwhile, I’m trying out a sample of this Murad Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Serum to see if I can be part of the 33% (of users to see a difference in 1 week; a couple weeks in, I’m having limited success in reducing redness scars, not yet on brown pigment spots).

Have you found a spot remover that works? Tell us about it in the comments — or on our Facebook page!

Sephora Score: history of a beauty junkie

November 14, 2012 - Mel

I set out to replace my Clarisonic brush head… and ended up WITH ALL THIS.

{The Lasting Impression It Kit (sephora gift) / samples from Clinique, Kate Somerville & Bliss / Clarisonic Replacement Brush Head Twin-Pack (Deep Pore) / Fresh Sugar Soiree Mini Lip Collection / NARS Essentials Set (beauty insider perk)}

Isn’t that how it always goes? I JUST NEED THIS ONE THING. But Sephora wants to give you 20 Things. Samples rule; I’m not mad. And I’m not the only one, I’m sure, who LOVES the extra goodies — being a Beauty Insider has definite rewards. That Lasting Impression Kit has, like, 15 different deluxe-sized products. Although, I’m probably all set on primers now. I’ve never tried a NARS product, but friends rave about the lip pencils. I saved up my Beauty Points to finally snag a decent 500 points gift. Time to build that account back up again! *smirk*

Sephora and Target are the same type of bank account killer: you go in for necessities, yet can never leave without dropping at least $100. True story.

Also, I have to mention these Fresh Sugar lip tints: OBSESSED.

ob·ses·sion/əbˈseSHən/
Noun: 1. The state of being obsessed with someone or something.
2. An idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person’s mind.

Yes, it’s exactly like that. I’m pretty sure there’s no cure. Naturally, I only wanted one color (Berry), but since I love the product so much, I splurged on the collection. These lip treatments have replaced my chapstick habit, for serious.

A Haircut Can Do You Good.

August 3, 2012July 1, 2018 - Mel

Yes, Sheryl Crow. ’tis true.

Confession: It’s been almost a year since I had a haircut. Ew. No wonder my hair only looked (kind of) good in a half-pulled-through ponytail.

This may not look like much of a change, but I needed some serious shaping. I’m intending to grow my hairs out (and in the Fall have it dyed a beautiful rich chocolate color) to fulfill my dreams of having Kate Middleton’s hair. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, RIGHT?!

PS: My hair never looks this good and body-full when I do myself. Le sigh.

For those in my area, Pageboy in Lawrenceville is an amazing place for salon services and shop cute accessories and vintage-wear.

My last Birchbox…

June 23, 2012 - Mel

You know that instinct when something is just not “clicking.” That’s been the relationship between me and Birchbox for, well, longer than I care to admit. Yet, I continued on, hoping that “things” would change. Those “things” mind you, were the possibility of receiving ACTUAL makeup.

birchbox box

The monthly beauty subscription boxes were fun at first, but the excitement quickly faded. And all I was left with was yet another face moisturizer and smaller-than-a-sample size of hair treatment. Meh.

Last month, I said goodbye to Birchbox… of course, they were still a little attached to me and my credit card — charging me for my monthly subscription and sending me the box anyway. To BB’s credit, the amount was refunded, but not until after canceling again, submitting a cancellation survey, emailing their customer service… and then tweeting about it. Again, meh.

PS: This is one of several issues that I’ve had with their site. A prior problem was showing double items in my cart & I couldn’t remove the extra for days. And another wouldn’t let me use my points (again, eventually corrected itself).

Without further ado, the contents of the final box — JET SET box:
Faux lashes – winks by Georgie » LOVE faux lashes. SUCK at faux lashes. I can’t hate getting another pair to practice once again, however.
Shampoo – Hair Rules » yet another hair sample. BORING.
Packaged face cleanser wipes – La Fresh » I’ll use these. Straight to the skate bag!
Stainiac – theBalm cosmetics » haven’t used yet, but added it to all the other lip things that I hope to use one day. I just love my sugar fresh too much to use anything else right now.
BONUS: a printed plastic travel pouch from tili. I’ll use this, for sure.

For what it’s worth, I would definitely recommend the sample subscription service — it’s fun and a surprise at only $10 a month. I’m just underwhelmed by the promise of AWESOME THINGS and frequently disappointed in return.

Alas, for now I bid adieu, Birchbox!

Back to Beauty: new Birchbox – and a worthy charity

December 16, 2011 - Mel

I FINALLY received this month’s Birchbox. Which means, I’m FINALLY back for a new post. This month, Birchbox is donating 100% of its profits from full-size product purchases to Baby Buggy. The packaging made me smile. I’m trying SO HARD to get into the holiday spirit.

Birchbox 30-somethings — One more try, Birchbox!

Seriously though, I still have not located my camera and its accessories since the move. The basement is getting tackled this weekend.

December’s contents:

Harvey Prince’s Yogini – The scent is supposed to calm the mind with its notes of sandalwood, grapefruit and myrrh. I really like it (and yes, the more I smelled it, the more I wanted to jump in the bottle and nap in it). Powerful front note, but fades into a beautifully balanced perfume.
Jouer Lip Gloss – an exclusive color: Birchbox Pink (might be too pink for me)
L’Oreal Professional Mythic Oil – I think I’ve talked about hair oils before… not for this excessively oily head. Even on ends, makes my hair look like crap. Meh.
Befine Gentle Cleanser – hooray, I love getting cleansers! And this contains mint — one of my favorite things to breathe in while washing my face. Also: allergen & paraban free.
Show Stoppers Designer Fashion Tape – Now, to find the dress to try these out! *wink*
EBOOST Orange Natural Energy Booster – I’ll definitely use this, as this month has not been conducive to sleep. I need all the energy I can get most mornings.

Tell me what was in your Birchbox!