Beauty Therapy

You Asked: do at-home microderm treatment kits work?

- Mel

ASKED: Psst. There are these at-home microderm treatment kits from Olay and Neutrogena. I hear they work wonders, though, I myself have never tried any of these (both are around $30-$40, so an investment wouldn’t too too bad).

Yes, I have tried them… to no real results, sadly. I recently (finally) got the Clairsonic (because of an awesome friend who never opened last year’s Christmas gift). And while no miracle cure in clearing my blackheads, I have noticed a difference in whiteheads (read: less) and general luminosity of my skin (brighter). I’m on Week 5; so, hoping that my face continually benefits from its use. 🙂

MAKEUP BINGE: LORAC, BareEscentuals and more!

- Mel

I’m on a total makeup binge right now. Mostly because I seemed to run out of ALL MY PRODUCTS at the same time (OK, perhaps just a few of the essentials). I have a few items left to replace, but before I spend more money online, I’m waiting to see the contents of a “winning” Sephora gift pack from a silent auction a couple weeks ago (it seems that the night of the charity event, I wasn’t the top bidder… but that somehow changed. Perhaps the winning bidder never came forward or declined? No matter. I’LL TAKE IT!).

Regardless (or because of) ALL THAT, I’m trying to be better about my makeup. I still need to invest in a brush cleaner because I am the worst of that. And it probably has something to do with my face being Breakout City. Plus, my face is just not looking the same anymore with makeup (as I’m sure many of you 30-somethings can empathize). 

While I still need to purchase a tinted moisturizer, I picked up a new bottle of my “winter” foundation: Breakthrough Performance Foundation from LORAC. That purchase came with a special gift from Sephora: the Flawless Foundation Gift Pack. Um, do you SEE how many samples of awesome are in that bag? I have gone to sample heaven. Bonus: there was a step-by-step card on the series of steps for a flawless face. Unsurprisingly, I’ve been doing some steps in the wrong order, so this card now has a permanent placement above my dressing room vanity (on my inspiration board).

Also, in the move, I realized how old some of my eye shadows were.

I thought the colors in the bareMinerals eyeshadow kit were part of my everyday comprehensive colors and included a few “fun” shades for contouring. The price at first freaked me out (and then once again when I received the item, forgetting I put it in my cart). But, I’m glad I made such a splurge-worthy purchase. And I’ve always liked the formula of bM eyeshadow (plus bareEscentuals’ Well Rested is my favorite eye product ever — and I’m actually kind of freaking out right now that I can’t find it on their website).

But check out how cute that compact is!

Cheers to makeup, indeed!

Birchbox: an underwhelming month of beauty

- Mel


November Birchbox time! 

And that’s about all the exclamation points I’m going to type about that. Again, I’m kind of underwhelmed with the sum of my monthly box, but there are a couple “treats” that make the monthly subscription still worthy.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules – eh. unless this is some magic serum… oh, it seems that it is. Thanks, Internet!
Guerlain Shalimar Parfum Initial – Meh. Bored with perfume samples. Would have liked something more “luxurious.” Like, some Secret de Purete makeup remover. *wink*
Thymes Eucalyptus Body Lotion & Kimono Rose Body Lotion – already had a sample of this from a hotel I’ve stayed in, in the last year or two. Love the smell; perfect for my guest bath. Looking at the ingredients, I don’t think I can use it (eczema).
Zoya nail polish in Sooki – in natural light, the formula appears more orange-red than the better-matched blue-red that I can pull off, but I’m eager to try just because I LOVE NAIL POLISH!
TREAT: Two Paper Dolls Ampersand Coasters – cute. They’ll look much better on my vanity desk than my beer coasters.

Interested in Birchbox? Check out the awesomeness.

On a search for a new tinted moisturizer…

- Mel

I’ve alternated between using Cover Girl and Smashbox Sheer Focus tinted moisturizers… and to be honest, I like both, but I’m not in love with either.

Smashbox changes color on me after barely an hour, making me look far too pink — but the coverage is good (I just have to use a powder over it to balance the color). I’ve used Cover Girl for years, but I’m beginning to think that their “non-comedogenic” claim is BS because no matter what product/cleanser I use on my face, my skin remains in terrible condition (read: blackheads and whiteheads EVERYWHERE). But again, that sucks because I like the coverage AND it stays put during workouts. Which is a whole other trait of awesomeness. 

So, I’m in the market to sample a few products again (sadly, haven’t received anything of this sort to try in my monthly Birchbox). I’ve been recommended Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown and Makeup Forever (although that last one, I have only seen a foundation). But all of these leave me with big question marks attached to their large price tag…

Note: I have sensitive (eczema) skin, with severe oiliness (which I’ve curbed with using Kiehl’s oil-free lotion FINALLY!). I’m fair-skinned, with a yellow-almost-greenish undertone. Also, I have considerable sun damage on my face — no wrinkles yet, thankfully — but age/brown spots, so need something to cover those a bit (I realize that to cover completely, I need a concealer or heavier make-up, but refuse to do this daily).

Suggestions?

UPDATE: Found — and fell in beautiful coverage love — with LORAC’s tinted moisturizer.

Birchbox: worth its weight in AHAVA (my fave!)

- Mel

October’s Birchbox is worth its weight in AHAVA. I can’t even… I’m so excited to see another product from them in my box. Their creams are AMAZING.

What’s inside:

AHAVA Mineral Foot Cream — I think I’ve already said what I need to say (YAY!)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel — I still never got around to using that brand’s mascara from a previous box; excited, nonetheless. 
Number 4 Hair Reconstructing Masque – this is something I really need, as bleaching my hair has taken its toll
Sunday Riley Modern Skincare lipid serum – I’ll have to do more research on this product and what it does (aside from being a favorite of celebs and models)

And this month’s “extra” was Minteas. When I read the packaging, I got the sense that these were some sort of “weight loss” mints. Am I right about that? Again, I’ve never heard of them, but I do like tea. 

Eminence:14-day trial

- Mel

My sister offered up some samples of her Eminence skin care products — enough for a 14-day trial of their handmade organic cleanser, moisturizers, masque, scrub and…something else (another masque, I think). The products are all organic, which I’m hoping translates into “good for sensitive skin.” And that whole “hormonally unbalanced” problem I seem to have with… well, everything these days.

After recently — and randomly — being diagnosed with eczema, my product purchases are heavily scrutinized. Can you believe I even had patchy dryness on my freakin’ eyelids?! I still haven’t pin-pointed what is causing an allergic reaction on my hands either. Soap? Lotion? Self-tanner? Birth control pills? My gummy vitamins? 

So far, I love how the Eminence products are concentrated and that only a tiny amount is needed (then add your own water). I’ve been fairly satisfied with using Murad over the last few years, but I keep getting a “Proactiv” vibe with them, with every mailed catalog. Plus, the products I NEED to supplement my skin care program (from the Resurgence line) — while awesome — are pricy.

Here is what I’m currently trying out for two weeks:

Mineral Cleansing Concentrate – good for acne AND sensitive skin
Eight Greens Whip Moisturizer – for “age-defying” on hormonally-imbalanced skin (although I will admit, hearing “whip” makes me fear breakouts)
Seven Herb Treatment (masque) – to help clear my “combination” skin problems (read: adult acne *groan*). It’s applied every other day for 2 weeks for only 10 minutes (I am already in love with this stuff after one use)
Eight Greens Phyto Masque – currently on hold, until I use the above treatment for a couple weeks, but it’s supposed to be an amazing anti-aging treatment.
Strawberry-Rhubarb Dermafoliant – did you know that rhubarb is a natural astringent and disinfectant? (it’s also delicious in ice cream; the fruit, not this product, of course)
Wild Plum Eye Cream – for dark eye circles and “signs of fatigue.” I only hope this product works as amazingly EVERY day, as it does on my first couple days of use. 

I’ll let you know my thoughts about the products after my two weeks are complete.