Make Up For Ever's Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser

Recently I was complaining about my eye makeup removal options, and lamenting that I wanted a different remover, one that would instantly melt away all makeup. One that can be used in the shower (hence, sans cotton round) is an added bonus.

So, now I'm trying out the MUFE Sens'Eyes Eye Cleanser. This product is a light blue lotion that can be used with a cotton round or with your fingers (score!). It has a light scent and I swear even my waterproof mascara and eye liner melt away as soon as the lotion touches it. It rinses off easily and there is no residue left behind.

In the hunt for the perfect eye makeup remover, this one is a pretty big contender.

Make Up For Ever's Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser

2

Exploring Alternative Methods of Eye Makeup Removal: Neutrogena

For years now I've been a loyal user of Lancome's Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover. While I have tried others in the past, in a vain attempt to find something that worked as well (see Lumene, Clean & Clear, Boots #7, and Almay), I keep coming back to the Lancome. It's the only one that removes 100% of my mascara and eye liner easily the first time, no matter what I'm wearing. But... it's expensive. I try to stock up on it at the outlet mall (love those CCO stores), but I still feel guilty every time I use it.

14

Time for a (Quick) Deep Cleaning... Neutrogena and Your Best Face to the Rescue

Do you ever feel like no matter what you do, things are just a little bit... lackluster? Like your styling products are weighing your hair down more than usual, your skin isn't as glowy as it should be after that moisturizer or your pores are about to be filled to capacity? I have definitely been feeling like that lately. I'm sure the fact that I'm now about 6 1/2 weeks away from delivery (and hence, seem to need help even getting up from the sofa), doesn't really help the whole "not feeling quite like myself" situation.

Even though today was a work day, and hence I was a bit pushed for time in the shower, I decided to take matters a step further than usual and spend a whopping 2 extra minutes in the shower today and the difference was well worth the time. Read on to see what I did.

3

Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Cleanser

During my recent cross country move I was having some skin issues. I'm not sure if it was just sitting in the car for three days on end, washing my face in a different Holiday Inn everynight, but by the end of our drive my skin was a disaster. I was oily, had dry flaky patches and my face had more clogged pores than I've had at any time since high school. I was running out of face wash as well, so I decided that it was time for a shakeup. I decided I would address the clogged pores with my cleanser and concentrate on increasing my exfoliation to help with the flakes.

Anyways, I hightailed it to the Meijer beauty section once I arrived here in the midwest. (Meijer is like a Super Walmart, but owned by a family in Grand Rapids Michigan. They're open 24/7 except Christmas and they sell everything. I missed them in California!) After perusing the options, I settled on this cleanser from Neutrogena. I love the brand and the idea of an oil control cleanser (without the added acne fighters that dry me out) was perfect.

Overall I really loved this cleanser. Honestly, it does smell just a bit medicinal. It's pretty thick and creates a nice lather. It is perfect for pairing with my Clarisonic since the cleanser stays put on the bristles and doesn't wash away too easily. The cleanser overall does a great job, cleaning away makeup quickly and easily (though keep it away from your eyes, it will sting and it doesn't really remove mascara). The cleanser didn't overly dry my skin and I had no irritation. Within just a day or two my skin was looking better and my pores were clearer.

This is definitely a cleanser I would buy again!

Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Cleanser

3

Power Wash your Face? Clarisonic Review

I get a lot of emails from readers asking me for personalized products recommendations or for my opinion on products I haven't reviewed yet. A pretty decent proportion of those e-mails are about Clarisonic. What is it? Have I tried it? Is it worth the cost? Have you reviewed it? Can you review it?

It is expensive, and while I wasn't exactly running to the store to buy one for myself, I did have one on my Christmas list. Well, I've finally tried it out now, in a lucky (for me) twist, Clarisonic sent me one to test out for an honest review here. I do really love the Clarisonic. I think it's up to you to decide if it is worth the cost.

So, it's basically a little hand held brush that works exactly like the Sonicare Toothbrush. Push a button, the brush turns on for 60 seconds (which is enough time for your whole face if you follow their little time chart, you can turn it on again for more time), run the brush over your face in little circles. The bristles move more than 300x a second to help you cleanse your face. It's very easy to use, it's waterproof (I take it in the shower with me each morning) and the bristles easy fit around all of the contours of your face (even around your nose).

Clarisonic has lots of info on their website about how it helps to clean off more makeup (go checkout those forehead pics, they're pretty amazing), ultimately helping create smoother, cleaner skin and allowing your expensive treatment products to absorb and actually work! You can check out that info on your own.

I think that much like going between a normal toothbrush and the Sonicare, starting to use the Clarisonic is definitely addicting. You can feel a big difference in your skin with just one use. I'm not sure that this is due to exfoliation, though I'm sure there is a mild exfoliation with use. My skin feels soft and very smooth with the Clarisonic. I simply don't feel like it's buffing my skin like crazy, like with other handheld devices (Neutrogena Wave or Healthy Skin Rejuvenator).

It comes with a trio of gentle cleansers to try out with the Clarisonic. You can use your own cleanser with it (the only caveat being that it must be thick enough to work with the bristles), but there is sure to be one for everyone included.
• Gentle Hydro Cleanser: This is a rich, moisturizing cleanser with a light foam
• Refreshing Gel Cleanser: The name says it all, definitely light and refreshing
• Nourishing Care Cleanser: This one doesn't have any foaming, but is probably the most moisturizing of the three

I just feel more clean with Clarisonic than when I use my hands or a washcloth. This little machine is incredibly addicting, I can't tell you how much I missed it last week when I was in Miami! I may not have bought it for myself, but I have already bought replacement heads for it. I intend to use it for a long time!




Clarisonic

10

Kate Somerville's Detox Daily Cleanser, A Little Hollywood in Your Day

Mention the name Kate Somerville, and those "in the know" will likely think of the amazing spa on Melrose that is a Hollywood favorite. I know I do! The spa (which I visited with other bloggers during the Total Beauty event back in May) is quite frankly absolutely beautiful, is staffed by both physicians and estheticians who work together using a variety of treatments to help you glow! They have lasers, peels, facials and even light treatments. It's pretty much a state of the art medi-spa, but with the threat of an Oscar Nominee walking in at any given moment.

So, I was pretty excited to bring home a few Kate Somerville products of my own. I was hoping that having a bit of the spa's aura in my own bathroom would bring a bit of glamour and glowing skin my way as well!


What makes it not a cleanser for everyone is the main surfactant, Sodium Laureth Sulfate which can be harsh for those with very sensitive skin or overly drying for those with dry skin. Notice that the formulation also includes hydroxy acids (Beta: Salicyclic Acid, Alpha: Citric, Glycolic and Lactic Acids) to help exfoliation and cell turn over.

While I wouldn't call this a cleanser gentle enough for everyone, I definitely liked this cleanser for my combination skin. It cleaned my skin easily and quickly with a light lather and a nice citrus scent. It rinses off easily, not irritating my skin or causing after wash tightness. I think it's a great choice for a daily cleanser if you have combination, oily or acne-prone skin!

Ingredients (refer to the Cleanser Post):
Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Phytic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Salicyclic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium PCA, Sodium Riboflavin Phosphate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Cyanocobalamin, Urea, Limonene

Kate Somerville's Detox Daily Cleanser

0

Bioelements Review: Decongestant Cleanser

Everyone needs a good cleanser. You need one that cleans off all of your makeup, doesn't irritate your skin or overdry your skin resulting in after wash dryness.

I found just such a cleanser during my visit to Total Woman Day Spa, it was one of the products that I purchased upon the recommendation of Beth, my esthetician. I have been meaning to write about it, but somehow never really got around to it. Last month I finished my bottle, which meant I had "tested" myself through an entire full size product, I loved it so much!

This cleanser is gentle, rinsing off easily, causing me no irritation, no after wash tightness. Note that the main surfactant is SLS though, which in some people with sensitive skin can be too strong. Personally, I find it gentle enough that I can even use it to remove my eye makeup!

Ingredients (refer to the cleanser post):
Water
Sodium Laureth Sulfate: Surfactant
Cocamidopropyl Betain: Humectant
Lauramide DEA: Surfactant
Sodium Chloride: binding agent, table salt
Lavendula Angustifalia (Lavender) Oil: Anti-bacterial agent
Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil: Anti-oxidant
Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil: Anti-Oxidant
Citrus Aurantium (petit grain cordillera) Oil: Fragrance, thought to improve redness
Citrus Aurantium (neroli) Oil: Fragrance, thought to improve redness
Lavendula Hybrida (Lavandin) Oil: fragrance
Panax Ginseng (Ginseng) Root Extract: I can find no known benefit to the skin, though Bioelements calls Gingseng a skin strengthener
Rhus Globra (Sumac) Extract: I can find no known benefit to the skin
Centella Asiatica (Gatu Kola) Extract: antioxidant
Angelica Polymorpha Sinesis (dong quail) Root Extract
Nasturtium Officianle (Watercress) Extract: anti-oxidant
Propylene Glycol: emollient
Diazolidinyl Urea: anti-bacterial preservative
Methylparaben: preservative
Propylparaben: preservative

Bioelements Decongestant Cleanser

7

Shu Uemura White Recovery EX

For those of you with dry and sensitive skin, I know that the search for a facial scrub has been long and probably not very fruitful. Most scrubs are much too harsh in terms of the exfoliation, or the surfactants within the scrub are much too harsh for your skin. Either way, you end up dry and irritated, and likely not any better than you were before the scrub.

Well, I'm happy to report that your search can end, because the nice people over at Shu Uemura are coming to your rescue! Glance at the list of ingredients below, and compare them to the moisturizer post. This scrub offers exfoliation with a ton of moisture!

Ingredients:
Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sea Water, Glycerin, Beheneth-10, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Gentiana Lutea/Gentiana Lutea Root Extract, Prunus Cerasus/Bitter Cherry Extract, Water, Propylene Glycol, Polyethylene, CI 42090/Blue 1 Lake, Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Methylparaben, Hexyl Cinnamal, Fragrance

Overall, this is a very gentle scrub, and for a scrub it really is very hydrating. It is very light blue (almost white) with some small blue specks in it. I seem to remember a very faint, but pleasant odor to it last week, but I'm so stuffed up right now I can't smell it at all (sorry about that!) When you rub it in you will feel the very small grains in it, but they are very small and uniform. You'll need to really rub it around for a bit more exfoliation. It does feel a bit greasy, I believe that is the sheer number of emollients and humectants in this scrub! While not as hydrating as Bioelements Cremetherapy (which is actually meant to hydrate, unlike this scrub), I did find that if I waited a few minutes before rinsing my skin was very hydrated!

Exfoliation and hydration in one step- Who knew it was possible?

Shu Uemura White Recovery EX

4

Shu Uemura's Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O

Cleansing oil sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, but mostly like something that is really scary and would not work. But, really it does! Run back to my cleanser post and read about cleansers and how they work. Really, it won't take long.

So, remember that part about surfactants and their long tails that love dirt, oil, etc? Well, those ends are basically the same as oil. Like goes with like, so they are attracted to water and oil, but don't mix well with water.

When you are cleansing with oil you basically are emulsifying the oil and dirt on your face. Take a peak at the directions below, you'll note that Shu wants you to put it on your dry skin, this will really help the oil to penetrate into any makeup, dirt or oil on your face. You'll get better results with massaging the oil around your face a bit.

You then need to get it all off of your face. While that can be pretty easy with a regular cleanser due to the water-loving ionic end of the surfactant, you don't have the luxury with an oil cleanser. Once again, massaging the water into the cleansing oil a bit will be very helpful, and then lots of rinsing!

Step 1. Place 4-6 pumps of cleansing oil onto dry hands.
Step 2. Gently massage oil onto a dry face and neck with dry hands.
Step 3. Dampen hands, and emulsify oil by massaging a small amount of warm water on top of the oil.
Step 4. Rinse well with lukewarm water.
Step 5. Follow with a shu uemura toning water and moisturizer.

Overall, how did I like this cleanser? Shu says that this cleanser is both a cleanser and makeup remover, and that it can even remove waterproof makeup. It did remove pretty much everything on my face, though it wasn't too great with mascara (I had to use my normal eye makeup remover still). It does take a bit longer to rinse off than a "normal" cleanser, but I had no oily residue and even if I skipped my moisturizer my dry cheeks had no afterwash dryness. None! My oily t-zone? No worse than usual. As for my drier "winter" skin, it did help fight off some of the usual winter dryness, restoring to a level of moisture I usually have in the summer.

This formulation does contain green tea derivatives (giving the cleanser a nice green tea scent that I enjoyed), and it is likely that some of the antioxidants are left behind on the skin in an oil cleanser.

I think if you have dry skin, definitely check out this cleanser. If you have oily or combination skin, don't cross this product off of your list, as I had good luck with it and I have combination skin. Especially during the winter, changing over to an oil cleanser may help with your dryness! Overall this was a great, gentle cleanser.

Shu Uemura's Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O

1

Neutrogena's Wave Power-Cleanser & Deep Clean Foaming Pads

I recently posted about this product when it came out, and I have since had a chance to try it out. If you see it in your store, you will need to buy yourself one! I love this little machine!

The small machine comes with 14 pads similar to a smooth Buff-Puff, with cleanser infused into them. The entire machine fits perfectly in to the palm of your hand, it is small and ergonomically correct. Simply place one of the little pads onto the round flat spot (it's held in place by velcro), and press the switch! Using this machine to me is like using a Sonic Care Toothbrush- there are little vibrations that you can feel, but you aren't sure it's doing anything. I had to really fight the urge to scrub my face and let the machine do the work. I move it over my face slowly for about 3-5 minutes, and the cleanser in the pad creates a very light foam. It rinses off quickly and easily, and then you realize that your face is incredibly smooth!

The machine is very gentle, and you could probably even use this every day. I do think that the recommended twice a day might be too much. So far I've been using it every other morning in the shower (it is water resistant), and I've had great results! I have had no redness or irritation, and I have had quite a few comments on how great my skin looks! I used it recently before I went to meet Max Factor's Celebrity Makeup Artist Jake Bailey (more about that in many posts soon) and even he commented to me on how smooth my skin felt! This is a man who does the makeup of a huge number of celebrities (Kyra Sedgwick, Paris Hilton, etc) and he was impressed!

I know that I'll be stocking up on more little pads to continue using this machine. I highly recommend you try this, the results I got were just fantastic!

17

Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion

Remember back when I reviewed Bioelement's Pumice Peel? I stated that I had yet to find a scrub that I felt was both effective and gentle enough for the face, with small and even grit that was appropriate for facial skin. The grit of the Pumice Peel was small and even and I loved the product, I called it a Holy Grail product. Well, I have now found a second product that is definitely worthy of being mentioned in the same post as the Bioelements Pumice Peel. In the interest of full disclosure, I honestly have to say that I do not have a preference for the Pumice Peel or the Microdermabrasion. However, both products are fantastic and the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion is also worthy of being named a Holy Grail Scrub!

Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion is everything you want a great scrub to be. It has very small even grit, it has a faint citrus smell, rinses easily without residue and only a small amount is all you need. The instructions state how long to leave on the product and how long to "scrub" with it. They are based on your type of skin- longer for those with oily, acne prone skin, shorter for those with sensitive skin. I think by following the instructions this scrub is made appropriate for every skin type, and it is likely the better choice for those with sensitive skin given this and the smaller grit size. After using this scrub my skin is left smooth (so smooth I can't stop touching my face!), glowing and radiant!

Key Ingredients:
• aloe vera: healing emollient that soothes irritation and prevents scarring.
• chamomile (anthemis nobilis flower oil): calms, soothes and reduces irritation.
• green tea (camellia sinensis): anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant that boosts the sunscreen action to protect against free radical damage. green tea has been clinically proven to prevent cellular damage caused by exposure to UV rays.
• Magnesium Oxide Crystals: These diamond shaped crystals are the "grit" in this scrub.

2

Cetaphil Cleanser, Facial Moisturizer and Cream

Physician Heal Thyself

There's a reason that phrase is meant to be said rather tongue in cheek. We are known to be horrid patients. Case in point - Me. I have some mild eczema, mainly I tend to be very dry and itchy and if it gets bad enough I'll turn red and scaly. If I moisturize like crazy I'm better off, and when I use my Olay Body Wash (which has about 17% Vaseline in it basically) I do better as well.

Having said all of that, what was I taught by other MDs for years? Tell your eczema patients to use warm water to wash (I take long hot showers), to pat dry and apply moisturizer within 3 minutes to "seal in" moisture (ok, I do that one). Wash only with a gentle soap (we recommended Olay for body, which I use, and Cetaphil Gentle for face which I sometimes used or I used Neutrogena Liquid which is also gentle). But the main thing we told them was to use a HEAVY oil based moisturizer. One that comes in a tub, not that wimpy stuff with a pump. Usually we recommended Cetaphil Cream because not only was it strong stuff, but it was non-irritating. I had used it one time in college, I remember liking it. But did I buy it for myself? No, I liked using a pump. I suffered in silence. I followed the directions for face and such, but ignored the most important tip (which cream) for years.

So, what happened? Someone included some Cetaphil products in a box they were sending me. It was like a little light bulb went off over my head, I had an "Ah Ha!" moment. Maybe, I should try these out and take my own advice. Maybe I would stop itching and feel comfortable in my own skin for the first time in years (True, the Natural Skin MD moisturizer did help, but I needed a lot of it and at $24 for 4 ounces I wasn't going to order more).

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
Obviously there is a reason that I was taught to recommend this cream to my patients, and why it's a long time favorite of most dermatologists in the United States. The ideal moisturizer would replace the oils lost by the skin (this moisturizer doesn't exist by the way), be easily absorbed, non-greasy and non-irritating. The Cetaphil Cream likely comes as close to this as you can get. There are other creams that replace oils and aren't irritating, however most of them (Aquaphor, Moisturel and Eucerin primarily) are known for being very greasy and not absorbing as well into the skin.

I love this Cetaphil Cream. It is creamy and thick, with very little smell. It spreads easily and feels silky, but it absorbs very quickly into the skin. Once it is in the skin, you are grease free and super hydrated! Best of all, this cream lasts seemingly forever. I don't have to reapply at night anymore! I plan to use this cream pretty much exclusively for now on, and I have already bought 2 giant tubs of it to keep me well supplied!

Ingredients (refer to the moisturizer post):
• Purified Water
• Polyglycerylmethacrylate (and) Propylene Glycol (humectant)
• Petrolatum (occlusive)
• Dicaprylyl Ether (emollient)
• PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate (emulsifier)
• Glycerin (humectant)
• Dimethicone and Dimethiconol (occlusive)
• Cetyl Alcohol (thickening agent)
• Sweet Almond Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid.

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 with Parsol 1789
This is basically the lighter version of the creme, plus some sunscreen. Granted, when you look at the ingredients they are very different, but from the consumer's point of view this is a light, easily applied and easily absorbed moisturizer. It has no residue and doesn't interfere with application of makeup afterwards. Perhaps the best feature is the sunscreen. This moisturizer contains Parsol 1789 (one of the best sunscreens on the market) and has a SPF of 15! This is a great moisturizer for everyone to start with, no matter what your skin type.

Sunscreen Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Octocrylene 10 %

Ingredients:
• Purified Water
• Diisopropyl Adipate (emollient)
• Cyclomethicone (emollient)
• Glyceryl Stearate and PEG-100 Stearate (emollient)
• Glycerin (humectant)
• Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer 940, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
This cleanser was originally formulated for dermatologists, specifically to be less irritating and strip less oil from the skin. When looking at the list of ingredients, you can see that the surfactant (though a somewhat harsh surfactant, with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) is rather far down on the list. In addition, note that only 1 surfactant is present as well (usually a second is added in order to increase foaming).

This cleanser is incredibly gentle, yet strong enough to remove all of my makeup without issues (with the exception of eye makeup, it really is not meant for this nor does it remove it). It rinses out easily and causes no irritation or after wash tightness. Again, this is a winner and if you are looking for a gentle cleanser, this is an excellent product to start with.

Ingredients (refer to the cleanser post:
• Water,
• Cetyl Alcohol (emollient, emulsifier and mild surfactant)
• Propylene Glycol (humectant)
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (surfactant)
• Stearyl Alcohol (thickening agent)
• Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben (all preservatives)

1

Merlot Skin Care

Recently I was given the opportunity to review Merlot Skincare's products. I had never heard of the company, but I knew that Grapes and Grape Seeds are meant to be healthy for you and that antioxidants were involved. So, I saw this as a great excuse to not only try a new product, but to finally review what antioxidants are and how they work.

Now, if you've read the review I did on antioxidants the other day in preparation for this review, you'll know that you are NOT likely to see fast (meaning 1-2 weeks) results from antioxidants, even from the most proven one, Vitamin A and it's derivatives known as Retinoids. You also know that I'm not sure that you will be able to see fast results, but that it certainly won't hurt you to use an antioxidant everyday. I think that in 10 years you will be glad you did. Even though there is not much evidence for topical use of grape related antioxidants, there is a lot of evidence for them as very powerful antioxidants overall, and that is enough for me!

Having said all of that preamble, I did enjoy trying out these products. While I know that it can't have been the antioxidants that I saw making a difference, I did feel "glowy" while using these products! I also love that these products are pretty affordable and in large sizes. While they aren't likely to be in your local Target, you can buy them easily on-line. What more could a girl ask for?

Merlot Skin Care Grape Seed Moisturizer
This lotion is purple. Really, it is. But, have no fear, because you can't tell once it's in your skin! It smells very faintly of grapes (all of the products do actually, I really like this feature), and it both looks like and has the texture of blueberry yogurt! It sinks into the skin immediately, feels silky and I swear it really did make my skin glow (rather than look like an oil slick). This is a surprisingly light moisturizer, and I think it would be well suited for most skin types.

Notice that little jar on top of the big jar.... It really does come that way. I have a little travel size of my own now too!

Ingredients (for help, refer to the moisturizer post for help):
• Water
• Grape Seed Polyphenols (This is the first company that I have seen do this, their big active ingredient is #2 on the list!)
• Propylene Glycol (humectant)
• Petrolatum (occlusive)
• Dimethicone (occlusive)
• Chamomile extract, Cetyl alcohol, glyceryl monostearate, stearic acid, phenoxythanol, triethanolamine, carbomer 940, comfrey extract, aloe vera and zinc oxide

Merlot's Moonlight Radiance Night Cream is actually pretty different from their regular moisturizer. This cream is white (instead of light purple) and smells less like grapes. It is a little bit thicker too. However, once applied it also feels silky and absorbs very easily into your skin! I did think that the night cream was a heavier moisturizer than the regular moisturizer.

A look at the ingredients in this cream tells us why it is different:
• Water
• Squalene (occlusive)
• Cetyl Alcohol (thickening agent)
• Polyacrlamide (a gel, my husband uses this in his lab to help separate proteins using gel electrophoresis... likely used here as a base or thickening agent for the lotion is my best guess)
• C13-14 Isoparaffin (emulsifier)
• Laureth-7 (emulsifier)
• Glyceryl Stearate (emollient)
• Peg-100 Stearate (emollient)
• Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Acetyl Hexapeptide-3 (Argireline), Palmitoyl Pentapeptide (Matrixyl 3000), glycerine, Propylene glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Grapeseed Extract, Avacado Oil, Grapefruit Mask

In comparing the two lotions you can see that their bases and makeups are completely different. Also notice that although the grapeseeds are lower on the night cream (which is probably just fine, we don't know how much you need to work), but notice that peptides are also included in the night formulation.

Don't forget anti-aging for your hands! That is one of the first locations that your age will "show." The final product I tried was the Merlot Skin Care Hand Cream.

Honestly, I was disappointed in this as an everyday hand cream for me. Please keep in mind that I'm an obsessive hand washer, both at work (where I wash with surgical scrub people!) and at home (Soft Soap and Williams-Sonoma). It sinks in well, feels silky and hydrating, but was not able to survive even a single hand washing. No handwashing, ok; hand washing, dry hands. Well, I got around this issue by having this lotion take up residence in my nightstand! I love this lotion right before I go to bed. It is more than hydrating enough for me to use it right before bed, and then I get the added benefits of the grape seeds.

Ingredients:
• Water
• Soybean Oil (occlusive)
• Glycerine (humectant)
• PPG-2 Myristrl Ether Propionate (emollient)
• Stearic Acid (emollient)
• Ceteryl Alcohol (emulsifier)
• Ceteareth 20, Aloe Vera, Corn Starch, Propylene Glycl, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben, Chamomile extract, Comfrey Extract, Dimethicone Copooyol, Cyclomethicone, Cetyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Grape Seed Polyphenols, EDTA, Triclosan, Zinc Oxide, Grape Seed mask, D&C #33, FD&C Blue #1

9

Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover

Have you noticed that I'm starting to obsess over eye makeup removers? I read somewhere about the amount of eye makeup that dermatologists can see under a woman's eyes that we didn't even know was there, and they said something about the buildup contributing to dark circles. That was enough for me to start testing them like crazy!

A long time ago, I had a Lancome eye makeup remover. It came in a little white tube, I believe it was a gift with purchase item. Lancome discontinued that product long ago for a good reason, it really only smeared stuff around. Because of my experience with that product I had been resistant to trying Lancome eye makeup removers. I should have tried this product years ago, truly. There is a good reason it is one of their best sellers and has won so many awards from Allure and Glam.com.

This is an amazing eye makeup remover. It is the only one I've tested that completely (and easily at that) removes the incredibly difficult to remove Revlon 3D Mascara. This product has 2 phases, and needs to be well shaken before use. A little bit on a cotton pad, rub it across your lid and voila! All makeup is easily on the pad and no longer on your eye. No residue is left behind either.

In case you're wondering, this does work better than the much cheaper Boots Eye Makeup Remover. Is it worth the extra $16? That depends on your eye makeup routine. If you wear a lot of eye shadow, eye liner or any waterproof mascara, I would say that the upgrade is well worth the money.

Look for it on-line or at a Lancome counter near you!

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The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ

For years I have been taking the advice of beauty magazines and simply scrubbing my lips with my toothbrush when they are dry and flaky. Admittedly, this does work somewhat, removing large flakes easily. However, I always felt like my lips still had issues, and kinda wanted something more.

Enter the most decadent beauty product you will ever own! The motto of this scrub is "Wonder how you ever lived without it", and I have to say that this is pretty accurate! I love this scrub, and I know that when I run out I'll be buying more.

This scrub is a relatively simple sugar scrub, and it comes in flavors like Almond Creme and Vanilla Bean. What really sets this scrub apart from other sugar scrubs is the consistency. It is incredibly thick, and just a very small amount is all that is needed to rub on your lips with a fingertip. It's easily removed by rubbing with a tissue, then simply wash your face. Your lips will look like new, I swear!

The flavors that I tried were Cocoa and Cinnamon Sugar. They both taste amazing, and it was all I could do not to simply lick it off of my lips! The Cocoa tastes exactly like the double chocolate Dunkin Dounuts my dad brought home for us on weekends while I was a kid, and Cinnamon Sugar is exactly that- the best Cinnamon Sugar toast you've ever had!

I have to admit that after receiving these scrubs last week I've become addicted to them. I want to use them nearly everyday, but have held off to every 3-4 days at the most. Since using them I've noticed that my lips are much smoother, and lip stick and gloss simply look much better on my lips.

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Boots No7 Cleanse & Care Eye Make-up Remover

In my quest for the perfect eye makeup remover, I took the advice of Tina, who left a comment on my review of Revlon's 3-D Mascara. Boy, was she right! This is a much better eye makeup remover than Almay's Eye Makeup Remover.

The Boots remover has several different liquid densities, and needs to be very well shaken before applying. It is applied with a cotton pad, and it removes pretty much every bit of makeup easily with only 1 or 2 swipes! I've tried this remover with mascaras from Revlon, L'Oreal, Almay and Cover Girl. I've used regular and waterproof formulas. It's removed all of them easily (though admittedly the Revlon 3-D Mascara needs twice as much remover as all of the others). It leaves no greasy residue, and only needs a splash of water to rinse it all away.

My favorite part about this remover? The directions. They tell you to use a "cotton wool" to apply, this just cracks me up!

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Bioelements Review Series: Pumice Peel

When I don't have time for a mask, I love to use an exfoliating scrub. The problem with facial scrubs is that if the granules are too large or irregularly shaped, the scrub basically just gouges the skin. If there aren't enough granules, the exfoliation is uneven. If there are too many granules you'll over exfoliate too easily. Hense, it is very difficult to find a good facial scrub (no, that St. Ives one you used in high school does NOT count at a good one!)

I've tried a lot of facial scrubs, and I honestly have never repurchased. This scrub is amazing. This is a scrub that I know I will buy over and over again. This is a Holy Grail scrub!

What is the secret of this scrub? It's pumice crystals. Yup. They basically ground up that block you use on your heels (or mean to use on your heels) everyday in the shower! It creates a very fine and uniform dust which just happens to be perfect for a facial scrub!

To mean, this scrub smells like a mud mask, and it has a light grey color and is the consistency of mustard. This treatment comes with one of those great little plastic spoons, which is perfect for getting the exact right amount of scrub. Just use this on your face for 1-2 minutes and the result is smooth, glowing and more even skin!

Bioelements Pumice Peel

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Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cleanser

As much as I like the Regenerist lotions, creams and serums, I think that my favorite Regenerist product is the Daily Regenerating Cleanser. This is a pretty gentle cleanser with little beads added for exfoliation, as well as amino acids and beta hydroxy acids.

According to the Olay website, this cleanser is specially formulated to speed up skin turnover in 2 ways:

Oxygenated derma-bead formula gently removes dead skin surface cells to detoxify
Creamy formula with amino-peptide complex regenerates skin's surface at the cellular level

I find this to be a cleanser that is very gentle on my skin, has pleasant little beads present in it for a little bit of exfoliation (but not too harsh, there is a good amount that makes this great for daily use without fear of over exfoliation), and I really do enjoy using it. There is a light perfume that is similar to the other Regenerist products, but it is overall much lighter. I have no after wash tightness and the formula is very easily washed off. Overall, this is a great cleanser.

Take a peak at the ingredients below:

Water
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether (emollient)
Glycerin (humectant)
Oxidized Plyethylene (appears to be an emulsifier)
Stearyl Alcohol (emollient)
Cetyl Betaine (surfactant)
Salicylic Acid (beta hydroxy acid)
Distearyldimonium Chloride, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Steareth-21, Sodium Chloride, Behenyl Alcohol, PPG-30, Steareth-2. Sodium Glycolate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carnosine, Disodium EDTA, Ascorbic Acid, Fragrance, Iron Oxides, Beta-Hydroxy, Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Amino-Peptide, Vitamin C.

Notice that the surfactant doesn't appear until item #6 on the ingredient list, and even then it is only after 2 emollients and a humectant! No wonder this is such a gentle cleanser. I find it interesting that the cleanser features the Amino-Peptide Complex and Salicylic Acid, because by nature a cleanser doesn't allow these ingredients to be absorbed into the skin, which is how they work best. So, if you're looking for a product that will allow you to get the most out of these ingredients, I would steer you more toward a product like the Micro-Sculpting Cream that I featured yesterday.

I think this cleanser would be great for pretty much everyone, whether your primary concern is anti-aging, basic skin care or even acne. Next time you are at the store looking for a new cleanser, I recommend you check it out!

Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cleanser

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Bioelements Review Series: Kerafole

So, Kerafole is a very interesting mask. In the jar it looks and smells like a mud mask, with a light brown/tannish color. It comes with a little spoon like the Restorative Clay Mask to help you scoop out the right amount of product and prevent contamination of your jar with bacteria. But, it really isn't your typical mud mask. It's an exfoliating mask, and it has 2 alpha hydroxy acids and other ingredients for stimulation and brightening the skin.

According to the Bioelements website, these are the active ingredients:
Algae Extract (stimulating, detoxifying, nourishing)
Lavender Oil (antiseptic, healing)
Lemon Extract (antibacterial, skin-brightening)
Tea Tree Oil (antibacterial)
Citric Acid (exfoliant)
Malic Acid (exfoliant)
Camomile Extract (soothing)
Ginko Biloba Extract (stimulating, improves microcirculation)
Orange Oil (sedating)
Kelp (nourishing)

The mask goes on like a typical mud mask, but it should probably be used in a lighter layer on the skin. It has a tingling effect that is strong but doesn't hurt and is not too intense. The tingling lasts for about 3-4 minutes on me, and then goes away as the mask dries. After about 10 minutes it has dried and I then wash it off. The mask is a tad bit hard to remove with water alone, as it wants to stick to your face. However, a bit of cleanser takes care of that problem easily.

After using this mask my face definitely has an immediate improvement in smoothness, any flaking I have around my nose is gone (why, oh why, do I have this problem so often?), and my face just glows! I have not experienced any irritation from this mask and the alpha hydroxy acids in it-- Just glowing skin!

Bioelements Kerafole

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Bioelements Review Series: Restorative Clay

I love this mask. Really, truly, this is the best mask ever. Hands down. Period. You must go and buy this mask now.

I've been a mask lover for years. I go through phases of mask usage due to time constraints. But when I am able to use them, I find them to be soothing and relaxing. My favorites have always been clay masks. I love the feeling of them drying on my skin, and I really feel as though my skin has been through some exfoliation through the removal scrubbing process.

This mask is a very thick mud mask, and it comes with a cute little spoon to help you remove the product from the jar. I really recommend using this spoon as it will not only help prevent contamination of your mask jar with bacteria, but it is also perfect to get the right amount of mask out of the jar. Just one small scoop is more than enough for your entire face. The mask has a light grey color with a tinge of blue, and it just smells like a mud mask, nothing special or overwhelming. It spreads easily across my face and it takes about 15 minutes or so to dry completely. Unlike some masks it doesn't become incredibly uncomfortable right at the end of the drying process, which is a HUGE bonus!

This mask washes off pretty easily, and it becomes a bit gritty like a scrub as it is washed off. Once off (even without the help of cleanser) it does not leave a film behind. I feel fresh and clean, and as though someone has just scrubbed out my pores!
Bioelements Restorative Clay

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