Osmia Organics Skincare

Product Sent for Review


Today's review has been in the works for months. Really, months. I've been dragging my feet on an actual Osmia Organics review, in large part because working on it means I need to move on to other skin care items. And I kind of don't want to do it. Which is a sign that I really do need to share the brand with my readers, because I really love it! Though, if you've been paying attention to my site and some of my skincare posts over on Babble, you'll notice that Osmia has been popping up in mentions and images.

Osmia Organics is a small, family owned company based in Colorado. It was started by Sarah Villafranco, who somewhat fell into skincare by a lark a few years ago. In her previous life, Sarah was an ER doctor. I swear to you, if we were in the same town, Sarah and I would be good friends. She's so incredibly nice and friendly in her emails, and just... normal.

Osmia skincare products are made using organic and natural ingredients, and while they aren't an organic certified company (that's in process), whenever possible they use organic certified ingredients. Their products also leave out ingredients such as sulfates, fragrances and everything is cruelty free (note that they're not vegan, they do use some ingredients such as organic beeswax, lanolin, and organic buttermilk).

One of the main things that Osmia Organics is known for is their soaps. They have a really wide selection of different hand made soaps, and they are just so pretty! I know that I have a few readers that are of the opinion that "all soap is bad for your skin, no matter what" and I have to disagree. While it was true of soap even 20 years or so ago, the soap that is made today is very different from the harsh lye soap of the early 1900s. The soaps of today are made with very different ingredients, are often very gentle and can provide a lot of extra benefits to the skin such as anti-inflammatories, extra hydration and other conditioning ingredients.

The cleanser that Osmia sent me was their Black Clay Facial Soap. This soap is recommended for normal, problem, and combination skin (I'm combination with some mild rosacea). The Black Clay soap has ingredients to help with issues, such as Black Australian clay and dead sea mud balance and tone the skin, while organic almond, avocado, and castor bean oils condition. The soap really is that dark grey color, and I don't really pick up any scent with the soap. It has a nice lather and rinses off easily, but didn't leave my skin stripped or tight afterwards.

Once my face was rinsed, I patted it with a towel. You don't want to be dry, instead you want to be a little more than damp. I use about 1/2 pump of the Facial Calibration Serum on my face and neck, and allow my skin to air dry. This "serum" is more like an oil (there's a lot of coconut oil in it) and there are added ingredients to help soothe irritation and decrease oil production.

I found that the Facial Calibration Serum is pretty moisturizing, and a full pump of it was just too much for my skin. I would end up with blemishes and too shiny by mid-morning. But, just a half pump of the serum, and my skin looked amazing! I had no blemishes, no dry spots and my usually shiny t-zone wasn't as shiny.

I've loved using Osmia Organics' products! If you're ordering, be sure to check out the Lip Luster and Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair too!

Osmia Organics
Product Sent for Review

2

Foreo's Luna: A New Alternative to the Clarisonic, A Silicone Deep Facial Cleanser

Product Sent for Review

Recently, Foreo sent me their Luna, a totally new way to clean your face. It's just now hitting the market here in the US, and it promises to be a new alternative to the Clarisonic. So, they asked me to take it for a spin and let my readers know how I liked it.

Read on to take a peek at the Luna and see how I liked using it.

8

Currently Loving: Avene Cold Cream Ultra-Rich Cleansing Bar

Product Sent for Review


I'm not usually a bar soap girl. I think other than occasionally washing my hands with a bar when I'm at a friend's home, I haven't really used it in years. Years and years and years. When Avenesent me a bar of the Cold Cream Cleansing Bar, I thought I might as well try it... it can't be all bad, right? It has Cold Cream in the name!

You guys, I had dramatically underestimated this bar. I kind of love it.

Yes, it has a faint cold cream scent. It has a nice lather and when you use it, you can feel that it "feels" different. There's a bit more slip and it kind of feels more creamy. I really can't describe it any better than that. It doesn't remove eye makeup (and keep it away from your eyes because it does sting a little if it gets in there), but it does an amazing job of removing all of my makeup without over cleansing my skin. There's definitely no afterwash tightness here!

While it rinses off pretty easily with just a little warm water, you will notice that it feels like a little something is left behind. Don't obsess over it, just move on. It's a little extra hydration (I'm not sure what it is from looking at the ingredients. I'm sure someone smarter than me could look at it and figure it out.)

The bar has definitely been my friend this summer! I'm experiencing more dryness issues than usual this summer, likely related to spending a lot more time outside (my 2 year old loves to play outside!) This bar nipped a lot of those issues in the bud. I'll be keeping this on hand for the winter as well!

Avene
Product Sent for Review

5

Spa Sonic Review: A Cheaper Clarisonic Alternative

Product Sent for Review

You may have noticed that I talk about my Clarisonic a lot. Like, really, a lot. I love that it helps my skin feel so fresh and clean, does a little light exfoliation and I can use it every day if I want. It's even waterproof so I can use it in the shower if I want. However, the Clarisonic can be a tad expensive, and in the past I've looked at other deep cleansing brushes, and today I have another affordable option to share with you.

The Spa Sonic is available at stores like Target.com, Costco.com and Drugstore.com, and to help get their name out there they very nicely sent me a unit to try out.

The Spa Sonic unit comes with a coule of different attachements.
• 2 soft facial brushes: They're small and have very soft bristles. Think of those manual facial brushes you can buy, but this one clicks on to a rotating base.
• Facial buffer: It has the consistency of a makeup sponge, but a little stiffer.
• Body Brush: Much larger and a little stiffer than the facial brush, as far as I can tell the colors are just there for decoration because I can't really tell a difference between the white and blue bristles.
• Pumice Stone: Yes, SUPER AMAZING for your feet!

The unit is pretty simple. It has an easy on/off button, a rubbery grip so you won't drop it, because yes, it is waterproof. That's definitely one advantage over other Clarisonic alternatives, some of them are only water resistant. Which means you can't take them in the shower with you.

I have a Clarisonic Plus, so I decided that they should be compared. You can see that the Spa Sonic is a bit thinner, and the facial brush is smaller for the Spa Sonic.

The movements of the two brushes are different. The Spa Sonic spins, while the Clarisonic does much smaller and faster movements. I took a video to show the difference, and somehow in the video things were moving so fast that they appeared slower? Strange. They both move quite a bit faster than shown in the video, but you'll get the idea of how they move.


After trying out the Spa Sonic, I'd say it isn't quite a Clarisonic, but it's really very nice. The handle is substantial, the rubber grip is really nice in the shower. I don't mind the loss of the beeps my Clarisonic gives me telling me to move areas of my face, because I ignore those anyways. The smaller facial brush of the Spa Sonic is easier to navigate around my nose, but I like the different strengths options of the Clarisonic brushes. I really loved the pumice stone option on the Spa Sonic, especially on my heels. You do have to be careful to not overdo it, but my feet were soft in no time!


The Spa Sonic is $69, but until May 5th it will be $44.99 at Drugstore.com!

Spa Sonic
Product Sent for Review

10

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser Review: Not Just a Basic Gentle Cleanser

One of the first things to include in any anti-aging skin care routine is a gentle cleanser. It seems silly to so overwash your skin and strip it of any natural moisture it has, that you then need to use heavy moisturizers to add it back in. That stinging and redness and the tight feeling? I don't tolerate that nonsense. Those cleansers don't get used more than a few times, let alone make it to the blog for a review.

The Facial Cleanser from First Aid Beauty is pretty much exactly what I expected from them. It's a white and slightly pearly creamy cleanser. It's a bit thicker than most, which means that it works really well with my Clarisonic and doesn't sink down into the bristles. It has a light lather, but doesn't become a bubbly mess when I use the Clarisonic (I'm not a fan of bubbles up my nose!)

I've seen a few reviews online that complain about the smell, which confuses me, honestly. There really isn't much of a smell, what there is, is really a faint lotion smell to me. I don't find that annoying at all, especially since it washes right off anyways.

Here's what is in the stuff:

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), SodiumCocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Stearyl Alcohol,Sodium PCA, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Allantoin, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Coco Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol

Things to notice here:
1) It is sulfate free. There are also no parabens for those of you avoiding them. It also meets all of my pregnancy safe skin care criteria.

2) The main surfactant is Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, which is a gentle surfactant derived from coconut oil.

3) While most of your cleanser will get rinsed off, it is true that some of it will get left behind on your skin. Some of the things this will be leaving behind:
• Glycerin: Moisture. Moisture. Moisture.
• Aloe
• Green tea (Camellia Sinensis Leaf) extract, which is full of antioxidant goodness.
• Feverfew Extract: Anti-inflammatory that helps soothe redness
• Licorice Root Extract: Known to have anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. It is also thought to decrease melanin production, so is often included in brightening products.

I'll stop there, but there is a lot packed into this cleanser!


First Aid Beauty

4

Ask a Beauty Blogger: Favorite Cleanser?

I've recently published 2 posts on my favorite beauty items (here and more items here), but I thought Julie's question was the perfect opportunity to explain my craziness with facial cleansers. I know I'm not the only one with a couple of cleansers sitting around and using them for different things.

So, without further ado, here are the 4 (!!) cleansers that I keep around.


1. Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing and Makeup Remover: This is the cleanser that I've "officially" dubbed my favorite simply because it is the one I reach for the most often. It sits on my countertop and I use it most nights to wash everything off. On days that I can't quite get all of my eye makeup off (it seems to depend on the mascara, that new Maybelline Rocket is quite the hard one to remove), then I reach for the cotton rounds and #4. This one is a bit too thin to work well with my Clarisonic.

2. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser: This is a very gentle cleanser that removes pretty much everything (except eye makeup, hence the #1), without irritation or drying out my skin. I mostly use this one with my Clarisonic. It is a bit more viscous than the other cleansers, so it seems to stick around in the bristles a little bit more. It also does have a nice lather, but it doesn't go totally crazy with the Clarisonic. All around it's a winner.

3. Skin Authority Moisturizing Cream Cleanser: Another gentle cleanser, but this one is definitely more hydrating. I haven't totally figured out how they did this with something you rinse off. It feels more like a lotion than a cleanser, removes dirt, oil and makeup, leaves lots of moisture behind... I leave this one in the shower to use in the morning, though I'll also bring it over to the counter for times that I'm feeling dry and in need of a little extra pampering. This one works well with my Clarisonic, but it bubbles up a bit too much with the brush for my taste (I get bubbles up my nose!), so I tend not to use the 2 together.

4. Hard Candy Take It Off Eye Makeup Remover: Finally, this is the makeup remover that I use most of the time. It removes pretty much anything you throw at it, and somehow the fact that it is a thick lotion (instead of an oil like most other removers) works in its favor. I sometimes will wipe some on, and let the lotion sit for about 10-15 seconds before wiping it off. The extra time makes hard to remove liners and mascaras just melt off. Love that.

2

Somme Institute Nourishing Cleanser Review

The Somme Institute Skin Care routine starts off with their cleanser, the Nourishing Cleanser. It does seem quite a bit like most other cleansers. It is a light white color, has almost no smell and is very gentle to the skin. It removes makeup, but has issues with some eye makeup. Really, it is not meant to be an eye makeup remover anyways, so I didn't find it distressing to need to remove my mascara (which was the issue) with a regular eye makeup remover. The cleanser removed all regular makeup without an issue and didn't over strip my skin at all! Afterwards my skin had no redness, irritation or after wash tightness.

What's interesting about this cleanser is that Somme actually says that you don't need to rinse it off (they say to "Wipe it off with a tissue or wet towel". I did try it like that, and I couldn't tell that it was on my face, but I just felt... strange doing that? The cleanser does contain the MDT5 technology that is in the other products, so if you've shelled out the cash for the technology I'd go that route to take full advantage of the cleanser!




Note that the presence of vitamin A in the MDT5 technology means that this entire line should be avoided in pregnancy.

Somme Institute

0

Deep Cleansing Brushes: What's the Difference Between All of Them?

I'm sure you've noticed it in my Beauty Expert Series that Clarisonics have been mentioned many, many times. They're continually mentioned in magazines and on-line by both dermatologists and estheticians as a must have (and use) item. Why? While you might think that using just your hands, cleanser and a few splashes of water is enough to clean your face.... it really isn't. You need a bit more friction than that. Add in a little light exfoliation each time you use the Clarisonic and it is a skin's dream come true. You look more glowy, don't have a light residual layer of makeup when you go to bed, and since you've exfoliated off a little dead skin all of your expensive skin care works better.

But, that Clarisonic is so expensive! I have one, I admit to being too lazy to use it every day (I'm more of an every 2-3 days Clarisonic girl, I go with an old fashioned wash cloth twice a day usually). I've been resolving to improve this to every night over the summer.

But, what if you don't have a Clarisonic? And can't imagine shelling out the big bucks to do it? There are alternatives, and I thought a review and comparison of the 4 deep facial cleansing machines I have here at home would be worthwhile. I do want to state that in the past I've reviewed the Sirius Beauty brush as well, but I've since given it away. So, here are the 4 I have at home!

Read on to see pics and info on each of the devices.

67

Fighting Aging with Parisian Botanicals: Darphin Paris Skincare Review

I was recently asked to review some skin care products from Darphin, a skin care company that I've been really curious about for years. I've only had the products for a short period of time (I'll be posting an update after my typical six week trial period), but so far I've really been liking the products!

I started using the products two weeks ago, right as the cold(ish) winter weather was suddenly giving way to mid-70 early summer weather? What was up with that? And it was a challenging time of the month for blemishes. So, from several perspectives, these products have already been through some skincare-challenging times.

Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water

This was a completely different skin cleanser for me. It looks like water, but you basically use it like a toner. Which means you apply with a cotton round and don't rinse it off. It did remove all of my makeup without issue, including mascara and eye liner. Since Darphin says to not rinse afterwards, I was worried about residue, but there wasn't any. I had no after wash irritation or redness. It seemed to just get the job done and to be very gentle. Darphin says that this product has been formulated to be ultra-gentle and suitable even for those with rosacea.

Age-Defying Dermabrasion

I'm super picky about scrubs, particularly if they will be used on my face. My phobia stems from a comment made by one of the faculty during a lecture when I was in medical school. They showed a picture of the skin surface after using a scrub. It was full of deep scratches, and while they weren't visible to the naked eye, it really it looked horrible. It made most of us cringe. I had a few tubes of the same scrub stockpiled in my bathroom at home, they were promptly thrown out! The problem? The grit was unevenly sized, sharp and there wasn't enough of it. To compensate, most women really scrub with the scrub, resulting in skin injury.

This scrub really does have all of my ideal scrub qualities. When looking for a scrub I look for grain that it small, uniform in size and not at all sharp. The grit (silica, pearl and lava powders) is small, consistent in size and I haven't had any issues with sharp edges. There's just enough grit to spread around and get every little bit of skin. With light washing I found that this scrub has a good balance between being gentle enough to use a few times a week and still get a nice exfoliating effect.

Ideal Resource

Ideal Resource is the real star here, the anti-aging cream. Sure, it has the usual suspects such as anti-oxidants (Tocopheryl Acetate), my beloved sqaulene and sodium hyaluronate are there for some hydration, and there's even caffeine for some added temporary skin tightening. But, you'll also find some new ingredients here such as Centella Asiatica, Knotweed, and White Hibiscus.

What exactly do these things do? Truthfully, I was a bit confused by the paperwork sent to me by Darphin on these ingredients. (What exactly does "increased oxygen resource" mean?) The MD in me needed more info, so I dug some up.

Centella Asiatica

According to Darphin, Centella recharges the dermo-epidermal junction with oxygen resources by stimulating cutaneous microcirculation, resulting in an increased "glow." What does this mean? It took me a while to figure out because that term "oxygen resources" was confusing me. What I can figure out from that sentence is that the underlying levels of the skin see improved oxygen delivery because their microcirculation is better, essentially because there are more blood vessels in the area. Is it true?

A quick search for this ingredient over in Pubmed found that it is used in a wide array of applications, and this reference in particular mentioned decreased edema, anti-oxidant properties, anti-inflammatory actions, collagen modulation to prevent scarring, and yes effects on blood vessel creation in the area. I even found quite a few references about wound healing (2, 3, 4). Perhaps more encouraging was the effects on fibroblasts, preventing them from early death (reference 5).

So, overall there are quite a few ways that this little extract could fight aging, and the increased "oxygen resource" claim is true as there is evidence in the literature for improved microcirculation in the area.

Knotweed Knotweed extract is rich in Resveratrol, the amazing wondrous anti-oxidant found in red wine. Preventing damage from reactive oxygen species will help fight the signs of aging, but in particular premature aging due to sun exposure (reference).

White Hibiscus Here's another claim that I was confused by when reading the info sent to me by Darphin. White Hibiscus is present to "recharge the epidermis with cellular vitality resources by stimulating keratinocyte renewal" and the "epidermis is transformed progressively, and skin surface imperfections are removed." Which I think means improved cell turnover and maybe improved cellular life so that the cells are around to improve that skin surface.

White Hibiscus was a bit harder to find information about, and surprisingly enough a lot of what I initially found was about insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia (1 and 2). What was more interesting about those references was the potential for anti-oxidant activity, which was then confirmed in reference 3, and then in reference 4 there was event discussion of specifically improving White Hibiscus for topical application. I'm not certain that what I found matches what was in my paperwork, but it does sound promising as an active ingredient in skin care.

So, get to the point

After all of that, how did I actually like the cream? I really like it. It is thick, light ivory color, and it has a subtle floral scent. It feels really, really good going on. It seemed like it should have been much too heavy for my combination skin, in particular once the weather turned so warm. But it really wasn't. The cream absorbs within 1 or 2 minutes and there wasn't a residue left behind. I can use it at night or in the morning since it doesn't interfere with makeup application at all. And since it is so hydrating it seems to just make me glowy. All sorts of glowy goodness is going on. And there were no issues with blemishes, despite some hormonal issues and weather changes. So far I really like this cream!

Darphin Paris

This is a sponsored post, so I have been given both free product (from Darphin) and money for my time (from BlogHer) to write an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sweepstakes

Now that I've tried the Darphin Age Defying Dermabrasion that I was lusting after, what do you want to try? Leave me a comment to enter for a chance to win a Darphin products valued at a minimum of $100.

Plus, Darphin has a special offer (one of their best!) just for readers of this post: Get a free Age Defying Dermabrasion Deluxe Sample, Dark Circles and De-puffing Eye Serum Deluxe Sample and Spa Headband with any order at Darphin.com through 5/31/12. Use code BLOGGER at checkout.

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments. Leave your email address in the comment below with your entry info.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

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d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 4/23 ñ 5/24

Be sure to visit the sponsor's brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggersí reviews and find more chances to win!

56

Boots Gentle Glycolic Peel: At Home Peeling?

Yes, yes, yes. Many of us are afraid of using a peel. I could show that same old picture of Samantha post-peel and wearing a hat with a veil. Because her face is a mess. But really, it's been done. I mean, I think I've shown that pic at least 2 or 3 times here, who knows how many times other bloggers have done the same thing?

This peel isn't that peel. This peel is the one I recommended to my mother in law over the phone last week. She likes beauty products, but she needs gentle and effective. This is that peel.

It's very easy to use. Put a few pumps of peel into that little clear petri dish thing, and then use the brush to apply a very thin layer on your clean face. Be sure to avoid sensitive/thin skin areas like your eyes, lips and nostrils. The brush bristles can stick together a bit strangely, I found it helps to use your fingers to push them together on the sides, basically making the brush thinner. Wait 5 minutes, then wipe one of the pads on your face to neutralize and wash.

The results are definitely worth it! My skin was smoother and glowing. I've used it a few times a week over the last 2 weeks and my skin is clearer with smaller pores. I have had absolutely no issues with redness, irritation or any reaction to the peel. The kit costs $25 and has enough for 24 treatments. Twice a week for 4 weeks a course, and then 3 courses of treatment. That's about $1.04 a treatment. Not bad at all!

One note, as with any exfoliation, a peel will make your face more sensitive to the sun. Please be sure to wear sunscreen, at least SPF 15 (though 30 would be better) while using this product. As well, if you have a skin condition such as rosacea talk with your doctor before using this kit.

Boots

6

Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash: Hydrate and Cleanse at the Same Time

Last summer I started a little series called Shower Shakeup. I found that I was using the same products in my shower, continually repurchasing the same things over and over. The horror! This is hard for most beauty bloggers to imagine. The reason? These products worked for me. They worked really well. I forced myself out of the box for a week, and I've (sometimes) written about new items in my shower since that time. But I have to admit that there was a reason I was repurchasing those items over and over. They work for me and are just amazing. The first one I returned to? The Olay body wash that I'm a *tad* obsessed with, Ultra Moisture. So, when Olay asked to sponsor a review post about the product, I figured that it was probably high time that I actually fully address this product in my blog.

A quick (30-second) check of my bathroom found 4 full-sized bottles of this stuff currently being used and/or stashed for future use. Not pictured are the bottle currently in my trash (aka the bottle I just finished; I thought fishing it out was a bit odd), and the 2 smaller bottles in my drawer of products for travel.

At first glance, you might think that this is just another body wash. It has a light floral perfume fragrance that is pleasant in the shower but I can't smell it on myself later. (In my book, this is good. I want to smell my perfume, not my soap.) It has a great lather, which I love, even though it doesn't mean anything about how well it cleans me. It rinses off easily and I don't feel anything other than clean.

So, why do I keep going back to this body wash? Because I can't find another one that is remotely close in terms of moisturizing my skin. During the summer I barely need to add lotion (only to my eczema-prone legs). During the winter, if I'm not using this body wash, I need to add a layer of body oil under my moisturizer. There's a whole process involved in sealing moisture into my skin. Olay Ultra Moisture makes things much easier; I can just slather some lotion on right after patting dry--a big time-saver!

Ultra Moisture is definitely very different from other moisturizing body washes. What the sticker on the bottle says in true: there is more than a jar of moisturizer in every bottle. I first started using this product when my dad (also a pediatrician) told me he recommends it to his eczema patients because it has the highest amount of hydrating ingredients of any product on the market. He'd heard this from the dermatologist that he sends patients to, and I've heard it from others as well.

I've tested many other "moisturizing" body washes since then, and very few have ended up being reviewed on 15 Minute Beauty. None of them has been as hydrating as Ultra Moisture. So, yes, this body wash has taken up residence in my bathroom. I'm sure I'll continue to return to it in between all of my product testings.


Sweepstakes!
Olay and BlogHer are offering a $50 Visa gift card! To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment telling me "What are some of the ways you simplify your routine?" Include your email address in the comment as well.
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/20 - 4/17.

Be sure to visit the Olay Body Wash page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers reviews and find more chances to win!
While weíre on the subject of looking good, you might want to check out the "Looking Your Best" posts in the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com. There are some great tips and expert posts!


Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a product sample and then paid to write about this product. I was encouraged to give my own opinion and to be honest in my review. Prior to this review I had purchased this product for my own use too many times to count. For any further questions please see my disclosure policy.
Prize provided by BlogHer and Olay.

93

Combating Winter: Super Clean Your Skin

Today's Combating Winter tip comes from Dr. Debra Jaliman, whose advice I've been reading for years in magazines like Allure and Vogue. I'm so honored that she contributed to this series! She has a book coming out next month, Skin Rules, which promises to be a great "how-to" book for great skin.


As a dermatologist in private practice and a mom I never seem to have enough time for everything I want to do.

I really like the sonic technology to super clean skin without causing irritation and to give it great glow. It also helps products penetrate better as the dead skin cells are removed. So whether you are using anti-aging products or acne products they will be more effective as they absorb into the skin. Clarisonic makes the best one because it has a choice of different brush heads but it is also the most expensive. Olay Pro X Advanced Cleansing System is another good choice and is less costly. Neutrogena Wave Spinning Power Cleanser is the least expensive option. They all offer great exfoliation a great pick-me-up for dull winter skin.

Debra Jaliman MD is a well known dermatologist in New York. Her practice on 5th Avenue has been on the cutting edge of dermatology for over 25 years. She was among the first to use Botox, and her office remains a national training center for Allergan. Dr. Jaliman has provided dermatological and skincare expertise to several top medical and consumer brands and companies, including Banana Boat, Elizabeth Arden, Noxema, Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, Philips Norelco, Proctor & Gamble, SmithKlein Beecham and more. She has been featured in many national magazines such as Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Fitness, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Ladies’ Home Journal, Lucky, More, Newsweek, O, The Oprah Magazine, Parents, Prevention, Shape, The New York Times, Vogue and more.

In March Dr. Jaliman's new book, "Skin Rules: Trade Secrets From a Top New York Dermatologist" will be released. See the official site of Skin Rules or pre-order Skin Rules on Amazon.



Note from Christine- I've reviewed 2 of the 3 cleansing systems that Dr. Jaliman mentioned, and I'm currently using the 3rd (the Olay Pro X) for a future review. Stay tuned for a review soon!

3

Aveeno Positively Ageless Review: Shitake Extract Makes Me Risk Myself for Beauty

When a box of Aveeno's Positively Ageless products arrived at my house I was pretty happy. I'm a skincare junkie, and lately I haven't posted much about more affordable anti-aging skincare products. So, I started using them almost immediately (I may have "accidentally" forgotten to see what I was meant to be reviewing next. Oops!)

I assumed that I was just using some anti-oxidants and maybe peptides in addition to the usual oatmeal and the SPF 30. I found out a few days later that the product has Shitake Extract. Oops! I'm a bit, ok, more than a bit, allergic to mushrooms. I've always avoided them in beauty products in the past. I had no untoward effects from the mushrooms.

I want everyone to know that I risked myself for you. Well, for you and and a good broad spectrum UV coverage skin lotion. Moral of the story, read the box before I test something. Which I've always done in the past, but here I was blinded by the UV coverage.

Read on to see what I actually thought of the products, and why I kept using them despite the mushrooms!

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Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Collection Review

The Ultra Facial line from Kiehl's has long been a best seller. The cult products have recently been released in oil free versions. The products are also free of parabens, colorants and fragrances. The products in this line aren't the same old Ultra Facial products with a few ingredients swapped out. Instead, these seem to have been completely reformulated, so think of them as new additions to the line rather than oil free counterparts to the old Ultra Facial products.

Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser
The cleanser is probably my favorite of the collection. It is a light white/ivory color with a bit of pearlescent sheen. It is a bit thicker than most cleansers, and would be amazing for my Clarisonic if it didn't have so much lather! I'm actually shocked that it has so much lather since it is sulfate free! (I did use it a few times with my Clarisonic, the result is so much lather that it actually makes it hard to breathe. It works great, but things are just a tad too bubbly.) The cleanser removes everything quickly and easily, with the exception of waterproof mascara, it seems to leave a bit behind. (Another aside- to be fair this isn't an eye makeup remover, I'm just giving you the info, it does exactly what it promises to do.) It rinses off easily and I have no after wash tightness or redness/irritation.



Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner
I need to first state that I'm not a toner girl. I've never really "gotten" it, why isn't your cleanser taking that stuff off? And usually toners leave my skin irritated anyways.... so I skip this step. This toner is refreshing, doesn't irritate my skin and dries almost immediately. It has a very light herbal scent that isn't at all noticeable. This non-toner gal did like it, which surprised me.

Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion
For my combination skin the lotion was the best match for hydration. The lotion is opaque and white and actually thicker in consistency than the cream. It absorbed quickly and left no residue behind. Just skin perfectly prepared for makeup.

Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream
The cream isn't really a cream, it isn't really a gel either. It is more like a lotion with some gel like properties. It is semi-translucent and almost white in color. It feels a little like a sticky gel but more watery. That's really the best way I can describe it. It takes a few minutes to sink in to my skin, but it does feel great once it does. I found that it is too much for me to use in the morning, I have a little bit of residue that interferes with makeup application. I think this wouldn't be the case in the winter, I'm going to keep it in my "skin care" drawer and try to remember to try it out then. I have a sneaking suspicion that it would be perfect for my combination skin in mid-January.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Collection

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Clarisonic Plus with Deep Pore Cleansing Head

Recently, I was asked by B-Glowing to review the new Clarisonic Blue Plus Deep Pore Cleansing System. Obviously I was pretty excited about this, as I've loved using my Clarisonic so much that I keep naming it one of my favorite products. I use my Clarisonic a few times a week, though I had already been thinking about upgrading. My old Clarisonic had 1 speed and I had the sensitive brush heads. This new one has three speeds, a setting for the body, and a few other heads. Including the new Deep Pore Cleansing brush head.

So, yes, I was excited about this. Read on to learn a little bit more about Clarisonic.

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Annmarie Gianni Skin Care: Rosemary Peppermint Body Wash

A body wash is a body wash is a body wash. Right? Well.... maybe not.

Like all of the products from Annmarie Gianni, this body wash is all natural and organic. The scent seems to lean more towards the peppermint side than the rosemary side, but smells like something you'd find in a spa. I loved smelling it first thing in the morning and found myself reaching for it over other products just to have the peppermint scent.

Because it doesn't have surfactants like other body washes, you won't be able to achieve the high foam most Americans are accustomed to having in their morning shower. Do not fret, there is a little bit of foam, and the body wash seems to do just fine without it.


15 Minute Beauty Fanatic readers can get 10% off with the code 15minbeauty until July 9 on the Annmarie Gianni Skin Care website
Annmarie Gianni Skin Care: Rosemary Peppermint Body Wash

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Neutrogena Naturals: Eye Makeup Removal With Your Fingertips

I've been on a never ending quest for a great eye makeup remover. While I'm not likely to ever stop looking (it's an addiction, hence I have this blog), I've been remiss in not sharing a great one that I've discovered! I've already repurchased it twice, so you know it's got to be great.

This cleanser is thick and creamy, so I can use it with my fingertips. A light herbal scent, a little bit of foaming, though not too much and easy to rinse. Those are all good points. But, the best part is that it removes my eye makeup without a problem. Only the most stubborn of waterproof eye liners have caused an issue, and with a second application I can removed anything.

Neutrogena Naturals Makeup Remover and Cleanser

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A Blast from the Past: Noxzema!

Noxzema is one of those items that every teenage girl uses at some point or another. I obviously loved it (I even mention it in my About Me page for this blog). I have to admit that I started using it even before Rebecca Gayheart was enlisted to be the Noxzema Girl in 1991. I fully believe that this casting is my generation's Breck Girl, and I mostly blame Rebecca for my teenage coveting of curly hair.

This week I've been using Noxzema again as they've released a ton of new products. Joining the line since I've last used Noxzema are Makeup Removal Cloths (my friend Daneen over at Spoiled Pretty reviewed the cleansing cloths if you want to see what she thought), Clean Blemish Control Foaming Wash and Daily Scrub (formulated for adults with acne issues) and Triple Clean Anti-Blemish items. I've been using the Original Deep Cleansing Cream Pump, which is exactly what it sounds like– the original Noxzema I loved so much back in high school, but in a much easier to use pump form.

Noxzema still has that signature scent that I remember so well from high school, the menthol-camphor and eucalyptus oil combination. It is thick and creamy with a light tingle as I apply it. I found that while it does a good job of removing makeup on my face, it doesn't do a good job of removing any eye makeup, including mascara smudges. So, I've been using it after eye makeup remover to take everything else off. It rinses off nicely, but my favorite part is right after I'm done rinsing. My skin feels super soft and hydrated. Even before moisturizer!

I'm sticking my pump of Noxzema in the shower to make it my morning facial cleanser, and I'll be hunting down some of the cleansing cloths for nights that I'm just too tired to do my whole routine.

Noxzema

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Wet n Wild Eye Makeup Remover: A Fruit Scented Find?

I spotted this bottle of Wet n Wild's Eye Makeup Remover on an end cap during a recent grocery shopping trip, and I was really hopeful for this product. I'm not quite sure why I expected so much out of a product that cost me all of $1.89, though I was likely hoping for a cheap diamond in the rough that should be a cult product. Is that what I got?

Well, a little bit. This remover does take off most eye makeup pretty easily. The last 25% or so takes a few more swipes. Once all the eye makeup is off, there is a light residue left behind that easily rinses off. The product smells a bit like Hawaiian Punch to me, which I kinda love.

The only thing preventing this from becoming an amazing find is the stinging. Unless my eyes are clamped shut, I get stinging with this product. Which means with every use as I can't get all of my eye liner off without simply having my eyes gently closed at some point. So, despite the amazing price, great smell and removal capabilities, I won't be repurchasing.

Wet n Wild

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Sensai Gentle Make-up Remover for Eye and Lip: The Eye Makeup Remover to Rule Them All

I mentioned it briefly in my hospital bag post, and shortly thereafter a full sized version of the Sensai Gentle Make-up Remover showed up on my door step to try out. It arrived pretty early in the morning, and let me tell you that I was gleeful. Really.

I skipped up to my vanity (well, as much as a 9 month pregnant person can skip, this was a month ago) and started plotting. I was going to trip up this eye makeup remover. I proceeded to put on everything that other removers (even Lancome's Bi-Facil) had struggled to removed. Stila's Stay all Day Waterproof Liquid Liner and MAC's Splashproof Lash and that was just for starters. For days I tried different combinations of products that had caused issues in the past, requiring me to scrub my eyes. Nothing stopped the Sensai. Literally, I would swipe my eye with the cotton round... and nothing would be left on my skin or on my lashes. One swipe.

Next I decided to try a comparison with the Lancome Bi-Facil. I continued my obsession with all things waterproof, and started removing with Bi-Facil on one eye before the Sensai. As before, I needed only one swipe to remove everything with the Sensai (though I admit I do 2-3 just to be sure). However, the Bi-Facil was struggling. I would need many swipes and more than one cotton round on occasion. I would then follow up by switching eyes and recleaning each. So, a cotton round of Sensai to the eye jut cleaned with Lancome, and vice versa. Nothing ever appeared on the cotton round as being left behind by Sensai, but the Lancome definitely seemed to have issues with some of the waterproof formulas, and I was able to easily remove the extra with Sensai.

Finally, I had to put the lippie removal to the test. When I swatch products on my arm for posts, I have big issues removing most of them from my arm despite trying many different makeup removers, soaps, etc. Scrubbing at all turns my arm red, and with my super pale skin my time swatching is very limited. So, having something that easily removes lippies from my arm (and hence minimizes scrubbing and redness) means I can swatch more!

Anyways, I found that Sensai is not quite as good at removing lippies. Which means it needs a few extra swipes to take care of the most stubborn lip sticks or sticky lip glosses. My arm definitely loved the Sensai, since I was able to swatch a huge number of lippies in one day (a quantity that should have taken several days) and never needed to scrub!

So, I would say that the Sensai is definitely the best product I've ever used at removing both eye and lip makeup. It has a light orange scent (OMG, so amazing) and it leaves only an extremely faint oily residue behind. It easily washes away with just a splash of water.

All of this means that I have a new Holy Grail Eye Make-Up Remover. Yes, it is even harder to get a hold of than the Lancome (and more expensive), but it seriously out performs everything else out there. I'll be keeping a bottle of this on-hand at all times!

Sensai Gentle Make-up Remover for Eye and Lip

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