Tuesday, April 22, 2008

They may have found the Gnostic Gospels in Nag Hammadi but...


Story time: In my other life, when I was a Beauty Business Manager for a beauty department, there was this lovely Hispanic woman that worked for me as a Sisley Skin Specialist. (For GG Fans, she looked and acted like Ms. Patty.) She was always trying to get me to into her Sisley chair so she could do her thing because according to her (and every other Product Specialist on my floor), I needed help. "Honey! Sweetheart! Give me 5 minutes. 5 MINUTES! I can help you!" And it's not that I didn't agree with her, but there's just something unnerving about someone pointing out flaws you already know exist. "Yes, I know I have oily skin. Yup and I'm aware of the uneven skin tone. Wait. What? I'm prone to break outs? Shut! Up! No way!".

In any case, she finally gave up trying to get me into her chair and tried other tactics. Whenever she would catch me walking by her counter, she would run up and press sample packettes into my hand "Try it. It will work! You NEED it." And when that didn't work, she would resort to Danny Ocean-like slickness and slip packettes into the pockets of my suit jacket and I can't even tell you how many times I would get home and find samples in my handbag.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I came across this tester that, I swear, I have no recollection of receiving. Have no idea when or how it ending up in my closet. But I took it as a sign and thought "oh what the heck. I'll try it".

Ladies and gents. I think I may have found my Holy Grail moisturizer. This stuff is simply WOW. It's oil-free with a gel-texture and an okay fragrance but it's so refreshing to find a product that does what it says it will. I've been using it as my daytime moisturizer for two weeks and don't have to blot away the remnants of the Exxon-Valdez anymore. Some days, I don't even have to re-powder. Seriously. Can't remember the last time I reached for my blotting papers. Oh I just hoped I haven't jinxed it.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Just so you know...


I just bought my third stick of this.

Just so you know. It's that good.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

It doesn't have that seductive smell of leather but...


You're looking at my YSL Muse handbag.

Not literally. But the dosh I would have put towards the bag (the bag I have been mad crushing over for over a year) is now going towards these pills. Pills that promise to rid my visage of those nefarious and often painful cystic bumps, but pills that also cost $250. That's right. Two-hundred and fifty dollars for the first month and $150 for each month after. And that my friend is WITH insurance AND a coupon.

I feel a little guilty, foolish even, for considering a handbag the opportunity cost of the meds, but I can't help feeling that way. It would be one thing if the derm had said "Take this twice a day for 4 months and you'll be as clear as the sky on a summer morning." Instead I got an "Hhhmmm. You've tried X and Y. Let's give Doryx a shot. There's no way to tell how long you will need to be on it, but we'll assess every 4-6 weeks." (By the way, I love my derm - she's talks to me with her eyes closed.) But seriously!? I wouldn't even mind the unknown factor of it all if the pills didn't have horrible side-effects. Thirty-minutes after taking a dose, my eyes get all glassy and I feel so nauseous I can't move without feeling like I had spent the previous night with a bottle of Patron on an empty stomach. All this and you can't tell me when it will work; IF it will work, and it's going to cost me HOW MUCH!?

But I'm hopeful. Being an inveterate optimist, I am looking at the glass half-full with full faith that the Doryx will work.

I want it to work. I NEED it to work.

Oh, but it would be so much more bearable with a Muse to hold on to.

;-)

Monday, April 07, 2008

Critical Mass


12.

The number of eye creams in my bathroom drawer; the number of eye creams it has taken me to stop, think, and assess that maybe, just maybe, I do have a problem.

I realized the other night that I don't use just one eye cream consistently. Some nights I feel like a little Lauder, other times I feel like a bit of Kiehls, and other nights I'm begging the Lobster to let me try some eye cream on him. I can't remember the last time I was committed to just one eye cream. And I think I've mentioned this before, but I think from all other skin care products out there, eye cream is the easiest product for me to experiment with. I don't have to worry about clogged pores, or breakouts, or oilyness and I still get the satisfaction of playing with fun little jars and bottles.

So here it goes. I am going to use just one eye cream for the next month. And this month, it's going to be N.V.Perricone M.D. Advanced Eye Care Therapy.

I received it as gratis a few weeks ago but only just broke the plastic seal on it. I think I'm already smitten. When I use it at night, I can actually tell a difference in the morning. Less puffiness, diminished dark circles. My only complaint at the moment is that it doesn't have a pretty scent. Perricone is adamant about not using fragrance in his products, but would it really make a difference in the efficacy of the product?

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I caved. I gave in. I indulged.


I bought blue nail polish.

Blue CHANEL nail polish.

And I heart it!

It's dark without being macabre. And trendy without being obnoxiously distasteful. (For an almost-30-year-young anyway.)

Blue. Who knew?

Monday, March 24, 2008

Veritas

I've been reading, quite a bit actually, about a "truth in blogging" movement that's picking up momentum. In a nutshell, readers and writers have started to implore bloggers to show their REAL skin. Are they a brand manager hiding behind a Typepad ISP in order to draw traffic to their proprietary sites? Is the stay-at-home mom actually a "he" paid by an advertising agency to garner traffic to increase ad exposure for their clients?

So the truth is this. I work for a retailer in their Beauty Division. I get a bit of what is called "gratis" and am privy to products and launches before anything hits a counter or shelf or ecomm storefront. But I also purchase a good amount (actually a majority) of the products that are featured on this blog and I have the credit card statements to prove it. I do this as a hobby because I am a product junkie and I enjoy writing. I don't get paid to do this. And from here on out, I will mention the provenance of what I'm reviewing - whether it was purchased, bartered, or graciously given - you'll know how it ended up on my bathroom counter.

the Px for comfort


I received my first bottle of this as gratis but have become such a fan I’ve started buying it.

The refreshing thing about this product is that it’s just a moisturizer. Plain and simple. It doesn’t promise to minimize that or reduce this – it just moisturizes. I use Differin 0.3% at night and don’t like the thought of layering another treatment product on top. So to keep the drying effects of the Differin to a minimum, I lay this on top and wake up with skin that feels comfortable. For winter months when I’m really dry, I use its cousin, Comfort Cream (which is not oil-free).

The only thumbs down would be the smell, but if you’re familiar with Prescriptives products, you know that everything is unscented. I would love this product in a nice, minty scent.
Oh! There’s an idea! Custom scented skin care products!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

I have a confession.

I pick. No! Not my nose!

My...you know…

Zits.

I know what you're thinking. Eeeew! Gross! But I also know that a vast majority of you are guilty of the same crime! So there!

But I do have a little magic potion in my arsenal to absolve my sins. I've been using this stuff since highschool. (Wow. That's almost 15 years.)

But before the “what” and “how” I offer a little lesson.

Not all toners are created equal!

There's a difference between tonics, astringent, and fresheners. Astringents contain the most amount of alcohol - that's why it can sometimes leave your skin feeling like the Sahara Desert. They can contain anywhere from 20-60% alcohol and are generally recommended for oilier skins. Tonics (not of the "Gin and" variety) can be 10-20% alcohol - great for normal to oily skin. Fresheners - the mildest and most gentle form of toners - contain 0-10% of alcohol. This category of toner generally also contains a humectant which helps retain moisture in the upper-most layers of your skin - fabuloso for drier and more sensitive skins.

I have oily skin but am also topically dry. (Let me tell you - a GREAT combination to have.) But this green gem contains Tea Tree Oil so it's a great antiseptic, is low on the alcohol content so it doesn't dry me out, but also has glycerin, which is a great humectant. Infact, during the summer, I don't even need to moisturize after washing my face. I swab some of this on and I am good to go!

Now back to the "picking". After the excavation, I get a good amount on a cotton ball and press it onto the "spot". Leave it there for a minute or two and it stops the bleeding and any other type of ooziness and crustiness.

(I never said absolution was sexy.)

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Um yeah...


not loving the razors.

The "citrus scent" is non-existent.

The blade was dull after one use.
I guess it's back to using the Lobster's razor!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Really!?


I just think this is so funny!

Scented RAZORS!

Who dreamt that up? What's the point? I haven't used them yet but I can imagine how well the citrus scent IS NOT going to swirl together with my shampoo and body wash.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Chicka Chicka Yeah!

Sites I'm pimping...




Colors I'm loving...

Blue Nails & Orange Cashmere





Products I'm using...



Juice Beauty Organics









Books I'm reading...

"eat pray love"














"The Elegant Universe"

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

the good stuff


I remember the "when", "where", and "why" of the first time I bought this little mustard bullet of awesome-ness.

When: April 11, 2003
Where: Austin, Texas - Red River H.E.B.
Why: I couldn't find my trusty Carmex and there was a basket full of Burt's Bees at the checkout stand. I thought I was settling but my life has never been the same.

Unlike ChapStick, BB is waxy enough to stay put when worn under lipstick. And I can't wear lipstick without lip balm. Don't get me wrong, ChapStickis still great if you want to turn a pigmented shade sheer but I use it under lipstick and I look like Tammy Faye - it just spreads all over the place. And the tingle you get from the pepermint oil just feels nice.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Creme de la Creme?


This cream rocks. I got my hands on this behemoth bottle Kiehl's Creme de Corps by bartering a tub of Natura Bisse's DERMAREPAIR with my office mate.

The good
It's fragrance free so it doesn't compete with my perfume, gets rid of dry patches, and makes my skin smooth and soft and after a week of continued use it gives my skin a pretty glow.

The bad
It's fragrance free so it's not as fun to slather all over my 2000 parts. It's also a bit thick so I really have to work it in - not so fun when I'm running late in the mornings. And last, the price - don't know if I would spend the $70 for the bottle. Granted, it's a 1-liter, so I can see this bottle lasting a good year, maybe a year-and-a-half. I might spring for the smaller bottles though - less sticker shock.

One note though - it's eerily similar in scent and color and feel to Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. And since both companies are under the Estee Lauder umbrella, it's one of those things that make me go "hhhhmmmmm". I'll let you know what I find out...