Give me a little daily moisture, please

I always have lotion on my desk at work. I drink so much water so I must have to use the facilities something like 10 times between 9 and 5, and all that hand washing wreaks havoc on my skin. So I make it a point to always follow up with lotion when back at my desk.

Well I was using this stuff:


Burt's Bees is awesome- they use all natural ingredients and most are organic too. But this one is pretty strong smelling and has a greasy feel. It would be fine at home at the kitchen sink, but I don't want greasy fingers all over my keyboard and on my work phone, etc.

I also wanted something with an SPF- your hands are often overlooked when it comes to sun protection. You apply SPF 15 moisturizer all over your face and body in the morning, but throughout the day you (hopefully) wash your hands a lot. And you probably don't reapply that moisturizer afterwards. Hands often show age long before anything else so sun protection is important.

A week or two ago (before the spending freeze) I was at Walmart over my lunch break picking up some produce so I figured I would get a few other things. So, I got more hand lotion for my desk and I went with this one:


Perfect! It has a light, clean, pleasant scent. It absorbs quickly and makes my skin super soft. It is gentle. And it has the required SPF 15 for me. Just one pump is all I need for my hands after washing. Oh, and it is cheap. Love!

SPF in triple digits!

My friend and co-worker Kelly and I talk about skincare (and other things) a lot. It is no wonder, after all- she sells Avon! She does buy and use a lot of products from Avon, but she is not exclusive to them. She also complains of sensitive skin that reacts and gets irritated by facewashes and lotions easily (a problem many of us have)- so when she finds a product that she likes, she tends to highly recommend it.

She took my recommendation of Cetaphil from a previous post seriously, and she says it helped to calm her skin. Yay! In return she told me about a little find she made herself. :)

Finding a good, high SPF sunscreen or facial moisturizer can be hard when you break out easily or have a tendency to get shiny. Believe me I know. I haven't found a good one above SPF 15 because it seems that the higher the SPF, the greasier the feel.

Kelly claims this is not so with one particular product from Neutrogena. She put it to the true test when she went to the Maryland shore for the weekend. According to her findings, it was not greasy, but it was also waterproof. It didn't cause her to break out, but it didn't budge the whole time she had it on. And she didn't need to reapply. She even had to wash her face more thoroughly to ensure it all came off. Those are some pretty great user results to back up their pretty big claims!

According to the website:

"Neutrogena Ultra Sheer^® Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ with Helioplex^® offers the highest combined UVA/UVB protection. SPF measures UVB burning rays, while PFA measures skin-aging UVA rays. Now, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer^® SPF 100+ is the only sunblock proven to protect skin from over 99% of UVB sunburn damage. Plus, with an unbeatable PFA, nothing provides better UVA protection. Infused with a light, fresh scent, this elegant formulation is fast-absorbing, non-whitening, waterproof and lightweight. Neutrogena's Dry-Touch technology provides an ultra-light, non-shiny finish and leaves skin soft and smooth."

I may need to pick some up myself now- I am almost out of my higher SPF sunscreen (for when I am out in the sun for longer periods of time) anyway.

Anyone else use this one already? What do you think of it? Use something else you think works even better? Share!

Nutrition for your skin!

My friend Alberta came to visit for the weekend, all the way from Mt. Vernon in NY. Along with eating out, getting ice cream, watching the new Harry Potter movie, and playing dominoes, she and I talked skin.

Night time skin care to be exact. Alberta has great skin naturally, but she has recently changed up her night time routine. A friend recommended a few products to her, which she has been using a few weeks. She loved the results, both immediate and over time, and has thus passed the recommendation on to me.

Two nights in a row, I patted Garnier Nutritioniste Skin- Renew Daily Anti-fatigue eye cream gently around my eye. Alberta told me she noticed a difference in her eye area the first time trying the product. So did I! The dark areas were brighter and fine lines were slightly diminished. It was a very slight difference, but improvement nonetheless.

She also had me sample her Garnier Nutritioniste Skin- Renew Overnight Regenerating Cream both nights as well. I immediately noticed it sunk into my skin, instead of sitting on top of the skin and feeling greasy. This is an issue especially in the summer for me- oil, humidity and clogged pores are a recipe for disaster. If a night cream sinks into my skin instead of just leaving an oily layer on top, I am a happy camper. The next morning, my face still did not feel greasy- a feat in itself.

If you are looking for a good eye cream and/or night cream, put these two on your to-try list! Thanks for the tip Alberta!

Skincare, part 2

In my first post about skincare I went over what I know to be the main types of skin. I also broke down the cleansing regimen, types of cleanser, and daytime moisturizer that I think are best for each type. In this post I want to discuss what I believe to be the best way to care for skin at night.

At nighttime, when you are sleeping specifically, your skin repairs and rejuvenates itself. (So does the rest of your body, by the way. Staring bleary eyed at your computer at 3 in the morning is not helping to repair anything- I have tested that already, haha.) So, a night time regimen is very important so that you and your skin can get the most benefit from those (hopefully) 8 hours of rest.

Here is what I have in my arsenal- all the treatments, serums and creams I use on my face AFTER CLEANSING. This stuff is useless and will probably just clog your pores if you do not cleanse and remove all makeup first. I do not use every single product every single night- that would make my skin erupt in flames. It hasn't happened yet, but I am making an educated guess.




And here's the explanation:
I wash my face- it's usually Noxzema at night, like I said in the first post. Once or twice a week I use Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion Peel- it leaves my skin super soft and any treatments I use after are more readily accepted by my skin. Creams and serums seem to soak in better.

Once or twice a week (not the same night) I use a mask. The ones above are all good, but I have tried a lot. The Mint Julep one is good for tightening pores, drying up any acne, oil etc. The grapeseed one is good for softening fine lines and overall firming, and the avocado and grapefruit one is good for light exfoliation and moisturization.

If I have acne of any kind- blackheads, blemishes or full-on pimples- I use the two Murad products. The Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel is good for larger areas and less serious acne. It contains salicylic acid which sloughs away dead skin, which is a big part of what causes acne. The dead skin gets in the pores and mixes with oil and dirt to clog them up and make them look big. The Acne Spot Treatment is for just that- spots. I dab it on actual pimples and rub it in. Both products are pretty strong (for me) so I don't use them everyday, just when I think I need them. I used to use pimple creams with Benzoyl Peroxide. It would definitely dry up the pimple, but it also made my whole face dry, itchy and red. So if you have the same experience, these two Murad products may be good for you.

If there are no acne problems to deal with (yay!) I use my other serums. I try to use the Avon Anew Clearly C as much as possible. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant- it fights the free radicals that do damage to your skin all day long. It has improved clarity and tone and it is supposed to fight signs of aging. Plus, this serum is super moisturizing- sometimes in the hot weather, I don't follow up with any other cream. I did my research on this one too- it has 10% Vitamin C, more than the more expensive Mario Badescu version, which I believe has 7%. Good deal!

Sometimes I use my Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Serum in lieu of the Vitamin C serum, but for the most part I use the Neutrogena one during the day. However, if using it during the day, you have to be careful. It contains Retinol which can make you sensitive to the sun. I always follow up with a good sunscreen or my Benetint You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer with SPF. Also, since many people are sensitive to Retinol, it is recommended you start slow with this product- use it every other day or every third day for a week or two before increasing to daily use. Retinol is another exfoliator- so obviously I wouldn't use it after I had exfoliated with my Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion Peel, or at the same time as the Murad Acne Gel. It would definitely result in sensitivity.

Every night, regardless of the other treatments I use, I also use an eye cream. The one above from Avon's Anew Force Extra Line is thick and creamy, and is the one I use currently. In the past I have also used this one from Avon's Anew Clinical Line.

This one is also great- it has a cream part to fade dark circles under your eyes as well as a cooling gel to calm puffiness on your eyelid up to your browbone.

At Sephora, I got this one as a free gift, and it is next in the lineup of products to try:


I will let you know how that one works!

Finally, I usually round out my nighttime regimen with this Avon Solutions Dramatic Firming Cream. It gives me the feeling of tightening my skin- although that could all be in my head, who knows. It is thick enough for the winter, which is a must for me. Sometimes, depending on what else I have used, I forgo it in the summer months.

I probably sound obsessed with antiaging products and promises, but I figure it is never too late to start preserving your skin.

What is your routine like? Is mine a little... overkill? Have you used any of these products? Do you have something you have tried, tested and now swear by?

Sephora Beauty Insider

I love Sephora. Whenever I am at the mall, I have to stop in there and play with the makeup- it's like being a kid again! I love all the crazy colors, the witty names for the products, the samples, the wall of perfume, the "free" gift once you accumulate enough points.... Of course, you don't earn points unless you are a Beauty Insider. And of course, buy stuff.

But being a Beauty Insider has another perk, in my mind at least. When I can't get to the mall to go in there and play with makeup, I at least get the emails about what they have in terms of the latest and greatest. It is like virtual "window shopping."

I just received the Beauty Insider email now, and it has a lot to tempt!






Is it just me or does the Cargo Lash Activator claim to GROW your lashes???? And how many of you have been using the Clarisonic brush for eons now and swear by it? Or do you want it as much as me? And that Lorac lipstick- the perfect summer shade of coral- not too pink, not too orange, and light enough to be sheer. Aahh Sephora.... I can't have everything, but I can dream!

Reader Q&A!

Reader Billie Jean has a question:

I started looking more oily after using Noxema. Today is better after a full cold water rinse. Do you cold water rinse the nox to close your pores and get excess out? It's something I learned as a teen and just remembered.

Here was my answer:

If you are noticing you are more oily or that your pores look big because of the Noxzema, you could try toner. I do the cold water splash at the end too- tightens the pores! If you do try toner, be sure to get a good one. Most contain alcohol which is drying and really strips your skin. Burts bees should have a good one. Or use good ol' fashioned witch hazel. Just read the label and step away from anything containing alcohol. Hope that helps!

Do you guys agree? Would you do anything differently? Do you have a secret you want to share? :)

Skincare, part 1

A reader recently emailed me, asking me to discuss skincare in a future post. (Thanks Billie Jean!) Well, there is a lot to the subject, so there could be several posts about it. Let's start with the face- cleansing and moisturizing during the day.

Skin type
Most people fall into one of several categories. There is oily, dry, and combination. You know you have oily skin when you develop shine on your face during the day, and you have to blot or use face powder. You may break out in acne often and/or easily. Summers are worse than any other season because of humidity. You may have greasy facial skin, but the rest of your body may be fine, or even dry. You may have the same issues on certain body parts as well, like the back- you may even have back-ne (acne on the back.) You probably have trouble finding a good moisturizer, since so many are greasy.

Dry skin tends to be a problem more so in winter than in summer, but people can and do have it all year long. There could be flaking, irritation, fine lines, dullness, etc. You may have trouble finding a moisturizer that is thick/creamy/emollient enough. If your face is dry, the rest of your body probably is too- especially the feet, elbows, knees, and hands.

Then there is combination skin, which is just that- a combination. You may get an oily T-zone (forehead and nose) but you could also have dry patches on your cheeks. You could have back-ne but really dry arms at the same time.

So, once you know what category you fall in, it is much easier to choose a good facewash and moisturizers, day cream, night cream, treatment serums, etc.

Cleansing
First off, never EVER wash your face with the bar soap you might typically use on your body. The skin on the face is much more delicate and sees a lot more of the elements than the skin on your body. Bar soap is drying and harsh for facial skin, whether you are oily or dry. Secondly, just because you may have oily skin does not mean you should get a harsh or drying facewash. Your face, being constantly dried out by the facewash, may react by overproducing oil in an attempt to balance the skin. It is much better to look for a product that will clean your pores, not necessarily strip the skin of oil. Who said that oil was bad? It is the stuff in the pores that will cause them to look big, and will clog them and lead to breakouts. So regardless of type of skin, I suggest a facewash that will do a good job of cleaning and removing makeup but that is also gentle. Here are a few I have tried that I think do a phenomenal job of that.



I use both the Cetaphil and Noxzema (the blue tub you use your fingers to scoop out of) myself everyday, and I used to use the Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser. I use Noxzema at night mostly, because it feels like a deeper clean, and I usually need to remove makeup and the daily grime. It is also very refreshing and cooling. I have heard it is great if you have a sunburn, too. (Although, it is much better to avoid the sun damage in the first place, of course!) I use the Cetaphil in the morning, since my face should be clean from the night before. But I still wash it (so should you!) because I could have picked up dirt and oil and hair product in my sleep. None of these options suds up- they are all gentle cream cleansers. Suds are a sign that the product contains harsher ingredients, like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which you don't want on your face, if possible. The Cetaphil does contain SLS, but at least it is not the main ingredient, and it can't be much considering the lack of suds.

Moisturizing
It is my opinion that all skin types should use moisturizer, day and night. But this is where the type of skin you have determines the product you use. Obviously, oily skin and combination skin mean you want a non-greasy, non-comedogenic moisturizer. With dry skin, you don't necessarily want oil in the product, you just want something thick and creamy. However, oil in the product may prove helpful in cold, dry weather and gusty wind, as the oil will provide a barrier against the elements. In this case, the type of oil matters, and experimentation might be necessary to see what works for you.

During the day, SPF is also a must, no matter the season. Five minutes a day, like running to and from your car/house, is all you need to get sun damage. But sun exposure is also good because it provides Vitamin D in a way you can't get in fortified foods. So, since we can't and shouldn't avoid the sun altogether, wearing an SPF 15 minimum is best. A shotglass full is the amount necessary to cover the body sufficiently, and a dollop the size of an almond is the amount you need for the face.

Applying separate products in the morning for moisturizing and sun protection is annoying and tedious, so I recommend products that combine the two. Here are some great ones for the face.

Neutrogena^® Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15 and Neutrogena Ageless Intensives^™ Deep Wrinkle Anti-Wrinkle Moisture with Helioplex^® SPF 20




Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30, Aveeno PR Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, and Aveeno Ultra Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 15

The first and second Aveeno choices are good for dry, normal or combination skin, but the second has color. It could be used in place of foundation for lighter makeup. It does not give a cakey, or "greige" look (combo of beige and grey). The third is good for oily skin.

I personally use the first Neutrogena choice, except right now I am using a tinted moisturizer with SPF for summer. Read about that here.

So that is my take on the beginning of a good skincare regimen. I believe the most important parts of skincare are cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection, especially when it comes to the face. In the next skincare segment, I will touch on a good nighttime skin routine, so stay tuned!

What do you use to care for your skin? What do you think of these recommendations- do you agree? Think I missed key options that are better?