Mario Badescu Hylaronic Eye Cream

Hello,

Today I wanted to share an eye cream I have come to enjoy.  I actually got it as a free sample when I filled out the skin care questionnaire on Mario Badescu - as well as other sample as well!  They also currently have a 10% sale going on the website - I'm not sure when it ends.

I really wanted to try an eye cream because I wanted one for night that is light but hydrating.  I would use one with more anti-aging (ie Retinol) benefits, but my eyes always start itching at night.  But I am getting older and I am all about preventative care - and the skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your body and needs extra love in order to stay supple.

From the Mario Badescu website: "Hyaluronic Acid formula helps lock in the skin’s own natural moisture without the use of heavy, greasy oils. Absorbent, medium weight cream for use day or night. Aloe based formula makes this cream suitable for all skin types, even sensitive. "
 $18.00 for .50 oz

As you can see above it's a light weight cream and it sinks right in to my normal/dry skin around my eyes.  The sample I got is very generous - I have been using it 2 weeks and there's enough for at least a month more.  I think I've found my go to evening cream!

What's your favorite eye cream?

Jasmine

That time I got my nose cauterized and ended up with a bag of Lush

Hello,

A fact about me - I've broken my nose twice.  I have had a septoplasty and a nasal turbinate surgery as well.  But my nose is still very angry with me, especially in the winter.  So last week I ended up back at the ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat specialist) because my sad nose was randomly bleeding everyday, and I had sinus pain like no other.  They had to cauterize some capillaries and I have to jam cream up my nose each night for the next 3 months and then have another septoplasty in the spring.  So I needed some retail therapy and the Lush store happened to be right down the way.

Now keep in mind the entire time I was shopping I couldn't smell a thing - which in a way is a very interesting way to experience Lush.  I bought products based on actual results  (you know how they let you try all of them!) Instead of just gravitating to what smells I like.  I also felt pretty secure in knowing that no matter what I bought I doubt it would smell terrible - unless it had patchouli (oy, I really don't like patchouli).

 
 I know my nose isn't the only part of my body going to dry up over the next few months.  So I wanted to get items to sooth my body, face and lips too!

First up Ocean Salt - ($35.95 for 8.8 oz)  It has coconut & avocado oil and the lime & vodka as well as the scrubby effects of the salt.  They say you can use it on your face but it's a little coarse for my tastes - I much prefer it for keeping my hands smooth and legs much less scaly!

Then to moisturize that freshly revealed skin - Ro's Argan Body Conditioner ($32.95 for 8.8 oz) It has (Of course) Argan oil, Almond oil, Brazil nut oil, cocoa butter and rose petals.  You smooth a small bit on and then rinse it off!  It leaves my skin so soft, and softly fragrant.  LOVE!

And though I love, love my Boots No7 Cleansing Water - I wanted something with a little bit of oil for the winter - Eau Roma Water ($9.95 for 3.3 oz).  Just Rose water & Lavender water (and some preservative - but they never tell you that). 

 

 

 

I am sure you have all heard of  Lemony Flutter ($16.95 for 1.5 oz) - it really is the best hand moisturizer I have tried - and I have tried many. 

 

UltraBland - ($29.95 for 3.5 oz) I love my face oils and this is basically an oil cleanser in a soild form (great for traveling!) It takes off all your makeup and leaves you with soft, moisturized, happy skin! 

 

Then finally something for my sad chapped lips - and yes I use a lip scrub too ( but winter kicks my A$$) 

 

Lip Service ($7.25 for .3 oz) - it's solid as well and you take a little, little bit and warm it up with your finger tip on you lips and it melts in - oh the delightful relief! Olive oil, cocoa & shea butter make this one of the longest lasting lip balms I've ever used.  It is so worth the price - which really isn't that bad considering some of the nicer drugstore balms are like $5. 

 

And that is it!  Retail therapy at its finest :)  My nose is starting to heal and I think my dry body may make it thru this winter a little more healed as well.  They also gave me 2 hair products to sample - but that's for another day!

 

Anyone have other winter remedies?  What's your favorite Lush product?

 

Jasmine

 

 

The Starting Off Project - Skincare Part II

 

Hello,

I'm back today with more on Skincare!  So you know my first three rules - #1 Sunscreen, #2 Wash your face #3 Stop being a drama Queen.  Now honestly, if you just practice those three things you will have better, healthier skin for the rest of your life.  But if you want to really take care of it, you need a serum, a moisturizer and a problem solver.

So what is the difference between a serum and a moisturizer - A LOT.  A serum is a treatment and a moisturizer is a humectant.  Serum treats problems (wrinkles, dullness, acne) it DOES NOT moisturize, you need a moisturizer on top.  It can go deeper into the skin so it treats problems down at the "root" so to speak.  The key is to find a serum that treats your main concern - I know they promise all sorts of things but you really can only treat so much.  Some of my suggestions (that I have seen work well) are:

L'Oreal Youth Code - good for drier skin it helps brighten and allow your skin to take in moisture, good for "younger" skin, because it helps you retain moisture it will make your skin smoother as well.  Lancôme Genifique is it's more expensive older sister.

 


I personally have to worry about wrinkling so I use a serum with the best wrinkle fighter out there - Retinol!  You need to use sunscreen when you use Retinol in any form - so we get back to rule #1 anyway (see how important it is!)  You want your wrinkle serum without a lot bells and whistles.  I use Protect & Perfect by Boots No.7.  It helps to get the skin producing collagen and elastin, helps you retain moisture and it's also hypo-allergenic.

Now onto acne - yes there's a serum for that!

The Mario Badescu serum is a holy grail product for many.  It helps kill bacteria that causes acne, salicylic acid (in controlled amounts!) helps exfoliate and get debris out of pores. 


There are also serums for more mature skin that help firm and lift - the new Renergie Serum from Lancôme is nice for when you know the wrinkles are there to stay but you want to smooth (as much as possible) make the skin get back some of it's glow and firm it up.


Now for a moisturizer I like as simple as possible - honestly the serum is doing the work, right?  So a light layer for day of moisturizer day and night over my serum makes my skin happy! 
There's moisturizers like Olay Complete (normal/combination), Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin (oily skin formula), Lancôme Bienfait Multi-vital with SPF 30(dry skin) and others that are simple yet sooo effective.

You also need an eye cream!  the skin around the eye is the thinnest on our body, it needs a special formula.  Under eye circles are VERY hard to get rid off unless you drink enough water and get enough sleep in addition to using a cream.  For more info - check out this post I did on the PROPER way to use Eye Cream!

Finally there is the problem solver - All of us no matter our age are going to get hormonal acne and stress acne.  (This one's for you Pang - a wonderful beauty blogger, go check her out, I'll wait) 
Hormonal Acne and stress acne tend to appear on your chin, and forehead.  They are made worse by over washing and harsh treatments.  Also stressing out about it doesn't help - but relaxing and drinking a glass of water does!  The best way I have found to fight it, is to be prepared when you very first feel it (this means taking good enough care of your skin through gentle cleansing and exfoliation that you will be able to see and feel it coming).  I use Origins Spot Remover gel.  It dries clear on the spot and I can cover the redness that may be starting to appear - and then the acne never shows it's ugly head!

Or I have used the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

The key is to get your skin in to a "stable" or "normalized" enough state that you can feel and prevent breakouts.

I know this is a lot, and your skin won't fix itself overnight - it takes about 30 days to see the results of a good skincare regimen, because that's how long it takes your skin to turn over.  So it's not instant satisfaction - but it can be a lifetime of satisfaction if you are willing to give your face AND neck (always do to your neck what you did to your face) the care they deserve!

Hope I helped!

Jasmine

The Starting Off Project - Skincare

Hello!

Today is week one of The Starting OFF Project and this week's topic is my personal favorite:

SKINCARE!

I am a firm believer in taking care of your skin so you don't have to wear so much makeup and so that your skin will be healthy for a long time to come.

Now you should all know that I have been a skincare consultant for Lancome, Estee Lauder and Boots...so I've been around the block on this stuff a time or two.  And I'm 34...so I'm living proof of what taking care of your skin gets you.  And their may be swearing in this post, leave now if you don't want to hear the truth.

So here are my thoughts...

RULE #1- STAY OUT OF THE D@MN SUN! (SERIOUSLY).  Wear sunscreen (at least SPF 30 EVERYDAY) it doesn't matter if it's cloudy out or if you are in the shade, their are UV rays bouncing all around and they hit your face. The sun is the single most DAMAGING factor we face.  

UVA = Ultra Violet Aging  UVB = Ultra Violet Burning  get a sunscreen with both.  Their are plenty out there that are lightweight and go great under makeup, I use a Peter Thomas Roth, but I have used Neutrogena and Coppertone Faces.  SPF only lasts 80 minutes at the most - I don't care if you sat inside all day.  80 minutes and your done - did you reapply for the drive home? Doubt it - now any sun on your face has direct access.  If you value your skin AT ALL stay out of the tanning beds they use only UVA rays - yes the AGING ones.  Just google tanning bed skin damage to skim the surface of what it does - anyone my age (mid 30's) that did it in their 20's regret it SO MUCH now.  And that SPF in your makeup - forget it, it's worthless.

Ok...so now onto my next rant...

RULE # 2 - WASH YOUR D@MN FACE! Even if you just have the wipes (which honestly aren't the best they leave residue - they were created to take the first level of make-up off ) Wash your face every night you need to get the days grime and dead skin off.  You DO NOT need to exfoliate every night - in fact you shouldn't be using the Clairsonic everyday unless you wear a lot of makeup - you don't have enough skin for that!  And please, Please keep the St. Ives away from your face - it's cheap for a reason, the apricot bits are not round so they micro cut your face.  

Oil cleansers are the best in my opinion no matter what kind of skin you have - yes even oily skin!

Lancome Huile Doucer is my Holy Grail product - anyone who had tried it loves it, Dior makes a similar one.  It gets all the makeup and leaves you skin soft and not dried out - so then it doesn't try to produce MORE oil.  Most of the Neutrogena-type cleansers out there (Especially cleansers with salicylic acid) dry your face out and you produce more oil - and guess what then you need to buy a toner to feel clean which YOU DON'T need.  You only need a toner if your cleanser changes the Ph of your face (like cleansers with salicylic acid do!)  If you cannot stand the thought of oil switch to a cream cleanser Boots makes several good ones.  The cream cleanser by Olay are terrible just FYI.  The more gentle your cleanser the better.  Mark my words you will see more and more oil cleanser coming on the market as people realize how badly most the cleansers on the market strip your face - which leads to acne and early aging.

Now as I mentioned you do not want to exfoliate every day - twice a week if you are oily, once a week for drier skin.  You do need to exfoliate if you want good skin getting the dead skin off is important, and makeup application will be much easier.  I like enzyme peels - gentle yet effective!

This mask by Freeman is great!  And cheap!

Rule# 3 - STOP BEING A DRAMA QUEEN!  So many people have come to me and say "oh my skin is so oily!  Oh my skin in so sensitive   Oh my skin is soooo special!"  Get over yourself.  85% of us have normal skin.  The other 15% NEED to see a Dermatologist - you'll know if you fall into that category.  It's what we are putting into out bodies and on our skin that makes it act badly!  If you think you can eat greasy food and candies and not have it show on your face - wrong!  I am religious about skin care but I still get hormonal and "I ate a LOT of bad food" breakouts.  Using drying cleansers causes you to over produce oil leading to acne. Using anti-acne cleanser when your not a 15 year old boy causes you to kill all the good oil and bacteria on your face - and you will get breakouts.  A non gentle cleanser wreaks havoc on your skin, causing it to feel sensitive - and if you are not using sunscreen you are probably always a bit burned no matter what color you are - (yes African American skin burns and it causes severe hyper-pigmentation anywhere they have scar tissue)  Stop using products for all your "problems" and you will have less "Problems".

I have more, but I want to hear your questions and I will be back with PART 2 tomorrow! 

Now go put on some sunscreen!

Jasmine!

Luxe in a Bottle - Shiseido's EUDERMINE Revitalizing Essence

Hello,

I have wanted this product for a while and told myself I didn't NEED it, but I do!  It's Shiseido's Eudermine - it's been around since 1897 and I can see why!

You can get it from Sephora, Nordstrom's etc, but the Shiseido website has free shipping over $50 and it's $56 so if it's hard to get to the other locations that's another option.  Also Sephora has 2x & 3x times points coming up August 12-18 so it's a good times to get yourself this goody!

It's a hard product to describe - because most American's aren't as serious about skincare as Asian women are - we want results NOW and aren't really willing to work for them.  So if your a make-up wipe kinda gal this isn't for you.  This is an after cleansing, pre-moisturizing lotion.  It's not a toner.  And think it works especially well with my oil based cleanser to make my skin soft and happy :)


Here's the official description from Shiseido.com : "Prized in Japan for over a century, Eudermine is one of Shiseido's oldest products introduced in 1897. A softening lotion that delivers immediate moisture and improves your skin's own moisturizing power. The result is supple, smooth skin. Responds to changes in climate to keep the skin's moisture level constant regardless of location or time of year. Recommended for all skin types. Use morning and night after cleanser."

It feels like water with a fresh pleasant scent.  I just swipe it on with a cotton pad and feel super luxurious because the package is just so pretty.  Then on with my serum/or moisturizer (depending on the time of day).  I have been using it about a week and this is sure to become a staple.

Do you have a product that make you smile when you use it?

Jasmine

Skincare tips - Eyecream

Hello!

Today I wanted to share some tips about skincare - by way of application.  One of the most incorrectly used products out there is eye cream!!  How can you mess up eye cream you wonder?  You would not believe.

Super cute eye cream bottle drawn for me by my boyfriend (so nice!)

First and foremost choose an eye cream based on the problem you most want to target.  There are going to be all sorts "things" the cream will say they will do.  Choose the cream that is created for your problem.  And sadly, don't try to find one for EVERYTHING - it's not going to happen.  Decide if you want to target wrinkles, dark circles, or bags and then go after it. 

The amount you need to use is FAR less than what you think:

The amount on my finger tip in the picture above is enough for BOTH eyes - yep that's all you need.

Now then, application is the key!  Take your little bit of cream and tap (TAP don't rub!) it onto the areas indicated by the blue dots.

You'll know where to tap because you should feel your orbital bone - do not go higher than the orbital bone!  And never ever on the eyelid!  Eye cream is concentrated and the cells around your eyes know what they are doing - they will get it to right spot.  If you put it on your eyelid or by your waterline then the cream gets IN your eye - and that leads to puffiness and irritation which defeats the point.

If you have any eye cream that isn't absorbed while tapping it in place tap it out in the direction of the arrows.  Don't pull or swipe it down - you don't need to cause yourself wrinkles by eye cream use!

That's about it!  Eye cream is a great weapon in your skincare arsenal when used correctly! 

Jasmine

Day time Skincare Routine - Video!

Hello!

I am back again with my day time skincare routine.  Again I will list the products below so you can figure out what I am holding up in my video. 

Arbonne Re9 Refreshing Toner
Lancome Genefique Serum
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 70
Clinique All About Eyes
Boots No7 Moisture Quench Cream (now called Beautiful Skin)

Hope this was interesting!  Any other video ideas for me?  I think I am going to make one soon about my foundation routine. 

Thanks for watching and reading!

Jasmine

Night time Skin Care - VIDEO!

Hello:

Today I wanted to go over my night time skin care routine and then tomorrow I'll post my day routine.  If you have any questions about the products used in this video let me know!  I will also list them below because you can't see the bottle all that well during the video.  And the background noise you hear during the video - my 2 cats fighting.  Oh and I'm not wearing lip gloss, it's my night balm - Blistex Five Star Lip Protection, I kinda like how it looks :)

Boots Botanicals Soothing Eye Makeup Remover
Lancome Huile Doucer Face Cleanser
Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Serum
Lancome Collaser 5x Serum
Lancome Genefique Eye Cream
Boots No7 Moisture Quench Day Cream (now called Beautiful Skin, I believe)

So do you use any of these products?  How do you feel about oil cleansers?  How old do I really look!  Seriously, no seriously I want to know!

Tomorrow I will reveal my day routine - exciting I know!

Jasmine

Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Remover - Week One results

Hello:

So I have been using the Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Overnight Peel and Corrector for a full week - Initial review Here. 

The directions indicates that you will see results in 2 to 4 weeks.  But I'm hopeful :)

Before I started using

After 1 week

Not too much of a difference, but it looks slightly better along my jaw and  lower cheek.  I like the product and my skin feels smoother so that in itself is good.  But I have to give up my retinol products while using this so that's a downer.  Hoping for double the freckle loss for next week!

Jasmine

Garnier Skin Renew dark spot Corrector & Peel - Inital Review

Hello:
So as I have mentioned many a time...I am pale...really pale.  Like people think they are paler than me and than they put their arm next to mine and say "I have never met any one paler than me!"  But I own it, and I love it!  But It also means the sun and I are sworn enemies.  I have always used sunscreen but I still have freckling on my face that I want to get rid of.  If I'm going to be pale, I'm going to be evenly pale!  So I tried using Lancome's Bright Expert for six weeks (read Week One review here), and it worked ok, but not quite what I was hoping for.  I had microdermabrasion and a Kjoic acid peel and that was GOOD but pricey.  So I was on the hunt for a new solution and I came across the Garnier Skin Renew Line.

I was intrigued by the Dark Spot Overnight Peel as you know you have to take the skin down to get the deep, dark spots.

You only need about 3/4 of a pump so this will definetly last a few months, even with nightly use. 
And I must add it's a little odd to put on a basically a thin mask and then mosturize.  I was worried, but after 3 nights of waking up to super soft skin that doesn't feel dry I'm feeling much more comfortable.

Then in the morning I pop on about a dime size of the dark spot corrector and then my morning moisturizer with SPF 30 over that.  The important thing when using these products is you MUST use sunscreen. I can't tell you how many people say "it didn't work" but use no sun protection.  How is it supposed to break up the melonin when you are creating it in overdrive? 
 So far my skin seems to like it a lot!  So follow me on my 4 week journey to uber-paleness!  Updates weekly!

Jasmine

Tone your way to gorgeous...with RE9 Regenerating Toner

Hello:


I know people often wonder if they need a toner in their skincare routine...I mean what does it do?  Quite a bit actually.

image courtesy of www.gracenglamour.com

It helps your skin return to it's natural PH balance after cleansing. It should enhance your skincare routine by giving you a cleaner more balanced "palette" for your moisturizer or serum.  Now that may not seem like much, but if you want to see the effect there's an easy way to see how effective a toner can be.  Just wash the tops of both of your hands, dry, tone one and not the other, and then put on bit of moisturizer on each.  The hand you tone: A) should have been cleaner (look at the cotton ball you used, did it get off more debris than cleansing alone?), and your moisturizer should sink in faster as well and whenyour moisturizing or serum products can sink in further - they work better, giving you the results you are paying for.
Toner should not "dry out" your skin in any way, if it does check the alcohol content, you really don't want any, even for oily skin (stripping your face is not usually a good idea).
I personally have never found a drugstore brand toner that wasn't either full of alcohol, or just practically perfumed water. I gave up on toners after countless bottles that seemed they just weren't quite right. Until, I literally stumbled upon an Arbonne rep (A sister of a friend asked me if I'd have a beauty product party at my house,and who am I to say no to beauty products) who introduced me to their RE9 line of anti-aging products, and their Regenerating Toner.  " An antioxidant-rich, pH-balanced mist with Vitamins A, C and E regenerates skin tone and firmness to deliver younger-looking skin." is how it's described by Arbonne.

I describe it as Love, Love, Love.  I just mist this onto a cotton pad and swipe after cleaning, and my face feels refreshed and not "tight".  My moisturizer sinks right in and I have better skin now than I did in my 20's.  I have cheated on this toner with Lancome and Clarins, but I always come back because it just works the best.  It's probably because it has all natural ingredients, and 1.7 oz bottle will last you months.  It's $35.00 but finding the right product for me is (nearly) priceless.

Jasmine

Freeman Facial Enzyme Mask...is Fruitastic!

Hello:
Today I wanted to share one of my favorite inexpensive yet wonderfully effective skincare products.  It is only $3.99 for 6 oz (which will last forever) and it's available at Wal-mart or drugstore.com.

Their description claims:
This enzyme mask, with Pineapple extract and AHAs gently exfoliates while lightly moisturizing, leaving your skin soft, supple and younger-looking.

Pineapple extract and AHAs exfoliate

Restores radiant skin

Contains natural ingredients

I use it about once every 10 days to give my face a little extra in the exfoliation process without having to do harsh physical exfoliation.  My face really feels softer and my night time moisturization seems to sink in more.  So for $4 it's a treat for your wallet & face :)

Jasmine

Bright Expert Exorcises My Face - Week 5

Hello:

5 weeks after Bright Expert

Once again it is time to look at my face and decide if the freckles are fading.  This will been the 5th week I have diligently used Bright Expert AM & PM before moisturizing.  There is definitely been improvement but I was really hoping for more.  But I think often what you hope for skincare-wise might not be available in a bottle :)










Well that's all for tonight,

Jasmine

Bright Expert Exorcises My Face - Week 2

Hello:

Today marks the 2nd week of my use of Lancome's Bright Expert to defeat my freckles and other face discolorations.  (See my previous post for information on the product).  So here are my comparison pictures to see how it's progressing (The picture on the left is before I started and on the right, today).

Aside from the color temperature being off, I think I actually see improvement in all areas across my face and I also have noticed that my whole face looks more even in general, 2 more weeks to go!  Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments are always welcome!

Jasmine

The skin I'm in

So as I mentioned last post, I believe I have "good skin" so I decided I better put out some proof - so here I am freshly scrubbed with just my serum and moisturizer and eye cream on :)  Please excuse my goofy look!  I also need, need to get my eyebrows done!  When I have makeup on I can fake a better arch with my brow powder. I also don't think of myself as being that "freckly", but I think the face self tanner I use is bringing them out, if that's possible.  Yes, I did say self tanner I'm normally about 4 shades lighter than this, but New Year's is one of the few times I dress up and take pictures so I need to not blind the flash. Again comments and thoughts are appreciated!  :)

Skincare is the ultimate Makeup

This is going to come across terribly vain but it's the truth and I have a point - people often tell me I have beautiful skin and I do.  But it is because I work at it!  I was on the SPF train back in the 90's people, I have always been very, very careful to protect my skin from UV damage and it's paid off.  I don't smoke I rarely drink and I get a lot of sleep. I would be really in good shape if I would just drink more water :). I said I had a point and this is it - Make up can only do so much. You have to take care of the palette the art is going on.
I have a rigorous skin regime (AM -> wash, tone, serum, sunblock, eye cream, skin cream) and (PM -> wash, tone, serum, self tanner, eye cream, skin cream) and when people ask me how I keep my skin looking good I tell them my system and they say "Oh I could never do that, it's soooo much." I try and explain it takes all of 3 minutes, and you just have to want to do it, (Like anything else in life.) But I do do it, and EVERY day. But that is why I have nice skin, it's not luck, it's effort. So when I put on that make-up I love so much I am not spending so much time trying to hide what I don't like but rather enhance what I do like and enjoy the art. Once you start taking care of your skin, you would be surprised how hard of a good habit it is to break.

Making pale - pretty,
Jasmine