My Favorite BeautyCounter Products - Balancing Facial Oil

I’ve been using BeautyCounter products for several months now and LOVE LOVE LOVE them. My favorites are shown here and are: the Charcoal Cleansing Bar, Charcoal Mask, Balancing Facial Oil, and Sunscreen. 

This past week I traveled to Ohio for my sister’s wedding (I was maid of honor!) and I had many people comment that my skin looked great and I agreed! I did my sister and my makeup for the wedding and used the facial oil on both of us before applying any makeup. I’ve found that using the right facial oil helps balance my own oil production and prevents me from getting oily or shiny throughout the day. I included a picture of my sister and I and I think it shows well the balance in our skin, giving a glow without being shiny (the picture was taken approximately 5 hours after makeup application)

The research-supported facts about what plant oils can do for skin is quite fascinating. They're not miracles, but the right plant oil (or, even better, a blend of oils) can make a significant difference for dry, flaky, or dehydrated skin. Facial oils are for anyone whose skin could use a boost of nourishing, smoothing rejuvenation, especially when seasonal cold or drier climates disturb your skin.

Facial oils are right for you if you struggle with occasional (think seasonal or climate-related dryness) or persistent dry, flaky, or dehydrated skin and your moisturizer just isn't doing enough no matter how enriched and emollient it is.

Instead of continually searching for a new moisturizer, you can easily add facial oil to your routine and see a striking difference. Your skin will feel smoother, softer, and more resilient, not to mention taking on a natural-looking glow.

The ingredients in the BeautyCounter Balancing Face Oil are:

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Oil.

This oil has a fantastic ingredient lineup, with antioxidant-rich and emollient oils like rosehip, grapeseed, and sea buckthorn.

• Rosehip oil is widely used in various skin care products. It helps fight the signs of aging and assists in diminishing photo aging.
• Oral and topical applications of sea buckthorn oil both have benefits on skin problems. It promotes skin hydration, elasticity, and skin regeneration, and even helps treat and prevent acne. 
• Sea buckthorn oil may also be beneficial for rosacea, a chronic inflammatory condition that causes small red bumps on the face. 
• Research has shown that marula oil can improve hyper-pigmentation. 
• Ylang ylang oil has been proven to help regulate the production of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands, to protect your hair and skin from drying out. It has many cosmetic uses, including: maintaining skin moisture, clearing and healing acne, as well as antimicrobial properties that can help reduce skin irritation and redness. 
• Chamomile  oil can help calm or treat acne, rashes, eczema, wounds, dermatitis, and dry and itchy skin

You would use the facial oil under your moisturizer or on its own. I adore this face oil and used it day and night.  I use three drops after washing morning and night. In the morning I follow it with sunscreen and I use it alone at night.

Those still afraid of breakouts, listen up: “Oils can help stabilize and regulate the overproduction of sebum, and actually help get rid of acne,” says France born facialist Isabelle Bellis, It’s essential not to “over-exfoliate,” she says, adding that an appropriate oil will balance out “your skin’s ecosystem and protect it from the external environment.” (Vogue, April 2016)

I started using facial oils several years ago and had never found one I was sold on. The balancing face oil changed that. I am curious to try the other two oils, hydrating and soothing, but have so enjoyed the balancing face oil that I have yet to do so. 

The difference between the oils are the last ingredients listed.  The added ingredients that make the Balancing Face oil are Ylang Ylang and Chamomile

• The Hydrating Face Oil also has Jasmine Oil.  Jasmine Oil is traditionally used to restore skin, the essential oils and botanical extracts of jasmine increase skin’s elasticity and help balance moisture in the skin to naturally reduce dryness.  Jasmine oil is a cicatrizer, meaning it helps fade scars left in the wake of acne, skin wounds, eruptions, and stretch marks.
• The Soothing  Face Oil also has Calendula  Oil which has great anti-inflammatory and healing properties. It helps soothe sore, inflamed, and itchy skin conditions.

If you feel your skin could use that extra boost especially in this coming winter,  consider trying a BeautyCounter Face Oil!

www.beautycounter.com/kimberlybrown

BeautyCounter OBSESSED!

I am so excited to share this amazing company that I LOVE.

For those that know me, you know I have always been very into fitness and health. I’ve always been active, always belonging to a gym, running, talking Pilates reformer classes, and in the past few years have become one of those crazy CrossFit people! I have always felt that your body is the only thing you truly own in life. I try to take care of myself the best I can. While fitness has always been important to me I have only more recently taken care with what I eat. In 2013 I went “paleo”, eating only meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. I saw significant health benefits (and positive changes to my cholesterol even eating eggs every day). While I still eat mostly paleo, I have definitely become slightly more easygoing and include some dairy, and gluten free carbs (and lets be serious, if an amazing dessert in front of me I am going to eat it!) I have always found fitness and health so interesting, I found myself reading journal articles about health especially in regards to health issues that have seemed to be increasing in my lifetime: dementia, Alzheimer’s, autism as well as so many other health issues. While I do not claim that I know any certain answers, all the reading did lead me to eating paleo. I do believe many modern day heath issues have to do with so many of the artificial foods we eat nowadays. I make the vast majority of the food I eat myself from real whole food ingredients.

It was only this year that I had a lightbulb moment….. I take so much care with my food and fitness, but I really never thought about the products I use on my body’s largest organ, my skin!

I have always been a self-proclaimed makeup/beauty junkie. I LOVE makeup. My OBSESSION started at age 18 when I went to NYC and had my makeup done by a Nars makeup artist named Gianni. It was pure art on my face!  I have always enjoyed buying and wearing all kids of makeup (with Nars being my number one since age 18!) Along with that I have also tried MANY different skin care brands, always looking for the next big thing, new ingredient, new product that claims to make you glow, reduce wrinkles, etc. I NEVER considered the ingredients in these products other than the claims the company made stating how great they were. When I had this lightbulb moment I realized I had no idea what was in any of these expensive products I had been buying.

I then heard about a company called Beauty Counter on a paleo podcast I listen to called Balanced Bites with Diane SanFilippo and Liz Wolfe. I had listened to this podcast since 2013 and neither person had EVER pushed a product, so when they both praised BeautyCounter for its all natural products, I listened. I also was starting to notice friends posting about their love for these products and this company!  I looked into the company and was instantly impressed.

The mission of BeautyCounter is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. “Decades of research indicate that serious health issues (including but not limited to asthma, cancer, and infertility) are on the rise and are due in some part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals—whether it’s in the shower, on our commute, while we eat lunch at a local restaurant, or when we clean our kitchens at home.

The United States has not passed a major federal law to regulate the safety of ingredients used in personal care products since 1938. Over the past two decades, the European Union has banned more than 1,300 chemicals in the product formulas of personal care products and restricted the levels of over 250 more in such products. The United States has only partially banned 11 to date.
BeautyCounter is committed to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what’s required by U.S. law: They have banned the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals through their "Never List”—all while ensuring our products perform and that they’re as indulgent as any other luxe shampoo, lipstick, or oil in the market.”

This leads me to one of the most important parts of this post…. These products do PERFORM! started using the products as soon as they arrived and was OBSESSED! The first products I bought and fell in love with were the charcoal cleaning bar, charcoal mask, and facial oil! As I read about the products I just wanted to try more and more!

Once I used these products for a short time, and loved them, like any beauty junkie, I wanted more! I ordered a few makeup products and was so excited when they arrived! Again, I was blown away but the quality of these products. So when you add the amazing performance of these products to their high quality ingredients I absolutely fell in love!

I am so excited to share these amazing products! Consider making the switch! Below is my link that will take you to the BeautyCounter website that clearly shows the ingredients to all products. You can also click on the ingredients to go to a master list and explanation of ingredients. There are currently holiday sets available that are a great way to try out some smaller size products if you are interested!

 I plan to try to restart this blog with the BeautyCounter products I am loving as well as any other products!  My work schedule is crazy as always but I just love these products so much that I cant help but want to share them!

CLICK HERE!!!

Alpha Beta Glow Pads Review

I'm sure many of you have heard of the well known Alpha Beta Daily FacePeel by Dr. Dennis, a gentle exfoliant that promises enhanced radiance and skin clarity, and it delivers!  Well the "summer" version has just been released - the Alpha Beta Glow Pad!

What it is:
An exfoliating self-tanner with antiaging properties and vitamin D.

What it is formulated to do:
Alpha Beta Glow Pads provide a radiant, sun kissed glow year-round, without exposure to the sun's harmful UVA/UVB rays. Formulated with the sun vitamin, Active Vitamin D, these pads give the face believable, natural color.

Whats in it:
-Alpha & Beta Hydroxy Acids: Exfoliate dull dry skin and help minimize the appearance of dark spots and pores.
-Vitamin D: Helps relieve dry skin, itching and flaking; makes other vitamins work better.
-Soy Protein: Kick-starts collagen production and ensures a more natural hue for rich, long-lasting color.
-Encapsulated DHA: Provides time-released color.


What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know:
Microencapsulated DHA and soy proteins deliver odorless, streak free color deep into skin to prevent fading through surface exfoliation. Alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids penetrate the skin to exfoliate, tighten pores, eliminate blackheads, and help fade existing sunspots for an even, streak-free glow. Vitamin D is known for enhancing the benefits of other vitamins and antioxidants found in the formula. This product is gentle enough for all skin types, vegan, and cruelty-free

My Experience -
I heard it was coming out and went to Sephora looking for it, unfortunately its an online exclusive right now, so its not in stores. I am lucky enought to also live near a Blue Mercury, so I made my way there to pick it up!  I also noticed it at Nordstrom (while purchasing a Chantecaille Sea Turtle Eyeshadow Palette! i have issues! review coming soon!)

Anyway!  The first time I used it was when I got home from work on Thursday,  which wasn't really such a great idea considering  I then went to the gym, and took a shower when i got home.  Had i really thought that one through, I probably should have waited til I got home, but turns out, my stupidity just proved how great the product is!  I had a nice tan when I woke up the next morning, which was totally even and streak free, and not at all orange!   The fact that I washed my face AFTER applying made me nervous that the next time I may be too dark or orange if I actually left it on all night, which is how I intended to use it!  but no worries, I put it on at night last night, and today, i am just slightly tanner than last time.  I got three separate comments at work today, asking what I had done differently today (two of the people seemed to think I had lightened my hair, I assume since in comparison to my new glowing tan, it looked lighter)  but they all said i looked great, but couldn't put their finger on it!  My skin also seems more even, and some leftover red marks from blemishes look faded. 

I also love this product, because as someone with sensitive/combo/occasional breakout skin, I am generally nervous self tanners will break me out.  The Alpa Beta Pads I know would be great for my skin since they exfoliate as well, and wont clog pores.

Where its available  - sephora.com (not in stores yet)
Blue Mercury, Nordstrom, or anywhere that carries Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare!
Price:  $32 for 20, which is pricey, but I used one wipe Thursday, and then one today, and have maintained the nice tan glow.  So I would use AT MOST two a week, probably closer to once a week, so the product will definitely last me a long time.




I like it so much I'm thinking of surprising my sister by sending her some!

Darphin Skincare Review

So I started using the Darphin Line about 2 months ago.  I have fallen in love with it!

Here's what I have been using!

The Intral line is specifically for redness and sensitivity, which is perfect for me!

This is the INTRAL Redness Relief Soothing Serum

Website Description:

This high potency soothing Darphin serum dedicated to sensitive skin prone to irritations helps diminish the appearance of redness and quiets the appearance of irritations as it softens skin.

Key Ingredients:
Calm Complex*, Grape Extract, Resveratrol, Glycosaminoglycanes (MDI Complex), Glycerine
*Chamomile, Hawthorne and Peony Extracts, D-Panthenol, Polysaccharide

A staff person at Blue Mercury put this on my face when I was there one day.   I didn't think much of it, and went out with my girl friends that night.   When I went to the bathroom and saw myself in the mirror while washing my hands, I was amazed! My skin was much less red than normal!  And this was the only thing I had don't differently.  It was a warm day, and I was drinking, so normally I would be very red ( i guess its the Irish in me!)  but I wasn't!  So i went back and purchased it, and the next product.

INTRAL Redness Relief Recovery Cream

Website Description:
This ultra-light soothing Darphin cream for sensitive skin with redness, helps repair and strengthen skin's natural barrier to enable better protection against irritants and external aggressors that may cause visible redness. Delicately, naturally green-hued formula instantly camouflages blotchiness.

Ingredients:
*Calm Complex: Chamomile reduces skin sensitivity, Hawthorn Extract helps protect capillaries, Panthenol rebuilds and repairs the skin barrier, Peony Extract acts as an anti-irritant and anti-oxidant, Polysaccharides reduce irritation.
Other Key Ingredients: Wheat Bran Extract, Lipid Complex, Vitamin E, Green-hued Mica
 
So once I went back and read the ingredients of the Serum I realized that I did know my skin did well with Chamomile and Reservatol.  So then when I read the ingredients of this, the cream, I was even more excited because my skin also does well with Vitamin E, and the Green hued Mica intrigued me.   I have tried many products with a green hue to them, and they have all made me look like a martian freak.  This is the perfect luminous cream with a touch of a barely there green color.  Its perfect and counteracts redness. The mica also provides a glow that diffuses any skin imperfections. This is an absolute favorite for me!  I have actually added a drop of foundation to this to make my own tinted moisturizer, which for the summer has been great!
 
 

Organic Chamomile Aromatic Care

 

Website Description:

This organic, aromatic, soothing essence of well-being quiets and comforts skin prone to blotchiness and irritation, while detoxifying and hydrating. Apply Darphin Chamomile Aromatic Care in the evening and follow with your appropriate Darphin Cream.

Ingredients:
Organic Chamomile and Sage Essential Oils, Organic Lemon Balm, Organic Jojoba and Calendula Oils, Organic Aloe Vera Extract



This was the next product I bought ( a few days after the previous two) I liked the first two soo much, I had to go back and look at more!  This you use at night under a moisturizer.  I have recently gotten into oils at night, because I have realized that my skin over produces oil due to dehydration.  I used to think I just had oily skin.  If I moisturize properly, my skin doesn't produce nearly as much oil!  So this is great.  I also use Caudalie Purifying Oil, which I stick to when I have a break out.  As I said before I love Chamomile extract, and I also know I like Jojoba, and when I saw Aloe Vera, I figured I couldn't go wrong with this! 

This is a fabulous product for calming your skin.  it hydrates without breaking out, and I can tell a difference the next morning when I wake up.  My skin is less red, less bumpy, and just thicker, healthier looking (if that makes sense, if your skin has ever looked thin and unhealthy you know what I am talking about)

I use this in combination with this next product

INTRAL Soothing Cream

Website Description:
This exceptionally gentle, non-irritating, comforting Darphin cream, particularly recommended for intolerant skin that is sensitive and easily irritated. Respects skin's vulnerability as it replenishes skin with essential moisture and helps protect against environmental aggressions.

Ingredients:
*Calm Complex: Chamomile reduces skin sensitivity, Hawthorn Extract helps protect capillaries, Panthenol rebuilds and repairs the skin barrier, Peony Extract acts as an anti-irritant and anti-oxidant, Polysaccharides reduce irritation.
Other Key Ingredients: Bisabolol, Orchid Extract, Vitamin E

This was described to me as the cream that cannot possibly irritate ANYONE.  Which I found to be a pretty amazing claim, but was willing to try it out, as my skin is very easily irritated.   I have to agree!  When I use this.  My skin is better the next day ( I used it mostly at night, as I really like the green Mica of the Recovery Cream for the day)  The texture is perfect.  It makes you feel like you have moisturized the PERFECT amount!  Its also a great cream to use after a peel or any other facial treatment. 


So that's pretty much it.   I am pretty sure the Darphin Intral Line will be my HG (holy grail) from now on.  If you have rosacea/red/irritated/sensitive skin, this is for you!  Unfortunately the one down side is the price.  Its up there!  But the products have lasted me a very long time so far, because you do not have to use large amounts of any of the products at a time. 

Gisele Bündchen's Sejaa Skincare- Review

First of all, how can you not love Giselle?  She is one of my all time favorite models.   I have a specific love for Victorias Secret models (especially Marissa Miller) because they aren't these tiny twigs.  I think Giselle is beyond gorgeous.  So when I heard she was coming out with a skin care line, I was curious to start.  THEN I heard it was eco-friendly, 100% natural (the manufacturing process is wind power!) and I knew I  had to give it a try.

Gisele, who was recently named the UN's Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment Program, decided upon the brand's name as a play on the word seja, meaning "to be" in Portuguese, her first language. The extra "a" was added at the end because "words have a vibration, and aaah! is an exhalation, what you feel when you let go," she told Vogue.

The three-product line, which is sold only on sejaa.com, consists of a Day Cream, Night Cream ($70), and Mud Mask ($56). It also features a Pure Skincare Kit ($120), which includes a two-ounce jar of each product, a spa towel, and a mud applicator. Here is what Giselle had to say in Vogue about her new line.

Gisele told Vogue:

On developing the line: "I wanted to teach girls to love themselves and take care of their bodies. What is the first thing you see every morning? Your face! What do you put every day on your face? Cream! I have made the simplest, purest cream — an everyday cream — but it comes with an affirmation."

On why she wanted a mud mask: "When I was a teenager, I had pimples — oh, God, every time someone looked at my face I thought they were looking at my pimples. I put mud on my face to dry them out, and it worked."

On why Sejaa will be sold online to create a community: "So I can give my little tips, and it's not me telling anyone to have an awakening."

On her secrets: "The first is wake up in the morning and be grateful you are here, alive and healthy. And the second is: Give."

 
 
I ordered the kit the day it came out, I had to wait a bit for shipping because it was back ordered due to a large demand I suppose.  The customer service was great and they refunded the shipping cost since I had to wait two weeks.  When I finally got it I was BEYOND excited. 

The day cream had ingredients like purified water and aloe barbadensis leaf juice as the two FIRST ingredients, and other ingredients including algae extract, argan oil, and jojoba oil.

The night cream has similar ingredients but also included green tea leaf extract, royal jelly, and ginseng root extract.

( full ingredients listed below)


Sounds great right? Unfortunately the products did not live up to my expectations (sorry Gisele!)  The day cream was not moisturizing enough for me (which was surprising considering I have combination skin) and my skin ended up over producing oil by the end of the day.   The night cream was ok, nothing spectacular.   It didn't hurt my skin, but I wouldn't say it really improved it either.  The mud mask was good, but similar to other mud masks I have used. I usually use the Nars Mud Mask which is $45 for 3.6oz, as opposed to the Sejaa mud mask which is $56 for 2oz.

So here are the ingredients, so you can all make your own decisions.  The ingredients sound great, and I love that its organic and eco friendly.  I wish it just worked better for me!

 

Day Cream

Nourish skin and protect against free radical damage. This daytime moisturizer provides protective antioxidants and skin-softening active botanicals, including aloe vera, shea butter, jojoba and argan oils. Use Sejaa Day Cream in the morning as the final step in your skincare routine.

Ingredients:
Purified Water,  Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice,  Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin,  Cetyl Alcohol , Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes,  Cetearyl Alcohol,  Vegetable Oil , Tocopherol Ascorbyl Palmitate Ascorbyl Glucoside,  Rosa Canina Seed Extract,  Algae Extract,  Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract , Ascophyllum Nodosum Extractm  Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter,  Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil,  Seawater , Chitosan Succinamide,  Isostearic Acid Hydrolyzed Algin Sodium Citrate Dicetyl Phosphate Ceteth-10 Phosphate Citric Acid,  Xanthan Gum,  Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Fragrance which contains Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Essential Oil,  Olibanum (Frankincense) Essential Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Essential Oil.

Night Cream

Enhance the skin's natural ability to produce collagen and repair itself. Hydrating jojoba and safflower seed oils work with potent botanical extracts of green tea and ginseng to help restore radiance overnight. Use Sejaa Night Cream in the evening as the final step in your skincare routine.

Ingredients:Purified Water,  Glycerin,  Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride,  Octyldodecyl Myristate,  Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil,  Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters,  Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil,  Microcrystalline Cellulose,  Glyceryl Stearate,  Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice,  Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil,  Cetyl Alcohol,  Ascorbic Acid,  Tocopheryl Acetatem  Retinyl Palmitate,  Panax Ginseng Root Extract,  Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract , Royal Jelly,  Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate,  Butylene Glycol, Carnosine Cellulose Gum,  Xanthan Gum,  Phenoxyethanol Ethylhexylglycerin Fragrance which contains Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Essential Oil Olibanum (Frankincense) Essential Oil Rosa Damascena (Rose) Essential Oil

Mud Mask

Detoxify skin and maintain a clear, fresh complexion with Sejaa Mud Mask. This treatment's unique combination of natural clays draws impurities from deep within the skin, while glycerin helps skin retain its natural moisture. Follow the suggested use for your individual skin type.

Ingredients: Purified Water , Bentonite,  Montmorillonite,  Glycerin,  Ethylhexylglycerin , Caprylyl Glycol , Phenoxyethanol Hexylene Glycol

Cle de Peau Concealer- is it worth $70?

So after reading about this concealer in practically every magazine I picked up, I figured I HAD to give it a try.  It won for "best concealer" in Instyle, and generally has had a lot of buzz lately.   The $70 price tag was STEEP but i figured it was worth it, if only to do a review for everyone else! 
I figured I would give it a few days, and probably wouldn't be to impressed, and would tell everyone not to waste their money. 

Sadly, ladies, the exact opposite happened! I LOVE it!  It just melts into your skin, and looks completely natural.   Its the only concealer that I thought worked well for under eyes, as well as other areas of the face.   Before I had always used one concealer for under eyes (usually Bobbi Brown) and one for face (Nars or Coverblend).  This looked perfect no matter where you use it. 

I have slightly darker skin around my eyes from Lilash (review coming soon)  so I wear concealer around my eyes everyday.   On hotter days, I noticed that the Bobbi Brown one was wearing off.   The Cle de Peau lasted all day. And when I say ALLLL day I mean through a BBQ, swimming, drinking, and falling asleep at my bfs with my makeup on (which I do not suggest doing! bad bad bad!)
 Normally the concealer would either be gone, or have dried out my skin, especially around my eyes.   It looked exactly the same.  When I went to wash my face the next morning, I couldn't believe how natural it still looked. 

I also like that its the perfect consistency.   The Bobbi Brown concealer for under eyes works well, but its pretty thick, and since i have some freckles, if I don't wear foundation with it, you can see that I have concealer on, because you can see the difference from where the under eye area meets the cheekbone, where you can see freckles again.   The Cle de Peau isn't as thick, but still covers under eye circles amazingly.  So I could wear it alone, with just some powder on the rest of my face.   Just for that reason, I would consider repurchasing.  I hate feeling that I have to wear more makeup on the rest of my face if I want to wear concealer around my eyes. 

Probably the only downfall (other than the crazy price) is the lack of color choices.   Only 4!  Luckily the shade Ochre was perfect for me with my summer tan.   Hopefully the lighter shade will work for the winter.

Its also slightly larger than other concealers which is what makes me think I will continue to buy it.   For example,
the nars concealer is 0.12 Oz for $22.  Which works out to be $18 per 0.10 oz
Bobbo Brown is 0.06 oz for $22.         Which is                      $36  per 0.10oz
Cle de Pea is 0.17 oz for $70.              Which is                      $41 per 0.10oz


So per oz, Cle de Peau is only slightly more expensive than Bobbi Brown.   Nars is actually the most affordable! 

So in the end its a personal decision, whether you are willing to drop $70 for a concealer.  Hopefully you are close enough to a Neiman Marcus or other store that carries Cle de Peau, so you can try it out and see for yourself!

also, it seems to be available on Amazon for around $65!

Darphin Purifying Balm Review

I have very recently gotten into Darphin skincare.  I have been using the Intral line, but not for long enough to do a review.   I was at Space NK at Short Hills Mall (a skincare/cosmetics store)  and was told that Darphin's purifying balm was amazing.   I have tried other over night balms (decleor among others) and I liked them but didn't LOVE them.   The sales lady told me that the Darphin balm was great if your skin was freaking out (which mine was at the moment due to it being that time of the month)  She said to used it at night for three days in a row.  

So I did exactly that, and I have to say, I love it!    At the time, like I said I had my period, and on top of that, I was having multiple crisis at work, and working about 14 hours a day, and getting about 4 hours of sleep a day.  So normally that combination would wreak havoc on my skin!  I saw the beginning of some bumps but they all promptly went away. Shrinking the first day, and by the third day they were totally healed and gone!

This is the description on the website:

This aromatic, smoothing and purifying overnight treatment for face and body restores radiance as it helps reduce the appearance of skin imperfections. 

Key Ingredients: Tea Tree, Lavender, Sage, Geranium and Grapefruit essential oils, Hazelnut and St Johns Wort Oils, Beeswax.

Part of the reason I was drawn to this is because I saw it had tea tree oil, which has always worked well for me when I have had zits.

I have mentioned before how things with oils used to scare me, as I assumed if I broke out, I should never use anything with oil.  Boy is that wrong!  I have discovered that by using the RIGHT oils, it keeps my skin from over producing oils of its own.   So finding products that moisturize well without causing me to breakout is always my primary concern.   This balm is definitely one I will be coming back to, probably using it for the three days in a row right around my period.  I highly recommend it!!!

What I am using right now!

Shampoo: I usually use Wen cleansing conditioner - so no shampoo, but when i DO use shampoo its Biolage

Conditioner: Same as above

Styling products: Rarely use any product, every now and then i use the bumble and bumble salt spray

Shower Gel: mario badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap

Body moisturiser: caudalie

Deodorant: secret

Fake Tan: st tropez its amazing!

Cleanser: Shu Uemura oil, neostrata facial cleanser

Exfoliator: Neostrata Renewal Peel

Primer: Clarins perfect touch

Foundation brush: mac

Concealer: bobby brown for eyes - nars for everything else

Powder: nars powder

Blusher: NARS deep throat

Bronzer: NARS Casino or Laguna.

Highlighter: nars albatros or benefit high brow

Eyeshadow base: nars eyeshadow primer or UDPP

Eyeshadows: nars belissima,

Eyeliner: Usually I used a nars shadow as a liner, most often thunderball, sometimes one of the night series - night flight or night porter

Curler: shu uemura, i LOVE it. I actually was in some shu uemura study and got two free to test and report back.

Mascara: Nars larger than life volumizing mascara

Lipstick: not a huge lipstick wearer - usually use Nars Sabrina lip treatment

Lipgloss: Nars sweet revenge

Nail Color: i love nars schiap for summer its a great bright pink


take the quiz youself and link me to it!

Products for Hyperpigmentation

Growing up, I always had good skin.  Through high school and college, I never paid much attention to what skincare items I used, just whatever was cheap and easily available.   THEN I started working full time (as a social worker, stress = bad for your skin) and my skin started freaking out.   Its still a battle keeping my skin clear and looking good.   I do have some slight hyperpigmentation from old breakouts.  So I am regularly trying to find products that help fade my hyperpigmentation.   I have tried soooo many different things, but what I have found to be my favorite are these

Skincueticals Phyto+

here's the website description

"This botanical gel for hyperpigmentation is an advanced lightening formula combining four active ingredients to diminish discoloration and improve the overall health of the skin. Kojic acid and arbutin, natural alternatives to hydroquinone, work synergistically to help break up hyperpigmentation, while cucumber and thyme contain anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties to soothe red, irritated skin.

Active ingredients are delivered in a hyaluronic acid base to hydrate as they help heal, calm, and improve the appearance of the skin. Phyto+ can also be used to help reduce erythema and to maintain results following invasive cosmetic procedures."

Now on their website they suggest using this twice a day.  I only use it at night, but I can still tell a difference!  I have been using it for about 6 months, and it has definitely faded some old scaring I have!  and it has not irritated my skin at all either, which is usually an issue for me. 

Its $78 but it lasts forever,  I am still on the same bottle I bought months ago.

The second product is new to me, but I LOVE it, and have mentioned it before.

Neostrata Renewal Peel

This is hard to find I have noticed. I bought it on eskinstore.com

website description

"Ideal quick fix for uneven and dull skin. The glycolic acid will help eliminate the dead cells responsible for the rough skin. This solution contains 10% glycolic acid and 10% gluconolactone, the highest potency available of AHA to achieve the results after only 1 treatment."

This is $63, but lasts FOREVER.   I saw that it had really good reviews on makeupalley, so I figured I would give it a try.   It is the best peel/exfoliation product I have ever used.  I mentioned this product in another thread, and stated how it helped with a scar I had on my arm.   Whats amazing about this product is that it works so well, yet doesn't irritate my skin.   This is on its way to becoming HG for me, and I definitely plan on repurchasing when I run out (which probably wont happen  for a while )

but of course, I'm a shopaholic, so I am always looking for something newer, better.  I just received this in the mail

Glytone Fading Lotion

"This formula contains 2% hydroquinone and 1% kojic acid to lighten dark discoloration in the skin such as age and liver spots. Skin is left brighter, clearer and healthier."

I know kojic acid works for me from using Skinceuticals Phyto+, so I am curious to see if the combination of that and hydroquinone will work better!  I will post a review in a few weeks!

Skincare I LOVE!

I am constantly looking for skincare that works with my weird skin. My skin is combination (dry in some areas, but can be oily in the Tzone) and can also get red bumpy and irritated when i try new products. I have gone to a few different dermatologists, and cant say I have been impressed with any. (My sister who is in vet school claims that in the medical or vetrinary field people only go to derm because they like the 9-5 hours) I have definetly found that to be true! Most times the Dr. glances at me and prescribes me zit medicine, which anyone with common sense would see is going to aggrivate my skin. I was then told that the red/bumps was rosacea. but rosacea meds and prescriptions creams havent helped. So with a lot of research on my own i have found something that works for me.

#1 - diet is so important. DRINK WATER! and green tea!

for me i discovered that my skin was amazing after taking Cipro (an antibiotic for a UTI) for a week. I found some information on the web that Cipro also kills the bad bacteria in your digestive system. So I have made an effort to eat my organic greek yogurt and try to regulate the GOOD bacteria in my system. It has really helped. ( I also havent had a UTI since!)

I also started using Neostrata skincare, specifically their face wash

This is the description from their website

Start your skin care regimen with this soap-free formulation that gently exfoliates without drying the skin.
Polyhydroxy Acid Gluconolactone provides anti-aging benefits
Removes impurities and makeup without drying the skin
Ideal for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone

I use this with my Clarisonic and I LOVE it. Its kept my bumps at bay and just really evened out my skintone!

I also purcharsed the Neostrata Skin Renewal Peel

From the website:

Ideal quick fix for uneven and dull skin. The glycolic acid will help eliminate the dead cells responsible for the rough skin. This solution contains 10% glycolic acid and 10% gluconolactone, the highest potency available of AHA to achieve the results after only 1 treatment

this peel comes with little circular pads, that have one soft side, and one rougher side, that you soak with the solutions, rub over your face, and leave on for up to 15 minutes. It is by far my favorite exfolation/peel product I have ever used. Ive tried, the md skincare alpha beta peel, dr peter roth peel, and so many others, and none come close to this! Its around $60 but you get at least 30 uses out of it so its completely worth it!

I have also used it on the back of my arms where i had scarring from keratosis pilaris, and it has made a HUGE difference on the scarring!  I never thought any product would accomplish that!