Spots? What Spots?

As I'm staring out my office window at the gloomy, overcast sky it occurred to me (a snow and cold weather disliker) there is an upside to it being dusky all day long...I can use my Paula's Choice Remarkable Skin Lightening Lotion during the day as well as at night!  In the summer I only use it at night because it's ingredients make your skin more sensitive to the sun.  Even with sunscreen I'm not taking the risk.

See, when I was a teen I wanted freckles so, since people with freckles seemed to get more of them from sun exposure I figured I could get my very own by simply sunburning my face.  Please don't remove my blog from your "Favorites" list...I promise I am SO very much wiser now!  Anywho, those of you who know me know I DO NOT have freckles.  I have what I refer to as linebacker stripes and large swaths, as opposed to spots, of discoloration.

Forever, there wasn't much I could do about hiding my attempt at acquiring freckles.  Sure, heavy makeup was still pretty popular in the 90s but I always felt gross and overdone.  Slathering SPF 50 in the summer was my only defense (still is, Dad, I promise) against these patches of discoloration becoming darker until Sephora entered my life.  I was then introduced to dozens of skin lighteners that cost a mere arm and a leg or more.  Oh yeah, on the few occasions I did hand over that arm and leg the product didn't even work!

Thank goodness my mother-in-law (and guest blogger of The Product Muse) told me about Paula's Choice!  This Paula lady is all about debunking product and cosmetic claims.  My thing about her is that she has her own line.  I'm not saying it isn't great, I don't know anything about any of it except the Remarkable Skin Lightening Lotion, which IS great, I'm just saying I think people need to try things for themselves or also consider the advice of others who are not turning a profit as a result of their advise.  But I digress.

The point is, for $18 (currently $15.96) you too can fade your spots!  Yes, I said FADE.  If you want them gone you'll have to talk to someone else about that because I'm not planning on having my face lasered or whatever.  Faded to the point where a little tinted moisturizer is all I need to conceal my botched freckles is good enough for me :o)!

"Hydra-Concentrated Facial Cream"

What I NEED now! Kris just turned the heat on at home and that familiar dry heat has been the straw that broke the camel's back. My skin is dry but not but IS. This is the excuse I needed to buy Benefit Cosmetic's Total Moisture Facial Cream. That and the fact my current, inexpensive moisturizer seems to be discontinued.  As usual, I received samples from this line (deluxe size) from a Sephora order a while back and took them with me on a trip.  I loved it.  It's super creaming and hydrating.  Luxurious!  Also fantastic and on my "to get eventually" list is Benefit Cosmetic's It's Potent! Eye Cream and Triple Performing Facial Emulsion SPF 15.  Emulsion?!  That word just screams "it works, it works!"  The retro packaging just entices me more :o).

Red Carpet Ready Mask

First, you should know that I rotate several masks.  A deep cleaning clay mask, an antioxidant filled pore clearing peel mask, and this one, Nude Skincare's Miracle Mask http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P212426&categoryId=C18820.  How did I find out about this mask?  Samples from Sephora http://www.sephora.com/, of course!  Did I commit to the $62 (free shipping) sticker price immediately after one use?  No, but I would have if I didn't have so many samples of it and the other products in the Nude Skincare line.  I have to say, I love all the products but I don't really feel like shelling out all that cash so I decided I would get the item that REALLY makes an immediate difference.  In short, this mask is supposed to make your face radiant.  I used it Sunday night since I'd been feeling kind of blah (mind, body, face and all) and as always, it did wonders immediately but I went to bed and kind of forgot I had used it.  Well, last night when I washed my face I thought, "gee, my face looks really pretty"and kind of left it at that.  Then this morning I thought the same thing about my skin, then remembered I had used my Nude Skincare Miracle Mask.  You can check it out and read what it does and how it does it but what's important to me is that when I use it I feel like my skin looks like it just received some Hollywood facial.  I usually reserve the use of this mask for special occasions and travel.  Use it the morning after a flight for that much needed skin refreshing or in the morning before a family get together or a night out on the town.  I actually bought the bottle so I could save my samples for travel.

Just give it a try.  If you have a Sephora store near you all you have to do is ask for a sample.  If you live near me I'm happy to let you try mine.  You can also just go ahead and order it online from Sephora http://www.sephora.com/.  They have free returns if something doesn't work out so what do you have to lose!?