Banish Dry, Flaky Skin!

Recently, my friend and I were having a heart to heart about our troubles with our largest organ...skin.  I confided in her that when I wear my black yoga pants it looks like someone clapped chalkboard erasers together near me.  My waistband, at the very least, is always covered in white powder.  Not really believing me I proved it to her by lightly rubbing my stomach.  Poof, epidermis everywhere!

Let me start by assuring you I take every possible measure to hydrate my skin and body.  I drink at least (most likely 16) 8 glasses of water a day, eat healthy, avoid salt (try to), exfoliate, use moisturizing body washes, put baby oil on when I'm still wet, apply lotion when I've toweled off, and often use lotion at bedtime.  You'd think I'd be able to slide across the floor like a wet seal, but sadly, nope.

Frustrated, I sought the help of my go to beauty guru, Sephora :o).  I searched almond oil and voila, I was presented with L'Occitane's Firming and Softening Supple Skin Oil.  SOLD!  When it arrived I was even more convinced it would work because of all the consumer test results and massage application instructions that were so attractively presented on the box.  I couldn't wait to shower and apply this heavenly (yet very faint) smelling oil on my chalky body.  Well, one week later I can happily tell you my skin is smooth, hydrated, free of flakes, and smells amazing (I keep smelling my forearm)!

Today, the L'Occitane's Cleansing and Soothing Shower Oil I ordered arrived and now I can't wait to add that to my shower regimen!

For all you mom's to be, this oil is also said to be great for pregnancy and stretch marks.  And I quote, "Product Plus:  Ideal before, during and after pregnancy."

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).

Best Hand Lotion EVER!

Lotion is notorious for being slimy but it's the price we must pay for soft, itch free, crack free hands.  Or is it?  For years I've been using, and turning people on to, Jack Black's Industrial Strength Hand Healer.  "But it's Jack Black," some girls will say, "isn't it for guys?"  Does it really matter?  Nope.  This non-greasy, vegan, eucalyptus and vitamin packed lotion is the best for chapped and cracked hands and problem spots.

Also great for you and your guy (Kris may not say he loves it but always lets me know when we're out), Jack Black's Face Buff Energizing Scrub.  The menthol cools and invigorates and the scrub removes dirt and dead skin.  Your guy will love how easy and close his shave is after a once over with this wash.

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!?

Truly "Fabulous Foaming Face Wash"

I'm a freebie junkie, thus, I'm the perfect customer.  It's like I'm screaming, "send me more, more, more so I can fall in love and BUY more, more, more!"

Not too long ago I found out my tried and true face scrub had been discontinued.  Now, this would have been tragic had I not just received a sample size bottle of Bliss' Fabulous Foaming Face Wash http://www.blissworld.com/bliss-fabulous-foaming-face-wash/.  Now, "Foaming" is not something that's going to sell me on a product, exfoliation is.  A lot of products say they exfoliate and I'm sure some actually do, but I have to FEEL the actually scrubbing while it's exfoliating.  So there I was, out of my favorite facial cleanser, forced to use a product I'd always thought wasn't something I'd love.  Boy was I wrong.  I had no idea there were tiny little scrubby particles in the Fabulous Foaming Face Wash.  The bottle says it exfoliates but you can't see anything in it and the blurbs about it in Bliss' catalog never mention tiny scrubby particles.  I couldn't believe it, it felt great and my skin felt great.  It wasn't as scrubby as my previous wash but it accomplished the same feel.  I loved it!  It feels fresh and light, smells great (not slightly medicinal like my previous wash), and, of course, it does what it claims to do.  Needless to say, I'm now on the second of my purchased full size bottles.

I highly recommend trying Bliss' Fabulous Foaming Face Wash for yourself.  You can walk into any Sephora and ask for a sample or you may even have one on hand from your last Bliss http://www.blissworld.com/ or Sephora http://www.sephora.com/ purchase.

Earn More Points At Sephora With Mascara

Calling all Sephora Beauty Insiders.  Now until 9/27 if you purchase any mascara (maybe badGal in Plum http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P222454&categoryId=B70 ) you will receive double points for your whole order.  You know what double points means, more deluxe samples and other goodies.

If you're not a Sephora Beauty Insider yet, sign up http://www.sephora.com/beautyinsider/index.jhtml%3B$sessionid$R3GQVBKDCVPFMCV0KSKBHOQ;jsessionid=R3GQVBKDCVPFMCV0KSKBHOQ.  It's free and easy.

No code is necessary to earn your double points so enter one of their other codes at check out like SKINSTARS and get 7 free skincare samples in addition to the 3 you always get to pick.  And, as always, shipping is free on purchases of $50 or more.

http://www.sephora.com/

My Amazon Favorites

Some of you have been asking why I took "My Favorites" link off.  Well, it's back and better than ever!  Find things for yourself and everyone in your life with just a click of a button.  If you can't remember that "thing" you asked me about a while back don't worry, go to http://www.theproductmuse.blogspot.com/ and I'm sure it'll be pictured right there just to the right of my blog with a link that will take you straight to the item.  Happy shopping!

Throwback Mask At A Throwback Price

Do you remember this mask, Queen Helene's Grape Seed Extract Peel Off Masque  http://search.ulta.com/review/prod5023084/Peel%20Off%20Masque ?  In the 90's it was one of those products you could go to the grocery store or drug store and buy off the shelf with your own babysitting money.  It was inexpensive and it worked.  Well, a few months ago it popped into my mind and I remembered how fun it was peeling it off and how soft my skin felt afterwards.  I became obsessed with finding it and searched everywhere, Jewel, CVS, Walgreens, and more.  It was nowhere to be found.  I even enlisted the help of my sister, Rachel, on the West Coast and my best friend, Christina, on the East Coast.  Both of them remembered the mask fondly but neither came across it.

Fast forward a couple months, I'm visiting Rachel in Seattle and we hit the local Ulta Beauty store http://www.ulta.com/ for some supplies.  Low and behold, there it was right in front of me, looking exactly the same as when I was a teen!  And for the low low price of $3.99!  I don't remember what it cost in the 90's but $3.99 is a steal as far as I'm conserned.

Yes, I bought it.  Yes, I use it weekly.  Yes, it's still super fun to peel off all in one piece.  And most importantly, yes, it still clears my face of "debris" and makes it feel fresh and soft!

FYI, if you spend $50 (sometimes it's $25) or more online at Ulta http://www.ulta.com/ shipping is free!