MakeUp Special – Concealers for Blemishes December 5, 2007

Reviewer: Jenny, Skin Status: Combination/ Dry skin, Age group: 26 – 30 years old

As do most women, I do have occasional breakouts and I do not want people to see my blemishes whether they are new or old. The solution, concealer to the rescue!!! This is one of my must have items in makeup bag. Unless you are one of those people who are blessed with great genetics and never have pimples or acnes. Remember, if you are a man, you can also use concealer too, the key is the same as woman, finding the perfect color concealer match and the right one for your skin type. This is a lengthy article that includes reviews of several brands of concealer.

The most important part in finding the perfect concealer is matching the color of your skin. You do not want to highlight your blemishes, you want to conceal the blemishes (Unless you are very proud of your blemishes). I think finding the right color is more important than finding a certain brand of concealer. Some brands may have good reputations but the color selection may not match your skin. Therefore, it is necessary to find the color that is a perfect match for your skin. I recommend shopping for concealer during daytime, do a test on your face and look into a mirror that has direct sunlight. Store lighting is very misleading, you wouldn’t believe the number of concealers that I have right now that looks great in store lighting but not in natural direct sunlight. Also, do not test on your hand, the color on your hand is not exactly the same as on your face. If you only test it on your hand, it will not look right on your face. If you are uncertain, bring someone who you can trust when purchasing skincare/makeup product, someone who can give you honest opinions. MAC cosmetics stores or counters is a good place to start looking for the perfect concealer. They have a wide varieties of colors and types of concealer to choose from (ie: cream, liquid, stick and pencil). I don’t recommend using green color concealer to counteract redness. I tried using green color concealer before and it just didn’t look right on my face, it ended up with some weird color on my face. If you must, rub a little Visine eye drops onto your face or use ice first to reduce redness. Another great way is to do an express 5-10 mins hydrating mask before applying moisturizer and makeup.

As mentioned earlier in this post, once you find the color, all you have to do if find the right format of concealer. There are liquid concealer, cream concealer, stick concealer and even pencil concealer! My personal favorite is creamy stick concealer. I find stick concealer gives me the optimal coverage without drying my skin. I can apply stick concealer with my finger, q-tip or a concealer brush and it is easy to carry around for touch ups. I tried cream and liquid concealer on my blemishes before, they just don’t really cover my blemishes as well as a creamy stick concealer. I bought numerous brands of concealers before, there are a few that I really like but just can’t find the perfect match and I ended up using it to mix with other colors of concealer for covering blemishes. I find drugstore brands not too reliable when it comes to cover or hide blemishes or acne scars. First, you can’t really try out the color at the store and second, the staying power is not that good. Below is a list of concealer that I tried and recommend, usually they last for a very long time. I never see the end of these concealer before, I only stopped because I know I had them for way too long (more than 2 years).

*If you use a concealer brush to cover / hide blemishes and acne, remember to wash the concealer brush everyday.  There could be bacteria on the brush that may cause more breakouts.

My current favorite concealer : MAC studio stick concealer – Perfect match! It hides my blemishes very well and doesn’t even look like I have make up on! This does not dry up my skin and there are 8 colors to choose from. This product has a slick black packaging. (I also tried studio finish concealer, it has 14 colors to choose from but it just didn’t hide or cover my blemished that well)

NARS stick concealer – it is a good concealer for hiding blemishes and acne scars if you can find a match from their 6 colors selection. I bought this one to mix colors with all my previous wrong color concealer purchases. The staying power is really good too. In the Nars cosmetics website, it says this can also be used as a eye shadow based. This product has the Nars lipstick black packaging with white letters that says NARS.

Aveda Inner Lights concealer – One of the few liquid concealer with a wand that I tried. This is also a good concealer if you can find a match from Aveda 6 colors. You definitely need a brush to use this concealer, the wand is too large to be used to cover blemishes or acne scars. It has a really thick liquid consistency.  Once you apply this on the blemish area, wait at least 5 minutes before blending it in. It will have a longer staying power. This product also cover blemished really well. This is a transparent tube with a silver top.

Cle de Peau stick concealer – This is a really good concealer if you can find a match from the 3 colors that are available. This is one of the most expensive stick concealer I tried except I couldn’t find a perfect match to my skin. I purchased the wrong one under store lighting. One stick will also last you a very long time if you are only using it to cover blemishes and acne scars. This product has a blue stripe packaging.

Origins Quick Hide easy blend concealer - Another liquid concealer that I tried. This one is alright, it does hides blemishes well but one tube will expire in a very short time. This is the only concealer that I tried that has a very short life time. It will start to smell funny after a few months usage and that is when I tossed it away. The packaging is also a transparent tube with silver-color top.

Chanel Estompe Eclat corrective concealer stick – My very first concealer. There are 3 shades to choose from but really there are only 2, the third one is a green color one that I don’t recommend using to hide or cover blemishes. This is a great concealer if you don’t need to use concealer often because this is a very small stick concealer which doesn’t last a long time compare to the others. This product has a very slim black packaging with the double cc on top of the stick.

Updates on Organic Jojoba Oil eye and face makeup remover recipes December 4, 2007

This is an update for an improve version of Organic Jojoba Oil eye and face makeup remover recipe. I use about 1/3 Organic Jojoba Oil and 2/3 water and put them in a small container or bottle (PUMP bottle is best). Shake really well before use, a little on a cotton pad will wipe off most eye and face makeup, even water proof mascara! After shaking, use immediately, if not it separates into oil and water again really fast.

mdskincare by Dr. Dennis Gross – Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel Two Step System December 4, 2007

Reviewer: Jenny, Skin Status: Combination/ Dry skin, Age group: 26 – 30 years old

This is the very first at home chemical face peel product I tried and use. I was skeptical at first but decided to give it a try anyway. This is a 2 steps product that is very easy to use and not messy at all. The first step is the Alpha Beta Refining, the product is similar to a mini wet towelette except with lots of acid ingredients. All you have to do is to wipe the pad all over your face in semi-circular motion from forehead to neck except for eyes and mouth area until the pad feels dry. Wait 2 minutes, then use second step of the product which is the Neutralizing system. The application is similar to step 1, you just have to wipe the pad all over your face until the pad feels dry. Let the skin dry and apply moisturizer after. There is an important note in the instruction that says, DO NOT RINSE OR USE PRODUCTS CONTAINING ALCOHOL. This is very important, remember to read the labels of products that you would normally use. Also, there is SUNBURN ALERT note on this product, remember to use sunscreen product because your skin will be sensitive to sun.
There will be slight tingle sensation when you apply step 1 and it only lasts a few seconds for me. My skin do turn a little red after but it is gone by next morning. There is a very noticeable difference in the following day, my acne scars are slightly lightened up and my face look brighter and better. Dead skin may peel in the next few days, when that happened to me, I use my trust-y Vaseline at night and there will not be any more dry skin on my face (For Vaseline uses, please go to the home remedies section). This is my first at home chemical peel product and I am very impressed with the results. I’ve been using this product as a weekly treatment for a few weeks now and my acne scars are less noticeable. This product also improved my skintone and texture on my face.

If you decide to purchase this product, I recommend getting the 30 days travel packets and only use it once a week. I use this as a weekly treatment instead of daily, that way the product will last about half a year and it will be easier on your skin.

Remember, chemical peels may not be for everyone, always do a test patch on your skin before hand.

Chemical Peels – General December 4, 2007

Reviewer: Jenny, Skin Status: Combination/ Dry skin, Age group: 26 – 30 years old

Chemical Peels is a great way to get your skin looking incredible if you don’t have sensitive skin. If you want your skin to look great for Christmas holidays, now is the time to start chemical peels. However, before you purchase your first home chemical peels or home dermabrasion kit for the first time, remember to do a test patch on your skin first. This is very important, chemical peels can be your friend or foe, depending on your skin reaction. There are salicylic acid, glycolic acid, alpha & beta hydrolic acid, citric acid, lactic acid and malic acid. These are the more common acid type chemical peels that appeared in chemical peel products. More than often, it will be combination of all these acids in a product. When chemical peel product is first applied onto your skin, there will be a slight tingling sensation on the affected area. Do not leave the product on your face longer than the recommended time. My advice is to leave the product on for half of the recommend time when you use the product for the very first time and to use it at night. So if your skin does have a reaction to the product, there will be less damage done on your face. Remember to follow the instructions carefully how to rinse out the product, your face will turn slightly red especially if you have acne or scars but the redness will go away overtime. After rinsing, apply moisturizer right away, some chemical peels will leave your face drier than normal and do not use any product that contains alcohol. Also, if you decide to do chemical peels, it is a MUST to use products with high sunscreen protection factor during daytime. The face will become sensitive to sunlight and may get burn if you do not use products with high spf!!! Overall, I find my skin may not look great right away because of the redness, but when I wake up in the morning, my face will look good and bright.

Chemical Peels may not be for everyone and there are alternative ways to get great skin, check out our home remedies and masks section if chemical peels is not your thing.

Looking Fabulous in Christmas December 4, 2007

Reviewer: Jenny, Skin Status: Combination/ Dry skin, Age group: 26 – 30 years old

For December, we are going to do a Christmas special on how to look fabulous in Christmas that will include some make up reviews and tips. We want everyone, both men and women to look good for the holiday seasons! So check out our seasonal specials regularly for new updates and be sure to check out the home remedies section that will give you glowing skin!

Aveda – Botanical Kinetics Purifying Creme Cleanser November 28, 2007

Reviewer: Jenny, Skin Status: Combination/ Dry skin, Age group: 26 – 30 years old

I can’t believe I haven’t wrote a review for this cleanser yet. This has been my favorite and the only creme cleanser that I have been using in the last seven years or so. I tried using other brands before but it is just not the same. This facial creme cleanser leave my skin clean and not dry at all. I also like the scent of this creme cleanser which is a very natural floral scent. Aveda products comes in trial/ travel size, regular size and large bottles. If you want to give this product a try, I recommend buying the trial/size first and if you like it, go for the large bottle. The large bottle of this creme cleanser is 500ml and it will last a very long time even when you use it day and night. Then you can keep the trial size bottle for traveling. Normally, I use one pump of the facial creme cleanser, mix it with water and massage onto my skin. I use a facial sponge to rinse my face after. Aveda is one of my favorite all around brands, I like almost everything from Aveda.  There will be more Aveda product reviews coming soon.

Vaseline – white petroleum jelly November 17, 2007

Reviewer: Jenny, Skin Status: Combination/ Dry skin, Age group: 26 – 30 years old

Vaseline has to be one of the most economic and versatile skincare product out there, it has so many different uses. Vaseline can be used as facial moisturizer, hand moisturizer, eye makeup base, eye makeup remover, sooth minor burns, lip treatment, and etc… According to Vaseline package description, it is dermatologist recommended, hypoallergenic and won’t clog pores. In general, no matter what you are using Vaseline for, use only very very small amount to begin with, once you use too much, you will probably need to blot some out.

As facial moisturizer, it is great to get rid of dry skin patches on your face. Personally, I wouldn’t use it for day time use or every night. I only use it as a night time moisturizer about once a week. Or, if you are traveling and you forgot to bring moisturizer. Apply only a small dab onto your face because Vaseline do sort of melt on your skin once you start rubbing. I think Vaseline is a great product but I can’t really stand the petroleum smell when i rub it around my nose area. Maybe this is because I use the unscented Vaseline instead of the scented Vaseline. This product will make your face greasy and oily. When you use it at night and you are worried about ruining bedsheets, I recommend putting a towel on your pillow before you sleep. You can also apply Vaseline on dry elbows and knees too!

As hand moisturizer, it is excellent for itchy dry hands. Again, use very little amount and rub it thoroughly on your hands. Vaseline will make your hands feel greasy but your hands will feel baby soft again the next morning. I definitely recommend using this at night before you sleep.

As eye make-up base, i will use a q-tip to dab softly onto Vaseline and then swipe across the eyelid area very gently and then apply eyeshadow. It will enhanced any eyeshadow color that normally won’t stand out. It has a very strong vibrant effects. As eye makeup remover, I think it is great at removing eye makeup but it does leave your eyes very greasy and oily so I still recommend using jojoba oil as eye makeup remover (Jojoba oil is under home remedies section).

Overall, this is a great product, it works well on dry skin. The only downside is the smell. I also recommend getting the convenience size tube instead of the jar, that way, you can carry it everywhere.

If you know any other undiscovered use of Vaseline, feel free to leave a comment and let us know.

Chanel Hydramax + Moisture Boost * Comfort Cream November 15, 2007

Reviewer: Jenny, Skin Status: Combination/ Dry skin, Age group: 26 – 30 years old

This is my new favorite cream. I finally bought this after deciding whether I should stick with the Chanel moisture boost cream or trying this new product. This is very similar to the Chanel moisture boost cream except this is for dry skin which gives more hydration. I was worried that it may be too moisturizing for me at first but after applying it on my face day and night, it is just right for dry winter weather. I like the scent of the comfort cream even more than the moisture boost cream. The scent is slightly stronger than the moisture boost, I find the scent very pleasant and fruity. As soon as I apply the comfort cream on my face, it pretty much sinks right in and no oily finish either. The best part is, you don’t have to use a lot of the comfort cream, a dab here and there should be enough for the entire face. With Chanel moisture boost cream, I have to use a lot on my face in winter time, I am really happy that Chanel decided to create a new and more hydrating product. As for price tag, the price for moisture boost gel-cream, moisture boost cream and moisture boost * comfort cream are all the same so you only have to choose the product that is suitable for your skin type. If you find the comfort cream to be too moisturizing for your skin type to be used both day and night time, I recommend using the moisture boost cream for daytime use and get moisture boost * comfort cream for night use. The price difference between the moisture boost cream and the serum is that it is more economic to get 2 Chanel moisture boost cream products than to get 1 Chanel moisture boost serum and 1 Chanel moisture boost cream product.

Oil Of Olay Classic Moisturizing Creme November 6, 2007

Reviewer: Christopher, Skin Status: Dry skin, Age group: 31 – 35 years old

About three years ago I was steadily using high-end moisturizers, when I decided to try this one out just to see if I could get any skin benefit from this classic budget brand.
Other than its infamous rosey fragrance, this product is pretty much straight lanolin so I really couldn’t foresee any significant results. When I first started applying it I initially found the rosey fragrance a little strong and the creme texture a little heavy.
Despite initial impressions, I was pleasantly surprised to find that after a short while of massaging this creme in that it melted nicely into the skin, my skin looked hydrated and smooth, a little shiny, but not greasy (translation: my skin didn’t look perfect, but still it looked refreshed).
Initially I didn’t really like the smell all that much, but I’ve gotten tonnes of compliments about the fragrance (I guess the classic rose fragrance makes people nostalgic for simpler times).
Anyhow, its been three years since my first jar of this stuff and now its remained the most constant product in my skin care regimen. Its gotten so that I look forward to how the rosey smell wakes me up in the morning. Besides, the fragrance gradually dissipates to surround you with a barely perceptable aura of flowers 25 minutes after applying (you’ll be amazed at how many people will tell you how much they love your floral forcefield).
My conclusion
-Oil of Olay is great at making you look good, but not so good at making you look great. So use it on those days and nights when you don’t need to wow anyone with how nice your skin is. This way your skin stays healthy and moisturized, but for a lower cost; and you’ll be saving a whole lot of your high-end moisturizers from casual use so they’ll give you more “wow!!” moments when you actually need it.

MEI Camellia seed essence November 2, 2007

Reviewer: Christopher, Skin Status: Dry skin, Age group: 31 – 35 years old

If I am meeting up with friends and want to get compliments on my skin, this is my weapon of choice. All I have to do is wash my face, put a few drops of this on my fingers and rub it into my skin till it’s absorbed everywhere. This stuff melts into my skin to give me a soft subtle shine and a smoother complexion (the results can get you noticed, in a good way). Its fragrance free, you can add your moisturizer on top of it, and best yet, you need so little (I’ve used the same bottle off and on for 1 year now). The only drawback to this little miracle is that I would reserve it for going out or occasions you wanna look extra nice. The reason for this is it is very very VERY! moisturizing and extremely regular use can give you blemishes. Besides that, this is an amazing product, even after staying up all night, using this has gotten me compliments about how nice my skin (and that’s from my guy friends!!). Give it a shot. If you can’t find the MEI stuff, try and find the Camellia seed oil at a natural store (I’ve been wanting to try this and see if it works the same as the MEI).