Skin Care

Paint it Pink, Paint it Black: Treat Yourself this Valentine’s Day

January 21st, 2008 by Karen 41 Comments

Valentine’s Day approaches, a day both loved and dreaded by millions. This February 14th, you could be…

1. sniffing the roses on your desk and chomping on candy hearts and chocolates while daydreaming about your faboo significant other (isn’t s/he the BEST?).

2. alone in your living room, dressed in your rattiest plaid pajamas and drinking a bottle of Two Buck Chuck on the couch while lip syncing Celine Dion’s All By Myself.

Girl, I know how it is because I’ve played both roles before. Sometimes on the Big V you’re in lurve (how precious), but sometimes you’re not; sometimes you’re just plain bitter (it happens to the best of us).

So, to celebrate the love and the pain of Valentine’s Day, this post kicks off Paint it Pink, Paint it Black, a series featuring pink and black themed makeup and beauty products to help you make the most of this Valentine’s Day — no matter what. If you’re ready to shout your love from the rooftops, then you may opt to paint it pink! But, if you’re ready to tell your loser ex how you never needed his/her sorry ass anyway, then paint it black, sister!

Paint it pink, Vol. 1

These hot pink beauties make me feel the love…

Lancome Color Fever Photonic Gloss in Seashell ($23). This lovely fuschia gloss applies sheer, is never sticky, and makes my lips look like they just powered through a heavy-duty hour-long makeout session. HOT!
Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Glare. A sheer, sparkly pink gloss with lots of glitter, this lipgloss is part of the awesome Light Speed Lip Gloss Set ($29). Glare is my favorite of the six glosses in the set because the glitter hits just the right sparkle without going over the top. It’s a great first date night gloss if you want your lips looking super kissable.
Pattern Black Pepper Body Wash ($20). Technically, I should probably list this body wash in the “Paint it Black” section because of its black pepper scent, but the cute hot pink bubble pattern on the bottle prevails. With its fresh, unisex herbal scent — a mix of black pepper, ylang-ylang and vetiver — it’s perfect for shower dates (*ahem*) with your significant other. The ingredients are all natural, and no animals were harmed in its testing, hooray!
Philosophy Raspberry Sorbet 3-in-1 Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath ($16). This multi-tasking gel smells exactly like a fresh scoop of raspberry sorbet. A dollop fills the bath with bubbles and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth and ready for date night.
Lierac Hydra-Chrono Anti-aging Balm ($45). This thick, rich balm smells like fresh picked cherries, yum! When I slather just a little of this on my hands at night, I wake up the following morning with seriously silky paws.

Whether you spend this particular Valentine’s Day in agony or ecstasy, just remember that you’re not alone, girl. Good or bad, we’ve all been there before.

Check back for more “Paint it Pink, Paint it Black.” I’ll be doing a new one every few days until the Big V drops next month. Now, hand me that heart-shaped box of truffles, homie!

More Paint it Pink, Paint it Black…

Paint it Black, Vol. 1: Going Black to the Gym
Paint it Pink, Vol. 2: Prepping for Date Night
Paint it Pink and Black, Vol. 3: When Love Leaves You Twisted

One more thing…

The poem below is my favorite love poem of ALL FRICKIN’ TIME! What’s yours?

When You are Old
by William Butler Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Moisturelush Cream: Say Buh-bye to Dry

January 13th, 2008 by Karen 30 Comments

Lately, my skin has been drier than the Sahara. In my 20s (*ahem!*), I never thought about moisturizing. I had oily skin. To protect against sun damage, I would apply a layer of Oil of Olay Complete SPF 15 in the morning, but that was it.

Now, however, I’m in my early-30s, and dry skin, especially on my face, is one of my top skin concerns. Turns out that as we get older, skin tends to get drier. The glands that produce oil under our skin don’t work as well as they used to; that causes skin cells to clump together in flakes and scales (oh, joy!) and dulls our complexion.

Everyone’s skin changes with age, but for women dry skin strikes earlier than it does for men. Guys experience moisture loss in their skin later in life than women do. A woman’s skin tends to become considerably drier after menopause. Thankfully, there’s moisturizer.

How to spot dry skin…

Ordinary dry skin is known as xerosis. It’s not serious but can be seriously not cute to look at, especially when it causes fine lines and wrinkles. The severity of one’s dry skin problems varies depending on age, hydration (drink that water, ya’all!), overall health, genetics, the climate where you live and the amount of time you spend outside.

Typical symptoms of dry skin due to normal aging are…

Skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming
Skin that looks dull or dehydrated
Skin that feels and looks rough
Itching
Slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling
Fine lines or cracks
Unusual redness

Frequent causes of dry skin…

Some people inherit dry skin problems, so if mom and dad are always slathering on the lotion, chances are you’ll eventually find yourself in the same boat.

And a lot of people don’t realize that dry skin can be a worse problem in winter than it is in summer. The closer temps get to freezing, the lower the amount of moisture in the air outside, but indoors, central heating and air conditioners, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces also lower indoor humidity and make dry skin even worse.

It’s raining moisture, hallelujah!

Here in NorCal, it’s chilly outside and the heater is on 24-7. Lately, the skin on my face has been so tight and uncomfortable, and I’ve developed a few red, dry patches that not even my tried-and-true Clinique Moisture On-line moisturizer was able to heal.

I was nervous to try MAC Moisturelush Cream because I had a bad incident with MAC Green Gel Cleanser last spring that left me with a less-than-stellar opinion of MAC’s skin care products. Lord knows I loves me some MAC, but I wasn’t a believer in their skin care line. Since “the incident,” I’ve been hesitant to try anything new from them.

But I sucked it up, took a chance, and I’m sure glad I did. Both Moisturelush Cream and its eye cream counterpart deliver the goods. Both have made a huge difference in my skin, and they haven’t broken me out (…yet, knock on wood!). If you need heavy duty moisturization with no anti-aging bells and whistles, then run — don’t walk — to your MAC counter and snag both of these moisturizing miracles ASAP!

Product: MAC Moisturelush Cream
Price: $30
Use: As a hydrating cream for face and neck
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Official Moisturelush Cream Product Profile:
A densely hydrating face cream that helps to moisturize and protect facial skin. This new formula provides immediate moisturization while creating soft and luscious skin. Provides rich lasting moisture, moisturizes dry, chapped skin and maintains skins natural barrier. Glides on easily with a a silky application and ample playtime. This comfortable, non-drying formula helps create an even surface for smothh, more perfect makeup application. Apply to face, morning and night, after cleansing.

Moisturelush Cream is half way between a face lotion and a face balm (thicker than Clinique’s Moisture Online, but thinner than Creme de La Mer). Because it’s thicker than a typical face cream, I have to spend a minute working it in. It has a light floral scent and feels great as it sinks in, so I don’t mind spending the time. Unlike most heavy-duty moisturizers, Moisturelush is smooth without being sticky, which means I can use it on my neck too!

My skin feels drenched in moisture after using it. Just a tiny bit of this on my face and neck and my skin feels happy.

Product: MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream
Price: $28.50
Use: As a hydrating eye balm
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Official Moisturelush Eye Cream Product Profile:
A densely hydrating eye cream that helps to de-puff while it lifts and firms the area around the eyes. This new formula provides immediate cushion and luminous optics provide a rejuvenating glow. Opthamologist and dermatologist teseted. Non-Acnegenic. Apply to clean, dry skin under and around the eye, morning and night.

Moisturelush Eye Cream also really surprised me. I put it to the test by applying it to a dry, red patch that I’ve had on my left eyelid for the past two weeks. Within two days of using this the dry patch disappeared.

Moisturelush Eye Cream is thicker than the regular Moisturelush cream and more like an eye balm (which is thicker) than an eye cream. Because it’s so dense, I have to spend even more time working it into the skin than I do with the regular cream, but, like the regular cream, it has the same light, floral scent and soothing feeling, so I really don’t mind. Also like the face cream, it doesn’t leave a greasy film yet is still intensely hydrating.

A few heavy duty eye creams have left me with pimples on my eyelids, but so far my eyes have remained zit free. I haven’t noticed any de-puffing, though, but my eyes weren’t that puffy to start with, so that’s not a big deal for me.

I’m really hoping that both of these products continue to work as well as they have for me. If you have dry, sensitive skin like I do, I think you’ll love ’em both.

They’re moderately priced for department store creams, and because I only have to use a little bit of each, I’m guessing one jar of each will last at least eight months. If you’re on a budget and need to decide between the two, then go for the eye cream. It’s slightly more moisturizing than the face cream, and you can use it to spot treat dry areas like around the nostrils and mouth.

Thank you all for your well wishes while I was sick. I’m feeling sooo much better now, and I’m extra psyched today because the sun is shining and all I see are blue skies!

Hope your Sunday has been moisturized and mellow.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Your Skin Care Cheat Sheet: Retinols and Retinoids

January 8th, 2008 by Karen 43 Comments

Retinoids, rentinol, Retin-A, Renova — you’ve probably heard of them before. They’re members of the growing family of anti-aging products on the market. Their names are similar (and part of that is smart marketing), but have you ever wondered how each one works?

The skinny

All of the above products fall under the umbrella of “vitamin A derivatives.”

The gentlest member of this family is retinol, a vitamin-A derivative commonly found in over-the-counter skin care products like Philosophy’s Help Me Retinol Night Treatment and Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream.

Tretinoin, a retinoid, is retinol’s far stronger, souped-up cousin. It’s available by prescription only. Tretinoin creams like Retin-A and Renova are also referred to as topical retinoids. They’re frequently prescribed to treat acne.

While both Renova and Retin-A contain the same active ingredient, tretinoin, Renova is generally considered the more moisturizing of the two.

Why the fuss?

Healthy, youthful skin is smooth and resilient, supported by collagen and elastin. Skin loses its elasticity and strength as age and environmental damage (sun damage, chemical burns, etc.) occur, and the results are fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin-A derivatives have a molecular structure small enough to penetrate skin’s lower levels, where they strengthen and replenish collagen and elastin. Clinical research going back 20 years confirms the anti-aging properties of retinoids like Retin-A and Renova. They’ve been proven to smooth skin, unclog pores, regenerate collagen and may even prevent some types of skin cancer.

(Side note: Your girl *loves* scientific data. I was a biology major in college!)

While not as potent as retinoids, retinols still pack some anti-aging punch. Studies have shown their ability to moisturize, smooth, restore skin tone and color, and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Things to think about when using retinoids or retinols

At night – If you plan to use them at night, apply product after cleansing but prior to moisturizing.

In the morning – If you plan to use them in the morning, add a broad spectrum sunscreen to your regimen because retinoids increase skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.

Things to avoid

1. Using too much product. Retinoids, in particular, are capable of burning skin if overused.
2. Using them in conjunction with products containing alpha hydroxy acids or bezoyl peroxide, either of which can reduce the effectiveness of retinoids and cause excessive drying.
3. Over-zealous waxing or exfoliation, which may irritate skin treated with retinoids.

Mark down the date in which you open a tube or jar of any vitamin-A product because they all lose potency over time.

My retinol experiment with Philosophy’s Help Me

I’ve been wanting to get on the vitamin-A train for a while now, but I didn’t want to jump right into the oh-so-potent retinoids.

Philosophy’s Help Me, when used at night, is supposed to minimize the appearance of fine lines and reduce discoloration and surface roughness. It also claims to keep pores clear. Retinol (not retinoid) in the product is encapsulated in a time-release technology Philosophy calls Microsponge, which stabilizes the retinol in the cream, releasing it gradually throughout the night.

For three weeks I used Philosophy’s Help Me Retinol Night Treatment ($45), alternating it with a benzoyl peroxide product every other night.

Here’s what I did on retinol nights:

1. Washed my face wish a gentle cleanser — Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple.
2. Used a small, pea-sized amount of Help Me on my face and neck.
3. Waited a few minutes before applying a layer of moisturizer.

And on benzoyl peroxide nights:

1. Washed my face with Purity Made Simple.
2. Swiped Clinique’s Mild Clarifying toner (contains salicylic acid, a betahydroxy acid) on my face and neck.
3. Waited a few minutes before applying a small amount of DDF’s Benzoyl Peroxide Gel 5% with Tea Tree Oil.
4. After letting the gel dry, I applied moisturizer.

Did this bad boy work?

The combo made my skin really clear, and I could actually see a tiny difference in the visibility of the expression lines on my forehead. I swear they seemed smoother and less visible. Also, the retinol didn’t worsen my naturally dry skin (always a good thing). I was also hoping the product would decrease the intensity of some of my hyperpigmenation spots, but I didn’t really see an improvement in that area (drat!).

I think that as an anti-aging product, Help Me works, but the effect is subtle. I am now convinced that retinoid/retinol products are the way to go when it comes to affordable anti-aging treatments, so after I finish this tube I’m going to visit the dermatologist to check out Renova (a retinoid).

Have any of you used Renova or Retin-A? What did you think of it?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Shu Uemura Phyto-Black Lift, Anti-aging Skin Care Collection

January 7th, 2008 by Karen 25 Comments

Product: Shu Uemura Phyto-Black Lift, anti-aging skin care collection
Use: A three-step anti-aging system to firm skin, smooth fine lines and moisturize
Cost: If you’re looking for a luxurious high-end skin care system, Phyto Black Lift’s got you covered. Budget friendly, it’s not, but in this case you get what you pay for.
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

It’s easy to fall in love with all three products in Shu Uemura’s Phyto-Black Lift anti-aging skin care system. With sleek black packaging, a light floral scent and smooth textures, the products are a skin care junkie’s luxury dream come true.

All three products in the collection are plant-based, with exotic sounding ingredients like lychee extract and Depsea water. Black Tea Ferment, a sweet tea believed by the Japanese to have mystical anti-aging properties, is the line’s star ingredient.

Each product in the collection performs a different step in Shu Uemura’s anti-aging regimen.

Step 1: Prepare with Radiance Boosting Lotion, $45

I believe exfoliating toners do help to clear my skin, but they’re often too drying for long-term use. Radiance Boosting Lotion, with fruit extracts and alpha hydroxy acids, exfoliates without leaving my skin feeling tight and dry. And after two weeks of testing, my skin seems clearer and less pimply. This is my favorite product from the collection.

Step 2: Treat with Lifting Anti-Wrinkle Essence, $95

You may have noticed that serums are a big trend in skin care lately. Serums are either thick liquids or light lotions designed to target specific skin care issues. Typically, they’re applied before moisturizers.

Lifting Anti-Wrinkle Essence serum contains an ingredient Shu Uemura calls micro-silica, which they claim fills in wrinkles to smooth skin and create a lifting effect.

The texture is like a hybrid between a light lotion and a foundation primer. After I smooth it on my face and neck, my skin does feel smoother, but I think that may be at least partly due to Dimethicone, an ingredient commonly used in skin and hair. I’m in my early-thirties, so I don’t have a lot of wrinkles yet and can’t really tell if my skin is being lifted or tightened when I apply the product. I like this serum, but I’m not 100% convinced of the degree of its impact.

Step 3: Moisturize with Firming Anti-Wrinkle Cream, $125

Ohhhh, yummy. My acne-prone, dry skin super loves this stuff. Packed with “Nutra-lipids,” a patented combination of natural oils that protect and rejuvenate skin, my face feels instantly hydrated after using this cream. I can see an immediate change from rough to smooth skin after one application. The jar I have is the dry skin mixture; if you have oily skin you’ll want the lighter lotion, called Smoothing Anti-Wrinkle Emulsion.

This cream hydrates like nobody’s business, and when I use it on my face, my skin feels drenched in moisture. The second thing I like about it is the texture. Moisturizers that target dry skin are often thick and greasy, but Firming Anti-Wrinkle Cream feels fluffy and light and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. I like that I can use it on my neck and not feel sticky.

Yes, at $125 it’s rather expensive, but if you’re plagued by dry skin and gravitate to high end brands, then I’d highly recommend giving Shu’s Firming Anti-Wrinkle Cream a try.

The final word

In general, I’m skeptical when it comes to anti-aging products, especially those that don’t contain clinically proven active ingredients like retinol or alpha hydroxy acids. Some compounds have lots of long-term scientific studies backing their anti-wrinkle claims. Shu’s Phyto-Black Lift collection doesn’t make those claims.

While I can’t conclusively say that this skin care system is effective when it comes to treating and preventing wrinkles, I can say with confidence that the products in steps one and three, Radiance Boosting Lotion Toner and the Firming Anti-Wrinkle Cream, do help with my big skin issues, pimples and dry skin.

If you’re interested in plant-based products and willing to spend top dollar for skin care, you should give the toner and cream a try.

I’ll be doing a ton of product reviews this week, including more stuff from Shu (my new makeup love), so please check back later today for more.

How’s your Monday going so far? I’m still a little sick but on the road to recovery, yay!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Looks Back on 2007

December 31st, 2007 by Karen 29 Comments

Ahhh, the last day of 2007. I always get a little sad when I know something is coming to an end; I guess it’s the thought of a part of my life ending and knowing I’ll never be able to go back (unless I drop $10 million for those time travel plans on eBay).

When I started this blog, I never imagined how much fun it would be. This year has been, to quote my eighth grade East Bay self circa 1989, “hella cool.”

Dita Von Teese – Interviewing MAC Viva Glam spokesperson Dita Von Teese at the Macy’s Passport fashion show was a trip. She was so stunningly beautiful and I was so nervous. The other day, I listened to the audio recording of the interview and laughed because I even SOUNDED sweaty.

Paris Hilton – The Dita experience really helped, though, when the time came to interview Paris Hilton for the release of Can Can, her new perfume. It was a level of celebrity that I’d never experienced before — body guards, press folks, rabid fans foaming at the mouth. It was the first time I’d interviewed a really high profile celebrity AND the first time I had to do it in a room filled with people watching me. What a learning experience.

SF Fashion Week – But my favorite event of the year was hanging out with MAC backstage at SF Fashion Week. I fell in love with a few products, learned a lot and met other beauty bloggers, like Erika and Christine.

Laura Mercier – There was plenty of Laura Mercier love last spring.

Tokidoki bag – The Tokidoki bag fit all my stuff AND rocked my world.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash – Unfortunately, I experienced getting pimples on my butt for the first time. Fortunately, Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash saved my ass (pardon the pun).

43 makeup things – Thanksgiving was an excuse to eat turkey, wear stretchy pants and think about the 43 makeup things I’m thankful for.

43 non-makeup things – Thanksgiving also provided an opportunity to give thanks for everything else.

Chanel Glossimers – I became a fiend for Chanel Glossimers.

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple – And Purity Made Simple simply rocked my world.

Chanel Garden Party Quad – Chanel’s National Artist John Fussell helped me fall in love with the Chanel Garden Party Quad, and now there’s no turning back!

Smashbox’s Lori Taylor – Smashbox’s Lori Taylor gave some backstage tips from L.A. Fashion Week.

Billy B. – I met and interviewed one of the nicest guys in the beauty biz.

MAC’s awesome Louise Zizzo – Louise Zizzo saved me from myself when the MAC Mattene collection came out.

Celebrity makeup artist Bruce Grayson – Bruce Grayson’s makeup tips from the Emmy’s red carpet.

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog – I heard from Shy in Chi-town.

Guide to Smart Clubbing – You asked for tough love, and in the Guide to Smart Clubbing I gave it to ya (hey, I’ve had a lot of practice).

Curiositease – And my number one makeup love, MAC, didn’t let me down.

Pigments and Glitters – Remember when I was grouchy about Pigments and Glitters?

MAC Loose Beauty Powder – I fell in love.

Smoke Signals – It rocked my world.

MAC Mad Libs – We had a lil’ fun together.

MAC Mattene lipsticks – Where’s my plaid shirt and my Pearl Jam CD? MAC Mattene lipsticks took me back to the 90s.

A quick smokey eye with MAC shadow – Oh, this is old school.

But the best thing that happened to me this year was meeting all of you. It’s been fun getting to know you and learning about your lives. You’d think that it would be hard to make a connection behind a computer screen, but sometimes I feel like we’re all just having a cup of coffee together and gabbing about makeup.

I hope you make the most of this fantastic last day of the year!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Holiday Gift Ideas for $5.00 or Less – DHC Aroma Oil

November 25th, 2007 by Karen 12 Comments

The scenario: You want to give fun stocking stuffers but need to do it on a budget.

The solution: DHC Aroma Oils, which come in six different scents and cost a mere $3.50 each!

dhc-aroma-oils

I love giving unusual, hard-to-find gifts as stocking stuffers. I especially love finding cool stuff for a good price. DHC’s Aroma Oils smell yummy, moisturize well and cost a mere $3.50! You’ll be able to stuff all of those stockings and still have a few rupees left over to snag a bottle for yourself.

These aromatherapy oils come in six scents. The entire set takes you from day into night, starting with perky citrus and ending with relaxing sandalwood.

No. 1, Grapefruit – With scents of grapefruit and lemon
No. 2, Citrus Herb – Bergamot, neroli and thyme
No. 3, Fresh Green – Cypress, peppermint and basil
No. 4, Sensual Floral – Jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang
No. 5, Fruity Floral – Neroli, geranium and marjoram
No. 6, Citrus Floral Woodsy – Sandalwood, neroli and bermagot

My two favorites are No. 1 and 6. I write first thing in the morning, so I keep a bottle of No. 1 near my computer. I am NOT a morning person at all and need all the help I can get, so I put a few citrus-scented drops on my hands to moisturize and get a quick morning mood boost. At night I use No. 6 to help me relax by massaging sandalwood-scented oil onto my hands and feet while I’m watching fine television fare like I Love NY 2.

All of the DHC aroma oils are made from natural soy, olive and jojoba oils. I like that the oils are multi-purpose moisturizers and can be used for your face, body and even in your hair. You can also add them to your bath for a luxurious treat.

Each 0.33 oz bottle comes in a colorful box. The bottles have little pops of color too and would look pretty lined up together for display. Each has a nice plastic stopper to release the oil drop by drop, so it doesn’t doesn’t pour all over the place.

Got a scent hound in your life? Give her the entire set ($21.00) along with a pretty fragrance tray for a really special, affordable gift.

I’m so bummed this long weekend is almost over. I spent the day yesterday doing a whole lotta nothing, and I enjoyed every second of it. What do you have in store for this Sunday? Whatever it is I hope it’s fun!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Holiday Gift Ideas for Under $50 – Nuxe Prodigieuse OR

November 23rd, 2007 by Karen 6 Comments

The scenario: You’ve got to buy a gift for someone you don’t know very well and have no clue what to get.

The solution: Nuxe Prodigieuse OR ($39.00), a golden multi-use dry oil for face, body and hair.

nuxe-prodigieuse-or-multi-usage-dry-oil

One thing I love about the holidays is the chance to give someone a gift they would enjoy but probably wouldn’t buy for themselves.

Yes, you could give your sibling’s new girlfriend or your office Kris Kringle person a gift certificate, but honestly, where’s the fun in that? Rather than give her yet another random giftcard to Starbucks — which will probably languish away in a drawer — get her something pretty and useful, like Nuxe’s golden multi-use dry oil, Prodigieuse OR.

The best part about this honey-scented oil is the multi-reflective gold flecks! I love putting it on my legs, arms and shoulders for a glamorous look. And not only is it pretty, but the dry oil also works to nourish, repair and protect skin because it containts a 15 percent concentration of plant oils and vitamin C.

Here are just a few ways to use Huile Prodigieuse OR:

– Add a drop to your foundation, helping it glide on smoothly, and you get a pretty, golden glow.
– Spray some oil into the hollow of your hand and style through hair for a natural look.
– Pour a few drops into your bath water for silky, soft skin.

This would also be a great stocking stuffer or gift for a friend who’s bound for a tropical vacation this winter!

Nuxe is available online at Beautyhabit.com

How was your turkey day? Are you still recovering? I get more excited about the side dishes than the turkey itself, and this year I ate waaaay too many helpings of carby Thanksgiving goodness.

So, now it’s time to pay the piper for all of those slices of pie (*sigh*). I’ll be right back, gotta sneak in a quick run!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Clinique Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift, a Dreamy Anti-Aging Skin Cream

November 21st, 2007 by Karen 12 Comments

Gobble, gobble: A Big Fat HELL-TO-THE-NO to Turkey Neck

Ladies, ladies, ladies … I feel like I can’t say this enough. Start taking care of your neck early! Cause if you don’t, you just might develop a weird complex about your neck lines when you turn, oh, 32!

I dream of finding a neck cream that will turn back all the years of my lack of sunscreen wearing (kicking myself for not starting earlier!). So from here on out your girl is gonna be like I LOVE NY 2 when it comes to neck creams! I’m gonna find a neck cream that actually works … even if it kills my ass.

One neck cream that I’ve been using lately is Clinique’s Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift ($52.50). It’s an anti-aging moisturizer with retinol. There are three versions: oily/combination skin, dry/combination skin and very dry skin. I’ve been using the dry/combo skin version for the last month. I put it on my neck at night after toning, and again in the morning before sunscreen.

Big hearts for:
Product texture. I hate products that leave you with a sticky neck, ewwww! Thank goodness Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift has a nice texture that doesn’t leave a greasy, sticky film. It sinks in quickly, has a slightly medicinal scent, which I dig, and after application my neck feels nice and dry!
Moisturization properties. The texture of my neck feels softer and more supple since I started using this religiously.
Evenness in tone. I have noticed that there’s less contrast between the deeper neck lines and the rest of the skin on my neck, and the tone and texture of my skin is more consistent.

Little hearts for:
Price. I wish it were cheaper, but I gotta say that the jar is HUGE. You do get a lot for your money. And for the superior texture and the moisturizing properties, I’d pay for this over and over again.
Complete neck line eradication. I wonder sometimes if we’re set up to believe in skin care miracles because I’ve yet to find a neck cream that truly erases deep neck lines. However, I have to point out that even though the neck lines haven’t been thoroughly zapped away, I have noticed visible improvement in skin texture and tone.

You might heart it if:
– Your skin responds well to retinol products.
– Your neck lines aren’t too pronounced and you need a preventative product.
– You’re a fan of Clinique skin care products.

Are you a Clinique skin care girl? What do you recommend I try next?

I have today off so I’m going to do some cleaning, blogging and I’m going to take a much-delayed trip to the Chanel Counter. Will be back in a few hours with some looty-loot-loot!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen