Skin Care

New Serums From Kate Somerville

June 18th, 2019 by Karen 15 Comments

Kate Somerville is one of my all-time, hands-down go-to skin care lines. (The Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion for acne and +Retinol Vita C Power Serum are must-haves)

Well — herald the trumpets! — they have a new line of serums called Kx Active Concentrates that are designed to firm, moisturize and downplay your fine lines, all without irritation (which is the bit that caught my eye).

Kate recommends layering two drops (because the serums are super concentrated) of the Kx Active Concentrates Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum to clean your skin in the morning and again at night, and following up with the Deep Tissue Repair Cream.

kate somerville deep tissue repair — Why is this so satisfying?!

In other news…

Incidentally, I “need” all this stuff.

OK, so I watch Emily Noel’s videos all the time because I love how down-to-earth she is, and she seems fun to hang out with, but for some reason watching this video of home-related soaps and cleaners, sunscreens, furniture and kids’ toys she loves made me especially want to BUY ALL THE THINGS.

The Dial pear soap is totally on my Target list, along with the Aveeno Baby Sunscreen (several other friends have also recommended it lately… I’m thinking it might be an unsung hero?).
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A Detailed Deep Dive Into My Current Skincare Routine

April 25th, 2019 by Karen 27 Comments

current skin care top pic — All about retinol these days, babes.

I’ve been meaning to do an updated skin care routine breakdown, and today seems like a good day for it. But before I jump in, I feel like I should let you that I’m standing in my bathroom right now looking into my cabinet, which stands just behind and above the toilet, and having PTSD flashbacks of my Velvet Teddy lipstick falling into the toilet. ?

I keep hearing that *plunk* over and over again…

That said, here we go!

Everything I’m doing in my routine now revolves around how sensitive my skin is feeling on any given day, because I started using a retinol with vitamin C recently. It’s called Kate Somerville Retinol Vitamin C Power Serum, and I’m trying to ramp up slowly to be able to use it seven days a week. Right now, I’m at three days, and I find that introducing it slowly over weeks and watching everything else that I use in conjunction with it allows me to keep going without my skin turning red or freaking out.

Morning routine

In the morning, I’ll wash one of two ways. If my skin’s feeling extra tight and red and sensitive and angry, then I’ll do a few splashes of warm water on my bare face, then gently blot with a towel. If, on the other hand, my skin’s feeling OK, then I’ll use a squirt or two of Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser directly on bare skin (I’ll work it in with my fingers). Then I’ll remove it with a washcloth dampened with warm water. After that, I’ll do a few splashes of ice cold water to help me wake up.

At that point, I’ll wait…usually between 30 minutes and an hour (depends on how much time I have and what I’m doing in the morning), and then I’ll apply all of my skin treatments.

I wait because I want my skin to be completely dry before I put anything aggressive on there, because if I don’t wait, and my skin is wet when I apply a BHA or benzoyl peroxide, they’ll just aggravate it even more.

So. Completely dry!

current skin care routine — It’s less complicated than it looks, I swear!

At that point, I’ll do an eye cream. (Right now I’m using this one by Nyakio, and I think it’s just “eh.” I’ll replace it eventually with something else when I get around it.) Then I’ll use two pumps of my ride-or-die Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion all over my face to prevent the pimples from taking over.

After that, I’ll apply a thin layer of Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream (which has been my skin savior ever since I introduced the retinol), followed by a healthy dollop of sunscreen, specifically Clinique Super Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 for Very Dry to Dry Combination Skin.

Sometimes, before I do the two pumps of Anti Bac, if I feel like my skin can handle it, I’ll do a little with Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence, just because I like to sneak some exfoliation in during the day if I can. I’ll do that two or three mornings a week, so it’s not an everyday thing for me.

Fast forward to the evening…

First, a double cleanse. On completely dry skin (as in my makeup is still on), I’ll massage an oil cleanser on my face and eyes to break everything down. I like DHC Deep Cleansing Oil or Fresh Seaberry for this.

At that point, I’ll take a clean, warm washcloth and gently wipe everything off. Next, I’ll do a second cleanse with either Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser, if I haven’t been wearing a ton of makeup, or if I haven’t been sweating; or the H2O Plus Elements Keep It Fresh Cleanser. I use that one when I’ve been wearing a little more makeup, or if I’ve been perspiring a lot. It’s just a stronger, more potent gel cleanser.

Again, I wait from 30-60 minutes (this generally depends on how tired I am), then apply eye cream, and I’ve been using this one called Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Supercharged Complex.

It’s OK… I’ve yet to find an eye cream that blows my mind.
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What’s Your Routine for Washing Your Face?

April 19th, 2019 by Karen 16 Comments

Your morning routine? Your evening routine? Whatever you feel like sharing. What’s your routine for washing your face? Do you use micellar water? Makeup wipes? Do you use a washcloth? I know everybody does it a little differently.

For me, in the morning, I wash my face right after I wake up, and how I do it depends on how my skin feels. I’ve been using a retinol at night (Kate Somerville’s), and I’m trying to ramp up to using it three nights a week (Slowly… It’s taking forever because my skin’s just freaking out left and right), but if my face isn’t feeling too dry or sensitive in the morning, I’ll use Clinique’s creamy cleanser — the one in the green tube (sorry, I’m blanking on the name right now). I’ll massage that on to my dry skin, then take a warm, clean washcloth and use that to wipe it away.

Then, I’ll turn the water so it’s ice cold and splash my face a few times, because that really helps me wake me.

And then on the mornings when my skin feels super dry and tight or otherwise uncomfortable, I’ll splash my face with lukewarm water and gently blot it dry with a towel.

In the evenings, I like to do a double cleanse, so I like to start by removing my makeup with an oil cleanser (DHC and Fresh are my favorites), which I massage on to my face. No water. Just two pumps of the oil, massage it in, and let it break up whatever it can break up. Then I rinse off whatever I can with warm water.

Next, while my face is still wet, I’ll grab a face cleanser (either the same Clinique one I use in the morning, or this gel cleanser by H2O Plus, which I like to use when I’ve been sweating a lot or wearing more makeup than usual because it’s a stronger cleanser than the Clinique one, and my face feels very clean after I use it). Then, I’ll wet another clean wash cloth with warm water and use it to remove whatever remains on my face, before splashing again with water.

We go through a LOT of washcloths in our house, LOL!

Let me know what your routine is for washing your face, girl!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Fresh Friday: Malavara, an Ayurveda-Inspired Body and Hair Care Line

March 15th, 2019 by Karen 2 Comments

MBB’s “Fresh Friday” series takes a look at new beauty brands (and venerable O.G. brands that are new to me). Let’s discover new makeup!

El Hub is always in awe of the time I can spend in the bathroom, because seriously…I’m in there for a looooong time. ? One time he even knocked on the door and asked if I’d fallen into the toilet because I’d literally been in there for hours.

So yeah, if you need me, I’ll be in the… Ha ha ha! El baño.

It’s great because nobody bothers me in there. I can have some privacy. Sometimes after I put Connor down for the night, I’ll shower, do some reading and, lately, have a mini spa sesh.

Speaking of that…have you peeped this new line of Ayurveda-inspired body products from Malavara?

A luxury body care line, Malavara was started by Tejal Engman and Alexandra Turner, two gals who worked high-stress jobs on the trading floor for JP Morgan. They bonded over their love for alternative therapies, including Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. It was developed in India over 3,000 ago (!).

Their Ayurveda-inspired products are cruelty-free, blended with essential oils, vegetarian, vegan and designed so that busy people can simultaneously relax, recharge and de-stress while they get their necessities done in the bathroom.

For now, Malavara’s product line isn’t huge, but they have some good goodies for recuperative “meow” time sessions in the bathroom, like a dry body oil ($48), a hair serum ($39), lotion ($32) and body wash ($28).

I’m a big fan of the Dry Body Oil Spray. I love the crisp, refreshing scent, which is a unisex blend of lime peel and vetiver, and it contains apricot kernel oil, which is just interesting to me. The spray is light and hydrating, so I use it on my upper body (my alligator legs do better with the Lime Vetiver Body & Hand Lotion) and take extra time to massage it into my arms, my upper back and my neck.

It. Is. So. Relaxing…
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Product Spotlight: Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream

March 14th, 2019 by Karen 4 Comments

avene xeracalm ad — And your dry skin says ahhhhhhhhhh

This cream for face and body soothes fussy skin. It’s approved for use on infants, children and adults, too. Excellent for red, dry, irritated and sensitive skin. A real hidden gem!

This cream has a weird name… Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream. Don’t expect that to roll off your tongue when your friend asks you for a mega moisturizer recommendation for super sensitive, dry, flaky and/or irritated skin while you’re attacking a basket of the epic, legendary brown bread at The Cheesecake Factory.

Side note, you’re welcome… ?

cheesecake factory brown bread — You can get this ? at Safeway now!

But I digress…

Initially, I bought XeraCalm face and body cream, which is $34 for a 6.76-oz. tube, for Connor. Poor thing gets these raised patches of red, itchy, flaky dry skin in winter, and this cream is the only over-the-counter product that soothes her discomfort and completely removes the dry spots.

And it works fast! Whenever she gets a bout of irritated skin and we use this, she’s back to her normal non-itchy self in a day.

From aveneusa.com:

“Rich, lipid-replenishing cream directly targets itching, redness and irritation to nourish and restore skin prone to atopic dermatitis and eczema. Formulated with minimal ingredients essential to rehydrating and maintaining a healthy balance in skin’s microbiome. The microbiome is the top layer of the skin filled with microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and skin flora – their job is to defend against bad bacteria. The microbiome environment can easily be influenced by temperature, hormones, UV exposure, and even skin care. Patented I-Modulia helps to maintain a well balanced microbiome while supporting the skin’s defense system for a normal, healthy skin. Exclusive, patented airless pump keeps the cream completely sterile and safe for its entire use without any preservatives, parabens, dyes or fragrance.”

INGREDIENTS: AVÈNE THERMAL SPRING WATER, GLYCERIN, MINERAL OIL, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, OENOTHERA BIENNIS OIL, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, AQUAPHILUS DOLOMIAE EXTRACT, ARGININE, CARBOMER, EVENING PRIMROSE OIL/PALM OIL AMINOPROPANEDIOL ESTERS, GLYCINE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, TOCOPHEROL, WATER.

But then I started using it on my face and neck about a month ago, shortly after my skin started peeling and turning red from the retinol I’m using.

Now…I am addicted.

I had been using Fresh Seaberry Oil, which I still love/like, but it just wasn’t moisturizing enough for the intense redness and sensitivity caused by the aggressively exfoliating retinol.
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DHC Is Now at Ulta…

March 13th, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

dhc deep cleansing oil — You can find this bad girl at Ulta now!

Which means that you (and I) can roll up to the store and grab a bottle of Deep Cleansing Oil — which is THE BEST — right off the shelf.

Who said beauty dreams ? don’t come true?!

To summarize, I love this stuff. I know I’ve talked about it at length, but in case you missed it…this $28 makeup removing cleansing oil is the real deal. It makes everything, even waterproof and long-wearing mascara and liner, instantly melt away. Also, it doesn’t cloud up my vision, which is an annoying side effect some other cleansing oils have.

Oh, yeah, and ALSO, because you only need to use one pump, a bottle will last for months.

I have textbook combo skin, and this oil doesn’t give me breakouts or make my cheeks feel tight. I think it works faster than Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil, and it’s not as drying as Neutrogena Ultra Light Face Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover.

Even though shopping online is so easy to do now, sometimes I just wanna run into a store and get something.

Yay! Now I have another reason to “just run in” whenever I’m near an Ulta. ?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Product Spotlight: Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser

March 6th, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

clinique redness solutions cleanser — And my skin goes “AHHHH!”

Quick take: Here’s a hidden Clinique gem for anyone with red, irritated skin, or for anyone who simply loves creamy, moisturizing cleansers.

Ugh. Red patches.

So not fun! I started using a retinol product about three months ago, which has also meant that my skin freaks out every so often and the aggressive exfoliation triggers these red patches to appear. And MAN, those spots hurt like a mutha.

Yesterday I took a walk around the neighborhood, and the red spots on my neck were so itchy and sensitive that I couldn’t even zip up my hoodie all the way. The fabric rubbing against my neck felt like straight-up FIRE on my skin.

Thank the beauty gods for Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser, which is one of those cleansers that’ll have your skin sighing with relief — AHHH! — after you wash your face.

It’s from the Clinique Redness Solutions line, which is their calming and soothing skin care collection for people with Rosacea or “reactive redness,” which is when an event, like a sunburn, or certain medications or retinol, in my case, causes your skin to become red and inflamed.

From clinique.com…

Details:
For any skin with occasional or persistent redness.

What It Is:
Non-drying cream cleanser is the first step in our Redness Solutions Regimen. Use the entire regimen to see an immediate improvement in visible redness.

What It Does:
Melts away makeup and impurities. Helps calm redness and irritation while preserving skin’s moisture balance.

Key Ingredients/Technology:
Probiotic Technology includes our patented, skin-soothing lactobacillus extract.

Ingredients:
Water\Aqua\Eau, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sucrose, Isostearyl Palmitate, Peg-100 Stearate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D’Orge, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Cetearyl Glucoside, Camellia Sinensis (Yellow Tea) Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis (Red Tea) Leaf Extract Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Yeast Extract\Faex\Extrait De Levure, Algae Extract, Caffeine, Lactobacillus Ferment, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyethylene, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Sorbitol, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Acetyl Carnitine Hcl, Glycine, Inulin, Tromethamine, Decarboxy Carnosine Hcl, Phytosphingosine, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Squalane, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Silica, Disodium Edta, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Blue 1 (Ci 42090), Yellow 5 (Ci 19140), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Mica

It’s a gentle moisturizing cream cleanser, so no bubbles, and the moment that it hits my skin, my face and neck immediately feel better…less itchy and tight, and just generally less angry. The smoothing “ahh!” effect lasts for hours afterwards, too, which I love.

If you wear minimal makeup, Redness Solutions can also double as a makeup remover, but if you’re a “foundation, concealer and setting powder” kinda girl (or guy), I’d suggest using a separate makeup remover first (I like Fresh Seaberry), and then doing a second cleanse with Redness Solutions.

But even if you don’t have redness, and perhaps just have sensitive skin and/or you prefer gentle, creamy cleansers, I still think you’ll like this, just because it’s so, so agreeable.
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Crazy About Creams! Clarins Creams

January 30th, 2019 by Karen 17 Comments

This month I am CRAZY ABOUT CREAMS. Stay tuned for some of my favorite cream makeup products all throughout January.

Just to clarify, this is a joke:

And this is NOT a joke:

(Side note: Thank you, Internet, for making me ? laugh every single day.)

I’d be remiss to not include my favorite face creams in this series, and… —–> these babies by Clarins ARE NOT PLAYIN’. I always keep at least one jar around because whenever my combo skin starts feeling tight and dry and painful and just plain WEIRD, Clarins is there to rescue me, man. I dab a little on my skin (you don’t need a lot, thank goodness, because these jars, while decently sized, are still expensive), and my tight spots always feel instantly better.

French luxe line Clarins has been around forever, and while the brand may not be as buzzy as Drunk Elephant or Glossier at the moment, I know I can always count on their marvelously moisturizing creams to NOT break me out — and, seriously, EVERYTHING makes me break out.
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