S.W. Basics Cream $32.00 formerly Sprout
I had a lingering love for S.W. Basics of Brooklyn formerly Sprout Skincare for a long time. I wanted to try all of their skincare stuff, but was hesitant because I was using products (and still am) that are working. Then I had a coupon, and there was a package of all three basic skincare products for sale on Abes, so then I knew I had to go for it. I had already tried the creme at work and was totally in love. Continue reading
Estee Lauder Day Wear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme Oil-Free Broad Spectrum SPF 25 and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex
$45.00 and $55.00
Most aspects of getting older are fun. I say that but I am also not that old. But time, stress, poor diet etc., have taken a toll on my skin. I was starting to look say, a few years older than I should. I do have good genetics on my side, but also an inflammatory condition that I think causes my skin to look less than awesome. Enter the search for the fountain of youth, appearance of youth or at least the appearance that I sleep and eat well. Continue reading
$28.00
I was looking at this for ages. Fig & Yarrow was kind enough to extend me a nice discount and I knew that it was time to pick up this bottle that had been starring me down from the pages of Etsy for months. Continue reading
Blissoma by Irie Star Adaptive Energy Tonique
$21.99
I’ve posted before about toner, and how it may or may not be necessary and how my favorite Laura Mercier makeup artist told me that is wrecks your skin. I have also written about how I have changed how I use toner. Instead of swiping it on with a cotton pad, I spray it on- and I have never looked back. I think its either the change in method or its this toner. Because recently I have changed a few things in my skin care regime, and my skin is looking way better. Continue reading
Suki Concentrated Balancing Toner
$32.95
More Info HERE
I was getting some new foundation a few months ago, when I got into a skincare conversation with my makeup artist from Laura Mercier. I talked about how I thought I need foundation v. tinted moisturizer because I was breaking out and needed to hide my spots. Well she gave me some great tips for a new cleanser and moisturizer, but then told me something I had no idea about: that toner is pointless and bad for your skin.
A deep moral dilemma arose, were toners really that bad? Was I stripping my skin of vital oils? Was I actually making my skin worse? I thought about these things, and tried out her suggestion. I tried out the tip about not using toner and my skin did felt better, less dry, less tight, less red and generally less reactive. But I had all of this toner left over, and by all, I mean like several bottles. So I tried to think of new ways to use it.
Because the Suki Toner is in a spray bottle, I thought well, if I don’t use a cotton pad to wipe the toner on my face, inevitably stripping away good skin stuff, what would happen if I just sprayed it on right after cleansing and before moisturizing? Bingo. This was the combo I needed.The Suki Toner promises to reduce redness and spots. While the Suki Toner does calm down my redness, I have not noticed any difference from this product in terms of breakouts.
The best thing about this toner is that first, I feel super glam misting my face twice a day. The scent is really appealing in a super glam earth mama kind of way. And second I’ve noticed that having a moist face really increased the absorption of my moisturizer, making me use less product which means I save money on buying moisturizer, which is awesome.
So while, the Suki Concentrated Balancing Toner is great for reducing redness and okay at reducing my blemishes, the moral of the story is that you should spray toner not wipe it on with a cotton pad. If your toner does not come in a spray bottle, as I have mentioned here before, Whole Foods sells great empty jars, bottle and mini spray containers that I pretty much put all of my products in, for travel and on the go access, these bottles are not only functional, but look super cute too.
Malin+Goetz vitamin E Face Moisturizer
$45.00
More info HERE
I’ve been treating my skin, inside and out pretty bad recently. Eating dairy, some gluten and a TON of diet Coke. I blame travel and working from home, but nevertheless its taken its toll on my skin. Its super dry and oily at the same time, uber combination skin.
I have been using my same moisturizer as the temperature dips that I used in summer, but it almost seems like its making my skin more oily and leaving a film on my face. I’ve been noticing that my skin gets shiner and that my makeup seems to be sliding off my face.
Enter Malin + Goetz, a brand whose packaging always caught my eye, but a brand that I knew not enough about of to warrant taking a closer look. In fact, I was thrown by the packaging, how could something so pretty actually deliver results. That was until one of my favorite makeup artists for Laura Mercier, recommended the line I had seen so many times, urging me that this would be super gentle and bring my skin back to normal.
I’ve had the generously sized samples sitting around for a while, but they just sat in my sample drawer. I try so many products for the blog, that sometimes my skin gets super reactive and ‘burny.’ Desperate for relief I reached for the these little guys and went for it.
Not expecting much, this moisturizer instantly absorbed into my skin, which must have been super super dry. The fine lines I had been experiencing were greatly reduced, and in my very unscientific opinion something happened to my enlarged pores in a good way. They seemed to me at least, before I used the lotion, because my skin was super dry, very exacerbated and obvious, but with this moisturizer they really seemed to be minimized.
Overall, I was quite surprised by my experience with this face lotion, I really loved it. My face felt smoother, the burn I was experiencing was greatly reduced, and my face looked better. In my own head I look more rested and just generally hydrated. I just bought a new moisturizer for day, but I am and have been trying to rationalize a reason to purchase this full size. I really am obsessed, I can’t stop thinking about how great my face feels. Maybe when I finish my summer moisturizer I will restock with this, or at least I’ll wait until the temperature dips and I really need it.
Have you tried any other Malin + Goetz products, I would love to know what you think!
*Above image used without permission from HERE
Blissoma Mild Rice Facial Cleanser
$26.99
More info: http://www.iriestar.com/fresh_mild_rice_cleanser.html
So, my skin is finally back to normal (almost), and this addition to my skincare regimen has been nothing but awesome. I received this as a sample and immediately fell in love. I don’t know how one can really love a cleanser, but this was just amazing. I immediately had to buy it full size.
Here is how it fits into my regimen.
At night I wash with Nelsons Pure and Clear Purifying Daily Face Wash with my Clarisonic Mia and then I slather on some prescription face stuff the name of which is too clinical but its benzol peroxide based. Then in the morning I use this to wash off the night and finish off with Nelsons Pure and Clear Moisturizer and Blissoma Adaptive Energy Tonique. I try not to use a traditional toner but a spritz of this is really nice and refreshing.
In the morning you do not need something as strong as you do at the end of the day, but I like the feeling of a clean face, so this cleanser fits the bill. Its amazing, the graininess is just barely there and the consistency really moisturizes. It makes your face feel so incredibly soft, like you just got a facial soft. Packed with Omega 3, 6 and 9 and vitamins A, B, C, D and E its no wonder it leaves your face feel so good.
My favorite thing about the face wash aside from the fact that it is made by hand in St. Louis is 100% Vegan and 100% Natural, is the smell. I have not pinpointed what the smell is but it is the most invigorating morning scent ever.
Overall, the Mild Rice facial cleanser leaves my face, clean but never tight, smooth without over-scrubbing and scented with the most perfect scent.
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