Hope Floats

Day 40: Philosophy's Hope For The Best kit
by Annie


"The moment I felt this air-whipped moisturizer, I knew a star was born. It was like pouring a glass of water into my skin".
Quote from Cristina Carlino, Founder of Philosophy

You can not do a skincare series without mentioning Philosophy's Hope in A Jar. It is a cult classic and Oprah approved. The texture is whipped to a cool whip consistency. It looks delicious and worthy to adorn a red velvet cupcake.

It has a very light powdery fragrance. It leaves the skin moisturized without clogging pores or any skin irritations. It leaves the skin smooth and silky to the touch.

Purity is a magnificent cleanser. It boasts superior lather to squeaky clean skin. It is gentle as a lamb. I have recommended the Purity line to my friends with skin sensitivity with great success. It is worth a test at your local Philosophy counter.

Eye Hope is a new discovery for me. This eye cream feels simply amazing on the skin. It hydrates and tightens. The tightening is subtle and far from alarming. It also holds onto concealer with an iron grip. High smitten status with this product!

Tell us your favorite Philosophy product in the comments!

Disclosure: A press sample was provided by Philosophy
Credits: Blogdorf Goodman and Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

The Hydrationist Theory

Day 39: Estee Lauder's Hydrationist
by Annie


This is a very light serum that smells like clean linen. Hydrationist immediately replenishes dehydrated skin. It leaves the skin slippery smooth. I can not attest to it's long term benefits. I can state that it is highly moisturizing and works well with foundation. I will be reporting my final results within a month.


Some interesting tidbits:
1. Clinical testing proved that after just 1 application, skin remains significantly moisturized even 24 hours later. ( I will agree with this! It is very similar to some Sensai products!)

2. Our exclusive Bio-Mimetic Water is "structured," so it is easily absorbed deep within skin's surface. You can feel the replenishing benefits immediately

3. With continued use, our exclusive Sustainable Moisture Complex™ with Revival Plant Extract helps boost, balance and maintain skin's optimum moisture levels.

4. Encourages skin's natural "barrier building" abilities so it holds on to more moisture-and fights signs of premature aging more effectively.

Hydrationist is available in four formulas.
Crème for Dry Skin
Crème for Normal/Combination Skin
Lotion for Normal/Combination Skin
Crème for Normal/Combination Skin with SPF 15
The retail price for Hydrationist Maximum Moisture Crèmes and Lotion is $38.00 each.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Estee Lauder
Credit: Blogdorf Goodman and Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

Younger Than Springtime

Day 38: L'Oreal Pore Minimizing Skin Re-Smoother
by Cavewoman

It seems like just yesterday that we started our 40 In 40 Skincare reviews. I'm pretty sure back then we had a few feet of snow on the ground, and we were weary of Winter and what it did to our skin. I've gone through so much lotion, so many jars of creams, and even the husband has been dipping into the lotions I have sitting on the shelved in the bathroom. He likes an Italian body lotion I found on a markdown rack at TJMaxx. That is way better than the time he "liked" my Chanel Creme Extreme Protection and used up the entire tube. I gotta give him credit for knowing a good product when he uses one!


But as I write this, on a beautiful, sunny, warm, glorious Spring day, with daffodils swaying gently in the breeze, forsythia popping yellow all over its branches, and the star magnolia in full bloom, I'm hoping I can finally put away some of the heavy-duty skin-savers of the last few months, and move on to the things I'd stored away back in the Fall. The first thing I took out of storage was this little aqua bottle from L'Oreal. It's called Dermo-Expertise Skin Genesis Active Cellular Skincare Pore Minimizing Skin Re-Smoother. That's a very big name for a little one-ouncer. It promises tightened, smaller pores, smoother skin, and retexturizing. Who wouldn't want all of those things? I'm on my second bottle.

Skin Re-Smoother is a lightweight gel-lotion that feels refreshing and cool on the skin, and dries almost instantly to a super-matte finish. L'Oreal would like you to use this morning and night under your moisturizer. I had thought of it as a temporary pore-tightening pore-minimizing product and not a treatment for those problems. It didn't occur to me that if I used it morning and night, maybe those problems would actually diminish over time, and not just when I had this product on my face. And so that is what I'm planning to do. I'll report the results after I try this for a few months.

A matte surface was not what I would ever want in the dry-skin months of this bad Winter. But now with warmer weather, I will have the same old problem I have had for years, which is why I purchased and used up a bottle of Skin Re-Smoother last Summer. A lifetime of super-oily skin left me with huge pores. Most pore-minimizing products work better on oily skin, but that's not me anymore, post-menopause. So herein was the dilemma. I noticed on the box that one of the ingredients is hyaluronic acid. I know that this ingredient attracts moisture to the skin, so I hoped it would help with the dryness while the "pore-targeting technology" would do its magic. The formula also contains denatured alcohol, some silicones, glycerin, and salicylic acid. Sounds like the product is confused! But I was happy to see real, visible results in the pore areas, definitely seeing smaller pores and a nice tightening effect around the nose-cheek area. The only objection I have to this product is that it has a slight whitish cast on the skin. And I definitely do need to wear a lightweight moisturizer over it.

Just knowing that I have brought out this product that I only use in warmer weather has lightened my spirits as much as putting away heavy sweaters and bringing out cute sandals. I did that this week, too. It's a sign of finally being able to say goodbye (and good riddance) to the worst cold snowy Winter we've had in recent memory.

Today, the team of workers arrived to begin the extensive repairs on all the damage done to this old house during the winter. It's hard to be old. House or woman. Spring brings renewal of heart and home. Happy Spring to all!

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer
Credits: Cavewoman for Blogdorf Goodman and Melanie Parker/I Married A Witch

Cherry Bomb

Day 37: Busting Cherries By Melanie Parker

One of the most unfortunate affects that age has brought on to my skin is cherry angiomas. These cherries are made up of clusters of dilated capillaries on the surface of the skin, which accounts for a cherry red or beet purple color. No one knows exactly what causes them and they will not go away on their own. These little red tumors started popping up in my 20s. By age 38, I found myself "digitally erasing" a trifecta of hideousness from my forehead in any pictures before sharing them. Although technically correct, "cherries" sounds too cute for these growths. Igenerally referred to them as "cluster f*cks" or "blood blisters."

I relied heavily on Perscriptives Camouflage Cream to hide these three red "blisters" on my forehead and three others cropping up on my cheeks and chin. Then, I heard the dreaded news that Perscriptives products were being discontinued, and I decided to seek treatment for the little buggers. My dermatologist recommended treating them with laser. So, I set up a 20-minute procedure for an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment. Although this treatment is for cosmetic reasons, and is therefore not covered by insurance, I found it well worth the $250 cost.

I was warned before the procedure that because some of the cherries were so large, they may require 3 or 4 "zaps" from the laser, and that each one would feel like a rubber band snapping. It was not comfortable, but it didn't hurt either. The sound of the machine and the puff reminded me of a glaucoma test at the optometrist, which is one of my biggest fears. But when she got through zapping the trifecta of hideousness and 3 other smaller ones on my face, she asked if I had any more to do. I had them all over my chest and happily let her zap away at as many as she could find. In total, there were 43 pulses during the 15-minute session. But, as I noted, some of the bigger blisters did require multiple pulses.

I was told by the doctor that the cherries would turn bright blue and then gradually fade away like a bruise. My mother had had some removed, and had warned me to cancel all plans and be prepared for them to get much worse and turn black before they got better. I'm glad she warned me, because I looked like I had huge purple welts all over my face and chest. This photo was taken of the "trifecta of hideousness" about 2hours after the IPL treatment and they got much worse looking the next day.

The areas raised up and stung. I had so many on my chest, that I actually was unable to sleep comfortably on my side like I normally do for 2 days. I felt slightly feverish and uncomfortable--almost as if I had sun burn. It took 10 days for the bruising to fade away, but now there was never any scabbing and there is no trace of where the cherry angiomas once were. In fact, I still want to dot some Camouflage Cream on them, but I can't even remember where they were. Even with a 10x magnification mirror, there is not a trace. It's really quite amazing considering they were raised up and discolored and now they are completely flat. I wish I would have had the ones on my arms done at the same time.

The only negatives to this treatment is the 10 days of downtime required before they look better instead of worse and that the area becomes photosensitive, so you really have to avoid the sun. If your cherries are small, flat, and cute, like red freckles, you may not want to try this treatment. But I think it is amazing and was very happy with the end result.

Disclosure: This procedure was paid for by the reviewer
Credits: Melanie Parker for Blogdorf Goodman and Melanie Parker/I Married A Witch

Balm For The Soul

Day 36: La Mer's The Eye Balm
by Annie

I want an eye cream to accomplish many things. The cream needs to hydrate and keep my skin flake-free. I want it to de-puff, hide dark circles, eliminate wrinkles, and not cause milia issues. It would be lovely if it could make me look like I had 8 hours of sleep. La Mer's The Eye Balm managed to achieve some of my eye cream desires. It is an ultra thick cream that combines a triple
concentration of Crème de la Mer's original Miracle Broth with marine extracts. The texture is thick like a sock. It soothes and eliminates skin dryness. This saved me from the blistering winter of 2010.

The Eye Balm did not cause any milia issues for me. I have used heavy eye creams in the past that have produced two tiny skin beads to pop up under my right eye. These irk me to no end.
The Eye Balm did not deliver on any kind of brightness or depuffery. My eyes still looked exhausted. My wrinkles were still present and accounted for.
So my review is a mixed.
I am still in the market for an eye cream that will change my life.

Let us know what your favorite eye creams are in the comments!

La Mer The Eye Balm retails for $140 and can be found at your local La Mer counter.
Disclosure: Sample vials were provided by La Mer.
Credit: La Mer and Melanie Parker/I Married A Witch

Waiting For Hoffman

Day 35: Lisa Hoffman
by Annie

I am an indie girl.
I have always liked the fringe.
From music to beauty brands.
I root for the Edward Bess and Ms Poppy Kings of the world!
Lisa Hoffman is the indie skincare rock star. I have lost my mind over her skincare and fragrances. I have tried a gaggle of products in the Lisa Hoffman line. I have gushed over all of them. There is not a clunker in the bunch!

The Spa Shower Cleansing Gel revolutionize my shower experience. It delivers superior results on improved skin tone and texture. The scent is Japanese Agarwood. That scent envelops you in a cloud of spiced ginger, amberette seed and some cozy thick Amber. My problems melt away after the first whiff! It retails for $27.50.

Lisa Hoffman offers genius Night and Day Packettes featuring all ten of the Day and Night regimens. This allows you to test the formulas before your purchase a full size. The packets are also perfect for traveling. The vials are sturdy and filled with at least 2-3 applications. My personal favorite is the Night Serum. It rivals La Mer. They retail for $9.95 each.

Visit http://www.lisahoffmanskincare.com/index.html for more retails.
Lisa Hoffman can also be purchased at Bergdorf Goodman.

Tell us your favorite indie skincare lines in the comments!

Disclosure: A press sample was provided by Lisa Hoffman
Credits: Blogdorf Goodman and Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

Zing Zang Zoom!

Day 34: Origins GinZing Eye Care
By Cavewoman

First of all, I have to write a few words to explain this review. I wasn't going to review this product, and I did not want to review any other Lauder company products either. I'm mad at Lauder right now. The company has chosen to discontinue my beloved Prescriptives line. I want to boycott them and not use any more Lauder products. My favorite eye care product has been Prescriptives Vibrant C For Eyes for many years. I have a few backups, but once it's gone, I will have to look elsewhere and I know there won't be anything comparable to the Vibrant C. It has just the right moisturizing effect, and that little bit of glow really brightens my eye area. It was perfect for my eye-area skincare needs.

But my curiosity got the best of me. I can't remember how I heard about Origins GinZing For Eyes, maybe in a magazine ad or an editorial layout on new skincare, or maybe on MakeUpAlley, but the promise of de-puffing and brightening the under-eye area had me wondering if this new eye product would be a good substitute for the PX. After all, it is a Lauder brand. Maybe, just maybe, there could be similarities in the formulas. And so I purchased it.

My eye-care needs are not extreme. I don't have wrinkles (well, maybe some fine lines, but nothing too severe or noticeable) and other than the dry skin issues of a post-menopausal woman living in Northeast Ohio (and surviving one of the worst cold snowy Winters on record) I don't need anything super-heavy or thick. Just a little moisture. I do admit to being intrigued over any products that promise a brightening effect. The words "brightening" or "luminizing" always have me wanting to try.

GinZing is a lovely, lightweight gel-cream product that promises de-puffing and brightening. I was wondering if the product would be similar to the old No Puffery, an Origins product that I used to use when I did have puffy eyes. I took No Puffery to a women's retreat weekend at my parish, and all the weepy women borrowed it from me and declared it to be a miracle! I think the formula changed soon after that, because my next No Puffery purchase just did not seem to be the same to me. I'm sure that's happened to many readers here, all of a sudden that perfect product just didn't seem to work as well as it used to.

I love the texture of GinZing. It is light and airy, almost liquidy, absorbs instantly, and has a soft and unoffensive fresh-fruity scent. I don't mind scented products for the most part, and the scent is gone in a few seconds after applying. The product dries quickly on the skin and leaves a subtle dewy appearance. It's not sticky at all, and I was able to apply my undereye concealer within less than a minute. I noticed the de-puffing effect soon afterwards. It wasn't drastic or life-changing, but the area under my eyes appeared smoother and more firm, and the little crinkly lines did look diminished, although not totally erased. That doesn't bother me. I have to say that the GinZing did help the concealer to stay on all day and not crease.
The second time I tried the GinZing, I used it all over the eye area and not just on the under-eye area. It felt cool, refreshing, and clean. My eye area looked like I'd had a good night's sleep! I can't say it changed the effect of my eye shadow that I applied over top of the GinZing, but it did seem to help keep my shadow in place longer. It almost worked like an eye primer. My eyes looked bright and alert, even though I felt neither of those things that particular morning!

So there, I have done it. I have recommended to you a Lauder brand product. If you have minimal eye-area issues, no severe wrinkling or lines, and no terrible dryness around the eye area, this product would be something to try. I wouldn't say it has any big moisturizing effect, but it does everything that it is supposed to do. It's not a substitute for my Prescriptives, but it's close. I'm glad I tried it. The cute little jar is a half-ounce and retails for just under $30.
Back to the boycott.

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer
Credit: Cavewoman for Blogdorf Goodman
Melanie Parker for I Married A Witch

Annie Versus The Volcano

Day 33: Giorgio Armani Crema Nera Obsidian Mineral Regenerating Cream and MAC Volcanic Ash Line by Annie

There was a trend in skincare that seemed centered on rare minerals from exotic active volcanoes. The most glamorous product hailed from Giorgio Armani. Crema Nera is formulated based on volcanic petrified lava rock from the Sicilian Island of Pantelleria. The texture of the cream was very butter-like. It was not whipped like most of the regenerating creams I have tested throughout the 40 day project. It smelled and looked exactly like Shea butter. The cream felt smooth on the skin in a very silicon way. I checked the ingredients and spotted "dimethicone" and paraffin. It did have a very waxy, lard-like vibe. Crema Nera felt more like a primer than a skin treatment. My personal results were not good. I experienced slight irritations after the first application. This centered along the jaw line. The irritations ranged from minor itching to redness. With long term use, I had issues with clogged pores and general skin flare ups. I gave up after just one month.
When it comes to my skin...I am a quitter.
Once a series of zits appear, I am throwing in the towel and flashing a deuces sign.

MAC released a handful of limited edition volcano based products. They might have made your bath tub a disaster area but the results were immediate and beneficial. The collections sold out quickly. My personal favorite was the Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. It is a charcoal color and smells like soot with lemons. It has some light, yet surprisingly creamy lather action. I did not expect suds or my skin to feel moisturized to the tenth power.
It rinses off with minimal effort but leaves the tub looking like an octopus lost a wrestling match. The ink-like mud gets everywhere.
The sugar granules are not uniform in size. You will encounter beads that feel quite sharp like an arrow head. I think it is much too rough to use on the face. I prefer to use it as a shower treatment for the body.


The Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask provided an intense rush of warmth that is disconcerting. I have used thermal masks before but this one really delivered on the heat. The heat level is one step below jalapeno. The heat is fleeting and less than one minute. Many reviewers on Makeupalley stated that the heat returns during rinsing. I never was able to get the fire back. I left the mask on for only five minutes. I never felt brave enough to go any further.

The results from use is squeaky clean skin with no skin irritations. Pores are flushed out. Both products were limited edition and are fetching high prices on Ebay.

Are they worth the $100 bids?
I have to say no. They were worth the original price and deserving to be made part of the permanent MAC skin care line.

Let us know what quirky ingredients delight or annoy you in the comments. Feel free to gush or vent.

Disclosure: I purchased the MAC Volcanic products at my local MAC counter. The Armani cream was a large sample from a Saks Fifth Avenue event.
Credit: Blogdorf Goodman and Melanie Parker/ Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch.

The Best Hand Cream

Day 32: Estee Lauder's Re-Nutriv Intensive Smoothing Hand Cream
By Annie

I have been an Estee Lauder fan for many years. I love everything from the makeup to the fragrances. The skin care has always been exceptional and award winning. But there is a gem in the Lauder family that you might not be aware of. This magnificent product is Estee Lauder's Re-Nutriv Intensive Smoothing Hand Cream. The results are delightfully shocking. The cream is miraculous and life changing.

The Lauder PR team generously sent a full tube of this cream in a package. I passed this cream along to my mother. My mother had survived a bout of breast cancer. The treatment and stress of it all left her skin in a terrible state. Her hands suffered the most. They looked like the hands of a scullery maid from a Dickens novel. They were beet red. They were rough. So rough that they looked and felt like sandpaper. Her nails, once her pride and joy, were short and brittle. Her hands looked painful. They were painful. I noticed that she had taken to hiding them in public. She was embarrassed by their state. Her hands showed everything she had been through.

The first time she slathered the Lauder hand cream she cooed. The cream was an instant balm. Over a course of just one day the cream did serious magic. Her skin was dramatically different. The redness dissipated. The appearance of crepiness was smoothed away. My mother was so delighted and hopeful.

After just two weeks, the improvement of the skin texture was simply outrageous. Gone were the flakes, calluses and deep cuts. They were healed and felt silky smooth. Her hands also looked dramatically younger. This was just an added benefit. The most important thing was that her hands were pain free and looked better. She was able to do simple chores without wincing. She was able to wave and shake hands. No more embarrassment.

The cream retails for $45 for 3.4 oz at your local Estee Lauder counter.

I know the price is quite hefty.
It is worth every coin.
Truly.

What is your favorite hand cream? Let us know in the comments.

Disclosure: Estee Lauder provided a press sample of this product initially.

Afterwards...I have purchased every tube with my own money for my mother.

Credits: Estee Lauder and Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

Turn on Your Bright Lights: Part 3:

Day 30: MAC's Lightful Foaming Creme Cleanser

by Annie

This is a whipped, mousse-like creme cleanser formula. The color of the cleanser is a lovely opalescent white. Not that the color matters in the scheme of things. This pearl effect just caught my eye. Lightful Foaming Creme Cleanser leaves the face feeling tighter and so darn clean. For the last few months, I have been using oils, so I had missed this freshly scrubbed feeling. You truly only require a small dot or dollop of the product. Anything larger than a dime is a waste. It lathers quickly. It removes every ounce of foundation, powder, and blush. It leaves the skin freshly scrubbed with no film, irritations or redness. Skin feels smooth and moisturized for hours. There are no dryness issues.

The formula contains a host of potassium,tourmaline, silk powder, and various extracts of green tea, cucumber, apple, sea whip and roots.

It retails for $24 at http://www.maccosmetics.com/ and at MAC free standing stores.

Overall, I have been very impressed with the Lightful product line. It is worth seeking out!

Disclosure: I purchased this at my local CCO store for $19.25

Credits: MAC and Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

The Third Miracle

Day 29: First Aid Beauty
by Tania Sanchez

Look, I know the readers of this blog are looking for serious sainthood in their skin cream. As in Vatican-verified miracles. Well, the only miracle I’m asking for is that I get some moisturizing without irritation. Do I ask the impossible? Because I am dry, dry, dry. And then there’s my little moody skin problem. I don’t mean I get a zit once in a while or it stings when I wash my face. I mean if I put the wrong thing on I get eczema from forehead to collarbone, which I then have to attack with Protopic. And what is Protopic? Oh, it’s a chemotherapy drug, which they use to treat recalcitrant face eczema. If I don’t treat it, or I optimistically treat it only with shea butter and prayer, my eyelids peel. My forehead comes off in sheets. I look like I’m molting and going for my next instar on my way to pupation. The itch is so profound it feels as if I am being eaten alive by subdermal beetles. If I let it go too long, I have to take oral steroids. That’s Prednisone. It makes you hungry and puffy, you put on weight, and then you get actual ‘roid rage where you scream at your husband because he folded the kitchen towels wrong (and if you take it too often, say hello to osteoporosis). Also, after my skin calms down, because I am a brown person, I get to enjoy the sight of dark patches where the damage was for several months.

So this is not some little cosmetic vanity pursuit. This is a medical problem.

For a while I’d settled on Estée Lauder’s Vérité, an extremely mild line, far too expensive, which boasts of using no emulsifiers, since, according to Lauder, emulsifiers may make it easier for irritants to cross the skin barrier. I have no idea if this tale is any more scientifically valid than any of the other cockamamie skincare stories these companies dream up. All I know is that it has no fragrance and it feels cool and soothing, and it brings me the moisture without the problems.

But their moisture relief creme is $50 for 1.7 ounces. Which I move through in less than a month.

As a mere writer, and not a fictional Carrie Bradshaw writer capable of buying dozens of $400 shoes per year, I felt this expense could not possibly be warranted. Also, as a woman, I can never stop trying new things. So I moved on to Clinique’s Comfort on Call, a soothing balm with a butter-like consistency, olive-oil based. Cheaper? Yes. More effective? No. It was soothing, did not flare up my eczema, but alas, it brought on the zits. Tricked by Paula Begoun’s general praise and the company’s allergy-tested shtick, I tried several other Clinique formulas—Youth Surge (disaster), that yellow stuff (pointless oil slick), Even Better (stings! holy Moses, it stings!), Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer (rash!)—and decided to cut that out. I tried a few nature-lovin’ hippie concoctions (Burt’s Bees, JASON, plain jojoba oil and vitamin E, Jurlique) to no avail.

I had entirely given up on finding anything new when Vérité was sold out everywhere and I was forced to try one more time. And there it was, in Sephora: First Aid Beauty, aka FAB.

FAB’s Ultra Repair Cream ($28 for 6 ounces!) is the cream of my dreams. I use it as a night treatment and for emergency dry patches. There’s no fragrance, no useless essential oils that might as well be live bees for all the good they do me. It contains good old colloidal oatmeal, that mainstay of DIY eczema emergency treatments and the effective ingredient in super-soothing drugstore favorite Aveeno, plus allantoin, a good anti-inflammatory soother. I ignore the eucalyptus oil, which could irritate, because it doesn’t me, but if you have a eucalyptus problem, avoid. There are ceramides, as in my favorite body cream Cerave, which is the only thing I put on after a shower these days. And for further barrier protection, there’s my old friend, dimethicone, which first did me so much good in Cetaphil, and which helps caulk up my skin’s patchy wall against the world. Hello, favorite ingredients!


I grabbed a tub of Ultra Repair before we took the kids skiing on their February break, fully expecting the combination of transatlantic plane ride (dry, dry, dry) and winter mountain air (thin atmosphere, UV damage, cold) to ruin my life. It never happened. I slicked on the FAB cream morning and night and carried it with me for the dryness emergencies that rarely emerged. It was just perfect. I had no trouble at all. No flakes, no redness, no itch. I beat the sun with a Lancôme 50 SPF lotion, and that was it.

My skin felt so nearly normal, I thought maybe I was cured miraculously and that my good fortune had nothing to do with the product at all. To test this exceptionally stupid theory, an airport security check robbed me of my jar of Ultra Repair, which I had mistakenly left in my carry-on bag, and which was way too big to take on board. I bought some innocuous scent-free moisturizer at a Greek pharmacy to hold me over for two weeks, while L was collaborating with a colleague in Athens. I could have joined a leper colony without skepticism by the end of my own experiment. As soon as we got back home, I bought another jar of FAB and went entirely back to normal.

I also noticed FAB had launched a daily face cream. At $18 for 2 ounces, I wasn’t sure it was as great a bargain as the jar cream, but it turns out I use but a wee amount (three pumps) to cover face and throat in the morning, and so far it works a treat. Again, it uses ceramides to keep skin soft and healthy.

FAB’s prices, in this delirious post-Creme-de-la-Mer era, are perfect for our lousy economic times. Their creams moisturize and cause no inflammation, which is all I ever wanted. And even though I never asked for any such thing, I see a reduction in the fine lines around my eyes and mouth, although maybe that’s just because I’m more cheered up and don’t spend so much time staring with despair in the mirror wondering where it all went wrong.

Anyway, please go out and buy a tub. That’ll keep them in business, which will keep me out of the doctor’s office. And that’s my entire reason for writing this article.

Disclaimer: I bought all this stuff myself at full price.
Credits: Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch
and Sephora

Turn On Your Bright Lights: Part 2

Day 28: MAC Lightful Charged Essence Serum
by Annie

I am very late to any kind of gushing over MAC's Lightful skin care line. MAC Lightful was an Asian exclusive that started appearing on the US shores in 2009. Clearly, I was in some kind of cave in 2009. I do not remember any whispers or shouts concerning the release. I stumbled across a treasure trove of product at my local MAC free standing store. I purchased the toner and this serum under the guidance of my SA.

The serum's texture is odd. It feels slippery and slightly clammy. It leaves you with the impression that you might have grabbed your hair gel instead of your skin care treatment. This was unnerving. Just one dab or dollop from the silver pump and it covers the entire face. It dries quickly and leaves the skin feeling tacky. I ignored this and applied my moisturizer over the serum. This is when the "magic happened".
The serum appeared to reach out and grab the moisturizer.
It took over 30 minutes for my moisturizer to settle before I applied my foundation. My skin was hydrated to the point of dewiness.

I also tested this serum over my primer. Then I applied my foundation. Crazy results. My foundation is flawless. No wear or tear after 8 hour work day. No slipping issues.

MAC Lightful serum is available online at http://www.maccosmetics.com/
It retails for $40.

Has anyone tried the MAC Lightful series? What are your favorite products? Let us know in the comments.

Disclosure: I purchased this serum at a freestanding MAC store.
Credits: MAC and Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married a Witch.

Botanical beauties

Day 27: Pai Skincare
by Jessica M

Pai is a small, London-based company that specializes in natural skincare. “Pai” means “goodness” in Maori (the indigenous language of New Zealand), and these lotions and potions are certainly crammed with goodness: they’re concocted from plant-derived ingredients, mostly organic, and they exclude petrochemicals, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, propylene glycol, artificial coloring and artificial fragrance.

Camellia & Rose Cleanser is a core product in Pai’s simple, less-is-more regimen. It’s a lotion-like product featuring rose water and camellia oil to restore and “feed” the skin, plus sweet almond oil and shea butter, lavender and geranium essences for their purifying
effects (and their natural scent), and lactic acid derived from sugar beets. I usually prefer facial soap or a foaming cleanser, but I like Camellia &Rose Cleanser as a makeup remover, especially for eye makeup. I apply it gently to the eye area and wipe it off with a damp cotton ball, and it dissolves all my eye cosmetics without any mess or irritation. (£20/$32)

I’ve used Pai’s Echium Eye Cream all winter, and it has kept the delicate skin around my eyes soft and smooth, even during the windiest, driest weeks. It’s a deceptively light-textured cream, rich in omega-3 ingredients (specifically, gamma linolenic acid and stearidonic acid), thanks to its nourishing bouquet of botanical elixirs, including borage oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, manuka oil,
shea butter, rose water, and more. (£24/$38)

I’ve also been happy with the Bergamot Lip Balm. It’s a 100% organic blend of beeswax, cocoa butter, and almond oil, with a light fragrance of bergamot oil; its waxy consistency makes it an excellent bedtime treatment. (£6/$10)

Pai also sells a range of moisturizers for various skin types, and a few skincare accessories such as muslin cloths for facial cleaning. If you’re curious, check out the free skincare sample pack: trial-size pots of cleanser and moisturizer, shipped for approximately $10. I’m surprised that no U.S.-based retailers have picked up the Pai line yet; it’s probably just a matter of time.

Visit the Pai website: http://www.paiskincare.com

Disclaimer: these products were purchased by the reviewer
Credit: press image from the Pai website
Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

Drugstore Cowgirls

Day 26: Drugstore Greats!
by MUA's Cavewoman

For as long as I can remember, I'd never used any other eye makeup remover other than Almay Non-Oily Eyemakeup Remover Pads. They were superb. There was no reason to even look anywhere else. I'd be receiving those little gift with purchase bottles from Clinique or Lancome and I'd promptly toss them into the "makeupalley swap extras" box and never even tried them. Almay pads were the ne plus ultra. It is a rare and wonderful thing to find a product that works so well that you just don't even have any interest in trying anything else.

Until THAT DAY. The day when the product you've known and loved seems a bit different, something's off, something's wrong! What happened? Reformulation. A company takes over another company. Somebody somewhere along the line decides that in order to be productive today, he or she should mess with something they already have in the product line. And then that day comes when you re-purchase that beloved product and it's just not the same as it always was. That's what happened with Almay, and that had me searching for a suitable substitute. I wasn't happy.

At the drugstore there are plenty of little bottles of makeup remover and a few pad-type jars to choose from, but I wasn't finding anything that worked as well as the old Almay. Then I found these two products, and purchased them to give them a try. I was almost ready to give up and just hit the department store counters (which means spendy-time, usually.) I'm happy to report two excellent eye makeup removers that you can find at the drugstore (check out the weekly sales on blogdorf on Sundays!) that are great finds!

Wet N Wild is the notoriously cheap makeup line that actually has plenty of really nice products. For just a few bucks, you can fill up your makeup bag or vanity table and have some inexpensive fun. I was surprised to see the eyemakeup remover on the rack at my local drugstore, and I think it is because it must always be sold out! And no wonder. A few drops of this non-oily remover on a cotton pad, a few swipes per eye, and all my mascara disappeared without a trace or a smear. No eye stinging, either. It is perfect for removing gel liner and your basic everyday non-waterproof mascaras. The best thing is that it leaves absolutely no residue at all, so you can refresh and re-apply your eye makeup quickly if you have to. I love it!

Sometimes a girl just has to wear waterproof mascara. I'm long past the crying-over-he-done-me-wrong stage of my life, and I don't go to weepy movies, but there are occasions (a family wedding, or a special event at my church) when I just know the flood watergates will open and the tears will come spilling out. Waterproof mascaras are terrible to remove, especially if you don't have an oil-based or dual-phase remover. Soap and water won't cut it. And cleansing creams work, but wow, that's just asking for a goopy mess and possibly blurry vision for hours afterwards. When I spotted the L'Oreal Clean Artiste at the drugstore, I thought it would be good to have this on hand for those occasions when I do wear waterproof mascara.


It wasn't long before I got to put it to the test. I wore my weep-proof DiorShow Waterproof mascara for one of those occasions, and when I got home, I took out the Clean Artiste, gave it a good shake, and dispensed some drops onto a cotton pad. I started swiping away at the mascara. It took two or three pads to do the job, but sometimes waterproof mascara smears on the removal and it takes another pad for eye-area cleanup. But all traces of the mascara were gone, and no blurry eyes or irritation resulting from the removal process. It's not something I do very often, as I've said, but I am glad to have this little tool in my arsenal when I need it. It does leave residue on the skin, so after the removal I go over the entire area with the Wet N Wild on a cotton pad, and that removes everything that remains on the skin from the Clean Artiste.

These two little drugstore gems are nice, inexpensive alternatives to the old Almay pads. I don't know who decided they needed to be "new and improved" but those scratchy new pads feel like grocery bag material, and the new formula is irritating, too. I'm glad to have found new things that work well for me. And, the price is right. Even righter when they're on a weekly special!

Disclosure: These products were purchased by the reviewer
Credit: Cavewoman for Blogdorf Goodman
Melanie Parker/ Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

It's Friday I'm in love

Day 25: PS I Love You from Bath & Body Works
by MUA'S Cavewoman

If you can walk out of a Bath & Body Works store without a big heavy bag full of goodies, you are a stronger person than I am. Quality products, enticing scents, pretty packaging, and frequent specials have me well-supplied with body care items, and backups of my backups!

Now that Spring is officially less than a day away, I am hoping I won't need the heavy-duty creams and lotions that I've needed over the past several months. I present to Blogdorf readers the prettiest little group of rose-scented body care items that have helped me get through the dry-skin days of this past Ohio Really Bad Cold Snowy Icy Winter.

PS I Love You is a captivating scent from Bath & Body Works that I would say is truer to the real perfumer's art than some of this company's other offerings. This is what I love about B&BW. There is something here for everyone. From invigorating citruses to sensual woods, it's all here, reasonably priced, and ready to go to work for you. The formulas are solid performers. Nothing disappoints. I fell in love with PS I Love You during one of their big sales (you know what I mean, buy two of these and get one free, buy this and get that free, etc. etc.) and gathered up a nice array of products in this fragrance. When Winter hit hard, I was glad I had a stash of these emollient and softly-scented products to soothe my dry skin and make me feel a little pampered in the process.

This particular fragrance contains my beloved rose,along with peony, orchid, jasmine, lilies, all in a base containing sandalwood, amber, patchouli and musk. There is even an Eau De Parfum to finish off the body care ritual and keep the scent going all day.

The hand cream comes in a small tube that is purse-friendly and the formula is totally non-sticky, with no residue left behind at all. It absorbs super-fast and is great in between water-related chores around the house, or to use when out and about and hands start feeling dry. The body butter in the little jar is perfect for the most parched legs, elbows and knees. It is the richest formula offered by B&BW and feels luxurious and soothing. And the tube of body lotion is large and easy to dispense with the flip-top cap, I like this as just a basic all-over lotion. It leaves my skin softly scented and ready to get dressed for the day, with nothing left behind to stain or mark my clothes. After a while the scent of these body products disappears, and won't interfere with my fragrance of the day. This is characteristic of most of the B&BW fragranced body products and a huge selling point for me personally. Sometimes I want the scent to linger, and most times I don't.

What is your favorite Bath & Body Works fragrance? What products do you like best from this company? Tell us about them!

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer
Credit: Cavewoman for Blogdorf Goodman
Credit: Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I Married a Witch

Day 24: La Mer's The Regenerating Serum
By Annie

The Regenerating Serum is the latest product from La Mer. The creation process took four years and a gaggle of physicists, marine botantists, and biologists. The Regenerating Serum contains a high concentration of La Mer's Miracle Broth and the new Regenerating Ferment. The ferment is derived from marine plant stem cells. These plants are lab harvested for their ability to combat stress. The Regenerating Ferment triggers natural production of collagen and elastin. Skin looks rejuvenated in just one day. I can testify to this specific claim. The serum seemed to plump up my weary skin. Skin looks dewy and rehabilitated.

Long term usage promises diminished lines, wrinkles and pores. If you read my blog on the regular, then you know that my pores give me stress. This product appears to make my pores look less deep. Today my pores are sufficently plugged by my UD primer! My foundation looks fresh after a rough morning. I even received a workplace compliment on my makeup today. This is a rare. Very rare.

I have been using this serum for over a month. I was gifted with a generous lab bottle from La Mer. I use the serum after cleansing and toning with MAC Lightful products. It leaves the skin feeling "cashmere like" instead of silky. There is no slip. My skin feels soft and hydrated.
I did have some issues with sensitivity around the nose area. I experienced a slight twitter but no redness or break outs.

The serum is available at your local La Mer counter at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Visit http://www.lamer.com/ for more details. It retails for $250 for 1 oz.

Disclosure: A lab bottle was provided by La Mer.

Credit: La Mer

Credit: Melanie Parker/ Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch

Big Pimpin: High End Skin Care

Day 23: Sensai Premier The Body Cream

By Annie

This is packed with 20 ingredients from the science of Sensai Cellular Performance body care series along with the Sensai Premier line. It smells like a jasmine grove and feels like melted butter. I can not attest to long term benefits. I was lucky to test it from a handful of sample jars. My skin did feel silky and was perfectly fragranced.
Seriously...the scent is what makes it worth testing.
Kanebo might have their own secret jasmine fields.

Some of the ingredients worth mentioning:

Sensai Premier Seaweed Extract: This ingredient is from the sea of Japan and a common note in Kanebo skincare. It is supposed to improve moisture absorption and helps with skin regeneration.

Koishmaru Silk Extract is another Kanebo ingredient. This is from a cocoon and is the reason why all Kanebo skincare feels so amazing. It feels so luxe and almost textile-like. I have tested oodles of skincare but no products feel like this.

Bukuryo Extract: This is extracted from "oriental medicinal shelf fungus". This might not sound good but it is supposed to prevent excess water retention.

Hydra Firming Booster is from the Kuwa shrub. This is a healing herb that helps boost collagen synthesis in the dermis.

This retails for $400 and is available at select Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys NYC and at Takashimaya New York. Call 866-271-6815 or check out http://www.kanebo.com/

Disclosure: Sample jars were provided by Kanebo and a gift bag from Bergdorf Goodman.

Skincare Finds from Etsy

Day 22: BathLife on Etsy
by Jessica M

I first started browsing on Etsy.com when I was looking for vintage jewelry, and then I discovered that the site also carries hand made bath and body products. Danger ahead, I thought. Too much temptation. Then again, I noticed, most of the choices didn’t look very unusual or appealing: lots of pre-blended scents and pre-made bases, too many cheap ingredients.

BathLife is one of the noteworthy exceptions that I’ve come across. As you can guess from the name, this seller (basically, a lovely lady named Kimberlee) carries plenty of scented soaps and body butters.For me, though, the real draw is its smaller line of “specialty products” for the face. They’re effective, they're a pleasure to use,they’re packed with natural ingredients, and they’re fairly priced.

Here are three products that I’ve ordered and reordered from BathLife:

FaceTime Gentle Makeup Remover: This mousse-like pink cream works to dissolve makeup (perfect for days when I'm wearing long-wear foundation) while it also provides light exfoliation. Pink clay gives it its rosy color, and macadamia butter creates a fluffy texture. Ground adzuki beans and joboba beans scrub the surface of the skin ever so gently, while shea butter and babassu butter keep things soft. The scent is a refreshing note of geranium essential oil. Just a fingertip of FaceTime is enough for each use; I spread and massage it over my face, rinse off, and then use my regular cleanser.($3.75 for a .5 oz. trial size, $9 for a 2 oz. jar)


Purify Facial Soap: This plain-looking bar has become my favorite nighttime cleansing product. It's a gentle facial soap spiked with Dead Sea clay, which (according to BathLife) has a "high content of over 26 minerals, algae, sodium, and sulphur." Purify gives my oily skin a deep-cleaned feeling, but it doesn't leave my face feeling stripped or tight, since it also contains macadamia oil, grapeseed oil, and olive oil for nourishment. Skin needs a diet rich in fatty acids, just like the body does!($3.75 for a 2 oz. bar, $6.95 for 4 oz. bar)



Detox Purifying Facial Mask: Once a week, I apply this mask for even more thorough cleaning. It's easier on my skin than some of the clay masks I've used in the past, and it has a nice, simple ingredients list: Dead Sea clay, dark cocoa powder, and aloe powder. The clay’s detoxifying effect is balanced by the cocoa powder’s antioxidants and the aloe’s soothing properties. I mix a teaspoon of Detox with a teaspoon of water (you could also use honey or plain yogurt, for added moisture), apply a thin layer to my face, and let it dry for ten minutes. It's also fun to use, because it looks and smells just brownie mix when it's wet!($13 for 2 oz.)

I've been happy with all my orders from BathLife, since Kimberlee also offers excellent customer service (and cute packaging) for all her handmade products. Do check out her site at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BathLife if you're in the market for some new natural skincare.

Disclaimer: These products were purchased by the reviewer
Credits: Images via BathLife on Etsy
Credit: Melanie Parker /Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch.

Turn On Your Bright Lights: Part 1

Day 21: MAC Lightful Foaming Creme Cleanser by Annie

I have coveted this skincare series from MAC for quite a while. I spotted it ions ago in an Asian cosmetic magazine. So imagine my surprise, when I spotted Lightful at my MAC free standing store in Cleveland. I was chatting about dazzleglasses when my eye spotted familiar looking silver canisters and jars. I blurted out " Hot Damn...Lightful" and made a mad dash to the display. The SA, Jen, is used to my ADD and beauty enthusiasm. She was my old MAC SA from Youngstown. This release flew under my beauty radar. I do not remember getting this press release in 2009. Because if I did....I would have gushed all summer long.

Lightful is beyond MAGNIFICENT. It is a whitening product. I know there are justified arguments about this trend in skincare. However, I am a pale girl that actually would like to be more ghost-like. I covet the skin of Dita Von Teese and MUA's Nova Baby. I want to wear Nars Snow powder.

Lightful's Foaming Creme Cleanser is a thick, mousse-like, slightly pearlized cream. It puts you in the mind of La Creme Yogurt Vanilla Mousse. The fragrance is very fresh-like. You will only need a dime size amount of product. Anything more is truly excessive and a waste of the product. It leaves the skin refreshed and slightly tighter. The key selling point to this series is how it makes your skin feel. The softness is unparalleled. It will make you shudder.

I did not purchase the whole Lightful line so I can not attest to it's ultimate goal as a skin lightener. I can agree that your skin will feel incredible, your complexion will improve in tone and brightness and skin irritations will be held at bay.
It is a hidden gem in the MAC skincare line.
It is 100% worthy of lemming status and everyone needs to try it.

The availability appears to be in MAC free standing stores, the MAC and MAC Pro website and if you are lucky... at the CCO. I purchased this product at the Aurora Farms CCO for $19.25.
The regular price is $24.

If you have tried any of these products let us know in the comments.

Disclosure: I purchased this cleanser at a CCO store.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman

Credit: Melanie Parker /Veronica Lake in I Married A Witch.

Watch her run with ribbons undone

Day 20: Olay Body Wash Plus Body Butter Ribbons

By Annie

This is a highly moisturizing shower product. It is ultra thick with jojoba butter. The texture is pudding-like and could do double duty as a shaving cream. The main selling point is your skin feels so outrageously soft and moisturized after just one use. It is like there is a moisture barrier that the elements can not penetrate.

Olay's Butter Ribbons really delivers on a dramatic change in your skin's texture. This is a magnificent shower product for anyone who endures intense winters. The scent is Olay-like. It smells like the skin care. It retails for $4.99 and can be located at your local drugstore.

Let us know what your favorite moisturizing shower gel in the comments!

Disclosure: This product was provided by Devries.
Credit: Blogdorf Goodman
Credit: Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake in I married A Witch

Title: Tori Amos