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Ask Voxy
Latest on Wed, 04:41 pm
: Yeah, there are about three separate lines in that bit that make me laugh out loud and that is definitely one of them. :): Who, me? Not much. Just sitting in my crowded group office with five other (male) TAs, wheezing because I'm trying not to laugh aloud at the brilliant Homer Simpson quotation, "Women will like what I tell them to like!" which, you know, just really sums up almost every single piece [...]
: Oh, this is dangerous, prof_gnu -- I recently placed an Armani order and got a packet of the Luminous Silk foundation as a sample. It is almost assuredly not my color, but if the finish is as good on me as it is on you, I will have a hard [...]: Personally, I haven't tried it (yet). I have a stack of mascara samples and full-size tubes I need to get through before they dry out. I have heard mostly good comments from the blogosphere, though.
As for whether it would keep your rebellious lashes in line... hmm. Hard to say. Do [...]: So it's almost a year later, but I do have a report on the Armani Luminous Silk. I bought it in the color (5.25) and the Fluid Master Primer. I have recently purchased my second bottle of the Luminous Silk, but I'm moving to the Too Faced Primed and Poreless [...]
» Got a beauty question? Ask it here!
253 Comments
Can we discuss Kate Middleton’s wedding makeup? I thought it was not good but I’m not sure what I didn’t like. Is it a trend that I don’t appreciate?
a biologist(Quote)
Anyone looking to try mascara: Sephora has a new sampler set “Give Me Some Lash” that has several of the best ones, including Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes!, Clinique High Impact, and Buxom Lash. Smashbox Lash DNA is also a good one.
a biologist(Quote)
I just went out and bought Almay SmartShade foundation and powder — I’ll let you know how I like them. Also splurged (well, splurge for me) on a new gloss — one of the Cover Girl shades Taylor Swift is hawking. And an interesting thing, Sally Hansen has a clear lip pencil. On sale, so I grabbed that too. I’m excited to play tomorrow!
LadyStarlight(Quote)
My haul!
Tarte’s Lights, Camera, lashes!
Laura Mercier’s metallic creme eye colour in burnished copper
leading to the purchase of the Platinun cream eyeshadow brush
and I liked the looks of the black flat liner brush, so I got that too
And then there’s finally Urban Decay eye shadow in Frigid, with the 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in Rockstar
and I may have thrown a few other items that caught my eye into my basket…
Well, I kept it under $200. Slightly. yikes! But such fun. :) Thanks so much!
Ranganathan(Quote)
Oooh! It all sounds delightful. Let us know how the products work out — I will be so excited to hear about them!
Voxy(Quote)
I’ll write more when I’ve had time to properly play with the products, but WTF is up with the Camera, Lights, Lashes snakeskin??? I spent a good chunk of time trying to ‘unwrap’ it from what I was sure must be the real mascara bottle. The snakeskin is ugly and bulky- I don’t get it. The mascara itself? Rocks AND rolls.
Ranganathan(Quote)
I am laughing at this *so* hard. Chaos also tried to take the skin off hers. No go. Yes, that is the actual packaging. Someone chose that design, presumably over many others, ON PURPOSE.
You will remember that I originally described this as a purple snakeskin condom. Packaging: sucks. Mascara: awesome.
http://www.foxyvoxy.com/2009/11/21/review-tarte-lights-camera-lashes-mascara/
Voxy(Quote)
I agree. This is a great mascara. And you all know how picky I am when it comes it turning my eyelashes black and curly. Luckily, I had the trial size and didn’t get the hideous packaging.
a biologist(Quote)
Also, can I just say how much fun it would be to do Sephora with Chaos and Voxy?
a biologist(Quote)
Anytime, baby! I have never been to Your City, and I know you will soon be leaving it for Parts Unknown, but there may be time for a Makeup Meetup, you never know.
Voxy(Quote)
A Makeup Meetup would be so much fun! I will be in Voxyville again pretty soon, so if you’re not too far away A Biologist, we should totally do it!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who tried to strip the Lights Camera Lashes packaging off. How far did you get, Ranganathan? I got it off the bottom half but not the top, and it made it even more ugly because the snakeskin left sticky residue all over the plastic container underneath. The packaging for the waterproof version is even worse.
chaosbydesign(Quote)
That sounds great! Let’s see if we can make it work.
a biologist(Quote)
OMG OMG OMG I’m in a city with a Sephora just down the street from my hotel! I went in and once the awe-induced stupor broke, I wandered around and realized I could easily, easily max out my credit card here. I’m just overwhelmed. We don’t have Too Faced, or Urban Decay, or Laura Mercier, or Tarte etc in our area. I don’t know where to begin! Help, St. Voxy!
Ranganathan(Quote)
Oh, you are SO
in troublein for a good time! :)What do you need? What appeals to you? Depending on the size of the city and the size of the Sephora, they may or may not carry all the brands that are on the website. (Illamasqua, for instance, is found in very few brick-and-mortar Sephoras.) So that may influence what you end up with.
Best bets from the brands you named:
Too Faced: primers (TFSI, Too Faced Lip Insurance, and Primed & Poreless)
Urban Decay: shadow pencils, liner pencils (lip and eye both)
Laura Mercier: tinted moisturizer *if* you match one of the shades. Metallic Creme eye shadows, especially the one that’s called (I think) burnished copper? It’s a lovely chocolate color. Some lip colors; be aware that the gloss sticks, which are super-attractive, last for about ten seconds on the lips.
Tarte: eye shadows, cheek stains (swatch for color), brow stuff (emphasEYES pencil or Amazonian Clay Brow Mousse), Lights Camera Lashes mascara.
What else ya got? :)
Voxy(Quote)
This is EXACTLY the information I was looking for- which products each brand is best at. Thank you so much!
I do remember being especially drawn to Laura Mercier’s “baked eye color” in Violet Sky. I’m searching for a rich purple that won’t fade away in two blinks. Do you know if that one (if worn with primer) has any staying power?
Ranganathan(Quote)
You’ll have to swatch it on your hand in-store, I think. I have found LM eyeshadows to be uneven in quality — some are fabulous and others are almost invisible.
I also forgot (shame on me!) that Urban Decay eyeshadows are *really* very good. Check out both the “regular” and the “deluxe” — the deluxe holds more than the regular for about the same price. Don’t ask me why. There are several dark purples in that line: Ransom, Frigid, and Freakshow. DEFINITELY test on your hand first, because a couple of those don’t go on like they look like they will. (They are still pretty, but the one that looks more blue in the pan goes on more purple, and vice versa; very confusing.) Avoid the Stardust eyeshadows — those are glitter/fallout city.
And LORAC! She makes great eyeshadows. Look for the Starry-Eyed baked eyeshadow trio (I love this and just haven’t gotten around to reviewing it yet) in Star Struck (red-purple) or Starlet (blue-purple).
MUFE #92 is kind of the cult-classic violet shadow. It’s great; no complaints here.
Stila (do you have that where you normally are?) does lovely shadows too but they tend to be more neutral. If you get them, look for the singles or the trios (although Goddess is really the only good one in that set). Do not get a big (or little) Stila palette; those eyeshadows are made in China, not by the regular Stila production houses. And you *must* check out the convertible color blushes if you haven’t already.
Voxy(Quote)
Oh, and brushes! Highly recommended (by me) is the Sephora Professionnel Platinum Cream Eyeshadow Brush #25. It is the best eyeshadow brush ever. I do use it for creams mostly but sometimes also for powder shadows or foiling. (I have three; they’re *that* good.)
Voxy(Quote)
Voxy,
Could you do a fundamentals post on the order one should apply products in the morning? Does sunscreen go on before or after primer?
elsie(Quote)
But of course. Short answer: Assuming it’s a sunscreen in cream form, then before. If powder, after.
(The other hotly-debated question is whether it goes on before or after moisturizer. There’s no real consensus, though a generally useful rule of thumb is that if the sunscreen agent is chemical — thus needing to be absorbed into the skin — put it on before; if it’s a physical sunscreen — which will sit on top of the skin — put it on after.)
Voxy(Quote)
I’m testing two redness solutions products from Clinique. One is the Redness Solutions foundation and the other is the daily protective base. Just based on the make-up counter application, the foundation looks pretty good for covering redness with good coverage.
elsie(Quote)
Ooh! Good! I’m glad those look promising. The redness solutions powder has gotten some good press, though it also has its detractors. Definitely keep us posted! (Also on the skincare stuff you’re doing; I am hoping that that turns out well also.)
Voxy(Quote)
I can’t for the life of me find anything with BHA or AHA in local drugstores. I guess I’ll see what I can order online. Thanks!
frogfactory(Quote)
I’ve been getting annoyed by blackheads lately (suddenly my lack of a skincare regime seems to be catching up to me all at once, sigh) and was interested in the Biore pore cleansing strips. Rite-Aid also has a much cheaper generic version of the same product, but reviews are all either 1/5 or 5/5 for them. Thought I’d ask here for advice from real human beings that probably aren’t working for either company!
frogfactory(Quote)
They’re not really good for your skin because when removing them you may end up taking off skin and breaking capillaries.
Have you tried BHA? It doesn’t work overnight, but it usually does help.
Voxy(Quote)
I was a Biore user and I did indeed get broken capillaries. Don’t go there!
If you find a good product, please update.
a biologist(Quote)
Congratulations! I’m sure you’ll look as great as you sound/are smart.
Relationalista(Quote)
I wore minimal eye makeup with the Shiseido Tender Sheer in red (lightly applied). It looked pretty polished, if I do say so myself. Voxy’s tip to color in my eyebrows has made a huge difference.
a biologist(Quote)
I have some interviews! Now to think about makeup.
a biologist(Quote)
Hi Voxy, I wore make-up for about six months when I was a teen (in the 80s) and decided it was not for me. I’ve been happy not wearing makeup ever since. That said, I have an interview coming up (humanities dept at SLAC) and want to have some powder on hand for minimum coverage of my somewhat oily, very pale skin. I can remember the Coty airspun, but would consider the new minerals. Would loose powder or a compact be better? My “makeup” will consist of the powder and a slightly glossy lip balm. thanks.
asha(Quote)
Hi Voxy! Hope the end of term isn’t leaving too many footprints on you.
No question today, just a rant. I came across a link on another blog for Too Faced FUZE Slenderize Guilt Free Lip Gloss (the link triggers the spam alarm). It’s appetite-suppressing lip gloss (thanks a lot, Too Faced) with a built-in energy drink component — not for energy, or for drinking, but to keep a person from eating. Because we all know that eating is just plain bad, and should be avoided at all costs. Sheesh. Things like this make for a Very Grumpy Relationalista. Grrr.
Relationalista(Quote)
Hi Relationalista!
Geez. I agree with you on the grumpy-producing nature of this kind of thing. Eat, people, eat!
And to other readers, yes, we will be returning to actual blog postings soon! In addition to almost-end-of-term craziness, I have also come down with Something Unpleasant. I am trying to fight it by sleeping. Too early to tell if the strategy will be successful.
Voxy(Quote)
Sigh. Another example of cosmetics companies attempting to get people to buy their product with bad (or non-existent) science. There is *no way* that that lip gloss could possibly act as an appetite suppressant. No way.
In order for such a small volume of liquid to effectively suppress appetite, such a potent suppressant would have to be used that it would never get FDA approval. It would have to contain some freaking strong amphetamine or other controlled substance to have any effect on appetite in the miniscule amounts of it that you would ingest from applying it.
chaosbydesign(Quote)
So, I was looking for a creme (?cream) eyeliner today, and the only one in the shop was by Black Radiance. I bought it despite not being black, figuring there probably wasn’t any difference apart from the packaging and the colour palettes available. I’ve been thinking, though, when I’ve bought hair colour marketed toward black women, I have seen differences in the way the colour comes out in my hair. Obviously there are differences between afro and caucasian hair – are there actually significant differences in skin type at all? Or is this purely marketing?
froggie(Quote)
I think it’s primarily marketing and color offerings.
There are a couple of skincare companies that have specialized in particular ethnicities. For example, Rx For Brown Skin creates products that they promote as being particularly useful for brown skin. Are they really? I dunno. I can see that acne scars on darker skin tones might need a different “fix” than acne scars on lighter skins, and that their pigmentation-relation issues would be different.
However, as far as cosmetics go, I think you should feel free to buy from any cosmetics line, no matter who its target audience is, if you like the product and the color works on you.
Voxy(Quote)
Vox, will you be attending the Blogalicious Conference? I heard a radio announcement for it today, and thought immediately of you.
http://blogaliciousweekend.com/
Francie(Quote)
Hah! I can just see writing *that* request for professional development funds. ;)
No, alas, I will be toiling here all weekend doing midterm grades, a task that definitely does not end in -licious.
Voxy(Quote)
Lip Liner 101 would probably be the most helpful overall (I’m getting to that age where I think I’ll need a liner to wear lipstick soon….) but it’s also stuff like “match to lipstick?” “is there a ‘one colour fits all?’” type of thing.
LadyStarlight(Quote)
Voxy, I’d like to learn about lip liners. Mostly because I’m thinking about picking up that Shisedo red lippy and am thinking I might need a liner with it. Help?
LadyStarlight(Quote)
But of course. What kind of info are you looking for? (I’m happy to launch into Lip Liners 101, but I don’t want to bore you with unnecessary info if you have a particular question.)
Voxy(Quote)
On a positive note, the TooFaced eye primer is fantastic! No creasing all day, and I hve the oiliest eyelids ever!
Booklover(Quote)
I have oily lids as well and this it’s a lifesaver!
a biologist(Quote)
TFSI is without doubt the best product I have purchased this year. It is now part of my daily makeup routine and I would not be without it. I’ve tried a couple of other primers (LORAC and UD) but neither are anywhere near as effective as TFSI.
chaosbydesign(Quote)
Do you have any wisdom on a cream or serum for Couperose? I have thought about couperose-C or Ole Henrikson’s Black Currant oil. Any thoughts? I read the rosacea guest review which was very informative since I think the sensitivity issues are similar.
baz(Quote)
The Couperose-C serum has good reviews. In the long run you might find that a dermatological procedure (laser or pulsed-light therapy, or microsclerosis) might be necessary if it really bothers you. There are, I suspect, limits to what a topical regimen can do when the problem is broken capillaries beneath the skin.
Of the two products you suggest, I’d be more inclined to go with the Couperose-C over the Black Currant Oil.
I have a bit of couperose myself, so I’d be interested to hear if these work for you. (Mine is very, very mild, though, and makeup usually covers it just fine.)
Voxy(Quote)
Voxy, do you apply liquid foundation with a foundation brush? If so, how do you do it so that you can’t see that it has been applied with a brush? When I do it it kind of looks like a badly painted wall. Apparently when done correctly, liquid foundation looks best having been applied with a brush, so I’d like to be able to get it right. Do you think I need a new technique or a new brush?
(If you say new brush, I will hold you personally responsible for any unplanned purchases I make at various makeup counters when I go to get one…)
chaosbydesign(Quote)
I think that foundation applied with a brush almost always looks better when it’s blended afterwards by stippling a slightly damp sponge over it. (Fingers can also be used to blend, but I like the sponge better.) I use a Beautyblender for this.
The other thing that helps is making sure the brush is evenly loaded with foundation in the first place. I don’t know how you’re getting the foundation onto the brush, but a small dish or palette makes it easy — you can pour out a tiny bit of foundation and swirl the brush in it and then swipe the brush on the edge of the dish (both sides of the brush) to make sure the brush is evenly loaded. That will help prevent having gobs of foundation in one place and patchy areas in others.
That being said, a good brush does help.
Voxy(Quote)
I don’t actually think there’s anything wrong with the brush itself, it’s soft and the bristles don’t fall out of it etc (what’s the best way to clean brushes, by the way? It does get bits of dried up foundation stuck in between the bristles), it’s probably the way I apply it. I’ll try with a sponge later, and I’m definitely not applying the foundation to the brush in the best way (squirting it out of the tube directly onto the brush). Thanks!
The Beautyblender looks good — I just searched your review on that and think I may have to invest in one (not just because it is pink and egg-shaped, but that is part of the appeal of it…)
chaosbydesign(Quote)
I thought the brush-cleaning question was probably better addressed by a post, since I’m sure you’re not the only one wondering.
Voxy(Quote)
I am having an acne breakout like I’ve never had before! I’m 40 and have been fighting mild/moderate acne since I was a teen. I’ve tried every drugstore regieme as well as Retinol-A,oral antibiotics,oral vitamin A, and a topical antibiotic. I recently stopped Yazmin that I was taking for a hormone condition, and that is when the bad breakouts started. Currently I use a cleanser with triclosan, salicylic acid pads, and Olay’s microdermabrasion/peel twice a week. Benzoyl peroxide is too drying to use all over my face,and the salicylic acid really doesn’t seem to do much. Any suggestions?
Booklover(Quote)
This is a toughie. Oil secretion is related to hormones, so going off the Yazmin is probably the single biggest contributing factor, especially since you mention having a pre-existing hormone condition.
Having a good topical regime will help, but I suspect that solving the underlying problem will require visits to both your dermatologist and your primary care doctor (or whoever was treating you for the hormone condition).
As far as topical regimes go, though, there might be some tweaking you can do. What percentage benzoyl peroxide are you using? Studies have shown that there is no significant benefit to concentrations above 2.5%, so if you are using a 5% or 10% concentration and experiencing dryness (which is normal) then you might be able to dial it down with better results.
The Clarisonic is a great cleansing tool, but pricey.
Salicylic acid is supposed to help clear out pores from the inside; it is fat-soluble, so it can penetrate the oil in the pores to go to work on pore walls. It’s a preventive measure, not so much a treatment measure. The product has to be at a good pH, though, or the acid isn’t effective. Unfortunately, the pH of most products isn’t marked on the box. Neutrogena 3-in-1 is supposed to be at the right pH.
How is the microdermabrasion peel working? I wonder if you might consider switching to a daily AHA cream instead of twice-a-week peels. Alpha Hydrox creams are good and inexpensive.
For individual pimples, you might try the Zeno Hot Spot, which I reviewed a month or two ago (the search function here actually works, so you should be able to find it). This little gadget is pretty effective.
If you want to really spend some money, the Baby Quasar or Tanda blue-light systems have some good results; they kill acne bacteria with light at a certain frequency. Disclaimer: I do not own either of those, but I do own the red Baby Quasar, which is supposed to help with pigmentation and wrinkles; I haven’t used it consistently enough to review it yet.
Finally, this is something that has made a difference for me: stop drying your face with a towel and use paper towels instead, so you have a new towel every time you dry your face after washing. If you dry your face with a regular towel that you then use again, your chances of putting bacteria right back onto your face are much better.
Voxy(Quote)
I am seeing that “Plum” is a big color for makeup this fall, but all the looks I am seeing are not really appropriate for day or the kind of evening activities I attend–they’d be great if I were a vampire hipster but alas, no. Voxy, I know you like purple. Would you be able to show us or tell us about how to wear this trend, especially in day looks or casual-drinks-at-the-Mexican-place-next-to-campus-after-work looks?
a biologist(Quote)
Maybe just use a little bit of plum, rather than trying to create a whole ‘look’ with it? I tried to do that with the LORAC Private Affair palette this morning.
I put Creamy Beige over TFSI as a base (from lashline up to eyebrows), then used a *very* small amount of Deep Wine on the lid — literally just touched the shadow with the edge of the brush (I used the flat side of a Bare Escentuals tapered shadow brush) — and blended that from my lashes up to the crease of my eyelid. Then I used the tip of the brush (same brush) to add a little more Deep Wine in the crease, but still not using that much product, and blended that in with Sephora blending brush #29. It ends up more of a lilac purple than a plum, but it’s definitely suitable for the sort of occasions you describe. I also tightlined my eyes with Tarte emphasEYES and used Too Faced Liquif-Eye to create liquid liner with Deep Wine, which I used in a thin line on the upper lashline and flicked it out a bit at the edges. That makes it maybe a little more dramatic, but it’s still a subtle look, IMO.
I’d show you pictures, but I suck at taking pictures and can’t take any that show the shadow how it actually looks in real life.
chaosbydesign(Quote)
That sounds really pretty! I have tried a little purple eyeshadow but it wasn’t really doing much. Basically my eyelids are already pinky-purple so the light application of eyeshadow just blended in and didn’t look like I was wearing shadow at all. I need to get some sort of beige base coat working for me so that I have more control over the end color. I love the liner idea. That sounds like the key to making it work.
a biologist(Quote)
In general I think that using a trend color as an eyeliner is the easiest way to alter/update an otherwise classic look. I am going to try to post some looks tomorrow.
Voxy(Quote)
Just back from Sephora. I bought a plum Tarte emphasEYES and a sample size Lights Camera Lashes. I also got some sample night creams for this winter. I can’t believe how bold I am now about going in there and even asking for samples. I’m an Insider. I’m wearing TWO colors of eyeshadow. I can do it!
I was going to look at lippies but I wasn’t sure what I wanted so I need to do some research first.
a biologist(Quote)
You are the cutest glamazon EVER. I am so excited for you conquering Sephora! Send pics if you come up with an eye look you like!
Voxy(Quote)
I will! I’ve been experimenting a lot but nothing I’m ready to show off yet. Today I didn’t wear shadow, but I wore the plum eyeliner, layered with a warm medium brown one to make it more suitable for day and it looked really good.
a biologist(Quote)
Ooh, this is great information, thanks. I had stopped using the pads for a while because, although they came highly recommended, they seemed to be a bit too much for my skin. Then I read a tip that using something like this right after exercising will help to remove any buildup if a shower is not on the immediate horizon, so I thought I’d give them a shot again for that purpose. I will try your suggestions and will see about moving to a less-alcoholy pad/wipe in the future.
ab_grp(Quote)
Oh! For post-exercise use you can use any cleansing wipe you like (although again, alcohol-free is better). I like Basis So Refreshing Facial Cleansing Cloths — which, non-coincidentally, are also individually packaged. I get mine at ULTA but I think they are also at some drugstores.
Voxy(Quote)
Hi Vox! My Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction pads have dried out pretty well, and I was wondering whether you have any tips or suggestions for re-wetting them. They’re not completely dry, but I’d like to try to restore them to their former state. Any thoughts? Thanks!
ab_grp(Quote)
Oy. This is a toughie, and here’s why: those pads are 46% alcohol. (And unless you love love love them more than anything else in the world except significant others or pets, I would advise switching to something else when you’re done with the container. That much alcohol is not good for skin.)
The acids in the pads are also only effective at a certain pH, so depending on what you spritz them with, you may be altering that pH.
That being said, my best suggestion would be to spritz the pads with a pH-neutral toner (understanding that pH-neutral in skincare means slightly acidic and therefore helping to maintain skin’s acid mantle) right before use. You might also try saturating a cotton ball with witch hazel, which is supposed to be pH-neutral, and putting it inside the container. Re-moisten the cotton ball as needed.
I hate it when pads dry out, so this is why I buy my MD Skincare Alpha/Beta peel pads in the travel version, in which each pad is individually sealed. I pay more for them than for pads in a jar, but I don’t end up having to throw any away because they’ve dried out, so in the long run it’s more cost-efficient for me.
Let me know if these work for you!
Voxy(Quote)
Just wanted to apologize for quoting your reply rather than replying to it. I think I have the hang of it now! And thanks for your suggestions.
ab_grp(Quote)
Oh, no worries. I don’t really love the way that WordPress handles this shiz, anyway.
Voxy(Quote)
Thirteen little tubes of black gunk can go in, but only one can walk out.
How’s that for a tagline?
The Mascara Challenge is complete.
a biologist(Quote)
I heart it.
Will you do a writeup so I can post it?
(I can’t wait to hear which one wins!)
Voxy(Quote)
Sure! I’ll probably have it ready tomorrow.
a biologist(Quote)
Who needs moisturiser when your car can do it for you? This is from a description of the new Nissan Leaf:
“The in-car skincare system is one of a variety of safety and convenience innovations that will soon appear in new Nissans. The company calls it a Health and Well-Being concept.
As well as spraying vitamin C into the cabin, the new air conditioning system will detect bad odours and neutralise them, as well as reducing bacteria so the atmosphere within the car is fresher than the outside”
The full story can be found here –http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/30072010/36/new-nissans-keep-looking-young-0.html
chaosbydesign(Quote)
“The emotional aspect of a car has become increasingly important,” said Nissan engineer Kenichi Tanaka.
Is this code for “this car is for women”?
a biologist(Quote)
Yeah, this crossed my attention span the other day. If they want to make a car that will boost beauty and health, then they should be spending their time and money coming up with automobile window glass that blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
As for the rest of it, I will remain skeptical till I see the clinical results.
Voxy(Quote)
What a concept. Eco-consciousness meets primal desire for beauty meets modern germa/smella-phobia. “Save the earth, look more glamorous and, bonus!, be sanitized for your and everyone’s protection.” It’s a marketing home run for sure.
Francie(Quote)
Jeez. I wonder if my local B&M has it in stock. I can’t be arsed to hang around on sephora.com waiting for it to come into stock! (And that is a DANGEROUS corner of the internet to hang out on, anyway!)
marigolds(Quote)
Ack! I got the alert email from Sephora, squealed, dropped everything I was doing, and hastened over to the website but was apparently not in time. I kept reloading just in case, but still no luck. I don’t know if I need to sign up again for the alert or if it will automatically send another email when the palette is in stock again. Waah! I feel so deprived.
ab_grp(Quote)
I didn’t get my alert until this morning, and by the time I saw it it was gone. I’m still not going to be quite confident that I am getting it until I get the shipping notice. I wonder how long it will be before they can keep it in stock for 24 hours?
a biologist(Quote)
I suspect it’s a problem with when the alerts go out. I’d signed up to be alerted on the UD website when it first came out there, and by the time my alert arrived it was already sold out. Of course, I was stalking the website anyway, so I saw it go up, but still. I’m not sure those alerts are really reliable for super-in-demand products.
Voxy(Quote)
Naked Palette appears in be in stock at Sephora.com right now.
a biologist(Quote)
Hurry hurry run run!
;)
Voxy(Quote)
I did! The timing is perfect. I finish the mascara challenge tomorrow and wanted to test out eye primers next.
a biologist(Quote)
Voxy, I finally got my shipment from e.l.f. (Shipping to Canada often takes a while.) Not only did I buy a whack of stuff for virtually nothing thanks to the 60% off sale, I opened the box to find that they had also thrown in their 11-piece studio brush collection as an extra, just because. Now I am awash in brushes! I don’t know why this makes me so excited since I don’t know what to do with most of them, but still: yay! Since ordering from them I’ve been getting their email offers which are always incredible, but not only am I not sure how much more stuff I need (realistically, I don’t actually wear that much make-up, even though I now wear a greater range of things than I used to and more regularly and I lemming all kinds of things for which I have absolutely no need and would not actually use if purchased [mostly to your credit] — which I guess is what lemming is all about), the e.l.f. stuff is so reasonably priced to begin with than I can’t imagine ordering another $25 of stuff to get the awesome-looking free add-ons. Not that I’m complaining. Spending $25 at Sephora is waaaaay easier, and fun, but not always so satisfyingly giddy-inducing.
Relationalista(Quote)
Oooh!!!!!
Yeah, their email marketing strategy could probably best be described as “bombardment.” I ordered several things from that 60% off sale myself and expect to find that package waiting for me when I get home!
Re: brushes — practice on your arm. Take the brush and roll it around in an eyeshadow or a blush and apply it to your arm to see whether it makes a line or a big puffy circle or an amorphous blob. That will help you figure out how to use it as well as how much product you’ll need to put on it.
Voxy(Quote)
Thanks, good strategy!
Here’s a specific brush question. You’ve mentioned that you put moisturizer onto your foundation brush before the foundation itself. How much? Do you just swirl it around in moisturizer? Does this mean that you need extra foundation on the brush after? I use fingers to apply liquid foundation, and used powder foundation previously (MAC Studiofix, for which I did use a brush, of course). I get the point of the moisturizer on the brush — just not entirely how to do it.
Relationalista(Quote)
I forgot to come back to this question! Sorry, Relationalista.
I use Kiehl’s Cryste Marine Ultra Riche cream moisturizer, which is fairly thick. After I’ve done my primer, etc., I take a small amount of it with my pinky finger (somewhere between the size of a pea and a garbanzo bean — why don’t we ever talk about garbanzo beans as a unit of size? Anyway…) and put it on the back of my left hand. Then I take the brush and pull it through the moisturizer — it takes several swipes for it to really be worked in. Since foundation brushes are flat, I try to make sure that I stick to moisturizing the same side I’m then going to pick up the foundation with.
This works really well with my cream foundation (MAC Mineralize Skinfinish cream) but it’s been awhile since I tried it with a liquid foundation, so I can’t speak to the proportions. If your skin is oily, this is probably wholly unnecessary, but it has helped keep my foundation from getting dry and scaly on my face. (I also think it makes it easier to clean my foundation brush, since the first thing that clings to the bristles is colorless moisturizer, not pigmented foundation, so that just slides right off when you wash the brush.)
If using your fingers is working for you, no need to change, of course.
Voxy(Quote)
I am so jealous! That is an awesome extra! (I didn’t think they were known for gifts with purchase, but I *did* think they were known for mis-packing orders. Perhaps you got the lucky end of that?)
I am really happy with all the ELF stuff I got so far, actually. The shadows are really soft and nice with good color payoff, the lippies feel nice and deliver color well, and the nail polish is MUCH better than I expected. (I LOVE the coral color; it’s actually a gorgeous true pink with gold shimmer. It’s the perfect toenail polish for the summer!) The brush I ordered seems fine too. I really thought it might be a bit crap for such a low price, but it’s pretty decent quality!
marigolds(Quote)
I see that if you order now you get 10 free mineral eyeshadow. Has anyone tried those?
a biologist(Quote)
I think maybe it was a packing accident, but I can’t imagine complaining! It was a very unexpected surprise: far more than the value of the rest of my order, and an incredible overcompensation for not having one of my items in stock (a cheap one, at that). I had ordered some brushes from them in the sale and so now have a couple of duplicates, but no matter!
I’m happy with my haul so far, though I haven’t used everything yet. I agree with marigolds about the studio eye shadows and with Voxy about the studio blushes. Impressive. I haven’t used the mineral shadows, though, so can’t help our biologist — sorry.
Relationalista(Quote)
Hi Foxy -
It appears that Neutrogena has discontinued my skin’s savior, the Anti Wrinkle Anti Blemish line. It used a combination of salicylic acid and retinol. Do you have any advice on a replacement skincare line? I hate the idea of having to double up anti wrinkle and anti blemish products once again.
All best,
Jen
Jen(Quote)
Hi Jen,
Oof! Yes, that line has been discontinued. How do you feel about Neutrogena’s other products? Their oil-free acne stress control line has salicylic acid, but no retinol as far as I know. The “ageless intensives” line does have retinol and I think is intended to replace the Anti-Wrinkle/Anti-Blemish line (although I wonder if they are trying to fix something that’s not broken, because a lot of people really seemed to like that line).
I think it’s really difficult to find an effective retinol in a drugstore product. I would not recommend ROC, for instance, but that’s because my personal experience with it was less than impressive. (I can enthusiastically recommend the Cosmedix Refine retinol treatment, and have a review of it coming up soon, but it is definitely not in the drugstore price range and it does not also have BHA.)
If you use a toner, you might try looking for a BHA one (alcohol-free). This would not be adding an extra product to your routine, just changing around what you already do.
Paula’s Choice makes a Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum that has retinol in it and that has a lot of good reviews (haven’t tried it myself). Link:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/product/skin-recovery-super-antioxidant-concentrate-serum?filter=itemtype%3aproduct
… and she also makes a product called CLEAR Targeted Acne Relief Exfoliating Toner that has 2% BHA:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/product/clear-targeted-acne-relief-toner-two-percent-salicylic-acid?filter=itemtype%3aproduct
But yeah, I would go with trying to find a product type you already use that contains one or more of these ingredients, so as not to add more products to your regime!
Let me know what you come up with — I’ll be interested to hear! Also, perhaps we have other readers who have tried different drugstore lines with BHA and retinol and can comment…?
Good luck!
Voxy
Voxy(Quote)
Bummer! But thanks for the tips. I’ve hoarded an impressive stash of AW/AB products (whatever I could find at any drugstore in my path), so I have some time to check out your recommendations – will report back! Many thanks!
Jen(Quote)
The first round of the Mascara Challenge is complete. 8 of the 13 I am testing have been eliminated. I will say this for expensive brands–they all functioned at least twice as well as the Cover Girl Pro.
a biologist(Quote)
Ooooh! Very suspenseful!!! I am really interested to hear the results!
Voxy(Quote)
With the heat and humidity here, it’s Mascara Survivor.
a biologist(Quote)
I can’t recommend this personally as I haven’t used it, but I’ve been hearing a fair bit about something called Nanoblur (http://www.indeedlabs.com/). It has unbelievable marketing language (and also unbelievable marketing images — which I guess means an unbelievable marketing budget): “10 years younger in 40 seconds”. It’s meant to “blur” our wrinkles and imperfections with little tiny prisms. It actually sounds rather like a primer to me, as it contains silicone and isn’t a make-up (it has no colour). I looked for reviews since it’s quite inexpensive for such things ($19), and some folks seem to love it but it’s also fairly new and so there aren’t yet too many reports on it. Any knowledge of this, Voxy? Sounds like it might work for Susan.
Relationalista(Quote)
Yes, I think it is basically a primer, and there certainly are a lot of -cones in it! My only concern about that is that the second ingredient, adipic acid, is described by Wikipedia (I know, I know) as a mild skin irritant. It makes me worry that any “plumping out” of wrinkles would come about as a result of the adipic acid irritating the skin and causing inflammation and swelling — not on a huge scale, but I don’t think that deliberately inflaming the skin on a daily basis is a good idea. But I haven’t tried the product, so everyone’s mileage may vary.
I am also very suspicious of those before/after photos, and the misspellings and occasional syntactical errors on their website doesn’t necessarily do much to allay that. But I am a cynic.
Voxy(Quote)
I’m sure you’ll just love the marketing for this product on one site I came across, Voxy — “contains the latest peptide technologies and technological derivatives”
Technological derivatives?!
This is all I can pull up from PubMed on adipic acid (actually, a compound formed from it and butyl alcohol) –
http://ijt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/25/1_suppl/129. Dibutyl Adipate might be safe, but I’m not sure I’d advise putting adipic acid on your skin on a regular basis.
chaosbydesign(Quote)
Yeah, it just doesn’t seem wise. It’s like those lip plumpers that plump your lips by irritating them with cinnamon oil. You might as well slap yourself in the face and get the same swollen effect for free.
Voxy(Quote)
I am beginning to notice lines running horizontally across my forehead. They are not yet deep and I do not want to go the Botox route. I would appreciate suggestions (cosmetic, over the counter remedies, etc. )for minimizing their appearance.
Susan(Quote)
Hi Susan!
Do you have a good moisturizer and a good primer? Those help a lot by plumping up the skin and filling in the wrinkle just a bit with silicone. I use both a moisturizer with silicone (Kiehl’s Cryste Marine Ultra Riche) and a primer with silicone (Too Faced P&P, etc.) and find that this helps a lot.
A soft-focus setting powder (MUFE HD, Coastal Scents Silica Spheres, etc.) also helps — the idea is to set a liquid or cream foundation with powder in a way that blurs the appearance of wrinkles (as opposed to a heavier powder that might collect in wrinkles and make them more obvious). Use a big fluffy brush to apply.
Voxy(Quote)
Hi Voxy!
What wonderful advice! I currently use Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 but as I’ve aged I am discovering that I need to upgrade and use an enhanced product. Thanks for your excellent tip about moisturizers that contain silicone and for your advice about how to use foundation and powder to blur the appearance of wrinkles. I’m actually excited about trying this out!
Susan Alexis(Quote)
“…as I’ve aged I am discovering that I need to upgrade and use an enhanced product.”
Ain’t that the truth. :/
If you have a Sephora near you, see if you can get some moisturizer samples before buying. Skincare is spendy. Also (Public Service Announcement) if you end up changing your moisturizer, don’t forget to add a sunscreen back into your routine somewhere!
Just yell if you want specific recommendations for your skin type — everyone here will be happy to let you know what works for them!
Voxy(Quote)
Hi Voxy!
Thanks again for your help. Yes, I’ve come to the realization that I’m going to have to work skincare into my budget. Both Sephora and Ulta are located about an hour from here so I need to carve out some time within the next few weeks to visit both.
When I recently saw the photos that a colleague took at a conference we both attended I found, to my horror, that I am really looking washed out – particularly around my eyes and mouth, almost to the point of appearing “grayish.” My skin seemed OK – I apply sunblock first, then a primer (Smashbox, no silicone), then a light powder for ageing skin. Do you have any prior posts here about making (ageing) eyes and lips “pop” ? Would the Too Face Lip Insurance you write about below help?
I don’t consider myself vain but looking attractive is something that is important to me.
Thanks.
Susan Alexis(Quote)
I am running off at the moment so I need to write a more detailed response later, but what is the active ingredient in your sunblock? If it’s titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and it isn’t in “micronized” form, then those both make your skin look terribly whitish in photos (in ways that chemical sunscreens don’t). So it may not be as bad as you think!
Uh, unless you are also a supermodel and are photographed all the time. ;)
Voxy(Quote)
I wish I had more time to devote to this wonderful site! I do read (and appreciate) all of your email updates.
Haha, well, I’m 5’3″ and middle-aged so I never was and never will be supermodel material. ;) I was just struck by how “faded” I looked as opposed to how great I felt.
I live in the southern part of the U.S. so I wear sunblock almost every day, all year. I use Aveeno now – I switched from Neutrogena because I found that I looked terribly whitish, not only in photos, but in person.
Thanks again for this site. I will try to keep up with it during the academic year.
Susan Alexis(Quote)
I’m using the Fresh brand Soy facewash. It is very gentle–I use it on my eyes as well. It’s got a texture that’s like a creamy gel. I am on my second tube, I like it so much. FYI, My skin is dry, but not very. I think it would be great if you are worried about irritation.
My concealer needs are different (blemishes and undereye circles), but I also love the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer.
a biologist(Quote)
I’d like a good primer, now that I’ve discovered them. I’d like a good long-lasting lip color. Skincare is always a concern of mine, due to rosacea and acne scars.
elsie(Quote)
Well, you know my take on primers. If you are not sensitive to silicone, I highly recommend Too Faced Primed & Poreless or Tarte Clean Slate. I am less good at suggesting non-silicone primers because in general I haven’t found them to make much of a difference. I would avoid Benefit primers; neither their “That Gal” primer nor their new “poreless” one is worth it.
I am so impressed with how well the Too Faced Lip Insurance extends the life of lip color that I would suggest trying that under your current lip color before going out and buying a billion new ones. I am also really impressed with the UD 24/7 lip pencils, and I find that TFLI plus lip pencil plus any shade of gloss = long-lasting lip color that survives hours of talking, etc. Laura Mercier lip colors are also nice and she has a wide range of pretty neutrals. Stay away from the Tarte lip crayon things — they don’t stay on at all, no matter what the marketing language promises.
Inthelab is really a rosacea expert, so she might have particular suggestions for that. What are you currently using for cleanser/moisturizer/sunscreen/etc.?
Voxy(Quote)
What type of things do you need/want? Color products, like eyeshadow and lipstick? Primer-type things? Skincare? It’s a good place to try out a million foundation shades to see which one’s your perfect match/formulation if you’re in the market for foundation.
marigolds(Quote)
I’m about to embark on a trip to a place with a Sephora. What should my shopping list include?
elsie(Quote)
Has anyone tried the MUA Makeup Academy range currently selling at Superdrug for £1 per item? With the price being so low, I am tempted to order *everything*, however I’m not sure about the quality of the products due to the price. I haven’t got time to go and test them in-store — any opinions? Good bargain, or waste of money?
chaosbydesign(Quote)
Thanks, Francie!
Froggy(Quote)
You’re welcome, and good luck!
And an update on Buf-Puf. Good news! 3M makes still them, yay! Why my local stores stopped carry Buf-Puf, I don’t know. Boo! Anyway, there’s a special offer on the 3M site. If you buy three of the same item, you can get one item free. I suggest ordering three body scrubs and then you can get the backscrubber free. It comes with one body sponge. Of course, you might do better at Amazon. You’d get free shipping for that same number of items.
Also try the Nivea Essentially Enriched lotion I raved about below. I sent Nivea a thank-you note via its website. Really. I did. I think I’m going insane.
Francie(Quote)
Need to re-order skincare from Sephora. What little under $20 treat should I add to get the free shipping?
a biologist(Quote)
Oooh! Hold on, let me look. Back in a sec.
Voxy(Quote)
OK! Here are many links:
Tarte EmphasEYES brow pencil, $19.50 (recently reviewed; I think you would take the medium brown shade)
http://u.nu/8upjc
Beautyblender sponge! $19.95
http://u.nu/5vpjc
Crazylibellule solid perfumes (which, OMG, I did not know were at Sephora, and how exciting is that!?), $16
http://u.nu/7wpjc
Small container of Josie Maran Argan Oil, $14
http://u.nu/2xpjc
Kat von D Rock-n-Roll Eyeshadow Duos — I mention these because you liked the blue in the Smashbox set and she has a blue eyeshadow pair that’s in stock. Her shadows have a lovely consistency. $10.
http://u.nu/2ypjc
There is also a good deal from Stila on the “It Girl” palette, which is 3 shadows including their famous Kitten shade for $10. I picked this up today (will review shortly) and one of the shades is quite yellow and I think will not work well on either of us. However, if you’re interested, the link is below. (If you’ve been thinking of getting Kitten anyway, it’s cheaper to pick it up in this palette even if you never use the other 2 shades.)
http://u.nu/92qjc
How are those?
Voxy(Quote)
Oooh, I knew you would have good ideas!
I think I will get the brow pencil. I have been coloring in my brows with taupe shadow while I figure out a real brow solution. I’m trying to create a daily look that will travel easily (1 quart zippie rule), and a pencil is great for that.
BTW, you were right. Filling in my brows makes a huge difference in my look, without it being obvious I’m wearing anything there at all.
Although those eyeshadows are gorgeous, and solid perfume would be great for travel too…maybe next month, when I order the naked palette!
a biologist(Quote)
Ooh, are you going to do a guest post? I’d love to hear about them!
marigolds(Quote)
Yes please!
Voxy(Quote)
Sure, I can do that. It will probably be another 2 – 3 weeks before I’ve given each one a fair trial–besides the 10 in the box I’ve got a Clinique sample and the Sephora birthday mascara.
a biologist(Quote)
Hi Vox! I finally found enough time to check out FoxyVoxy and wish you success. Even though I am not a big consumer of cosmetics (which could change if I hang out here long enough), I love, love, love your posts. The much-deserved dissing of Chanel cotton wipes had me in stitches.
I also stopped by to give a big thumbs-up to a new body lotion I’m using, Nivea Essentially Enriched. It promises that it “dramatically improves skin condition over time”. And it really does! I’m not even finished with one bottle and already I see an incredible difference. I have very dry skin, not helped by the fact that I live in a cold climate and in a house that could double as a food dehydrator when the furnace is running.
I will now attempt to post this comment for the second time today. The first one was intercepted by the spam filter. :(
Francie(Quote)
Yay, success! Welcome, Francie!!! You shouldn’t have any trouble posting in future; it’s set up to moderate the first post from an email addy but once that’s approved, no others need moderation unless they contain a bunch of links.
I’m glad to hear about the Nivea — do you have to use it every day? I’m bad at consistency and compliance.
(Oh, and if you hang out here long enough you probably will start to become a cosmetics consumer. Just ask around. This community is responsible for much cosmetic mayhem and foolishness!) :)
Voxy(Quote)
Thanks for the welcome, Vox! Yes, success, sort of. It’s not the email address itself causing trouble, but it might be the AOL browser. I just tried to reply while in AOL, and got the same message that tells me I’m posting from some kind of “proxy”.
To be continued. . .
I’ll post a follow-up about the Nivea tomorrow.
Francie(Quote)
Oh boy, mayhem and foolishness!?! If that’s true, I may never have to visit CHE again!
Okay, about the Nivea Essentially Enriched lotion. I too have compliance issues; it always seems like I’m fighting a losing battle with dry skin everywhere but on my face! Very discouraging.
I purchased Nivea EE because the store didn’t have the “original” lotion, or whatever they’re calling it now, which I’ve used off and on for years with okay results. The EE product is a bit stickier, but not terribly so, and it has a very pleasant, mild scent. To my nose, there’s a soupçon of lily-of-the-valley. Mmmm! Anyway, what I’ve noticed after just a few weeks of use is 1) the promised dramatic improvement, and 2) continued silky smoothness even when a day or two is skipped and even on my lower legs that are and always have been, sad to say, positively reptilian in their dryness.
The only drawback to this lotion is that it contains almond oil. Anyone with nut allergies probably should not use it.
Francie(Quote)
Also, the navy eyeliner looks fantastic for summer. Thanks!
a biologist(Quote)
I am using TFSI already to combat smearing. The best so far are Sephora Lash Stretcher, Cargo Lash Activator, Fresh Supernova, Clinique High Impact, Laura Mercier Thickening. Tarte 4 day stain doesn’t flake but has other issues. Benefit Bad Gal was the worst, also Hourglass Superficial, UD Skyscraper, Korres Abbysinia. Smashbox Lash DNA wand was unnervingly large so I didn’t do a second trial.
a biologist(Quote)
Working my way through the Sephora mascara sampler with varying success. Can anyone tell me if mascara flaking by the afternoon is something to do with application, or I am just tough on mascara?
a biologist(Quote)
Usually that’s the mascara’s fault, not yours. In some cases using a lash primer will help, but really, there’s a limit to how many primers I’m willing to use.
What’s good and bad for you so far?
Voxy(Quote)
dear Voxalicious one,
you recently mentioned your appreciation of things called “spas” with which I am not really familiar.
I’d like to learn more.
Like, how do you find one?
How does one afford one with a VAP salary?
Where are nice ones in the midwest? Are there nice ones in the midwest?
I need something and maybe a spa is it.
baz(Quote)
“you recently mentioned your appreciation of things called “spas” with which I am not really familiar.”
*faints*
This is so funny because you are pretty much the perfect person to appreciate a good spa experience. Let me write up a post; there may be others who would want to know who don’t necessarily follow the wall comments.
Voxy(Quote)
OK,
I have a tip for you. My friend who on occasion helps out his friends who run a trucking mafia told me that things that say SPA in big letters on the side of the interstate are really brothels where the women hose down truckdrivers.
Eeew.
Good thing I haven’t yet tried spa-ing and now I will wait for your wise counsel in the forthcoming post–and probably a few years more so as to make the money to afford it.
baz(Quote)
Well, there are actual spas, and then there are things that call themselves spas (and, more often, “massage parlors”) that are, indeed, kind of soft-core brothels.
VERY DIFFERENT.
Much of the time these “other” kinds of places will advertise things like “Asian massage” which really means “Asian girls.” I won’t go into more detail so as not to gross you out, but these are NOT the spas that we are going to talk about.
Thank you, though — I should put something about that in the post.
Voxy(Quote)
Froggy, try Tarte’s EmphasEYES (their emphasIS, not mine), which is made specifically for the inner rim of the eye. I’ve had decent success with it in my pursuit of non-smudging lower edge liner, but I’m now trying to work with powder (the MAC gal told me that for oily lids — which I still don’t think I have — waterproof isn’t the way to go because the problem isn’t water, it’s oil. Duh. She recommended a a powder liner that gets worked in very well, and I’ll eventually report).
Totally separate: I have come to the realization that I’m not really a gloss girl. I have succumbed to the lure of many glosses lately, most of which were drastically on sale so the cash trash wasn’t too horrendous, but ultimately realized that I like a lustre-textured lipstick but only occasionally like things as shiny as a true gloss. Now I know. Leftovers, anyone? But it’s also reminded me that one of my favourite red-like lip things is Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick. For those still in the market for a “starter red” but not wanting glosses and willing to shell out a bit more than at the drugstore but still not nearly as much as a full glamour brand, I really like it. FWIW.
Relationalista(Quote)
I shall look into those – thanks, ladies!
One more question: Voxy, I asked you a while back about exfoliating my arms for keratosis pilaris, and you told me chemical exfoliants would be the way to go. I’ve been keeping an eye out in CVS since then, and I haven’t seen a glimpse of AHA or the ‘fruit acid’ buzzwords that were everywhere a few years back. Are there specific products you would recommend? Kind of had a kick up the backside to deal with this as I’ll be wearing an armless bridesmaid dress in late Autumn!
Froggy(Quote)
Huh. Maybe CVS doesn’t carry this line, but below is the line I’d recommend. The 12% “souffle” is thicker than the 10% cream, if texture makes a difference.
http://www.walgreens.com/search/results.jsp?Ntt=alpha+hydrox&x=0&y=0
There’s got to be a drugstore around you that carries it. ULTA also carries it.
In general I’m not a huge fan of AHA cleansers, but DDF makes a strong one that might be good for your arms. See if you can pick up a sample size at Sephora or somewhere.
And exfoliation in the shower will help too, even if it’s just a scrubbie or a handful of baking soda mixed in with your regular cleanser. (Baking soda is a fantastic exfoliant.)
Voxy(Quote)
@ Froggy
I’ve always had moderate keratosis pilaris on the back of my upper arms, and legs too, but not as persistant. I didn’t even know it had a name til recently – thanks Wikipedia! – I just chalked it up to dry skin. My daughter has it too, so it must indeed be genetic.
I recommend the Buf-Puf body scrub. The darn things are not available anymore in my local stores, however. I don’t know if 3-M stopped making Buf-Puf or what, but the products are still available through Amazon. Thank you, Interwebz! Get at least one with the reusable handle if you want to use it as a backscrubber too. They are much better than the similar and cheaper body scrubbies, which don’t last at all, but also more effective than loofas. Plus, they leave no messy, gritty residue in the bottom of your tub or shower. And unlike the cheapie scrubbers, the Buf-Pufs have “settings” – regular and rough. I use the green, rougher side on my ankles and feet.
For best results, use daily but sparingly with whatever cleanser or soap you favor. No need to grind the hell out of your skin. You should notice an improvement in about a week or so.
I hope this helps!
Francie(Quote)
The MUFE aqua eyes set? It looks AWESOME.
marigolds(Quote)
Yes! I got it because of the Aqua Creams. Two other colors of which, I might add, I scored at Sephora in-store today due to having a good relationship with the SA — they are not on-shelf here yet but she went in the back and unpacked two of them for me! That will probably be tomorrow’s post.
Voxy(Quote)