Only Skin Deep

I hate giving skin care advice.  Everyone’s skin is different and it can change on a dime depending on the weather, hormones, stress levels, and the effects of medications and illnesses.  What works for one person may not work for another.  Or worse.

My skin is extremely oily.  Extremely oily.  Actually even that’s an understatement and it only got worse after I stopped smoking (I didn’t believe that cigarettes were “drying out” my skin until I quit and saw the post-smoking levels of oil my skin produced!). I’ve struggled most of my life with products and regimines that were “good enough” or “the best I could hope for” in managing it.  I’ve been lucky the last few years that I’ve found a couple of products that work well for me toward that end – I do so enjoy not looking like an oil slick before I even manage to get to work – and some old favorites that continue to work well.  So rather than give anyone advice, I’d like to simply share with you some basic skin care products that I love and that work well for me and my super oily skin.  I will talk about body care and skin treatments in their own seperate posts. Please feel free to chime in via the comments and let us know what’s working for you!

Gel creams, mattifiers, and night cream: Olay’s (now discontinued?) Dew Over and Swirled Mattifier, Garnier’s Moisture Rescue, and Olay Active Botanicals Intensive Night Cream.

Mattifiers/Oil control Moisturizers

The first mattifier I ever tried was in college.  It was by Clean & Clear, and it did nothing except dry my face out horribly.  I actually wound up with a really bad case of windburn because of it.

Fortunately, I found MAC Oil Control Lotion a few years ago, and it changed the way I think about mattifiers.  It’s kind of pricey at $33 for 1.7 oz, but at the time, I thought it was well worth it.  It moisturizes and primes skin for makeup without being too heavy, and it does do a great job of controlling oil throughout the day.  I found that when I used it I didn’t have to blot or touch up my powder near as much.  But it didn’t leave my skin dry, tight, or feeling chapped, even if I wore it alone.

Not long ago, Olay debuted their Fresh Effects line, geared toward younger women.  Then they immediately retooled it, getting rid of some products and adding others with more of an acne-control slant.  This has been good and bad – the good part being that they added their Swirled Mattifier, a moisturizer that not only controls oil very well, but reduces redness in the skin and even helps with the appearance of large pores!    It costs anywhere between $6.99 and $9.99 for 40ml (about an ounce?) so it’s much cheaper than the MAC product.  I love the slight green tint, which helps if you sometimes have redness in your skin.  I’ve been using the product since it debuted and I simply adore it.  It moisturizes just enough that my skin feels soft and supple, but not enough that it feels heavy or overdone.  It controls oil pretty well, too – I can tell the difference in how my makeup lasts over the course of the day and I have noticed that when I wear this alone I don’t have a slick, shiny appearance after a couple of hours.

Neither of these products completely eliminates any shine nor the need for touch ups.  My skin is just too severely oily and it will find a way!  But I’ve had great success with both of these products and will continue to use them.

Gel Cream Moisturizers

Most of the moisturizers I’ve tried have been less than ideal for my skin. Even my once-beloved Olay Total Effects usually felt like a heavy layer sitting on my skin.  With as much oil as my skin produced that was not a good thing – within minutes of applying a moisturizer, even a light “oil free” one, my skin would look (and yes, sometimes feel) greasy. For the longest time, I just accepted it.  That was the way it was going to be, and there was little I could do about it. Until I rediscovered gel cream moisturizers.

My first experience with this miracle came when I was nineteen or twenty years old and bought my first Victoria Jackson cosmetics kit.  If you’re my age or older, you remember the infomercials for her foundation (“the no makeup makeup”) and color kits.  My original color kit came with a sample sized jar of her gel cream moisturizer, and I was hooked.  It was probably the first product that made my skin feel great.  Too bad it was pricey and hard to get (their customer service was really horrible back in the day) especially for a young lady about to start college and who didn’t have a regular job!  As much as I loved it, I did without for years.  I honestly can’t recall ever seeing another product like it until a few years ago – it’s very possible the high-end brands were doing it, and I just didn’t have exposure/access.

And then Olay debuted Fresh Effects.  The first product I tried when the line first came out was their Dew Over moisturizer.  It was a light gel cream that went on smooth as silk and absorbed quickly into my skin.  It didn’t ever feel heavy or greasy.  It didn’t control the oil my skin produced, but it didn’t add to it much either.  I loved this product so much!  Unfortunately, as I’ve already mentioned, Olay retooled this brand and Dew Over was one of the casualties.  You can still find the product on Amazon for now, but it’s much more expensive now that it’s basically been discontinued (sometimes it’s as much as $19.00 for a 1.7 oz jar!).

I’ve already went looking for a suitable replacement.  At the moment, I’m using Garnier’s Moisture Rescue and I like it so far. It was around $6.99 on Amazon. Neutrogena makes a version of the gel cream moisturizer, as well, but I haven’t tried it yet.  It’s a little more expensive (I believe I saw it at Target for $19.99) and I have had bad experiences with their products before.  The plus is that they do have a complete line including one for around the eyes, which is tempting.  As long as none of them contain aloe, I might try them in the future.

Night Cream

I’ve used several night creams over the years with mixed results. Most people will tell you that they are a good idea since they are supposed to be formulated to work while the skin is at rest, but they do tend to be heavier than day time formulas and thus, those of us with oily skin tend to shy away. Up until last week I had been alternating between using a nighttime treatment and one of my gel creams. Then I decided to try Olay Active Botanicals Intensive Night Cream. It’s been less than a week, so I’m not really sure what I think yet. So far it doesn’t feel horribly heavy and I don’t seem to wake up with a greasy face.

My favorite sunscreen for face.

Sunscreen

If you have severely oily skin like I do, you hate the mere mention of sunscreen.  Even if you don’t have oily skin, if you’ve used a moisturizer without sunscreen and then the same product with added SPF, you know there’s a huge difference in how it feels and performs. I try to steer clear of moisturizers containing it completely, instead opting for SPF in my makeup for every day (Lasting by Merle Norman is SPF 12) and I always have a parasol or other appliance when I have to be in the sun.

For those times when I’m not wearing makeup (like when I’m lounging by the pool or on a beach vacation) I keep Cotz Face on hand. This is another product my husband found that I now cannot live without.  It’s a mineral sunscreen specifically for the face (and it comes in pale skin tones!).  It’s never heavy, doesn’t have a horrid smell, and it keeps it’s matte look for hours.  I’ve been using it since 2011 and I couldn’t be more pleased.  The price varies at Amazon – at the time of writing, it was $15.99 for a 1.5 oz tube, but the first time my husband got it for me it was retailing for almost $40.00!

PanOxyl, Olay Fresh Effects, St. Ives scrub, and my Conair face brush (it was free!)

Cleansers and Acne Control

When I first stopped smoking, my dermatologist put me on an Rx acne face wash that was 2% benzoyl peroxide. It helped, but it was expensive and it didn’t foam.  Lather doesn’t necessarily equal clean, but it is what most of us are used to and find easiest to work with. I knew already from years of experience that salicylic acid didn’t do anything for me except dry my skin out and make it peel, so I went with it and it did help.

Then by sheer accident I discovered PanOxyl.  I first saw it at Wal-Mart, but it’s also available at many Target and grocery stores, and is also available on Amazon. For between $9.99 and $13.00 (depending on where you buy) you get 5.5 oz of foaming face wash that packs a powerful 10% benzoyl peroxide solution without a prescription.  It works so well for me that I hate being without it.  I use it every morning in the shower and I rarely (if ever) have to use any kind of spot treatment.

Simple Micellular Water from Target, and Merle Norman Cleansing Cream.

To remove makeup, I like cold cream.  I’ve tried many over the years, but my favorite was always the C&O Bigelow Rose Cold Cream, once sold by Bath & Bodyworks.  Of course, it was discontinued!  Fortunately, Merle Norman makes a very similar product (much cheaper and in bigger jars!) that I was very happy to find.

I jumped on the micellular water bandwagon, mostly because I hoped it would remove my eye makeup. It didnt. But I was really surprised at how much makeup my cold cream missed. I’m undecided on whether I will give Simple another go or try something else.

After the gym, I use another Olay Fresh Effect product that’s about to disappear – Shine Shine Go Away. A couple of times a week, I use it on concert with a battery operated face brush (mine is a Conair, and it came with a facial sauna). I stocked up on this cleanser after it first came out (I found it for $3.00 a bottle at a Big Lots store).  I’m not sure what I’ll do when I finally run out!

And finally, for gentle exfoliating, I stick with the classic St. Ives Apricot Scrub.  I have yet to find anything affordable and accessible that works better.  The exfoliators in the formula are all natural – ground walnut shell and apricot seed – which is a huge plus.  You can get it in just about any major drug or grocery store and it leaves my skin feeling soft and wonderful.

What’s a skin care post without the obligatory bare faced selfie?

I am still looking for a good eye makeup remover and a good daytime, non-retinol eye cream. In both cases the most highly recomended products contain aloe, which I am allergic to.

 

The Care and Feeding of Makeup Brushes

A good set of makeup brushes can be expensive. Let’s face it, even if you get them at Target or a dollar store, they’re a pain to replace once you’ve gotten used to how they feel. Sometimes, your favorites get discontinued!  It takes time to find the perfect brush for each need, regardless of cost. So, no matter how much or how little you’ve paid for them,  you probably consider them an investment and as such want to protect it by keeping them clean and in good condition.

There are several different brush cleaners on the market that I have never felt the need to try. I have used the Bare Minerals brush cleanser that came in my kit  to clean my Bare Minerals makeup brushes. Honestly though, I found it was too heavy as well as too hard to rinse out. Instead, I’ve learned that plain old Dove soap does the job just fine.  It removes the makeup that builds up in the bristles and keeps them soft. All you have to do is wet the bristles with warm water, stroke them gently across the bar (a circular motion works best for me), work the lather through, and rinse.

I use Urban Decay’s Optical Blurring Brush to apply my foundation. Because of the formulation, I immediately suds it up with warm water and Dove to remove as much as I can, and let it air dry. Once a week on which ever day I plan to not wear makeup, I let it soak in a solution of antibacterial soap (I use Bath & Bodywork because it’s what we keep on hand) and then follow with another lather and scrub with Dove. I clean foundation sponges exactly the same way. Just be careful you rinse them well.

I don’t wash my other brushes as often. I don’t feel the need, because I always use them on clean skin. I keep a paper towel handy to tap off any excess. I even have a separate powder compact for touch ups during the day. It helps that I have two sets of shadow brushes from Victoria’ Secret for radical color changes, but I don’t have many of those! I generally wash them about every two weeks, and I just lather them up with Dove, rinse until the water runs clear, and put them away to air dry.

I do not keep my brushes sitting out in the open and never have. Before I had a dressing table with drawers, they all lived in a gorgeous leopard print box that sadly fell apart a few years ago. This keeps them dust and hair free and away from Malice, my makeup obsessed cat.

More than once, a brush has come loose from  its handle. That doesn’t necessarily mean you chuck it. I’ve used Elmer’s, nail glue, and even my husband’s model glue to put them back together. Just be sure the peices aren’t still wet from  a washing, and do allow the glue time to dry before trying to use them.

My brushes are an eclectic bunch. Besides the Urban Decay’s foundation brush and Victoria’s Secret sets, I have an angled shadow brush and eyebrow brush from Target, a domed shadow brush, powder brush, and small blending brush from mark. by Avon, two Urban Decay’s shadow brushes from various sets, and even a blush brush from Victoria Jackson that I’ve had since my teens! I don’t have a favorite brush brand for every style of brush though I admit, I remember my first Victoria Jackson brush kit fondly. Unfortunately, many of my favorites are no longer made. Finding the right brushes takes expiramentation, so once you’ve found some that work well for you, take care of them! You never know when replacements might cease to exist.

Rebirth

“Part art, part magic, it’s my form of expression.  My face is my canvas.  Makeup is my medium.” ~Guin, 2009

I originally started Artistry in Kohl in 2009 as a review blog.  I went back through my old LiveJournal archives and dredged up reviews I’d posted there, and started buying more new things to try.  Unfortunately, several things happened that caused me to abandon it: I got extremely busy between work, school, and trying to maintain an LDR; I had quit smoking and my skin had freaked completely out – trying out a bunch of new things wasn’t helping; and it became prohibitively expensive to continue buying things just to have something to review.

AiK is being reborn in 2016 as a beauty blog of a different sort, which I hope people will find useful and enjoyable.  I have a lot of beauty tips and tricks and a lot of opinions.  I also have problem hair, and if anything I’ve learned or found can help someone else out, it’s totally worth the effort!  I’m older now, and wiser, and I’d like to pretend I have something valuable to share. There will still be reviews; it just won’t be the reason de etre of the blog.

Just a note about my personal style:  I identify as Goth, and my makeup choices and techniques (such as they are) tend to reflect that to some degree at all times.

The old reviews are still there, if you scroll down far enough, or go through the calendar (they’re also all tagged as “Vintage AiK” because I liked the way it sounded).

So, welcome! I hope you enjoy this rebirth of AiK and find my advice and observations useful. But more than anything, I want to inspire. I want you to step away from this blog with the desire to create your own artistry.

To Build a Dream On

More foundations!  I’d say I’m on a roll, but I had three different people reminding me to write this.

L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Compact Makeup

Remember how much I loved the True Match liquid? I thought I would like this just as much, if not more.  See, for several years, I wouldn’t use liquid.  I had to have compact makeup because I preferred the texture and the heavier coverage.  But this was the exact opposite.  The compact version of this is thinner.  It’s faster to apply by far, but the coverage isn’t as good and it feels…off. It doesn’t blend as well, either, and tended to streak.

Bottom Line: Stick with the liquid version.

Maybelline Fit Me Foundation and Powder

This is brand new.  I’m not sure why I was so gung-ho to try it.  But I am darned glad I did. It’s advertised as “Flawless.  Let’s the real you come through.  Beyond matching:  Fresh, Breathing, natural skin.”

I have to agree with all of these points.  The makeup is light and lets your skin breath.  It looks and feels really natural from the time you put it on through the end of the day. I have to touch this up more during the day than I do with say the Dream Matte foundation/powder.  But even so, it doesn’t cake or clump on my face.  Other pluses include the compact being cute and the fact that the cost of both is about what you’d pay for one bottle of True Match.

The downside is that this is very much makeup for good skin.  If you have issues like acne or a lot of dark splotches or bad under eye circles, this isn’t a good choice since the coverage is so light.  There is a concealer which I have not tried; maybe that would help.

Another issue is that there are so many colors to choose from , each with such subtle variation, it could take two or three tries before you hit your perfect shade – I was fortunate in that it only took two guesses for me.  The products are numbered, but if you look at the numbers on the foundation/powder, it doesn’t seem to match the concealer (I use 110 in the foundation and powder, for example, but judging from the website it looks as if I’d need 15 in the concealer).

The line includes blush (which I don’t wear very often) and bronzer (which I never wear) that are also guaranteed to match and blend.  If you do use these products, keep in mind again that the numbers don’t seem to be much help in choosing the right shade.

Bottom Line: Overall this is a foundation/powder combo that looks and feels good on good skin, and wears well all day.  But if you’re prone to issues or breakouts, skip it for something heavier.

Something to Build On

Skin changes so much.  The weather, diet, environmental conditions, lifestyle changes – all of these and more affect how your skin looks, feels, and behaves.   Some changes are quite drastic and require some adjustment time (or maybe even medical intervention).  I’ve personally experienced “quit zits” when I stopped smoking which took a visit to the dermatologist to get a handle on.  Sometimes changes in diet or a move to a totally different climate can trigger things like this, as well. But most are small and we acclimate to them, making small changes here and there to our cleansing routine or to our make up.  We generally do this without thinking much about it.  However, it is a perfect time of year to re-evaluate your foundation.   I’ve tried a few out in the months since getting the acne under control.  Here are my thoughts.

Revlon ColorStay Aqua Mineral Makeup

I’ve talked before about my bad luck with mineral makeup. And again, I’m not sure what made me try this.  It is new.  And it’s one of the few that promise to hydrate skin with a coconut water formula.  Honestly, everyone raves about mineral makeup, dammit, and I want to be able to use it too!  Maybe this will convince me to give up?

Honestly, there was a lot to like about this product.  The container is one of the best made ones I’ve come across.  It is fairly easy to tip the product into the top so that you can blend it into the brush.  It was made to be portable so you could carry it around for touchups without making a horrible mess.  Also, the brush was wonderful!  Much better than the brush that comes with the previous incarnation of Revlon ColorStay minerals.  This one features soft, natural bristles that felt quite delightful against my skin.

The drawbacks though…first, my skin is just too oily for this stuff, which I should know by now.  I played with it some the evening I bought it, but the real test is the work day.  When I left the house it looked pretty good; not heavy, and more natural than I’m used to, of course.  But smooth and pore free.  This didn’t last.  By my first coffee refill I was an oily mess. My boss noticed I was starting to break out as well.

Bottom Line: Mineral makeup isn’t for me.  But this product has enough pros going for it that mineral fans should give it a whirl.  Especially if your skin is dry.

L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Liquid and True Match Pressed Powder

I was really young when this first came out.  I remember being excited because I was so pale and hard to match.  But that was short lived, as the powder didn’t exist.  The only powder L’Oreal offered at the time was in a grey compact…I don’t remember what they called it, but I do remember the lightest shade being way too dark for me. I decided to give it another chance when I saw it on sale because a) matching powder is available now and b) I remembered Dita Von Teese saying it was her go-to drugstore brand.

Overall I do love the products.  They work well together to create a beautiful canvas to paint on.  The liquid is thick enough to even out skin and cover minor blemishes without feeling heavy.  The powder goes on really smooth with the sponge applicator, leaving a soft finish that, at least for me, isn’t chalky or cakey.  I love that it comes with a sponge, because it is really easy to clean.  Those of us with oily skin appreciate this a lot!  Also, the sponge is stored in the bottom of the compact, so it’s not constantly in contact with the product, which helps.

My oily skin does put this makeup through it’s paces, though.  I do have to touch up several times a day, but even so, it seems to hold up fairly well without getting separated.  I have noticed that on especially oily days I will get dark spots from powdering, but it’s minor.

Bottom Line:  A great line to try for most skin types and tones.  Besides liquid, there are also two solid versions of the foundation and a new concealer I have yet to try…

Maybelle Dream Matte Mousse Foundation and Dream Matte Pressed Powder

I first bought these products back in the summer and wasn’t thrilled.  I am used to applying makeup with a sponge, but the consistency of this makeup doesn’t allow for that.  It truly is an air-whipped mousse – so dipping a the sponge into the jar was doing nothing but making a mess.  I also attempted to use the foundation brush, but that didn’t work either.  It was just a crumbly mess.  I wound up with more on my clothes and floor than I did on my face.  So this sat in my closet until a week or two ago when I had a brainstorm and decided to try again.  I would use my fingers!

Dipping my fingers into the jar carefully, rather than the sponge, didn’t create near as much crumbly mess.  The heat from my skin softened it and made it fairly easy to blend.  Once I have it mostly on, I run the sponge over it gently just to make sure it’s even, and voila!  A perfect velvety finish that lasts!

The powder I loved from day one.  The compact is stupid. It also has a separate compact for the puff, but instead of popping open, the lids slide away. It’s a pain in the butt to get used to.  But again, the puff stays a lot cleaner this way.  The mirror, however…  Still, the finish is flawless and the powder doesn’t seem to look chalky or feel cakey, even on my oily skin. The products work really well together, and I find I do not have to touch up near as much with this as I do with the L’Oreal True Match.  The finish stays mostly velvety and pore-free with little maintenance.

Bottom Line: Perfect for oily skin!  Not as many shades as the True Match, and both the consistency and the compact design take some getting used to, but well worth it.

Both Maybelline and L’Oreal have new foundations coming out this season.  And while I’m perfectly happy with these two products, I simply can’t wait to see what’s next…

Clear as Mud

Olay Purifying Mud Lathering Cleanser

I saw an ad for this at just the right time.  I couldn’t find the St. Ives blue clay mask I used as a teen, and my skin was freaking out from quitting smoking.  Messing with my cleansing routine isn’t something I do lightly.  And I’m generally not impressed when I do.  This impressed me.

The site says:

” Give skin’s surface the deep clean of a mask in an everyday form.

• Detoxifying mud cleanser complex deep cleans to remove impurities
• Lathers and rinses like a daily cleanser for thoroughly purified, clean skin”

I’ve been using this exclusively for only about two weeks; before that, I used this in the evenings after my workouts, and used the L’Oreal Pore Minimizing gel cleanser in the shower.

My skin didn’t suddenly clear up, or change in any fundamental way.  But what I’ve noticed is that my skin feels cleaning after I use this – much cleaner than it did with the L’Oreal.  My skin is fairly oily in the mornings, and this cleanser made it feel positively squeaky.  It doesn’t seem to leave behind any residue at all.

At the same time, it doesn’t dry my skin out.  The Dove sometimes did, even though it’s full of moisturizing cream.  But using this, I don’t have that feeling of tightness you can get with other cleansers or soaps.  It just felt clean.

Bottom Line: I will definitely buy this again, and suggest it to anyone who has oily skin.

She is So Not Born With It

Maybelline The Colossal Volum’Express Mascara (Washable)

This is supposed to plump lashes to “9x” the volume and it’s washable.  The formula contains collagen, and the “megabrush” is supposed to impart serious volume.

Nowhere does Maybelline claim that this mascara doesn’t flake.  Which is good, because it does.  However, the site does claim it doesn’t clump, but it does that, too.  Not horribly – the product is fairly thin and doesn’t contain any fibers, so the clumping isn’t as bad as it is with some formulas.  But it is there. The brush is easy to use.  The website says it removes easily with soap and water; I can’t speak to that, since I use cold cream and wear so much eyeliner…  What I do know is that it didn’t irritate my eyes at all or bother my contacts, though I don’t see any explicit statements that says it’s safe for lens wearers.

Oh, and it also comes in waterproof.

Bottom Line: A good enough mascara, but you won’t get the clump-free volume and drama shown in the ads.

Maybelline XXL Pro Curl Mascara (Washable)

This is fairly new. This promised to curl my lashes, and since I forget to use a curler, and never remember to travel with it, I thought I’d give it a go. I did like the L’Oreal two-step mascara, after all.  This is washable and contact lens safe, too.

XXL Pro is a two step mascara. You apply it the same way you do the L’Oreal Beauty Tubes – first, you apply the white base coat (labeled “1”) to curl, and then a coat of color (labeled “2”).  That’s it.

The site says it curls to a 45 degree angle.  I didn’t measure.  But it does give a great curl to my lashes.  Much better than what I can get with a curler and better than the Hard Candy Curl Up and Dye. It’s a lot easier for me to use than the Beauty Tubes; I don’t have to be as exact with it.  The second step is barely noticeable.

It is also a ton easier to remove.  Of course, this mascara is all about the curl – it doesn’t build your lashes up like the Beauty Tubes do. I’ve been using it every day.  I haven’t noticed too much in the way of flaking, and it doesn’t leave residue on my contacts.

There are several other XXL Pro mascaras I’d like to try, since I liked this one so well.

Bottom Line:  I’m in love with this.  If you want real curl without the curler, go for it.

Secret Magicks

L’Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

This isn’t the first product like this I’ve tried.  Avon’s Magix Face Perfector actually beat it.  That product is apparently doing rather well, judging by the online reviews and the line of foundations spun off it.  It was a big disappointment for me.  I didn’t think it felt good on, and I couldn’t see where it did anything for the look of my skin.

According to L’Oreal’s website, the product is supposed to perfect the skin’s texture, minimizing the look of pores and providing the ideal base for applying makeup.  While I can see a slight difference in how my skin looks (especially in the harsh light of my boyfriend’s bathroom), the real benefit here is what it does fore makeup application.   Smooth a little of this on after moisturizer, and makeup glides over skin.  It doesn’t settle into lines or pores, and depending on your skin type might even help makeup to last longer!

At around Fifteen Dollars for a small jar, it’s a little on the pricey end for a drug store brand.  And it does take some trial and error to get the right amount in the right places – that’s going to depend entirely on your skin.  But I feel it’s worth it, and I will definitely snag another jar of this.

Bottom Line: If you’re thinking of using a primer, give this one a go.  It’s certainly better than Avon’s offering.

Good Girls Pinch

L’Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Blush (Pinched Pink)

I haven’t worn blush for years.  It wasn’t a conscious decision.  It was just a step I skipped one day, and didn’t miss.  The next thing I knew, I was giving my almost-full blush compact to my mother, who was out and late for a memorial service (or something; I don’t remember).  Even when I did wear it, it was very subtle and matched to my coloring.  I have this because it was packaged with the the L’Oreal compact mineral makeup and finishing veil and it has been sitting in my cabinet for ages.  I finally decided to crack it open and try it on with one of my favorite MAC lipsticks.

The good news is it hasn’t irritated my skin.  Granted, I’ve only worn it two or three times.  Still, by this point the other mineral products had broke me out in a rash.

It is packaged exactly like the L’Oreal mineral foundation and veil, with the weird little brush/lid thing.  It doesn’t seem as difficult to get the correct amount on the brush as the foundation.  The brush isn’t the greatest, but it does fit.  It goes on the same way according to the instructions:  you buff the brush into the color, tap, and then buff onto the cheeks.

The color is great.  My “light skin” kit came with Pinched Pink, which works fairly well with my coloring.

My only complaint is that it doesn’t blend well.  The color concentrates where you first place the brush.  I tried blending it with the brush and with a sponge, with no luck.

Bottom Line: I wouldn’t buy this again.  Blush should be subtle and soft, but this winds up looking a bit too harsh.

Just Don’t Bother

L’Oreal Concentrated Lash Boosting Serum

I grabbed a tube of this as soon as I saw it. I checked the package carefully first, of course; I am not about to sacrifice my green eyes for a chance that my lashes might get thicker, longer or darker! And according to the packaging, that’s exactly what you get – thicker, darker, healthier lashes, without a prescription, and without side effects.  Oh, and for about twelve bucks.

I’ve been using this stuff nightly for several weeks now, and I can tell you:  I have noticed no difference in my lashes at all.  Nothing.  They’re no darker, no thicker, and no healthier than they were before I bought this stuff.  But no side effects, either.

Go check out the product page (linked above).  There are six customer reviews, and all of them are raves, all of them so excited about how wonderfully the product delivered.  I don’t get it.

Bottom Line: I say skip  it.  Despite what the on-site reviews say, I saw no difference after several weeks of nightly use.

Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Treatment Cream

I never had zits, even as a teen.  I would get a zit.  Singular.  Granted, they’d be huge.  But it wasn’t that often, and they generally went away if left alone.  The most I ever remember doing was dabbing tea tree oil on the really bad ones.

My first choice was a Clean & Clear product, and it didn’t do anything but smell good and dry out my skin.  So I saw this on my weekly Wal-Mart grocery trip.  According to both the package and the website:

Benefits

Visibly reduces redness and spot size in as little as 4 hours! — fastest product in the market

Specially formulated with new breakthrough technology

Eliminates dirt and oil while accelerating delivery of maximum strength acne medication

Wrong.

Not only did it not reduce the size, appearance, or redness in four hours, there was no difference after leaving it on overnight.  I am severely disappointed in this product.

Bottom Line: Skip it.  Find some tea tree oil instead.