Sample Time Part 1

True confession: I am a sample hoarder.  I love getting samples when I buy stuff.  They are cute!  And more importantly free!  But I almost never use them. *sheepish look*  I do use fragrance samples, which can be dangerous because I find so many perfumes I like, but skincare, haircare and even makeup samples are a different story.  I rarely use skincare samples because I already have a skincare regimen that I like and that works for me, and I don't want to mess it up or have my skin react poorly to something.  I am kind of lazy when I comes to my hair, so I usually just put a little leave-in conditioner in my hair, scrunch it, and go.  I blow-dry and style my hair maybe 3-4 times a year, so I really never use hairstyling product samples.  I forget to use makeup samples, because I have so much makeup to choose from already.  So when I use up some samples, it's something to write home about.  Or at least here on the blog.

I decided to break this up into 2 posts with 5 samples each.

On to the mini-reviews!

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden -- I love the original Primer Potion, so I was excited to try Eden, which has a tint and looks almost like a concealer.  This worked well to even out any discoloration on the lid, as well as make my shadows more vibrant and longer-lasting.  I do feel like it kind of changes the color of shadows, though, which I didn't like.
Buy it?  No.  (I'm planning on buying the Anit-Aging Primer Potion)

Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner -- I use leave-in conditioners are styling products, so I'm always happy to try a new one.  This stuff is lotion-y textured and easy to work with.  Ouidad is a brand that caters to curly hair, and I think this leave-in conditioner works well with my hair.  It doesn't feel weighed down or greasy, and it didn't get frizzy.  The sample was large enough to use several times, and I quite liked the results.  I just scrunched this into my hair and let it air dry.
Buy it?  Yes.

Caudalie Premiere Cru The Cream -- This moisturizer was pretty nice.  Thick and emollient, it felt very nice and left my skin soft.  However, it is rawther expensive, and the ingredients aren't special enough to warrant the price of $158 USD.
Buy it?  No.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Glow Pad -- I was hoping these easy to use self-tanning pads would be somehow different from the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Daily Peel Pads that irritate the hell out of my skin.  Unfortunately, my skin burned and stung like crazy as I used it.  All the alcohol and irritating plant extracts are terrible for the skin, and I should have known better, but I wanted to try it anyway.
Buy it?  No.  I would not recommend any of his Alpha-Beta pads.  If you want a good chemical exfoliant with both alpha and beta hydroxy acids, I would recommend the Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment.

Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster -- I actually bought the little bottle you see in the photo for a few dollars.  It lasted me for a couple weeks, and really gave me a good chance to try the product.  This has a light, watery texture that leaves the skin only slightly sticky.  I think it is best used under a serum or moisturizer.  It has a little bit of the "vitamin c serum" smell that all vitamin c products have, but not enough to make using the serum unpleasant, like some serums.  I'm not sure I saw much of a difference in my skin, but a one or two week trial of a skincare product is not enough time to really see anything.  A sample is really just to determine if you like the product and your skin can tolerate it.  Kinda pricey at $45, but paulaschoice.com often has sales.
Buy it?  Very possibly.  I would like to have a good vitamin c serum in my skincare regimen.

Are you a sample hoarder like me?

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow!

March 2014 Favorites

Yep.  I'm late with this.  But here they are in no particular order: my March favorites.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant -- This salicylic acid liquid treatment has made a huge difference in the size of my pores on my nose.  I use it after cleansing on my nose every night.  I find that I have some dryness if I use it all over my face, so I stick to glycolic acid for exfoliating everywhere besides my nose.  Kind of odd to have one product specifically for the nose, but we use products specifically for the eyes and lips, so why not the nose?  Enough about my nose.

L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara (review) -- I'm so impressed by the length and drama this mascara gives my lashes.  The brush is fun to look at, too.

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick in Blush Glow (review) -- I like how moisturized my lips feel while I'm wearing this lipstick.  Blush Glow is such an easy to wear pink that goes with everything.

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick in Blush Glow swatch

Clinique Cheek Pop Blush Pop in 01 Ginger Pop -- Everyone and the kitchen sink has been raving about the Cheek Pop blushes, and for good reason.  So smooth and near impossible to over do, killer presentation, a decent price ($21 for a non-drugstore blush seems decent).  Ginger Pop is a slightly reddish coral that gives a satiny glow to the skin.

Clinique Cheek Pop Blush Pop in Ginger Pop swatch (heavy swatch for some reason)

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush -- Another very popular product this spring are the Ambient Lighting blushes.  Luminous Flush is a pinky coral that leaves the skin with a "lit-from-within" sheen.  The glow factor is more subtle here, with no discernible shimmer.  It's a beautiful blush to look at in the pan, too.  I was actually surprised that the packaging was a little lightweight.  I was expecting a heftier metal packaging, but it is just plastic.  Nice and shiny plastic, though.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush swatch

Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Kisses -- I have moved on from Junior Mints to dark chocolate kisses.  Science has shown a little dark chocolate is good for the heart.

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette -- I've been using this lots lately.  My favorite colors at the moment are Nooner for the crease, Limit to blend out the crease, Buzz or Trick for the lid, and Blackheart as a liner.

from left: Nooner, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Blackheart

What are your recent favorites?

FotD With Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten

I like multi-tasking with makeup.  One of my favorite things to do is use bronzer as an eyeshadow.  Laura Geller's Bronze-n-Brighten is cool because it has a bunch of colors in it.

I used the darkest color for the crease and the lightest color for highlight under the brow along with a color from Maybelline's summer Color Tatto collection for today's simple look.

Face:  Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer if Bare
          Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Concealer in Fair
          Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten

Eyes:  Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Seashore Frosts
          Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Eyeshadow in Bubbles (discontinued I think)
          Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten
          Paula's Choice Great Big Lashes Mascara in Black

Lips:  Milani Crystal Gloss in Summer Baby

From left:  Maybelline Color Tattoo on Seashore Frosts, Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Eyeshadow in Bubbles, Laura Geller Bronze-n-Brighten darkest color, lightest color and blended swatches, and Milani Crystal Gloss in Summer Baby

Have a lovely day!

Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA Review

I wanted to tell you about one of my favorite skincare products.  It's Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5%  Alpha Hydroxy Acid.  I love this stuff.  This has glycolic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA), and antioxidants in a very elegant serum-lotion formula.

Paula's Choice says:

• Effective for: Acne Breakouts, Anti-Aging, Brown Spots, Wrinkles
• AHA exfoliant reduces multiple signs of aging
• Builds skin-firming collagen
• Corrects uneven skin tone
• Silky lotion calms skin with anti-irritants and antioxidants
• Clinically proven non-irritating
• 100% fragrance free, no added dyes
• No animal testing

This has a wonderful light lotion texture with a faint, fresh somewhat chemically scent (that I don't mind at all) and a slight yellow tint that disappears upon application.  It feels silky and light and hydrating.  It doesn't stay tacky and it dries to a nice natural finish that feels like you have nothing on at all.  It just feels wonderful on the skin.  

My favorite thing about this product it what it actually does for the skin. 

It uses Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA--aka glycolic acid) to brighten and smooth the skin by "ungluing" the dead skin cells from the surface.  (As we age our natural cell turnover rate slows, and cells get sort of stuck to the skin which is what creates dullness, roughness, discoloration, etc.)  Because it increases the rate of epidermal cell turnover, it also encourages the production of collagen in the deeper layers of the skin, which reduces fine lines.  It improves brightness and evens out skin tone (and helps to fade post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation like acne red marks) by sloughing off those dead, discolored cells.  

It also has Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA-- aka salicylic acid) in the formula to help prevent acne and keep the pores clear.  (Salicylic acid works differently than glycolic acid.  Glycolic acid is not oil soluble which is why it works only on the surface of the skin to unglue dead skin cells.  Salicylic acid is oil soluble, so it can go into the pores and soften and liquify hardened sebum, which is why it is effective against acne.)  By keeping the pores clear, they appear smaller and less noticeable and make the skin look smoother.  

It also contains antioxidants and anti-irritants to protect the skin from free radical damage, irritation, and environmental stress that ages the skin.

So what does all that mean?   

It evens out my skin texture and tone, reduces flakiness, brightens, keeps pores clear, and protects it from free-radical damage.  My face feels softer, smoother, looks more even, and brighter.  

I uses this every other night, trading nights with my Retin-A.  Retin-A can make my skin flakey and patchy in certain areas (around the nose, the chin, and occasionally in between my brows), so the glycolic acid in this gently exfoliates my skin to keep it flakey/patchy free.

Just like any skincare product, you have to give it 4-6 weeks of use to see the full benefit of using it (you have to be patient!).  

Like I said, I love this.  I highly recommend it for any skin type since all can benefit from the ingredients and what they do for the skin, as well as how lovely it feels.  

Paula's Choice is sold at paulaschoice.com (not an affiliate link), and the Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA is $25.95 for 1.7 oz.  You can also buy packette samples with a few days use in them for $.80 each.

NOTE:  It is really important to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen during the day if you are using any glycolic acid (AHA) product since is makes you more photosensitive (likely to get burned/sun damage).  Honestly, you should really wear it anyway even if you don't use an AHA....  (My favorite is the Josie Maran Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40.)

Any skincare favorites I should know about?

Have a beautiful day!  

Paula's Choice Great Big Lashes Mascara Review

Paula Begoun (aka the Cosmetics Cop) is the author of "Don't Go To the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" and the Beautypedia website www.paulaschoice.com/beautypedia.  She does all sorts of reviews of cosmetics that focus on the ingredients in products and whether they are beneficial for the skin or will cause problems.  I don't always agree with her reviews, but I think everything she does say is well researched.  She has her own line of cosmetics called Paula's Choice.  I think her skincare is excellent, so I decided to try one of her mascaras.

She makes two mascaras, one for definition and length called Illicit lash Mascara, and one for volumizing called Great Big Lashes Mascara.  I decided to try the Great Big Lashes Mascara since I am always searching for a great volumizing mascara that doesn't flake or smudge.  (I really like L'Oreal's Voluminous Mascara, but it smudges under my eyes about halfway through the day.)

It is packaged in a plain black tube with the name of the mascara printed in white.  The brush is a medium-sized natural (non rubber) bristle brush.  It seems like a standard mascara brush.

The description:

• Goes on quickly and easily for maximum results, fast
• Creates impressively long, impossibly thick lashes
• Leaves lashes soft and conditioned
• Will not smudge under eyes
• Will not flake off or clump on lashes
• Comes off easily with Paula's Choice Gentle Touch Makeup Remover
• 100% fragrance free

This is a kind of a dry mascara for one that is supposed to give tons of volume.  I like wetter mascaras, like the L'Oreal Voluminous, since I think they build up more quickly.  It doesn't give me quite the volume I was expecting.  I was hoping for a false lash effect, but I get more length and a moderate amount of volume with this.  I experience some very minor clumping.  It dries quickly without leaving the lashes feeling "crunchy".   I don't experience and smudging with this, but a very little flaking by the end of the day.

Before

After

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this mascara, but I think it's because I was expecting a mascara that would give super amounts of volume in one coat.  I do think it lengthens nicely and does give some volume.

Great Big Lashes Mascara is $9.95 and Paula's Choice is available at www.paulaschoice.com.  (not an affiliate link)

Skincare January Musts

Here are my lastest skincare must haves:

Josie Maran Argan Oil -- soothing and luxurious

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40 -- lightweight but hydrating with high SPF

Clinique City Block Sheer oil-free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 -- sunscreen with a creamy base

Clarisonic brush -- good, fun exfoliation

Paula's Choice Resist Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA -- salicylic and glycolic acids, so it exfoliates on the surface of the skin as well as in the pores

Clinique Super Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer -- chock full of antioxidants in a creamy formula

Retin-A -- anti-wrinkle and anti-acne!

Neutrogena makeup removing cleansing cloths -- for when I'm too lazy to wash my face properly