Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil

I have been using my new purchases from the Josie Maran product line for the past few weeks and I am liking the products more and more every single day.  We have already looked at the face cleanser and blush from the collection and today we are looking at one of the hero products in the Josie Maran line.  The majority of her products contain her exclusive Argan Oil ingredient and today we will looking at the purest version of it, the 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil moisturizer.  I have used the Tarte Maracuja oil last winter and I was very happy with the results.  My experience with that product were the primary reason that I decided to try this product from Josie Maran.

With the exception of when I used the Tarte oil as my night moisturizer, I have always used a lighter face cream or lotion during the day and then a heavier product at night.  There are two versions of this face oil and it is also contained in multiple moisturizers in this line.  I wanted to try the most pure form of the ingredient first and I will be trying more of the moisturizers throughout the rest of the winter.

"A 100 percent natural, organic, and antioxidant-rich oil to hydrate and nourish skin, hair, and nails.  This legendary, 100 percent pure Argan Oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids to deeply hydrate and nourish skin. Grown organically in Morocco, the multitasking formula contains astonishing healing, conditioning, and antiaging properties to create a nourished, youthful-looking complexion. It easily absorbs into skin, delivering a fresh, dewy glow, and keeps you looking beautiful from head to toe. Especially great for sensitive and acne-prone skin, it may also be used to treat split ends and soften cuticles."

"Pure Argan Oil is first cold pressed to ensure the best quality, highest-grade oil. It is housed in a recyclable glass bottle and purchased from women's cooperatives in Morocco to support their social and economic welfare. These cooperatives work within a UNESCO biosphere reserve that ensures the protection and reforestation of Argan trees.", states the Sephora website.

The Sephora website provides further results of the clinical trials of this product.  "In a 4-week clinical test:
- 83% of women showed significantly improved skin hydration
- Participants saw a visible reduction in coarse wrinkles and fine lines in the eye area"

I have heard this product described as a "Holy Grail" by those ladies who have dry, sensitive skin and love the feel and hydration results from face oils.  This is one of the best selling and top rated face oils at Sephora and a product that was recommended to me by several Sephora sales associates and managers during my visit. 

I use this product only at night, it is richer and more hydrating than I usually prefer in a day cream.  I doubt that I would ever use this or any type of oil during the day and I also am not sure how long into the spring that I would be using this product.  It is pretty safe for me to say that oils are best during the cold weather for me and would take the place of my traditional night cream.

There are quite a few advantages to this product for those with dry and/or sensitive skin.  The oil hydrates wells and absorbs very quickly, I have been looking at my pillowcase every morning to see if there is excess residue on it and so far there have been no major issues.  My red cheek area has been soothed with the use of this product and I have had no issues with any type of irritation on my delicate facial skin.  Overall, I am very happy with this product for my skin type. 

This oil is recommended for all skin types but I cannot see how this would work on oily skin types.  I might have a better idea of an answer to this question as the weather warms up and my skin becomes less dry.  Facial oils are a great idea for me in the winter months however I can't see myself using this product much into the spring season.  I would consider switching over to one of the Josie Maran face lotions at this time so I could reap the benefits of the argan oil but in a more diluted form.

photo courtesy of Sephora

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration

I feel like I have been all over the place with my skincare products the past few weeks.  The middle of September stayed very warm later than usual and then the weather changed rapidly.  My skincare choices have been changing just as rapidly, I have several tubes of products opened up and it doesn't seem like I will be using anything up anytime soon.  I have added another skin cream to my nightly beauty routine and I am sure that I will be moving this product to my day beauty routine as the weather continues to cool off. 

First Aid Beauty is company that contains a product line that is often recommended for people with dry, sensitive skin that is prone to redness.  This is a pretty apt description of my skin issues so I decided to give one of the "hero" products from this line a try.  All of the facial products in this line are highly recommended by the staff at my local Sephora but they all seemed to recommend one product as being the best.  Therefore, I picked up a small tube of the Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration.  I realized later that this cream could be used on both the body and the face so I will want a jar of the full size for my bathroom and then a small tube to keep in my purse.

The product description from the Sephora website is as follows, "A cult-favorite head-to-toe moisturizer that provides instant and long-term hydration for dry, distressed skin, even eczema.  Banish dry skin with First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair® Cream. This thick, rich, emollient moisturizer hydrates deep down with exceptional penetration while providing immediate relief and long-lasting protection for dry, distressed skin, even eczema. The beautiful whipped formula is instantly absorbed with no greasy after feel. Formulated with colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and ceramide 3, the cream instantly goes to work to soothe, calm, and heal skin. It can be used head to toe and is clinically proven to increase hydration by up to 169 percent immediately upon application."

I have been using this product as a night cream right now, I will switch it over to a day cream once the air gets drier. This product absorbs quickly and hydrates on contact.  I have used it multiple times when my cheeks get so dry that they actually sting and turn bright red and I am happy to say that this product quickly soothes the irritation and helps to bring the redness down.  If I use this product at night on red areas, then the redness will be gone by the time that I wake up in the morning.  I am very happy with the results of this product from all aspects so far.

This is the first face cream that I have used containing oatmeal.  I remember taking oatmeal baths when I was a child and my skin would start acting up.  The oatmeal would help to calm the itch and reduce the redness and inflammation.  I am really liking that I found a great face cream with these benefits and that I can also use it as needed on my body.  I haven't used it on my body yet but I am sure that this will be coming very soon as the winter approaches.

I would classify this cream as falling into the category of medium-to-deep hydration.  Right now, it works well as a night cream but will be too much as a day cream.  One night I did notice that I still had a slight "dry" feeling on my cheeks and this is what leads me to believe that I will not be able to use this as my very hydrating night cream in the winter months.  I will be trying to swap it out for my day cream at this point as I still hope to reap the benefits of the soothing and redness-reducing aspects of this product.  The product does not leave a film on the skin and absorbs quickly so I am hoping that it will work well under makeup during the day.  I will have to try this out on my next day off and hope for the best.

This is my first product from this company and I think that this will be the first of many.  I want to try more of their face serums and I would love to find a hydrating face wash that continues the benefits that I receive from the Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration.

photo courtesy of Sephora

L'Occitance Ultra Rich Face Cream

The last heat wave of the late summer is finally over and I am moving my skincare over to many of the items that I had bought for fall.  I had actually started buying fall skin care early last month but had to go back to summer skin care items with the extended heat wave that occurred.  My skin has definitely realized that the heat and humidity are over and has become much drier than it has been in weeks.  I am slowly switching over to my fall skincare arsenal and decided that I needed to change my night cream before anything else.  I opened up my newest face cream from L'Occitance several nights ago.

The Ultra Rich Face Cream is the first skincare product that I have purchased from this company and so far it is working out quite well.  This face cream is only for dry skin and I would never recommend it for anyone that has any other skin type.  I don't even think that I would be able to use this cream during the day and be able to use makeup over it.  This product hydrates very well but doesn't fully absorb and wouldn't be the best to use during the day.

I ordered this face cream from Sephora.  Sephora gives the following product description, "A luxurious face cream that deeply nourishes and intensely protects dry to very dry skin types.  The Ultra Rich Face Cream is the perfect moisturizer for skin in need of intensive hydration. The formula is exceedingly dense and creamy, although rapidly absorbed without leaving an oily film, and is specially formulated to hydrate, nourish, and protect dry and damaged skin. It has been proven to increase skin hydration for up to 24 hours.  In addition to 25 percent shea butter, the formula is made with wheat and chestnut extracts to strengthen the skin. These extracts are rich in vitamins and minerals, which help to replenish the skin's hydrolipidic film and restore balance to the skin's barrier, defending it against harsh environmental conditions."

The texture of this cream is very rich and creamy, it is more of a balm than an actual cream.  I have to run my finger over the top of this product and pick up the smallest amount possible.  I first tried scooping it out like I would my other face creams but so much product came out that it didn't absorb at all.  Less is definitely more with this face cream and only the smallest bit will absorb in the skin.  This product does not fully absorb into the skin and leaves a bit of a film on the skin, the main reason that I would only use this as a night cream. 

The 25 percent shea butter in this formula hydrates very well but does have a bit of a heavy feeling on the skin.  Again this product is only for dry to very dry skin types.  It reduces some of the redness that is in my skin and helps to keep the moisture in even after I shower in the morning.  The hydrating benefits are great and this is a very good product for those with tight and dry skin.  The more natural ingredients did not irritate my skin and I was very happy with this face cream.

The only way that this face cream could be improved would be to have it absorb better into the skin, I would never be able to use this as a day cream and put primer and foundation on top of it.  As a night cream, it hydrates well and helps to reduce redness due to dry skin.  I am looking forward to trying more face products from this company and more from the shea butter line.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Philosophy Take A Deep Breath Oil-Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer

With the excess humidity and heat that has come with the end of this summer, I have needed to change my skincare regime around quickly and needed a lighter weight day cream than I have for the past few months.  My Clinique Dramatically Different Moisture Plus has been regulated for night only and I will keep using it in this fashion for the next few weeks.  I needed to add a new face cream formula to my skin care regime and wanted to go after another cream gel formula (similar to Origins Ginzing formula but lighter).  I visited Sephora and left with a pot of Take a Deep Breath from Philosophy.  This must a relatively newer product in this line since I had never seen it when I was shopping their skin care line.  I love the more hydrating creams from this company and wanted to see what other types of formulas this company excels in.

Take a Deep Breath is a great face cream if you have normal to oily skin and works only for me because of the exceptionally hot weather, I doubt that I will be rebuying this product or needing it again in the future.  "An energizing, oil-free moisturizer for a healthy glow.  Give your skin a breath of fresh air with this lightweight, fresh-feeling moisturizer that revitalizes and protects. Environmental factors like sun, smog, and pollution can cloud the complexion and make it appear dull and lackluster. This cream diffuses energizing oxygen to detoxify skin and support cell respiration, while a blend of antioxidants fight the signs of stress. The oil-free formula absorbs quickly, leaving skin perfectly balanced. From dull to revitalized, your complexion will positively glow.", states the Sephora website.

I really liked this formula and I really wish that Philosophy would offer these product benefits in a more hydrating formula.  This face cream has a very light texture and I consider it to be more of a gel than a gel cream.  The texture is very much like a light jelly and will not be enough for my skin when this current hat wave has ended.  That being said...I do like how nicely this cream absorbs into my skin and doesn't leave an oily residue on the skin. 

My favorite aspect of this product is the "glow" that it creates on my skin.  My complexion is brighter after use and I love the pretty flush that it brings to the apples of my cheek.  It improves my complexion in a way that no other product has before and that is why I wish these benefits could be found in a product that is more hydrating.  I am considering layering this product over a very hydrating face serum and seeing if the combination of these two products will be keep my face hydrated later on in the fall months.  I have been using the product for less than a week and I can see a difference in my complexion already and would love to keep these benefits up later on.

This wasn't my normal type of product and I doubt that I would have purchased it without the 100 degree temperatures that we have been living through the past few weeks.  I love the light hydrating benefits of this product but it isn't going to be enough for my skin much longer.  The "glow" is lovely and the best aspect of this product and I want to see if any other products from Philosophy have these benefits.  I have never seen another skincare product like this before and now I want to find other like it and somehow manage to layer it with other products to adapt it to colder temperatures.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Face Lotion +

One of the product releases that I was the most excited about in the past few months is the topic of today's post, a new piece of the Clinique skin care is always an intriguing prospect for me and I usually end up purchasing it in within a few months of the initial release.  This release is one that I have been reading about in every single fashion and beauty magazine for at least a month and I have been waiting for it to finally become available and I ordered it as soon as I could get my hands on it from the Sephora website.  Clinique has revamped the formula and brought out a new version of their best selling and award winning face moisturizer, the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Face Lotion.  I have used this product many times before in its original version and found that it was best for me in the warmer weather months and therefore I am going to try the new version in the same type of weather.

This is one of the few products that makes the Allure Best of Beauty list nearly every single year and then also wins the Reader's Choice Award from this very same magazine.  It is the first product that comes up when Clinique is brought up on the Sephora website and then first product that comes up when one looks for Moisturizers too.  I have met very few ladies who have not tried this product at least once.  I first tried this lotion when a small size came in a Clinique Gift with Purchase several years ago and have turned it to many times since.

The new version has the same name with a "+" added to the title.  This new formula delivers twice the hydration while still remaining a great choice for all skin types.  This lotion is best for me when used as a day lotion in the late spring through early fall, I need a heavier product in the fall and then through the early spring months. 

"A luxurious moisturizer that promotes smooth, healthy-looking skin.  The world has changed since Clinique first debuted Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, and it’s had an impact on our skin. That’s why Clinique created a dramatically different version. This formula features all the same benefits as the original—plus more. Step 3 in Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care System, this moisture "drink" developed by Clinique's dermatologists maintains optimal moisture balance for very dry skin or comfortable to oily skin in the T-zone. With a new complex yet same silky texture and quick penetration, this lightweight formula strengthens skin's own moisture barrier by 54 percent and locks in essential moisture. It delivers twice the hydration all day, leaving skin silky-soft, springy, and absolutely radiant.  This was developed for Skin Types 1 and 2: very dry to dry, dry combination. For oilier skins (Skin Types 3 and 4), try Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel."

This is a day lotion for me, it absorbs quickly and hydrates well without any type of greasy feeling on the skin.  Two pumps of the product is enough for face to hydrate my face without wasting product.  I don't find this lotion to be thick enough to hydrate my skin at night and be the only product that I use for moisturizing, the new additions to the formula do not make is strong enough for it to be my only face lotion.  The texture of this product is exactly the same as the original, I wouldn't have noticed the difference from just pumping the product out and applying it to my face.  I do notice a difference in the formula of the product, it hydrates better and absorbs quicker than the original formula. 

This is a great improvement over the original and I love the new version of the formula, I still will only use it as a day lotion in the warmer weather.  It hydrates better and absorbs faster than the original version but still will not be enough hydration to serve as a night cream (for anyone with dry skin) unless your skin is considered normal to slightly dry.  The same thoughts hold for using this in cold weather, even though this product is made for drier skin types it is not a replacement for an oil or thick face cream when the temperatures drop.  I am very happy with this product and will keep using it for the rest of the summer until the bottle runs out in the fall months.

Great upgrade on a solid product from this company!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Face Moisturizer

I finally started to settle into my summer skincare regime and have a series of products that work well together and with the self tanner formula that I use and I will continue to keep this same skincare regime until after Labor Day.  My latest addition to my summer skincare regime is one that I would use all year long and might be my new favorite product in my line up.  I have used and loved the Origins GinZing Eye Cream ever since it was first released in early 2010 and I was so excited when I saw a facial moisturizer in this same formula on the Sephora website.  This skin cream formula immediately went onto my Most Wanted list and I waited on their email list until the product was back in stock for me to order.  I ordered it the other week and now I finally have one of my most coveted skincare products in my hands and I have been testing it out for two days now.

So far this year has produced two skincare products that I have instantly wanted, this skin cream and the night cream from Philosophy.  I wanted both of these products for exactly the same reason, I have other products from these companies with very similar formulas and have gotten great results time and time again and I believed that the new products with from these same lines would give me very similar results.  So far...I have not been let down!

The GinZing Eye Cream was my first introduction to the Origins line and it started my relationship with this brand very well.  This is one of the best eye creams that I have ever used, both for the texture and the benefits.  It hydrates and absorbs very quickly while brightening my under eye area and reducing the appearance of my puffy eyes in the morning.  If a single eye cream can do all the above, I can only imagine what a face cream in this line could do...

"A facial cream to instantly hydrate and rev up radiance.  This lightweight, oil-free facial cream is fortified with legendary skin-boosters like panax ginseng and coffee bean to jumpstart hydration levels. Lackluster-looking skin is rapidly refreshed and revitalized to create a healthy, vibrant glow."

This is a gel-cream hybrid product, a texture that is one of my personal favorites because it hydrates very well yet is light enough to sink in quickly and begin working instantly.  I wasn't even aware that the product had this texture until I opened the pot up and started applying it to my face.  I use a nickel-sized drop of product to cover and hydrate my whole face and this is the perfect amount of someone with dry skin, if your skin is normal or oily you could get away with using less of the product.  It sinks in instantly and immediately I can see the increase in the hydration levels of my skin and the texture shows immediate improvement.  This formula is oil-free and I really think that every single skin type would benefit from the use of this product, it hydrates my dry skin but it light enough for anyone to use.  That might be my favorite aspect of the product...

I can see an evident change in my skin from the use of this product, I already discussed the improvement in the overall texture but I also see a different in the clarity and radiance of my skin.  I was happy to see that my cheek redness was reduced and my skin is brighter looking overall, this product makes me look as though I came back from a relaxing vacation and am fully rested (even though the exact opposite is usually true), this is a great cream for someone who has skin that responses negatively to stress.  My skin tends to get dull when I am stressed from work and/or school but this product counteracts all of that.  As much I am reaping the benefits of it now, I am really excited to see how it performs in the winter and early spring, this is time of the year that the weather and school do a number on my face and I have dry skin that often look dull and gray.  I will be buying more of this product at that time to see just how well it performs when my skin is at its worst.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Philosophy Hope In a Jar Night Face Cream

Several weeks ago, I wrote a Theme Week featuring all kinds of great skincare ingredients that have helped my skin in the past and that have been proven to work by the industry.  One of the items that I covered was the best selling moisturizer from Philosophy, the Hope In a Jar product.  This face cream is one of the best known products on the Sephora website and is a consistent top seller for any company that carries it.  This moisturizer was covered under the lactic acid ingredient post, an ingredient that helps to increase total cell turnover and helps to boost hydration levels in the skin.  The reason that this moisturizer is such a top seller is because it actually delivers on its promises and is a simple yet very effective formula.  I would have no hesitation to re-purchase this product again in the future and I think that Philosophy overall has a very solid skincare product line.

Earlier this month, a new product joined the Philosophy skin care line up and it was an instant sell out at my closest Sephora store and it was out of stock online went I tried to order it.  I considered trying another face cream and ordering this one later on in the season but I ended up waiting until I got the email from Sephora stating that the product was back in stock and that I could order it any time.  I actually pushed off my entire Sephora order to wait for this product and just left it all in my Shopping Cart until I could add this product and make the order.  I have been using it for about a week now and I can very happily state that this product was well worth the wait and is one of my favorite night creams that I have ever used!

The product description and details come from the Sephora website, "An intensive retexturizing moisturizer that repairs skin overnight for a beautiful, well-rested appearance.  Wake to more radiant, refreshed skin with this night version of Philosophy’s much-loved Hope In A Jar moisturizer. The gentle formula boosts nighttime renewal to retexturize skin, as it plumps the appearance of fine lines and evens skintone. Patented qusomes help deliver potent glycolic acid to the skin, while gradual-release technology minimizes the potential for irritation. With regular use, skin becomes noticeably smoother, lines are visibly softened, and your rosy glow is restored."

The clinical trail results were provided also...

"Based on once-daily use, a clinical and consumer study of 48 participants reported:
- 92% felt softer, comfortably hydrated skin overnight
- 90% showed significant improvement in the appearance of fine lines after 2 weeks of use"

The texture of this product was the first item that I noted when I tried it, this moisturizer has the texture of thick cake frosting.  I applied this all over my face and my dry skin just drank it in.  I had to get the product out of my eye brows but other than that, it absorbed instantly and left my skin feeling very hydrated.  The next morning, my skin still felt fully hydrated and wasn't as dry as usual when I got out of the shower.  I do not use this product during the day, I use a lighter lotion from Clinique and we will get into the "Why" when I talk ingredients in the next paragraph.  After a week of use every single night, my skin retains moisture better and looks brighter and fresher than before.  This is a great hydrating face cream for dry skin, I don't see this working well on normal skin types as it is a very thick formula.  I will use this product throughout the rest o the spring but I don't know if I can use it in the summer or if I will put it away for the fall.  This is an aspect of the product that I will have to report back on in June.

My thoughts on the formula - I wasn't expecting the hit of glycolic acid to be in this product and I will confess that I was so excited to order this product that I really didn't closely read the details of it.  My skin and glycolic acid don't always get along, it has to be in small doses and I have to watch my skin's reactions with the use of it.  This product doesn't not bother my skin at all, very surprising to me but I see that this has an extra ingredient added into it to keep the product gentle for all skin types.  This formula is best for a night cream, this ingredient mix has a major potential to make skin sensitive to the sun and I would not use it in the daytime to avoid the risk of a sunburn. 

Over the past week, my skin has vastly improved in hydration level and looks my clearer than it did before I began using this product.  This is a great skin cream from Philosophy but only if you have drier skin, this is not recommended for normal skin with the hydration level that it provides.  This is my current favorite night cream and might be among the best that I have ever used and I will be purchasing it again as soon as I run out.  I will have to see how it works during the summer months and if I need a lighter formula so I will report back on that aspect of the product but so far, I am very happy with what I am getting right now from this cream!

photo courtesy of Sephora

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Face Serum

Yesterday we finished up the last of the spring collections and we will be beginning the summer collections in about three or four weeks.  I am very excited to take my time off this week and spend at least a good day or two beauty product shopping and I am so much looking forward to the weather getting and to start wearing my new spring outfits and fragrances.  But I just looked out of the window...and it is snowing.  Class is actually cancelled tonight due to the winter weather so I am just thinking spring in my brain and curling up with my textbooks in front of the fire place.  Perhaps the weather will be nicer by the end of the week for the actual first day of spring...

I have been battling very dry skin later than usual this spring due the longer winter weather and today I want to spotlight a key product in my arsenal to fight dry skin.  I have always loved Caudalie products and I will never hesitate to try a new product from them and I have almost always loved every single product that I buy.  The newest product that I have been using is a newer hydration serum from this company, the Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Face Serum.  I typically use the redness reducing Vinosource serum from this company but this product looked really interesting when it came out late last summer and I decided to try a bottle out.  I am almost through the bottle that I have been using for the past few weeks and am already plotting to order another bottle during the upcoming Sephora Friends and Family sale.

"An oil-free serum that captures and continually diffuses water deep within the skin to restore its moisture balance and leave skin feeling soft and supple.  Organic grape water is the key ingredient for reactivating the skin’s hydration mechanisms and replenishing its water reserves, while polyphenol antioxidents provide protection against UV rays and free radicals. Gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin, this serum is an ideal base for moisturizer, allowing for deeper penetration that will leave skin refreshed, hydrated, and comfortably soft. This hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and oil-free formula is perfect for all skin types. For best results, use with Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet.", states the Sephora website when describing the product.

Sephora also provides the following clinical results with the use of the product. "Organic Grape Water: - 61% decreased sensitivity and 121% increased hydration".

I have been in love with this product so far and I can see a difference in my skin after four full weeks of use and I will continue to use this throughout the spring and summer.  First of all, I want to start off my review of the product by stating that this is not a moisturizer and can not be used in place of your moisturizer, the results will not be to your liking and this is not how it was made to used.  This product is made to be used before moisturizer and will set up your skin to allow the hydrating benefits to penetrate deeper and have more impact on your skin.  When I use the product by itself, I do not see much difference in my skin, I have to apply moisturizer with it and then I see a world of difference in my skin hydration level and texture.  My skin is much softer and I have to use much less product to see results that I would only see if I covered my face with tons of product. 

Sephora recommends that this product be used twice a day on clean, dry skin.  I started by using it only at night but then went up to using it twice a day to reap the full benefits of the serum.  When I only used the product once, I used it at night and my face looked great but I never could duplicate the results in the morning.   I learned quickly that I had to use this product twice a day or I would not get the benefits from it. 

I will be buying another bottle of this product very soon as my winter skin issues don't seem to be ending at any time soon.  I do wonder if there will be a point to me using it in the summer when I am self tanning as my skincare routine does change but I will cross that bridge when I get there.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Skincare Ingredients Week Day Four - C. O. Bigelow Acai Repair Night Cream

Anti-oxidants have a big part in Skincare Ingredients Theme Week, my skin is young enough that I want to protect it from future signs of aging and I prefer to avoid having to go to the plastic surgeon for as long as possible.  Therefore, anti-oxidants and their role in protecting my skin are of huge interest to me and I will always try a new product that has anti-oxidant active ingredients and promises to help protect my skin from the environment.  Today we are going to look at another fruit anti-oxidant ingredient, acai berry.  Acai berry is very similar to pomegranate in its ability to protect and help the skin.

Acai berry targets the protection of both collagen and elastin, other anti-oxidant ingredients tend to target only one of these essential skin proteins.  The acai berry produces extract that contains more anti-oxidant power than most fruit, including the blueberry.  This ingredient is mostly used to protect skin, it helps to neutralize free radicals by binding to them before they bind to the skin and begin the breakdown of the essential proteins in the epidermis.  Acai can help to reduce the visible signs of again however this is not where it excels, I would recommend products spiked with this active ingredient mostly for younger skin that is free of signs of aging.  Given the power of the acai berry, I do not understand why it is not used in as many skincare products as pomegranate or Vitamin C.  I wonder how hard this product is to find or if it is more difficult to stabilize and add into a formula.

I have only seen this ingredients used alone in one product, the C.O. Bigelow Acai Repair Night Cream.  This product is getting harder and harder to find, it used to be carried in all Bath and Body Works and now it can only be ordered from the C.O. Bigelow website.  This is a shame since I love this night cream and I have used it for about a year now, I have alternated it with other products but i have come back to it time after time, I really wish it was much easier to find than it currently is.

"Rebalance and nourish sleepy skin with this dream cream formula. this cream is made with two exclusive complexes packed with powerful levels of super-antioxidants, multi-vitamans and multi-minerals. Formulated to mend signs of past damage and replace lost nutrients while moisturizing skin all night while you sleep.  Healthy Skin Complex 1.3%; Skin-Renewal Complex 10.3 %; Acai Berry Extract 2%."

"Healthy Skin Complex: This complex is packed and super-boosted with vitamins, minerals (zinc, copper, iron, magnesium) and antioxidant-rich berries that deliver essential nutrients to the skin to keep it looking healthy, strong, and youthful.  Skin-Renewal Complex: Formulated to combat visible signs of aging and skin dehydration. It contains a unique blend of vital elements for skin to look its best. Reparative ingredients along with moisture-replenishing and retaining lipids give skin a renewing boost to prevent depletion of skin's natural moisture."

I have used this face cream at night and during the day, I actually preferred to use it during the day instead of at night.  During the testing phase for this Theme Week, I alternated this product with the Philosophy Hope in a Jar Cream.  Originally, I used this product at night and the other one during the day but found that the opposite use of these two products gave me the best results.  This product is a thicker so I would only recommend day use of this product if you skin is dry, otherwise this texture will be too much for you to layer on primer and foundation.  The acai berry in this product will be best used during the day in order for skin to fight the free radicals in the air while helping to treat some of the visible signs of aging.  As I stated earlier, this cream is on the thicker side so I could only recommend it for people with normal to dry skin, I wish that this company offered the acai berry ingredient in a lighter lotion too as it is a great ingredient.

This is one of the strongest anti-oxidant ingredients on the market and I am really hoping that I will begin to find this in more products over the next few years.

photo courtesy of C.O. Bigelow

Skincare Ingredients Week Day Three - Philosophy Hope in a Jar Face Cream

So far this week, we have been looking at anti-oxidant ingredients in skincare and how they protect the skin from future signs of aging.  Today we are going to move away from this category of ingredients and look at another type of ingredient that protects the skin from environmental damage.  Lactic acid is a milk-based ingredient that both promotes hydration, soothes skin, promotes healthy exfoliation, and protect the skin.  This ingredient is very old and was first used by Cleopatra, it amazes me how lactic acid has endured through the years and makes me think that sometimes natural ingredients are better than those that have been cooked up in a chemistry lab.

I hestitated in choosing lactic acid for one reason, I am considering going from vegetarian to vegan and if I would go into veganism, then I could never use any type of product with milk proteins or lactic acid in.  This may be how I go in a few years but for now I will keep using product with milk in.  Lactic acid is a form of AHA and is derived from sour milk.  AHAs are used to exfoliate and tighten skin and this is a more gentle form than many of the others on the market.  Products that are spiked with this ingredient with help increase exfoliation and therefore will improved the overall complexion and texture of the skin.  Milk fats help to increase hydration levels in the skin and is soothing enough to calm redness and easily irritated skin, it is an ingredient that is often used in skincare products targeted for sensitive and red skin.  Being that this ingredient can both increase exfoliation but is used in products for sensitive skin, the active levels of this ingredients are very important as to much of a good thing can actually make skin worse.  Excess exfoliation of skin that is easily irritated can make the redness and irritation much worse so if this is your skin (and it is mine) then you will need to choose a gentle formula that is well trusted and respected.

I decided to try this ingredient for the first time in the Philosophy Hope in a Jar Face Cream, one of the best selling skin creams at Sephora and one of the overall best selling skin creams on the market.  What started out as one kind of face cream has now bloomed into a line of these creams for every skin type and I am getting hints that a special night cream with this formula is coming out very soon. This is a very simple formula that is also very effective at the same time. 

"A cult-favorite moisturizer that gently hydrates, exfoliates, and protects the skin.  Philosophy Hope in a Jar is a 99.9% oil-free, deeply hydrating, lightweight wonder designed to smooth the complexion while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and discoloration. Originally created for the medical market, this expert essential delivers soft, healthy, glowing results.  This beloved formula contains antioxidants that protect skin against environmental damage and provides continuous exfoliation to keep roughness at bay. An infusion of yeast-derived beta glucan supports the skin's natural defense system and improves repair capabilities."

This face cream is made for use any time of the day however I preferred to use it at night instead of during the day.  The simple formula hydrated my skin very quickly and absorbed into the skin.  With the lactic acid in the formula, I found that this cream made my skin a bit red in the cheek area, this is not a look that I want to wear during the daylight hours as I needed extra makeup to cover up the problem areas.  My skin is fine when I use it at night and then use a different face cream in the morning.  I know that the redness is caused by the extra exfoliation of the lactic acid and overall my complexion is better than before use of it.  After two weeks of using this product once a day, I could see an improvment in my complexion and I really started to like this product.  Initially I was disappointed by it since it seemed to make the red in cheek area worsen but using it at a different time in the day made the redness less visible. 

I do really like this product since it helped to improve the eveness and tone of my complexion and I will be purchasing the new version of this cream as soon as it is released.  I am really excited to see how a night version of this product works and I will be reading up on it as soon I can get more information on it.  Will the lactic acid percentage be higher and will my complexion improve even more?  Or might an enhanced version be too much?  One thign is for sure, I will keep looking for great products with lactic acid in them.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF 30 Cream

Winter is almost here and that means one major fact for me - I will end up buying a ton of new skincare items and will go through them like crazy.  Early last December, I ended up buying or ordering from Sephora almost every single weeek because I was running through skincare products like crazy and then I was finding that some of the ones that I bought just weren't hydrating enough for the winter and had to be put away until the spring months.  My goal is head this off at the pass this year and start picking up some new skincare items now, especially the heavy duy face creams that I always end up needing this time of the year and for the next three months.  I can already feel that my face is much drier than it was several weeks and is beginning to feel tight and dry right after I wash it.  And everyone who is reading this knows that it will only get worse in the upcoming weeks...

My first skincare purchase of the late fall/early winter months is the Lancome Bienfiar Multi-Vital SPF 30 Cream.  I first tried this product in a Sephora skincare sample bag and liked it enough to buy it the other week at the Lancome counter.  At first, I wasn't even sure what exactly this product was, the typing on the Sephora sample was very small and I couldn't make out if it was a SPF face cream or just a sunblock.  Once I first tried the product, I quickly figured out that it was a thick face cream that contained an SPF, it was much too thick for just an SPF and a product of this texture would be very hard to layer with another face cream. 

The best product description is found on the Lancome website.  "Containing a complex of nurturing Vitamins E, B5 and CG plus high potency moisturization, this greaseless formula provides 24-hour hydration. Your skin will look its healthy best and feel touchably soft all day. With Broad Spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen and essential antioxidant protection, Bienfait Multi-Vital gives your skin what it needs to help fight the visible effects of environmental skin damage.  Results: Skin is hydrated, looks its healthy best, and feels touchably soft all day.  Normal to dry skin, even sensitive skin.  Non-comedogenic. Dermatologist-tested for safety.  Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation." 

Anyone that has used French skincare before will have no problems understanding why this is a top selling face cream in that country.  To those who have not, I will provide a few more details.  This cream has a high SPF in it, higher than most that are available from major brands in the United States.  Most face creams don't really live up the SPF that is promised on the label, to achieve the full SPF benefits the product must be applied in a thick, even layer.  Most of use do not apply our face creams as thickly as they should be, especially those of us who layer foundation and concealer on yet too.  So if you use an SPF of 30, it is more at the 15 protection level and an SPF 15 is next to no protection.  Sorry to burst your bubbles everyone, but this is why I prefer to use separate sunscreen products for my face. 

French women are also more likely to prefer very rich hydrating products and this face cream certinaly lives up to that standard.  I would only recommend this for the driest of skin types, this cream is so thick that I had to warm it in my hand before applying it to my face in order to get it to fully absorb and this product could be overdone very easily.  I wouldn't recommend this face cream for those with normal skin, however I see on the Lancome website that it is available in a lighter lotion formula, so all the benefits can still be reaped with a lighter formula.

This cream contains many anti-oxidant protection benefits, I wouldn't list this as a solely anti-aging moisturizer.  It has the potential to help correct some of the signs of anging, however it is most powerful in preventing the signs and helping to brighten the overall complexion.  The vitamins and anti-oxidants helped to make my skin look a bit brighter, one of my favorite aspects of it when I first tried out my deluxe sample and that caused me to purchase the acutal product, my skin takes on a grayish pallor during the winter months and I will try any product that promises me some kind of brightening benefits.  The Vitamins E and B5 are mostly responsible for these benefits and are the major reason why I prefer anti-oxidant facial products over any other type of formulation.  This didn't deliver as dramatic a result as a traditional brightening serum would but it certainly help to make my skin looks clearer and healthier at this time of the year.  Maximum brightening benefits would be reached by using this product with a brightening serum at least once or twice a day.  I only use this product during the day since it contains the high SPF, there is no point in using this product at night. 

This is one of the first (if not the first) Lancome skincare product that I have used, mostly I go to this brand for fragrance or color.  I was happy enough with my deluxe sample to buy the full sized product after a week of use and I am looking forward to trying the other skincare products in the Bienfiat line.  I am already thinking ahead to the summer months and I am betting that I will buy the lotion version from this line.

photo courtesy of Sephora

C.O. Bigelow All-in-One Protective Day Lotion SPF 25

Several weeks ago, I raved about the C.O. Vitamin Face Wash that I ordered when I was restocking my collection of Lemon body products.  That product turned me into a C.O. Bigelow face care lover and now that the time has come to order another tube of the face wash, I decided to see what else I could find from this line of products.  It is summer and since it feels like we have been going through a heat wave for the past three weeks in my area of the country, I was more interested in trying to find a light face lotion rather than my usual face cream formula.  I only use light lotions during July and August so I actually didn't have a spare one in my product stash. 

I ordered the All-in-One Protective Day Lotion SPF 25 from the C.O. Bigelow website.  This is obviously a day lotion since it contains SPF 25 and the texture is light enough to use with makeup and primer during the hot weather months.  There was a time last summer when I just gave up on face lotion all together and used only sunscreen on my face during the day but this left my face really within a month and it remained really parched when fall came.  I am hoping to avoid that course of action this year and that is where this product from C.O. Bigelow will come into play.

I found this product on the C.O. Bigelow website and if you don't live in one of the few cities that has a free-standing C.O. Bigelow store than this is your only option to purchase this product.  "Hydrate and protect skin with this lightweight moisturizer, formulated with a power network of vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants, and UV protection.  Provides all day moisture and shields against damaging free radicals.  Protects against environmental pollutants with on-demand, light-activated antioxidants."

This is the first time that I am hearing about antioxidants that work on demand, this is a lovely concept but I can't say that I really buy in it very deeply.  I could see using ingredients or complexes that are activated by UVA and UVB rays (in theory).  However I have not read about technology that performs like this from any other company and I really believe that if it works all well as it should than many other companies would be using it too.  I would be more likely to believe a claim like this from a company like DDF or Murad where there is a much bigger budget for research and technology and the products are much higher end.  The C.O. Bigelow website states that this day lotion contains the following three ingredients: Anti-Pollution Complex, Healthy Skin Complex, and Skin Renewal Complex.  Unfortunately, this is where the description ends.  When reviewing all the ingredients, I can see different antioxidants and metals in the mix however if this company wants to make a claim like this one of the product effectiveness, then I want to see more research and specific details.

I'm not saying that this is a bad product, I actually really like it.  What I am saying is that this product is a very nice, light face lotion for normal skin.  This is not a product that will change your skin.  This face lotion added a bit of hydration to my skin but didn't make it oily, even in my T-Zone area.  I could not use this product any time other than the summer months, it wouldn't be anywhere near hydrating enough for my face.  This product doesn't contain a mattifying agent so I do need to bring blotting papers in my purse for touch-ups.  I try to apply this product thickly enough to reap some benefits of the SPF protection however I still prefer to use separate sunscreens and moisturizers whenever possible.  At least this product contains an SPF of 25 to make up for the fact that I can't apply it quite as thickly as I wish that I could.

This product works well with my pared-down summer beauty routine.  I rely on self tanner this time of the year and am able to maintain a light to medium bronzed look on my face and body.  I then use this product in the morning with a primer and a bit of bronzer.  This lotion is light enough that my primer and bronzer don't cake or feel heavy on my skin.  This is a good, solid lightweight face lotion for the summer months only.

photo courtesy of C.O. Bigelow

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator

I think that I finally have my spring skincare regime set in stone, Korres and Boscia (remember the black face gel that I reviewed last fall?  I have finally brought it out again!) will be ruling my skincare regime and I shouldn't really be needing new products until I begin self-tanning next month.  This is the last new skincare product that I will be trying for the next few weeks until my skin changes again for the summer weather.  Clinique's Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator is their newest facial moisturizer and is among one of their most hydrating.  Why this company choose to release this product going into the warm weather months is well beyond me since it would have been more appropriate for use in the cool weather months.  I received this product as a massive sample from one of my Sephora online orders, I recently ran out of night cream so I decided to try this sample and then purchase the full size product next fall if it worked out for me.

I used this product as a night cream, at this time of the year it is must too thick to wear during the day.  "Rich, oil-free cream-gel instantly rehydrates.  Skin stays comfortably plumped, even 24 hours after you put it on.  Daily use helps fortify and repair skin's moisture barrier to keep moisture in, environmental irritants out.  Better barrier, happier skin."  This product is only recommended for dry to very dry skin or skin that is very stressed out by climate change or recent air travel.  This product's recommended use for dry skin is once to twice a day or as needed to fight dry skin.  Otherwise, it is recommended to just as needed around climate change until skin returns to its normal hydration level.

This is one of the few Clinique moisturizers that I didn't love, this line has contained so many hits for me over the years that I actually just expected to love this product as much as I love the original formula.  The original is a gel product with a thick jelly texture that absorbs right into the skin without leaving a greasy residue on the skin.  This product has a thicker texture, closer to that of a balm than a gel or cream, I have to use very little of this product to hydrate my whole face.  You have to pay attention to the amount of this product that you apply to your face, it has the tendency to just sit on the skin if too much is applied at any one time.  The texture is nice and I like how well it hydrates but I just wasn't a big fan of it, I have used better products that provide the same hydration level and I would rebuy the original over this one.  This product doesn't moisturize all that much more than the original but the texture is harder to work with.  I prefer the original version of this product and would be much more likely to buy it than the new version.

I was very surprised that this product had a noticeable fragrance to it, Clinique's facial care products have always been fragrance-free in the past and that was the expectation that I had for this product.  My jar of this product had a strong, sharp chemical smell that I really dislike, I wonder if I got a bad jar of this product since Clinique makes only fragrance-free skincare.  Really disliked this aspect of the product, if I liked the texture enough to repurchase it I would have to make sure that my new jar doesn't have this smell to it. 

This is one of the few let-downs in the whole Clinique facial care line, as I already stated I typically love their facial skincare.  The texture of the product is nice but I prefer the original product's performance to this one.  The scent is what really did it in for me but I still wonder if I got a bad jar of the product...

photo courtesy of Clinique

B. Kamins Soothing Day Cream SPF 15

Earlier this week, I wrote up about how much I loved my new face cream from Korres.  I still love it, it actually is one of my favorite things that I am using right now.  While I was thinking about how much about this product, I realized that I spaced out on writing up a review from a bit earlier in the winter.  I had been using a day cream from B. Kamins that I forgot to write about (I blame stress and Valentine's Day for this one!).  Before I forget again...let's check out this face cream from B. Kamins!  I have been using B. Kamins for years and it is another line of products that is getting harder and harder to find since it has been dropped from the Sephora line up.  I really hate that Sephora has dropped this and the Vincent Longo line but I know that business is business and there is nothing that I really can do other than try to find these products online.

B. Kamins has the Booster Blue line of facial products that I swear by for my dry, red skin in the winter and early spring months.  Booster Blue was my first experience with this brand and I still think that it is one of the best redness treatment lines available today.  Booster Blue is made for dry to very dry skin types so I can't use this line all year round and I still think that this line needs some version of a lighter moisturizer so that I can reap the benefits of the redness reducing all throughout the year.

The product description comes right from the B. Kamins website.  "A gentle, emollient day cream to help moisturize dry skin conditions associated with rosacea and related couperose skin complexions.  This hydrating, anti-oxidant formula helps to protect skin from UVA and UVB sun rays, which are known to be harmful to rosacea-type skin.  A high-performance daily moisturizer to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  A perfect primer for makeup."  This product is developed for normal to sry skin, especially those of us with major redness issues

This product is made to both hydrate and calm the skin, helping to both reduce the redness itself and to makeup application easier and smoother.  This product is fragrance-free, a fact that I love since so many lines add unneeded fragrance to their facial products.  In this case, this line is targeted to those with very sensitive skin and usually fragrance irritates the skin. 

Some additional features and benefits of this product were provided with the product description.  "Adds resilience and firmness to the skin with soluble collagen.  A perfect primer for makeup.  May also be reapplied over makeup without smudging or distortion.  SPF 15 sunscreens provide protection against harmful UVA/UVB sunrays that may aggravate rosacea-type skin and contribute to premature skin aging."

This is good basic face cream, I noticed very little redness reduction unless I used this product with the serum from the Booster Blue line.  I liked the texture of this product, it is creamy and hydrating without being greasy.  The cream is thick enough that I can only really use this product in the cooler weather, the humidity in the summer would make this cream slide right off my face.  I would only ever recommend this product to someone with normal to dry skin and has concerns about dryness.

I wish that this product contained a better SPF or none at all.  My skin tone is way too pale for a meager SPF 15, I need something closer to a 30 or above.  I actually prefer products with no SPF since then I can layer my own SPF underneath it and I can control the level of SPF as I need. 

I like this face cream and I wish that it wasn't quite so hard to track down.  With the difficulty of tracking this line down, I really don't know that I will be repurchasing this product.  I would be more likely to jump through hoops for the more targeted skincare products.  I would also rather have a product with a higher SPF or no SPF so I can control the level of it.

photo courtesy of B. Kamins

Korres Pomegrante Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer

Last week, I finished up my huge bottle of Clinique Dramatically Different Face Lotion, a product that I have been using on and off for almost an entire year.  I debated just purchasing another bottle of it since I really liked its performance and the texture of the lotion but I deicded that I wanted to try something totally different this time around.  When I made this decision, Sephora had recently released several new products from the homeopathic Greek skincare line, Korres.  Korres is one of the few skincare lines that I have rarely found a product that disappointed me in how it performed.  I have only used a few pieces from the color line of products however I have tried a variety of products from the skincare line.  The newest product that I decided to order from the Sephora website is the Pomegranate Balancing Gel-Cream Moisturizer, a lighter hydrator that will work well in the warmer weather months. 

This is a light to medium weight hydrator that also provides mattiyfing benefits to the skin.  "A lightweight moisturizer that provides a matte finish and pore-minimizing properties while leaving skin soft, hydrated, and balanced.  This pore-minimizing and mattifying moisturizer delivers immediate and lasting hydration while simultaneously balancing oily to combination complexions.  The unique lightweight cream-gel texture is formulated with a blend of 15% pomegranate water, pomegranate extract, alpine willow herb, and contains tannins and polyphenols.  These ingredients help reduce the appearance of pores and rejuvenate the look of skin while providing a matte finish.  Hyaluronic and salicylic acids combine to offer an immediate moisture boost while conditioning skin for an overall smooth appearance."

The Sephora website provides some of the results that were observed during the clinical trails of this product.
- 88% of subjects saw an improvement in skin texture
- 84% of subjects saw a reduction in surface oil and said skin appeared more matte
- 78% of subjects saw a visible reduction in the appeance of pores
- 75% of subjects saw a noticeable reduction in the appearance of redness

So far, I have been using this product for about a week (only during the day, I have am using the last bit of my Benefit face cream at night), this is too light for me to use at night.  My skin is becoming less dry with the advent of spring, however it still needs that dose of moisture at night and this product does not fully provide that intense moisture dose.  This product works well at balancing my dry areas and helping to control the oil on my T-zone, providing limited mattifying benefits.  The mattifying benefits in this product work well for slightly oily and combination skin but would not control the excess oil of very oily skin.  I would not recommend this product for someone who has very oily skin, it will not mattify well enough to suit them.

This product contains pomegranate to help brighten and clear up my complexion, the redness in my cheek area is reduced but not completely eliminated.  This face cream provides a great canvas for primer and foundation, I have had to use the same amount of face primer but a bit less foundation since I have been using this product.  Of course with the pomegranate in this product, it is considered an anti-oxidant and will help to protect against future aging.

This product does have a definite scent, it is herbal and I find it quite pleasing but it will take away from the product for those who hate strong scents in their skincare.  I can smell the pomegranate extract in this cream but also a herbal note of white tea.  I like the scent of this product but it might be irritating to some, a lighter mix of the scent in this product would be my only suggestion for improvement.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Benefit Total Moisture Face Cream

This is yet another post from my Sephora skincare hauls of the last few months!  This started as a deluxe Beauty Insider sample from Sephora and then I quickly ordered the full size in it.  I have never associated Benefit with skincare and I tend to head right to their brightly colored makeup displays in Sephora and at their counters in department stores.  I am doubting that I ever would have tried their skincare had I not gotten this sample from Sephora, it even lives in the shadows on the brand's page on the Sephora website.  I wasn't expecting all that much from this skin cream, I kind of assumed that Benefit released a skincare line just to grab a few extra dollars and I never saw it mercendised or recommended in my local Sephora.  And what happens when we assume?!  This a lovely skin cream for those of us with normal to dry skin that need a bit of extra moisture at night or during the coldest days of the winter, in fact I have just ordered another jar of this since I am getting low heading into the coldest days of the winter.

"A hydra-concentrated facial cream with tri-radiance complex.  Formulated for normal to dry skin, this concentrated facial cream provides immediate and long-term hydration for an ultra-radiant complexion.  It contains an exclusive "tri radiance complex" to help develop the skin's reserves of water and reinforce skin's moisture barrier.  This product contains natural plant-based squalene and mango butter emollients."

This is thick and very hydrating face cream, I use it at night currently but I might start using it during the day too if the weather gets even colder and drier.  I use enough of this cream to cover one of my fingertips and that is enough for me to cover my whole face.  I love that this cream is very concentrated, it absorbs very quickly and helps hydrate my face.  This is much higher quality skin cream than I ever expected to see from this company.

Squalene is one of the key ingredients in this face cream.  Squalene is a plant-based hydrating ingredient and is one of the most common hydrating ingredients on the market today.  It is a fat molecule so it helps to hydrate the skin and to hold the moisture in by strengthing skin's natural moisture barrier.  This ingredient also has anti-oxidant properties to help protect the skin all year round.  The Sephora website doesn't give any more details about the "tri-radiance complex" so I decided to check for more information on the Benefit website.  It gives very few details also except that it states that the squalene si part fo the complex so I am going to guess that this cream is  formulated to act as an anti-oxidant and to protect skin as it hydrates.  Mango butter is another plant-based emollient to help hydrate and protect the skin.  I believe that mango butter is what helps to give this cream its thick texture. 

This cream has one drawback, for me it is not that much of an issue but for others it could be.  This product has a very noticeable floral fragrance, I like it but if you are sensitive to fragrance than you would not be able to stand using this product.  I have complained about this before in skincare products, I prefer little to no fragrance since a fragrancve can ruin an otherwise amazing product.  This isn't the hugest issue and doesn't detract from the product performance but it is something that could be improved on.

Next time that you visit the Benefit counter, look past the blushes and mascara and give this cream a try.  I found their skincare to be quite impressive and on par with some of their best makeup items.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Boscia Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel

When almost all of my skincare products ran out last November, I had a series of huge Sephora orders and purchases.  One of the items that I ordered from their website was the brand new face cream from Bosica, the Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel.  I believe that Kose was the first skincare line to use black tints in their products and about a year ago, I saw that Boscia was following suit.  The original black mask from Boscia must have done very weel for the company since over the past few months, a whole facial line of black products have emerged, with the face gel being the latest one.

I should have bought this product in the summer, I wanted to it so bad when it came out and then when I bought it, I realized that I wasn't thinking and that I bought a face gel for the winter (not the greatest idea for my skin).  I used it a few times in early November and really liked it but by the beginning of December, my skin was too dry for it to provide full hydration.  Needless to say, I have put this product aside for the moment and plan to start using it again in May. 

Sephora gives a full product description of the product.  "A cooling moisturizer with an ultra-light gel texture.  This hydrating gel refines skin texture and brightens and clarifies the complexion while minimizing the look of pores, both instantly and over time.  This gel contains a range of powerful ingredients.  Artichoke leaf extract improves elasticity to help tighten pore walls.  Charcoal absorbs excess oil and impurities as it detoxifies.  Glycolic acid helps clarify skin and smooth rough texture.  Vitamin C helps brighten skintone and minimize fine lines as it defends from free radical damage." 

This product is housed in what is now my favorite type of container.  I first ran into this type of container when I used Kate Somerville face products and I am glad that other companies are beginning to adopt this type of packaging.  Instead of dipping my fingers into the jar, there is a top on the jar that is pushed down and automatcially dispenses the perfect amount of product to use all over my fave.  This is great for products that contain Vitamin C or any other type of natural or organic ingredient since it helps to keep the formula stable and will allow it to last longer.  When products with this type of formulation are exposed to the air, they begin to degrade and breakdown very quickly, rendering the product useless after several months time.  I hope this is where the packaging industry is going to go over the next few years...

The product itself is a lightweight gel with a black tint and a bit of gold shimmer in the formula.  The formula absorbed quickly and easily into my skin, with no residue left at the end.  It leaves a bit of a tingling feeling after application and this didn't bother me the first few times that I used it but began to as my skin got drier and drier as the weather changes.  It left my skin soft and smooth, no complaints there but this formula just isn't enough in the winter months.  It helped to brighten and clarify my skin, applying this over Clarin Vital Light Serum enhanced that formula and really lit up my skin. 

This gel is best for warmer weather months for me, I am just putting it to the side at the moment since I need a stronger face cream.  I could see this product working very well year round for someone with normal or oily skin and I would recommend to anyone with one of these types of skin.

photo courtesy of Boscia

Clinique Dramatically Different Face Lotion

Clinique Dramatically Different Face Lotion is one of those cult products that has been in every magazine and is beloved by most of the beauty industry.  This is a top seller for Clinique and has been for many years of the simple fact that it actually works as the company says it will.  It seems to be a miracle these days when a simple product works exactly as it is stated to do.  This is a consistent winner in the Allure Best of Beauty Awards and many other Reader's and Editor's Choice Awards.  I first tried this product in the Clinique Gift With Purchase earlier this year and I liked it so much that I went to the counter and bought the full size of this product. 

"The moisture 'drink' developed by Clinique's dermatologists to maintain optimal moisture balance for very dry skins, or skins dry in the cheeks, comfortable to oily in the T-zone.  Softens, smooths, improves.", states the Clinique website when describing the product. 

I first worked with this product in the very beginning of the warm weather when the weather was so humid that my heavier face creams just sat on the top of my skin.  I had this setting around from the gift and decided that it couldn't hurt me to try it and see what happened.  A dime size drop of this product was the perfect size to cover my whole face and neck, when I used more of it, it didn't sink in and just sat onto of my skin.  This product sinks in first to my cheek area and keeps eventhe driest areas of my face hydrated.  The oily areas don't always need this product so I tend to use it on my whole face at night and then just on my cheeks in the morning (along with whatever SPF I using that day). 

This product didn't irritate my skin at all and follows in the Clinique tradition of skincare that can be used on even the most sensitive of skin.  It didn't help to control of reduce any of the redness in my face, however this isn't what the product was designed for.  It doesn't make the redness any worse so I can still cover it up with makeup.  This product keeps my skin soft all day long and doesn't need to be reapplied at anytime throughout the day.

This product is one that I would only use during the summer months, this will not be hydrating enough to use in the winter months when I really need a very hydrating face cream.  This product may be recommended for dry to combination skin but I only feel that it can be used by those skin types in the warm weather.  To use this product in the fall and winter months, your skin needs to fall into the normal to combination-oily skin types.  This product just simply isn't thick enough and the formula doesn't contain humectants to make this an appropriate product to protect dry skin in the winter air. 

This is a cult favorite that lives up to its reputation for most of the population.  This product is versatile enough that any type of skin can make this work, depending on the time of the year and their skin's natural oil fluctuations throughout it.

photo courtesy of Clinique

Entre Derm Day Cream

Last month, I wrote about the Entre Derm skincare system that I received earlier in the spring.  That post was an overall description of the five products that were in the kit and how this system works.  To recap, this company uses Somazone techonology.  It is a patented delivery system that allows larger molecules to enter into the skin with the help of this system.  Without this type of delivery, it is very hard (if not almost impossible) to get the large molecules directly into the skin unaided.  This is the only company that has this patent so this is very unique concept and is a whole new way to look at how anti aging products function. 

The first two products that I was really able to use from the kit that was sent to me by the PR company are the Night and Day Creams from this system.  I am starting with the Day Cream because this is my favorite product that I have used so far from the system.  The product description from Entre Derm is provided right here.  "Some skin types are especially prone to moisture loss, leading to premature aging.  Environmental factors such as smoking, low humidity, or extreme sun exposure can progressively age the skin.  Entre Derm Day Cream with Somazone is specially formulated to combat these hazards and deliver intense moisture beneath the skin's surface.  It also gives a boost of collagen while creating a protective outer layer to lock nutrients deep into the skin.  Entre Derm Day Cream can be used anytime during the day and in minutes your skin will feel the difference."

This formula has a lighter texture than I originally thought an anti aging product would.  The Day Cream has a lightweight cream texture that both sinks in very easily and absorbs completely.  I have a very hard time commenting on the anti aging benefits of this product since I don't have any wrinkles yet though I can state that my skin felt very smooth and hydrated after use of this product.  I didn't experience any redness or irritation after the use of this product, which I often times do when I use a more potent anti ager.  So I can safely state that this is a formula that would be appropriate for more sensitive skin.

I used this once a day, only in the morning.  I used the matching Night Cream every night to continue to cycle of the Somazone technology.  I had a good run with these two products, however I don't feel that the Day Cream will be as effective without the use of the Night Cream at the same time. 

photo courtesy of Entre Derm

Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray

Moisture Surge is a favorite hydrator of mine and I have used it several times over the past few years. For the longest time, Clinique only had this product out in the gel moisturizer form and therefore that is all that I have had to purchase from this line. At one point, I had expressed a wish for this type of product to come in a lighter gel formula so that I can reap the benefits of this product when the weather warms up and my skin gets a bit on the oilier side. Well, Clinique has released a second product in this line and even though it wasn't quite what I had been asking for it, it makes me hopeful that more are on their way soon. Since this product is part of the Moisture Surge line, I will be buying it and trying it out.

The new product is a face spray with the Moisture Surge ingredients and properties. Traditionally, I have used face sprays for two major purposes. The first one is to refresh and rehydrate during the hot summer months to touch up my face when at the beach or coming in from outside. The second usage is as an extra layer of moisture during the fall and winter months. After I cleanse my face and dry it off, I mist on a layer of the hydrator, let it absorb, and while my skin is still semi-damp, I apply my face cream to seal all of the extra moisturizer in. Currently, I have been using the Caudalie Grape Water for this purpose and it states on the bottle that it can be used be used for both hydrating and refreshing the skin. I still have to see if this product from Clinique will have the same description or if it is more to be used for adding that extra layer of hydration.

Clinique gives a description of the product as follows, "Water your skin. Take along a refreshing face spray for showers of thristy skin relief. Bursting with moisture and active aloe. But not a drop of oil. Rapidly replenishes skin's moisture level, restoring balance. Softens and soothes in a flash". Clinique states that this product is be used whenever skin feels thristy, under or over makeup. Based on that description, I am go to assume that this product is better for hydration than for refreshing. This product then will need to be used differently than the currant face spray that I have. This product will be better for adding that extra layer of moisture in the winter or for using when my face feels tight and dry at times during the day. This product description does not talk about toning or any types of ingredients so I going to say that this product does not provide any of those benefits and therefore would be best for normal to dry skin that needs some extra hydration throughout the day.

Based on the description and the usage instructions of this product, this is product that will work very well for me in the colder months instead of during warm weather. So I will be buying this product next fall instead of right now. I am excited that Clinique has begun to bring out more products in the Moisture Surge line and I can only hope for a lighter hydrator or maybe some type of hydrating face cleanser over the next few months.

photo courtesy of Clinique