Killer Facial Scrubs
August 17, 2010 § Leave a comment
While I’m a major fan of St. Ives Apricot Facial Scrub, I venture outside of my comfort zone every now and again to try other exfoliators.I noticed that my skin wasn’t benefiting from a great soapy lather. I really loved using Shiseido’s Cleansing Foam because it’s a moisturizing and rich lather, but retails for 40 dollars and it doesn’t exfoliate.
Why not find a soapy exfoliator? During my last visit at Ulta, Philosophy’s Microdelivery Peel Exfoliating Wash was recommended. It contains many more small, round, gentle scrubbing beads and foams nicely. The tiny and plentiful beads scrub more intensively too.
Don’t be alarmed by the word “peel” in its name. The wash is gentle enough to use on a daily basis. It won’t dry out your skin and you will reap the rewards of a mini facial peel.
Facial peels have so many benefits! They scrub away dead skin, reduce the appearance of dark spots, and eliminate clogged pores – reducing the signs of aging.
This wash ultimately leaves less dirt behind. I know this because I always wipe down my face with an astringent and a cotton ball after cleansing. Cleansing with the Philosophy’s Exfoliating Wash leaves A LOT less dirt behind, hardly a trace in fact.
I highly recommend trying this face wash. Philosophy’s Microdelivery Peel Exfoliating Wash retails for 25 bucks.
Another scrub I think it’s absolutely killer, is a really easy at home lemon mixture.
You might know Kandee Johnson, the Glaminar extraordinaire. In one of her videos she instructs viewers through an at home facial scrub. It’s really very simple. All you need is a lemon, brown or white sugar and a round cotton pad.
Squeeze lemon juice onto the round cotton pad, then sprinkle sugar onto it and scrub your entire face. Wash off immediately afterwards and vioala, skin is rid of dead skin, bacteria that causes acne, and it’s much softer.
It’s a way more intensive scrub than the ones I’ve already mentioned, but you can do it daily if your skin doesn’t get irritated. Watch her video here for a more thorough break down of the process.
Got to love it!
Lip Plumpers: The Delicious and the Disappointments
August 17, 2010 § Leave a comment
If you love the sting from great lip plumpers, you’ll love these product recommendations. I’ve tested tons of plumping gloss and lipstick and want to share a few stand outs.
theBalm Plump Your Pucker Tinted Gloss
I liked this line immediately, simply because they name their glosses Coco My Coconut, Squeeze My Lemon and Ruby My Grapefruit. I opted for their nude color called Coco My Coconut and totally LOVE it. It smells like vanilla and notably plumps le pucker.
Its active ingredients are folic acid, menthol, and vitamin C which attract more blood flow to your lips. It also includes Maxi lip; a collagen stimulator that visually increases lip size after prolonged use. Great, right?!
It retails for about 15 bucks and can be found at Sephora.
New York Color Lippin Large Lip Plumper
This plumper is actually the cheapest, retailing at around 4 bucks and it works the best! I went through an entire tube, loving every single application.
Its ingredients include Vitamin E, mint flavor for fresh breath, and active ingredients Ginger and Cinnamon. You can feel it tingling. Personally, I like to feel the tingle to know that it’s working.
It’s available at Ulta, CVS and Target.
Elizabeth Arden Plump Perfect Lipstick
This long lasting lip color is a perfect combination of matte color and plumper in one.
It’s loaded with Vitamins A, C, E and collagen stimulator – Maxi-Lip. It reduces the appearance of vertical lines on lips while it plumps. I love it. It lasts longer than most plumpers because it’s a lipstick and it stings pretty intensely, I like that. This plumper is the most moisturizing and least greasy too.
It retails for about 22 bucks and can be found at any Elizabeth Arden retailer.
Ulta’s Ultimate Pout Lip Plumper
First of all, it smells like chemicals – not fruity or citrusy. I immediately didn’t like it, but tried anyway. It actually worked great the first time I applied it but it takes a few minutes to take effect. It warmed my lips and gently tingled; however, each application after that was a complete DUD. I didn’t feel a tingle and it didn’t appear to plump. This plumper rate is a firm zero on my scale.
It retails for 12 bucks and totally isn’t worth it.
For the perfect pout, I recommend a lip stain like CoverGirl’s Outlast paired with Lippin Large plumper. Muah!
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