Tag Archives: #skincare

A+ in August: 9 beauty favorites and a big ol’ flop

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It’s time to say goodbye to the summer but not to the heat in the southern United States. It’s hard to think about fall when the thermometer is hovering near 95 and the humidity makes the air feel like a thick, steamy wool blanket. Still, this is my favorite time of year because it means football season has finally arrived. I can’t wait to be in the stands Thursday night when my University of South Carolina Gamecocks kick off against the University of North Carolina (known around these parts as the “other” Carolina).

I tried quite a few beauty products this month and for the most part my luck was good. Let’s get down to business and talk about what I liked best and what luxury product just didn’t cut it for me. First, the good:

  • Josie Maran Nirvana Hydrating Treatment Mist — Did I mention that it’s hot outside? This Josie Maran spritz features both Argan oil and coconut water, two products that nourish and brighten the skin. I use it multiple ways: after toning and before applying my serum to help my skin better absorb the product, at the end of my makeup routine to keep my skin from looking too powdery, and throughout the day to renew my complexion. It’s cooling and refreshing and the pump is perfect for spraying a fine mist.
  • Sephora Show Curl Eyelash Curler for Deep-Set Eyes — My eyes are steeply curved and I’d never found a curler that was able to capture the lashes around the bend (at the outer corner of my eye). What’s more, the shape of most curlers didn’t track my eyelids, resulting in lots of pinching. This curler is just perfect: It captures all of my lashes and gives them the perfect curl with no pain.
  • Dr Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiller Primer — This is a rediscovery for me. I’d moved on to other primers, thinking that newer was better. But after revisiting the Dr. Brandt version, I remembered why I thought it was so great. I alternate this with the Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer. The Dr. Brandt contains silicone, so it hides pores and makes foundation glide on smoothly. The Too Faced product is more nourishing; I use it when my skin feels dry and dull.
  • Lorac Pro Metal Palette — Tiny but mighty! I love discreet lid glimmer and this palette does the trick. From bright gold to copper to rose gold, green and navy, it gives a bit of sheen to every eye look.
  • Dior Addict Fluid Shadow — This mirror-shine liquid can be used as a shadow or as an eyeliner. It’s super long-lasting and luxurious. For maximum shine, simply paint it on your lids and let it dry. For a less glossy look, blend it into your lids with a firm brush.
  • Glam Glow Thirsty Cleanse Daily Treatment Cleanser — This product goes onto the face like mud, then turns into a lightly foaming cleanser when water is added. It’s great for dry skin; it leaves it clean but not stripped. Ingredients include yellow clay and coconut water. (Again with the coconut water!) It has a pleasant smell that I can’t quite identify. Honey buns? Cinnamon toast? Something yummy from the bakery, for sure.
  • Sephora Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Color — Liquid lipsticks are all the rage and I have quite the collection. I like them because they’re long-wearing, color-drenched and don’t require a lip liner. Some of them, though, can be quite drying. This product from Sephora is long-lasting and color-saturated, but there’s moisture there too. It’s great for those days when you want matte but not too matte.
  • Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand — This blush is rich, long-wearing and the perfect shade of pink with peachy undertones. It provides a healthy, hydrated glow that looks like it comes from within. It’s from Ford’s limited-edition summer collection, so if you’re interested you should buy before it’s gone.
  • Quay Australia Fleur sunglasses — Quite a few of the top beauty bloggers have been sporting Quay (pronounced “key”) sunglasses, so I assume Quay’s PR department is working overtime. Nevertheless, I saw this model on the adorable YouTuber Kathleen Lights and had to have them. They’re affordable, well-crafted and unique. I really like them!

And now for the big flop: I want my skin to look brightened and slightly dewy on occasion. I sometimes have problems reaching that ideal without crossing over into greasy. I heard great things about Le Blanc De Chanel Multi-Use Illuminating Base (that’s a mouthful). However, this is simply one of those products that doesn’t work for me. Instead of illuminating, it leaves me looking dry and more wrinkly than I actually am. Darn it.

Bonus favorite: Summer is a slow time for television, so I often use it to catch up on shows I missed. Right now I’m completely hooked on “Hell on Wheels.” It’s about westward expansion in the U.S. shortly after the Civil War and centers around the lives of the men and women building the cross-country railroad. From Indian Wars to illness to debauchery and skullduggery (plus a hot, conflicted hero in Anson Mount), it’s got it all. I’m binge-watching on Netflix.

Foundation quest: The neverending search for the perfect makeup base

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History is full of great quests — the quest for the New World, the quest for the Fountain of Youth, the quest for the Holy Grail. My quest is much humbler, much smaller. It’s the quest for the perfect foundation, and it’s neverending.unnamed (4)

When I was young, it was easy to settle for almost any foundation. I didn’t appreciate my youthful, normal, poreless skin nearly as much as I should have. It was the perfect canvas for any foundation, from drugstore to high end and everything in between.

Starting in college and continuing through my 20s, my go-to foundation was Estee Lauder’s Fresh Air Makeup Base in Ivory Mist. It’s still sold today but, sadly, no longer works for me. As I aged, my skin changed. It became less even, both in terms of color and texture, and fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores slowly claimed territory.

Let’s be honest here, in terms of skin complaints, mine are relatively minor. People — even strangers — often ask how I keep my skin in such good shape. The answer? I’m serious, deadly serious, about skin care. I exfoliate, moisturize, mask and do all of the things the experts tell us to do, and it’s served me well. Still, finding the right foundation is a bit like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears: They’re either too dry or too dewy; too short-lived or too cakey; too sheer or too mask-like.

With that in mind, I have to say the past couple of months have been a bonanza for women searching for the perfect makeup base. Several companies have launched much-heralded new products and revamped existing ones. Like any foundation-seeker, I’ve tried several.  While I’m not ready to vow undying devotion to one, there are two inside-the-park home runs, as well as a double and a strike out. Let’s start with the top performers and work our way down (and out):

  • Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate — This is one of the new breed of highly pigmented, serum-style foundations, and I can attest that a drop or two provides full-face coverage.The finish is matte. Very matte. In fact, users should be sure their skin is hydrated before applying or they’ll end up looking dry and a bit ashy. At least, that’s the way this product worked for me. I found that mixing a drop of my Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer into the foundation before applying gave me a more flattering, less flat finish. Although the Re(marc)able foundation promises to last up to 24 hours, it didn’t last that long on me (more like eight hours before it started to break up in the area around my nostrils). All in all, though, this is a full-coverage, long-lasting foundation that I like very much and will continue to wear.
  • Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation — This is billed as an improved version of the company’s original HD foundation, and I can attest that it is indeed better. (Count me as one of the people for whom the original just didn’t work.) I very much like this updated formula. It provides medium, buildable coverage coverage that, while not dewy, isn’t as matte as the Marc Jacobs foundation. Both products feel light on the skin and neither settles into my fine lines and wrinkles. I’m alternating the Make Up For Ever with the Marc Jacobs product and like the MUFE slightly more, primarily due to the finish and because it’s slightly longer-wearing.
  • Too Faced Born This Way Foundation — This makeup base is billed as oil-free and completely undetectable on the skin. It also claims to be full coverage and long-lasting. I have to say that upon initial application, I thought I was in love. The finish was impeccable, perhaps due to the presence of one of my favorite skin-care products, hyaluronic acid. Unfortunately, Born This Way didn’t wear well for me as the hours passed. It broke up on my nose, around my nostrils and on my forehead, and ended up looking cakey by the end of the day. I’ll continue to wear it on short, light-activity days because it looks so nice for brief periods. All in all, Born This Way starts out strong but falters in the home stretch.
  • MAC Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation — Let’s face it, MAC isn’t known for its foundations but I had high hopes for this one. I mean, nourishing and waterproof? That sounded perfect for my somewhat dehydrated skin and the broiling-hot, humidity-filled South Carolina summers. It was lovely at first, but broke up in large patches on my nose, chin and cheeks after just a few hours. I wore it several times with different primers and setting powders, but it wasn’t for me.

For now, I’m sticking with the Marc Jacobs and Make Up For Ever products, with a smattering of Born This Way thrown into the mix. As the weather cools down, I’ll give some other near misses — including a couple by Nars and two from Giorgio Armani — second chances. Meanwhile, the quest for foundation perfection continues …

Let’s talk trash. Beauty trash, that is.

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I’m an admitted beauty junkie. Makeup, skin care, bath products … I love them all. I try to use my purchases until the last drops are gone — unless, of course, they’re complete duds. Then I just count my losses (and lost money) and move on to something that works. After all, when it comes to beauty products, it’s foolish to continue to use one that doesn’t live up to its promises.

That said, the products I’ve recently used up were all good enough to finish. Some I’ll buy again. Others, while not complete fizzles, won’t make any future shopping lists. Without further adieu, let’s talk trash. Beauty-product trash, that is.

  • Benefit They’re Real! Mascara — Without a doubt, this is my ride-or-die mascara. It both lengthens and thickens my less-than-impressive lashes, making them appear more voluminous than they actually are. It has the added benefit of staying in place until I remove it. I can’t say that about most mascaras, because my lashes have a tendency to make mascara mysteriously vanish (an oddity matched only by the disappearance of socks in the dryer). I’ll repurchase. In fact, I already have.
  • Estee Lauder Little Black Primer — This product arrived on shelves with lots of fanfare. It promised to tint, amplify and — wonder of wonders — lock curl in place. Some users gave it great reviews but it did absolutely nothing for me. I won’t repurchase.
  • Sunday Riley Good Genes Serum — Do you hear that? It’s the sound of angels singing. This high-end serum promises brighter, renewed skin and a smoother, more vibrant complexion. And, yes, it delivers. I’m a terrible sleeper, but Good Genes makes my complexion look well rested and alive. I will repurchase, but I’ll wait until Sephora’s next VIB Rouge sale because it’s pricey at $105 per ounce.
  • Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser — Another winner from Sunday Riley. This clay-based cleanser steeped with Vitamin C promises to make skin look clear and flawless — in other words, ceramic smooth. I wouldn’t go that far, but I will say that it made my skin look more “even” and reduced the appearance of pores. A definite repurchase.
  • Bath and Body Works Georgia Peach & Sweet Tea Body Scrub — I usually like BBW products, but this one wasn’t impressive. Despite the presence of shea butter, my skin didn’t feel particularly moisturized. The scents — peach and sweet tea — are two of my favorites, but they just didn’t work here. I purchased two and gave one away. ‘Nuff said.
  • Michael Todd Charcoal Detox Deep Pore Cleanser — Chalk this one up to experience. I purchased several Michael Todd products because they were all the rage among beauty gurus. I later realized that in some cases the raves were essentially paid advertisements. This product, along with the Cranberry Antiox toner, was the best of the bunch. That said, I prefer Biore’s Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser to the Michael Todd version and the Biore is much cheaper. No repurchase.
  • Rapid Lash and Revitalash — These products worked for me — not individually, but in combination. I didn’t notice any lash growth until I began using Rapid Lash in the morning and Revitalash before bed. Will I repurchase? A definite maybe, because they did work. I just switched to Latisse, so the decision is on hold until I see how it performs.
  • Christian Dior Instant Cleansing Water — This is Dior’s version of the popular micellaire water. I use it with a cotton pad to remove makeup before going in for a deeper cleanse. I enjoyed the Dior version, but keep returning to my go-to brand, which is Bioderma. That’s good news, because the Dior version is $38 for 6.7 ounces while the Bioderma is around $26 for 16.91 ounces. I’ll stick with Bioderma.
  • Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Rejuvenating Eye Cream — I purchased this on a whim when it was discounted at Sephora and found myself really liking it. In addition to a bunch of trademarked ingredients such as Energinseng and Lightscramble Luminospheres (Say what?), it contains cucumber juice. Bottom line: It reduced puffiness and undereye circles. I’m trying a couple of other products right now in search of “The One,” but I’d consider repurchasing.
  • First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads — These easy-to-use pads contain lactic and glycolic acid, which are super for brightening the skin. My favorite product of this type is the Dr. Dennis Gross version, but Dr. Gross’ pads are quite pricey. To make them last longer, I alternate them with a less expensive version, such as the First Aid Pads. While the First Aid version is fine, I also like the Nip & Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Pads because they contain hyaluronic acid. For now, I’m sticking with the Dr. Dennis Gross/Nip & Fab combo.

Walk with me down makeup memory lane

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Horizontal stripI was oohing and aahing over my latest eyeshadow palette (the Zoeva Cocoa Blend, for the record) and started thinking about my first eye kit. It was a little Maybelline set that came with three shadows, mascara, a brow pencil and cake eyeliner. I didn’t ask for it. I’d just turned 14 and my mother surprised me, saying it was for special occasions and church on Sundays. I came home from school and it was lying on my bed in all of its glamorous glory. Somehow it was more special because it was so unexpected.

I’m a child of the 70s and makeup was different then. There were no Ultas or Sephoras, so there weren’t as many options to choose from. Most of us — mid-70s high schoolers just starting to sample cosmetics — were drugstore shoppers. Maybelline, Cover Girl, Coty, Bonne Bell … their ads and the models who appeared in them are etched on our brains.

While most of the products of my youth live only in memory, a few have stood the test of time. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, for example, was the holy grail of mascaras back then. I remember devoting myself to applying coat after coat, because long lashes were the thing. No one I knew wore false lashes in the 70s. Image4-6_ppThe look was supposed to be fresh and natural — think Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley and Cybill Shepherd. While blue and green eyeshadows were de rigeur in the early 70s, by the mid-70s the eye look was more subdued. Subtle browns with heavy mascara and lightly smudged eyeliner were the thing. Speaking of eyeliner, the heavy lifter from my college days is still sold today: Maybelline Expert Wear Twin Brow & Eye Pencils. They were particularly good on the lower lash line. (The girl in the photo is me, demonstrating the mid-70s natural look! Notice the bare lips. If I wore anything on my lips at all, it was a sheer wash of color.)

Next, let’s talk about the hair. In my high school years, it was all about scent. There was Body on Tap (beer enhanced!); Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific; and my personal favorite, the heavily fragranced Sunshine Harvest Shampoo from Clairol. It came in almost overpowering scents including raspberry, peach, lime, strawberry, honeydew and tangerine. I remember thinking the bathroom and hallway smelled delicious for hours after I showered!

When I entered college, my love for fruity shampoos dissipated. I loved the Flex brand — and the commercials featuring Jerry Hall in a magnificent white satin cowboy suit with blowdryers in the holsters — and Farrah Fawcett shampoo from Wella Balsam. I was almost embarrassed to buy it, but my college roommate and bestie swore it did wonders for my hair!

Loves Baby SoftWhen it comes to fragrances, my high school days were marked by Avon’s Sweet Honesty, Love’s Fresh Lemon and Love’s Baby Soft. Actually, I loved the Baby Soft ad more than I loved the product. I wanted to wear the dress modeled in the ad to my junior prom and my mom did her best to replicate it. I remember being unhappy because she modified the neckline to make it more modest. (Yep, that’s me again in the photo at left.) When I reached college age, I went for scents that in my mind were more adult: Nina Ricci’s L’Air du Temps, Halston — I think every female college student in the 70s had a bottle of Halston — and Cinnabar by Estee Lauder. I have a bottle of Cinnabar in my collection today and still love it, but my college roommate (her again) says it smells like an old lady.

I hope you enjoyed my little trip down cosmetics memory lane and that it reminded you of your own early experiments with makeup. What about you? Are there any products you recall with particular fondness?

Chill out: Beauty and skin care for maximum cool

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Looking hot is one thing; being hot is another. This time of year, when the temperatures soar and humidity adds to the misery, I can get a bit cranky.

Unfortunately, my husband and I operate on different sides of the thermostat spectrum. He’s always cold. I’m decidedly not. This makes for some, shall we say, heated debate over the air FullSizeRender (3)conditioner setting. I maintain that if he’s so cold, he can always put on another layer. But hot is hot and there’s no way to cool off other than cranking up the AC.

Fortunately, some companies are getting the “being hot is misery” message. There are more products with cooling properties on the market than ever, and they’re absolutely my cup of iced tea. Interested? Then you might want to check these out:

  • Cool Off Citrus Ice Towelettes — These individually packaged wet wipes promise to cool the body down by as much as 12 degrees Farenheit and maintain the chill for more than 60 minutes. Funny story: A close friend of mine was traveling to China and fretting about the heat, so I shared a few of these towelettes with her. It turned out the heat wasn’t the only issue — the public toilets were of the “squat” variety and didn’t feature toilet tissue. At a critical moment, she rummaged through her purse and whipped out a towelette. She reported experiencing a lingering cooling effect down south. Amazon, $19.00 for a pack of 12.
  • Yes to Cucumbers Cooling Hydrating Mist — This 96 percent natural product offers instant cooling thanks to aloe and cucumbers, as well a feeling of instant skin hydration. Ulta, $10.99.
  • Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Body Mist — Similar to the Yes to Cucumbers product, this all-over body mist provides a nice cooling sensation. The effect lasts longer than the Yes to Cucumbers version and also is more moisturizing, perhaps because hyaluronic acid is a key part of the formula. Amazon, $19.99
  • Keep Your Cool Skin-Calming Gel Mask — This product promises to keep skin cool and calm, thanks to the presence of cucumbers and coconut. While it feels lovely on the skin, I wouldn’t say it’s exceptionally cooling — unless, of course, you store it in the refrigerator. In that case, it’s delightful. , $5.99
  • Rituals Samurai Ice Shower Cooling Shower Gel and Cool Hair Shampoo — These feel somewhat cooling in the shower and the feeling intensifies afterward. Nothing drastic; just a light cooling effect. These products have a nice, unisex scent attributed to Japanese bamboo and mint. Amazon, $15.99 for the gel and $19 for the shampoo.
  • Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pops Eye Sticks and Chanel Stylo Fresh Effect Eyeshadows — Not only are these among my favorite cream shadows, but they have an extra bonus: They generate a distinct cooling effect as they slide onto the lids. The Marc Jacobs version attributes the chill to an infusion of “pure Alpine snow water from the Swiss Alps to hydrate lids and leave them with a soothing sensation.” The Chanel Stylo promises a “lightweight, water-infused formula that glides on effortlessly and cools lids at the touch for instant comfort.”  Sephora, Marc Jacobs, $28. Nordstrom, Chanel, $34.
  • Chillow Original Cooling Relief Pad — The Chillow gets mixed reviews but I love mine. This product is a memory-foam-filled pad in an outer case that provides a cooling sensation when filled with water. I give mine extra oomph by keeping it in the refrigerator during the day and sliding it into my pillowcase (on top of my pillow) when I climb into bed. I sleep cooler, deeper and longer and am never without my Chillow during the summer months. In fact, I keep a spare for extra-hot nights. If I wake up in the early morning hours to find Chillow No. 1 has gotten a tad warm, I pad to the fridge for the backup. (By the way, the Chillow retains its water — you just have to add another cup or so every few months due to evaporation.) Amazon, currently marked down to $12.69 from $29.95

Chill out, dear readers! Until next time …