Rediscovering Old Friends

Do you ever pick up a product that you used ages ago and kick yourself for quitting it? I had that experience with Noxema. I haven't used it in years.

Yes. Noxema. Don't hate ladies. This minty, cold cream-ish, goo was a staple of my teen years. I had better skin then than I do now, and use of this product (in conjunction with good ol' St. Ive's Apricot Scrub) is probably why. AND IT'S CHEAP!  You can't get much better than that. Unless it came with chocolate, booze, or Matthew McConaughey. Or if it vibrated.

I also got a coupon for CoverGirl Clean Make-Up and thought I would get super retro (circa '99) and try it out. It was almost free, so couldn't be that bad right?

Wrong. I should have used that 4 bucks to save the whales (and before you freak, I totally do contribute to ASPCA and other funds so back off PETA-breath). If you are going with a CoverGirl line, stick with Trublend. It isn't tragic like its older sister.

Have you guys used something again and had an epiphany that it was totally awesome?

Amanda

Here's Your Once Chance Fancy Don't Let Me Down

I tried using a fancy-pants foundation from Stila. I placed all my hopes and dreams in this fancy little bottle that promised a one-step process to skin perfection. Putting down a decent chunk of change for this, I felt so sure that I would be transformed into a velvety-skinned goddess.

It was not to be. My skin turned into a red, flakey, mess. I looked like I was jonesing for a rock, but really I'm allergic to something in the product. I've passed the product on to one of my dear friends and blog commenter SGY. We will see if she has better luck with the stuff.

On a happier note, Physician's Formula was on sale at CVS and I picked up the Mineral Wear Correcting Concealer Trio. It's amazing. Corrective colors are hard for pale folk to wear, but when used with a light hand and paired with the Mineral Wear Powder foundation, it's magical. My skin is even and glowing despite my alcohol intake last night.

So my lessons learned:

• I'm not a fancy gal. I don't need fancy make-up (nor does it need me apparently).
• Sometimes sticking with what you know isn't boring, it's practical.
• Physician's Formula keeps delivering. I love that brand almost as much as I love CVS.

Amanda

A Sunday Scrub-tacular!

I love to exfoliate. There is nothing like blasting away old, nasty, dead skin cells and  my mortal enemy, the blackhead.

Here are a few of my all time fav products, new and old:

St. Ive's Apricot Scrub: Hello old friend. You never cease to be an effective, reasonably-priced solution to problem skin. Almost everyone I know has used this, or the medicated version. It's a great product, and I always have on on hand.

L'Oreal Go 360! Cleanser: I was not tempted by this until a friend recommended it and I had a dollar off coupon. (Insert shout out to CVS here). I picked up the cream cleanser version and it is AMAZING. This stuff comes with a scrublet, which sounds super lame, but in reality is your face's best friend. It exfoliates without tearing your skin up, or causing micro-abrasions that old school products, sorry St. Ive's, can. And when it's on sale for 4 bucks, it's worth a try.

Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub: This is a bit too hard core for regular use with my sensitive skin, but it kicks ass. Salicylic acid and mirobeads partner up to take problem skin to task.

Blast away at those blackheads ladies and gents!

Amanda

Let's Discuss

How hot is Johnny Weir? Also, does everyone know he is a make-up maven? I want to be his wingman.

My Eyebrows

My eyebrows are in need of serious help. I have bangs so I've neglected them. It's tragic.

REVIEW: The WORST Make-Up Ever

I was very excited when I got a coupon to try Revlon's PhotoReady make-up. It's not even on their website yet. With the product performance I experienced, it won't be.

If you are a reader of da blog, you know that I'm not a fan of the super matte look. I like a little reflective property in a foundation or tinted moisturizer that mimics good skin. The marketing totally sucked me in with Hottie Halle Barry and "light reflective particles" and a COUPON: I know better now. In the words of the great songstress Kelis: you might trick me once, but your not gonna trick me twice. I'm on to you Revlon. You are suspect.

Let me just say that I have decent skin. I have a few fine lines, and some pore issues, but nothing major. I'm really just looking to cover up the pink and red tones that come with having skin the color of milk. I'm not looking for miracles, botox in a bottle, or anything crazy like that. I want a nice medium coverage base that will get me through the day at my marketing job without scaring any clients away. I wanna be me, but butter. That's a typo but it stays because butter is delicious. I also properly prepare my skin for make-up. I clean it. Exfoliate it. Moisturize it. Wear sun screen. I'll even wear a primer if I need to. I'm dedicated to a make-up's success. I'm its freakin' cheerleader.

Revlon Photoready foundation acted like I had done none of those things. It settled into every nook and cranny in my face. I looked like an English muffin. I didn't even know half of this stuff was happening on my face. It was a bad surprise, like The Others on Lost or the end of The Sopranos. My skin looked rough, flaky, and nasty. I looked like Britney post-breakdown. It was tragic. I have ok skin, and it did this to me. I can't imagine what it would do if you really had an issue you needed to deal with. Probably make you look like Gollum or the Crypt Keeper. Or Joan Rivers.

It also made my nose itch. That might have been the first twitches of rage I was feeling about this product though. This is the Gigli of foundations. Stay away from it. Hopefully they will yank it soon and we will all be safe once more.

I'm not the only gal that's had a bad experience. I feel validated.

Amanda

REVIEW: Generic Value Products

Sally Beauty carries a line of knock-off styling products called Generic Value Products. For a mere fraction of the cost your usual bottle of Paul Mitchell or Biolage stylers, you can get two or three GVP's. Which is awesome. They even have knock-off Chi's. This is more of a confirmation that Sally's is a portal to a heavenly dimension, where everyone's hair is shiny, their eyebrows waxed, and their nails neatly manicured.

I love Matrix's Biolage Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioning Balm. It smells great, feels great and works great. It's also damn expensive. GVP's version is all of the above, without the pricetag, so a frugalista can luxuriate in nice suds, and still have a little green in her wallet. Awesome deals, awesome products.

My next flat iron and blow dryer will be GVP's. Maybe even bright pink ones. If I'm feelin' saucy.

PS Natalie Wood--When are we gonna stop and get some coffee?