babyassface

the other burt's bees

When I saw BeeCeuticals Organic line of products at Whole Foods, my first thought was that it was a bad, cross-marketing promotion with the Jerry Seinfeld Bee Movie. (Not to be an instigator, but someone should be suing someone, because those bees look an awful lot a like.)

 

It's creeping me out that all animated bees are suddenly starting to look like Seinfeld.

My second thought was, “using honey, that's Burt’s Bees' idea”.  Then I realized how ridiculous that was.  Honey is an amazing skincare product and the more products out there touting its benefits the better.   

So I kind of feel like plugging this product, because I really liked it and I always like to root for the underdog (and in my spare time instigate lawsuits). 

The ingredients are really nice: Japanese Green Tea, Organic Grape Seed Extract, Shea Butter for ultra-moisture, Jojoba to replace the skin’s natural wax esters, Macadamia Seed Oil for the fatty acids, Organic Chamomile to soothe, and Organic Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme,  because apparently their fans of Simon and Garfunkel, Evening Primrose Oil to soften, Royal Jelly to nourish, Propolis to heal, Vitamins A, C and E and of course organic honey (a humectant that helps attract and retain moisture).

This moisturizer is rich and light at the same time.  It’s not greasy-feeling at all, but keeps skin protected from the cold, dry winter air. I love that their claim: “designed to mimic and strengthen the protective lipid barriers of the skin” is exactly how I would describe it (except I’d use 3rd grader words).   

This cream is almost like an ever-so-thin layer of wax.  Like how some apples have that waxy coating to keep them from dehydrating and looking old. This kind of does that for your face (although on a much more subtle level).

I feel like wearing BeeCeutical's Queen for a Day Cream, I could climb Everest without losing my nose to frostbite. If that’s not a rave review, I don’t know what is.    

   

 

They probably think that bee is cute, but it's going to give me nightmares.

Has anyone else ever tried this brand?

If you want, you can use the Google "search the web" box to the right to find out where it's sold.

random tip: how to analyze your skin

I was at Saks, trying to score a free sample of a SKII product. Turns out they were out of every sample, of all their products.  Really?

What the SKII saleswoman, did offer up was a free facial analysis.  Supposedly, they have some kind of camera, that can photograph beneath the skin’s surface, helping you to figure out what products would best benefit your skin.

What she was describing sounded a bit like MRI technology.  Call me skeptical, but I find it hard to believe that they have a MRI-like piece of equipment sitting behind the SKII counter.

I turned down the offer, because I knew that once I had the procedure, (MRIs are expensive) I would have felt obligated to buy something.

But I’ve recently found a free imaging system, with which we can all analyze our skin’s needs. 

It’s called our eyeballs.  The procedure is very simple. 

Apply a facial mask.  Wait 5 minutes. Look in the mirror.  Wherever the mask has soaked in, re-apply more mask.  For me, under my cheekbones and my eyelids, are my “desperately-in-need-of-attention” areas.

Or, as I like to refer to them, my Heidi and Spencer areas. 

Then wait another 5 minutes.  Check your face again.  At which point, my eyelids have usually completely soaked up the second round of mask.  (They’re so dehydrated, you’d think they’d recently been transplanted from a desert nomad’s face.)

I know they say to avoid the eye area with masks, but I think being so obedient to the side of jars, helped bring me to this dehydrated-eyelid place to begin with. 

With this face mask method, my entire face gets every ounce of nourishment and care it needs.  No MRI necessary.

Do you have any other facial mask tips you'd like to share?

the curious case of Eve Lom TLC moisturizer

This cold weather has my skin looking dry and more “mature” than usual.

Know what skin care companies?  I know “mature” is supposed to be a euphemism for “old”, but I don’t like it.  It’s kind of like describing someone as having a  “great personality”.  So from now on, I’m going to use the word “sophisticated” instead of “mature” and I expect you to recall all of your products, re-label them and do the same. 

Which brings me, via the scenic route, to Eve Lom TLC.  This PM moisturizer worked miracles on my dry, sophisticated-looking winter skin.

When I first applied this cream, it was so thick, I was afraid that it would migrate under my nostrils and suffocate me, while I slept, but it didn’t.  And when I awoke, not only had it all absorbed, but I looked years younger.

Seriously, I felt like I’d aged backwards overnight. Like I was in the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.

I’m sorry. I know this movie is supposed to be good, but that has to be one of the dumbest movie titles ever.  It sounds like a kids book, where a button, named Benjamin, falls off someone’s coat and then spends the rest of the tale trying to find his way back to his owner.

It should have been called “The Curious Case of Why the Hell You Would Name a Movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. 

Or “The Curious Case of Why, If You’re Going to Age Brad Pitt Backwards, You Wouldn’t Go All the Way Back to His Thelma and Louise Days?”

But anyway, my point was, this cream made me look years younger. It left my skin with fewer wrinkles, plump, lush and as hydrated as a Sara Lee Pound Cake (the low fat, non-greasy one).  

So if winter has your skin feeling dry and “sophisticated”, with “a great personality”, do yourself a favor and check out Eve Lom TLC. It’s not cheap, but so worth it.

Doesn’t it look like a delicious dessert topping?  Note to self, don’t write blog when hungry.

Eve Lom is a British brand.  It’s available at Space NK’s flagship store here in NYC. And according to BellaSugar, Space NK stores within a store, have recently popped up at select Bloomindale's.

Feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right, to track it down.

winterize your hands

My hands are hating this weather. They go from being nestled in warm, toasty gloves to being thrust out into the bitter cold, every time my touch screen phone rings.  (Yes, apparently gloves and touch screens aren’t compatible, Steve Jobs.)

And if we don’t want to end up with granny hands, we’d best not abuse our little friends. They dial phones for us, type emails for us, open jars for us and, perhaps most importantly, get money out of  ATM machines for us.  They’re like our own little, personal assistants.

And we’re like Meryl Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada.  

Since Hallmark hasn’t yet created a category of cards for apologizing to our hands (although, knowing them, I’m sure they’re working on it), I’ve got the perfect way to make it up to them. A luscious body scrub created by celebrity manicurist, Nettie Davis. 

When Nettie started mixing up her own, all natural scrubs for her clients, the response was overwhelming.  And before she knew it, she was the proud proprietor of NettieScrub™. 

I tried the NettieScrub Grapefruit Body Buff. It's made from sugar, grape seed oil and pure essential oils. It's for all over body use, but I especially love using it on my hands this time of year.  It exfoliates really well, smells like sunshine, helps repair cuticles, makes nails look like you just applied clear polish, and leaves hands moisturized and silky smooth.  After using it, I kept staring at my hands, because they were so smooth and radiant, they looked like they belonged to a wax figure version of me.

Treat your hands well and they won’t make you look like an octogenarian. 
I think that's fair. Don't you?

toner. it's not just for toning any more.

A lot of dermatologists recommend that people with dry, winter skin, only wash their faces with a cleanser once a day (or not at all) and instead just rinse with water.

What they’re suggesting is a cleansing method that’s basically the equivalent of getting caught in the rain.  “Just water” is what they clean their faces with on “Survivor”.

Need I say more.  (Why did that woman pack a blazer to be on Survivor?)  

So I decided to try to find a winter cleansing method that both dermatologists and I could agree on. 

I know a lot of skin care “experts” say toners don’t serve any purpose.  But they do to me.

I now clean my face with a toner every night. (It cleans, but doesn’t strip my skin of its natural oils.) 

My winter toner of choice is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner.  (Not sure how they did it, but they managed to come up with a name that sounded both conceited and understated at the same time.)

It’s alcohol-free, so it isn’t drying.  It’s got a milky consistency and it doesn’t sink into cotton balls very well.  But boy does it remove debris. Seriously, based on the cotton balls, you’d think I’d spent the day gardening and fixing cars.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner contains emollients like, Squalane, Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil and Vitamin E, so it soothes and moisturizes as well.

This stuff leaves my skin not only toned, but hydrated and clean as well.

 

It’s $15. Which might seem like a lot in this economy, but the way I see it, it’s a toner, cleanser and moisturizer, all in one.  So it’s kind of like buying 3 products for only $5 each. (Yes, I can rationalize any purchase.)

why you want to wear seaweed on your face

Japanese women have such beautiful skin, and I have way too much time on my hands, so I decided to Google ancient, Japanese skin care secrets.

Well, apparently one of Japan’s biggest skin care secrets is Wakame, a form of seaweed, commonly used in Miso soup.   (Can it really be considered a secret, if Googling it brings up over 200,000 search results?)

Wakame is rich in nutrients, which help to detoxify, nourish, hydrate and tone skin.  You can buy dehydrated Wakame in most health food stores.  (I think you can also buy it at Whole Foods.) 

My first few attempts at a Wakame face mask recipe, left me looking like a victim of a hundred year old, off-shore shipwreck, but once I got the recipe right… wow. 

Seriously, I’ve tried so many facial masks over the years and this is one of the best (and one of the cheapest).

Here’s the recipe: Chop up dehydrated Wakame in a food processor.

Mix 2 tbsp ground Wakame  + 1 tbsp of honey + 1 tsp of aloe vera gel.  (This should be enough for around 4 masks.)

When you’re ready to use the mask, scoop one tbsp of the mixture into a small bowl. 

Add enough water to cover the mixture (but just barely).  Wait 5 minutes for the Wakame to re-hydrate. Drain any excess liquid. Then stand over a sink (it’s a bit messy) and pat the concoction onto your face.

If you look like this, you've applied too much.

It helps to tilt your head back for a few seconds, while applying it, to let it set.  You know you’ve applied the right amount, when it looks like you've been standing too close to someone who was using a weed wacker.

It will adhere well enough to your face to walk around slowly, but I wouldn’t suggest doing Jazzercise with it on or anythin.  Wait 20 minutes.   Wipe it off with a paper towel. Rinse.

It left my skin sooo soft, smooth and radiant, which is a good thing because I would have been pissed if I'd covered my face in seaweed for no reason. 

OK, I think this is probably the oddest food item I've ever made a mask out of.  What's your?

cold showers- a skin care miracle?

I was just reading about how cold showers are great for the skin (and the rest of the body).  At first, I thought, “good for those nut jobs”.  Then I thought, “You know what? I’m going to put my inner strength, endurance and faith in a higher power to the test, and try this cold shower thing for a week”. (Just in case I don’t get around to climbing Everest).

(OK. The shower isn’t cold the whole time.  Just the last 60 seconds, but I guarantee it will be the longest 60 seconds of your life.)  

Cold showers make your blood rush inward to your organs (perhaps to protect them from freezing). Then after the cold water is turned off, the blood rushes back out to the skin.  This greatly improves circulation, leaving skin flush with blood- healthy and radiant. (Unlike hot water, which dehydrates.)

And there are even findings that suggest cold showers help to alleviate depression. Due to the mild electroshock delivered to the brain, by the sudden blast of cold water.   (Hey, if we can now do home laser hair removal, why not home electroshock treatments?)

You’re supposed to take your usual temperature shower, then gradually turn off the hot water, until only the cold is left running.  

When I stood under the cold downpour for the first time, I quickly counted to 60. (There were no Mississippis involved).  I began hyperventilating, marching in place and twirling in a circle. I must have looked like a disorientated marching band member.  

But I have to say, it really woke me up.

My reaction to the cold water, made Janet Leigh look calm by comparison.

Usually this time of year, my skin is so dry and rough, that I could exfoliate my legs with my arms.  But after my cold water shower, (yes, even the very first one) my skin was extremely soft and smooth.  In fact, I haven’t had to use a single drop of moisturizer, since I started my cold showers.  (I’m not kidding.  It’s that amazing.)

Turns out, I’m now addicted to them.  And if that makes me a nut, so be it.  At least I’m an alert nut, with really soft skin.

FYI:  If you have any heart problems, you're supposed to consult with your doctor before taking cold showers.

Have you ever tried the cold water shower thing?  Would you ever? 

the pilgrims would have loved this pumpkin peel

It’s Thanksgiving week and everyone’s thoughts are turning to pumpkin facial peels.  OK, maybe not everyone’s. 

Thanksgiving began back in 1621, as a harvest festival and a day to give thanks.  For the Pilgrims had much to celebrate, not only had they made it to the New World alive (except for the ones who didn’t), but they were actually prospering nicely.

Here are some Native Americans being forced to sit at what appears to be the first incarnation of the kids’ table. 

All these years later, the Thanksgiving holiday remains a staple of North American life.  The only difference being, now we don’t give thanks for a fruitful harvest, but instead for giant sponges in square pants. 

Think how proud the Pilgrims would be if they could see how far we've come.

But this Thanksgiving I’m kicking it Pilgrim-style and celebrating the successful harvest of the pumpkins in MyChelle Dermaceuticals Incredible Pumpkin Peel.

A combo of organic pumpkin puree with pineapple and ginger. This peel offers unique exfoliation and super nourishment, via all-natural ingredients.  It’s jam packed with vitamins and fruit enzymes, which digest dead cells, revealing more youthful, healthier-looking skin.  (Hopefully, there won’t be so many dead cells to digest that the enzymes have to undo their zippers.)

After using this peel my skin was clearer, smoother, soft, and radiant, even the spots from the sun were less noticeable. And the amazing part is, I could still see and feel the benefits of this mask days later.   I LOVE THIS PEEL.  It's twice a week for me from now on. 

MyChelle has a trial size section on the website, so you can sample stuff.  (FYI: I also love the Fruit Fiesta Peel and I heard the C serum is amazing as well.)

This is the founder of MyChelle.  She’s 46.  (My skin didn't look this good when I was 10).  Makes me want to buy one of everything.  (PS. It's not Botox.  I’ll tell you how I know that in tomorrow's post.)

MyChelle is sold at Whole Foods, but if you want to see where else you can get it, feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right.

a great fall/winter facial cleanser

Perhaps Lush was going for the old reverse psychology thing by naming this facial cleanser "Ultrabland".  It really brought out my inner-teenage.  You can’t tell me not to try this product because it’s boring.  I’ll be the judge of that.  You’re not the boss of me!!!  (I probably would have slammed a door if there was one at Lush to slam.)

Yes, everything about this product, from the boring black tub, to the name, to the smell, which reeked of utter and complete blandness, screams  “don’t buy me” but that just made me want to buy it more. 

When I got home, all fired up, I tried my new Ultrabland cleanser.   I was very impressed with this little, self-deprecating product. 

You scoop it out of the tub, like that Goop hand cleanser mechanics use.  Which somehow seemed cool in its un-coolness. (Perhaps, yet another reverse psychology trick?  Who knew Lush was so into mind games?)

The cleanser goes on almost like cold cream and it has to be removed with a washcloth- needs something with a little texture to rub it off.  It leaves skin feeling super soft, clean, and perfectly moisturized. And it’s good for all skin types (even sensitive).

Yes, I suppose it appears to be bland, but it’s kind of like that girl, in the teen movie, who everyone ignores.

 

 

Then someone convinces her to take off her glasses, let her hair down and apply hundreds of dollars worth of make-up. Next thing you know she’s walking in slow motion to some bad 80's heavy metal song.

You go, Ultrabland.   

Even the label looks like it was written by the most boring teacher you’ve ever had.

Anyone out there have any Lush products you love?

hempz moisturizer - a higher state of body care

Hempz Herbal Moisturizer has a big pot leaf on their packaging and their tag line is “A higher state of body care”^TM.  That’s funny.  Ha ha ha ha ha.  Whoa.  When I type, my fingers look like spiders line dancing.

OK.  So Hempz Herbal Moisturizer doesn’t actually contain THC (the stuff that makes you stoned) but it does contain hemp seed oil, which is amazing for your skin.

Hemp seed oil is made up of 75% essential fatty acids, so it doesn’t just coat the skin, like other oils.  It has the ability to penetrate to the cellular level, thus nourishing, rejuvenating, protecting and hydrating skin from within. Whoa. 

Hemp is also one of the earth’s richest sources of amino acids. Topically, amino acids bond with skin cells to temporarily fill in lines. Making skin look smoother and younger. At a deeper level, amino acids supposedly help stimulate the production of collagen.  Double whoa.

This moisturizer feels cooling and super-refreshing going on.  While it is rich, it absorbs quickly and easily.  Leaving your skin feeling like you're wearing a velour tracksuit (in a good way).

This is a great moisturizer for cooler, drier weather because it has some gravitas to it.  (I'm not sure what that means.)  It’s rich and soaks deep into the skin, making it the Barry White’s voice of moisturizers.  (I’m not sure what that means either.)  Are they sure this stuff doesn’t contain THC? 

I did inhale and it smells really good, fresh and tropical. On their website they describe the fragrance as banana and fresh breezy floral. (I don't know what “fresh breezy floral” is, but I suppose the stoner who wrote it does.)

So when it comes to Hempz Herbal Moisturizer, ignore Nancy Reagan and “Just Say,Yes”. 

As a kid, this commercial scared me into not doing drugs. I didn't want to end up mindlessly taking orders from cars or over-accessorizing.

Anyone else out there try any hemp seed based skincare products?  If so, what'd you think?

Be careful. Trying Hempz Moisturizer could lead to using more hardcore Hempz products, like their Hair Repair Treatment and Eye Contour Cream.

If you want to know where you can find it at the cheapest price, feel free to use the search box to the right.