babyassface

alpha hydroxy acid will burn the years off your face

As winter draws to a close (I'm going to ignore the fact that it's snowing as I type), my skin has grown so pale that I can now clearly see that I have, what some in the beauty industry refer to as, “age spots” (ouch), or “photo damage” (“damaged” - double ouch). Personally, I prefer to refer to them as “freckles gone wild”.

Jan, you basket case, I blame you for starting this whole freckle/age spot bashing epidemic.

Thus I decided to try Paula’s Choice 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Gel (for normal to dry skin).

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring molecules found in fruit and milk that soften and exfoliate skin. (In higher concentrations, in dermatologists’ offices, they’re called chemical peels).

They cause the cells of the epidermis to become "unglued", allowing the dead skin cells to slough off, making room for younger, new ones. (Kind of like what Hollywood does with actresses.)

AHAs reduce wrinkles, roughness, and mottled pigmentation of photo-damaged skin, after months of daily application.

But there’s a catch (isn't there always), AHAs make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. So, it’s imperative to wear sunscreen while using this product and for a week afterward. 

I used Paula’s Choice 8% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Gel before bedtime. It stings a bit, but my, oh, my is this stuff good. 

First off, my skin immediately looked younger, smoother, firmer and more even toned. By day 3, I swear my wrinkles had already started to be burned off my face. My crow’s feet were reduced and even my marionette lines and brow cleavage, were slightly less deep.  And while it specifically says "avoid contact with eyes and eyelids", I specifically went out of my way to apply it to my eyelids and it drastically reduced the wrinkles and loose skin there (although I might lose my vision at a later date).

As for the "age spots", "photo damage", and "mottled pigmentation", I never had them in the first place, I had “freckles gone wild”, which it appears to maybe be helping a teeny, tiny bit so far (but that could just be wishful thinking). This is a truly great product and it’s only $19 for a 4 oz bottle.   

Check out Paula’s Choice website because you can get samples, for 80¢ (plus shipping).

Anyone else, besides Jan Brady, have any other pigmentation-reducing recommendations?

my kind of facial exfoliant

When it comes to facial exfoliants, let’s just say I’m no delicate flower.  I’ve actually written that I would use gravel as an exfoliant, if they put it in pretty enough packaging and charged me enough for it. 

I know that gouging away at your skin with tiny sharp objects can maybe cause some damage, but every once in a while, I do enjoy an exfoliant that isn’t afraid to get in there and remove some dead skin. 

“Be fine food skin care exfoliating cleanser with brown sugar, sweet almond and oats” is that kind of  exfoliant.

This stuff is like having a go at your own face with a mini sandblaster. This probably shouldn’t be surprising, considering one of the ingredients is hydrated Silica.  (Isn’t Silica in sand and glass?) Oh yeah, bring it on. 

As per the directions, I wet my face and massaged this product in a circular motion.  Then rinsed.  No wonder they call it an exfoliating cleanser.  It sure does leave skin clean.  Not surprising considering, it's hard for skin, that much beneath the surface, to have gotten dirty. 

My pores looked smaller.  My skin felt super clean, taut, smooth and soft. Kind of like I’d removed enough layers to have unearthed a fresh-faced Ivory Girl, who'd been trapped beneath the rubble of my dead skin cells. 

My skin was a little red after.  I suppose I didn’t have to ram the stuff quite so hard into my face.  (I get a bit over zealous with the scrubs- like the harder I rub, the younger I’ll look.)

I really, really liked this scrub.  It comes in single serve packets and you can find it in lots of drug stores.  It’s probably not ideal for sensitive skin.

I don’t even think, I’d use it every week. But for a good spring cleaning, every once in a while, I think it’s superb.   Although next time, I probably won’t rub with the same pressure, that I do to sand my kitchen cabinets. 

Hopefully, you're better at showing some restraint, than me, when it comes to exfoliation and you won't end up looking like the Great Sphinx.  

To find out where you can get Be fine products at the cheapest price, feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right.

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.

microfoliant of a geisha

In order for a Japanese geisha to pull off a face full of white pan makeup, she would have to have pretty flawless skin underneath.

If not, she would end up looking like a French woman in a full face of white pan makeup.

So what’s the ancient Japanese secret to a flawless complexion?  I’m glad I asked.  The answer is rice bran, sista-san. 

The Japanese have known for centuries that the potent vitamins and antioxidants in rice - exfoliate, tone, tighten, smooth, improve blood circulation and stimulate cell turnover. 

(And to think, I thought it was just good for binding the bowels.)

Thankfully, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is all about the rice bran (and a bunch of skin brightening and skin soothing ingredients).

I know it says “micro”foliant right in the name, but, still, I was rather shocked when I opened the package to see finely ground powder.  (You mix it with water and rub it all over your face.) 

My usual stance on exfoliants is the courser, the better.  (I would use gravel if someone put it in a pretty package and charged me enough.)  But, much to my delight, this powder microfoliates like nobody’s business.

My skin was smoother, more even-toned, tighter, clearer and my cheeks had a gentle, rosy glow.

My face really did have a geisha-like quality to it (pre the pan makeup).  Who knew something gentle enough to use everyday could be so powerful.  (Of course, I would still be willing to try a gravel exfoliant if someone sent me a sample.)

It’s the perfect, lazy woman’s Halloween costume.  Just use it and when people ask, tell them you’re a geisha. 
If you really want to go all out, you can put your hand over your mouth and giggle a lot.

At first I thought this product seemed expensive until the saleswoman told me it actually lasts 5 months, then it seemed like a bargain.   To find out where you can buy it at the best price, feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right.