babyassface

a soap that’ll suck your pores clean

I don’t usually write about products for oily skin, because mine is more on the Sahara side of the spectrum. Luckily, for people with skin on the Kuwait oil field side of the spectrum, I’ve had a big zit on my forehead for close to 2 weeks now. It’s been on my face for so long, I was going to ask my accountant if I could declare it as a dependent.  

The zit (aka “Mini Me”) just wouldn’t leave, so I used the opportunity to check out a great product for oily skin/black heads/zits.

It’s called Deitanseki Soap - a clay and charcoal facial cleansing bar from Japan. I saw it on Amazon a while ago and people were raving about it, so I picked up a bar at a Japanese Mart near me.

This is not one of those frilly, pretty soaps you display proudly in your bathroom for guests.

Unless your guest happen to be teachers, who like soaps that look like chalkboard erasers.

It’s ingredients are perfect for sucking the impurities out of the skin. It contains both Bentonite and Kaolin clays, both great for detoxifying and cleaning pores. It also contains charcoal. 

Charcoal is so good at absorbing toxins, that it’s given internally, in emergency rooms, when someone has overdosed on pills or ingested poisonous substances. It’s also used for environmental spills and colon cleansing. Hey, if it’s good enough to clean out my colon, surely it’s good enough to clean out my pores. 

Boy, did it ever. The pores on my nose looked smaller and Mini Me was almost completely sucked dry upon first use. Within three uses, my persistent, little friend was completely gone.

Since, it’s winter and my skin is dry, this soap is a little too drying for my face right now. Although, I’ll use it for spot cleaning (zits and nose pores).

And I’ll definitely use it in the summer, when my face is gushing so much oil, that I expect Daniel Day- Lewis to show up screaming “bastard from a basket!”, “bastard from a basket!”

What’s your favorite zit remedy?

To find out where you can get this soap at the cheapest price, feel free to use the Google “search the web” box to the right.

a cleanser for environmentally damaged skin?

My first encounter with Murad products was a bad one. A hotel I was staying at had sample sizes of some of them, which I thought were free.

So I used pretty much all of them, only to later find the price tent card had fallen behind the basket.  Turns out I was going to have to sell some organs to pay for the obscenely-priced samples.  Since then I’ve been afraid to even look at Murad products for fear of receiving a bill in the mail.

But a friend of mine just recently started using some of their products and highly recommended them, so I decided to get a free sample of the Essential-C Cleanser from Sephora (where it got 5 stars from everyone who reviewed it.)

Murad claims its antioxidant-rich formula cleanses and re-hydrates environmentally damaged skin.

The concept appealed to me, because  if my filthy air purifier filter is any indication, my face must look like I ride a bike behind this bus all day.

Yes, I realize the “environmentally damaged” concept is probably just a marketing ploy (but they deserve some credit for coming up with an original one).

From the first time I washed my face with this cleanser I knew it was my new favorite.  Not only did it leave my skin looking and feeling clean, but it also looked clearer and oddly even-toned. 

My skin was firm, but not tight and it felt perfectly hydrated without feeling like it had been externally moisturized.  The best part though was it left my skin feeling softer than it’s ever felt (and the feeling lasts all day).

I couldn’t stop touching my face, which probably just made my skin greasy, but I didn’t even mind, because that meant I’d get to wash it again with the Essential-C Cleanser.  I don’t know if there’s a name for this disorder yet, but I’m guessing it’d be in the obsessive-compulsive family.

It’s expensive but I think it’s worth it.  Do yourself a favor and get a free sample at Sephora. I promise it’s free and you won’t end up secretly being charged for it and having to take out a second mortgage on your home.

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.)

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?

do you really need a face-cleaning appliance?

In the olden days, people used to go down to the river to wash their clothes with rocks.  Soon people may look back and say “What?  People used to wash their face with hands?”  Yes, the Clarisonic Skincare Brush is that good. 

I’ll just start off by saying the Clarisonic isn’t cheap.  (But it will save you money in facials and other skin care products in the long run.)

The brush is super soft and gentle and doesn’t rotate but rather unperceptively vibrates.  The first few days I used it, it actually brought deeply lurking blemishes to the surface.  So be forewarned, your skin may get worse before it gets better.  It’s kind of like your face is in rehab and it might have to vomit and sweat some stuff out before it’s officially considered clean.  (Sorry, Amy Winehouse, it’s not available in a body size yet.)

The other Clarisonic side-effect, that the lovely Bellasugar pointed out in her review, is during week two your face might start exuding liquids. My theory on this is, it cleans out your pores so thoroughly that there’s nothing holding what’s in your pores, in your pores. So much so, that if I drank a smoothie, I lived in fear that it would suddenly come gushing out of my pores in the middle of a client meeting.

I tried Bellasugar’s reco of switching to using it only once a day and that did the trick. (But now that it’s less hot out, I’ve gone back to using it twice a day and the facial water works have stopped.) 

You can buy a great cleanser, exfoliant and face mask, but in my opinion using the Clarisonic daily will improve your skin more than all of them combined.

Thankfully, your hands won’t be completely obsolete, you’ll still need one of them to push the button on your Clarisonic.

Oprah calls the Clarisonic “a miracle massage for your face”.  And considering she probably
 owns several masseuses, that’s quite the compliment. 

To find out where you can buy it at the best price, feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right.

A fantastico facial cleanser

“She was bored to death writing about a facial cleanser.”  How embarrassing an obituary would that be?   I mean, really, what can you say about a good one?  “It cleans really well.” “Really well it does clean.”  But Borghese Crema Saponetta (or cleansing crème, for those who prefer the more romantic English language) un-bored me to life. 

First off, it has a rich, luxurious lather.  It smells like you just walked into an Aveda. And I've never experienced a cleanser that felt like it cleaned so deeply. (Like if it cleaned my skin any deeper, it could double as a mouthwash.)  

Borghese Crema Saponetta is just another facial cleaner, like Mr Clean is just another custodial engineer. 

You would think this kind of deep clean would leave skin feeling dry and stripped of moisture.  Not at all.  My skin felt really soft, smooth, and refreshed, with just the right amount of it’s own natural moisture remaining.  (From what people on Amazon said this stuff works wonders on acne too.)

And I don’t know what voodoo you do, Borghese, but I’ve tried $80 firming serums that didn’t firm as well as this cleanser.  It felt like a bus door closed on my face, while I was still trying to push my way on.  (I mean that in a good way.  Not in a, then the bus went on to drag me, by my face, for a few blocks kind of way.) 

To me, Borghese Crema Saponette is the Michael Phelps of facial cleansers. And by the way, congratulations, Michael!  Because I’m sure you’re reading this right now:)

Until this cleanser, I wouldn’t have thought it possible to write 299 words
 about a facial cleanser without using the word “very” 290 times.

To find out where you can buy it at the best price, feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right.

on-the-go? lazy? both? this facial cleaner is for you.

There are lots of cleansing wipes out there, but rather than tell you about one you could find yourself, if you walked into any Duane Reade blindfolded, I thought I’d tell you about this great, less-ubiquitous one. 

Apivita Cleansing Tissues with Chamomile.  Apivita is a Greek brand, founded by two Greek pharmacists. 

Did you notice how hot Greece is right now?  There’s not one, but two, movies coming out that were filmed there. (Mama Mia and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2-  I'm dying to see if it's the same pants from the first one.)

Here’s a scene from Mamma Mia! Looks like someone best start writing their Oscar speech.

Apivita’s express line of products, comes packaged in single, travel packets.  (Which doesn't sound eco-friendly, but who knows, it might actually be better than the bigger, plastic, packaging of other brands.) 

But enough about the future of the planet, let’s get back to the texture of my skin.

They're appropriate for all skin types.  They cleanse, tone, lightly moisturize and remove make-up, all in one fell swipe.  The chamomile is super gentle and left my face feeling soft, smooth, refreshed and even a bit glowy.  (And short of ingesting uranium, I would do anything for glowy skin.) 

I found these wipes to be very calming. I’m guessing it’s the chamomile. After using one, I feel like I’ve just taken a shower, after spending the day at the beach and now I’m sitting on the deck of a beach house.  Perhaps Chamomile is a hallucinogenic? 

They’re perfect for traveling (and easily fit into the pocket of your traveling pants), and for sweaty, summer face. They’re also great for those nights you’re too tired to turn on the faucet. (Or to take your keys out from outside lock of your door. Don't judge.)

Here’s a quote from one of the founders of Apivita: “If you have a dream you will achieve it,
 and if you achieve it you will dream again.”  How inspiraconfusional?

I've gotten some emails asking where people can find the products I talk about in my posts. Feel free to use Google “search the web” box, to the right, to find out where you can find it (and for how much).

An all, all-natural facial toner.

This is Aubrey Hampton, founder of Aubrey® Organics.

He's managed to convey his entire business philosophy in one weird-ass photo.

Let’s see.  There’s a Native American-esque statue behind him, showing that, like the indigenous people, he too respects and lives off the land.  He’s holding a dog, to symbolize that he loves animals and would never test on them.  Although, he did test some shampoo on this dog, and her hair does look fluffier.  He’s an aging hippie, so you know his products are all natural but he wears a suit, which means he knows how to run a business.  I hear your photo loud and clear, Aubrey.

But all 108 words of kidding aside, I love this company.  I love what they stand for.  And I love their Green Tea and Ginko Facial Toner (for normal skin).  Unlike a lot of companies that throw around the words “organic” and “all-natural” like frisbees on fire , Aubrey is the real deal. 

All Aubrey Organics® products are completely natural. No synthetic chemicals of any kind. They even use all-natural preservatives.

The ingredients, of the Green Tea and Ginko Toner, read like a delicious iced tea:  Grain Alcohol (I haven’t put that in my iced tea since college. I swear), three types of Chamomile, Organic Peppermint leaves, Lemon, Cucumber, Green Tea.  Yes, waiter I'll have another.  And another basket of bread. 

I know a lot of beauty experts say that toner is an unnecessary product but I love it.  When I use Aubrey’s toner, my skin feels smoother, softer and super fresh.  And even when I use it after cleaning my face, there's usually black stuff on the cotton ball.  So unless Aubrey is putting dirt in their toner, it’s definitely removing something. 

There's no shortage of weird photos on their website.  What's with the angle?  And what’s with the rocks? 
Looks like someone, sitting 3 ft away, lost at a game of Mancala and threw the pieces. 

FYI:  Aubrey Organics can be found at Whole Foods and most health food stores.

I've gotten some emails asking where people can find the products I talk about in my posts. Feel free to use Google “search the web” box, to the right, to find out where you can find it (and for how much).

a truly heaven facial cleanser

When I use Dermalogica Precleanse my face becomes so clean it feels like it’s been baptized. It’s so clean it almost looks translucent. So clean I almost expect to hear angels singing that “Ahhhhhhhh” sound. (Not to be confused with the dentist “Ahhhhhh” sound.)

It’s a plant-based cleansing oil, which sounds counter-intuitive to cleaning your skin, but it cleans so deeply it’s actually probably even better for people with oily to normal skin.

The oil supposedly “melts layers of excess oil, sunscreen, waterproof make-up, environmental pollutants and residual skin products that build up during the day”.  Is it just me or were they describing Tammy Faye?

Just looking at the bottle makes your face feel cleaner.

I've gotten some emails asking where people can find the products I talk about in my posts. Feel free to use Google “search the web” box, to the right, to find out where you can find it (and for how much).