Skincare Week: Moisturizers

MOISTURIZER IS A MUST.

I don't care what type of skin you have. You need to find a moisturizer in your lifetime. If you find one for morning and one for night, great! Just the one? Great!  Either way, find something and use it.

Ideally, you are cleaning your face properly, hydrating it with the help of toners and maybe even some serums or oils. Some of you may be skipping some steps. All of that is fine, as long as there is moisturizer somewhere in your life.

There's no hard and fast rules about moisturizers, but incorporating the steps and ideas I've mentioned all week, it will all help any moisturizer work better.

• Moisturize BEFORE SPF and Makeup
• Moisturize AFTER Treatments/serums/oil and Toning

My AM Recent Picks:

Olay ProX Age Repair Lotion with SPF30. The price of this recently dropped from $35-38 to $30. I think Olay was having an issue with their Pro X line's price point. Some things were in the 40's and none of it seemed to be much different from their Regenerist line, which is still more popular, maybe because the prices feel a little more doable. 

I used this lotion last year and had great results with it. It always made my skin look better, but at some point my skin became so dehydrated that this lotion seemed to separate on my skin and leave me very oily. This wasn't really the lotion's fault, this was my skin going hay wire. So I stopped using this as I went into defense mode but recently came back around to this when my skin started to normalize. I've been using it for almost 2 months now and I feel like it's keeping my skin protected and it locks in all the moisture of the toners. 

Sometimes this leaves me shiny. If I give it time to sink it, that goes away, but if i'm in a rush, I pat my skin with a towel and apply my makeup over it and my skin hasn't looked better! 

Last summer I was in love with the Bare Minerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer. Both the normal to dry skin lotion as well as the normal to dry with SPF 20. These thin tubes are nice and lightweight and have 1.7oz per bottle. The pump dispenser keeps everything nice and air tight, but that's a bit of a pain if you're trying to get to the end. 

This worked great through the summer for me. But my skin became a mess last fall and this wasn't enough for me so I moved on to other things.   If you have normal to slightly dry skin, then this is a great facial lotion for you. 

My PM Picks:

Olay ProX Hydra Firming Cream, also marked down to $30 now. This was an interesting find. And it didn't wow me much at first. But this grew on me very much and I learned to love it.  It was very slick and sinks into the skin fast. It doesn't feel quite like a cream, but more thick serum-like. 

My skin always looked better in the morning when I used this, but certainly didn't my skin look good when I applied it.  But I held on because I felt like it was helping some. So I went through a few tubs of this.  

Recently I've switched to the Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream Fragrance Free $26. Not much cheaper than the Pro X. So why the "pro x"? I'm going to follow this to see if it lasts.

It wasn't until I began using the Bare Minerals skincare that I really started washing my face properly at night. I fully admit to being a horrible skin caretaker. But I'm trying to make up for it now. And since the B.E. skincare line, I've really been making it a habit to wash my makeup off at night.  So maybe it's that i'm taking better care in general, but it definitely feels like this cream is helping that.  It makes my skin look better immediately. No waiting over night. My night skin looks just as good as my AM skin! 

This feels more moisturizing and firming than the Hydra Firming Cream. This Regenerist cream actually does what I was expecting, and paying, Hydra Firming to do.  So far this feels like it will carry me through winter, but we'll have to just wait and see. 

This is a pretty new product but people are already giving it great reviews all over the internet and I'd have to agree with them.  A really good product at a higher end drugstore price. 

Skincare Week: Treatments/Serums/Oils

Caroline Hirons says this over and over, spend the money on a product that does one good thing rather than buying a product that does 10 things only slightly well. Makes sense, right? That's what treatments are about. Instead of the moisturizer that claims to do a billion things, why not just get treatments for the problems you want fixed??  

Things To Know:

• **You can layer treatments** That's right people. No one is going to jail for using more than one treatment at a time. Pile it on! Everyone's invited!
• If you use a facial oil, use the oil first, then top with serums, then moisturizer. 
• If you're layering serums apply them lightest to heaviest. Silicone based serums go last. Otherwise nothing else will go through. 
• Oils can be great even for oily skin. There are many facial oils that give a wide range of hydration, which we all know now, can happen to ANY SKIN TYPE.
• You can have AM treatments and PM treatments or ones for both.

My Personals:

I started last year with this Olay Regenerist Frangrance Free Regenerating Serum $22 for 1.7oz.  I liked it. Very much at the time. But looking back, it didn't seem to help me all that much. It was very siliconey feeling and I wasn't totally sure what this was suppose to actually do for my skin, but I felt like I was old enough to get into serums, so I did. 

If you are looking for just a bit of moisture, this could work for you.  My skin did feel softer to the touch with this and had I been exfoliating properly, this might have worked differently for me. Mostly it felt like a silicone type makeup primer on my skin.  I eventually stopped using it because the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer I was using seemed to look gunky and runny around mid day when I used this serum. 

My next venture into treatments was the Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum. I received this small tube and cherished every drop of it. This really did fade dark marks and it made my skin look great! It's pricey, at $60 for an oz. But it's well worth the money if you've got some serious marks to fade. 

I used this to spot treat some marks to make it last longer but the nights I used it all over, I awoke to glowing skin!  My sister also had a great reaction to this product, however, The Indian did not. She told me it made her skin hate her, and I couldn't understand it!  But hey, different folks, different stroke, right?  Too bad, The Indian, too bad. 

Looking for a Murad substitute, I turned to the Yes to Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Serum $20 for an oz. I used at least 2 full bottles of this serum. Besides the wonderful grapefruit smell, this serum never interfered with my makeup and always sank into my skin very nicely, albeit slower than the rest. It gave my skin a tighter appearance, but it was a borderline tight feeling, which was corrected with moisturizer. 

I had to learn how to dispense the right amount of this because using too much would cause it to ball up on my skin when I put moisturizer over it. It did help fade some dark marks, not nearly as fast as the Murad but it helped. But that seemed to be the only thing it really did for my skin despite using it AM and PM. 

Bare minerals Active Cell Renewal Serum $50 for an oz, but I got a smaller size in a B.E. Kit. I really underestimated this product and thought it was the other things I was using that were helping my skin. As it turns out, this Cell Renewal serum gives my skin an intense dose of moisture! 1 time use noticeable. I also rationed out this serum best I could until it was finally gone. This is the serum I used when I felt a dry spot coming up, or if my skin looked dull. The intense hydration perks it all back up over night! 2 nights if it's super stubborn.   

I haven't made the plunge into buying a full size bottle of this, but I know winter is coming, and with that a number of skin issues could arrive.  This time I am prepared and the first sign of skin dehydration will mean a trip to my B.E. Boutique to pick this up! 

Now I'm using the Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir $20-25 for .5oz.  This contains Glycloic acid as it's third ingredient. If you were paying attention yesterday, you know that glycolic acid helps exfoliate the skin. This also claims to bring great hydration to the skin. Can't hurt, right?

I've been using this as my night treatment after toning, for a few weeks now. I like that the bottle is lightweight plastic and that you can see how much product the push up dispenser has inside. The packaging says it's for smoother, tighter skin, and that's what i'm going for!  It's a clear, liquidly serum that feels slippery at first but then sinks into the skin very fast. The box says it needs up to 5 minutes for full absorption. Sometimes I wait the 5, sometimes I can't be bothered. It seems to be working either way. 

The information about this product tells you it replaces your moisturizer. Yeah, I don't agree with that. And neither does Caroline Hirons.  However, using this after my toners actually feels like I've put on a thin moisturizer so I could see why people would think it's fine to stop here but I still suggest using a moisturizer over this.  

The glycolic acid actually does make for great exfoliation and seems to also be helping fade some dark marks. Not incredibly fast, but it's at least helping and not hurting. I also feel like this is locking in some of the moisture I put on before this with my L'Oreal Hydrafresh Toner It's also adding a bit of it's own and every bit counts when you're talking hydration. 

If there is something about your skin that is bothering you, there is surely a treatment out there for you. Shop with your gut. If something is bothering you, look for things that will help. HELP. Don't expect things on a counter to 'fix' anything.  

And remember to know your store's return policy in case something doesn't work for you. Something something frog and prince story....      

 Lucky for you I did a post about return policies right HERE. 

Skincare Week: Toners

You can't believe I'm talking to you about Toners, do you? I know. Me neither. Once we finally got rid of the Sea Breeze commercials, I thought we were done with this part of life. I was wrong. Besides my beloved Washcloth Method that I learned from Caroline Hirons, using toners (correctly) is the biggest piece of advice that has changed the course of my skin forever.

Some notes:

• Toners are not meant to 'finish cleaning' your face. Disregard those old Sea Breeze commercials of the 80's that showed us that astringents and toners were the way of life and got rid of all the dirt and makeup from your skin. Toners are not cleansers. Cleansers are cleansers. 
• Toners do NOT strip your skin.  If you're using the right ones.
• NOTHING should leave your skin feeling 'squeaky clean'. Ever. If this is happening you need to stop using or doing whatever you are. 
• Toners are not just alcohol and/or witch hazel. It's 2013, people.
• Toners are the next step after you cleanse. They are the dryer sheet to your dryer. They are the conditioner to your shampoo. They are the beer to your pizza.
• Anything containing an acid has to say to keep away from the eyes. But toners with acid are perfectly fine to use around your eye. But obviously, be smart about it. If it burns...stop. 
• You can use more than one toner. At a time. You can layer! This is allowed. Who's going to stop you??

Why Tone?... 

Balancing: It is said that toners reblance the ph in skin that is thrown off after cleansing. Your skin will do this on it's own, but the toning makes it happen much faster, translating into better skin.

Exfoliating: An exfoliating toner is one that has acids in it, such as salicylic or glycolic, which exfoliate your skin without using anything grainy and rough, which, by the way you should NOT be using. Beads and grains scratch the surface of the skin which is just asking for a world of trouble.

Penetration: Toners balance the skin which prepare the skin for maximum penetration of treatments you put on top and even allows you to use less product!

Hydration: Caroline Hirons confirmed a theory of mine. That even oily skin can be dehydrated. Dehydrated skin has nothing to do with your skin 'type', it has to do with your environment and health. Dehydration is also the #1 plague of skin because people don't spot it or aren't taking the right steps to correct it.


What I've Been Using: 

Aveda Botanicals Kinetics Exfoliant $20 for for 5oz. 

 It's soothing. It's refreshing. And it's far more powerful than I realized. 

Within the first 2 days I noticed the change in my skin. The area around my nose that was clogged and started to give me concern is smooth and clear now. The surface of my skin is smoother, more supple looking, and even softer to the touch. And any trace of patchy dry skin has been erased as if done by live Photoshop.

I use this morning and night AND I use this around my eyes.  Caroline said I could.  So I did. And it's been amazing. I never realized just how much my eye area needed to be exfoliated!  I was scared that using an exfoliant more than once a day would be too much, but it's not. Afterwards, my skin doesn't feel stripped or dry, it feels soft and smooth. But slightly tacky. Not bad, but not something I would put makeup on.

Aveda sells this in a 16.9oz bottle for $48. That's seems like a lot, but that's a lot of product. And having been using this twice a day for over a month, I can say I would give them my money.  And because this works soooo well, I will pretend I don't cringe at every Aveda commercial that mispronounce Indian words in chalkboard-nails ways.

L'oreal HydraFresh Toner $6 for 8.5 oz.

I got this L'oreal toner for under $6 and before the Aveda purchase. I figured it was a good place to start. I'm not totally sure why, I guess I was price blinded. Single Digits!!! I used it after my PM Cleanse using Clinique Take Off The Day.  I swiped it on my face, over and around my eyes, using a cotton round.  The scent was sweet and fresh and I kind of dug the pink liquid. It's a nice change on the counter. But I was not prepared to love this as much as I did. As I do.

This simple solution that costs less than a Starbucks Coffee concoction made my skin soooo soft. I could tell by just looking at my skin it was softer. After using this in the AM and PM for 3 days, moisture level in my skins completely changed. Between the balm night cleanser and this, my skin felt, and for the first time, looked hydrated!

I've used countless creams and lotions on my dry skin. I've been on a constant moisture battlezone since I can remember and so many times I thought I figured it out. Just to go back and realize it was temporary or a fluke. This time I can actually see the results!  The lines around my eyes look less because my skin is hydrated and more plump. It's honestly more plump! So much so that I just used the word 'plump' to describe my skin. MY skin!

After realizing just how well this was working, I got my Aveda Exfoliant and incorporated the 2 into my AM and PM routines. After cleansing, I go right in with my Aveda Exfoliant, and then spray on my L'Oreal Hydrafresh, having poured some in a tiny spray bottle from CVS. Once the Hydrafresh toner dries, my skin looks and feels as if I've put on really expensive moisturizer. It even feels that way too!   Now my skin is more hydrated and healthy pre-moisturizer than it was in my entire 20's combined.


Mentions: Some of Caroline's Hall Of Famers
Pixi Glow Tonic: An exceptionally affordable exfoliating toner. Unfortunately, it's only been available in their brick and mortar store in London.  Bollucks.  But I just recently discovered that they are adding it to their online store very shortly!! Eek!
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. This exfoliating toner is not available on the Clarins site in the US, but it's available at the Macy's Clarin Counter and other American online retailers. It's also $38 bucks for just over 4 oz.


I may not be able to tell you scientifically why or how this all works, but I can tell you that with my own eyes I have watched these tips and solutions work for me.  Never again will I scoff at the idea of a toner. But I will probably watch old Sea Breeze commercials on the interweb and laaaaugh and laaaaugh.

Skincare Week: Cleansers

I know....I disappear a lot. It's not on purpose! I'm not avoiding you, I swear.

Where have I been? Oh the usual...being smacked in the face by the arrival of autumn.  Really, how does it always get here so fast??  I've also been busy overhauling all my beauty. I'm talking all new skincare, all new makeup, all new...stuff!! Since my week long blog subjects seem to be on the popular side (and keep me more on track for you guys) I'm declaring this week...

SKINCARE WEEK!

Back in August, I made an adult-like decision to take better care of my skin and to also maybe get ahead of my dreaded Winter Skin Cycle. Which consists of 2 months of me combating all the eczema riddled dryness and patchy skin that my face becomes when the weather cools down, just to finally get it in order for the weather to change again.  Le sigh.

So through the power of the internet and studying The Skincare Bible, aka, Caroline Hiron's Blog for 2 weeks late at night when I should have been blogging (lo siento!), I have a whole knew skincare routine, backed with knowledge that has taken me from Bad Skin to Ok Skin in just weeks!!!!  This is beyond huge, people. Beyond.

I'm going to break all this info down by routine step. Starting today with CLEANSERS.

Before you go any further, in this blog post, in life itself, get yourself familiar with The Washcloth Face Washing Method that I've talked to you about HERE and HERE.

Learn this. Live this. If you change nothing else about your skincare in your lifetime, do this one thing. 

 ^^^^ THIS IS VITAL INFO^^^^

Things I learned from Caroline Hirons:

• You need to cleanse in the AM. To take away any dead skin, sweat, and to prep your face for makeup or SPF. 
• You MUST cleanse in the PM to remove makeup, dirt and other bad things from the day.
• You should have a different cleanser for these different reasons. Having only one cleanser is like having 1 pair of shoes, says Caroline.  Your AM cleanser should be something lighter, you aren't taking off SPF or makeup (or shouldn't be). Your PM cleanser should be something capable of taking off your makeup, SPF, etc. *Please note* if you can't afford 2 cleansers, then don't buy 2 cleansers. But do read on and make an informed decision about the 1 you do come home with.
• YOU MUST CLEANSE IN THE PM. - This was a hard one for me, but it's become actually really enjoyable and now I look forward to my nightly routine. Who am I??
• USE THE WASHCLOTH CLEANING METHOD.  Every. Time.  I've even been traveling with washcloths. I regret nothing. 
• Always apply cleanser to DRY skin.  It doesn't matter what the packaging 'says'. It 'says' a whole bunch....disregard. 
• Don't wash off with water....again...this is what the washcloth method is for.  
• Do NOT use cleansers that say 'foaming'.  'Foaming' agents strip your skin of everything it needs. Back in the day, soaps didn't lather and foam. They worked. But then people had to market things, so people added lathering and foaming agents to soap products to make for an 'experience'. Well that new 'experience' has lasted so long that now we think it's necessary. I assure you, it is not.  Save face. Skip the foaming. Pun intended. 
• Always Double Cleanse. If you don't have makeup or sunscreen on, like in the AM, you can do a single cleanse. SPF or makeup on....Double Cleanse. 

What I've Been Using:

A.M. Cleanser: Bare Minerals Purifying Facial Cleanser $20 for 6oz. 

I've been sticking to my Bare Minerals Purifying Facial Cleanser. This is easily one of my most favorite products of Bare Minerals. I love the fresh scent and the ease of this cleanser. You don't need much, but it works without being harsh, drying or foaming. 

This leaves my AM skin clean and refreshed and ready for any look I want to put on top.   

It's also so gentle that I can rub it into my eyes without worry of irritation at all, with or without contacts. It does a great job of eating through makeup and because I can put it over my eyes, it takes off my eye makeup without a separate remover!

That is...until Mac Feline came around. That stuff is no joke and though BM Cleanser means well, it is no match for it and I do have to use a remover to take off some after this cleaners.  

P.M. Cleanser: Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm $28.50 for 3.8 oz.

 

Caroline swears by a few trusted balm cleansers that she says is the best thing for nighttime cleansing. These balms are thick and oily and eat through makeup, dirt and oil. After much research into her favs and what was available here in the states, and in my budget, I decided to try out a cult classic.

I. Am. In. Love. 

From the very first try, I knew we were going to have a very long love affair. 

Caroline calls this the basics of all balm cleansers. It's the one every woman should have in their kit because it's a no nonsense get in, get out cleanser.  In fact, they should make a new word for cleanser for this because this is amazing.   

Lard-like.

The tub opens up to a milky white lard looking substance. It's not appealing. It's not enchanting or appetizing. It's not even scented. This is like the old no nonsense grandma of the cleanser world.  You scoop out a small amount with a finger and you see it comes up really easy. It's not like hard butter, but like really soft frosting. And the second it hits your face, it turns into oil. 

I know...that sounds gross. But trust me, it's not.  It's not a runny, thick or sticky. No, instead it's very slick, almost like butter, but smoother. The oil immediately pursues every trace of makeup on your face and eats through it in record time! Waterproof liners, mascaras...even Mac Feline....everything is GONE in about 2 seconds with this cleanser! 

There is no scent. There is no tingly feeling or minty after anything. But the slickness of the oil consistency this takes on makes it feel like you're giving yourself a facial massage every night! 

Then when you wipe it off with a hot washcloth, you're left with amazingly clean, yet still hydrated skin. This balm cleanser has actually made me get into a very strict nightly routine because i honestly enjoy using it so much.  And since I've started using this, I haven't touched a makeup remover. 

I can't believe I never used this before. But now I will never be without. 

If you're looking for something with a little more flash and scent, Caroline recommends the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. It's more than twice the price of the Clinique, but the tub is also much bigger, so it's up to you and your budget.  

The Body Shop also has a cleansing butter, which is on sale right now for UNDER $10! but Caroline did give a mention that this one might not be the best for people who tend to break out easily, so I skipped this and went straight for the Clinique which has resoundingly favorable reviews online, and for good reason. 

Honorable Mention:

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Purifying Creme Cleanser $21 for 5oz. 

I've got my hands on a trial supply of this and I've been really loving it. It's a very runny milky consistency that doesn't feel like it's doing much until you wipe it off. Then you realize just how refreshed your skin feels, yet also really soft. 

This actually feels like it's giving some moisture back into the skin.  

The smell wasn't my favorite when I got this. It reminds of  very old Indian cologne smell, which isn't my thing, but after a while of using this off and on, I've grown to like the smell of this.  However, this most certainly stings when it gets in your eyes. Which I always forget because my go to Bare Minerals doesn't give me that problem.  

Compared to the bare minerals purifying cleanser, Aveda is much more moisturizing, but Bare Minerals feels more clean and refreshed. I still use this on the mornings I'm feeling more dried out, but there isn't much left. I would definitely consider spending on my money on this for the winter months if i felt my skin needed a little more help. 

** Tune in tomorrow when I talk about toners. That's right, I said toners. And I'm not even joking! 

Finishing School

I have got to get these Birchbox posts out to you guys earlier. I get mine really quickly because they aren't coming from far.
Or should I not? I know some of you who get them also don't want a spoiler, so you tell me.   I could go either way.

This month's Birchbox theme is Finishing School. It's all about the finishing touches and details. Birchbox teamed up with Ann Taylor to create a small flip book guide on how to update your look for every hour of the day and every occasion. It also has coupons! My fav!

Fun Fact!: The very first Ann Taylor store opened up just a few doors down from my headquarters of ShopSharma.com in New Haven, CT. The store is still there today and I've shopped there through every ridiculous phase I've gone through. And will go through.


Onto the goods!

1. ModelCo Party Proof Lipstick in Kitty: a soft pink nude color that is exact color. This is the tan girls' version of Nars Dolce Vita!  And more than that, it smells like pineapple candies! It's the most delicious and mean thing any lipstick has ever smelled like.  The tube itself says Matte, but the info says it's a semi-matte. I however disagree with both because there is a lot of metallicness to this. It's not outright shiny like a cream or gloss but I can't fully endorse calling it a matte. 

These lipsticks are available on the site in sets of 3. This one is part of the neutrals trio. The other option is Classics which have a bright coral, pink and red. Each set of 3 is $24 which is a steal for these lipsticks! They feel smooth on the lips, have good pigmented color and smell amazing! So far Model Co is really bringing the good stuff with their colors for Birchbox. 

2. Violet oasis 100% Organice Argan Oil: $39.95 for 2oz. For soft, shiny hair and smooth, healthy skin, argan oil is all the rage. I'm skeptical to use other brands of Moraccan Oil on my hair, but I'm open to trying. 

3. Miss Jessie's Rapid Recovery Treatment: $26 A super intense deep conditioning treatment that is said to smooth damaged strands. A must for my end of summer, open window driving, hair. 

4. Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment: $26 Another awesome deep conditioning treatment that is said to promote hair growth. That I need too. To grow back all the strands I've lost doing the silly things I do to my hair. 

5. Whish Coconut Milk Correcting Gel: $32. An anti-aging after sun gel that targets wrinkles, unevenness, dryness and sun damage. It smells delicious and you don't necessarily have to be in the sun to use this. I haven't tried this out yet, but I'm looking forward to it!

6. Whish Hair Inhibiting Deoderant Swipe: $22 A swipe of Whish deodorant that also slows hair growth. Brilliant.  And apparently they work because they're already sold out on birchbox.com! 

All in all, this box was pretty great! It has a full size lipstick in a totally great color for me. AND I got 2 samples of Miss Jessie products which I've been itching to try for months now! 

A for August!

If you're interested in receiving your own box of fun every month for 10 bucks, go HERE and sign up!

July Birchbox: The Power Play

It's July Birchbox time! 

This month is all about the Power Play. 

Inspired by the USA Channel's tv show Suits, this month's box is suppose to have products dedicated to help you take control of any situation and make the most of every minute. 

First of all, this came with a scratch off for Benefit Cosmetics to see which sample you can get for free with a Birchbox purchase.  Who doesn't love a scratch off??

Contents:
1. Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect: A sulfate-free leave-in-conditioner that says will strengthen and repair summer hair.  It also smells like a Long Island Iced Tea. That very well may be a selling point for some of you. No judgement.

2. Benefit Cosmetics Girls Meets Pearl: A creamy highlighter for the face in a golden pearl finish. The gold color is subtle and dreamy but it also feels really nice and makes the skin soft. It doesn't hurt that it has a nice sweet floral scent.

3. Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream:  A fruit complex face cream which means it smells delicious. It says that it's 'regulating, moisturizing and matifying". But mostly, it smells delicious.

4. Birchbox Bobby Pins: 2 Metal bobby pins designed just for Birchbox! So cute!

5. 100% Pure Nourishing Body Cream: Vegan, organic green apple body cream.  I can't wait to get into these!

Birch Breakdown:  It looked boring at first, but the hair spray protector looks promising and so does the highlighting cream.  Everything can't a box full of bright make up.  a solid B+!



If you want in on the Birch Fun, click HERE and sign up for yourself! 

UPDATE POST: We're Still Wrong

So after sharing that We're All Wrong and don't know how to clean our faces properly, I got a few offline questions from friends that I should probably address for you all.

Quick re-cap: Apply cleanser to a DRY face.  Only use a tiny bit of water to move it around if it's too dry.  Wipe off with a warm-hot, wet washcloth.  Repeat if you've worn a lot of makeup, or sunscreen.

I know...it's still mind blasting.

So let me clear up some things.

Do I wash my face twice a day?
- Yes. For now. And I use a new wash cloth each time.   Yes, this means a few more items in the laundry basic but it's totally worth it.  There are the occasional days where I work from home and never leave, in which case it only gets one wash.

Do I wash my face and repeat?
- Yes I do and it's surprisingly great.  I wash my face twice at one time if I'm taking makeup off or after a gym session.  But I believe my Bare Minerals cleanser has a lot to do with this success.  I wouldn't even attempt this with some of the things I've used in the past.  And like Caroline says...no foamy stuff!

Can I still wash my face in the shower?
-Yes. I am not trying to add steps to my routine. I spend my life trying to shorten it actually. So getting out of the shower and washing my face is not going to happen. But here's what I do.  I get into the shower and put a dry wash cloth in the corner.  I no longer stand fully under the water like the movies teach you. I don't hold my face under the running water any more.   Here is my shower sequence:
1) Wash and condition hair first, by tipping head back into shower spray rather than standing in it fully. I use my hands at my hairline to try and keep as much water off my face as I can.
2) scrub/wash body
3) Misc.  That's right, I just used Misc in a shower sequence.  This is for anything else.  shaving, pumicing, and/or practicing your dance routine for your never to performed show. You know..Misc.
4) LAST, I wash my face.  I use the dry cloth to pat off any water that is on my face and palms. Then work the cleanser onto my face, wet the wash cloth and take it off, and repeat if necessary.  
I wash my face last because once you use the washcloth there isn't a lot of water left on your face. And if you do it first, your face will dry before the end of your shower.  And you don't want that. Because if your face dries before you pat off the water with a towel, that means the water evaporated and with it evaporated the moisture that was in your skin.

I learned in the winter, when I was having a bad case of eczema, that if I dried my face last after coming out of a shower that it left my face with a lot more moisture.  This was a pretty big revelation for me and my skin changed a lot because of it.  But now that I'm coming out of the shower with hardly any water on my face, it's a matter of getting the timing right.   I dry from the feet up and try to go as quickly as I can.  NO RUBBING.  Be nice to your skin people.  I mean, think of the ridiculous things you've put it through. The scrapped up knees, the bug bites, the prom glitter.  Treat it with some care.  Try and pat as much as you can.

I make sure I get to my face before it has dried on it's own and promptly get some Yes To Grapefruit serum on it, which locks in all the moisture! After that, I can take my time a bit and go into my lotioning schedule.

It's now been weeks since my face has been under running water.  In fact, it's in contact with water very very little.  When I think about it, it all makes sense.  If you think about how your skin feels after a day in a pool or the ocean than you realize how drying it is. And all those times I stand in a hot shower for ever, contemplating life and fixing the world's problems, I always come out looking worse than I went in and use a thousand products to counteract my dull skin.

There's another amazing benefit to this whole thing.  When I travel, my skin goes nuts. The water is so different everywhere that I have no idea what my hair will turn out like and I have no idea what rando skin issue I'm going to be forced to tackle in a hotel or friend's bathroom. This washcloth business really saves me from all of that! Not with my hair, but definitely with my skin!  Because it's minimal water contact, I'm not attacking my skin with all these new elements that this new water contains!   I haven't tested this theory out heavily, but it just makes sense right?  I did do this one weekend at my sisters and my skin really stayed in tact more than it ever has before, so I'm going with I'm right on this one.

If I had the chance to go back and talk to Young Nikki, I wouldn't stop her from all the ridiculous junk she did, but I would share with her all my new skin knowledge.  Who knows, if I wasn't wrestling with my skin so much maybe I wouldn't have done all those ridiculous things.

Naaah. I totally still would have.  And probably more. 

We're All Wrong

I've only recently come to know about Caroline Hirons, a down right beauty insider badass. She herself is a 3rd generation beauty 'insider' as she says. She's the professional that professionals go to and thanks to a little thing we call The Internets, she's got a blog all her own to help us amateurs get it right.

Once I found her blog, I scoured what I could, trying to retain as much info as I could discern. Though she lives in England, there's a lot that needs to be translated for my American eyes.  For example, 'flannel' means a washcloth. It took some googlizing for me to finally get on board with that one.

She's a sought after consultant now and the fortunate people of England get to attend her workshops and store clinics.  Oh what I would give to wait in that line....

Instead, I've taken on her first and most basic rule.  How to clean your face. Sure, this seems straight forward. I mean, who doesn't know how to wash their face?? Well, as it turns out, most of the world!

This is what Caroline says about cleansing. Taken directly from Beautymouth.com :  (keep in mind flannel=washcloth)

1. Cleanse your face every night. Without fail. Non-negotiable. You have enough time. 
2. Cleanse your face in the morning - a splash of water will not cut it. You can use a teeny amount of cleanser - but use it...
3. Apply your cleanser to DRY skin. Don't dampen the skin first. I don't care what it says on the pot. Add water afterwards to loosen if not using an oil-based cleanser. (When was the last time you went for a facial and the therapist wet your face before she cleansed?)
4. As a rule - stay clear of 'foaming' on the bottle (there is the odd exception, but they are few and far between) - to get foam you need to use a surfactant - and a surfactant turns your skin alkaline. Alkaline skin is like a petri dish for bacteria. The irony being that so many cleansers pushed on to acne/combination skins are foaming. Naughty, nasty companies should know better.
5. If you are wearing make-up with sunscreen in it or just good old sunscreen you need to double cleanse. If you aren't, one cleanse is sufficient.
6. Use a face flannel and water to remove. Unless you are ALLERGIC TO WATER (which I have heard from clients before - sigh) there is no need to cotton/tissue off. This is 2011 not a Doris Day film. Wash your face people. Imagine only ever using tissue or cotton on your bum. Exactly.
7. Use fresh running water from the tap - do not fill the bowl and splash off. Splash all that dirt back on to you face? That's just nasty. 
8. I have neither time nor patience for eye make-up remover pre-cleansing. Use a cleanser that removes eye makeup and apply the cleanser to the eyes first. You'll get most of the gunk off at the beginning and your second cleanse will clear the rest up.
9. Use hand-hot water and ring the flannel out - if its the right temperature for your fingertips it will be fine for your face.
10. Use a fresh flannel every day. Don't be cheap. Or gross. Primark. £2 for 4. Buy 2 packs and you're good for a week and a spare....You don't have to use muslins or a special cloth. Again. I don't care what they say. Trust me. I've done treatments with the lot and the thing we always went back to? Plain white facecloths. HOT plain white facecloths. Lovely.

She makes a lot of sense. What got me was, the facialist doesn't wet your face before cleaning....holy smokes, you're right!!  I also knew she was right when I got to the bit about not using the foamy stuff.  As a person who's suffered with awful skin most of her life, it wasn't until I stopped using the acne products that my acne cleared up.  Once I switched to Cetaphil, a totally unfoamy cleanser, my skin took an immediate turn for the better.  And once I switched all my acne products to just plain ol' big girl products, I had new skin. 

So I decided that I would give this a try. I've been doing this for over two weeks now and I've been having awesome results! I apply my Bare Minerals Purifying Facial Cleanser on dry skin. Which is brilliant because now I'm not watering down any of the great benefits I can get from this cleanser!  And although I've always shied away from wash clothes on face, thinking they'd be far too rough, they've been incredible with exfoliating just the right amount and leaving my skin more smooth and even making my skin tone better! 

I've even been able to do the double cleanse and it doesn't make my skin tight or dry or over exfoliated and irritated.  How did I not know about this before??

I also like that I can see all the gunk come off my face, in that gross voyeuristic pore strip way. And at the end I can use the washcloth to scrub off any lip stains from products from the day.  Bonus! 

What they don't teach you in school is that too much water can actually cause you to be more dry.  Ok, they actually do teach this in school but not in a way that we think we need to remember it. But since I haven't been keeping my face under the water in the shower and dousing my face with water in the sink at night, I've noticed how much more moisture my skin has on it's own. The constant water isn't stripping it of what it needs and I aaalmost can say I don't have dry skin! Almost. 

Thankfully, I have a fairly good size collection of washcloths, but today I picked up more for 47 cents each at Walmart. I mean...you can't beat that price. They did have a pack of 18 for $4, but those seemed overtly thin, so I splurged on the 47centers.

I don't think I will ever go back to any other way to wash my face. And now when I see those Neutrogena commercials with the face splashing, not only will I think about the ridiculous mess she's making, I'm also going to think about how she's ruining her face. Amateur. 


UPDATE: I've addressed a few questions in response to this post HERE. 

Brilliant or Dumb?

After chatting up a stranger in the nail aisle in Wal-Mart about how she likes the Impress Press On Nails....I came across some BoD? products. Brilliant Or Dumb?

First up....

 The Brush Guard  $5.50 for the set of 6

The name says it all. These are brush guards! Circular nylon netting to keep all your makeup brushes in tact. 

At first I thought....who reeallly needs these?? Who can't shape their brush back to form after washing it??

Then I had a commercial-like bubble over the head with montage playing moment of all the times my brushes have dries in weird angles or just not perfect enough for my Virgo eccentricities. 

Then I flipped to the back.

Travel and storage.

Damn Brush Guard. You got me. 

I can't count how many times I've had a moment of panic as I almost, or do, get a makeup brush caught in a zipper of a cosmetic bag when traveling. And for that alone, I would buy these.  I didn't pick them up, but I will in the future. 

This set contains 1 XS, 2 S, 2 M and 1 Large. Not a bad deal for $5.50! (also on Amazon for $5.50 + free shipping if you're into the online shopping like I am)

Conclusion: BRILLIANT! 

On to the next one (gratuitous jay-z link)...

The Beauty Spoon $5  

available online for $10 for a 2 pack of this size and a larger size

Yes. My first thought was a sarcastic Weekly News Update reeaallly?!

Now, I've actually seen a different version of this, a much smaller, thinner version somewhere a while ago, but I never looked into it and quite forgot about it. Until I saw this. 

I'm a store a bottle upside down type of girl. At least one product a day is something I get to by banging an open bottle against the palm of my hand like the new chimp at the zoo. But that's what I've done my whole life so I never bothered to think I needed to change that.  (unless I get diagnosed with some sort of hand ailment from all the bottle bashing that leads to a subsequent Lifetime movie about my hand struggles)

But isn't 'bottle bashing' normal?? It's part the process.

UNLESS, it lets me get that last bit of conditioner that sits that the top of the bottle during my bottle bashing routine that I just can't quite reach.  

Hmmm....maybe this isn't such a bad idea!  

This size is the small and there is a larger one for bigger bottles, like shampoos and lotions. I wish they had another size with a smaller spatula head because I really need this more for my small facial product containers in which this wide head won't fit. So I will wait until they come out with that to put into a combo pack. Until then, I'll stick to my cavewoman carpel tunnel. 

Conclusion:  dumbish....but brilliant! 

Who's The Frack-ing Fairest Of Them All?

Ali can sit on her bed and put her make up on in the mirror of a compact. Fascinating. The Indian can put eyeliner on her lower and upper waterline with one hand and doesn't even need a mirror. Fascinating.

There are not things I can do. I'm a lean right into the mirror kind of girl. Maybe it's my appalling eye sight, maybe it's just habit, maybe it's because it's what my old sister did. I can't be sure, but I don't think there's going to be a 20/20 investigation about it.

I've always had a mirror in a hallway, or on a door or somewhere I could walk right up to so I didn't have to bend my short torso over a sink to apply anything to my face. But in the last few years I've upgraded to what I now behold as one of my Top 5 Essential Beauty Tools.

I present.... The Frack. 

Some might call it a shaving mirror. Some might call it an extendable mirror. I now call it family. 

The Frack extends, it swivels, it tilts, it magnifies! ALL for the low low price of $4.99!!!

One side is a regular mirror, and the other side is a 2.5x magnifying mirror. The entire mirror extends, plus is moves back and forth for getting it exactly where you need it to be and where you need it to not be when not in use. Plus the mirror itself does a full swivel action. Basically, every part of this moves! Which is perfect for my short height, but great for the normal heighted people who come to my bathroom. 

Although I have done my makeup in compact mirrors, I really hate it. And if this only costs 5 bucks, I shouldn't ever have to again! (Proven by the fact that I already broke the first one and replaced it.)

I'm lucky enough to have an Ikea close by, so I can pick these up anytime. If you don't, I suggest busting out that Ikea Wish List and get online shopping. If not, you can find alternatives at big box stores everywhere, but most come with a much higher price tag. 

WARNING:  Objects seen up close may not be what you expected. I'm only suggesting the mirror, not that you'll be happy with what you see magnified 2.5 times. 

The Rest Of My Fruit Basket

So I found a serum in grapefruit that I like. So you know what that means.

Get ALL the grapefruits!!

Left: Yes to Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Body Creme $10

Right: Yes to Grapefruit Exfoliating Body Wash

Ok, not all the products.  

Dark Sport Correcting Body Creme. I love this stuff. It took me a while to realize that I need less than half of what I really think I need, which is why I went through the first tub so fast. But mostly I was slathering it on because I'm head over heels about the smell!  You would think I'd be sick of it by now. Nope. Never! 

It's a basic white creme. No extra nonsense of dyes and it sinks into the skin pretty fast.  What I was surprised about was that this is actually really moisturizing and I don't have to layer anything else on top! When I started using this when it was still cold out. Although, here in New England, any month can be a cold month now that seasons mean nothing.  So I was assuming I would have to cap this off with some Aveeno or something, but I don't! It keeps my skin smooth and hydrated and smelling delicious! 

Like the serum, this is suppose to help correct dark marks. I don't think any product is going to just erase things. Products help, that's the best they can do. (insert proverb about a fish and a tree or a rose or something)  I have pleenty of dark marks and scars, old and new, that could use correcting.  I had a lovely fresh burn on my forearm from baking cupcakes in March that I've noticed has lightened up considerably since I've been using this. It's definitely speeding up the process for me!  It's also lightened a few leg wounds I've received over the years in the ongoing battle of Me Vs. Furniture & Anything That Could Hurt Me. (I'm losing) 

Exfoliating Body Wash. This I picked up fairly recently when I was on the search for my 2nd tub of body creme.  This stuff makes me happy. Especially during morning showers because I am anti-morning. Through and through. But the smell of this just puts a smile on my face. It's actually a different scent than the other products. This has a lot more other citrus scents in it, I get a lot of tangerine and orange. It's kind of beachy and happy and it screams summer! 

It's a thinner consistency than most exfoliating washes I've used in the past, but it has tiny tiny pieces of pumice in it. They're almost particles. You can't see it in the wash in your hand, but once it's on your skin you feel the scrubby action. Yes, that's a high end beauty biz term. Scrubby action.  Thankfully, it's not course and scratchy, it's pretty relaxing and doesn't irritate my skin at all.   There's no residue left behind, no sticky feeling, no scratched up skin. It leaves my skin feeling soft and clean.  This is definitely my summer scrub. 

Now the only problem is the rest of the products in this line....do I try them all at once, or space them out?  

I Say Yes

Though I become very loyal to certain brands or products, I can't seem to squelch the urge to try new things!  Despite that, there are still some things that I buy over and over.  If I buy something twice, then I know we're meant to be! .... At least for a while.      

I bought this serum months ago and have been loving it! And recently I went and bought a second!

Yes To Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Serum $20

You may have heard of the Yes To brand. First it was carrots, now they've moved on to many fruits and veggies! I'm glad they went with grapefruits because I've always completely loved the smell of grapefruit. Especially in beauty products! I spent years using the Neautrogena Body Clear body wash in pink grapefruit not for it's acne fighting properties, but because it smells like grapefruits! 

It makes me happy. 

So here's how this serum stacks up.

It's in a nice light plastic package. Nothing easy to break. Nice pump dispense. Except that if you do a full big pump, will you get enough product for about 3 days.  This is a little goes a long way product. 

With most serums, you do have to move fast, and this is no exception. There's no lollygagging in seruming! 

Now, when you see it, it's not....appetizing. It comes out looking like yellow snot. Sorry for that visual, but it's true. But what it lacks in curb appeal it more than makes up for in scent! 

It's a very slick consistency and because of that, I find it a bit cooling on my skin when I get it on.  It takes a few seconds to sink in, so sometimes I stand in front of the fan, and that really ups the anti of cooling effect.

There's a bit of learning curve with how much to use on your face. If you use too much, it will begin to get flaky once it dries. Or bead up under your moisturizer. But all that wipes away pretty easily. I find I don't have to do that if I use the least amount I can to cover my face and give it a full minute, maybe 2, to sink in. 

I wasn't expecting this to work as fast as the Murad Lightening serum, but I did have a dark mark on my cheekbone when I began this product and I can say it's helped lessen that mark faster than it would have on it's own. I do have darker skin, and I do scar extremely easily and for an extremely long time, so any time shaved off is really great for me.  Obviously, other people will have other results. 

A few times I switched back to my Olay Regenerating Serum, and I noticed that my skin didn't look as hydrated, and had a more dull appearance. Once I went back to this serum, it was just.....aaaahhhhhhh. 

I don' t know if it's the natural fruit extracts or what in this, but once this sinks into my skin, it makes my skin appear smoother than the Olay serum. I can tell especially on the very tops of my cheeks, close to the nose. That whole area looks like my pores are tighter and my skin is much smoother. 

The Olay serum is also very silicone based, and especially in the warmer climate coming up, my makeup sits on the Grapefruit serum much better. 

Bottom Line: I think this serum is really great on my skin. It keeps it looking hydrated, smoother and tighter and actually is helping reduce my dark marks and making my skin brighter. And the oh so lovely smell is a wonderful bonus!

Did I mention that it's only costs 1/3 of the Murad serum??

I'm A Greedy Gus

Shout out to Big D, aka my grandmother, for teaching me that phrase and countless other gems!

But yes. It's true.  I'm a Greedy Gus.  Because June's Birchbox arrived!!!

It actually got here last week, 2 hours before my shipping notification email came.  I'm not complaining. That was awesome.

June's Birchbox is titled Wanderlust.  

Because aren't we all itching to get somewhere this time of year?

1. Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo: a 2.5oz sample is a simple stubby travel bottle. The no fuss label makes me think this is meant for business! It says it has moisturizing Indian fig extract and olive oil.  

Are my homeland figs moisturizing?? I need to look into this. 

The label itself says for dry & frizzy hair. Oh, I'll be the judge of that, for sure.  The scent hits me at first like dish soap. Seriously, a dish soap. I can't put my finger on which one. So at first it's like...uh oh, but if you can get past the first 2 seconds, you can start smelling other things. Citrus and just light, very clean...something.  It's not bad! I could dig this. 

2. Davines Love Smoother Conditioner: Now this one says for Harsh & frizzy hair. I don't know that means. I've never heard of anyone refer to hair as harsh.  Is my hair harsh?? How do I find out?? Don't fail me now, Google!  I can't sniff this one because it's in a sealed little pack. 

3. Davines Oi/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion: Well this sounds promising! It says it contains Roucou oil. You're killin me June Birchbox!! I have lots of things to Googlize. This says it's an "antioxidant-packed potion to instantly tame frizz and strengthen hair over time."    

It's a very small packet, but I'll give it go one day.  When my Moroccan Oil isn't looking. 

4. This might be my faaaav! LAQU & Co Lil' Lip Duo: This fat little lip pencil isn't like the rest. I can't compare these to my beloved tinted balms, because it's not! This comes out like a full satin finish lipstick! The color is amazing and rich and very pigmented, with one swipe I have complete full lipstick!  But, like the tinted balms, it's still got the mintyness that I love!  Recap; hot pink lipstick, in a small lip pencil, that is creamy and minty and feels amazing. There is nothing not to love here.

If you're hip to the Birchbox and have 'liked' their facebook page, then you already know that this product is exclusive to Birchbox and was one of the products that every member in June received! Birchbox sells these in a duo pack, exclusive to Birchbox, for $16! The one I received is called Pink Man and here's a photo to demonstrate just how awesome these colors are for every skin tone! 

5. Furlesse Elevens Frown Line Reducing Patches: So these are suppose to be patches that you put in certain spots on your face that reduce the appearance of lines as you sleep. This pack of Elevens is for the frown lines between your eyes. They have other patches; Crows, obviously for eye lines ; Lip-sticks, for lip and expression lines and Rows, for the forehead lines. 

I don't exactly have these lines, yet, so even if I try these, I'm not sure I could review them very well. 

There are 3 patches in this trial pack and each is shaped like an open Japanese fan. Just the right shape for between the eyes! Now I just have to find someone to try these out....

6. Color Club Nail polish: This is actually Birchbox + Color Club, who have come together to make a Wanderlust Collection just for Birchbox! And I am ecstatic about this color! It might not read very well on screen, but in person this color is a neon peach. And I am in such lust with it!   I have quite a few nailpolishes. More than I should, and of those, most are brights. This is the one color I don't have and I'm beyond excited to wear it! 

Again, if you were hip to The Box, then you would know already that every box contained one of the Wanderlust Collection polishes. I'm so happy I scored the one wanted.  50cent Bubble Prize Machine Vindication!!

7. To round out the Wanderlust box, Birchbox sent along 5 postcards of different cities around the world. Each one has a little blurb on the bottom called One Perfect Day where it gives you a great day's itinerary for each city.  Who doesn't love postcards??

If you're still unsure if you want to sign up for a Birchbox of your own, let me just say this...

DO IT!!!!   Seriously...have you not been paying attention?? Did you not see what I've been getting??

Just click on this link and sign up. It's 10 bucks. That's less than 2 fancy coffees.  And you can stop them at anytime! You know you want to!

Birch Hoarding

Ladies! and friends of ladies....

I know, I've apologized for being very neglectful about 6 times already...so let's just say I did and get on with it shall we?

Clearly some of you are wondering.....WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!?!?!  aka...the Birchboxes.

I've still been receiving them, but because of my absenteeness, I haven't shared their awesome contents with you.  But, if it makes you feel better, they've all been stacked up on my desk, unused, because I wouldn't allow myself to use them until I took the appropriate blog action first.

As it turns out, this Birch hoarding turned out swimmingly for me! This weekend I opened them all up to take photos, forgetting what was in them, and had my own personal Christmas filled with tons of goodies and no dud gifts!!   No seriously. I cleaned up harder than a Walmart worker in a glass ketchup aisle.

February was all about being red carpet ready! The box was filled with everything you needed for a perfect Oscar Party!

1. Dermablend Quick-Fix Concealer.  A super concealer for all those paparazzi pics
2. Vasanti Brighten Up Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. This cleanser is packed with tons of fine crystals to exfoliate and leave you looking bright and glowy! I haven't tried it yet, but the backs of my hands looked and felt amazing. 
3. Juicy Couture, Couture La La perfume. It's surprisingly fresh, with a good call into summer with floral and citrus scents
4. Twistband Thick Headband.  You all know the hair ties, now get into the full headhand!!  In person this is a nice dark teal color, that just happens to match everything I own!
5. Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Caramel filling square.  Because a piece of chocolate can simply make or break your red carpet readiness. This has been proven. I think I saw it on Animal Planet.
6.. Votivo Candle in Pink Mimosa.   Oh how I wish there was smellavision.  I don't even think I have the words for this candle. It smells so immensely heavenly that I've had to stop me from biting into it.  It smells like the most delicious pink lemonade you've ever encountered.  I'm scared to burn this. Because once that wax is flowing, I might be tempted to drink it.  
Mental note: this candle is only for sober use only.

 

March was Madness! as usual. But for Birch, it was all about the face-off. Because Birchbox is more than just their boxes, their Facebook page and blog shared some serious beauty faceoffs for the fans.  If you wanted to see who won between gel vs liquid, this was your time! 

1. Every box comes with the little paper gift pillow which I've come to love. I like that it's filled so that I get a gift, within a gift!(that I bought myself).  These little pillows are great to give your unloved items to a close friend. In March, my pillow was filled with Caldrea body lotion packs.  I'm so very excited about these because they have really ingenious flavors/scents.  Tea Olive Lime, Aloe Water Apricot and Coconut Fig. 

I drool just thinking about them.   Normally people would take these on a great trip with them, they're so nicely packed an ready to go, but I have a different approach to my special beauty items. I like to use my most luxurious products when I come home from a trip. Because isn't that when we need it the most? No matter how great a trip is, when you come home and have to get back to reality, that's the time to break out the good china. No one wants to explain how amazingly life changing their trip was wearing Vaseline and Chapstick.  

No offense Vaseline or Chapstick. 

2. Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream. I can already see this stuff being something addictive. It's rich and thick and seems really indulgent. But having moved from shaving to waxing some years ago, this will be gifted to a fine friend very soon. 

3. Madewell for Birchbox Emery Board.  A full size floral emery board. What's not to love?? Because it doesn't matter how many you buy, you always need one. 

4. Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow.  Ok. So we all know about BB creams, right? I've been doing my rounds with them, but this one, so far, seems different. It's full of tiny flashes of gold. Nothing glittery like a middle school dance, just soft bits of gold that leave you golden goddessy! I have exciting plans for this stuff this summer. And this size hold plenty of product! 

In this box, there was also a free gift with purchase card for Benefit's BADgal Lash Mascara. 

And also, I lied. Turns out I actually used a product from this box and never replaced it.  It's not pictured here but this box also contained Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo. I used it to give my hair some volume for an updo for either the St. Patty's Day Ball or the niece's 1st birthday party. I'm not sure. Could be both. 

 In April, Birchbox teamed up with Women's Health Magazine to bring you their favorite products. Including a subscription card for Women's Health mag. Birchbox talked about making small changes to make a bigger difference in our lives. Pretty cool.

1. Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir. This tiny glass bottle is a serum that is said to cure dry hair and help with age related breakage, along with adding shine. I look forward to giving this a run!
2. BIRCHBOX FIND! Birchbox sent a full size  Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On.  This affordable eye roll brightens your eye area, while reducing puffiness and tired eyes.  Monday eyes. This is for Monday eyes. I think they'll agree.
3. Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lipstick. This, I am so excited for! This is a full size glossy stick stain for your cheeks and lips. This color is called Cheeky Kiss and it's the perfect pinky nude color! When I re-opened the boxes this weekend, it was like my prayers were answered because I have been after a color like this for ages!
4. J. R. Watkins Hand & Cuticle Salve. I am in love with this tiny tin. I love anything in a tiny tin, really. However, this one is actually helpful. This lavendar scented salve is exactly what my cut up cuticles crave. And the DIY-er in my is craving that empty tin to fill with....so many possibilities!
5. Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate. Listen. If anyone ever hands you anything by Kiehl's for free, you take it!! This line reducing concentrate is a sure winner for sooo many that it makes me nervous to try it because I know I'll be hooked.  Though I don't have lines I need reduced, this serum is pure vitamin C and it's by Kiehl's. So i'm sure it's full of miracle brightening things that will make me curse them because I will want to give them my money.

 Finally, May was about beauty diaries. Birchbox was all about sharing personal beauty tips and routines. 

1. BIRCHBOX FIND! Not only does The Box keep me on top of my beauty game, but now they've even found me a new pen! A Pilot Acroball PureWhite. Pens make me happy. New free pens make me down right excited!! If you received this pen also and wasn't as excited as I am, you're dead inside.
2. Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner. This speaks to me on so many levels. Indian formulas  Eyeliner. Trial size. I haven't tried it yet, but I've been itching to try out a Sumita eyeliner! How do you know Birchbox, how do you always know?
3. Speaking of always knowing. The Indian had been downright hounding  me to try out the Deva Curl No Poo shampoo. She kept informing me how life changing it would be, so I laughed rather loudly when I opened up my Birchbox not even days later to find this DevaCurl 3 Step System with No-Poo Shampoo, One Conditioner Conditioner and Light Defining Gel.  Hairdress Trish also loves Deva Curl products and has done all their specialized courses, so I'm excited to try this out and tell her how I love it. I'm assuming I'll love it. How could I not?
4. Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer for Face. SPF!!!! You must know how much I love SPF by now.
5. Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste. Ok, it's toothpaste. No one is so excited about this, but the old timey tube with the green label makes me smile. So it can stay.


See...when you open 4 Birchboxes at once you really clean house! I'm really considering hoarding the next few months to do this again.   But to save your pupils, I won't do that.  Especially in a week or two when June's box arrives.   Another box!! Thank you, Birchbox. Seriously.