Traveling Oops and Drugstore Saviors

As someone who is constantly on the go for work, you'd think that I would have learned to better pack for my travel engagements by now. I just started a new project last week and being the procrastinator that I am, I left packing for the Monday morning before heading out... leading to disastrous results, of course. Living out of a suitcase means being without the luxury of scrounging up whatever product my little heart might desire at any given moment. I always, always end up needing something I, of course, forget to bring. This forgetfulness leads to the development of a "travel universe" where my favorite items are substituted with inferior stand-ins for the time being. Since I can't always justify spending $30 for a new moisturizer each time I forget to pack it, I've learned to make do with whatever finds the local drugstores have on hand. What's great is that over time, products that began as make-do items have gradually become Michelle-essentials. No more need to substitute or adjust my regime for travel-friendly products since these have become staples in my regular life as well!

My mom has been using the Oil of Olay moisturizer for as long as I can remember, but her simplified beauty and skincare regimes were never something I could ever relate to. My obsession with products has led me through a maze of skincare-everything, but I guess, moms do know best! She shared with me that her sensitive skin is what keeps her from straying too far into all the lotions and cremes and false promises of department store brands. I finally purchased the Complete for Sensitive Skin daytime lotion and after using it for over a month now, I can't say it's done any less than the more expensive options I've used (Kiehl's Yerba Mate, Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Creme, Fresh Soy Cream). Paying an average of $35 for 1 ounce of these compared to $10 for 6 ounces of Olay? I don't mind investing in skincare, but I really can't justify spending that money now that I've actually tried the Olay lotion. The added SPF is great and although the formula smells a little sunscreen-y, it goes away after it's fully absorbed. The company recently switched the formulation to a chemical sunscreen vs. physical sunscreen, so a few loyalists claim the new formula to be more irritating. Although I haven't found the chemical version to be bothersome, I've always heard a higher recommendation for physical sunscreens, so I might buy the old formula on my second go round.

For a more travel-friendly alternative to MAC Fix+, I started using the Evian Mineral Spray. This is literally my new favorite/cannot live without you/you make my life better product! Although I have oily skin, moisturizer is usually not enough to ensure a smooth foundation application. By not only prepping skin for better application, using a mineral spray also thins out liquid foundation for a more dewy and flawless finish. I lightly mist my face (the cooling effect feels great!) and my MAC 187 brush before applying. With this method, I've found that I use less product, my make-up stays put, and looks a lot more natural. One characteristic that makes it better than Fix+ is that the aerosol-like spray produces smaller drops of product, making it less likely that I'll ever apply too much. It's also a lot cheaper and more easily replaceable of an option (find these at Target, Sephora, drugstores). For those with sensitive skin, this really is just nitrogenized water compared to Fix+'s bevy of ingredients. I still use Fix+ when I'm at home, but for the summer, the EMS will be my go-to product since the lack of glycerine makes it less heavy- and sticky-feeling.

When I'm not wearing foundation, I *love* CoverGirl Aqua Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer! I'll have to admit that I delayed trying this after reading up on mixed reviews for this product, but for $7, it was worth a shot. After 4 tubes of the Light to Medium formula, I think it's on my definite list of must-have drugstore items. Be warned that although it's hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic, some girls have mentioned that it does break them out and clog their pores. I've been lucky to not experience any side effects at all from using it, but I always wash my face thoroughly the minute I get home from work. I've worn this through the summer and winter seasons and found the moisturizing component to be pretty adequate. Like most TMs, coverage is rather sheer. The dewy finish evens out my skin tone, but doesn't completely cover up all my scars. As such, I either drop a few dots of regular foundation in or finish it off with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and I'm completely set for the whole day. With how busy I am (and how much sleep I crave in the mornings), combining moisturizer + foundation into one quick and easy step has been a lifesaver!

It may be less of an essential, but for most girls lipstick is a must-have. I've personally never been a lipstick kind of girl. I never liked the heavier feeling of lipsticks (in contrast to lipgloss) and found that they dry up quickly and accentuate any peelies I might have. However, after seeing the Maybelline ColorSensational lipsticks mentioned by several bloggers/YouTubers, I figured I should make an attempt to be a little more mature and make a move from lipglosses to lipsticks... It didn't turn out bad at all! Not wanting to be too adventurous, I bought Warm Me Up, and it's a nice, neutral shade of mauvey-pink. The creamy consistency is nice and the resulting coverage is shiny enough to still be fun. I wear it to work everyday, but sometimes top it off with some lipgloss for nights out. The color range is so expansive that I'm definitely looking forward to trying out more colors since the CS lippies are much more affordable than department store brands. Look at me, all grown up and potentially building a lipstick collection!

Other honorable mentions:
1) Merlot Grape Seed Moisturizer: Our friend, Audrey, first suggested this to us as a great anti-aging product and I had to try it right away. I use this as a night cream for my face and neck and couldn't love it more for its consistency and smell. I'm currently on tub #3 and call me crazy, but I think it's really made a noticeable difference for my neck! I will probably never stop repurchasing! I think these might only be sold at Walgreens, but I could very well be mistaken.
2) Wet N Wild Kohl Brow Liner (Taupe): Nothing more to say beyond what I already mentioned in my previous post--this is quick, natural, and gets the job done. For $1, I keep one of these everywhere with me!
3) ELF Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer Powder: I randomly threw this in my cart thinking $3 was an awesome deal for something that looked so pretty. Good news, it's really gorgeous! Since the powders are more pigmented and a bit on the glittery side, I use my ginormous MAC 150 brush to spread the color more loosely. After being pretty satisfied with the quality of this powder duo, I want to try more of the Studio products now!

Becoming a little more drugstore dependent has saved me both money and stress when living in my homes away from home! Who says a (department store) snob can't be won over by the little guys?

Road to Skin Recovery - Part I

After dealing with breakouts and bad skin for the better part of the past 10 years (lucky me, I get to have teen AND adult acne!), I’ve now gone through a skincare and diet overhaul for the past 3-4 months, and am enjoying better skin that I ever have. It's miraculous! Relative to what I used to see in the mirror last October, my skin has completely transformed, and so I wanted to share what I've been doing in hopes that maybe somebody else could benefit from this. There's a lot of information to take in, so I'll break this up into two posts. Keep in mind also that although what happened to me seems sudden, it was NOT a quick fix. It took months of trial and error, endless hours of research and discipline. The solution that's worked for me will be a long-term process, so if you're still struggling, keep being consistent and don't lose hope!

Background
My skin was manageable for the most part during college, but began to worsen after moving cross country and starting a new job with long hours and lack of sleep. Throw in a bunch of other stress factors (worsening economy, job insecurity, long distance relationship) and bam! Skin reaches the worst condition it’s ever been in, culminating in large, painful cystic breakouts (gross, I know). It seriously depressed me and killed my social life since I refused to go out seeing anyone. Determined, I tried everything and spent a lot of money on promised solutions – facials, masks, antibiotics, medical-strength ointments, but it only left me with a reddened face that tingled from too much chemicals. In other words, fail. Anyone who suffers adult acne knows what a terrible cycle it is; the worse your skin looks, the more desperate you become to try any and all solutions, but it only leads to more irritation and breakouts. I’m not saying the things I tried were completely ineffective, but they didn’t clear me up at and I continued to wallow.

Skincare
Since I’d tried expensive products with no success, I thought, “What’s there to lose? Why not go the other route and simplify my skincare routine with only a few elements?” When it comes to skincare, sometimes less is more, so I did some research and found acne.org, a community of skin sufferers (..hmm, that sounds more bleak than it really is) created by Dan Kern, a regular guy who has endured years of acne and finally found an answer that worked for him and countless others.

His mantra is streamlined and simple: 1) wash face with a gentle cleanser, 2) apply lots of benzoyl peroxide, and 3) moisturize. The key success factor in those steps rests in the application technique – GENTLY GENTLY GENTLY. Along with allowing time in between steps for skin to dry and absorb the products, being supremely gentle was the most important factor to keep in mind. Acne sufferers have sensitive skin, contrary to popular belief, and should leave skin as untouched as possible. So, the number one thing to remember is to decrease irritation. This remains true for all steps of any skincare routine.

Cleanser – the fewer the ingredients, the better. Avoid chemicals with long names. I really like Purpose, and plan to purchase another bottle when my current one runs out. It is ultra mild, foams nicely, and still gives me a clean sensation that doesn't strip it dry. Every other day, I also exfoliate with a baby brush to get rid of dead skin, and am now transitioning to my Clarisonic for even cleaner skin. Another alternative is to use Cetaphil, but make sure the cleanser doesn’t have active acne fighting ingredients in it (like salicylic acid or BP).

A quick note about makeup: I don't use a separate makeup remover, but will just wash my face twice with Purpose if I wore foundation or a lot of concealer that day. Also I feel that the physical exfoliation I do with either the babybrush or Clarisonic helps to remove any leftover remnants.

Benzoyl Peroxide - Dan’s regimen is centered around benzoyl peroxide, which oxidizes the skin so that bacteria isn’t allowed to grow. It kills existing pimples and also prevents new ones from popping up. Everyday, twice a day, for the past 3-4 months, I diligently applied a LOT of BP (go here to learn more about the regimen) and I’ve seen a decrease in the size and scale of all my breakouts. Neutrogena On-the-Spot is an over-the-counter option, but it’s pricey for the size you receive.

Moisturizer – Even oily skin needs moisturizer! Otherwise, skin becomes zapped dry from excessive acne products, and thus overproduces oil to compensate. Ironic, since that’s the last thing we oily folk need! I’ve been using Dan Kern’s moisturizer along with a few drops of jojoba oil (to fight the flakies), but will probably look for another brand when I finish my bottle.

Other products I’ve introduced into my system:
AHA – After 1.5 months (that’s how long it should take your skin to get accustomed to BP), I started incorporating AHA, a chemically exfoliating glycolic acid. Its purpose is to shed the outermost layers of skin, expedite the turnover of new cells, and eventually reduce dark scars and pigmentation. What it’s really improved dramatically for me is the texture of my skin. I used to have a lot of pitted scars on my cheeks, but AHA has smoothed them out so it’s flat to the touch, and also easier to apply makeup. AHA is also my product of the future – I would keep using this to fade out scars and red marks.

Jojoba Oil – Crucial during NY winters, jojoba oil provides more moisture than regular lotion. It prevents skin from flaking off and eases application of mineral or liquid foundation (but try not to use that much makeup while your skin is recovering!
Sunscreen – Using BP and AHA increases sensitivity of skin, so it’s important to protect it with a good sunscreen. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Sunscreen is a MUST! I like Anthelios by La Roche Posay. Make sure to choose one that's oil-free and limits excessive chemicals.

Exfoliation – This is a tricky step, since you have to balance scrubbing/exfoliation while still being sensitive to skin (harhar... but really, you must be super gentle in the first few weeks of the regimen). I bought a Red Cross brand baby brush (if it’s good for an infant, it’s good enough for me right??) and timidly brush a few strokes on my cheeks and forehead every other day. It helps flakes come off easier and avoid dry, scaly looking skin. Now that it’s been 3+ months with the routine, I’m experimenting again with my Clarisonic, which I bought awhile ago but stopped using when my skin worsened (didn't think the whirring and noise would be good for the breakouts). Since acne.org offers large-sized bottles at economical prices, I bought most of the above products from acne.org, which is great since they last long enough to see results! Hopefully the magic continues, but will keep you all posted.

More broadly speaking, skincare isn't just about the products you slather on your face. You need to pay attention to all aspects of anything that comes into contact with the sensitive areas of skin. For example, 1) changing your pillowcase every few days (not just weeks!) so oil doesn't accumulate on its surface and clog pores, 2) carefully washing out shampoo and conditioner so that it rinses clean away from your face, 3) any cosmetics to hide blemishes, 4) not touching your face during the day, including resting chin on hands, cupping sides of face with palms, etc. It sounds OCD, but it's worth it in the long run.

...part 2 about diet, supplements, exercise to continue..!

Sephora Therapy

Aah Sephora F&F! An occasion to get beautiful. Of COURSE I have to post about what I got (and would get if I had a money tree). Beauty has always been my first love; it's how I first became introduced to higher end brands - first starting with MAC and then spilling over to other companies - and from there, growing into an awareness (or got suckered into, depends how you look at it) for quality products and pretty packaging.

I tried to hold myself to a higher standard of consumerism and buy what I really needed - as of now, this is skincare, since my epidermis has been freaking out on me for the past couple months, leaving me scarred, literally and figuratively. I've had to deal with breakouts at the age of 23! I thought teen acne sucked, well that was expected and pretty normal. Adult acne is so much worse, because everyone else seems to have grown out of that phase and into clear, supple skin. Sigh. When will it be my turn?? For now, I've been putting everything that promises clear skin into my shopping cart, so we'll see how they go.

(Oh, and of course I didn't just buy skincare. Try as I might, I couldn't not have fun with this F&F; discount, since it only comes once a year! I rationalized things with 1. my skin needs it and 2. I wouldn't have bought it without 20% off. Most of the thigns I ended up with falls into this second basket)

Here we go!

Philosophy Purity Made Simple - gentle cleanser for my sensitive, easily irritated skin. Bought the 8oz to try. This got lots of rave reviews, and my Mario Badescu creamy cleanser is too filmy and doesn't leave me with a bare-skin feeling,

DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew - forever in search of a new moisturizer. Currently using Olay Complete, which is fine, but hey, I like trying new things. This one is a gel and only has 3 ingredients, which I appreciate, since most lotions are packed with bad irritants ending in some variation of -ol (read: alcohol). It's good so far, nothing bad about it.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment - love love love lip products. Lip and cheek stuff are my favorite makeup items (Michelle, I'm with you on that one!), and this is a much raved about cult favorite that I had to try. At $22.50, it wasn't a lip balm I was willing to pay full price for, but I'm loving it! Super smooth and moisturizing, smells lemony also. I keep one next to my bed and one in my purse. yup, that means I got two - ordered the Rose version after I got the regular one!

Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Cream for Medium to Thick Hair - this is probably my favorite product of the bunch. Created by MIT researchers as an alternative to silicone, this cream was designed to tame frizz and smooth hair to be ultra touchable.  LOVE how it makes my hair feel! Seriously, it makes it so soft to the touch, I just love running my hair through it. With other anti-frizz products, I'm afraid to touch my hair throughout the day since it adds to the oilyness and drags it down, but Living Proof doesn't make my hair greasy at all. Usually, I airdry so I haven't tested this out against heat, but I've read that performance only improves with irons and curlers.

Clarisonic Replacement Brush Head in Delicate - havn't been using my Clarisonic since I've been on this new oral antibiotic and Epiduo gel combo (told you I'm trying everything! Including this concoction my dermatologist prescribed... I'm not liking it though, it makes my skin burn and sting sometimes), but after I finish this month and am able to get back with my Clarisonic brush, hopefully this Delicate head will be gentle enough to still clean my skin.

Marc Jacobs Daisy - in my fantasy world, I have a zillion cute bottles of perfume sitting primly on a dresser, but in reality, I just don't use enough scent to warrant buying all the pretty bottles out there.  That's why perfume roller balls are the perfect solution for me, trial size versions that are portable so I can put it on whenever I remember! I chose Marc Jacobs Daisy. It's light (i.e. appropriate for the office), with a dry flowery scent that has me sniffing my wrists even after 10 hours at work.

Shiseido The Skincare Hydro Nourishing Softener - I use so much drying products in an attempt to zap out all the oil in my skin that sometimes, a little moisture is necessary. This toner is supposed to refresh dried out skin and give back moisture. Shiseido is an outstanding skincare company, so I'm looking forward to good results!

 Sephora F&F; ends November 2, 2009 so you still have some time to browse and decide on what to buy, but some items are already out of stock, so don't wait too long!

Sephora Friends and Family 2009

Sephora's Friend's and Family started today and runs until November 2. I haven't had much time to think of all the fun things I want to get, so all I have picked up so far are the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and Soy Face Cream. After getting a facial at the Fresh Espace back in April, I'm in LOVE with their products and am excited about the chance to incorporate them into my daily skincare regime! I have read so many great reviews and the fact that they smell so fresh (I know, I know, but it's so true!) is just an added bonus. If I can think of some great undereye or anti-aging treatments, I'm definitely in for another order before this ends...

Although the promo hasn't been advertised nearly as much as in the past (what, no special flyer or email notification, Sephora?), you can enter FF2009 for 20% off your entire purchase. Remember you get 3 free samples of your choice and free shipping on orders over $50.

Cheers to the start of Friends and Family savings for us all!

New Year, New Moisturizer

Like many, I have been on a constant search for the *perfect* moisturizer. Sadly, there are so many on the market that I have never really stuck with (or been too satisfied) with just one. When my Korres moisturizer ran out, I was definitely ready to try a new one.

While picking up gifts during the holidays at Sephora, I asked the service rep for some moisturizer suggestions. I've always wanted to try Ole Henriksen products but have never known where to even start. The brand approach of "less is more" is simple and practical and a saying we've all heard often in relation to beauty and make-up. I ended up picking the Herbal Day Creme. Loaded with antioxidants and SPF, the moisturizer was toted to me as having the ability to balance and brighten my skin.

I've been using the cream for 2 weeks now and I have to say that my feelings are mixed. My skin is definitely well hydrated and my make-up goes on smoothly--a plus for these winter days. The hydration factor comes with a definite downside though: I've noticed that my face becomes super oily by mid-day and my make-up starts to sit on top of it. Not a pretty sight. I might try using a primer with it, but why put in extra work? Thankfully, I haven't noticed my skin getting better or worse yet. This is definitely a gentle product and the ingredients are much better than most of the products I've used, but I might have to enjoy its benefits through nightly use and days when I don't wear make-up to save myself from showing up to work with a greasy face.

Coasting from Los Angeles

I am going to reiterate Janice's great enthusiasm for the start of our blog as we have been chit chattering about this since our senior year in college! Despite being swamped with recruiting, papers, exams, and fitting in all the "lasts" of our college careers, we have always looked forward to writing about one of our greatest shared passions: beauty!! I'm glad that we're finally giving it a real go. Work will not get in our way!

So let's see... how about a little about myself? I'm a native LA girl who loves the hustle and bustle of the city, but STILL hates the traffic. I love dressing up, but would choose lounging around in sweats and a ponytail any chance that I got (it's a luxury much missed now that college is over...). Being a true nerd at heart, I love reading, writing, and Photoshop. IMDB is one of my favorite websites aside from celebrity gossip blogs. Things that don't quite get me excited are awkward silences, clutter, windy days, and driving to the mall with a mission, only to be disappointed because I can't find what I'm looking for (doesn't this always happen, though?)

I've been trying a bevy of products on and off, but the ones I've stuck to for now are:

Cleanser: Aveeno Calming Cleanser (morning), Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil (night), Mario Badescu Glycolic Cleanser (every other night)

Moisturizer: Korres Cinnamon & Echinachea Moisturizer (daytime), Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Treatment (night)

Mask: Murad Exfoliating Fruit Enzyme Mask (I was recommended this after getting a facial at their spa and now use this every Sunday. Like their facial, I LOVE THIS!!)

Make-up: Murad Oil-Free Sheer Tint SPF 15, Everyday Minerals Intensive Foundation, MAC Peachykeen, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Uniform Technakohl Liner, CoverGirl Lash Blast