Skin Products
Product Review: Prescriptives Instant Gratification Skin Renewal Peel
Prescriptives has just come out with a new skincare product called Instant Gratification ($45). It's a self-heating mask with microbeads that whisk away dead skin, and it promises to combine the benefits of a facial, peel and microdermabrasion—with results equivalent to a 30% glycolic acid peel.
Although I wasn't an immediate fan of Instant Gratification, it's won me over for its simplicity and results.
Product Review: N.V. Perricone M.D. Ceramic Skin Smoother
With some products, I know right away whether I love it or feel indifferent toward it. Others, like N.V. Perricone M.D.
Product Review: Nars Skin Potent EFA Cream
About a month ago, Nars released a new, highly concentrated, skin-restoring face moisturizer called Lipid Support Potent EFA Cream ($70 for 1.7 oz). This thick, lightly scented lotion is formulated with lipids (Omega-3 fatty acids and ceramides), acai and hyaluronic acid to replenish your skin and to create a more hydrated texture. In turn, this helps aid in skin-cell regeneration and decrease wrinkles and create an overall more supple appearance.
New Product Alert: Mark Skin Care
Mark, Avon's sister brand, is aimed at a younger audience — hence the choice of Lauren Conrad as the spokesmodel. Its target audience is teenagers and early twentysomethings, but after trying its new skin care line, I'm convinced this brand should have a wider appeal.
Don't look for a lot of gimmicks from this line; it's all about good basics such as cleansers, toners, and moisturizers.
5 Great Cleansers to Balance Oily Skin
Even though we're in the heart of Winter, there are many of us, myself included, who still experience issues with oily skin. Over the next few days, I'll be featuring some highly rated cleansers from all price points using our Product Reviews pages for a part of my inspiration. For those of you with dry, acne-prone, and sensitive skin, stay tuned; you're up next.
Clinique's New Moisturizer Is Even Better
I'm pretty suspicious of skin-tone-evening agents, especially since they tend to be nothing more than traditional skin bleachers like hydroquinone that may have harmful side effects. Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting SPF 20 Moisturizer ($42), however, substitutes acids, caffeine, and yeast extract for the usual suspects. Huzzah!
This product is definitely a tone evener, not a lightener, so I haven't gotten any of the blotchiness that can sometimes occur with skin bleach.
In Which Our Friend Tries a $95 Dior Serum
Here at Sugar HQ, our co-worker Stacia has been a brave volunteer for a lot of different products. Most recently, we asked her to try Dior Capture Totale One Essential Serum ($95) and tell us whether it actually does what it's supposed to. It's been a few weeks, and now she's reported back on her findings.
Seed Grows a Green Body Care Idea
One of the frustrating things about some eco-friendly products is the often-high price. Yes, we'd all love to go green, but it's difficult to pay $20 for body lotion when Curel can be had for a small fraction of that cost.
Enter Seed, a new line of natural body care that's free of parabens, preservatives, phthalates, artificial colors, and animal ingredients.
How to Hide a Hickey
To quote the immortal lyricists of Def Leppard, love bites — and sometimes it leaves a mark. With Valentine's Day coming up, it seemed like the right time to revisit that teenage rite of passage: the hickey. My friend recently got one from a makeout sesh and was none too happy about it, which inspired me to pass along some nibble-hiding makeup tips.
Olive You, Honey!
This post comes to us from the Natural Beauties group, where member Baigneuse published an awesome DIY recipe.
While olive oil and honey have been used in natural beauty concoctions throughout history, it seems as though they've just recently received the spotlight that they deserve. Honey, a natural antioxidant known for reducing inflammation, is antibacterial and antifungal, making it great for acne-prone skin, and due to its ability to stimulate cytokine production it is also capable of speeding up the healing process. It's great for lightening scarring and, as a natural humectant, attracting water to the skin, leaving it hydrated and soft. Olive oil is rich in polyphenols and hydroxytrosol, one of nature's most powerful antioxidants, which strengthens the skin's immune system and protects it from oxidation. Hydroxytrosol also slows aging by stabilizing the cell plasma membrane. Olive oil is rich in oleic acid and is a natural emollient and excellent moisturizer.
While you may already know the amazing benefits that these ingredients have in masks, cleansers, and moisturizers, you should also be aware that they can make one banging body scrub. Get silky smooth skin this Valentine's Day by using the following recipe one day prior to the big event (and as always, perform a patch test first). To find out more, keep reading.
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