Is That...? Oh, God! *Gasp* NOOO!!! Part II: L'Oreal Youth Code Power Trio

Okay folks, it's been a week. Let's check in and see if the L'Oreal Youth Code Power Trio has made any progress on my wrinkle-ette. You can find my first impressions from last week here.

On the left, we have a photo taken last Monday. On the right, we have a photo taken today. The crease in question is the faint marionette line. Personally, I think it may have lightened some. It doesn't appear to be quite as pronounced in the second photo as it is in the first. It's not gone, but it appears to be better. My skin's tone and texture also seems to have improved, with increased brightness and a firmer appearance. Pore size looks about the same. Lastly, my skin feels noticeably softer. Photographs were taken in the same room, with the same lighting, by the same camera, with the same settings. Positioning is as close to the same as I could manage, and no makeup or products were on the skin at the time. I'm trying to be scientific, y'all.

For the past week, I've solely used the L'Oreal. I've washed my face with the cleanser, applied the serum, and followed with the moisturizer twice a day, religiously. No other skincare products were used, save for a few makeup remover wipes of various brands, but more on that in a minute. Based on the results above, I can definitely see where its claims have merit.

Now, for the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good: The products are seemingly effective, thus far. All three of the products have pleasant fragrances and textures. The price point is affordable and the product is readily available at Walgreen's and Ulta. The trial sizes are large enough to get a good idea of its effectiveness. I've used this for a week, and have at least another week's worth left.

The Bad: The cleanser just flat-out doesn't work. To prove this, I give you Exhibit A, a Yes To Grapefruit facial wipe used after cleansing with the L'Oreal:

That's not clean, y'all. In addition to the eye makeup (which I kind of expected), there's also face makeup. I don't wear much face makeup (mostly BB creams or powder foundation), so there wasn't much there to remove in the first place.

I also don't feel like the moisturizer hydrates very well. I've experienced some dryness around the nose, and noticed a dull cast once my makeup was applied. My makeup hasn't changed, so I feel the need to attribute that to the product.

The Ugly: I broke out. Not much, and nothing a little spot treatment couldn't fix, but I did break out. Normally, my skin stays pretty clear unless it's that lovely time when we'd all like to sing a rousing chorus of "I Enjoy Being a Girl". This wasn't that time. I shouldn't have broken out.

Overall, I really do like this set. I think that it did what it said it would, and I have every intention of purchasing the full sizes of the serum and moisturizer. I will not, however, use the cleanser anymore. I need something that deep cleans and exfoliates, though I do wonder if the L'Oreal would work better with a Clarisonic. I will also, most likely, mix a little argan oil into the moisturizer to boost the hydration level. For now, I'm chalking up the breakouts to the lack of actual cleansing from the cleanser.

Tune in next week for the dramatic conclusion!

Only Skin Deep: Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes

Photo Credit: Pacifica

I'm ridiculously lazy when it comes to skincare. Were it not for face wipes, I don't think I'd ever wash my face before I went to bed--certainly not every night!

That's not good, folks.

Lately, I've become a big fan of the Say Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Facial Wipes. They're not expensive, smell amazing, remove makeup well, and--yes--do actually brighten up dull skin over time. I've repurchased them several times, and have always been very happy with them. The thing is...sometimes familiarity breeds contempt, and somewhere mid-way through the latest pack, I started to get antsy. I needed something different. I needed something exciting. I needed the new Pacifica Facial Wipes!

So, I bought them. When I ran out of those now apparantly loathesome Grapefruit wipes, I bypassed them on the Target shelf, and picked up the beautifully packaged, slightly less expensive (due to a sale--they're normally $6), fancy-schmancy Pacifica wipes. I'm in love with their Indian Coconut Nectar lotion, so these coconut water-infused wipes should be heavenly!

Now, when I say "beautifully packaged", I really mean it. These are, by far, the prettiest facial wipes to look at. Sure, they're housed in the standard snap-top-type packaging that the Say Yes and E.L.F. Studio wipes come in, but it's a highly decorative, fashion forward snap-top-type package. The color scheme is a tranquil blue with fluid yellow lines, swirling into geometric floral patterns, and it's--it's just gorgeous. Even the snap-top looks high-end, with it's frosted, heavy-duty plastic. Then, as if that weren't enough, the entire package is slid into a cardboard stand, making it look like something you'd find in an extraordinarily expensive hotel room, and not sharing counter space with your toothpaste.

On that lovely packaging, it clearly states:

"Easily cleanse, remove makeup, and tone skin without using a drop of water."

Well, that's exactly what I needed them for. I hate dealing with water and washcloths and soap and...yeah, I'm lazy. I don't like washing my face when I'm tired and would rather be in bed, but I can't rationalize skipping it when all I have to do is pull out a wipe. Then, as long as I'm in the bathroom and vertical, I might as well slap on some moisturizer and eye cream. Yes, I have a skincare routine, but the wipe is the catalyst that gets me motivated enough to start the process.

So, the first night I went to use a wipe, I was actually super-excited to wash my face. I opened the package, smelled the dreamy coconut scent, wiped down my face with the soft cloth, and...nothing happened. The BB cream I had on came off, for the most part, but my eye makeup was still intact. So, I wiped a little harder. Then, I scrubbed. Eventually, I said, "To heck with it!" and went to bed. This continued in much the same way for a couple of days, so I sat down to write a negative review for the blog.

Well, when I pulled up the Pacifica website to grab a link for you guys, I noticed this on the site. If it was on the physical packaging anywhere, I couldn't find it:

"These wipes can remove most make-up, but due to the fact that we do not use chemical solvants, they will not remove the most water-proof make-up.  They are a great follow-up to using a make-up remover as they will remove the residue from your skin leaving it refreshed."

Say what?!?!

Just to clarify, the makeup removing wipes should really be used following a makeup remover. Please bear in mind, the eye makeup I had tried to remove was not entirely waterproof. Sure, my mascara and eyeliner were, but last I checked, the powder eyeshadows weren't. Also, I don't own any waterproof blushes--cream or powder. That stuff should have been removed, even without extra help.

Well, in the spirit of fairness, I decided to finish out the pack in conjunction with some Josie Maran Cleansing Oil. Happily, they worked together like a charm. I was able to remove all of my makeup, and my skin felt soft and refreshed afterward. However, that would have still been the case if I'd only used the oil and a damp washcloth. The washcloth wouldn't have smelled like coconut, but would have achieved the same goal.

I am gutted to have to write a less-than-glowing review for this product, given how much I generally like Pacifica, and how beautiful this looked on my counter. Let's just break down the pros and cons:

Pros: Gorgeous packaging, tight snap-top, amazing scent, soft feel, affordable price point, paraben-free, Gluten-free, cruelty-free, and 100% vegan.

Cons: They don't really work.

I re-purchased my Say Yes to Grapefruit wipes. They're not quite as pretty (though the pink packaging is still very cute), but they smell nice and they do what they're supposed to do. I guess it's like I have to remind myself when I have to pick out a new cellphone; it doesn't matter how pretty it is, or how many fancy bells and whistles it has, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

Final Verdict: 5 out of 10. They're beautiful, but since you have to use a secondary remover, you're basically paying for a scented, disposable washcloth.

The Ballad of the Third-Life Crisis: Olay Total Effects 7 Cleansing Cloth Review

Photo Credit: Drugstore.com

You know how I said, last week, that I was switching to Olay Total Effects 7 Cleansing Cloths? Yeah...well, forget about that. I'm going back to my beloved Neutrogena, and apologizing for ever doubting it.

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up: They kinda suck.

My skin, here lately, has been looking a little rough. I have moisturized. I have exfoliated. I have used retinol and vitamin C, and pretty much any other sh--um, crud you could think of. In retrospect, it's probably just this diet I've been on, and the fact that I have lost some weight in my face (yay!), coupled with gas heat and Winter dryness. However, at the time I noticed my skin's dullness, I was in the throws of, well, what you might call a "third-life crisis". I'll be 32 in a few months, my baby brother starts high school in the Fall, and what have I done with my life? (Actually, way more than I've had any right to, and I'm grateful for all of it. Unfortunately, in the midst of a third-life crisis, temporary amnesia sets in. Who knew?) Why, I'm gonna be forty! Someday! Yes, I was being completely stupid, but at the time, all I could think was, "I'm so old! I must have anti-aging products...STAT!"

So, out with the Neutrogena wipes, in with the Olay.

The first night I used the Olay, I had barely any makeup on. I'd done an at-home facial, and wanted to let my skin breathe, so I used a light mineral foundation and not much else. When I looked down at the used wipe, there wasn't much in the way of removed makeup on it, but why would there be? I slathered on some moisturizer and eye cream and went to bed.

The next morning, my skin looked gorgeous. Everything was even and glowing, and I looked like I was wearing makeup! I just brushed on a little mineral foundation and hopped out the door. These wipes were the bomb!

That night, I noticed two sides to the Olay wipe. One side was smooth, for removing makeup, and the other was textured for a deeper clean and mild exfoliation. Could these wipes get any better?! Again, there wasn't much on the used cloth, but I'd only worn a little makeup. There wasn't much to remove to begin with, and my skin looked utterly amazing...

...until the next morning, when I noticed some teeny tiny breakouts. Well, they were probably from the facial. That's to be expected when you draw out the bad stuff, right? I had to sing a couple of weddings that day, so I used a heavier foundation for extra camouflage. The thing was, that night, when I used the Olay wipe, I noticed that there still wasn't much on the wipe--not even on the textured side. Oh, Dear God...

That's when I realized that my skin hadn't been glowing from the anti-aging benefits of the cleansing cloths. Nope. I looked like I was wearing makeup because I was wearing makeup! By this time, the eensy-weensy breakouts were looking more and more like full-on blackheads and cystic acne. Not to gross you out, but my cheek had a blackhead so large and dark that it looked like I'd drawn it on with a felt-tip pen. I quickly grabbed a Neutrogena wipe and ran it over my face. To my horror, it became completely coated in makeup. Holy Hand Grenade, Batman!

The good news is that I figured out the problem quickly, and through thorough cleansing, exfoliation, and some awesome salicylic acid, my skin has almost completely recovered. Luckily, I only used the cloths at night, and scrubbed my face with a "real" face wash and brush during my morning showers. Otherwise, who knows how much damage would have been done.

Final Verdict: 0 out of 10. Don't even use these to clean your countertops.

My Own Magnetic Marvel and Some Random Observations

Months ago, I posted about this brilliant makeup magnet board I found at Laura Thoughts. Well, as it turned out, my ten year-old, might-as-well-be-blood niece (who shall remain nameless, since she Googles herself constantly) needed something to get all of her glitter lip gloss and hair ribbons up off of the floor. Guess what she's getting for Christmas!



The camera on my phone really sucks.

 Yeah, I made that. Go ahead, be impressed. I'll give you a second to take it all in.

Truth be told, once I had all of the pieces, the whole thing took maybe half an hour to put together, and that's only because I had to stop to play with all of the cute little glitter skulls and sparkly rhinestones (and you should have seen my precious husband trying to help pick out girly fabric and shiny decorations! He's a good boy, that one. I think I'll keep him).

Here's the breakdown:

• The frame and glitter spray paint were on sale at Michael's. I replaced the glass with...
• Sheet metal from Lowe's. It comes pre-cut, so I got an 18x12 to fit the frame perfectly. Then...
• The fabric was a pre-cut scrap from JoAnn's. Seriously, I never picked up scissors for this thing. Instead of using adhesive, I simply taped the fabric onto the metal so my niece can switch it out if she changes favorite colors again.
• The chain for her hair ribbons, skulls, and foam initial were also on sale at Michael's. I hot glued the skulls in place, and the chain and initial onto strong magnets from JoAnn's.
• The rhinestone accents were some I already had, and came from Michael's. They're also hot glued on.
• The End. Easy Peasy.

I won't say the total cost, because the niece's mom reads this, and also because it will vary from board to board, since not all decorations are equal. I'm just so tickled at how cute it turned out, and really hope the li'l bit likes it. If not...dibs!

In other news, recently, I've run across some items that, while I've formed definite opinions, didn't really warrant whole reviews. Considering it's stocking stuffer season, and these fit that description, I thought I'd give some nutshell overviews of a few of these products:

Urban Decay Lip Junkie: I'm currently obsessed with this product, especially the color "Naked", but there are lots of great lip glosses out there. What makes this special? Well, I looked in the mirror this morning and was actually startled at how much my lips had plumped up since I started wearing this almost daily. It is noticeably different. This is one lip plumper that really does work. And with that, I am now re-evaluating my thoughts on Bigfoot, Nessie, and the Easter Bunny. $19, Sephora.

Olay Total Effects Body Wash: Skip it. It's oily, oddly textured, and broke me out. Plus, it smells weird. Strangely, it has great reviews, but my personal experience (over several weeks) doesn't jive. $6.79, Ulta.

Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Cleanser and Moisturizer: Tried them both. You know what I said about the Olay? See above and save yourself some trouble. I'd never thrown away full bottles before, but there was no one I disliked enough to pawn them off on. $9.99-$14.99, Ulta. (By the way, I really like Ulta! It's just chance that the two things I didn't like could be found there! I promise!!! We just got an Ulta, and I may move into it!!)

Buxom Amplified Lash Mascara: This is really cool. Because the brush has adjustable lengths, you get three mascaras in one. You can use the long brush for volume, shorten it for length, or use both for length and volume. Ingenious, and with the same great Buxom formula and pigmentation you've grown to love. $22, Sephora.

Lastly, Blogger has decided that I don't have permission to comment on my own blog. I guess I did something wrong, and I'm being grounded. Well, I won't stand for it! I'm rebelling and sharing my comments right here! So there!

Christine: Welcome aboard! I'm so glad you're enjoying the blog, and bless your heart for thinking I'm funny! I hope you enjoy your Unii palette, just please make sure to keep a tissue folded in it. It'll help with shifting during travel, and will also keep dust off the mirror.

Noniek: I really wanted to do some swatches, but the lighting I had to deal with was so bad (as evidenced by the photos I did take) that it seemed pointless. I do plan to go back and add some, though, so please check back soon!

Alrighty! I think that makes up for the long weekend, wouldn't you say?! I hope everyone had a fabulous Turkey Weekend. Stick around for some holiday ideas and gift guides!

Do Not Adjust Your Monitors

Photo by Dissizit

You can't escape it.  It's everywhere;  infiltrating your movies, your televisions, even your very senses.  There is No. Way. Out.  Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the young men's department...T-SHIRTS!  IN 3-D!!!

I don't know about anyone else, but I've just about had enough of the 3D craze.  The movies give me a headache, cost way too darn much, and now, even televisions are getting in on the game.  I have a hard enough time keeping up with the remote!  How on Earth am I going to keep up with glasses, too?  I lose my sunglasses on a daily basis, as it is!  This is really getting to be a little much.

But now, as if movies and television weren't enough, the latest items to fall prey to the 3D monster are t-shirts.  Middle Eastern design house, Splash, is using 3D technology as a major part of the print campaign for their Autumn 2010 collection, with 3D ads (complete with glasses) in magazines, models sporting the specs on the runway, and, of course, a special limited edition t-shirt with 3D glasses hang-tag.  No word on pricing or U.S. availability as of posting. 

However, if you're in the States and just dying for a 3D t-shirt, you're in luck.  California-based company, Dissizit, has a series of 3D shirts available.  You can find them here for $32 a piece, but be warned:  I'm only showing one of the shirts in this post because I try to run a clean site.  They're not exactly family-friendly, if you catch my drift.

And now, for today's dip into the magic bag o' samples!  In case you're just joining us, I have an enormous stash of samples.  Everyday, I pick one at random (or not) and try it out, then review it here.  Today's pick:  Zirh Clean Face Wash.

Here's what Sephora has to say about it:

Zirh Clean is a clarifying cleanser that uses a triad of alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic from sugar cane, malic from apples, and lactic from milk) to cut through dirt, pollution, and oil. Clean washes away debris and acne-causing bacteria, while gently removing a layer of dead skin cells to uncover new, smoother looking skin. It also multitasks as a shaving cream.

Well...this is embarrassing.  I had no idea.  Zirh is a men's line.  Oops.  There is absolutely nothing on the sample packaging that denotes gender specificity, and according to the user reviews, I'm not the only girl who used it accidentally.  Oh well.

I have to say, I really liked it.  It smells like lemons and menthol, lathers beautifully, and removes every trace of makeup--including mascara and eyeliner (yes, I was bad and failed to wash my face last night.  Sue me).  The cleanser cools your skin (which was much appreciated since my air-conditioner died and it's a million degrees inside my apartment), and leaves a slight tingle after it's rinsed off.  Zirh left my skin super clean, exfoliated, and feeling fresh.  I don't care if it's for men;  my husband can fend for himself this time.  I'm a Philosophy girl, normally, but Zirh is making me take a second look at my usual routine. 

The cleanser retails for $20 for 8oz. at Sephora.com, and comes in a really cool metal bottle.  This seems to be the sticking point for most of the users who reviewed it.  The cleanser is really thick, and the bottle's design makes it difficult to dispense the product.  Most have asked the company to please package it with a pump.  My suggestion:  go to the store, buy a lotion pump, and repackage the cleanser yourself.  Bonus:  you can make the new bottle as girly as you want.  Take that, Zirh!