Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skincare. Show all posts

Monday, November 23, 2015

Acne Update | New Skincare Goodies | November 2015

It's been a while since I lasted posted an acne update. Since then, my skin has changed along with the season. Right now I'm starting to show more signs of dryness, which also results in more breakouts. 

To fix the dryness I bought a heavy night cream over the weekend. I'll probably see how that works out before I spend the big bucks on a new moisturizer. 

To be honest, no matter how much I spend on skincare, my skin always looks and feels the same. The only thing that really makes my skin feel different is the Glamglow Supermud mask. It doesn't make my acne go away completely but it subsides my breakouts to some degree. Though, right now I feel like it may be too drying for the colder months. I need all of the moisture I can get! 



As you can see in the photo above, my breakouts are lower and closer towards my mouth. I haven't had very many on my upper cheeks. However, I'm worried I'll break out up there soon. I do every single time during  winter. I don't know if my skin just hates cold weather or I break out because of allergies (is that a thing?), or what. I just know I do break out worse when it's cold outside.

Another weird thing I have noticed are pimples on my nose. I have never broke out on my nose but for some reason I have woke up with nose pimples a couple times this month. I Don't know what that's about! 

I did buy two other things along with my new moisturizer. I got the Burts Bees Natural Acne Solutions Gel Cleanser, the Loreal Youth Code Serum Instense and of course, the Olay Regenerist Regenerating Night Recovery Cream Moisturizer. 









If you can't tell, I'm in a major Christmas mood. I know Thanksgiving is this week, no I don't want it to be over with, but I am in the holiday spirit! How can I not be when I already started Christmas shopping? 

I pretty much made those three products my night time routine. I started two days ago and I think I have noticed a difference but it may be too early to tell. I can say I haven't been cursed with any new pimples and my skin does feel extra plump. Wouldn't it be crazy if I bought my perfect combo?! Doubt it, but hopeful. 

If you want a complete skincare routine just let me know. I'm willing to do one,  but I haven't found my holy grail products yet... So it might be pointless. Plus, products that help me will only help you if your acne or skin is the same as mine. 

Well that's it for now. I'll give everyone an update in a future post or on Instagram & Twitter. Let me know if you have any questions or feed back. I always enjoy reading comments from you all! 








Monday, April 6, 2015

Looking for a drugstore moisturizer with SPF? Why you should wear SPF!



During the colder months I stay in my apartment like a hibernating bear. Because of that, I tend to skip on my SPF. I guess I don't really need it, right? Wrong! Some people can get away without wearing SPF but if your skin is troublesome like mine (acne), then SPF is a must have. Now that it is spring,  the climate is warming up and we'll be spending more time outside in the warm cozy sun. If there was a time of the year to start wearing SPF, it would be now. 

But why is SPF so important for our skin? If you're on my side of the situation it's because of acne/scars. For years I have been working on brightening my skin to help reduce the appearance of acne scars. When I think of a day in the sun demolishing my hard work I seriously want to vomit. Let me make this clear... If you have acne scars and you're skipping on SPF, your scars will darken from the Suns harmful rays. However, let's not forget that just because you don't have acne doesn't mean you don't need SPF. SPF prevents skin cancer, wrinkles, sun spots and more. 

Now hold up! I don't want to apply greasy sunscreen to my face! No problem. Moisturizers with high SPF are part the key. My favorite porduct is Cera Ve AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 30. It's affordable($12-14) and effective.  Every year my scars darken around this time but since I bought this product I haven't noticed that happening. So yes, it does work. 

The moisturizer comes in a 3 FL OZ bottle that features a pump. If used as a sunscreen, it's needs to be applied every couple hours. It's also non-comedogenic and non-irritating. Not a only does it protect your fragile skin from the sun but it also repairs and restores your skins natural protective barrier. This specific moisturizer is intended for normal to dry skin but I don't see why someone with oiler skin couldn't use it. 

The consistency of the product is very similar to some sunscreens. It's quite thick and white. When applied to the face heavily it leaves behind a white cast but once blended in it disappears. I do wear this under my makeup and it doesn't mess with the performance of my foundation. 

Now I don't recommend this moisturizer by itself for a day on the beach. If you can't stand sunscreen on your face then this should be ok if you wear a large protective hat along with it. Maybe even a BB cream with extra SPF would be a nice companion product with it. I mainly use it for running around town or a day at the park. 

By the way, I do have dry acne prone skin and this moisturizer moisturizes very well. It makes my skin appear a lot healthier. I also want to say I do not break out from this product (thank goodness)! 

Do you wear SPF?
What else do you do to protect your skin?
Let me know in the comments below!





Monday, January 19, 2015

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment mask review for acne prone skin

PR Sample 

Hello!
Five? Ten? Twenty? Or even one hundred? How many skincare products have you bought to treat your acne? Too many to count? Trust me I'm on the same boat. Fortunately, for me, I have finally found the perfect product for my bumpy skin. Glamglows Supermud Clearing Treatment Mask. You can find it at Sephora or Glamglows website for $69. It comes housed in a white jar with 1.2 ounces of miracle liquid in it (oops did hat ruin the review?). 



First, I need to let you know Glamglow did send this to me. However, I would NOT lie to you about the performance of a product. I even have before and after pictures to show you. So there you go, you have your proof.




Product description 

The World's most Scientifically Advanced Clearing Treatment. Clinically Developed by GLAMGLOW Dermatological Chemist to help fight all common skin concerns. Designed For Men & Women of All Ages & All Skin Types. SUPERMUD for Super Clear Super Poreless Skin.
TEAOXI® EUCALYPTUS LEAF
Groundbreaking TEAOXI® is GLAMGLOW’s proprietary continuous time-release technology, delivering daily fresh natural eucalyptol, natural linalool oil & powerful flavonoids direct into our formula from real pieces of Eucalyptus Leaf contained in our magical healing SUPERMUD®.
ACNECIDIC-6™
ACNECIDIC-6 4.4%. The World’s first Clearing Treatment with a proprietary 6 acid blend. AHA & BHA acids are perfectly PH balanced for mind-blowing faster results.
·         Glycolic – Helps Restore Photo Damaged Skin & Improves Skin Texture.
·         Salicylic – Helps De-clog to Minimize Pores & New Skin Rejuvenation.
·         Lactic – Helps Pigmentation, Moisture, Stimulation & Skin Collagen.
·         Mandelic – Helps Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Aging Skin & Skin Elasticity.
·         Pyruvic – Helps the Effects of Scaring & Clearer Skin.
·         Azelaic – Helps Fight Follicle Bacteria & Breakouts.
PORE-MATRIX™
PORE-MATRIX Our Activated-X Charcoal is an Xtreme absorption carbon, attracting toxic substances into its mass up to 500 times its volume from all skin types, within the deepest & toughest areas. Our new proprietary K17-Clay™ will better extract & encapsulate excess sebum oils, bacteria & toxins in a controlled stasis state, revealing a Pore-Matrix™ of extraction dots & areas, ready to be washed away for seemingly poreless skin.
BIO-LIFE-CELL-SCIENCE™
Uses the complex natural occurring skincare benefits of green life, for Advanced Scientific Skincare.
·         EUCALYPTUS LEAF - Helps Fight Toxic Skin Complications.
·         LICORICE ROOT - Helps Regulate & Alleviate Problem Skin.
·         PEPPERMINT PLANT - Helps Control Bacteria & Irritations.
·         CHAMOMILE - Helps Inflammation & Regeneration.
·         MARIGOLD - Helps Fight Viral & Microbial Issues.
·         COMFREY HERB - Helps Analgesic Recovery.
·         ALOE VERA – Helps Healing & Rejuvenation.
·         IVY – Helps Relieve Itching & Tightens Skin.
·         CUCUMBER - Helps Soothe & Calm Skin.


How long have I been trying it?
I used GlamGlow for about 12 weeks. I started out using it as a face mask two times a week and as a daily spot treatment. After a couple weeks my acne started to die down, so I decided to use it as a spot treatment only. 

Acne results?

Here is a picture of my skin before I started using Glamglows Super Mud Clearing Tretment mask..


As you can see I had moderate to severe acne. I mostly had large painful acne around my jawline and lips. On my cheeks they were smaller but still painful. No matter what kind of pimple, I would always have a mark left behind that wouldn't go away for months. I tend to get a little oily in my t-zone but dry around my acne. By the way, in the picture above that's not oil on my face, it's a moisturizer. After a few weeks my face looked like this..

At this point my acne was less severe but I still broke out like I usually do. Fortunately, my acne wasn't as flared and painful. Which resulted in less scars. I was really happy and I actually felt like I had a chance at clearing my skin for good. I guess it gave me a sense of hope. Then a couple weeks later my skin looked like this...


As you can see in the picture a lot of my acne vanished. Of course, I still had a few pimples here and there. But overall the results were miraculous. Even my marks were improving. Not to mention the texture of my skin was a lot smoother, which also helped the performance of my makeup. 

If you have acne, then this mask is a must have. It's not a pernamnet solution but it will help out your skin while your prone to breakouts. After I ran out I started to breakout again. So it's obvious that acne will come back if you don't continue to use it. Keep in mind though, Glamglow never did claim to cure our acne forever. The claim is to treat it, which it did! It's the only thing that has helped my acne this much. So in my eyes it's a miracle in a beautiful little jar. Yeah, it's expensive but it's totally worth it. If you can afford it, buy it.

Warning
There is one draw back(kind of) from this product. The first time you use this face mask, it might break you out. Keep in mind that all the impurities are deep down in your pores and  Glamglows face mask goes all the way to the bottom of your pore. So naturally, it's going to bring everything up to the surface. The majority of the impurities will be washed away but some might be stuck at the surface. If you breakout, don't freak out. Give it another week and your skin will be a lot healthier,  as well as a lot clearer. Good things take time. 

Does it work on blackheads? 
Surprisingly, I don't suffer from blackheads that much. I have a few but not enough to show remarkable before and after photos. However, I can say that it does remove them. When the job was needed, Glamglows supermud clearing treatment mask was my best bet. It removed every single one and left behind nice smooth skin. 

Using the face mask
When I first tried this mask I was blown away by the smell. It was so strong and I couldn't believe I would have to rub this all over my face twice a week. Oddly enough, I actually grew to love the smell. It kind of reminds me of black licorice but with a twist. If you're sensitive to scents you my not like it but it would be a tragedy if the scent got in the way. It's too good to be passed on just because of the scent. Maybe it will grow on you like it did me? 
Applying the face mask was really easy. It glided on my face with little to no effort and stayed put without dripping down onto my shirt. It's a rather creamy but thin formula. To me, it's just right. 
The mask definitely had a tingly feeling but it wasn't severe. It actually felt rather nice. It was probably just the acne treatment doing what it does best. Fighting my breakouts. 
After a few minutes it starts to dry. My skin would feel tight in some areas but there were still some wet spots that took longer to dry. I didn't turn to stone all at once. The highest parts of my face usually dried before the deeper parts. So I didn't have to sit like a statue during the whole purifying process. Towards the end is when my skin felt really tight and clean. During a typical use, I would wear it for 15-20 minutes. 
When it was time to rinse off the mask, it mostly rinsed off with ease. The only places where the mask was hard to remove was around the acne a currently had. Sometimes I had to lightly scrub with a damp washcloth. No worries, it didn't irritate my skin. 
When the mask was completely smooth I had a moment like no other. My skin could breath. I don't mean the feeling that we get after we wash our face and we're like"Ah, that feels nice". No, my skin could actually breath for the first time. I really wish I could go back to the moment. It felt better than mastering winged eyeliner for the first time. 

Overall Thoughts
The first thing that comes to my mind is you need it in your life. Actually, your skin needs it in its life. It's expensive but WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY! Unfortunately, I can't afford to buy it everytime I need it but I would if I could. It helps problematic skin so well. It's the best thing I have ever tried for my skin and I have been trying new products since elementary school(I'm now 21). If you're looking for something to help your acne, try it. It's the only recommendation I truly depend on. 














Size comparison 


Almost empty jar









Have you tried Glamglows supermud clearing treatment mask?
Are you going to try it?
Let me know in the comments below!




Sunday, May 4, 2014

Quick skincare fact

Drinking water can help keep your pores clean.

 Why? When your skin is dehydrated your subaceous glands produce more oil. If you drink plenty of water your subaceous glands won't work as hard. Hence, less sebum means your dead skin cells won't build up as easily and/or a breading ground for bacteria won't be created. So stay hydrated! 

Friday, April 4, 2014

Empties-makeup, hair, skincare and nails


 Hello, today I will be showing you all of my empty products. The purpose of this post is to let you know how the products worked. I will give a mini review and some information about everything posted. Continue reading to see what I liked and didn't like.
 My first empty product is Maybelline's Super Stay 24 Hr. concealer. You can buy is concealer for $8 at most drugstores. Here are the claims of this concealer.
 
SuperStay 24 Hour Concealer provides natural-looking coverage that lasts all day
  • Conceals imperfections, flaws, undereye darkness and circles✔️❌
  • 24-hour wear, No Transfer❌
  • Oil-Free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist tested, ophthalmologist tested, fragrance-free✔️

  •   This concealer is ok at concealing under eye circles. When I apply the concealer it looks nice but after a while it will crease and look unnatural. So I don't really use it under my eyes anymore. When it comes to covering imperfections, I think the coverage is medium. Which is good if I'm wearing a full coverage foundation but I expect more from my concealers. I also think this concealer can be hard to blend. It's easy to look cake-y if you apply too much. When blending, I prefer my concealer brush over my finger for a more natural look. One thing that I love about this concealer is, it doesn't break me out. Which is so good for my acne prone skin. Overall, I recommend this concealer for people who need only light coverage. 

      Will I repurchase? No, I think I will continue on my concealer journey. I feel like I can find a better concealer with higher coverage, while still not breaking me out. 

      What is TaylorPie's rating? 3.5 out of 5 stars


     My next empty is Johnson's baby oil. I use this for extra moisture and other various reasons(this weeks tip). You can buy it for just under $4 at any drugstore. Here are the claims of the baby oil. 
    • Locks in up to ten times more moisture on wet skin than an ordinary lotion can on dry skin✔️
    • Use to soothe and relieve dry, rough patches✔️
    • Leaves skin glowing and baby soft✔️
    • Clinically proven mild✔️
    Johnson's baby oil provides better moisture than any lotion I use. You really can't out do this product in the moisture department. It's perfect for using on my elbows and feet. All of my rough patches will soften and eventually disappear.  The smell is amazing, it leaves you smelling like a clean baby. I recommend this to anyone who has dry skin. Baby oil is also great for other things. I will post a tip this week for another use of baby oil. Trust me, it will change your life. 

    Will I repurchase? Yes!

    What is TaylorPies rating? 5 out of 5 stars!


    My next empty is Head & Shoulders dry scalp care shampoo. During the colder months my scalp gets dry and flaky. Head & shoulders always takes care of that problem. You can buy it at most drugstores and it costs $7 for 23.7 FL oz. Here are the claims of this shampoo.

    • Improves scalp health in 2 weeks. ✔️
    • Dual-action formula with almond oil helps relieve dry scalp and itch, while providing extra conditioners for your hair. ✔️
    •  Gentle and pH balanced for everyday use, even for color or chemically treated hair.  Dandruff shampoo that keeps hair clean, beautiful and 100% flake free✔️
    • 7 Benefits:  Fights dry scalp✔️,calms itchy scalp✔️, relieves irritation✔️,  reduces redness✔️,great scent✔️, controls flaky scalp✔️ and leaves hair looking beautiful✔️.

     All of the claims are true. After each wash my scalp is not dry,  itchy, irritated, red, flaky and my hair always looks beautiful. My scalp inproved before the 2 week period. After the first wash I saw a difference in my scalp. I mainly bought this shampoo for dandruff and I'm so happy I'm flake free now. I don't have to worry about flakes falling on my shirt anymore. This shampoo gets a huge thumbs up! I do recommend this shampoo! 

    Will I repurchase? Yes!

    What is TaylorPie's rating? 5 out of 5 stars


     My next hair product is Aussie aussome volume shampoo. This shampoo sells for $3 at most drugstores. Here are the claims.

    • For a "Flat" to "Fantastic" 'Do that Speaks Volumes✔️Aussome Volume, with essence of White Ginger, easily gives you a right proper "oomph."

    • Lift Up Your Locks for a Full Look that won't Fall Flat❌The Aussome Volume collection gives your hair a boost and helps you hold the looks you want.
     I have a hard time keeping volume in my hair. So I bought this shampoo hoping it would help. After washing my hair looked like it had volume but a couple hours later my hair would fall flat. I also noticed my hair was a little dry when I used this shampoo. Needless to say, I probably won't buy it again. I don't recommend this shampoo but I do recommend their deep conditioner. It leaves hair shiny and soft! 

    Will I repurchase? Not this specific shampoo from Aussie.

    What is TaylorPie's rating? 2 out of 5 stars.


     My first skincare product for this post is Clean&Clear essentials deep cleaning toner for sensitive skin. Clean&Clear did repackage this bottle so it looks different now. I'm not sure what the price is but you can find it at most drugstores. Here is the claim.
    • CLEAN & CLEAR®ESSENTIALS Deep Cleaning Toner for Sensitive Skin contains salicylic acid acne-fighting medication that treats and helps prevent pimples.✔️
     Usually, I don't use a toner that has alcohol but I made an exception for this one. I'm so glad that I did! This toner has helped my acne so much. Now that I have ran out my face is breaking out again(sad face). When using it, make sure you don't have a popped pimple because it will sting. Other than that though, the toner is sentive towards skin. I apply the toner twice a day all over my face with a cotton ball. If you have dry skin, I would recommend using it once a day or use a really good moisturizer. I do recommend this toner to anyone who has acne.  
    Will I repurchase? Yes!
    What is TaylorPie's rating? 5 out of 5 stars.

      My next skincare product is Natures Cure Acne Treatment Vanishing Cream plus the kit it comes in. This cream comes in a package with acne treating pills from Walmarts website for $8.97. Here are the claims of the product.

      Nature's Cure: 2 Part Acne Treatment for Females has tow parts. The first part, Internal Homeopathic Acne Medicine: Acne can be caused by internal imbalances due to diet, stress or hormonal changes, especially during monthly cycles. Nature's Cure tablets are a blend ofall-natural ingredients, which stimulate your body's natural defenses to correct these imbalances and to help stop acne where it can start. They do not increase sun-sensitivity and have no side effects. The second part is the Topical Acne Medication - Vanishing Cream: To clear existing blemishes, Nature's Cure has a colorless, unscented, greaseless, 5% Benzoyl Peroxide cream. Nature's Cure Vanishing Cream also contains aloe vera concentrate and allantoin to moisturize and soothe the skin.
  • Acne tablets and vanishing cream
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Safe and effective✔️

  • I love this kit! The pills help my acne so much and the cream is pretty good. Of course, I can't tell you if the medicine help my internal imbalances but my acne did look a lot better. My acne is caused from hormones, so if you have hormonal acne you might like this kit. It has great reviews and the price tag isn't bad. The cream is pretty good but I'm not sure if it really did anything extra. I don't really mind though, because either way my 
    acne is helped. I also want to say that it didn't cause dryness, so that's a plus. I do recommend this product but it won't completely cure acne for everyone. So don't automatically expect a miracle cure for your acne.

    Will I repurchase? Yes

    What is TaylorPie's rating? 4out of 5 stars

    My next product is e.l.f cosmetics Nourishing Cuticle Pen. You can buy this on e.l.f's website, eyeslipsface.com. Here is the description of the product.

     Relieves dry nails and flakey cuticles in a convenient pen design. The Nourishing Cuticle Pen moisturizes cuticles effectively✔️ and the quick dry formula✔️ allows for a no mess application✔️.Fortified with Vitamins E, A, C, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Aloe, this fast-acting complex deeply hydrates✔️, nourishes ✔️and seals in moisture✔️. The key ingredients Avocado and Almond Oils help to condition nails and cuticles for improved appearance. The result is softer✔️, easy to manage cuticles ✔️and healthy hydrated nails✔️.

     Anytime I have hard cuticles, I whip out this pen and easily apply the oils. It makes my skin softer, shiny,
     and healthy looking.  It lives up to all of the claims and I am so pleased with it. The best part is, I got this for free with one of e.l.f's coupons. What a steal! I recommend it to anyone with damaged cuticles. The only downside is the pen seems to get dirty and fray out. However, I still manage to use it. 

    Will I repurchase? Yes!

    What is TaylorPies Rating? 4 out of 5 stars.
     My last product is Nailene Perfect tips. I love using this when I do my nails. It makes the whole application process easier. All you have to do is firmly apply the strip on your nail, then paint and rip it off. It's so simple and convenient. I get a perfect tip everytime I do my nails. You can find this at most drugstores and it doesn't cost much. 

    Will I repurchase? Yes!

    What is TaylorPie's rating? 5 put of 5 stars.


    I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Please keep in mind that these products do work for some people, just not me. Also, don't forget to vote in this weeks poll located at the bottom of my website.  Thank you, TaylorPie.

    Sunday, March 30, 2014

    E.l.f Lotion Wipes Review and photos

                                     E.l.f lotion Wipes review
     Hello, for this post I will be reviewing E.l.f's Lotion Wipes in She Butter. You can buy these wipes from eyeslipsface.com, for $3.00 each. The wipes come in 6 different scents: Vanilla & Coconut, Shea Butter, Milk & Honey, Cucumber & Melon, Peony Petal and Sweet Mango. Each package contains 15 silky sheets. They're great for on the go and easy application. For nourished and revitalized skin, these wipes are infused with Aloe, Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Soy, Ginkgo Biloba, Coconut Milk and Sweet Almond Oil.


       Shea Butter
      - Hydrate your body with silky smooth moisture. The light and airy lotion moisturizes     the skin, keeping it soft and supple all day long.
      - Enrich your sense with the soothing scent of Shea butter.
      - Great for on-the-go travel for mess free application.
      - Infused with Aloe, Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Soy, Ginkgo Biloba, Coconut Milk and     Sweet Almond Oil to revitalize and nourish the skin.

    Directions: Open packet and remove a Lotion wipe. Gently apply to skin wherever you would like to hydrate and moisturize for a long-lasting, non-sticky feel. Dispose of the wipe in a trash receptacle (do not flush). After removing wipe, reveal and close lid.
     The texture and feel of the wipes remind me of baby wipes. They're about the same size and the moisture percentage is about the same. In the picture above, you can see they are pretty big in size. They wipe is big enough to cover larger areas of your body. They're great for dry legs and arms. The scent of the wipes is refreshing in my opinion. It's not too strong but a nice scent is still there. 
      In this picture, I have a photo for each step. The big picture on the left is my hand before the application. You can't tell in the picture but my hand is cracking from dehydration. In the top right picture, my hand is still wet from where I just used the wipe. It doesn't take long to dry but in the mean time beware of how hard it is to open doors. It's just like having wet hands. In the bottom right picture, it shows my hand about 1 minute later. The hydration is replenished in my skin and I have that healthy glow back. The tightness of my skin and cracks went away. I think these are amazing. I can see a dramatic difference the wipe made on my hand. I will definitely repurchase this for the summer time. My legs always look dry and it's embarrassing when I wear shorts. I have a solution now , though. 

    How much are they? $3.00 each

    How many wipes come in each package? 15 wipes
     
    How many scents are there? 6 scents:Vanilla & Coconut, Shea Butter, Milk & Honey, Cucumber & Melon, Peony Petal and Sweet Mango.

    Where can I buy them?eyeslipsface.com

    What is their rating on E.l.fs website? 4.4 out of 5 stars, 109 reviews

    Do they causes breakouts? No, I wouldn't recommend applying them to the face, though.

    What color are the wipes? White

    Do they have alcohol? No

    What are the ingredients? Water, Glycrine, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 80, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate(Ve), Glycine Soja (Soybean Oil), Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Milk, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Iodopropynyl, Butylcarbamate, Methylisothiazolinone

    TaylorPies rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    Will I repurchase? Yes