Tag Archives: pores

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash

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The Micellar craze is proliferating the cleansing market at the moment… No longer is there one, coveted Micellar Water that you have to track down on eBay from France, but now there are countless variations based on skin types, as well as wipes…and now a gel wash…

I mean…I’m not sure you need all of these but if you do like the idea of double cleansing, these are at least designed to be more gentle on the skin.  I have a ton of steps in my own routine and I can definitely see it in my almost 39 year-old visage! Also, as an athlete, I appreciate making sure all the grime is off (not so much makeup, but good ol’ sweat!)

Garnier’s SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash comes in a mattifying version, and one for sensitive skin (I can’t quite make it out on beautybible’s page, but Yaalia.com has a review…)  

These aren’t the same as the Cleansing Waters in the USA, and if you are a die-hard fan, you can snag it at Boots in the UK (or you might try eBay, which always seems to have the overseas goodies!)

Cleanliness isn’t necessarily godliness but…it certainly is appreciated by others AND by your skin.  So long as you are gentle, a few steps in cleansing can be a wonderful thing…

Korean Skincare At Target – January 2017

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I always get excited when I hear US retailers are expanding their overseas brands – especially stores like Target, which tend to be EVERYwhere (and therefore more easily accessible.)  

I’ve been droning on about the benefits of Asian skincare for – literally – decades.  I wrote a thesis surrounding the topic back in 1999, to “date” myself.  It wasn’t until the last two years or so that I’ve really seen it take off…but I can assure you, I’m THRILLED, as it makes tracking such products down a LOT easier.

screen-shot-2017-01-10-at-12-59-43-pm

You can certainly find your share at Ulta (for another major retailer) and I’ve seen Asian concepts rolling out from US and European brands at mass market retailers, such as CVS and Walgreens – so the types of products (think sheet masks, cushions, essence waters etc) have become more available to the masses in general.  But to have actual Asian brands carried in the US is an awesome affair.

Musingsofamuse posted here to mention a few of the items hitting shelves later this month.  Mizon is an incredibly well-featured brand (for good reason too – the products live up to the hype!) so I’m pretty psyched to see it among the ranks.  She’s provided the following list (which you can see by clicking her link in the text above as well) along with mention of Peach & Lily founder Alicia Yoon, responsible for this roll-out:

  • Aprilskin Deep Cleaning Facial Cleanser $7
  • Ariul Sheet Mask Skin Texture Improvement Facial Mask Treatment $20
  • Caolion Cream Deep Cleaning Facial Mask Treatment $26
  • Caolion Cream Pore Minimizing Facial Mask Treatment $20
  • Caolion Cream Skin Texture Improvement Facial Mask Treatment $23
  • Caolion Stick Moisturizing Facial Moisturizer $16
  • Lagom Gel Basic Cleansing Facial Cleanser $17
  • Lagom Spray Skin Texture Improvement Facial Tone $21
  • Mizon Snail Repair Eye $22
  • Mizon Snail Repair Cream $38
  • Mizon Face Masks $3.50 Each
  • Twenty Four Seven Cosmetic Highlighter White $22
  • Twenty Four Seven Lipstick Medium $29

I look forward to seeing these in-store in the next few weeks.  Definitely refreshing…and incredibly good for your beau.  And that’s the thing, really…the sooner in life you start, the better off you are.  In skincare – as with many things – preventative and proactive care is the BEST kind.

Urban Decay Prime Time For Holiday

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Newness from Urban Decay *possibly* in time for the Holiday (supposedly available from Belk.com, but I don’t see any of these listed as yet.)  Otherwise, they are launching on urbandecay.com January 1st. 

It isn’t just one product, though, or one kind of product.  UD is releasing five new primers. Yes, five. (Once again, my inner ballroom-dance-competitor-self is wondering why they’ve arrived so long after I stopped competing!) 

screen-shot-2016-12-13-at-8-25-48-am

allure.com photo

The five, which will retail for $34 each, include:

1. Optical Illusion – Designed to blur flaws, reduce fine lines, minimize pores, smooth skin
2. Bright & Tight – Aims to provide brighter, firmer skin
3. De-Slick – As with their other De-Slicks, designed to absorb and minimize shine, and to make your makeup last loner
4. Self-Adjusting– A color-correcting formulation with encapsulated pigments that adjust to your personal skin tone
5. Urban Defense – A translucent, SPF 30 sunscreen base

They do already have quite a lineup of setting sprays, as well as eyeshadow primer – all which seem to manage rave reviews – but I think these will do rather well as a natural expansion for them.  Thoughts?

Autumn / Winter 2016 (Spring 2017) – New In Store

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A few bloggers (here’s one, and another) have posted with new items that have already rolled into mass market stores – L’oreal, Garnier, Revlon among them.

I basically own an arsenal of products for my sometimes-temperamental skin but I’m always curious to see the new innovations and formulas – sometimes it’s worth switching if you aren’t getting everything you need for your skincare.  I feel like newness always includes “multi-tasking” – products are no longer just targeting one problem, but often multiple.  Doubtless there is SOMEthing for you!

Musingsofamuse photo

Musingsofamuse photo

 

Beautylogicblog photo

Beautylogicblog photo

 

 

Halloween Shoppe…Meow!

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It’s that time of year! 😀

No matter the enormity of the selections out there for foundation – whether color, or formulation, mass market, or prestige – I only ever use Meow.  I’m a cat lover, tis true (the fact may indeed be responsible for me finding the Company many years ago). . .but I stick with Meow not because I love the names (marketing can sway a lady easily – you know who you are!)  

No, they are my must-have because they straight up deliver.  Their mineral foundations contain VERY little – something that tends to be like an elusive butterfly these days.  An ingredient list that’s short, to the point, and pronounceable?!  SIGN ME UP!

The formulas last too – as an athlete and Martial Artist it’s fair to say I’ve put these to the test.  Often. And not just any old paces – full on Jiu-Jitsu, ballroom competitions, leg day, HIIT on occasion…those minerals work hard!

With all that activity, why wear any at all? Wouldn’t my pores be clogged?!  I happily – and emphatically – say “NOPE!”

These minerals are skin-loving – it’s almost like doubling up (let’s be honest, with me, quadrupling up!) on skincare.  My skin manages to breathe and stay even with the added benefit – thanks to zinc oxide and titanium oxide – of natural sun defense, and protection from daily aggressors.  These aren’t full of fancy pants ingredients but they don’t have to be – they give me an extra layer of armor, so to speak, over all of my lotions and potions (with which I am equally as discerning!)  It’s nice not to have to peel back a label just to read the rest of the ingredient list.

That aside, the color selection is ASTOUNDING – WELL beyond what most mass or prestige companies will ever offer.  Meow accounts for countless undertones (86 shades with coordinating concealers – read that number again!) I know! What?!?! 

Another major point? The products are non-comedogenic – for someone who’s active, that goes a long way.

Did I mention you also get a TON of minerals for your money (the larger containers are enormous! – don’t count on finding the same generosity at a Sephora or Ulta!) 

Anyway…to my Hallows point!

…Meow is currently offering Halloween Foundations – a nice departure from greasy, pore-clogging face paints of old – so definitely check them out if you have sensitive skin. . .or you don’t want to coat yourself in something ultra-unnatural!

The colors are designed to be opaque, and layerable, so you can achieve whatever level of zombified or goulish that you are aiming for…without clogging your beautiful peau. I mean what’s the point of haunting around if you’re dreading post-Halloween breakouts!? Talk about freaky!

Rimmel Fresher Skin

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One of the most important things about color cosmetics for me – as an athlete (and once performing athlete in dance and figure skating – is the lasting power.  I don’t wear much because fresh-faced and natural is so much more appealing to me.  But when it is required to pull myself together, I still want something that will hold up – to humidity, sweat, heat, rain…whatever.  Being a porcelain doll is lovely – but for me personally, having to worry about my face melting off is just not something I am willing to deal with.

I’m not sure this is a USA release, or whether it will be – no word of it ’round here.  But thanks to ReallyRee, I caught wind of it, and felt the need to share for those of you who have also not seen it – in store or online.  (There are other blog posts for sure, if you feel like snooping.)

This actually reminds me of a pot that L’Oreal had back in the early 90’s – I can’t remember the name of it but it felt like skincare, which totally appealed to me (even at an incredibly young, and non-makeup-wearing age.)

The Fresher Skin formula is humidity and sweat resistant, starts as water-gel, and transforms into a “refreshing cream,” a la many Japanese products before it.  It doesn’t clog pores – another HUGE point for me, absorbs shine, and doesn’t settle into lines.  It happens to look really nice on her skin – and she has other photos, so definitely check it out.

 

Clinique Pep-Start HydroBlur

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Interestingly, I haven’t heard much about Clinique’s Pep-Start Eye Cream – I saw a ton of ads flash by, and a whole slew of posts, but I feel like none of it was really noteworthy (as in, the product kind of fell flat.)

I just saw a post about this new moisturizer that’s being added to the “Pep-Start” lineup – Clinique Pep-Start HydroBlur.  The claim for this guy is that it both hydrates and acts as an imperfection blurring primer of sorts, smoothing skin and keeping oil at bay.  The finish is matte, softening pores, but apparently it is also designed to hydrate throughout the day.  With “Pep-Start” in the name, I thought maybe it would be eye-opening…but then I guess the eye cream should be doing that.

sephora.com photo

sephora.com photo

I’m curious to see how this one does.  Much that I love the idea of “blurring,” I generally steer clear – I feel like too many formulas have pore clogging ingredients that can even affect the skin around the eyes.  Not a fan!  

Who knows…maybe it will surprise.  The company says it will work on all skin types – oily to sensitive to dry and beyond.  We shall see!

Summer 2016 – L’Oreal Masks

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I’m a little bit nutty about taking care of my skin – it’s one of those things that you have to be incredibly proactive about (as in, start early in life!)  It will make a difference if you start to baby your skin early on in life – not only because it becomes an engrained habit, but because you have protected it so well from nature’s aggressors over time.

I’ve always like L’Oreal as a brand – not so much because it is an absolute monster of a company, but because that as a giant in the industry, it has the resources to do solid research and testing – great R&D results in products that actually DO what they say they will…and all the L’Oreal products I have tried, have delivered.  

Their L’Oreal drugstore line is on the moderate to higher end where pricing is concerned, but it also won’t break the bank (La Mer, anyone) so it makes loving your skin less damaging to your wallet.

The newest items, coming this Summer, include a variety of masks – always a fun way to de-stress, and pamper your epidermis.  There will be three formulations available:

  • Exfoliate & Refine Pores – 3 Pure Clays + Red Algae
  • Purify & Mattify –  3 Pure Clays + Eucalyptus
  • Detox & Brighten –  3 Pure Clays + Charcoal

 

Per BudgetBeautyBlog, one of the few places posting the news, these creamy , 10 minute masks combine:
  1. Kaolinite (to cleanse & exfoliate)
  2. Montmorillonite (absorb oil)
  3. Rhassoul (rich in minerals to condition & hydrate)
I’m kind of excited to see these.  I don’t really need another mask, but I always get excited about new products. 🙂  Are you looking forward to checking these out?  

Body Shop Instaglow CC

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There really isn’t any let up on the “glow”-bestowing products of late, what with the surge of strobing, highlighting and contouring.  

I’m not complaining, for sure – anything that boosts the “wakefulness” factor is a whole-heartedly embraced (rest assured!)

Maybe long work hours (or slow-poke coworkers!) are leaving your drained.  Maybe it’s a heavy, physically demanding training load during the week that’s left you exhausted.  Or perhaps it’s your newborn, or the obnoxiously loud neighbors next door… Whatever is robbing you of your precious shuteye might also be guilty of stealing the ever-coveted, fully-recharged radiance you get when you actually DO sleep…and stay stress-free.  

Since the latter two conditions are sometimes tough to come by, the plethora of products out there that help us achieve a rested look are definitely appreciated.

The newest on the scene are The Body Shop’s Instaglow CC Creams (hit stores on May 17th overseas – not sure about USA as yet.)  

The Body Shop Instagram

The Body Shop Instagram

Designed to even skin tone, temper shine, minimize pores, soothe (with Aloe Vera), moisturize (with Marula Oil, for a purported 24 hours) AND illuminate, these little guys pack quite a punch.  They also happen to boast an SPF of 20PA+++ (future signs of aging can take a hike, thanks.)  

The shades include:

  • Bright Glow – Light skin, white pigment with purple pearl
  • Peachy Glow – Light to medium skin (might be nice for circles?)
  • Warm Glow – Dark skin, bronzed brown with golden pearl

ReallyRee did a great review and shared some nice swatches, so definitely check it out – what I like is that there doesn’t *seem* to be perceptible shimmer…  Glow sans glitter is the way I like to go, personally!

These aren’t meant to be full coverage by any stretch…but alone, or paired with other color cosmetics, these definitely appear to give you a boost…and who doesn’t love THAT idea?!  Not too many Body Shops near me but I will absolutely drop in and check them out when I come across one!  

 

Spring 2016 – Sephora Skin Boosters

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This isn’t at all a new trend – bespoke skincare has been “a thing” for a while, adding an almost luxury feel to our quotidian regimes.  What’s nice, though, is that it has become mainstream enough that if you feel your regular products aren’t doing enough, you can easily get your hands on a booster!

Sephora is offering three new serums, each of which are intended to deliver visible benefits within two weeks.  You can apply them to the skin directly, or you can add to any foundation or base you use.  The three formulas are as follows:

 

I love serums, so I’m always curious to hear about newbies – these are concentrates, which I also love.  Sometimes you just need an extra jolt! 😉