Category: skin-care

Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser

I am like Goldilocks with my cleansers. I can’t seem to find one that is just right. I love Drunk Elephant Pekee Bar and classic Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser, but they didn’t demand my loyalty. Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser might not be the end all, be all of cleansers, but it comes close.

This facial wash has a gel-texture but doesn’t strip skin like other gel cleansers. I find that the day is washed away but my skin is still supple and nourished – a delicate balance. The formula is designed to purify skin and remove makeup without removing skin’s natural oils. In addition, it delivers anti-oxidants like DMAE and Alpha Lipoid Acid to help fight aging.

I do need a swipe of makeup remover on my eyes first, but that is likely due to my addition to waterproof mascara. Other than that, skin is perfectly primed for treatment. I cannot detect a strong scent. While it is pricey for a cleanser, I am a sucker for packaging and it looks fab in my bathroom. And I’ve used it for a month and the bottle is still over 3/4ths full. Formula is paraben-free. Available at Sephora.

Kiehl’s Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream

No surprise I am a skin care fanatic so it comes as a shock when something totally different hits my desk. Kiehl’s Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream is definitely not your regular moisturizer. Something about the texture and its ability to revive skin makes this transformative. I have used it off and on since it arrived a couple weeks ago. But the biggest difference I noticed was yesterday – I had the day off from work and wore only this on my skin. In the AM, my skin looked tired and a little splotchy. By the end of the day it was radiant and nourished – and this was all makeup free!

This formula is natural but still effective and free of parabens, mineral oils, synthetic colors and fragrances. This thicker and slightly tacky moisturizer goes on rich but not sticky. The ingredients work to increase skin’s resistance to damage. The natural ingredients feature New Zealand Manuka honey – an ingredient I admire but hadn’t found a delivery form until this cream. Korean red ginseng root is also a traditional medicine helps to increase cell turnover rate, improve texture, vitality and glow.

This cream is perfect to transition to warmer weather, nourishing skin and making it glow for those warmer days that call for less makeup. While the texture takes some getting used to, it works well with my drier skin. And I notice only the most slight fragrance that is most like honey. Expect a plump, healthy feel to skin after it has had a chance to absorb.

Available at Kiehls.com.

Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream

Most skin care products I’ve tried the last couple months have been designed to fight redness. Some with that have worked and some not so much. When I discovered the Cicapair Collection by Dr. Jart, I knew I had to get my hands on a product from the lineup. The inspiration is the legend that Asian Tigers rolled in an ingredient, Centella Asiatica or Tiger Grass, to heal wounds. Its medicinal capabilities have been noted for generations to fight against inflammation, redness or wounds.

I chose the Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream to try first – I almost purchased the one with SPF but decided on the simple cream because I wanted to use it at night. I love the Dr. Jart tubes and the cream is easy to dispense. It absorbs quickly and smells fresh and clean. Over the last month, I have been using AM (under SPF) and PM and I do think my redness has improved on my cheeks. Plus I love the rich, nourishing moisture especially in the dry winter weather. The formula is infused with sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium hydrate and revive fatigued skin. This past weekend, it was exactly what I needed after using some harsher masks to correct some clogged pores.

While I purchased it to fight redness, it also helps with uneven skin tone and blemishes. Free from artificial fragrance or color, denatured alcohol, triethanolamine, sulfate-based surfactants, triclosan, mineral oil, propylene glycol, and DEA. Available at Sephora.

Tata Harper Skincare Rejuvenating Serum

One reason I appreciate organic skin care is simplicity. Sometimes boiling down ingredients to their simplest and most natural makes them work in an elegant way. Out of the many organic and natural skin care brands I have tried, Tata Harper remains my favorite. The products can be a little pricey. But I really believe you get what you pay for. The packaging is exquisite, the efficacy is unmatched and the formulas are thoughtful. My newest favorite product from the lineup is the Tata Harper Skincare Rejuvenating Serum.

This concentrated product is designed to smooth and hydrate skin. It is an easy step to add two pumps into both my AM and PM routine. I’ve had zero irritation with the addition of this product and it even plays nicely with my retinol product. The Hyaluronic Acid, antioxidants, and vitamins have lent to a healthy glow. The consistency is slightly on the creamier side, which makes me feel like it is more nourishing than other serums. Follow with moisturizer and then a spray of Tata Harper’s Hydrating Floral Essence (another new favorite from the line).

Available at Nordstrom and Tata Harper.

La Roche-Posay Rosaliac CC Cream Daily Complete Tone-Correcting Face Cream SPF 30

I battle a red skin tone all year but these colder days, it really seems to flare up. While I found a prescription solution that works well, it is expensive and not pleasant to use. So I thought I would give La Roche-Posay Rosaliac CC Cream Daily Complete Tone-Correcting Face Cream SPF 30 a whirl when I spotted it on the web.

This tinted cream provides nice coverage with a dose of moisturizer. I thought I would need to layer a separate moisturizer under this, but on more humid days, this is actually enough on its own. The natural extract, Ambophenol helps reduce visible redness. The shade works perfectly on my light-to-medium skin and I think would work on a wide range of tones. Note: might be problematic on those on the edges of the skin tone spectrum.

The creamy texture lends to a dewy finish that lasts through the day. I add just a little powder on my nose for added coverage but that’s it. And most of my redness is neutralized. The little bit that does show through looks more like a rosy glow. I love that this serves as both makeup and skincare. And the significant SPF adds to peace of mind.

Available at Amazon.

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

My skin is dry even in the summer, so the change in seasons to winter requires an even more amped up moisture routine. Even with my new supplement routine, I need something fairly rich when the heaters kick in. Granted today it was 90 here in Oklahoma, but I know a chill is just around the corner.

Another plus to added moisture – lipid depletion can add to the look of aging. So adding natural compounds like ceramides and fatty acids can enable skin to repair itself. SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is an anti aging cream formulated with a maximized concentration of lipids: 2% pure ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids. These ingredients work to restore skin’s natural barrier and promote self-repair. Not to mention, this recipe can smooth and add radiance. The innovation of this product lies in the specific ratio formulation: 2:4:2 cholesterol-dominant.

I use morning and night – just a small amount between fingers warmed and melted, pressed into skin. I adore the minty scent, especially to awaken skin in the morning. This is ideal for my fellow dry skin suffers or those with sensitivity. Available at SkinCeuticals.com and right now with code OCTOBER, get a complimentary Blemish + Age Defense Sample.