Tag: sensitive skin

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream

So my turn to brag a little bit – we have been in the 60s and 70s here this week. Trust me, I am in heaven despite my tolerance for cold weather. This winter has been a little extreme. The downside is the conditions are dry, dry, dry. We have wild grass fires burning all over the state. And I think the words I used last night were: “it is blustery as hell here”.

With that, my dry winter skin persists and I am finally getting some relief with Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream. This hit shelves a while back and while I was captivated, I haven’t had a chance to get my paws on it. Turned out well that it landed on my desk just as I needed it most.

Some of the literature calls this a “lightweight” cream, but this thick and rich formula feels more moderate to me, but it is quickly absorbed and doesn’t leave skin greasy in the least. The coffee colored cream instantly makes my skin feel nourished and works throughout the day with a time-release mechanism. The cream has no scent and works well over serums and under sunscreen and makeup. Over time, the microcapsule ceramides can improve the skin barrier, preventing moisture loss.

As someone who suffers from a lot of redness and sensitive skin, I love the inclusion of Licorice Root Extract which evens and soothes skin. Portulaca Oleracea and Aloe Vera also calm and hydrate. Free of Parabens, Sulfates and Phthalates.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Belle Belle Visits Mario Badescu Salon

A highlight of my recent New York City adventure was stopping by the Mario Badescu Salon to get treated to a facial and learn more about this brand that I love. Heading into a oasis of calm after hoofing it around hectic New York City was in itself relaxing. While I was fairly confident about my skin type, I was relieved when Maria confirmed that I had very dry skin, slightly sensitive and definitely suffering from sun damage. Relived that I was correct but discouraged I had an uphill battle ahead of me. She was direct but also comforting in saying there was lots I could do to reverse the damage and soothe my dry, irritated skin.

Using lots of products with Aloe, my skin was cleaned. Extractions are usually a breeze for me – clogged pores aren’t my biggest issue. But she was gentle while still achieving a great deep clean. Next up was my beloved Flower and Tonic Mask which can clean pores without drying and while calming sensitivity. Next up was a salon-only peel-off Vitamin C mask. You know me… I can resist a good peel off and this was to help with sun damage and pigmentation. She finished with Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater. To moisturize and protect, she used Aloe Moisturizer with SPF 15. I feel a little bit better with the higher protection of their Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 30, but am happy to know of an alternative if I am feeling more sensitive than usual.

My skin looked so great, I braved a dinner with my favorite beauty bloggers that evening completely sans makeup. There is something to be said for just letting your skin breathe after a facial. For those of you in NYC, I highly highly suggest a visit to the salon (320 E. 52nd Street between 1st Ave & 2nd Ave). Starting at $65, facials can be a great way to whip your skin into shape and they are so affordable. The classic and no nonsense approach to skin care and in-person treatment left me with dewy, even skin. Even if you happen to find yourself in the neighborhood, you can drop in for a free consultation at the front desk. They will hook you up with samples of your suggested routine so you can try before you buy.

And those like me who aren’t in the big city, just check out this page on their website. You can chat live with a skin care specialist or fill out a form for your very own digital consultation. They will hook you up with those same samples to check out before you buy. How cool is that???

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Mario Badescu Peptide Renewal Cream & Serum

“Simple, gentle and effective.” If any claim makes me sit up and listen, it’s those three magic words. While I am a huge fan of active ingredients and medical grade skin care, this summer I’ve been focused on nourishing and calming my skin. That’s why Mario Badescu has been such a huge part of my routine over the past couple of months.

Peptides have long been known to help fight the good fight against wrinkles and fine lines. This targeted duo also used botanicals to achieve a more toned complexion. Not to mention, the formula contains my beloved hydrating Hyaluronic Acid.

The Mario Badescu Peptide Renewal Cream is rich and nourishing but doesn’t leave my skin greasy. The Mario Badescu Peptide Renewal Serum is hydrating enough for me on its own. And it has similar properties to a face oil. Personally, I slightly prefer the serum as it contains soothing chamomile and yarrow helping the redness in my complexion. The serum also has green tea to protect against free radicals.

If you are aiming to skip retinol this summer or just want anti-aging for more sensitive skin, don’t miss these new treats from Mario Badescu. The Peptide Renewal Serum is definitely in my permanent rotation as a soothing, nourishing tool against fine lines.

Three Mario Badescu Masks for Sensitivity

You probably know I fell hard for Mario Badescu from this post. Lately, my vanity MVPs have been clay-based masks that manage to deep clean and soothe all at the same time. These three masks are a great fit for those with drier, more sensitive skin. But I also think they would work for oily and acne-prone complexions – clay is a classic, proven ingredient for cleaning out pores that everyone could benefit from at least occasionally.

Azulene Calming Mask is loaded with anti-inflammatory Azulene to comfort red or irritated skin. After a little over eager exfoliation or glycolic treatment, this can snap my skin back into calmness. Also great for razor burn or post-waxing. The consistency is a thicker paste, but the clay formula does not harden. The clay and wheat starch work to clear skin of impurities. Best if you are feeling very sensitive.

Flower & Tonic Mask is more active, perfect when you really want to go after congested skin. Last weekend, I was really bad about washing my face. And when I returned home, I atoned for my sins with this pore-clearing treatment. While the Kaolin (clay) absorbs dirt and oil, Balsam Peru soothes redness and irritation. I feel a tad bit tight after using this mask, but it is perfect for a deep cleaning treatment.

Cucumber Tonic Mask is going to be clutch during the summer months when I am so prone to redness and blackheads – hello, sweaty heat! The cooling clay is made with Cucumber Extract to smooth and revive skin while it deep cleans. This mask is a great balance of the two above, when you want cleansing action but still are experiencing some sensitivity.

How to Use: Apply a thin layer of mask on clean skin avoiding eye area. Wait 15-20 minutes and rinse thoroughly with tepid water.

Mario Badescu products are also available at Nordstrom where it is triple points time now through March 24th!

Simple Skincare Partners With Allison Williams

I’ll totally cop to a girl crush on Allison Williams. I love her style and effortless glam. Plus, she seems so relatable in her roles (my favorite has to be Jillian on The Mindy Project). I went nuts over her look at the Girls premier featuring CARGO makeup. Little did I know she was soon to be a brand ambassador for another one of my favorite brands – Simple Skincare!

Who knew she suffers from sensitive skin too!? One of her favorite products is the Simple Skincare Wipes – perfect for taking off heavy television makeup at the end of a long day.

Make sure you check out some of her tips and videos on the Simple Facebook page – you can also find tips from the Simple Advisory Board, a panel of skincare experts who can help you amp up your diet, fitness routine and more! And don’t forget to print your coupon for $2 off any Simple product.

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer in the Simple® Skincare Program. Visit www.facebook.com/SimpleSkincare to share your story on sensitive skin.

Latest and Greatest from Simple Skincare

I’ve been test driving the newest Simple Skincare products for about a month now and I wanted to report back on the most recent items to hit the shelves. Like all my other Simple favorites, the new products play oh so well with my sensitive skin. (They introduced two new versions of the wipes – a huge fan favorite!)

Foaming Cleanser: I’m a huge fan of foaming cleansers. There is something so satisfying about that lather, especially when I’m using my Clarisonic. This version from simple is loaded with Pro-Vitamin B5. So not only is your makeup gonzo, but your skin feels refreshed and not stripped of moisture.

Radiance Cleansing Wipes: Call me crazy, but I really do think my skin looks more radiant when I use these. After a workout or first thing in the AM, I’ve been opting for these as a gentle way to refresh. Mango extract helps leave skin not only clean, but healthier.

Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes: I’ve been a long time fan of Zinc PCA to heal angry or irritated skin. So no wonder I’m a fan of these wipes. If you are prone to shine, these guys will leave your skin clean, not irritated and balanced. But even on my dry skin, they don’t strip my skin of moisture.

Eye Make Up Remover Pads: For some reason, I’ve been reviewing loads of gel eyeliner. We love this stuff, right? Stays on so well. But removing it can be irritating to delicate skin around the eyes, especially if the skin is already sensitive. Simple’s Eye Make-Up Remover Pads are loaded with gentle cleansers to get after stubborn makeup with out stinging or drying. They get every little bit of hard to remove makeup with a couple swipes.

Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15: The biggest pet peeve I have with my sensitive skin is how some SPFs can sting and burn after application. While I’ve navigated what UV blockers are the main culprits, I haven’t found a good drugstore SPF with zero sting. Until now. Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15 is oil-free but still nourishing (packed with vitamins and moisturizers). The non-greasy finish works especially well under makeup.

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Influencer in the Simple® Skincare Program. Visit www.facebook.com/SimpleSkincare to share your story on sensitive skin.