Neutrogena has a multitude of ways to clear up your skin! And contest reminder!

I started breaking out on my chin this week which annoys me to no end and got me thinking about great acne products - and our fabulous contest (which you can still enter, the link is at the bottom of this page!) - which made me decide to tell you about the other Neutrogena lines that could be good for my chin - and yours!

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Line - contains MicroClear - a proprietary technology that blends oil-dissolving agents, acne-fighting salicylic acid (2%) and soothing botanicals - but the best part is the smell, my very favourite scent of all - Grapefruit, that is my very favourite colour - Pink!  This is not my regular cleansing line but it is my husband's and I must admit to raiding his bathroom on occasion just because I love the smell so much!  Here's what you can find in the line:
Facial Cleanser - 177ml, Foaming Scrub - 125ml or Body Clear Body Wash - 250ml all for $10.99

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Line - contains the same MicroClear technology as above as well as 100% naturally derived Aloe and Chamomile extracts to help soothe skin made red and sensitive by acne.  Just looking at the lovely green colour of the wash makes me (and my skin) feel calmer!  Here's what is available:
Cream Cleanser (rich and creamy) - 177ml, Gentle Scrub - 125ml and Facial Cleanser - 177ml all for $8.99

And of course don't forget about the Acne Stress Control line which there is still time to enter to win - check it out here!

- Lisamarie -

Cover FX has a new eye primer and you won't believe your eyes!

Cover FX, knowing it's not a party without Christelle and I, were kind enough to invite us downtown last week to celebrate the launch of their brand new eye primer!  It was one of the hottest days of the year, but that's not enough to keep us from a party, especially when Christelle heard there would be food!  Since I was afraid to eat any of the food in case I got in the way of Christelle and got my fingers eaten by mistake (or not), I really enjoyed meeting the other bloggers.  This time I had the chance to meet the very sweet Arianne from GlitterGeek.  I knew I loved her when she met Christelle and said "Oh, you're the mean one!"  Ha!  Suck on that Christelle!

Dozens of appetizers later, with Christelle on a first name basis with the serving staff (she actually told them to automatically head her way with any new serving platter), the highly anticipated primer was introduced by Cover FX co-founders, Lee Graff and Jenny Frankel (pictured here).  They passed a bottle around so we could feel the super smooth texture and then did an interesting demonstration to show one of the benefits - on the back of a hand half primed and half not they swiped some metallic powder - on the primer side it was much more vibrant then the un-primed side - also, when you rubbed on it, it came off easier on the side with no primer!

 

EyePrep FX Anti-age Smoothing Primer - 20ml - $43 - your secret weapon to fight under-eye circles, puffiness as well as fine lines and wrinkles.  Haloxyl - an anti-aging ingredient that naturally encourages the skin to recover its natural pigmentation and Eyeliss - a therapeutic anti-aging ingredient that helps to reduce puffiness by eliminating excess fluids, enhance firmness and minimize inflammation around the eye area are the ingredients working on the dark circles and puffiness while the Peptide Flash Complex instantly tightens and firms while long-term improvements include repairing and strengthening the eye area.  Cucumber extract works with detoxifying minerals to cool, soften and hydrate the skin leaving the eye area feeling fresh and revitalized.

It all sounds good but how well does it work is the question - I've only been using it a few days so I can't speak to it's long term benefits of course, but as far as short term benefits go, they aren't lying.  My issue has always been puffiness, mostly in the morning and after applying this primer most of the puffiness is gone within 10 minutes.  That would have been enough to make me love it but it's also a kick ass eyeshadow primer.  The hot weather lately has been a perfect testing ground and this keeps my eyeshadow as crease free as my beloved Urban Decay Primer Potion - with a much better delivery system - a pump bottle!  I can also really see how much more vibrant the colour of my eyeshadows are, UDPP doesn't do that!  Be aware of how much you pump though, you only need a little bit to cover both eyes and I found a full pump was way too much!  This primer is great time saver if you are tired of having to use one product for your circles and bags and then a different one for your primer! I don't have sensitive eyes so didn't have any issue with it but my favourite Shopper's cosmetician - Julie - does have sensitive eyes and has also tried the primer and did find that it irritated her so if you also have sensitive eyes, you should try the tester in the store first to make sure it agrees with you. Check out the contest at the bottom for a chance to score yourself a free one!

Along with the new eye primer, Cover FX also has a line of face primers:

ClearPrep FX - 30ml - $39 - matte foundation primer and anti-acne treatment in a light-weight gel that helps fight shine, reduce lines and pores, ease blending and extend the wear of your foundation.  Good for all skin types with oily tendency and pronce to acne breakouts.  Oil, paraben and fragrance free.  With our super hot summer causing me a super shiny t-zone, this one has been my go-to primer and it really does make a difference it making sure I'm not as slick and my foundation doesn't go sliding off my face!

BritePrep FX - 30ml - $45 - brightening foundation primer and photo-aging defense with SPF 50 an a cream-balm texture which has instant skin brightening effects which blur the appearance of lines and pores and helps foundation blend easier and wer longer.  Suitable for all skin types with sun spots, hyperpigmentation and sallow/dull tone.  Oil, paraben and fragrance free.

SkinPrep FX - 30ml - $45 - a nourishing foundation primer and anti-aging serum that hydrates and smoothes skin to blur the appearance of lines and pores, facilitates blending and extends wear.  Appropriate for all skin types especially normal to dry.  Oil, paraben and fragrance free.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale and US girls can now easily get a Cover FX fix at Sephora!

Here's a way to get free one for yourself (and maybe also a gift card worth up to $100)  Check out the Cover FX Facebook page for more info:  http://www.facebook.com/CoverFX

- Lisamarie -

NeoStrata launches a two-step offensive against acne and oil!

Is there anything more frustrating as an adult then still breaking out? - wrinkles and pimples should not go together!  I am fortunate to break out very rarely, but I know Christelle and many of my other friends still wage a constant battle with their skin. As a matter of fact, 70% of adults are plagued by breakouts!  Take heart, my friends at NeoStrata have launched a pair of complementary products to help you out:  Toning Solution Level 2 to banish blemishes and Oil Free Matifying Fluid to absorb sebum and control unwanted shine.

Toning Solution Level 2 - 100ml - $28.75 - contains 10% glycolic acid - the highest concentration allowed on the market - and 2% salicylic acid. Glycolic acid’s exfoliant action removes the build-up of dead skins cells on the epidermis. This means pores don’t clog up,which translates into a clearer, smoother, acne-free complexion. Salicylic acid has purifying antibacterial properties, so it deep cleanses pores, preventing the formation of acne. Combined, these concentrations of glycolic and salicylic acids form a fast-acting antibacterial toner that unclogs pores and removes oils without stripping the skin’s natural barrier.

Oil Free Matifying Fluid - 50ml - $30.75 - is the only product on the market clinically proven to control the appearance of sebum and shine for more than 6 hours. This specialized formula uses patented microparticles that absorb excess sebum on the skin’s surface to create a matte finish. As a result, pore-clogging oils that lead to acne, blackheads and other skin imperfections are controlled.  It can be applied after a daily moisturizer and as a base to extend make-up wear.

I gave my sister a tube of this to try as shiny skin is the bane of her existence and she was impressed with it - she really did get over 6 hours of shine-free skin! I will be picking one of these up to add to my summer skin routine too!

In the short term, NeoStrata Toning Solution Level 2 and NeoStrata Oil Free Matifying Fluid instantly give skin a shine-free, smooth, velvet-like texture and appearance for more than 6 hours. In the long term, complexion will look clearer, skin blemish-free and pores smaller.  Available at your drugstore now!

- Lisamarie -

Mary Kay's Bundle Shuts Shine Down.

You may know by now about my obsession with shiny foreheads, so it's no wonder I was particularly interested in trying out Mary Kay's Shine Shutdown Bundle.

The Shine Shutdown Bundle ($55 until March 15th) includes:

- An Oil-Free Hydrating Gel to restore skin’s moisture balance and hydrate. This hydrating gel does a pretty good job with moisturizing your skin and controlling the shine. It also gets absorbed quickly. It does not leave a greasy film nor does it leave your skin feeling tight. As far as hydrating gels go, this is really good value for money.Keep in mind that there is no SPF protection in this product, so you will need to apply that separately.

- An Oil Mattifier for shine control in the T-zone: you can use  this mattifier to correct some particularly oily spots. Again, it does a good job keeping that shine in check and it's a great base under your make up. My skin feels smooth and balanced.

 

- Beauty Blotters® Oil-Absorbing Tissues to instantly absorb excess oil are great to use throughout the day. While the hydrating gel and the mattifier give you a good base to start the day, by the end of a busy day my skin feels oily again. These tissues absorb oil even when my skin doesn't look shiny. A must-have for your purse.

All in all, I was pretty happy with this bundle. It doesn't look super fancy, but it does the job for a reasonable price. My skin feels smooth and balanced and that's all I need. Despite the fact, that Mary Kay's products are not available in stores, I've had great experiences with Mary Kay's beauty consultants. A good consultant will take the time to have you try their products. To find a Mary Kay's beauty consultant, check here.

-Christelle-

A trifecta of marvelous oil-free moisturizers from Marcelle, NeoStrata and Vichy

Moisturizing is tricky business for me.  My skin has multiple personalities; some days it has an oily t-zone and is pretty normal everywhere else, sometimes it enjoys a dry patch or two and then just to shake things up, it will break out.  So you can imagine how much fun it is to find a moisturizer which does the job, but doesn't overdo it.  It's a real tightrope act!  Since I do love a serum and we know those aren't oil free, I even things out with an oil free moisturizer that has an SPF.  My only complaint would be that I prefer an SPF of 30 or more but have yet to find an oil free moisturizer that I like with more then a 15.  So from extensive research, these are my top 3 picks.

Marcelle - Oil-Free Multi-Defense Lotion - SPF 15 - at less then $20, this is not only my favourite one, but also the most economical with 120ml (that's 4 fl oz for our American friends) of product.  The texture is light, it absorbs fast with no chalky sunscreen cast and the smell is almost non-existent.  I also love the pump bottle it comes in, which unscrews easily so you can get at the last of the lotion.  I have nothing bad to saw about this product, if you like an oil free moisturizer and you have skin then you will love this.  If it only came in an SPF 30 I would never look at another product (okay fine, we all know that's a lie given my product whoreness, but I would think about never looking at another product - and I would feel guilty when I did!)

Marcelle is available at most Canadian drugstores including Shopper's Drug Mart.  And now that I have inspired lust for this product in the hearts of all you Americans, you can go here to order by phone.  The minimum order is $30, so get yourself something else pretty while you are at it, and the shipping seems pretty reasonable.

 NeoStrata - Oil Free Daytime Smoothing Lotion Level 3 - SPF 15 - I've been on the NeoStrata love train a lot lately but I just can't help myself - their products are just all so good!  This lotion retails for around $38 and is 50ml.  Now to clarify, the Level 3 refers to the amount of glycolic acid in the product - so it's Level 1 - 4%, Level 2 - 8% and Level 3 - 10%.  A Level 3 would be only for those with combination-oily skin, so you normal-dry girls will want to steer clear of this one.  Unfortunately, NeoStrata doesn't offer the oil free lotion in anything but a Level 3 but if you have the right skin type for this one, you will love it!  Now I only use this one when I am having one of my combo-oily days and I recall when I first started using it that it felt a little bit tingly, which would be the AHA, so it you tingle don't worry, it could be that Brad Pitt is in the next room but more likely it is the lotion. 

NeoStrata is available at most of your local drugstores and Americans can find it here.

Vichy Normaderm Pro Mat Ultra-Mattifying Oil-Free Lotion - SPF15 - you'll notice that the link I've given you here is for the American website.  For some reason the Canadian one doesn't actually have the products on it which is kind of annoying, but never mind, you can buy it at the drugstore and keep an eye out at Shopper's Drug Mart, this goes on sale quite often there.

This lotion is nice and light and goes on very matte.  If you have dry areas you will want to add some richer moisturizer in those spots as well as this lotion won't be enough on its own.  The smell is nice and light and it soaks right in.  I am glad they didn't package this Normaderm product in the old pump bottle, those pumps were hard to open (I think I ended up taking pliers to it to get it off) in order to get at the last of the product.  They say you can even use this as your primer, I haven't tested that theory but from the texture I can see why that might work.

Now go forth and moisturize!

- Lisamarie -