Exuviance #PeelChallenge

*Powered By BrandBacker*   Sometimes brands send you things. And sometimes they aren't what they told you they would send. Brandbacker was going to send me the Exuviance Illumination Duo, but instead I received two samples of their Performance Peel with the Evening Restorative Complex, which is in the Illumination Duo. Regardless, I was really excited to try the peels, but because I am leaving so soon on my big adventure and didn't want my face to accidentally react badly to a peel, I tried it on my hands first. Let me walk you through the process.

This peel is supposed to be extremely gentle and Exuviance is a brand that I trust, so I wasn't too worried, but I have always stuck by the rule of the patch test, which is what I did on my hand with one pack.

The first pack is the Activator Pad, which is a small circular pad drenched in the solution. You apply to clean dry skin and you can leave on up to ten minutes or until you see any irritation. I left mine on for five.

Then apply Step 2, the Neutralizer Pad, on top of the wet Activator Pad solution. This solution is more watery, and you should immediately rinse with water after rubbing this in. 

Here is the peel on my hand. My skin got a bit red but nothing hurt or stung.

I then applied the Evening Restorative Complex, which is supposed to soothe and improve skin texture and appearance. It is light and soaks into the skin quickly with a light almost aloe fragrance.

Here is my hand after rubbing in the Restorative Complex. Now I can't stop touching my hands! They are so so soft and hydrated and I had no negative reaction to this peel, so I am going to have a spa day and use it on my face for a nice glow. 

According to Exuviance, this peel can be used daily because it is that gentle and it retails for $52. It is definitely something I will look into when I see my skin starting to get more fine lines because I love the immediate results!

*Update* Have successfully used on face with fab results!!

And Exuviance is now carried at Ulta, or you can buy direct Here!

Have you taken the #PeelChallenge?

My Current Picks for Skin Woes!

When I need an at-home spa experience in a half hour or less...recently I have been turning to my Mario Badescu products.While I save for some higher end skincare, Clinique and Mario Badescu have kept my skin looking good for years. I was blessed with wonderful skin genes from my mom (thanks mom!), but the oily skin that has kept her wrinkle free and looking ten years younger than she is---has caused me acne and clogged pores.I use prescriptions topical medicine from my Dermatologist for my acne, and thankfully, over the years, my breakouts have become few and far between. That's the good news. The bad news is that I have acne scars, and since my skin is so fair, they are extremely noticeable.

To combat this, I have been using Mario Badescu's Whitening Mask on a weekly basis, and noticing a slight difference. The mask ($24 for 2 oz) smells slightly sweet and doesn't have Alpha Hydroxy Acids, which means it plays nice with any small breakouts on my skin and doesn't irritate. Licorice and Mulberry are gentle but slowly effective at diminishing my dark spots.

No, this is no miracle treatment, but I would rather have something that is gentle on my skin than something that strips it. With regular, gentle exfoliation and this, I've seen a difference in a month. 

It also tends to pull out a lot of gunk on my cheeks (where I use it), so it has a facial feel to it as well, which makes it better for oilier skin types. 

And while I am brightening...

I might as well un-clog those pesky pores on my nose!

Mario Badescu's Silver Powder ($12) is a tub full of pore-unclogging miracle powder, in my opinion. This can be used as a mask, a spot treatment, or my favorite--as a prep for extraction or pore strips.

I know pore strips aren't exactly the best for you---and I prefer careful, steamed extractions, but sometimes...what this does to a pore strip is extremely (and grossly) gratifying.

First of all, this jar will last you years...and years....

So, while I have my Whitening Mask slapped on my cheeks, I dip a wet cotton pad into the powder and spot it on my nose, forehead, and chin. It creates a paste that dries after 5-10 minutes.

It will look something like the above. Remove with warm water and viola--blackheads are diminished, pores are smaller, and oil is absorbed.

But---don't expect this to remove all of your blackheads. That is where the extractions or the pore strips come into play. This really loosens them up. If you choose to use a pore strip at this point, you are going to wonder why they never worked this well before. Seriously---results are rewarding to say the least.

And by the time the pore strip comes off or the extractions are done---I rinse of my whitening mask, and I feel like a glowy-rosy babe. 

And that has been my little skin regimen lately!

Do you like Mario Badescu products?

My Current Picks for Skin Woes!

When I need an at-home spa experience in a half hour or less...recently I have been turning to my Mario Badescu products. While I save for some higher end skincare, Clinique and Mario Badescu have kept my skin looking good for years. I was blessed with wonderful skin genes from my mom (thanks mom!), but the oily skin that has kept her wrinkle free and looking ten years younger than she is---has caused me acne and clogged pores. I use prescriptions topical medicine from my Dermatologist for my acne, and thankfully, over the years, my breakouts have become few and far between. That's the good news. The bad news is that I have acne scars, and since my skin is so fair, they are extremely noticeable.

To combat this, I have been using Mario Badescu's Whitening Mask on a weekly basis, and noticing a slight difference. The mask ($24 for 2 oz) smells slightly sweet and doesn't have Alpha Hydroxy Acids, which means it plays nice with any small breakouts on my skin and doesn't irritate. Licorice and Mulberry are gentle but slowly effective at diminishing my dark spots.

No, this is no miracle treatment, but I would rather have something that is gentle on my skin than something that strips it. With regular, gentle exfoliation and this, I've seen a difference in a month. 

It also tends to pull out a lot of gunk on my cheeks (where I use it), so it has a facial feel to it as well, which makes it better for oilier skin types. 

And while I am brightening...

I might as well un-clog those pesky pores on my nose!

Mario Badescu's Silver Powder ($12) is a tub full of pore-unclogging miracle powder, in my opinion. This can be used as a mask, a spot treatment, or my favorite--as a prep for extraction or pore strips.

I know pore strips aren't exactly the best for you---and I prefer careful, steamed extractions, but sometimes...what this does to a pore strip is extremely (and grossly) gratifying.

First of all, this jar will last you years...and years....

So, while I have my Whitening Mask slapped on my cheeks, I dip a wet cotton pad into the powder and spot it on my nose, forehead, and chin. It creates a paste that dries after 5-10 minutes.

It will look something like the above. Remove with warm water and viola--blackheads are diminished, pores are smaller, and oil is absorbed.

But---don't expect this to remove all of your blackheads. That is where the extractions or the pore strips come into play. This really loosens them up. If you choose to use a pore strip at this point, you are going to wonder why they never worked this well before. Seriously---results are rewarding to say the least.

And by the time the pore strip comes off or the extractions are done---I rinse of my whitening mask, and I feel like a glowy-rosy babe. 

And that has been my little skin regimen lately!

Do you like Mario Badescu products?

Essence Match2Cover! Cream Concealer Swatches and Review

Who doesn't love cheap thrills?Essence's Match2Color! Cream Concealer ($3) caught my eye the other day, as I am in a market for a new one and hey...you never know where you might find your HG!

This comes with a slightly darker (but still very fair) shade and a pinky, brightener shade. These are creamy, but need a little warming up, are on the drier side of formulation, and are buildable but sheer if you only apply one layer.

I like the idea of mixing and matching to create a custom concealer and this formula did not irritate my eyes or settle in any fine lines.

The texture is very natural, and blends into skin easily. However, this will not make my HG concealer list. It just doesn't cover all of my dark circles. This would be a great concealer/brightener for someone with very little under eye tiredness or circles, but unfortunately I have those problems in spades.

I really love the formula, and I might use this for concealing small blemishes, as it looks very natural, but this won't be for under eye (granted, it wasn't marketed for under eye...but I think most concealers should be able to work there).

Have you tried?

Essence Match2Cover! Cream Concealer Swatches and Review

Who doesn't love cheap thrills? Essence's Match2Color! Cream Concealer ($3) caught my eye the other day, as I am in a market for a new one and hey...you never know where you might find your HG!

This comes with a slightly darker (but still very fair) shade and a pinky, brightener shade. These are creamy, but need a little warming up, are on the drier side of formulation, and are buildable but sheer if you only apply one layer.

I like the idea of mixing and matching to create a custom concealer and this formula did not irritate my eyes or settle in any fine lines.

The texture is very natural, and blends into skin easily. However, this will not make my HG concealer list. It just doesn't cover all of my dark circles. This would be a great concealer/brightener for someone with very little under eye tiredness or circles, but unfortunately I have those problems in spades.

I really love the formula, and I might use this for concealing small blemishes, as it looks very natural, but this won't be for under eye (granted, it wasn't marketed for under eye...but I think most concealers should be able to work there).

Have you tried?

Clinique Superprimer Universal Face Primer Review

There has been a ton of buzz in the beauty world lately about the new Clinique Superprimers. Most of them have color-correcting abilities, but I chose the Universal Face Primer which is a milky white that goes on clear. If you can't decide what color you want, go for this one! 

 I am in love with this primer and have used it every day for the past month! Being in grad school and working a job means that I usually put in 12+ hour days. I needed something that was going to make my makeup last but not irritate my skin. Most primers with silicones do that, and even though this does have some, it is much gentler and I do not get that itchy mask feeling. 

 For $27, the tube isn't huge, but less than a dime size covers your whole face and primes you for makeup as well as adds a touch of moisture. Pores disappear and my makeup goes on smooth and stays during my crazy days. I have a 15 hour day recently and beyond blotting with some rice paper at lunch time, my makeup was flawless. People have been commenting about how good it looks too! 

 

The universal color is completely sheer and works a treat. If you have sensitive skin, Clinique is a brand you can trust and I am glad they are coming out with really functional products! Did you know that every time Clinique tests a new product, they test up to 600 women of all skin types and if even ONE has a sensitive reaction, they completely reformulate?!

 

What is your go-to primer?

  

Clinique Superprimer Universal Face Primer Review

There has been a ton of buzz in the beauty world lately about the new Clinique Superprimers. Most of them have color-correcting abilities, but I chose the Universal Face Primer which is a milky white that goes on clear. If you can't decide what color you want, go for this one!  

  I am in love with this primer and have used it every day for the past month! Being in grad school and working a job means that I usually put in 12+ hour days. I needed something that was going to make my makeup last but not irritate my skin. Most primers with silicones do that, and even though this does have some, it is much gentler and I do not get that itchy mask feeling.  

  For $27, the tube isn't huge, but less than a dime size covers your whole face and primes you for makeup as well as adds a touch of moisture. Pores disappear and my makeup goes on smooth and stays during my crazy days. I have a 15 hour day recently and beyond blotting with some rice paper at lunch time, my makeup was flawless. People have been commenting about how good it looks too!  

 

The universal color is completely sheer and works a treat. If you have sensitive skin, Clinique is a brand you can trust and I am glad they are coming out with really functional products! Did you know that every time Clinique tests a new product, they test up to 600 women of all skin types and if even ONE has a sensitive reaction, they completely reformulate?!

 

What is your go-to primer?

   

Resvology Age Corrective Eye Cream: Review

  Skincare alert!  **Press Sample. Powered by BrandBacker**Looking for an awesome eye cream with serious technology? Look no further than Resvology! 

 Recently, in conjunction with BrandBacker, Resvology sent me their Age Corrective Eye Cream to try, and after a week of testing it, I can safely say I love it!Although I am only in my early 20's, I am starting to see small lines around my eyes as well as very dark circles and some puffiness that is hereditary. This eye cream helps minimize all of these things and does so with serious, patented technology. 

 A little bit of history about Resvology: They have a huge cult celebrity following and some serious scientist pedigrees. The active molecule in this eye cream is called 4-AR Molecule and was founded after 8 years in a cancer research lab. It is proven to activate over 85 key skin related genes ---which obviously helps skin stay young looking! Sometimes my skin is sensitive, so I did a patch test of this on my hand, and then moved to my delicate eye area. Although it is too soon to start noticing any major differences, the eye cream is gentle, virtually fragrance free, does not irritate my eyes, I can use it every morning and night, and it has made my eye area smoother and firmer so far. This is great for my concealer application!They have also done some SERIOUS studies on this. In 28 days, study participants agreed 100% that fine lines and wrinkles were minimized, the eye area was firm, and it was hydrated. Awesome. I really appreciate thorough testing in skincare. 

 This product is also cruelty-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, tested by dermatologists, and does not contain parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, GMOs, Triclosan, or PhthalatesIt is a little on the pricey side at $89 a bottle but the tube is huge and it really is a great product. What are you waiting for? Panda Approved! Check them out here: http://www.resvology.com
http://www.facebook.com/Resvology   

Resvology Age Corrective Eye Cream: Review

    Skincare alert!    **Press Sample. Powered by BrandBacker** Looking for an awesome eye cream with serious technology? Look no further than Resvology!  

  Recently, in conjunction with BrandBacker, Resvology sent me their Age Corrective Eye Cream to try, and after a week of testing it, I can safely say I love it! Although I am only in my early 20's, I am starting to see small lines around my eyes as well as very dark circles and some puffiness that is hereditary. This eye cream helps minimize all of these things and does so with serious, patented technology.  

  A little bit of history about Resvology: They have a huge cult celebrity following and some serious scientist pedigrees. The active molecule in this eye cream is called 4-AR Molecule and was founded after 8 years in a cancer research lab. It is proven to activate over 85 key skin related genes ---which obviously helps skin stay young looking!   Sometimes my skin is sensitive, so I did a patch test of this on my hand, and then moved to my delicate eye area. Although it is too soon to start noticing any major differences, the eye cream is gentle, virtually fragrance free, does not irritate my eyes, I can use it every morning and night, and it has made my eye area smoother and firmer so far. This is great for my concealer application! They have also done some SERIOUS studies on this. In 28 days, study participants agreed 100% that fine lines and wrinkles were minimized, the eye area was firm, and it was hydrated. Awesome. I really appreciate thorough testing in skincare.  

  This product is also cruelty-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, tested by dermatologists, and does not contain parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, GMOs, Triclosan, or Phthalates It is a little on the pricey side at $89 a bottle but the tube is huge and it really is a great product. What are you waiting for?   Panda Approved!   Check them out here: http://www.resvology.com
http://www.facebook.com/Resvology      

Love + Toast Handcreams: Quick Review

Hey Pandas! Just want to show you one of my new favorite treats/brands available at Ulta! 

 Love + Toast is a new brand of bath/lotions that I am obsessed with. They have a fun/vintage/kitschy vibe of their packaging and smell heavenly. I recently picked up two scents in their handcream for $8 each. Their handcreams are formulated with shea, macademia, olive, and fruit butters and avocado and sunflower oil. They are super moisturizing and are paraben free as well as cruelty-free! I love it! Sugar Grapefruit (pink tube) is very fresh. You can really smell the grapefruit extract and it is slightly sweetened but not artificially, almost like the sugar-in-the raw smell. Delish! Honey Coconut (blue tube) is very light, a little floral, but it does have the distinct gourmand notes of honey and coconut. Try them out if you pass them in Ulta! 

Love + Toast Handcreams: Quick Review

Hey Pandas!   Just want to show you one of my new favorite treats/brands available at Ulta!  

  Love + Toast is a new brand of bath/lotions that I am obsessed with. They have a fun/vintage/kitschy vibe of their packaging and smell heavenly. I recently picked up two scents in their handcream for $8 each.   Their handcreams are formulated with shea, macademia, olive, and fruit butters and avocado and sunflower oil. They are super moisturizing and are paraben free as well as cruelty-free! I love it!   Sugar Grapefruit (pink tube) is very fresh. You can really smell the grapefruit extract and it is slightly sweetened but not artificially, almost like the sugar-in-the raw smell. Delish!   Honey Coconut (blue tube) is very light, a little floral, but it does have the distinct gourmand notes of honey and coconut.   Try them out if you pass them in Ulta!  

Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 40 Review

Even though I am only in my early 20's, I have learned that good skincare is worth every penny. Although I am not ready to invest in $300 eye cream just yet, I am loving Josie Maran's products because of their natural ingredients and because Argan oil does wonders for my acne-prone skin.

 

 

The Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer with Natural Broad Spectrum SPF 40 ($35) is a great daily moisturizer and skincare all in one, without any greasiness or odd smells typically associated with that high of a sunscreen. 

 This is marketed for all skin types and has Argan, Apricot, Jojoba, and Pomegranate oil along with Chamomile and Green Tea Extract and Aloe. So many good-for-you ingredients along with no parabens or synthetics and is vegan and cruelty free. 

 This is pump-style application and although is comes out white and a little watery, it does not leave a white cast on the skin, photographs just fine, and sinks into skin quickly. My only qualm with it is that I wish it were a bit easier to distribute all over my face, because the argan oil sucks into your skin so quickly (at least on my face). That isn't a deal breaker though, because you don't need a thick layer of this to get all of the benefits. Also, this may be common knowledge, but I tend to rub my eyes from allergies---don't do it with this! It will transfer from your face into your eyes and burn like sunscreen. Which is obvious, I know. So now I have to kick my habit of touching my face. But for this product, I think I can. I really love this moisturizer and I highly recommend it, especially for oily skin because argan oil does wonders to regulate that oil production and doesn't irritate acne. Panda Approved