If you're looking to get rid of leftover blemishes and unsightly dark spots, microdermabrasion is an effective option. But if you can't make it to the med spa to blast discoloration away, you can also do it in your own home. We tried out the Personal Microderm, a new gadget that claims to amp up your complexion by getting rid of hyperpigmentation and leaving skin baby-soft. Does it work? Find out in today's beauty review! On Kirbie: H&M.
It's never a bad thing to take time out to pamper yourself, and Hydroxatone's Revitalizing Microdermabrasion ($40) allows you to do just that and more. Sure, the creamy exfoliant sloughs away dullness and fine lines, leaving skin looking more even, radiant, and smooth. It's the way it invigorates and massages the skin, however, that will have you oohing and ahhing. Think of it like a minifacial moment, sans the scratchy texture at-home microdermabrasion kits often possess. Sesame seed oil softens, and antioxidants help to keep environmental aggressors off your mug. How about that for some clarity?
Earlier this month, facialist Marc Edward told us that scrubs actually make your skin worse. Exfoliation, though, is important for keeping your skin clear, your pores small, and your cell turnover high. So what's a woman to do? There are actually tons of different ways to slough skin gently and effectively, and different varieties work for different ages and skin types. To get the lowdown on what different exfoliants do and to find out which one is the best match for your needs, just keep reading.
The quarterlife crisis has become a topic of much cultural ridicule as Gen-Y struggles to define itself in increasingly difficult times and this weekend your editor will confront that milestone herself. Your editor will be celebrating her twenty fifth this weekend (we plan to let Diesel take care of our party as our special day coincides with their XXX birthday) and we admit that we are finally starting to be concerned with aging. We still feeling our wunderkind years and frankly we would like to keep it that way. Thus we have decided on a strict regime of beauty's most tried and true wrinkle creams. RoC is the gold standard and we are sticking with it. After all if we are going to weather this crisis its best to stick with the best.
Reader missy k is obsessed with finding a microdermabrasion treatment that will make skin, as she puts it, "as smooth as a shiny new egg." I was excited to hear about her experience with Kiehl's Re-Texturizing Microdermabrasion ($40). I'll turn it over to her for the full scoop:
Formulated with "diatomatious earth," which is apparently made from "crushed microshells derived from ocean sand," as well as aluminum oxide crystals (the stuff used by dermatologists to perform real microdermabrasion treatments). Over time, it tells me, it will reduce lines, refine texture, diminish pores, and instantly impart miraculous softness. Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all before.
To see what missy k thought of the product, read more
Ah, I remember the first microdermabrasion treatment I ever had. Truthfully, I was scared that the blast of crystals would hurt, so I braced myself. Fortunately, though, I didn't feel any pain, and the result — glowy, dewy-looking skin — made me understand the hype. Unfortunately, though, I don't have an extra $100 in my monthly budget for microdermabrasion.
Enter Crystalift. It's a compact version of professional microdermabrasion machines, and it's meant for at-home treatments. It's very simple to use: You just plug it in, drop in a packet of microfine crystals, and turn it on. When you move the wand across your face, Crystalift blasts the crystals on your skin, leaving a slight residue so you can track which parts of your face you've already covered. The treatment takes less than 10 minutes.
To find out how well Crystalift works, read more
It looks like affordable at-home microdermabrasion kits were the big winners of the beauty breakthrough category for 2007. I am surprised about this one since I thought for sure that Botox and zit-zapping gadgets like Zeno and ThermaClear were far more popular — but the stats don't lie.
I actually just received Nature's Gate Organics Microdermabrasion Skin Refining Kit $38.50 as a gift and you guys have just really pumped me up to try it out. Since at-home microdermabrasion kits have won 26% of you over, can you tell me what your favorite brands are?
When a box of JamieO skin care arrived on my desk, I couldn't open it at first. Y'see, the packaging is gorgeous. It's a dove-gray and pink box, tied up in a beautiful pink ribbon. Who wants to ruin that prettiness? Eventually, I opened it and found a beautiful glass jar and tube of product nestled inside.
GiggleSugar offered to try out the Crystal Radiance Microdermabrasion System ($75), so I sent her home with it. The next day, she was beaming. Check out her review:
The JamieO Microdermabrasion System came in two parts: a jar of "Crystal Radiance" exfoliator cream and a "Bioactivator" liquid you're supposed to put on top. Following the instructions, I lightly scrubbed the exfoliator cream onto my face for a minute, avoiding my eyes. It had a wonderful orange citrus smell and I loved the non-wimpy exfoliator crytstals—they were the right size and were in the right concentration for the cream. (I hate when an exfoliator is mostly cream and I can barely feel the grains.)
After a minute, I applied the Bioactivator liquid to the top of the grains, lightly rubbing it in until it foamed. The instructions said to wait for two minutes and then to rinse off. My skin felt so soft afterward, and the roughness I had felt around my jaw was gone. I've never used other microdermabrasion systems before (I've only done over-the-counter peels), but the result from a texture standpoint felt comparable. I would use this again; I felt like I was pampering myself, my skin felt smoother, and my makeup went on easier.
She's sold on it, and although I haven't tried it, I like the fact that it smells good. I've been using dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion in a Jar, and while it's all right, Mr. Bella is right when he says it reeks of Pledge. So there you go. Another product I've gotta put on my list—or at least one that I need to borrow from Giggle.
Another Thursday, another Beauty Blooper! This one comes from an anonymous reader who was brave enough to share her story:
"Help me, BellaSugar! I went to the drugstore and purchased an over-the-counter chemical peel that left my face burning. My skin was very red and blotchy. The best analogy I can think of is that I resembled Samantha from the Sex and the City episode, "Plus One is The Loneliest Number." It's the one where she decides to get a chemical peel before Carrie's book launch.
"After three days, it started to heal but it was still very sensitive, and I wouldn't dream of going outside in the sun. I found that cold compresses and the gel from a natural aloe plant were very soothing, but nothing else seemed to help. One thing's for sure: I'm not getting a chemical peel again anytime soon, unless it's done by a professional."
Solution: If you haven't tried a strong treatment before, do a small patch test to see how your skin will react. If your face is burning, you can also try an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory cream such as Topricin (or really any anti-redness cream) since they contain calming agents. Also, if you'd like to cover up the blotchiness, use mineral makeup since it's natural and it won't clog your pores. To read about more unfortunate beauty bloopers, click here.
Before I tried microdermabrasion, I worried that it would hurt. It didn't, and my skin looked great! When I felt how soft and smooth it was, I wondered why I hadn't done it sooner. This is one treatment that lives up to the hype.
Unfortunately, I can't afford monthly treatments—but I can afford RoC's at-home microdermabrasion disks. At just ten bucks a package, they're an affordable alternative to going to the spa each month. To find out how they work, read more
