BellaSugar

Reader Review of the Day: Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser

BellaSugar — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:00:35 -0700

I love Burt's Bees, but given how essential oils like orange can affect my skin, I was hesitant to try its Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser ($8). Reader a million suns, however, actually saw her skin irritation go down when she used the product. She says:

"My skin has been extremely sensitive and reactive lately-and always fairly dry, since I live in Nevada-and every time I'd use my Neutrogena cleanser, my face would look red and blotchy. Then I picked up this cleanser at the store and gave it a try. No redness, no blotchiness, nada. Plus, my skin felt totally refreshed. It is a little bit thick, but all I have to do is mix it with water (squeeze a nickel-sized amount onto your hand, run it under the faucet, rub your hands together) to get it to spread easily. Plus, I love the orange scent!"

New cleanser you're crazy about? Thinking about making a switch and want to know what other people think? Then our Product Reviews pages are the place to be! You can see reviews of more than 50,000 products, and write some of your own.

Reader Review of the Day: Garnier Nutritioniste Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:00:15 -0800

There are many makeup removers on the market, from soap to soap-free to creams to towelettes. Recently, reader JaimeLeah526 tried one of the towelette variety. Garnier Nutritioniste's Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes - Oil Free ($5) supposedly remove mascara, too. But did it work for JaimeLeah526? Here's what she had to say:

"I'm a huge fan of makeup remover wipes in general, but I have to say these were amazing. They have the signature scent of the rest of the Nutritioniste line that I love and they didn't sting my face. They remove even waterproof mascara and my skin felt clean and soft after I finished. They were refreshing and cooling and I would highly recommend these, especially on a hot summer night."

Would you like the chance to be featured on this daily post? All you have to do is head over to our Product Reviews website and submit your opinion. Right now, by writing just three reviews per week, you could be entered in our contest to win a $500 gift certificate from Benefit Cosmetics. The more beauty opinions you write, the more entries you'll receive. It's worth a shot!

Reader Review of the Day: Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:00:11 -0800

Philosophy's Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser ($32) is marketed as a deep pore cleanser, makeup remover, and toner. Whew, that means there should be high expectations on a product like this, right? So when reader Leafgirl said it was "the best," I wanted to hear more. This is what she had to say:

"My sister is a spa and salon buyer for a high end resort so we have tried lots of cleansers. This is by far the best, and I don't mean just in this price range. [It] cuts through any and all makeup without leaving your skin dry and tight. Cetaphil leaves my skin feeling over moisturized [and] other cleansers make me red, dry, and blotchy. Purity cleans and soothes - love it. I think my husband has been using it when I'm not looking."

If you'd like the opportunity to be featured on this daily post, here's how it's done. Simply head over to our Product Reviews website and submit your opinion. Don't forget that by writing just three reviews per week, you could be entered in our contest to win a $500 gift certificate from Benefit Cosmetics. The more beauty opinions you write, the more entries you'll receive. Good luck!

Chanel Kick-Starts Fall With a Few New Face Products

BellaSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:00:52 -0700

The busy bees in Chanel's laboratories have been very busy with their Précision skincare range. A few new cleansers and face toners are aimed at removing dirt, grease, makeup and all of the other environmental pollutants and impurities that wreak havoc on your skin during the course of the day.

Chanel has decided to incorporate phytoremediation - the process of using plants to help absorb pollutants into this new line of cleansers and toners. The main ingredient is tulip tree extract, a waxy substance that promises to trap the unwanted particles and filter them out.

There are three different product sets that have been developed to suit each of the different skin types. Confort consists of a foaming mousse cleanser, a cleansing milk and a toner that contains lily extract to moisturize, soothe and tone sensitive skin. Balance includes a foaming cleanser and gentle toner with mallow extract, a smoothing and softening ingredient for normal to combination skin. Lastly, Purity consists of a gel cleanser and mattifying toner made with meadow-sweet extract, a flower with astringent properties that is best suited for combination to oily skin.

I've tried all of the cleansers and for my sensitive and combination skin, I really love Lait Confort (cleansing milk) the most. Its thin and gentle consistency leaves my skin feeling soft and fresh without any trace of irritation. Plus, it has a wonderfully light floral scent that sticks around even after you wash your face. To find out the names and the cost of each of the products, read more.

Comfort

Mousse Confort Rinse-Off Foaming Mousse Cleanser ($45)

Lait Confort Creamy Cleansing Milk ($45)

Lotion Confort Silky Soothing Toner ($45)

Balance

Mousse Douceur Rinse-Off Foaming Mousse Cleanser ($45)

Lotion Douceur Gentle Hydrating Toner ($45)

Purity

Gel Puretè Rinse-Off Foaming Gel Cleanser ($45)

Lotion Puretè Fresh Mattifying Toner ($45)

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Hold the Foam!

BellaSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:00:47 -0700

I wonder if the rise in coffee shops that serve frothy-topped cappuccinos and lattes is what's causing this sudden boom in cleansing foams. OK, it's a stretch, but Philosophy has just come out with a new version of its best-selling face wash called Purity Made Simple High-Foaming Daily Cleanser ($21.50 - $34.50).

This light and thin (it's almost watery-looking) liquid cleanser comes out of the pump in a surprisingly lush and sudsy consistency. It has a fresh and slightly floral scent and contains tocotrienol, a more powerful version of vitamin E, for soothing purposes. What it doesn't contain anymore is sodium lauryl sulfate - hooray!

My favorite part is that it's strong-acting, but you don't have that awful, tight feeling on your skin after you wash it off. Instead, your face is clean, soothed, and soft. Also, it's suitable for all skin types. I have sensitive skin and it didn't cause any irritations for me. Do you think you'd be into checking out this new self-foaming cleanser?

A Philosophical Approach To Shine-Free Skin

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:20 -0700

Brand-new from Philosophy is a range of mattifying skincare products called Never Let Them See You Shine. Each of the three items aim to cut down sebum production and reduce the look of oily skin, while leaving your face feeling refreshed. The light blue formulas have a minty, sea-inspired scent and are best suited for those with oily and acne-prone sensitive skin.

After trying everything out, I really liked the way my face reacted to the scrub the best. It's thick, but it spreads easily and the beads are smooth as opposed to feeling grainy and rough - so they don't irritate your skin. Plus, the menthol is the strongest in the scrub; after you wash it off, your face feels soft, smooth and cool.

For an up-close look at each of the products, read more.
Oil And Shine Control Cleanser ($20) gently breaks down deep-seeded dirt and grime in your pores without drying out your skin. It leaves your face feeling moisturized, clean and thanks to some added menthol, also a little bit tingly (in a good way).

Oil And Shine Control Scrub ($20) helps remove dead skin cells with the help from small blue polishing beads. To use, simply massage a little bit into your skin in small circles for one minute and then rinse with lukewarm water.

Oil And Shine Control Velvet Touch Primer ($20) is a mattifying pre-foundation, pre-powder primer that helps keep your face looking dry and oil-free all day long. It also calms, soothes and eases any redness and inflammation. It has a super-soft texture that leaves skin ultra smooth and helps reduce the look of large pores.

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DIY Spa Treatment: A Botanical Face Wash

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:22 -0700

This DIY gentle facial cleanser recipe takes just minutes to put together yet leaves your face feeling soft, hydrated, and clean. Since it contains thyme (a puffiness reducer) your skin will look calmer and less irritated. I tweaked it to add ingredients that tone and tighten. Although this cleanser won't lather, I guarantee you'll feel it working. Here's what you'll need:

1/2 Tbsp of dried thyme

a few small shavings of fresh ginger

2 tsp crushed fennel seeds

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 lemon, juiced (and take out the seeds)

To find out how to concoct this invigorating botanical face wash at home, read more.

STEP 1: Boil the water in a kettle and then pour it into a pot. Mix in the thyme, the ginger, and the fennel seeds and then cover the pot.
STEP 2: Next, add the lemon juice and let it sit, covered for 10 to fifteen minutes.
STEP 3: Then, strain the mixture so that the seeds, fennel, ginger, and lemon remnants don't make it to the final product. Pour the liquid into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator in between uses.

Source

What's Your Preferred Type of Facial Cleanser?

BellaSugar — Sat, 24 May 2008 06:00:07 -0700

With so many cleansers on the market, it can be difficult to decide what to use on a daily basis. I like a gentle cleansing milk on my sensitive skin in the mornings, and in the evenings I switch between a hydrating cleansing balm and a gel cleanser. It seems like a lot of products, but because of my occupation, I'm lucky enough to have these options at my disposal. If you could only use one type of cleanser, what would it be?

An Introduction to Oil-Based Cleansers

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:39 -0700

I know what you're thinking: slather oil on my face? Are you nuts?

Not so fast. There's a good explanation for the existence of oil-based cleansers, I promise. Quick chemistry refresher: like attracts like, which means the oil in an oil-based cleanser bonds with and dissolves the oil and grime on your face. This means they can work for all skin types, even oily skin, since they remove oil without over-drying the way detergent-based cleansers can.

Oil-based cleansers are also useful for removing makeup, since most makeup contains oil. The best way to know which method of cleansing gets your face the most sparkling clean is to take one of these for a test drive. There is a slight risk of pore-clogging side effects, but that is usually from the non-oil ingredients, or from not rinsing them off fully. For a few shopping ideas, read more.

DHC's version ($11–$24) has a cult following, as does Shu Uemura's version. (That one wasn't for me, though - I broke out.) I had great luck with Laura Mercier Cleansing Oil Light ($40). Even though it is pricey, you only need a dime-sized drop to get the job done, and it removes makeup so thoroughly that there is no need for an additional makeup remover. For a few more shopping options, browse this widget.

Decleor Cleansing Oil, Face & Eyes - $36.00	L'Occitane - Almond Apple Cleansing Oil - 6.7 oz. - $22.00
Kanebo Sensai Silky Purifiying Cleansing Oil - $50.00	Amore Pacific Treatment Cleansing Oil - $50.00
Sekkisei Seikisho Perfecting Cleansing Oil - $28.00	Shiseido Ultimate Cleansing Oil - $23.00
Nude CLEANSING FACIAL OIL - $52.00	shu uemura Skin Purifier High Performance Cleansing Oil Enriched - $28.00

How To Treat Mild Acne Vulgaris

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:00:46 -0700

I kicked off my series on acne by helping you identify your acne type with this quiz. Now that you know what ails you, it's time to talk about what you can do to help clear up your skin.

Keep in mind, no matter how severe you think your acne is, the best way to start treating it is with the mildest products, working your way gradually towards stronger ones until you find what your skin responds to the best. No need to jump right into retinoids when a gentle cleanser will do!

First up are product and treatment options for those of you with mild acne vulgaris. As a reminder, this is the most mild form of acne, consisting of mostly non-inflamed lesions such as blackheads and small whiteheads. These can pop up anywhere, but they are typically found on your nose, forehead, and chin. If this describes your acne, read more.

Gentle Cleanser What many people don't realize is that you might be over-treating your acne with a too-harsh cleanser. So if you've been struggling to clear up mild acne and have tried everything, it might be time to get back to basics with a cleanser like Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser ($8). This dermatologist favorite is known for its ability to gently remove dirt and oils from your skin without over drying. Try shelving those harsh cleansers and giving Cetaphil a two-to-three- week run, and see if it helps calm and clear up your skin.
Benzoyl Peroxide If gentle cleansing alone doesn't work, it might be a good idea to add a topical benzoyl peroxide cream or gel to your routine. Benzoyl peroxide blasts your pores with oxygen, killing acne-causing bacteria and clearing your pores of cellular debris. It is available in concentrations from 2.5% to 10%, but if your acne is mild, you should not need higher than a 2.5% concentration. Because of the possible side effects of overdrying, flakiness, and irritation, always start with the lowest concentration and work your way up if it's not working. This also gives your skin the opportunity to get used to the ingredient, which can help reduce side effects. Try a product like this 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream. It worked wonders on my skin, and it's cheap, too.
Salicylic Acid This ingredient comes in many forms, from cleansers to creams to spot treatments. Salicylic acid works by sloughing off pore-clogging dead skin cells, preventing them from causing pimples. Because of this, it can be very drying and irritating, especially if used in excess. Concentrations vary from 0.5% to 2%, and as with benzoyl peroxide, it is best to start with the lowest concentration you can find and work your way up. If your lesions are spread out or abundant, try it in a cleanser form, like this Neutrogena Oil Free Power Foam Wash ($6). A spot treatment like Nature's Gate Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment ($10) is a better choice if you have only a few blemishes or infrequent breakouts.

A couple important things to keep in mind. First, you shouldn't use salicylic acid in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide. If your skin does not respond to a round of treatment with either, it might be time to seek other options. Also, if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, consult your doctor before trying a new acne treatment. Let me know if anyone has had luck with any of these options, and stay tuned for my treatment suggestions for moderate to severe acne.