Another month, another beauty favorites! Here are my May beauty favorites:
Showing posts with label Lancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lancer. Show all posts
6/1/15
3/12/15
A Serum For Everything
Serums is one of the most daunting skincare product categories. There are so many out there that it's hard to decide which one you may need. But the one thing I know for sure is that having one is probably not going to address all your concerns, at least it doesn't address all of mine. There are serums that can address various skin issues at once, but having a few serums with specific purposes really helps to round out my skincare and give my skin exactly what it needs. I find there are typically four categories of serums that I like to have on hand at all times. While I know that serums are more of an investment piece, they often last much longer than other skincare products so hopefully they can be acquired over time rather than all at once. Here are the four categories of serums I like to keep in my routine along with recommendations of my favorites.
1. Retexturizing Serums - These are the serums that help to refine the skin, address uneven texture and help minimize the appearance of pores - I think of them as my glow getting serums. They typically have some ingredient in them that exfoliates allowing for the dead skin to be sloughed away and for newer, brighter skin to shine through. Another benefit is their ability to decrease dark spots and hyperpigmentation, though not as well as a targeted treatment, but there can still be some effect. I also find that I have the best results with reducing breakouts when using these types of serums because if I'm exfoliating away the dead skin, it can't clog my pores. Yay! I've recently been using the Drunk Elephant Glycolic Night Serum and really enjoy the delicate yet effective exfoliation I get with it. I wake up the next morning and my skin is smooth, soft, refined and more even toned. It does tingle at first when I apply it, but that goes away after a few minutes. A few other serums that fall under this category that I enjoy are: Perricone Blue Plasma, Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment and Lancome Visionnaire.
2. Hydrating Serums - I find that the results from hydrating serums can overlap often with the results from anti-aging serums, because if the skin is well hydrated, it will look fresh, supple, radiant and youthful, right? I specifically like to have an intensely hydrating serum in my arsenal because though I am oily, my skin often gets dehydrated. I reach for these serums year round when my skin is irritated or sensitive, and they are perfect at helping to balance my skin and bring it back to baseline. The SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C is an intense treatment that I've recently discovered that delivers much of the same results as the iconic SK-II Facial Treatment Essence but just in a more concentrated formula. Some of my other favorite hydrating serums include Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum, Kate Somerville Quench Oil Free Serum, and Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Serum.
3. Anti-Aging Serums - This category of serums addresses numerous concerns such as fine lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. While many different serums could fall under the "anti-aging" umbrella, those that help to stimulate collagen production, and prompt cellular renewal and cell turnover are some of the biggest indicators of an anti-aging treatment. I like to use one in my routine when my skin seems to be losing it's tone and firmness. I am a huge fan of the Lancer The Method routine (read my review here), and many of his products are great for targeting anti-aging concerns. This Pure Youth Serum helps to stimulate the production of new cells and the regeneration of collagen - and never fails to really firm up my skin when I use it regularly. The other anti-aging serums that I have enjoyed are Verso Super Facial Serum, Clarins Double Serum and Sunday Riley Good Genes.
4. Hyperpigmentation Serums - I don't think there is a single person out there that does not struggle with some form of hyperpigmentation. Either from old acne scars, age spots, sun damage or hormonal issues - it affects everyone. Sadly once the spots arrive, it is incredibly hard to get rid of them unless you bring out the big guns. Serums like Murad's Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum tend to be the most effective because they make use of strong ingredients such as hydraquinone to help lighten those spots. I've been using the Murad serum for years now and find that it does wonders with my pigmentation issues. It works on any skin tone from fair to dark and is a product I regularly hear about from my readers praising it's effectiveness. I don't have too many other serums that work as effectively as the Murad but here are some worth considering if the Murad doesn't work - Verso Dark Spot Fix and Peter Thomas Roth De-Spot Plus.
Shop other serums:
12/1/14
Lancer: The Method
I don't tend to be a skincare "system" gal. Heck, it's a lot if I use more than one product from the same line in my nightly routine. It's not that I'm against it, but I do love to try various products and mixing and matching from different lines allows me to get a sense of each brand. But after reading about the Lancer method that is designed to transform skin and create the legendary "Lancer glow", I was willing to try it. Who am I to pass up a chance to achieve the ultimate glow?
There are three products in Dr. Lancer's cult classic Method - the Polish exfoliator, the Cleanser and the Nourish moisturizer. Of course I didn't stick to only the three steps for my entire routine, but I did make these three the main staples of my routine while going through the testing phase.
1. Polish - This is the first step in the Lancer Method and may seem a bit odd to start with an exfoliator. But Dr. Lancer believes this step removes surface debris while helping infuse the skin with oxygen. Since I was not confident of it's full ability to remove my makeup, I still started with my trusty makeup wipes (currently using these and these). But immediately after, I dove right into the Polish step. As you can see from the above picture, the Polish (right swatch) is a very small granular scrub in a milky, gel base. You only need a drop to cover the entire face, but as soon as you begin working the polish into the skin it wakes you right up. It manages to be an intense yet gentle scrub that really blew most of my face scrubs out of the water. I actually stood in the mirror touching my face for a minute after because it felt as if my skin was transformed - almost as if it wasn't skin anymore. THAT is how soft it felt. I was excited to move on to the next step.
2. Cleanse - Upon initially feeling the cleanser, it has a lightweight gel texture and I was afraid it would be bubbles central (and I am not a fan of too many bubbles on my face). Thankfully, it felt a bit more like a soft milk or balm and hardly foamed on my face. The cleanser made my skin feel extremely refreshed and cool, yet after I had rinsed it off there was no sense of tightness, dryness or discomfort. The Cleanse step is designed to remove any remaining impurities and balance the skin's pH levels. My skin did in fact feel incredibly balanced and clean, and if I was stuck on a desert island with no moisturizer, my face actually would feel fine after these two steps. That's a rare feeling for me since so many times, my face is desperate for moisturizer after cleansing. It was truly a testament to how well these two cleansers worked together.
3. Nourish - The final step in the Lancer Method is the Nourish moisturizer. The texture is incredibly rich, yet oddly feels as if nothing is on your skin from the moment you apply it. My skin soaked it up immediately and what's left is balanced, soft and glowing skin. I didn't think it was possible to really see a difference with using a "system" style skincare routine, but I can't deny the results. My skin really enjoyed the three steps used together. I would still throw in an eye cream daily (currently using this essence followed by this cream) and a serum when I felt like it, but for the most part these three products did the job quite nicely. And boy did my skin glow. Like "what have you done to your skin and where can I get it" kind of glow that everyone seemed to notice. And I was all "oh this? I just woke up like this." *wink, wink* I wanted to keep the mystery going just for a bit, but I figured its selfish to keep the glow getting secrets to myself, I suppose.
*pr samples included
Have you tried the Lancer Method? What are your thoughts?
5/23/14
Summer Skin Prep
Though my skin turns into nothing short of alligator hide during the winter season, I don't take as many steps necessary to keep it hydrated as I do during the spring/summer. Probably because my arms and legs are hidden under 15,000 layers in the colder months, which can make me lazy. But all bets are off in the warmer months since limbs are exposed every day and a sundress with scaly legs or ashy elbows is never a cute look. My summer skin prep has already begun and I have a few new products I am using this year mixed with a classic staple that never leaves my shower.
1. Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash - Probably one of the longest relationships I've ever had is with this body wash. I actually can't remember a time when I have not used it - it's that good. Many different body washes have tried to infiltrate my shower, but none have lasted. That's because this one is gentle yet effective, unscented and incredibly nourishing on the skin. Oddly enough, this was recommended to me by my gynecologist because it was safe enough to be used anywhere on the body (even on one's lady parts - yes, I said lady parts), and would not irritate. I am not consistent with most skincare and makeup that I use because I love to try new things, but this is one product that I will never stray from. We are in it for the long haul.
2. Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Sugar Scrub* - "It's a body scrub, and it exfoliates. The end." - is what I thought I would say after using this scrub. Boy was I in for a surprise. I actually said "Wow" after my first use, and consider it one of the best scrubs I have ever used. The texture is incredibly thick, almost like honey which makes it a bit more of a challenge to rub in, but as the product is massaged in, it warms up and begins to turn into a liquid. Sugar is more healing than salt so my skin always feels nourished and soothed after. Oh, and it smells like creme brulee. YUM, now I want a cupcake.
3. REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Oil - If the immediate absorption doesn't lure you in, then the scent will. I find that when using this I rarely need perfume, and the delicate rose scent is pleasant without being overpowering. I use this in the morning because it dries quickly and allows me to get dressed almost immediately. No residue is left and my skin feels incredible.
4. Tatcha Indigo Soothing Silk Body Butter - While the REN body oil is perfect for day time, I tend to like something a bit more rich at night. I have seen this Tatcha body cream all over Instagram and I just had to try for myself. And now I know why everyone is loving it - it is pure decadence, yet extremely effective. Designed for all skin types, especially sensitive and those with eczema, rosacea or dermatitis, this helps to immediately soothe my skin, and any skin irritation is immediately calmed. This will definitely stay with me into the winter season.
5. Lancer The Method: Body Nourish* - I had a chance recently to attend a fall launch preview at Bergdorf Goodman and this one from Dr. Lancer was quite unique. It is a body cream containing glycolic acid which helps to exfoliate the skin. I use this once or twice a week in conjunction with my Laura Mercier body scrub and find that the combination of the two have helped keep my skin smoother than it has ever been. An added benefit that I found once I began using this body cream was how even toned my skin began to look especially on my arms, chest and back. While I have always loved using glycolic acid on my face, I never truly made the connection that I would have the same results if used on the rest of my body. Duh, clearly not my brightest moment. Keep your eyes peeled for fall when this launches - it is worth a try!
* press sample
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