beauty - back to basics

I remember with much regret the acne that marred my face in college, and I remember the feelings of insecurity, frustration, and anxiety it caused.  And I remember one girl in my dorm who had picture-perfect skin - skin that today we recognize in magazines as airbrushed to perfection.  This girl, however, had the real deal.  I saw her washing her face in the women's shower room one day, and I instantly turned into Nancy Drew, trying to investigate the face wash I was sure was the miracle ingredient for her perfect skin I so admired.  After craning my neck around the corner - Cetaphil.  Good old available-at-WalMart Cetaphil.  I was half thrilled and half disappointed.  I was on prescription face wash, lotion, and acne medicine at the time, and it blew my mind that Cetaphil could work so well for someone when I was spending all my money at the dermatologist.  

Older now and slightly less acned, I know that the college girl was most likely 95% blessed with amazing skin, and her face would have been unblemished with or without Cetaphil.  But in the 12 years  since college, I've tried a lot of cleansers, only to come back to Cetaphil recently.  I was looking thru popular YouTube videos, and saw Miss Maven's video on her new, simplified skincare routine.  I've been looking for less expensive products recently, as I'm drawing near the end of my Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser, and I'm not up to spending the money to repurchase.  I figured I might as well give the 'ol Cetaphil standby a try, as it most likely wouldn't do any harm to my skin or my pocketbook.  

It's been a bit over a week since I made the Cetaphil switch, and I have no complaints.  Of course any product trial takes time, but I'm excited so far to have a budget-friendly alternative to the expensive washes I've been using over the years.  I smile at the sweet irony that after going around and around, I'm back to where it all began.

Out With the Old; In With the...Old(er)

scores & horrors

This week’s scores are no surprise – they’re already top-selling, name-brand products from Revlon that users swear by.  But, my horror with one of them comes from a problem in usage and wear that I’ve heard few comment on.

Revlon’s ColorBurst Lip Butters are sheer, wearable, flattering lipsticks that women are buying up everywhere.  I’m a huge fan – I keep one of at least eight shades I own stashed in every bag I own. 

BUT! A few of the shades that run on the creamier side (usually the ones without shimmer) mushy-mash all over the tube, my lips, and whatever surface they collide with (like a lip brush).  For example, my favorite 60s beach bunny shade Strawberry Shortcake has been exposed to no harsh melt-inducing elements, yet last Saturday, it smashed itself into a nice pile in the middle of my lips.  In public.  It’s still usable-ish, but I have to apply it gingerly and away from a crowd.  This completely detracts from what’s normally so great about these products – the “firm” shades that don’t mush are super-simple to swipe on the lips on-the-go and without a mirror. 

I’m still a fan, but just a word of caution.  These little bargain beauties can create quite a mess.

They’re even better topped with a swipe of score #2 – Revlon’s ColorBurst Lip Gloss .  The clear Crystal Water shade adds a clean pop of shimmer over any lipstick making lips appear fuller and softer.

Helpful reviews and tips on color selection can be found on Makeup Alley.

Beautifully Simple,

Nicole @ Vanity Cosmetics

back off! beauty

Oh, my.  I sit staring a bit harder at my face today because I was pressured into buying a $40 product I'm pretty sure I didn't need when I went to a large chain cosmetics store yesterday.  And while I can return the product if it doesn't live up to the hype, what lead to me buying this item distressed me. 

Salesperson #1: "Excuse me? Can I just do something - can you come here?" (Proceeds to wipe/blend my foundation into my jawline in a more efficient manner).  "OK - that's a bit better."

Salesperson #2: "Do you have time for me to redo your makeup? I can totally take care of whatever mess that's, like, happening with all this."  (Gestures to indicate she's talking about my whole face).

Salesperson #3: "What face cleanser are you using? Cause, girl, we can totally work with what's going on, like, here."  (Additional gesturing to my face).

Salesperson #4:  "Oh! What blush are you using today??"

Me: (Reply with name of cream blush).

Salesperson #4: "Oh! Well, when I wear too much streaky blush like that, I totally use this product to, like, tone it down and make it look better."

Hell. 

OK, people.  You got me.  I figure I must look like a hot-mess troll, and I take Salesperson #4's product, put back the two products I actually went into the store for, and shuffle my way to the register, self-esteem at a negative-4 code-red. 

I get I was having a bad beauty day, but I don't get how these people's sales techniques were considered helpful or effective. Rather, the next time I go into this store, I'm sure to be head-down, no eye contact ever. 

I talked about the difference in makeup-counter department-style stores in an article I wrote for Vanity Cosmetics, and my words rang even truer today.  I have never seen or experienced high-pressure sales at Vanity Cosmetics, nor have I ever been insulted into buying products I didn't want or need. 

So quick reminders, ladies - 1) keep your heads held high, especially when untrained salespeople heap on the pressure to guilt you into buying products; 2) there's often good reasons why professional salon experiences are worth the extra drive and price you pay.  

Here's the product I bought.  Cheers to hoping it can help with this hot mess of a face I'm carrying around.