beauty - cleansing an oil slick

I've always thought the term "combination skin" is a joke.  Since that's the category I allegedly fit into, I  often find it maddening that I suspect many companies don't really know what to do with combo skin.  I guess they make hydrating products that won't dry me out?  I'm pretty sure being dubbed combination skin is the beauty industry's way to say "Bummer. Sucks for you."  

Over time, I've come to find that combination skin needs the TLC that comes from the most unlikely of places - more oil (aka moisture).  Adding selective but intense moisture to combo skin not only helps the dry patches, but it also helps balance the oily patches, helping them to neutralize.  

But, mercy, it's completely counter-intuitive to put heaps of oil on top of skin that's mostly already oily! 

To start my slick skincare journey, I first dabbled in Shu Eumura Cleansing Oil.  I was an idiot, and I tried this product while traveling for work - never a good time to change one's skincare routine, but hey - free samples travel well, so I gave it a whirl.  And....cystic acne.  Fancy! Came home, switched back, got a facial or two, and swore off cleansing oils.  

Then Dermstore sent me their adorable little sample packets with a purchase recently, and inside was DHC Cleansing Oil.  I'm just too much of a sucker for free products, so I gave it a try and crossed my fingers.  

And I was completely pleased with the results.  And I still am.  

I know and completely understand this product has mixed reviews, and it tends to fall into the "love or hate" category, and that can scare off buyers.  The horror stories are pretty bad.  But! The success stories, of which I'm one, are worth getting a small bottle of this and giving it a try.  Overall, I've found that cleansing and removing make up with an oil-based cleanser helps balance my skin - both oily parts and dry. And, it's a great feeling knowing that my face is seriously clean and makeup-free when I go to bed.  Deeply cleansed pores alone helps skin's tone, texture, and clarity. 

Added bonus? When I switched away from my previous glycolic cleanser to the DHC, I reduced a bit of the scarring that popped/picked breakouts caused due to the ingredients in glycolics.  

One more bonus! The DHC can be used as a makeup remover for stubborn eye makeup, too, so just dab an extra drop onto ring fingers and gently massage onto eyes.  You can save on whatever eye makeup remover you're currently using, or at least use a lot less of it. 

Note - I use the DHC once a day - at night.  As it's designed to be a deep cleanser, there's little need to use it in the morning, too. 

Beautifully Simple,

Nicole @ Vanity Cosmetics

beauty & the budget - drugstore foundation

I had two things against me when I read that CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous was a good drugstore foundation.  One, I've hated CoverGirl since I was about 12 and their lipgloss disappointed me by drying out my lippies.  Two, I ventured into the world of drugstore foundation with Revlon ColorStay about six months ago, and the end result was cystic acne so bad, I had to buy expensive CoverBlend by Exuviance, which is basically medical-grate, tattoo-covering foundation, just to hide the horror caused by Revlon.  

Thus, I wasn't thrilled to try CoverGirl (again). 

But I did.  

And after 2-3 weeks of wear, I am genuinely surprised to say that this is a solid drugstore foundation, and I find myself going to it more than my Makeup Forever HD Foundation (mostly cause I'm cheap, and I count the dollars I'm pumping out whenever I use foundation over $30).  

It's matte, it doesn't settle (much) into fine lines, and it does really last a minimum of 8-10 hours - more if you add a primer (though it claims to contain one) and set it with powder.   Irrespective of wear, plan on setting it with a light dusting of powder, anyway, as it helps to create a more polished look. 

It's main drawback, I've found, is it can be drying, and it does't wear as well on dryer skin.  I have dryness on my forehead and some eczema around my eyebrows (facial dandruff, anyone?), and it can highlight these issues quite a bit.  (This is lead me to pouring argan oil on my face at nite religiously).  

Other than the dryer texture, it's more than worth a try - I suspect it may become a new favorite of many.  With most drugstore products, it's pretty hard to find a good color match in the middle of WalMart, so buy @ a place with a decent return policy like Ulta (coupon!!) or WalMart. 

And then smile knowing you look pretty fancy for under $10. 

Beautifully Simple, 

Nicole @ Vanity Cosmetics