Review: Shiseido The Skincare line

I've been using this line mainly in the winter months when the air in San Diego is dry. I started using this in my mid 20s when I noticed that I had very dry skin under my eyes and cheeks. Here is my take on each product I've had experience with.

Hydro-Nourishing Softener: Good for re-hydrating very dry skin. I think this is suppose to act as a wet lotion or toner. It definitely softened my skin after application. In fact this was the product that ultimately lured me into trying more and more products from this same line.

Night Moisture Recharge: Much too wet on my skin. It skins on top of the skin and does not seem to soak in.

Day Moisture Protection SPF 15: Works like a moisturizer with a fairly strong scent of sunscreen. Goes on nicely.

Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam: I've been using this with my Clarisonic and nothing special. 

Eye Moisture Recharge: Much like the Night Moisture recharge, it just sits on top of my skin. I have not noticed any benefit and quite frankly felt like this product has been a waste of money.

In short, the softener was worth it to revitalize dry skin, I could skip out on anything else listed that I tried. The moisturizer was ok but I'd prefer something without that strong sunscreen scent.

Overall, I was happy with how my skin improved from very dry to combination. It could be my age now but this product line doesn't wow me anymore. Once I finish it off I will probably stop repurchasing. I have however bought a few items from Shiseido's White Lucent and Benefiance lines.

I have always had mostly clear skin with the occasional hormonal breakout and people always guess my age to be 5 to 10 years younger than I really am so I must be taking good care of my skin!

Here is a photo of my husband and I at our friend's wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Clinique B. B. Cream

I started hearing about BB Cream from Jen frmheadtotoe on youtube. I believe she was showing one in a pink pump. I've done some research and everything I post is just what I've heard and am in no way claiming anything to be factual.  For all I know these could be Urban Legends. From my understanding, the story behind BB creams  also known as "Blemish Balms" and "Beauty Balms" originating from Korea for people recovering from surgery who should not be applying too many products to their face. They are supposed to be an efficient way to apply a product to your face with out having to layer on too many different products. They are supposed to have more than one active ingredient and serve multiple purposes for example maybe a serum, sunscreen and your foundation in one.

So I started getting curious about it. My daily foundation was routine was starting to feel a bit cakey for this time of year so I thought why not give BB creams a try.

I went to several shops: CVS, Sephora, Macy's and Nordstrom and picked up the following samples of full size. Here are my thoughts on my currently NC 35 combination skin.

The Garnier one I immediately did not like it. I used medium and felt like I looked like I had a spray on tan. I had the orange-y feel. However, I did feel like this could work for olive skin toned people.

Estee Lauder, didn't do much for me. I felt was too drying on my combination skin face.

Boscia, I initially did not care of this product. I felt like it didn't give my much coverage too many large glitter specks and also gave me a slight gray tone. After about a week using the premium sample I received during the VIB event I actually grew to like this product. I feel like the gray tone I would notice after sitting on my skin would change to match my tone. I used a finishing powder to take away the shine but I also liked how I would have a dewy finish.

Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45 PA+++ also a gray tone initially a gray tone but nothing a finishing powder can't fix. I liked that it had an SPF of 45. I would use this one again but maybe I would go to Boscia before this one.

Clinque, this felt to me much like a tinted moisturizers. My mother also tried many of these samples over a month period and ended up buying the full size of this and wanting the Dr. Jart as well.

Beauty.com Friends & Family Haul

Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray 8 oz $39 :-
I've been wanting to try Skindinavia makeup spray for a while now! I've tried Evian and MAC's Fix+ which I like for refreshing my face but I've heard that those are not true setting spray from youtubers. Therefore I decided to try this out. I had a really hard time deciding between Urban Decay's setting sprays VS skindinavia but the push to go towards Skindinavia came when it seemed like the reviews for it were a tad bit more positive. Also, Skindinavia make UD's setting sprays so since they're the manufacturers I figure that must know sprays better. I also had a hard time deciding on which spray to try, I was torn between the Makeup Finishing Spray, Bridal and the 10 years younger. I ultimately went with the Makeup Finishing Spray.

Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Alpha 30 step 1 and step 2 $85.:-
So I first came across these pads when I got 5 sets of this with my purchase of my Clarionic system. I tried it out and it seems to make my skin softer and brighter. I only tried using this at night and I noticed the my normally combination skin was a tad bit more oily the next more and I would not use a moisturizer after using this either. I was hoping it would take away the little bumps I started getting at the base of my nose but the samples were probably not enough of a routine to give a definitive result so I decided to buy a whole box of them.

LORAC Behind the scenes eye primer 0.53 oz $21:-
I've been using a tube of Too Faced Shadow Insurance which many people swear by. I agree in the staying power this product gives your eye shadow and eyeliner. However, I started noticing that when I remove this at night my eye lids feel like they are stinging a bit. So again I tried to do some research and apparently LORAC makes an eye primer with mostly the same ingredients as Too Faced minus Bismuth Oxychloride which after further research is a product that causes makeup adhere to it but is also an irritant for some people. So I hope this works out. I think I'll continue to use the Too Faced Shadow insurance on my brows.

Mario Badescu Skincare Haul

This is the first year that I started noticing small white bumps on my face around my nose. So after researching on the internet and seeing a few videos I've come to the conclusion that I have oil seeds also known as milia. One of the products I came across that supposedly aids in the removal of these was Silver Powder from Mario Badescu. The push that made me decide to give this line a go was my sister in law saying it was the only stuff that healed her skin after having a baby. I may have to write a review if this stuff really works.

I checked out this product in person at Ulta but ultimately bought it online from https://www.mariobadescu.com with free shipping and a 10% off coupon that I found from retailmenot.com. Together with my mother we bought $192 of product. The shipping took 5 business days which is pretty standard. My only complaint is the package included the wrong 3 samples -so that irks me a bit.

Pictured below are only the products I bought.  I did not want to include my mother's purchases because I won't be able to use or comment on them.

Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs And Rosewater 8oz $12
Silver Powder 1oz $12
Glycolic Acid Toner 32oz $56

March 2012 Sephora VIB event

A few days ago I received an email from Sephora for their VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider) event. In order to become a beauty inside I believe you need to spend at least $350 USD in a single calendar year and then you have to continue to re-qualify every year. This past November was the first time qualifying for their VIB. I was invited to an event around the holidays late 2011 and was thoroughly disappointed that I came home empty handed. It was also far too crowded for me.

This go around I went straight after work around 3:30 pm. A crowd was starting to build but nothing like before. When I got home from this event I realized. I buy a lot of beauty and skincare products. Maybe I should start documenting them, even if it's just for my own enjoyment. So I got home and took a few photos of my purchase plus swag. I only bought one item this go around because the location I went to is closest to my work and they are really small (don't carry everything I'd love to try).

Purchase:-
Retail $14, VIB Discount $11.90 (before tax)
Sephora Collection, Purifying Brush Shampoo  6.75 oz

The Gift w/any purchase VIB Swag:-

Sephora Umbrella
Reusable Tote
Compact Sephora Mirror
(All products in goody bag are either sample or deluxe sample sizes)
Boscia B.B. Cream
Makeup Forever Smokey Eyelash Mascara
Sephora Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara
Bumble and bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Escada Especially Solid Perfume

I've tried the following brush cleaners for daily use: MAC Brush Cleaner, Clinque makeup brush cleaner and Cinema Secrets. And for a deep clean I tried making my own home made blend from watching EnKore's youtube DIY video. I'll have to write a post on them some day comparing them all later.

As for the free stuff, it's funny that I asked for a sample of the Boscia BB Cream before I knew they gave a sample in the bag. The umbrella looks sturdier than one would think a free gift would be so I was pleasantly surprised. The reusable bag design is definitely from the Christmas holidays! The white bag, plant, holly,  ornament and verbage "I'm dreaming of a..." are a dead give away that these were left overs from their Christmas season. My last 500 point perk also seemed to be a left over that I had seen in their "sale" section.

Food: Flourless Chocolate Cake (made from black beans!)

Adapted from recipes found on the following blogs: Initially found on Healthy Indulgences blog which sites LowCarbsFriends.com as their inspiration.

Ingredients:
1-15 ounce can of unseasoned black beans
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup honey plus 1/3 cup apple sauce, 1/4 cup brown sugar

6 tablespoons cocoa powder, I used Serendity3 Frrrozen Hot Chocolate Mix
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Chopped Nut topping

Equipment
Blender
Oven
8x8 baking pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 40 mins

Drain and rinse beans. Shake off excess water. Place beans, 3 of the eggs, vanilla, apple sauce and salt into blender. Blend on high until beans are completely liquefied. 

Whisk together cocoa powder, baking soda, brown sugar and baking powder. Add remaining two eggs, beating for a minute after each addition. 

Pour bean batter into egg mixture and mix. Finally, stir in cocoa powder and water (if using), and beat the batter on high for one minute, until smooth. 

First attempt at Gluten Free Banana Nut Bread

I used to bake a delicious home made wheat flour banana nut bread that was awesome! In my attempt to be gluten free I am on my path to discover new ways I can eat things that I love. 

Ingredients: 

1 cup Bob Mills Gluten Free Oats blended into flour using the Bella Cucina (Magic Bullet type of apparatus)

3/4 cup rice flour from Ranch 99 (check out photo below)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon tapioca starch from Ranch 99 (check out photo below)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon cinnamon

4 small ripe bananas

chopped almonds 

1/3 cup apple sauce 

and canola oil to grease the container.

350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes.