Review: Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream 10% Glycolic AHA

So on a recent online shopping expenditure at Ulta, I ventured across Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream 10% Glycolic AHA. I have slight break-outs, blackheads, and uneven skin tone. Well, AHA's can help with all of these problems, so I decided to pick this up.

Alpha Hydrox is supposed to help with a number of skin issues including, laugh lines, wrinkles, fine lines, crow's feet and more. It isn't marketed as an acne treatment, but is really helps with my skin issues. It didn't magically cure my skin issues, however, my pores are noticeably smaller, and my skin is smoother.

Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream can be a bit harsh if you have sensitive skin, so start slow. It works by dramatically exfoliating your skin, which in turn allows healthier skin to the surface.

The best part about Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream is that it's less than $15! I love a good beauty bargain, and this is definetly one of them. If you'd like to pick some up head over to Ulta.

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I'm A Freak...

So, I have a confession, I watch television show’s that I don’t even like and look at the women’s hair and makeup. Does anyone else do this or am I a freak? It’s not just show’s that I don’t like, I do it with show’s that I actually enjoy, and then I end up side-tracked by the makeup and hair.

Sex & The City is one of my favorite shows of all time; I love the friendship, the fashion, and of course the makeup and hair. After watching the show, and sometime’s during watching it, I’ll wonder how I can recreate the look. Episode after episode I will look at the women on the show, and judge how they look on that episode versus how they looked in previous episodes.

What brand of makeup are they wearing? How did they apply the foundation? The blush? How did they style the hair? What product’s did they use? Can I do it at home? I think you get the point.

Anyway, so am I the only woman who sits in her pajama’s and studies the women on t.v., and wonder’s if their look can be imitated?

Here’s a list of my favorite show’s to do this with in no particular order:

Sex & The City

Friends

Weeds

Californication

True Blood

The New Adventure’s of Old Christine

Dexter



One of my favorite things are show’s that are in HD, how do they get their skin to look so smooth? The makeup is seamless. Okay, I know it’s with an airbrush, but damn, I want that perfect skin too.

Okay now it’s your turn. Do you do this too? If so what show’s do you do it with?

Review: Clean and Clear Morning Glow Moisturizer

This is the product information from Clean and Clears' Website:

MORNING GLOW® Moisturizer with SPF 15 is uniquely formulated with oil-free moisturizing ingredients, tiny light reflectors, and an invigorating citrus fragrance. The moisturizing ingredients hydrate dry, tired skin without clogging pores. The tiny light reflectors give your skin a naturally brighter look. The invigorating citrus fragrance awakens the senses and energizes your morning.

Okay, I was trying to be open-minded about Clean and Clear products, so after the not-so-great review I did on Clean and Clear Morning Burst Face Scrub, I thought I'd try another product, below is my honest opinion.

I will say that the Clean and Clear Morning Glow moisturizer doesn't feel oily, or leave a nasty residue on my skin. Morning Glow doesn't have an odd smell, and in general seems like it moisturizes. It didn't break me out, or affect the way my mineral foundation applied. Morning Glow has a few good traits, but nothing that sets it apart from any of the other $5 drug-store moisturizer's with spf in them.

Now, on to the down-side, the enormous down-side. Clean and Clear Morning Glow moisturizer has these teeny-tiny little flecks of glitter in it, that I am assuming are supposed to be what makes you "glow". You can feel them when your trying to rub the moisturizer in, it feels like your exfoliating instead of moisturizing. The tiny flecks of glitter in this moisturizer feel like grains of sand or something, I dunno. This trait alone make Morning Glow unusable, your moisturizer shouldn't have anything in it that you can feel.

Bottom line: I will not be trying any more Clean and Clear products, nor will I ever recommend this moisturizer, EVER.

Review: Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub

So, a few days ago I was at Wal-Mart browsing the skin care aisle, trying to pick a new face wash/scrub, and I saw Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub. So I figured I'd give a try.

Well, Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Scrub claims it will wake you up, exfoliate, and leave your skin glowing and refreshed. I don't know if those claims ring true, but for a drug-store product it isn't bad.

 It doesn't smell quite like I expected, it doesn't smell bad, just different than what I imagined. It has a nice thick consistency, so it won't just slide off your skin in the shower. Clean & Clear Morning Burst Face Scrub is definently a scrub and not a face wash, as it doesn't really lather like a wash would.

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Face Scrub also contains Vitamin C and Ginseng. I know Vitamin C is great, if you want your skin to look radiant. However, I have no idea what benefit ginseng offers your skin.

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Face Scrub is sub-par as far as exfoliation goes; the beads in it are simply too big to offer any real exfoliation.

Overall for the $3 or $4, that I paid for Clean & Clear Morning Burst Face Scrub, I'm not terribly disappointed. With that being said, I don't see me repurchasing. So the hunt continues for an awesome face scrub/wash.......

Review: bareMinerals Matte Foundation

Sephora Says: A revolutionary, 100% pure bareMinerals SPF 15 foundation that delivers a flawless, natural-matte finish that lasts all day and provides extraordinary skincare benefits. bareMinerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation absorbs excess oil and eliminates shine without drying your skin. It dramatically improves the appearance of your skin through the clinically proven power of RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, which minimizes pores and promotes cell turnover for fresher, smoother skin, while protecting your skin from environmental damage. This groundbreaking formula is made with only the purest, highest-quality ingredients and is free of harsh chemicals and preservatives.

Mrs. Blacksten Says: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals new matte foundation has its pros and cons. I really like the fact that bareMinerals matte foundation doesn't contain bismuth oxychloride, as it can be very irritating to some women's skin, and can cause cystic acne.
Another huge plus for the bareMinerals matte is that it has no shine whatsoever, yet your skin doesn't look powdery at all. Most mineral foundations leave your skin shiny, and for women with oily skin, shine is a no-no, not a plus.
From what I can tell, the colors of the bareMinerals matte foundation are the exact same colors of the original formula, making selecting your foundation shade easier.
The biggest upgrade with bareMinerals matte is that it comes in a close able sifter jar. Everyone complained about the original bareMinerals spilling and not being a good product for travel, with bareMinerals matte the problem has been solved.
One of the biggest problems I've noticed with bareMinerals matte is it takes more foundation to get the same amount of coverage as the original formula. Unfortunately, your getting less foundation for slightly more money. The bareMinerals matte is $28 for 0.2 oz., and with the original formula it's $25 for 0.3 oz.
The new bareMinerals matte foundation can only be bought at Sephora for the time being.

Review: Hope In a Jar Moisturizer by Philosophy

Sephora says: Philosophy Hope in a Jar is a 99.9% oil-free, deeply hydrating, lightweight wonder designed to smooth the complexion while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and discoloration. Originally created for the medical market, this expert essential delivers soft, healthy, glowing results.


Mrs. Blacksten says: Philosophy's Hope in a Jar Moisturizer is often referred to as a "cult-favorite" and I believe it. This moisturizer is insane, I've never used a moisturizer that had this consistency, or these results. Hope in a Jar moisturizes, exfoliates, and leaves skin glowing, literally. Hope in a Jar contains; Lauryl Lactate (Ester of Lactic Acid) which exfoliates and hydrates, Beta Glucan, which boosts your skins' own defense system and repair capabilities,Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) to help prevent environmental damage, and Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) which improves elasticity and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles. I love to go to bed with this stuff on because my skin looks great in the morning. Hope in a Jar can be a bit pricey at $38 for 2oz., but you hardly use any because a little goes a long way, and for the results, it's money well spent. I am a huge fan of Philosophy products, and what's even better; they don't test on animals!