L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara- Very Black

I am in mascara heaven. Do you know how many products I've tried that claim to be smudge-proof and waterproof but turned out to be duds? Too many to count.

Now I can finally stop counting!

So here's my thing: my skin is very oily, and that oil makes its way from my eyelids to my lashes, and then starts breaking down the mascara. Result: raccoon eyes.

I was looking for a mascara that didn't require a sealant like Benefit's She-Laq, which I like very much but I don't care for the fumes, which are really strong and make my eyes water. It's also hard to take off, requiring oil-based eye makeup remover, which doesn't help my oily skin at all.

When I read about L'Oreal's Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara in Allure magazine, I was really skeptical. Based on my previous experiences with all the "it" products, my expectations for this product were close to non-existent. Imagine my excitement when I wore it for a summer wedding (humidity, oil and sweat = sworn enemies of eye makeup) and at the end of the night, there was nary a smudge on my lower lids! And it's not a waterproof formula! Actually, as far as I know, the Beauty Tubes mascara doesn't even come in waterproof version.

Besides my elation at its staying power, I was amazed to discover that it really does come off with just water! No more oily waterproof-makeup remover! No more tugging and dryness of my eyelids! I have found my new favorite product!

Almay Hydracolor Lipstick- Blushed

Almay Hydracolor Lipstick contains SPF 15 and 100 times more water than regular lipsticks. It does feel really refreshing when I put it on- in fact, that watery feeling was a little weird at first because it felt like it was about to drip off my lips and made me want to reach up and wipe it off.

Call me picky (okay, I AM picky) but the initial moist feeling didn't last very long. Now I know I'm utterly obsessive about keeping my lips well-moisturized, so maybe that's to blame, but I felt like I had to slather on a layer of Aquaphor after an hour or so. I think that a product that is represented as being moisturizing should actually do so for more than an hour.

Almay smart shade blush in Pink

Almay smart shade blush is similar to Smashbox's O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color, which I really liked, but at $26 for a .5 oz tube, it's not exactly budget makeup. It's like the mood lipsticks of the 70s! How groovy is that?

I applied Almay's version (under $10) on bare skin and I find it is much more subtle than O-Glow, perhaps a bit too subtle. So much so that it's almost unnoticeable. The funny thing is that the color was much more vibrant on my fingertips than on my face. Almay smart shade blush simply doesn't make enough of an impact on me to buy it again. Maybe I should have chosen Berry?

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain- Cherry Tart

This is the drugstore's version of Benefit's benetint lip and cheek stain. It's got a roll-on applicator, which is very handy. Just Bitten is meant for the lips, though I went a little wild and applied some on my cheeks. It actually went on pretty nicely, though I had to hurry and smudge it around a little so it wouldn't give me an 80s flashback.

I'm not sure I like products like this, at least, not for my lips. I think it's a fabulous idea, except it doesn't seem to work that well for me. I feel like I have to do a delicate balancing act between moisturizing my lips enough so that they don't flake, and applying too much Aquaphor and preventing lip stains from taking hold. A lot of it makes its way to the edges of my lips, though it never actually goes PAST the edge. This leaves the center of my lips kind of bare and I feel compelled to apply MORE.

I like Just Bitten, but it's not something I want to use when I'm in a rush; it needs a little more babysitting than I'm willing to do.

Aspirin and Honey Mask

Aspirin is a salicylic acid, which helps shed dead skin cells. Honey has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, perfect for acne-prone skin. Put'em together and you have the ultimate facial mask.

You'll need honey (the inexpensive bear-shaped squeeze bottle is fine) and uncoated aspirin; I buy the Walgreens brand because it only costs $0.99 for a bottle of 100 tablets. You'll see why I specify the uncoated variety in a moment.

In a small bowl, put two aspirin tablets and add a drop or two of water. You only want the aspirin to break down into a powder, so you must not use too much water. This should happen within a minute. You can help it along by giving it a nudge or rubbing the tablets between your fingers, but it's really not necessary. Any more than a couple of drops of water and you'll have to start over.

(Here is why I specified uncoated aspirin. The enteric-coated aspirin will not break down from exposure to water; too much aspirin can cause the stomach or intestinal linings to become too thin and lead to ulcers, and the enteric coating helps to prevent that. Luckily, this recipe doesn't require the actual consumption of aspirin!)

Once the aspirin has disintegrated into powder, add approximately a teaspoon of honey. Mix it up with your finger and apply it to your face, avoiding the immediate eye area. This is also why I don't want you to use a lot of water in the first step: too much and the mask will just glop off your face. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. If you have any left over, slap it onto the backs of your hands.

Now that the salicylic acid in the aspirin has had a chance to dissolve the "glue" that's holding the old skin cells to your face, it's time to use a little mechanical exfoliation to finish the job. Wet your fingers and gently, in a circular motion, massage your face for about a minute. Rinse with warm water, making sure to get your hairline in case any honey has made its way there. Follow with a gentle toner if you like, and definitely use a mild moisturizer that doesn't contain any AHAs or other irritants. Cetaphil moisturizer is a good bet for most people, though if you have oily skin, I really recommend the DDF Ultra-Lite Moisturizing Dew that I keep talking about.

I use this mask whenever the mood strikes me, which averages about two to three times a week. It shouldn't cost more than $5 for a six-month supply. That's $0.10 per exfoliation! How cool is that??

I cannot take credit for this mask. Unfortunately, I can't remember how I got this recipe, so whoever you are, thank you for sharing it with me!

My Skincare Regimen

Day:

1. Cleanse with Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
2. Apply DDF 10% Glycolic Toning Complex
3. Moisturize with pHisoderm's Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15

Night:

1. Cleanse with Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser
2. Moisturize with Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream with 10% Glycolic

Two to three times a week, I use the Aspirin and Honey mask. See the next post for details!

pHisoderm Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15

How cool is it that this product is oil-free?? It's not nearly as light nor does it disappear into the skin as completely as DDF's Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew, which is still my very favorite moisturizer, but pHisoderm's Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 comes pretty damned close. I'm actually really impressed with this product, which I found a couple of weeks ago while searching for a daytime lotion to replace the DDF. It's oil-free, pH-balanced, contains vitamins C and E, and has an SPF of 15. WOOO!

Shecky's Beauty Week in NYC

Shecky's presents... Beauty Week! From July 21st – 27th, over thirty New York spas, salons and beauty locations are discounting signature treatments & services up to 75% OFF regular prices.

I'm actually kind of shocked that there are laser hair removal services being offered at such amazing prices. Get your body scrubbed, eyebrows waxed, and hair styled for a fraction of the cost! Go forth and be gorgeous!

A Few More Tools in My Battle Against KP, aka Chicken Skin

Dove's CreamOil Body Wash in Ultra Rich is exactly what I've been searching for in my quest for the ultimate body wash. Well, until the next fabulous thing comes along!

I love that it's super-moisturizing; my skin is so disgustingly dry and flaky that you can practically hear me molting. This stuff is really thick and you don't need a lot of it if you're using a shower pouf or loofah. It does have a fairly strong scent, which is a turn-off for me, but not enough of one to keep me from using it. I really wish it was unscented or at least not so strongly fragranced.

Because I have KP, I need extra help scrubbing those stubborn flakes off. So I turned to an exfoliating sponge, similar to the one made by Buf-Puf.

The Buf-Puf Double-Sided Body Sponge is available at Harmon Discount Health & Beauty Store for $4.49 , and also at other drugstores. Harmon has its own similar and cheaper version for around $3 or so for a pack of six. The Harmon version is NOT a double-sided product like the Buf-Puf sponge, which accounts for its superb price point. It does come in a texture more suitable for sensitive skin and is labeled with the word "Gentle". I'm pretty hardcore so I use the Regular body sponge. Both are meant to exfoliate your body, and are very rough. They're fabulous for sloughing off dry, scaly skin like mine, and are perfect for prepping your body for even self-tanning.

I cannot stress enough that these sponges are meant for your body, not your face.

Used with a nickel-sized dab of the Dove CreamOil Body Wash, move the body sponge in a circular motion applying as much pressure as you want. After you've scrubbed yourself down, pat yourself lightly with a towel, only drying your skin enough to avoid dripping water everywhere. Apply the Eucerin lotion I talked about a couple of posts ago, and make sure you get your arms and legs first, where chicken skin tends to be most prevalent. Just a reminder: Eucerin lotion can be a little heavy for daytime in the summer.

While I can't guarantee soft skin for everyone because KP is not the same from person to person and can be quite stubborn, it worked for me within a week. I finally got smooth arms for less than $20 for the body sponge, shower cream, and lotion! The KP on my legs is still there but improving more and more every day.

P.S. Harmon Discount Health & Beauty stores can also be found inside your local Bed, Bath & Beyond!

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Another member of the much-loved Eucerin family, Aquaphor is my MUST-HAVE item. I have a little .35 oz tube in nearly every bag, plus one in my travel kit, AND the 1.75 oz tube on my desktop, right next to my stapler! It is also available in a large 14 oz tub.

Aquaphor is heavy-duty stuff, about the same texture as petroleum jelly, but far more impressive. I mainly use Aquaphor for my lips, which are constantly dry and chapped. In the winter, I slather it on my hands before pulling on my gloves and by the time I get to my destination, my hands are super-soft! It's also a great item to have when you notice that your cuticles are dry or hang-nailed; you can dab it on while you're in transit (please don't do this while you're driving!)

I would just die and go to heaven if the gods incorporated SPF 30 into Aquaphor. I would NEVER cheat with any other lip balm if only it had SPF 30. With or without sunscreen, everyone needs to get a tube of this stuff.

Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

In my quest to find low-cost skincare products, I decided to stick with the Eucerin brand for a while longer and see where it took me. I'm really pleased to find that I like their Gentle Hydrating Cleanser! I was worried that it would be too hydrating and leave my greasy skin feeling even more greasy, but I've been using it for a month now and so far so good. If anything, it sometimes leaves my face feeling dry, though with skin as oily as mine and with summer having made her big debut, I don't anticipate that to be a big problem.

Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser is marketed toward people with dry, sensitive skin, and true to their promise, it rinses away very easily and cleanly. There's no fragrance, so those of us who prefer unfragranced face products can use them without gagging. You don't need much of it to clean your whole face- a little goes a long way, which means you'll have to buy it a lot less often.

Miami Spa Month

For those of you in the Miami area, there is an event called Miami Spa Month for the month of July! You lucky Miamians get a whole month to indulge in spa treatments at places like the Willow Stream Spa, Spa Chakra, Jurlique Spa, and ESPA at Aqualina, all for $99! Please note: the participating spas are offering very specific treatments, NOT everything on their service menus. So please make sure you read the Miami Spa Month fine print.

Also, as a side note, I would tip the aestheticians and masseuses as if I were paying full price for their services.

Alpha Hydrox and Chicken Skin

Yes, I know. I am an AHA whore.

I started using Alpha Hydrox products about 14 years ago; specifically, their 12% AHA Foot & Problem Cream. I discovered that it worked wonders on my chicken skin, aka keratosis pilaris, or KP.

Quick background on KP: KP is often found on the backs of arms and on the front of thighs and look like tiny red or white bumps. They can also appear on your butt and back. It's sometimes mistaken for an allergy, acne or eczema, though it is not related to those conditions. KP is not contagious, nor does it threaten your health in any way. An estimated 50% of people have some form of this skin condition, though most don't know that they have it or that it can be treated. It is hereditary and there is no cure for it. (Source)

From what I've learned, there are several forms of KP, some of which are treatable with regularly applied, deeply emollient moisturizers that contain salicylic acid, lactic acid, and/or urea that help break down the keratin deposits that causes that sandpapery feeling. My dermatologist prescribed a lactic acid lotion that contained urea (I believe it was AmLactin 12% and was available only by prescription in those days) which worked like a charm. For the first time in my life, arms and legs were bump-free. Yay me!

Except I smelled like stale cat pee.

While in a funk about smelling like an unscooped litter box, I heard the hullabaloo about the newish Alpha Hydrox product line and went to the nearest drugstore to investigate. I picked up a tube of the 12% AHA Foot & Problem Cream, intent on making over my tootsies. I squirted out a little too much cream and rubbed the excess into the skin on my thigh. The next day, the skin where I'd used the excess cream was noticeably smoother, less rough and less bumpy! For several months, I used that cream for my arms and legs, and I didn't smell like old cat pee!

Unfortunately, I was earning almost nothing at the time (some things don't change) and could not afford to spend what seemed like a LOT of money for a mere two ounces of product. After a while, I stopped buying AHA products and somehow forgot about them. Until now.

Because I am now in an extremely tight cash crunch, I have had to give up my beloved but very expensive DDF habit to go back to the drugstore stuff. I still have the Ultra-Lite Moisturizing Dew, but am saving what's left of it for the summer when it gets disgustingly humid and I need a lighter moisturizer.

I purchased the Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream 10% Glycolic AHA Anti-Wrinkle cream earlier this week, and yes, it is kinda tingly but it does moisturize pretty well. Maybe it's because my skin is a little drier now that I am getting older, but I feel like I can tolerate more emollient lotions. Well, I am HOPING I can tolerate them! Either way, I am lucky that it is oil-free and fragrance-free.

As for the chicken skin/KP, I found that when I slathered on good old Eucerin Original Moisturizing Lotion right after my shower, the bumps disappeared within a week. The thrilling part of it is that I no longer need to buy expensive unguents that make me smell bad because I've finally found something that works perfectly! And the nice thing is that I can add scent to the lotion if I'm so inclined! No more eau de cat box!

In the meantime, I'll keep you updated on my progress with the Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Cream 10% Glycolic AHA Anti-Wrinkle cream. (Wow, try saying that three times fast!)

DDF- Doctor's Dermatologic Formula

For nearly 20 years, I searched and searched for the perfect products for my multiple-personality skin. One day, my pores were virtually spurting out enough oil to power the entire country for a year, and the next day it felt flaky yet oily. And through it all, the zits persevered.

Enter DDF Glycolic Wash 5%. From their website: "A combination of ultra-pure glycolic acid blended with skin conditioners to sweep away dirt and debris. Minimizes appearance of fine lines and look of pores while increasing overall skin radiance. pH balanced."

Huzzah! Finally, a product that worked well at keeping my skin clean and my impending wrinkles at bay, not to mention keeping my breakouts to a minimum. Of course, I couldn't give all the credit to the Glycolic Wash. After all, it only stays on the skin for so long before it's rinsed away.

Along with the Glycolic Wash, I discovered the DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex. Now, I am a real skeptic when it comes to toners. I don't believe they do much of anything at all and are merely feel-good gimmicks pushed by the beauty industry to make more money. But because this stuff has a relatively high percentage of glycolic acid in it (10%) and it gets to stay on my skin, I decided to give it a try. After about a month or so of daily use, my skin looked and felt much smoother, and even my zit scars were less noticeable. It's become one of my favorite products.

Why am I such a big fan of AHAs, also known as glycolic acid? Glycolic acid increases the turnover rate of your surface skin cells, and when the dead skin cells slough off, it exposes new skin underneath. This helps allow moisturizers to absorb because you don't need to hydrate dead skin. Unfortunately, with increased cell turnover comes exposed, delicate skin that burns easily and needs sun protection. It's important to slap on that SPF when using AHA products.

There's also DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew™. I LOVE this moisturizer. This is the first moisturizer that didn't leave my skin feeling greasy or cause pimples. It goes on lightly, and absorbs immediately. The best thing is that while it's designed for sensitive skin (fragrance free, oil-free, dye-free, and lanolin-free) it is also fabulous for crazy oily skin like mine. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to finally find something I love! The price tag scares the pants off me though: it's $36 for a 1.7 oz pump bottle. There's also a version that contains SPF 15, perfect for those who use the glycolic products.

The only thing that alarms me about the DDF line, aside from the price point, is the amount of packaging they use. Each of the washes and toners come with a cap that exists solely to give them that clinical look. I do toss the bottles and caps into the recycling bin but I'd really like to see DDF come up with a more environmentally-friendly package.