Current Skin Care Product Reviews

This all started when I begged for help in this blog: Help this girl find something that’ll work. I had responses I never anticipated including  Jan Voss (@Jan3005) who sent me samples of Arbonne. (A fantastic product, just out of my budget right now.)

I’ve had to find skin care products that I can afford and find in stores near me. I’m not satisfied with the makeup selection I’ve found. I’m currently using Covergirl products and the little bit of Bare Minerals I have left. (I lost all my makeup and all my brushes late last year, haven’t been able to afford or justify the $80ish it would cost to replace the brushes and makeup I lost.) So here’s the Covergirl stuff: Currently I have Covergirl: and It does an ok job, especially now that my skin has smoothed out.

I really love the “Wave™” by Neutrogena.

Picture from the Neutrogena website

My first one went away with the rest of my makeup, but I recently got the Wave™ Duo and I really like it, I have two kinds of pads, the ones that come with the initial purchase plus a pack of the “Gentle Exfoliating Pads.” My skin is noticeably smoother though I don’t use the exfoliating pads every day to prevent dryness.

Side veiw

It’s cute, it’s travel friendly for me because the pads don’t have the potential to leak like regular cleansers. (I would suggest you remove the batteries before packing it in your luggage!) Now, it is loud, and I’m sure not for everyone. But I really enjoy the Wave™. The biggest thing is to make sure the pad covers the disc, otherwise your face could get scratched!

I also got a cleanser that says it can be used as a mask or cleanser! The tingling was a bit much for me at first but heck I’ll try anything for blackheads.

And lastly, finally found my sensitive skin friendly moisturizer. This one didn’t have sun screen in it, boo, but I’ll have to find some other way to deal with this…however, I am happy to report my skin hasn’t reacted to the lotion.

I really would love to get a new “starter set” with BareEscentuals (Bare Minerals),but that’s $60! I love the ease of mixing colors because my skin goes from very white to tan during the year. I’ve had no problems with the products or the brushes– huge for my skin. The only thing I don’t know is if I need to go light or fairly light.

(All products are copyright etc of the respective companies.)

Help this girl find something that’ll work!

I am in need of some help. I’m now back to working and need to be able to put my best face forward so this means, I need makeup. Makeup I can wear all day, every day (this, this is key) and hopefully find something that doesn’t make my face greasier, pale me out, or get cakey.

Here are some of the problems I have with makeup. I have pale skin, think “classic Irish porcelain” skin. (See pictures at end of post of me) But I have freckles that I like, I also like to have color on my face and not look washed out and like I’m one of the undead. The other issue is my skin is sensitive. I have to use fragrance free lotions- especially on my face. Many mascaras make my eyes swell and itch. Other fun info, I tan. Ridiculously well for someone so white so the fact that the bare minerals line is “adjustable” is a HUGE reason I used it for years.

Currently I have Covergirl: and The powder is crap as soon as I am active, which my work often requires!

I’ve used (with success) in the past: Bareminerals products and brushes, and Almay mascara.

Why I’m not running out and getting those- makeup is expensive and I need to spend money wisely. Very very wisely.

Other prodcuts I’m looking for:

• face creams for sensitive skin- I usually wear something with an SPF under my makeup.
• blackhead products that actually work
• any other products for sensitive skinned people

Color Variations of Niki: (this is what I meant by I need flexible color)

See, I do tan!

a little hard to tell because the red brings out the red but another example of my coloring.

Here's the best example I have: dark hair, pale skin....

OMGNEWSHEETS!!!

For reals. The bed in my old room (at my parent’s house) got new sheets when the old ones died of old age.

Now I should explain that my excitement was held back because, well, I’m picky.

“They’re sheets Niki, how picky can someone really be?”

Oh, you have no idea.

I have sensitive skin and an aversion to weird textures in sheets and bedding. My Mom knows that she hasn’t really helped my pickiness. Which is fine, because she fully understood when after resting the sensitive underside of my wrist on the last sheets purchased for said bed I wrinkled my nose and said “not gonna work.”

So what did we come back home with?

400 thread count Ultra Fine 100% Cotton Sateen (I was leery about “Cotton Sateen” but I’m loving it — so far)

And the brand: Cindy Crawford Style

Now as I mentioned to @MKisStacked these were prewashed because as I discovered the hard way with the new down comforter- my skin does NOT like whatever things are prewashed in.

They aren’t yet as awesome as the old ones- I’m convinced those were about 800 thread count of 100% egyptian cotton- I’ve made it clear I’m picky about this, right? So I’ll let you fellow sensitive skin people know how these work…. and I’ll try and track down what the old ones were because they were the BEST THINGS EVER!!!!!!!