Tag Archives: skin

Help Me Find A Natural-Looking Self-Tanner That’s Right For My Fair Skin! (Snooki And John Travolta Need Not Apply)

Snooki Self-Tanner
snooki photo
What kind of person purchases Snooki's self-tanner? Read More »
Tanning Mom
Mother arrested for allegedly putting her 5-year-old in a tanning bed. Read More »

I wouldn’t know if I could tan naturally because I’ve never actually tried. Aside from the fact that, you know, the sun wants to give you cancer and shit, I’m just not someone who has ever liked to bask outside and broil. My brother and I, unlike our medium-skinned parents and the rest of our family on both sides, are both super-fair, easily burnt freckle faces. We often wonder whose children we actually are (in fact, we both bear a slight resemblance to Guy Fieri). In summers of yore I’ve been totally content with my bright white (seriously, I am the whitest) complexion, but I think I’m on the brink of a change of heart. Frightened by the starkness of my legs, and sporting a subtle, summery ombré fade in my hair, I am ready to join the rest of the world and get a tan. Not a real tan, of course — I still hate laying outside. It’s so boring. Whatever! Problem is, I can’t seem to find the right self-tanner for my skin tone. I figured Jergens Natural Glow was a safe place to start, but the incredibly overwhelming smell put me off after applying it twice. Seriously, I wanted to run away from myself. Keep reading »

Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner Is Coming Up Roses

I spend a lot of time making sure my skin is properly cared for. I’m a connoisseur of waters, serums, masques, cremes, and oils, so much so that my roommates are forced to tiptoe around our shared bathroom lest they disturb the delicate balance of my menagerie. For all the hours I spend treating my face, you’d think I would remember to slap on some body butter here and there, but not so. My skin is naturally on the oilier side, so lotioning up my arms and legs doesn’t cross my mind often because they never really get dry. I also hate the slimy, slippery feel that typical salves leave behind, especially fresh out of the shower, the time when I least want to put some more stuff on my body. Enter Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner from LUSH (surprise, they consistently make the best products). Think of it less as a lotion and more, like the name implies, as a companion to your soap or body wash. You put it on while you’re still in the shower (I like to do it as my last step), then rinse and towel dry. The result is the smoothest, softest, most deliciously scented (seriously, so good) skin, without the extra layer of emollient. It’s kind of the best. [$29.95, LUSH]

Face Oil, Free Of Breakouts

Green Skincare
These five companies are worth every penny. Read More »

I’m generally terrified of putting oil on my face because I have problematic sensitive skin that reacts badly to pretty much anything I put on it. If it’s feeling dry, a smidge of moisturizer will turn it into a zitty, oily mess. Too oily, and astringent makes it a flaky, dry patchy disappointment. But not so with Bio Oil, which is some magical moisturizing oil that seems to both soothe, and moisturize without turning my face into a noxious puddle of sebacious cysts. Bio Oil, it seems, is one of those crazy skincare products that works great on all types of skin — it reduces the signs of redness and scarring, works great on aging and dehydrated skin, and because it’s pumped full of vitamins (along with lavender, rosemary and chamomile oils), it even helps reduce the signs of scars and stretch marks. Is it a miracle product? Well, just maybe. [$10.17, Amazon]

Beauty Test Drive: Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing System

BTD: Urban Decay Shadow
Winona looks fierce in this Urban Decay eyeshadow pencil. Read More »
BTD: Black Mask
Leo tries this unique mask from Boscia. Read More »
BTD: Philosophy
Rachel loves Philosophy's colorless primer. Read More »

Skincare used to be a whole daunting arena of the beauty industry that I avoided out of fear. My dry, sensitive skin is so fickle. I washed daily with Cetaphil, scrubbed once or twice a week with St. Ives Apricot Scrub, and glopped on a pricy Bliss face mask every month or so. Most days I removed my makeup before going to bed, but not always, because I am lazy. My skin neither looked nor felt particularly good or particularly bad — just kinda blah and dry, as usual.

In the past few months, I’ve gotten really into skincare for my criminally dry visage.  I’ve added new skincare products to my arsenal, which I’ll save for Beauty Test Drives another day. My skin has really been perking up, to the point where The Frisky’s boss has been complimenting me! And for the past few days, I have been using a little handheld device called the Clarisonic Mia 2. No joke, it’s already making my skin look and feel amazing.  Keep reading »

Makeup Bag: 10 Skin-Saving Sunscreens For The Face

A New Skincare Routine
Make 2012 your most glowing year yet. Read More »

I hate wearing sunscreen, which is particularly unfortunate when you consider that I have the whitest, most translucent, most easily burnt skin this side of hole in the ozone layer. I rarely sunbathe, given that as a mole creature I shrivel when exposed to sunlight, but I will admit to a few incidents when I was in high school that involved careless “tanning” with Italian friends whose skin bronzed to perfection in the rays. I basked enviously that afternoon, confident that I, too, would grow tan if I followed their lead. Wrong. So wrong. I’ll spare you the details, but I was vivid, unmistakable scarlet by nightfall, and I still have residual freckles from the incident. It’s a wonderful recipe for skin cancer, which I sincerely hope I do not get. Keep reading »

Finally, The French Woman’s Secret To Beautiful Skin

A New Skincare Routine
Make 2012 your most glowing year yet. Read More »
French Women Secrets
How French women stay hot when they're old! Read More »

Have you heard of micellar water? I never had until a few months ago, when I read an interview with the stunning French actress Roxane Mesquida. Her flawless, glowing skin sent me into fits of envy so powerful, I was just dying to know how she does it. Fortunately for me, this interview just so happened to be on my beauty bible, Into The Gloss, which is so incredibly detailed and personal that I’m reluctant to even call it a blog. It’s the brain child of Emily Weiss, a Voguette and former model who has personal ties to some of the biggest names in the beauty business. Keep reading »

Beauty Test Drive: Sweet Pea Body Butter Duo

BTD: Colorstay Lipstick
Winona loves Revlon's Colorstay Lipstick. Read More »
BTD: Cheek Tint
Jessica loves Benefit's Cha Cha Cheek Tint. Read More »
BTD: L'Oreal Le Glosse
L'Oreal Le Gloss photo
Rachel loves L'Oreal's new Le Glosse lip gloss. Read More »

It’s the least wonderful time of the year. My skin is dry year-round, but fall and winter are the worst of the worst (as in, before writing this post I went to the ladies’ room to slater on face cream for the second time today). I don’t just have to worry about keeping the skin on my face moisturized (but not greasy!) %u2014 it’s when I suffer chapped, flaky, sensitive skin and pretty much carry lotion on me 24/7 to cope. Keep reading »

How To Look Sexy When You Wake Up (Yes, It’s Possible!)

Gross Beauty Rituals
The gross things we do to be beautiful. Read More »

Early in the morning is definitely when I’m at my least attractive and I’m sure many readers would say the same. It’s one thing to wake up alone looking like a puffy-eyed mess. But when you’re sleeping over with someone else, that’s another story entirely! Luckily, I have a few pointers on how to wake up looking gorgeous.

Sounds impossible, right? It’s not. Here’s how to start off sexy every morning…

New Law Bans California Teens From Tanning Beds

Gross Beauty Rituals
The gross things we do to be beautiful. Read More »
LiLo's Self-Tanner Sucks
Sevin Nyne self tanner photo
Jessica's beauty test drive of Sevin Nyne self-tanner was an epic fail. Read More »

That sound you hear? It’s a stampede to the nearest tanning salon before it’s too late! Tanning will be banned in California for anyone under the age of 18 beginning on January 1. Presently, anyone 14 or younger is banned from tanning, but 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds may toast themselves if they have parental permission. However, there is mounting concern that tanning beds’ UV rays damage growing skin, which puts youth at risk for skin cancer. A Democratic state representative pushed the tanning ban bill and Gov. Jerry Brown signed it into law on Sunday. While some folks — like the tanning bed industry — call the tanning ban an overreaching intrusion of the government into people’s personal lives, keep in mind that France and England ban tanning under age 18 and Brazil bans tanning for everyone.

Do you support California’s ban on tanning under the age of 18? [Orange County Register] Keep reading »

Beauty Test Drive: Fresh’s Umbrian Clay Treatment

One note before we begin: The picture above is not exactly the product I used. I used a loose umbrian clay powder from Fresh that can be mixed with water and used as a face mask. I believe the face treatment is exactly the same thing, but in a slightly different–and way more convenient–form. Umbrian clay is supposedly great for its purifying abilities. And ladies, my skin needed to be purified. Even though I am well beyond my teenage years, I still get zits like a high school goth working at Hot Topic. Last night, I tried my umbrian clay mix, patting my face with warm water and putting the powder mix on my face. I let it dry and harden for 10 minutes. When I washed the mask off, my skin felt soft, and most importantly, my pimply spots had noticeably decreased in redness and irritation. So yes, this umbrian clay will definitely help you feel less like a pimply teen and more like a lovely lady. [$48, Fresh] Keep reading »