Hot Drugstore Find of the Week: Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser

Hello Divas!

I hope you are having a beautiful day!  Life is a blessing!

The last quarter of the year I begin to experience a lot of acne breakouts on my face.  I knew it was stress, but I was kind of frustrated and at lost on how to get rid of it.  I had not had any acne breakouts in quite some time, so I really did not have anything in my beauty arsenal to combat it.

Well I found Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne cleanser and it has been a life saver.  I have used it for a month.  After about two weeks of use, I stopped having breakouts. Woot!  This cleanser contains 10% benzoyl peroxide.  It has a creamy texture and I use it with my Clarisonic.  But be careful.  If it gets in your eyes or mouth, it burns and irritates like crazy.  I learned the hard way.  However, it does not dry out my skin like other benzoyl peroxide cleansers have the tendency to do.

This cleanser gets rid of pimples in a short period of time, is moisturizing and non irritating to my skin. That is why it is my Hot Drugstore Find of The Week!  Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne cleanser retails for $6.49 and you can purchase it at CVS.

Toodles!

Clarisonic Plus: Week One

Hello Divas!

Always have hope!  Remember as long as you are trying and living, your situation can always become better.

Well after wanting a Clarisonic for 2 whole years, I now have two! Who would have thunk it? I won the new blue Clarisonic Mia on Twitter.  Yes, I follow Clarisonic on Twitter and they are always giving away Clarisonics by hosting cool contests.  Love how Clarisonic is using social media to get awareness for their brand.  Then, Clarisonic offered to let me test the Clarisonic Plus.  I tell you, when you put something out in the Universe, somehow it just comes to you.  Yeah!

So, the Clarisonic Plus comes with two brush heads.  One for the face and one for the body.

Face Brush

The face brush can be set at 3 settings: low, normal and high.  I have been using the normal setting because I have problem skin.  The high setting is recommended for the decollete.  Also the Clarisonic Plus comes with a Body brush.  This brush is to be used for targeted areas of the body.  I have been using it for my knees, elbows, and back.

 Body Brush

The Clarisonic Plus also includes Clarisonic's own line of facial products.  There are 3 types of cleansers for sensitive, normal, and oily skin.  And there is a body polisher to be used with the body brush head.  The polisher contains micro beads that really removes dead skins and makes your body parts baby smooth.

Lastly, the system comes with a charger.  

I have been using the Clarisonic Plus for one week and I am enjoying it.  I use it twice a day, morning and evening and my face is smoother and brighter.  When I use my toner, I barely see any excess dirt on the cotton pad.  Usually, I can fill up a cotton pad with excess dirt after washing my face.

Also, I like that the Clarisonic Plus comes with detailed instructions on how to use the product.  The product is programmed so the user utilizes it exactly as it should.  For example, the face brush is designed to clean your face for one minute.  So you spend 20 seconds on your forehead, moving the brush in round circles.  After the 20 seconds is up, the brush stops and prompts you to move the brush to your T-Zone (nose and chin), the brush stops again and prompts you to spend 10 seconds on each cheek.  After one minute, the Clarisonic promptly shuts down! Genius, Genius, Genius!  The body brush is also programmed for optimal results.  It will run for 3 minutes and you can use it in constant mode or pulse mode to really hit a problem area!

The body brush head should be used for targeted areas.  My friend Natasha has one and she swears the brush has lifted layers of dark skin from her elbows! Amazing.  I have been using it on my elbows, knees and back.  So far so good. I will let you know how it turns out.

Cons

I believe the facial cleanser is breaking me out.  I have very sensitive skin and I will try the Clarisonic cleanser for sensitive skin or go back to my own cleanser. 

After one week of use, I am pleased with the product.  Check back on this blog weekly and read my Clarisonic Plus diary posts.  I am documenting this journey!

The Clarisonic Plus retails for $225 and you can purchase it online here or at any Sephora. Steep but worth it.  Women claims it is a life changer and I am beginning to believe it.

Toodles!

Disclaimer:  The Clarisonic Plus was provided courtesy of Clarisonic. However my opinion is 100% true and solely mine.

Review: Skin Food Green Tea Milk Cleansing Gel

My friend, E, recently came back from a trip to Korea and brought me back samples of beauty products!! A popular skincare line there is called Skin Food. I always wanted to try this and the first thing I used was their Green Tea Milk Cleansing Gel. She said it was really good and didn't dry out her combination skin. I tried out the gel as well for the past week and she was right. Unlike past cleansers I have used in the past, this one left my skin feeling smooth and clean. I didn't feel the need to moisturize but I did anyway just in case.

I definitely am a fan of Skin Food and can't wait to try out the other samples. :)
Thanks, E!


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Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser

Review: The Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser is a 100% natural product and one of my favorite scented cleansers. Its citrus smell definitely wakes you up during the morning. I have a travel size tube which I brought me with on my vacation. Every morning after I used this, I was awake and refreshed. The orange oils calmed my skin and it felt nice & smooth after washing.

Read more Total Beauty reviews on more Burt's Bees products here.



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Yes to Carrots Facial Starter Kits

In a recent newsletter by Yes to Carrots, they introduced their Facial Starter Kits. Having had the trouble of finding these products available in the past, I am super excited to see these value kits available with trio products in each set. They're only $20 and considering each product can cost about $10-15 each, this is a bargain!

These make great gifts and you can definitely try all three or share with a friend. Having a combo/oily skin, I will, of course, reach out and look for the Yes to Tomatoes kit. This particular kit will contain full-sizes of Facial Wash, Hydrating Lotion, and Facial Mask. I am a fan of their Hydrating Lotion, now that I have added moisturizer to my daily skin care routine to reduce acne scars.

I haven't seen these at a local drugstore yet and I realized why. They are only available at select Meijer, Target, Walgreens and Drugstore.com!

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Review: SensiClear Acne Treatment Kit

To continue my quest to find the perfect skincare, anti-acne regimen for myself I decided to try the SensiClear acne treatment kit.

In September, I was using the Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions and by the end of the month, I did not find the spot treatment helping my acne. Now, the kind I have is something I have never experienced so I wasn't sure what product to use. They were not the occasional whiteheads on your forehead or nose or cheek, but these were along my jawline.
Causes? (k)No(w) idea! :(

For this month, after receiving this product to test, I decided to try the 30-day challenge with SensiClear acne treatment kit which comes in 3 steps:

Step 1: Purifying Cleanser- "It gently purifies and refreshes the skin while removing excess oil, makeup and debris without drying."
Review- The clear gel cleanser is thicker and sticker than other liquid cleansers I have tried, including the Burt's Bees and Boscia cleansers. It doesn't leave my face feeling dry but instead, deep clean and smooth. Great cleanser and you only have to use a pea-size amount for your entire face.

Step 2: Balancing Toner- "A refreshing toner that conditions, firms and lifts away any residue and goes deep to prepare the skin for treatment."
Review- The packaging of this toner, made with 0.5% Salicylic Acid, is quite unusual. Usually I think of toner aka liquid product packaged in a bottle, but this was in a tube. This clear toner can be described as a more liquid version of the cleanser. You simply put it on a cotton pad and wash it off your face when dry. I have learned to use this only in trouble spots so it doesn't overdry the rest of my face. It's an extra step after cleansing but it does firm my skin after washing.

Step 3: Blemish-Free Acne Treatment Lotion- "Treats, heals and prevents blemishes while gentle and non-irritating to sensitive skin. This lightweight and fast-absorbing lotion uses the most effective acne treatment to prevent and control breakouts."
Review- The lotion also contains 0.5% Salicylic Acid and I use this at night or during the day when I have time to put it on. (I usually have 5 minutes to do any kind of makeup in the morning before I rush out of the door!) This light yellow lotion is used for the entire face for prevention. The acne trouble I am experiencing is concentrated on the jawline so I just concentrate using this in that area. So far, so good!

The kit also included a bonus Spot Treatment (Step 4) lotion which I use on top of the treatment lotion.

Overall Review: So after using this for the past month, I am pleased to say that I am happy with the results. It took a while about a week and half to two to really see the results. It was frustrating at first because new zits would pop up (ew, I know) in the same area but after consistently using this, there have not been any new ones. :) Now, I still am going to continue using this regimen since I am halfway done with these products (I have a 60 day kit) to ensure I still get my clear skin.

The only thing I am not liking is the SCARS! I need to get rid of them.. which is another quest I will update you all with once I figure it out.

If you have acne scar remedies, please let me know! Thanks!!

To learn more about SensiClear and its Autoship Program..

According to their website, the "SensiClear autoship program entitles you to receive automatic shipments of SensiClear at discounted prices. You'll also receive special offers and discounts from time to time."

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)


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Garnier Nutritioniste™ Skincare Products

Source: http://www.garnierusa.com/

Are you looking for a skincare product that will deep clean and give you radiant skin? Or are you looking for something that will smooth out wrinkles under your eye and prevent any further sun damage? If you haven't already tried, the Garnier Nutritioniste™ skincare line has something that will fit your needs.

There are five product categories to help with your type of skin. They are:
Nutri-Pure® Cleansers that "Detoxifies. Deep cleans without drying.". Includes towelettes, gel or cream cleansers, and facial scrubs.

Skin Renew- "Moisturize and treat with Skin Renew. Regenerate. Smooth texture, radiant, even-toned skin."

Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage - "Moisturize and protect with Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage. Helps reverse the signs of sun damage"

Ultra-Lift® - "Moisturize and treat with Ultra-Lift. Anti-wrinkle. Deep lifting action."

Ultra-Lift®Pro - "Moisturize and treat with NEW Ultra-Lift Pro. Now plump skin from within to push deep wrinkles up and out."

Skin Renew Awakening Face Massager: After trying this out for two weeks, I have seen an improvement in my skin's smoothness. It also looks a bit tighter, especially around the cheeks. I felt there was too much gel coming out while I used the rolling applicator. So if this happens to you, you will just have to massage the rest in your skin with your fingers. After using, you may you may have to massage the rest in your skin. Although my skin felt like it had a bit of a residue (probably because there was too much on my skin to begin with), I like how it has made my skin look brighter. So, I will definitely continue using this!

(Disclaimer: I received this product to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Review

At the end of August, I started using products from the Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions line. I was in need of a new cleanser because I did not feel like what I was using really cleaned my oily skin, especially in the hot, humid weather. I also had some breakouts and needed to get rid of them!

The Burt's Bees Natural Acne products contain the Purifying Gel Cleanser, Targeted Spot Treatment (both of which I purchased), a Pore Refining Scrub and a Daily Moisturizing Lotion.

Purifying Gel Cleanser- This clear, lightly yellow cleanser really did its job. It removed all the dirt, oil and grime on my face, leaving it clean and refreshed. It was a bit more liquid-y than I thought it would be, but it actually made it easier to massage into my face. It also has a light scent that is not overpowering. A small dime size is enough to lather on your face, so I will be using this 5 oz. bottle for another 4-5 months. Great deal for its affordable price of only $10!

Targeted Spot Treatment- I have found this treatment to reduce the size of stubborn acne, so it works. It takes some though, so don't expect miracles overnight. With continued use, I have seen my skin clearing up with the combined usage of the gel cleanser. The spot treatment's packaging makes it a bit hard to figure out how to use. I basically cover the top with my finger and turn it upside down. Then, I quickly pat the liquid onto troubled spots. It has a strong smell, so I advise to use this at night time only.

To see what ingredients really make these products work and get FREE SAMPLES and COUPONS,

Featured Ingredients- They both contain natural salicylic acid, derived from its key natural ingredients, such as Willow Bark Extract. The Cleanser contains Beet Root Extract and Evening Primrose Extract and the Spot Treatment contains Parsley Extract and Tea Tree Extract. (All natural!)

I can't wait to try the Scrub and Moisturizer!

Get your samples and coupons at the Burt's Bees Natural Acne Products and Treatments site.

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Product Review: Facial Cleansers

I am on the lookout for a new facial cleanser right now. I have been using the Mario Badescu Enzyme Gel for about 4-5 years now, if not longer. I have enjoyed using it in the first couple of years but now I don't think that is really cleaning my face as well because I still feel a tad oily after cleaning. So I am on my quest to find a new and good cleanser for my oily/combination skin.

Here are my Total Beauty reviews on them, in no particular order:

1) Mario Badescu Botanical Gel Cleanser - I have been using this facial gel for the past two weeks, and I think it alright. I suggest you use if you have combo skin because it can be gentle on areas where it is normal and also remove some of the oil on your oily skin. When it is very humid outside, which will make your skin feel even more oily, I find that this gel just does not remove all the oil on my face. It feels nice right after I wash it but then I still feel like I have a residue, which means my face hasn't been thoroughly cleaned. The alpha hydroxy formula does not really work to prevent blackheads and acne since I do not see much of a difference. I would say this is better than the Enzyme Cleansing Gel especially for the summer.

2) Boscia Cleansing Gel ($24 at Sephora)- This is a wonderful cleansing gel that really cleans my face without overdrying my skin. I have oily and sensitive skin, and with the heat in the summer, it is feeling more oily. The cleanser is gentle and has a nice soft scent. It creates a nice lather when using it so I do not even need to use more than a tiny amount. What I like most about this is that it does not leave any residue on my face and really cleans any face makeup that I have. It is important to use this gel with a cellulose sponge so I can exfoliate my face while cleansing.

Upcoming: Yes to Tomatoes cleanser and Burt's Bees Acne Solutions gel cleanser.

To read more of my reviews..

Go to: BeautyAndAllThat's Reviews page on Total Beauty

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