Temporary Shut Down

Hello Bloggers...

I wished my return to the blog world wouldn't be so somber, but due to recent events and safety reasons I will be temporary shutting down my blog (even though I haven't written anything in the past two months- which I can and will eventually explain!). In the meantime, I will be changing my blog as well. My blog will have a different look, feel, and format. However, I will continue to review beauty products and reveal beauty tips every now and then. It just won't be as consistent. Until then, enjoy my disappearance. Have a good summer...

Plus, thank you to everyone who took part in my blog. Because of you, my blog was a success and I did well on my project. So thank you again.

Sincerely,

BeautyFanatic

Ingredients That You Do Not Want in Your Skin Creams

Alcohol is one of the worst ingredients and the best skin firming lotion or gel will not contain specific alcohols such as methanol, isopropyl, benzyl, ethanol and ethyl alcohol. They cause your skin to become very dry and irritated.

What happens is the alcohol removes the skins natural acid mantle, which makes you more susceptible to viruses, moulds and bacteria.

Alcohols that are ok to use are stearly and cetearyl alcohol. These particular alcohols are actually waxes that are not related to the harmful types.

Fragrances are another ingredient that the best skin firming lotion or gel will not contain. Actually, around four thousand different ingredients can be labelled fragrances. Many of these fragrances are potentially carcinogenic.

Triclosan is an anti bacterial agent that is often found in skin care products. In fact, it is also used in weed killer. Triclosan can contribute to creating strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Certainly, this is a substance to avoid.

Anti-Aging Secret Revealed on Rachel Ray

I enjoy watching Rachel Ray's show. When I get out of class early and got the time, I'll lay out on the couch and watch her shows. My favorite segment... her human labs.

Check out this video and learn some secrets from her human lab segment for anti-aging:

Anti Aging Home Remedies..

Here are some simple home remedies to deal with wrinkles on skin and prevent the formation of new ones –

Apply egg whites to the skin under your eyes.

Odor-free castor oil can be applied to the skin under the eyes or on that of the throat.

Empty the contents of 3 Vitamin E capsules into a small bowl. Add to this 2 tsps plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp honey and 1/2 tsp lemon juice. Apply this mixture on the face using a cotton ball. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse.

A mixture of 1/4 cup comfrey infusion, 1/4 cup witch hazel and 10 drops of patchouli essential oil is effective in treating wrinkles. This can be stored in a clean bottle and applied on affected areas with a cotton ball.

Gently massage coconut oil on portions of skin prone to wrinkles every night a bedtime.

A paste of turmeric made with sugarcane juice is great to get rid of wrinkles and slow skin ageing.

Cut a green Thompson seedless grape in half and gently crush it on your face on the wrinkles. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water and let it dry in natural air.

Rub the core of pineapple on the face and leave it for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off. This works well on fine wrinkles.

Applying juice of green pineapples and apples on the face daily for 10-15 minutes is good for fine wrinkles and cracked skin.

Application of pure castor oil regularly prevents wrinkles.

Enjoy!

Fountain of Youth in Wine? Oh I Hope So!

In the past twenty or thirty years, there has been scientific studies of red wine, and it all began with the French. Despite a high fat diet and high consumption of alcohol, only a small number of these people suffer heart diseases compared to Americans.

The theory, red wine! Which has been undergoing through a variety of scientific tests from health and disease related issues, and now to the skin! It's been suggested that red wine contains the chemical resveratol that promotes anti-aging, allowing those to take it, look younger.

Experiments have been done on monkeys and researchers have noticed that the monkeys who are coming near to the end of their average lifespan of 27 year, and who have taken resveratol consistently look much younger, healthier, their coat is more shinier than the controlled monkeys which have not taken resveratol. In fact, fewer of the monkeys that took reservatol suffered arthritis.

So I might go to GNC and try it out!

To learn more click here.

Physical vs Chemical Sunblock.. You Have Been Warned!

I'm about to pitch the sunblock that I use to rave about, the Dove Moisture. Why? Because even though they are advertised and a company that cares about your skin and beauty, it is all a hoaxs because it comes down to cash.

Recently, thank to a colleague and friend I found out that sunscreens that contains chemical sunblock are harmful to the skin. Chemicals such as:

• Benzophenones (dixoybenzone, oxybenzone, avobenzone)
  
• PABA and PABA esters (ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB, glyceryl PABA, p-aminobenzoic acid, padimate-O or octyl dimethyl PABA)
  
• Cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate)
  
• Salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate)
  
• Digalloyl trioleate
  
• Menthyl anthranilate

All these chemicals used for sunblock are powerful free radical generators, have strong estrogenic activity, and synthetic chemicals that are alien to the human body and accumulate in body fat stores.

What scares me the most is that these chemical sunscreens that prevent sunburn don't actually block the sun, instead the chemicals absorb the UV rays. So with these free radicals generations, it actually INCREASES cellular damges AKA wrinkies, fine lines, discolored skin, and pretty much just plain looking OLD! Free radicals are the main causes for aging. And someone, like me, who is a freak about keeping the skin looking young and beautiful, this is not the product I want to use! I even drink my Isotonic daily just to eliminate the free radicals on my skin!

So I must say I am absolutely disappointed with Dove. (You guys really had me fooled thinking you actually do provide product for the benefits of the skin, but when it comes down to it, you're just looking for the cash). I looked at my Deep Moisture facial lotion from Dove and found out that it contains Avobenzone. I almost collasped and fainted. So if you will excuse me, I'm gonna go wash my face and get this chemical crap off of me!

But until I come back, does anyone have a good healthy sunblock they could recommend me?

What's Your Secret Remedy?

So for the past couple of days, you've read my ramblings about some of my likes and dislikes when it comes to age prevention products. And I would really like to hear from the rest of you.

Anyone ever tried Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty? I see the infomercials for it every weekend but kind of weary if it works or not.

And how about hydroxatone? Has anyone tried this product, yet? It's been aired the radio a for the past couple of months.

Do you have a secret beauty recipe that works?

Hell Notes for Beauty shared hers with a simple and delicious 2 day instant moisturizer with strawberry and honey.

Peeving Progressives seems to be intrigued by Secret Spa products.

So, come on and put your two cents in!

The Obvious.. H2O!

You guessed it! The free stuff that comes out of your foucet helps prevent anti-aging. Doctors and nutritionist, and fitness gurus aren't kidding when they tell you to drink lots of water. And we all know the average.. its about 8 to 10 cups a day! I think I average out on two and at more five, but I'm working on it.

Now I'm sure there are a lot of you that are thinking, water? How much can that help with age prevention? Well after talking to a lot of women who are in their fifties and sixties at bars, grocery stores, malls, doctor offices, etc etc; who look like they're still in their twenties, thirties, and forties, their secret is water. And it shows!

So drink up! To read more about the benefits of drinking water, click here.

I Believe in Isotonix

Here is the number one product I use to mainly focus on age prevention, Isotonix OPC-3 Beauty Blend. It is my best kept secret (well not anymore) to keep my skin glowing. Even though I am in my twenties, but I can tell a difference. While my friends are also in their mid twenties or older, I can see their skin starting to lose its luster. Even some of them have begun to form wrinkles but don't even realize it. With Isotnix OPC, my skin feels as soft and smooth before I had acne.

Think of Isotonix OPC-3 as a vitamin pill designated to solely prevent you from aging but in liquid form. Everyone in my family uses it, even the males in my family. Some use it for acne, others like me use it to keep my skin looking young, and I am seeing results. Not just on me, but on my whole entire family. Most of the males in my family tend to have severe acne even well into their adulthood, and after three months I don't see a single zit on their face. My aunts who are well into their forties and fifties now look like they're in their twenties and thirties. It is miraculous how healthier our skin looks.

Isotonix is really like a vitamin pill, but it comes in powder form and all you have to do is mix it with a very small amount of water. Unlike regular vitamin pills, your body will completely absorb all of the Isotonix mixture where as regular vitamin pills you may only absorb 30% of what you actually swallow, the rest of it is flushed down the toilet. So to put it really simple, if your taking the regular vitamin pills whether it's for health, bones, heart, etc, you are not taking all that vitamin daily value, only just a small percentage of it.

So what's in Isotonix? Isotonix OPC-3 Beauty Blend contains a high concentration of vegetable extracts such as grape seed extract, red wine extract, bilberry extract, citrus bioflavanoids and it is completely natural. No extra lab chemical added. What makes these ingredients effective is that they are free-radical scavengers, preventing cellular damage from pollution such as smog.

You can't find this product in stores, well at least I haven't seen them around here. I get my supply from a nutritionist in Canada! However you can find it online, but they usually run at $60-$70 a bottle which seems expensive, but a bottle should last you for three to four months. If you would like to try OPC but for a cheaper price, just feel free to send me an email found in my profile, and I will connect you to my nutritionist.

You Can Do More With Vitamin E Than You Think!

Vitamin E is my overnight quick fix. I'm sure there have been times when you look in the mirror and you think to yourself, "What is up with my face!?" You've had a long day, you're tired, and with all the pollutants in the air, your skin is just not looking its best. You're complexion is dull, you looked exhausted, and it's like you've suddenly aged ten years from all the stress.

Well dull no more! Vitamin E is a great way to get your skin back to its youthful glow overnight! It definitely comes in handy if you got a date night the next day. The trick is you don't swallow a Vitamin E pill right before you go to bed. So what do you do with it? You pop it!

Yes, pop the Vitamin E pill and whatever comes out just apply onto your skin. It is also great for any under eye dark circles, just becareful when you apply it, you don't want it to get in your eyes.

Vitamin E gel pills are great for topical ointment. You can even use it to help heal acne scars, or just any plain scars.

So cheers to beautiful skin, thanks to Vitamin E!

Aloe Vera, Not Just Something You Put On After a Sunburn.

Aloe Vera has always been known to be a great topical ointment on the skin to help with sunburns or other skin irritants. However, have you ever considered the benefits of taking it internally? Believe it or not Aloe Vera has many long term health benefits! This is one of the closest things you will find youth in a bottle, Aloe Vera juice!

Even if anti-aging isn't your thing, I still would recommend Aloe Vera juice just for the taste! It is absolutely delicious! Anyway back to the benefits:

• Body-Building Blocks: Amino acids are our body's building blocks. Drinking Aloe Vera Juice on a regular basis allows you to help maintain your health by replenishing your body naturally with these essential amino acids. An analysis of the aloe vera plant shows that it comes closer than any other known plant to the duplication of essential amino acids.


• Daily Dose of Vitamins: Aloe Vera Gel includes Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, Folic Acid and Niacin. The human body simply cannot store some of these vitamins; therefore we need to supplement them regularly through our diets.
  
• Daily Dose of Minerals: Some of the minerals found in aloe vera juice include calcium, sodium, iron, potassium, chromium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc. We all know that adding foods to our diets with naturally occurring vitamins and minerals is recommended for overall health. Drinking Aloe Vera Gel is a natural and healthful way to replenish the body's supply.
  
• Diabetes Prevention: After undergoing research, aloe extract has been proven to decrease blood glucose levels. Research claims that aloe can prevent or at least slow down the development of diabetes. Medications given to diabetics also contain significant amounts of aloe. The plant is clearly the herbalist's method to control the deadly disease.
  
• Aids in Healthy Digestion: A healthy digestive tract ensures that nutrients from the foods we eat are absorbed into the blood stream. Aloe Vera Juice has natural, detoxifying abilities. Drinking Aloe Vera Juice made from the pure aloe gel regularly may improve bowel regularity and increase protein absorption, while at the same time decrease unfriendly bacteria and yeast.
  
• Immune Support and Function: Aloe Vera juice provides natural support for the immune system. Since the immune system works around the clock protecting the body, aloe vera, with its natural immune enhancers, gives the body a continual arsenal from which to draw.
  
• Regulates Weight and Energy Levels: Aloe Vera Gel naturally, and with regular use, allows the body to cleanse the digestive system. Our diets include many unwanted substances which can cause lethargy and exhaustion. Taken regularly, Aloe Vera Juice from the pure aloe gel ensures a greater feeling of well-being, allowing energy levels to increase and helping to maintain a healthy body weight.
  
• Heartburn Prevention: Heartburn may not be life-threatening but it can certainly cause discomfort. Instead of waiting for the condition to subside, you can ingest oral aloe or aloe extract to speed up the healing process. Aloe is pretty bitter, so you better take it with water.
  
• Dental Health and Hygiene: Aloe Vera juice is extremely healthful for your mouth and gums. Because aloe vera is safe to be taken internally, it can be used to treat injuries that occurred on soft tissue, such as mouth ulcers, canker sores, fever blisters and other lesions. It has also been used effectively to treat bleeding gums and to soothe pain and discomfort after oral surgery or extensive dental treatment.

One of the reasons why I drink Aloe Vera juice is mainly because I love the taste. The fact that it's good for your skin is a bonus. Also I've noticed that it makes me feel better even when I'm sick.

My aunt has been drinking Aloe Vera is replace of water and her skin is pure perfection. She's in a mid forties but she still looks like she is in her late twenties. So hopefully, if I keep drinking this I'll look like I'm in my twenties while I'm in my forties! :)

Get J. Lo's Glow!... And I Don't Mean Her Perfume

Ever wonder how J. Lo always has that beautiful bronze glowing skin? Her secret?.... Salmon!


That's right, fish! As seen on VH1 one of Jennifer Lopez's secret to having that beautiful glowing skin is in her diet. Almost everyday she has salmon for either lunch or dinner.


So what is in this salmon that gives her that glow? Well salmon is one of the richest concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats nourish the skin by reducing the body's production of inflammatory substances, decreasing clogged pores, and averting fine lines and wrinkles. Thus this fish adds luster and softness to your complexion.


So if you're not a big fan of seafood, it's time to step out of the box and order salmon for dinner. Besides, it's delicious and healthy! Great benefits if you're on a diet! So might as well get skinny and a more beautiful you!

Wrinkle Prevention Right at Home! TA-DA!

So I've been following Dazzledust25 on her blog and I have to handle it to her. She's good and I love the content she's giving. So I have tried her Wrinkle Prevention for those who are in their 20's and I gotta say, I love it! My skin feels soft and it's looking better too. Besides its better to use organic products than chemicals thats created in a lab. So follow the recipe below and try it out yourself!

This particular oil is best for people on their 20’s. After you have made the mixture store it in a tinted tincture bottle (available at the chemist). Use morning and night.

Anti-aging treatment oil (20’s)

•Carrot – 1 drop
•Geranium – 8 drops
•German Chamomile – 3 drops
•Fennel – 5 drops
•Lavender – 5 drops
•Neroli – 8 drops
Dilute this blend of oils in 2 tablespoons of almond or apricot kernel oil.

What these oils do:

1. Encourage the regeneration of cells

2. Oxygenate the blood which energises cells

3. Help maintain collagen

4. Encourage firming of the skin (Fennel)

5. Deal with manifestations of anxiety on the skin (Geranium)

6. Helps skin heal and repair (Lavender)

7. Acts as an antiseptic (German Chamomile)

If you want to get to know Dazzledust25, meet her yourself in this youtube video:


Got any home remedies you want to share?? Post it!

Patricia Wexler M.D. - The Skin Regenerating Serum

In another attempt to reverse the damages on my skin from my younger years of excessive tanning, this product was not the answer. Patricia Wexler's Skin Regenerating Serum was introduced to me from Bath and Body Works as a free sample. And of course I was extremely excited to go home and use it since products that I have purchased before from Bath and Body Works such as the Superfill Speed-Plump worked- I saw results and it was effective. However, I was in for a disappointment.

The only real results I found was that my skin felt softer in the morning when I applied on at night. I still had the harsh leathery, discolored skin that resulted from my tanning. It didn't regenerate my skin's tone nor did it give my skin that healthy glow.

I'm not a big fan of this product because it requires you to apply it on twice daily and this product was not something you would want to apply to your skin before you head out of the house. The serum has a very thick feel to it and when you apply onto your face, it does not absorb right away. In fact, it kind of feels like I'm applying a layer of play-doh to my face.

On top of that it also leaves my skin feeling sticky, greasy and shiny. Thus it wouldn't be a great product to use to if you plan on putting on makeup which I have tried once. Since this product is so thick, I couldn't apply my make up on smoothly. My bronzer looked caked on and uneven because of the product.

This product runs at a whopping $65 and was originally $150 for only a 3.4 oz bottle! Yikes! Talk about over priced!...

So stick around and found out products that are cheaper but get the job done!

If you have a review that you would like to share, please feel free to post it! I would love to hear your toughts and comments.

From sun-block to anti-aging!

Moving on, from sunblock that help prevent aging to product that are anti-aging. Beginning this week I'm gonna reveal what I use to keep my skin looking healthy and young. From lotion to face wash to even vitamins! I tell all! Ones that I don't see much of a result to those that have given me compliments! So stick around for my "fountain" of youth series... I'm gonna reveal product that you guys may have not even heard of!

SUNBLOCK- The Propaganda for Anti-Aging Products

In this post I'm taking a different route in my sunblock series. Many beauty product corporations are claiming to be anti-aging or even age reversing all because of one ingredient... sunblock. Do not be fooled by products that claim to be anti-aging or age reservsing! Now sunblock can prevent damages to the skin but age reversing? I don't think so... There is no FDA regulation for what qualifies as using the term anti-aging, so companies like Neutrogena are using it loosely! All they have to do is just stick a little SPF into any products of theirs and voila... it's all of the sudden an age-reversing product!

Evidence #1: Neutrogena Anti Oxidant Age Reverse Day Lotion with SPF 20

I have never like the majority of Neutrogena's products, there has only been one item from the brand line that has passed my test. As a consumer, Neutrogena has failed me over and over again, from face wash to shampoos and conditioners. So when I hear the name Neutrogena, its rings a negative resonance for me.

Now back to Neutrogena Anti Oxidant Age Reverse Day Lotion with SPF 20, age reverse my ass! (Excuse my language- but I am very bitter about this product). Yes, I know I'm only in my twenties but I have seen actual results from other products that also have claimed to be anti-aging or age reserving. With this product, it was a complete epic failure! And even as a sunblock, it ranks the bottom of my list.

First of all, like I said when it came to age reversing it was a complete failure, I saw no results. Now I may not have any wrinkles, but I do suffer from an uneven skin tone time to time. So this product even out my skin tone like it claimed it would... NOPE! NOTHING.. NADA!

Well since this product won't work in the age reversing category, I thought I might as well just use it as a sunblock. The experience?... Horrible! Even though this product claimed to be more of age reversing lotion, it felt more like a sunblock than it did a moisturizer. It smelled like one too. The product was oily and greasy, and felt heavy when applied on. To top it all off, only a week and a half after purchasing this product, it started to separate on me. The oil from this product must have separated itself and when I tried to apply it nothing but oil and grease came out of this tube! Literally, clear drops of oil was squeezed out. So I had to throw away $20 in the garbage. I'm not risking a break out!

So save your money and don't buy this product! Unless you want to apply oil all over your face... (I'm still angry at this product... )

A lil' Something for Sensitive Skin: Coppertone UltraGuard Continuous Spray SPF 70

My skin has been through a lot and I have been so rough on it that if it was sensitive... well let's just say it's not sensitive anymore. However, I know there are plenty of people who have sensitive skin and just a dab of the wrong moisturizer can cause one to break out in a rash.

So I have search far and wide, read many reviews to find something a sunblock that would be suitable for those who have sensitive skin... (especially if you're planning on going a vacation near the equator soon).

Here is a review by njchicaa from Viewpoints.com:

Coppertone UltraGuard Continuous Spray SPF 70 — My husband has delicate Irish skin and chose not to go tanning before we headed off to Mexico on our vacation. I knew I needed to bring some serious sunblock along for him so I bought two cans of Coppertone UltraGuard Continuous Spray SPF 70.

This is a broad-spectrum sunblock that is very easy to use: you simply press the top to dispense an even layer of spray onto your skin. You don't even have to rub it into skin because it absorbs so quickly. You can spray this product while holding the can at any angle which is helpful because you can cover areas like your upper back and the backs of your arms without asking anyone for assistance.

I was extremely impressed with Coppertone UltraGuard Continuous Spray SPF 70. We were diligent about applying it religiously to my husband's skin and he never once had to deal with burned skin. I also used it my very first day on the island to protect my Italian skin and I developed some nice color without burning. The problem with this spray sunblock, like all others, is the fact that it truly does "stick" to skin and is very difficult to wash off of skin. My husband and I had to help each other scrub it off of our backs with a mesh sponge because it simply isn't the kind of product that will just rinse away.

Still, Coppertone UltraGuard Continuous Spray SPF 70 did an excellent job of protecting lily-white skin from burning in tropical sunshine. I can deal with the whole showering difficulty issue when I know that it is so effective in protecting skin. I will definitely buy this product again at the start of the summer so my husband can use it again during our days at the beach and in the pool. Recommended!

To visit her blog visit: http://www.viewpoints.com/Coppertone-UltraGuard-Continuous-Spray-SPF-70-review-1ad05




Enjoy being tan and burnt-free!

Total Effects UV Moisturizer plus SPF 15

Total Effects UV Moisturizer plus SPF 15 is my second favorite facial sunblock lotion out there. It works and it's effective. I like the idea that it's sunblock and anti-aging all in the same bottle. Also it's easy to use with the little pump and my face also looks healthy with a beautiful glow.

So why didn't this product make it to the top of my list? Well first of all it feels more like a sunblock than it does a moisturizer/lotion. The product feels heavy when you apply to the skin and it leaves my face shiny and greasy throughout the day, which is a big no-no for me. And if it'll leave white streaks on your face if you don't rub it in hard enough.

I would recommend this product for ladies and gentlemen who are in their thirties and forties. I believe the older you get the stronger product you need to keep that skin looking good. However if you're in your teens and twenties, I would recommend something else such as the Dove Deep Moisture.

But! if you're going to be near the equator where the sun's rays are so much stronger, this is the perfect product to bring with you to prevent any sun damages.

This product runs about $20 which to me is kind of expensive but it's worth the value. I don't plan on buying this product again anytime soon, but when I certainly get older I will have to switch my Dove Deep Moisturizer to this one.

Dove Deep Moisture Facial lotion.. Weren't Kidding When They Called it Deep Moisture!

This time I'm going to start off with my favorite facial sun-block moisturizer! The Dove Deep Moisture facial lotion! Now that I'm getting older (okay maybe not that old) but I know I need to start protecting my skin. I wanna be able to look like I'm in my twenties even when I far into my thirties and forties, so one of the most important steps... Sun block and moisturizer!


Now I have tried many sun blocks and well so has my mom, but the majority we hate them! Why??? Because (a) they're too greasy leaving your face super shiny, (b) they don't absorb quickly, (c) they always leave a white streak no matter how hard you rub it in!

This is not the case with the Dove Deep Moisture facial lotion! I absolutely love this product! First, this product is not greasy at all! It will not leave your face looking oily and shiny!

Second, it truly moisturizes your face! The feeling from this product is truly refreshing unlike most sunblocks where I feel like I'm applying goo all over my face. Also it doesn't leave the skin feeling heavy like regular sunblocks do.

Third, it's a sunblock but it doesn't feel like a sunblock. And it's SPF 15! Once I apply this product my skin feels soft and smooth like a baby's bottom!

Fourth, I have nothing bad to say about this product. I cannot find a flaw! No break outs, no pimples, nothing! And it's less then $10 at your local grocery store!

So if you want the sun block without the feeling of a sunblock this is it! Enjoy healthy skin!

Spring Breaks.. Summer Vacays.. Oh My!

In the spirit of Spring Breaks and Summer Vacay, I have been inspired through a friend's blog 'A "Royal" Getaway' to start a series on sunblock lotion. And for someone who loves to have that tan colored skin, I do not like to hear the word sunblock, but you gotta do it! It's better to be safe than sorry or in my case I rather look young and pale rather than old, tanned and wrinkly. You know what I'm talking about... the older people who shouldn't tan but still do which makes their skin look leathery and even more wrinkled, yuck!

Not to get off topic but ever wonder how those celebrities like Sheryl Crow and Cindy Crawford never seem to age? Wanna know the first step?... It's Sunblock! (Sheryl Crow doesn't leave the house without it!)

So before you zip up your luggage, stay tuned as I unveil my favorite sunblock lotions that you might wanna pack away as well as some of my not so favorites that you might just wanna leave at home.

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel.. That is if you consider 12 hours instant!

Now for the creme de la creme, Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel is actually my favorite self tanning product out there. Well at least for now. Once again it has it ups and downs, but the positives outweigh the negatives which is why this product ranks out on top for me.

If you have been following my blogs you'll notice that there is no real perfect product out there. There alway seems to be a flaw, but I hope my insights will help you determine whether a product is worth your money or not.

For me Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel is (but like I said.. for now). What I like about this product is that it is easy to apply and it's not messy unlike GlowFusion. Another reason is that there is a lesser chance you will turn orange unlike GlowFusion as well. But be advised! You can turn orange! That is if you apply a lot of it!

Also since price is a huge issue for me (being a college student doesn't allow you to splurge), this product only rings out at $33! That is a little bit pricey but much cheaper than GlowFusion and I have been using it for a year. I still have enough left to last me another six months. So when you think about it, it's even cheaper than going to a tanning a salon at $20 a month or even more! (But of course it's not cheaper than just laying out in the sun).

Now for the negatives... I'm not a big fan that it is a gel. It feels oily and greasy when I apply it. However, by some miracle I don't break out! No pimples, black heads, or zits from this product.

Another problem, since it is a gel and greasy your skin does not absorb it right away so I suggest you apply it at night before you go to bed. If you plan on applying it on during the day, well get ready for a super shiny face, they weren't kidding when Clarins called it a gel.

Of course since this is a self tanner, it doesn't last forever. This product last for about five to seven days and then it's time to reapply. However, it actually lasts longer than GlowFusion. But, GlowFusion beats it by showing results sooner. It takes less than half the time to see results from GlowFusion than it does Clarins, which I have timed it out to be about 10 to 12 hours.

However, to me I get more value out of this product than any other self tanner out there. But if I happen to find another self tanner that is even better, you can bet I'll share it with you!

GlowFusion Micro-Nutrient Face & Body Natural Protein Tan.. Is a Really Long Name, but How Much Does it Say About the Tan?

Glow Fusion is one of the many products made by Fusion Beauty, but the name is just enough to get you running away scared! And you should be because this self tanner is deadly!

Now when I say deadly, I don't mean literally or chemically harmful (although I'm not sure if it could cause negative long term affects). When I say deadly I mean.. be careful of how much you spray or you'll be superbly orange!

For me this product carries an equal amount of positive and negative results. The plus to this product is that it works! Spray it on and just in a couple short hours you will see results! And when you spray just the right amount of this product you will get that perfect glow.

There has been many times where I have been complimented on my skin color because of this product. Especially if you have olive skin, this will match with your skin color perfectly, just don't over spray. As for those who have pale skin, I wouldn't recommend this product since it's so potent the results may be too dramatic and overwhelming. However if you do use those product, I suggest using very SMALL amounts to start off AND I would make a day of it just to test it out. So don't make plans to go out if you're planning to test out this product, I suggest you stay in and see the results. TRUST ME! I had to learn it the hard way for a DATE! AHHH! It was embarrassing when one of his friends told me I looked way too dark (and not in a nice way). Lucky for me though, that didn't stop my current boyfriend from dating me. WOOHOO!

Personally, I don't think I can get a better bronze from any other product than GlowFusion. With just the right amount of spray, I constantly get compliments on my tan and I really do love the way I look. And the best part is, since the product is so potent you don't have to spray much which makes the product last! It took me a whole year and a half to use up Glow Fusion.

And now onto the negative aspect of this product. Now I wasn't kidding when I said this product could be deadly in terms of making you orange. On my first excursion with this product I pretty much looked like this girl on the right (that not really me, but skin color is right on target). And since it was my first time every using the product I didn't have glows on, so my hands were ten shades darker than my face. It was bad! So here is another advice WEAR GLOVES!! You can try to wash your hands right after spraying the product, but like I said it's so potent that it sticks right onto your skin, so washing your hands even right after you have sprayed doesn't help, not one bit.

Another problem, it is very time consuming to spray on the product and spread it evenly on your body. Which takes me to another problem, if you don't take the time to really spread the product evenly, it will show! There has been a time where I rushed and I had five different shades on my skin at once, another embarrassing moment.

To add on, this product is very expensive... it rings out at $60! This does not include tax! Hopefully the free samples at Sephora can make up for the cost. Also I'm not very fond of the smell of this product, definitely has that strong chemical smell.

Now the number one thing that I did not like about this product is how it made my skin dry. After I sprayed on GlowFusion and see myself becoming bronzed I noticed that my skin became very dry and leathery. Imagine sitting in car with leather seats, notice how there are wrinkles and lines moving straight out around where you are sitting. That was how my skin was like when I would take my finger and poke it to my face. On top of that, since my skin was becoming so dry, I was beginning to develop very large black heads (VERY LARGE).

I have bought this product repeatedly because I absolutely loved the color it gave my skin. However, I don't believe I will be buying this product again unless they can change the formula to prevent dry skin.

Please do keep in mind that everyone will experience different results when using a variety of products. I have ready many other reviews on GlowFusion and there are more positive reports than negative.

Anyway, I'll be back for more reviews on self tanners! Stick around!

Jergens Natural Glow... But how natural is it?

Jergens Natural Glow is probably the cheapest self tanners out there but is it worth it?

I have used Jergens Natural Glow before and I do not favor the results. However, it does work... that is if you want to look orange!

I can never seem to find the perfect median with this product, either I don't see any results or too much results! And on top of things it makes me break out and after a couple days of using this product the color starts to fade off leaving blotchy bronze spots all over my face and body (this is the worse!). And I'm left looking like a sick person and everyone is avoiding me. UGH!

However, I do believe this is a great product for those who have pale white skin and looking to bronze. I recomend that you use a small amount at a time. Mixing this product with your skin tone may not make you look orange, and instead give you a nice bronze. But if you have a tendency to break out, then this might not be for you. As for people who have an olive skin tone like I do, I highly recommend to stay away from this product!

So what should people with olive skin tone do? Well stick around cause in my next couple blogs I'll tell you some of the best bronzers I've used just to the get that perfect color!

It's Tanning Season!

It's that time of year again, when the sun starts peaking out and the weather starts getting warmer. So how do you get a nice beautiful tan without the skin damage? That has always been my biggest question. If only they could make a product that allowed you to have that nice tan without the bad consequences. So the solution... self-tanners!

But which ones work and which ones don't? Do they last? All these questions!!!

Have no fear! My reviews are here! In the next coming days I'll be reviewing some self tanning lotions, gels, and sprays.

If you have you're own reviews please feel free to add it to! Until then, enjoy the beautiful weather!

Gettin Rid of those Dark Circles... Part 4

And here is the finale of the Gettin Rid of those Dark Circle Series! I would like to present to you my favorite product for those getting rid of those dark circles is the Superfill SPEED-PLUMP. Not only does this product help reduce the appearance of dark circles but is also great for de-puffing the eyes for those long late nights.

Not only do I like this product because it works for my eyes, but because it also does wonders for the skin! When I see that my face has become discolored and dull, I just apply this product as a mask and voila! Within 15 to 20 minutes my face looks like I just had a facial. My skin is left feeling silky soft, looking healthier, and just has a beautiful glow.

I love using this product when I have date nights with my boyfriend. The only problem is with this product is that it can be a little messy when using it, but then again what facial mask isn't messy?

The product use to be sold in Bath & Body Works but I no longer can find it anymore. However you can still find it if you google it!

Enjoy looking and feeling great!

Gettin Rid of those Dark Circles... Part 3

Now the past two posts I have blogged, I've criticized and ridiculed the products that claimed to be effective in decreasing puffiness or eliminating the dark circles under your eye. Well behold a product that I have found to work! Well at least to some extent... the Olay Age Defying Revitalizing Eye Gel. You might get half of your money's worth from this product which is better than getting no value at all.

Now you might not get the best results but little results are better than nothing. When I've used this product I've seen a small decrease in puffiness around and under my eyes. Dark circles faded just a little bit, and the skin around my eyes are a little more firm. I also like using this product because it nicely cools and soothes the skin around my eyes. A good product to use if you had a good cry from watching a movie.

I have bought this product repeatedly, however I do not plan to buy it again in the future.

In my opinion, if you want to purchase a product to prevent puffiness and dark circles around the eye, this may be a good product for you. However, if you are planning to buy this product to completely get rid of puffiness and dark circles, you should rethink about spending your money.

However, I haven't seen this product on the stores shelf lately, but you can still find it online. Just becareful of scams!

Come back for part 4 as I reveal my most favorite product for puffiness and dark circles under the eyes and especially for those days when I'm exhausted from the night before!

Gettin Rid of those Dark Circles... Part 2

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew's Anti-Puff Eye Roller should just roll it's way off the self! I mean I never really had faith in any eye products but at least the products do DO something. This product however does NOTHING! If I wanted to put something cold on my eyes I'll just splash it with cold water and save myself $10.

I think they just put scented water into this little green tube. I've have used it plenty of times and experimented with it on days when my eyes were extremely puffy. However no results. My eyes were still left puffy, the ony thing the product did was just cooled my eyes but thats it.

It didn't even lighten up the dark circles that were under my eyes too. It did nothing!

But hey if you're in desperate need to soothe and cool your eyes and have money to just throw away this is just the product for you.

Anyone else use this product? What do you think of it? Did it work for you? Feel free to join in on the conversation.

Other than that, stick around for part 3...

Gettin Rid of those Dark Circles... Part 1

As I get older I begin to see those dark circles forming under my eyes and it is not attractive! It makes me look old, and at the age of 22 who is already been using anti-aging products, looking old is a something I cannot endure or gracefully accept. I'm even dreading turning 23 in the next couple months.

So what is a girl to do? How do I get rid of this under eye issue? What product works and don't? Do cucumbers really do the trick?

In my desperate need of finding a solution I have ran across a lot of products that don't work, including L'oreal Skin Genesis Eye Serum.

If you're looking something to get rid of dark circles this is not the trick. I'll but it on day and night and I just see the same dark circle under my eyes just sitting there refusing to budge. However, this product is not a complete waste, it does help with other eye issues that I've noticed.

If you've started to see very small premature wrinkles around your eyes this might do the trick. There are times when I wake up and I see a tiny wrinkle under my eyes, and yes I do freak out, but I've noticed if I put the eye serum right before I got to bed the tiny wrinkle disappears or is less visible. The only problem is when I do put this product on before I go to bed I end up waking up with crust all over and around my eye. And it is disgusting. It clings to my lashes and sometimes hard to wipe off without irritating my eye.

So in the end I wouldn't buy this product again, it was too expensive and the negatives out weighed the positives.

What products works or doesn't work for you? Feel free to put your two cents in!

Other than that, stayed tuned for part 2!

AcneFree.. Literally!

So in my previous post I talked about ProActiv and how it didn't completely work for me. I still got the occasional pimple that looked like the size of Texas on my face. One pimple was just bad enough to get me locking myself in my house. If I had to go out in public I would end up looking down at my feet while I was walking, which wasn't a good idea since looking down at my feet gave me neck cramps and made me dizzy.

However, one lucky day while my mother was shopping at Giant Eagle, she found an inexpensive acne kit that claimed it was 2 times more effective than ProActiv. Given that the kit was only $10, it wouldn't have hurt to buy and try it. And so I did. Within a week of using AcneFree, my face had complete cleared up. I couldn't believe it nor did my mom.

AcneFree is my choice of product, which has a similar set up as ProActiv. It was so effective that my friend's boyfriend at the time, (who's acne was far worse than mine back then) also started using it. The best part was it was inexpensive and you did not have to order it online or by the phone. It is conveniently place at your local grocery store or drug store.

My favorite product of the kit is the Repair Lotion. This is the miracle worker of the whole kit. If I feel as if a pimple is getting ready to appear, I just dab a little bit of the Repair Lotion and mask it over the little bump right before I go to bed. By next morning the minor bump which could've been potentially a massive pimple is gone. What is left is a smooth, bump-free, pimple-free skin.

The only downside of this product is the toner. I'm not a big fan of AcneFree's toner because I don't believe it does anything. When I put it on I feel as though I'm just putting scented water on my face. So if you plan on buying this product try buying a separate toner.

Next topic... Shellsea commented on under eye dark circles.. so stay tuned and get reviews on products that claim to get rid of them.. or do they?

ProActive... Over Priced, Over Advertised, Over Rated

ProActiv, the product that could possibly have the most celebrity endorsements than any other product out there in the world. Which celebrity are they going to reel in next? How about Tiger Woods? They can use a tag line, something along the lines of "Get the Ladies to Line Up for You!" And besides, Tiger could probably use the endorsement deal since he's lost so many already. Anyway I digress...

First of all, I have to give credit to their marketing strategies because they did a good job of advertising their product. I really do believe that they are the first acne/facial cleanser to really push out ProActiv to the public, especially through TV. They have many celebrity endorsements, user reviews with before and after pictures, nonstop commercials, and infomercials. However, if I see another ProActiv commercial I will throw my shoe at my television. Enough already!

Not to get too carried away, the reason why I had to applaud their marketing efforts is because for a good two years of my life I had used their product. As a pubescent teenager going through hormonal changes, and in dire need of finding a solution to cure my acne, I bought into the whole idea that ProActiv would clear my skin. And did it? Maybe...

ProActiv did clear my skin to some extent. I did see a 70% decrease in acne, but I STILL HAD ACNE! I went from ten pimples on my face to three, but three is just as bad as having ten. Granted ProActiv did help clear up my skin, but it didn't clear it up completely. And that for me is not good enough as I am sure that nobody would be happy about having one or two pimples. If we all had a choice, we would choose to have no pimples at all.

So all in all, did ProActiv get rid of my acne? No. But did it help reduce my acne? Yes. Do I find it worth my money?... Well at 20 bucks a pop, which doesn't even include shipping or tax, no!

So what did I do to get rid of my acne and has only left my face pimple free? Stay tuned, as I reveal the product that freed me from the tyranny of acne...

But in the mean time, what do you think about ProActiv?

Where Did Almay's Pore Minimizer Go?!?

Has Almay kill off their Pore Minimizer off their brand line? I have never been a big fan of Almay's products, however they have me hooked on this and I have my reasons :). Now I never found Almay's product to be effective and I didn't see any of my pores shrinking when I used this product. But just when I was about to throw this product in the garbage as another waste of money, I have found another reason to keep it.

For those who have extremely oily skin and the kind that last all day, this is the product for you. I suffer from excessive oily skin. Even after 15 minutes of washing my face, I begin to see shiny spots appear across my cheeks, the T-zone, nose, and chin. I have enough oil on my face that I could gas up my car for weeks! However, Almay's Pore Minimizer was the answer.

Although Almay's Pore Minimizer may not be effective in minimizing your pores (well at least for me) it is a great way to get rid of that shine. And get rid of it for hours! As long as I apply it after moistrizer and before makeup, I'll be shine free up to 6-8 hours. The best part was, it was only a couple of dollars.

As for now, I'll suffer a shiny face since Almay's Pore Minimizer is no longer sold around my area. What do you use to control your shine?

Put the Bar Soap Down!

Whoever said that they only use a bar of soap to wash their face and never have once break out is a lie! Other than that, they're probably just genetically blessed. And there is no just thing as a beauty potion or youth in a bottle. However there are products out there that work and unfortunately many that don't.

Welcome to my first and official blog where you can get the scoop on beauty products from those who claim to clear acne to anti-aging remedies that say will take years off your look. However, please do keep in mind that different products can produce different results for everyone. But if you want to get some insight on a product before you purchase it or put your own insight on a product, this is the place to be!