Say Goodbye to Melasma in May & Get Your Skin Checked for Free!

It's no secret that the best thing you can do to maintain a youthful face is to stay out of the sun. The rays of the sun, which feel awesome, especially at the beach, are tricky little suckers. While we think those rays are being all friendly and lovely-feeling, they are actually damaging our skin. Granted, it doesn't happen immediately, but it does happen. You can't deny that sun worshippers look older than vampires. And since it's probably not a great idea to be either of those, let's compromise and all agree to use sunscreen, ok?

If you wear it daily, your skin will look younger in ten years than it will if you don't. I know, we are an instant gratification kind of society. We want it and we want it now. And I am leading the pack of those craving instant gratification. But I also don't want skin cancer, large brown spots or deep wrinkles, which you will get if you don't wear a sunscreen daily. Adding an SPF to your skincare routine is the best thing you can do. And if you spend a penny on anti-aging creams or procedures and aren't wearing a sunscreen every single day, you are basically flushing your cash down the drain.




(Steps down off of soap box, carefully, without breaking an ankle.)

Worried it's already too late? See a dermatologist to find out if you have any damage that needs to be medically addressed. I don't go outside in short-shorts or sun bathe and I always wear an SPF. Still, two years ago, I had to have a spot removed on my upper thigh because it was pre-cancerous. You just never know. It's important to have it checked out. Can't afford it? Get checked for free from Aveeno and The Skin Cancer Foundation, who have hit the streets for their annual Road To Healthy Skin Tour. Check out the dates in your area and make sure your skin is in tip-top shape!




Now that we have that out of the way, here are some great products, and one is sure to work for you. If it doesn't, tell me and I will find you one that does.

Dry Skin - Yes, you can have dry skin, even in the warmer months. I really like Josie Maran's Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+. Not only does it have Argan Oil, but it helps quench dry skin giving you a luminous complexion.

Oily Skin - Dermalogica's Oil Free Matte Block SPF 20 gives you a matte finish with no extra oils or ingredients that are known for blocking pores.

Sensitive Skin - MDSolarSciences is gentle enough for anyone to use. It has a different texture than most sunscreens and feels fantastic on skin.

Everyone - My favorite sunscreen is Jan Marini's Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant. It doesn't go on white, feels amazing on the skin and gives great protection.

For the Body - Aveeno's Hydrosport is genius. This sprayable SPF doesn't come off with water or sweat and can even be applied to wet skin.

Now you have no excuse! If I missed your favorite sunscreen, tell me what it is in the comments!



Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews and more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Jan Marini Instant Refining Exfoliator + A Giveaway

Jan Marini is my go-to line for skincare. They've never let me down and they are constantly striving to make the best, scientifically proven products to improve my skin. Plus their Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant has been my favorite for years; no one has come close to performing as well as that sunscreen.

Jan Marini released the Instant Refining Exfoliator as a limited edition last year around the holidays. Due to its popularity, it's since been added to their permanent line.

This exfoliator is gentle enough to use three times per week (or more, depending on your skin), but it has enough oopmh to keep your skin feeling soft, smooth and even. What makes this scrub different is the beads it uses to exfoliate your skin. Many scrubs contain bits of pits, which can tear the skin. Some scrubs contain tiny synthetic beads that can over scrub. Jan Marini Instant Refining Exoliator actually contains self-dissolving beads that wear away as you exfoliate, making it hard to overdo it. And the second ingredient in this? Glycolic acid. Not only are you getting a mechanical exfoliation, but a chemical one as well.

You can pick this up in select boutiques and spas or online at JanMarini.com for $90.00. And I have one to giveaway for Gouldylox Subscribers!


 

To enter, just leave a comment telling me what your favorite skin care line is and become a Fan of Jan Marini on Facebook.  I'll pick someone (with the help of Random.org) on May 15th . US only please. Be sure to leave your email or way to contact you in the event you are chosen. The winner will be notified by email and must respond in 48 hours to claim the prize. Want extra entries? Promote the contest on Facebook or Twitter and leave me an extra comment telling me you shared the love. Like GR on Facebook and follow Gouldylox on Google and get extra, extra entries! Still need more ways to enter? Submit this contest to Stumble Upon or other similar sites. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED AND THE WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY EMAIL.



Product provided by the company.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews and more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Adventures in Beautyland: Getting Ready for the Independent Spirit Awards

 

I had a plan. As any of the other bloggers can tell you, I was prepared for this trip. Loxy and I made a cheat sheet of all of those known attending the Spirit Awards so I would have something to say if I got the chance to speak to them. I had worked out a "look" centered around retro Hollywood with a twist and had even gotten Anne to agree to help me into my bustier, pre-show.



 


I had allowed HOURS of time to get ready and it flew by. I had a quick and delicious breakfast and then ran smack into Timothy Olyphant (I'm pretty sure it was him) while trying to find the elevator that leads to the second floor from the third floor.  Aveeno had done such a nice job of pampering us the day before, and I wanted to continue that experience. Like with the rest of the weekend, time flew by and before I knew it, I was on my way to the Red Carpet at the Independent Spirit Awards.


 

To get ready, I started by washing my hair and using a new glossing treatment from Aveeno, Living Color Color Preserving Shine Glaze. After you shampoo and condition, you leave in the treatment for about three minutes and then rinse. Using the treatment regularly will extend the life of your color and help seal the hair cuticle, making your hair smooth and shiny. My hair was soft and shiny after I used it the first time!

I decided to do my hair wavy for the event, a la Maggie Gyllenhaal. While I worked on perfecting my waves, I watched Scrubs and thought of what I would say to Christa Miller, should I see her later in the day, as she and I are both huge fans of a certain shock jock.  And because I knew I would write about it thinking about that, I tried to take a picture of the television, so you wouldn't have to go to IMDb to figure out who she was. Each one came out blurry, except this one.  Oh well. Here's the link to her IMDb page.




 Next, it was makeup time. I had previously exfoliated my face, arms and decollete with YBF's Prep, which is amazing, provided you like a serious scrub.


 

I had prepped my face using Tarte's new Maracuja Oil, which I am loving. It sinks in, without leaving your skin feeling greasy. I followed up with Jan Marini's SPF, as I knew it wouldn't change the color of my foundation or reflect strangely in pictures.


 
(Anne knows how to make me me feel at ease.)


Anne then joined me to continue getting ready. Thankfully, she remembered to bring hairspray and didn't mind helping me get dressed. She's a good friend like that! She didn't even make fun of me for watching two televisions at once. (If a hotel puts two screens 20 feet apart, what is a movie/tv junkie like me supposed to do?) We then struggled with dress tape (that stuff is sticky!), tied and re-tied sashes and discussed how to make Anne's eyes smolder.


 

Then it was makeup time for me. I wanted to do a light, but glimmering eye; play up my newly grown and amazing lashes and don a seriously bright lip to complete my retro Hollywood look.


 

I started with Dalton's Primer, Maybelline Fit Me Foundation (mixed with FACE atelier's Minus Zero) and Josie Maran's Argan Oil concealer. I then used Stila's Prime Pot over my entire eye and added a bit of Urban Decay's Primer Potion to my lid. I filled in my brows with Joey Healy's Equestrian Luxe Brow Powder. I used Buxom's Stay-There Shadow in Sheepdog in the corner of my eyes, Collie across the rest of the lid and Pug in the crease. I lined below my lower lashes with Pug as well. To make my lashes really stand out, I used my new favorite mascara combo - Urban Decay's Supercurl Mascara and Fiberwig. To top it off, I added a little bit of LORAC's Lustre Liquid to my lids.


On my cheeks, I used Tarte's Park Ave Princess as a contour, YSL's Peach Creme de Blush on the apples of my cheeks and Zuii's Mango blush to add a matte radiance. (I know, a matte radiance sounds weird. But it's amazing.) Finally, I added a touch of Dalton's H2Glo for a little pop of cheek sheen.


 

To complete my look, added a bright pop of color on the lips - Zuii's Coral Red. This red lasts and lasts. In fact, I only had to touch up my lips three times throughout the entire day and into the evening. It's creamy, hydrating and very long wearing.


 

My favorite part of my ensemble was my necklace, an upcycled, steampunk-inspired piece from Etsy. I love this necklace!



Anne and I awaiting our transportation to the ceremony.

While I am overly critical and very self-conscious, I have to say I was really happy and comfortable with how I looked, something that almost never happens! We then left to meet all of the ladies in the lobby for a fantastic afternoon at the Independent Spirit Awards!



(The entire Aveeno Brand Ambassador Team before the awards.)


Aveeno paid for this experience. Opinions are my own. Other products mentioned may have been sent for review. I also purchased plenty of them with cold, hard cash.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

New Ways to Fight Dark Circles and Fine Lines

I shop for cosmetics. A lot. I talk to artists, estheticians and PR folks on a daily basis and there are a few areas that come up constantly in conversation. While Skin Perfectors and Radiance Boosters come up on a daily basis, new ways to fight under-eye issues are being improved are on the market now.

There are several reasons you can have dark circles. It could be stress, lack of sleep or poor diet. But the most common reason for serious dark circles is a pooling of blood that leaks from capillaries under the thin skin surrounding the eye. Old technology used Vitamin K to combat those dreaded circles. Now there have been advancements that may not only help fight the dark circles, but also improve the look of the skin under the eye, as well as the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And while not all puffiness can be reduced through treatments applied to the skin, many types of this under-eye inflammation can.

Newer products contain ingredients like Chrysin, scientifically proven to be an anti-inflammatory and intelligent peptides that can help reduce other under-eye issues, like fine lines and dark circles. Ingredients like Gamma-linolenic acid can help strengthen the skin under the eye, reducing the appearance of dark circles. What this adds up to is moving away from what was thought to be one the best treatments, Vitamin K, into a new way of thinking about treating the under-eye area.

Want to check out these newer products? Two you can try are Jan Marini Age Intervention Dark Circle Eye Defense or Beautisol's Bright Eyed.


I have tried both and while I don't suffer from extreme dark circles, I definitely saw an improvement in fine lines and brightness under my eyes. However, as with any cosmetic product, consistent use is key to successful treatment.

Have you tried either of these? Let me know in the comments!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Special Occasion? Look Your Best Instantly With These Radiance Boosters

Have a special occasion coming up? Meeting someone you really want to impress? I've found the best of the best to make your skin look amazing, making you feel confident, perfect and radiant! It seems everywhere I look, I'm seeing a lot of products boasting instant radiance, but are they worth it? After testing loads of them, I've found several I consider to be totally worth the time, effort and money.

Best Mask for Instant Radiance

VINOPERFECT Radiance Revealing Mask delivers instant hydration and radiance that lasts for hours. Skin is instantly left looking radiant and bright, while gentle grape acid exfoliates the face, revealing fresher, new skin. Use this mask as often as you like for an instant, lit-from-within look. Over time, the look of fresh, hydrated skin will become yours all of the time!

Best Eye Brightening Therapy Patches

Naive Beauty Magnet Eyes Under Eye Algae Masks are the first product to launch from this Australian Beauty guru. Naive Beauty is proud to ignore the hype that normally surrounds products and delivers honest products that work without all of the fuss that goes into many marketing campaigns. I was wowed from the first time I used these. These very soft, flexible discs fit under the eye and deliver the perfect amount of hydration, brightening, while diminishing fine lines. These are great pre-party or to hide the effects of the party the next day. I'll do a full review of these little wonders shortly (including before and after snaps!)

Best Total Kit for Weddings or Girly Group Outings


Orlane's Absolute Radiance Lightbox kit contains all the steps to give you glowing, gorgeous skin: Dazzling Under Eye Patches, Eye Contour Serum, Shimmering Skin Masque Cream and Powder and the Evanescent Cream. Your face will look hydrated, radiant and luminous after one use. The results aren't permanent, but for special occasions, you can't go wrong. While the kit is $200, it contains enough for 6 uses, so share it with friends for an at-home spa treatment.

Best Masks For Reversing the Clock
I love Jan Marini's Age Intervention Regeneration Mask. It's packed with kaolin clay to pull out the excess oil and blackheads. It has a stable glycolic acid at the proper pH level to help resurface the skin. Packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, it can make your skin look luminous, smooth and plump. The anti-inflammatory ingredients like green, white and red tea extracts help soothe the skin, help protect it from sun damage, reduce redness and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This mask is packed with ingredients to help repair your skin at a cellular level. While the benefits of the mask are obvious immediately, the long term effects also visibly stack up.



jeune d'âge 5% Glycolic Pumpkin Peel is built on pumpkin which is full of antioxidants, nutrients, Vitamins B, C and E and a protein that provides essential fatty acids. It's great for helping turn over new skin and for decreasing sun damage. This mask also contains 5% glycolic acid (which you can feel so you know it's working). The masque takes five minutes to work and costs less than $25! In this price range, there is no better masque. In fact, this masque still goes toe to toe with its higher-priced competition. It does not disappoint!

Best Retexturizing Scrub


This one is a no-brainer. It's Prep Microdermabrasion by YBF. Prep is a fine-grain manual (instead of chemical) microdermabrasion treatment. It contains teeny, tiny little grains that exfoliate your skin in a way that is more satisfying than another granular scrub I have tried. It also contains peptides, botanicals and vitamins to treat your face after you have used it to exfoliate. Leave it on longer and get effects past the scrub. This is one of my holy grail scrub/masks without a doubt!

Some of these products were sent for the purposes of review. Some were originally sent for review and have since been repurchased. Out of all of these products, all are cruelty-free, with the exception of Jan Marini, whose testing status is difficult to determine.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2011, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Jan Marini Age Intervention Gentle Cleanser

My favorite facial cleanser of all time is Jan Marini's Age Intervention Glycolic Face Cleanser. That cleanser kicks dirt, oil and gunk's tuckus, leaving your skin super clean, radiant and pretty. However, you can never, ever, ever get it in your eyes (it has glycolic acid!), which means you can't use it to remove your makeup.

Jan Marini created this kick butt cleanser's little, sweeter sister, Age Intervention Gentle Cleanser. This cleanser is non-foaming, hydrating and safe enough to use around your eyes. It removes your eye makeup handily and without needing to scrub the delicate eye area. It was also created to be used on sensitized skin after a procedure.

As long as there is no weeping involved on your post treatment skin, this is safe to use after your treatment and during recovery. I wish this had been around after I went through a series of facial peels. Even the most gentle cleanser I had on hand irritated my skin (Cetaphil!) and this would have been lovely to use when I was in the recovery phase of the peel.

It doesn't quite leave my skin feeling as perfectly, squeaky clean as the Age Intervention with Glycolic Acid does, but it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and fresh. Plus it smells amazing, reminding me of Marini's Clean Zyme, my favorite smelling product in the line.

If you are considering IPL, Microdermabrasion or a Skin Peel, don't forget to consider your post-procedure treatment. Take it from me, having the right product on hand will make a world of difference!

From November 22 - December 5, you can save 20% on all orders over $250, plus you'll get free shipping when you shop online.

Product was provided for review. Jan Marini's animal testing status is not entirely clear, according to Beautypedia.com.


Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Win Longer Lashes from Marini Lash!

I have tried several products to grow lashes and only a few have actually made a difference in the length of my lashes. One of them, Marini Lash, is now available in a mini-size, which lasts for about 2 months (instead of the larger size, which lasts for 6 months). Check out my results here from when I tested this last year.

Jan Marini was one of the original innovators of lash growth products and now imitators have sprouted everywhere. Marini Lash does not contain any of the ingredients in Latisse that may cause unwanted side effects. If you have been hesitant to try a lash growth product because of potential side effects, Marini Lash may be the answer to your short lashes! Check out these before and after pics from the company:


I have one of the new Marini Lash Mini's to give away! To enter to win, just leave me a comment telling me what makes you feel beautiful. Be sure to log in or leave your email in the comment so I can contact you in the event you beat the odds.

Want extra chances? Subscribe to Gouldylox Reviews, follow me through Google (on the right!), leave a comment on our Facebook page or Tweet about this contest (be sure to include @Gouldylox in your tweet). This contest is open for 14 days to residents of the US and a winner will be selected by random.org on August 25th. While you wait to win, check out the other contests on FreeGretchen.com. Good luck! CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED and the winner has been notified. Thanks for entering!

Product was submitted for review and giveaway. According to Beautypedia, the animal testing status of Jan Marini is currently unknown.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Must Have Beauty for the Holiday Weekend!

Ok, so you're running late and still need to grab a few things for the weekend. You only need a few multi-task products to make it through the beach, the cookouts and the fireworks.

First up, don't forget the sunscreen! My favorite is still Jan Marini's AntiOxidant Daily Face Protectant Sunscreen. It doesn't contain any Retinyl palmitate, which you may have recently read about as a dangerous ingredient in sunscreens. It also gives flawless protection with no goopy feeling.

Next, you need some waterproof mascara. I am digging Tarte's MultiplEYE™ Clinically-Proven Lash Enhancing Waterproof Mascara which leaves you with glam lashes in and out of the pool. Plus it has conditioners to keep your lashes in lovely shape.

Grab a multi-purpose color stick, like REVOLUTION Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm. It contains organic moisturizers, no petro-chemicals or parabens and can be used on your lips, cheeks or eyes for a quick radiant burst of color. I like Sun Kissed for a peachy, natural glow, but faux sun worshippers can't go wrong with Bronzed.

Don't forget to protect your hair from the elements! Grab Phytoplage L'Originale Protective Beach Spray to protect hair from the sun and help prevent dryness and color fading.

Finally, I am digging Wen's New Sweet Almond Mint Replenishing Treatment Mist. This can be used to freshen makeup, lightly moisturize skin, quench hair and when left chilled, be a great way to wake up tired senses.

And because I am nosy, what music do you like to listen to on the Fourth? For some reason, the Fourth never seems complete to me, without listening to the classic, Three Feet High and Rising, by De La Soul. What are you taking with you and what are you listening to this weekend?


I purchased the Phyto, Jan Marini and Tarte with my own cash. Wen was sent to me for the purposes of review. I have coveted REVOLUTION Organics from a far for many months. I also own all of the good cds from De La Soul, should you be interested. Photo courtesy of moi.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Primer Wars: Clinique, Jan Marini, Avon, LORAC, Sephora & Korres

I have been testing face primers for what seems like forever, in an attempt to find the primer that forces your makeup to stay in place all day. I am not looking for the primer that feels the nicest, gets ride of pores or does other magical things to your skin. I am only looking for the primer that makes your face stay in place throughout an eight hour day.

Here are the a few of the primers in Round One:


LORAC AquaPrime vs. Sephora Collection Primer

Korres Anti-Aging Primer vs. Jan Marini Age Intervention Primer

Avon Magix vs. Clinique Pore Perfector


I wore each of these primers on one side of my face and got multiple opinions on which one worked better. But, because everyone has their own opinion, I am giving you the chance to vote (based on your experience). If a primer gets the majority of the votes and isn't the primer that won my test, I will grant it a stay and it will remain in the competition. This means it will live another day to compete against a different primer.






















Here are the results of my testing. Be sure to vote to save your favorite, if it wasn't the winner in my test.

LORAC AquaPrime beat Sephora Collection Primer hands down. AquaPrime is different because is is a thin, clear primer, with a watery feel. It definitely doesn't have the usual primer consistency, no matter what primer you use.

Korres Quercetin & Oak Age Reversing Primer beat out Jan Marini. Personally, I like the feeling of a silicone-based primer, but the Korres clearly performed better by the end of the day. Both of these primers have the ability to perform double duty and help reverse the daily damage that shows, but in the end, Korres was my winner.

This one wasn't hard for me to pick, but I have a feeling either way this could have turned out, the primer knocked out in the first round will get a save by the fans. Both Clinique's Pore Perfector and Avon's MagiX have an army of fans that stand behind them.

When I tested them side by side, the Avon MagiX was victorious. Avon MagiX is a primer that can be worn on its own for a smoothed out look, sans coverage or under makeup for serious hold. It smooths out lines and fills in pores. It's definitely one of my favorites.


Please vote and RT to make sure your favorite brand doesn't get voted out! Voting will be tabulated in seven days. Check back for more Primer Wars soon!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

It's My One Year Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been one year since I got the idea to put all of my beauty product know-how and advice into a blog.

Since then, I have gotten to meet some of my beauty favorites, like Leslie Blodgett, Paula Begoun and Jan Marini. I've gotten to do some interesting things, like roll down a hill in a hamster ball filled with water to test Tarte makeup. I have also mastered the art of writing a sponsored blog post using a words and phrases specified by the company, despite the fact there is no link between them and the product I am reviewing.

I have gotten myself into some odd situations, like getting ready to interview a certain MTV celeb on the spur of the moment and then forgetting who she is and what her name was, as I was walking up to speak with her. Luckily, my two sisters-in-law were there to answer when I whisper yelled, "Why is she famous?".

Since then, I have written over 400 posts and made some really amazing friends, despite the fact I have never met most of them. Loxy, my most loyal reader, has learned more than he ever wanted to about makeup. The coolest/weirdest/least expected thing? Having strangers approach me and call me Gouldylox.

Since I can't pick one favorite post, I asked Loxy to pick one. And in a turn that surprises me and doesn't surprise me at all, he picked the post where I get to use his mistake to help everyone learn what not to do when you get a bad haircut.


Thanks for all of your comments, for reading my reviews daily and for not openly mocking my grayish roots or minuscule lashes. You're the best!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Fun, Fresh Summer Finds That Won't Harm Your Skin

Since the warmer weather has arrived, left and is possibly coming back, I thought we'd talk summer goods. The most important product that you can't live without is sunscreen - but you knew that already, right? From sunup to sundown if you are not covered in sunscreen you are wasting your time reading beauty blogs. I can tell you what will help look your best, but if you don't start with sunscreen, I can't undo the damage the sun will do to your skin. All it takes is a few serious tans or one burn and you are damaged goods.

You can repair the photodamage caused by the sun's rays, but why pay to fix it if you could have prevented it? Pick sunscreen with an SPF of at least 25 that protects against UVA and UVB rays. If you are specifically staying outside or getting wet, you are going to need something that is waterproof and you will need to apply it often.

For day to day activities (like walking from your car to your office), I love Jan Marini's AntiOxidant Daily Face Protectant Sunscreen. It's the best I have found and worth the money. It's not goopy, gloppy and doesn't go on white. It's the best in its class. There is also a waterproof version of this sunscreen. While I haven't tried it, I can only imagine it is as wonderful as the original version.



One of the most interesting products I have found so far this season comes from HydroPeptide. They recently launched a new SPF, Anti-Wrinkle, Skin Enhancing UV Protection, that contains skin-adjusting pigments to help give you a touch of coverage while protecting your face. It's like a skin treatment, sunscreen and coverage all in one. It smells delicious and doesn't feel at all like a regular goopy sunscreen. I am very fair and the self-adjusting pigments matched up ok. This isn't a substitution for foundation, but is great as an SPF alternative and perfect to throw in your bag for an easy weekend getaway.

If you are anything like me, I am constantly in search of a tinted moisturizer that gives some coverage, but looks dewy and fresh without being shiny. While I keep searching high and low and testing everything I can get my hands on, Tarte's Smooth Operator is the tinted moisturizer I keep coming back to. I can't find anything better for a quick tinted moisturizer. It has an SPF 20 UVA/UVB sunscreen and is paraben- and sulphate-free. It's great for low-maintenance ladies or gals on the go.

Still feel the need to fake as a glamazon? I recently discovered DuWop's Sundrops and I am waited with bated breath until payday so I can soak up some sun without increasing my frecklage. I love a good bronzer and this one reminds me of my first-ever expensive bronzer purchase, a liquid bronzer from Prescriptives. Ah, memories....

Don't forget to protect your pucker! Some lip glosses can magnify the sun's damage the same way that applying tanning oil to skin can. Yikes! I love Juara's Candlenut Lip Balm. It comes in an adorable little container, and has an SPF of 20. It leaves your kisser super soft, it isn't sticky and it leaves lips glistening. It's on sale right now for $14, so stock up!

What are your summer must haves to help save your skin? Tell me in the comments!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

The Case of the Foundation That Falls Off

I recently had another chemical peel. My face had just finished peeling and I went back to wearing makeup. On the first day, I thought it was a little odd that my makeup was gone in a few hours, despite wearing a primer that I know and love.

The next day, after a few hours, I noticed that my nose looked weird and that my makeup was literally balling up and flaking off of my schnoz. What gives? Sometimes as someone who reviews products, it is a little tricky to get to the bottom of the issue because I switch products so often. I thought it was due to a new Face Finishing Anti-Powder not liking the possibility of my dry skin, despite the fact I hadn't read anyone else having that problem. Maybe my skin was more dry than I had thought?

That night, I exfoliated with an amazing Pumpkin Masque (more to follow on this gem!), cleansed with my Clarisonic and all traces of flaking skin were history. The next morning, I put on my foundation (Cover FX Natural) and the Face Finishing Anti-Powder. Within two hours, my foundation was gone and my nose looked really weird again.

What the what?

I have never had this problem before. Then finally, when getting ready the following morning, I figured it out. I had run out of my Holy Grail Sunscreen and switched to something I had handy, Neutrogena Skin Renewal Moisture SPF 30. When I applied it, I noticed that it was actually balling up and pilling on my face. That's new! No wonder my makeup wasn't staying on - my foundation was literally balling up and falling off! That explains the weirdness around my nose. I am not sure why my luck with Neutrogena has run out. I have had success with Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Formulas, but this one and the last one I tried have been epic FAILS. To be fair, when I wear the sunscreen with no other products, it works ok. I still get smaller sunscreen balls, but only when you rub your face. I guess the combination of additional skin care products with the sunscreen followed by foundation is too much for this nicely packaged and scented sunscreen.

I switched to two different brands for testing purposes (Clinique SPF face Cream and Aveeno) and nothing bad has happened yet. My makeup is staying on and nothing is balling up on my face. So clearly, the Neutrogena SPF was the culprit. Although to be totally honest, the texture of everything I keep trying is thick and goopy (with the exception of the Jan Marini SPF). It eventually dries down nicely, but it still feels heavy. I'll do a full review of these two products in the next few days. But so far, nothing is beating my Holy Grail Sunscreen from Jan Marini. At the end of it all, I am just glad my foundation is back where it belongs and things aren't falling off of my face.

I bought the Neutrogena, Jan Marini, Aveeno and Clinique sunscreens.

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Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

Getting Rejuvenized at La Papillon Spa, Round Two

After the results of my first Rejuvenize Peel at La Papillon Spa, I decided I wanted to see what a second peel would achieve. I was clearly happy with the results of the first one, but like any obsessive compulsive beauty addict, I wanted to see what could happen if I did it again.

So four weeks later, I took the plunge and went for a second one. (Four weeks is the recommended amount of time between peels for optimal results.) Madeleine, the owner of La Papillon and esthetician extraordinaire, told me what to expect for the second peel - possibly less peeling, more results and that everyone peels differently. Got it.

The first time around, the peel itself was only slightly uncomfortable. This time going under the acids was no big deal (other than they were still very sharply scented). I went home, didn't wash my face and it was like any other evening. No big deal.

The same goes for the next morning.

And then a day later, just like last time, I started to peel at the 36 hour point. My mouth cracked first and spread to the area around my nose and lips. Unlike during the last peel, my skin wasn't overly sensitive and didn't really feel as if I had a bad sunburn. I continued to peel like a pro all day on Friday, Saturday and most of Sunday. I was able to go to work on Monday, with only a trace of peeling skin still in my hairline. This peel was much less inconvenient and my skin was nowhere near as sensitive as it was the first time.

Also similar to last time, my skin was a little out of whack when I went back to using my products (around day 6). My skin was a little more dehydrated than it normally is and needed a little more TLC. Here are the products I used during and after my peel:

Cetaphil - I used this as my cleanser and it actually burned slightly when applied. I have no idea how that is even possible, but it did. It didn't hurt like it was the end of the world, but in hindsight, I would probably pick up an even milder cleanser for next time. (SkinMedica has one they suggest for use during peels.)

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel came in handy when my skin was begging for some hydration at the end of my peel. This isn't an instant fix, but over a few days, it had my skin back to normal. I used this starting on the fourth day.

HydroPeptide Anti-Wrinkle Repair and Prevent Treatment (Love this! More in a future review) is a complex blend of peptides that help skin heal and look its best. It acts as a skin shield while soothing irritated skin. I also used this starting on the fourth day.

On the Monday before I went back to work (the start of the 6th day) I used Skin Zyme and Clean Zyme by Jan Marini to systematically rid my skin of the flakes that were hanging on. This two-part cleanser and mask are capable of amazing things, but go slowly with this product. My skin was not sensitive to products by day five and I don't have sensitive skin in general. If you have sensitive skin, I would wait a few days to use this. When you are ready, this product removes all remaining dead skin like magic.

Once I added makeup back into the routine, my skin became a little red and irritated. Votre Vu Attentive Serum was a life saver, soothing my skin and getting rid of any redness, pronto.

Lastly, starting a full week after my skin was peeled and back to normal, I began using Jan Marini's Enlighten to help the stubborn dark patches. This is a light lotion that dries in a way that leaves your skin feeling amazing. (All of the Marini products dry down in a way that is remarkable. Especially their AntiOxidant Sun Screen.)

Be sure to speak with your esthetician before using any of the products above on freshly chemically-peeled skin. My skin is not sensitive and definitely more tough than delicate. Every person reacts differently and a pro who knows you should help you select products for during and after your peel.


(Before the 2nd peel. After the second Rejuvenize Peel)


So how were the results the second time? Magnificent. My face is so luminous, I think I glow in the dark. My melasma on my cheek is significantly reduced, as are the spots on my nose. The texture on my cheeks is definitely improved as are the milia I had under my eyes, on my cheekbone.
(The tiny milia - keratin bumps - lodged deep under my skin have been exposed and removed as a result of the peel.)


I am sure use of the Enlighten is going to help continue to fade the melasma over the next few weeks.


(Before and after on cheeks. Brown patches of melasma have been reduced.
This peel does not address redness, only melasma and showing newer skin. To address redness, I would need to undergo IPL treatments.)


Would I do another round? I am curious to see what a third round of peeling would achieve, but don't know how much more my skin can improve. There are slight dark patches that could still be reduced and the texture around my nose near my cheeks isn't perfect. But the improvement I have seen is pretty incredible.




(Before the first peel*. After the first peel. After the second peel.)



What do you think? Would you go for a third round? (If you double click the pictures, they will open in different window and really show off the changes.) Have you had this peel? Tell me about it in the comments!

I paid for the second treatment. I also paid for Cetaphil and SkinCeuticals B5 Gel. Other products were sent for the purposes of review.

*My changing hair color has nothing to do with the peel. Thanks for needing clarification on that, Loxy. You of all people may have noticed that my natural color changes often. :-)

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Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.