Philosophy Gingerbread Man Body Wash+ Scrub

One of my favorite winter time indulgences is Philosphy's Gingerbread Man Collection.
The most non-fattening way to enjoy cookie goodness, it's like warmth and comfort in a bottle.

Philosophy.Com

Weener Kleener

Leave this in the shower for your honey. If you actually catch him trying to put his junk in there, you can make fun of him for the rest of his life!

"Large or small or
inbetweener,
Nothing beats a
Kleener Weener!"

Shu Uemura Brightening Cleansing Oil (Dammit!)

Ugh! I swear, it never fails that Avyanka or Alicia will post about something that I was just about to get to! Thanks Avyanka.(If you could see me I'm sticking my tongue out at you.)
Anyway, I bought Shu Uemura's Brightening Cleansing Oil about 2 weeks ago, and I've just been waiting to see what the results were before I wrote about it. I can say first hand that I really like the oil cleanser. I consider myself to have oily skin, so I was a bit apprehensive about rubbing any extra grease on my face, but it rinses very clean, leaving your skin soft. It is also excellent at removing makeup, especially mascara. Removing my eyeliner is always a bitch though and it continues to be that way.
So there are about 10 different cleansing oils, with varying ingredients that you can choose for your skin type. I chose this brightening one because it was supposed to remove any dark spots (like from a fading blemish) and brighten dull skin. I have noticed nothing of the sort, but that is not to say this is not a good product, I just think I would try a different formulation when I buy it again. Probably the pink one which is made for oily skin.

Final say, It's a keeper just for its basics. Removes makeup, moisturizes, leaves skin soft and clears pores. It's the "extras" I'm unsure of. Also, your hands and face have to be completely dry when you apply it, which is more annoying than it sounds. Trust me.

Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser.

Of all possible skin issues, blackheads may be the most gross and unmanageable. A friend of mine who who suffers terribly from them, told me she tried the Clean and Clear Black head Eraser and it worked miracles for her. I took to the Internet to do a bit of research and I don't believe I saw a single negative review, so I'm bringing word of this possible life saver to you!
It seems to make a difference almost immediately, and skin feels softer and smoother as well.
The Clean and Clear website has a $5.00 off coupon, so there's even more incentive to try it now.
Clean & Clear

PS. While doing all of this blackhead research, I came across many reviewers saying that applying hydrogen peroxide to your affected areas is also helpful. It supposedly works even better after you use the blackhead eraser to deep clean your pores.

Philosophy Purity

A few weeks back Avyanka posted something that made me question the way I care for my skin. She said that it is important to completely remove all makeup and dirt from the skin prior to using any facial scrubs, otherwise you will only be grinding the makeup/dirt further into your skin. I, like many others made the mistake of assuming that a scrub is as a good as a soap, and would do the same job.
I've never had any major skin problems, but that doesn't mean that improvement is impossible. So I have been considering an overhaul of my skincare regimen, and purchasing this is first on my list.
Check out the product breakdown:

purity made simple
one-step facial cleanser
purity made simple is a liquid crystal cleansing emulsion that removes makeup, dirt, oil and debris in one step. purity made simple was created because it was our feeling that most cleansers were not getting the skin clean enough. furthermore, we do not believe you need a makeup remover and a toner to complete the cleansing process. purity made simple was formulated to emulsify and dissolve dirt, embedded debris, and makeup rather than creating a lot of foam without a lot of clean.


you need this product if...

you've tried a lot of cleansers but never found one you loved
you crave deeply cleansed skin
you want a cleanser that will multi-task for you
you wear a lot of makeup
your skin is congested

I Love Dr. Bronners!

I just read Alicia's Top Notch Cleansing Post and I had to co-sign.
I've got some Dr. Bronners sitting in my bathroom right now. There is nothing better to shower with on a hot summer day! The mintiness is so cooling and refreshing. As a matter of fact, I recently showered with some Dr. Bronners and then moisturized with the Bliss Minty Moisture Milk, that I had posted about a while ago. I just figured they would go together nicely as an all mint combo. I was FREEZING for like 30 minutes! There were minty icicles in my soul!
2 good products, please be careful using them in conjunction. LOL!