We Talk Shop

All good face wash stories must come to an end. This will be the last leg of my facial foaming cleanser trial. I know, I know…I can feel the disappointment, but I need to go back to a consistent facial cleanser so my face can recover. Alas with all the high-end product disappointment (with the exception of Shiseido, I decided to take a moderate approach (for my wallet that is) and took a drive to the local Walgreens to pick up some Oil of Olay Foaming Face Wash. I’ve used the moisturizer before and Oil of Olay has never failed my mom’s face, so I figured it was worth a try.

*Wash, wash, wash* Aaaannnnnd…*Drum Roll*…. TADAAA! Well, my face felt clean with the exception of the slight layer of residue left behind. Yeah, film on your face does not signify a great face wash. I can at least say that it didn’t feel like lotion on my face *COUGH* Kiehl’s *COUGH*.

There you have it….

Fogit it! If you can….$7.99 at your local Walgreen’s. I’m sure you can find it at any of your local drug stores (that is if you want to walk around with residue on your face).

Eventually, I went back to the one trustworthy face wash I could count on. Dove Unscented Beauty Bar with Dove ¼ moisturizing cream. It does the job and my face doesn’t feel overdry.

***** (five stars)
Git it! $10.94 or less for a pack of 8 at Wal-mart or your neighborhood beauty aisle.

The End.

cleanser, face, face wash, facial care, facial cleanser, skin care, skincare

Alright, so Pure Simplicity’s Soy “Sensitive Skin” Calming Self-Foaming Face Wash was a flop. I had to give my face some time to recover from the dry patches, but I was definitely ready to move on.

I called my cosmetologist friend for a new recommendation. We’d decided I was keen on the gentle foaming facial cleanser route and settled on:

Kiehl’s Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser

She’d never used it herself, but Kiehl’s has a long standing tradition for upholding the highest standards. I mean, it has been around since 1851. That has to say something, right?

So one new face wash and discount later, I was on my way.

Was it gentle? Yes. So gentle. Foaming? No. Not so much. A facial cleanser? It was so gentle, I couldn’t tell it was even cleaning my face. I would equate it to rubbing lotion on my face to wash. It felt thick, non-foaming (FALSE ADVERTISING!) and uncleansing. I even had the bf try it out. Same result. We had to resort to body soap to get some kind of cleaning action on.

Please, please, please…

Fogit it! $17.50, 8.4 fl. oz. Available online, in any participating highend store (i.e. Saks Fifth Avenue, Nieman Marcus, Nordstrom, Barney’s NY) and Kiehl’s freestanding shops. Only if you’re feeling adventurous and think your face can overcome the “not even remotely resembling a facial cleanser” factor or unless you control the “mind over matter” power of a Buddhist or Hindu monk that may turn this cleanser into a true gentle foaming facial cleanser. Good luck!

…Stay tuned for Face Wash 5: The Great Beyond (yes, number five!)…

It’s that time of year again! Bath & Body Works is having their THE BIG semi-annual sale. It was this same sale last year, that I’d picked up a “soy” face wash. Soy is good for the body, right? Why shouldn’t it be good for the face, my face?

Although I had had success with both Shiseido: The Skincare [gentle cleansing foam] and Peter Thomas Roth: Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash, I wanted to keep trying a greater variety of skincare. Just as in the case of my face building a resistance to topical treatments, I didn’t want my face to build a resistance to the positive effects of the face washes I’d already used by being repetitive in the use of them. I wanted to keep my face on it’s….figurative toes? hahaha

Enter,…

Pure Simplicity: Sensitive Skin Calming Self-Foaming Face Wash SOY

Okay, so my skin isn’t sensitive. It’s normal. But I figured, this face wash will be new to my face and maybe it’ll wake up some glow I hadn’t discovered yet.

I washed, I patted and stepped back to look at my face. It felt fresh, clean, soft and then *ERRRRRK*..the sound of screeching tires. What were those spots above my eyelids? What were those patches on the grooves of my cheeks?

DRY SKIN.

*Gasp* Pure Simplicity Soy had dried out my skin! But, I thought it was supposed to be for “Sensitive Skin.” It’s simply stated on the bottle. But, I thought Soy was good for you. Again, simply stated on the bottle. Just goes to show you when trying out new products, don’t judge a bottle by it’s cover. Although it was too harsh for my skin (maybe my skin is more sensitive than I thought it was?), I passed it on to the boyfriend (note: Boyfriend has sensitive oily skin). He had better results with the soy. He hasn’t really gotten into the habit of daily face washing. When he does use it, it seems to do its job. I’m glad I can offer him the option of trying some more upscale products as opposed to the regular body soap.

In the end….

Fogit it: $12.50 ($6.25, during Bath & Body Works: THE BIG semi-annual sale) at Bath & Body Works or online. I wouldn’t try it again with my skin, but maybe it’ll work wonders for those with more of a built-in oil factor like the boyfriend.

…Stay tuned for Face Wash 4…

Rarely do we write about things we aren’t happy with, but here’s a product that I recently purchased that just didn’t live up to my expectations: Neutrogena’s On-the-Spot Acne Treatment. I paid about $6; maybe a buck more, maybe a buck less, but should have opted for one of the other acne treatments. Shopgirl_trang’s recent posts about facial soaps inspired me to be better to my skin and to seek out remedies for what ails me.

Since this isn’t a glamorous review, I’ll get right to it. What I don’t like about this cream is that is says it’s the “Vanashing Cream Formula,” but it is a white cream that you have to rub into your skin. I was hoping the liquid was clear, but it’s white and doesn’t exactly vanish — unless you rub it enough so that you practically rub it off. When I put it on in the morning, I feel like I have to rub it off so that it won’t be seen and I can apply my make-up.

As for it’s acne-reducing effects, it does seem to help. I just don’t like how it goes on and how it doesn’t seem to dry fast enough. At night, I don’t want to leave it on because I think it will rub off on my pillowcase. And, you have to put it on like a lotion, thus getting the medicine on parts of your skin where you don’t really want it.

It would be better if it were thicker — and clear.

Don’t get it, but if you want to try it, I got my tube at Publix.

I’d run out of every last drop of my Shiseido: The Skincare [gentle cleansing foam] like one runs out of water in a desert.

Now what to do? What to do…….borrow my boyfriend’s face wash of course!

Just so happened at the time I’d begun my skin care kick, I got my boyfriend into it too. With a Sephora online coupon for 30% off in one hand and my cellphone in the other (to call my cosmetologist friend for her expertise), I was on a mission to find my boyfriend with the oily, prone to breakouts, sensitive skin a good, solid face wash. With a couple clicks, we’d decided on: Peter Thomas Roth: Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash

Peter Thomas Roth: Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash

Seeing as I borrowed the face wash from my boyfriend (and that he was really excited I was blogging and wanted to give his input), wetalkshop.com blog readers everywhere are going to get a 2-for-1 review: my perspective and my boyfriend’s. WOOT!

MY PERSPECTIVE:

I really liked this face wash. It was uncomplicated and very simple and got most of my make-up off. It was by no means a gentle foaming cleanser like that of a former review. Then again, it was a gel. It left my face feeling very clean and refreshed. I didn’t get that bit of post-cleansing, moisturized oomph that I got from the Shiseido face cleanser. Overall, I would use it again if I ran out of my face wash and had it on hand. I can admit this much. It was very economical in working as a unisex cleanser.

MY BOYFRIEND’S PERSPECTIVE:

I enjoyed the Peter Thomas Roth face wash. At first it gave me a greasy feel to my face. This was might be caused by the fact that I never used face soap before. I only used hand soap and body soap before I met my loving girlfriend. After I got use to the greasy feel that everyone feels with normal grown up face soap, I started to feel and see a difference. I know that my skin felt smoother and seemed to become more clear. Whoever Peter or Thomas or Roth are, I thank you.

WE SAY:

Git it!: $35, at www.peterthomasroth.com or at many fine online retailers here. On behalf of my boyfriend, Peter Thomas Roth really is just one man.

…Stay tuned for Part III…

We’re baaaaaack!

That’s right. The Shopgirls are blogging again! So, prepare to experience my many trials with face wash. I have two versions below. Feel free to skip to the short version and straight to the product review if you’d like to avoid my longwindedness. But, the long version is much more fun, I think.

LONG VERSION: To start off let me give you a bit of background with my skin. I have always had relatively good skin until college. With college came adult acne. I had patches on the sides of my cheeks where the cheekbone grooves were supposed to be. Some was around the frame of my face and spots were on the parts of my cheeks closest to the bridge of my nose and around my chin. I tried almost everything at that point. I tried different face washes like Neutrogena which overdried my face. I tried topical treatments like Clearasil. After experiencing a reaction that resulted in red blotches around the pimples I had treated, I realized (after many years of using the same treatment) that I’d developed an allergic reaction to Clearasil. Not only did I have an allergic reaction to Clearasil, but I had one to the Oxy topical treatment I’d tried thereafter. Finally, I came to the conclusion that I was allergic to the main ingredient of both: Benzoyl Peroxide. I’d since moved onto Clean and Clear Invisible Blemish Treatment. It helped, but not as quickly and effectively as I’d wanted it to. After a lot of thinking, I decided upon a serious health overhaul. I’d cut out all meat except for any home cooking at my parents’ and began a 5-day a week workout regimen. I also went back to the basics with my skin care regime. I stopped using topical treatments and began using Dove Beauty Bars: Sensitive Skin Unscented. I made a conscious effort not to touch my face when I was taking an exam or stressed out and voila! My skin cleared up. I was washing with Dove and moisturizing with Oil of Olay.

My college career was coming to an end. Graduation day came and went. Three months later, I’d landed a job and I thought to myself, “I need to really take care of my skin. You know what? Now that I’ve got a real job, I’m going to try a high-end face wash.” With the advice (and discount) from my cosmetologist friend, Shiseido became facial cleanser numero uno.

SHORT VERSION: I have normal skin.

And thus begins my facial cleansing voyage….

Shiseido: The Skincare [gentle cleansing foam]

If you couldn’t tell by the picture, I used every last drop of that face wash. Yes, it was gentle. Yes, it was foaming. And yes, it took care of my face so good. It really did the job. My face kept its moisture after every cleansing and my face really felt clean! Shiseido was virtually the best face wash that had ever touched my face.

Mmmm…but let’s face it. There was no way I could’ve landed the best face wash on my first try. This couldn’t be the end all to my facial cleansing voyage! I had to try more!

But to Shiseido: The Skincare [gentle cleansing foam], I say…..

Git It!: $28, at any Sephora or major department store that carries Shiseido (usually Macy’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom’s or Bloomingdale’s).

…Stay tuned for Part Deux….

I know…I know…it’s been a while. But, let me make it up to you. I have a couple coming, just be patient.

Let me start by saying this….

Some would say I’m a “gloss whore.” Some may be right. Let me take you on the ride that is my affair with the lip glaring succulence that is gloss.

First there was Lancome’s Juicy Tubes.

Ahhh Lancome. How you did me right.

There it was. As I walked by the cosmetic counter one day I was drawn to it…like a moth to a flame, a plug to a socket, ….gloss to lips. What I loved about it was that it lasted forever, the sheen (even in a shade of blue) was subtle and not overpowering in color and did I mention that it lasted forever? I still have 3 mini-bottles of it that I got as a Christmas gift. That was about two years ago. I still have them and will revert back every now and again. This gloss was like the guy that thought he was in the perfect relationship with you and just stuck around even long after you’d broken up with him. I couldn’t wait until the last tube was emptied so I had to move on.

Then there was Hard Candy Lip Stain in a shade of Punch (courtesy of shopgirl_joyce).

I liked it a lot. It gave a bit more color than I’d wanted. I’m a nude-lipped fiend and not so used to the color. It was perfect for those nights that I wanted a “punch” of color but was okay if it’d faded by the end.

Not so much of a love affair, more like the guy you initially had the hots for, but suddenly realized you’d be better off as friends with.

It was kinda the same with….Estee Lauder Juicy Pops

The sheen was there, the color subtle enough, but the multiple reapplications….ehhh…There’s just no pleasing me, is there?

…Until, once upon a birthday…my friend (also employee of MAC) introduced me to MAC Lip Lustre (in Love Nectar).

Ohhhh the Lip Lustre…it was a hot, torrid affair…until the boyfriend found out about it! *GASP* I know!

No really as soon as the bf was getting the smooches, he was not appreciating the sticky factor. I don’t think any guy…or girl for that matter enjoys the sticky factor of any gloss. B-b-b-but, it’s soooo gooood to me! I couldn’t give it up. Not with the perfect, subtle shade, and with the making my lips look all luscious without looking too gooey. But, I had to find a way to please both sides of the gloss. (Yes, that would be me and then the boy.)

*sigh* But, lo and behold….what is this????

As I came across Bath and Body Work’s Annual Blowout Extravaganza of a sale, I came across the one that would suffice both me and my better half. Oh yes, that would be Tutti Dolci in Creme Brulee. What would have the perfect sheen as my latter?…Tutti Dolci…What would make my lips look so luscious?…Tutti Dolci…What would have the flavor factor that would please my better half as well as myself?….TUTTI DOLCI!!…There you have it. I do have moments when I go back to my MAC Lip Lustre….but I had to buy two Tutti Dolci’s as not to run out because it lasts long enough, but not so long that you want to move on. I don’t know about the other flavor’s but this is my favorite of the series so far (and by series, I mean I think there’s only 4 other flavors). Needless to say, I don’t think the BF likes the gloss anymore…but at least in my mind I am making it more bareable for him to get smooches + gloss (with the occasional slip-back to the MAC).

So I say….

GIT IT!: Any Bath and Body Works store for $10 (I got it for $5 at the sale) or get it online for $5 (so it says + shipping). I hope they’re not on sale because they’re going to discontinue!…Hmmm..maybe I need to get a couple more tubes.
(more…)

I had time to peruse a couple of my favorite beauty websites this weekend and what do I find? Fresh.com is having a sale! Starts August 22nd to August 25 (I hope my fellow shopgirls will remind me since I tend to forget these things sometimes). I’ve never bought anything from them online, but I have used a couple things from Fresh. However I must warn you that their products are uber-expensive, so proceed to the website with caution. Of course knowing me I didn’t pay full price for the Fresh products that I have. I highly recommend their glosses (Gloss absolute in Desire is my favorite color) and some of their Sugar products (sugar shea butter, sugar face polish, and lemon sugar perfume). I will probably review these products soon.
Let me know if you buy anything! Just don’t complain to me about the ridiculous prices!

Recently, I went on a work outing to a most wonderous, magical place (sadly, I don’t mean Disney). ‘Twas the Spa Nails Tan Palace. Ahh yes, I can see it now. Conveniently located across from the Florida Mall at 1355 Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL, (mapquest it!) I stepped out of my car expecting a little hole-in-the-wall, plaza nail salon and to my surprise found a one-stop-beauty location. Spa Nails Tan Palace wasn’t just a nail salon. Oh, no…It included a glass enclosed hair salon and nail area, an open area pedicure area (of which contained a good 20-30 available stations at a time) and private rooms where waxing, tanning and massage services were offered. I walked into a plethora of leather recliners to choose from (and that was just the waiting area). Flat screened TVs lined the walls up high so customers could involve themselves in a good soccer game or see a good battle of “who’s more fabulous than whom” on VH1. Regardless my taste, I had a screen to watch. Better yet, I struck up convo with my service provider. Her name was Suysana. She was friendly, upbeat and fun to be accompanied with. She even managed to talk me through the foot scrubbing (as I tried with all my will not to squirm at my ticklish toesies). It was a place where I could relax alongside my hardworking peeps. I came for a pedicure, but left with the comfort and knowledge that I could always come back for more than just my toes. *Ten toes up*

Git there, or be square: $27 pedicure (group rate and $5 french manicure fee included; regular $25); Located at 1355 Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL

So tonight I finished my 8 oz tube of this mask… err, “masque”. I bought this mask hoping that it would “dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads and even help shrink enlarged pores”. I didn’t make that up, that was written on the tube. And I’m sad to say that this product did not live up to my expectations.

It did not shrink my pores nor did it rinse away blackheads. The only redeeming value of this mask is it is indeed minty. And cheap. So why didn’t I toss this right away? Well, besides feeling guilty for wasting money on such bad product, I thought I could “repurpose” it by using it as a cleanser instead. So once a week, I used it as a deep cleanser, making sure I rinsed off every last bit. That was the only way I could finish it, and I’m glad I did.

Ferget it! Even at its cheap $3.99 price, I cannot justify repurchasing this mask. But if you have the sudden urge to feel cool and minty fresh, you can purchase it at your local drugstore. Or for a much cheaper alternative, try rubbing a bit of toothpaste on your skin instead.