Hi, Pretties!
Yesterday, I told you about today's collaborative promotional effort, #sweetup. Well, it's time to party (sweetly!).
Let's join Three Custom Color Specialists (@threecustom), Mario Badescu (@MarioBadescu), artist Will Cotton, and designer Miles Ehan (@MilesEhan) in celebrating Spring!*
See ya on Twitter for #sweetup from 6pm 'til 8pm EST.
xoxo,
*jen
@Jen_MeadePS: Happy Thursday! One more day to go. :)
*What? Oh, well I know it's not Spring, but we always talk about stuff early in the fashion and beauty world. I'm in no rush to see Winter end, but looking at Spring stuff is always fun. And hey, poor old Punxatawney Phil gets hauled out of slumber in a few days, so Spring is just around the corner... kinda.
Let's start with skincare
I mentioned that there's a skincare post coming soon. Here's the gist of it:
Skincare is the most important thing you can do to get Simply Pretty.
Really.
Consider your goals: to look your best, to feel and look radiant, to recapture (or keep) that youthful glow, to have your makeup -should you choose to wear it - look smooth, even, and flawless.
By keeping skin hydrated (moisturized), even (exfoliated) and safe (SPF and antioxidants) you are on your way to your goals, even without makeup!
Even oily skin needs moisture (what it doesn't need is more oil!). Even young skin needs protection. Even makeup-free skin needs to be cleansed.
Especially in Winter, we need to make sure we're evaluating our skin and stepping up any products we're using. Exfoliation keeps skin supple and bright while actually helping your moisturizers to work more effectively! It's also a good idea to up your moisture to ward off dryness from the elements and indoor heating.
Hello, Mario!
Have you used Mario Badescu's line before? I have, years ago, and I'm not sure why I stopped..? They're kind of A Big Deal in skincare, and especially great for "problem skin" (don't we all have that?) like acne and rosacea. But they have products for all skin types and concerns. I kept Silver Powder and Drying Lotion handy through my twenties.
I need to look into this line further to help my nearly-40 (!) skin do its thing. A good start? The following three products:
- Orange Cleansing Soap
$12
Mild. Non-foaming. Removes makeup. Dissolves dead skin cells.
I count 12 cleansers on the Badescu site! And that's not counting the makeup removers. Wow.
This one - which, by the way, does not smell like a citrus bomb, thankfully! - is great for all skin types. It's creamy and smooth, and seems to remove my makeup nicely. It exfoliates a bit, thanks to natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).
Verdict: I like that it doesn't have a strong scent, works quickly and effectively, doesn't strip my skin and does seem compatible with my Clarisonic.
- Honey Moisturizer
$25
Antioxidants. Protects against moisture loss. Non-greasy. Gently exfoliating.
*Contains peanut oil* <-- do you have a peanut allergy?
This product keeps the exfoliation going while it allows your skin to get that drink it really needs. It absorbs quickly (yay!) and is good for dry, combinatation and sensitive skin. Naturally, the line has other options for moisturizing.
Verdict: a nice basic moisturizer that leaves my skin soft. I am a bit concerned about the peanut oil a) because some people are so severely allergic to peanuts and b) I'm not too familiar with this as a skincare ingredient and am not sure how it will work with oilier bits of skin. After 1 week of testing, though, my combo-dry (in the Winter) skin looks and feels great. - Almond and Honey Facial Scrub
$15
Ground almond & cornmeal exfoliate. Mineral rich algae. Zinc (healing). Detoxifying (kaolin clay).
This smells AMAZING. Well, unless you dislike the smell of almond oil... It's silky and nearly runny, so don't leave the top off if you're clumsy (like me!). It does have somewhat large chunks in it (the almonds, I assume). I've only had these items for a week, and have only used this three times, but my initial impressions are good.
Verdict: Smells great and seems to work; gentle except... the almond chunks feel sharp and I worry that they are too rough. Skip if your skin is irritated, acneic or otherwise irritable - at least that's my advice.
Overall impressions:
I like the price point on these products, the packaging, and the basic premise. I am sure with some more exploration I'll find the right combination for my skin, and I'm just as sure you can, too. These products are a great basic starting point, and are pretty much working as-advertised to the best of my knowledge. I'm impressed.
Part of Mario Badescu's branding:
"The brand's enduring success and loyal following are the result of the late Mario Badescu's timeless philosophy that skincare should be simple, gentle, and effective."
Sounds like a great fit with our BSB Simply Pretty outlook, doesn't it?
Do you, have you, would you use Mario Badescu skincare?
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Some products in this post were furnished for consideration by the manufacturer or a representative thereof. Please read our review policy on our About tab for more information.
Some products in this post were furnished for consideration by the manufacturer or a representative thereof. Please read our review policy on our About tab for more information.