Friday Flop: GoodSkin Labs Skincare

I’m kind of habitual about my skincare products. If I find something that doesn’t a) make me break out b) dry the hell out of my face and c) give me a rash (no, really), I generally stick with that product.  Occasionally, however, I’m susceptible to shiny new ads and gimmicks.  Enter GoodSkin Labs. This is a line of skincare products that’s available exclusively through Kohl’s. Recently, while at the recent BlogHer conference, I was given the opportunity to try a few of the objects for free. FREE? I’M IN.

I started using GoodSkin Labs Tri-Aktiline Total Face about two months ago. Now this stuff is a moisturizer that also claims to instantly reduce wrinkles. And after four weeks I’m supposed to notice in overall face moisturization (duh?). I also got Citra-Peel Exfoliating & Neutralizing Peel Pads which is a two-part system of pH resurfacing and neutralizing. And, lastly, we’ve got the Eyliplex-2.  This is a container with eye cream for day and nighttime use, claiming “eye lift” and dark circle reduction.  The results?

Tri-Aktiline Total Face ($42.50): My first impression with this stuff was, “Whoa. Thick.” Clinique is my regular stuff, and it’s a fairly light  moisturizer. But the Total Face formula is much thicker. While I can see how this would be beneficial for “reducing” lines (by filling them…with cream…ick?), I didn’t like that I had to rub so hard to get it smoothed all over my face. This felt counter-productive. I also felt like I needed to use much more than should be necessary. The plus side is that, for as heavy as it goes on, the lotion doesn’t feel heavy on your skin. So if you’re the type of consumer that’s partial to a thicker, more substantial lotion, this might work well for you. I’m sure there’s some of you out there. Right? I, for one, won’t be purchasing a second tube.  (Also note that I *did* notice an increase in breakouts while using this product. Like, a substantial increase. But in all fairness, since my trial period also coincided with, um, Halloween, I can’t be completely certain of the cause. Ahem.)

Citra-Peel ($32): Okay, so this stuff was by far my favorite of the three. (And, unfortunately, Kohl’s seems to be out of stock of the stuff at the moment.) The first step is a pre-moistened pad that had me nostalgic for those zit-filled OXY days of my teen years where the only way to treat an outbreak was to burn the hell out of your face and hope for the best in the morning. Turns out for me, the “best” was “you are allergic to salycilic acid” and “here is your red-ass face” and “good luck in homeroom!” But while Citra-Peel felt similar to other acid-based treatments, it didn’t burn as much as it tingled. And no rash!  Perhaps it’s because of Step Two: the balancing pads. After a few minutes, you apply a pH neutralizer before rinsing. The end result was a refreshed, glowing skin tone that was rash free. Now, whether that’s worth the $32 is up to you, but I think I’d consider buying the stuff myself.

Eyliplex-2 ($39.50): Now, this stuff I wanted to love. I really did. The day cream is a nice gel that’s cooling and refreshing to the eye area. The down side, however–and it’s a pretty significant one in my book–is that the gel leaves this residue if you use too much. And too be honest, as much as I tried reducing my application amounts, there always seemed to be a residue. When I would apply my concealer, the result was this awful you’ve-got-a-fungus effect around my eyes. DISLIKE.  The overnight cream, on the other hand, was pleasant. Not as cooling, but certainly did the trick without too much heaviness. And after washing my face in the morning, the residue was never an issue. But since you can’t buy just one (they come together in a single unit), I’d have to pass on this one as well.

Bottom Line: Guys, I thought the best thing about this line is the packaging. I mean, really. Doesn’t it look impressive? While there were clearly some benefits, I don’t think the price point is worth those perks. Not for me, anyway.

Cleansers for oily AND dry skin?

I love it when people ask me questions.

It makes me feel smart and better than you.  I mean, helpful.  It makes me feel helpful.

My point is – someone asked me a question.

Elizabeth asked:

“do you know of any good facial cleansers that control oily and dry spots? As in, both at the same time? My forehead is both. I have no idea how this is scientifically possible, but my old cleansers aren’t working anymore. Help!”

Allow me to pretend to be an expert in skin care.

My immediate answer is your skin is probably not actually both oily and dry.

Truly oily skin is very, very rare.  And while cosmetic companies have been talking about “combination” skin for pretty much EVER, that is also pretty rare.

And yet, you’re breaking out AND having parts of your skin flake off, right?

Been there.

In fact, I actually had black heads and zits once right not top of skin that was dry and flaking off.  I googled and googled and then finally broke down and scheduled an emergency facial.

And then I rolled around for a few minutes in the idea that I was someone that scheduled emergency facials.  I started imagining myself using terms like “the help” and “my Jimmy Choos” and “that lovely woman who does my toes.”

But back to my schizophrenic face.

As it turns out, what was actually going on was that my face was really, really, really dry.  The blackheads and zits and oiliness were a result of my skin trying to work overtime to make up for the fact that I was stripping away the moisture in my skin by trying to fight the zits.

At least, that’s what the very expensive esthetician told me.

I didn’t believe her, of course.  Because it doesn’t make sense that dry skin would have blackheads and oil slicks.  And also – maybe I made my skin more dry by trying to fight the acne, but I had to do that because the acne was there in the first place, right?

My very expensive esthetician told me to shut up and do what I was told.

Read more

Facial Tanner: Jergens Natural Glow

I am not a tan girl.

My mother is a natural redhead and she generously passed on her fair complexion, freckles, and tendency to burn if exposed to the sun for longer than 3 minutes.

(She did not, however, give me her beautiful hair color.  Figures.)

Porcelain skin can be sexy.  Nicole Kidman rocks the pale faced look.  Unfortunately, I am no Nicole Kidman.  My skin tone leans more towards pasty than porcelain.

What’s a pale faced girl to do when she wants a little summer color on her face but can’t step into the sunlight without burning up like an old world vampire?

Fake it.

Read more