Want to look like you've been airbrushed? It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores review!

Ever look at a magazine and think, yah well I'd look like that too if someone spent their day airbrushing all my photos.  Well I'm here to tell you that now it's possible.  Say hello to It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores.

I had heard about this powder on a few different blogs and youtube videos and most everyone raved about it.  The skeptical (read cheap) girl in me thought I'm sure it's not that different from other finishing powders I've loved and already own, like Laura Mercier, MUFE and even the ELF high def powder.  Well I was wrong, this IS different.  


There is just something so great about this powder.  First, it is talc, oil, fragrance and paraben free.  It also is infused with hydro-collagen, silk and vitamins K, A, C & E.  Which doesn't necessarily mean much to me but it sounds phenomenal right?  The talc-free always appeals to me because I don't need powder settling in my fine lines, they stand out enough without me shining a big spotlight on them.  

Now as for application, this is the brush that came with it as part of a Showstopper on The Shopping Channel.  

It looks good and feels quite soft, but I rarely use it.  I just find that it's a little too bulky so not only is it hard to hold, but the amount of powder that it grabs is more than I need for my face.  I prefer to use my Sigma large powder brush or my ELF studio brush, both of these work much better for me.  You don't need a lot of this powder and like any high def powder, you can definitely have too much of a good thing.  If you over apply this it will start to cling to dry patches and appear too white.  


The powder comes in a typical mineral container and I wish it had a cover you could close over the sifter, much like Bare Minerals or Laura Mercier minerals do.  There is a powder puff that comes with it which helps keep the powder in place, but you lose some of it to the puff especially if you're travelling.  

This is not a miracle product that keeps your make-up on so much longer than any other product, in that respect it performs like a lot of my favourite finishing powders, maybe just a little better.  Where it really shines (not literally) is in the appearance of your skin after you apply this.  This removes...erases....any pores.  Throw this on and they truly disappear!  Not only that, when I wear this I feel like my face has that soft, airbrushed, vaseline on the camera lens appearance.  You know what I mean?  I love that blurry sort of look and this achieves that.  And when it comes to skin sometimes blurry is just so much better.  


Overall I'd give this a big buy!  You can find this on ebeauty.ca or The Shopping Channel for about $29 for a 4.25 g container.  They did just have a larger size featured this month but I didn't get it..and now I'm kicking myself.  You can also find it on itcosmetics.com and I believe they will debuting on QVC this month.  They often sell out on the Shopping Channel so if you want to try it, order early!  


Have any of you tried this or any other IT cosmetics products?  

6 Anti-acne products that don't work - Cosmetics Cop article

Thought I'd share this article by Cosmetics Cops with you all, that I found interesting.  I think what works for some won't always work for others, and that skin care is actually pretty unique to each person.  This however is science people....science.  So on that note, I hope this is helpful.  I'd be curious to hear if any of you have used any of these products and what your thoughts were.  Also my Paula's Choice skin care product reviews are coming soon, so stay tuned!

6 Anti-Acne Systems That Don't Work!

We understand the emotional frustration of acne. It is devastating to wake up every morning, or even just occasionally, to red bumps on your face. Anti-acne products and multi-product anti-acne systems abound, but many of them are so poorly formulated that they make things worse, leaving consumers, and us, saddened and angry.

More often than not, anti-acne products contain ingredients that either aren't helpful for acne or that actually make acne worse! Yes, we know the testimonials are compelling, and the "before and after" pictures are impressive, but you should approach every product with skepticism, especially considering the thousands and thousands of people whose skin doesn't get better after trying product after product. The real proof of a product's efficacy is always in the formula!

What Really Works for Acne
Research shows that the gold standard for treating acne effectively with over-the-counter products is to use a consistent routine that includes the following three types of products:

• Water-soluble cleanser.
• BHA (salicylic acid) exfoliant with a pH of 3-4.
• Topical disinfectant, typically benzoyl peroxide, formulated without irritants.

Depending on the type of acne you have, this kind of routine has been shown to perform even better than some prescription treatments!

We've done the research, and we know you can definitely find individual products to carry out this three-step approach, and they DON'T contain irritants that can make matters worse. For some unknown reason, however, nearly all of the anti-acne systems available get only one or two of the products right, if any at all!

Rather than believing the marketing shtick, we turned to published research, and found that the following anti-acne systems are ones you should avoid completely or at least modify to some extent if you want your breakouts and red marks to really improve:

1. Burt's Bees -- Natural Acne Solutions: Like many products from the "natural" product lines, this one is teeming with irritating plant extracts (like eucalyptus and fennel), which will stimulate oil production at the base of the pore and lead to more acne, more redness, and longer healing time.

2. Neutrogena -- Rapid Clear 7 Day Acne Intervention Kit: This two-product kit claims it can reduce the size and redness of blemishes in one week, but the tiny vials of BHA (salicylic acid) treatment contain large amounts of irritating alcohol and witch hazel, which dry out your skin and make red marks worse. Plus, the irritation they cause can lead to increased oil production in the pore.

3. Dermalogica -- Clean Start System: This system does indeed contain some ingredients shown to have proven benefit for fighting acne, but they are joined by irritating ingredients, such as camphor and bitter orange extract. In short, this system has promise, but the irritating ingredients included present the risk of hurting your skin's healing process and stimulating oil production.

4. ProActiv Solution -- Basic System: ProActiv has the absolute right idea with its three-step system, which includes a cleanser, exfoliant, and topical disinfectant with benzoyl peroxide. What they could have done better is the exfoliant, which contains the AHA glycolic acid. AHA is a great exfoliant, but it doesn't provide the benefits of BHA (salicylic acid). BHA is preferred for breakouts because it not only can exfoliate the surface, but also can penetrate into pores and get to the source of clogged pores. BHA also provides a mild antibacterial punch and it is a potent anti-inflammatory due to its relation to aspirin, so it's great for calming skin and reducing redness.

5. Avon -- Clearskin: This large collection of products is a potential disaster for your skin. Case in point: Both cleanser options contain harsh detergents that dry out the skin, and although they also contain the active ingredient salicylic acid, it is less effective in a cleanser because it is rinsed off your skin before it has a chance to work. The Clearskin system has no less than four BHA options, but not one of them is formulated at the right pH range (3-4) to work effectively.

6. Kiehl's -- Blue Herbal Collection: Each product in this four-product anti-acne system is brimming with potent irritants that don't help acne! Cinnamon, ginger, alcohol, and aluminum chlorohydrate (an ingredient in many antiperspirants) are but a few of the problematic ingredients in the Blue Herbal line. This large amount of irritating ingredients can cause irritation, stimulate oil production, worsen redness, and lead to dry, flaky skin.

After reading all of that material above, you may think it's hopeless, but don't dismay. We can help you find the very best anti-acne products for your skin! With our detailed reviews on Beautypedia, including reviews of the systems mentioned above, you can find the right products to develop an anti-acne skin-care routine that really works for you. Our list of Best Anti-Acne Products is a great place to begin your journey toward obtaining the clear skin you want!

Stomach Ache

Photo source

I did something this week that I don't normally do.  I shared this blog with a person I actually know.  And not just a person I know, a family member.  Ever since then I've had a stomach ache thinking about it.  

I know she's read my blog this weekend, and she has even left me the sweetest, kindest comments.  But I still feel like I showed up to school without my pants.  

  Especially considering that lately I haven't put much love or effort into my neglected little blog, because sometimes life just happens like that.  

So I'll be over here, trying not to read back thru my blog posts and pick out all their faults. 

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

It's a Beauty Battle!

Hi all, 


So the lovely and fun ladies Jayme & Mendi over at Her Late Night Cravings, were asking for video ideas and I sent them one.   Well how excited was I to learn that they took my idea and ran with it.  I was thrilled and felt so fancy and important when I watched it.  My idea was for each of them to try the same product and then, without talking about their results, give us their findings.  As they tape this video they learn for the first time what they each thought, and the results are so interesting!   I would encourage you all to watch to see if they both had the same feelings about the AHAVA natural dead sea mud.  


It's 13+ minutes that will make you smile and for those of you fellow OCD'ers out there, some cringe worthy moments too! 


So enjoy..and thanks Jayme and Mendi for using and crediting my idea, I can't wait to see more Beauty Battles.  

 

June Luxe Box arrived.....sorta

Um yah Canada Post, I'll need to see you in my office.  

First you delayed my package with your strike, which I can overlook of course.  But then, my package finally arrived...

See that big red sticker, what does that say?  Oh right, fragile. Which would explain why it arrived looking like this...

*Mail delivery fail*

Shaking it off let's move along, here's what was inside My Luxe box for June.

All jostled and tumbled around, luckily it was all just a bit disheveled. 

And finally here are what the products look like, a full sized Laura Mercier shadow!!  It's a gorgeous peachy tan color that will make a beautiful base or even a highlight shadow.  That alone more than pays for the cost of this box, which was $9.99 a month when I signed up.  The Sothys foundation came in porcelain which I thought would be too light, but actually it looks like it will be a good color match.  I believe I filled out my skin tone, etc. when I signed up for this, so I'm guessing that not everyone will get the same shade.  I think I've tried the K-Pak before, but I'm not sure. It smells great so I'm excited to try it again.  Both Dermalogica products are men's shaving products, so I'll pass those off to Mr. J...once I convince him that they truly aren't for girls. 

Overall, despite the condition this was in when it arrived, I'm thrilled with the products I got this month.  I believe I have two more months pre-ordered, so that's exciting.  I'm already looking forward to the next one, but for any of you looking ahead 

don't tell me what's coming! 

Have you tried any of these products?  Did any of you experience any postal tragedies?