Touch in Sol No Poreblem

Pore filling/reduction runs my morning. I spend so much time trying to fill these Lincoln Tunnel  pores of mine. I use primers over primers , powders and still I see more spots than smoothness.  And thru the day, same. Makeup breaks down, pores visible.  Maybe I shouldn't be, but I am self conscious about them. 

I think I have finally found a primer that truly works -Touch In Sol No Poreblem .

No Poreblem is a lightweight , fairly thin pink tinted gel/cream  that smoothes and fills really well. I spend extra time smoothing to really get into the pores and then allow it briefly to set. On goes my foundation ( matte for Summer) and a dusting of powder if I feel I need it. It doesn't feel tacky or sticky on, there's no heavy silicone feel and you only need a small amount each use.

 I use a magnifying mirror to check all this ( aren't they just the greatest and scary all at once ?)  and at last I see far less noticeable pores .  I have also noticed that midday to even end of day a quick powder touch up is all that's needed and there's very little to no wear off/separation or caking up at the nose and chin like I usually have. In fact my nose looks better later in the day than I when I first apply. Everything has had a chance to mesh and set.   

It seems to help with oil control as well. I still get shiny but not as shiny . 

 Touch in Sol No Poreblem is $18 at Sephora , Urban Outfitters 

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Concealer/Treament

It's not easy to find a concealer for oily  and /or acne prone  skin.  There are more than there used to be but many concealers  are hydrating, smoothing and have anti aging properties. Good things all but not if you're acne prone/oily and need something to cover a pimple.

New Bye Bye Breakout from from IT Cosmetics delivers anti -acne medicine and helps to dry them while also concealing. Where was this was I was 25?  But hey I still get the occasional spot and currently have one on my chin.

 Bye Bye Breakout comes in what looks like a jar of drying lotion. Inside is a doe foot applicator .  This is a full coverage concealer and comes thick out  of the jar. That means you only need a very tiny dab to cover , less than what comes out on the want and it blends out very well. Wear time is good too. It stayed in place through the bulk of the workday and didn't crack .

Anti acne ingredients include  colloidal oatmeal, zinc,tea tree, sulfur, witch hazel, kaolin , glycolic and salicylic acid. Also Aloe, cucumber and licorice extract.

There are seven shades available .

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout is $ 28 and available at Ulta now.

Biore Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser and Acne Scrub

Biore is expanding their charcoal skin cleansers with two new skin helpers. I love charcoal for it's clarifying and pore cleansing capabilities . It's great for oily and acne skins as well as combo , large pored people like me. Both also have 1% salicylic acid .

The new Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser is  gentle on skin and lightly fragranced despite charcoal formulas sometimes being strong. This isn't too strong and for this time of year it's been perfect. My skin is normal to slightly dry in some areas but my T- zone with the advent of spring like temps this Winter has gone into major oil mode.  This has gotten my skin clean and removed makeup without my skin feeling tight or dry after use .

Charcoal Acne Scrub is as you would expect much stronger than the cleanser and is best for those who have more issues or want a  more powerful cleanse.  It really exfoliates skin and will work to get debris and gunk out .   For me this was too much right now, but come Summer when I am really oily, this will be spot on. The scent here is  much stronger than the cleanser , very menthol and medicinal.

Both  are available now  for 6.49 each

Shiseido Ibuki Multi Solution Gel

With my skin in oily mode for Summer I try to keep a skincare routine going without adding much moisture or anything heavy. More and more products help with this , thankfully and new to me , but not new, is Ibuki Multi Solution Gel from Shiseido.

After receiving my jar , I checked out some other online reviews and for the most party , saw raves. People said blackheads were reduced or gone, skin smoothed, acne cleared. Could this finally be the product I would actually put on my nose and chin? No moisturizer, nothing hydrating goes near them usually  as it would cause break outs but busting blackheads is a priority too.

After one use, I saw a difference. My nose which had been less than great in the Summer heat looked  much better. And the rest of my face seemed smoother. Not bad. More uses  gave the same results.

Ibuki Multi Solution Gel uses 0.5 % salicylic acid .Castor oil, horse chestnut extract , lecithin and glycerin are in there as well.  The formula is a thick gel and it sinks in quickly. I didn't experience any drying , but you might depending on sensitivity to salicylic acid.


Shiseido Ibuki Multi Solution Gel is $ 38

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

New to Clinique's very good Acne Solutions line is Clinical Clearing Gel.

Years ago they had an Acne Spot Healing Gel that seems similar . I used it a lot  and it was one of my favorites at the time. I also have great love for the line's Acne Solutions Foundation.

The new Clinical Clearing Gel  has 1 % salicylic acid to exfoliate and reduce oil, laminaria saccharina for oil control while sea whip extract calms and reduces redness. Water and alcohol are in there along with witch hazel water.  It can be used all over or as a spot treat or all over when applied thinly,  I use salicylic acid products a lot  , and thus far have found this to be gentle on skin , non irritating , non drying.

Clinique says that over a 12 week study, this proved to be as effective as a leading topical prescription acne drug.


Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel is $ 17 for 15 ml, $ 25 for 30ml.

Neutrogena Acne Fighting Tips & Free Wristlet Promo

Neutrogena has put together some fun .gifs to bust acne  myths and help you get clearer skin. Here we see what blackheads really are. Kinda yuck , right ? I know, I have plenty.

If you want to try or already love their acne products, they also have a nice deal going. When you buy  Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash and Oil-Free Pink Grapefruit Cleansing Wipes at Target, you can receive a free wristlet ,through August.

I have the Grapefruit wipes and love them. Not only are they great to use, they smell good too.

Elemis Fresh Skin- Skin Clear Face Wash & Spot Treatment

Oily skin going wild in the heat? Acne acting up ? A new duo from one of my fav skincare lines, Elemis,  may be the ticket.

Their new Skin Clear Purifying Face Wash and Treatment Gel make a great team to fight oil and acne , which is welcome right now.  I haven't been getting a lot of breakouts but there have been some and well oil, that I have , in wells.

I use clarifying type cleaners pretty much year round but will switch to even stronger ones in warm temps. And while this is called Fresh Skin  for "younger skin with a bright future" , ahem Elemis, there are many of us with less younger skin who like a good  oily skin cleanser. Or at least this blogger does.

The Skin Clear Purfying Face Wash is a clear gel with an herbal citrusy scent that gets skin very clean but isn't overdrying. It has white willow bark, peptides , cucumber, juniper and bergamot.

Skin Clear Treatment Gel has 2% salicylic acid along with cucumber and tea tree. It's a clear gel spot treat that works  well. It isn't super drying  or harsh and on my small spot I tried it on, it took 2 days to see it go.

Elemis Skin Clear Purifying Face Wash is $20

Elemis Skin Clear Treatment Gel is $ 24

Shop at www.timetospa.com

Miracle Skin Transformer -Acne Control

Have you spotted the Miracle Skin Transformer in Sephora yet ? It only recently came on my radar and seeing it was meant for oily/acne skin meant the radar went into high gear.  I was a bit skeptical but it sounded like it might have serious potential.

After using it, potential fufilled.  The product is said to help control oil  and fight recurring breakouts while also smoothing and mattifying. So far it seems to do all these things . Well  blessedly I have reached an age when breakouts are far less, so I can't attest to the acne defense totally but my oil is major this time of year so acne can pop up more easily .

Basically I think of Miracle Skin Transformer as almost a BB Cream for oily skin. It does  some of what BBs do but for oily skin. Meaning it offers coverage and in this case it's quite good coverage. Not quite medium but more than light coverage. It also helps perfect making skin look  even and smoothed right off. It's thicker not  thin or runny but not heavy  and applies easily with fingers. Now where a BB would moisturize MST mattes  and there is no SPF.

 I  am always into the matte so I really like this. It's not easy to find a matte primer/perfecting type product. Ones for drier skins are more prevalent.   My oil has been kept at bay well using this under a matte foundation to the point where my T Zone even stays good. That's pretty great. It can be used alone as well .

Ingredients include salicylic acid  at 0.5 % to fight those acne/oilies, sea whip extract and allantoin

There are five shades and shown is Light which is just right for my slightly deeper than fair skin.

Shades are:
Translucent- No color
Light
Medium
Tan
Dark 

Available at  Sephora for $ 48 for 1.3 oz tube.

Alba Botanica Good & Clean Gentle Acne Wash

Hot weather means more oil  and often acne flare ups. If you have acne , it can get worse .  I certainly get so much oilier in the T Zone.

New to the scene and 95% natural to boot is the Good & Clean line from Alba Botanica.  Because I do love a good cleanser, I took it for a test wash.

Good & Clean uses 2 % salicyclic acid to help wipe out the oilies and clear up blackheads while also having Alba Botanica's Fruit Acid Detox Fusion - 10 alpha hydroxy rich botanical exctracts of grapefruit, apple, orange, lemon, grape and more.

The cleanser does  a great job of getting skin clean including removing most makeup but it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry after or tight. So it feels like it doesn't strip skin and that's good. It lathers up lightly ( no sulaftes here) and has a nice citrus scent.

Thumbs up for a natural, vegetarian cleanser that gets the job done.

Within the Good & Clean range there is also a Foam Cleanser, Toxin Release Scrub and Purifying Mini Peel.

Alba Botanica Good & Clean Gentle Acne Wash is $ 9 and available at  natural food stores, Whole Foods, Target and  Wal Mart and www.albabotanica.com

Algenist Pore Corrector Anti-Aging Primer

Something to help make pores disappear? Banish the oilies,  oh I'll try that.  Algenist's new Pore Corrector Anti -Aging Primer is said to help with all of that and more.

I've had the chance to try  some of the Algenist line in the past and have always come away impressed. I love their UV Defense  and the Lifting Eye Gel is what I'll be using again partly this summer as it's especially nice for warm weather.

The Pore Corrector does  help perfect skin and  smooth out those pores. It gives a nice finish as a primer.  It does have a lot of slip and I feel it a bit more on my skin than I'd like , but that's me.You may feel different. They say it has a satin finish and  would agree with that.   It does to help  keep the oil at bay longer in the T- Zone. Not all day
 , because in the heat there is nothing that I am aware of that  does that on me. Please. But it helps.

This is a nice primer to use under matte foundation to keep your face looking fresher all day. It also has the  Alguronic Acid proprietary to the brand along with fruit and flower extracts. To fight oil/acne there is salicyclic acid and willow bark extract, to hydrate there is squalene and glycerin.

Algenist Pore Corrector Anti-Aging Primer is $ 42 at  Sephora  

SkinCeuticals Blemish+ Age Defense

Managing oily skin and acne prone skin along with using anti-aging products isn't always easy. It's hard to find products that won't break you out or make you more of an oil slick but will also work on fine lines,  brightness etc.

Earlier this summer I  tried  out a product I'd been eyeing for awhile, Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Defense.  I also went 3 step, using their LHA Cleanser & LHA Solution( toner).

Because this makes you photosensitive I stopped using the serum after a week since I am in the pool a lot and therefore  in the sun. I use the best sunscreen  I can get but even with  re-applying  you still battle keeping it on in the water all day.

However , I can still say that it works .  In that one week I noticed a difference quickly.  Actually, I noticed a big difference  in how smooth/brighter my skin was in one application.

Overall skin was smoother, less oily and looked brighter. I can only imagine what a months long routine can do.  It's  very strong ( I'll get to the ingredients shortly)  which is one reason  I imagine it works. Nothing has fazed my skin before but this did irritate  a little, but only a little and very  briefly.  I didn't have any drying of my skin either .

Blemish +Age Defense  has 2 % Dioic acid to reduce sebum production and  acne causing bacteria as well as prevent hyperpigmentation, 0.3 % LHA which decongests pores and reduces signs of aging, 1.5 % Salicyclic acid, 3.5 % Glycolic acid and 0.5 % Citric acid.

Derms often say that high doses of Glycolic acid is one of the few ways to truly reduce lines and darker spots .With that,  I plan on starting back on the serum once fall sets in to whip my skin into after summer sun shape.

I've continued using the  LHA cleanser and toner ( both of which have smaller amounts of glycolic and salicyclic acid)  and  my skin has stayed  fairly blemish free , more than usual I think considering how hot it is . Most happily I think it's kept the pores far less clogged and that's a big plus.

Bottom Line- Skinceuticals in general makes great skincare and if you want anti-aging but are afraid to break out your skin, then this is one for you to look at.  It won't add any excess moisture but will blast oils and spots as well as exfoliate the skin to a smoother look.

Blemish+Age Defense is $ 78.00
LHA Cleansing Gel $ 36.00
LHA Solution Toner $ 36.00

http://www.skinceuticals.com/

Mario Badescu Home & Away Kit for Nordstrom Beauty Sale

The Nordstrom Anniversary sale ends Aug 1st .  There were many great items and I haven't highlighted nearly enough. But in the last minute(s) I had to tell you about this Mario Badescu kit in case you haven't noticed it.

Called the Home and Away Kit, it's big claim to fame as far as I'm concerned is that it  has a Drying Lotion in a plastic bottle. And it's full size  not a mini. PERFECTION. Badescu Drying Lotion is one of the greatest acne zapping products ever ( 1st post on it from 2007 here) and when I have to take a trip I always wrestle with taking my glass bottle or taking some other product and hoping a huge zit doesn't happen. This kit takes that problem right out of your hands. A large and small Acne Cleanser rounds out the kit. All you need to take it on the road and blast acne at home.

 The 'Home' set includes a full-size Acne Facial Cleanser (6 oz.) and full size glass bottle of the Drying Lotion (1 oz.). The 'Away' set contains a carry-on approved, travel-size Acne Facial Cleanser (2 oz.) and a full-size Drying Lotion (1 oz.) in a travel-friendly plastic bottle.


Exclusive to Nordstrom Sale: $35.00

Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup

It's summer and it's hot. When you have oily skin like I do, that means it going to be even oilier, greasy and well ,you get the idea.

A foundation with some acne helping ingredients seemed like a great idea. I have used Rimmel's Stay Matte and like it well enough but it's really sheer . I prefer more coverage. For some reason acne helping makeup =light coverage . Doesn't anyone get that spots and pores need more coverage? Well it seems Clinique did.

Their new Acne Solutions makeup is fabulous. I expected I would like it but not like this. I get medium/full but light feeling coverage that lasts all day. That almost never happens. The foundation goes on smoothly , evenly and looks great on. It isn't matte but manages to block the oil in my T Zone incredibly well. I needed to blot down only once . Most days it's at least twice and that's with a matte foundation/primer.

I have used this both with and without my CoverFx Clear Prep primer. It's better with the primer certainly, but does well both ways.

Acne solutions has .5 % salicyclic acid in the formula , so you get a low dose of acne banishing meds with your foundation.

With more adults having acne, this is a great choice for women who have oil/acne but don't want barely there formulas.

Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup is on counter now and is $ 24.50

Sampar Prodigal Pen for Acne

The Sampar Pen for acne is another of those products I've been interested in for a long time. It's an all essential oil, natural product from France.

Housed in a small rollerball cylinder, the Sampar pen has done a nice job on the acne spots I have had . It takes a little longer to heal them that something super drying and strong, but the benefit here is that it is more gentle using all essential oils. It still works within 2-3 days. The pen utilises 8 essential oils incl. lavender, sage, and oregano, with 100 % natural ingredients.

Another great benefit is the portability and ease of use. It's smaller than a lipstick, and can easily be carried in a pocket, bag, etc. It's colorless, so you can use it during the day for touch ups if needed as well. It will go easily over your makeup. You can use it up to 4-5 times day as needed.

Size is 6ml (.21oz) and retail is $ 21.00

Online at http://www.skinstore.com/ , http://www.apothica.com/ (currently on backorder)

http://www.samparusa.com/

Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer

Clinique has a new concealer just for acne/acne prone skin. This is good news. If you've looked , you'll see there aren't too many concealers for the really oily or acne prone. We needed more.

When I heard back in Spring that Fresh was coming out with a clay based concealer, I was so excited. Clay is so good for oil absorbing. But, it turns out the product has jojoba seed oil in it. So it's not really for me. I hear great things about it from many, but there is no way I can put that on my Texas oil well of a nose.

Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer has Salicyclic acid to help treat acne and break up oil, 10-Hydroxydecanoic acid to help control the spread of acne causing agents on the skin, Laminaria Saccharina extract, a seaweed that helps reduce sebum production as well as Caffeine to reduce redness.

What all that means is that your concealer won't add to your oil problem.

This holds up well throughout the day. I 've used it under my makeup and it has helped keep the shine down. You only need very little to cover a good size area.

There are 3 shades and a green tint for extra redness.

$ 13.50 at all counters in July

Miracle product- Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Warm weather is upon us, and it's time for me to start posting about Summer must haves, and a couple Miracle Products, as I call them. With oily skin in a humid , hot summer, I have looked high and low for many years for the products that won't melt, sweat off,or run. Ones that will clear up acne , and keep oil at bay. Happliy there are more now. Back in my teen years, how I could have used all these, but I am glad they are here now. So off and on for the next week I will be posting these must haves.

First up- Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. This is the miracle. It truly dries up the dreaded pimples in one night, or if they are tougher, deeper ones, maybe 2-3 nights. It's seriously strong , kick butt pimple fighter.

It's also pink, so you really need to apply at night. You dip a Q-tip into the jar of solution( without shaking or stirring), and dab onto the inflamed area. It dries very quickly. Go do your evening stuff or head to bed. By morining pimples be gone, or almost .


I can't say enough about how wonderful this is. My last bottle, I bought an unused tester, as thats all the store had. They were out and I was not leaving with out my drying lotion. I was out and it's an hour drive to get it. Do not get between the Alchemist and a miracle product.


It sells for 17.00 and lasts really long. Mario Badescu is avalible at Nordstrom, Blue Mercury Stores, www. mariobadescu.com


For you acne sufferers, another hint that involves no products. Swim in a chlorinated pool. Yes, the fashion mags go on and on about how chlorine is drying, well if you're really oily, be it skin or hair, thats a good thing. Even a small amount of time spent in the pool each week, will make a huge difference in any acne you have, and will keep much of it from coming on. It also keeps oily hair clean much longer. As soon as pool season ends, my skin goes retrograde, my hair gets oily quicker. I lament the chlorine loss. So swim, heal up your skin and have fun at the same time.

Pool photo by The Alchemist