Fresh Facial Cleansers, Illuminating Cream and the Benefits of Greek Yogurt!

Once you start having a healthy face regimen, it's very, VERY hard to stop. Given my complete and utter lack of sleep lately, I have been bad and (gasp) not washed my face before passing out into a nighttime coma! I wake up feeling so icky!!! So, I'm BACK! I also wished I would have had Chanel's Anti-Puffiness/Dark Circle Eye Cream in a 5-Gallon container this week. My huge Sephora sample shipment arrived though, so I'm sure I'll find something we just can't live without in the box of goodies. Meanwhile, I also ordered the mascara sampler set and have been religiously trying a series of the current best selling mascaras, so that report will be coming soon.

What I did try this week was Stila Lip Glaze in Watermelon. While, at first glance, there is nothing Watermelon-y about this product at all (it smells like lipstick) and the pink is quite, well - bubble gum pink, once you put it on, it gives your lips that kind of deeper pink watermelon sheen. I like the product and it isn't overly sticky. It's definitely a nice subtle lipgloss for summer. To be fair, the sample I received does not have the lip brush, but rather a lip sponge applicator. Not sure which would be better, but I tend to like the sponge application for gloss. Otherwise, it goes on too thick. And, really, that is the whole point of this lip product, apparently. So, at $22, I think you could even like Wet 'n Wild as much as you like this pricey one.

Now, given that I have had some MAJOR dryness from all of the hard manual labor, I tried a serious product - Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. It is recommended for the driest, most active hands and provides a glove like protective barrier against moisture. I applied it liberally, as the product suggested and it's very thick. It remained sticky for quite some time, but did seem to be just what the doctor ordered. I can't imagine ever needing such a heavy lotion in the future, unless I decide to become a lumber jack or start building homes or clean dishes for the military or am trapped in 10 degree weather for 10 days. But I appreciated the sample for the serious dryness I'd been experiencing, even though it did smell like Vicks Vapo-Rub.

And in the "interesting" category, I washed my face with Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. You know I tend not to like gels, since I prefer a foaming cleanser. However, this one felt really great. It smelled kind of lemony. Boscia touts itself as free of chemicals and cleanses and moisturizes based on botanicals. I felt quite fresh afterwards. Every Boscia product contains a proprietary, botanical blend of two exceptional extracts: Jojoba Leaf and Willow Herb. Both help solve the most common skin problems: dullness, dryness, fine lines, lack of firmness, blemishes, and sensitivities. Jojoba Leaf is a phenomenal antioxidant that helps to prevent free radical damage caused by pollution, UV rays, and other environmental irritants. It also has superior nourishing benefits to help minimize the signs of aging. Equally as hard working is Willow Herb Extract, a natural, skin-calming botanical that helps to alleviate inflammation and reduce redness. It actually did seem to reduce the redness, even as a cleanser. Oh, and this product also contains Hydrangea leaf, which is one of my favorite flowers, so it was kind of a must try for me.

I am also quickly becoming a fan of the Fresh products. I tried Fresh Anise Day Serum. It was pretty unscented, so that would be a plus if you want unscented products. I tend to prefer good smelling products like fruit or fresh, but not everyone enjoys the same scent. I expected a much more licorice-type smell, but it was just clean and unscented. It went on quite softly and smoothly and soaked in quickly. I like that in a facial moisturizer so you can get to the next step - primer - more quickly. It made my skin feel smooth and silky and is probably a wonderful moisutrizer for all basic skin types. It is touted as a wrinkle reducer and age-defier and I really liked that it wasn't overly thick. At $85 for one ounce, though, it would have to really stand the test of time.

Contrast that moisturizer with Korres Yoghurt Cream. It's noted to be a "velvety moisturizing cream for oily and dehydrated skin". I didn't find it to be immediately smoothing. What I did find interesting is that it contains full-fat Greek yogurt. So, my question is, at $29.50 for 1.35 ounces, why not just get yogurt and smother that on your face to see if you get the same effect? Even the product's own website says that basic yogurt provides instant hydration to the skin. Hmmm ... maybe next time I am at the grocery store, I'll try this.

And, lastly, I tried Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Protective Moisturizer. Let's talk first about the fact that it is SPF 16. Where did the 16 come from? It's like when you see that carpool violation which is $271. Did they think that extra $1 was really going to deter people from getting in that lane? It's just weird when normal SPF numbers are like "15, 30, etc." In any event, it actually was a good brightener. It wasn't as good as Philosophy's Divine Illumination, even though that product is a bit pricier (nearly double).