The other day I destroyed my face. I found one blackhead on my forehead that was approximately the size of the moon. I squeezed and maneuvered my fingers in all sorts of positions so I could evacuate the asteroid from my face. And then I saw another one, down on my chin. And another on my nose! By the time I was finished I looked like a drunkard who had been left outside in the cold with nary a drop of whiskey. My nose was bright red, my face was splotchy. And worse, as I was doing it, I KNEW I shouldn’t be. I’m putting more dirt in my GIANT pores by using my hands. I’m making this worse, I said to myself. But oh god! They’re huge. You could land a 747 right there in that pore on my nose. How do I have friends? Don’t they get lost in the swirly iridescence on that giant pool of oil in that pore?

I decided I needed something other than the plain old gentle Neutrogena Liquid I’ve used for the last 15 years, which I’ve sworn by (and still do). Almost 30, I am not old by any means but the summer sun plus this new Midwest humidity, plus the general yucky thing of getting a bit older has my face looking…sad and blah. So I went to Target armed with not much else other than I needed something that said “Will Remove Giant Blackhead From Crater Pores.”

So I stood in the aisle, overwhelmed by all the brands and all the pore scrubs. Apricot! Tea Tree! Brillo! And I knew I loved the Olay body washes and I knew that my best friend back East (I’m from Joisey, yo) was a dermatologist PA and she had good things to say about Olay. So I stood in that section and ultimately left with this:

Olay Regeneriste Detoxifying Pore Scrub

I started using it at night before bed, and continued using my liquid Neutrogena in the morning’s shower. First impression: smells AWESOME. Easy little scrubbers, nothing abrasive like a lot of the blackhead scrubs out there made with tree bark and asbestos shards. After only three or four days, I saw a difference. I noticed it when I put my liquid foundation make-up on, something I don’t use every day.  When I put it on, my skin looked kind of, sort of, what is that? Glowy! Like the makeup sat on my skin like it was supposed to rather than pool into the large pores on my nose and forehead.

People actually asked me that day in the store what I use on my face because it was so clear and again with this word – glowy!

Two weeks into using it and I can honestly say that at night, after my face-washing teeth-brushing stare-at-my-face-counting-wrinkles routine, I can see the pores getting smaller and have noticed less blackheads. My skin – which has always been clear of most blemishes – is now clearer of those wily blackheads. And the pores seem visibly smaller.

At under $9 in Target, you can get a pretty decent sized bottle. I only need a nickle-sized amount each night and after two weeks, the bottle still feels as heavy as it did the day I bought it. So I surmise it will last at least 2-3 months.

My goal is to own all of the Olay Regenerist products because if they perform half as well as the pore scrub, I plan on looking 21 again by Christmas.

Olay Regeneriste Detoxifying Pore Scrub: $7.99 can be found at Target and drugstore.com

Browsing the store one afternoon, I found these:  Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads.

I know Aveeno is a trusted brand and frequently mentioned in Allure’s Best of Beauty line-up.

There are 28 pads in each container.  One side of the pad is smooth and soft, the other side is textured for light exfoliating.  The “clear complexion” claim comes from the pads containing 2% salicylic acid as well as natural soy.  Salicylic acid can be great for rejuvenating skin in that it helps sloughs off dead skin cells and extra oils which can in turn cause breakouts.  

The Aveeno site touts these pads as “hypoallergenic, oil-free, soap-free…gentle enough for everyday use and sensitive skin.”

I’ve used these pads for a week and am very happy with them.

Pros:

They remove my waterproof mascara.

The textured side is great for exfoliating and not at all irritating like the Buff Puff of yesteryear.

They’re easy.

They smell pretty good.

Cons:

They’re not high foaming.  I like foam.

Skin is tick dry afterwards.  I’m chalking this up to the salicylic acid.

All in all, I’m going to keep using these.  I know this product isn’t alone on the market–it has many companions in the easy-wiping-easy-cleaning-easy-makeup-removal market.  But I think Aveeno did a good job on the product and they’re worth the money.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Cloths, $7.29 for 28, available at most major retailers and Drugstore.com.

I live with one rosy cheeked little girl.

My daughter’s skin is super sensitive and it has been since birth. She’s also very allergic (she got that from her mama) to everything. I’ve always been super cautious on trying any new bath or lotion product on her after her hypersensitivity was called out during our first vacation to visit my mother in Miami when she was just eleven weeks old. I had asked my Mom to buy all the same lotions we used on her skin at home which she did, however, on the third day we were there Lyla’s legs broke out in this horrible looking rash. She was too young for sunscreen so we weren’t taking her outside without being fully covered. When I called the pediatrician, they recommended Aquaphor.

The Aquaphor caused the rash to become even more red and BLEED. And the child? Screamed her head off.

My kid is allergic to Aquaphor. Go figure.

In the winter time here in New England, she’s prone to her skin chapping and bleeding much like it did that one time in Florida. I worry most about this when it comes to her face. Most Mom’s recommend using Aquaphor on their kids to prevent chapping in the winter. And um. Well, we know how that turned out last time.

Instead, I’ve started using Boudreaux’s Baby Kisses. I apply it after bath at night before bed and in the morning before we leave the house. She also has a tube that I keep in her cubbie at daycare and her teachers apply it before they go outside and before nap. The ointment is not too think or greasy. It’s quickly absorbed so it doesn’t immediately get wiped off. If I stay on top of the applications, the difference is truly noticeable. And the best part? She has zero negative reaction to the product which is a huge win in my book!

Oh, and I totally have nothing against Aquaphor. It just doesn’t work for us. (Please don’t send me hate mail!)

Boudreaux’s Baby Kisses, $3.99 at local stores and drugstore.com

I have been using ChapStick Overnight Lip Treatment religiously for years before I go to bed and holy geeze can I tell the difference.  I’m not going to come right out and say I give Angelina Jolie a run for her money, but you’re intelligent people and can deduce what you’d like.  The point is, this stuff works.  It hydrates, it protects, and it truly stays put throughout the night.  I don’t get any results from regular lip balm because it’s not thick enough to last six to eight hours.  With this balm, my lips are shielded from our dry central heat air, and don’t feel like they need a drink of water when I wake up.  Another happy bonus?  There’s no tell-tale evidence on my sheets the next morning.  I’m a tummy sleeper so I always worry about getting my nightly beauty routine all over our bed but by some miracle, this stuff stays on lips and refuses to budge.  Sort of like a strip of velcro, if velcro were a lip treatment.

Do you ever get dry and scaly skin around your lip line?  It’s not a hot look.  I have been prone to it more times than I care to admit so before I fall asleep I go to TOWN and apply this beyond my lip line.  My husband says I look so shiney he can see me in the dark (which is a total exaggeration, btw) but hey, we’re married.  It’s not all perfumed sheets and Victoria’s Secret up in here.  Is it a wee bit goopy?  Yes.  But it’s not like a spider web forms between your lips if you try and talk, because that would be horrific (and kind of awesome all at the same time).  It’s more substantial than your basic gloss, yes, but it does it’s job.  It doesn’t really have a flavor to it for better or for worse, and after a bit your forget you have it on.  Though SOME bedmates may not.

I’ve skipped a few nights here and there if I find myself unexpectedly staying overnight, or if I forget to pack it when going out of town and trust me, I can FEEL IT the next day.  Flakey and sandpaper-y and BLECH.  It’s easy to become addicted once you start using it, as your lips will feel like they are eighteen again.  And with the most romantic holiday rapidly approaching it’s important to make sure they are primed and ready to go.  Your lipstick will look better.  It will slow you down from looking like a sour puss.  Good morning smooches will be all the more enjoyable.  And for $3.99 at most drugstores you really can’t go wrong.

Take back the night and show winter who’s boss!  Happy and hydrated makes for a good night’s sleep.

ChapStick Overnight Lip Treatment, $3.99 at most drugstores and drugstore.com

Growing up, I adored my grandmother. I looked forward to the annual trips from St. Louis to Washington DC, where she would dote on me for a week at a time. We’d go to the many museums downtown. We’d visit my grandfather at his liquor store, mere steps from the Capitol, where I was always put in charge of lottery ticket sales. I played dress-up with her jewelry. Watched while she put on her make-up everyday.

One memory emblazoned in my mind from that time is her bottle of Oil of Olay. She used it for as long as I can remember.

When I finally graduated college, I decided it was time to be a grown-up. That included beginning to care for my skin. Since I really didn’t know where to start, I started with what I knew. Oil of Olay. Throughout my 20s, I used this moisturizing cream. Day and night. Not realizing I was supposed to be using something different depending on whether the sun was up or down.

During those years, to be honest, I had great skin. Well, after that little acne attack that I took care of through lethal drugs from my dermatologist. But, I’m not here to talk about that. That time of my life gifted me with smooth, supple skin. It was never dry. It always felt smooth. Little did I know, it’d all change in my 30s.

My skin this decade has been more challenging. Granted, I’m not as diligent about washing and moisturizing twice daily. Shame on me. But, my skin, it’s gotten dryer. Some creases have begun to show. It’s no longer smooth and beautiful the way it once was. I varied my washing and moisturizing routines, but was having trouble finding one that worked. One where I really noticed a difference, an improvement in my skin.

A couple years ago, I got a good tongue-lashing from the woman I was using as a make-up artist for my wedding. My skin was DRY! She gave me a very expensive, designer moisturizer for the months leading up to the wedding with strict instructions to use it every night. Wanting to be a beautiful, glowing bride, I followed her instructions. For months. I even purchased the $70 tub of cream when her donation ran out.

And you know what? I didn’t really notice a difference. And so, about a year ago, I was done with the expensive treatments. I wanted the ease and inexpense of over the counter. And more importantly, I wanted a product that worked. So, I returned to that handy jar of Oil of Olay (though, now I think they’re calling it Olay Complete).

It’s taken some time, but I really have noticed a difference in my skin. It’s not as dry as it once was. And while some of the wrinkles are here to stay, I have noticed a slowing in their growth. So long as I continue with my daily morning routine of Oil of Olay (and my night routine of a moisturizer made specific for night), I truly believe my skin will continue to improve.

Olay Complete. $8.49 – $10.99 for 4 oz at local drugstores and Drugstore.com.

I used to use random cuticle oil before bed every night and it worked fairly well but stained my sheets. It also got all over whatever book or magazine I was reading before I passed out in a mouth-breathing coma. When perusing the Burt’s Bees section I noticed they had Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme and was excited to give it a try.

I’ve always been a big Burt’s Bees fan so I knew this was a product and company I could trust. What I immediately liked about the creme was how it smelled. I’m sensitive to strong scents and this is light and fresh, with the slightest hint of lemon. It smells clean, and doesn’t detract from any other scent I may have on which is fabulous.  I put it on prior to bed, pawed through my People Magazine, and didn’t have any newsprint on my hands.  Thumbs up.  I also woke up with noticeably softer cuticles and no oily residue, all after a single use.  After using it every day for a few weeks I had stronger nails that didn’t split as much. That’s like extra credit!

This product is listed as 94.91% natural on their website (ya’ll KNOW how important that is to me) and they explain their qualifications:

“At Burt’s Bees, we label every product we make with what we call a “natural bar.” This bar discloses exactly how natural that specific product is. Our products average 99% natural, with half being 100% natural. We will continue to strive for 100% natural on all our products, investigating all ingredients and the latest technologies to create the best products for your greatest well-being.”

I’ve been trying to go as Green as possible when selecting beauty products and I like knowing that their cuticle creme is as natural as can be (or bee.  HA!). I don’t want nasty chemicals and petroleum-based products on my nails that can get in my eyes and mouth if I’m not careful. Not that I exhibit toddler-like behavior and stick my fingers all over my face, but I wear contacts so yeah, my fingers do go into my eyes at least twice a day.

A .6 oz tin is around $6.00 (total steal) and lasts for-evuh! I’ve had this thing for months and it’s not even close to half gone. It’s way easier for me to invest in something when I know it has longevity, which this product clearly does.

Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme, drugstore.com (and others) $5.99

Oh, and don’t forget about our Lands’ End reuseable lunch bag giveaway.  Pack a lunch and save money while going Green: http://bit.ly/tw29n (ends tonight!)

As much as I’d like to take full-credit for discovering Safeguard Bar Soap to combat breakouts, I can’t. My mom did and was kind enough to pass a bar along for me to try. At first I was all, “Pshaw, Mother. I’m expected to use this cheap and common bar of soap to transform my skin?  Puh-LEESE.” (Insert dramatic eye roll here. /scene). But I used it and gee wiz willikers it really worked!  (Thanks Mom!)

Picture this: an early twenty-something (*coughmecough*) with a spattering of bumps on her forehead region from excessive sweating over the summer. Clogged pore central. This is clearly unacceptable, as this young woman is trying to find a boyfriend who isn’t a jerk that only cares about her when he doesn’t have anything else to do, though he swears and swears she’s a priority, no really! So she must get her skin under control for the sake of her dating record. Being a spinster with thirty cats isn’t in the Life Plan, so thus enters Safeguard.

I didn’t want to use it on my entire face and off-set the delicate pH balance I had worked so hard to achieve, so I only used it on my target areas, in this case my forehead. Sometimes I needed it on my chin or around my nose, but getting a lather on my hands and applying it wasn’t difficult. Wash off and you’re done. At first I only used it once a day before bed just to see how I responded and it was enough to do the trick. Some might need to use it twice a day, but in case of drying I’d start with once and take it from there. The rest of my skin care routine stayed the same so I didn’t have to alter anything. Once everything was back to normal I lovingly placed my Safeguard in the medicine cabinet, sort of a “Break Open In Case Of Emergency” type situation.

Added bonus: this stuff can make your pits not stink and your feet less raunchy. Talk about the little engine that could! I actually haven’t had to buy this in a store for awhile, as a bar only used for breakouts lasts a long time. I did find it online a few places and it averages a little more than a dollar a bar.

Safeguard Bar Soap, Box of 4 on Amazon.com $5.49.

I received a few products to sample and even though I am not pregnant, I do have some slight skin discoloration as a result so I was excited to see if the brown pigment spots around my eyes and mouth would fade or disappear all together. Ah pregnancy, the gift that keeps on giving! This line is also ideal for nursing mothers, as anything applied to the skin eventually enters the bloodstream. But my line of thinking is this: if a product is safe and recommended for gestating women, wouldn’t you want to use it even if you’re not expecting? Why not be safe and healthy regardless? I actually have a friend who uses that as a rule of thumb for staying healthy, but instead of “What would Brian Boitano Do?” it’s “What would a pregnant woman do?” Works out well.

First up was the Organic Cucumber Cranberry Eye Gel (30 ml $30.00) and let me just say, it has been my mission in life to find the perfect eye cream/gel. I have puffy dark circles under my eyes and I dream of one day having taught and refreshed eyes much like any model on the cover of a magazine, photoshopped of course. I’ve tried creams and gels and I fall firmly in the gel camp. The creams moisturize yes but I like the gel for the cooling and taught aspect. The directions say to use one pump but I found that to be too much. Half a pump worked great and hey, it makes the bottle last longer too! I used it day and night and it really does make my eyes feel refreshed. Now, is it a miracle product that somehow erases the last eighteen months of sleep deprivation? No. But does it make me look a hojillion times more refreshed and jovial? Oh you better believe it.

I also was able to try the Organic Fruit Face Wash (120 ml $28.00) which came not a moment too soon as my other face stuff had just run out. Side note: I LOVE it when that happens. Another side note: I love washing my face. I geek out reading the ingredients so I can know what kind of magical experience I will have when all the gunk gets wiped away. I eat up all the promises made about ‘newer, younger looking skin!’ and adjectives such as ‘supple’ and ‘firmer’ and ‘dewy’. I am a marketing savant’s key demographic. So I was clearly pleased as punch when I read Novena’s description of this face wash. All those ingredients are things I could, in theory, eat! So my face could be a yummy organic smoothie of goodness in theory, if you choose to make food analogies when describing facial care products. Which I do apparently! When I used it it didn’t make my face tight and dry like some other washes out there. The first few times it didn’t really get rid of all of my make-up and I was pretty bummed. But then I read the directions. FOUR PUMPS! I was only using two and it clearly mattered, so take it from me–go straight to four pumps and you’re golden.

The last product I was given to sample was the Organic Skin Care Spot Brightening Moisturizer (120 ml $28.00). This was what I was the most excited to try because of the aformentioned pigmentation around my eyes (thanks Theo! Mommy loves you!). Now, let me say that the discoloration isn’t dark enough for anyone else to see, especially if I have make-up on. And lemme tell ya, if you’re going to see me I WILL be wearing make-up. My husband even claims he doesn’t know what spots I’m talking about, but they are there and they shouldn’t be thankyouverymuch. So I might have globbed a little extra on in my ‘troubled areas’ and watched them like a hawk for any change or variance. I honestly think I see a difference, but since everyone else around me is all “Wha? Guuuurl what choo talkin’ bout?” it’s hard to get a second or third opinion. So just trust me. It’s not a Magic Eraser for your face but it does even out skin tone and reduce visible pigmentation. It’s not a heavy lotion by any means so it won’t weigh you down or cause break-outs. I did find that my make-up didn’t go on quite as easy since it was so light, but it wasn’t horrible by any means. I guess I’m used to being a greasy monkey. Don’t judge.

Novena Maternity Skin Care was voted one of the top five organic maternity products in 2009 by Fit Pregnancy Magazine. That’s pretty sweet. They also offer samples of each of their products if you want to dabble first before making a purchase. Each of these three products fall under our Splurge Worth category and I think if ever there is a time to indulge it is when you are pregnant or a new mom.

Novena Maternity Skin Care is generously offered their 5 Product Kit consisting of the three above mentioned items in addition to their Organic Citrus Blemish Lotion and Tangerine Cocoa Belly Butter Cream all in a cute pink insulated bag. This is valued at $135.00! If you’re pregnant, thinking of getting pregnant or KNOW someone who is pregnant, you’ll want to enter this amazing giveaway.

To enter, leave a comment on this post (mandatory) letting me know why you’d like this product kit. You can get extra entries by:

–Following us on Twitter (@livespend) and mentioning the contest : “Organic Novena Maternity Skin Care #giveaway valued at $135.00 @livespend http://tinyurl.com/pez3k7” and be sure to come back and in a separate comment leave the link to your tweet

–Blogging about it and in a separate comment leave a link to your post.

–Subscribe to our RSS feed and comment letting us know. If you already subscribe, mention that in the comments.

–Referring others here and they tell us you sent them (“Sam sent me!”) both you and the person you referred will get a BONUS entry!

Contest will run until September 21st, 11:59 pm CDT. For full information on how we run our contests, see our Disclosure policy.

“What’s that?” I say.  Meanwhile wishing he’d just contend with his son who recently decided I’m chump change and his father is King of All That’s Better Than Mom.

“You should talk about name brand things versus generic!”

(Blank stare from me.)

“You know that deoderant I used earlier in the week?  Well, that was a store brand and I was stinky by 2pm.  The other stuff is fine through the day and I’m not rank.”

And there you have it:  one man’s experience with Old Spice deoderant v. jenky store brand.

I’ve been mulling it over all day and have decided to not do a review today, but simply put it out to the masses for you to tell us what’s been better in your experience:  generic or name brand?

Leave your feedback in the comments section and be sure to mention a specific product and let us know whether you thought the generic or name brand version was better.

Hey. It’s what I do.

Let me just throw it out there that as soon as I opened the cap I wasn’t too thrilled with how it smelled (seeing a theme with me? Smells = important) but soldiered on anyway. Thus is my devotion to you.

It was lathery and foamy and luxurious, yes. It made my skin feel soft and I have no doubt that it sloughed off the nasty bits around my elbows because of the magic exfoliating beads. And now that I think about it, a little did go a long way which is always appreciated. But the smell! I’m sorry but I just can’t get past that. It was too brown-surgary for me. Too sweet. But again, I have a sensitive sniffer so please consider the source.

I was faced with another problem once got out of the shower to apply my lotion. What should I use that wouldn’t compete with the smell of the body wash? I actually had to dig through to the back of the cabinet (which was about due for some thorough purging. Thanks Caress!) and unearthed the most neutral and plain-jane smelling lotion ever to have been purchased. So my problem was solved but I don’t know. I guess I just don’t like to panic as a result of a body wash. Call me crazy.

My breakdown:  If I could extract the smell this would be a fabulous body wash for me. I felt like I was being pampered until I couldn’t handle the ’burnt brown sugar’ any more, and I’m bummed I can’t continue to use it.  If you have had the pleasure of trying this yourself please let me know what you thought–I’d really love to know.

Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash, price varies from $6.99 and up, found at drugstore.com and most other major retailers.