Nailed It!

Today I'm here to tell you about an amazing product if you wear any kind of nail polish at all. (Well, I guess not if you have gel nails or whatever, but anyway.)

This stuff. It. Is. Amazing.

I don't quite remember where I heard of Londontown nail products, though it may have been on a podcast somewhere, where the person showing her knitting mentioned she was wearing some of their polish (which is great, as are their Nail Veils, but those are other posts). Anyway, I had to go down the rabbit hole of finding out about the brand, etc., because a) I remember loving the color of the polish the person was wearing, and b) I'd never heard of the brand and was curious. So I tried a couple of their products, and liked them a lot (as I said, some later post, OK?). 

Now, I don't always wear nail polish, but I have noticed that when I make an effort, and have something on my nails - even clear nail polish - I tend to leave my cuticles alone. Which is a good thing, because my poor cuticles have suffered so many indignities in my life. When I am bored, or anxious, or tired, or who knows what, I tend to pick at my cuticles, which of course causes them to bleed, and makes my hands look like small battlefields. But if my nails have something on them, I'm more likely to not practice that habit.

The problem for me has always been getting the polish off without problems. Nail polish removers with acetone make me break out in a rash. So I was getting non-acetone removers, which were fine. But getting all of the polish off was the problem. I would use so many cotton balls, and so much of the product, and later in the day, still notice polish I'd missed. 

Anyway, one time when I was perusing the Ulta website, I noticed they carried some Londontown products, including the "Lacquer Remover" shown above. It was a whole lot more expensive than the others, but when I read the different reviews, they all said that very little of the product was necessary to get off all of your nail polish. So I was intrigued. And I realized that I spent a lot of money on cheaper polish removers, mostly because I used so much all at one time, so I was always running out. I bit the bullet and ordered some of this.

All I have to say is, if you have had the same problems getting nail polish off of your nails, buy this stuff. It's worth every penny! Usually I get a cotton ball and soak it, not drench, but get it wet, and then I place it on each fingernail for 10 seconds. (Some of the cotton ball comes off when you take it off your nail.) I do that for each nail, and then I go back and sweep the cotton ball over the nail using a bit of pressure. Voila - polish gone! Completely, and your nails don't feel dried out like sandpaper either. I couldn't believe how well it worked, and have tried it even with darker polish, and had the same good results.

And in the end - the bottle lasted me for a whole year, making it well worth the price! As a matter of fact, when I went to buy a new bottle, I happened to hit a sale (I don't remember if it was at Ulta or on the Londontown site itself), and got two bottles for only slightly more than the price of one. 

Needless to say, this product knocked it out of the park with the BMST, and now I don't go through a whole decision process of whether or not it's worth putting on nail polish due to the hassle of removing it.

This is my opinion only, of course - I'm not sponsored by anyone or any company, I just wanted to share something I really love and think others might appreciate as well.

If you decide to give it a try, let me know. I hope you if you do try it, you have the same kind of success.

Product Review - OleHenriksen Truth Serum

I have suffered from rosacea for years.  Finally when we moved to Philadelphia many years ago, I found a dermatologist who diagnosed it and actually knew how it could be treated.  It took a while, but finally it's under control better than it's ever been.

Needless to say, I'm kind of obsessed with taking care of my skin now that it doesn't constantly look like it's scalded.  I see my dermatologist regularly, and she is really great.  One thing she isn't, is big on recommending products that are popular in magazines or that the "beautiful people" are using.  I've asked specifically from time to time if a certain moisturizer or soap or whatever that I read about in a magazine is worth using.  Her answer has nearly always been, "try it if you like," but that's all.

So when she actually mentioned something by name, I thought it was worth a try.  And then I decided it was only fair to let you know how it did or did not work.

The product is OleHenriksen Truth Serum (available in store and online at Sephora and several other places, as well as directly from the company).

This is what it I'm talking about.  The pump at the top dispenses a non-sticky, slightly orange-scented liquid that spreads easily.  The scent disappears almost immediately, and it absorbs quickly, but still feels like your skin - not like some products that make you feel like there's a weird layer there.

I bought a small bottle to try, because a) it's not inexpensive (though you can order a mini online for $15), and b) I wasn't sure if I would like it.  I have used it now for approximately 6 months, at night only with my moisturizer over it, and I can tell you, this stuff is fantastic!  It makes my skin feel very soft, and I have had no bad reactions or problems from use, while noticing that it seems to have given my skin some evenness, which is nice since I tend to be splotchy.

I think that technically, you are supposed to use it morning and night, but frankly, I didn't want to use it up very quickly since, as mentioned above, it's not cheap.  Plus, since it has Vitamin C in it, I figured it would be better to use it at night only instead of having to use an even higher SPF sunscreen during the day.  

Another thing I like about it is that one of the small bottles lasts a good long time.  One pump gives you *plenty* of product for your face - on the occasion that I have used two pumps, I've been able to cover my neck and chest as well.  This of course also makes it a winner on the BMST* and means that I am very likely to buy it again whenever this bottle is finished.   And if that isn't good enough, OleHenriksen is a cruelty-free company!

So if you have rosacea, or even if you don't, but want to try something that is a little bit of an extra for your face, I can highly recommend this product.  And this is me being honest, I didn't get any reimbursement from the company that makes it.  I just wanted to share something that I thought was impressed with, especially if you are looking for some great skincare.  

*BMST (Bridget's Mathematical Spending Theorem):  the name given by a friend of mine to something I do with skincare, beauty products, makeup, etc.  When I start to use it, I mark the date on the container.  When it's gone, I note the date, and figure out the cost per use.  This plays a part in whether or not I decided to purchase it again.

A Definite Success

Hello there!

Do you remember this post from early in May?  Well, I wanted to give you an update.

I bought my jar of Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel on sale at CVS, for $17.99 plus tax.  (It's usually $19.99 everywhere, from what I can tell.)* According to the date I wrote on the bottom of the jar, I started using it on April 12, 2015.  Just this past week - on July 30, 2015 - I got the last possible amount out of the jar.  I used it every since day.

As you may recall, part of what I liked about it was that you needed just a small amount to adequately cover your face.  Even this past week around here when the weather was AWFUL, it blended in and felt soothing and cool.  I do feel like my skin has improved since I started using it.

So according to my BMST calculations, the product cost me .165 cents per day.  If I had paid full price (which I did to replace it earlier today), the cost would be .183 cents per day.  For as much as I like this product, and for the way it made my skin feel and look, the only way it could be better in my opinion would be if someone just gave me a jar for free!

It always makes me so happy when something I really like turns out to be well worth the price.

You should give this product a try.  I think you'll be glad you did.

Not actually me ...

*except on the Neutrogena website, where it is apparently $18.99 ... with shipping costs, though ...

Product Review - My Face Is Happier Than Ever

I don't know about you, but at this time of year, and then as it gets even warmer, I am a sweaty mess.  I don't "glow," or "perspire" - I SWEAT.   And it means that putting anything on my face that is lotion-y or creamy is a) a mess, and b) a waste of time, since it seems to sweat right off.

So when I saw commercials and ads in magazines for this product, I decided it was worth a try.

And I am now in love.  

To paraphrase Stefon, of "Saturday Night Live" fame, this product has everything:  a light feel, a cool feel, virtually no scent, hyaluronic acid, and you only need a small amount to cover your face (and your neck if you get a little carried away).  

Seriously, this is exactly what you need if you are like me.  Though it is a gel, it's a very light gel, liquidy but not runny.  It feels invisible on your skin, and application is a breeze.  But most of all, it immediately sinks in to your skin and your face feels cooler.  As I mentioned above, it has the slightest of scents and does not in any way sting or feel like it is shrinking your skin - you know, like products with alcohol content can do.

Of course, since it contains hyaluronic acid, it is good for anti-aging, but also means that you need a good sunscreen if you are using it in the daytime.  But whether you put sunscreen or foundation or powder - or even all three - on top, you never feel like you are adding a layer.

Also, since it is a Neutrogena product, you can find it in your local drug store.  I got mine on sale at our local CVS, for under $20.00.  I have a feeling it's gonna last me a nice long time, since you need the tiniest amount for full face coverage.  So there is a better than usual chance that this will do well on the BMST.

This gel has not caused any extra redness, breakouts, or other problems with my sensitive, rosacea-ed skin.  I really feel like this might be one of the best things that Neutrogena has come up with - or that anyone has, for that matter!

My face and I are both happy.

Drugstore Dupes

I love makeup and skincare products.  And I try to buy the best that I can afford, but sometimes they don't turn out to be the most cost-effective (hence my BMST).

Then there are products that I have really liked when I received a sample, but cannot in any way justify or afford buying to use - for instance:

I've gotten samples of this, and though I am not part of its cult following, I have to admit that it is really nice, and made my skin feel amazing.  However, since I do not have $285.00 just sitting around, once the sample is gone, it's gone.  I did receive a regular-sized jar from my sister for a gift a few years back, and it actually did well on the BMST, but again - $285.00.  Not happening.

About a  month ago, I was in CVS looking for a nighttime cream for my face, and was just about to buy a L'Oreal product that was on sale, when I saw this next to it for $5.00 less, and decided to try it.  CVS lets you return things if they don't work, or you don't like them, so that made me willing to try it.

As it turns out, it's not too far from the Creme de la Mer - a little bit creamier, but it has the same feel on your face, and it has made my skin feel very soft, and a little bit more even in tone.  I'm not sure how it will work out on a per-use basis (the BMST will determine that once the jar is empty), but so far I have to say that it was a good result to my experiment in drugstore dupes.

Next, concealer.

A few weeks ago, I went to use my concealer and realized that I'd left it at my sister's house when we visited.  So I once again headed to CVS to buy something to use in the meantime, since she was sending a package anyway, and said she would put that concealer in that as well.  I'd read that Rimmel products were pretty nice, and had a good price point, so I decided to give this a try:

My opinion?  NICE.  You can control how much comes out of the tube onto the little brush by how hard you press the tube, and it has a nice, light consistency.  It blends into your skin with no problem, and not only stays put, but doesn't settle into creases and fine lines.  To me, it's an excellent dupe for Yves St. Laurent Touche Eclat.

I've used this concealer, and I like it, but the Rimmel is very nearly the same, and is approximately a third of the price.  I am still attached to my Touche Eclat, and I'll finish the tube, but I'll definitely keep the Rimmel to use when the other is gone.

These are my very own opinions, based on my own personal experience.  But I wanted to share them so that if you want to try some nice products and not break the bank, you'll have some suggestions to consider.

The Good. The Bad. The Verdict.

I keep reading how wonderful various serums are supposed to be, and that you should use them as part of your beauty routine.  A couple of months ago, I had a gift card from Macy's that was burning a hole in my pocket.  Having read a lot of good reviews about it, I decided to purchase Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum and give it a try.  My skin tends to be blotchy, and one of the things this product claimed to do was even out skin tone.  So I purchased the smaller size (1 oz.), and took it home to try.

The Good:  This is a lovely product!  A nice, light, smooth lotion that comes out of a pump bottle.  I decided I would only use this at night, and I used two pumps each time (which covered my face, but with a very light layer).  Well, it is a great product!  No discernible scent, easily absorbed, and very refreshing to use.  My face felt soft after application, and any moisturizer I used went on very easily after letting the serum set for a minute or so.

The Bad:  I was very conservative in the amounts I pumped out of the bottle, and this only lasted 22 days!  Not even a whole month, and granted it was the smaller size - but not a travel size or anything like that.  I could not believe it.  The small size retails for $59.50, which is not inexpensive, by any means.  Using the BMST, this product costs approximately $2.70 per use.  That seems on the spendy side, if you ask me.   Granted, I have not used any other serums to compare.   But if I wanted to continue using this, I might try the larger size to see how it compares, though I fear it may be the same or worse.

The Verdict:  Well, I have come to the conclusion that I would need to try one or two others in order to compare - maybe a high-end one, and an drugstore one - to have it be a fair fight.  However, I'm not 100% convinced that I actually *need* to use a serum.  As I said, I liked what it did to my skin, and how it felt, etc., but I've gone this long without using one and my skin is actually not that bad.  So until and unless I have another gift card, I think I'll just go back to my usual routine, because frankly, $2.70 per use seems ridiculous for something that, at best, is an add-on, even if it does help my skin a bit.

So there you go.  Have you tried any new products lately?  What did you think?

An Old and New Fave

Years ago, I used to religiously take a bubble bath every Friday night.  Mostly so I could shave my legs, but it was also relaxing and cozy.  One year I asked for a bottle of Kiehl's Creme de Corps for Christmas, because I had read in a magazine that it was nice stuff, and I was too cheap to spend the money myself.  I really liked it, and when I would use it on my legs after shaving, it felt really soothing.

Eventually that bottle was used up, and that was that.

These days, I still take bubble baths, though not every single Friday night no matter what.  I still enjoy them, and particularly during cold weather, they warm me up quite nicely.  I've tried various different lotions to use afterwards, with varying results.

About a month ago, I was reading someone's blog (sorry I can't remember which it was to link), and they mentioned using Creme de Corps all of the time, since it was the ONLY thing that helped their skin in winter.  And I remembered how much I'd liked it when I had that bottle years ago.  And I decided to spring for a bottle myself and revisit it.

My skin gets extremely dry during the winter.  Dry as in cracking and bleeding, particularly on my legs and arms.  I have used various things, including a prescription lotion, which helps but is used up very quickly.  I figured maybe another try at Creme de Corps would be worth it.

It has been.  I treated myself to a 4.2 fluid ounce bottle, which cost $18.00.  I started out using it every time I took a shower, on my arms and legs.  And after a week, my skin was so soft, so supple, and so non-dry, that I decided to try using it every other day.  I seriously cannot believe the difference.  The other day, I was putting on a pair of tights, and there were no dry skin flakes flying around as I was getting them onto my legs!

So I am here to encourage you to try this stuff if cold weather makes your skin dry.  It is very luxurious feeling, but it almost immediately absorbs into your skin, leaving it soft but not greasy or lotion-y.  There is no discernible scent.  I also think that the bottle will last me a while, since a little bit goes a long way.

Kiehl's Creme de Corps.  Worth the splurge.  Try it.

Meet the BMST

I don't remember where I read it, but I remember reading a magazine article that said if you wanted to keep track of how old your makeup/skincare is, you should mark the container with the date you started using it.  That way, it's easier to know if you have really and truly had something for too long.

I thought that was a great idea, so I started doing that.  But then - because I get obsessed with some things quite easily - I decided to take it a step further.  I mark things with the date I start using it, and then when it's used up, or I'm ready to throw it away for whatever reason, I calculate the approximate cost per use.  Then I can compare it to similar products to determine - all other things being equal - which product is actually less expensive in the long run.

I have explained this many times to friends, some who find it just weird, and others who have started doing the same thing or a version of it themselves.  My friend Lisa christened this the BMST, or Bridget's Mathematical Spending Theorem.

Let me give you an example of an actual comparison between two products.  A few years back, I treated myself to a [somewhat] high-end foundation that was supposed to be good for people who have rosacea (which I do).  It was $40.00 for a 1-ounce bottle.  I generally use foundation every day that I go to work, so for the sake of argument, say that I used it approximately 250 days over the course of the year.  That turned out to be $.16 per use.  Pretty good, right?

Well, then I bought a drugstore foundation, which was $12.00 for a 1.7-ounce bottle.  Certainly that is a better deal, right?  Well, it was gone after 5 months (approximately 100 work days)!  Turns out that I had to use more of it to get the same coverage I had with the other stuff.  (Basically I like my face to look evened out once I put on foundation, to give you an idea of how much I do/do not use.)  That turned out to be $.12 per use - which appears to be a better price, but - I had to buy another bottle to finish out a year, so that's nearly$.24 per use, which means that it was actually more expensive.

I have to tell you, I was really surprised to learn this!  It proved to me that cheap is not always cheaper all around.  And expensive can be more economical.

Granted, there are some things where the result is even.  There are also some things that I use that even if they are slightly more/less economical, I stick with them for other reasons, i.e., they work the best for me.

If you are trying to figure out where your money is well-spent, though, you may want to give the BMST a try.  I'm willing to bet that you are in for a surprise, or at a minimum, a better awareness of how you are spending your hard-earned money.

**The first year I belonged to a gym, I would mark on the calendar each time I went for a workout.  Then at the end of the year, I was able to determine how much I was paying for each visit, and decide if I wanted to continue.  (Yes, I need a life ...)