FTC Disclosure:  The item discussed below ( C. Booth 4-in-1 Multi-Action Body Lotion) was purchased with personal funds.  This is not a paid endorsement.  All thoughts and ideas expressed are those of the reviewer.

Product: C. Booth 4-in-1 Multi-Action Body Lotion, Vanilla Butter scent

The premise and claims (from www.drugstore.com):

“Simple, natural, trusted.

Why should faces get all the special treatments?  c.Booth believes in equal rights for the skin below the chin.  Take a close look at yours and see if it doesn’t deserve the four fabulous benefits of this extremely busy lotion:

4-in-1

1. A potent combo of alpha hydroxy acids works tirelessly to ditch dead skin cells and even out skin tones so even sun-damaged areas look healthy and happy.
2. Sweet almond, apricot kernel and shea butter oils work in perfect harmony to hydrate needy skin.
3. Vitamins and minerals perform like superheroes, valiantly fighting off the dastardly deeds of the harsh environmental forces that threaten our skin.
4. Caffeine firms and tones less-than-taut skin, making it feel youthful, revitalized and wide awake. “

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Dimethicone, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (Coconut), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter (Cocoa), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) (Shea), Cetearyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) (Vitamin E), Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A) (Vitamin A), Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almond), Prunus Armeniaca Kernal Oil (Apricot), Sea Salt, Lactic Acid, Maleic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Niacinamide, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, BHT, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, 2 Bromo 2 Nitropropane 1, 3 Diol

Size:  32oz (1L)

Price:  Varies, but is generally priced between $8-$10.  I usually purchase on sale at Ulta when it is BOBO ½ off or BOGO Free.

Availability: Ulta, RiteAid, Wal-mart, Drugstore.com, and select major drugstores and supermarkets

Consistency/Application:   This is a slightly thick body lotion.  It’s very moisturizing without being greasy and would work for most people year round.  It glides on smoothly to the skin, sinks in fast, yet keeps ash at bay all day. 

Scent:    I’m not scent sensitive so the vanilla butter scent seems very faint to me.  It fades away fast and doesn’t interfere with my perfume.  This lotion comes in three scents (vanilla butter, coconut fig, and lemon sugar) so if you are not a fan of vanilla, you have other options.  I generally prefer unscented body products so I would love to see an unscented version of this product in the future.

Over-all Impressions:  What I really like about the C. Booth 4-in-1 Multi-Action Body Lotion is the addition of the maleic and glycolic acids which help to sloth off dry skin and help with cell turn over.  My knees, elbows, and hands have taken a beating in the gym doing planks, various yoga mat work, and lifting weights.  This lotion sat in my product stash for a while before I decided to try it and I couldn’t be happier with it.  It keeps my knees and elbows from getting scaly and it has also helped with the mild body acne and keratosis pilaris on my shoulders/upper arms from all the sweating my workouts produce.

I can’t really speak to the skin tightening benefits of the caffeine because I believe that nothing really tightens loose skin except removing the excess skin and everything else is temporary.  All in all for the price and quantity you receive, I think this lotion is a winner.  If you’re in the market for a good all over moisturizer that does what it’s supposed to without breaking the bank, I’d highly recommend this product!

FTC Disclosure: This product was purchased by me and this is not a paid endorsement. The views expressed here are my own.

For me, one of the skincare goals I struggle with achieving deals with uneven skin tone. From years of adult acne and repeated popping (yes, I admit it!) of these blackheads I’ve paid the price with pretty ugly hyperpigmented scars. I’ve heard of a lot of the different treatments out there, but minus bleaching creams and prescription retinoids I’ve yet to try more.

Before, I mentioned investing in some products from the Dr. Dennis Gross skincare line, but there was a reason I chose him—The Alpha Beta Peel. It’s a two step formula that’s another multi-tasker in terms of anti-aging, and anti-acne benefits, but the buzz surrounding it actually reducing dark spots fast got me excited. I ordered a 30-day supply of the extra strength version (for normal to less sensitive skin).

Ingredients (from Sephora.com):

Extra Strength Step 1:
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Disodium EDTA, Copper PCA, Zinc PCA, Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate.

Extra Strength Step 2:
Water, Sodium Bicarbonate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Resveratrol, Ubiquinone, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Soy Isoflavones, Phospholipids, Copper PCA, Sodium PCA, Zinc PCA, Simethicone, Octoxynol-9, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol.

**This product is vegan and cruelty free.

Supplied in: 30 day, 60 day,

Cost(s): $85, $126.50

Availability: Dennis Gross, Sephora, Blue Mercury, Nordstrom, QVC, Beauty.com

The peel system consists of two jars (labeled #1 and #2) indicating the order in which you should use them. Each jar has 30 presoaked towelettes. After washing my face, I used one from each jar, going in circular motions over my entire face and underside of my jaw line until the towelette is pretty much dry. In between #1 and #2, you have to wait a few minutes before using the last towelette. After my skin has dried I follow with the Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution and then a smidge of the Vitamin D serum oil to moisturize.

The cons: The two steps do take time to do so for the skincare minimalist you may not want a stepwise system. The peel states that for best results follow with the Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening solution OR Vitamin D serum oil. I used everything in tandem, but cost wise it may be hard to justify making that large an investment. You’ll have to decide based on your skin’s needs.

 My Skin Results:

Final Impressions

I’ll let you be the judge, but for 30 days given what I started with, this is a good result. Of course, my skin was jumping off the deep end in the before shot, so I wasn’t expecting to be completely clear in 30 days after years of skin problems. Any process takes time and dedication. Actually, when I first started using the peel it was cathartic—meaning, it drew out blackheads. I brought out blackheads I didn’t even think I had, and blackheads that were already visible or palpable it brought them to a head faster, I remember a few days when on contact with the towelettes the blackheads would pop. Now that’s strength!

My skin tone definitely appeared more even and my hyperpigmentation scarring lessened. The older scarring as you can see is harder to combat, but new blemishes (in combination with the Ferulic Acid serum) cleared rapidly. Using this system helped me not only detoxify my skin, but recover from those periods faster. I look forward to continuing to progress in my skincare journey. For those looking to try an at home peel, I’d give Dr. Gross a serious look!

Have you tried Dr. Gross’ products or similar types of facial treatments at home? Let us know your finds and successes! We love hearing from you!

FTC Disclosure: This product was purchased by me and this is not a paid endorsement. The views expressed here are my own.

Cheers,

FTC Disclosure: This product was purchased by me and this is not a paid endorsement. The views expressed here are my own.

Dr. Dennis Gross is a NYC based dermatologist/dermatologic surgeon who has been making major waves in the skincare industry with several products that have received rave reviews. I invested some items from his skincare line during the black Friday holiday and went into major testing mode! After over 2 months of exclusively using this skincare line. I definitely felt I could weigh in and share my thoughts on what I purchased.

The Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening solution was designed to combat uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation by reducing their appearance. The combination of Ferulic Acid and Retinol (along with its anti-aging and pore reduction properties) acts on the skins imperfections to lighten them, but not beyond your original skin tone. This, Dr. Gross refers to as the skin “self-correcting”. So basically, this was made to help put your skin on autopilot to clear!

Ingredients (from Sephora.com):

-Ferulic Acid: Sun damage protection; Plant-based antioxidant that enhances properties of other vitamins for healthy skin.

-Retinol: Helps smooth wrinkles and lines while increasing moisture and elasticity.

-Bearberry Extract: Corrects hyperpigmentation and helps increase cell turnover; natural alternative to Hydroquinone.

-Azelaic Amino Acid: Helps control oil secretion to prevent formation of blackheads and whiteheads; fades darks spots and brightens skin.

Licorice Root Extract, Mulberry Extract, Glycolic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Willow Bark Extract, Hyaluronic Acid.

**This product is vegan and cruelty free.

Size (s): 1 fl oz (30ml), 2 fl oz (60ml)

Cost(s): $85, $125

Availability: Dennis Gross, Sephora, Blue Mercury, Nordstrom, QVC, Beauty.com

How I used this: I applied it twice daily; once in the morning after washing my face prior to applying moisturizer, and in the evening after cleansing and using their Extra Strength Alpha Beta peel. It’s a lightweight serum that spreads easily across the face. The dropper makes dispensing the product clean and efficient. Supplies of microfiber pads are included to help distribute serum more evenly onto the face. At first, I used these pads, but found that I lost more product to the pad than what actually got onto my face, so I switched to dropping the serum directly onto my skin (3 drops each section: forehead, cheeks, chin). I conserved much more serum using this method. I bought the 1 ounce size which was more than enough for 2 months of use.

My results:  Within the first 10 days I saw a difference! At the time I starting using the serum, I had a fresh blemish from a recent pimple that looked pretty ugly. By day 10 that area was noticeably not only smoother, but lighter in appearance and much closer to being healed than my other existing blemishes still pretty dark 2-3 weeks after my last breakout. On early skin problems, it gets an A+. On older scars, it took a little while longer, but after the third week I needed less foundation and the texture of my skin improved by at least 60%. I also noticed another thing– I needed less under eye concealer. By a month, I needed NO under eye concealer!   Dennis Gross 1: Dark circles ZIP. 

However, I will say that once I stopped using it for a few weeks to test some other stuffs, my under eye darkness returned. You best believe that serum is back in the rotation!

Breakouts were definitely less severe (3-4 blackheads at the most), but the oil control was non-existent for me. My oiliness is pretty tough to control though. As far as wrinkle reduction goes, I don’t have issues with wrinkles (unless you count my minor laugh lines), so I couldn’t see an appreciable difference in that area. It didn’t do much for me in the way of pore-size reduction, but my skin did look and feel smoother overall.

Final Impressions:  The formulation (Ferulic Acid and Retinol being #6 & 7 respectively in the ingredient list out of 25+) gave me faith that this product would help my skin get back on track and I was right. In the 2 months that I used it in my skincare regimen, I experienced most of the benefits this product provides with reduced hyperpigmentation, reduced breakouts, and improved skin texture. I think one of the major drawbacks for most people would be the cost, but I would have to say in the end it’s cost effective. I used it twice daily for 2 months and still have plenty left, so it balances out in my opinion. The real drawback for me would be that my under eye results weren’t permanent. They do have a dedicated eye serum though, so perhaps I will invest in that in the future, or simply stop by his office and say hello!

Have you tried or want to try this product? Tell us your thoughts. If you’re curious to see the pics of my results using the Alpha Beta Peel, click here!

Cheers,

FTC Disclosure: This product was purchased by me and this is not a paid endorsement. The views expressed here are my own.

Grapefruit Ginger Sea Salt Scrub

FTC Disclosure: This product was purchased by me and this is not a paid endorsement. The views expressed here are my own.

 
Lackluster, dry, itchy skin? Body discoloration? Need more circulation? There’s nothing better than sea salt scrubs!  They exfoliate, tone and detoxify the skin. They feel amazing. I prefer them to sugar scrubs, because I like a little more “scrub” in my mix. I live at Etsy.com, so I’m always looking for new hair and body products to try. Discovering Naki Nagi Body Scrubs on Etsy reminded me of my need to get my skin ready for the arrival of Summer- the time for bare skin, sandals and light clothing.

Rachel’s sea salt and sugar scrubs contain an antibacterial soap, and she also offers a sulfate-free option. Her scrubs can be used on the face and body, and she makes a peppermint scrub for the feet. I ordered the Grapefruit Ginger Sea Salt Scrub, and I’m SO glad I did!  I love the smell of citrus and ginger, and the combination is heavenly. My shower experience was exhilarating – I’ve been experiencing the itchies, so the gentle, yet effective scrubbing action worked wonders. The soap in the scrub keeps the “oilies” down – the scrub rinses off, with no greasy residue. My skin felt stimulated and insanely soft. I glowed  Wow. Note: This is not a “foaming” scrub. Do exercise caution in the shower.  The shower/tub will be slippery.

Shipment was quick, and my package arrived safely (no leaky jar).  The scrubs start at $15.95, and now thru the month of April there’s a $5 coupon code – SPRING

Enjoy!

FTC Disclosure: This product was purchased by me and this is not a paid endorsement. The views expressed here are my own.

FTC Disclosure:  The item discussed below was purchased with personal funds.  This is not a paid endorsement.  All thoughts and ideas expressed are those of the reviewer.

By now I’m sure you all know that Milani Cosmetics has completely redesigned their lipstick line and it is hitting shelves in most drugstores now.  This new lipstick line includes a lot of bright new shades that are PERFECT for the coming spring and summer seasons.   As I purchase these beauties, I’ll take face shots of me wearing them so all my fellow PJs can see exactly what they look like.  I personally find that on lip swatches and full face pictures give me a much better representation of what a particular lip color will look like.

Here’s a picture of me wearing Milani Cosmetic’s lipstick in “Violet Volt” which is one of the new colors in the revamped lipstick line.  It’s a beautiful iridescent purple with flashes of pink.

I’ve heard that this lipstick is a possible dupe for MAC Violetta.  Below is a picture of me wearing MAC’s Violetta.

Below is a picture of the two swatched side by side on white paper.

While I think they are close, they are NOT dupes but rather close cousins.  Do you need them both?  Generally speaking, no.  They are very similar so for those of you that don’t wear lipstick often, you likely would be fine owning one of them.  I personally own them both though I wear lipstick everyday so  I can justify having them both in my collection (this is what I tell myself anyway).

What do you think of these colors?  Are you thinking of picking one or both of these up to add to your spring collection?  Let us know in the comments below!

FTC Disclosure:  The item discussed above was purchased with personal funds.  This is not a paid endorsement.  All thoughts and ideas expressed are those of the reviewer.

FTC Disclosure:  The item discussed below was purchased by the reviewer with personal funds.  This review is not a paid endorsement and all thoughts and ideas expressed are those of the reviewer.

Product: Karen’s Body Beautiful Butter Love.

The premise and claims (from www.karensbodybeautiful.com):

“Seals Moisture.  Works Best for Thick kinks or curls, relaxed, color treated or dry hair. Made only from rich, thick butters and luxurious oils, Karen’s Butter love conditions, softens and adds sheen to fragile, stressed hair.”

Ingredients: Shea butter, Cocoa butter, Mango butter, jojoba butter, aloe butter, essentials and or fragrance oils, grapefruit seed oil and vitamin e

Size(s): 8 oz

Price(s): $18

Look at how soft and creamy the butter love is! It just MELTS onto my hair!

This little gem is my secret weapon when I want to re-twist my hair at night or when I need soft supple hair.  It works best for me as my sealer and twisting product. You need so little of this that I have literally just gotten to the bottom of my jar after almost a year of usage. The consistency is very creamy. The look of the butter will lead you to believe you need more than you actually do.  I lay my fingertip on top of the product and press down. What clings to my skin is what I use per section under a water based moisturizer. If you’re a fan of the L.O.C Method then this is what your hair needs!

Inspired by the bright and bold colors of the Spring 2013 runways, Maybelline has launched a limited edition line of lip, blush and nail colors for us to dive into! I saw the display at my local CVS and the first thing to catch my eye was this darling so I HAD to get it!

FTC disclosure: The product below was paid for with my own money. I am not affiliated with nor paid by Maybelline New York. This review reflects my own thoughts and opinions.

It’s one of the three gorgeous baked blushes of this line in Coral Burst, which is described as a satin bright orange. It’s a midtone orange with slight shimmer.  Comparing this blush to what I have now, Modern Mandarin (MAC Cosmetics) is more powdery and pale, while Optimistic Orange (MAC Cosmetics)  is darker, with a natural finish. I don’t know about you, but as a woman of color it’s really hard to find a good orange blush.

As you swatch the product, you immediately realize that it’s not your typical hard baked blush. It’s dense, but soft and velvety to the touch. The pigmentation is really nice where the color is buildable and blends easily. The shimmer leaves you with a flattering glow that lasts throughout the day. I wore it for about 10 hours before it began to fade.

Final impressions:

Maybelline did a great job making an orange blush that’s not only true to pan, but builds quickly and blends out seamlessly. The blush lasts pretty much throughout the day, and doesn’t settle into any imperfections you may have. This is a blush to compliment all skin tones. It’s limited edition, so don’t miss out!. I’ll certainly be stocking up!

Size: 0.9 oz (2.9g)

Cost: $8.49

Availability: Retail drugstores nationwide, Target, Walmart

Swatches and photos

FTC disclosure: This blush was paid for with my own money. I am not affiliated with nor paid by Maybelline New York. This review reflects my own thoughts and opinions.

FTC Disclosure:  The item discussed below was purchased by the reviewer with personal funds.  This review is not a paid endorsement and all thoughts and ideas expressed are those of the reviewer.

Karen’s Body Beautiful Hold It Hair Gel

PJs, have you heard the big news?  Karen’s Body Beautiful (KBB) is expanding their distribution network and will be available in select Target stores starting March 18!  It’s been all over social media and lots of people are excited, including me!!!  Don’t forget, Platinum PJs is giving away a set of the entire KBB line that’s slated for release at Target.  Make sure you check out the giveaway post here and enter for a chance to win!!!

Product: Karen’s Body Beautiful Hold It Hair Gel

The premise and claims (from www.karensbodybeautiful.com):

“Flexible Hold.  Works Best for kinky, curly, or relaxed hair.  Creates a natural finish with a flexible hold. ”

Ingredients: Purified Water, Argan Oil, Cellulose Thickener, Panthenol, Aloe Vera and Marula Oils, Hydrolyzed Silk Protein, Fragrance and/or Essential Oils, Citric Acid & Silver Citrate.

Size(s): 8 oz/240 ml

Price(s): $16

If you google reviews for the Hold it Hair Gel, you will find tons from ladies with hair of all textures and curl properties.  So rather than reinventing the wheel, I’m going to tell you how I incorporate it into my routine.  Even though I have so many gels to choose from, I tend to reach for this one quite frequently.  I’m not just a PJ, but a Platinum PJ (see what I did there…) which means I have more gels than I’ll ever admit sitting in my stash but here’s how I use this particular gem.

Wash and go:  I prefer gels that product a lot of shrinkage, and this provides that.  Its texture requires that I mix it with my leave in of choice to produce a cream gel type of emulsion (about a quarter amount of each per section and I section my hair into 5 sections).  I apply to soaking wet hair and as I apply the product, the gel sort of absorbs the water and causes the hair strands to clump together in perfect curls.  Once dry, I’m left with curls with a moderate amount of hold and little to no frizz that lasts for days.

Twists and twist outs:  This gel is perfect for producing nice, smooth flat twists that yield great twist outs. I use it straight out the jar; about a nickel size per section of hair that I flat twist (I use about 10 sections).  I smooth the gel through wet hair with my bootleg hair brush, flat twist, and let air dry.  For regular twists I apply a dab per section to hair that is about 50% dry and slightly stretched.  This produces twists that I can twist and produce a nice twist out or I can leave in for a few weeks that resist frizz and remain shiny.

Here are a few pictures of my hair styled with the KBB “Hold it Hair Gel”

Hope this helps you all with determining which KBB products to pick up and try once they hit a Target near you.  Make sure you enter our KBB giveaway here and good luck

FTC Disclosure:  The item discussed was purchased by the reviewer with personal funds.  This  review is not a paid endorsement and all thoughts and ideas expressed are those of the reviewer.