Showing posts with label toner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toner. Show all posts

Thursday, July 16, 2015

M3K - A Star Of An Antiaging Cream And a Fun Foaming Cleanser/Toner






Other than prescription Retin-A, the most effective cream to reduce fine lines, age spots and speed cellular turnover, there are a few other skin care ingredients that are proven anti-agers. The best creams contain Matrixyl 3000, L-Carnisine, Hyaluronic Acid, DMAE Bitartate and Alpha Lipoic Acid.  

Other star ingredients include Vitamin A, C and E.

I have used creams that contain some of these ingredients, but I've never heard of one that includes all of them; particularly one that is as affordable as M3K Optimized Matrix Regenerative Face Cream.

After reviewing their press material, it immediately piqued my curiosity.  I was delighted to have the opportunity to sample it and share what I hoped would be a fabulous, well priced anti-aging cream with my readers.

 It did not disappoint...

Since I also received their cleanser I was to give M3K a more exclusive trial. I eschewed my cleanser, toner and makeup remover for the cleanser solo and didn't use a separate serum for 2 weeks, just the cream, and used both day and night.

The cream has a lovely, gel like texture that absorbed quickly, leaving my face feeling comfortably hydrated and glowing, (not unlike La Peau). The Barefaced Fabulous Cleanser is in a foaming pump which allows you to cleanse your face, remove makeup and balance your skin ph in one step without having to use a ton of product. With the foam it rinses much better that a thick soap. 

M3K  is a small line that includes a product called Barefaced Fabulous, that is a combination cleanser, toner and makeup remover, Dirty Boy formulated for men, who may have to combat an occasional breakout and a hand cream that is infused with the same star ingredients as their face cream.

It's a young company, but they are dedicated to creating premium, quality products, while keeping the price points affordable.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Foxbrim Orange Flower Toner - velvety skin



So far every Foxbrim product I've tried has been amazing, and this toner is no exception. Unlike the toners of my youth, this is not a bottle of alcohol that if you were lucky might have some witch hazel in it that leaves your skin dry and parched. It's a gentle and soothing ph balancer that leaves your skin feeling velvety soft. After using this, my skin actually doesn't even feel like it needs a moisturizer! Using it after cleansing gets any extra dirt or gunk out of pores as well as balancing the ph of your skin since most cleansers do disrupt that balance which can cause skin problems. It balances your skin's oil production striking that perfect balance. Over time it boosts collagen production and improves skin texture.

It smells AMAZING, I would wear this as a perfume! The gentle neroli scent is beautiful and my Mister loves to nuzzle my face after I've used it. You can use this as a refresher during the day or even pour some into the tub for a relaxing, skin soothing bath. I think I need to buy a vat of this!


Saturday, September 28, 2013

Blissoma- Natural, Effective, Fabulous!

     I've used a number of Blissoma products, and across the board there hasn't been a single dud in the bunch. Using ingredients that are natural, organic, free of chemicals and nasty byproducts that are then put together by a woman with an education in actual chemistry, what you are left with as an end product is genuine nutrition for your skin. In fact, all of the products with the exception of the deodorants are even certified vegan.


My skin has become ragingly sensitive over the years, reactive redness, rosacea, ad infinitum. Adaptive Energy Tonique leaves my skin feeling balanced and soothed. I use it after washing my face and it prepares my skin for my serum and moisturizer. It's also fabulous during the day to revive my makeup (and my psyche.) In the mornings it's bright subtle scent is a great way to start the day. My last rosacea flare up, I actually kept this by my side so that any time I began to get itchy I could spray this on my face and stave off the desire to claw my face open like a rabid hyena.


Skin Type: Sensitive, Demanding                    100% Vegan - 100% Natural

This Adaptive Energy Tonique provides a clean burst of highly absorbant, water-based botanicals and nutrients to facial skin - like an health drink you can spray.

The base is a specially prepared infusion of fresh organic cantaloupe. It brings Vitamin A, B3, B6 and potassium to our blend as well as a fresh melon aroma. 

Organic Rhodiola, Holy Basil, and Red Clover help skin respond to internal and external stressors, process environmental pollutants, and hormonal fluctuations. Organic Calendula helps heal blemishes, synthesize collagen, and soothe irritations.

Apply:
Spray directly onto facial skin after cleansing, mask treatments, or anytime during the day to give skin a boost of hydration and high functionality. Allow to absorb and then moisturize. Can also be used to set mineral makeups.
Each 4 oz container is approximately a 2 month supply.

Made of:
Water, Infusion of Rhodiola rosea*, Ocimum sanctum* (holy basil), Trifolium pratense* (red clover), Lonicera japonica* (honeysuckle), Calendula officinalis*, and Avena sativa* (oatstraw), Cucumis melo (cantaloupe) Infusion*, Grain Alcohol*, Aloe barbadensis Juice*, Essential oils of Pelargonium roseum (rose geranium) and Citrus bergamia (bergamot) FCF, citronellol**, geraniol**, linalool**, limonene**
*from Certified Organic Agriculture
**natural components of essential oils

Herbal Gel Cleanser & Makeup Remover is downright miraculous. Again with my sensitive skin- this causes no irritation at all. Some makeup removers leave my skin with a bit of a burning or stinging sensation that luckily subsides pretty quickly most of the time, but it still sucks. No such problems here, it actually feels quite nice and like the toner is also quite soothing, even during a flare up. But the kicker is, it actually WORKS. Super gentle, yet somehow it removes even stubborn eye makeup with ease (and if you ever have watched my videos, you know I loves me some eye makeup!) The toner test afterwards shows that your skin is super clean with no residue clinging to your skin. Despite cleansing so thoroughly, it doesn't leave your skin feeling dried out and doesn't alter your skin's ph balance. Score!

Skin Type: Ultra Sensitive, Eye Area, Oily/Problem, All types and ages 
100% Vegan - 100% Natural

Free is a duo-purpose, restorative gel cleanser for when you need to remove difficult makeup and all the day's dirt in one easy, healing wash. 

Free is the ideal match for the most reactive and allergic skin types due to it's super pure, simple, and elegant botanical construction. Its ingredients may be easy to understand, but don't underestimate the uniqueness of how they work together. Together in this beautifully balanced gel herbs, soapbark, and gentle organic oils come together to rinse skin clean and balance it all at once. 

Organic, food-grade Soapbark extract makes bubbles for your face that everyone can enjoy. Along with the fun of sudsing up an infusion of organic Yerba Mate sweeps over your skin bringing with it 196 active compounds. That's more than the ever-popular Green Tea. The 11 Polyphenols Yerba Mate boasts possess potent cell protective properties. Combined with anti-inflammatory Olive Leaf, soothing Linden, regenerating Self Heal (Prunella), and gentle Cornflowers your skin has every reason to be restored. Even the delicate eye area can be easily washed free of waterproof makeup without tugging or any skin distress.

This gel rinses to a lighter and almost "squeaky" clean than our Fresh Mild Rice Cleanser. It's still free of any actual soaps though, and is the correct, skin-friendly, acidic PH. Free is also decidedly and appropriately "free" of even natural origin irritants. Free has no scents at all, no ethyl alcohol (grain alcohol), gluten, or nut ingredients, and avoids the usual list of synthetic nasties that never appear in our recipes. If you have really reactive skin then this cleanser is suitable for you.

Apply:
Moisten face. Dispense 2 or 3 pumps into hands and apply to skin including eye area for makeup removal. Massage gently to remove daily impurities. Remove with warm water, using a washcloth for extra exfoliation and makeup removal. Pat dry. Tone and moisturize.
Each 4 oz container is approximately a 1 month supply when used twice daily.

Glycerin, Infusion of Ilex paraguariensis* (yerba mate), Medicago sativa* (alfalfa), Prunella vulgaris* (self heal), Plantago major* (plantain), Rubus idaeus* (raspberry leaf), Centaurea cyanus* (cornflowers), Olea europaea* (olive leaf), and Tilia europaea* (linden), Caprylyl capryl glucoside (Ecocert vegetable source cleanser), Vitis Vinifera (grapeseed) Oil*, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) Oil*, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Quillaja saponaria* (soapbark), Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Wheatstraw Glycosides, Gluconolactone, Xanthan Gum
*from Certified Organic Agriculture

Monday, July 15, 2013

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Purifying Toner - and some awesome GWP and upgrades

I love my toner, that much is for sure, and I'd have to say that this is one of my all time favorites. More than just something to close your pores, this stuff is a treatment in and of itself, which when used in conjunction with a skincare routine, yields lovely results.  The results are immediately apparent from the first use. You clean any residue from your skin but instead of feeling tight, it feels dewy and soft. My moisturizer seems to be more effective after this, particularly lighter moisturizers. It's essentially prepping your skin to get more bang for your buck.. After about a month of twice daily use after cleansing, my skin felt calmer, smoother, softer. Highly recommended.







Ceramide Purifying Toner





Ceramide Purifying Toner
This unique toner works in two phases. First, botanicals gently cleanse and purify your skin. Phase 2 uses Cermide 3 to soothe and calm. Leaves skin soft, refreshed and ready to absorb maximum benefits from your moisturizer.

Our uniquely effective toner is a two phase system. In Phase One, botanicals gently cleanse and purify the skin while removing excess residue. In Phase Two, our Ceramide 3 formula soothes and calms your skin and leaves it feeling refreshed and soft. This toner partners beautifully with Ceramide Purifying Cream Cleanser.
  • Suitable for all skin types.
  • Fragrance-free.
Our two-phase system activates when shaken. Phase One (peach-colored) contains botanical extracts: Chamomile, Sage, Rosemary, Mallow and Sambucus to gently cleanse and purify. Phase Two (milky-colored) contains Ceramide 3 to soothe and calm.




You can actually combine all THREE of these and get a TON of freebies!  FREE Visible Difference Deluxe Travel Serum + Free Shipping with ANY Order! Enter Code HEALTHYSKIN3 at checkout! (Offer is Combinable with BEAUTYSTASH, Enojy!)


14-Piece Gift with ANY Purchase Over $79! Plus Free Shipping. Enter Code BEAUTYSTASH at checkout.


  11-Pc Fun-on-the-Run Tote filled with Makeup, Skin Care & More! (Includes 9 Summer essentials plus two bags!), Just $26.50 ANY order (A $122 Value!). *Combines with ANY promo code.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Arcona Cranberry Toner- AKA Bliss in a bottle

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I harp CONSTANTLY about toners, I know. Give this stuff a whirl and you'll see why.

Details

  • Three-in-one cranberry-milk toner cleanses, tones and hydrates, infusing skin with protective antioxidants to leave it glowing and refreshed. Removes dirt, oil and makeup. Protect and clarify skin with antimicrobial cranberry, containing vitamins, phyto-nutrients and essential fatty acids. Neutralize free radicals with vitamin E tocopherols and tocotrienols. Nourish and heal skin with omegas 3, 6 and 9 and rice milk.


    Okay, so you see all the stuff that it does, right? Well, it really DOES. I have large pores, and this stuff cleans 'em out (gets stuff that washing leaves behind, natch.) and closes 'em up. Especially if I open up my pores while washing to clean them out, I really want to make sure I shut that door so they don't fill up like a hole dug in the yard by the dog on a rainy day. It's amazing how much extra gunk it gets when you think your face is clean. 


    Oh, and if you've been in the sun? Soooooooo soothing. 
    Redness disappears, heat cools, free radicals ZAPPED!
     Not gonna make ME prematurely aged, Dr Sun! This stuff is absolutely miraculous. It leaves your skin feeling soft, soothed, refreshed, reborn. 
Velvety soft, hydrated, clean glowing skin?

Yes Please!

I just wiped out my bottle last week and am still in mourning.


ARCONA Cranberry Toner ARCONA Cranberry Toner
Naturally beautiful, toned skin is possible with ARCONA Cranberry Toner. This three-in-one cranberry milk toner uses the nourishing properties of antioxidant rich botanicals and rice milk to clean, tone, hydrate, and protect skin, resulting in healthy, radiant complexion. Arconas products are all formulated without harsh chemicals or preservatives so you can feel good from the inside out!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Weleda Refining Toner, I love you (w/Vitacost $10 coupon)



Balanced skin begins with Biodynamic® iris root extract in our Weleda Refining Toner, which regulates moisture balance at the visible surface of your skin. Mildly astringent organic wild rose leaf extract in this natural facial toner clarifies your skin while organic lemon juice, high in vitamin C and mildly astringent, refines the pores. The subtle, fresh fragrance of natural essential oils in this natural facial toner revives your senses.

So says Weleda's website, and by now it's pretty obvious that I trust these guys. But don't believe me? A quick internet search will show you that this stuff has practically a cult following.

 I harp on this all the time because it's true- using a toner is a really good idea. It restores the ph balance of your skin after washing. It removes any last traces of dirt, makeup or soap that you missed. It tightens your pores.

This is not just any toner, however. Weleda is renowned for their fabulous natural ingredients and stringent quality standards. A few swipes of this stuff after washing your face leaves your skin surprisingly soft for something that contains alcohol. Unlike a lot of toners, this one doesn't leave the skin feeling tight or dry. The perfect base for your serum and/or foundation.

Even better, Vitacost has it and you get $10 off your first purchase of $30 through this link! 
They sell it for $15.00, which is a 10% discount off the regular price, too!