Recently in Cleanser Category

Does anyone else remember those Noxzema commercials with Rebecca Gayheart circa  Jawbreakers? I can't think of one cleansing product more popular then the brand's Original Deep Cleansing Cream when I was a young teen. The iconic drugstore brand just released new products (and packaging), to join their classic cleanser including a Deep Cleansing Cream Plus Moisturizer (original cleansing cream with added moisture), Original Deep Cleansing Cream Pump (love this, because I hate sticking my hand in tubs of cream...bacteria...eeck!), Anti-Blemish Pads to target acne, and a Blackhead Cleanser. The packaging still looks very drugstore-esque, but for those on a budget with problem-prone skin, it's a welcome and reliable option.

Were you a teen Noxzema user like myself?

Everyone, stop what you're doing and go out and buy this immediately. I LOVE this so much, I cannot imagine life without it. When I was considering it, I had to really justify $200 for a brush when seemingly my hands were perfectly functional and adequate for washing my face. I missed the last two months' facial so I thought, OK, that would have been $200 or more.

I will never need regular facials again. I mean sure, facials are nice for the whole experience and relaxation, etc. but if you have all the hydrating, exfoliating, cleansing and anti-oxidant serums at home (yes, we all do) then the deep cleaning is the only job left of a facialist. This will completely transform your skin. First of all, you use this daily - just one minute a day, so your face will always be clean and free of dead skin cells. The sonic cleaning removes every trace of make up and cleans deep within your pores so you get refined pores, baby smooth skin and a prepared surface for better absorption of your products.

For the price of 2 facials, you are essentially getting a mini facial every day. After only one week of use, all the little bumps on my chin and forehead are gone. A few days after use, I would touch my skin and little "pebbles" from my skin would fall away - the bumps!! It took 4 months of regular facials to get rid of those in the past but once I lagged, they came back. I can honestly say, I have absolutely no blemishes on my face now. My skin is also about 2 shades brighter because I have no dead skin cells and my healthy skin is all you see. Those giant nose pores? Gone.

It comes with one brush and 3 cleansers. They are all fine but I like to use my own - you can use anything, even scrubs. This also is great for the body but you have to get a separate body brush. They say not to share brushes, but I used it on my husband and we're both still ok. At Sephora for $195.

To start off the New Year right I thought it would be great to highlight some of the most exciting new brands and product launches that we've come across these past 12 months. Can't wait to see what's in store from these brands for 2010! Check back this week to see more for makeup and fragrances.

Body Conscience -- The products in this line are so mild, you could actually eat them! I'm obsessed with their 3-Minute Shower Jar which is a smooth - and as far as I can tell odor-less - exfoliator that's gentle enough to use everyday. I've used it near-daily post shaving and it also comes with a wooden spoon and dish that were handmade from recycled wood.  


Rodial -- Though it's their Boob Job and Bum Lift creams that will be my perennial faves, Rodial launched a luxe faux-face lift kit in 2009, La Face Lift, that's become my new must-have for travel (will be taking it with me to Nicaragua when I escape the NYC cold at the end of this week!). It includes five travel sized, super-chic (love the metallic silver), products to tackle everything from hydration to wrinkles. Jump for More!

When the weather goes from 78 to 35 over night, it's time to pull out my most gentle and face saving products. I save Cle de Peau's Gentle Cleansing Foam for the extreme days (hot or cold) because it really helps my skin retain moisture.  And yes, it's kind of pricey but so worth it cuz the tube lasts forever.  I love how it foams up, it's a soft and rich texture yet removes all traces of face make up (I do have to remove mascara with my Almay eye make up remover pads but that's cuz I layer so many coats). As gentle as it is, it really does some serious deep cleaning, especially around the T-zone area.

You're supposed to use a make up remover before this but I don't wear much powder or foundation so this is all I need at night.  I also use it on my T-zone in the mornings to remove that shiny greasy residue I get when I wake up each morning. 

Remember to only use a tiny drop, it's all you need to make lots of foam!  $60 at Neiman Marcus.

Like I've said before, I have strange skin. My skin does not like to accept just any kind of product. And when it comes to facial cleansers, if it's not the right kind, my whole face just goes down hill from there. Since my skin feels really tight and dry right after cleansing, I hate the squeaky clean feeling some cleansers give. And then if its a heavy cleanser then my face is just a slippery mess 5 minutes later. Then I tried Bare Escentuals RareMinerals™ Renew & Reveal Facial Cleanser. I was a little skeptical at first because it is a powder cleanser that is activated by water. But I use it only in the morning when I shower and that keeps it mess free.

Just like everything else from Bare Escentuals it is free of parabens, sulfates, dyes, and fragrances. This cleanser also doesn't have soap detergents, harsh abrasives, or skin irritating chemicals so its good for even the most sensitive skin. It gently exfoliates, hydrates, and brightens skin with the RareMinerals Active Soil Complex that is in all of their skincare line.

When I cleanse my face with the cleanser, I like mix a teaspoon of water and teaspooon of cleaner in the palm of my hand. Then I like to just massage it in for about 30 seconds to get the best skincare benefits out of it, and my face feels baby smooth afterward. I can't use just the cleanser as an exfoliant, but it helps keep my skin smoother in between. I've used it before to take off my make up and does a pretty good job. Only when I wear waterproof liner or mascara do I have to go a second time to get the residue off. You can get it at Sephora.com for $26. I'm still looking for my perfect nightly cleanser to take off all my make up with just one cleanse. Do you have a favorite make up cleanser?

Here we go again creeping into the cool weather when skin gets flaky, dry, and as a result more sensitive. I don't exfoliate my skin year-round because I get the feeling that when I do, my skin gets more prone to sun damage, so I only do it regularly fall through early spring when my skin begins to really dry-up. Natural beauty company Terralina has come-out with Terralina Gentle Facial Exfoliator ($24 for 2.75oz), which targets just the kind of skin I'm talking about. The beads in the cleanser aren't overly harsh and the scent isn't obtrusive. The formulation is 98.65% natural and works for even those who, like me, have very sensitive skin given that it does not contain parabens, PEGs, ethoxylates, glycol, acrylates, silicones, harsh alcohols, mineral oils, or artificial fragrance. While even in the dead of winter I never exfoliate more than 3-4 times a week, supposedly this formulation is gentle enough to use everyday. To boot the exfoliator is packaged in a tube made of 40% post consumer recycled material!

We love shu uemura cleansing oils (they are especially handy when removing fake lashes, never pull your false lashes off as it may rip your own precious lashes with it. I rub a bit of shu uemura cleansing oil on it instead and it slides off easily. Rinse the oil off and set the lashes on tissue to dry so that you can re-use them!) and we are OBSESSED with Japanese manga (comic books-- I stay up all night reading them whenever I'm home in Asia, they're addictive!).  Very excited about the limited edition Tokyo Kamon Girls cleansing oils by manga artist Moyoco Anno!

Japanese contemporary art meets the art of beauty in shu uemura's 2009 artist collaboration series, Tokyo Kamon Girls Cleansing Oils. Celebrated manga artist (manga is Japanese for comic), Moyoco Anno brings art to daily life with her unique and inspiring designs found on each of shu uemura's iconic Cleansing Oils. These limited-edition bottles are beautified with raditional kamon crests and images of women living in contemporary Tokyo.

Inspired by the expressions and characteristics that coexist in all women, Moyoco adorned each of the oils with a "Tokyo Kamon Girl" who represents the different emotions women across the world share in common. Suggested

Retail Price: $65.00 (Classic, Enriched and Fresh) or $75.00 (Brightening and Premium) at shuuemura.com and shu uemura boutiques worldwide.

What better way to pamper my skin after a long day at the beach than gems for the face!?!? I used the BVLGARI Masque Precieux every couple of days during the two weeks I was in Malibu to keep my skin from drying out from sand and wind. It's an intensive regenerating mask and is as decadent as it sounds! The richly hydrating mask is enriched with an oxygen carrier to detoxify, an antiaging complex Polypeptides III to help increase the production of collagen and elastin and the high performance properties of Bvlgari Gem Essence®, a patent pending formula that nourishes and renews the skin. You really need to use this consistently to see the results, it doesn't promise any miracles but use it often and you'll see a new luminosity to your skin.  $130 at Bergdorf Goodman.   

I also used the BVLGARI  Radiance Toning Lotion ($60) to remove traces of chlorine from my face, neck and chest after swimming in the pool each day (chemicals in the pool almost as bad as the sun!).  Just a few quick swipes and tight dry skin will immediately feel soft and supple. 

Check out BVLGARI Gem Essence products at Bergdorf Goodman here.

The Wonder Bar is a facial cleanser made from a special MOOR clay from Heilmoor of Austria. This clay contains the essence of over 700 herbs and plants from the 3,000 years it took to create it. This MOOR essence is incredibly valuable for its benefits to the skin. There is also an algae formulation called Chlorey'nahre that's in this cleansing bar. All of that is a lot of confusion names and compounds but I have been using this cleanser and to put it plain and simple - it has changed my skin completely. Basically, the cleanser detoxes your skin. If you have clogged pores, it will extract all the gunk out. I get regular facials so I don't have that problem, but my husband does not facial so I had him use this. After the first couple of days, he got all these whiteheads, his clogged pores were purging itself. Now his skin is radiant like mine. OK, I am HUGE on exfoliating. After using the Wonderbar, I have not needed to exfoliate. After a good lather and rinse, my skin is soft and smooth, even though there is nothing abrasive in it. It is super mild. I have creamy soft baby skin. I'm not kidding. And my husband won't need to hear me nag about getting facials anymore, in fact, it has gotten rid of his rosacea. The Wonder Bar is cheaper than most cleansers I use, a 25 gram bar that last 4-6 weeks is $40. You can also get the 5 gram trial size good for 1-2 weeks for $10. It does not take off eye makeup so you will still need an eye make up remover afterwards.

I started a new regimen last month and can not believe I have not discovered iS clinical products until recently.  The rep told me not to use anything else during my test period and believe me, it was difficult to give up my usual 12 step routine with thick creams.  But I'm on a less is more mission to simplify my life and this could not have come at a better time.  I've always had good skin but my skin is now unbelievable, even the pesky little white heads on my forehead are gone!  I will describe each product below in detail and highly suggest you go to an iS clinical skin professional near you for a consultation.  It is only 7 products total for day and night and the best system I have ever used.   In fact, I believe in this regime so much I am going to give away this entire set in August!! 
AM (Must use in this order)
1) Cleansing Complex- I start each morning with a drop of cleanser to clean my T-zone area.  It removes left over residue from grease collected while sleeping and any make up that was not removed.
2) C Eye Advance + Gel- Lightweight but ultra potent, it does not sting on the eyes and can correct past sun damage if used consistently.
3) Super Serum Advance +  - This has replaced my Skinceuticals C+E, it's also lightened my pigmentation so I actually save money. 
4) Eye Complex- Chatecaille and La Prarie got nothing on this amazing eye cream.  Goes on under make up smoothly without greasiness or peeling.
5) Youth Complex- The fountain of youth~ if you get nothing else from my day routine you must get this (and the Active serium for night).  I apply a few drops on face, neck and chest.  Amazing!!  My make up goes on smoother and most days I no longer need foundation.  Just a dap of concealer and I'm good to go.
6) SPF Treatment Sunscreen-  I hesitated at first, 25SPF only?  But the organic and powerful ingredients in this is more than enough.  It is one of the best sunscreens I have ever used. 

PM (Must use in this order)
1) Cleansing Complex- This cleanser has a gel texture and cleans all my make up off, even the water proof mascara from Serge Luten that Kelly convinced me to buy. 
2) Active Serum- The HOLY GRAIL of the line.  You MUST get this.  Forget about emailing me with complaints about your wrinkles, spots and acne ever again if you don't get the Active Serum.  I can't help you if you don't help yourself.
3) Eye Complex- This is the same eye cream above.  I use it day and night.  Don't even think about getting botox or laser treatments for the lines around your eyes without trying this first!