Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A Good Sloughing

       There are just some things that I can't live without and one of those things is a good all-over in-shower sloughing. Rubbing a bar of soap on myself just doesn't do it for me. I just don't feel clean without some sort of dead skin cell removal. If I don't slough, I feel like I haven't even showered. Here are some of my favorite things to get clean with:

Salux Japanese Beauty Skin Wash Cloth ($4 USD)
Magic Japanese towel, take me away!
     I have no idea how I lived without having one of these with me at all times. It's such a simple idea, and you'd think that a shower pouf could easily do the job, but it's just not the same!

Here's why you should get one:
It extends the life of your soap by creating a super foamy lather; bar or liquid
It sloughs off dull, dry skin which makes for a better shave, spray or faux tan experience, and prevents ingrown hair.
Your body lotion or oil absorbs into your skin and not your clothes
Your fake tan will fade more evenly (just make sure you wait 2-3 days to start sloughing again)

     I have one that I keep in my shower and one that I travel with at all times. You can get yours at any local Asian market or online at saluxshop.com

Clarisonic Skin Care Brush ($149-$225 USD)
Yes, you need one.


    I know what you're thinking...you're looking at the price and saying to yourself "OUCH!!!", but hear me out on this one.

    I bought my Clarisonic 4 years ago on the advice of the lovely Adriana of Adriana Skin Care .
I paid $195 for it, brought it home and I remember my ex-boyfriend saying "You'll use that thing for a week and then it will go under the bathroom sink until you move out." I'm adding that to the long list of things he was wrong about because 4 years later, I still haven't gone a day without using it.

    This gadget is basically a Sonicare toothbrush for your face and yes, it will really scrub the heck out of your pores...so well in fact that you may want to stop using it at first because it will drag every dirty, nasty thing in your pores to the surface of your skin. It removes 6 times more dirt and makeup than cleansing alone. It's like cleaning out the finger holes in a bowling ball; what comes to the surface after years of buildup is a complete turnoff.

     My skin looked gawd awful for about 3 weeks, and then something magical happened: the glowy, soft, clear skin I never had started to show up. A few months later when I got a facial on a spa weekend, my aesthetician actually  told me "whatever you're doing, keep doing it." Long story short, I'm 35 years old and still getting carded. In fact, recently, a friend of mine even accused me of getting Botox which I totally can't afford.

       I keep mine in the shower and use it every morning; I can't even remember the last time I charged it. The massaging motion helps de-puff my undereye area besides blasting the gunk out of my pores. The dark marks of pimples past have faded...I'm a changed woman!

Clarisonic brushes are available at most high end cosmetic retailers such as Sephora and Ulta, department stores, and The Exchange.


philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash and Purity Made Simple ($22-$55 USD)



     philosophy is the one brand I constantly go back to because it works. I'll be the first to admit that I have product ADD, but with all the great deals online, on QVC and at Sephora they're really hard to resist. Cristina Carlino, the company's founder really has given me "makeup optional skin". I still prefer to wear makeup, but at least I'm not terrifying without it! With the help of my Clarisonic, The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash unglues everything stuck to the insides of my pores. I've built up a good tolerance to both the brush and the wash over the years, but if you're starting fresh, I recommend starting with the sensitive skin brush head and Purity Made Simple for a month or so, and never scrub anything open on your face!

  philosophy has a great website at philosophy.com and Ms, Carlino appears on QVC fairly often (tune in and be amazed...she looks fantastic for someone who has been in the business for 30 years!). Kudos to philosophy for opening counters at The Exchange as well!


3 comments:

  1. I really am thisclose to getting a Clarisonic. You're going to send me to the poor house, woman, but at least I'll be beautiful! :-)

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  2. $149 broken up over a few years is nothing! Plus it's way cheaper than any plastic surgery or wrinkle filler!

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  3. FYI: Happening right now: the Clarisonic Mia is on sale at Costco for $99!

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