Beauty Note

Photo via HudaBeauty

Since I first heard about it, I was drooling to get my hands on Benefit's B.Right! Skincare system.

While Christmas shopping with my Mom, she bought me the intro kit so that I could try it out and see if it worked for me. I talked to one of the Benefit salesgirls while I was there and after having her feel my skin, she said the next time I saw her I had better be using the hell out of the set.

I had cystic acne quite badly as a teenager. I also have oily skin, which as any girl with oily skin knows, we hate it and think it's a pain in the butt! But the fact that it will help our skin when we're older is a slight consolation. My acne has pretty much disappeared, but I do have scarring (not too bad). I also seem to have combination oily/dry skin.

For years I have been using scrub after scrub trying to slough my skin clean and soft, found that most moisturizers just left my skin feeling sticky and even more oily and overall, was mostly dissatisfied with every product I came into contact with. And believe me, I have tried TONS! ProActive, Murad, Acne Free, Chanel, Dermatalogica, Aveeno, Neutrogena, etc, ETC

But finally, FINALLY I have found the ONE! The first time I washed my face with the Foamingly Clean Facial Wash I could instantly feel a difference. My skin didn't feel dry and tight afterwards and when I rubbed my fingertip down my cheek I was awestruck at how smooth and soft my skin felt.

All these months I've been thinking that the only thing that would begin to redeem the texture of my skin was a painful microdermabrasion session or even a glycolic acid peel. I am so happy to not have to waste the time, money or slight pain when I can simply wash my face and see results instantly at home.

I also found when using this that gently scrubbing/rinsing it off with a slightly rough cotton washcloth helps with skin texture too. For years I've been using harsh beaded scrubs or loofah like face sponges. If only I'd known before it was as simple as using a cotton washcloth. Why must we always over-complicate things? haha

After using the Foamingly Clean Facial Wash, you move on to the Moisture Prep Toning Lotion. This is an all new type of toner. All the toners I have ever used before were like rubbing water on my face, but Benefits toner is a lotion. It has a consistency to it and it feels wonderful when you rub it in. I think the toner is my favorite of the set so far.

Next comes moisturizing and lately I've been using the Triple Performing Facial Emulsion during the day as it is oil-free and has SPF 15, the Total Moisture and It's Potent Eye Cream at night.

It used to be that by the evening my skin would feel oiled up, but irritatingly dry. Now my skin feels so perfectly moisturized all the time now.

Honestly, I could go on and on about how awesome and how much I love Benefits B.Right! Skincare, but until you give it a try, you won't know at all what you're missing. If you don't have a Benefit near you, Ulta also has a dedicated Benefit counter where there are always incredibly nice and helpful ladies who can show you products and help point you in the right direction if you have a particular issue.

xoxo,
    Gina

Beauty Tuesday pt 2

I was very excited when I first heard that Benefit would be coming out with their own skincare line, and after it was premiered I was mesmerized by the beautiful packaging they came up with. I haven't had a chance to try any of it yet, but I'm hoping I will soon. The b.right! Radiant skincare line pretty much covers everything and more!

Eye cream to help get rid of those 'not enough sleep!' dark circles, an ultra moisturizing face cream, face wash and scrub, moisturizing toner lotion, re-hydrating mist, make-up remover and even an SPF!

Moisturizing is a #1 for me and more than anything I really want to try their face scrub and face cream.

I hope at some point they will have a full kit available with everything in standard size. Macy's is offering a kit with a few key mini's and if the promotion lasts long enough, I'll hopefully be able to get one.

Have you had the opportunity to try it yet? What are your thoughts on the skincare line? Do you have a particular favorite in the line? Please do say so in the comments!

xGinax

Favorite Perfumes; my blossoming collection

• At seventeen I began to have in interest in perfumes and the first one I fell in love with and received from my Dad for Christmas was Burberry Brit.

I still have about 1/4 left in the bottle and use it for fancy dinners. Unfortunately I lost the cap for it though.

• The second bottle of perfume was purchased by me at Sephora and I was instantly taken with it and it's delicious, sugary smell, Aquolina Pink Sugar.

Unfortunately it was in the sun a bit much at my last place and has a yellowish color to it now, but it still smells delicious and I love when I walk into a room and someone says, "I smell and am suddenly craving cookies..."

• My third perfume was a gift from my mother, DKNY Be Delicious.

I went through a green apple phase, possibly stemming from my love for Apple Martini's. Unfortunately I cannot indulge in them anymore, so I sniff on this instead to quell the craving. 

• On a weekend shopping trip with a friend to Montana Ave in Santa Monica we stopped in Benefit Cosmetics and I tried out a couple of their scents and unsurprisingly fell in love with the perfume with my name on it, My Place or Yours: Gina.

I scoff at the poem on the box, and I will not post it here, but the scent.... it's perfection. I pretty much consider it my signature scent. It was made for me and I for it. I wear it pretty much every day. 

Some of the other perfumes in this collection have a lotion that you can buy, but every time I've asked, no one has had the lotion. I hope at some point to be able to get it, and I also plan to stock up on an extra bottle or three of this because I will be so very sad if they discontinue it and I don't have any extra around.

Now for the ones that I hope to add to my collection:

Last December I fell in love with Prada L'Eau Ambree...

And this summer I smelled Coach's Poppy and am now lusting for it as well...

I'm hoping I'll find these in boxes under the tree this Christmas.