Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Current Skin Care Regimen

Skin Care

Hi, my name is LaRonda and I am addicted to skin care products. I have been an addict ever since my teen years when I first discovered Clean and Clear. I'm telling you, I swore by Clean and Clear, I bought every product. My skin never really gave me any problems, just the occasional breakout and I don't know if that's because I was so proactive (pun intended) or because I had generally well-behaved skin. Either way, I am still a product junkie, and while Clean and Clear Products don't meet my exact needs anymore, I must admit that they're quality products that really worked during my younger years. As I got older, I began spending more money on skin care, nothing terribly extravagant but investment items that really nourish my skin's needs. Heads up, you're going to see mostly Mario Badescu products in this post, about a month ago I took a little quiz at the company's website and a few weeks later they sent me free samples of a few products. Since then I have become hooked and recently purchased this kit from Ulta. Sorry, this is one of those word-heavy posts again 

1) Once upon a time I used makeup wipes, then I read that a lot of supermodels and other unusually pretty people used baby wipes to remove their makeup. So I purchased some and gave it a try. Unless something drastic happens, I probably won't be going back to makeup removing wipes. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure most of them are great and super effective but these little guys work just as well for me. I have tried a few brands and types and the Target brand is by far my favorite. I always go with the sensitive, unscented version and they never irritate my skin. They also do a heck of a job of removing my eye makeup which is a must since I wear eyeliner every day. Also, let's not forget that they're significantly less expensive than most makeup removing wipes.

2)The Clarisonic Mia 2 has been a game-changer for me, like any one else who has ever used one, I was astounded when I saw all the excess dirt that my hands or washcloths were leaving behind. It's definitely not a cheap item but if you're really into the appearance and health of your skin, you can't go wrong with this guy.

3) Someone recommended this cleanser to me and I picked it up on a whim. And I must say that this is now a staple in my skincare routine. I thought I might not care for the peppermint smell but it's not overwhelming at all and the peppermint makes my skin feel rejuvenated. I can't use it every day because it can be a little drying but definitely use it a couple times a week. I also use it as a body wash, it's great at banishing bacne (gross but most of us have had it at some point in time). 

4) I first got this cleanser and the rest of the Mario Badescu products listed here as a sample from the company's website. This is an interesting cleanser in the fact that it doesn't really create bubbles, so at first it's hard to think that your skin is actually getting clean because we're programmed to think that sudsing (I guess that's not a real word according to spell-check) means cleansing. That's not the case with this cleanser, I use it with my Clarisonic and the two work really well together.

5 & 6) I've had a love/hate relationship with toners. I love what they are capable of doing as far as giving you that extra clean and balancing the skin but I hate it when some toners are just too strong and your skin gets that tight, cellophane type feeling. Once your skin gets too tight or too clean, your skin can start to freak out and produce even more oil.I'm not gonna lie, I don't know what the real difference is between this toner and this toner but I like both of them. They've been doing an excellent job of keeping things balanced and they always seem to remove that last little bit of dirt that's left behind. 

7) I don't want to jinx it but I think I might have found my holy grail moisturizer. This was the first sample that I ran out of because I used it so much. I have never found a moisturizer that makes my face so happy. Since I have oily skin I am real big on moisturizing, in order to keep from getting to oil slick level, you have to keep your skin's moisture in balance. This product does just that without leaving behind any weird residue like some moisturizers do.

8) The Drying Lotion was actually the first Mario Badescu product that I purchased, it was before I got the samples from the website. At the time, I'd been experiencing these really random breakouts that were quite small but still menacing to someone like myself. I spent days and weeks obsessing over them and using all of my products to banish them from my face (so dramatic). My attempts were futile at best, as the tiny, flesh-colored bumps remained hidden under my skin. I took a trip to Ulta and headed straight for the Mario Badescu products and reached for this miracle-worker. I know I've been known to be dramatic but this stuff has changed my life, it zaps pimples faster than they can erupt. However, ironically enough, since I've been using the full line of MB products, I rarely have to use this. I guess I can't complain there. 

9) I haven't tried many scrubs in my tenure as a skin care junkie, I've mostly been partial to the St. Ive's Apricot Scrub. It's never let me down. But this Strawberry Scrub is a dream, it seems to exfoliate and moisturize simultaneously, and really what more could a girl ask for? I also like that the particles are small, so it feels as if they're really sloughing off those dead skin cells.

10) I had always heard good things about this mask, I just never remembered to try it, go figure. One day whilst perusing Ulta, I decided to give it a try. It's one of those simple, uncomplicated products that just works. When I'm on my best behavior, I'll use this mask 2-3 times a week, and I see a major difference when I do. My skin isn't as oily and my pores seem smaller. Anything that can do those two things is a winner in my book. 

P.S. From the looks of this post, you'd think that I was sponsored by Mario Badescu himself. Alas, I purchased all of these products with my own money and these are just my humble opinions. If anyone knows Mr. Badescu, tell him he can sponsor my posts or skin care regimen any time he'd like. 

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