The Acne Saga Continues...

Between the acne and the acne scars, it's hard to decide what to work on first. I decided to start with my acne and deal with the rest later. My dermatologist prescribed my a stronger prescription for my face, and recommended that I use extremely gentle cleansers and creams.

Never one to sit around and wait for my face to clear up, I decided to take a more offensive stance and purchased the Patricia Wexler Acnescription Anti-Acne Starting Kit from Bath and Body Works, which includes a cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and spot treatment. I know you're not supposed to use and exfoliator when you have acne, but I have always chosen to ignore this advice. The Exfoliating Cleanser in this kit is amazing, and has really helped get rid of the dead skin left from previous pimple creams. The texure is that of a light exfoliator, so I only use it at night (still use the Clarisonic in the morning with a gentle cleanser). The Anti-Aging Serum is also great, and I am now using it in place of moisturizer at night.

The Oil-Free Hydrator is just terrible. I swear it made my face greasier, and my concealer slid off when applied over it. Yuck. Not a fan at all! The last item, the Spot Treatment, is great, but not as a spot treatment. I found that it didn't dry on my skin, and would roll of when I went to bed, so I've been using it as a face mask on my trouble areas (fyi, trouble area = entire bottom half of my face).

I've noticed an improvement in my skin which I think is primarily due to the prescription, but is enhanced by the Wexler cleanser and serum. I'll keep you updated on the 'facial developments', but hopefully I'm on my way to a cure. Does anyone out there have any other acne products I should try?

The 'Mermaid Look' Strikes Again!

Siren of the Sea? Is that like Chicken of the Sea? Well, despite the name, I'm loving the Siren of the Sea Hydrating and Brightening Seven-Piece Collection by Bare Escentuals. There's something about shimmery gold and sea green eyeshadow that makes me feel so exotic, especially when I line my inner lashline with black.

What it does:
Bare Escentuals Siren of the Sea Hydrating and Brightening Seven-Piece Collection reflects the powerful, breathtaking beauty of the mythical mermaid—the "siren of the sea." Create a high-shine, reflective effect that's layered with cool, velvety depth like the ocean. The hydrating blush and hydrating finishing powder—both with water-encapsulated technology—deliver a cooling softness and natural color. Treat your lips to hydration, too, with the natural lipgloss. Dive in and immerse yourself in the sexy, glistening opulence that is 100% pure bareMinerals, and bring the beautiful temptation of mythical mermaids to modern day.

This set contains:
-bareMinerals High Shine Sand Dune (gilded sand, high shine)
-bareMinerals Mermaid Eyecolor (dark blue-green velvet)
-bareMinerals Hydrating Coral Blush (coral dusk)
-bareMinerals Hydrating Mineral Veil (brightening finish)
-bareMinerals 100% Natural LipGloss in Chiffon (nude sand)
-Double-Ended Hydrate & Brighten Duo Brush with Custom Bamboo Handle
-Straw Clutch

Urban Decay's Get Baked Eye Kit

Urban Decay Get Baked Eye Kit is a great palette for summer! Three bronze shades and wash of teal shadow is all you need to bring out your inner mermaid. The neutral bronze shades are great for everyday, and the teal is a fun addition for evening. I love the dense pigments of Urban Decay shadows, and the eye pencil has a bronze sheen that makes eyes pop.

Set includes:
-4 Eyeshadows in Twice Baked, Half Baked, Flipside, and Baked
-24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon
-Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin

Smashbox Glambox - Volume 4

My biggest complaint about most palettes is that it includes everything: eyes, lips, and cheeks. First, the powders from the shadows tend to mix in with the lips shades. Yuck! Second, I reapply my lipgloss and don't want to have to carry around an entire palette for one lip color. The Smashbox Glambox gets it right with separated palettes that fit in your purse. Perfect for travel, these colors are all you need to go from day to night.

Includes:

-Cream liner palette in Backstage (4 shades)

-Cheek palette in Close-Up (3 shades)

-Eye shadow palette in Pro (6 shades)

-Lip gloss duo in Call Time (2 shades)

-Travel arced liner brush #21

Stila's My Mother, My Hero

For those of you with Glamazon mom's, Stila's My Mother, My Hero set is an ideal gift for Mother's Day. Tucked in the brushed gold clutch, there's a sheer plum lipstick, a thickening mascara, a shimmering bronze eyeshadow trio, and an illuminating finishing powder. A $110 value for $38!

Includes:

-Baked Eye Shadow Trio in Gold (gold, bronze, ivory)

-Illuminating Finishing Powder in Bronze (bronze shimmer)

-Lip Color in Natalie (a perfect plum)

-Lash Visor Waterproof Mascara in Black

-Gold Linen Clutch

Bobbi Brown Runway Kit

Bobbi Brown's Exclusive Runway Kit is based on her work for New York Fashion Week. I absolutely adore the clutch, and the eyeshadows are great for travelling this summer. Very chic, yet simple.

Set Includes:

-new Runway Shimmer Brick Eye Palette

-a silver metal compact featuring ten sheer

-pure pearl eye shadows

-a sparkling Pink Crystal Glitter Lip Balm

-a mini Eye Shadow and Lip Brushes

-a chic silver clutch

A Racier Single's Gift

A slightly racier gift for a single friend: Nars' Safer Multiple Orgasm Set. This set features two tastefully wrapped condoms and Nars' most famous shade, the Multiple in Orgasm. Orgasm is a pinky-peach shimmer for face.

Note: A portion of the sale benefits amfAR, The American Foundation for AIDS Research, programs to promote global safe sex education initiatives.

A Single Gal's Valentine

The Overnighter kit from Benefit is a fun, sassy gift for single girls this Valentines Day. Because you never know when you're going to have an 'unexpected' sleepover...

Set includes:
-exclusive hanky panky thong
-the justine case mini beautifier kit
-california kissin'
-eyecon
-benetint
-some kind-a gorgeous

Bare Escentuals Indulgence

Available exclusively at Nordstrom, Bare Escentuals has release the Indulgence Collection, a set of 20 face and eye colors ($200 value for $75). It includes 14 bold shades of bareMinerals eyecolors, 1 bareMinerals liner shadow, 4 bareMinerals all-over face color, and 1 bareMinerals mineral veil. The eye shadoes range from sheer to matte to shimmer, and can be layered or mixed for many different looks.

Tarte--Purse Your Lips

I know I've said it before, but I just love the limited edition items that come out during the holidays. For a beauty junkie like me, finding new products becomes a full-time job from October through December. The latest: Tarte Purse Your Lips Limited Edition Lipgloss Clutch. An adorable broze clutch houses nine of tarte's famous lipglosses. Tarte glosses are infused with the Tarte t5 super fruit complex™, which is "loaded with naturally occurring, antioxidant rich nutrients and vitamins that have been known to deliver refining, anti-aging, and skin-restorative benefits with each application." Now, I don't know if it actually makes you healthier, but it tastes delicious and I feel like I'm attempting to do something good for my body during the holidays.

Kooba Bag Exclusive

Beauty.com has an exclusive lilac Kooba wristlet filled with full size products and deluxe samples--a $200 value for $85. It's a great way to own a Kooba bag without the usual pricetag.

Set Includes:

-Butter London Banana File

-Boscia Peppermint Blotting Papers
-Stila Lip Glaze in Peach Cobbler
-Cargo Blush in Fresno (A favorite of Christina Ricci)
-Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil in Bangalore
-Blinc Kiss Me Mascara in Black
-Tarte Clean Slate Primer
-Oscar Blandi Olio di Jasmine Serum

-Lorac Perfectly Lit Powder in Spotlight

As with all Beauty.com orders, you get free shipping with any $50 purchase, and 3 free samples of your choice. Can be purchased at www.beauty.com.

Disney Lip Balm

I love the packaging that on10 comes out with for their lip balms. On top of the yummy flavors (grapefruit, dr pepper, black cherry), the packaging is very vintage and kitschy.

The newest addition to their line are this cute set of tins based on Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which are cutely named Evil Apple, Cheery Cherry, and Grumpy Grape. The colors go on sheer and are super shiny, not sticky, and have SPF 15. How cute are these?!?!