Texas Gold, Black Tea-Fresh Age Delay Eye Concentrate

From my point of view this product is very expensive at $85 for a .5fl oz.

However, when I was in San Francisco last year I learned that Fresh is owned by Louis Vuitton, and that some products recipes were kept in their safes.

Doesn’t really justify the price, but I threw that in, because at the end of the day it is the marketing of the product that makes people pay more.

After my bid for wrinkle free eyes using Retin A, probably using way too much around my eyes, and the result being MORE wrinkles and new vertical lines!!! I revisited the thought of purchasing Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Concentrate.

I had received a packet sample from Sephora a month or so earlier, and it had worked pretty well, definitely softening the skyscraper lines from the Retin A debacle. But I decided to purchase Shiseido’s Benefiance eye cream, convinced by the ads in New Beauty that specifically described my problem-vertical lines in the inner corners of my eye.

The Shiseido cream did a great job of really smoothing out the furrows that the Retin A left behind, but as I neared the bottom of the jar, my fickle heart wandered back to the Fresh product.

The holidays bring gift sets that are often a good buy.

In this case, Fresh offered the pricey-cream with a tube of Soy Fresh Face Cleanser(feels like aloe, and cleans off mascara), and the Black Tea face mask. Both good sizes, plus a full size eye cream for $90.

So, being the shrewd shopper that I am, I waited to use my 20% off coupon to buy the gift set.

I have to say that the Black Tea product definitely worked in further smoothing of the verticals as well as the horizontal lines I have from crinkling my nose.

But having used the jar, with a safety sample in my storage, of course, I have wandered in search of better.

I know for a fact that Dr Tantisira’s Madonna Lift will do the trick of smoothing out the eyelids, crow’s feet and under eye bags, but I just haven’t brought myself to go under the fractional laser again after the pain I experienced years ago at another office, doing a full face. Dr T is very good at making sure the patient is comfortable, but it is my own paranoia.

I tried Avene products when I went to Paris a couple of years ago, but me suffering from menopause dry skin, their heaviest cream didn’t do much.  But knowing that their creams are very gentle, I decided to try Retrinal EYES.

They have 3 products for different uses, but this one describes what I need, eye contouring, puffiness and wrinkles. It is a combo of retinal, hyaluronic acid and something to depuff, probably caffiene. 

This is for evening use ONLY!

So far, I think I see an improvement after using it for 2 weeks every night. The product pamphlet shows results after 30 and 60 days.

But so far, so good.

k

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Lube Me Yu-Be-Japan’s Soft Skin Secret

I am always on the hunt for the next big facial moisturizer.

Duh.

I had done a good amount of holiday shopping online at Sephora-and you know the drill, you’re always looking for something for the last little bit to reach free shipping nirvana.

I had seen Yu-Be moisturizer at Sephora before, but had decided against trying.

But seriously, the law of supply and demand, supply being Sephora was sold out of the stuff,

made me want it.

Not want it more.

Just want it.

Anyway.

Yu-Be was invented by a Japanese pharmacist in 1957 and it has glycerin, vitamin B2, E and sodium hyaluronate- a humectant which says “moisture come to me”.

It smells like camphor – also known as Vicks vapo-rub-the stuff your mom rubbed on your chest when you are little and congested.

The consistency is like neosporin-but not oily at all. Just sort of ointment-like.

A famous Japanese mountain-climber is the brand’s poster girl-having used it during her mountain climbing expeditions saying that she overcame extreme temperatures and winds using the product.

Me-I take half a pea and spread it around my crow’s feet area and around the sides of my mouth for an extra boost of lubricant and moisture.

Because at the end of the day, dryness causes wrinkles.

k

Ros’ Magical Creamy Coconut Lotion-Island Soap & Candleworks

This is the third time that my friend’s very wonderful Creamy Coconut Lotion has saved the day when I broke out in an allergic reaction.

The first was about 2 years ago, when I attended a Island Soap holiday event and the salesperson mentioned he used the lotion and it cleared up an itchy skin condition.

I had been suffering from hives over my torso, which had been gaining ground.

Seriously, I used the lotion once or twice and my skin immediately calmed down and soon the redness and rash was gone with no sign of ever being there.

I asked Ros what was so magical in the lotion?  The lotion is made of natural oils, but she said it was the comfrey in the lotion.

So, the other day I finally used the balance of my Hoala Spa gift card on my second Dual Exfoliation Facial. This facial uses various Aveda products to slough off dead facial skin.  Part of the facial includes creaming up the neck, shoulders and arms.

I left the spa feeling wonderful and  pleased with the results! My esthetician was fabulous ( I won’t mention her by name in case she does not want to be on the internet), and I would definitely go to her again.

However, when I got home an hour or so later, the skin on my neck had erupted into a red, bumpy, itchy rash. Had a little on my right arm as well.

I was concerned and called Hoala, and they were curious what had caused the reaction since none of the products had changed since my first facial. They invited me to come the next day so they could see the rash.

Meanwhile, I applied Island Soap’s Creamy Coconut Lotion to my neck.

About 20 minutes later, the area definitely calmed down-the itchiness subsided, and the swelling bumps and redness lessened.

By the next day, the rash was reduced by about 90%, and only patchy, slightly raised bumps remained.

The spa manager was helpful, but I got the feeling that she was searching for other causes of the rash.

That’s cool, but I know what I use on my face and body, so I was a little taken aback.

One of those things with me, are if you probably caused the problem, just own up and let’s get on with our lives.

Anyway.

In the end, the manager offered me a free facial. Which was one of those funny things-I have to ask myself, will I get an allergic reaction again?

I only do facials like once a year because I am focused on my skin’s condition, so I don’t know, I don’t really need them.

My bf said Yay! He didn’t have to go shopping again for V-day because I had a free gift from his original gift-

Does this mean it is technically a re-gift? Or a re-issue of the original gift?

Whatever.

k

Come Out From the Cold! Anenome Covers

Notice I did not put it in the headline, though I was thinking all afternoon a good name for this blog is Booblidge No More!

In ballet class, for the slightly more endowed, you pretty much have to wear a bra for support cuz those little shelf bras built in the leos are just that-little.

Little support

Little coverage

Add to that when you like microfibre leotards for their stretchiness and comfort – well, you have a booblidge situation.

And me, I’m not the one to be caught out in the cold looking, well, cold if you catch the drift.

These neat little silicon circles are jelly like and work really well under sheer evening wear too.

I’ve seen them in department stores, but I bought mine from a local store named Cookies-the stores are located pretty much everywhere on Oahu.

Only $4.99 plus tax.

That’s cheap for a little modesty.

k

PS

I won’t name names, but one of the girls in class was wearing a different version of these, much much thinner, and one day during a particularly sweaty class, I saw something odd looking on the floor.

The color of a bandaid, circular and very thin. One of the other girls was brave enough to pick it up.

I don’t think we have had such a laugh since – and we still tell the story and we still laugh.

We may get old, but this story hasn’t yet.

Yesterday Once More – Neostrata Lotion Plus

Like I said, I wonder why I do this to myself. Meaning, why do I stray from something that works?

The answer is mostly boredom.

I used this magical lotion for years and years ago when it cost only $17 per bottle.  

Nowadays it goes for $42!!  $45 on the official neostrata site.

But it wasn’t so long ago that I think that price is really super duper high!

But seriously, it works.

Works like magic.

Practically with the first application.

Neostrata Lotion Plus is AHA Glycolic – 15%!  It is for experienced uses, there are step downs, and is used to “resurface” the skin by exfoliating.

For me-as much as I like my Honey and Sugar scrub, this is pretty fast and I can do it everyday without waiting for the housekeeper to come so I can make a mess in the shower.

Anyway.

Makes my skin feel silky-and moisturized tho there are other formulas that exfoliate and are moisturizing.

Dry no more!

k