retinol -> retinal -> retinoic acid
Friday, March 24, 2023
Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum
Monday, March 20, 2023
Equate Walmart's Private Store Brand For Savings
The cost of skincare -- from cleansers to moisturizers to treatments and sunscreens -- can really add up! You save a ton of money by finding store house brands, which are nearly identical to the national brands we love. So low priced they are worth taking a risk to try them out.
Equate, Walmart's private store brand, has mirrowed many beauty remedies selling for half the price or less of their name brand counterparts. CVS has it's own version of Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair, but I couldn't find an Equate equivalent, so readers if it exists, please let me know as Equate tends to cost less than the house brands of CVS, Walgreens or Target. Yet CVS, Walgreens and Target house brands are welcome fallbacks, giving us more choices. House brands go on sale too.
Posted are several awesome knockoffs for much less moola:
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Exfoliation In Skincare
"Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface layer of the skin. Physical exfoliation uses a product or tool to buff away dead skin cells," while "chemical exfoliation uses direct acids (AHAs and BHAs) which have the ability to weaken bonds between surface skin components, allowing the acids to slough away dead skin cells at the surface." Exfoliation helps to unclog pores, promote even tone and texture, and bring new skin cells to the surface.
AHAs are alpha hydroxy acids a/k/a fruit acids. BHAs are beta-hydroxy acids, which are also organic acids. Both act to dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the face. BHAs such as salicylic acid mildly loosen the glue that holds skin cells together. Salicylic acid is often in formulas targeting acne, rough, and bumpy skin.
1) Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution - An exfoliating toner for targeting dullness, texture, and signs of aging.
2) Latic Acid 5% + HA - A milder exfoliator that works to reveal smoother skin. (A stronger strength is available.)
3) Mandelic Acid 10% + HA - A leave-on serum that helps improve skin clarity, balance uneven skin tone, and correct skin texture gently yet effectively.
4) Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution - A gentler water-free solution for blemish-prone skin and uneven texture. (A stronger strength is available.)5) AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution - An advanced-level exfoliating peel.
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Moisturizing Creams: CeraVe Versus Cetaphil
Wamart's brand |
Walmart's brand |
Amazon's brand equivalent here. |
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Know The Minimalist Skincare
Photo: Minimalist |
The Mininalist is a high-performance skincare brand with an array of cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen based on science to address a range of skin concerns. The company was launched by 2 brothers (one a scientist, the other with a business background) in October 2020 to make low-cost skincare available in India because, at the time, The Ordinary (launched in August 2016) wasn't on shelves in India. Today both brands sell in both India and the USA, so everybody wins! The consumer has choices galore! Mohit Yadav is the CEO and co-founder with Unilever as an investor.
Moreover, sometimes the two companies pair or combine ingredients differently, and I think this also gives customers a greater chance to personalize their skincare. So for consumers, it's awesome to have not one, but two companies with stellar ingredients for less on the market! Hats off to The Ordinary for changing the skin suspension game, as well as, to the Mininalist for expanding it!🎩
Thursday, January 12, 2023
When To Increase Your Retinol to 2.5%
Retinol (the non-proscription derivative of prescription strength Retin-A) is an anti-aging powerhouse. Dermatologists often call it the gold standard in promoting a more youthful appearance by helping to build collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and even out skin tone.
But to minimize the discomforting effects sometimes associated with retinol, like dryness, flaking, and raw sensitive skin, you have to start with a lower potency retinol such as .5% --> moving up to 1.0% --> then perhaps increase to 2.5% over time and before attempting prescription strength Retin-A (known as Tretinoin).
Understand that a higher potency retinol isn't a better or more effective anti-aging serum. The consistency of using retinol trumps potency.
I have been using drugstore retinol for a couple of years and only now will I try to bump up the potency to 2.5% strength, which I aim to use once a week and return to lower strengths (and bakuchiol) for the rest of the week before using 2.5% retinol more than once a week.
All the brands of 2.5% retinol featured on this blog sell on Amazon and Walmart for $10 - $14. Check the ingredients for extra benefits like hyaluronic acid (for hydration), vitamin C (an anti-antioxidant to protect and brighten the skin), and aloe (to smooth the skin), etc.
I bought the Mo Tulip Retinol (below👇) at Walmart to try. So far the hyaluronic acid in the serum is super hydrating, and green tea has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protective properties, but I'll have to use it longer to verify the effectiveness of its retinol.
With choices galore, you don't have to spend a fortune for a good retinol that really works, just look for transparency on the label to know exactly what you're getting.
💅💋👗👠💅💋👗👠💅💋👗👠💅💋👗👠💅💋👗👠💅💋👗👠💅💋👗ðŸ‘
Thursday, November 17, 2022
5 Festive Advent Calendars
The coveted Liberty of London Avent Calendar sells out in October, so you're out of luck if you didn't buy one, but all is not lost. Here are several other festive Advent Calendars available that are spectacular without breaking the bank like Liberty's beauty calendar does. The 5 more affordable advent calendars below are also delightful to give or get especially when paired with Black Friday to Christmas Eve promotions always offered by department stores during the season. The final sterling silver jewelry advent calendar (#5 below👇) is the most expensive choice, however, an upcoming sale day will lower its retail price, and then you'll get a lovely variety of elegantly designed sterling silver earrings including a mix of hoops, studs, cuffs, and crawlers. So keep an eye out for option #5 to get cheaper!
1) The Rituals of Advent 3-D Advent Calendar: See above👆, it's a 3D Christmas tree with 24 items - What's inside:
- Wonder Mask, 0.35 oz.
- Amsterdam Collection Body Mist, 0.67 oz.
- The Ritual of Karma Body Shimmer Oil, 1 oz.
- Fortune Balms - Repair for giftset 0.17 oz.
- The Ritual of Sakura Shampoo, 1.6 oz.
- The Ritual of Sakura Conditioner, 1.6 oz.
- The Ritual of Sakura Body Cream, 3.3 oz.
- The Ritual of Namaste Anti-Ageing Day Cream, 0.33 oz.
- The Ritual of Ayurveda Scrub Glove
- The Ritual of Ayurveda Coconut Milk Bath Sachet, 3.5 oz.
- The Ritual of Ayurveda Rich Body Oil, 1 oz.
- Travel - Soleil d'Or, 0.5 oz.
- Elixir Collection Miracle Keratin Recovery Hair Mask, 0.67 oz.
- The Ritual of Karma Mild Body Scrub Clay, 2.3 oz.
- Rituals Homme shower foam, 1.6 oz.
- Sticks for Mini Fragrance Sticks for Advent, 2.3 oz.
- The Ritual of Jing Hand Lotion, 2.3 oz.
- The Ritual of Jing Sleep Foaming Shower Gel, 1.6 oz.
- Sport Cooling Shower Gel, 2.3 oz.
- Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Savage Garden, 0.88 oz.
- Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Sweet Jasmine, 0.88 oz.
- Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Precious Amber, 0.88 oz.
- Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Suede Vanilla, 0.88 oz.
- The Ritual of Ayurveda USA Mini Fragrance Sticks for Advent, 2.3 oz.
- Spoon 2022
2) Barbor More to Give Advent Calendar - 24 items - What's inside:
- 24 Ampoules (2 ml each): 1 DOC Power Amp Hyaluronic Acid, 1 Hydra Plus, 2
Algae Vitalizer, 2 Perfect Glow, 3 DOC Power Amp Beta Glucan, 3 Active Night, 3 DOC Power Amp Vitamin C, 3 Multi-Vitamin, 3 3D Firming, 3 Lift Express
- Lifts, firms, tightens, hydrates, retexturizes, brightens, and minimizes lines and wrinkles for a smoother, glowing more youthful appearance.
3) Macy's 25 Days Of Beauty Advent Calendar - 25 items - What's inside:
- Ahava Ahava 24K Gold Mask, 15 mL / 0.51 fl. oz.
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Mini Lash Brag, 2.5 mL / 0.08 fl. oz.
- Bareminerals Mineral Veil Setting Powder, 0.75 g / 0.026 oz.
- Buttah Skin Enterprises Sample Charcoal Detox Mask, 5 mL / 0.016 oz.
- Cacharel Yes I Am, 5 mL / 0.17 oz.
- Carolina Herrera Good Girl Eau De Parfum, 7 mL / 0.24 oz.
- Chella Mini Manifest Bronze Eyeshadow Palette, 4 g / 0.14 oz.
- Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator, 15 mL / 0.50 oz.
- Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm Deluxe Sample, 10 mL / 0.33 oz.
- First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, 29.5 mL / 1 oz.
- Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cream, 7 mL / 0.23 oz.
- Lancome Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Serum, 8 mL / 0.27 fl. oz.
- Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex, 7 mL / 0.23 oz.
- MAC Cosmetics Mac Fix+ Stayover, 13 mL / 0.43 oz.
- Origins Mega-Mushroom Treatment Lotion, 7 mL / 0.24 fl. oz.
- Perricone MD High Potency Classics Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer, 7.5 mL / 0.25 oz.
- Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench® Hyaluronic Cloud Hydrating Eye Gel, 3 mL / 0.10 oz.
- Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser, 30 mL / 1 oz.
- Reza Be Obsessed Love My Leave In, 30 mL / 1 fl. oz.
- Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, 10 mL / 0.33 oz.
- Sunday Riley Modern Skincare C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum, 5 mL / 0.16 oz.
- The Beauty Crop Juice Pot Lip and Cheek Tint - Lychee, 4 mL / 0.14 oz.
- Tonymoly USA LLC. Plump-Kin Retinol Eye Cream, 10 mL / 0.33 oz.
- Urban Decay Vice Hydrating Lipstick in Backtalk, 1 g / 0.03 oz.
- Verb Products Ghost Oil, 17 mL / 0.57 fl. oz.
- Bonus: $10 off your next $40 Macy's Beauty Purchase. Exclusions apply*
4) MAC Bursting With Surprises Advent Calendar - 24 items - What's inside:
- Brow Set Clear
- Dazzleshadow
- 2 Eyeshadows
- Fix+
- Glow Play Lip Balm
- 3 Lipsticks
- Liquidlast Liner
- Love Me Liquid Lipcolour
- 2 Mini MAC Lipglasses
- Mini MAC Lipglass Clear
- 2 Mini MAC Lipsticks
- Mini MAC Strobe Cream, 15 ml
- Mini MACStack Mascara
- Paint Pot
- Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour
- Powder Kiss Soft Matte Eye Shadow
- Prep + Prime Essential Oils Grapefruit & Chamomile
- Prep + Prime Lip
- Technakohl Liner
5) Sterling Forever 24 Days of Jewelry Advent Calendar Earrings - The beauty companies may have jumped on the advent calendar bandwagon, but traditionally, advent calendars have other goods inside from chocolates and cookies to heartfelt notes with promises of kindnesses. Here's a calendar for jewelry lovers containing dainty sterling silver (a real precious metal) earrings, and they are gifts to keep.
What's inside: 24 pairs of sterling silver and gold-plated sterling silver earrings - a few with freshwater pearls, as well as, one with an artificial pearl, and some with cubic zirconia.
- 15-sterling silver and 9-14K gold plated sterling silver earrings
- Approximate diameter of hoop earrings - 0.87", 0.6", 0.25", 1.4", 0.75", imitation pearl - 2mm
- Approximate diameter of stud earrings - 0.2", 0.3", 0.24", 0.25", 0.28", 0.26", 0.35"
- Approximate diameter of drop earrings - 1.25", 1", pearl - 9mm
- Approximate diameter of ear crawlers - 0.6"
- Approximate diameter of ear cuffs - 0.35", 0.31"
- 1 French hook post closure, 1 friction latch closure, 1 threader post closure, 2 open cuff closures, pinch for the perfect fit, 19 posts back closure
- Heart shape imitation pearl 2.15 mm, drop shape freshwater pearl 8.8 mm, baroque pearls 8.8 mm
- 12 cubic zirconia earrings, 1 created faux imitation opal earring
- Lifetime warranty