Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

Choices, choices...

Clarisonic Mia           vs.            Olay Pro-X

      I had been thinking about getting myself a Clarisonic Mia for a while, but was on the fence. I hadn't been convinced it was as great as people said it was, especially for the price.  I had decided to get one after trying my sister's over the holiday break, when I got this little gadget as a stocking-stuffer.  I was not impressed.  I didn't believe something so cheap and low-tech could compete with the sonic powered Mia.  I spend some of my free time shadowing in a dental office, and when we want to get our instruments clean we use a sonic cleaner.  I've seen it work wonders.  If you were to try to convince me you could do the same job as well in the same amount of time using a scrub brush, I'd politely say something with absolutely no meaning while secretely thinking you were hopeless.

      Since using the Pro-X for the last two months, I've come to a satisfying conclusion.

      The Mia is like this nice, new Lotus Elise.  It has a shiny, sleek exterior, and tons of research and work has gone into making it the best it can be. The price reflects that, and driving it will make you feel like hot stuff. However, it isn't going to do a much better job of getting you to your destination than something less flashy, say, this  Subaru Impreza.  The reason?  Limits.  In this case, speed limits.  You can break the rules and go faster, but there could be painful consequences.  And truthfully--the only reason you like the Elise is prettier and  you had to give up more to own it.  This is similar to the Mia vs. the Pro-X.

      Mia is great, and I feel that my time with her was too short.  Honestly, though, you can only exfoliate your face so much before things begin to go downhill.  I'm not trying to remove contagious disease transmitting crap from my face.  I just want to slough off the dead cells whose time has passed without getting carried away.  The Pro-X allows me to do that, while still feeling proud of myself for reigning in my compulsive spending.  I recommend you try it.  I use it in the shower every day, and that, combined with my Missha BB Cream, has kept the desert from overtaking my face for about a month.

BB Creams for Fair Skin

Go BB Cream Go!

My skin is like a sponge -- a dry sponge.

I have dry, flaky skin  pretty much all the time--whether I'm in Mobile, Alabama, the Grand Canyon, or Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  This is what piqued my interest in BB Creams.  They claim to moisturize your skin as well as, well, a moisturizer.  

In fact, that's what Sephora says they are, and to some degree that's true.  They are pretty much the most moisturizing makeup you'll ever put on your face--basically tinted moisturizer.   Don't let that turn you off from them just yet.  Hear me out. 

I've had bad luck with most tinted moisturizers.  Of the ones that are light enough to match my skin tone, the coverage has been similarly light.  As in, nonexistent. I need tint for a reason!  If I liked the way my skin looked bare, I wouldn't be looking for makeup, now would I?  The thing that sold me about BB Cream is that it can cover as well as my mineral foundation, without drying, while packing in lots of other goodies.  Let's explore these exciting options.  :)

The most important feature of all of the products in this review is that they have sun protection!  I hate having to wear sunscreen under my makeup.  It changes the look and texture of the product into something generally resembling my frying pan, pre-egg, and this is the best case scenario.  My favorite sunscreens make me look undead.  Avoiding all of this is a big deal for a pasty girl like me, and if you don't want wrinkles, it should be a big deal for you too.  

Speaking of wrinkles, many BB creams have wrinkle fighting components.  I don't have many wrinkles, and I don't expect my makeup to do much about the ones I have already gotten.  Still, I don't mind preventative care, just so long as I don't have to pay extra for it.  I'd like to save my money for bringing out the big guns in a few years.

Many BB creams have whitening ingredients.  By whitening, I don't mean they'll magically make you as pale as me, or that they'll make all the spots on your face disappear.  Some people may be looking for that, but you'll get the best results asking your dermatologist for a cream.  (Nowadays everyone is buzzing about Elure, assuming you can shell out $120 for a bottle of it.)  An interesting tidbit I've discovered is that most skin whiteners are based on chemicals found in various mushrooms.

The main function of whiteners is to inhibit melanin production that generally comes as a byproduct of inflammation.  Different whitening ingredients work differently, but keep in mind that if the product contains hydroquinone, or its prodrugs, long term usage might not be safe.  To be fair, there is debate about hydroquinone's health effects. One side of the fence (the many countries that have banned cosmetic use of the substance) argues that injections in lab rats proved the substance is carcinogenic.  The other side argues that it has shown benefits because of its antioxidant ability.  I have only read summaries of the articles, so I don't have a solid answer.  I'm not terribly worried about it, but I'm a fan of full disclosure.

Back to the makeup benefits!  BB creams are buildable, so you don't have to worry that your coverage will be too sheer or heavy.  It is best to start with a very thin layer, applied by your fingers.  You'll be surprised by how well the products cover your blemishes.  

I use the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in #115 as my daily foundation.  I generally use two layers on my problem areas and set them with a translucent powder.  

from left to right

1. Perfect Cover B.B. Cream in No. 13 by Missha

2. Water Fuse Beauty Balm* by Dr. Jart+ 

3. Premium Beauty Balm* by Dr. Jart+

4. Super + Whitening Beblish Balm* by Skin79

5. Super + Triple Function Whitening Beblesh Balm* by Skin79

6. The Prestige Diamond Collection Beblesh Balm* by Skin79

7. Pearl Diamond Collection Luminous Beblesh Balm* by Skin 79

1.

This stuff comes in five colors, including what the internet(yes, all of it) has agreed is the lightest shade of BB Cream available under any brand.  I've been using the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in No. 13 as my daily foundation for about three months now.  I wish it had slightly less pink in it, but it isn't enough of an issue to make me switch products.  I generally use two layers on my problem areas and set them with a loose translucent powder.

The product has a dusty floral scent that makes me think of the 1930's.  I've heard a lot of people say it smells like their grandmothers.  I don't have that association, my husband thinks it smells nice, and the fragrance doesn't bother my skin. 

Did I mention it is SPF 42?!

My second bottle is in the mail.

This is a public service announcement:  While Missha's BB cream is the bee's knees, their primer is not worth the materials they use to package it.  Stay away from it, unless you want to refresh your memories of the bitter taste of disappointment.  I may do a more detailed review later.

2.

This is the first BB cream I ever tried.  Yes, it doesn't actually match my skin, but whatever.  I mostly wanted to know if it would moisturize as well as all the other beauty bloggers swore it would.  It did!  This is the formula that started my love affair and kept me coming back for more.  If they made this in a lighter color, I'd be all over it.  Actually, it'd be all over me, come to think of it.  Regardless, this stuff feels pretty thick, so don't be surprised.

3.

I tried this one once in the privacy of my own bathroom, and the color was so embarrassing I didn't even leave the room.  I like that it has a high SPF--45.  This is the highest I've used in a BB cream.  I seem to recall seeing higher in other brands I haven't tried, though.  The texture is also quite thick.  

4.

This one smells kind of like sunscreen, albeit a feminine one.  I haven't put this on my face, since I know there's no chance it will match.  It had a nice texture on my skin, and melted right in, though.    I'd be interested if they ever made this formula in a lighter shade.

5.

This one has a cult following, but I've found it isn't significantly different from #4.

6.

I think this one smells nicer than the other Skin79 creams I've tried, but maybe my nose is tired. This one seems to be a thinner consistency, but not as moisturizing.  It is meant to control oil, which is the last thing I need.  Give it a go if you find other BB creams leave you too dewy.  

7.

The Pearl Diamond Luminous BB (number 7) matches my skin tone very well, but doesn't cover as well as the Missha.  I don't wear this one because it is just too darn "luminous".  It isn't quite as sparkly as the Bare Minerals Illuminating Mineral Veil (previously known as the Feather Light Mineral Veil), but it is still too much for me.  

Liquid Foundations for Fair Skin

Liquid Foundation Reviews

I have incredibly light skin.  It is also dry, and usually flaky.  I used Bare Minerals for about 5 years, until one day I buffed all of my flakes to full attention and decided something had to change.  I've been looking into other options for the past year.  So far, I've only found one foundation that actually matches my skin, but its formula is the pits.

My arm is nowhere near the color of my neck, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that none of these foundations looks like they match.  Can you guess what looks best in person?

numbered from left to right

1. Photogenic in Iviore by Lancome

2. Doublewear in Ecru by Estee Lauder

3. Doublewear in Bone by Estee Lauder

4. True Match in Porcelain W1 by L'Oreal

5. Trublend in Ivory 1 by Covergirl

6. Amazonian Clay in Fair by Tarte

7. HD Foundation in #15 by Makeup Forever

8. HD Foundation in #20 by Makeup Forever

9. Studio Fix Fluid in NC 15 by MAC


1.
I'm a fan of this product.  The formula is meant to be moisturizing, and although I wouldn't quite agree with that, I'd say it doesn't dry me out as badly as most other foundation.  It leaves a matte finish, and although I generally prefer a satin or dewy look, this isn't so bad.  
If you rub it between your fingers, the product's texture begins as a creamy liquid and dries to a silky powdery finish.  I also like its scent.
Unfortunately, the color just isn't quite right.  It is almost light enough, and almost neutral enough, but isn't quite right. In other words, it matches my splotchy red face, but not my neck.  Also, it is only SPF 15. Bummer.


2 and 3
They really mean it when they say Doublewear.  My cleanser doesn't remove this stuff.  I find it more drying than other foundations, but that is generally what you get with a long-wearing formula.  It tends to make my skin look a bit crepey, even though I'm only 25.

Did I mention Doublewear only has SPF 10?  Although it is nice that the makeup will stay on all day, the bad news is you're not going to want ruin it by putting on more sunscreen.

The shades are not at all complimentary for my skin, neither in undertone nor in shade.  Bone is too yellow, Ecru is too pink, and both are too dark.  The neutral tone was obviously too dark, so I didn't even try it.


4.
This is the best match I've found for my skin yet, although I am considering trying the Neutral version.  If you're pinching pennies, give this one a try.  If you are concerned about the texture your skin will have while wearing it, then I recommend you look elsewhere.  When I wear this, it looks like I've gotten chalk all over myself.
This stuff has a piddling SPF 17.  Sure, L'Oreal can say their product protects against the sun better than more expensive products, but I figure it is mostly to make them feel better, since I'll get more rays than that can handle walking to and from my car on any given day.


5.
I don't think what I could say about this product would even qualify as a review.  I can only rant.
Finally, I find something in a drugstore that matches my skin tone decently.  Oh, but what's that?  You say you have to put things in it to break my skin out?  Really?  And you say that you're going to make it so that it clumps up in weird patches when I've worn it for more than an hour?  Say it isn't so, Covergirl.

I want to believe that Ellen wants the best for me. Turns out, she doesn't--otherwise she wouldn't have told me how great Covergirl is.  I don't hold this against her, though.  I hold it against the other cosmetics companies who didn't want an awesome person to model their superior formulas.  I want Ellen to represent a better brand.
 Don't waste your time or money on this product, regardless of how tempting the color appears.


6.
Boy, is this stuff yellow.  Its consistency is very thick, kind of like... mud.  This didn't put me off, though.  I've worn this on at least 7 different occasions.  At first it seems kind of nice, but by the end of the day, you remember that it has Amazonian Clay in it.  Oh, that's why my face looks like a cracked riverbed.  I get it now.
I would normally enthusiastically recommend this product to people with oily skin, but I can't with a clear conscience.  I get a break out every time I put this on my face.  I want to love this stuff, since not only is it light colored with great coverage, but makes me feel like an Amazon warrior putting on battle armor.  (Yes, it is fun to have such an active imagination.)   I have a problem with this stuff.  It is like the boyfriend who is super attractive, so you keep coming back to him even though it didn't work out last time.  I need an intervention.


7 and 8
What you've read about this stuff is true.  If it matches your skin tone, it is great.  Neither shade is light enough for me, but I highly recommend it to those of you who aren't so fair.  You'll get great coverage that isn't too mask-like, particularly if you apply it with a stippling brush.


9.
This foundation always gets rave reviews.  I don't like it.  I also don't like the people who keep trying to sell it to me.
  It doesn't matter how many MAC counters I go to, they always try to sell me this stuff if I mention I'm not happy with my foundation.  To be fair, I introduced the subject so I could tell if this was a MAC thing, or if I happened to hook up with an oddball.  I am tired of people trying to sell me makeup that is clearly too dark, just because their brand doesn't offer anything that actually matches.  I understand they want to sell their products, but I think part of good customer service is knowing where your customer can get what she is looking for, even if you don't carry it.
The foundation is too dark, showcases my fine lines, and doesn't have a pleasant scent.  There, I said it.  I'm finished.


I hate ending a post with such a negative tone, so here is a picture of an adorable oinker to get your mind right.

Found here, but no idea who took the photo.