dry skin

Marcelle Essentials Purity Soothing Cleansing Water - 200ml - $14.25 - cleanses and tones the skin while removing eye makeup - I have never actually used a cleansing water before, it never occurred to me that a water could do a good job cleansing, never mind removing eye makeup - but it does!  You use it like you would a toner by applying it to a cotton pad - I found it most effective to use one side of the pad to do a quick swipe over my face, remove my eye makeup and then use the clean side of the pad to go over my entire face again to remove any leftovers.  There is something strangely satisfying that you get from this cleanser that you don't get from wash off cleansers, you get to see all the gunk on the pad that was removed from your face!  If you like seeing your blackheads on Biore strips you will probably also enjoy this!

This would also be a great cleanser if you have hard water at home!


Cliniderm Gentle Cleanser - 150ml - $16 - contains no parbens, dyes, perfume, lanolin, formaldehyde or protein. Specialized care for sensitive, allergic, reactive or dry skin.  Soap free gel cleanser that you can actually even use as a body wash if you are looking for one with no scent!  I liked the texture of this one a lot, it's a thin gel that rises off easily and made my skin feel very clean - it's not meant to take off eye makeup, and it doesn't so you will need your makeup remover for that but it did remove my face makeup.

If you are looking for a moisturizer to follow your sensitive skin cleanser, Diane Lai has a new collection of all-natural skincare products.  It's suitable for highly sensitive skin, dry skin, eczema and inflammation and can also be used on children.  Diane Lai was inspired to create the line because of her own child's sensitive skin and one of her objectives is to educate the public about the harmful toxins that many commercial skin products contain.  The first launches from the collection are:

Rejuvenate - 100ml - $45 - a daily moisturizing lotion to maintain soft and healthy skin and can be used anywhere that you have skin that is dry, tight and/or itchy - face, body, hands and feet.

Soothe - 30ml - $34 - to help comfort skin irritations and contains natural oils and anti-itch remedies to prevent further scratching and inflammation.  Also good for insect bites and mild sunburn.

Both contain organic shea butter, kernel oil which is rich in natural vitamins A,B,D,E, proteins and lecithin, cold-presses organic grape seed oil which is a natural moisturizer that is rich in antioxidants.  Even better is what they don't contain: parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, artificial fragrance, artificial colourants, retinols, sulfates, petro chemicals or oxybenzone.

If you are in Toronto, you can find Diane Lai products at Blossom Bath & Body - 157 Main Street, Unionville or at Moms to be and more - 1642/44 Bayview Avenue, Toronto as well as online at www.dianelai.com

If you are as dry and scaly as Christelle, then you are probably already a fan of all of the Palmer's products!  You will be happy to know that in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Palmer's has gone pink!  During the month of October, when you purchase one of Palmer's PINK products, proceeds of the sale will go to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada.

Four of their bestselling products have gone into the pink packaging:

Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion - 250ml - $5.99, 400ml - $6.99 - contains pure cocoa butter to heal and soften rough, dry skin and to smooth marks and scars.

Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion - 250ml - $6.99 or Massage Cream - 125g - $6.99 - for Stretch Marks - contains shea butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E, collagen and elastin to prevent and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Cocoa Butter Formula Firming Butter - 250ml - $5.99 - contains ginseng and vitamin E to help nourish and rejuvenate tired skin and to restore natural, original firmness to the skin.

Available at most food, drug and mass retailers across Canada.  Check out www.palmers.com for more info.

Of course here at Beauty Crazed we are firm believers that it is better to win stuff then buy stuff so how about a Palmer's prize pack?!
One lucky winner will receive  all 4 Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula PINK products, 2 regular Palmer’s products (Concentrated Cream & Swivel Stick) and a lovely Moleskin journal – Retail Value $60.00.

Want in?  It's super easy!  This contest is open to Canadian residents. All you have to do is join Beauty Crazed as a follower if you aren't one already.  You can either do it through Google or through Networked Blogs on Facebook - you can find both signups on the right hand side of the Beauty Crazed site.  Once you belong to our crazy family just leave a reply to this post letting us know you want in and let us know your favourite Palmer's product - if you don't have one, let us know which product you are most interested to try! If you give the contest link a tweet and/or post it on your blog, there's an extra entry in it for you! Including an e-mail address would be extra helpful and you can write it like this - info(at)beautycrazed(dot)ca - so the bots can't find you but we can.  If you prefer not to leave your info on a public post, please leave a post saying you want to enter and then e-mail us your info - info@beautycrazed.ca, please put "Palmer's Contest" in the subject line.  Winner to be decided by random drawing and you have until October 22nd to enter. 

My favorite part about modern skin care is its effectiveness. Good products deliver visible results within weeks or even days, and while they won't give you a face lift or a nose job, they make one's skin look as good as possible without having to use methods like the one you see above. Other than sun protection (and correcting past sun damage), my main focus is keeping my skin looking alive. It's all quite Harry Potter-like: Potions, Defence Against The Dark Arts and a touch of Herbology, so I like that Kanebo Sensai's nearly magical serum is called an "Essence".

Cellular Performance Hydrachange Essence looks like a runny lotion but you can tell as soon as you apply it that there's some heavy duty concentrated moisturizing there. The "magic" is in the contrast between the lightness of the texture (and the absolute lack of any grease) and the instant plumping and suppleness it gives the face. And these results don't vanish. My skin remains happy for long hours, and I can also tell now, after over a month of daily use, that I've achieved a new and better balance.

Granted, the real test of a superpower hydrating product is during the winter, when freezing temperatures and overheated spaces conspire to age us all, but from what I'm seeing now I have high hopes for the Sensai Hydrachange Essence (and also for the cream from this series which I will start testing as soon as the weather changes). As for integrating this product into my existing routine, I use it every morning after moisturizing and once again in the afternoon or evening once I've taken off my makeup. I still use the brightening Cle de Peau serum right before bed and the results are great, so there's no conflict between the two products.

Bottom Line: Fabulous.

Kanebo Sensai Cellular Performance Hydrachange Essence ($150, 1.35oz) is available at  Bergdorf Goodman and also online from neimanmarcus.com. A press sample was provided by the company's PR team.

Image: glamourdaze.blogspot.com

Complaining about the weather gets old and boring quickly, especially since we all know I'm going to whine twice as much come winter. But this summer has been brutal, making me more obsessed than ever about protecting my skin and keeping it in top shape with all the moisture and nutrients I can get.

It can be a bit odd how after a day of running around in soup-like humidity once I'm back in the cool and airconditioned house all of a sudden my skin looks and feels deflated. This is where this liquid spray, Hydrachange Mist from Sensai by Kanebo makes a difference.

The Hydrachange Mist looks like water but feels thicker, like a very runny serum. It's actually a mix of water with hyaluronic acid that allows skin to hold unto the moisture and retain it. I've heard some people like to keep the spray bottle of the Mist in the fridge and use it to feel refreshed. Personally, I don't like spraying my face with anything too cold, so I keep it in room temperature. I find that it perks me up instantly and my skin feels very supple after every use. It can be used under makeup or over it and I think it helps makeup stay on and look freshly applied longer. Is this much difference than spraying your face with mineral water at a fraction of the cost? It's hard to say, but I do feel a difference in my skin, so the hyaluronic acid must be doing its job.

Bottom Line: At $75 for 100ml, this is a real indulgence, but after two weeks of temperature in the 100s one starts to appreciate anything that works.

Bottom Line 2: I wish they'd make a travel size bottle, small enough to take on a plane.It would have been the best fix for flight face.

Kanebo Sensai Hydrachange Mist ($75) is available from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus (the latter is online only). A press sample was supplied by the company's PR team.

Image: Veruschka by Franco Rubartelli, Vogue US June 1968

I've always hated and cursed my dry skin but I never realized that it was such a widespread issue - Vaseline recently conducted a Good Skin Day Survey and I was amazed to see that 76% of the women surveyed have the same problem as I do and say that their dry skin can make them feel physically uncomfortable at least some of the time - including itchiness, tightness and cracking.  Women also say that the physical effects of dry skin can interfere with a range of every day activities including sleeping, getting dressed and working.  It's nice not to be alone in this problem but it's even better to find something to solve it!

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength - 325ml - $4.99, 600ml - $7.99, 725ml - $8.99 - is available in fragranced (chamomile scent) and unfragranced. - Accelerates the healing of dry skin by tripling the skin's moisture reserves instantly while still feeling comfortable on your skin - not greasy or sticky.  Dermatologist recommended, restores and protects the skin and delivers 24 hours of hypoallergenic soothing moisture.  For super dry skin they also offer Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion - 200ml - $8.49 - which is clinically proven to moisturize for accelerated healing of persistently dry skin without feeling sticky or greasy and is comfortable on skin.  Proven to instantly increase hydration by five times and to lock in moisture for 24 hours.  Instantly softens and relieves extremely dry skin and to restore - through hydration - extremely dry skin in 5 days.

And of course having dry skin means that I try every moisturizer out there so here are some other great choices:

True Blue Spa Lay It On Thick Body Cream - 170g - $17 - fragrance-free with super moisturizing shea butter, macadamia nut oil to nourish and hydrate the skin and Vitamin E to help protect and condition. If you like your moisturizer to be super thick, this is one to try - I enjoy using this one right before bed to give it all night to soak in! Available at Bath & Body Works.
Calgon Nourishing Body Cream - 236ml - $6.99 - with Vitamins E and A as well as aloe to deliver longer-lasting moisturization that will leave your skin feeling soft and silky. Comes in Morning Glory, Hawaiian Ginger, Tahitian Orchid, Cotton Candy, Vanilla Swirl, Marshmallow and Moon Petal Musk. My favourite scent is the Hawaiian Ginger, you just close your eyes and imagine yourself away from winter and on a tropical island!
Thann Body Butter - 100g - $23 - 350g - $47 - with cocoa butter, jojoba oil, licorice and shiso extracts to nourish and protect dry and sensitive skin. The tick yet smooth cream absorbs quickly into the skin for long-lasting and effective moisturizing.  It's 100% paraben-free with no artificial colours or fragrances.  Available online at www.thann.ca, in select stores and spas across Canada and at Thann concept stores in Ottawa.

St. Ives 24 Hour Moisture Advanced Body Moisturizer - 600ml - $6.99 - an innovative formula clinically proven to nourish skin even after 24 hours - replenishes and retains skin for soft-looking, smooth skin all day with 100% natural moisturizers including shea butter. Features a patented moisturizing complex that acts as a barrier to prevent moisture loss without forming a heavy film on the skin.
Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Lotion - 88ml - $2.99 - 354ml - $6.99 - focus on adding essential moisture, vitamins and nutrients for your skin - in four varieties each containg a specific BioNutrient blend: Dry Skin - with aloe and vitamins C, E and F, amino acids, and omega 3; Extra Dry Skin - with shea butter, omega 3 and 6, vitamins A,C,E and F and amino acids; Soothing - with chamomile, beta-glucan, vitamins A,C and E, amino acids and zinc; and Men's - with magnesium, niacinamide, amino acids and vitamins A,C and E.

Kiss My Face Peaches & Creme Ultra Moisturizer - 118ml - $6, 350ml - $12 - with 4% alpha-hydroxy to help speed up exfoliation that allows for new healthy skin cells to emerge from your dry, flaky mess - and the peachy smell - Amazing!  You can find Kiss My Face products in various drug and health food stores - I find the website easier though - they have a Canadian site that prices and gives shipping costs in Canadian $ - www.kissmyfacewebstore.com

If you want super duper softness, start with a moisturizing body wash - my faves right now:


Dove Visible Care Renewing Creme Body Wash - 300ml - $5.99 - for visible skin improvement in just one week and with continued use, skin is more visibly beautiful within 3 weeks. It's designed to nourish and replenish skin with the highest concentration of Nutrium Moisture which contains skin natural moisturizers, the building blocks to help improve skin's look over time. It has a fruity, floral fragrance that I quite like and lathers like nobody's business!
Soap & Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash - 500ml - $9.99 - with a built-in moisturizing matrix and natural vanilla fruit and orchid extracts, it feels great and smells amazing!  It also suds up nicely which is something I find that moisturizing body washes sometimes lack. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream - 236ml - $12.50 - with milk proteins, rice bran oil and acai berry.  Part of the Signature Collection, you will find it in lots of different scents - I love Warm Vanilla Sugar and Twilight Woods!

Are you a dry skin sufferer too?  Would love to hear about any great moisturizers that you've tried!

I'm pretty sure Chantecaille Lip Contour Fill is going to end up on my Best Of 2010 list.

It looks like a chubby lip pencil and is labeled as a solution for lipstick feathering caused by wrinkles around the mouth. I bought it because I was looking for a product that can fill the tiny scar on my bottom lip that causes many lipsticks to pool in that space and ruin the look. Using most regular balms can be helpful, but it also affects the lipstick's performance, especially by diluting the pigment.

Chantecaille Lip Contour Fill can be used all over the lip surface as well as for contouring. It's invisible and doesn't leave any goopy residue. The pencil feels very comfortable and gel-like, but it's not wet or goopy and you can apply any lip product right away. I've tested it under a dozen lipsticks so far and the results have been outstanding. It really fills the scar and any other imperfection, making the lip surface very smooth. It actually feels moisturizing without ruining a matte lip color. The pencil significantly improves the look of any lipstick- lips appear smoother and more pillowy. I don't think it improves the actual staying power of any color product, but whatever you apply simply looks better.

Bottom line: A holy grail.

Chantecaille Lip Contour Fill ($28) is available from top department store and the company's website. I bought it at Bergdorf Goodman.

Photos by me, feline assistant: Kosh

It's the time of the year the skin on my body and I become estranged and try to crawl out of each other. It ain't pretty. I fight the good fight. I take my vitamins, slather, grease, beg and plead, and for the most part manage to avoid turning into a creepy crawler, but it takes work and products, and come January and February I turn to the big guns. I've already tried some of the most amazing products on the market, those priced in the three digit range and they really work (they'd better). I was considering buying a jar or two when I decided to give Lancome a chance and ordered their Nutrix Royal Body Cream. I can't help it- I hear something contains royal jelly and I must try it. Not sure where this fixation came from.

My one and only issue with Lancome body products has always been the scent. They smell synthetic and fruity, and Nutrix Royal Body Cream isn't different in that regard, though by the time I get dressed it's mostly gone. The important part, though, is performance. Nutrix Royal delivers like a cream that costs three times as much and continuous use has lingering effect. I haven't touched any other body cream in more than three weeks and haven't seen that ugly dry earth pattern on my legs since then.

Bottom line: I don't know if its the royal jelly, but this cream is made of awesome.

Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Cream ($34) is available from Lancome counters everywhere and the company's website. I ordered it online.

Photo: images.com

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra - 40ml - $31 -  soothing skincare dedicated to allergic skin - contains only 15 ingredients - compared to the 30 found in most moisturizers including Neurosensine, a combination of two amino acids that sooth nerve endings, preventing a reducing sensitive skin reactions.  It is free of preservatives, parabens, fragrance, alcohol and lanolin. The packaging is air-tight so purity is guaranteed and there will be no oxidation.
Nuxe Nuxuriance Eyes & Lips - 15ml - $45 - contains 89% ingredients of natural origin and no paraben effective for all visible signs of aging on the contour of the eyes and lips: the eye contour is lifted, fine lines around the eyes are smoothed out and wrinkles are reduced, puffiness (natural caffeine), dark circles (maca root, corrector optical pigments) and pigmentary spots (bakau plant cells) are less apparent for luminous and more youthful eyes and the lip contour is redefined.  The cream itself is very light and not at all sticky and has the same lovely botanical type scent as the rest of the Nuxuriance line.
Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance Pressed Powder - $15.99 - instantly transforms into the ideal shade and has a skin balancing swirl formula contains microspheres to help keep your oily areas shine-free and dry areas softly hydrated. Interesting concept - I wonder how well it works - has anyone tried it?
Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss - $11.49 - they are supposed to have 5X more shine than patent leather - not that I've ever had the desire to have leather lips but what do I know?!  They come in: Crystal Lilac, Pink Ice, Strawberry, Peony, Hot Pink, Orchid, Rosepearl, Rosegold, Bordeaux, Fire, Papaya, Sunset Peach, Gold Dust, Sienna Sparkle and Bronze Shimmer.

Softlips Nourish - 3.5g - $6.49 - contains lipidure - a powerful hydrating ingredient which retains water within the epidermis and prevents evaporating minimizing moisture loss.  This unique formula actually rebuilds the barrier on the outer epidermis layer of your lips, repairing dry damaged tissue and strengthening the defense against environmental elements.- in three flavours: cool peppermint, bergamot (my fave) and fresh lavender.
Softlips Nourish Maxilip - 3.8g - $6.49 - a double-layered balm enriched with powerful anti-aging properties, ceramide and coenzyme Q10, to lock in moisture and help reduce the look of fine lines.

You can visit www.softlips.ca for complete product line information as well as their brand new Canadian Facebook Fan page!

Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter - 4.25g - $4.49 - contains mango butter - packed with beneficial antioxidants, nourishes and moisturizes lips to reveal smooth, healthy lips

Burt's Bees Rejuvenating Lip Balm with Acai Berry - 4.25g - $4.49 - contains acai berry oil - rich in antioxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids 

Both balms contain sunflower seed oil - naturally high in vitamins A and D, lecithin, and the essential fatty acid Omega 9, coconut oil - light, non-greasy and exceptionally emollient and castor seed oil - rich in fatty acids, it attracts moisture to the skin.

They both contain 100% natural ingredients, natural flavours and sweeteners and are free of petrochemicals, parabens and sodium lauryl sulfate and of course are never tested on animals.
Lise Watier Sensational Kiss Lips So Soft Exfoliating Balm - $20 - sponge tip click pen enriched with shea butter, panthenol and Vitamin E.  Gently exfoliates thanks to the fine sugar crystals that then just melt (and taste delicious)!
Smashbox Lip Treatment SPF 15 - $21 - contains honey, shea butter, jojoba and avocado oils to nourish and chamomile and aloe to soothe.  It has very little smell so if that is something you are sensitive to, this is a great choice.

La Roche-Posay Ceralip - 15ml - $14 - a lip repair cream for severely dry skin that is fragrance and preservative free.  The cream comes in a squeeze tube and is very thick and moisturizing. Dermatologists love this line and it's really great for those with sensitive skin.

Biotherm Aquasource Moisturizing Balm SPF 8 - 15ml - $20 - this balm has a shiny effect if you like a glossy look and contains oil of macadamia to soften and moisturize.  It has a subtle pleasant scent and a light texture.

Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm - 15ml - $27 - with essential rose wax.  It has a thick texture, gives a light shine and has the best smell!