Glam and Uncensored

Acne products. There are hundreds on the market. But which ones are really the best to fight acne? In the skincare market there are many treatment options at different price points. Experts will attest to the fact those options which are gentle are better than harsh products that can rid your skin of moisture. Below are a few suggestions for treating skin with acne:

1. CLEAN & CLEAR ADVANTAGE ACNE SPOT TREATMENT – This treatment is a drugstore favorite. It has won Best of Beauty Award twice in a row. The Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment will reduce the appearance of all breakouts, thanks to a small percentage of salicylic acid. This is available at your local drugstore for $7.00.
   
2. THE ORDINARY NIACINAMIDE – Have you ever been out, having a fabulous time, then you look in the mirror just to see your face shinier than a disco ball on a dance floor. Well, kiss that shine away with the Ordinary Niacinamide. This vitamin B3 and mineral serum product is a game changer. Just apply a few drops in the morning and evening to your skin. This product is available at Sephora for the cost of $6.00.
   
3. LA ROCHE-POSAY EFFACLAR DUO DUAL ACNE TREATMENT – This awesome skin treatment features micronized benzol peroxide and lipo-hydroxy acid which will gently slough off dead skin cells and infiltrate deep into your skin. It is available at Target for $19.99.
   
4. NEUTROGENA RAPID CLEAR STUBBORN ACNE CLEANSER – This product treats your full face and clears the acne without drying out your skin. It contains the maximum amount of Benzoyl Peroxide and is recommended by dermatologists as the #1 non-prescription acne medication. Available at Ulta for $10.99.
   
5. PAULA’S CHOICE CLEAR DAILY SKIN CLEARING TREATMENT – Harsh acne fighting ingredients tend to irritate and aggravate acne. Your best bet is to look for products which are formulated with active ingredients and skin soothing ones such as bisabolol. This product can be purchased for $19.00 at QVC.

Looking for the right product to fight acne boils down to trial and error. This list will hopefully give you a head start in the search for the best acne treatment for your skin. If you have any product suggestions, please share with me.

You have makeup brushes to thank for flawless foundation application and properly contoured cheeks. Because of that we cannot forget about the buildup of dirt and oils on those brushes which can cause skin breakouts and possible rashes. But this buildup can disappear with a weekly cleaning of your makeup brushes. But how often should you be cleaning the makeup brushes? Well, for makeup brushes you use on your face (i.e. foundation and concealer) you would clean these brushes once a week. When it comes to brushes you use for eye makeup, you should clean in between uses. However, you should WASH these brushes on a monthly basis.

METHOD OF CLEANING:

• What is the proper way to clean your brushes:
• Squeeze 2-3 drops of a gentle shampoo (i.e. baby shampoo) into a glass or mug and fill it with warm water;
• Wisk your brushes in the soapy water, then massage the brush bristles to get the rest of the grime;
• After getting the grime from your brushes, take clean water squeeze the water out;
• Lay the brushes on a flat on a clean dish towel to dry

The most potent brush cleaner are the ones you have in your kitchen, for example Dawn dishwashing liquid. This soap will remove almost anything. Dawn will also clean your makeup sponges. Just let your sponges soak in a glass with Dawn and water. Then rinse with warm water, dab on a clean paper towel and repeat. Finally, place the sponges in a microwave for a few seconds to rid of the bacteria.

As soon as you see your makeup brushes are not getting as clean like they once were, it may be time to replace them. As a rule of thumb, replace your makeup brushes every three months.

With very fluffy brushes, i.e. powder brushes, you will see they are ready to be cleaned based on product build-up at the base of the brush or the bristles.

Beware not to over clean your makeup brushes. Overly cleaned brushes will not pick up product very well. And do not dry your brushes in a vertical position. It will make water leak into the ferrule (the piece which joins the bristles to the wand) and then loosen the glue, causing loss of bristles. Brushes do a horrible job when they become too pinched or squashed.

These are just a few steps to clean your makeup brushes. The main point is to make sure you keep your makeup brushes clean as they help prevent skin breakouts and assist in a better application of your makeup.

I don’t think I have come across someone who would turn away a beauty product that is cruelty free over a product that is not cruelty free. But how do you define cruelty free? I define it as brand that does not do the following:

1. Test on animals at any point during production;
2. Have suppliers raw materials or ingredients on animals;
3. Have third-party animal tests on their behalf; or
4. Test on animals where it is required (i.e. China)

So which drugstore beauty brands are cruelty free? The search was not as easy as I thought it would be, but I did locate some drugstore brands.

I do not know why, but I was under the impression that the major drugstore brands would be cruelty-free. Boy was I wrong. Here is a list of drugstore beauty brands and information on whether or not the beauty brands tests on animals:

ARDELL – This beauty company signed PETA’s cruelty-free pledge. The products produced by Ardell are cruelty free and vegan;

ELF – This beauty brand signed PETA’S cruelty-free pledge. The brushes which are made out of animal hair are vegan;

ECOTOOLS – The beauty company signed PETA’S cruelty-free pledge. And their brushes are vegan;

HARD CANDY – This independent beauty company is cruelty-free and not sold in China. The company swears they do not test any of their finished products or raw materials used in the manufacturing process on animals. Nor do they require or even ask third parties to conduct this testing on their behalf. Hard Candy is an exclusive product of Wal-Mart.

L’OREAL – Surprisingly enough this beauty company tests on animals. Their products are sold in China.

MAYBELLINE – Again, I am surprised. This beauty company’s products are tested on animals. Their products are also sold in China;

MILANI – This beauty company’s products are cruelty-free and do not have a parent company;

NYX – the beauty company is cruelty free. Their products are not sold in China. But here’s an odd part. NYX is owned by L’Oreal; a beauty company which tests on animals;

REVLON – This beauty company tests on animals. Their products are sold in China;

RIMMEL LONDON – This beauty company tests on animals when required by law. However, this particular beauty company is owned by Coty’ a corporation which tests on animals and sells products in China;

WET N’ WILD – The beauty company does not test on animals at any point of their production. Also, they do not purchase materials from any vendor who tests on animals.

It is so very easy to overlook a beauty company’s back story by getting caught up in the company’s pretty packaging or price point. But, once you become aware of the beauty companies which take that extra mile and vow to never test their goods on animals, it will make the purchasing process that much easier. And do not think that you are out of luck because companies such as Maybelline and L’Oreal test on animals. In 2019, over 350 beauty corporations pledged not to test their beauty products on animals. So let’s all celebrate our animal friendly drugstore beauty brands.

Purchasing foundation seems to be a real pain. If you try to purchase your foundation via the drugstore, more times than not you will not be able to try it before you buy it, as drugstores do not give out samples. So when you choose a foundation you think will be the perfect match, chances are when you get home, the foundation color looks nothing like your natural skin tone. Now, if you go to Sephora or Macy’s, the store will allow you to compare the foundation color against your natural skin tone. This is going help give you a better idea of which shade and brand is closest to your natural skin tone. Using the below guide to choose your next bottle of foundation will aid in the process of picking out the proper foundation for your skin tone:

• THE PROPER FORMULA – Choose a formula which is best for your skin. If your face is usually dry, choose a liquid or stick foundation because it will be creamy and have the most moisturizing properties. But, if you have oily skin, purchase a powder foundation that will absorb extra shine and leave a matte finish. If you have combination skin, the trick to proper application lies in where you apply the foundation. You can place it light over areas which are dry, and place it heavier on patches which are oily. I find that powder foundation is more effective for this strategy with combination skin than liquid foundation.
• KNOW THE COVERAGE LEVEL YOU WANT – Understanding the appearance of every level of coverage is great when it comes to choosing the right coverage level for your needs. You will still see your skin through the foundations. If you are a bit unsure as to the amount of coverage you desire, choose a foundation which will give you light to medium coverage, as the foundation is buildable. However, if you are leaning towards a long-wearing foundation which does not require a mid-day touch-up, or if you have acne or discoloration, aim for the full-coverage foundation.
• DISCOVER YOUR UNDERTONE – Do not know where to start in finding out your skin’s undertone? Try the vein test. Cool-tone people will have a rosy tint to their skin, along with blue-ish veins which are visible via the underside of their neck or wrist. Warm-toned people will have yellow or golden skin tones with greenish veins. A neutral toned person has a mix between the two.
• READ THE REVIEWS – You have to read the reviews of the product and filter those reviews where the reviewer has no constructive comments. Reviews that are angry and/or have been left with heightened emotions, must be ignored because people can be grumpy.

Those are just some of the tips to choosing a foundation. Do you have any suggestions for choosing the proper foundation? What is your favorite foundation and why?