Lotion

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

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Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel has been the holy grail moisturizer of many, many women for many, many years. Assuming that was the case for a reason, I’ve been interested in it for a few years (prior to my interest in makeup, even) but never went for it. Counters intimidated me, then. Used to exclusively buying drugstore, I wasn’t yet comfortable with the idea of investing in products (though really, compared to a lot of products on the market these days, $26 for 4.2oz of moisturizer is nothing).

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

As much as I love Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil, it isn’t a great daytime moisturizer for me if I’m leaving the house or want to wear makeup. It does wonders for my skin, but isn’t the best makeup base for me. It could be great at both of those things for you if your skin is drier than mine, but I needed something lighter that would play nicely with those products and not make me look too, “dewy.”

I’ve been able to digest spending that much money on a single product for a while, now, but still didn’t get around to doing so until April, when we visited the Cosmetics Company Outlet during a trip to our local outlets. There, I got a tiny tube of Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel to try for only $3. After using it for the whole month, I bought a bottle at my local Macy’s Clinique counter.

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - DispensedDramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Clinique recently revamped their Dramatically Different Lotion (it’s now Lotion+, ooh), but the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, I hear, is untouched. It is lightweight and this tiny amount on my fingertips is one pump – and is plenty for my face, and covers a bit of my neck. It absorbs quickly, but not so much so that it feels like I just participated in an exercise in futility – my skin feels moisturized and supple.

Supple is a weird word.

Anyway – Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is perfect for preparing your skin for makeup application, providing enough moisture for your skin to be a good canvas, but not so much that your products are prone to sliding around and not staying where you placed them – even in my oily T-zone. It’s just right.

Clinique skincare products are unscented; this does not have added fragrance, but it does have a bit of a smell that dissipates. It isn’t unpleasant, but you may notice it when you’re applying it. If you happen to find it unpleasant, don’t worry – like I said, it doesn’t last.

I’ve only used it for a month now, but it has definitely lived up to my expectations and the hype. I love that Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel doesn’t have any crazy, outlandish marketing claims – simple, straightforward, it does what it says it will – and can we ask for more? I think not.

Skin Cancer Awareness Month – Week 4

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May is Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness Month.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

– – -This went up late because I was running around like a(n SPF-wearing) decapitated chicken yesterday preparing for our cookout. I hope, if you’re in the US and had the luxury of a day off, that you had a relaxing day. I ALSO hope that if you spent time outside, you covered up (either with clothing or shade) and wore sunscreen.

One thing you can do that would make you an awesome host of any barbecues or outdoor festivities would be to provide sunscreen for your guests. Get one of the huge cans of the spray variety stuff and offer it up (or, you know, gently badger your friends to use it).

Did you know…

That you should reapply sunscreen every two hours? More often if you’ve been exposed to water or if you’ve been excessively sweating (so, swimming, doing yard work, outdoor exercise). If you’re going to be outside in the sun, it may be a good idea to wear minimal makeup so you can reapply sunscreen without issue. Otherwise, get thee a wide-brim hat.

Did you know…

EVERYONE should practice sun safety. Contrary to popular belief, people of color can indeed burn! Sunscreen and protection is not just for pasty people. Be smart, protect your skin.

Also, on that same note – people of color can and do get skin cancer, too. What’s worse is that it is often detected at a later stage in people of color…so while the incidence itself isn’t as high, the fatality of it is higher, percentage-wise. According to SkinCancer.org, “According to recent studies, the five-year survival rate for African Americans with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is 59 percent compared to 85 percent in Caucasians.” That’s scary!

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November 2014 Favorites

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November 2014 FavoritesNovember 2014 Favorites
1. Innisfree Hand Cream, $? / 2. bareMinerals Concealer Brush, $20* /
3. Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter, $5 / 4. Alpha Hydrox 10% AHA Moisturizing Lotion, $10 /
5. Too Faced Everything Nice Palette, $56

Blah blah, November went sooooo fast, etc. You know the drill. November 2014 Favorites!

But before the jump, have you entered the EcoTools Eye Enhancing Duo Brush Giveaway? Open until December 16!

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September 2014 Favorites

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September 2014 Favorites

September 2014 Favorites
1. MAC Lipstick – Brave $16 / 2. Sonia Kashuk Brush Cleaner $8 /
3. Clinique Almost Lipstick – Black Honey, $16 / 4. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, $14 /
5. Maybelline Creamy Matte Lipstick – Divine Wine, $6

I didn’t think much of it during the month, but looking back – my September 2014 Favorites were pretty lippy!

Details after the jump.

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Ponds Luminous Finish BB Cream

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Ponds Luminous Finish BB CreamPonds Luminous Finish BB Cream

I don’t bother with foundation on a daily basis for two reasons: 1) I’m lazy, and 2) I just generally prefer not to. There are days, though, where I’d like to even my skin out and wear SOMETHING without going all-out with a full-face. I received a sample of the Ponds Luminous Finish BB Cream ($10, drugstores) recently when I restocked on my beloved Ponds Wipes (the Original Wet Cleansing Towelettes), tucked it into my drawer o’ samples, and forgot about it for a while. This is what the Pond’s site has to say about it:

Essential Features
  • Superior Coverage of Imperfections
  • Superior Visible Dark Spot Reduction
  • Superior Non-Greasy Feel, with a Matte Finish
  • Broad spectrum SPF 15 sun protection
  • Non-comedogenic – won’t clog pores
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Hypoallergenic

Sounds good, doesn’t look like it is making wild and crazy claims. That makes me feel pretty good, because after all…if it sounds too good to be true, you’re probably screwed.

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Ginger & Co Hand It To Me

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Recently a new Ulta opened nearby (woo, accessibility)! I just took advantage of a promo on their site (and received it the day before), so my resolve was firm not to purchase any makeup. That, of course, does not mean, “not to purchase anything.”

Though I did purchase a few items, including some neat sunscreen, the item I was most excited about was the Hand it to Me Dreamy Hand cream which I thought was from Soap & Glory. I was looking for a hand lotion for my office and was going to get one from a different brand, but when I saw the seemingly Soap & Glory tube that suggested it is a mixture of mallow (what?), lemon balm (oh, I like that!), and rose (eh), I snatched it, sniffed it, deemed it mild and pleasant enough. Off I went.

It wasn’t until I used it, however, that I became horribly offended. The strong rose scent that I did not detect in the store upon initial whiff descended abruptly.
I like the smell of roses on roses. Not my hands. Really, I prefer them to be unscented if possible but wow.
Now, don’t get me wrong – it does not smell bad. If you like roses you will LOVE it! But it was strong, at first, and it surprised me. I looked at the bottle and found that it was not Soap & Glory but a player I hadn’t heard of, Ginger & Co.

Ginger & Co Hand it To Me - front               Ginger & Co Hand it To Me - back

Ginger & Co Hand it to Me Dreamy Handcream


Whaaaat? Shame on me for not paying attention, but doesn’t it just scream Soap & Glory? I’m not sure if they did it on purpose or if it was a coincidence, but Ginger & Co is just so darn similar. Even Musing Of a Muse thought so! Both lines hail from across the pond in England. To be perfectly honest, it wouldn’t surprise me if the creator was the same but wanted to keep lower-priced options available since Soap & Glory graduated to the wonderful world of Sephora exclusivity.

Anyway. Despite my initial distaste for the hand cream, it did feel quite nice – not greasy, not too silicone-y (it does contain it, like a good hand cream should, but some…overdo it), not thin. Formula-wise, for my needs it is just right. I slap it on during the day at work – it absorbs quickly, which makes me happy. My hands stay hydrated for hours – I have not yet had to reapply over the course of the workday–perfect!

About a half-hour to an hour after application, the you’ll notice the fragrance has changed. Any good scent evolves over the course of dry-down, and becomes unique as it works with your body chemistry. After that time the fragrance is still lightly floral, but not overwhelmingly rose. Just feminine, pretty…I can’t really identify the notes for you, though, because I am not a fragrance connoisseur.

At this time, I’m not sure if I will repurchase. It does perform very well, I’m just very particular about fragrance (if I weren’t, I’d rebuy in a heartbeat). If you like rose or are indifferent to strongly scented lotions, this is a great one to try. You can purchase Ginger & Co products at your friendly neighborhood Ulta, this hand cream specifically usually runs $7.99, should be eligible for most coupons, and currently qualifies for the B2G1 free promo.