Facial Cleansers for Dry Skin

Everyone has dry skin on their face at this time of year - even us combination skin gals need something a little extra for our faces and that's why I'm going to recommend that you try an oil cleanser. It sounds strange, I know, but the newest cleansers rinse clean and leave no residue!

Try La Mer The Cleansing Fluid.


It is great. You massage it into your dry skin and it dissolves any makeup or impurities that were there. As soon as you add water, the texture of the oil changes and it dissolves into something else and rinses away. It's great. Your skin is soft and clean without any additional tightness at all. You must try this.

Intense Skin Repair

With the weather being so dry these days, Lubriderm's Intense Skin Repair is so good that there are two bottles of it in my house - one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom so that I can remember to put it on each and every time that I wash my hands.
The lotion is really thick but absorbs quickly and really soothes dry hands. It also comes in a big bottle with a pump, which is oh so handy.

Oh, and if the girl with the chapped elbows is reading this (you asked me what you should use), try this stuff. It will work.

MAC Moisturelush

Since it's the kind of moisturizer that I wouldn't ordinarily go for, I wanted to really use MAC's Moisturelush for a while before I reviewed it. This cream is very moisturizing but has a light texture that makes it easy to smooth into skin without having it feel too heavy. Moisturelush will be a godsend for anyone with dry or very dry skin, and another bonus to it is that it works well with makeup - as all MAC products should.

This is a must for the winter months.

J.R. Watkins Body Oil

I'm not new to body oil, but it hasn't always been my favourite product because some of the ones I've tried are so heavily fragranced. When I saw the J.R. Watkins Pure Lemon Body Oil I wasn't exactly eager to try it.

But I read the ingredient list and noticed all the pure oils that made up this product and saw that it seemed to have a light consistency. I opened the bottle and took a sniff. Not too lemony - just slightly.

I've been using this product in place of my regular moisturizer and I have to say that I really like it! Now, it doesn't absorb into the skin that quickly but the key to this is not to overapply so that you're not too greasy. The oil is so light and the lemon scent fades quickly after you use the oil. The oil does moisturize very well for the summer, and I like not having to rub it in like a regular lotion.

You can purchase this product off the J.R. Watkins website but this product is also available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Zellers, and other drugstores, so it's pretty easy to find. The body oil also comes in Lavender and Unfragranced versions.

Since trying this body oil, I've also had a chance to try out some other J.R. Watkins products and I also love their Shea Body Butter which is maybe the quickest absorbing lotion I've ever tried! The lemon cream scent is so soft and sweet while the mango scent is tangy just like a real mango! Check this line out when you get the chance - it seems that many of the products are really nice and you likely won't be disappointed.

Honey Dipp

Little did I know that I could be sitting in the heart of Toronto and still somehow get transported to a place that's tranquil and peaceful.

How?

Because of products from the Honey Dipp line. Launched recently by two friends, Dionne and Mickella, this line contains spa-style products at prices that consumers can afford to pay. Their products are made with care and smell absolutely amazing! Yes, they have a line that is floral (Blush), one that reminds you of the islands (Exotic), and one that has more foody scents (Spice), but the twist is that there is also something for those who like their products unscented (Palm), as well as something for men (Metro).

Best product ever? The Honey Dipp Body Butter.

Wow. That's all I can say. It's thick and creamy and best of all, it's made with a blend of oils so what you're getting is pure moisturizers that are perfect for dry skin. I also love their Coconut Lime Body Wash that smells just like creamed coconut, but if you like your scents a bit more fresh, you'll have to check out their Green Tea products that smell just like the real thing. Have a sniff for yourself - not only can you get the products online, but you can also find them at your local Blossom boutique.

I also had a chance to talk to the line's creators and asked them more about their line as well as what some of their favourite products were. Enjoy!

1) What inspired you to come up with the concept of Honey Dipp? Why a Spa product company?

Mickella: Our inspiration came on a hot summer’s day in July 2003. While at Dionne’s house looking at the latest trends and tips in beauty magazines it began to bring back childhood memories of the natural products we used as kids. We shared stories about how our mothers used aloe and coconut oil for dry skin and bath salts for aches and pains. We became instantly hooked on the idea that we could come up with our own line of natural products and then began to list the ingredients we would want in our product line; sugar, coconut, honey and aloe just to name a few.

We decided to create a line of at-home spa products because we wanted everyone to be able to treat themselves to a spa experience at home. Initially we started doing at-home spa parties which was a fun girls’ night in and a great way to introduce our spa product line. We got a great response from both our existing customers and from our new clientele.

2) What's the story behind the name of your company?

Dionne: Once we knew that we wanted a line of natural products we wanted a name that would capture the essence of our product line. Mickella thought of honey because it’s pure and sweet. Then we began bouncing ideas back and forth for a word that would be catchy and would compliment honey. We thought of Honey Dew, Honey D, Honey Suckle, and then I thought of dipp. Once we said the two together we knew that it was a perfect fit!

3) How did you come up with all the different scents?

Mickella : First we came up with lines that we thought would appeal to all women. Then we searched for the scents that would be a perfect fit for each product line. We have edible; we have tropical, floral and unscented. For our Bliss line we chose floral scents such as lavender, rose and white orchid. Our Exotic line has the tropical scents of fresh papaya, citrus, coconut lime and island burst. In our Spice line we used vanilla and coconut because they smell edible. After choosing scents, we thought of the woman who did not want to have a scented product, so we decided to create an unscented line which is Palm.

4) It's amazing that you've included a scent line for men... What's the story there?

Dionne: While we were mixing and experimenting with different blends, my husband Kevin was our “first customer” as he got to try out most of the products before anyone else did. He said he really liked the way the lotions and the butters moistened his skin and that if we carried scents for men he would use it everyday.

So we created the Metro line for men with the soft musky scents of Urban and Zen.

5) What's your favourite product from the line?

Dionne: “My favourite product is our coconut lime lotion because it takes me back to the islands and it gives me a feeling of tranquility.”

Mickella: “My favourite product is our coconut body butter because I just love the smooth texture of our butters and the light edible scent of our coconut.

Name your favourite:

Mascara?

Dionne: “I like MAC’s Mascara X because it doesn’t irritate my eyes. I like the way it goes on light and smooth without being clumpy. I also like that it gives my eyes a natural look and that it washes off easily”.

Mickella: “I like Maybelline’s Waterproof Great Lash Mascara because it doesn’t smudge and it goes on smooth”.

Makeup Product?

Mickella: “My favourite make-up product is a sun-kissed bronzer because I find it light-weight and I love the natural glow it gives my complexion.

Dionne: “I love the natural shades of lip gloss like the Lancome Juicy Tubes because it gives me a soft natural look during the day and a sexy look at night! Personally, I think less is more when it comes to applying make-up.”

Perfume?

Mickella: “I really like the French Connection scent I got for Christmas. It’s a crisp, clean fresh fragrance”

Dionne: “I like Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely as my everyday fragrance because I love the soft citrus scent. On the weekend, I like to wear Weekend by Burberry!”

Olay Radiance Ribbons Body Wash

I've mentioned that I love the Olay Body Wash with Body Butter Ribbons, so when a new version came out - with Radiance Ribbons - I had to try it. This version may just be a little more moisturizing than the other. It's hard to tell when they're both leave your skin so soft. This body wash does seem slightly thicker and has the same thick rich lather that all the Olay Body Washes have.

Now, I've read other reviews and it seems that some people have trouble getting the most out of this body wash. I use a loofah mitt much like the one to the left (from the Body Shop). You can find these mitts everywhere and I use them so that I can exfoliate, clean, and moisturize my skin all in one shower. I squirt a loony-sized amount (Americans, think larger than a quarter) on to the mitt and that's all I need. If you haven't tried using the body wash this way, give it a go - I think you'll find that you get tons of lather and no gloopiness.

The Bomb

At fashion week, one of the goodies that some of us picked up was a tin of Soysilk "The Bomb" Intense Moisturizer. This product is sold at The Soya Boutique, a site that sells soy-based products. The moisturizer has a petroleum jelly-like consistency but is very easy to spread and absorbs quickly. This means that it's not only a great lip-moisturizer, but it's also great to spread on hands and cuticles too. The scent is minty but only slightly - if you're in the mood for something different, the balm comes in some unique "flavours" such as lavender peppermint, and lemon clove.

The tin itself is quite ingenious as well. You press the centre and the tin pops open. To close, just press the sides of the lid and it pops close. This means that even greasy fingers can easily close the tin. I've been using this product for a week now and I absolutely love it because my hangnails are starting to disappear. I love that it feels absolutely weightless on my lips - nothing bothers me more than an overly waxy lip balm, and this one is perfection in a tin.

Great Moisturizer

I have been a fan of Dove's Intensive Nourishing Lotion for a long time. The lotion feels light and thin in your hands but don't be fooled! It's actually a heavy duty lotion and its moisturizing benefits really do last and last. The scent is soft as well and that's always a plus. I'm not sure why this lotion is listed as "new" on the Dove website but if you haven't yet tried it, you should. It keeps skin moisturized and absorbs easily.

(picture from dove.ca).

Quench!

In the short time after they have been launched, Olay's Quench products already seem to have become cult favorites. When anyone gets dry skin, they seem to be the product that people recommend. The product line is great - there's a variety of formulations for different skin types and needs, such as a hand cream, a repair concentrate for extremely dry areas, and body creams for normal, dry, and extra dry skin.

These days, I find myself reaching for the Quench Body Cream. Like all the other Quench products, the ingredient list for this thick cream reads like a who's who of great moisturizers: glycerin, petroleum, dimethicone, and Shea butter all make an appearance. It smells creamier than the other Quench products which I really like, and like all the products in the Quench line, the cream has a slight amount of shimmer in it so that your skin looks healthy and glowing after you put it on. When it comes to dry skin this cream really does Quench.

Johnson's Baby Oil Gel

The winter season is upon us and although it hasn't been too cold here in Canada until recently, indoor heating can lead to dry skin. For us darker girls, that means visibly flaking skin which, if left untreated, looks horrible when you're wearing those black tights that are so popular these days. Finding a moisturizer that lasts all day is a tough job - almost as tough as making time to moisturize daily. Lets face it, some days you just can't be bothered to get out of the warm shower and stand in a cold bathroom slathering moisturizer on. On those days (or every day if you like) here's what you do: use Johnson's Baby Oil Gel right in the shower.

Now, if you haven't heard of this or seen it, just look for it in the baby care section of your local supermarket or drugstore. It's basically mostly baby oil with the addition of a couple of other ingredients to make the baby oil into a gel. Works the same way as the original baby oil.

The best way to use this gel is to use it in conjunction with your soap in the shower - not only does this method cut down on time spent in the bathroom but it also ensures that you're not left with an oily residue that wipes on to your clothes. Lather yourself with your regular soap or body wash and then, before you rinse, slick on this gel. Finally, rinse off the soap and excess oil and get out of the shower. Dry yourself as usual. Chances are that you won't need a moisturizer after you use this and if you do decide to use one, it'll go a lot further. I use this every single winter and it really works and once you get the hang of it, you'll love it too.

Oh, and the Lavender scented one is my favorite - it smells wonderful.

(Picture from drugstore.com).

Help Dry Skin - While in the Shower

There's one product that I insisted on carting back with me when I was in school abroad last year - Olay Body Wash with Body Butter Ribbons. First of all: see the packaging and how the bottle seems to be covered with a swirly design? Well that's not a design - that's actually the product inside the bottle that you're looking at! When they said that the body wash has ribbons of creme, body butter, or lotion folded into it, they weren't kidding.

Anyway besides that, the body wash really does work. It will leave your skin noticeable softer after using it and chances are that this is a body wash you'll stick with.