Drugstore Beauty | It List vol. 3

We're well into February now and it seems to me it's high time for a new edition of the Drugstore Beauty It List. If you're new to this series, I basically choose six drugstore beauty items that I've been loving and tell you about the. I try to post a new It List every month.

I try out a lot of new items all the time, and I don't always have time to review all of them. The It List is a great way for me to share some of my favorites with you, while giving you an abbreviated review. Whenever a full review is available for a product listed, I'll link to it.

Now let's take a gander at this month's favorites.

1. Garnier Clean+ Purifying Foam Cleanser ($5.99) / 2. Sally Hansen Nail Treatment Instant Cuticle Remover ($.499) / 3. Nivea Lip Care A Kiss of Care Color  ($4.99) / 4. L'Oreal Paris Elnett Extra Strong Hold Hairspray ($12.99) / 5. NYX Wonder Pencil ($4.50) / 6. Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder ($7.99)

Garnier Clean+ Purifying Foam Cleanser

If you have combination skin, it's time to rejoice. Garnier released a new line of skin cleansers and two of them are geared specifically for those of us with combination skin. The Purifying Foam Cleanser is meant to strike the delicate balance between deep cleaning oil annihilation and gentle moisturizing cleansing. Finally, we can have it all. Oil control without dehydrating your non-oily areas. I immediately noticed that my skin felt more balanced and produced less oil throughout the day. After a week, my skin was also noticeably softer. Read my full review for more details.  

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover

This product is a god send. I think everyone needs a bottle of this in their home. Not only does it help you treat stubborn cuticles and improve your manicure game, it also helps dissolve stubborn calluses too. This little $5 bottle also lasts a long time. I've been using it for several years now, and I think I've only on my fourth bottle. I use it at least once a week too. So here's the deal, you apply the serum/gel along your cuticle. Wait about 30 seconds. Then push your cuticles back. The product dissolves the cuticle, which means a lot less trimming (I still go in and trim here and there, but it's quite minimal. And yes, I know, you're not supposed to. But I do). Read my review here. 

Nivea A Kiss of Care and Color (new item)

I'm a big fan of Nivea lip balms. They're always so buttery smooth and superbly moisturizing. They recently released a new line called A Kiss of Care and Color and it's been popular. I went to three stores before I got my hands on these. The were sold out everywhere. I purchased two of the four available and I love it. They give you the moisture you're used to from Nivea with a pretty sheer hint of color. The color is just enough to be noticeable and you can build it up (though it'll still be sheer).

Even better: The shade Sheer Berry is practically an exact color dupe for Clinique's Black Honey (which has a huge cult following). If I had to find a difference, Nivea's is just the slightest bit more red. But wearing them side by side, the difference is imperceptible. So go ahead and save about $10 and pat yourself on the back. 

L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray

This has been the only hairspray I've purchased since discovering it about 4 years ago (maybe longer?). I'm not a huge fan of crunchy, stiff hairspray hold and this was the first hairspray I came across that gave me hold while still being flexible. Best of all, it brushes right out, which is absolutely perfect for me since I don't like to wash my hair every day. I know some people don't like the strong perfume-like fragrance on this one. Fear not, they make an unscented version too.

NYX Wonder Pencil

This aptly-named little gem is a versatile little miracle. You can use it for so many different things. You can spot conceal (note: these run light so if you plan to conceal a blemish, try a shade darker than what you use, otherwise you'll highlight it), use it to highlight under your brow, inner corner, and even hide fine lines. Give your eyes a little lift. Line your lower water line when you didn't get enough sleep. You'll pay less than $4.50 and find yourself reaching for this little pencil more often than you'd expect. Check out my full review and video demonstration for how I like to use it.

Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder

This new powder contains 60% less talc, which means you can apply it over your makeup without over mattifying your skin. It feels light and silky smooth without the telltale chalky effect that tends to cling to imperfections. Available in 16 shades, you're likely to find one that works for you. A word to the wise: These run a little dark and they do deposit color. Choose one shade lighter than the color you normally get.

There you have it. Did any of your favorite products make it to the It List this month? Any favorites you'd recommend I check out? You might just see it mentioned in future postings. Comment below, let's discuss. 

Review: Garnier Clean+ Purifying Foam Cleanser

Garnier Clean+ Purifying Foam Cleanser 

Garnier's new Clean+ line has been out for a minute and a half now, and we've even talked about the line's cleansing oil recently. Today, we're gonna tackle the new Purifying Foam Cleanser, which is meant to clean combination skin deeply without affecting its delicate balance.

I purchased it at Walgreens for $7.99 (6.8 fl. oz). Of course, I've seen it at Target for less ($5.99). I'm seeing a trend here lately. Most products I get at the drugstore (because that's where they usually hit first) are typically $2 more than Target or Walmart. My folly is your gain -- go save yourself some cash.  (P.S. - Don't forget this brand always has coupons available)

Here's what Garnier has to say about it:

Not just a Better Clean, Better Skin.

Is it right for me?

Combination skin types have different cleansing needs in order to look and feel their best. Often, the wrong face scrubs are used for specific skin concerns. As a result, skin does not get the right care it needs to look and feel its best. 

How is it different?

Customized Cleansing + Skin Type Specific Care

Customized Cleansing: This lavish foam effectively cleanses and purifies skin without overdrying.

Skin Type Specific Care: Formula, infused with antioxidants, Grapefruit and Pomegranate softens and balances skin.

How do I use it?

Hold bottle upright. Pull cap up and squeeze bottle to release foam into palm of hand. Gently massage on face, avoiding eye area. Rinse with water. Use daily.

How do I use Clean+ products together?

For optimal results, alternate use with Clean + Balancing Daily Exfoliator.

 With all that in mind, let's get to what I have to say.

Packaging:

Garnier Clean+ Purifying Foam Cleanser for combination skin packaging and dispensing instructions

I love this packaging. At first, it looks like a regular pump dispenser. But then, when I got home and actually looked at what I bought (because instructions are clearly printed on the front and I somehow missed it -- I'm an observant one), it turns out it works a little differently. Rather than pushing down on the pump dispenser to release the foam cleanser, you pull the dispenser up to unlock it, then squeeze the bottle to release product into your hands. 

What a great idea. You're much less likely to make a gigantic mess if you need to travel with this because it's easier to make sure it's closed. Plus, it gives you good control over how much product you dispense. Kudos Garnier. I'm a fan. 

Garnier Clean+ Purifying Foam Cleanser - open dispenser

Use and performance:

Using this product is pretty straight forward. Dampen face, dispense foam onto hands, then rub it on your face to clean. I like using circular motions. You can also use this with a Clarisonic or other face cleansing brushes. Whatever suits your fancy. I keep this one by the bathroom sink (and my Clarisonic in the shower) so I use my hands. 

Let's end the suspense now and tell you, I love this cleanser. 

As a combination skin gal, I usually feel like Goldilocks when it comes to skincare products. They either provide too much moisture or too little. Same goes with cleansers. I always need to strike a delicate balance between the two. It can sometimes feel like a high-wire act.  Many are either too drying because they're meant to battle oiliness (which I have some of) or too gentle to not over dry skin (something that I need, just not all over). 

This is one of the first drugstore cleansers out there that has left my skin feeling as nice as it does when I use Philosophy's Purity cleanser. Now, before anyone gets excited, this is not a Purity dupe. That's not what it's set out to do. However, I noticed some similarities. Let me explain. It cleanses my skin thoroughly and keeps it looking clear without leaving it dry and tight (go ahead, giggle, I'll wait). It's also made my skin noticeably softer (one of the stand out things I noticed when I first started using Purity, which is what first led me to draw the comparison). These are all things I love about using Purity that I hadn't found in a drugstore cleanser just yet -- at least not all rolled into one. \

Garnier told us this cleanser would clean and balance persnickety combination skin, and they've delivered. This is definitely going to help me save some money without giving up clean, balanced, soft skin. 

Disclosure: I use this cleanser 1-2 times per day (depending on facial cleansing needs for the day) and my Purity cleanser once per day (in the shower with my Clarisonic). Yes, sometimes I need to wash my face three times (first thing in the morning before the gym, then shower after the gym, then again before bed to wash off the day). Before starting to use this cleanser, I was only using my Purity cleanser and Clarisonic. I did not purchase the recommended Clean+ Balancing Daily Exfoliator because I rely on my Clarisonic for exfoliation.

Consistency:

This product is a foam. That means the consistency is light and frothy. It rinses away easily and doesn't leave behind residue. Here's what it looks like when you squeeze it out of the bottle.

Smell:

Alright folks, this is Garnier. That means fragrance. And I'm particularly fond this one. It's infused with grapefruit and pomegranate, which means it has a citrus scent. We should all know by now that I love citrus scented items. This one is right up my alley. It smells mostly of grapefruit to me.

Overall thoughts:

I'm really pleased with this purchase. I love that it works so well with my skin type. Finally, a cleanser for those of us that need to tackle oil, while still being gentle on our dry or normal areas. This is a definite repurchase. It does everything Garnier claims it will do (and it helps that their claims weren't all that far fetched).

 Will it totally replace my Purity cleanser? I'm not sure I'm ready to quit Purity yet. I'm a little too attached. But I will keep using them together. And, whenever my high-end favorite is running low, I won't feel that crazy sense of urgency to run and replace it. At least I won't be spending higher dollar as often.

For all my combo skin folks out there, this is one product I think you'll really love (as long as you're not scent sensitive). After you get it, come back and share your thoughts. If you're already using it, what do you think? Did you feel the same way I did?

Review: Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil

Garnier Clean + Nourishing Cleansing Oil

At last! There's a drugstore cleansing oil option on the market for those of us who have been seriously obsessed with the higher end stuff.  Those were my thoughts when I first heard that Garnier was releasing their Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil.

For those of you new to cleansing oils, they're fantastic. They gently remove makeup then breakdown quickly and rinse away easily with just a splash of water. Even the most long-wearing, waterproof makeup is not match. Best of all, you can get all that stubborn makeup off sans tugging or pulling on your skin. It simply melts away and it leaves your skin feeling clean, but never tight or dry -- no matter what your skin type (yes, even oily-skinned girls love cleansing oils).

I've been a fan of cleansing oils for a few years and have used various brands including: Origins, Philosophy, MAC, Sephora, and Shu Uemura. This is all to tell you that I've got some cleansing oil experience under my belt. This is not a fly-by-night obsession we're dealing with here.

Needless to say, I was seriously psyched when I found out that Garnier planned to release their own version. Finally, there'd be an option to save a few dollars on a skincare favorite.

When I stumbled on it at Walgreens ($7.99 for 4.2 oz), I purchased it immediately. About a week later, I saw it at my local Target priced $2 cheaper (just FYI in case you want to save a little extra).

Garnier Clan+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil $7.99 at Walgreens

The first thing I noticed before even making the purchase is that Garnier is marketing it as a product formulated for dry skin. But based on my past experience with cleansing oils (good for all skin types), I ignored this and bought it anyway. (We'll discuss why this is important later)

Before we get into how Garnier's cleansing oil fared, here's what Garnier says about it on their site:

Nourishing Cleansing Oil

Is it right for me?

Dry skin types have different cleansing needs in order to look and feel their best. Often, the wrong face scrubs are used for specific skin concerns. As a result, skin does not get the right care it needs to look and feel its best. 

How is it different?

Customized Cleansing + Skin Type Specific Care

Customized Cleansing: Cleansing oil instantly dissolves impurities and long-wear makeup with no greasy residue.

Skin Type Specific Care: Formula, infused with nourishing Jojoba and Macadamia Oil, helps replenish skin's moisture balance.

How do I use it?

Make sure that hands and face are dry. Apply 1-2 pumps to fingertips and massage onto skin. Close eyes to remove eye (area) makeup. Wet face to emulsify oil then rinse thoroughly.

How do I use Clean+ products together?

For optimal results, alternate use with Clean + Smoothing Cream Cleanser.

For advanced care, incorporate into your routine:

For advanced care, incorporate a Garnier facial moisturizer for dry skin and eye roller into your routine. 

Now on to the review:

Packaging 

I'd like to give Garnier kudos for packaging this in a pump bottle. I know this might seem small and insignificant, but not all cleansing oils are packaged this way. It's a much easier and less messy way to use the product because you're less likely to over pour or have oil run down the outside of the container and get on your counter.

Use and performance:

If you're new to using cleansing oils, heed the instructions. Your hands and face must be dry when you apply this. If your skin is wet, it will simply emulsify the oil before you get to apply it. I know it takes some getting used to if you're used to washing with regular cleanser, but it's a pretty quick and easy switch. Garnier's oil is no different. 

Garnier recommends one to two pumps of oil to cleanse your face, and that allotment is totally accurate. I found that two pumps worked best for me and removed my makeup with no problem. Just gently massage the oil onto your face in circular motions and then rinse. I pay particular attention to my eye area because I like a few coats of mascara. As long as I don't try to rush through the removal process, this oil dissolved and removed all of my makeup on most days.  I say most because on a day-to-day basis, I could get all my makeup off and have stain-free hand towels (you know what I'm talking about) -- even long-wearing makeup. But, when I wore heavy eye makeup, like on a night out,   this fell a little short. It still dissolved all the mascara, eyeshadow, and liner, but it didn't rinse them all away. I'd still have some black residue left under my eyes.

I also noticed that it doesn't rinse off as easily as other cleansing oils. Normally, my cleansing oils will turn white and emulsify immediately when they come in contact with water. I can normally rinse them completely clean by the time I've splashed my face with water three times (and that third time is usually for good measure). With the Garnier cleansing oil, I need to spend a little extra time rinsing it off. It just doesn't emulsify as quickly.

Another thing I noticed was that it leaves a bit of residue behind. No matter how much I tried to rinse it away, there's still a very light film. I think this is why Garnier specifically markets it for dry skin. That film feels almost like a moisture barrier that's meant to trap moisture in your skin. I think this would feel really nice for someone who battles the tightness that can result from regular cleansers. 

I have combination skin, so I didn't necessarily need the extra layer of moisture left behind. 

After a bit of trial and error, here's what I found:

• This works best for me if I use it as a makeup remover and follow it up with a cleanser to remove the film. Here's what my first few days went like: 
• Day 1:  Removed makeup with cleansing oil,  applied nightly moisturizer/skincare routine. Woke up with a blemish the next morning. 
• Day 2: Removed makeup with cleansing oil, washed my face after with a cleanser,  and applied my nightly moisturizer/skincare routine. Woke up with a blemish (Wah!). 
• Day 3: (almost ready to give up): Removed makeup with cleansing oil, washed face with regular cleanser, and skipped nightly skincare/moisturizer routine (Gasp! I know, don't judge, please). Woke up with clear skin. 
•  Day 4:  Not wanting to abandon my nightly moisturizing and skin care regimen, I removed makeup with cleansing oil, washed my face with regular cleanser, then applied my nightly skincare but used less product. Woke up with clear skin (Eureka!)
• Day 5: Followed same procedure as Day 4 with the same results. As such, continue to use the product in this manner.

Consistency:

Garnier's cleansing oil feels a bit thicker than the higher-end competitors I've tried. But it's not overly thick. If you've used jojoba oil as a makeup remover, this feels really similar (makes sense, this product contains jojoba oil). If you haven't, it's not quite as thick as olive oil, but not as thin as water. 

Smell:

Like many Garnier products, this one has a fruity scent. However, the aroma is not overpowering.  If you prefer unscented skincare products, you'll want to skip this one. 

Ingredients to note:

While this isn't something that bothers me, this cleansing oil  contains mineral oil. I know there are many of you out there who try to avoid it. You've been warned. 

Overall thoughts:

Unlike other cleansing oils out there, I think Garnier's cleansing oil really is geared to specifically benefit dry skin. Big surprise, considering the label actually said so. That's what I get for ignoring it. 

I felt it did a satisfactory job of removing makeup, and now that I've figured out the best way to use it for my skin, I like it better than I did those first two days (when I was super disappointed). That being said, if you're used to higher-end brands, Garnier's version may not completely bowl you over. With my previous cleansing oils, the experience was love at first use. This time, there was a learning curve. 

All in all, I'd still say I like this product now that I've figured out the best way to use it for my skin. It's just not my number one choice compared to the other cleansing oils in my beauty arsenal.

I'm kind of hoping that this is just the beginning and that Garnier is testing the market. Perhaps if they receive a favorable response and customer feedback, they'll release follow up formulations that are suitable for other skin types. After all, they started out with one BB cream, and have since released formulations for oily/combo skin and mature skin. I have my fingers cross that this will happen with their cleansing oil.  

Are you a fan of cleansing oils? Have you tried the new Garnier Clean+ Nourshing Cleaning Oil? Did you have a similar or different experience? If you haven't tried it yet, do you think you will? Comment below, let's chat about it. 

Five Minute Face Using Garnier BB Cream

Here's a quick video to show you my go-to makeup look lately. I wanted to make this video for two reasons:

1. It's a quick makeup look that should only take you 5 minutes (but definitely less than 10 depending on how long it takes you to blend) to do. You can look presentable no matter where you're going. The main focus is giving you a fresh-faced look that is flawless but not overdone, which means it's appropriate for anything -- groceries, errands, shopping, school, the office, or anywhere else you want to look presentable.
2. I wanted you to be able to see the Garnier BB cream that I just recently reviewed (get all the details here). I think it gives excellent coverage (almost foundation like) and has a great matte, natural-looking finish and you can see it for yourself in this video. 

I hope you like it! let me know what you think!

Video software and music: iMovie and Dan-O from www.danosongs.com

This is not a sponsored post. 

Review: Garnier BB Cream for Combination to Oily Skin

I was so excited when I saw that Garnier finally released a BB cream for combination to oily skin. Finally, I thought when I spotted it. It was about damn time. After I bought it and did some research, I realized, I'm a bit behind the boat. It's been out for about six months in the US (give or take). Well, to that I say, better late than never. The original Garnier BB cream had wonderful coverage, but the problem was, it made me an oily mess. It had to go back. It was the closest I came to liking any of the BB creams I've tried out. It would've been perfect if it weren't for the pesky fact that I looked like a greasy mess at the end of the day. Needless to say, I was quite excited at the prospect of a BB cream (especially a drugstore one) that would give me the coverage I wanted without ending up a slick, slippery disaster. And this one seemed promising. At least the claims on the box seemed to be what I was looking for: instant perfection, all-day shine control, controls shine, minimizes pores, evens, and hydrates.  Sounded good to me. 

In other words, you're supposed to get a one-step product that will do the job of your moisturizer, foundation, and sunscreen. Sounds ideal, right? Here's what you get:

• A fair price, $11.99 - $13.99 at drugstores (I got mine at Target for $11.99) for 2 fl. oz. of product. Plus you can sweeten the price with coupons. 
• Three shade options: Light/Medium, Medium/Depp, and Deep

As you can see, I picked up the Light/Medium shade. From what I can tell, it's just the slightest bit too light for my complexion, but not so much that it's glaringly obvious. I get away with wearing it just fine for now, we'll see what happens come summer. 

For anyone who is on the light side of medium, I'd recommend going a shade deeper, because there really isn't anything "medium" about it. However, Light/Medium is probably way too dark for someone who uses fair or ivory shades and has more yellow than pink in it. It probably won't work as well for the alabaster beauties out there. Garnier definitely needs to work on that. 

Of all the drugstore BB creams I've tried out, I have to say, I'm rather impressed by this one. My main complaint with drugstore BB's is the fact that none of them provided me the amount of coverage that I wanted. They were often way too sheer. I felt like you had to have pretty much perfect skin to wear them at all. Not so with this one. I get great coverage. I'd describe it as a light coverage that's leaning toward medium coverage. In fact, I could easily build it up to medium on the days that I need it. I've worn this on many occasions with just a bit of blush and mascara and felt confident all day long. 

Another plus, it really does help you control oiliness. I even wore it to a Pure Barre class, and even though I was sweating, my skin still looked great. I was pretty impressed. It's not sweat proof, but it held up alright. The one thing I noticed, however, is that it does have a slight smell of alcohol. I checked the ingredients and there are at least three instances of some form of alcohol that I see. The smell isn't overwhelming, and it doesn't sting or anything when you apply it, but it's definitely there. I'm wondering if this is what helps with the shine control. 

While I can't say that with frequent use its improving my skin, it's certainly not making it worse. And it does even out my skin when I'm wearing it. Because it's just a touch too light, I can't really get away with wearing it alone or I look washed out, so blush is necessary for me. I'd have to say that its claim to even your skin is true, but only in the sense that it's coverage is good enough to hide minor imperfections - let's call those minor imperfections light to medium freckles/spots or even light under eye circles. 

When it comes to coverage, shine control, affordability, accessibility, and ease of use, I have to say, I'm really thrilled with the Garnier BB cream for combination to oily skin. There are only two things I'm not crazy about. One of them is the product's consistency. Don't get me wrong. It's not gritty or slimy or anything like that. It's just super watery. That alone wouldn't be a big deal except that it makes it really messy. It just runs out of the squeeze tube, whether you're squeezing it or not. I wipe it clean every time I use it, and every time I open it there's product all over the cap. Check out the photo to see what I mean. 

The product just leaks right out. So, if you put it on your counter while you're applying it to your face, you'll find you have to wipe it down. Nothing too serious, but usually a few drops.

The other thing I'm not too keen on: its moisturizing capability. If you only need light moisture, this is great. But there are a few areas (for me) where it doesn't moisturize enough. I found that my forehead (which doesn't get terribly oily) can sometimes look a little dry when I wear this alone. Nothing crazy, but still a bit dry. In fact, it's the only area where I find the BB cream doesn't moisturize enough. An easy fix was to use a little serum before applying it, that way it was light enough not to over moisturize when I add the BB cream.

Neither of these two issues are enough to keep me from repurchasing this product. I'd definitely get it again. I only mention them so you're not surprised by them if you choose to check this BB cream out for yourself.

Have you tried the new Garnier BB cream for combination to oily skin? How has your experience compared to mine? Are you curious to try it if you haven't already? Comment below and tell me your thoughts!

Check out my five-minute face video to see the BB cream in action!