Category: Make-Up And Skin Care

I am a really big fan of this face wash, which I got at Target for less than $10.

It’s probably not literally flower-powered and the kombucha detail strikes me as ridiculously trendy but I do like this company and I really like the results I get from this cleanser. You just need a little bit and it lathers up beautifully. It smells good, it’s creamy, it takes off my eye make-up and best of all, it gently but thoroughly cleans my summer skin after even the most humid day. I wear a very emollient SPF 50 every day and I need something that does a good job without drying. I find that I can skip the night moisturizing with this cleanser and again, you only need a bit bigger than a pea size dollop of product for face and neck.

I’m a big fan. This works as well as much more expensive cleansers.

Go be beautiful.

MY GOODNESS. I have just returned from our General Assembly in Kansas City, where everything is pretty up to date, and I must say that some of my colleagues are looking unnecessarily decrepit around the face. So much sun damage! So much incipient melanoma and no joking aside, that’s scary stuff.

Please, please take your skin care seriously. SPF. Hats when you’re outside. Please be careful.

I got a sample of this product from Sephora (*heavenly angel choir sings*) and tested it for several days, including one very hot, muggy, sunny day where I was outside a lot.

It goes on easily and you don’t need more than a dime-size amount of product. It miraculously BLENDS in without leaving the dreaded shiny white mask that so many other high SPF products leave (the only one I have found that works as well is by Allgenist). It goes on sticky but dries down pretty well. I have combination skin that tends to feel dry on the sides with other high SPF products, requiring me to layer moisturizer under them. With this product I didn’t need moisturizer, although I did use a Caudelie age-spot serum first (because despite my consistent efforts, I have age spots on the sides of my face).

Here is the model on the Colorescience website:

And here is me at the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side in late afternoon on a very hot day. I’m only wearing the Colorerescience product on my face and no other foundation:

Amazing, no sunburn! Whatever redness you see was already there because I almost always burn my schnoz while gardening for “just a quick minute” that turns into half an hour. I am very impressed with this Colorescience product and have just purchased the full size.

Whatever product you decide to use, please use it religiously and reapply throughout the day if you’re going to be outside.

Kisses on your punims!

P.S. The Tenement Museum was fascinating and deeply moving and very worth the visit.
Many emotions to be had (I am the direct descendent of immigrants who I am pretty sure lived in this neighborhood) and many sermon illustrations. I find that my heart is broken not only for myself but somehow for my relatives who got to this country and survived poverty and discrimination but who were, thank God, never threatened with deporation.
Because of them, I am here living the incredible life that they dreamed for me: religously free, highly educated, comfortable, more than well-fed, culturally enriched, safe, a respected member of a diverse community. Because of them, I fight for my newly-arrived neighbors to have the same opportunity.

Lovely ones!

So my skin was looking hiddy. I wear my sunscreen religiously but I had gotten kind of sloppy about washing my face carefully. Heck, some nights I didn’t wash it at all. That’s when I realized I had to see a dermatologist immediately.

My reward for my “I’m too tired to care” regimen was to have blotchy, dull, congested skin. Since I’m doing a health re-boot this summer I figured I would add skin care to my efforts. I use all sorts of products, sure, but under (or over!) cleaning the face leads to dull complexions. I determined to cut down on sodium, drink more water and get back into skin shape!

What I discovered for myself: a quick wash and splash of water isn’t good enough in the summer when my pores are clogged with heavier sunscreen. Now I use a big dab of foaming cleanser, lather it up with plenty of water, apply it to my wet face, turn the water off and actually spend a minute or so working the cleanser into my skin, making sure not to neglect my nose, chin, under chin(s) way back by my ears, and hairline. I rinse very well, then dry with a clean towel.

After drying, I either apply a gentle toner before eye cream and light moisturizer or I apply a fancy version of a Stridex pad to exfoliate and let that dry before moisturizing,you can Read More here. Also, check out this series of SkinCeuticals skin care products that you’ll surely love.

A friend bought me a beautiful Aveda product a few days ago that I’m loving.

Nope, I don’t get any money or discounts or freebies from Aveda or any other products I endorse here. If I ever do, I’ll always let you know that.

It’s pricey and fancy but what a pleasure to use!! It comes with a little dry brush gizmo that you use on your dry, clean face to gently exfoliate, and an incredibly delicious smelling oil that you BREEATTTHHHHHE IN then massage into your face and décolletage. It says to wash it off but I leave it overnight and my face feels like a baby’s butt in the morning.

I am very happy with the results of paying closer attention to just washing my face! Yea, the oil is nice and helps soften everything but I think the real key has been drinking water, faithfully wearing sunscreen and then getting my skin clear of all that sunscreen every night. If you are suffering from skin problems like me, check out this article on What Is A Green Superfood Powder, And Why Is It Good For You? for some very helpful tips.

I am wearing CE Ferulic serum and eye gel by Dr. Dennis Gross, sunscreen by Algenist, undereye concealer by Smashbox, powder blush by Tarte, highlighter in Smokin’ Whistles by ColourPop, liquid eye liner by Kat Von D and Marc Jacob’s eye pencil on my lower lashes, eyebrow pencil by NYX cosmetics, mascara by Maybelline, eyeshadow in neutrals by Urban Decay, liquid lipstick by Urban Decay and lipgloss by Sephora. I have powdered under my eyes with Ben Nye powder to keep my eye make-up and concealer from melting. But no foundation!

I am wearing an almost full face of make-up today because I have a staff meeting and I don’t want to look like a bedraggled heat wave mess as I did yesterday when I ran out of time in the morning. I hate that feeling so much. This make-up job took five minutes to do and was FUN.

Excited to have my first staff meeting with two new program staff members! Woot!

What are you all up to?
Remember to limit your news consumption! We know what we’re up against, we have to take care of ourselves.
Take. Care. Of. You.
If that means spending a few more minutes in the bath or putting on your eyebrows or making an extra few laps in the pool, you do that. We are in this for the long haul, my loves.

Be strong, be faithful, be beautiful.
I love you.