CC It to Believe It

CC Creams are gaining in popularity for their light coverage and complexion enhancing ways.

CC indeed stands for "color correcting" and the creams are meant to address issues like redness or sallowness with light diffusing particles. They generally offer more coverage than a tinted moisturizer or BB Cream and often include SPF.

Time Freeze CC Anti-Age Color Correcting Cream from Lumene is an impressive 6-in-1 product:

• Foundation – a fine but well covering formula. The shades are designed to neutralize the color of red areas.
• Concealer
• Primer
• Illuminator
• Long-lasting
• SPF 20

This was my first foray into the wild world of CC Creams (it's a beauty product jungle out there), and I must say I am quite inclined to stay awhile. I never quite took to BB Creams (what's the point when I'm devoted to my foundation?), but Time Freeze offers an easy, ideal light coverage for when I'm not so inclined to get gussied up, but still do not want to scare small children or the elderly by venturing out into public make-up free. It instantly perfected my pores and overall skin tone and lasted all day.

As mentioned above, you can also use it as a primer under foundation for extra coverage and staying power—a most excellent aspect I utilized over the weekend for my big brother's wedding!

Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream is available in light, medium and dark shades. It can be found at CVS, CVS.com, Ulta, Ulta.com and Dermstore.com and retails for $14.99. 

Yes to Blueberries: Night & Day

From Judi

About the Yes To! Blueberry stuff I tried.:
Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
I love the overnight product it makes my skin soft and nice without it feeling overly greasy. I like it so much I use it during the day as well. I would definitely purchase more.

Daily Repairing Moisturizer with SPF 30
The day time one however, I didn't care for it was to thick applying and left a white film on my face that took "forever" to fade away even though I felt as though I had rubbed it all off trying to rub it in and the white color away. Afterward it left my skin feeling tight and as if I was wearing a mask all day. Sorry, not a fan!

From Kate
It seems that, across the board, the only Yes To products that we didn't love were the day creams. They were too thick & sticky. Everything else, we loved!
The face wipes, cleansers, eye treatments, night creams-- all have been wonderful.
My advice: Buy everything they make that is non-SPF, wait for reformulations on that.

Lumene: Vitamin C+ Pure Radiance Day Cream SPF 15

Day cream for under my sunblock!

Light enough for layering, strong enough to make my skin glow-y.

Has only UVA protection rating, so don't rely on it for sun protection, but do count on it for making your skin happy!

I know there's a lot of back-&-forth about the effectiveness of anti-oxidants lately, but I think that the proof is in the pudding:

Try this cream for a couple of weeks & get back to me, doubters!

Feels, smells, and makes your face lovely. 

CVS even sells mini-jars that are perfect for traveling or testing.

Boscia B.B. Cream

Vogue, Allure, Elle... They are all about the B.B. Creams.

These Beauty Balms are basically a perfecting magic foundation.

Boscia's is chock-full of good stuff to make your skin look & act better.

Goes on smoothly, blends well, stays in place.

Love the SPF ++.

I do wish that Boscia made different shades, though--  from their website: This B.B. Cream comes in a self-adjusting, universal shade that warms to complement most skin tones for sheer, flawless coverage.

It seems as though I fall outside of the most, but maybe that's just my ghastly pallor. 

L'Occitane Sun Verbena Protective Body Lotion SPF 15 (Verveine Soleil)

A great body lotion plus sun protection?!? Yes, please!

Lightly scented--herbally lemon.

Moisturizes well, absorbs quickly, not greasy.
I now put this on everyday after my morning shower.

The only drawback I have: the bottle can be weak around the corners, so try to shake instead of squeeze. I am, apparently, a vigorous squeezer--had to put tape to cover split on corner of bottle.

Added incentive: L'Occitane, as a brand, ROCKS! They have braille on their products &/or packaging; so if you happen to be blind, you still know what you are using. The L'Occitane Foundation works to Support the Visually Impaired, Advance the Economic Emancipation of Women, and Preserve the Knowledge of Nature. How cool is that?!?!

Smart Girls Who Surf : SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm

Vanilla

Tastes like Vanilla cake, feels great on my lips, and doesn't have any weird stuff in it!

I can feel it on my lips, which I love--that's how I know when to re-apply.

And the name? Smart Girls Who Surf? Okay, some of us are Smart Girls Who Wish They Could Surf... Hey, I live in the Midwest.

I'll just have to settle for the lip balm and dreams.

DDF Glossy Lip Treatment

Tastes like peppermint ice cream!

Has spf!

Glossy, but not like you are trying to use your lips as a mirror.

Not sticky!

DDF, I love this!

I use it alone & over non-SPF-rated lipsticks/stains.

C.O. Bigelow: All-in-1 Protective Lotion...

All-in-1 Protective Day Lotion SPF 25 (Light-Weight Formula) - Normal to Oily Skin Light lotion. Doesn't cause zits, UVA/UVB protection, anti-oxidants. All VERY good in my book! Pump tube, dispenses easily. Clean, beachy smell. Me likes!

Juice Beauty: SPF 8 Lip Moisturizer

Playful

Great lip balm, excellent color!

Taste- somewhere between apple juice & fruit punch, but in the best possible way!

I'm in love with this!!!

Juice Beauty wins again!

Skin Milk Lotion + SPF

Skin Milk Hand Lotion with SPF 15
Quickly absorbed.
Not oddly scented, feels like it is relieving a bit of my perpetual hand chap.
I tend to like a thicker, more cream-like lotion, so this was thin/liquidy for me, but my dad, who likes liquidy hand lotion, seemed quite happy with it--he made off with it to keep in his car.

SPF Lotion: Peter Thomas Roth

Peter Thomas Roth
Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion - SPF 30
Nice.
Doesn't give me zits or mask-like feel.
No kabuki face.*
Goes on lightly, absorbs quickly. I like that it has SPF 30 w/ Parsol 1789 & is UVA & UVB blocking. Why bother if it's not full-spectrum?


*Kabuki Face--when your sunscreen gives your face a ghastly pallor. You look like you are wearing white kabuki pancake make-up.

LORAC - protecTINT

LORAC
protecTINT oil free tinted moisturizer
SPF 30
Tawny Temptress

My friend, Julie first introduced me to tinted face moisturizers about 4 years ago. I have since tried several different ones. This little sample from LORAC was perfect for a facial trial. The lotion was a little more creamy than the ones I have tried, but that may be because it was in a sample pouch and not a bottle/tube. It felt somewhat greasy, but did not make my face look greasy at all. The color was great. Not too much tint, but just enough to make my skin appear almost sun-kissed. You have to remember 2 things: 1) Make sure you distribute evenly over face and neck. 2) Wash your hands IMMEDIATELY after applying. It can make your hands look orange. The great thing about this is, if you have clear skin, you can use this instead of a foundation!

Cosmedicine: SPF Lotion

Cosmedicine

Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20

Maybe it's just me, & I have the worst luck w/Cosmedicine products. Do I get faulty samples, or just happen to test the products that suck?
I was excited to try this, as it promises to stop me from being a greasy mess & stop the sun from making me a wrinkly leather glove.
Squirted some of this into my hand & flashed back to elementary school, when we'd put the Elmer's glue on our palms & let it dry then peel it off. If only this lotion were that satisfying.
Yes, it feels thick & viscous like glue. Your face will know how paper feels, getting paste spread all over. After the initial gluey-face repulsion, I let the lotion sink in for a bit. Had to wash my hands, scrubbing with bar soap. Not a good sign. I then touched my face-rubber! So creepy.
After a few hours, I was still rubbery, but also slightly oily. I felt gross the whole rest of the day, which made me all moody & pissy. So, if you want to be shunned by friends, family, & co-workers & feel like the bottom if a shoe, go for this.

Lips: Tarte-- 24/7 lip sheers with SPF 15

Tarte
24/7 lip sheers with SPF 15

I got Thursday in the Sephora Sun Care pack & fell in love.
It is a very subtle color, just enough to make it look like my lips have a natural tint (as opposed to pale & non-existent). Keeps my lips soft & protected from the sun. It's my new summer staple.
There are the days a girl needs a little added oomph in the lip department. That is why I went out & bought Friday! Friday's a lovely berry color, you can put on just enough for a stain, or go whole hog & layer it up for a deep, dark look.
The color stays, the soft stays-- I hope that means the SPF stays. Comes in 11 shades- I want to try Monday & Tuesday & Saturday...

Primer + SPF: Alison Raffaele

Alison Raffaele
Primer: Acne Response Formula with spf 15

Not really sure if this qualifies as lotion/potion or make up, although it is technically a pre-foundation... I don't wear foundation, so I'm putting it here!

I was dubious, all this face-primer. Does anyone really have time for yet another step in the morning routine? However, this is worth it!

A couple of squirts of this smooth cream leaves my face feeling soft & protected. It feels like silky velvet, so nice! And it has zit-killers & anti-oxidants! What more does a girl need?

After a couple of weeks, I have noticed improvement in my skin texture & complexion. It's like magic. Thank you Alison!

P.S.: Free of nasty junk & environmentally responsible! Not animal tested:)

Murad Sunblock/Bronzer

Murad

Firming Bronzer SPF 15

Okay, great color.

No weird smell.

However, the color comes off on EVERYTHING!

It says to wait for the product to dry-- I gave it 7 minutes the 1st try, 15 the next, still have bronzed clothes, car seats, office chairs...

I used just enough to cover, not even full amount recommended for proper SPF coverage.

What gives?

Protecting My Face

Neutrogena® Age ShieldSunblock SPF 30/45 with Helioplex is awesome. I use the SPF 45. It is a wide-spectrum block that stops the sun from giving me wrinkles, but it doesn't give me zits! It has anti-oxidants in it, so I don't even have to use a separate lotion. This makes my morning easier & my skin happy. It is so nice, I almost wish my office had a window;)

Vincent Longo LipStain Lipstick

Vincent Longo LipStain Lipstick
Cherry
How do I love this? Let me count the ways:
1. SPF 15
2. Brilliant red color. Not over-the-top, but like I just had strawberries.
3. Glossy, but not so much that I could be seen from space.
4. Makes my lips feel smooth.
5. Not greasy, cakey, or waxy feeling.
6. I can put it on without looking. Okay, I do this with most things, but this doesn't get all sloppy.
7. Smells like vanilla & cinnamon.
8. Doesn't taste like dish soap. Doesn't really taste like anything.

I am all about it. My only druthers is that they no longer make the shade Americana, which was (oddly enough) more of a cherry-red. That was quite a color.