Simple name + simple ingredients = simply marvelous product

I've recently experimented with two M-61 Skincare products and am hooked!

M-61 Skincare products are 100% paraben and synergic fragrance free, and are both dermatologist and allergy tested.

I tested both the Perfect Cleanse foaming face cleanser and Power Pro-Peel 2 minute facial.

The 2 minute facial has a light exfoliation and zero irritation. I myself, did not see any results in regards to a reduction in fine lines or wrinkles. The facial cleanser is my new obsession! It is light and gorgeous, but powerful. It really provides a deep clean, it does not dry my skin even the slightest! This gel packs enough to remove makeup, dirt, and oil and yet is noticeably calming to the skin. Throw in the fact that Perfect Cleanse contains a few of ,y faves such as green tea and lavender and seriously...how could I resist!?

This is one product that is properly named-check out M-61 Skincare's Perfect Cleanse foaming face cleanser pronto ya'll!

Skinnygirl Face & Body: Vitamin C Face Scrub

Although I cringed at the logo, I tried this cranberry-smelling face scrub.

As a face scrub, I did not like it. Left some serious residue (intense moisturizers), the scrubby-bits were too rough...

As a body scrub, however, this ROCKS.

Smells good without being perfume-y, moisturizes, exfoliates.
Made my legs, arms, and feet feel smooth and pampered.

I will buy more for this winter to keep my skin happy.

Continuous Results by Elayda Skin Care System

Elayda offers the Continuous Results System as a subscription-- each set is a 60-day supply, and the new shipments increase product strength.
The starter kit includes the Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, the Transforming Complex, and the Nourishing Hydrator SPF 29.
So, you have face wash, retinol night cream, and a day cream with SPF.
The face wash is gentle, yet effective.
The retinol cream is the first retinol product I have been able to use! No skin-burning pain!
The Hydrator was a nice moisturizer.
My problem-- the fragrance.
Scented products can be kryptonite for my skin, and this was the case here...
My cousin, who is more fragrance-resistant, tried the products & loves.
Very good products, but know your scent-sitivity before ordering!

Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash and Smoothing Scrub

Click Here

Once a week I use the smoothing Facial Scrub to get rid of dry skin. After rinsing, my skin is so smooth. The rice granules are tiny which is preferable from everything I have read because bigger granules in scrubs can actually scrape the skin. The scent includes just a hint of menthol.

I follow the scrub with the Facial Wash. It lathers a smidge and soothes my extremely dry skin.

Both are perfume and dye free-essential for my easily irritated sensitive skin.

Love this combo especially with chilly temperatures ahead.

Scientific by Kenneth Beer, MD

I recently gave the Scientific skin care line a 2 month trial (shhh! Please, don't tell my mother-in-law! If she asks, I am using 100% of her Mary Kay products!), including Scientific White Bamboo Exfoliator, PH Balancing Cleanser, Daily Hydrating Cream, Brightening Serum, and Intensive Repair Serum.

Scientific PH Balancing Cleanser was light and airy, but with gentle beads to massage and nourish the skin. I found that this cleanser really did balance my skin-I tend to get oily in the summer months and most cleansers that attack oil end up leaving me dry. This cleanser really did have a nice affect on my oily patches, without drying me out.

Scientific White Bamboo Exfoliator was a nice once-a-week treat. This microderm abraision type treatment heats when it meets water and then aggressively, yet gently exfoliates and cleanses. Although I did feel like dead cells were scrubbed away, I did not see patches of red skin or feel areas of irritation, like with other masks.

Scientific Daily Hydrating Cream was magnificent. Very lightly scented and the perfect balance of moisture without oil or shine. One downfall-this product does not play well with others-if you ever blend your face lotion with foundation to create a thinner tinted lotion, this is not an ideal playmate for your cosmetics. I found that this lotion needed to be completely absorbed into the skin before applying anything else, or it would create a delicious soup on my skin.

Scientific Brightening Serum was again, free of scent and light, but did not necessarily prove any results in my discolored or dull skin areas.

Scientific Intensive Repair Serum was a bit oily for regular use, but I would totally add this product to my winter skin care regimen, as it really does seem to give dry patches of skin some tough love. Although it is like an oil to the touch, it creates magic in the skin, acting like a dryness barrier, without shine or overwhelming moisture.

Simple Skincare

Simple
Kind to Skin
Soothing Facial Toner & Moisturising Foaming Facial Wash

Simple started introducing products that are gentle on your skin almost 50 years ago. They use perfume-free, non-harsh, all natural products to create skin care everyone can use. The facial wash foams and feels gentle on my skin. I love the texture, and the way my face feels after. Clean and soft. The toner cleans the last bit of dirt and makeup from my skin without drying it out. That is a huge bonus in my book because most toners make your skin so dry it itches! Simple ingredients, kind to your face...what more could you ask for?!

SensiClear

SensiClear System

My husband has some occasional breakouts and has tried several different face washes and products. Since I knew he was still searching for something that worked, I let him try the SensiClear System. It only took one use for him to decide that this was the product for him. He even went so far as to say that he preferred it to ProActiv. The thing he likes best is that his face feels clean after using it, and the face wash is gentle on his skin. His only complaint was that if he forgets to pack it and take it with him on trips, his face tends to break out again. Overall, he would recommend this product over all others that he has tried so far and will continue to use it in the future!

SLEEKSkin from SLEEK MedSpa Oily-Acneic Skin Kit

SLEEKSkin indeed!

The Oily-Acneic Kit contains four products:

• De-clog to clean
• Tame to tone
• Clear to treat
• Moisture to (you'll never guess) moisturize

My skin actually got worse for the first two or three days, but I persevered & it cleared up!

I think the initial nastiness is from all the crap getting out of your pores.

Using the line, mostly the De-Clog and Moisture, got rid of all the lovely blackheads on my nose! It has even made a difference in the weird chin bumps I get.

I really like that it clears up effectively without making your skin an ashy, flaky mess!

If you are at all prone to breakouts, I would recommend the SleekSkin products any day, definitely better than ProActive!!!

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

These alcohol- and oil-free facial wipes remove EVERYTHING!!!

Very subtle scent, soft, gentle, yet POWERFUL!

Took off mascara like no one's business.

Available in U.S. at Duane Reade in NYC. Hopefully, they will be available everywhere--so everyone can replenish their supply, as everyone should be getting these!!!

Pangea Organics

Pangea Organics reviews from Emily:

-Face wash: Not sure it is right for my skin type, doesn't feel as squeaky clean as I'd like.

-Face Scrub: Works pretty well, kind of chunky. I feel like scrubs work better if the scrubbers are smaller. Smells kind of funny, very "natural".

-Toner: Not sure I get the concept of a spray toner. I close my eyes and spray, and don't get my face. If I do, it feels weird. This one smells ok.

-Face Lotion: Smells kind of funny too, but is a good consistency and moisturizes well.

Skin Milk Cleanser & Lotion

Skin Milk
Foaming Face Wash
A nice, light face wash, not over-drying. Very creamy. Rinses well. Doesn't do any clever tricks, just cleans your face.
Facial Moisturizer
Smooth & creamy. Light, fresh scent that doesn't over-power. Keeps your face from drying out, makes skin feel nice. Not too heavy.
On a hunch, I had my friend's sister (Hi Nicki!) use it after getting sunburned. She said it was great. Makes sense--not menthol-ated like Noxema, but the milk proteins feel great on skin that has been overexposed to harsh conditions.
A great summer night lotion!

Avene oily skin products

AVENE
Cleanance soap-free facial cleanser
Cleanance anti-shine regulating lotion
These 2 products seem to work well enough, but I had to stop using them after a couple of tries, as the scent is VERY powerful. Not a bad smell, smells like the Gap Heaven perfume, but too much for me!
The cleanser is concentrated, so you only need a bit. The container with its twisty-dispensing is really cool, but hard to work with wet hands.

Cleanance acne spot treatment
Nice, not too harsh anti-zit cream with salicylic acid.
Smells so neutral, it's almost a non-scent.
Works well.

Zapping Zits.

Okay, I am a picker. It's cause I can't stand the nasty things on my face & I get such immense satisfaction from popping them. Yes, I know it's very bad. If it makes you feel any better, I only do it when my hands and face are clean, in the privacy of my own bathroom, sometimes with an extractor and a bottle of rubbing alcohol.
In an ideal world, I would never have to take these actions, but if we are going to start with ideals, this blog will explode. So I rely on various products to keep my face from looking like an obstacle course. Here are a few of my current favorites:
Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10-- a staple. Dries the heck out of the spots! Murad Acne Spot Treatment-- smells like dirt, but clears up the zits without over-drying. No flaking skin!
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser For Normal to Oily Skin-- washes off the ick without giving me mask face. Very nice in the winter, with the effectiveness that is not over-zealous.

Shiseido--The Skincare

Shiseido
The Skin Care
I have been using three of the products, a whole night time regime. My skin is more evenly toned, and my monthly breakout has been minimal! The products all have a good, minimal smell. Nothing greasy:) My skin is all glowy & clear right before I go to bed, not as glowy after my morning shower, but I think that has a lot to do with the very little bit of sleep in between those two events. Still looks pretty good considering!
Rinse-Off Cleansing Gel Cleans, for sure, but is super gentle. Non-foaming. I do wish it came in a pump, as opposed to the flip-top, as it is liquid and I am uncoordinated. No post-wash feeling of over-dry-mask-face, my face just felt clean.
Night Moisture Recharge Lotion in a pump, but with a cap so you can travel (not by air though, as it is a generous 75mL, 2.5 fl oz). Goes on smooths on easily & feels light. No gooey face or anything. Just feels nice, no bells or whistles.
Eye Moisture Recharge--Hello unpuffy eyes!!! The lack of puffiness also makes the dark circles look lighter. It's like magic, and all you need is a tiny dab. Does not irritate my eyes, which is great, because with these results I'd seriously consider using it anyway.

Intellegent Aesthetics: Balance Kit & Exfoliating Oatmeal Cleanser

Intellegent Aesthetics: Truth Based Skin Care
Balance Kit & Exfoliating Oatmeal Cleanser
I love the packaging, very minimal & straight-forward. Print can be too small, but that's life. Loving the tagline, "the end of false hope." After using the line for a week, I did notice a drastic reduction in the blackhead population of my nose, which is nice. The rest of my face revolted, however, and some not-so-pretty spots appeared around my temples & forehead. My oil production system does NOT like attempts at control & fights. Fights dirty, too. The Exfoliating Oatmeal Cleanser smelled nice. The creamy base is good, but the scrubbing bits were on the huge side. I am all about micro-scrubbers, and these were full-on granules. I know that my skin has a tendency to freak out, but I hurt after this. My face felt raw. Maybe this is really exfoliating? Maybe I have delicate skin? My dad (hey, real men exfoliate) is very happy with this, as he thinks micro-bead scrubbers are girly. He did not use the word "girly," but that it my best translation of the face he made. Refreshing Pore Cleanser- LEMONS! This is a fairly good cleanser. Salicylic Acid, antioxidants, rinses well. Not too harsh. Oil Control Skin Primer-- Yes, I am a product junkie who does not understand toner. Having come of age in the sea-breeze & oxy pad era, I think of toners as harsh & semi-evil. Toners that don't make your fingertips peel, I really don't get. So, you wash your face, then you put stuff on it, & that makes it cleaner? Yeah, I don't buy it. It is, however, grossly satisfying to see dirt on a cotton ball-- much like seeing the biore strip post-peel. This is a little Pledge-y smelling, yellow water. AM/PM Mattifying Complex-- This was cleanly lemony, and does help the clearing process. It has very little to recommend it to those of us who fear wrinkles, except the pomegranate extract. This was a no-harm/no-foul product for me. The line also includes the Intensive Oil Balancing Treatment, but it has chamomile, so I didn't try it (allergic). I don't know why, but this entire line has Ricinus Communis Seed Extract. That's Castor oil. Why? All told, this is a well developed line. I have come to the conclusion that it is meant for younger &/or less mercurial skin than mine. I am going to have my nieces try it, I do not doubt that it will work well for them.