Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser

As you can see, this is a non-related hair post...sorry ya'll!

I just wanted to RAVE about this product. I used this consistently in the past and I'm not sure why I stopped. Whenever I would get a pimple, I would dab some of this on it and leave it on overnight. The next morning, I would wash it off and the pimple would either be gone, dry out or shrink to a much smaller size. I would also use this as a full mask once a week and a cleanser.

Fast-forward 2 years
Last/this week, I was experiencing some small break-outs and I was thinking of ways to get rid of them. Now, I typically use Aveeno Positively Radiant facial cleanser and moisturizer, but I started to realize my skin looks REAL oily towards the middle of the day. I remembered that my skin reacted better to Neutrogena Products, so I went to target and browsed that section and saw my Beloved Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser. I purchased it right away!

Last night, I put some on each of my pimples and washed it off in the AM with the Aveeno. Low and behold, the pimples have shrunken and I'm pretty sure they will be gone by tomorrow! So, this is something I will never..ever switch out of my skin care regimen again!
I noticed that my skin reacts better to Benzoyl Peroxide and it HATES Salycilic Acid. I'm trying to figure out if I should use this as my only cleanser and ditch the Aveeno. I'll figure that out soon enough.

More about the Product!

Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask is a breakthrough acne-fighting formula that can be used two ways:

- As a Daily Cleanser to kill the bacteria that can cause blackheads and breakouts. Gently massage the rich creamy lather over skin and rinse with water.

- As an Intensive Mask for deep cleansing and extra oil control. Smooth an even layer ober skin, allowing the formula to penetrate for up to 5 minutes before rinsing with water. You'll feel it's cooling intensity build as it penetrates into the pores.

Ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Benzoyl Peroxide 3.5% (Acne Treatment)

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Kaolin, Bentonite, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Titanium Dioxide, Trideceth-9, PEG-5 Ethylhexanoate, Menthol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Fragrance

Price: $5.99 for 4.2 OZ

Review: Chi 44 Iron Guard

We all know that if we are planning on using any form of direct heat, a heat protectant should be used. Heat protection comes in various forms, such as a leave-in, serum, or water based spray. I have used all three kinds and sometimes combine two (for instance-using  Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Reconstructurizer as a leave-in then once hair dries spray Beyond the Zone Heat Protectant on my hair, then proceed to flat-iron or blow-dry). My sister gave me her heat protectant, Chi Iron guard, because
never used it and doesn't flat-iron or blow-dry her hair.
I have used it a few times and because it was "Chi", I thought it would be the holy grail of heat protectants....
See below for my review.



Product Features
Provides superior heat protection for hair from the inside out
Protects against styling and finishing damages from the hottest heat styling tools
Remains hair silky and shiny
Styles last longer with use
Weightless compound, style can be regenerated with heat again and again


Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate, SD Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, PPG 20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Disodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein PG Propyl Silanetriol, Perfume (Fragrance), Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Ceramic

Product Description
CHI Iron Guard by Farouk provides superior heat protection, against styling and finishing damage from the hottest heat tools. Hair will remain silky and shiny, allowing your hair style to last longer

How I used it: When I last relaxed, I sprayed this on each section of my air dried hair before flat-ironing.
Also, before blow drying to stretch my underprocessed hair and/or newgrowth, I would spray this on about 98% dry hair.

My Review: My hair basically stuck together after a few days of using this as a heat protectant when flat-ironing. I figured it could have been because I sprayed on each section when I should have just sprayed through-out my hair. BUT when I used other heat-protectants, I did that and never experienced sticky hair. I also didn't experience the silky smooth hair I wished to. It didn't completely dry out my hair, but I didn't have that swang I would get using a serum,
So, I decided to give it another try, but this time blow-dry and only spray a very little on my hair. My hair still felt a little sticky and it wasn't as smooth as I wished.
I will give it one more try, but so far, I am not loving this

Will I re-purchase- No, I will not. Chi has great products, so I think if I were to purchase another heat protectant from them it will be the Silk Infusium,

Cost 8.5 oz:  free for me, but my sister paid $14.99 @ CVS BUT it can be as low as $9.00 at other places.

Katy Perry in review: the show and the costumes

I review last night's Katy Perry show for Vita.mn, as well as her several costume changes. Here is a smattering; click here for more.













[Photos via PictureGroup & Splash News]

Photo recap: "Dress Rehearsal" Boys & Girls Club Benefit

Last Friday, local designer Emma Berg showcased ten colorful, brand-new looks at the Boys and Girls Club kickoff benefit fashion show, "Dress Rehearsal," at a ballroom of a mansion in Deephaven, Minnesota. The collection was adorned with jewelry, headpieces and handbags by jewelry designer Stephanie Lake, who chaired the event. I assisted with styling, and l'etoile magazine (for which I am fashion editor) was the event's print sponsor. Here is a look at some of the designs from the runway show by Eric Melzer for l'etoile. Click here for more images. L'etoile Creative Director/Founder Beth Hammarlund reviews the show.

Photo recap: Jenny Carle's outdoor fashion show at Design Vertigo

Last Friday evening, I took a trip to North St. Paul to attend an outdoor fashion show put on by charming new boutique Design Vertigo. It featured the Summer 2011 line by local designer Jenny Carle, and was adorably styled with retro 'dos (by BakkenWood Hair Studio) to fit with the vintage theme of the weekly North St. Paul History Cruzer Car Show. The entire street was blocked off and filled with parked vintage cars in candy colors, and the boutique's exterior was decorated to look like a county fair stand. Afterward, I grabbed an ice cream cone with my date, designer Maritza Ramirez, from an outdoor stand and a tap beer at a divey bar called Sidewinders. It was a little taste of small town magic in the Twin Cities.

[Photos by Jahna Peloquin or courtesy NSP History Cruzer Car Show and Lucy Nguyen]

EMJ

Check out this review for our new record by New Zealand's Einstein Music Journal. Visit their site, where you can also download a new track from our record called KINGDOM!