Style Lush

I say goodbye, you say hello (to gorgeous skin)

Editor's note: For our last week at Food Lush, I've asked the writers to share both a favorite post by another writer, from over the last three years, and a favorite post of their own. You'll see these posts linked to at the top of their new post for the week. Enjoy a stroll down Lush memory lane!

by Christina

Well, here we are, our last day. I'm so sad to go, and I really wish there was a big party tonight with all of us and all of you. We could all wear our sparkly shoes, lets do that, okay? Wear something tonight that's a little fun! Please?

I've been here since the beginning and choosing one single post I loved is impossible, so instead I'll tell you my favorite catagory. Style Lush Cribs. Design is my first love so I adore seeing everyones homes and on occasion, helping to make yours more you.

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So, on to my last post.

My favorite beauty product. It's a gel (chemical) peel and it's teriffic. It's gentle and easy to use, just rub it on your face until it dries up and takes the dull top layer with it. The resutls are an amazingly smooth texture ant glows. GLOWS!

Now the down side is it comes from that kisok at the mall, you know the one, they always want to buff your nails? Well, one day I said sure and I ended up buying a few things.....So, order it online! (beware: there's music)

(photo via deep sea cosmetics dot com)

 

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

By Beth

Winter has finally arrived in my part of the world, and with it I turned into an itchy, scaly, red mess from head to toe.  So when I went out to get some emergency exfoliant, I also decided to upgrade my body lotion and see if I could get the scratching under control.  Since I use Aveeno lotion to help control eczema on my hands, I decided to go for the Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($10.50 at Amazon).

The bottle claims that this stuff "moisturizes for 24 hours," to which I said "Ha!" but took a bottle home with me anyway.  When I first tried it I thought it would end up crammed under the bathroom sink with my other product rejects, because it smells like Aveeno.  You know, not a bad smell, but not really a good smell either, and not a smell I really wanted all over my body.  But the smell goes away, and the lotion honestly does last as long as it claims to.  As I am writing this, I last applied lotion 24 hours ago after my shower, and my skin feels like I put lotion on 20 minutes ago.  Best of all, I've been able to stop scratching in public.  Now, this will not be my summer body lotion, but I'm not going to even consider a change until the tulips are out.

(Photo credit: Amazon.com)

Aveeno Positively Ageless Resurfacing Scrub

By Beth

One morning a couple of weeks ago I glanced at myself in the mirror and noticed that the entire top layer of skin on my right cheek was about to peel off and land on my shoe, and I decided it was time to replace the exfoliant that I ran out of early last spring before I started frightening innocent children.  So I took myself off to the nearest drugstore for an emergency supply until I could order the fancy-dancy stuff I used last year.  I faced a shelf with bottle after bottle of products with words like "radiant" and "glowing" and "dewy" and "gossamer."  And then I saw this:

Aveeno Positively Ageless Resurfacing Scrub, $8.99 at Amazon.  The "resurfacing" bit cracked me up, because it made me think of when they repave a road and that one huge machine comes and scrapes the old road up and that other huge machine comes and lays down pristine, smooth, hot asphalt.  I guess I felt in need of a fresh coat of asphalt that day (Oh, or a zamboni!  That's good too!), because I bought it.  And I love it.

The bottle promises a more even tone and whatnot, and I haven't noticed any of that, but after one use all the rogue bits of my right cheek were gone and after two weeks of daily use my face is so smooth that my night cleanser seems to just slide on and off my face with nothing to hold onto.  I think it is time to dial back to every second or third day, now that the worst of the situation is under control, but I can't seem to stop myself from using it every morning just so I can feel my face afterwards. (Is that weird?  Ok, I admit, it's a little weird.)

Photo credit: Amazon.com

Coconut Oil - Scar Remedy or Passing Fad?

By Hillary

Coconut oil is everywhere right now (probably due to the popularity of the Paleo diet.)

I've heard that it's great for your skin but couldn't justify buying a jar (of oil! to rub into my face! something just feels off about that) until the emergency room doctor recommended it to prevent my husband's wound from becoming a giant forehead scar.

I remain skeptical that my husband will escape unscathed but it was the push I needed to go out and spend $10 on a (tiny!) jar of coconut oil. I can't wait to try it out on my dry elbows and chapped lips.

What do you use coconut oil for? And, uhh, does anyone have any magical scar remedies to recommend? My husband is currently rocking an inch and a half-long gash on his forehead and is concerned he'll be left with a nasty scar.

{Photo credit: drbronner.com}

Skincare Bargains

by Tara C.

Since my last post was about a skincare splurge, I thought I'd share some much more reasonably priced skincare ideas this week.

1. Use baking soda to exfoliate. This tip couldn't be simpler or cheaper. Pour a little baking soda in your palm and mix with water for form a paste. Use it to gently exfoliate your skin. We've actually mentioned this tip before, but I think it's a good one.

2. Try buying a glycolic acid peel online. Glycolic acid is supposed to brighten skin, treat sun damage and smooth fine lines and scars. This glycolic acid peel is similar to the one I've used before, but it looks like the brand I bought is no longer available. This one is currently $10.99, which is 86% off the $79.99 list price.

3.Try Bio-Oil ($10.00 for 4.2oz. on Amazon) for stretch marks or dry, flaky skin. This oil is very hydrating. I have not personally used it for stretch marks, but I have used it overnight on dry patches and my skin seems much more moisturized and softer in the morning.

{Photo credits: amazon.com}

What are your bargain skincare tips?

Spa Sonic

By Beth

A while ago I bought a Spa Sonic when it was one of the Target Daily Deals.  The Spa Sonic is a knock-off of the Clarisonic Mia.  I chose the Spa Sonic because it was significantly cheaper and also because I have a daughter named Mia and I refuse to own an appliance that shares a name with my eldest child.  I used it for a couple of days and it has lived under my sink ever since.  A ringing endorsement, no?  However, I recently hauled it out to give it another try, and here's what I think of it.

The large scrubber that you are supposed to use to exfoliate your whole body in the shower hurts like the dickens.  Seriously, unless you have a much thicker skin than I do you should just throw that one away straight out of the box.

The small scrubber you use with your face wash was a revelation the first time I used it.  When I rinsed I thought my skin had never been so fresh and clean and dewy!  And that result has never been repeated.  It works ok, although it splatters a whole lot, and the brush gets a little prickly after not many uses.

The soft pad for applying moisturizer though, here we have a winner.  This is the one thing I have started using daily and I really like it.  I seem to use less moisturizer but it feels like it is really getting worked into my skin and there is very little of that lotiony wetness left at the end.  

So, I don't know that I would rush right out and spend the money again, and this may be one of those situations where you go top of the line or go home, but your mileage may very.

(Photo credit: amazon.com)

Sephora Splurge: Josie Maran's Bronzing Argan Oil

Tara C.

Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself and realized that your complexion resembles the underbelly of a fish, but less radiant? If you are already youthful, dewy, and glowing, please move along. This post if not for you. But, if you're like me and your skin seems a little dull and in need of something to perk it up, Josie Maran's Bronzing Argan Oil might be the product for you.

(photo from: Sephora)

This oil does not make my fair skin look tan, but it does impart a hint of color and a slightly dewy appearance. When I first put it on it it looks a lot oilier and darker than it does once it soaks in. I find the bronzing effect to be fairly subtle.

Unfortunately, it is not cheap. I used a birthday gift card to buy this and it has lasted many months. However, I only use it sparingly on my face. It says on the bottle that it can be used on your hair and body as well. Obviously, if you were to slather yourself in this it wouldn't last as long.

I first heard about this product from a new mom who was looking for a way to perk up her tired-looking skin. I think this would make a wonderfully generous gift, if not for yourself, then for a good friend who has recently had a baby. Or really anyone who needs some extra TLC.

Honestly, I have quit expecting miracles from skin care products. They have all failed to give me the skin I had when I was 20. But, I do think this is a really nice product and that my skin looks a little better when I use it.

Teenage Boy Approved: Skincare Products

By Jessica

My son has been dealing with acne prone skin ever since he moved into his teen years. I feel pretty safe talking about this here since he doesn't read this blog (the horror!) and if any of his friends do, I'm sure I'll hear about it...but better to ask forgiveness than permission, right? Ha! Anyway, we've tried many things to combat this problem, which you should all read as I've spent money on many things and then he's been too lazy to use them, all while complaining about how bad his skin looks, until now. 

Apparently the trick to getting my son to do something is to make it even easier than soap and water. What is easier than that? 

Neutogena Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes-Pink Grapefruit these wipes have salicylic acid built right in, so not only do they cleanse the skin but they treat it at the same time. 

Done and done. His skin is already clearing up and it's only been a couple of days of consistent use.

Of course, there are times when he might be required to step up and actually do a second step with a spot treatment and for that I purchased a generic benzoil peroxide product from Target (which I would link to but of course they don't even have it on their own website, maddening!) just look for the spot treatment from Neutrogena and you'll find the Up and Up equivilant right next to it.

(Photo from: Neutrogena)

Johnson's Buddies Easy-Grip Sudzing Bar: OMG LOVE

by Emily

People, this thing is a GAME CHANGER.

We've always been a body wash kind of family, but I kind of hate schlepping bottles of body wash along on long trips. You have to bring a big enough bottle to last the entire time (we're currently in the middle of an 11-day beach vacation, so travel sizes won't cut it), it always seems to leak, and I know it sounds picky, but my kids can't manage to open a big, slippery bottle by themselves in the shower and it leads to a lot of frustration for both of us. Ok, so that's the case at home as well as on vacation.

I stumbled across one of these Johnson's Buddies Easy-Grip Sudzing Bars in the baby toiletry aisle and it looked like genius. A bar of soap - an actual BAR OF SOAP - that won't sting my kids eyes! YES! And it's wrapped in a grippy soap pouch that makes it easy to hold onto and super easy to lather up.

Verdict: LOVE. The kids love being independent and washing themselves with it, and I love that it cost around $1 and can be tossed at the end of our trip so I don't have to shlep it home with us. I originally bought it because it just wasn't body wash, but now I think we'll be using these at home from now on. It smells great, and the pouch makes it extra scrubby without being rough - it works great on stubborn patches of marker or dirt.

[Photo credit: johnsonsbaby.com]

Summer time saver: Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter Body Oil

by Emily

Honestly, the number one reason I skip body lotion most often is because I just don't want to take the time to do it. I try to take a nice long shower; I usually don't have any extra time when I get out to do much else other than throw on some deodorant and face moisturizer.

In the summer, however, I simply moisturize WHILE I'M STILL IN THE SHOWER. This is a genius move, in my own personal opinion. I love this product - I usually put it on right after I've turned off the shower but before I dry off - the gel is thick, otherwise, and doesn't go on as smoothly. I find that about a quarter-sized amount moisturizes perfectly if I have wet skin - it doesn't get greasy or oily, and after I've rubbed it on, I simply pat my skin dry with a towel.

I also am 100 percent addicted to the summery scent of coconut and cocoa butter, and this product has just the right scent strength. I pretty much forego any other scent in the summer - I don't want it to compete with this! I find a bottle lasts a while, and I don't use it after EVERY shower... sometimes, it really is TOO HOT for an oil-based moisturizer. But I do love that it feels indulgent when I DO use it, and the price really can't be beat.

{Photo credit: drugstore.com}