Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Hemp Seed Oil
bellableu 10/1/2010 11:04:00 PM
I have hyper-sensitive, Rosacea skin. And you know what that means: inflammation. Hemp Seed Oil is the ONLY carrier oil I can use on my face when it's upset, and the only oil I care to use the rest of the time due to its soothing, smoothing, calming, restorative effects. For Rosacea skin, it is wonderful - it reduces inflammation and nourishes skin that is otherwise hard to 'feed' and care for due to hyper-sensitivity. It's high in essential fatty acids & vitamins. It also absorbs better than other oils I've tried (and I tried many in the past several years). If you find you can't use oils that other people recommend (like Jojoba or Coconut), try Hemp Seed Oil - it might be just the thing for your sensitive skin. Love, love, love Hemp Seed Oil!
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Cerave - Moisturizing Cream
bellableu 2/4/2010 11:47:00 PM
This is quite possibly the most wonderful skin care product ever invented. :) I have been dealing with a SERIOUSLY compromised skin barrier for the past 3 - 4 months (a temporary move to a high desert town - the twin terrors of VERY DRY AIR and VERY HARD WATER - have ravaged my skin). I'd gone from 'all natural' to Vaseline, and still no relief from red, flaky, painful, tight, scary-dry facial skin. Forget about cracked hands (yes, that's bad enough) - try a cracking FACE. The 'all natural' approach was useless (don't talk to me about shea butter, sesame oil, or facial spritzes - didn't make a dent, and clogged my pores), and the big guns (Cetaphil cream, Vaseline) only worked for a few hours, in the dry air & even drier indoor heating (halfway through a day at work, I can feel my face burning, and sure enough I'll be red as a ripe tomato). Then I finally tried CeraVe Cream. Why did I wait so long?? Oh mercy on me! I didn't know! I had heard of CeraVe, but thought it was just another heavy moisturizer (a newer variation on Cetaphil, perhaps?). I did a little research, and once I realized it was meant for healing & maintaining the skin barrier, specifically - not just meant to be used AS a barrier from the elements & from moisture loss (not that there's anything wrong with that! but I needed something to help repair MY barrier) - I figured, what did I have to lose? Isn't this exactly what I need? Yes, this is exactly what I need. The first use was immediately soothing. Within minutes, my skin felt normal for the first time in months. It was a little less red, so I knew I was experiencing real relief. It's only been a few days, and already my skin is calmer, softer, and less red - the scaliness is gone. The price is not bad (it was serendipity: I went to Walgreens to get this, it was on sale for $3 off), normally around $14. This is on the high end for this kind of product, but far less than a prescription for serious skin repair later. An option for a smaller size would be nice - if you can find CeraVe Cream at a drugstore, it is in a 16 oz. tub. 8 oz. would be a reasonable size. I don't mind the tub (I realize many dislike jars & tubs), but I am using a cosmetic spatula to keep my fingers out of it. The first hour or so after use, my skin feels slightly sticky (presumably from the glycerine), but it is not bothersome to me. After a few more hours, my skin still feels soft, but no longer sticky, and just 'normal'. I feel like I'm getting my own face back. I will continue to use this as long as it is helpful. :) Love Love Love. <3 ETA: just want to add that, as it turns out, I have Rosacea, and I was suffering from a nightmarish cold-weather-flushing induced flare. CeraVe really is a wonderful barrier recovery cream - it never did irritate my skin, and though I don't need it now that I have moved out of the desert & my skin has recovered from that horrible flare, I would totally totally use it again. :)
20 out of 20 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Garden of Wisdom - Garden of Wisdom Pineapple Wine Exfoliating Gel
bellableu 2/4/2010 11:01:00 PM
This is one of the best exfoliating products for sensitive skin I've tried - I've repurchased this gel regularly over the past couple of years. My skin is dry, sensitive, AND clog prone ... this product has never caused me a problem or even slight redness; it leaves my skin gently exfoliated and smooth, and does exactly what it's supposed to do. I've never found it to be drying or uncomfortable. Definitely worth a try for sensitive skin that wants a bit of exfo. A nice option to get rid of flakes from Retin-A or excessively dry skin, as it doesn't (in my experience) cause irritation or dryness. Possibly GOW's gentlest exfoliating product, definitely worth a sample if you want to de-flake without burning or discomfort! A .25 oz. sample (good for at least two uses) is a fairly reasonable $3.50; full size 2 oz. is $17.50. For a small 'natural' skincare company, not too bad, really. The full size lasts a long time - I don't use it more than once a week, so mine lasts months. Notes on use: the current directions for use on the website say to rinse it away after allowing to dry - older directions (from earlier packaging) said to wipe gently away with a soft cloth. It removes much easier with a cloth than without, FYI. :) I would not leave this product on the skin for more than 10 minutes - do not wait for it to dry completely. It will start to feel a little tight by 10 minutes, and that's plenty dry! Ingredients: Distilled water, Pineapple Distillate, Fruit Pectin Powder, Burgundy Wine, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Papain Powder, Optiphen/Cosmocil CQ Blend, Spearmint Essential Oil
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No