Beautyholics Anonymous » Body

Battle of the Zit Busters: Mario Badescu vs The Jojoba Company

Tine — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve been suffering from breakouts for severals months now, particularly when I’m riding the crimson wave. I needed something that would curb the zits that sprout on my chin and nose. For some reason, Garnier’s Pure Active Anti-Spot Roll On doesn’t cut it anymore. I’d be rolling that pen on my skin three times a day and it still did not get the results I desired. Damn pimples just wouldn’t go down.

I needed something stronger. A whole lot stronger.

For the past few months, I’ve been using a couple of zit-busting products that have delivered the results I wanted, and they are Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion and The Jojoba Company’s Spot-On Pimple Treatment. How did they fare against each other? Which do I prefer?

Read on, my pretties.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Description:
The Drying Lotion is a fast acting, effective acne spot treatment. Formulated with salicylic acid, calamine and other quick-drying ingredients, this product will shrink ugly whiteheads virtually overnight while you sleep. While other acne spot treatments can irritate and dry delicate or sensitive skin, this product is safe and effective for all skin types.

I bought this after reading reviews from several beauty bloggers. Consensus was that this works a treat on pimples, and dries them up faster than salted fish.
This reminds me of calamine lotion. It even looks like calamine lotion, especially when you’ve given it a shake.
However, you’re not supposed to use it like calamine lotion. This means that you cannot shake this when you want to use it.
Make sure that the liquid and the clay is separated when you dip your cotton swab in. Swirl it around the clay, making sure you get most of it on the cotton swab. Apply to affected areas. It dries up fairly quickly.
It’s an effective treatment for drying up pimples, but sweet Lord, this lotion STINKS. As in, pungent, gag-inducing, need-to-hold-your-breath-lest-you-hurl stinkbomb. The smell is really overwhelming. I have to hold my breath everytime I use this because I just couldn’t take the very strong scent. One time, it brought up bile in my mouth. True story.
RRP AU$48.95 for 30ml

The Jojoba Company Spot-On Pimple Treatment

Description:
A mineral rich formulation to target individual spots. Combines zinc sulphate to help dry excess oil and a high performance formulation of silicas, zeolite and ivory clay, vitamin C rich Kakadu plum, green tea, vitamin E and the extraordinary rejuvenating properties of manuka, lavender and juniper essential oils. Not tested on animals.

This was sent to me for trial. I was very glad for the opportunity because I needed to find something that would be just as effective as the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion that doesn’t make me want to throw up every time I use it.
The Spot-On Pimple Treatment is a clay-based cream. It dries very quickly on the skin.
I’m not going to lie to you. This does not smell good either. It smells a little like rotten eggs, which gets stronger the more you spread the cream on your skin.
RRP AU$24.95 for 25ml

Mario Badescu vs The Jojoba Company. Who wins?

Unblended

Blended

I think you will need to smell both and see which one scent you can resist. There’s no way around it. MB’s Drying Lotion tends to dry pimples out slightly quicker, but it’s strong stuff. You would only need very, very little of the product to go on affected areas. The Spot-On Pimple Treatment takes an extra day for zits to dry up. The formula for the latter is not as strong, which I believe would suit sensitive skin.

Price-wise, if both products were purchased in Australia, then the Jojoba Company one would be a lot cheaper. I purchased the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion from Kiss and Makeup NY. Including shipping of US$18 (assuming that I did not purchase any other products with it), it comes up to about US$35.

Personally, I prefer the Jojoba Company’s Spot-On Pimple Treatment. I like that it’s not as strong as Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion. I can also deal with the scent, which I cannot with MB’s very pungent one. However, if I need to look my best tomorrow and somehow my skin decides to break out, then it’s Mario Badescu to the rescue as it eradicates the zit quicker. If not, then I’m sticking with the Jojoba Company’s Spot-On treatment.

Have you tried any of these products before? What’s your go-to pimple buster? Oh, and if you also know of any DIY pimple treatments (preferably not toothpaste), do share with us!

My Current Favourite Showertime Prodz

Tine — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

This is not my bathroom. Damn.

I love experimenting with new shower products. I have Monday to Sunday shower gels and creams, all of which I take turns to use. Yes, I’m spoiled like that What can I say, I like having a variety to choose from.

Here are a few of my current favourite showertime products. By current, I mean for the past 6 months. I wouldn’t exactly call them my all-time favourites, because new ones emerge every month, and whenever I’m shopping for groceries at Coles or Woolies, I hope to find something new. By the way, shower creams/gels aren’t beauty products. They’re *ahem* groceries, if you know what I mean

Botanics of Australia Invigorating Body Wash with Desert Lime

You know what this smells like? Cola. I kid you not. It smells like you’re showering with Pepsi. I admit I don’t have a clue what desert lime is, but it sure smells bloody amazing. The first whiff of the product when you uncap it would be Cola. When it’s on the skin, it smells like lime and mint. It’s unusual, and it’s very refreshing in the mornings. Imma get me 2 more bottles of this!

L’occitane Amande Shower Oil

This is what I call my “luxe shower item”. It’s not something I use often, but something I save for days when I need that extra pampering and pick-me-up. The oil feels oh-so-luxurious on the skin, and emulsifies when in contact with water. Even though it’s a bath oil, it cleanses the skin well, and does not leave an oily, icky feeling. The almond oil leaves the skin soft and supple. Love!

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Relaxing Body Wash

Again, like the body lotion, it’s either you like the scent or you don’t. If you do, you would love this marine-fragranced bath gel. Suffice to say, I’m a fan

Cussons Imperial Leather Foamburst Foaming Shower Gel

This is a strange one, unlike most shower products I’ve used. It works exactly like shaving gel. You shake it, press the knob thingy, and it comes out as a thick gel. When you lather it with water, it transforms into this white bubbly mess, especially when you spread it on your skin. Just one squirt of the gel is enough to clean the whole body. I liked this so much, I bought the full set from Coles

Dove Go Fresh Nourishing Body Wash in Pomegranate & Lemon Verbena Scent

I’m a big fan of Dove’s Go Fresh body wash range. They smell great, and they’re so cheap too (especially if you get it from Chemist Warehouse). A few months ago, I discovered the Pomegranate & Lemon Verbena Scent. I thought it smelled a tad strong in the shower, but what I like about it is the lingering scent on the skin AFTER the shower. Definitely check it out if you’re a fan of pomegranates

Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Rejuvenating Creamy Body Wash in Mango & Grapefruit

I can’t believe I almost forgot to add this in. I bought my first tube of the Naturals Rejuvenating Creamy Body Wash in Mango & Grapefruit when Crabtree & Evelyn was having a 20% discount sale in store. It not only smells fantastic of fresh mangos, this has the best texture of cream washes I’ve encountered. It’s very creamy on the skin, making this my #2 luxe body wash. I’m about to finish my second tube, and cannot wait to get the third. I’m going to check out the factory outlet at Heatherton to see if I can get this in bulk. Oh yeah, it’s that good.

See, I really do need all these bottles and tubes of body wash, don’t I?

Over to you. What’s your favourite showertime product?

PS: It might look as though some of these bottles are new, as though they’ve never been opened. All, except the Botanics of Australia Body Wash, are repurchased items.

My 7 Favourite Body Lotions For Winter

Tine — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:26:26 +0000

I may not be diligent when it comes to using handcreams, but body lotions, oh come to mama. Everytime I stepped out of the shower, just like clockwork, I would slap on body moisturiser. Come to think about it, it’s a habit I picked up only after I moved to Australia. I was lazy as when it came to body lotions back in Malaysia, and even though I slept in an air-conditioned room, I never bothered. Bad Tine.

Winter’s here, and body lotions are an absolute must for me. Relative humidity is low, it’s cold outside, and my skin tends to crinkle up even more (hello snakey skin!). I love trying out new body moisturisers so I don’t just use one all winter. Here are seven of my favourite body lotions for winter (some I use for the rest of the year). All of these met my very important criterias of body lotions – quick absoption, non-greasy and do not leave any oily residue.

Khiel’s Creme de Corps

Ahh Kiehl’s cult product. If you’re looking for something rich and unscented, this is one you should keep an eye out for. I like that it’s rich but not heavy, and being unscented means I can layer perfume on my skin without any clashing of fragrances.

Cetaphil Intensive Moisturising Cream

If I’m not mistaken, this would be my 4th tube. That’s how much I like it. I find it very similar to Khiel’s Creme de Corps – it’s thick but not heavy, and unscented too. This is very good for days when I get chafing on my back or sides due to friction of my skin against my clothes and bag. It’s excellent on sensitive skin. I’ve even applied this on my face when it gets its highly sensitive moments and other moisturisers just wouldn’t help. A cheap but highly effective drugstore gem.

KORA by Miranda Kerr Organic Rich Body Lotion

I’ve reviewed this before, but just have to say it again. Love the soothing scent of lavender, and it’s great for application on skin prior to hitting the sack.

Vaseline Dry Skin Conditioning Lotion

I’ve used this for goodness-knows-how-many years now, back to the days before they changed the packaging and added new varieties to the range. It’s light enough to use daily all year, but still gives sufficient hydration to the skin in winter. I’ve always been a fan of Vaseline body lotions and this one will remain a keeper. They just can’t go wrong.

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Relaxing Body Lotion

In terms of texture, this is very similar to the light Vaseline body lotion as mentioned above. The thing that attracts me the most to this body lotion is the awesomesauce fragrance. La Source is one of Crabtree & Evelyn’s bestselling range, and have been for years, because of its unique, marine-like scent. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it sure is mine. This is my second tube, and I can guarantee you there will be more to come.

INVITE Concentrated Vitamin E Cream

This does not go on my arms or legs, but more specifically, on my breasts. Ever since the breast lump removal surgery, I’ve been applying this diligently on the scar around the left nipple, and I figured what the heck, I’d slap these all over my boobs as well. The breasts are often forgotten when it comes to body lotions. Many of us, yours truly not excluded, tend to just concentrate on the legs, arms and if we could manage it, the back. We forget that the breasts, and especially the nipples, can get dry too. Dry nipples = itchy nipples, and trust me, it’s downright uncomfortable. This works very well, and my boobs thank INVITE for it.

Botanics of Australia Hydrating Body Souffle

I recently had the opportunity to try out this body lotion, and whaddyaknow, it instantly become a fast favourite. It has a whipped cream texture, just like souffle and spreads on the skin like butter. The scent of sandalwood is not very strong, but just enough to remind me of what they use at fancy-schmancy spas (this girl loves her spas). It was love at first application.

So there you have it, my favourite body lotions for winter, some of which I use throughout the year.

What are your favourite body lotions?

Dolce By MOR for Target

Tine — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:00:00 +0000

MOR Cosmetics are the type of toiletries that not only smells good, but that you can just place on the dresser to look pretty.

Recently MOR launched a collection, Dolce by MOR, exclusively for Target. They’re a more affordable range (each item priced between $10 to $15, compared to the original MOR products, in which a candle alone can cost 40 bucks) but equally gorgeous and the scents are absolutely delicious.

These babies will give your bathroom a luxe appeal. I’m sure of it

Sorbet: Tempt your sense with a cocktail of Lemon, Lime and Coconut blended with a delicious Vanilla base.

Pomegranate: With a heart of Violet and Jasmine, a burst of tangy Pomegranate blends with sweet Raspberry and Blackcurrant coulis to top a Sweet Musk base.

Honey: Fragrant May Bell infused Honey drizzles over base notes of Amber; Cotton Candy and Vanilla (my favourite of the range)

Gift packs are also available, if you’re looking to, say, give one to Mummy dearest for Mother’s Day?

Each gift pack retails at AU$30. Dolce by MOR is available at Target stores.

Weleda Lavender Creamy Body Wash

Tine — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:31:44 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I have this secret stash of bath products which I do not place in the bathroom (ie share with the husband). It was an idea I took from LeGeeque. You know that luxe shower gel you normally wouldn’t pay that much for (when bodywash you can get for less than a tenner from Coles would normally suffice), but still do anyway, so you only use them on special occasions? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.

I recently added a new body wash into my secret stash, and that’s Weleda’s Lavender Creamy Body Wash.

The body wash was not as rich as I expected, even after shaking the tube. It’s actually quite runny. But the scent. Oh the scent. Imagine lying in a field of lavender on a sunny, summer dress-y day. Mmmm. It smells absolutely wonderful. None of that overpowering drenched in lavendar oil, sickeningly cloying fragrance. But enough for the lovely, calming effect during the shower, with a subtle lingering scent on your skin.

Awesomeness.

I love this one to bits. I stupidly left it out on the bathroom sill a few days ago, and the husband sneaked a few washes with it. And now, I cannot put it back to my secret stash because he called me selfish for not sharing the, and I quote, “shower cream with the very good smell“.

Selfish? Me? The nerve!

Ahem.

Weleda Lavender Creamy Body Wash retails at AU$19.90 for 7.2oz (203.6g), and is available at selected health stores and pharmacies nationwide. For stockist enquires, please call 03 9723 7278 or visit their website, www.weleda.com.au.

What I like about it: Beautiful, non-cloying scent of lavender. Free of synthetic fragrances, colours, preservatives and all that bad shizz.

What I do not like about it: I now have to share it with the husband. Hmph.

What about you? Do you have a secret stash of luxe body washes you don’t share with anyone?

KORA by Miranda Kerr: Organic Rich Body Lotion

Tine — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:34:09 +0000

Is it very unAustralian of me to say I’ve never really liked Miranda Kerr? Something about her just rubs me the wrong way. I just don’t know what it is. So when she launched her own skincare line, Kora by Miranda Kerr, I pooh-poohed the range, figured it was yet another celebrity launching his/her own fragrance, skincare products, etc. Plus, to be honest, the products ain’t exactly cheap to begin with.

Still, when I saw a few Kora products in the MBBE goodie bag, I was quite keen to try them out. What better way to see if they really work, or if they would just be nothing more than a celebrity-endorsed item?

First to try was the Organic Rich Body Lotion.

Description:

The ultimate all over body moisturiser providing the skin with complete nourishment and protection. Organically grown Jojoba, Noni Extract, Cocoa Butter and Macadamia reintroduce Essential fatty Acids into the skin while Plant Botanicals help soften and protect the skin from harmful free radicals.

The lotion is an unassuming, and rather unflattering shade of beige. Beige. Ugh, even the word leaves a bland taste in the mouth. The texture and feel of the cream are not as rich and thick as I expected. Still, it’s not greasy, spreads well onto the skin and absorbs quickly.

Despite the colour, I have to say, I’m actually quite in love with the lotion! It smells amazing, with a blend of organic plant botanicals (jojoba, sandalwood and macadamia, cocoa butter, and that noni juice she’s always yammering on about). Even though it’s described as a rich body lotion, it’s actually quite light on my dry skin. It’s a definite check for me for the coming warm summer nights. Having said that, there are some who still say that it’s quite thick for summer use. I use mine straight out of the shower when my skin is still slightly damp, thus it was just fine for me.

So Miranda Kerr, dammit, you got me on this one. I really do like this body lotion, and I’m more than ready to try out the other products from your KORA range.

KORA by Miranda Kerr’s Organic Rich Body Lotion retails at AU$44.95 for 200ml and is available at David Jones.

What I like about it: Love the aromatherapy scent, moisturises the skin well, not greasy.

What I do not like about it: The colour’s a bit offputting for me. Beige. Blegh

Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Body Cream

Tine — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:27:45 +0000

Description:

Packed with deeply-hydrating plant oils and specially created to enhance your skin’s natural radiance, this ultra-rich cream is our most intensive body moisturiser. A rich blend of Evening Primrose, Jojoba and certified organic Rosehip oils deeply moisturise and nourish the skin while Sunflower oil and Manuka Honey soften and protect. Licorice and Mica – a light-reflecting mineral – leaves shimmering, radiant skin you’ll love.

Texture: Thick, but not ick-greasy. It’s not too rich that you cannot wear this in summer. Still, I would recommend this to those with dry skin (I have particularly dry, unfortunately scaly legs), if you would like to use it in summer. For those with oily/normal skin, better to stick to lotions, yes?

Scent: Lavender. Not overpowering, but subtle lavender, which I completely adore. That’s already a win for me.

Now I’m not normally a fan of mica in skincare products, whether it’s for the face or body. I’m a firm believer that mica should be in makeup and makeup alone. Often with many bodycare products, I find that the amount of mica in them is enough to make one look like a disco ball. It’s for the shimmery effect, so that the skin will glow when sun-kissed. Works for most people, just not for me.

That’s why I wasn’t sure about this body cream, because I didn’t know that there was going to be mica in it. Still, the scent was enticing enough for me to want to give it a go. When I applied it on my arms and legs, I thought I was given a dud product because my skin didn’t have those light-reflecting minerals that I expected. Hmm, curiouser and curiouser.

When I was out in the sun, my skin glowed. Minute particles of mica shimmered so beautifully on my skin. I was oddly mesmerised. When I had it on daily for the first week, I kept admiring my glowy, shimmery-but-not-a-disco-ball arms.

Idiot

Since I prefer not to have mica on me 24/7, I only apply this during the day, which I can easily wash off. I can already see me using this heavily for summer when I don’t have to wear those bloomin’ jeans no more.

Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Body Cream retails at AU$26 for 150ml and is available at leading pharmacies and Myer.

What I like about it: Subtle lavender scent, contains enough mica to give me glowy skin but not look like a disco ball. Keeps skin hydrated for hours.

What I do not like about it: Nothing

This product was sent to me for consideration.

Cetaphil Moisturising Cream

Tine — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:53:52 +0000

I’m a huge fan of Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser. Have been using it for years, have no problems with it. Many a time, the cleanser is bundled with a complimentary full-sized bonus product (especially if you buy ‘em from Chemist Warehouse). A few weeks ago, when I purchased the cleanser, it came with a 50g tube of its moisturising cream. Score!

Description:

Recommended by dermatologists for dry, sensitive skin.
A formulation of emollients and humectants bind water to the skin, softening whilst preventing moisture loss.
Lanolin, paraben and fragrance-free.
Non-comedogenic (will not block pores).
For facial and full body use.
Helps to relieve baby’s dry skin.

Ingredients:
Purified Water, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate (and) Propylene Glycol, Paraffin Soft White, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Stereate (and) Peg-30 Stereate, Glycerol, Dimethicone (and) Dimethiconol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sweet Almond Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium Edetate, Sodium Hydroxide.

Scent – It’s fragrance-free. I’ve been using fragrance-free sorbelene body creams of late, and I love them. At the very least, you’ll have no worries about clashing scents with perfume.

Texture – The moisturising cream is quite thick; in fact, it’s probably the thickest body moisturiser I’ve used. Nevertheless, it’s oil-free without leaving any greasy feeling on the skin. Even though its description states that it can be used on the face, I think I’ll pass on that. It’s probably too much for my oily face anyway.

This has easily become my #1 winter body moisturiser. It’s rich enough to use in winter, without being heavy on the skin. It’s not oily, plus it’s great for dry, sensitive skin. And, it’s cheap as chips!

Cetaphil Moisturising Cream retails at AU$8.05 for 100g and AU$11.65 for 250g, and is available at all leading pharmacies and supermarkets.

What I like about it: Rich but not heavy, oil-free, well-hydrating body moisturiser. Very affordable too.

What I do not like about it: Nothing

Review: Dove Rich Moisturising Creme

Tine — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:25:40 +0000

As disappointed as I was when the Priceline (a popular drugstore in Australia) down the road where I live changed its management and became Chemist Warehouse, I’m actually quite glad for the cheap goodies I always manage to score. Unlike Priceline with its fancy bright lights and abundant brands and products, Chemist Warehouse may not stock the latest range of drugstore makeup or skincare items, but you can always get the usual stuff cheaper.

I stumbled upon this rich body moisturiser when I was buying my allergy medication. And what a great find it was.

Description:

This intensive cream from Dove offers rich care and a pleasant feel on the skin during and after application. It combines nourishing ingredients and an extra dose of active moisturiser. Dove Intensive Cream – for soft and cared for skin. Especially suitable for very dry skin areas.

The texture is very rich, but unlike Nivea’s classic moisturiser, Nivea Creme‘s slightly whipped and a tad grainy texture (the ones that come in a tin. As far as I remember anyway), Dove’s cream is very smooth. It’s actually very similar to body butters from The Body Shop.

The scent is typical of Dove products. If you’ve used their shower creams or bars, this smells exactly like those. I’m not keen on heavy scents, fruity or floral, so this works out great for me.

This jar of thick cream is fantastic for winter. I apply this after my evening shower, and it keeps my skin properly hydrated throughout the night. It’s a tad too rich for the face, methinks, so I’d recommend slathering this only on the body, arms and legs.

And the best part of this jar of cream? It’s only AU$4 for 150ml at Chemist Warehouse (as far as I know, Priceline does not stock this). Four bucks! Cheaper than chips, I tell you. It works just as well as, if not better than, luxury body creams and butters, but only at a fraction of the cost.

Ka-ching!

What I like about it: Inexpensive, rich and smooth in texture, keeps dry skin moisturised.

What I do not like about it: It’s not available in all drugstores.

L’occitane Extra Gentle Soap in Lavender

Tine — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:46:08 +0000

Did a bit of a body care haul at L’occitane last Thursday. Bought some shower oil and body oil, both which I’ve never tried before.

In order to qualify for this gift-with-purchase (still valid at time of post),

I had to purchase something from the Shea Butter collection. As I already have a shea butter hand cream and wasn’t keen on getting yet another tub of body butter, the sales assistant recommended the cheapest thing in store – the extra-gentle soap. Since I haven’t used soap bars in ages (and also because I’ve already spent a bomb in store), I was sold.

Description:

Formulated with a 100% vegetable base and enriched with Shea Butter, with nourishing properties. Allows to use daily. Non-irritating; suitable for men, women and children. Available also in the fragrances: Cinnamon – orange, madreselva, milk, lavanda, and verbena.

Ingredients:
Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Aqua/Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Parfum/Fragrance, Glycerin, Palm Kernel Acid, Sodium Chloride, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Linalool, Limonene.

I can’t remember the last time I used a bar of soap in the shower. I rejoiced when shower creams were introduced in the house by my mother many, many years ago. I still remember her words – “Shower creams aren’t cheap, but at least it’s better than having you children ruin good bars of soap by leaving them soaking in water!”

The L’occitane soap does not have an overpowering scent of lavender, but leaves a soft, lingering scent after the shower. It also lathers up well.

Unfortunately, that’s all which is good that I can say about the soap. It just reminded me of what bars of soaps I used to use felt like – it left the skin feeling squeaky clean and really tight. I thought it would be different, seeing that it was described as extra gentle. I left the shower with the skin feeling dry and bleh.

Is it something I’d repurchase? No, definitely not. I’ve got a long way to go with the soap, and once it’s finished, I’d be glad to return to my moisturising shower creams. In fact, I reckon I’ll alternate between this and shower cream. Don’t think I can take a month of squeaky, dry skin, especially in the winter.

L’occitane’s Extra Gentle Soap is available at L’occitane stores and counters at leading departmental stores, and is priced at AU$8.95 for 100g.

What I like about it: Pleasant scent of lavender.

What I do not like about it: Leaves the skin squeaky clean and feeling awfully tight and dry. Not my thing.