MARK. SKINCARE REVIEW PART 2 – EXFOLIATE

What: Mark Go with the Grain Exfoliating Beads

Claim: “A blend of super fine grains that can be mixed with any mark cleanser for mild exfoliation.” (mark. website) Also great for dull and uneven skin tone.

Cost: $9 for 0.65 oz

Usage: Use this with any cleanser, ideally Mark cleanser. Add a dime size amount onto hands and gently scrub the face in a circular motion.

Review: The first thing I noticed about this one, again, is the packaging. I was a bit disappointed, almost felt cheated, because there is a massive hole underneath the bottle (e.g. like the holes on the bottom of wine bottles). Apparently, it is made so that you can attach it atop the mark. cleansers to save space. Ingenious? Not really. Hahaha The grains of this exfoliator are much finer than the St. Ives Apricot scrub. Once again, a little goes a long way. I’ve been using this for 4 months and I barely used about 20% of the product! So, for $9 it’s really cheap considering I use up St. Ives scrub in 2 months or so. Nothing really different about this exfoliator, though, but it does what it’s supposed to do, exfoliate. I use it with the mark cleanser and it leaves my skin super soft and smooth which St. Ives also does. After 4 months of use with the mark cleanser, I noticed an improvement on my skin tone.

Rating: 4/5 stars; I will repurchase this but I want to try the other Mark exfoliator called Berry Grand Super Exfoliating Beads.

MARK. SKINCARE REVIEW PART 1 - CLEANSE

A little bit of my skincare routine background:

1. Cleanse - I do this 2-3x a day. I cleanse my face twice if I have makeup on. My skin isn’t sensitive so I’m not too particular on the brand I use. The most recent was Clean and Clear cleanser which I found to be really drying.

2. Exfoliate and Facial Masks – This is done weekly, every Sunday. I’ve been using St. Ives Apricot Exfoliator since 7th grade. I’m not too particular which facial masks I use but the most recent was Mint Julep which was purchased from Sally Beauty Supply.

3. Moisturize – I do this 2x a day. My most recent day moisturizer was Neutrogena with spf which I didn’t like much because it leaves a white residue and takes time to rub off. I discontinued using it as soon as I received my Mark. order. At night I’ve been using my trusted moisturizer/lip conditioner, Aquaphor. I’ve recently been using Egyptian Magic so I’ll write a review on that soon enough.

As you all know (maybe) I have a little one and it’s difficult to really get a good snooze time, so I made my skincare a priority to help my skin a bit. I do drink plenty of water and eat as healthy as I can, but having a good sleeping habit is also essential for a great skin.

My cleanser was finally finished and needed to buy another one so I went on a hunt online. The packaging of Mark. skincare line caught my eye. It is chic and simple. I quite like it and the reviews were great so I said “what the heck” and confirmed my order.

Now onto the first part of the review:

What: Mark That’s Deep Purifying Gel Cleanser

Claim: “A super fresh, soap-free (blend of sugar maple and black willow bark) cleanser that thoroughly washes away pore clogging makeup, dirt and oil without stripping away moisture” (mark website) Also great for blackheads and blemishes.

Cost: $7 for 6.7 fl. oz

Usage: Pour a dime size amount onto the hand and lather. Gently lather onto wet face in a circular motion.

Review: This cleanser not only thoroughly cleans my face but leaves it incredibly soft. A dime size amount gets the job done. I like that it has that menthol-y, cooling feeling on the face. It is also oil free and fragrance free, although there is a hint of a menthol scent. I use this as eye makeup remover and it works quite well. I just gently work the product onto my eyes and doesn't sting whatsoever. As far as blackheads are concerned, it doesn’t really work. I’d still use the Biore strips for blackheads. I’ve been using this cleanser for about 4 months now. Yes, it lasted that long! I noticed that some blemishes are gone and I have less redness around my nose.

Rating: 4/5 stars because it didn't work on blackheads as it claims; I would definitely repurchase this but I’d like to try the other cleanser that Mark has called Calming Effect Comforting Milk Cleanser.

PRODUCT REVIEW: ELF MAKEUP BRUSHES

i wrote about this brush set before as one of the things i wanted to purchase. i was very skeptical. i read so many negative and positive reviews, but for $12 bucks it wasn't that much to lose. so.......i, finally, purchased them a month ago and i am pleased! i've had mac, lancome, bare minerals and other brands before. i'd never buy the bare minerals brushes again because they shed. the others, however, are great but they are expensive. since i am not a professional makeup artist, i can say that for the price of $12 for a set of 12 elf brushes is a great buy. the bristles are soft to the touch and don't irritate my skin. each brush comes individually packaged. the name of the brush is printed on the handle and feels lighter than the brushes i've previously owned. my two favorite brushes are the total face brush and foundation brush.

i bought them for $12, entered coupon code BLOGTY0F65 (you can try if that still works, if not just google "elf cosmetics coupon") and received a $5 discount. i referred two friends and received a free gift: candy shop lip tins.

i like white the handles; very aesthetically pleasing. to be honest, it was the main reason why i bought them and the price was right. lol. i'm really glad i made this purchase; i'll be saving a lot of money.

These brushes have been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine here is the page:

PRODUCT REVIEW: SMOOTH AWAY

PRODUCT: Smooth Away - As Seen on TV. This package includes a travel case, 1 large applicator -- the pink handle is the applicator, 1 small applicator, 5 large flex-crystal replacement pads, and 5 small flex-crystal replacement pads.

CLAIM: "Discovered in Europe", claims to Remove hair instantly and painlessly. It "Gently exfoliate while removing hair!"

COST: $9.99 @ Bed Bath & Beyond

EASE OF USE: Putting it together was easy. Peel the back of Flex-crystal pad & stick it on the applicator. Buff skin in a circular motion

REVIEW: My skin-type is sensitive, so I was very hesitant to try this out. When I bought this, I asked the lady if she had ever tried it. She responded no & told me that she had mixed reviews. I told her to tell me honestly what people have been saying. She just told me that a lot said it didn't work & also said if I didn't like it, to just return it.

I began with my right arm, rubbing in a light circular motion. Nothing happened. I had to put a little more pressure on it in order to work. The feeling of the hair being removed is like a light prick -- nothing painful. At first it looked like it just dried up my arm making it look ashy, really ashy. I managed to do my whole arm & took a break.

Afterwards, it began to burn a little. It's been 20 minutes & my arm still burns. I continue to use the same pad to see how long it would last -- approximately an arm & a half. I'm actually a little tired from it, lol.

CONCLUSION: Yes, this works. This is a clean way to remove hair. After the hair removes, it looks like dirt. Just brush it off.

Would I use this again? NO! Why? My skin is so dry that it began to itch. I just put Eucerin lotion on it and now it's burning. Smooth? Yes. But, I am not going to sacrifice my skin for this.

I know everyone is different. If any of you have tried this, please share your experience. Are they similar to mine, or have you had a better experience?