Category Archives: control

Pick of the Week…The Body Shop Seaweed Scrub

Body Shop Pore Cleansing Seaweed Facial Exfoliator
Ingredients from the ocean are my favorite for face and body. They brighten, clarify, add radiance, and minimize pores. My pick this week is the Body Shop Seaweed Scrub ($14.50). This facial exfoliator is for normal/combination to oily skin. My skin gets oily in the summer, so I have to keep a close eye on my oil balance. Just a little excess oil can cause a breakout. The main purpose of the Seaweed Scrub is to minimize pores by sloughing away excess oils, dirt and dead skin before you cleanse your face. Here is my video review and demo of The Body Shop Seaweed Scrub:

Ask Marissa…Clinique Discontinued Clarifying Makeup!

Jane Doe: Clinique stopped carrying the foundation I use, what do you like as a medium coverage foundation for oily skins? I’ve been looking around and nothing has jumped out at me yet. I am almost out, so I am going to need to get some soon.


MeWhich foundation did you use? Have you tried their Acne Solutions foundation ($24.50)? It’s pretty amazing. I also like Teint Idol Freshwear ($32) by Lancome. I know you don’t have a MAC near you, but if you ever make it Louisville, try Studio Fix Liquid foundation ($26). Studio fix controls oil throughout the day and has buildable coverage.


Jane DoeI can’t remember the name of it. It was their last acne one that was in tube. It always separated if it sat for too long. I am sure that’s why they got rid of it.


MeIt was either Continuous Coverage Makeup or Clarifying Makeup.

Jane Doe: Clarifying. You are on it!


MeSome people use their brains for money. I use mine for beauty. It’s way less shallow. LOL.
You would love the new Acne Solutions one then. Its not thick. It’s actually kind of creamy. It has a natural finish so you don’t look all dry and cakey. Plus it controls oil and keeps skin clear with salicylic acid.

Jane DoeCool. i will have to check it out. Thanks for the advice!
MeClinique gives foundation samples now too. 😀

Marissa’s Pick of the Week – Lioele Pore Clean & Tightening Pack

A couple weeks ago Promise Phan (one of the most talented makeup gurus on YouTube) posted a link to http://prettyandcute.com/ on Facebook. There, I discovered a magical brand of Korean cosmetics called Lioele. It’s a fairly new company whose business model is the Cinderella story (evident in their packaging). Lioele believes that true beauty can be found in everyone.

Lately, I’ve been seeing pores that I never saw before.
“Great,” I said. “I’m aging.”

Thus began the search for pore shrinking skincare products that wouldn’t dry me out in the winter. On the Pretty and Cute website, I saw the Pore Clean & Tightening Pack ($20). The picture showed 2 tubes so I thought,
“This looks interesting. It’s like a 2-step pore tightening system.”
Well I was wrong. Only 1 box came. So then I thought,
“Okay? So maybe it’s like a gel peel or something.”
Wrong again.
What it actually is, is a mask. Yup. Just a mask. I was really disappointed, but then I tried it.

The clay mask was a dark gray color that had the same consistency as other masks I’ve used. It did have a distinct smell of leeks. Leeks aren’t in the ingredients, but I don’t know what else to compare it to. It was very fresh, crisp, and green smelling. Not quite grass. Not quite celery. just plant like.

Here is a list of some ingredients and what it’s supposed to do:

During application, the scent of the mask started to calm me. I was liking it more and more. When it started to dry, I could feel it going to work. It felt almost as if there were little suction cups sucking all the crap out of my face. It didn’t hurt or feel itchy like some other masks do.

(Ever wonder what your skin would look like when you’re 80?)
Rinsing off the mask was easier than other masks. I didn’t have to scrub or rub it off. My skin felt really smooth and soft. I didn’t feel any film or oils or anything at all, just my skin. Even though it felt clean, it wasn’t squeaky and tight. I could easily glide my finger across my cheeks without skipping. It’s hard to explain. My skin just had a nice slip to it without being slippery? My skin looked brighter and more radiant.
Here’s how I knew it worked:
After I completed the process, I noticed a little blackhead and blemish that I didn’t have before.
Here’s a tip– If you use a deep cleansing mask for the first time and you don’t have any new blackheads or blemishes, then it’s probably not working all that well.
In the end, I really liked this mask. I would have never tried it, if it wasn’t for the misleading picture and mysterious lack of info on the website. I already have a couple masks that I like, but this mask is definitely a favorite. It’s fresh, gave great results, and is perfect for my acne prone skin that turns dry in the winter. *Two thumbs up*

Marissa’s Pick of the Week – Solid Serum for Oily Skin

My new love is Lush skincare. Everything is handmade with natural, perishable ingredients. The most interesting of my purchases is the Saving Face solid serum ($13.95). I have to admit that the bizarre idea of a solid serum is what initially attracted me to this product. After reading the ingredients and viewing a demo, I took one home with me and fell in love after the first use. I have now been using it for 3 weeks and still get as excited to use it as I was the first time. This vegan wonder tablet is loaded with so many skin delicious ingredients, I can’t believe it all fits into something I can hide in the palm of my hand.

Super Awesome Face Saving Yummies:
On top of powerful antioxidants found in all the cirtrus oils, shea butters give just the right amount of moisture oily skin types need while kaolin clay and talc absorb excess oils.

Thyme – This key ingredient helps with acne because it is a natural astringent, helps keep skin clear due to its anti-fungal and anti-viral properties, and protects skin because it’s a free radical crime fighter (powerful antioxidant).
Jojoba Oil – lasting moisture and antioxidant
Chlorophyllin – Naturally derived from plants, it is a great antioxidant and repels pollutants such as cigarette smoke, smog, and diesel emissions.

Don’t let the the “oils” in this recipe scare you. What a lot of oily skin types don’t know is that natural essential oils are good for us. It’s mineral oil that is our enemy. My skin started clearing up when I added Saving Face to my regimen. Try it out at your local Lush store. They are VERY generous with samples.