All joking aside, regardless of how bumpy my skin has been lately… it still feels really soft, and has a pretty even tone. I’ve even had people compliment me recently on how nice my skin is. I’d thank makeup, but I rarely wear it. So, here’s my official thank you – to Swisa Beauty Mineral Night Creme

Basics: There is no gimmick here – no anti-aging, hyper-firming, elasticity-instigating promises. Just a nice, rich, plain old mineral moisturizer.

Extravagance: For those of you who are habitual users of night cream, you know the generally heavy and kind of oily feeling you get. This is not your traditional cold cream. This absorbs quickly, and does not leave your skin feeling heavy with grease. Don’t let that fool you. It is really moisturizing, and leaves you with a healthy glow (and good skin tone).

Imperfections: I really wish this were unscented, though I will say that this is a minor issue. The scent is really light, especially compared to the cold creams and night lotions we are all used to.

To Sum It Up: I’m sold on this one. And, in case you were thinking you would rather purchase the magic anti-aging, hyper-firming, elasticity-instigating night cream… you should remember that drinking lots of water, and moisturizing morning and night are really the best anti-aging serums out there.

Swisa Beauty Mineral Night Creme

What you may or may not already know is that when your skin is oily, it is important to use a good moisturizer. It seems somehow counter-intuitive, but as my aesthetician puts it… it’s oily because it doesn’t think it’s getting enough moisture.

Fine, I’ll buy it. For me, the perfect daytime moisturizer is

1. light, but still creamy

2. not irritating to my sensitive skin

3. light on the scent

4. has sunblock of at least 15 spf

Here’s the scoop on this one:

Basics: Light. Creamy. Barely scented. Not at all irritating.

Extravagance: It actually does feel like it kicks up the elasticity a bit… I noticed it upon the first use.

Imperfections: <sigh> It does not have sunblock. I would totally make this my standard, daily use product if only it had sunblock.

To Sum It Up: All is not lost. I actually think this cream is rich enough to be a night time moisturizer for most, and I would recommend it as such!

Swisa Beauty Sensation Dead Sea Firming Moisturizer

So, here’s my bold announcement of my resolution for 2010!

I will, in 2010, bring focus back to taking care of myself. Fact. True story. This may sound broad-strokes to you, and I’m okay with that. 2009 was a tough year, and I may have let things go a bit. *sigh*

I’ve gained a few pounds (read: 10lbs), I’ve all but given up on styling my hair or putting on makeup for work, and frankly, I think I may have exacerbated my acne problem with my (oh the horror) failure to wash my face every night before bed. I know… it doesn’t sound like me, but I can tell you that it is true.

Step one: Hello Yoga! It’s been a while, and I sure am glad to see you.

Step two: Hello 5:45am! I really don’t like you, but we have to work together.

Step three: Hello Adovia Natural Acne Soap! I’ve already developed a fine liking for your sister, Adovia Dead Sea Mud Soap, so I have high hopes for our relationship!

Basics: Just like its sister, the Adovia Natural Acne Soap is a mud based soap.

Extravagance: This one is designed for acne. Yay! It also has Dead Sea Minerals, Aloe Vera and Glycerin… and boasts of being appropriate for all skin types!

Imperfections: So far, it is a little bit drying for my face. I am using it nightly, and I am just being certain to use a rich night cream.

To Sum It Up: I haven’t had any big breakouts… that’s a plus! Also, if the drying proves to be too much for my face, this soap is also appropriate for any body breakouts you may experience (my back sometimes breaks out.) I’d say, if you love the mud, give this one a try.

Adovia Natural Acne Soap

This is the time of year for celebration and reflection! I hope you have found time for both… and for yourself. So as not to disappoint in your efforts, I’ve tried another Dead Sea product that is sure to help you along in your goal to take time for yourself.

Basics: Body butters… we love them. There are so many varieties and scents… and frankly they are still my #1 recommendation for the scaly winter skin or the fried and dried summer skin.

Extravagance: What is usually so extravagant about the Dead Sea products is the scents. Oh, the delectable fragrances paired with the creamy goodness. This one is vanilla, though it is less food-like and a little bit more cologne-esque. It is lovely. Also, the texture is very unique. It strikes me less as a butter, and more as a mousse. It smooths on as well as the butters we’ve loved in the past, but it has a slightly frothy texture that feels… well… velvety when you apply it.

Imperfections: In and of itself, this is a beautiful body butter. In comparison to my all-time favorite Dead Sea Premier Milk and Honey Aromatic Body Butter… well, that may be an unfair comparison… the Milk and Honey Body Butter is pretty much perfect.

To Sum it Up: Another treat for our dry winter skin, and our olfactory needs! Have a Happy New Year, and remember to pamper yourself in 2010!

Adovia Shea Body Butter – Vanilla

It’s been a while since I’ve ventured into the world of cosmetic review… so I figured, what better way to return than with another scrub… Oh, how I love scrubs!

I love scrubs almost as much as I love Thanksgiving (and I hope you had a good one). If your holiday was anything like mine it involved a lot of eating… and cooking… and hand washing… and dishes.

Everyone worries about the impact of the food on a waistline… but how about the impact of the cooking and cleaning on your hands? Seriously, my skin was like sandpaper!

But yes, it is worth it… and it results in one more thing to be thankful for. This scrub. For hands. And Feet. Yay!

Basics: It’s our old friend the scrub, but with some extra minerals to address the dry skin conundrum. Just mix it up to get a good balance of oil & salts, then rub, rub, rub your hands together for a full minute. Rinse, moisturize, and get to remembering your holiday with family, leftovers, and smooth hands that don’t give away how hard you worked for it. And, if you are feeling like a spa day, use it on your feet as well!

Extravagance: I’m always amazed at how the Swisa Beauty Dead Sea products smell so yummy… almost edible. This Pineapple Mango scent is fresh, clean and fruity, but not too sweet or strong. It doesn’t compete with your favorite daily perfume or lotions. It just smells good.

Imperfections: The scrub works great, and what makes it for feet & hands is the extra minerals. By extra minerals, they meant to say extra oil. I’m okay with that, because it really works, but it does make for a slightly messier experience. I would recommend keeping this one in the shower and using where it can be easily rinsed… off your hands, feet, the jar, surfaces….

Also, it is great for sloughing off dry skin, but don’t expect a callus cure from this scrub.

To Sum It Up: My hands don’t sound like sand paper when I rub them together any more. That’s a plus. I think you’ll really like this product.

Oh, and on a side note, for those of you that get flaky, dry skin around the elbows and knees… I bet this would be awesome!

Swisa Beauty Dead Sea Salt Mineral Treatment for Hands & Feet – Pineapple Mango

Basics: This is the most course salt scrub I have ever used. This is not a statement of displeasure, as I do enjoy a good scrub now and again. It smells pleasant – sort of like coconut, I think (imagine the car air freshener called “tropical”.)

Extravagance: You know how some scrubs come drowned in a pool of oil, and  disintegrate very quickly the moment they make contact with your skin? This is not one of them. It is not too oily, and the salts last forever…

Imperfections:… maybe too long. I finally just rinsed off, and ended up marching across salts in the shower. It is a very sturdy scrub.

To Sum it Up: If you like to scrub the heck out of your skin (like I do), Vivo Per Lei makes the scrub for you. I cannot wait to try another scent!

Vivo Per Lei Salt Scrub – Eden

There are skin drying elements in every season (except maybe spring… but it is a long way off, still.) Because of this, I’m continuing my search for the products that will aid in moisturizing and repair of my poor dry skin, without buying into the zit instigation of my oily zones. It’s tough.

Basics: A delightful mask, blending collagen and seaweed to moisturize and sooth your skin. Pretty much a staple for the at home facial.

Extravagance: Girls, the presentation on this stuff is amazing. When I got my mask, the first thing I noticed was the very elegant box  – an opalescent white with silver printing. I flipped open the lid (with the magnetic closure!!!) to find what looked to be a green pearl nestled into a white silky pillow. Really made me feel high end!

Imperfections: It is a little bit perfumey. Not a bad smell at all, just a tad too much pretty for my taste.

To Sum it Up: Okay, so I’ve used this twice for my at home facial, and I really like it. I mean, it is going to be a finish up the jar kind of product for me (not likely to end up in the land of unused cosmetics that I call my bathroom closet.) No breakouts. No irritation. And, as an added plus, I noticed some definite plumping of my skin. Yay!

Vivo Per Lei Collagen & Seaweed Mask

This morning, I slipped into the delightful world of Vivo Per Lei with the Shea Body Butter scent called Devotion. Well, I’m now a devotee.

I got the lotion a few days ago, and just kept opening the jar and sniffing it happily. I kept shoving it under my husbands nose, asking him if he thought it was as pretty as I did. I even brought it out to my neighbor and made her smell it. We all agreed it was lovely. Though, being paranoid after my recent disappointments, I held off using it. By golly, what if it smells wonky on me?

So, today I bit the bullet and used it. Initially I was just going to apply to my sad dry legs… then I put it on my arms, then I slathered it everywhere lotion is appropriate. I would have used more, but I ran out of space!

Vivo Per Lei Devotion Body Butter

Basics: Dead Sea Minerals and Shea Butter… and some other stuff I frankly can’t pronounce, and wouldn’t try.

Extravagance: The scent. The scent. The gorgeous scent… kind of floral (think sweet pea), kind of soft and powdery (think a baby’s talc), and really feminine. Plus, I wore it under my daily fragrance (Violette), to great success.

Ooh! And it’s good for 2 years after opening. (thanks for the expiration date, Vivo Per Lei)

Imperfections: Oh, how I hate to over-sell this, but I cannot… will not name one.

To Sum It Up: My husband had great grace all day as I kept sticking my arms in his face and telling him to smell… “Honey, can you believe it? I smell good still… in this heat?” Yeah, the man has the patience of a saint. All-in-all, I’d say check out the Vivo Per Lei stuff. It’s dreamy.

Vivo Per Lei Shea Body Butter “Devotion”

We spent the weekend working in our garden, chasing our dog, playing in the yard (yeah, we’re a couple of kids), and generally sweating it out in the hot August sun.

Yup, by the end of the day today, we had the “high gloss” shine. (not to mention, the blotchy skin, heat bumps, and a generous coating of general ickiness.)

Basics: A deep-cleaning mud mask that promises removal of impurities, and moisturizing & softening of the skin. We’re interested… keep talking.

Extravagance: It has vitamin E. Okay, cleansing and repairing. We’re game!

Imperfections: Okay, so “mud mask” may be a little bit generous. Try clay mask. This stuff was so firm, it crumbled more than smoothed on. So, we wet our fingers and voila… it spread on perfectly.

Also, it does have a medicinal scent. It reminded us both of Noxema, though I think Noxema wins in the “what smells stronger” category.

To Sum it Up: After our quick fix application, we both instantly noticed a very light stinging – not painful, just enough to make you think something was working. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Mister C had just shaved, and it still wasn’t uncomfortable.

We both sat with a sort of army green hue about us, and waited for our faces to harden… about 10 minutes. The mask rinsed off easily (which is a huge plus with a mud mask), and left us both really happy and clean feeling. A lot of the bumps are gone, and the blotches have totally eased up! Neither of us feel icky anymore!

To quote the box this mask came in: “this mask is great for melting the day away.” We agree.

Swisa Beauty Purifying Mud Mask

I knew instantly that the smell was not for me (it competed a bit with my perfume), but I also knew that it smelled really nice.

So, here’s what I did:

I brought this hand cream to work, and sat it right next to my hand sanitizer. I encouraged everyone to try it. Most of the women agreed that it smelled nice, and that they could imagine a man using it. The men… well, those that would actually try it, agreed that it was a nice cologne scent. I actually had one guy ask me if it smelled anything like guns or motor oil. When I said no… he wouldn’t use it. sigh.

I did have one woman in the office who always smells so very good ask me if she could have it once I had reviewed. It smelled great on her, and meshed well with her cologne. She prefers stronger scents, and really it is perfect for her as well.

Basics: A lovely hand cream with a more masculine, cologne smell to it.

Extravagance: As with all of the lotions and potions I’ve used by Dead Sea Premier, it is luxurious. Super moisturizing, long lasting, and delightful. The scent is not overpowering, though it does hold on.

Imperfections: None to speak of, really. Scent appreciation is subjective, and while I do very much like this one… I won’t wear it.

To Sum It Up: If you like a cologne scent more so than a perfumey or flowery scent… this is for you. If you have a fella that you can’t get to moisturize… this may be for him.

For now, I’m going to pass this on to my lovely co-worker and enjoy the scent from a distance.

Dead Sea Premier Luxury Collection Hand Cream