It absorbs quickly and I really love the silky texture. After I apply it, I am left with soft and smooth skin, not sticky like some other lotions. I’ve been using it on my legs after shaving and I’ve noticed that they are staying hydrated and I wake up the next day with them soft and smooth. I love the deep blue glass jar as it looks so pretty sitting on my bathroom counter top!

I love that it is more than just a typical mud face mask; it removes the dead skin cells without stripping my skin and leaving it dry, clears up my little acne bumps and makes my skin glow. My makeup definitely goes on smoother after this mask and my skin has a certain glow to it, almost as good as getting a professional facial. Very impressed!

The wrinkles and furrows around my eyes were so bad that I actually had them surgically corrected so I could see– but after two blepharoplasties and a Fraxel laser repair, my skin was scarred, thin, and I often had dark circles and a shadowy appearance under my eyes.

The Sensation Spa Creme is a real salve for sore eyes! It goes on light and cool, and soothes my skin. It’s light, unlike most lotion type moisturizers, and absorbs completely into the skin, so I can wear it under foundation, which is an added plus. I have noticed the thin, crepe-y skin under my eyes has a firmer and more youthful appearance after only a couple weeks of use, and that a little dab really does go a long way.

Thank you so much for creating a creme that can go the distance, where once even cosmetic surgery left me in its wake! I look better rested, more youthful, and my skin feels dewy soft and smooth, as it did when I was younger. Terrific!

Swisa Beauty Eye Creme

I lost a huge amount of weight, and had Walter Matthau-style bags and furrows from the stretched skin– to such a great extent that at 41, I had to have a lower face lift. It did firm things considerably, but did nothing for the small lines and furrows around my eyes and mouth.

I ordered the Vivi Anti-Wrinkle Lifting gel, but expected little in the way of results. I had tried several other anti-wrinkle creams and gels, but all were heavy and oily, and made me break out, with little result. 

I was literally stunned when just one week after starting using Vivo Gel at bedtime, my husband said, “Hey– your face is looking really nice. Your skin’s kinda glow-y!”  This from a guy who normally wouldn’t notice unless my hair was on fire!

My skin is notably firmer, but still petal soft, and not greasy: no breakouts, and none of the heaviness other moisturizers leave behind.  Thank you so much for this wonderful product!

Vivo Per Lei Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Wrinkle Lifting Gel

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