Lipgloss and nail polish are all well and good, but I feel about makeup the way I feel about fashion: it enhances and beautifies, sure, but at the end of the day it’s what’s underneath that counts.  As a result, skincare is my true beauty passion–if your skin isn’t glowing, taut and in its best shape, all the makeup in the world isn’t going to do a damn thing.  Luckily, there have been seemingly endless advances these past few years, as beauty companies are realizing the huge potential of the anti-aging market: now you can find a serum or night cream at every price.  But which ones are best…and do they actually work? 

(more…)

Et voila!  You asked for my Vi Peel photos, and here they are.  On the left is the “before” photo, taken six weeks ago.  On the right is the “after” photo, taken this afternoon.  I’m wearing mascara and a little eye shadow in today’s picture, but am not wearing any other makeup; both photos are WYSIWYG.  For a larger, in-your-face (or, rather, in-my-face) version, check out this link. 

Now that I’ve had a chance to compare the side-by-side shots, the difference is actually pretty remarkable and leads me to say that I would enthusiastically recommend the Vi Peel to those with pigmentation problems.  (My doctors at Profiles Beverly Hills performed mine.)  And, by the way, if the scary “Nadine without her makeup!” photo on the left isn’t the world’s greatest advertisement for Bare Minerals foundation (I told you all I had ruddy, messy skin!), I don’t know what the hell is.

Finally, visit my new Jolie page on You Tube for two laughable videos I took of myself the day and night following my Vi Peel with my new Flip camera.  Seriously.  No making fun.  (Um, and maybe you shouldn’t look at the videos while you’re eating.  Day two of the peel is absolutely disgusting.)  Loving my Flip, however!  I’ll start uploading some fun how-to videos for your enjoyment.

xo, J!

I’ve visited a spa or twelve in my day, and consider myself something of a massage expert.  (Hmm.  Okay, maybe not an expert, since I have no freaking idea how to properly give one that doesn’t involve lightly scratching fingernails or sad little attempts at shoulder-kneading that result in said recipient swatting away my hands and saying, “You know…it’s okay.  Just forget it.”  So, let’s say I’m a massage enthusiast.  A connoisseur, if you will.)  I had a fantastic one last night at Ole Henriksen in West Hollywood (310-854-7700): a two-hour African Red Tea Body Cocktail involving a drool-inducing massage, followed by a brown sugar scrub, tropical rain rinse (as in, the ceiling started raining fat, soothing droplets of water on me), antioxidant African Red Tea body mask, and a wrap to pull out all the impurities.  I crawled home, drank my body weight in water to flush out all the toxics I envisioned flooding my system (and since Tuesday night was a very late one, I’m sure there were a lot of toxins to be axed) and then passed out.

Antioxidants are, of course, one of the big buzzwords in beauty, since they help fight free radicals, which are the nasty little buggers involved in the aging process.  African Red Tea is getting attention because it has a higher percentage of antioxidants than green tea, and also has calming and soothing properties.  The African Red Tea See The Difference Serum is packed with it, and includes anti-inflammatory, circulation-boosting gingko biloba, and sea kelp, which firms and detoxifies.  It costs $48.

Another of my favorite Ole products is the On the Go Cleanser, which is great for all skin-types and gives you that extra-clean feeling without drying the skin.  It’s chock-full of goodness, too: vitamin C, grapeseed extract and seaweed.  It costs $21.

Sooo, the Clarisonic.  As promised, I’ve been testing it these past few days, and while it’s too soon to make a serious judgment about it (one way or the other), I’m tentatively pleased.  It cleanses thoroughly, it exfoliates well, my skin feels soft and smooth afterwards and it’s just fun to use.  During my Clarisonic time, my bathroom is full of birds chirping songs and mice dancing jigs!  A good time is had by all!

Seriously, though, my only real concern is the price: the Clarisonic goes for nearly $200…and while it would be the best device ever at, say, $29.99, does it really clean two hundred clams worth?  I mean, my skin is still just there, being all skin-like.  I haven’t yet broken out, but I’ve not morphed into a supermodel, either.  Sadly, the jury is still at recess.  I’ll keep you posted on my findings.

I couldn’t live up to my promise to review the Clarisonic today as you have to let it charge for 24 hours.  (Stupid instructions…That’s how you know I’m getting old–I’m actually starting to read them!)  As far as the Vi Peel after-photos, I will post them next Tuesday, at the five week mark. 

So, it’s been three weeks since my Vi Peel, and my skin still seems to be regulating itself.  After enjoying a gorgeous, smooth, soft complexion last week, I woke up on Saturday with four honking zits that seemingly came out of nowhere.  In the week after the Vi Peel, there was a noticable difference in the texture and appearance of my skin—less pigmentation, more even and radiant, although also more red—but my skin broke out from the intensive moisturizer that comes along with the peel.  The zits quickly went away, but now they’re back with a vengeance.  (I mean, seriously, I have some zits right now that deserve their own zip code.)  I don’t want to have unrealistic expectations, and know that the real test will come next week with my one-month-post-peel photos…but still.  Jolie is not so happy right now.

It’s been three days since I had my Vi Peel, and the phenol acid, vitamin C and Retin-A peel is working wonders…if by “wonders” I were to actually mean “is causing every last ounce of my skin to kamikaze dive off my face in unattractive, flaky sheets.”  Pictures of the disgusting-yet-effective madness to follow shortly!

I just had something called a Vi Peel, and my face feels like it’s on fire and is going to fall off.  Good times!  It uses exfoliating phenol acids, vitamin C and Retin-A to slough off the top layer of skin in 3 -5 days, and is supposed to be good for all complexions, including African-American skin (which typically can’t tolerate peels without hyperpigmentation).  The actual peel only took about five minutes, and I’ve been instructed to use the Post-Peel Towelettes tonight and tomorrow night to help accelerate peeling, and then to expect the oh-so-sexy snake action to begin on Friday.  According to the literature, the peel will get rid of acne and acne scarring, brighten skin and increase collagen production…but right now all I can focus on is the fact that my skin looks like a tomato, smells like formaldehyde, and feels like it’s been sunburned and then scratched.  (Note to self: Eyes on the prize, J.)