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.

If this photo, taken yesterday at the MLB All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, is to be believed, it looks like SJP has finally rid herself of her famous mole.  I’ll admit, while watching old reruns of Sex and the City, my eye is unwillingly drawn to that thing; as the years passed, the mole seemed messier and out of place, as if the beauty equivalent of a once-chic, now-tatty cashmere sweater.  It was charming, but not beautiful.  And yet, now that her mole is gone (at the advice of her dermatologist, perhaps, or simply vanity?), I kind of miss it. 

Photo from Dailymail.co.uk

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. 

After hearing so much about the Clarisonic, a sonic oscillation face brush that’s supposed to be twice as effective at cleaning skin as the lazy ol’ regular method, I was of course eager to try it.  My very own version arrived today, delivered by the magic beauty fairies, so I’ll try it out tonight and let you know how it goes.  Perhaps tomorrow I will emerge looking so clean, so young, so vibrant that I’ll appear, like, twelve.  Dare to dream!

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.

Jennifer Aniston’s He’s Just Not That Into You is pushed until February, avoiding a competitive release with Angelina Jolie’s Changeling.  Please, we all knew Jen was going to win the box office war, anyway!

Hilary Swank cut all her hair off.  I mean, all…of…it.

Bella Sugar loves Arcona White Tea Cleanser (I second her raves!  I’ve been using it off and on for the past few months and it’s excellent for sensitive skin.)

Clinique is beginning a beauty insider program.

Beauty Addict finds out which makeup items Dior used on Charlize Theron during the Hancock publicity tour.

Taylor Momsen (little Jenny Humphrey, again!) signs a modeling deal with IMG.  Um, I sure as hell didn’t look like that when I was 14 years old!