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DHC

The *Best* Cleansing Oil Is 50% Off Tomorrow on Ulta.com

September 9th, 2019 by Karen 10 Comments

dhc deep cleansing oil
Now you can find this bad girl at Ulta!

You, guys! Note to self: The best makeup removing cleansing oil — DHC Deep Cleansing Oil; I’ve been using it for years! — is on sale for 50% off tomorrow at Ulta.

I’M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

Ulta is in the midst of their “21 Days of Beauty” sale event, and it’s the only sale I set alerts for this month in Google Calendar.

I can’t even count how many DHC bottles I’ve gone through, and it’s an all-the-way-down-to-the-last-drop thing. Very rich, and very moisturizing, DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is designed for all skin types, but it’s a TREASURE for my dry skinned peeps.

The main ingredient is olive oil…

Yup, that’s right: olive oil. And it feels like a really expensive olive oil, too.

It also smells a little like olive oil, but I like it. (Don’t worry; your face won’t smell like salad dressing.)

This stuff gently, but very effectively, melts makeup — including waterproof mascara, long-wearing liner and liquid lipstick. Basically, if something is stuck to your face in any capacity and you massage Deep Cleansing Oil on it, whatever it is will slip away.

It does this without drying out my cheeks, making my chin break out, or clouding up my eyes (my pet peeve!). I use one pump, which I apply directly to my face while it’s dry, and then massage away. Then I rinse with water and followup with a second cleanser (usually a foam or a cream), because I’m all about that double cleanse life.

A big 6.7-oz. bottle of Deep Cleansing Oil, which comes with a pump and lasts me a few months, is usually $28, but with the half-off sale tomorrow you can snag one for just $14.

Unfortunately, this is an online-only sale, so you won’t be able to stroll into Ulta to pick it up… Maybe this is a good thing, though, because that way you won’t be tempted to grab anything else? Glass half full, people.

Ask Siri to remind you, write it on a Post-it, do what you need to do, ’cause tomorrow is the day!

My homies are at HomeGoods


[Continue reading…]

There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: DHC, Makeup, Skin Care, Ulta

A Detailed Deep Dive Into My Current Skincare Routine

April 25th, 2019 by Karen 27 Comments

current skin care top pic
All about retinol these days, babes.

I’ve been meaning to do an updated skin care routine breakdown, and today seems like a good day for it. But before I jump in, I feel like I should let you that I’m standing in my bathroom right now looking into my cabinet, which stands just behind and above the toilet, and having PTSD flashbacks of my Velvet Teddy lipstick falling into the toilet. 🙄

I keep hearing that *plunk* over and over again…

That said, here we go!

Everything I’m doing in my routine now revolves around how sensitive my skin is feeling on any given day, because I started using a retinol with vitamin C recently. It’s called Kate Somerville Retinol Vitamin C Power Serum, and I’m trying to ramp up slowly to be able to use it seven days a week. Right now, I’m at three days, and I find that introducing it slowly over weeks and watching everything else that I use in conjunction with it allows me to keep going without my skin turning red or freaking out.

Morning routine

In the morning, I’ll wash one of two ways. If my skin’s feeling extra tight and red and sensitive and angry, then I’ll do a few splashes of warm water on my bare face, then gently blot with a towel. If, on the other hand, my skin’s feeling OK, then I’ll use a squirt or two of Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser directly on bare skin (I’ll work it in with my fingers). Then I’ll remove it with a washcloth dampened with warm water. After that, I’ll do a few splashes of ice cold water to help me wake up.

At that point, I’ll wait…usually between 30 minutes and an hour (depends on how much time I have and what I’m doing in the morning), and then I’ll apply all of my skin treatments.

I wait because I want my skin to be completely dry before I put anything aggressive on there, because if I don’t wait, and my skin is wet when I apply a BHA or benzoyl peroxide, they’ll just aggravate it even more.

So. Completely dry!

current skin care routine
It’s less complicated than it looks, I swear!

At that point, I’ll do an eye cream. (Right now I’m using this one by Nyakio, and I think it’s just “eh.” I’ll replace it eventually with something else when I get around it.) Then I’ll use two pumps of my ride-or-die Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion all over my face to prevent the pimples from taking over.

After that, I’ll apply a thin layer of Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream (which has been my skin savior ever since I introduced the retinol), followed by a healthy dollop of sunscreen, specifically Clinique Super Defense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 for Very Dry to Dry Combination Skin.

Sometimes, before I do the two pumps of Anti Bac, if I feel like my skin can handle it, I’ll do a little with Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence, just because I like to sneak some exfoliation in during the day if I can. I’ll do that two or three mornings a week, so it’s not an everyday thing for me.

Fast forward to the evening…

First, a double cleanse. On completely dry skin (as in my makeup is still on), I’ll massage an oil cleanser on my face and eyes to break everything down. I like DHC Deep Cleansing Oil or Fresh Seaberry for this.

At that point, I’ll take a clean, warm washcloth and gently wipe everything off. Next, I’ll do a second cleanse with either Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser, if I haven’t been wearing a ton of makeup, or if I haven’t been sweating; or the H2O Plus Elements Keep It Fresh Cleanser. I use that one when I’ve been wearing a little more makeup, or if I’ve been perspiring a lot. It’s just a stronger, more potent gel cleanser.

Again, I wait from 30-60 minutes (this generally depends on how tired I am), then apply eye cream, and I’ve been using this one called Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Supercharged Complex.

It’s OK… I’ve yet to find an eye cream that blows my mind.
[Continue reading…]

There are 27 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Avene, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Fresh, Kate Somerville, Skin Care

DHC Is Now at Ulta…

March 13th, 2019 by Karen 9 Comments

dhc deep cleansing oil
You can find this bad girl at Ulta now!

Which means that you (and I) can roll up to the store and grab a bottle of Deep Cleansing Oil — which is THE BEST — right off the shelf.

Who said beauty dreams 💤 don’t come true?!

To summarize, I love this stuff. I know I’ve talked about it at length, but in case you missed it…this $28 makeup removing cleansing oil is the real deal. It makes everything, even waterproof and long-wearing mascara and liner, instantly melt away. Also, it doesn’t cloud up my vision, which is an annoying side effect some other cleansing oils have.

Oh, yeah, and ALSO, because you only need to use one pump, a bottle will last for months.

I have textbook combo skin, and this oil doesn’t give me breakouts or make my cheeks feel tight. I think it works faster than Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil, and it’s not as drying as Neutrogena Ultra Light Face Cleansing Oil & Makeup Remover.

Even though shopping online is so easy to do now, sometimes I just wanna run into a store and get something.

Yay! Now I have another reason to “just run in” whenever I’m near an Ulta. 😊

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: DHC, Face, Makeup, Skin Care

These New $19 DHC Premium Lipsticks Look and Feel Like $50 Lippies

January 22nd, 2014 by Karen 14 Comments

DHC Premium Lipstick GE
DHC Premium Lipstick GE
The new DHC Premium Lipstick GE line…

More makeup morsels from DHC!

Next month the Japanese brand releases a new line of six smooth, creamy lipsticks, like kisses being blown from Japan (mwah!)… They’ll be available here in the States through the company’s catalogue and online through their website at dhccare.com.

The Premium Lipstick GEs, as they’re called, cost $19 each and aim to prettify your pout while simultaneously turning back time…

“Lips look more youthful with Premium Lipstick GE, the latest cosmetic innovation from DHC USA. This brilliantly pigmented lipstick comes in six sophisticated hues and features Pure Color Technology with micronized pigments for a smooth, completely even surface. No clumping, just satiny color with light-diffusing pearls for a c-D plumping effect. Lips get a kiss of emollient moisture from macadamia, olive and rice bran oils. Collagen and sodium hyaluronate help lips hang onto hydration. Oat kernel extract minimizes the look of lines. Vitamin A and germanium encourage revitalization.”
— DHC PR

These smooth, gloriously pigmented products do a helluva job staying out of the vertical lines that grace my lips, and I only need one layer for opaque coverage. My dry lips (it’s flake city, yo!) also appreciate the amount of moisture they contain.

I really like these… Guerlain’s $50 Rouge G’s ain’t got nothin’ on ’em.

DHC Premium Lipstick GE tubes
Ooh, fancy…
DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Bold Persimmon
Bold Persimmon
DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Petal Pink
Petal Pink
DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Velvety Red
Velvety Red
DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Rose Gold
Rose Gold
DHC Premium Lipstick GE in Rich Raspberry
Rich Raspberry
DHC Premium Lipstick GE in First Blush
First Blush
DHC Premium Lipstick GE swatches from the left: Swatches from the left: Rose Gold, Bold Persimmon, Petal Pink, Velvety Red, First Blush and Rich Raspberry
Swatches from the left: Rose Gold, Bold Persimmon, Petal Pink, Velvety Red, First Blush and Rich Raspberry
There are 14 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

Introducing the New DHC Face Color Palettes… How Very Paul & Joe!

January 21st, 2014 by Karen 10 Comments

DHC Face Color Palette EX
DHC Face Color Palette EX
The new DHC Face Color Palettes, $20 each

Do you DHC?

It’s a Japanese skincare brand (famous for their bestselling Deep Cleansing Oil).

Next month the brand releases several new makeup products for lips, faces and cheeks.

I’m really feelin’ the new blush duos… There’s something very Paul & Joe about them, don’t you think?

DHC Face Color Palette EX in Glowing Rose
Glowing Rose
DHC Face Color Palette EX in Radiant Ruby
Radiant Ruby

Just use the darker shade to tintify (my word) the apples of your cheeks, followed by the lighter shade to highlight your upper cheekbones. Or, mix both shades together for something completely new. Either way, cheeks get a sheer, natural-looking glow.

If you dig the no-makeup makeup look, these could be right up your alley.

One thing to consider: the three pinkish/rosy shades are quite similar. In fact, I can hardly tell them apart in their pans or on my skin.

The blush duos, which contain sodium hyaluronate, jojoba and olive oils, and hydrating ceramides to help them blend like butter on the skin, are available in four shades — Glowing Rose, Radiant Ruby, Pearly PInk and Sunny Bronze.

If you’re interest is piqued, make a note in your calendar for February 1, which is when they’re available through DHC’s catalog (you can sign up to receive it here), or snag them online at DHCcare.com for $20 each.

DHC Face Color Palette EX in Pearly Pink
Pearly Pink
DHC Face Color Palette EX in Sunny Bronze
Sunny Bronze
DHC Face Color Palettes Swatches: Glowing Rose (two swatches on the left) and Radiant Ruby (swatches on the right)
Glowing Rose (two swatches on the left) and Radiant Ruby (swatches on the right)
DHC Face Color Palettes Swatches: Pearly Pink (two swatches on the left) and Sunny Bronze (swatches on the right)
Pearly Pink (two swatches on the left) and Sunny Bronze (swatches on the right)
There are 10 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Daily Beauty

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About Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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