When work deadlines and sleep loss collide, like they did for me last week, I expect to get a few zits on my face (sigh). My latest little sebaceous gift included a painful pimple right beside my left nostril. Like most women, I usually dread pimples, but this zit (I named her Eva) gave me the perfect excuse to try out Clean and Clear’s Invisible Acne Patch.
The product contains salicylic acid (2%) and creates a defensive barrier for pimples (like a transparent Band-Aid). It’s also makeup friendly, designed to be able to apply concealer and foundation on top of it.
Check out the handy-dandy, travel-friendly applicator pen, which I found fun to use. Twisting the bottom (it makes clicking sounds) deploys the product. It oozes out of the applicator tip.
Application is a cinch … like painting pimples. I coated Eva with a thin layer of clear goo which took about two minutes to dry. As it dried, I could could feel the skin around the area tightening somewhat. Once dry, the surface has an almost invisible, smooth, rubbery texture.
The product contains a smoothing ingredient Clean and Clear calls Chitosan PCA, a film-forming polymer that pulls up low points and pushes down high points on the skin.
I had a lot of fun testing this product. Over the weekend I tried it out with a few different concealers and found that MAC Select Moisturecover (a liquid, not a cream concealer) looked more natural and smooth on top of the Invisible Patch than other concealers did.
It took a bit of trial and error with Clean and Clear’s Invisible Acne Patch to determine the ideal quantity to use. It was easy to over-apply, which left me with thick, flaky, visible layers that peeled right off (eww!).
(Sidenote: At one point in my testing, I was two seconds away from taking a close-up photo of Eva in all of her Invisible Acne Patch glory when I realized that ya’ll don’t need to see my zits.)
This stuff works well for an over-the-counter acne treatment. I started using it on Friday, and by Sunday Eva looked smaller, wasn’t as red, nor was she as painful to the touch. She should be gone by the end of the week, hooray!
Clean and Clear Advantage Invisible Acne Patch
Price: $10
Use: To treat and protect pimples while providing a smooth surface upon which to apply concealer
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+
I realize that this product will not make pimples disappear into thin air. It’s a pimple treatment, not a Christmas miracle. The smoothing action seems to work best on zits that aren’t scabby and haven’t been picked or popped. Also, if you are allergic to seafood, you best look elsewhere. The documentation states that the product should not be used by people with seafood allergies.
Find Clean and Clear’s Invisible Acne Patch online or at your favorite drugstore.
After work yesterday I went for a short run around the neighborhood, got back home, plopped on the floor and made a half-assed attempt to do some sit-ups (blech!). Half way through my third set I started wishing for a way to outsource core exercises. That’s how much I hate sit-ups.
Do you hate stomach exercises as much as I do? If you have any core workout tips for me, please let me know. I’m on a mission this summer to become SUPER CORE KAREN, but at the rate I’m going, it’s not looking good.
Oh! And if you haven’t picked it up yet, then please get your hands on Stephanie Meyer’s new novel, The Host. I finished it at 1 o’clock this morning and blubbered for a half an hour at the end. It’s my favorite book of the past few months. I’m off to the bookstore after work to get something else to read. Got any suggestions?
I hope your morning got off to a good start today. Ready for a coffee break yet?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
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Indian Girl says
May 28th, 2008 at 4:13 pmHey Karen!
Thank you for the review.
Do you know of any product that is good for pores on the face? My friend has many pores on his face and I would like to help him out. Would you recommend any product or any routine to follow just so the pores dont get bigger or worse with time…
Thank you !
PS: He tried Biore, but it wasnt that helpful.
Indian Girls last blog post..Brown – Blue Eye Look
Tiffany says
May 28th, 2008 at 4:18 pmHey Karen! I found your blog recently and have been reading religiously because you crack me up! Lots of beauty blogs are the same ol’ stuff, but yours really stands out 🙂
Anyway, I laughed when you mentioned outsourcing your ab work, because I just read in Allure that Heidi Klum frequently says that if she could pay someone to work out for her, she would 🙂 The only tip I have for getting through core work is to find some moves that you like. Which, I know, sounds idiotic. But there’s this one I really like, it’s like this, but I don’t use ball: http://sparkpeople.com/resource/exercises.asp?exercise=5
It’s awesome because it stretches my back out and feels really good. Or what about the move where you lay like you’re gonna do crunches, but then thrust your hips up in the air and contract your abs? Those are always fun!
Megan says
May 28th, 2008 at 5:13 pmHmmm… I’m allergic to shrimp… but not crab or scallops etc. I probably wouldn’t chance it though. bummer…glad to hear Eva’s on her way out.
Marisol says
May 28th, 2008 at 6:29 pmThanks for the review. I have been using Benefit’s Boo Boo Zap and that stuff rocks. Definitely takes care of the issue.
Gonna add that book to my wish list.
Thanks!
Marisols last blog post..RAOK
Bridget says
May 28th, 2008 at 6:34 pmI have this great exercise I do for my obliques but it’s hard to explain so hold tight.
Kneel down but stay upright. Put your arms out straight then bend to the side till your hand touches the ground, straighten back up again and repeat it 8 times on each side. Then do 4 sets of 4, then 8 sets of 2 then 16. Always alternating. Does that make sense? Let me know if it doesn’t. It really works for me, I have those cut lines. Now I just have to work on the rest of the abs. 😛
Great site: http://www.exercisetv.tv/studio/videos/
Look through all their videos. The mini workouts are awesome! That’s where I found the above exercise, but it doesn’t seem to be online.
Good luck! 🙂
Bridgets last blog post..I’m sorry for the rain!
christine says
May 28th, 2008 at 7:51 pmhey karen-
what do you think of brightening products for those post acne marks? have you tried any? what are your thoughts on their effectiveness?
stephanie says
May 28th, 2008 at 8:58 pmHi girl,
I’ll be in San fransisco for the first time this weekend. Can you recommend any shopping and eating places?
What’s the best way to get up to Napa-can I take a train.
Thanks and love your blog-you update quite often which I looooove
Karen says
May 28th, 2008 at 9:03 pmHi Indian Girl,
You’re welcome. I’ve read that pores getting bigger is one of the things that is common when you get older. I don’t really do anything right now for my pores, but I have heard good things about Clinique Pore Minimizer. You can use it with or without makeup.
Karen says
May 28th, 2008 at 9:41 pmHi Tiffany,
🙂 It’s great to meet you!
Thank you for the link. I’m going to try that one tomorrow morning. My back is always tight because I’m sitting down all day, so this looks like it’s going to feel really good.
Karen says
May 28th, 2008 at 9:51 pmHi Megan,
She’s almost outta here! I think in the next day I’ll be back to normal.
It’s too bad you can’t use this because of your allergy, because it works really well.
Karen says
May 28th, 2008 at 9:51 pmHi Marisol,
You’re welcome!
I’ve never tried Boo Boo Zap, but I have a friend who really likes that product. Isn’t it a salicylic acid product too?
Karen says
May 28th, 2008 at 9:51 pmHi Bridget,
That’s a great link! I can’t wait to try a few of those videos. This also gives me an excuse to clean out the area around my computer so I can use it to work out in.
I will try your ab exercises tomorrow. I’ve been trying to do sit ups every other day and my muscles are so weak that I’m constantly sore! It even hurts to sneeze.
Karen says
May 28th, 2008 at 9:51 pmHi Christine,
Nope, I haven’t. When my acne was at its worst when I was in my late teens I remember those marks taking a really long time to fade. These days, I try not to pick and that seems to help avoid the dark marks after pimples.
Regarding brighteners, I am going to try Even Better by Clinique, which is supposed to help remove dark age spots and even out the skin. I’ll let you know if it works. 🙂
Karen says
May 28th, 2008 at 9:56 pmHi Stephanie,
How fun! I will keep my fingers crossed for good weather. Don’t forget to pack layers.
There are a ton of places to shop in the city but I like Union Square (because parking is easy and everything is there) and the Fillmore district.
I usually just drive up there, so I don’t know if there’s a direct train. I had a friend who did this tour though:
http://www.winecountrytourshuttle.com/?gclid=CLuozY7FipICFRwXiQodIV46-Q
Marisol says
May 28th, 2008 at 10:25 pmKaren-
Yes there is salicylic acid in Boo Boo Zap. I first tried that product at the Benefit Brow Bar. I had gotten my brows waxed for the first time a couple of years ago and broke out miserably on my brows. The next time I went back to get them done again I mentioned it to them and she applied Boo Boo Zap and no more break outs!
Marisols last blog post..Karma is a bitch!
Karen B says
May 28th, 2008 at 11:24 pmg’morning dear.
core exercises. I can give you a whole bucketload full of them: my mum always makes us do loads at training, but I’m warning, you, they’re not a lot of fun (well one is)
Ooh, the one I like best: you have these gymnastic balls and you plop down on top of it on your stomach. You put your hands to the ground and step with your hands forward untill the ball is under your knees/calves. You hold your body like a stick, really tensing your core muscles and holding in your bum. Then you step back untill you’re back in your first position.
It’s a lot of fun and you can make it as hard/easy as you want. The further the ball is to your calves/feet, the harder. So start out with going not that far, like the ball more at your thighs/knees than your knees/calves.
Karen Bs last blog post..Art journal
Lynn says
May 29th, 2008 at 2:45 amHi Karen!
I love you site too! It’s neat how you’re in SF. haha I recognize some of the photos and places you’ve been to. I’m down in SJ.
For core stuff, I use an exercise ball and this book. Dr. Applegate knows what she’s talking about. It strengthened up my core a lot and helped me improve my running too.
Plus, less jiggle on a run is always a +.
haha Take care! 🙂
stephanie says
May 29th, 2008 at 6:57 amThansk so much for the tips.
Dao says
May 29th, 2008 at 7:02 amA friend of mine who now graduated did her master’s degree in extracting chitosan from crab shell. So if a person is allergic to seafood and especially crabs, he/she should not use that product.
Core workout: I like the exercise ball very much because it gives me results faster than others. My favorite is pike on the ball (kinda similar to what Karen B described):
Lie on the ball with legs supported by the ball and hands on the floor with shoulder over wrists. To start, the ball should be at your feet with your body lying straight over it. Move your toes toward the ball while lifting your legs and butts in the air (look kinda like downward facing dog on the ball). Flex your abs when you move in.
I saw Gabrielle Greece do this on TV once and she said it’s her favorite move. Took me a while to master it but once I did, it totally worth it.
Glosslizard says
May 29th, 2008 at 8:25 amHey Karen!
Aikido is the best core exercise I know, because everything involves tightening your stomach and moving from your center! My stomach is actually flatter (and even showing definition! Ooh!) than it was when I was a teen!
I just finished reading Hollywood Girls Club by Maggie Marr, which I found very entertaining in spite of being a tad predictable! I think I’ll pick up the sequel today at the library!
christine says
May 29th, 2008 at 8:44 amgood morning karen-
i used the clinique even better skin tone corrector for about 3 months, and just recently stopped using it. it works kinda, but the results werent as prominent. i dont have a lot of scarring, but every now and then even an untouched pimple will leave behind a boo-boo mark.
good trying out clinique’s even better skin tone corrector. i’ll be looking forward to your review! 🙂
Karen says
May 29th, 2008 at 9:10 amHi Marisol,
I think I will try it! My pimples have been responding well to Salicylic acid so I think it might work for me, too.
I walk by the Benefit Brow Bar all the time. I’m usually at work, though, so I’ve yet to pop in to look at makeup and such. I’m terrified of getting my brows waxed, LOL. Lame, I know!
Happy Thursday. 🙂
Karen says
May 29th, 2008 at 9:26 amHi Karen B.,
G’morning, friend! Oh boy… I have an exercise ball sitting in my living room so I have *no excuse* to not try this exercise. You must have really strong core muscles because this one sounds really hard. I am going to try it, though. 🙂
I now have a lil’ folder with all these new exercises. SUPER CORE KAREN, here I come!
Hope you’re having a good day.
Karen says
May 29th, 2008 at 9:27 amHi Lynn,
It’s great to meet you! My best friend lives in SJ. I like going down there to visit her because it’s always hot! Love it!
I recognize Liz Applegate’s name. I think she did a column for Self (or Shape or Fitness… can’t remember which mag). I have an exercise ball gathering dust so I think I’ll be ordering this book on amazon sometime in the next few days, so thanks. I have the weakest core ever! When I do sprints I’m sore for days afterwards.
Here’s to less jiggling on a run! *raises coffee cup*
Karen says
May 29th, 2008 at 9:27 amHi Stephanie,
You’re welcome! Have fun, and, seriously… bring layers!
Karen says
May 29th, 2008 at 9:27 amHi Dao,
Thanks for this! It looks like I’m going to be putting that exercise ball to use for the first time in months. 🙂
Gabrielle Reece is so beautiful! I read an interview with her in a magazine from a few years ago and she still looks fit and gorgeous.
Karen says
May 29th, 2008 at 9:27 amHi Glosslizard,
I love the title of that book; it sounds totally fun. I am stocking up on books for vacation. I usually like to read stuff that’s really fun and entertaining (you won’t catch me reading War and Peace when I’m laying on the beach, LOL) so I’ll check it out.
I am so jealous of your stomach cuts! You go! 🙂
Karen says
May 29th, 2008 at 9:29 amHi Christine,
I know what you mean. What sucks, too, is the scars take forever to fade.
Hmm, I had a friend who, under the direction of a dermatologist, used Ogabi. Have you heard of it? I’ve never used it, but she had really good results from it.
Glosslizard says
May 30th, 2008 at 7:54 amHee hee, “cuts” may be a bit generous…. but thanks!
Karen B says
May 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pmI know it sounds hard, but it’s fun 🙂 It really is. It’s especially fun if you do it not alone. We do it on training all the time and me and Lien are always giggling when we fall down…
Karen Bs last blog post..Art journal
Karen says
May 31st, 2008 at 9:12 pmHi Glosslizard,
Girl, you gotta give credit where it’s due! I have nothing even close to cuts, LOL. Ugh, gotta do more sit ups. 🙂
Karen says
May 31st, 2008 at 9:12 pmHi Karen B.,
Aww, I want to go to core class with you! I went through a phase right before my wedding where I would actually go to core class at the crack of dawn on MONDAY mornings. Yeah, right after the “I Do” I quit going, LOL. I remember it being much easier to do core work when there’s lots of people around with you… it makes it kind of “fun” (ha ha ha).
Karen B says
June 1st, 2008 at 12:34 amyeah, as fun as can be during core workouts of course! lol
I’ll let you know if I ever get to SF 😉
Karen Bs last blog post..Art journal
Karen says
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:49 amLOL, you’d probably kick my butt in class, but it would be fun! At least we’d have the best water and sweat proof makeup on!
xtina says
June 13th, 2008 at 12:46 pmyou should try using a yoga ball with a 5 lb medicine ball doing situps on it. it doesn’t stress your back as much and it really works your abs. it also helps improve balance.