Category Archives: Skin care

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Pedicures 101: Six Steps to Pretty Feet

feet2There are few beauty rituals I enjoy more than the pedicure. Going to a salon and having a professional pamper your feet is incredibly relaxing, and you leave with a frequently abused and overlooked part of your body feeling refreshed and healthy. Not to mention the fact that freshly-pedicured feet look lovely and well-groomed. It doesn’t matter how disheveled the rest of me is; when my heels are smooth and my toes are newly painted, I feel like I’ve got it together.

Unfortunately, I frequently do not have the time or money to spend on a salon pedicure. Plus, given how easy it is for me to reproduce a salon-quality pedicure at home, I have a hard time justifying the expense most of the time. The good news is, even when I do the job by myself I still feel amazing. So, just in time for sandal season, here’s your six-step guide to a perfect at-home pedicure. (Please note: this guide assumes that you’ve trimmed your nails and removed any old polish before starting.)

1. Soak your feet in warm water. I usually use water that’s quite hot. To me, it adds to the relaxing feel. If you have Epsom salts, scented oil or a nice foot soak, feel free to throw it in. If not, plain ol’ H2O will work. I generally soak for about five to ten minutes.

2. Scrub your feet all over with a specialized foot scrub. I’ve long been a fan of Freeman’s Bare Foot line, and their Creamy Pumice Foot Scrub in Peppermint and Plum works wonderfully. Rub it all over the bottoms and tops of your feet, paying special attention to your heels and anywhere else you may have rough spots.

3. Scrape away dead skin. Okay, this is the gross part but I promise it’s the most effective way to get rid of dragon feet. While your foot is still covered in foot scrub, use your fingernails to scrape dead skin off your foot, once again spending extra time on your heels and/or rough spots. When you’re done, rinse your feet (and hands!).

4. Slather a thick lotion or, better yet, specifically formulated foot cream all over feet, toes and ankles. I swear by Ahava foot creams. Let it soak in for at least five minutes.

5. Swipe nail polish remover over each toenail. Depending on the thickness of the lotion you used, you may want to do this twice. The goal is to remove all traces of product and oils so that your nail polish will glide on easily and stick to your nails.

6. Select a fun shade of polish and paint on a coat or two. Right now I’m loving hot pinks, like Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Poppy (shown).

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Skincare Showdown: Battle of the Cult Classic Creams

creamsFor as long as I can remember, my mother has always known how to cure what ails me. Bad dreams were soon forgotten by climbing into bed beside her. A scraped knee healed quickly with Neosporin, Band-aids and a kiss to make it better. Upset stomachs called for ginger ale and popsicles. And myriad skin woes, from sunburns to painfully dry skin, were soothed with her secret weapon: Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream.

This cure-all cream has a cult-like following, amongst those who know of its existence. I’m shocked that it’s not mentioned more often in beauty magazines and by skin care gurus listing off their favorite products. Growing up I came to respect the bizarre, almost gelatinous pink “cream” as a gift from the heavens. The very worst sunburns of my life were nearly eradicated overnight thanks to a generous slathering of this heavily perfumed cream. And when I whimpered to my mother about my “dinosaur elbows,” which were so dry they turned an odd greenish color and looked semi-reptilian, she wisely suggested I smooth them with “the cream.” Worked like a charm. Oh, and you know those mid-winter days when it seems that the entire season’s worth of cold, wind and dehydration descend upon your poor fragile lips to the point where your entire face feels chapped? Nothing a little EENC can’t handle.

Yes, I’ve spent most of my life believing in the unparalleled power of Mary Kay’s night cream. Which is why I rolled my eyes whenever I saw that some socialite or beauty editor raved about the seemingly similar virtues of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. If they only knew, I thought to myself. I was sure this one was all hype.

To give you a little background, legend has it that Eight Hour Cream got its name after a mom (much like mine) smoothed some of it onto the scraped knee of her child and found, eight hours later, that the knee was good as new. So when I spotted a tube of the stuff while perusing the clearance rack at my local TJ Maxx last week, I decided to give it a try. I figured, if nothing else, it would probably serve as a decent hand cream.

When I got it home and checked it out, I noticed that, like the Mary Kay cream, Eight Hour Cream is actually more of a gel. Where Mary Kay is pink and perfumed, Elizabeth Arden is yellowish and medicinal; it definitely didn’t win in the category of scent. It also isn’t quite as thick as the Extra Emollient Night Cream, having more of a slippery feel to it. While I was sure it would pale in comparison to my family favorite, I decided I wanted to give the new cream a fair shot, so I concocted a little experiment to test the effectiveness of the two creams against each other.

Spring may have finally arrived, but up until last week my end-of-winter cold was hanging on for dear life. Weeks of constant nose-blowing had left the skin around my nose red, raw and flaky. Not a good look. However, this gave me a perfect platform for testing the two classic creams. I smoothed one onto each nostril (and surrounding skin) and went to bed.

When I woke up I found that both sides were vastly improved, with one noticeably better than the other. In fact, that side was nearly 100 percent healed! Other than a little residual redness, it was completely back to normal: no raw, chapped, flaky skin in sight! The other side, while much better, still had a rough patch or two, and a little redness. There was a clear winner.

Can you guess which cream was which? As it turns out, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream truly did heal my skin within eight hours. I was shocked! I was certainly not expecting it to outperform my trusted Mary Kay night cream.

Eight Hour Cream may have won a place in my medicine cabinet, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to turn my back on the Extra Emollient Night Cream. After all, my mother has sworn by it for years, and it has served her very well. And I have no idea how Eight Hour Cream works on a sunburn; the battle of the cult classic creams just might see a round two come summertime.

What I do know is that someday in the not-too-distant future, should I have a daughter of my own, I’ll have just the thing to cure what ails her. It’s something I got from my mother.

(Happy Birthday Mom!)

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Beauty Quickie: Cool It

Who: Boscia
What: Super Cool De-Puffing Eye Balm
When: In the morning, at night, various other times throughout the day
Where: In my bed, bathroom, living room, car…
Why: This little cutie (it comes in an adorable little blue tube) has become my best friend and greatest beauty obsession; one day I threw an all-out tantrum and sent out a search party when I momentarily misplaced my little buddy. The name says it all: the smooth balm delivers an icy cool sensation as it glides around the eye area, almost instantly de-puffing while also brightening dark circles and invigorating your senses. With regular use it is making a noticeable difference in my dark circles, but I really love its fast-acting formula. You can see a dramatic decrease in puffiness and darkness almost immediately. And it feels so good – the refreshing cooling sensation is a little addictive. The best part? You can take it with you and smooth some on throughout the day whenever you feel you (or your eyes) need a pick-me-up; it won’t mess up your makeup and it’ll wake you up, all while brightening your eyes.

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Man-Handled

Winter. Whether you’re a snow-loving, outdoor sports-playing fan of the season or more of the I’d-rather-hibernate-until-spring type, we can all agree that this time of year comes with its own special set of beauty problems. Take, for example, your skin. The combination of icy outdoor temps and dry indoor heat can leave your skin parched, chapped, flaky and red. Your cuticles crack. Your face gets patchy and dry. Not only is the look less than desirable, it feels awful.

Now, most of ladies are well-versed in the seasonal skincare switch-up. We know that when the days get shorter, our night creams get thicker and the frequency with which we apply hand lotion is greatly increased. But the men in our lives are not always so eager to change up their routines, assuming they have one in the first place. Sadly, I know a lot of guys who think that anything more than a basic shave-shower-shampoo routine is unmanly. As a result, they suffer the winter months with dry, cracked, itchy hands and faces. It can’t feel good. But I have good news: there’s an easy solution.
lubriderm2
A couple months ago I picked up a bottle of Lubriderm Men’s 3-in-1 Lotion for my fiancé to try. I was intrigued by its claim to be suitable as a body, face and post-shave lotion, and encouraged him to give it a try. It sat on the bathroom counter for a while, but eventually he started using it. At first he smoothed some on after shaving. We both were surprised at how smooth his face felt, and for how long – a good 24 hours later his skin was still silky smooth. Then he started using it on his hands whenever they felt particularly dry. It absorbed quickly and instantly cured the dry skin. With regular use, the cracked cuticles and dried up hangnails disappeared. This lotion isn’t the least bit greasy, and it has a light, masculine fragrance that is unbelievably sexy. My man says it’s the best lotion he’s ever used.

So, to all the men who are reading this, please don’t be afraid to take care of your skin. More and more companies are creating products formulated especially for you, and this Lubriderm lotion is an excellent example. And ladies, if your man is sporting a flaky face and chapped hands this winter, buy him a bottle of this multi-tasking wonder. You’ll love how soft his skin feels – and how good he smells – I promise.

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Complexion Perfection: Beauty Resolutions Part II

First and foremost, please allow me to apologize for the tardiness of this post. Due to unforeseen technical difficulties I was unable to complete it last weekend, and before I knew it the workweek had come and gone. I know a poor complexion is no laughing matter, and we all want to look our best when we face (pun intended) each day. In my opinion, having great skin – and by that I mean truly great, not just great-looking when made up – is a huge confidence booster and one of the biggest ways you can transform your appearance for the better (right up there with tweezing your eyebrows and getting a flattering haircut). So, in the spirit of not giving up on our resolutions this year, let’s get started.
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There are many different types of skin concerns that we tend to obsess over. In fact, ask any female over the age of 9 and she probably has some sort of grievance with her skin. Too oily. Too dry. A little too much of both. Acne. Wrinkles. Dark spots. Dark circles. Not enough glow. The good news is, there are products out there that address each of these problems. The bad news is that I have not tried them all. However, while I will provide a list of skincare products that I recommend for some of these issues, the majority of this post will be about techniques and best practices that can help us all improve our complexions, while also helping maximize the results from whatever products and treatments we do decide to use. No matter what our skin concerns are, we all have to start in the same place:

Have a Plan: A skincare plan, that is. Basically, the number one most important thing you must do in order to have nice, clear, glowing skin is stick to a regular skincare routine (I’ve written about this before, and if you want a more in-depth look at my plan you may want to refer to Fresh Faced). Those with oily skin do well with a twice-daily cleanse-tone-moisturize routine, such as the Clinique 3-Step program. In fact, step three, the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, is one of the all-around best moisturizers available for any skin type. If you have skin that’s on the dry side, like I do, you may find toner to be too drying for your skin – I usually skip it during the winter. I also only use a cleanser at nighttime – I simply splash my face with warm water in the morning – I find that over-cleansing my skin makes it look worse. If your current once-or-twice daily washing routine doesn’t seem to be working for you, try adding or subtracting a daily cleansing and see if your skin balances out. If you don’t currently have a regular routine, start one! And let’s face it, even with the best of intentions there will be a night or two when you just cannot bring yourself to walk into the bathroom and properly wash your face. Do your skin a favor and buy yourself some cleansing cloths to stash beside your bed. There are many good ones available now that are packed with good-skin extras and leave your skin soft instead of stripped. I love the pomegranate wipes by Korres and the drugstore line Simple.

Be a Quitter: This should go without saying but I know it often doesn’t. If you are looking for an easy way to drastically improve the health and appearance of your skin, and are currently a smoker, quit smoking. Even though we all know it’s bad for us, vanity can be the biggest motivator when it comes to stopping smoking. And it’s easy to convince yourself that smoking doesn’t make that much of a difference in something like your skin, but it really, really does. I have seen first hand how much better a person’s complexion looks after successfully quitting cigarettes. Did you know that smoking is one of the biggest contributing factors in whether or not you have dark circles under your eyes? Speaking of eyes, would you like the fine lines around yours to diminish? Or perhaps you’d like to look five to ten years younger in general. I promise you, quitting smoking will make your skin look so much better you will hate yourself for not quitting sooner.

Treat Yourself: As I mentioned above, there is a treatment for any and every skin concern you may have. Once you find one that works for you, it is incredibly important that you use it regularly. Just having a miracle potion in your medicine cabinet will not make your skin glow – you must actually put it on your face! It’s like going to the salon, buying the serum your stylist uses to make you look amazing, and then forgetting to ever use it yourself and wondering why your hair never looks as good when you style it at home. I know lots of ladies with potent products sitting on their bathroom shelves who never take the time to kick back and relax for the duration of a 15-minute purifying mask. I recommend picking a day and making your treatment a part of your regular routine. Maybe you’ll have more than one! For example, I often use an at-home peel on Friday nights and do a face mask on Sundays. Make your specific skin treatment part of your regular skincare plan so that you can see consistent results. The goal is to have great skin all the time, not just when on vacation or when we happen to remember. (Not sure what treatment to use? See my list of recommended products, below, for a few suggestions.)

Clari-fy: It’s time to bring out the big guns. Even if you’re already doing all the things listed above, there’s still room for improvement. You can clean your face cleaner. Your treatments can treat better. How? By investing in a Clarisonic.

Money well spent.

Money well spent.

These oscillating skin cleansing brushes are expensive, yes, but they really do live up to the hype. I’m not sure how it’s possible, but my skin feels softer every single time I use it. The brush uses sonic technology to gently clean skin and remove impurities that are trapped in pores. Not only does this lead to cleaner skin, which means fewer breakouts and blemishes, but it also allows any products that are applied after cleansing to be better absorbed by the skin, making our moisturizers and treatments more effective. The Clarisonic comes in a variety of colors and sizes; I personally own a Mia, which is a slightly less expensive travel-sized version. Again, these babies aren’t cheap, but they come with a warranty and are worth every penny.

Get Some Sleep: This tip is two-fold. First of all, like smoking, chronic lack of sleep is terrible for your health and wreaks havoc on your skin. It’s another leading cause of dark circles (obviously) and it also leads to that overall dull and lifeless look that none of us is going for. It really is amazing what a few consecutive eight-hour nights of sleep can do for a person. Especially when you practice part two of this tip: take advantage of this downtime to really ramp up your routine. Nighttime is the right time to slather on those thick creams and heavy treatments that go the extra mile. With a full eight hours to soak in, overnight treatments can do your skin a lot of good. My latest skincare obsession is Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial. This jar of magic contains a super thick cream with a delightfully sweet and rosy scent. I smooth it all over my face and neck, and wake up with skin that is insanely soft and glowing. The kind of glow that renders makeup optional, if not downright unnecessary.

Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial

Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial

Not only that, this stuff leaves you looking well-rested and refreshed, even on days when you are feeling anything but rested. Pairing the sleeping facial with the Clarisonic is such a skincare double whammy that I kind of feel like I’m cheating at life when I do it. I highly recommend it.

Recommended Products: This is in no way an exhaustive list, but I figured I’d share a few of the things that have worked well for me. I’m always testing new things so if you have a question about a specific product or are looking for a certain treatment, feel free to leave a comment here or on the Questions? page.

Anti-Aging - In addition to clearing and brightening skin, minimizing pores, and decreasing excess oil, Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel smooths fine lines and wrinkles and instantly firms skin. I like to follow it up with Philosophy Miracle Worker, a firming, plumping and softening moisturizer that protects the skin against all signs of aging.

Exfoliators – Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream is a great gentle scrub, even on sensitive skin. Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask uses fruit enzymes to dissolve dull and dry skin and leaves you looking bright.

Eyes – I really like Clinique’s All About Eyes line. I use the de-puffing eye-massage roll-on to cool and brighten on rough mornings, and the rich eye cream at night to help prevent dark circles and crinkles around the eye area.

Pimples and Pores - No surprises here: Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque is still my top recommendation for shrinking pores and eliminating pimples and blackheads.

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Nobody Puts BB in the Corner

ImageIt’s no secret that BB creams have recently taken the beauty world by storm. A long-standing favorite of makeup lovers in Asia, these do-it-all creams have swept through the western world, leaving prettier, glowier skin in their wake. 

So, what’s all the fuss about? More than a tinted moisturizer and not quite a foundation, these tinted creams also contain SPF, brighten skin, provide anti-aging benefits and hydrate, all while blurring imperfections – all in one step.

Sounds great, right? So where do you begin? These days it seems that every company has a version of their own. Luckily for you, I’ve been testing several BBs over the past few months. Here are the ones I’d recommend:

First Place: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB  - Not only did this cream get top marks for hydration, coverage and staying power, it also comes in a variety of shades and costs less than $10. Winner!

Second Place: Boscia BB Creams – I tried their original formula and their self-adjusting version. Unfortunately, they were both too dark for my fair complexion. However, these provided the smoothest, best-looking coverage of all the creams. Perfect for girls with a medium skin tone!

Third Place: Clinique Age Defense BB – This cream is the only one that came in a light enough shade to perfectly match my skin, and its coverage was great, but I found the formula quite drying. If you have oily skin, this could be the BB for you.

Honorable Mention: Dr. Jart BB Creams – I tried a couple versions of these BBs – both solid creams. I found the coverage to be extremely sheer, but the hydration and SPF levels are great.

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Smooth Operators

I’ve been happily writing For the Love of Gloss for three years now, and to celebrate this milestone, I thought I’d revisit a topic I wrote about that first summer: armpits. Let’s Talk About Armpits was one of the most popular posts in this blog’s history, and for good reason. By their very nature, armpits are not very attractive body parts, yet as women we strive – and are expected – to make them beautiful. I am very happy to report that, three years later, I’ve discovered some highly effective new weapons in the never-ending war on underarms.

First of all, I have to sing the praises of the new Schick Hydro Silk razor. Featuring five blades and a water-activated moisturizing serum, this razor gave me the smoothest and most delightful shave of my entire life! I generally think that more than three blades on a razor is unnecessary. Until now, I’ve never been proven wrong. But this razor gave me the closest, smoothest, longest lasting shave I have ever experienced. And I don’t know if it was the moisturizing serum or the razor’s unique design, but the blades felt so smooth that the first time I used it I actually had to double check to make sure I had removed the blade cover! It doesn’t feel like a razor. It feels amazing. Armpits, legs or bikini line, this is the best tool for the job. Period.

Getting a close shave is key when one is aiming for attractive armpits, but even smooth and hairless underarms can have an unappealing dark tinge that makes them look dirty and not at all pretty. Many antiperspirants and deodorants claim to improve our armpits in one way or another, but I’ve recently started using one that actually does.

Dove Clinical Protection Clear Tone antiperspirant and deodorant claims to help restore skin to its natural skin tone. Amazingly, it actually works! Not only has my underarm skin tone vastly improved – we’re talking a complete reversal of the above-mentioned dark tinge – but it has happened after only a handful of inconsistent applications. To be honest, I’m not in love with scent of the deodorant. It isn’t bad, but I have others that I prefer for daily use. As a result, I only use the Clear Tone a couple of times per week, usually after an evening shower. Apparently, a couple of applications per week will do the trick. My armpits have never looked better.

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Oil Change

When it comes to beauty, “oily” is a four letter word. An oily skin type is less than desirable. An oily scalp is synonymous with a dirty one. We use blotting papers, dry shampoos, mattifying gels, anything to stop the slick and look, well, dry.

But what’s so great about being dry? Sadly, our efforts to get rid of the oil often result in the loss of our natural glow. Glowy is good! Dewy skin and shiny hair and nails are something we all long for, yet many of us seem to be okay with killing the glow in order to avoid looking oily. How silly we are!

The truth is, oil is not the enemy. We don’t want to look, feel or be greasy, and that is what we are fighting against. But our efforts to strip the oils from our skin and hair frequently make the problem worse. When we over-clean our skin and hair without properly replacing moisture, our bodies try to compensate by producing more oil. We need a little oil to keep things in balance. But that’s not all! Not only do we need some of our natural oils, but you may be surprised to discover that adding oils to your beauty routine – instead of trying to remove them all the time – can take your look to the next level, while helping to keep any greasiness in check.

I’ve been using several different oils as part of my regular beauty routine, and the results have been wonderful. My skin has never – EVER – been softer. My hair is silky and frizz-free (even in ridiculous humidity). And best of all, I’m no longer battling any greasiness.

Ready to stop treating oil like the enemy and start using it in a beautiful way? You can start by giving these three favorites a try:

Olive Oil: Plain ol’ run-of-the-mill olive oil has long been my secret to a great at-home manicure. Fill your sink with warm water, add a few drops of olive oil, and soak hands for five to ten minutes. For added softness, massage a drop into each cuticle before you soak. After you’re done, gently push your cuticles back, rinse your hands, and pat dry. Swipe a nail polish remover-soaked cotton ball over each nail to remove excess oil before painting them. Your cuticles will look great and your hands will be extra soft!

Johnson’s Baby Oil: This favorite of babies everywhere claims to lock in up to ten times more moisture than regular lotion, and my ridiculously soft skin leads me to believe that this claim is true. Immediately after showering I slather baby oil from the neck down while my skin is still damp. It quickly absorbs into my skin, and the result is absolutely amazing softness. For extra smooth skin, exfoliate with a good body scrub first.

Orofluido Hair Oil: This beauty elixir is truly liquid gold. Work a couple of drops of this sweet smelling oil through your hair before blow drying – it smooths frizz, gives hair a silky texture, and honestly is the best smelling hair product I have ever used. The best part? The results last for days without weighing hair down or causing strands to look dull – or greasy.

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Beauty Quickie: 3 Minute Facial

Who: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
What: Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel
When: Every Saturday night
Where: My bed
Why: This fast-acting, two-step at-home peel will completely change your skin, in a matter of minutes. Unlike other at-home peels, where you’re left peering at yourself in the mirror, trying to identify microscopic improvements to your complexion, there’s no mistaking what this one will do for you. I use it once a week, and am left with the softest, smoothest skin and a natural glow that lasts for days – I often actually leave the house on Sunday mornings without a stitch of makeup – and get complimented on my skin. The Alpha Beta peel is safe for sensitive skin, minimizes pores, smooths wrinkles, calms redness and evens skin tone. Basically, it does everything we want a skincare product to do – in three minutes. I follow it up with a generous layer of Philosophy Miracle Worker moisturizer. My skin has never looked better.

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Good Ones

As always, I’ve been buying and trying a variety of new products in my never-ending quest to find the one: the one makeup that will perfectly match my skin tone while hydrating, keeping shine at bay and hiding every blemish; the one hair product that will turn my locks to frizzless, voluminous, shiny silk; the one lip gloss that will flatter my face, plump my pout and protect against the elements while remaining totally kissable. While I’m still searching for all of these wonder-products, I have discovered a few fabulous finds lately that I thought I’d share. Best yet, each of these costs less than $10 and can be picked up at your local drugstore. Treat yourself – you may just find your one.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle: This miracle worker has been around for ages but somehow I hadn’t tried it until a few weeks ago. One use and I’m hooked – this deep conditioning treatment really conditions hair, leaving strands detangled and super soft and my scalp flake-free. My hair was shiny and bouncy, never oily, and my hair retained its smooth, frizz-free appearance for days. Use this at least once a week to give your hair some TLC, especially while we are still dealing with cold outside temperatures and drying indoor heat.

Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Mascara: This is a quality mascara, plain and simple. It is supposed to create fuller lashes with regular use, and while the change isn’t drastic I do think I’m sporting a thicker fringe these days. This mascara stays put all day and doesn’t irritate my ultra-sensitive eyes. If you are looking for a good, inexpensive mascara, this one’s for you.

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes: You’ve probably seen the commercials touting Simple as Britain’s top skin care brand – I’ve seen them tons of times. Intrigued, I decided to give these cleansing wipes a try. They have quickly become a regular part of my skin care routine. I am frequently too lazy to properly wash my face at night, and these wipes remove all traces of makeup and grime without over-drying my skin. They are formulated for sensitive skin and are fragrance-free. I recommend stashing a pack of these in your gym bag and your bedside table, or any other place you’re likely to want to freshen up.