Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Peel

 

 

 

Hello. Angry Baby Heather here, and I still have spotty sun spots.

 

Looking back at my old before photos I realize the spots have faded quite a bit after an IPL photofacial treatment, two microderm treatments and various at home treatments (PMD microderm, various serums, and lots of SPF). Makes me happier, but I still want them completely gone. Also, notice how often I change my hair color. Poor hair.

 

BzzAgent offered to send me Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Peel to test and review and of course I said yes. I will try just about anything that will even out my skin tone.

 

Here are my before photos:

 

 

 

Not bad. But not good enough, dammit.

 

So, let's talk about the serum.

 

Smell: Meh. Not good, not bad. I didn't really notice it.

 

Texture: Feels just like some expensive serums I have tried in the past. It is clear and semi gooey feeling, spreads easily and absorbs quickly. You may feel a slight tingling sensation, that's the acid dissolving your face. Just kidding. It is working it's magic, attacking dead skin cells.

 

What happens: I noticed about 20-30 minutes after applying the nightly peel that I could literally scrub off dead skin with my fingers, that's how well it works. At first I was slightly concerned that it was too strong to use every night, but I went for it and everything was fine. Dead skin always comes off, but my skin is never irritated. My skin felt more and more smooth by the day and I noticed it was brighter and healthier looking.

 

Thirty days later it was time for an after photo comparison:

Cheap Thrills: 25 under $25

Since I took a little break and missed the last couple of weeks, I decided to do things a little differently. To make up for lost Cheap Thrills, I put together a big list of 25 goodies, each under $25. For you, for your friends, for your everyday gifting needs. Sometimes you need a pick me up that won't make a huge dent in your budget, or maybe you need a gift for someone but want to keep the spending to a reasonable amount... I gotchu covered, babies! Browse this list for a little inspiration, you'll be surprised how much fun you can get out of $25.

May Birchbox Review & Contest

I feel like I should be ringing bells or banging gongs right about now. I've been looking forward to the Gossip Girl themed Birchbox for weeks, and now it's here! The best part is..... It's contest time! Whoreders will be giving one lucky reader a 3 month subscription to Birchbox!

Here's what you need to do: leave a comment on this post telling us about your favorite beauty product. That's it! Easy as leave-in conditioner, my friends. Make sure to sign in when leaving your comment (either to Blogger, Google, etc.) so we can get in touch with you. The contest will be end at 11:59 pm (PST) on May 31st, and there is one entry per person (duplicates will be taken out of the drawing). The winner will be announced on June 1st in a blog post and on our Facebook page, so keep those lovely peepers peeled!

P.S. If you already have a Birchbox subscription, we'll give you a $30 gift certificate to use on anything your heart desires. This contest is brought to you by Whoreders, and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Birchbox.

Woo! Are you excited?! Let's dig into this Gossip Girl box and see what we've got!

This Spotty Mug

Hi, my name is Heather and I have poop stains on my face.

Soo... a while back I wrote about buying a Groupon for an IPL photofacial deal nearby and told you kids I'd give you my two cents. Well.... I'm a bit slow. I didn't make an appointment for a while and I waited another couple months after I had it done to take the "after" photos. I'm sorry. Please forgive me.

Simple Skincare Review

Recently, the lovely people at Simple Skincare sent me some products to try out and review. Simple is a popular brand in the UK that is now available here in the U.S., in 2011 they were counted as the #1 facial skincare range. You go, Simple Skincare! The Simple line of products can be used by all skin types, but it was specifically for sensitive skin. There are no dyes, artificial perfumes or harsh irritants, the entire line is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and pH balanced.

Put it on: Depeche Mode's Blue Dress

Hey girl.

Throwback time! I can't deny it, the older I get and the more and more distant the wannabe goth 15 year-old me becomes, the more creepy I notice Depeche Mode's lyrics to be. Although still a not-so-guilty favorite of mine, the clarity of adulthood has made it impossible to ignore all the carnal lust and fetishizing (and um, more than a few mentions of fifteen year olds) that my beloved DM exquisitely broods about. That being said, I still think Depeche Mode has made some of the sexiest music out there and their 1990 song "Blue Dress" from the album Violator is as sexy as it gets. Maybe that makes me a creep too? I'm OK with that.

“Blue Dress” is a sweet, kinky little song about a woman who becomes even more painfully desirable when wearing a certain, special dress. To me, this dress is understated and far from overtly sexy but becomes a focal point of desire because of the fine creature that it covers. It's the little things that matter sometimes in this big world and this song is about just that. Here are my picks for dresses that may do the same, all under $50! Blue isn’t a color I picture of when I think about a sexy dress, but that just may be exactly why these dresses work. 

Clockwise: Urban Outfitters $39, ASOS $45.45
ASOS $31.81, Go Jane $34

April Birchbox

It's Birchbox time again! This month the theme is "Natural Wonders", is stocked with products inspired by nature. So there are skincare goodies made with natural ingredients, nail polish that uses healthier alternatives, and perfume with natural and earthly notes. Perfect timing for spring, when everyone gets the urge to clean up, throw out yuckiness and charge into the season renewed and refreshed.

Let's take a peek inside...

Beauty Bar's Sample Society

To celebrate Spa Week, we're gonna bring you a little extra beauty courtesy of Beauty Bar's Sample Society. You all know I'm obsessed with Birchbox, and I've become suspicious of copycats, but I think Sample Society is a winner. If you're familiar with Birchbox, you'll know how the basics of Sample Society work, but there are a few differences. First off, Sample Society is $15 per month. For those $15 you get 5 samples from high end brands, a code for $15 off a purchase of $50 or more that includes at least one item from your box (code is good for 60 days!), expert beauty advice that comes with each box, and a one-year subscription to Allure magazine.

For the time being, there are no personalized boxes, everyone gets the same one every month. You can cancel at any time, and there's an easy to use website dashboard where you can make changes to your account, review your boxes and browse other goodies available from Beauty Bar.

And now for the question of the (Spa) week, what's in the box....?

SpAHHHHH Week

Dear ladies of the U S of A,

Tomorrow starts Spa Week! What is that, you say? From the 16th to the 22nd a bunch of local spas are offering various treatments for only $50 each!

Check this website for more information and search for deals nearby!

Gotta Have It: Zit Zappin Serum

It's happened to all of us, usually right before a big date or the night before you're going to take your new ID picture. Sometimes you can cover it up with makeup magic, side swept bangs, mourning veil or a band-aid (my favorite technique in junior high) - but if none of these tricks work, you might have to pull out the big guns. I'm talking about all those countless cleansers, serums, scrubs, balms and voodoo rituals we've all heard about and tried. Let's be honest, there's no one sure-fire pimple fix. What works for one person, might not do a thing for another, and your bff's favorite solution might turn your skin into dragon scales.

But before we all sink into a Debbie Downer moment, let's remember that the only way you'll find something that works is by keeping your eyes and ears open for new things to try. That's what I've got for you today, something that actually cleared up two spots on my face overnight, literally.

*cue choir of angels singing*

Say hello to Juice Beauty's Blemish Clearing Serum! I got it in a Birchbox a few months ago, and at the time I was lucky enough to be clear skinned and fresh faced, so I wasn't able to see its full power. But Aunt Flow brought me a special surprise and gave me, not one, but two(!) different kinds of pimples last week. One was a small white-tipped little devil on my cheek, and the other was a scarlet monster on the side of my nose. After I stopped crying hysterically, I remembered that I had a lil' tube of this stuff in my sample treasure box. I applied a little on each spot after washing my face, and hoped for the best.

Now, if I were a smart person, I probably would have taken a photo of the "before". But... I'm not, and I didn't. But I swear on a stack of Vogues that my skin cleared up overnight. The smaller one shrank to almost nothing, it disappeared completely after applying makeup. Big red vanished completely. Guys, I'm not joking, this thing looked like a mosquito bite on the side of my nose, and it was GONE the next morning.


I've gotten a couple of Juice Beauty products from Birchbox, and I've been totally impressed. The products are available online on their website, and from Birchbox. It's also sold at Whole Foods and other small boutiques/spas, click here to find a location near you. 


He-Man Picture from Cheezburgers

March Birchbox

There was a slight delay in my Birchbox this month, do you think they were just messing with me because it was my birthday? Well... the real reason may be that there were two box options to choose from this month, the regular March shipment or the special Teen Vogue box. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I spent about 20 minutes staring at my email, trying to decide which one I wanted. Because I faced turning another year older this month, I went with the Teen Vogue box to make myself feel younger. Let's see if it worked...

Mad Men Stylin'

The 60s craze continues this week with some retro hair and makeup inspired by the return of Mad Men. Instead of trying to choose one of the characters on the show, I went with the 60s feel that was based on the Bridgitte Bardot Makeover featured on The Hairpin. This look is about big hair, major lashes and oodles of eyeliner.  I stocked up on supplies that I didn't have at home: fresh lashes, lash adhesive, teasing comb, styling foam (a soft, squishy Bump-It), Beyond the Zone Volume Powder and strong hairspray. I was able to find everything at Sally's Beauty and Walgreens, no time machine needed. I've never done hair this big before, my hair doesn't want to be teased! If this big hair novice can do this, anyone can, really. Ready to see the transformation?

Product Review: Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream

 

We Whoreders love BzzAgent, and are always excited when new campaigns come out and we get to take part. I was chomping at the bit for one campaign in particular, the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream. I am obsessed with B.B. Creams at the moment and have been using them regularly for the past few weeks. I was lucky enough to be chosen for the campaign and received a BzzKit from BzzAgent, which included a full size tube for me to try and give report back on. 

Before we dive in, let me explain what B.B. creams are to those who aren't familiar with it. It's short for "beauty balm" or "blemish balm", and in my own technical terms, a super-duper tinted moisturizer. It's an all-in-one product that's a serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, primer and sheer foundation all rolled into one. Can you see why I'm so amped to try it? One product can take the place of all those, meaning you're saving time and money, that's what Whoreders love best!

Cheap Thrills: Crazy for Curls

It never seems to fail, people with masses of curly hair always want a magic straightener and us folks with stick straight locks want a head full of wild curls. My latest obsession is trying to get my stubborn hair to cooperate with my desire for curly hair. I don't want 24/7 curls, just an day or two once in a while. Our very own Heather wrote a great article about rag curls, which inspired the latest experiment on my blog, Verbal Switchblade. That brings us to this week's edition of Cheap Thrills, where I explore what other tools could I find to fulfill my corkscrew fantasy. 

DIY Beauty: Body Scrub

Hello, Whoreders! For this edition of DIY Beauty we've brought in a very special guest Whoreder contributor, Kim. She's a good friend of ours and is known for her perfect poses (even when we're on a roller coaster) and her DIY beauty skills. She made us all an incredible scrub for Christmas, and we've all been raving about it ever since. I talked her into doing a guest post with us here, to share her knowledge and pass on the gift of soft, glowy skin to all of you. Take it away, Kim!

Heather's Top Ten Bargain Beauty Favs

We all have our favorite beauty buys that are reliable and cheap.

These are mine, ladies.

1. Organix Moroccan Argan Oil. This stuff smells great, lasts a long time, smooths out my hair and makes it feel healthy. $8.

2. Dove Beauty Bar. Gentle enough to use on my face, I always keep a bar in the shower.

Birchbox: February

Birchbox time is upon us again! This month my box was all about skincare and a cool new trend in eyeliner that I've been dying to try. In the last couple of months I've convinced a couple of friends to sign up for Birchbox, two of them got wait-listed for about a month. Birchbox is blowin' up! I think a lot of people were gifted subscriptions over the holidays and it caused a traffic jam of requests. But it all seems to be back to business as usual, so if you've been waiting to subscribe - Go! Go now! Okay, let's take a look at what's in my box this month...

Birchbox: January

It's time for another peek inside our boxes, Birchbox reviews are here. Just in the nick of time to still count towards January, phew! This is Charlotte's last Birchbox, as she has decided to bid adieu to the service. I remain fully obsessed and will keep showing the world the contents of my box. Let's get this party started, Char-Char is up first, we'll have a moment of silence, then I'll come in like a neurotic superhero on a questionable zip line.

Charlotte

Here is my last Birchbox. It is a combo December/January Birchbox because of all the December Birchbox drama. Go figure, they send out a decent Birchbox right when I decide to quit ! Yes I am quitting because of all the drama with the Decemer Birchbox and I didn't think it has been worth my $10 every month. Vanessa will be your Birchbox advisor from here on out. Anyhow, on with the show, and $10 back in my pocket every month. **Sigh**

Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream ($115)- I absolutely LOVE this stuff! It makes your skin so soft and you can actually feel it work, probably because of the glycolic acid, but I like to think it is magical skin fairies massaging my face...

FIX Malibu Immaculate Complexion Smoothing Serum ($125)- This stuff feels and smells AH-Mazing! I also really like this sample. It makes your skin feel silky soft to the touch and it makes a noticeable difference just looking at your skin. Love in a jar <3.

Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal ($36)- I was not a big fan of this product. The color didn't match me but I tried it anyway so I could give you lovelies a full review. It is very powdery and cakey looking at the same time. It's not flattering. If you have something you need to conceal, I feel like this makes it stand out more.

stila Smudg Stick Waterproof Eye Liner ($20) in peacock- This is an awesome eyeliner! I don't typically like waterproof makeup but this color is so amazzing I just can't hate on it.

Lifestyle Extra #1 Larabar Mini Bar ($15) in Chocolate Chip Brownie- It was a yummy little treat but was nothing new. I'm not sure why it was in this box, but hey, It's chocolate so I'm not complaining

Lifestyle Extra #2 Birchbox Magnet- Uhm...a Birchbox Magnet...that about sums it up...I like magnets so I'm not complaing....mocking, but not complaining.

Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss ($20) in Birchbox Pink- This is a fun and awesome lip gloss. It's a fun, sheer, bubble-gum/flamingo pink gloss. Pro: Not the least bit sticky. Con: Smells a little funky.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo ($25)- Dry Shampoo is my favorite dirty girl product. It encourages me to skip a good hair wash every now and then. Who am I kidding, I use it like three times a week..Anyways I didn't think this one was any more amazing than Tresseme or Suave, and so far nothing even touches PSSST. So in my opinon it is not worth the extra money but it did the job.

Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape in Nude ($10)- These are good for skinny girls with small tatas. No way, no how will these work for my DDD tatas. I can't review them so I gave them away to a skinny  girl with small(er) tatas....

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse ($58)-  Pro: Made my hair AND skin feel ridiculously soft and beautiful. Con: Left glitter ALL.OVER.EVERYWHERE. Now don't get me wrong, I love glitter. But this is just too much glitter. I didn't even know those words could be combined to make that horrible sentence!

Atelier Cologne ($70)- I do love this smell but it is very androgynous. I honestly couldn't tell right away if it was for a man or a woman. That didn't stop me from wearing it though, and liking it.

Vanessa's Top Ten Budget Beauty Buys

Normally, these top ten lists come at the end of the year, but we Whoreders were a little busy wrapping presents and mixing cocktails. Whoops. I get some flack from people (Heatherrr!) for my fancy product lustin', but I'm also a big believer in budget buys (I AM!). I put together a list of my top ten favorites, all found at your local drugstore for under $20.

Ready? Here they are, in no particular order...

Steal vs. Splurge: Beauty Basics Edition

Here are a few of my must have beauty products, and their equally fabulous and cheaper alternatives.

I do not wear make-up as often as I used to or would like to, but when I do, I look dang good gurl. Some people (Heather) may argue that I have no business putting up a post about make-up and beauty as usually I am a plain faced hobo a la Lindsay Lohan status.

Moisturizer:

Steal: This one is hard as everyone's skin is so different. I typically use anything that is on sale, something I win, or one that is recommended to me. Vanessa swears by Philosophy's Hope In a Jar 2 oz. ($40), and Heather is a repeat buyer of Garnier Skin Renew ($12) 2.5 oz.

Splurge: StriVectin Instant Moisture Repair 2oz. ($59) is a little pricey, but totally worth it. You can see and feel the difference after the first time, seriously. I won this in a blog contest and used it until the bottlemade that little fart noise when it's beyond empty.