5 Skincare Products That Actually DO Something!

I admit, I need fast results if I put effort or money into something. Maybe that is why I don’t work out- I try for a week, don’t see any changes, then figure my time is better spent catching up on Serial or Making a Murderer. Here are five face products that you can actually see/feel working- in my opinion, they are worth the investment for this reason! If you didn’t already know, I am a cheap ass on many things and always on the lookout for a bargain, but this is stuff I will most likely splurge on if I run into some extra pampering money.

StriVectin Oxygen Infusion Smoothing Mask– $62 for 1.7 oz.

The first time I tried this mask, it kind of freaked me out- the product started bubbling and foaming upon contact! I immediately fell in love with the science behind it as I do with many of the StriVectin products- it “lifts surface dirt and impurities and delivers radiance boosting oxygen to the skin.” If you think about the surface of your skin, it is like a cobblestone street almost. From a distance, it might look smooth, but up close there are a lot of nooks and crannys that dirt and oil can get trapped in. If you just washed the surface of the street, you wouldn’t be able to get all that dirt out from in between the cobblestones. If you applied a cleaner that foamed up, it would lift the dirt out of the crevices. Same idea here. Skin feels hydrated, smooth and fresh after using.

Watch this video for a look at how this works! Ok, it isn’t gripping footage, but you can see how the product changes from a cream to a bubbly foam by itself when coming in contact with water.

Sonya Dakar Flash Facial– $95 for 1 oz.

First, let me say that yes, I know this is VERY pricey. I wouldn’t spend full price on this product because I am frugal and this is kind of insane to pay this much for a beauty product. When you first go to the site, a coupon offer should pop up; you can also click on it from the bottom left of the main page (save 10% for subscribing to their newsletter). I received this product in a FabFitFun Subscription box, which was a great deal since the box cost $49.99. They are also selling a Beauty Box for $65 right now, which includes a .4 oz size Flash Facial.

This product is unlike any facial product I have ever used. You apply it to clean, dry skin and allow to dry for a minute or two. Then, you rub it off using circular motions- I apply a drop or two of water to get the process started because you really have to rub. It contains Hylasome, which has 5 times more moisturization than standard hyaluronic acid. After the product comes off, my face feels incredibly smooth…almost like I removed the entire top layer of my skin, which I probably did. Also, this is one of Gwyneth’s favorite products…she drives me nuts with her outrageously priced goop stuff, but hey, she nailed it with this magic potion.

Bliss Micromagic Microdermabrasion– $48 for 3 oz.

I recently had a fabulous facial at Bliss Spa, and told my aesthetician that I had been using this microdermabrasion treatment on and off. She mentioned that it was one of her favorite products, and is the best way to get rid of the tiny blackheads on my chin. I use this twice a week now and notice a definite difference if I forget! It contains volcanic pumice coupled with vitamin E and aloe, and has never irritated my skin. They also have a deal going on right now use the code WINTERBREAK to get 30% off.

PS- order $100 and get a beauty favorites bag worth $125 by using code FABGIFT.

PPS- check out their amazing clearance section. Up to 75% off, a lot of gift sets for sale (hello Valentine’s Day).

See the consistency of the microderm here! When using a scrub/microderm, it is important to use one that has smaller, uniform particles. Remember the St. Ives Apricot Scrub? That stuff will tear your skin up on a micro level- the massive jagged chunks of walnut shells can actually enlarge your pores. (Ignore Charlotte’s chatter in the background!)

 
StriVectin Advanced Retinol Pore Refiner– $99 for 1.7 oz

I reviewed this product recently for Shop Girl Daily, and yes, it is amazing. Yes, I received it for free to review, but that had no bearing on how amazing I think it is. I receive a LOT of beauty samples on a weekly basis and rarely do they make it to my blog. I don’t promote or recommend products if they don’t work for me. Plain and simple.

This product reduced the size of my pores unlike any product I have used in the past. If I don’t wear makeup, I have embarrassingly large pores, and this made my skin look almost matte. If you want to hear me wax poetic about this refiner, check out my review on Shop Girl Daily here. And no, I don’t show closeup views of my pores. Because no one wants to see that.

Bliss Fabulous Drench ‘n’ Quench– $38 for 1.7 oz

I adore products that are multi-taskers. If someone could come up with one product I could just paint my face with and walk out the door during the week, I would be sold. This product is a cream-to-water lock-in moisturizer. Huh? Here’s layman’s terms- The cream turns into mini water droplets on contact with skin so it delivers immediate hydration and locking it in. You can use this product as a regular moisturizer or as an overnight sleep mask, which I did last night. When I woke up, my skin was bouncy and hydrated, not taut and flaky like it usually is this time of year.

Here is a little video to show the consistency- see how when I layer it on, it is still wet? It does soak in, but I love how much moisture it delivers.

What are your favorite skincare products to keep your fave feeling and looking gorgeous? Please share! A friend of mine recently

And yes, I was provided with product through the years by Bliss and StriVectin, but all of my opinions are honest and my own. Again, I receive a ton of beauty products and these are the ones that made the cut!