Aveeno’s Cleansers and Moisturizers: Not Just For Chicken Pox Anymore

My first memory of an Aveeno product was as the one and only thing that made me stop scratching my chicken pox. I was three, and it was kind of gross but kind of wonderful that I was allowed to bathe in oatmeal. Nonetheless, it was a while before I gave the brand the credit it deserves: The products are reasonably priced but feel luxurious, and the trio I’ve been using has kept my sometimes-oily sometimes-dry skin clear and moisturized. And if I run into some poison sumac this summer, I trust that my oatmeal bath will be ready and waiting.
 
I’ve washed my face with Aveeno’s Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser ($7.49) every morning for about a year; it has acne-fighting salicylic acid that staves off occasional breakouts but leaves skin feeling clean, not dry or tight.

I love the summer-evoking botanicals-and-sunscreen scent of the Positively Ageless Lifting & Firming Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 ($19.99) so much I’ve been using it as hand lotion as well as a face cream – the high SPF and creamy formula keep delicate hand and face skin soft and protected.

The Positively Ageless Lifting & Firming Night Cream ($19.99) is super-moisturizing - it seems to do something overnight that leaves skin more even and smoother. I'm not questioning.

Victoria Beckham Gets Naked And Sells Herself For Charity

We at SheFinds weren’t shy about our dismay about the December announcement that Posh Spice (aka Victoria Beckham) would be the new face of Marc Jacobs. So, the latest news that the spotlight-hungry celeb posed nude for the designer’s popular line of naked tees (a feat formerly braved by Hilary Swank, Winona Ryder, Julianne Moore, Rufus Wainwright, and several others) has us gagging again.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for Jacobs raising money and awareness about skin cancer. (Proceeds from the limited edition t-shirts go to NYU’s Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group.) By all means, slather on the SPF 45! But really? Pencil-thin Posh naked? On your chest? There’s probably about one person who would look good in that.

But it turns out not everyone feels the same as me, which doesn’t much surprise me given the intense “love her/hate her” line Mrs. Beckham rides on the pop culture radar. The $35 tees sold out quickly from Marc Jacobs’ stores and are now a hot commodity on eBay, with auctions running as steep as $140.

Wanna bend it like Beckham? Bid away, babes.

L’Oreal Revitalift Moisturizer With Sunscreen: Protect Your Skin On The Cheap

What: L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Revitalift UV Daily Moisturizing Cream with Sunscreen , $21.99

Why: If you aren't already using a moisturizer with sunscreen—or a foundation, for that matter—you're late to the game. As most women know, sun exposure puts us at risk for UVA and UVB ray penetration, which in turn contributes to premature skin aging, wrinkles, loss of skin firmness and sun burn, among other ugly-inducing side effects. Unfortunately, lots of moisturizers that do contain SPF cost major dough (we're talking $100+ for some of the premium brands, like Kinerase).

Thankfully, you don't have to be rich to be a "follower" and use a moisturizer with sunscreen. Simply walk to your local drugstore and pick-up L'Oreal's new RevitaLift UV Daily Moisturizing Cream with SPF 15. This skin cream contains Mexoryl, a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection agent. Plus, it's also a great moisturizer; it's light and lasts all day – who woulda thunk it?!

My only complaint is the nozzle, which gives you too little the first pump and too much the second. But hey, at only $20, at least that tiny extra dot of lotion isn't costing you $5 a squirt.

Get Yours: Drugstore.com

Celebrity Skincare Find: Therapy Systems Coffee Cherry Reparative Treatment

What: Therapy Systems Coffee Cherry Reparative Treatment, $95

Why: Need a cup of java to get going in the morning? Try smearing some on your face next time and see if that could help, too. This potent potion contains the power of the coffee bean, found to contain powerful antioxidants that help speed anti-aging properties to the skin. Not only does this hard-working product provide natural protection from UV light, it also boosts cellular turnover by kicking the metabolism of cells into overdrive. The end results: no more dead and dehydrated skin. Celebrity fans include Ashley Judd, Faith Hill, and LeAnn Rimes--any of whom we'd trade skin cells with most days.

Get yours: therapysystems.com

Protect Your Skin With a Hint of Tinted Moisturizer

What: The Balm "Balm Shelter" Tinted Moisturizer

Why: I don't like foundation. I don't like the way it feels like I'm wearing a makeup-y mask, and I don't like the unnatural tint that it gives my skin. I've found that most tinted moisturizers fall under this foundation category, too, giving my skin an organge-y pallor without much softness.

So I was skeptical about The Balm's Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer until I found that this SPF 18 version gives a subtle dose of color to even out the skin while providing oh-so-light moisture. Now can relax knowing my skin looks better without worrying that my cheeks are a different color than my neck. Thank goodness—I don't even like wearing a mask on Halloween, much less to work. 

Price: $24

Find it: Beauty.com

Top 5 Caffeine-Infused Cellulite (and Saggy Skin) Cures

I love a cup, or four, of coffee in the morning, but I’ve always been made to feel somewhat guilty about my daily caffeine fixes. So my incredulity at the latest wave of beauty products is to be expected, right?

Caffeine infused lotions, topical creams, soaps and exfoliates have been flooding the beauty market, and all of them credit the same stimulating secret weapon for their somewhat unbelievable claims.  It’s definitely worthy of skepticism, but here’s the science of the matter. Although the effects aren’t exactly long-term, experts are saying that caffeine can reduce the appearance of cellulite for short periods of time, as well as fight cell damage. Even though the results aren’t permanent, what woman wouldn’t use a little topical caffeine to smooth out her flaws in favor of firm, radiant skin? I know I would!

So in celebration of caffeine and the pursuit of perfect skin, here are the top 5 caffeine finds of the moment. (Although I still refuse to give up my daily cup of java.)

1. Origin's Have a Nice Day Super Charged Moisturizing Cream, $32.50 at Origins.com

2. Bliss Fat Girl Slim is a skin firming topical cream, $29 at SkinStore.com

3. Fresh ‘V-Tonic Bath Spheres’ exfoliating bath balls, $42 at Amazon.com

4. Remede ‘High Energy Eye Contour’ firming eye cream, $90 at Sephora.com

5. Shiseido ‘Body Creator Aromatic Energizing Spray’ an invigorating body mister, $39 at Amazon.com

SheFinds Asks You: Yikes! Would You Devein Your Hands?

We've brought you all sorts of odd beauty regimens: press-on toenails, removing toes so your shoes look better, pedicure by piranha pool, but we seriously think we've seen it all now.

According to the Daily Mail, women in the UK are having veins removed from the tops of their hands for a smoother, younger look.  The article goes into great detail about the reasoning behind the surgery: women are afraid of being judged harshly and are so afraid of appearing older that they're having plastic surgeons remove seemingly offensive (read: visible) surface veins right out of their hands.  A couple of shots of anesthetic, some pricks and pulls, one or two weeks of swelling and voila!, no more large veins on the tops of your hands.

Did you just yell "WTF?" We know we did.  Have we really become a society that judges women so harsly that we're willing to take veins out of the tops of our hands so people won't think we look old?  Crepey skin is definitely a sign of aging, but there are less invasive procedures you can undertake, like exfoliating and using a good anti-aging hand cream, for example. We recommend Pretty Feet & Hands Rough Skin Remover and RoC Retinol Correxion Hand Repair for your daily regimen...like, NOW.

What do you think?  Is vein removal chic or freak?  Vote or let us know your opinion in the comments section.

PS: Did you know you could get spider veins in your face? Well you can and a Dr. Bruce Katz, MD has developed a laser technology (called RBX) as a preemptive strike of sorts. If women are willing to dig veins out of their hands, we can only imagine what they'd be willing to do to get them off their face. Scary!

An Anti-Wrinkle Face Wash? Tell Me More…

What: Freeze 24/7 Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15

Why: I was skeptical when I first tried Freeze 24/7 Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15. I mean, how could a face wash—something that does not stay on your face, mind you—provide any sort of protection against the sun? Wouldn't, say, washing it off render it useless?

Besides its potential ineffectiveness, my other apprehension was this: how would I ever know if it worked?! What if, to my dismay, I woke up 10 years from now looking like Sophia from the Golden Girls (not that she looks bad for her age, but you get the idea).

Ultimately, my uncertanties lost out to the tantalizing prospect that I could protect my skin by just washing my face, something I do everyday anyway. Furthermore, the company claims that the wash protects "every day, winter, spring, summer and fall" against harmful UVA and UVB rays. I, for one, forget that UVA even exist once the sun goes away. Ultimately, I tried it, because hey, if this does work, my skin may end up looking more like Michelle Pfeiffer's… I could deal with that. Plus, it's an awfully nice face wash—moisturizing, clarifies your complexion, infuses the skin with anti-oxidants—so if it's not pulling double-duty, I'm still satisfied.

Price: $42.99

Get Yours: Overstock.com