oil is good...

a huge misconception of many clients, and friends, and people i've encountered is...    oil is clogging and counter intuitive for skin. the majority of people i've spoken with who complain of oily skin, do not use moisturizer. no kidding.

my favorite oil for skincare is made by Tarte. i  use it nightly and i have noticed a major improvement of the texture of my skin.



our largest organ is smart. if you deplete it of moisture, it will make it's own.


please moisturize morning and night.


xo

a few musts from an expert...

happy holidays, Merry Christmas! cannot believe it's this time of year again... but i say that every year. though it's been tough to sit and keep up with blogging, it was one of those nights i just needed to write. along with Christmas shopping, decorating, running after two crazy boys, giving facials, analyzing skin, selling houses, and rushing home to make good dinners or catch up on my newest medical esthetics mag... i have to squeeze in some advice. here it is.

whether you are a die hard routine lover, and you follow five steps day and night, or a minimalist who uses whatever she/he has left in the shower... just follow these rules for some instant gratification.

firstly... your skin loves the night. night is when our largest organ does all of it's healing and resting. if you can't manage to fit in two cleanses and moisturizing sessions a day, DO NOT skip night. I am a single mommy, working full time and barely with enough minutes to brush my teeth... but i never go to bed without doing something. my best advice is to keep a package of facial wipes by your bed. Philosophy's purity wipes are some of my favorite, ARCONA makes some amazing facial pads, "say yes to cucumbers or carrots..", Autopalm wipes... basically anything to make it easy for you to reach over from your warm covers and wipe the day off. all of these wipes contain enough moisture to leave your skin hydrated, yet still be cleansing enough to rid your face of a day's work.

second... exfoliate! your epidermis is fairly consistent in shedding. if you aren't assisting the removal of those cells, they pile up and cause issues. they also prevent your products from doing their job properly. if you have apricot scrub, or any fruit "scrub"... please either throw it away or use it on your ass. your skin is about as thick as a piece of tissue paper. consider grinding up an apricot pit and rubbing it on to tissue paper. enough said. i'm not joking about the ass, thighs too... but never anywhere from the neck up. for sensitive skin, use a non-physical, enzymatic based exfoliant. aha's, papaya enzyme, rice enzyme... no scrubbies please. on the other hand, if you've been using st ives since freshman year and you need some sort of stimulation- a synthetic and smooth bead exfoliant is acceptable, just be careful in your choosing.

3rd... and you may be tuning out here....
sunscreen. blah blah blah. you'll thank me later (if you're under 25) to keep spf on daily. 25 or higher preferably. don't skip the neck or the decollete, and ALWAYS add it to your hand cream.

questions?
i answer frequently.
xoxo
mercergirl

mascaras unraveled...

being particular as most girls are with their mascaras, very few fit the bill. although i'm a fan of big and voluptuous, i despise clumps. i'm thrilled with the inventive new fiber formulas, and would love to know the trick of avoiding the smudge on my lid from the length of the fibers. it's a fine line between and just perfect. recently i've put a few of the newer contestants to battle. this is how they sum up next to some old favorites:

1. They're Real, by Benefit Cosmetics...  this mascara is just near perfection for me. i enjoy the amount of fiber in the formula, it's just enough to coat and lengthen, no smudging- and long, distinct lash results. this will float around my makeup satchel for years to come...

2. Too Faced, Lash Injection... HUGE plump lashes, over the top thickness. tube technology. not a whole lot of clumping. i can't get with the tube technology. the oily smudge is comforting upon removal.

3. Dior, DiorShow -the original. the adult star of the mascara world. richly coats lashes in a buttery and smudgeproof formula. creates thick and dramatic lashes. a bit tough to wrestle off, but any good eye remover will do. i've been known to use my samples of eye cream and small jars i have yet to finish, in lieu of eye makeup remover. gluttonous, i know. i have a hard time finding a match for this mascara.

4. Buxom Lash, Buxom Cosmetics- the smarter, sexier, sister to DiorShow. matte black evenly coats the lash, perfectly designed wand ensures delivery to even the smallest lashes. just dramatic enough for a "mascara & lipstick day". i use this mascara almost daily.

....tips for mascara

do not pump mascara
dump mascara at no more than six months
DO use colored mascara as an accent
always remove mascara before bed

xo
mercergirl

the best coconut butter ever...

this will be short and sweet... my battery is almost dead and i don't feel like plugging in before i go to bed. this steal from our favorite store trader joe's is easy to blurb about. with all the rage of coconut oil in the past few years and the undeniable usefulness of the nut, it's no wonder we want to rub it all over our bodies. trader joe's coconut butter is meant to do just so. even though i worked for tj's for many a year, this isn't endorsed. i have gone through 4 tubs of the stuff, and it hasn't even been on the shelf six months. pure coconut butter, free of parabens and full of yummy fats for our most environmentally assaulted places. your rough knees and ashy elbows will delight. next time you head out the door for your chocolate covered caramels, diced prosciutto, or tofutti cuties... make sure you don't skip the "haba" aisle. that stands for health and beauty aids...at five bucks a tub, grab a few. you can thank me later.

xo
mercergirl

calm down...

as many of you know, i've been riddled with rosacea and flushed skin since i was a kid. i wasn't diagnosed with rosacea until my twenties. my diagnoses sent me on a long path of topical prescription creams and gels, diet changes, oral medications and no success. not only did the gels and creams make my skin dry and irritable, but they only worked while they were on. as someone who suffered with acne as a child and have always been curiously involved in products and solutions for skin, i was determined to change my skin. i have tried just about every redness solution on the market. i have found that nearly all these products over promise and under deliver. there are only two regimens that i go to for my skin. one of my absolute staples is from mario bedescu. i adore bedescu. his product line is backed in science and rooted in nature. his packaging is simple, not fluffy. his line works and i've never been disappointed. my favorite from his line is called control cream. it is a must for me. not only is it a savior for flushed or rosacea skin, but it's fantastic for irritation, flakiness and skin that just needs to settle down. i am never without this cream. i have recommended this cream to so many people... all whom have thanked me. balsam peru, algae and carnation oil soothe and protect, while the water base is gentle and very easily absorbed. this cream is a cool and relaxing drink for your skin. enjoy...

xo
mercergirl

dangerous and delicious...

thank you balenciaga. with the launch of lady gaga and a meek excuse for a noir version of coco, i've been trumped for a new fall and winter nose. i'm in love with this scent. it's ladylike and vixen. it's edgy but far from masculine or tart. it will indeed become a staple and/or a signature on many pulse points this year.

love,
mercergirl xo

A scent from the botanical gardens of Balenciaga Paris, inspired by the woman who is beautiful but dangerous. An enchanting fragrance composed of a green accord twisted by an exhilarating note of juvenile freshness.

let's start with some staples

primer is truly a girls best friend. not only does it create a gorgeous canvas for makeup application, but it can also be used alone to even skin tone, protect from the elements, and give an overall smooth look to the skin. i have a few primers that i really love and i alternate between them, depending on the season.

my absolute favorite primer is by colorscience. it is called skin brightening primer.it used to be called "line tamer"... but the packaging has changed. it is brilliantly creamy and the yellow tone evens out ruddiness. i tend to use this primer in Fall and Winter, because it's best used under a tinted moisturizer or a foundation. it blends perfectly and has an spf of 20, is packed full of antioxidants and a dash of tea tree oil for an anti-inflammatory quality. i don't ever run out of this product. i am on autoship at dermstore so i get a discount and i never have to worry about being without it. my skin glows from this primer and it does wonders for my rosacea.

my other favorite primer is made by dermalogica. it's part of their AgeSmart line. silicone makes this primer   provide smooth and great results. it has great anti-aging ingredients and can be used on any skin type. this primer comes in one shade currently, but i imagine the geniuses at dermalogica will release a few more shades in the future. this is very universally flattering and blends really well. i use a beauty blender to put my primer on, but either one of these primers will glide on with fingertips.

*remember to use primer sparingly, and do not over agitate when applying. this leads to those lovely silicones making small clumps on your face. just rub together in your fingers till creamy and apply. it's good to wait a few minutes before applying foundation or anything over the primer... and DO NOT use face primer on eyelids. eye primers are an entirely different animal. more on those later.

the virgin post...

how do i begin? in a big wide world where i'm surrounded by amazing products, i have so many opinions on so many different potions, it's tough to choose which ones i may start with. let's begin by getting to know me a bit. i have my fingertips in many different jars. i detest routine. i believe that our skin is one of, if not the most important organ in our bodies. i love the glow of skin from a morning at the beach, but i praise sunscreen and don't skip it ever... even a day. i love freckles. i am dumbfounded at how much i adore my kids. i love wine, i love coffee, i don't get enough sleep. i break every rule and still have pretty skin... and it's NOT because i was born with it. it's because i love it and i soak myself in learning all about ingredients and what is good for my skin. i grew up with acne and now i'm riddled with fairly severe rosacea. you would never know it, because i know how to treat it. this blog is all about the things i try (and i will try anything). i am obsessed with scents, which explains my love for fragrance, lack of fragrance, food, wine, cold rain on hot concrete, and puppy breath. i am obsessed with touch... i won't use a product if it doesn't make my skin feel good and make someone else want to touch me. i hate fluff and i love results. this is not an organic blog... i am thrilled with the availability of injectables, lasers, peels, chemicals and all that the beautiful things that science has brought us... yet i can still get down with some mayo in my hair, egg white on my face, and ear grease on my lips. oh... and i never capitalize unless i have to. welcome to the product trollop. i hope i can keep you here, and that you can find out about products and treatments that you've always been curious about and never tried. i don't want to sell you anything, i just want you to learn and enjoy. ask me a question any time...

xo
mercergirl