This Peel Makes Its Mark By Fading Yours

Just now, my mom called asking me to recommend a facial peel for my sister, Lauren. There are many types of peels on the market, so I inquired about what kind of result Lauren was looking for. My mom explained that the Molton Brown Skinbalance Toning Lotion I had raved about was doing a great job of clearing up my sister’s blackheads – but the process was resulting in some hyper-pigmentation. It didn’t take me long to offer a suggestion...almost immediately, I remembered a product I purchased over a year ago – that yielded great results.

Used consistently (1-3 times per week), Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Acne Mark Fading Peel visibly reduces the appearance of post-acne marks. What I like most about the treatment is that it contains Salicylic Acid to prevent new breakouts from forming and discourage future marks. The product does a wonderful job of exfoliating skin…after using the peel, my skin had a healthy glow and was smooth as a toddler’s tuchis.

My only criticism is the smell – it isn’t pleasant, but it’s tolerable…and you get used to it after a while. In Spoiled Pretty’s opinion, it’s a small price to pay for smoother, clearer skin.

Available at Drugstore.com, Amazon.com, Walgreen’s, Eckerd, CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart and Kmart.

I Scream, You Scream

As a little girl, my favorite flavor and scent was vanilla. Not much has changed since then, as I still have a bit of a sweet tooth – and not just when it comes to food. That’s why I am so excited to try Organix Soft & Silky Vanilla Silk Blow Dry Cream.

It’s made with 100% Tahitian Vanilla Bean Oils and silk amino proteins to nourish and strengthen hair. Organix promises that the cream's "heat memory" lengthens the life of your style, while providing thermal protection from the heat of blow dryers, curling irons, and other hair styling tools. And Lucky Magazine says it smells like vanilla ice cream.

Why am I still writing about this and not out buying it?

Organix products are available at Target, Walmart, Walgreen’s, Amazon.com, and CVS.

Then I Saw My Nails, Now I’m A Believer

I’m the woman whose nails are never done. Not because I don’t care, but because the odds are never in my favor. It's usually because my husband is complaining that the fumes kill his brain cells. Or I’m too exhausted to spend the hour and a half that it takes to properly do my nails. But even when I do make the time to give myself a manicure – inevitably, I get an itch that just has to be scratched, and I end up destroying the polish on one or more of my digits.

That’s why I was so excited about Incoco Dry Nail Appliqués, which “take a few minutes and result in professional manicure quality.” But being the skeptic that I am, I didn’t honestly think that this product would hold a candle to a trip to the nail salon - but beggers can’t be choosers, so I gave them a try.

The Incoco Dry Nail Appliqués are dry strips of polish (basecoat, color, and topcoat layered and dried to the touch) that you fit to your nail size, peel off the backing paper, affix to your nail, and file off the extra. So, last night, I applied the appliqués according to the directions…and when I was through 20 minutes later, I couldn’t believe my eyes! For the first time in two months, my nails were done – and they looked like I had gotten them professionally done!

With Incoco Dry Nail Appliqués, there’s no smudging, no waiting, and no dead brain cells. The enamel bonds to natural and acrylic nails, for a manicure that lasts up to 14 days.

Available in 20 colors and 6 French Manicure shades (I’m modeling ‘Pink Satin’), each Incoco Dry Nail Appliqués kit contains 20 nail color strips, a mini nail buff, an orange stick, and a polish remover cloth. Sold exclusively at Walgreen’s.

Hell Has Officially Frozen Over

On Friday night, after returning home from a night out with friends, my husband took a long, hard look at me and asked, “Honey, when’s the last time you exfoliated?”

I was aghast at the question, considering this was a man who, just a few years earlier, had been cleansing his face with the same bar of Irish Spring he used to wash his body. He has since graduated to less archaic methods of skincare, but since when was he an expert in the art of exfoliation?

After taking a long, hard look at my dull complexion in the mirror, I reluctantly agreed that my husband might be on to something – so I asked what he recommended. He handed me his Energizing Face Scrub by Nivea For Men, and told me to give it a try.

As you all know, I’m not above using men’s products – so I applied some to my freshly-washed face and worked the product in in circles. The fine scrub particles are not for the faint of heart – so if your skin is on the sensitive side, you may find this to be a bit too abrasive. Otherwise, it’s great at unclogging pores and getting rid of excess impurity build up.

My husband’s Energizing Face Scrub did just what it promised – it smoothed my complexion by lifting off rough, dead skin. The “fine scrub particles” were a little more aggressive than I’m used to - so I think I’ll stick to my Fresh Sugar Face Polish and steal, I mean borrow, his Nivea Face Scrub once a week. And if he ever gets stingy and I have to go buy my own, it’s only $6.

Available at Drugstore.com, Amazon.com, CVS, Walgreen's, and Rite Aid.