I tried their Young Skin line (okay, so I’m not that young, but my skin still acts like a teenager). The Perfecting Cream is made with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), birch sap, linseed, goji berries, raspberry oil, green tea, yogurt and chicory. The cream goes on light and is immediately absorbed into the skin. There is no greasy feel at all. The cream itself is a green color, which actually helps reduce the appearance of redness.

It gives a nice, matte appearance to oily skin, but I did notice it tends to peel off a bit after application. For this reason, I’d suggest using it at night instead of under makeup during the day. But, for teens who don’t wear makeup, daytime use is probably fine. Because of the AHA (lactic acid), I would also recommend using a sunscreen with it. I have to admit, I haven’t found a sunscreen that doesn’t make me break out, but then I hardly ever go outside, so I’m probably safe there!

Jen

I’m so skeptical of most acne treatments, because they generally do one of two things:

1. Dry out my skin, and eventually make my acne worse

2. Do nothing because the ingredients are too moisturizing or useless

Well, Dermalogica sent me some of the Clearing Skin Wash from their MediBac line, and I am HOOKED! I have been using it for a couple of months now, and although I think it’s too harsh for the sensitive skin on my face, it’s perfect for my back. I started out using it every other day, and now I use it almost every time I shower. It leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth and has significantly reduced my breakouts. (It even makes my backside super soft! Shhh!)

The main ingredient is salicylic acid, which exfoliates, clears pores and helps reduce acne. There are a ton of products out there with salicylic acid, but the trick is getting the right amount. Too much and your skin will get all irritated and peel. This product is just right for body acne (would probably be good for those with less sensitive facial skin as well).

The treasure trove of other ingredients are there to help soothe, kill germs and prevent acne flare-ups: licorice, bergamot, milk thistle, lemon, arnica, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, goldenseal and matricaria.

I wouldn’t think a cleanser would do much for your skin by itself, since you wash it off immediately, but this stuff really has staying power. I used it with the mediBac Skin Purifying Wipes and Sebum Clearing Mask, which were both great, but I really think this does the job all by itself. The wipes are perfect for the gym – but again, a little harsh for my face – I use them on my neck and back. The Sebum Clearing Mask is kind of hard to apply to your own back (unless you’re lucky enough to have a partner to apply it for you), so I didn’t use it on my back very often. I LOVE it for my face though – it’s not as harsh as it’s sister products, so I highly recommend it for weekly or twice-weekly face masks.

Jen

Jen#2's cruelty-free favorite

Remember how much I love Dermalogica skincare? I can honestly say that my complexion–which can definitely be described as “high-maintenance” even on the best of days–has never felt so squeaky-clean! Not that I’d been lax at rinsing well after (lathering) sessions with other scrubs or anything like that; I just so happen to have a not-so-secret new weapon: the mighty PreCleanse. Adding this extra step to my usual cleansing routine really seems to make all the difference–enough for me to bestow my first My Beauty Bunny Cruelty-Free Favorite award!

You might ask, what’s so great about a product which requires you to spend more time at the sink–isn’t my regular cleansing lotion or scrub enough? I used to think so, until I started using PreCleanse on a nightly basis. This lightweight, natural vitamin E, olive and apricot kernel-based cleansing oil works to gently lift dirt, makeup and other nasty little impurities to the skin’s surface, making it easier for your favorite cleanser to do its job–and do it well! The geek in me loves that the principle of organic chemistry known as like dissolves like helps support my testimonial (thank you, Newton BBS Ask a Scientist, for this info.)

There’s no need to fear the fortifying agents, either: kukui nut, borage seed and rice bran oils.  However counter-intuitive it may seem, these water soluble & non-comedogenic ingredients actually work best on complexions like my own.  They also help prevent excess moisture loss–a common concern even for those with oily skin. After all, if too much sebum is stripped, the oil glands will simply produce more than enough to replace whatever had been lost!

Here’s how to make the most of PreCleanse’s beneficial effects (as per Dermalogica’s official product description):

• Dispense into dry hands and massage over your face while it’s still dry, concentrating on the areas where surface debris and congestion are heaviest.
• Wet hands to create a light, milky emulsion; continue massaging into skin, as necessary.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and follow your regular cleanser (for myself: MediBac Clearing Skin Wash).

There–that doesn’t sound too tedious or difficult, does it? No advanced chemistry degrees are required to recognize or enjoy the benefits of thoroughly clean, healthy skin from an amazing and  confirmed cruelty-free brand.

Press sample provided for the purpose of review.

Korres sent me some Yogurt Cream and Yogurt Mask samples to try. At first I was skeptical that the creams would do anything other than look nice in their hefty glass jars. I usually find that the nicer the jar – the more over-hyped the cream inside. This was not the case here.

Korres Yogurt Cream

The Korres Yogurt Cream facial moisturizer has a velvety feel and nice thickness to it. It absorbs into the skin easily, so it’s fine for use day or night. The product is touted for “oily and dehydrated skin.” I have combination skin so I need something to combat the dryness but I don’t want it to be so heavy that it makes me break out. This fits the bill perfectly. It’s made with organic yogurt, which has lactose, proteins, minerals and vitamins to nourish the skin without causing more oil production. (Retail – $29.50)

Korres Yogurt Mask

The Korres Yogurt Mask is a similar product, but with heftier ingredients – meant to be left on for 10-15 minutes and then rinsed off. You can even leave it on overnight for an extra moisturizing night cream. It won’t clog pores, but you should wash your face and put the day cream on in the morning if you’re going to wear makeup. (Retail – $27.00)

Korres never uses any phthalates, GMOs, triclosan, parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals – you get the idea. Korres products are also never tested on animals and are cruelty-free. But, these products do contain yogurt, so are fine for vegetarians, but not our vegan friends. For vegans, I would suggest checking out their Materia Herba or  Olive & Rye day cream.

I really wanted to find a moisturizer with sun protection, so when I found Peter Thomas Roth’s Max All Day Moisture Defense Cream with SPF 30 I was excited to try it.

The formula is lightweight and oil-free, yet it was moisturizing enough to keep my combination skin (with at times super dry cheeks) hydrated all day. The moisturizer immediately absorbs into the skin and also contains Vitamins A & E, which help fight the signs of aging.

I am really impressed with everything about this moisturizer. Not only does it give me the moisture, sun protection, and antioxidants my skin needs, but it does so without clogging a single pore. I’m pretty sure I can declare this mission accomplished.

Guest blogger Ella is a makeup artist, former cosmetic counter maven, and lover of all things beauty. She loves trying new products and can’t resist a great deal. She prides herself in her closet full of beauty supplies, which is bound to make even the most obsessed beauty junkie jealous.