Super-cheap, Super-charged

It’s been less than one month since I started my Beautymint regimen, and already I’m not using the line anymore. I’ll write a review of that separately, but the gist of it is that the product sizes were so small that I used them sparingly, and I felt that I wasn’t getting enough benefits as I should have if I were more generous with them. Not to mention the price was a bit steep at $60 per month.

That being said, I’ve moved on to another facial regimen (I’m notoriously fickle when it comes to skin care). This regimen is simple, inexpensive, and I’m already seeing impressive results in less than a week.

While shopping at Trader Joe’s, I noticed they had a new face wash. The Nourish All-in-One Facial Cleanser ($5.99) was introduced last fall. I also purchased the Nourish Anti-Oxidant Moisture Lotion ($5.99), which just came out (so new is it, in fact, that the cashier commented as he was ringing it up that he hadn’t seen it before). The Nourish All-in-One Facial Cleanser is high in anti-oxidants, including alpha lipoic acid, green tea extract, and oat amino acids. It does double-duty as a face wash and an exfoliant, although I can’t find any recognizable exfoliants in the ingredient list. It also claims to be gentle, non-drying, and tear-free. It’s a thick, unscented gel. I use two pumps to get a good lather going. It removes makeup well, even mascara. As for its claims of being non-drying, I do need a moisturizer after it, but I don’t get that tight feeling that I get with stronger foaming cleansers. I can already see that my skin looks smoother and more even-toned. It exfoliates but in a gentle way. I’ve been using it with my Clarisonic, but I still see that my skin looks better than it has when I’ve used other cleansers with the Clarisonic, so I do think that the exfoliant in the cleanser (whatever it is) is doing its job.

The Nourish Anti-Oxidant Moisture Lotion is also chock full of anti-oxidants. It’s oil-free, which could be why I found it to be a bit too light for my skin. When I use it after the cleanser my skin still feels a little tight, but then the tightness goes away. I’m waiting to see if Trader Joe’s comes out with an anti-oxidant cream for drier skins, but in the meantime I’ll continue to use it as I do like it (plus it’s super-cheap). I use two pumps to put more moisture back into my skin, and I preface it with four drops of Josie Maran Argan Oil, which is also high in anti-oxidants.

Both the Nourish All-in-One Facial Cleanser and the Nourish Anti-Oxidant Moisture Lotion were created by a dermatologist for Trader Joe’s. They’re not saying who it is, but they give us a couple of hints in their Fearless Flyer:

This All-In-One Facial Cleanser is the result of a close collaboration between Trader Joe’s and a dermatologist. This doctor sells a similar cleanser, with fewer antioxidants than ours, for about four times our price. The major difference? Brand names and marketing. Obviously, we don’t spend a whole lot of money on marketing. And while we consider our brand name to be valuable, it’s not a “big brand” in the skin-care industry.

At the risk of “outing” the pricey line, my guess – and I am only guessing here – would be that the Trader Joe’s line is similar to Dr. Dennis Gross. He also markets an All-in-One Facial Cleanser ($32), but it’s advertised as having a built-in toner because it has witch hazel in it. Still, it’s a multi-purpose cleanser that’s high in anti-oxidants. Trader Joe’s face wash has less ingredients, but more anti-oxidants with the addition of green tea extract. Compare:

Trader Joe’s All-in-One Facial Cleanser: Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Panthenol (Vit. B5), Retinyl Palmitate (Vit. A), Cholecalciferol (Vit. D3), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vit. C), Phytonadione (Vit. K), Alpha Lipoic Acid, Coenzyme Q-10, Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Extract, Copper Peptides, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbic Acid

Dr. Dennis Gross All-in-One Facial Cleanser with Toner: Purified Water (Aqua Purificata), Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phospholipids, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Coco-Glucoside, Coconut Alcohol, Citric Acid, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 60, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Annatto (CI 75120), Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex (CI 75810).

Dr. Dennis Gross also makes a couple of anti-oxidant moisturizers, although both are geared more towards acne-prone skin. Trader Joe’s moisturizer is for all skin types, but like Dr. Dennis Gross’s, it’s oil-free and high in anti-oxidants. I have high hopes for my new Trader Joe’s skin care regimen. It’s streamlined, inexpensive, and so far, effective. The products are not tested on animals, and I don’t have to deal with pushy department-store cosmetics-counter salespeople. Plus I can sample tasty foods at Trader Joe’s while I shop! Quality skin care and munchies in one place? You can’t get better than that.

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Beautymint – Day One

Yesterday my Beautymint kit arrived. I ordered it on March 23 and it only took 5 days to get from Los Angeles to Boston. I’ve used the system two times so far, so it hasn’t been long enough to write a full review, but I thought I’d let you know what I got, how to use it, etc.

My Beautymint kit came with the basic four-step system, the eye cream that you receive if you choose the five-step system, a booklet explaining all of the products, a welcome brochure, and my regimen card. When I placed my order the website was offering a special discount code to receive $20 off my first system, free shipping (normally $4.95), plus a free gift. The free gift turned out to be a compact with blotting tissues.

The blotting tissues come in a hard plastic compact. It looks like it should contain teeth-whitening strips, it’s so white and bright (plus the word “mint” is often associated with oral hygiene products). But the best part is that it opens up to reveal a mirror. Once I run out of the tissues I can keep it in my purse and use it when I apply lipstick. A nice design and a great free gift.

The four-piece system comes in a little bag that makes it perfect for travel. It’s kind of flimsy but handy nonetheless. I received a 2-ounce tube of Essential Cleanser with Aloe, a one-ounce bottle of Ultra Replenishing Serum with Marine Collagen, a .5-ounce bottle of Sculpting Treatment with Peptides, a .5-ounce tube of Renewing Moisturizer with Elastin, and a .25 ounce jar of Ultimate Eye Treatment with Shea Butter.

I received a regimen card that explains the order in which to use the products. My morning and evening regimen each consists of four steps. In the morning I use the cleanser, the Sculpting Treatment, the Replenishing Serum, and the Eye Treatment. In the evening I use the cleanser, the Replenishing Serum, the Renewing Moisturizer, and the Eye Treatment. I was surprised at how small the tubes and bottles are, but they are only a one-month supply. I was particularly worried about the moisturizer and the Sculpting Treatment (.5 oz. each), but my regimen card indicates that I only use the moisturizer and sculpting treatment once a day, so that may be why they’re smaller than the products that I use twice a day.

The cleanser’s description says that it’s a low-lathering cleanser. It’s a thin gel that really doesn’t foam at all. This makes me nervous, as I expect gel cleansers to have some foam. But it’s gentle and doesn’t dry out my skin. I haven’t used it with a full face of makeup yet, so I don’t know how good it is at removing makeup. The Sculpting Treatment feels a little tacky after I first apply it, but quickly absorbs into my skin. It’s supposed to fight lines and other signs of aging, but it’s too soon to tell if it’s working. The Replenishing Serum is used as a daytime moisturizer, and a nighttime serum. I’m afraid it might not be enough moisture for the daytime, particularly in colder weather, but I use a tinted moisturizer with SPF as my everyday foundation, so I’ll get the extra moisture, plus much-needed sunblock, from that. The Renewing Moisturizer might be my favorite product. Although I’m hesitant to use a generous amount until I see how long this tiny tube will last, it made my skin feel soft. And the Eye Treatment is rich without being runny so I don’t have to worry about it possibly causing breakouts or those weird hives that I get along my cheeks. The products contain natural ingredients such as acai, shea butter, and Hawaiian macadamia oil. They don’t contain any fragrance, and they are paraben-free.

The five-piece system, which includes the eye cream, costs $49.99 per month. That sounds kind of expensive, but when you break it down over five products, that comes to $10 for each product. In particular, the eye cream, even though it’s half the size of the industry standard .5 ounce size, costs $10, so it would be $20 if it was full size. Considering my beloved Eye Doctor by Origins has gone up to $32 for a .5 ounce jar, the Beautymint eye cream is a better value.

Between the brochure and the product booklet, there is still no explanation of what my “beauty sign” (363) means. I guess it’s Beautymint’s way of categorizing my skin to pick the appropriate product combination. I can’t really see any results yet, of course, but I did notice when I woke up this morning that my skin looked glowing and felt really soft. I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a very optimistic sign that great results are yet to come. I’ll write another review one month from now when I’ve used up my first kit.

If you use Beautymint I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Beautymint

I have a lot of respect for Jessica Simpson. I used to think she was a dippy celebrity that had way too many “blonde moments,” thanks to her reality series with then-husband Nick Lachey (Chicken of the Sea – is it chicken or tuna?). But was it all just an act? Since leaving that television show (and Nick Lachey) behind, Jessica has proven that she is a smart businesswoman. I don’t own a single one of her albums, but I came this close to buying one of her handbags. I liked the Dessert Treats line of bath and body products that Sephora used to sell. My admiration for her increased after watching her VH-1 series “The Price of Beauty,” which explored the idea of beauty in different cultures throughout the world. And right now I’m obsessed with Fashion Star, the fashion designer reality show for which she is one of the judges. But I didn’t know she had her own skin care line until I watched The Biggest Loser. It was the episode where two of the contestants won a day of shopping with a celebrity. They weren’t told who it was. Could it be Tim Gunn? Clinton Kelly? It turned out to be none other than Jessica Simpson. But instead of hitting the spendy boutiques of Los Angeles like I thought they would, they went to Jessica’s design showroom. It was filled with racks of her clothes, bags, and other accessories. It was as if Jessica had her own boutique. And she told the contestants that they could pick out anything they wanted! (If it was me, I would have made a run for the handbags and never looked back). After picking the perfect outfits and accessories, the contestants were each gifted with a year’s supply of Beautymint skin care products.

Beautymint was launched last October as part of the “Mint” concept of celebrity and designer pairings by e-commerce company Beachmint. Stylemint is the monthly fashion t-shirt club by child stars-turned-fashion designers Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Shoemint pairs actress Rachel Bilson and her stylist Nicole Chavez, in collaboration with shoe designer Steve Madden. Jewelmint is a jewelry club by Kate Bosworth and celebrity stylist Cher Coulter. Beautymint is a collaboration between Jessica and Beverly Hills facialist Nerida Joy. Nerida Joy has 30 years of experience and is the facialist to many Hollywood celebrities. She also has her own high-end line of skin care products. Beautymint works like other skin care lines such as Proactiv, Meaningful Beauty, and Principal Secret in that you sign up for their club and receive monthly shipments, which you can cancel at any time. Despite the horror stories I’ve heard about canceling auto-shipments in these clubs, I nevertheless took the Beautymint plunge. I ordered my first kit today.

When I registered at www.beautymint.com, I took Nerida Joy’s “personalized” consultation. It asks a series of detailed questions to determine which products are right for you. Then it recommends two options: the four-piece system for $39.99, or the five-piece system for $49.99. The five-piece system includes an eye cream, and includes free shipping on the first order (shipping on subsequent kits is $5). Since I believe in the importance of using eye cream, I opted for the five-piece system. But I didn’t pay $49.99. When I went to the Beautymint website, they were having a special promo code to receive $20 off my first purchase, as well as free shipping and a free gift (it didn’t say what the gift is). My personalized system consists of:

Essential Cleanser – a gentle, lightly foaming cleanser with aloe that is suitable for all skin types.

Ultra Replenishing Serum – a hydrating serum that contains 50% marine collagen to fight signs of aging.

Renewing Moisturizer – the richer of the two Beautymint moisturizers that contains elastin, jojoba esters, Hawaiian macadamia nut oil, and Vitamins C and E.

Sculpting Treatment – a serum containing peptides to help firm the skin, and anti-oxidant botanicals like acai and green tea.

Ultimate Eye Treatment – a rich eye cream with shea butter and avocado oil.

The Beautymint website is pretty impressive. As a member I get my own profile page, complete with my very own “Beautyscope” that gives me the weather and UV index for my area for the day, and tells me when I need to wear sunblock. Ironically, the moisturizer that Beautymint recommended does not contain sunscreen (the company does make one with an SPF of 15, other reviewers have tried it). It also gives me my own “beauty sign,” based on my answers to their skin care consultation, “plus other factors like your environment and lifestyle. Now, Nerida & Jessica can share beauty advice, insider tips and resources customized for you.” My beauty sign is 3.6.3., but I honestly don’t know what that means as there is no detailed explanation. Maybe the literature that accompanies each kit will explain it.

Also unclear is the flexibility of the Beautymint system. In browsing the Beautymint website, I didn’t see any options to order individual products, nor do I see any product listings to find out what their full range of products are. Do they offer supplemental products like a retinol treatment, or an exfoliator? Once I receive my first kit, will I receive a catalog of additional products to supplement my regimen? Or does being a member of the Beautymint club lock me into the four- or five-piece system, without the flexibility of adding other products? Once I’ve used up my first month’s supply of my Beautymint products I’ll write a full review.

I’m chomping at the bit to receive my kit, since I’m freaking out about the state of my complexion at the moment. It’s dull, uneven, and I’ve started breaking out in hives along my cheeks again, something my skin hasn’t done in over a year. Using products chosen for me on an individualized basis might be just what my skin needs. I’ll let you know how I make out.

Have you tried Beautymint? What are your thoughts?

Now I’m totally hooked on the “Mint” concept. After placing my order with Beautymint, I bought the Yves trio of stacking rings (below) from Jewelmint. They’re so steampunk, no? With Jewelmint you buy one “credit” each month for $30, and you redeem it for one piece of jewelry. You’ll be charged $30 each month for one credit, but you can choose to skip a month if you don’t want to purchase jewelry every month. Unlike skincare, which I would like to replenish every month, I won’t be buying a Jewelmint credit each month, but if I’m pleased with the quality of the ring I just ordered I wouldn’t rule out buying from them again. I’ll let you know how that goes, too.

Where Did Super Go?

Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone is no longer being carried by Sephora. Perricone’s more moderately priced (but still kinda pricey) antioxidant-rich skin care line was reduced to 50% off in stores and on Sephora’s website. As of today there is only one item left.

So what happened between Super and Sephora? It’s difficult to say. One plucky fan posed the question on Super’s Facebook page but received no reply. One can only wonder. But fret not, Super fans. The line is still available on Super’s website and in their free-standng stores in Berkeley and Malibu, California.