Vodka and Soda

the culprit!

 

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for a while, i've been going crazy trying to figure out what was making my skin freak out.  i'm talking about red, irritated, extremely sensitive, blotchy skin and no matter what i did, nothing worked.  for several weeks, i walked around looking like this:

this crappy illustration doesn't justify the hideousness of those red patches on my face.  it really looked like i was a meth head tweaking out and scratching the fuck out of my skin on a regular basis, it was so bad.  they were red, inflamed,  swollen and extremely sensitive and i did everything in my power to relieve the irritation with zero results.

it wasn't until last week when i discovered the culprit - the laura mercier primer i bought last month from sephora.  the day that the culprit was discovered, i went to apply the primer and all that came out of the tube was water.  i thought hmmm that's weird...  so i shook the tube and tried again with the same results - water coming out of the tube but this time, bits of white, curdled primer was mixed in, like it had a fucking yeast infection.   wtf? are you fucking telling me that i was putting  yeast infection primer on my face  for weeks which was causing my skin to react?!?  and here i was blaming my hormones!.   according to my skin forum, laura mercier shipped a bad batch of primer to all sephora stores so i wasn't the only one who was dealing with the expired product (or angry, irritated skin).   luckily, sephora was very good with giving me a new one even though i didn't have a receipt and didn't give me any grief about it either.

it's just been this week that my skin has calmed down and recovered.  this fucking $40 tube of (bad) primer cost me over $250 (from buying other products to help my skin) and hours of frustration and pain that i haven't even taken the new primer out of the box because i'm scurred!  i'm thinking of just returning the primer for a credit.  what would you do?

summer vacation? i think so!

 

 

come june, i'll be unemployed.   don't fret, because i'm not.

the nature of any consulting gig requires me to leave a company for a minimum of 3 months if i've been working for 2 years.  technically, i've already overstayed my welcome considering i started in march 2010 but due to project obligations, they need me to stay until June so do you know what that means, bishes?  i have summer vacation this year!! suck on that!!

i've been planning for this day from a fund perspective so i'm prepared and to be honest, after these past two months of bullshit that's been going on at work, this break can't come soon enough.    here's what i plan to do during my time off:

 

i know you're jealous.  

the last time i had this much time off work, i had some trouble adjusting to not doing anything but that didn't last long and before i knew it, i loved being able to putt around the house daily.    eventually, i'll need to figure out if i want to come back or if i can come back but i'll have at least until mid-july to work on getting a new contract either with the same company or elsewhere.

now, on to the goodies.  

over the course of the next few weeks,  i'll be giving away some pressies to my readers in honor of my blogiversary.  i know it's a little late since my blogiversary happened last month but you can blame my work.  you see dear readers, part of the reason why i want to punch work in the face is because it takes time away from me entertaining you through this blog.   but no matter, here's the first giveaway!

1) a full box of hair color in a beautiful funky purple by SPLAT!  normally, i would keep this for myself but i'm way too boring to pull off such a funky color.

2) one canister of dry shampoo from Batiste.   this dry shampoo is an aerosol so no yucky powder that leaves a weird, cakey, dandruff-looking residue on your hair.  you simply spray, massage into roots and voila!  as if you just stepped out of the shower!

one lucky reader can win this!  how do you enter, you ask?   simply leave me a comment and let me know if you'd like to be included in the draw.  be sure to include your email so i can contact you if your name is selected.  

closes april 27.  good luck!

open to Canadian and US residents only

*** THIS IS NOW CLOSED ***

it's party time!

 

 

i guess i'm fashionably late to the party but welcome to my humble corner of the blogosphere; a place where i fulfill my weird, incessant need to ramble on about whatever is rattling on inside my head.   some info about me and this blog:

• i'm a 30-something wanna be full-time blogger but my job gets in the way of that.  i have a 4 year old daughter and married to the love of my life since 2004.  i'm an IT consultant which means i'm a geek at heart; new shiney gadgets totally give me a geek boner and will put a smile on my face any day.

• this blog is about a mish-mash of everything and anything:  product reviews, makeup, my current obsessions, gadget bonerisms, hilarious stories at my expense, how much i sometimes want to punch work in the face, my period which tends to anger me and generates a fair amount of cursing and crappy/angry illustrations , my adorable 4 year old daughter and general goings-on.

• i (re)named my blog "vodka and soda" after a weekend away with some fellow bloggers in vegas.  needless to say, this is my favorite drink and the monday after those blurry 4 days, i opened my eyes and thought:  what an awesome name for a blog!  and "vodka and soda" was born.

• i tend to write what ever is in my head which means  1) there's no filter and 2) because of no filter, there's likely going to be some swearing involved... especially on days when my period decides to show up (see second point).

• i'm an action movie junkie - anything with guns, bombs, car chases, covert ops, awesome kung-fu and john mcclane get my panties all bunched up.  die hard is my favorite.  there's  a guy at work who doesn't even know what die hard is about and for real, i can't relate to him.  true story.  

• i'm a sucker for pretty packaging which makes it easy to convince me to buy whatever it is you're selling.  good for you but not good for my wallet. or my husband who will give me The Look.

• my sense of humour is pretty out there so i'll laugh at anything that has to do with vaginas, poop, farts and funny stories of people falling down

• i've been on a health kick since early january so you'll likely see tweets or posts from me cursing Jillian Michaels,  bitching about how much i hate my rabbit-food diet or ecstatic that i finished a workout without needing to be resuscitated.

 

feel free to look around, leave me comments or stalk me.  i'm available for stalking via twitter, google reader, bloglovin', pinterest or email (see right nav bar for stalking methods).  just don't demand any money from me because i've spent it all on gadgets, makeup and beauty products.    now, why not leave me a comment with your blog so i can return the stalking favour?

weekend recap: beauty board, family time

 

i had a fabulous weekend.  weather-wise, it was decent but had a blast with family, friends and discovered a great new sushi restaurant, thanks to a friend's reco.   

 

cuddles with her new (lootbag) toy | cuddles with daddy |  kayla enjoying the new sushi restaurant.  i'm so glad that my kid is adventurous with foods.  what toddler loves fish eggs,  miso soup and sushi?

 

on sunday, the long-awaited beauty board finally arrived.  twice a year, i'm stoked to attend this event put on by stephanie daga of blushpretty.  it's a fun-filled afternoon of mingling, networking, meeting great vendors, trying on makeup, great eats, great music and best of all (or worst of all?) - shopping.   oh, the shopping.    this year new vendors participated:  pure + simple, splat! hair color, eco tools, flirt lashes, apotheKerri cosmetics, a paper story, batiste dry shampoo, ella botanicals, silpada jewelry, kaia naturals.  

 

some of my favorite brands at the beauty board:  

pure + simple |  cheeky monkey | kaia naturals |  consonant body

 

the swag never disappoints!

not only is this one of the most awesome events i attend on the regular, but the swag is the best.  we're talking about full size products, not those bullshit department store samples which gives you nothing.  

do you see that kabuki brush peeking out from behind the pantene shampoo?  i've been searching for that brush for months and when the lady from ecotools showed me what she put in each swag bag, we both squealed in delight.  

 pure + simple also gave a "summer prep" kit which i'm dying to rip into.  i haven't looked inside yet but their stuff is great.

 

the reasons why my wallet is sobbing and bleeding:

cheeky monkey nail colors:  "social climber", "BFF" and "i like it on top" top coat.  for the events, there was a buy 2, get 1 free promo....  how could i resist?

consonant body:  antioxidant serum because mother nature, i'm adding things to my arsenal and will continue to fight you all the way.

pure + simple:  all natural sunblock, SPF 30.   i love that it contains natural ingredients, is sheer and doesn't leave a white cast or make you look like an oil slick.

stella and dot has some competition with silpada jewelry.  while i was >thisclose< to buying a bracelet from S&D, i didn't because it was a different sales rep and that would be like cheating on my regular rep.  instead, i ended up getting these two necklaces from silpada.  i was just going to buy the one on the right but i loved them both so why the heck not?!  i've been busting my ass at work, working out like a mofo, denying myself the pleasures of desserts and other yummy foods  so mama needs a treat for herself, goddammit!

kaia naturals:  bamboo, all natural face wipes.  soaked in yummy vitamins, these wipes (in convenient, individually wrapped travel packs) makes taking your makeup off easy-peasy.  when i tested the product, not only is it super soft but it smells divine and great for sensitive skin.

and now, another ass work week begins but at least i have goodies at home waiting for me and my necklaces are on the way.  in addition,  i've been wanting to host mini-giveaways for the month of april for all of you awesome readers as a way to 1)  say thanks for following me and keeping up with my random drivel and 2) to celebrate my 2 year blogaversary.   stay tuned; i'll be posting the first yummy giveaway this week!

 

 hope you all had a great weekend!

follow the leader? nah... not for me

 

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there's always that defining moment in one's life where a decision will have to be made to follow a group or not.

for me, that moment came in senior kindergarten and i remember it clearly:  her name was vivian.  she had long, beautiful ringleted brown hair, always wore pretty dresses and shoes to match, leader of a group of 4 and for a 5 year old, had a mean streak.  vivian loved to exclude other girls who wanted to play with the group, namely me.  i didn't dress the same, my hair wasn't the same (think:  black, straight, lego hair) and my one disqualifying factor:  i didn't  suck my thumb.  that's right folks, at the age of 5, this girl was still sucking her thumb.  i try not to judge but come on.   i guess to be a part of this clique, you had to do the same and if you didn't, you were out.  perhaps this was vivian's way to ensure that she wouldn't be ridiculed for being a thumb sucker way beyond her  years and it worked - all 4 of them would sit there, sucking the thumb of their right hand while their left hand played with their left ear during story time or during assemblies.   i KNOW for a fact with the exception of vivian, none of them sucked their thumbs on the regular.  i know this because outside of the classroom, they would talk to me and we would play together but in the classroom, they followed their leader. 

as the odd one out, i so wanted to be in their group.  like, so bad that i would take their mocking and accept vivian's sneers just so i could walk with them or talk to them.  when the time came to sit in their circle, i watched as each of them popped their thumb in their mouth and proceeded to fiddle with their ear and i remember thinking in my head what's so bad about it?  so i stuck my thumb in my mouth and did the same.   let me tell you, suddenly sucking my thumb was no picnic.  it didn't bring me joy.  it didn't soothe or relax me.  in fact, it felt weird in my mouth and the taste of crayon or whatever the hell i had been playing with left a bad taste in my mouth.  i remember thinking how stupid i felt.   i remember questioning why i was even doing it and i remember coming to the realization of how fucking retarded it was for me to be sucking my thumb just to fit in so i immediately removed the offender from my mouth and hoped that no one would notice.   of course,  vivian did and when she questioned me about it,  i stood my ground; refusing to suck my thumb like an infant.  then i watched my social circle crumble before my eyes as she turned her back to me and one by one, each girl in her clan followed suit.    

i didn't know it back then, but  my "defining moment" all those years ago in some way or form,  has shaped me into the person i am today;  that my logical mind and pragmatic personality would forever govern my actions.    all throughout those awkward tween and teenage years, i didn't  struggle with peer pressure; if i did something, it was because wanted to, not because i wanted to "fit in".  i never smoked.  i never did illegal activities like break into cars,  go for joyrides, steal people's things, vandalize property, break into houses or act like a hooligan.   if my friends were going to do something that i didn't want to do or i thought was stupid, i simply went my own way.  i also learned that i liked being on my own and more importantly, i was comfortable with it.   by no means am i a leader either; that's just too much work and i'm way too lazy to put in that much effort.  i'm a bit of an introvert and i have a preference for being alone; qualities that don't make a good ring leader.  

because i have absolutely no need (or desire) to please those around me (except friends and family of course), my life is very peaceful.   i'm happy.  i don't feel any need to "compete" with others.  those who try to compete with me or try make me feel like i'm "missing out on something"?  not one iota of fuck is given.    i do what i want and i don't care what others think or if they judge.   remember:  people will always judge; people will always have opinions.  why waste your time trying to change their minds?

 

product review - george's cream + awesome giveaway!

 

a couple of weeks ago, a rep from George's Cream contacted me about doing a product review for their skin cream.  i'd heard of George's Cream from a fellow blogger who mentioned that it was a solid product for dry skin and i checked around my local drug stores with no avail.  gah! winter skin, you make my wallet cry!!

i love the fact that this is a canadian owned and operated company.  George's Cream was created by pharmacist, George Doherty,  to help alleviate dry skin that is often the result from our brutal Canadian winters.  all of George's skin creams are manufactured in canada and are free of lanolin, urea and fragrances. 

The Test:

i'm very judgemental when it comes to creams because i have super dry, sensitive skin and i need something that absorbs fast and does the job.  i received two products to review:  one 30ml tube of the special dry skin cream and a 360ml of the light special moisturizing lotion.  

the texture of the special dry skin cream is thick and very creamy.  you only need a little to get full coverage, it takes a bit of work to fully massage into your skin but it has no scent (most fragrance-free creams smell like plastic to me) and i was surprised at how fast it absorbed considering how heavy it was.  it didn't leave a greasy feeling behind and my hands were soft and smooth.  

i brought the light special moisturizing lotion to work and i used it with the same results as the special dry skin cream.  it's a lighter version of the special dry skin cream; i actually like this better because it's a little bit easier to work into your skin and leaves your skin just as smooth and soft.  with both products, my skin didn't react and their motto is right:  it works!

both products receive a 9/10!

now, it's your turn!!

 

George's Cream has generously offered to give ONE lucky reader this amazing prize pack!!  

 

your prize - a $35.00 value - includes 4 items:

• George's Special Dry Skin Cream - a 450g jar and 30ml tube
• George's Light Scpeical Moisturizing Lotion - a 360ml bottle and a 30ml tube

 **Please note:  this contest is open to all U.S. and Canadian residents only.

 

HOW TO ENTER THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY:

MANDATORY ENTRIES:

1.  you must either "Like" George's Cream Facebook page  OR  follow @Georges_Cream on twitter  (1 entry)

2.  leave me a comment on this post with your email and what products you use to keep dry skin at bay (and so i can contact you if you win!). 

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: 

copy, paste and tweet this giveaway:  "i entered @vodka_and_soda's awesome @Georges_Cream giveaway! you get a 4-pack of amazing skin products!  http://bit.ly/IyeY4A "   (+2 entries).

click here to follow me on twitter and then leave me a comment with your twitter handle so i can follow you too (+1  entry).

click here to follow my blog.  if you have a blog, please leave me a comment with your blog URL so i can check it out  (+1  entry).

click on the "Like" button at the bottom of this  blog post and then leave me a comment with a link to your facebook page (+1  entry).

 

contest is open from April 11 and closes April 29 12am EST.  one winner will be randomly selected and emailed within 48hours of name selection

 

GOOD LUCK!  

**** THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED****

i admit it - i'm a strict parent

 

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everyone in my family thinks i'm too strict with kayla.  i guess in some ways, they're sort of right but i have my reasons.  i'm a firm believer that if you start early at teaching acceptable behavior and setting boundaries, you're less likely to have behavioral issues later on....  except when they're teens - at that point, you're better off running for the hills, cowering in fear.

around 14 months, when kayla began to understand basic (verbal) instructions, i started setting boundaries.  no hitting, no pushing, no head-butting (yes, she did this too), no throwing toys, no kicking.   although i knew it was a right of passage that every toddler must go through, i wanted to teach her about acceptable behaviour.  during that time,  i never established "punishment" in the form of time-outs because i knew she was too young to understand the concept; instead, i would show her by (gently) holding her hands to her sides and saying "no, that hurts.  no hitting/biting/kicking" etc.   it wasn't until she was just over 2 years old that i established time-outs and The Countdown;  i use it to this day.   kayla gets a warning (counting to three) and if she continues, it's time-out.  if she continues to be cheeky during time-out, another minute is tacked on with a favorite privilege taken away for the day.    if she hits or bites, there's no warning (except for a "ohnoyoudidnt" look), it's an automatic time-out and a privilege taken away.

i'll also admit that kayla crying when she's being disciplined doesn't phase me in the least.  call me tiger mother or whatever, but if kayla does something wrong (and she's old enough to know when she's misbehaved), she can cry as hard or as long as she wants, she will still get a privlege taken away and will sit in time-out until time-out is over.  kayla's tried some wet-noodle tactics on me in an attempt to change my mind about a time-out - which means going all limp and falling/flailing on the floor - however, i will pick her up and bring her to time-out with a stern warning that any movement on her part will result in her [insert favorite toy here] being taken away.  her favorite things will continue to be taken away if she continues.  i make it clear that if all of her favorite things get taken away, it was because she was misbehaving.  

sounds harsh, right?  perhaps.  

although i feel like a mean mommy after she's apologized for being silly and politely asks me for her stuff back (and i say no), i know i have to stick to my guns because children must learn actions and consequences in order to learn about boundaries and grow into respectful adults.   and it doesn't matter where where we are - the mall, at a restaurant, at someone's house - a time-out is a time-out.  i'm not embarassed to have kayla sit by the wall in the corner at a mall in time-out, wailing the entire time as people walk by and cast judgemental looks my way.  she must wait until her 3 mintues is up before she can even move. before you judge me, know that because of this, kayla rarely acts up when we're out.  i know she's a kid and of course she has her moments but because i've always been consistent with discipline, she's fully aware of what is acceptable vs. unacceptable behavour and that i always follow through so her antics are usually short-lived.   

kayla can walk into a toy store, see a bunch of things she wants - asks and i say no - and walks right out without having a meltdown.  in  many cases, she'll ask to hold whatever toy she likes as we walk throughout the store but as we're leaving, i'll ask her to put down the toy and she'll place it on a shelf, wave goodbye to it and leave without making a fuss, without whining or crying.    

if she's playing somewhere or with something and we have to go, she'll stop what she's doing and gets ready to leave without throwing a tantrum.  

this certainly isn't saying kayla's a perfect kid.  she has her moments when all she does is cry and freak out but that's usually because she's tired, hungry or both.  in some cases, it's because she really is pissed so i take these things into consideration however, i never falter at discipline if she's done something that she knows is wrong.  she's still learning and i know this.   she will always test limits; this i know as well.   but i believe that it's my job to keep those boundaries consistent or she'll never learn what is right from wrong.  

kayla is getting better at using her manners and these days, she's trying to exert her independence but adding a touch of cheekiness and a bit of attitude, which we're working on.   however, kayla isn't the only one that's learning along the way; i'm learning too - how to be a good parent, how to be a strong parent but more importantly,  how to be a fair parent; something that i'm not sure can be mastered.  

...and of course, after i wrote this, kayla has the mother of all tantrums to prove me wrong .... go figure.

my blog turned 2!

 

i realized 2 weeks after the date passing that my blog turned 2 years old.  

on march 21 2010, i created the dreamybabies blog to help parents struggling with their babies' sleep, provide general information on parenthood and give support for moms who needed it.  it was a blog with tons of information that i had acquired from endless research and also served as an outlet during my depression.

over the past 2 years, this blog has undergone some transformations along the way, a couple of name changes and many, many makeovers.   after my vegas trip last year, vodka and soda was born and since then, i've written about a variety of things, like:

post-partum depression - and how it crippled me and nearly cost me everything.

reflections - looking back at how far i've come since getting treated.

change -  because we all possess the power to make a change in our life for the better.

book reviews - my hilarious take on the characters from the twilight books because we all think they're ghey yet we're strangely addicted.

how not to be a douchebag - because no one likes a douchebag!

online dating - and what not to do.

my vagina - and how sometimes it makes me angry.

AS vegas 2011 - and all it's awesomeness.

blogging - and how it's one of my favorite things.

blogging etiquette - because it's only polite to do unto others as you'd like done to you.

kayla's 3-year montage - i can't believe how fast my monkey is going! WAH!

 and in the midst of all this writing, i've come across some great blogs and connected with some great people.   

thank you all for sticking with my many changes, my random outbursts and my often senseless drivel.

 

ps - a great giveaway will be coming up next week - stay tuned!!

snail mail ... the update

  

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man, i'm on a roll!    2012, high-five me now, biaaaaaaaaatch!

sticking to my 2012 goal of eating healthy?  check! (gah! i just realized that i'm no where near accomplishing my goal of getting organized)

actually losing weight and sticking to the 30 day shred program? double check!

reviving snail mail?  check!

since i posted about sending smiles through the mail, i've had so much fun thinking and planning what to send friends and bloggy pals.  

things i've sent so far:  an iphone carry case/wallet, some tea from my fav tea place, a moleskin journal, something else (i can't remember) and most recently, a mini pedicure kit.  

i have a few other things to send out but just haven't had a chance to make the packages due to a crazy work schedule (that, and my office ran out of small bubble envelopes so i'm waiting for the shipment to come in) and i'm hoping to send out one package a month. 

if you'd like a little something from me, let me know.  i can't guarantee it but email me your mailing addy and who knows, maybe you'll get a surprise!  (or just email me and say something nice *wink*)

 

what do you think about snail mail?  do you make an effort to send your friends mail?

product review: dermalogica

 

i've been on the hunt for the answer to my crazy, dry, sensitive and irritated skin.  it seems that my current moisturizer just wasn't cutting it (boohoo!) and i'm not sure if it's because of my hormones (it appears to be), the weather (highly likely) or a combination of both but these days, my skin freaks the fuck out.  by this, i mean it's dry, red, itchy, sensitive, painful and just plain crazy.  i've gotten used to figuring out what is wrong with my skin and i knew it was because my skin needed more moisture.  it's not my diet nor my sleep (both have been excellent since january) so i narrowed it down to my skin products.

i came across the dermalogica brand and tried a few samples.  in particular, i was interested in anything they had to offer that provided some serious hydration.  after going through all of their samples and grilling the lady who worked at the clinic, i took the plunge and bought the following products (after which my wallet was, and still is, crying from the pain):

intensive moisture masque

made for dry to ultra-dry skin, this mask contains evening primrose oil, vitamin E, plant extracts, honey and vitamins A and C to help restore the skin's softness,  alleviate fine lines and visible dryness.   it contains no artificial fragrance or color.  

the consistency of this mask surprised me as i'm used to hydrating masks being creamy.  this has a clay-like feel to it; it's thick coming out of the tube and spreads easily on the face.    slather on a thick layer, let sit and wash off after 10 minutes.  

 

boo!

not only does it turn you into casper the friendly ghost but washing this sucker off is the hard part.  i'm still trying to find a better way of washing it off other than stealing one of kayla's face cloths.   

i use this twice a week after exfoliation.  my skin feels soft and supple right after.

product rating:  8/10 

******

skin hydrating booster

of all the dermalogica products i've tried, this is one of my favorites.   containing hyaluronic acid, this light, clear, scent-free  gel gives the skin a super-hydrating boost as it soothes and minimizes fine lines.  i apply this morning and night on a clean face, under my moisturizer.  the tear-dropper application allows you to administer a small amount and a lot goes a long way.  i find it works exceptionally well combined with my moisturizer and my skin  is hydrated and soft all day.  this is definintely a "holy grail" product.

product rating:  10/10

 ******

 super rich repair

i was sad that the effectiveness of my moisturizer had lost its touch but ecstatic that i could finally be free of spending a ridiculous price for it.   

 

enter:  the super rich repair.  from dermalogica's AGEsmart line (gah!), this is a heavy duty  moisturizer for chronically dry and prematurely-aging skin.  it boasts "powerful peptides stimulate collagen production while and acid-free smoothing complex improves elasticity and tone. Shea butter and oil of evening primrose replenish skin with maximum hydration while reinforcing skin's natural defensive barrier. Antioxidant soy flavonoids shield against extreme environmental elements that con accelerate the visible signs of aging".  Contains no artificial fragrance or color.

for some stupid psychological reason, i need a heavy cream on my face otherwise i feel that it won't work.  maybe years of la mer has brainwashed me into thinking that thicker is better and while in some cases it is (heh), that doesn't necessarily translate into a better moisturizer.  while this product isn't as thick as la mer, it certainly has some weight.  it comes in a pump and you don't need much to spread the product on your face.  it glides on easily, absorbs quickly, doesn't have any scent  and my skin feels smooth and soft.   i just wished they would use a jar instead of a pump because i want every.single.drop of cream for the price i paid for only 50ml.

product rating:  9/10 (i'm not a fan of the packaging)

 

******

ultra calming serum

another one of my favorites!  

my skin has this annoying habit of suddenly flaring up and freaking out for no reason.  i'll be sitting there one minute with perfect-looking skin and then the next, it'll be red, angry and ugly.  

when i came across this product, i didn't believe it when the esthetician said that it instantly calms irritated skin;  no product i've ever used has ever done that.  well, on one particular day, my skin was going schizo so i applied some of this and miracle of miracles, my skin calmed right down and the itchy, burning, irritated sensation went away.  you can bet i went back and bought a tube of this right quick!

made for ultra-sensitive skin, this product "has botanical actives that work below skin's surface to control inflammation, itching and discomfort. Bisabolol and Boerhavia Root Extract work with Oat and Ginger to provide relief and fight future flare-ups. Aloe helps calm and restore moisture balance. Peptides help ease the discomfort of and build skin's barrier layer. Oil of Evening Primrose, Sunflower Seed and Avocado extracts help restore the natural lipid barrier layer of skin and defend against future assaults".   the only thing that's not appealing is the consistency.  i'll be honest and say it looks like something that starts with a "j" and ends with a "zzz"; you do the math hahaha!

i apply this twice a day (morning and night) and it definintely helps calm my skin down.  in fact, i carry this in my purse for sudden onslaughts.

product rating:  10/10 

 

have you used any dermalogica products?  which ones do you like?