As a woman with sensitive skin I am always on the lookout for products that cleanse, tone and moisturize without stripping away the precious moisture of my skin or leave it read and irritated. When I learned that Dermalogica was launching a system specifically targeted at sensitized skin I jumped all over it. Dermalogica launched their new product line in their 1,640 square foot Soho, NY store where clients received microZone treatments – 20 minute mini facials where your skin is analyzed and then zone specific treatments are utilized to treat areas of concern. I really love the concept of a 20 minute facial because it’s quick enough to do on your lunch break but thorough enough where you will feel completely refreshed. The treatment is $35 for a 20 minute facial which is a steal in my opinion considering the great customer service and the high quality or products that are used.

The product that stood out the most to me was the UltraCalming Cleanser which is a ph-balanced cream cleanser that helps to calm the skin, cool the redness and easily rinses away. Some of the key ingredients are Raspberry fruit extract, Lavender and Cucumber all which calm and sooth sensitive skin.

UltraCalming Cleanser

The cleanser retails for $9.50 for 1.7 fl oz bottle and $33.00 for 8.4 fl Oz bottle.

The other products included in this line are:

UltraCalming Mist - a soothing toner with Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice. $8.50 for 1.7 fl oz and $32.00 for 6 fl oz.

UltraCalming Serum Concentrate - a silky moisturizer to correct inflammation and redness. $52.00 for 1.7 fl oz

UltraCalming Barrier Repair – a waterless moisturizer to soothe and help repair damage from the environment. $37.oo for 1.0 fl oz

UltraCalming Relief Masque – this formula uses colloidal oatmeal to soothe irritated skin. $42.00 for 2.5 fl oz

I was able to try each product in the new line as well as check out some of the many skin care treatments that Dermalogica offers. The Concept Spaces have Skin Bar Stations, MicroZone Treatment areas and Face Mapping skin analysis. The Skin Bar is equipped with personal steamers, mirrors and other implements to allow clients to test and experiment with products.The consultations are free of charge and there is no appointment necessary. There are two Concept Spaces in the US: Soho, NY and Santa Monica, CA however if you are ever in Berlin, Dubai, New Zealand or Mumbai feel free to give your skin a treat.

All of the products were created by The International Dermal Institute which develops skin care products free of mineral oil, artificial colors, fragrances or SD alcohol. To learn more about Dermalogica please visit www.dermalogica.com

As someone that has oily skin, I need to exfoliate on a regular basis. I also have very sensitive skin that get easily irritated so I need to get products that do the job…but gently. I’ve tried products by Jurlique before and I know that they pride themselves on natural products that are innovative and organic. While shopping I came across the Jurlique Fruit Enzyme Exfoliator and decided to give it a try since it exfoliates your skin with natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) instead of using grains, sugars or beads. When I got home I tried the product right away (hey who has time to wait)! I cleansed my face I applied the treatment and left it on for about 5 minutes as directed. There was no itching, burning of other discomfort while the treatment was on, thank goodness. After about 5 minutes I rinsed my face off with water and gently dried it with a towel. What I initially I noticed was that was face was not dried out or irritated and there were no signs of redness and secondly it felt smooth – very smooth. Ahhh success!

I have to say that I like this product very much, it does what it’s supposed to do. What I did not enjoy as much was the scent of the product, honestly it’s not very pleasant. The scent is not overly strong and it does not have a chemical scent but rather something more “bark” like, I could not really nail what it was. I do like that this formula is non-abrasive and that there was no redness after use (which is something that I have encountered more often that not with new products). The product over all is pretty good, but it is a little pricey for the 1.7oz bottle that I purchased. I also must mention that you will need to use sunscreen if you use this product (although you should use sunscreen every day) . AHA’s have been known to increase the skins sensitivity to the sun and this can result in sunburn, so while using this product be sure to liberally apply a facial sunscreen and limit your exposure to the sun.

Jurlique indicates that these are the key ingredients in their formula:

*Australian Desert Fruits Complex: Indigenous Quadong, Desert Lime, and Acacia (Wattle) contain fruit acids gently and naturally exfoliate the skin.
*Pumpkin Enzyme: Provides gently exfoliating, leaving skin refreshed and healthy looking.
*Willow Bark Extract: Improves tones, texture, and appearance with natural Beta Hydroxy Acids.
*Prickly Pear: Offers excellent hydrating properties and antioxidant help promote firmer skin.

Jurlique Fruit Enzyme Exfoliator retails for $45 and is available at Sephora and the Jurlique website.

Okay…I will be the first to admit that I am a bit superficial, I like pretty things. Well not just pretty things but nicely packaged, quality pretty things. For me packaging is as important as the product. The packaging shows me that the company really cares about the product and it’s image. So when I saw this oh so cutely packaged body scrub in an ice cream tub my heart leapt. Yes my heart literally skipped a beat and I thought wow this is so cute! I am a fan of body scrubs (well almost every beauty product) but I am partial to bath products. For me bath time is a ritual where I get to wash a way all of the “bad” that happened during the day. Bath time is when I get a moment to myself, no spouse, no whining kiddies, no ringing phone just me and the sound of the water. Maybe it’s the Pisces in me or maybe I just love a nice bath but either way it’s part of my ME time.

So here comes the good part… ME! bath has created a delectable line of at home spa quality exfoliating sugar scrubs. The one above is called Lavender Lullaby and it’s infused with Lavendar, Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E Oil. My skin felt silky smooth after my shower and a light fragrant scent of lavender lingered behind. I love how these scrubs come in 16 oz tubs just like your favorite cool confection. This line also comes in: Choco-holic, Gotta Have It Pomegranate, Hawaiian Lei, Land of Milk n Honey, Papaya Nectar, Strawberry Kiwi, Summer Rain and Vanilla Purity.

Mmmm doesn’t this look good enough to eat! I cannot wait to scoop up a few more of these luxuries to experiment with and find out which one I love the best. If you sign up for the ME! Bath newsletter you will save 15% off your online order. A shower sherbet like the one pictured above will cost you $28 per 16oz tub. ME! Bath also carries several other lines to help you make bath time even more fun, seriously who can resist these ice cream inspired treats! I love this sweet scent and I enjoy how it helps me wind down at the end of the day. What’s your favorite way to relax at the end of the day?

As a woman with extremely sensitive skin, I am always on a quest to find a product that will clean but sensitive but very oily skin. So when  came across this gem, I knew that I had to share. I decided to try YSL’s Gommage Action Biologique natural action exfoliant since it was granule-free and and suitable for sensitive skin and boy was I pleased! This honey colored cream gel is applied directly to dry skin and is massaged gently on your face until it “liquifies”.  Simply add a little cool water and upon contact it turns into a milky emulsion which gently removes impurities and dead skin cells.

When  rinsed my face off, it felt clean and smooth and most of all not dry or tight. One try and I was completely hooked. Ever since I purchased this product, I’ve consistently used it daily with no problems. I highly recommend trying it if you need a great, gentle exfoliant for your sensitive skin. This little gem retails for approximately $44 for a 2.5 oz. tube.