Skinatomy Awards: a few of my favorite things

 AHAVA SKIN CARE Models wearing the product,
and handing out samples of same, at at Spring 2009
New York Fashion Week
 

Yesterday I was fighting my way through the seventh circle of hell that’s also called the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square mall. Due to the decline in the economy, the mall itself was extremely quiet, but the vendors were on full assault. I managed to make my way to the Palace of Evil – which is also referred to as Sephora (http://www.sephora.com/) – with only one major vendor incapacitation (yes, Bust-in-a-Box; I was the one who knocked over your display and sent those gel boobs rolling all over the mall. Train your salesmen not to grab at the breasts of random women to engender business.)

Once inside the Lair of MasterCard Maximus, I asked the lovely Grace to show me what was new and exciting in the store. She led me to a new hair care line that has been flying off the shelves; during their store premier, they couldn’t keep this product in stock. The line is called Living Proof, and it promises to make all your dreams come tru by fighting drugs, crime, street gangs and frizzy hair...and then make you coffee in the morning!
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P244509&categoryId=C7240

I asked Desiree, the in-house skincare specialist, what was innovative in her purview, and was shown the new HD Elixir from MAKEUP FOREVER. Every girl in the store raved about this potion, declaring that it makes the skin look and feel amazing – either under foundation, or alone. Although I personally don’t wear foundation, I do sometimes wear tinted moisturizer and I love a new discovery…so I bought a bottle. At $38.00, we’ll see. http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P240602&categoryId=C13402

Readers often ask me this question: “Spa Examiner, what is your favorite moisturizer/mask/night cream/eye cream/serum/scrub/shower gel/nail polish/dandruff shampoo/toilet paper/deodorant/panty liner…?” Although some of those inquiries are a bit presumptive and also fall into the realm of TMI*, this does seem like a good time to share some of my favorite skincare items.

I have used all of the following products at one time or another, and I’m including only my most preferred items. Remember, this is strictly personal choice (even if I do know best) and is in no way meant to be diagnostic or prescriptive to anyone else (even though I know more than anyone else on the planet about these things)…although I certainly hope that readers of this column will find a few new commodities to try. Have fun, read on, and click away!  Here are the tallied results of the:
(*Too Much Information)

SPA TREATMENTS EXAMINER
Skinatomy Awards
Body Moisturizer (Pharmacopia Lavender Body Lotion)
Attention Target Shoppers: c. Booth 4-in-1 Multi-Action Body Lotion, Lemon Sugar 32 fl oz (946 ml) $9.99 http://www.drugstore.com/
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: Pharmacopia Lavender Organic Body Lotion 8oz $18.00 http://www.lavendernaturalbeauty.com/
If I were a rich man: Bliss Body Butter, Blood Orange + White Pepper 8.5 fl oz (250 g) $35.00 http://www.drugstore.com/
  Archipelago Botanicals Milk Hydrating Lotion Pump No. 12 - 17 oz. $25.00 http://www.amazon.com/
Eye Cream  (DHC Concentrated Eye Cream)
Attention Target Shoppers: Olay Definity Eye Illuminator Treatment - 0.5 oz. $23.89 http://www.target.com/
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: DHC Concentrated Eye Cream 0.7 oz. Net wt. $31.50 http://www.dhccare.com/dhc/
If I were a rich man: Murad Resurgence Renewing Eye Cream 0.5 oz $73.00
Bliss The Youth As We Know It An Extraordinary Anti-Aging Eye Cream 0.5 fl oz (15 ml) $70.00 http://www.drugstore.com/

Exfoliant  (Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant)
Attention Target Shoppers: Olay Definity Pore Redefining Scrub - 5.0 oz. $8.94 http://www.target.com/
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant $32.00 Volume: 2.53 fl oz http://www.beautorium.com/
If I were a rich man: laboratoire remède sweep 2.5 oz $48.00 http://www.blissworld.com/

Facial Cleanser  (Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk)
Attention Target Shoppers: Olay Definity Illuminating Cream Cleanser - 5.0 oz. $8.89 http://www.target.com/
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil 6.7 fl. oz. $25.00 http://www.dhccare.com/dhc/  philosophy purity made simple, one-step facial cleanser 8 fl oz (236.6 ml) $20.00 http://www.drugstore.com/
If I were a rich man: Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk 6 oz. $22.00 http://www.lavendernaturalbeauty.com/

Facial Moisturizer SPF  (AHAVA Sun Protection Anti-Aging Facial Moisturizer)
Attention Target Shoppers: Neutrogena Anti-Oxidant Age Reverse Day Lotion - 1.7 oz. $17.29
Aveeno Positively Ageless Lifting and Firming Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 - 2.5 oz. $17.99 http://www.drugstore.com/
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: AHAVA Sun Protection Anti-Aging Facial Moisturizer, SPF 50 2.1 fl oz $22.00 http://www.drugstore.com/
If I were a rich man: Murad APS Perfecting Day Cream SPF 30 1.7 fl oz (50 ml) $47.00 http://www.drugstore.com/

Masks  (Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Mask)
Attention Target Shoppers: Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Mask 50ml - 1.7 fl. Oz http://www.yestocarrots.com/  for locations
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: DHC Mineral Mask 3.5 oz. Net wt. $35.00 http://www.dhccare.com/dhc/
If I were a rich man: laboratoire remède skin exacting mask 1.7 oz $95.00 http://www.blissworld.com/

Night Cream  (Martina Gebhardt Happy Aging Facial Cream)
Attention Target Shoppers: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
1.7 oz (48 g) $26.99 http://www.drugstore.com/
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: Martina Gebhardt Happy Aging Facial Cream, 1.8 oz $53.00 http://www.eco-beauty.com/
If I were a rich man: laboratoire remède alchemy premium night crème 1.7 oz $165.00 http://www.blissworld.com/

Serums  (Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Serum)
Attention Target Shoppers: Boots No7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum – 1.0 oz. $19.99 http://www.target.com/
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Serum 1 oz. $52.00 http://www.lavendernaturalbeauty.com/
If I were a rich man: laboratoire remède intensive double serum 1 oz $130.00 http://www.blissworld.com/

Tinted Moisturizer  (Juice Beauty SPF 30 Mineral Light Moisturizer)
Attention Target Shoppers: Jergens Natural Glow Face Moisturizer - 2 oz. $7.99 http://www.target.com/
Birkenstocks-not-Blahniks: Juice Beauty SPF 30 Mineral Light Moisturizer 2 oz $29.00 http://www.lavendernaturalbeauty.com/
If I were a rich man: Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 1.7 oz $34.00 http://www.sephora.com/