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Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Spa-Like Anti-Aging Treatments Without the Spa Price Tag: DermaWand

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I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for DermaWand. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation

With every passing year, it seems that my search for products that I apply to my face gets a little more intense and I need those products to create just a little more magic. It’s because my fine lines don’t seem to be budging, and in fact, they are getting more noticeable.

I’m like Stevie Nicks singing “Landslide” every time I look in the mirror…I’m getting older, too. And while I’ve started to name my wrinkles after my children, I know they aren’t entirely to blame. Aging is just a fact of life. My skin is getting less vibrant, less firm, and some lines are starting to set in. I think there’s something to be said for aging gracefully and for enjoying each and every season of life. But if there’s a way to reduce the visible signs of aging on my face that don’t involve surgery or injecting my body with strange serums, then I’m definitely open to trying it out. Just sayin’…

DermaWand is one such method that many women (and men!) my age and older are using with success. I was sent one to try out and I’ve been using it for the past 3 weeks, almost every day. I wanted to share with you a bit about how the device and show you what, if any, differences I am noticing.

dermawand products

How DermaWand Works

DermaWand provides instant stimulation to the skin using the same technology as the big radio frequency machines used for treatments by doctors and medical specialists. The amplitude is lower in the case of DermaWand, which is what makes it perfect for in-home use everyday.

DermaWand releases thermal energy and enriched oxygen which results in younger-looking skin. In my experience, there are some results you can see instantly, and there are other results that take quite some time to develop. But the good news is that you get to have these treatments in your home, at a time and place that is very convenient for you. And of course, the price point is amazing because it costs far less than what you might pay for just one treatment at a medical professional’s office.

The creator of DermaWand is an aesthetician named Christina Boves (be sure to check out her unretouched photos on the website…she’s 58 and looks AMAZING!). She created the product because she understands the power of radio frequency treatments for reversing the visible signs of aging. By using her product daily for just a few minutes, customers can expect to see some quick lifts and also a gradual brightening of the entire face as the appearance of lines and wrinkles lessens.

My Experience

On the whole, I have had a positive experience with this product. There is a bit of a learning curve at the beginning as you get familiar with the particular movements suggested for particular concerns. But once you get the hang of it, the amount of time you spend using the DermaWand does decrease. This is a good thing, because for the first few days, I was spending around 15 minutes using the product, and for me, that was just too much time spent on it. But I’ve got my routine down to about 5 minutes at this point, which is totally doable.

I prefer to use my DermaWand first thing in the morning. I’m awake before my kids, so I enjoy having the time to myself, and I also like getting to benefit from the more immediate effects of the DermaWand (such as the lifted appearance of my eyes) during the day. But I can also see doing this regimen at night for some people. Whatever works for you!

One struggle I have had since using the DermaWand is that I am actually experiencing a bit of acne. I think this may just be due to my skin getting more attention than it normally does, and all the lotions and creams that are being applied might be causing some blockages in my pores. But as someone with really dry skin, acne is a very strange occurrence and I have to say that I have had quite a few breakouts. I’m 3 weeks in and they are still occurring at this point, which is a bit disappointing. I’m hoping to see it fade away within another week or so. I should add that I’m only seeing 1-2 pimples on my face at any given point. I don’t want to give the impression that I have had massive breakouts. But 1-2 is quite a lot for me, so I did want to note it.

On the plus side, I have noticed that the lines on my forehead are starting to appear a bit more faded, if that makes sense. It does take a while, I think, for the wrinkles to look different, but give the system time and I do think you will start to see some changes! And I certainly notice that I look more alert and awake immediately after using my DermaWand every day, and that’s a feature I really like.

Before and After

Here are two photos of my face without any makeup (this is hard for a Southern woman to do, y’all). The first shot is before I started using the DermaWand, and the second shot is after 3 weeks of nearly daily use (yes, I missed a few days here and there). I don’t think there’s much of a difference, to be honest. But when I get close up in the mirror, I really can tell some improvements in the lines around my eyes and in the lines on my forehead. But I don’t think the difference is enough that anyone and everyone would notice it, know what I mean?

dermawand before

 

dermawand after

If you want a 2-minute version of how I’m using DermaWand, check out my quick video!

 Special Offer

If you are curious about DermaWand and would like to give it a try, now’s a great time, as DermaWand has a special offer where one of the 3 payments is totally waived, which reduces the cost by 1/3! Definitely check it out because that’s a really nice savings and makes the total $89.95. The total cost using this offer breaks down as follows:

  • The first payment will be for $9.95
  • At 30 days the second payment will be $39.95
  • The final payment at 60 days will be $39.95

I think the special offer makes this the perfect gift idea to give to yourself (please tell me that I’m not the only one who buys myself Christmas gifts! Ha!). If you are looking for a way to treat yourself and to treat your skin, DermaWand might be just the thing!

Prodigy Skincare Review and GIVEAWAY

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Long before he was on How I Met Your Mother, Neil Patrick Harris captured America’s hearts at Doogie Howser, M.D., the teenage doctor on television. Remember how he would write journal entries at the end of every episode on his blue screen computer? And how that was SO technologically advanced? Perhaps all of us blog writers are just indulging in our secret desires to be just like Doogie by writing these posts every day.

But I digress.

I brought up Doogie Howser because the product line I am featuring today was created by a real life teenage doctor! The founder of Prodigy Skincare graduated from medical school at just 16 years old, making him the youngest doctor in his specialty field of dermatology. He spent years working on a line of products that would be effective for his patients with dry skin, allergies and a sensitivity to fragrances. What he came up with has been highly praised by those who have used the products.

I have been trying out two different products from the line and have been really pleased with both!

First, I’ve been using the Prodigy Advanced Moisturizing Soothing Gel. This is a product that you apply after cleaning your face but before your moisturizer. It binds moisture to your skin to give your complexion a more supple look. As someone with VERY dry skin, I think this works really great, and it seems to give my moisturizer a little extra help, which is always good. This product retails for $56.00.

Next, I’ve been using the Prodigy Advanced Moisturizing Firming Eye Cream. I’ve told you before that once you hit your 30s, taking care of the skin around your eyes really is no longer optional. This is one area where you need to find a product that really works even if the price tag is a bit higher than what you are used to paying for skin care. This particular product does 3 things at once: it reduces that morning puffiness around your eyes, it reduces fine lines and wrinkles and it protects your skin from additional environmental damages, which typically wreak havoc on our faces on a daily basis. The product is very smooth, and you only need a tiny amount each day, so a bottle will last a long time. This product retails for $68.00.

If you have been looking for products that are developed by some of the best and brightest medical professionals, and that cater to those of us with sensitive skin, then look no further than Prodigy Skincare!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the item of your choice from Prodigy Skincare!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. 

Elizabeth Grant’s The Socializer Skincare Collection: Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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Recently I came across Canadian Skincare company Elizabeth Grant. I’d been hearing glowing reviews about her products from some other moms on a few chat boards about how great the products were for brightening, tightening and giving your skin an all-around tune up!

When I checked out the site, I was drawn to The Socializer Skincare Collection. These products are specifically aimed to help you look refreshed and awake, even after a LONG night. Their marketing strategy is a very interesting one, as it seems focused on women in their twenties and thirties who rock the board room during the day, and rock the club at night. It’s sort of that glamorous Sex and the City type of life. Sounds fun.

It also sounds a million miles away from my own life. I rock the work-at-home mom routine during the day, balancing blog posts, grocery trips and increasingly frequent doctors appointments since I’m getting close to my due date. Night time for me is spent tossing and turning in a desperate attempt to find a comfortable sleeping position. Two months from now, I’ll be doing awesome to get 3 hours stretches of sleep, so its going to get even worse.

While my days and nights are not as sexy as what is projected by The Socializer collection, the end result is the same. I look TIRED, and yes, even a bit older than I should. I need some specialized skincare products that can really help out, and I can tell you that Eliabeth Grant’s products are doing a fantastic job. I’m so pleased! Here’s what I’ve been using lately:

Bright Lights and Late Nights: This product has two tubes for different needs. You apply late nights just before you head to bed (or perhaps during one of your late night/super early morning wake up sessions with baby) and it helps to reduce the puffiness that you know is coming. The Bright Lights tube is meant to be applied in the morning, and it literally helps brighten the area under your eyes, helping you go from looking haggard to looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. This product retails for $40

Porefection: This is a product designed to help with the “extra dull” look overtired skin gets. It helps stimulate exfoliation, reduces the look of pores and adds a boost of hydration to your skin. You apply it in the evening so that it can work its magic while you (finally) sleep. The retail price is $22.

Spotlight Exfoliator: This product is designed specifically for an area that is a trouble spot for most women: the t-zone. It is a very gentle exfoliator that helps reveal more radiant and healthy looking skin. I use it in the shower about twice a week. It retails for $26.

Can You Keep a Secret? This might be my very favorite product in the line. It has two components: one size of this tube has a gentle vibrator as part of the applicator, and you apply it to your lips in order to remove the dead skin on them and reveal a MUCH prettier smile! The other side of the tube has a deep conditioning balm with anti-aging properties to help keep your fresh lips looking kissably soft. This product retails for $38.

I’ve been very pleased with the results of using The Socializer products from Elizabeth Grant. I can definitely see some improvement in how I look, despite the fact that I most certainly don’t FEEL any more rested (on the contrary!). So even though I don’t need to look my best for an important meeting, and even though I wasn’t out until 3am partying hard, I still suffer from the same struggles as the Carrie Bradshaws of the world, and The Socializer products really help out!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win two products of your choice from those I reviewed in the post!

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Imperfection is the Enemy: Only with Skincare!

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As a mother, I’ve really had to learn to accept imperfection. My house has never once ever looked perfect (and as a mother, I fall even further short of that elusive goal thanks to a lack of time), my wardrobe never looks perfect, and even my writing on this lovely blog is imperfect. I’m totally at peace with that.

But I love the idea behind the skincare company Perfective Ceuticals, which holds that when it comes to skincare, imperfection is the enemy. That doesn’t mean that you have to apply 45 different lotions and potions, you just need to make sure that what you do use has been developed by a specialized team of doctors and biochemists to eradicate the signs of aging to the fullest extent that science is capable of doing.

I tried out the appropriately named Anti-Imperfection Eye Therapy Cream with Growth Factor. First, you should know that the container is SO cool. It reminds me a bit of R2-D2! You twist the top for the pump to come out. I like this feature because it can help ensure that Darah doesn’t come across it and pump out all of mommy’s eye cream (which could totally happen, otherwise). I can just twist the cap so that it is closed!

I’ve been using the product every day for a few weeks, and here are my thoughts:
1. the cream is thick. A little bit goes a long way. Because of its thickness, I personally think it is better suited for night use than for daytime use (it is advertised to work for both). If you can take your time applying your makeup, though, then using this during the day would be fine. But it does need at least 20 minutes to soak in before you put anything else over it.

2. Does it work? Drumroll please……YES! I am at the age where my wrinkles are still fine, though very much existent. I have noticed that they have softened quite a bit after using this product. Woo hoo! This product is also formulated to help battle dark circles and puffiness, so it packs a big punch, so to speak.

3. Price. There’s just no beating around the bush: this cream is not cheap. It retails for $90 and is currently on sale for $72. But I have also learned that eye creams (especially those that work) are not cheap. It’s one of those areas where you kind of have to spend a bit more. My advice is to go cheap on your eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss and put that extra money toward your skincare.

What do you use for battling wrinkles, dark circles and puffiness around your eyes?

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes through the Family Review Network. All opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Moisturizer, Powerful Suncreen and Makeup Coverage in One Product (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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I don’t have to personally know you to say with confidence that you are a busy lady (unless of course you are a man, in which case I’d say that this post might not be of interest to you, personally).

We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and we pretty much all burn through them and are left at then end of the day wondering where the hours went, and why we weren’t able to do even more. We forget just how much we cram into our days (so much more than generations before us, thanks to “time saving” technologies that actually just keep us even busier!).

I can’t fix the problem of being ultra-busy for you today, but I can help you make one area of your life a bit more streamlined: your makeup routine.

Would you be interested in a single product that would do all of the following at one time:
moisturize your face
give you SPF 45 protection
provide a tinted matte coverage, which can serve as your foundation or as a base if you seek additional coverage

Well, friends. That product exists! It is called Revision Skincare’s Intellishade SPF 45 Matte, and it comes in only one color.

Does that bum you out?

It shouldn’t. Note part of the name….Intellishade. This stuff is guaranteed to work on every single skin tone. And the fact that it works on my skin tone (super pale) is very promising, because products that promise to work on everyone rarely work on the really pale folks! 🙂

Here’s a picture of me with NOTHING on (left), and then with Revision Intellishade SPF 45 applied (right):

I think the shade works great on my skin! And even at 30 years old (which I know, isn’t THAT old….but I’m not exactly bathing in the fountain of youth, anymore!) I find the coverage to be sufficient and I don’t add any additional foundation. Just powder, eyeshadow, blush, etc. I didn’t add all that stuff to the after shot because I always think when makeup companies do that, they are trying to pull a fast one on you! In fact, these aren’t even very flattering shots, but the point here is to focus on the color and coverage of the product, which impressed me, so I wanted you to see!

After using this product for a few weeks, I have to say that I really love it. It saves me time in the morning and I really love knowing that I have such a high SPF on my face. I can’t ever find makeup with such a high SPF! This makes Revision Intellishade a very smart choice for those of us who are pressed for time, need some coverage, and also need to protect our skin from those pesky UVA and UVB rays. Darah and I will be spending lots of time on playgrounds this summer, and I’m glad to know that my face will have just as much protection as my arms and legs!

Buy it!: Intellishade SPF 45 is only available through specialty offices, such as dermatologists, plastic surgeons or medical spas. This is because Revision Skincare wants to make sure its customers are properly educated about the best products in their line for their needs. Click here to find your nearest retailer! The ARV of the product is $48.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win Revision Skincare’s Intellishade SPF 45 Matte! The contest will run until June 17th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected via Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me about another Revision Skincare product that interests you and why!

My answer: I could use the Gentle Buffing Cream to exfoliate once a week, or so.

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Like Revision Skincare on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my homepage.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

You Are What You Eat: Be fine Skincare (I’m In Love)

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Today I want to tell you about a brand of skincare products that is approaching the pursuit of healthy skin in a slightly different way: by feeding our skin with food. Yes, food! You are curious to hear more, aren’t you? I know I was!

The company is called Be fine, and I’ve included a link to a really good (and quick) video that I want to encourage you to watch. It gives you a lot of insight into how this company got started and what it is really all about. When I see videos like this, where I can tell that it is heart behind a company, and not just a bottom line, I feel encouraged by their vision, and also more comfortable as a customer. Check it out and then pop back over to this post! http://www.befine.com/kind.html


There are 3 products that I want to highlight. Let’s start with the one that totally and completely blew my socks off, shall we? It’s the Be fine Exfoliating Cleanser, and I am madly in love with it. MADLY. As in, I’m telling anyone out there who is looking for a new cleanser and who is willing to spend a little bit more to get some serious quality to go buy this. I just can’t imagine anyone not loving it! It is made with sugar cane extract (which means it smells divine). But there’s a greater purpose beyond the smell for using this ingredient. From their site, “Sugar Cane Extract is a naturally appearing plant-based alpha hydoxyl acid. Long-term use of low concentration AHA’s increases collagen and elastin synthesis, and also boosts protein regeneration in the skin. Sugar is popular in hydrating formulas for the skin as it is known to have good moisture-binding properties.”
I love how this feels when I apply it…just like an exfoliator at first, but as you keep rubbing it in, it becomes this rich lather. Seriously, ladies, this is a WINNER.

Next up, check out the Firming Toner. which makes use of Ginger, Willow Bark and Aloe to help soothe your skin and close the pores. Once again, this is a product that smells so good you could almost eat it, and my experience was that it did not over-dry my skin, as toners sometimes do.

Finally, I tried their Night Cream, which is made with cocoa, millet and rice bran. Rice bran proteins help collagen form and they also help protect collagen and elasticity, which are two elements that we need if we want to look as young as we feel! 🙂 It also contains a high amount of Vitamin E, which softens our skin. Plain and simple, I loved this product. I use it at night and my skin still feels moisturized (but not at all greasy) in the morning.

This is just a sampling of the many products offered by Be fine. You’d better believe I’ve already made a list of the products I want to try next from this company. First on the list is their Eye Brightening Treatment, which contains avocado oil. I know from experience that this is a highly effective ingredient, and I’m happy to find it in a product on the market!

So where can you pick up Be fine products? Right on their website! While I know their price points are on the steep side (at least they are for my budget), I think you’ll also find that the quality far surpasses what you picked up on sale at Rite Aid last month. Give them a try; your skin will thank you!

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Nature, Luxury and Value Join Forces: Happy Me Skincare

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Today I’m going to introduce you to a skincare company that I had never even heard of until about a month ago, and whose tagline really caught my attention. The line is called Happy Me Skincare, and their motto is, “combining nature, luxury and value for happy results.” Those are definitely 3 words you don’t see together very often!

happy me skincare I had the opportunity to try out their anti-aging products. This is the first time I have ever used products that were specifically designed to make my neck, chest and hands look better. I was very excited to get started, because as I have turned the corner and am now in my 30s, I’m realizing that my skin is already getting tired, and it needs some help to restore its youthful glow!

Happy Me Skincare’s products seem to be working quite nicely. It is a bit of an adjustment to add 3 additional products to my morning regimen, but I think my efforts are going to pay off. My hands and my neck and chest do feel very smooth, and I like knowing that they have spf 30 protection on when I wear these products. That’s just another incentive for me to make them part of my daily routine.

I will say that I don’t find the smell of these products to be fabulous. They contain ingredients that sound divine: apple fruit extract, sweet almond extract and rosewood oil. But I find the end result to be borderline medicinal (like a very mild sports cream, almost). Fortunately, the smell doesn’t linger at all, and I don’t notice it after about 10 seconds.

The third product in their anti-aging line that I’ve been using is the Pore & Fine Line Protector and Primer. I’ve always wanted to use a primer for my makeup, but just never forked over the cash to buy any! My only point of comparison is using no primer, and my makeup definitely stays put much better with this product. It goes on very light and silky…it’s a strange sensation, really. This product does help create a smooth look, and that’s a very good thing!

So overall, I’d say that these are products worth trying out, especially if you are looking for a little help slowing down the clock for your skin but you don’t want to spend mega dollars. At 30, I already regret that I didn’t take better care of my skin in my twenties, so don’t put it off if you are like me and just assume that you will always be as cute as you are now! 😉

Buy it!: Happy Me Skincare products are available at Drugstore.com and will be available at CVS.com soon!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will get the same anti-aging kit that I received from Happy Me Skincare! That’s a $45 value! The contest will run until March 8th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me what you do now to care for your skin. Do you have a particular product that you use? Are you looking for something new and effective to try?

My answer: You’ve heard about all the new products that I’ve been trying. I’m really excited about finding greener options as that is something I had been seeking out but not having too much luck finding in the stores. The internet saves the day! 🙂

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Happy Me Skincare on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the side bar of my home page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.