My skin is loving me right now....

I know, there is no excuse for this lateness! No use diving into detail, but I am much better! Since all is pretty much back to normal at the Lali Amora household I do have thousands of o' things to do with my blog. 

So what have I been up? Well for a few weeks now I've been trying the newest from L'Oreal skincare line...the Youth Code Texture Perfector serum concentrate, Youth Code Texture Perfector day/night cream, and the Facial Oil which I will discuss here in a few. Just wanted to say how pretty is the packaging! The pink duo is to be used together while the oil I essentially use it on it's own with other moisturizers I have lying around. The pink duo I like to call 'Pink iridescent' because the lotion and the cream contain a visible slight pink iridescent that can't be seen once applied to the skin. I have used the duo several times and can say that when used daily will obtain results, my skin felt a bit smoother but appearance wise was harder to tell since my skin always does oddly throughout the winter months.

Serum (the taller bottle). Here is what it does: 

Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate with 2% LR2412, a powerful ingredient, visibly corrects skin by tightening pores, diminishing fine lines and revealing petal-soft skin texture.

- In 1 week, over 70% of women experienced tightened, less visible pores.

- In 1 week, over 80% of women saw smoother, softer texture.
- In 1 month, women state that pores appear smaller, fine lines are reduced and texture is smoother.

- 79% of women report seeing an improvement in skin quality.*

Day/Night cream. Here is what it does:

Texture Perfector with Perline-P, an association of three perfecting actives that optimizes the quality of skin's surface by tightening pores, diminishing fine lines and revealing petal-soft skin texture.

- Instantly skin feels softer and texture is smoothed for a velvet touch.

- In 1 month, women stated that pores appear smaller and fine lines are reduced.
- 75% of women report seeing an improvement in skin quality.*

(info directly from the L'Oreal website) Yes, it is a safe link :)

The actual cream is pink of course!

Now these come boxed and can cost anywhere from $17 up to retail which is $24.99 depending where you buy and if they ever are on sale, sometimes I like to use Beauty Bucks from CVS and buy product as I need them this way. If you have tried out the Pink Duo or any other L'Oreal skincare recently please let me know! I am always on the look out for new stuff to try out. 

How I Rate it: Pink Duo - Thumbs up! But only when used together and daily :)

Let's discuss this Facial Oil shall we? I just may need a few more bottles of this stuff, I wonder if they sell it at Costco? :) My favorite thus far, and not just because it has a heavenly scent but because it actually works on my skin, like magically, even though I know it's pure science, haha. The oil I'm talking about is the glorious Age Perfect Glow Renewal Facial Oil. Complete with 8 oils that take over the face skin and surface like butter! Silky and smells divine, my face stays supple and moisturized almost all day.

Mixture of Oils:

English Lavender

Rosemary leaf

Geranium

Orange Peel

Roman Chamomile

Marjoram leaf

Lavandin

Rose flower

Can't you just smell it through your phone screen or laptop? 

This oil I use as a pre-moisturizer, or sometimes I add it along with my favorite moisturizer. You only use 2 to 5 drops, the bottle recommends 4 to 5 drops but I find a little goes a long way. The most I use would be 3 to 4 drops. I think the perfect time to use this oil would be sometime in the morning after washing face, I don't apply makeup in the morning but I do apply the drops before my moisturizer and foundation. Lasting power? Definitely an all day thing, I generally don't like my face feeling greasy or oily at all (I don't think anyone does) but this oil does not leave a greasy or oily feel at all, you can't see oil on the face after application, my skin absorbs it and the result is perfect - skin that is soft, supple, and moisturized...And of course smells amazing.

Not much change cost wise, this bottle will cost about the same as the pink duo, retails for $24.99 but of course depending on the store that carries it.

Just a few details: 

"Restore skin’s youthful glow with Age Perfect Glow Renewal Facial Oil. It deeply nourishes and replenishes dull, dry skin with a unique blend of 8 Essential oils. The non-greasy and luxuriously lightweight formula absorbs quickly for all-day hydration.

All you need is 4-5 drops each time you apply. Age Perfect Glow Renewal Facial Oil can be used 5 different ways for an all around youthful GLOW:

1. Alone, after cleansed skin
2. Right before applying cream
3. At night, before bedtime
4. Apply on the neck
5. Right before foundation to improve glide."

How I Rate it: Age perfect Glow Facial Oil - Definitely Thumbs Up! If I had a 3rd thumb I'd have it up too, now that would be weird, hahaha

Clinique Moisture Surge is still and will continue to be my all-time favorite moisturizer, I've gone through many containers of this. Although price tag might reveal Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion to be more affordable (1.7 oz $14.50) I just can't use it....I have found after a while the lotion starts to smell a little odd. So even though Moisture Surge is a little pricey (1.7 oz $37) it still does one heck of a job moisturizing and keeping the skin hydrated. Another personal favorite of mine is the Neutrogena Naturals multi-vitamin Night Cream (1.7 oz $13.99). Surprisingly, not a fan of the scent, but it does a great job. Generating 3.5 stars on Neutrogena's website, many others detest the scent as well. Maybe Neutrogena could work on this? The cream itself is pretty good, maybe tweaking the scent could be beneficial to sales? We shall see if they listen to consumers....

Do you have a favorite moisturizer that you would love to let me know about? Comment and do tell! I'm always eager to try new things, especially face creams! :)

Disclosure: All items with an exception of Clinique Moisture Surge were sent to me for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Avon MAX Moisture: Night Cream

Avon products can sometimes get alot of bad rep. I'm not fond of many things from them but some things are worth the try. A few months ago I purchased the Solutions pm Max Moisture night cream and have been loving it ever since. While I do think that $12 for this 1.7 oz container is a little too much, especially for Avon, sometimes they do provide sales in their books which comes out to be a great deal. For example, they recently had a sale of all the solutions products BOGO, mix and match....I ended up buying another MAX Moisture and the matching eye cream...sweet :)

Sure my Clinique DD lotion is a must have for me, I still love to alternate lotions and creams according to my mood. The sweet and fresh but soft and muted smell of the Avon cream is comforting. It keeps my skin soft and moisturizes very well. Never clogging pores or stinging....just pure luxury.

If you like/love Avon, what is your favorite product by them?

On another note, isn't Lady Gaga like the queen of everything lately? Her recent victor at the VMA's concluding to take home 8 awards sent me smiling in my sleep.....And her gorgeous photo shoots and magazine covers, she is exploding popularity like we never imagined :)

She's great, no wonder so many people love her!

...:::my recent addition of Gaga memorabilia....now how can I get my hands on her VOGUE meat bikini cover! : /

Favorite face lotion: Clinique Dramatically Different lotion

Some lotions are just meant to be :) I take this lotion as an example. What I love about it is that it’s so comforting and it keeps my skin hydrated and soft. I’m usually not one to go and buy higher end face lotions, one from CVS is fine by me, but this one is so different.

I used to put on this lotion all the time about 5 yrs ago. It was actually a sample that I had with a GWP set. I loved it, I used it all up and kept putting off buying it again. When I had the choice to choose between the DD Gel or the DD Lotion I opted for the latter since I felt I needed more concentrated moisturization.

I’ve always loved keeping my face hydrated, the reason for it, I don’t want nor need premature lines and wrinkles (another reason why we all need sunscreen!) All you dry skin gals out there, please take note…..it’s worse for you, because you’re usually the first one before all of us oily’s and combo’s to get lines and wrinkles.

So all you gals out there that skip the lotion part of your daily face routine please don't! Moisturizing your face is important! At least I think so!

What is your favorite face lotion? Do you have dry, oily or combo skin?

Haul and Recap of my Vacay!

I'm always up for trying out new products for my face. So I was in my office one day and decided to watch MichellePhan On The Go reviews (which give really helpful info) Click here to see her videos. I had seen it before but did not take notes so while watching I made a list. I needed some new stuff because my face soaps, scrubs, and lotions were getting near empty. I knew I needed a gentle facial scrub and night lotion. Also, I decided on renewing my shelf with some more Aveeno face brightener scrub. I think I've used this stuff like 4 times over, it is amaaaaaazing! My only gripe is that if it gets in your eyes it gets a little irritating. Main reason I went to CVS was to return my 2 bottles of colorstay, I can officially say that Revlon Colorstay foundies won't work with me anymore, my skin is way too yellow, not enough yellow in the colorstays to make me happy so back they went.

Ok, now getting back to the skincare....

I exchanged them for the Aveeno and something else, RoC. The french skincare line that I've seen but hadn't really given it much thought...mostly because I thought it was for older ladies in their 50's, etc. but what I found was that some of their products are perfectly fine if they aim at a more sophisticated buyer such as women in their late 20's and 30's. The whole idea I was going for was to shop for something that would improve my skin and prevent signs of aging, so to speak. What is great about RoC is that it is reasonably priced and is liked by many, so I've read. So last night I did a facial, I scrubbed with the Aveeno and did a Queen Helene mask (which is favorite mask by the way!) afterwards but right before going to bed I smeared the RoC on and went to sleep. By the morning I noticed a slight difference, which is no biggie since it was my first time using it. I will post a review on this particular night creme very soon!

New morning routine?

This morning I did something totally unexpected.... I smeared on my new Clarins wakeup lotion (see my review on it) and saw my face look like 2 times healthier. So excited :)I did my makeup and noticed a great difference in my skin appearance. haha, so I'm wondering if all products contributed to my good skin day or if it was just 1 particular product at all? I guess I'll have to try them all by themselves to be sure!

Vacay Rewind --

I had a ball! Went shopping, did a little damage to the CC. But overall my vacay was off the hook :) I made it a point to stay up until 2 am or so every single day that I was on, haha...

Started off my time with a trip to the Witte Museum, so much fun but obviously the word got out that it was free on Tues. because like all of San Antonio was there as opposed to last yr around this time it was nearly empty, but we had fun!

Witte Museum

3801 Broadway

San Antonio, TX 78209

(210) 357-1900

Separate exhibit called the HEB Science Treehouse is great and fun for the kids. Mostly aimed towards science and experiments for kids to learn from. If you are ever in San Antonio I recommend Witte as a nice time to see and learn things with the kiddos.

My littliest boy turned 7 the next day... aww! Missing upper central, haha

For his birthday we decided on a trip to Chuck e Cheese or how my mom likes to call it 'Chunkin' Cheese'..haha, with a few hundred dollars of coins is the way to do it...

Thurs was a relaxing day at our house while in the evening we parked ourselves in a local Applebee's for a late night dinner.... (sorry, poor quality pic! taken w/cam phone) Oh yah and Yuuuuuuummmmmm!! Kuddos to the amazing person that made my PULLED PORK burgers with kosher pickles!!!! :D and a side of mashed potatoes with pieces of hickory smoked bacon and sharp chedder cheese. Is it just me or is this sandwich notably really good?!?!!

Friday was Fiesta Texas day, I was already getting a headache by 1130 :( Also got sunburn.

Here are a few snaps of the day...

The Rattler

What an zany situation...the pic looks like he took one look at the rattler and balled his eyes out! Pics do tell a different story...

actually just learned he's a tad too short to ride the big rides...aww, but my lil' brave one rode the Boomerang & White Water easily....So so proud!Getting soaked at the Power Surge Bridge, where most ppl forget the ride... At the ol waterin' hole, as they used to call it After the laser show...

Tired much? Fell asleep during our 'nom nom' on delicious bacon burgers and curly fries at Pete's

But we had so much fun, can't wait to do it again in a few weeks. Part of the reason I needed a vacay was for a chance to do something fun with my kiddos since they go back to school very soon. I also needed a chance to get outta my office, my career is not stressful, I thank God for that, but I love staying home with my family. That is one thing I am thinking about doing pretty soon but will require much thought.....

OK, back to the vacation! Saturday was pretty much a recovering period from Fiesta Texas, so we didn't do much besides go out to eat and I did a little shopping at Ashley's.

Lamps, $88 a pair

Love them so much I decided to plant one in my bedroom...

Afterwards we marched ourselves over to my mother-in-laws new house where she was in the middle of installing a new stove. Believe it or not the stove was found at a garage sale for a mere $10 (haha, not a typo, Best Buy!)

Mini-Hauling

Through it all I picked up a few things here and there........

Got flowers for my vanity

Chanel hair clips

Yummy Body lotions from Victoria's Secret
Earrings for work

and pristine necklaces from F21...

and for some odd reason I'm into dainty tiny necklaces now. So much I decided to make my own....

Swarovski crystals are my fave....

Tried out this CVS lipcare and decided I love it! It is smooth and creamy, has SPF and smells just like the Carmex :)

I also needed a new perfume since my 2 favorite ones ran dry...lol I've had the One for almost 2 yrs ...ran out.

My beloved P. Rabanne

was my oldest but holy grail, there is still some left in there but it is not purple the way it should be, instead yellow..ew! think I bought it in 2002 and I love it so much I'm thinking about buying again. SO finally got a perfume that I love, Viva La Juicy...

I chose this perfume very carefully, I knew I wanted one that would smell divine and wouldn't make me sick. But it was a little hard choosing between Juicy fragrance and Viva. Actually they both smell great, but I chose Viva since it smelled a bit more edgyier and strong while the Juicy fragrance smells light and girly.

Oh, and had a chance to swim thru my gob of MAC lipsticks to decide which ones I didn't like & came up with MAC's Plink! Thank God I didn't buy it cash, instead it was a B2M item... no wonder, it's a lustre, which I'm not a fan of....

I just can't wait for the next vacation which should be right before Christmas *yay* can't wait for it, I'm counting down the days!