Say goodbye to acne with L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Anti-Breakout Cleanser!

I remember when I was a teenager in high school. I struggled with acne. It seems like I spent forever looking in the mirror hating my complexion and wishing I wasn't one of those people cursed with acne breakouts. I longed for the days when I was no longer a teenager so that I didn't have to deal with acne any longer.

Fast forward 20 30 years and guess what? I still have acne. I have no idea why since I wash and care for my face regularly but for some reason I do. New L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Anti-Breakout Cleanser removes acne causing bacteria in just one wash pore by pore! Pores look smaller and skin is cleaner, smoother and softer. It is also the winner of the 2011 Self Magazine Health Beauty Award for Best Acne Cleanser!

Go 360 Clean is a line of deep pore by pore cleansers. There are five different formulas to choose from. Every Go 360 Clean cleanser has its very own super soft Scrublet built into the bottle to help you reach into every last pore for the cleanest clean.

I really love the scent of the L'Oreal Go 360 Clean anti-breakout cleanser. It has a very fresh, soap like scent to it that's very pleasant. I didn't find that it dried my skin out at all and the Scrublet is really neat. It's nice and soft and very flexible so it's easy to fit on the side of your nose and your chin which are areas that I break out in. It lathers up really nicely too.  I can tell that the Scrublet is helping clean my pores and my skin feels smoother.  I love that it fits right into the bottle itself so I won't lose it and have to hunt for it when I need it. Really cool.

I've seen the L'Oreal Go 360 Clean products in all our local drug stores including CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens.  Have you tried it yet? Which variety is your favorite? 

As required by the FTC:  Compensation was provided by L'Oreal Paris via Glam Media.  All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Organic and Natural Pure Skin Care Products from Annmarie Gianni

Hundreds of years ago, we didn't have science to rely on or answer our questions. The technologies didn't exist to create chemicals or complicated formulas. We turned to the goodness of herbs and plants to address problems and concerns.

For thousands of years, cultures around the world have turned to the teachings of nature to look and feel younger. Annmarie Gianni brings the ancient healing properties of herbs and aromatherapy to a skincare line that soothes your body and invigorates your soul.

Annmarie Gianni Skincare uses no chemicals or alcohol. Instead they use blends of natural oils and extracts to preserve their products. She uses plants that are organic, natural or wild crafted in her skincare creations.

Skincare by Annmarie Gianni includes a number of different products including facial scrub, anti-aging eye cream, anti-aging serum, anti-aging facial oil, toning mist and herb cleanser. Each of her skincare products comes packaged in a glass bottle that is made of MIRON Violet-glass. MIRON violet-glass does not allow visible light to pass through it. This prevents oxidation from light damage and provides a longer shelf life and a more potent blend of ingredients.

The products are targeted toward different skin types so you will find some that are great for all skin types and some that are best for dry skin, acne prone skin or mature skin.  She has some really great skincare articles on her site too that I recommend reading.

I have to say that I am totally in love with these products. I've tried a lot of skincare products but these really stand out. First, the presentation is amazing. The jars are glass & not plastic which is a huge plus. The tops have a special cap on them to prevent them from being pressed during shipment or storage or rolling around in your cosmetic drawer. The labels are bright and colorful and have vaguely Middle Eastern look to them which gives these a very exotic feel.

Because there is no alcohol in these products, they are very gentle and non-drying. They all have an aloe-herbal component to them which is probably why they are so gentle and soothing to use. I really wish that I could pinpoint the scent because if I could cover my entire body with it, I totally would. The scent is somewhere between an extremely light floral and an herbal scent. I have absolutely no idea what it is but it was present in all of the products that I tried.  I really did notice an improvement in the glow of my skin.  As my skin ages, I notice that it looses some of it's healthy look & I'm starting to see that return to my skin now.

Skincare by Annmarie Gianni can be purchased at select stores or from online retailers.  The prices are very reasonable for the quality of the product you receive. You can connect with Annmarie Gianni on Facebook & Twitter to keep up with all the latest product news.  Save 10% on your order with the code *confessions*.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review these products.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Win Lumene Arctic Skin Care products - Great for Mother's Day!

When I think of the word arctic, I think of cold and snow. That's something I'm really familiar with in rural Vermont and I have to admit, they're not two of my favorite things! I never really think about all of the unique plants that grow in the arctic area but there are times of the year when there are green growing things and not just mounds of ice and snow.

Lumene Skincare products use some of these unique plants that grow in the artic in their skincare line. Just a few of these special ingredients include cloudberry, linen seed, lingonberry, sea buckthorn, heather and white peat. Lumene uses only hand-picked Arctic wild ingredients and plants in creating their formulas and has a minimum target of 80% natural ingredients when sustainable.

I have rosacea and at times my face gets red and inflamed. I have to be really careful what products I use on my face because my skin is so sensitive. I especially have to be careful on my cheek area. Lumene has a line of products called Sensitive Touch that contain soothing arctic linen seed. These products are used for redness relief for sensitive skin. They use 100% organic linen. Arctic linen seed helps to strengthen and protect your skin as well as reduce redness and tightness. The product was developed in cooperation with the Finnish Allergy and Asthma Federation and is fragrance and colorant free. They have a variety of products in the Sensitive Touch line including Instant Relief Serum, Gentle Toner, Moisture Lotion, Moisture Cream, Night Cream and Eye Cream.

Lumene has many other skincare lines that target different types of skin. Sarah18 had a chance to try the Arctic Touch Deep Cleansing Peat Mask with stimulating biominerals. This mask is used for normal to oily skin and is great for tightening pores. It contains mineral-rich Arctic Peat, kaolin, aromatic rosemary and skin protecting natural Vitamin C. You only use it once or twice a week and it absorbs the excess oil and impurities from your skin.

Lumene also has products for normal/combination skin and aging skin. Their spa line of products uses 90% natural ingredients and 100% natural fragrance. They even offer cosmetics and a line of men's skin care products that use these unique arctic ingredients! You can find some wonderful articles on their site with beauty tips. Make sure you check them out. I was surprised at how many articles there were.

The Lumene products that we tried were very mild and gentle on our skin.  The sensitive touch line doesn't really have a scent which is ideal for people who are prone to flare ups or redness.  It felt very soothing when I used it and didn't dry out or inflame my skin at all.  Sarah18 enjoyed using products from the Radiant Touch and Arctic Touch line.  The scent of the products she tried was very mild and fresh. They left her skin feeling clean and toned and did a great job at removing the impurities in her skin.

Connect with Lumene on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest product news. Lumene products can be purchased from a variety of retailers including Walgreens and CVS.

One of my readers is going to win a selection of Lumene Arctic Skin Care products.  Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & visit the sponsor’s site.  Leave a comment telling me what you learned there.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1

Win Lumene Arctic Skin Care products @scentednights #giveaway #win @LumeneGal http://tinyurl.com/3uz82xd

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Follow the sponsor on Twitter +2
4. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
5. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
6. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

7. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

8. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

9. Subscribe to my blog. +1

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/1/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.

PMD Personal MicroDerm

I hear all the time about models and movie stars undergoing all sorts of treatments for smoother, younger looking skin. I know that we all age. It's a normal part of life just like the seasons changing each year. However, I'd like to age as gracefully and slowly as I can. Now I have no desire to have a face lift or any other surgical intervention. That's just a little bit too extreme for me.

But I was interested in what kind of steps I could take at home to reduce the signs of aging and to bring back the healthy glow and soft to the touch skin I had when I was younger. I was also concerned about the first age spot that I found on the back of my hand. I know that age spots are a common occurrence for the women in my family and it's something I've had my eyes open for.

I received information about a product called the PMD or Personal MicroDerm. The PMD is a handheld device that uses the same aluminum oxide crystals embedded in the tip that are used in ten thousand dollar machines found at your doctor's office. It's been clinically proven to uncover younger, more vibrant and glowing skin.

The PMD removes the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin and encourages the blood and collagen to come to the surface of your skin. This results in softer and younger looking skin. So how does it work? I was a little intimidated when I saw it but it comes with a DVD that explains the process step by step. Definitely watch the DVD before you do anything.  First you wash your face or skin thoroughly and dry it well.

Then you need to test your skin with the PMD to see if you have sensitive or tough skin. You just pick an area on your arm or under your jaw on the side of the neck to start with. The PMD comes with two different types of discs. The blue disc is moderate. The green disc is coarse for more aggressive treatments. Always start with the blue disc to see how sensitive your skin is.

First make sure that the reusable white filter is on the machine. You need to use the filter to catch the flakes of dead skin that come from your face so they don't get into the PMD unit itself. After you have the filter on, just place the disc on the shaft and push it on. Each color has a small disc for the face and a larger disc for the body. Then you place the appropriate cap on the PMD and connect the power cord and turn it. Turn the unit on and you are all set.

You need to gently stretch your skin between two fingers so it's tight when you use the PMD. Then you simply apply a VERY gentle pressure with the PMD and move the disc in an upward and horizontal movement until you've covered the entire area. Do not press hard or stay in one place too long. You can cause a scab and make your skin hurt that way. Do not ever use around your eye area (above your cheekbones or below your eyebrows). When you're done, rinse your face off and apply a toner. Your skin will be sensitive to sun for the next 3 or 4 days so make sure you wear a sunscreen.

They do not recommend you use this more than every five or six days so once a week is about right for me. They recommend once a week for the first ten to twelve weeks. Then biweekly and then monthly. They also recommend that you use their cell renewal serum and cream long with this treatment but no closer than the night before. Also, use them daily between treatments to care for your skin.   You need to wash out the reusable filter between uses and replace the discs after two or three uses. You can purchase discs on their site.

I have really sensitive skin so I wasn't sure how a home micro dermabrasion was going to work. I really hate the larger pores on my nose and forehead so that's where I decided to focus. Because my skin is so sensitive, the blue disc is the right choice for me. It did make my skin pink when I first used it and left it a little sensitive. It went away after only a few minutes but it was a bit tender at first. You don't see immediate change after one use. This is something that you need to use for the entire recommended time but it does make a difference in the larger pores.  If you're considering any type of in office treatment, I would definitely say to try this first. It's very easy to use and literally takes only a few minutes a week.

I was hoping to get a good before and after picture but my camera just doesn't do close up pictures well at all.  I also need to say that while I did receive the PMD to try, I did not receive any of the skincare products they recommend using along with it. So I cannot say if I would have seen a quicker or better result had I used them along with the product.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Good for you Girls skincare for teen & tween girls

Being a teenager isn't easy. There's all sorts of things you go through that make life a little more difficult. One of the hardest ones for many teenagers is acne. There's such a focus on looks when you're a teenager that it's no wonder acne is a cause for concern. I can't tell you how many products I went through as a teenager that were supposed to help with problem skin. Many left my skin inflamed and even more aggravated than before I tried them.

I recently learned about a new company called Good For You Girls that offers natural skincare products for teen and tween girls that contain no parabens, no sulfates, no petrochemicals, no synthetic fragrance and no dyes. Good for you Girls skin care products use natural and organic ingredients that are safe for all skin types.  The ingredients are also vegan approved, made in the USA and never tested on animals.

We recently had the opportunity to try the Gel Cleanser by Good for you Girls.  Sarah17 chose the Gel Cleanser because it is a soap-free cleanser which means it won't dry out or irritate your skin like some soaps do.  It uses plant extracts and fruit based organic oils to leave your skin fresh and clean.  Just a few ingredients in the Good for you Girls Gel Cleanser are aloe, lavender, chamomile, calendula; white, green and black tea, and Vitamin E.


Sarah17 loved the scent of the Gel Cleanser.  She uses it each night before bed. It has a light, fresh citrus scent.  The cleanser did a great job removing her make up and left her skin soft and smooth and not at all dry or irritated. Good for you Girls has a Blemish Wash, Purifying Toner, Moisturizer,  and a variety of kits to choose from.  Soon you'll also be able to find Body Wash, Body Shimmer Lotion and Deodorant.  The site is so easy to use & you can see the ingredients for each product!  I love that!

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.