We’ve been back home in Novato since Sunday night, and even though I’m OH, SO HAPPY to be back in my own bed, I like a lot about the town of Sonoma, like there being so many animals around! We saw wildlife and ranch animals every single day. It’s rural up there with miles and miles of farms, and I’ve never lived anywhere with so many sheep! Or cows! Or horses! Or goats! It was cool to just turn my head and see animals at any given moment.
I’ve only lived in the suburbs and once in a big city (San Francisco) in my life, so to look out my car window and see gangs of goats roaming the hillsides to the left and right of me as I drove down the road was…shocking, in a good way.
Anyway, nerd moment, but every time I see a goat now I simultaneously think of the acronym ‘GOAT’ — greatest of all time, HAHAHA! ? Oh, I make myself laugh…
Being home again, I’m back on my regularly scheduled beauty jam, and these are what I’m excited about right meow…
For months now I’ve been chomping at the bit to try Jan Marini skin care, as you know. I guess the beauty gods intervened to align ye olde planets and stars, because El Hub actually *paid attention* (GASP) and hooked this mama up with the Jan Marini Starter Skin Care Management System for Mother’s Day.
It comes with five items designed to be used in the following order…
Step 1: Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser
A creamy cleanser with exfoliating glycolic acid for dry, combo and oily skin. It’s also supposed to eliminate the need for a post-cleansing toner.
Step 2: C-Esta Face Serum
This is Jan Marini’s Vitamin C antixoidant serum, and the two key ingredients are DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol, which is supposed to help with fine lines and wrinkles), and ascorbyl palmitate, which is one form of Vitamin C (there are several).
FYI, if you’re a SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic fan like I am, C-Esta’s Vitamin C is different than the variety used in CE Ferulic. CE Ferulic has L-ascorbic acid, which is considered in many skin care circles as the gold standard for Vitamin C. It seems like ascorbyl palmitate is often pooh-poohed as being inferior to L-ascorbic acid, but we shall see.
Step 3: Bioclear Face Lotion
EXFOLIATE ME, PLEASE! This lotion has three types of acids — glycolic, salicylic and azelaic. I love me some salicylic and azelaic acids, so I’m very excited about this, which is made for normal, combo and oily skin types.
Step 4: Transformation Face Cream
A hydrating cream with peptides, hyaluronic acid and an ingredient exclusive to Jan Marini called Thymosin beta 4.
Step 5: Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF33
A water-resistant (up to 80 minutes) chemical sunscreen.
The kit also comes with a card to walk you through the order the products should be used and whether they’re for mornings or evenings or both.
I’ve read that the full-size skin care management system is supposed to last about eight weeks, which, truth be told, doesn’t seem very long to me, but I get the sense I can stretch the products out to four or five weeks if I use them sparingly — with the exception of the sunscreen, of course, because homegirl is not shy about applying and reapplying sunscreen!
I’m really excited to use it, but I think I’m going to wait until after we go camping to start. We’re heading up to Casini Ranch on the Russian River for a few days so Rosie can have quality time with her favorite pet sitter (LOL!).
When we went camping last summer, the most I could handle while we lived in the tent was to use a face wash and sunscreen… Five steps would probably be a few too many steps for me out in the woods, but if you are the girl who camps with a multi-step skincare regimen, I salute you. You are officially my hero!
On the nail front, I haven’t worn OPI in years (ya know, I’m more of an Essie Gel Couture kind of girl), but I’m very excited about this purple glitter called Leonardo’s Model Color because it was a Mother’s Day gift from Connor.
El Hub took her to Ulta, gave her a basket, and let her pick out whatever she wanted to get for mama (within reason). Apparently, the sales associates asked her on several occasions if she needed any help after seeing her linger in the fragrance section for a really long time, LOL! She told everyone “no thank you” because she had it under control, and she choose this polish, along with some sparkly butterfly clips and a pink travel laundry bag.
It’s purple and sparkly, and I will forever keep it in my polish collection from now until the end of time because she gave it to me. 🙂
One last thing before I head on out for now, I randomly picked up this box of Advanced Nail Polish Remover Pads last week from Tar-ghay, and they don’t play! So, so good.
A single pad removes even the most stubborn glitter mani or pedi, and it works fast! It works in less time than it takes you to convince yourself to buy another creamy pastel mint green polish, ha ha ha! If you want an easy, quick no-drama nail polish remover, grab thee a box ASAP.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Connor has excellent taste in nail polish! I love that color! And those butterfly clips are too pretty.
The pictures of the Russian River campground are beautiful. Too bad I absolutely hate camping. I’m more of an indoor, climate controlled, plush bed gal. We’re headed down to LA next week!
How exciting! What are you guys doing down there? I HOPE YOU HAVE PLANS TO EAT ALL THE THINGS.
P.S. Ya know, camping isn’t my first choice, but I have so many great memories of going camping as a teen with my friend Jen’s family. Nostalgia is the main reason why I do it, LOL!
Going to visit all the art museums that are now opening. We have timed tickets to the Getty Villa, the LACMA and the Broad. All first thing in the a.m before it gets crowded. Dear Husband said there were no new shows at the Getty Center and we’d been there for Valentine’s Day 2020 so we’re not headed there. Although I do regret this decision as they have Van Gogh’s Irises, which is one of my favorite paintings.
I have only miserable memories of camping. And all the food shopping, prep, cooking and clean up falls to me, so it’s not like a vacation in any way, shape or form. Also with my fair skin, I hate being outdoors more than I have too. Only rider in the world who loved lessons in the covered arenas.
I love Van Gogh’s Irises, too. When I saw the Immersive Van Gogh show in SF a few weeks ago, I actually cried during that part. It was so beautiful! Plus, I’m a sap. LOL!
Have soooo much fun on your Los Angeles art adventure, and please eat all the yummy things while you’re there.
Re: Camping. I totally get it. It’s one thing to go on a camping trip and just show up with a sleeping bag, which is what I got to do as a teen when I went on those trips with my friend’s family. It’s definitely harder to “mom” while camping, for sure. I figure I will only have a narrow window of time, though, when Connor will be excited/willing to take these trips with us, so I try to not as grumpy as I could be about it, ha ha ha!
I hear ya! I am not a camper either, but I recently married a guy who is, and who is trying to convince me to come along with him. I gave him fair warning that it wasn’t my scene before we started dating, but now I’m kind of thinking I should give it a go every now and then for his sake, because I enjoy him doing my things with me. But I’m pretty sure already that I’ll hate it, and I’m going to put a time limit on the stay i.e. no more than 3 days! I think that is the most time I can bear not sleeping in a real bed LOL.
My mom and I believe that if we’re staying at a Holiday Inn instead of a Hampton Inn, then we’re officially camping. We’re not sleeping outdoors, thanks. The absolute worst we’re willing to do is drive into the woods and sleep in our car!
Connor really has exquisite taste in nail polish and hair clips!
That OPI polish looks really pretty!! Connor did a great job!! I like that she lingered in the fragrance section. Awww…she wanted to buy you perfume. So cute!!
Hi Karen,
What do you use on your cuticles that make them look amazing? Asking for some recommendations.
I may or may not have gotten a bit misty that El Hub LISTENED and got you a great Mother’s Day gift. Yes, keep that polish close to your heart. Sniffle. <3
It’s going to be in my collection forever and ever. 🙂