Poppy's Top 10 of 2010: Clinique's Even Better Skin Tone Corrector

Another product I was hoping wouldn't work, because

1. It's ridiculously expensive. Retail is $49.50 for one ounce of product.
2. If you use this stuff morning and night, one drop all over your face, you'll use it up in about a month.
3. To make matters worse, you can't tell when the product is running out, because the pump is opaque.

So even though this product makes me a little crazy ... I do think it works.

I'd like to spare you the sight of my creepy bits, so I won't be uploading any photos. You'll just have to believe me when I tell you that I have a dark spot about the size of Rhode Island on my left cheekbone. It is, I guess, the price I pay for being a fair-skinned automobile driver.

It was also the result of a cruel beauty establishment taking a couple of decades to get around to telling me that UVA rays

1. penetrate glass 
2. do deep, invisible damage to the skin
3. are not blocked by the standard SPF15 moisturizers I was using back in the 80s.

Anyway, I'm using a Vitamin C serum twice a day and this serum on top, and I do actually see an improvement. There is noticeable lightening of the spot.

There is also a noticeable lightening of my wallet. But at least I'm not left racking my brain for a Clinique product I can buy when I want to qualify for a GWP. Right?

Also, I've noticed that Clinique has introduced a new, larger size of this stuff. Which means I'm not the only person who thinks it works. And the new 1.7 ounce size sells for $73.00, which at least saves a little money.



For more:


See this article on age spots and what we can do about them.

Read this for current sunscreen recommendations.

Poppy's Top 10 of 2010: DDF Glycolic Body Lotion

I was really hoping I wasn't going to like DDF 10% Glycolic Body Lotion better than anything else I tried this year, because the stuff is crazy expensive. I'm usually all about the biggest, cheapest bottle of body lotion, figuring I slather it on the way they tell you to apply sunscreen--frequently and copiously--so why spend more?

The thing is, so many of my lotions (Eucerin, Nivea, Lubriderm, Jergens) haven't been enough by themselves, so I've layered them over and under other products.

Whereas the DDF lotion does it all. It moisturizes so well that itchy dry places that tend bother me every winter are soothed. I'm not hearing a peep out of them. It exfoliates, so it helps gets rid of flaky skin and keratosis pilaris and foot calluses and dry cuticles. And it gives my skin a beautiful, youthful sheen.

When I put it on--and I put it on pretty much every bit of me from the neck down--I can feel that AHA tingle. Which means if you have sensitive skin, this product probably isn't for you. But me? I love knowing that all the creepy bits of me are being sloughed off. 

Unfortunately, due to the AHAs, there's a bit of a funky yogurt-y smell. And as I said, it's expensive--roughly $40.00 for an eight ounce bottle.

I know! Crazy! But it's so good, I'm looking for an on-line coupon or Friends and Family sale or something along those lines, because I'm halfway through my first bottle.

Poppy's Top 10 of 2010: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

For several years, in an attempt to keep my readers stopping by while they were on Christmas break, I did something I called The 12 Days of Blogmas, which, if I remember correctly, had something to do with Christmas songs and random Google images.

But now that I'm a famous beauty and style blogger,  I decided to do a top ten count down where I sing the praises of products and retailers that have surprised me with their wonderfulness in 2010. Because no one has ever thought of doing a year's-end top 10 list before.

Let's start with an eye product. Now, while no one has convinced me that there's a product out there that surpasses Garnier Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Eye Cream, which if you click on that link, you'll be pleased to discover is on sale via Amazon for $3.05/jar. (I just ordered three of them.)

For moisturizing without giving me milia, this eye cream is tops. But it does nothing for puffiness.

Which is why I'm giving a Poppy's Top 10 award to Clinique's All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage.

Now, under-eye bags and puffiness are not my biggest concern. My big concern is under-eye shadows. Mine are very dark. I have under-eye shadows as in cue the opening credits to Dark Shadows. And this roller doesn't help with them at all.

But after a night of not-enough sleep, or the Morning After? This roller is a gift from the gods. It's so cool and refreshing and just what the doctor ordered.

I got mine as part of a gift with purchase the last time I stocked up on Clinique's acne products for the teenagers. As far as not-really-necessary beauty products go, at $25.50/15 ml., it's not cheap.

To soften the sting, you could find a Clinique GWP by doing some research on GWP Addict. (Here's a link to Lisa's Top 3 listings: Clinique, Estee Lauder and Lancome GWP.)

You could also look on eBay--lots of eBay sellers resell extra GWP size products--some in sets of three, which is the same amount of product as you'd get in a full-size bottle.

You could also try drugstore alternatives, because there are a bunch out there: Olay Regenerist, Garnier Nutritioniste, and even one from L'Oreal Paris,
which rather hilariously, is marketed for men.


Do these eye rollers make that much of a difference? Maybe not. But when you wake up on January 1st, you'll be glad you have one on your bedside table.

• For more on roll-on eye serums, see Prime Beauty's review.

• Full disclosure: I have an Amazon Associates account, which means that when I link to stuff on Amazon--and I just did, big-time--if someone clicks over from my blog and buys it, I make a small commission. Just so you know, this Amazon Associates deal has so far added up to an $11.52 gift card. w00t!