Hi Everyone,

This week I've been experimenting with Lauder products, all of which are pricey and all of which are "cosmetically elegant." I have been using the Advanced Night Repair serum and eye gel for months and really like them.

I bought the Verite Calming Fluid and the Verite Moisture Relief Cream. I did NOT buy the Toning Mist because it contains minerals, and I did NOT buy the Verite Cleanser because it is water activated. The Calming Fluid instantly soothes and calms the skin. Skin becomes less sensitive over time.
The fluid is lightly moisturizing and is to be used twice daily. It takes only one pump of product to cover the entire face and neck. It is fragrance- dye-colorant- and alcohol-free. It contains green tea leaf extract and Ceramide 3. Price is $60.

The Verite Moisture Relief Cream is, in a word, RICH! It takes only a small amount, is also fragrance, etc. - free, and also contains Ceramide 3 to help repair the skin barrier. As many of you know from my posts, I cannot tolerate Ceramides EXCEPT for Ceramide 3. Price for this cream is $50.

I am also wearing the Daywear Plus spf 15 Antioxidant Cream for normal/combo skin. I got this as a sample, but I think I'll order the version for dry skin so I won't have to wear it over moisturizer. This is NOT a physical sunblock, but strangely enough, my skin likes it. Smells faintly like cucumbers, but the smell dissipates quickly.

The idea is to use Daywear Plus in the a.m. and Verite Cream in the p.m. over Night Repair and Calming Fluid, thereby cutting down on using a lot of products.

I am still cleansing with straight EVOO, and rinsing with distilled H2O. Still using the Merle Norman Miracol mask 3X per week.

Philosophy has come out with their "Amazing Grace" fragrance as an oil, so I am going to try that product. I really miss not being able to wear fragrances as cologne or whatever.

Lauder has a new product -- Advanced Night Repair Booster, which is to be used for 21 nights straight every 4 months. This is to de-stress skin after seasonal changes, major life changes, etc. You apply 2 DROPPERSFULL to face & neck each night for 21 nights. The product contains megadoses of hyaluronic acid. You use this instead of regular Night Repair on those nights.
I don't know why this works, but my skin definitely did better after using this when the weather began to get colder. I'll use this again after winter.
Again, a pricey product. I think it was $85. One bottle lasts the 21 nights.

Once in a while, I'll go back and use one of the recommended cleansers from the DSPW chapter in the book for a day or two. I am better able to tolerate them now that my barrier has been repaired. But they have to be rinseable with facial water or distilled water. I can't use tapwater. For all new DSPW's, I would say to use straight EVOO and distilled water at first, along with petroleum jelly, to get a start on barrier repair while you are deciding on which recommended products to try. After a couple of weeks of THAT, THEN move on to the recs in the book. This will help you avoid trying a bazillion products. If you are trying new cleansers on skin with a broken barrier, of course, they aren't going to work as well and may even irritate. The EVOO feels instantly soothing and the Vaseline will seal in the moisture so your skin can begin to repair itself naturally. Yes, you will feel like a greasy mess those first 2 weeks, but things will definitely get better after that. Don't forget to spritz the face before applying the Vaseline.

I'm going to be trying a couple of creamy cleansers from the Body Shop in upcoming weeks, so stay tuned for posts about those.

Here's wishing everyone great skin! Inky