Ok, so we all know patience is not my strong suit. Well, some days are worse than others.

I noticed after it started turing warmer that the skin on my cheeks and jawbone was dry and flaky. I started thinking maybe I needed to change face cleansers after a couple weeks of it. But, I LOVE my Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil soap. I really do. So, I was torn.

I decided to try some Burt’s Bees-I know! You’re thinking here she goes with the Burt’s Bees again. A friend of mine with drier skin recommended Burt’s Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser. Since I’m always a sucker for a recommendation I went for it. I didn’t even have it long enough to take a picture of the package. I used it for two days and broke out for a little more than two weeks.

This is where divine intervention in the form of Mimi at W3LL PEOPLE comes in. I know I’ve talked about them before, but really they take care of me. They don’t even admonish me for trying super hydrating cleansers when I (obviously in hindsight) don’t need them. Mimi put me on a regimen of Arcona AM Acne Lotion with no Youth Serum. And, Tabula Rasa as a spot treatment at night using only Gentle Solution. I also exfoliated every other day with the Cranberry Gommage.

Tabula Rasa is freaking amazing. There are no other ways to describe it. Let me explain: You wake up. You have a giant, ugly pimple. That night you dab Tabula Rasa on it. You wake up. The pimple has been reduced to almost nothing. You rejoice.

I went from breaking out for a week and half with no end in sight to stopping this bad, bad reaction in the matter of Monday to Friday. Aaaahhhh, thank you, Mimi!

If only I could promise to not do some stupid experiment again.

Where I got it: W3LL PEOPLE.  What it cost: Nothing because they are cool. I will be buying Tabula Rasa and Cranberry Gommage when my samples run dry.

And, I wish it was great.  Natural mascara, an oxymoron?  Or, am I a moron for holding out hope?

This flakes a little and does run some.  I find after noon, I need to tissue off the darkness.  If I forget to clean up a little before I go grocery shopping and buy wine, I don’t get carded.  At my age though, I kind of look forward to getting carded.

Anyway, this is pretty good.  As good as Dr. Hauschka mascara that has the same problems, and for half the price.  I just wish it came in navy.

Where I got it: W3LL PEOPLE.  What it cost: Around $12

UPDATE 2/17/10: I want to clarify that this is the mascara I am using day to day.  It’s not perfect, but it’s not full of petrochemicals or parabens so it passes the test for me.

I’ve been using the Arcona Youth Serum since August 2009.  I bought a three pack that contained more Youth Serum, Vitamin A Complex and Night Breeze just after Thanksgiving 2009.  The Gentle Solution is a sample size.  At first, it was too much for my skin and I felt dry.  There’s a trick and system to using all of these.

At first, I wasn’t excited about having to use this many products.  I really only want about two night treatments cluttering my medicine cabinet, but it’s not to be.  Here is how you use all of these.

Night Breeze

The instructions say 1 – 2 times a week, but unless you’re really oily and breaking out, this is way too much.  This product works like a skin detox and can be drying.  Use this once a week unless you feel a breakout coming on.  I found the easiest way to remember is deciding to use Night Breeze one day a week and not varying from week to week.  Friday is my Night Breeze day.  I figure my skin could use a detox every Friday night after a week of stress not getting eight hours of sleep.

If I feel a breakout coming on, I’ll use it that night.  Be prepared, your skin will likely be a little flaky in the morning.  Just take a soft washcloth and warm water to exfoliate gently when you was your face in the morning.  Take a little extra time patting in your moisturizer.  If it’s just a couple of spots, you can do your normal routine and put a dab on each spot.  Usually the pimple dies overnight–and what’s better than that?!

Vitamin A Complex

This one smells bad.  It fades fast, so it shouldn’t bug you for long, but there’s a slight nail polish remover scent to it.  Use it 2 – 3 times a week, but not immediately after using the Night Breeze.  I’m sure it’s doing something awesome, but it does get overshadowed by Night Breeze.

Gentle Solution

This is your best friend.  It smells like coconuts and leaves you soft and smooth.  I use this in between the other treatments.  So if I’ve just used the Vitamin A Complex, I use the Gentle Solution.  The same for Night Breeze.

Here is a good tip.  If you find you need to use Night Breeze more than once a week, use the Gentle Solution for two nights afterward.  This helps keep your skin from getting too dry.  If your skin feels irritated, but not breakout prone, skip the Vitamin A Complex and use Gentle Solution instead.

Wrap Up

I know this sounds like a lot of work, and really it is.  But, once you get the hang of switching in between the treatments and seeing how your skin reacts it will seem like old hat.  It is so worth it!  My skin changed immediately.  I breakout much less and the texture of my skin is much improved.  When I wash my face at night, I can feel how smooth it is instead of all the little bumps and flakes I felt before.  I will definitely buy full sizes when my smaller ones run out.

Where I got it: W3LL PEOPLE.  What it cost: $65 for the three pack.

I have fallen in love with The Bubble Roome’s Butter Cream in ylang ylang and cinnamon.  Seriously!  This smells SO GOOD.  I have been using it as a perfume dabbing just a little on my collarbone and inside my elbows.  Because it’s all natural, the scent lasts all freaking day!

Let’s talk about moisture.  This body cream is rich and lovely (like I aspire to be!).  If you use this on your feet in the morning after you take a shower, the next morning your feet will still be softer than normal.  I know!  Go buy some!

Where I got it: W3LL PEOPLE.  What it cost: $23.

I took a tour of W3LL People’s store on South Lamar this week.  I had been in before and was directed to the Arcona products I’m currently using by Mimi.  This week, I talked to Shirley who gave me the run down on the rest of what they have in shop.

W3LL is the exclusive provider of the lines they carry in Austin.  That means you won’t be finding Arcona, Ren, Keys or any of the other products anywhere else in town.  The lines they sell also have to meet strict standards of purity, environmental consciousness and non-animal testing.  I have to admit, it was a bit overwhelming learning about all of their products at once.  I’ll have to go back to take a refresher course in the skin care lines.

What I learned yesterday that I was so excited about, were the W3LL cosmetics.  I didn’t realize these are made in store!  Mimi, Shirley, James, et all make these products by hand ensuring quality and consistency.  Talk about locavore! Now your make up can come from your home town.  How cool is that?

I’ve started out my experimenting Nudist #4 and Narcissist #2.  The Nudist line is for lips, the Narcissist for concealing.  I’ll be posting updates.  Nudist: $23, Narcissist: free sample.

I am impressed with this serum.  It contains L-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, reserveratrol and grape seed extracts.  I have been using it every morning for almost a month now and have noticed a change in my skin.  It’s a little plumper and a lot more even.  I did have some rough, dry patches when I started using it and a little breaking out.  I decided not to give up and am very happy I didn’t.  Well worth the price.

Austinites:  I got this at W3LL PEOPLE, http://www.w3llpeople.com/.  Mimi helped me pick it out.  I really like this store because they don’t try to sell you on the entire product line.  They only recommend products they think will work with your skin type.  Plus, everything W3LL carries is paraben free and not animal tested.  Two thumbs up.

Where I got it: W3LL PEOPLE.  What it cost $87.