Polished gem

I've become addicted to Biore's Pore Minimizing Refining Exfoliator. It's the perfect solution for those of us who don't have the extra dough to go to a dermatologist every week. I've been using it every other night lately in an effort to get rid of a few layers of dull skin. And to my surprise, it's really working. Unlike a lot of "exfoliating scrubs," which have only a few granules, but are mostly gel, this is an actual, legitimate exfoliator. But a word of caution- it is not for those of you with very sensitive skin.

The only problem I'm having is that it's a little tough to really scrub. When I tried using my fingers, they got a little sore after the first minute. So I had to improvise and switch back and forth between my fingertips and my palms.

Otherwise, a great product. I saw immediate results. My skin felt smooth and 'freshened' even after the first use. It's definitely something I will be using frequently.

Set the foundation

I have tried just about every foundation out there. I used to use Neutrogena's SkinClearing Oil- Free makeup and swore by it. It is pretty light-weight and has salicylic acid to help fight blemishes. However, the coverage isn't so great and like all liquid foundations, it's feels pretty gross in the summer. Plus, with the salicylic acid, you have to be careful around the eye area.

Then last summer, on my first visit to Ulta (now one of my favorite stores), I discovered Pur Minerals' 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup. This stuff is amazing. I haven't been back to liquid foundations since. The coverage is great, but it doesn't feel heavy during the summer. And, since it's a powder rather than a liquid, it's less clogging to your pores. And you really can control the amount of coverage. The foundation can be used as a concealer, and since it's a powder, there's no need for a separate powder...or a sunscreen for that matter- it's SPF 30. I love it so much I've been pushing my friends to get it.

Another great foundation is Philosophy's the Supernatural. It's also a powder/mineral foundation, but unlike Pur, is loose powder. In that it's loose powder, it does sometimes leak from the container, which is unfortunate, because the applicator would be great if it wasn't for that one small flaw. Other than that, it gives great coverage, and like Pur, there's no need to use those annoying pressed powder compacts. I'm loving the extra space in my makeup bag. My only problem with it is that it's all-or nothing. Unlike Pur, which you can either use for light coverage or, by just applying a little more, go for full coverage, and use as a concealer, the Supernatural does not have those options. There's no 'light' coverage about it. But other than that, I would definitely recommend it.