Now, on the good stuff…

A Beauty Bug reader asks “I have a burning question, and I wonder if you can help before I spend like $17 on another trial/error. I have normal skin, but it gets pretty (really) dry, and I’m 38, so I want to start using something anti-aging. The moisturizers I have typically used are effective, but are heavy enough that they bug me, feeling heavy and slickish – enough so that I can’t apply face makeup afterward without feeling certifiably gooey. I also do not have all the money in the world. Do you know of anything you think would be a relatively sure bet for me?”

While The Beauty Bug is not a skin care professional, Her vanity is overflowing with products, so She’s had Her fair share of experience. Additionally, before perfecting her morning skin care routine The Beauty occasionally had the same problem; it’s the worst feeling when you use a thick moisturizer that doesn’t absorb well in the morning – your makeup doesn’t apply well appears shiny.

Here’s what she recommends: For your anti-aging morning product, try Mario Badescu’s Cellufirm Drops. While Mario’s formulas has been questioned and given mediocre reviews by some beauty bloggers, this is his stand out product. Even the skin care guru, The Cosmetic Cop agrees. She says that it “contains some very good water-binding agents and antioxidants in a lightweight lotion form. It is an option for skin that is slightly dry to normal to oily.” Lightweight is the key-word here – as soon as I apply it, it begins to absorb. Also, while this may be a little but more then you wanted to spend, the Cellufirm Drops can also act as a morning eye cream.

That takes care of the anti-aging part; now for the moisture.

The Beauty Bug recommends any Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer that contains SPF. This is a highly touted affordable drug store brand, and just last year one of their moisturizers was named one of InStyle’s Best Beauty Buys. In fact, two of their products landed the list, the other being their Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser. The Beauty Bug currently uses a moisturizer from the Positively Smooth Collection, which she loves, and it absorbs just as well as the Cellufirm Drops. However, because it does not contain SPF, she will be switching to A Positively Radiant formula.

So, The Beauty Bug hopes that She helped to solve this readers morning skin care dilemma – she provided a $39 solution which will last you 6+ months.

Before the treatments, I questioned her about the actual Mario Badescu. For some reason I had been very curious about him and what he was all about. Apparently he died in the early 90′s and was a very respectable, humble man. Since his death their formulations have changed (a Romanian pharmacist has developed them) and the business is now owned by someone outside the Badescu family but they continue to use the Badescu name for recognition.

After our brief conversation, my facial began. She gave me a short face massage, and then put on the steamer and left the room for what she said was going to be 5 minutes. I waited. And waited. Then waited some more. I listened to all of the Romanian and Russian chatter going on in the hallway and crossed my fingers that one of them was Slyvia. She finally came back to do some extractions and then applied an alpha peel. This time she said this would have to stay on for 7-8 minutes. She left the room and 7-8 minutes turned into 15-20. I became very restless and impatient, and started convincing myself that I had ADD. I felt the mask start to dry and thought Slyvia may have forgotten about me. Now, Extremely bored, I began to guess-timate the dimensions of the room. When that got old, I began doing stationary pilates exercises (yes mom, I kept my power house in and tucked my tail).

Slyvia finally returned and began to scrub the peel off my face. In a weird way, it felt good. She remarked, “it feels like you lose-a weight.” That’s not how I’d describe it, but it was funny to hear Sylvia say that with her thick accent. The last step of my facial was a vitamin C treatment. It felt thick, cold and creamy as she applied it. Again I waited for what felt like an eternity for Sylvia to return to peel it off. I came to the conclusion that each “operator” must work on several clients at a time, applying masks and treatments to one, and leaving them to see the other. So, while I haven enjoyed both facials at Mario Badescu, I don’t know if I’ll be going back anytime soon.

I first wrote about Mario Badescu after going to his spa and getting a facial – it was actually my very post on this website. As I mentioned, I came home with several products and have been using them since. As I say about every new product I try, I don’t know if the product is doing when it claims to do, I just use it and see how my skin reacts. Here are quick mini reviews of all the products that I am currently using:

Enzyme Cleansing Gel – I’m giving this product a B-/C+. I dont hate it and I don’t love it. I’m a person who LOVES to wash her face – it’s one of the first things I do when I get home. I love that squeaky clean, fresh, tingly feeling and smell and this just doesn’t have it. It’s a bit too gentle for my liking. If I had read it more closely and saw that it was non-foaming, I probably wouldn’t have bought it.

Seaweed Cleansing Lotion – This is really a toner – not sure why he calls toners lotions – but this is nice and mild (again, a bit too mild for my liking). I give it a solid B. After it runs out I’m going to try the Glycolic Grapefruit Cleansing toner.

Cellufirm Drops – This is my favorite of all the Mario products that I bought, while a little loose, it’s good for any time of the day. It’s chock full of vitamins and blends into the skin well if you want to wear it under your makeup, or goes well under moisturizer at night. B+.

Strawberry Face Scrub – This gets a B-. I bought this because the esthetician told me my pores were clogged. I use it in the shower 3-4 times per week and it just seems to be again, very mild. It contains real strawberry seeds and I wonder if they are actually strong enough to unclog my pores. I’m not crazy about the smell either.

So, if I could do it all over again I’d definitely buy different products (with the exception of the Cellufirm Drops). I got some samples of ot her products that I like much more than the products that I actually bought. Thise reviews will be coming shortly.

Speaking of Mario Badescu:

• Is he even still alive? Has anyone seen a picture of him? I’m just very curious.
• Some other sites have been writing about Mario recently:
• The Beauty Brains breaks down his Ance Drying Lotion
• The Cosmetic Cop discusses his lackluster formulas **
  

**While I do appreciate and understand what The Cosmetic Cop says about those select few products (she gave a good review to the Cellufirm Drops!), Mario has to be doing something right to gain the celebrity cliente that he has. I’m willing to give some of his other products a try!

This weekend I made my first trip to the Mario Badescu Spa in NYC. I went on a recommendation from one of my co-workers – she said it was the best no-frills facial that she’s had. I have to say that I definitely agree. The spa is more like a doctor’s office and sorta of has a medical feel to it – they mean business! Most the estheticians are older foreign ladies who look like their name should be Olga (mine was named Madonna) with very clear skin. The European facial lasted about an hour and a half, and while in there I decided to get a glycolic acid treatment for an addtional $45. I think it did its’ job – all I know is that when Madonna said it minimized fine lines, I was sold.I had a hard time deciding between that and the Vitamin C treatment, but decided to go for the glycolic acid (it was SO tingly).

After the facial I was given a free consultation and they recommended some products to me – all very resonably priced. I ended up with:Seaweed Cleansing Lotion, Cellufirm Drops, Strawberry Face Scrub and Enzyme Cleansing Gel.

They told me that my pores were clogged – and now I’m searching for a good mask.