Step one was the cleanser  – a fresh fruity melange that naturally exfoliates and deep cleans pores. Ideal for problem/oily skin, the cleanser provided a much needed time out for  Beauty Bug’s usually combination (but now problem-prone) skin. The naturally occurring fruit acids are the gentlest of gentle exfoliants, and won’t dry out or strip skin. Other ingredients include tea tree oil, salicylic acid, willow bark extract (been proven to enhance the cell renewal of the epidermis and reduce  formation of acne) and lavender oil.

Step two, the deeply mud purifying mask, was just what the derm ordered. While it doesn’t smell like cranberries, it contains the “super-fruit” extract that’s rich in antioxidants. The mineral-rich clays are like a swift kick in the head to a zit. They absorb oil and purge the skin of impurities, such as dirt and oil, and reduce the occurrence of breakouts. Finally, Totarol (a gentle alternative to Benzoyl Peroxide) inhibits and limits the growth of bacteria.  The mask really is like a small Christmas miracle – it cleans out pores,  calms the skin, treats acne but doesn’t dry out skin in the least.

Post mask and cleanser, The Beauty Bug’s skin was undoubtedly smoother and clearer. Pores appeared smaller and blemishes had lessened both in size, and redness.

And, just like Rudolph, The Beauty Bug hopes that Her red nose will disappear into the night…

The White Cranberry Cleaner ($17.29) and the Cranberry Mud Mask ($24.99) are both available at Whole Foods nation wide.

Disclosure: Press samples were provided to The Beauty Bug.

As the night progressed, he discussed typical guy things – Katee Sackhoff from from Battlestar Galactica and porn, before stepping outside to have a cigarette.  The Beauty Bug’s colleagues were entranced. Completely wowed. But, She…wasn’t. Had it been Justin Timberlake, Matt Lauer or Anthony Bourdain, then NOW we’re talking. But R Patz – yawn.

Had The Beauty Bug got a chance to dish vampiric beauty with him, Robby, no doubt, would have gushed over SkinCeuticals. Word is the skincare line was used on the set of BREAKING DAWN to keep the pale ‘plexions perfect, moisturized and ageless.

Just like the Cullen clan, The Beauty Bug has been relying on SkinCeuticals to keep Her visage  vibrant and youthful . Their new limited-edition value sets are enough to make any vampire blush. Each set comes with their holy grail product – the Retexturing Activator (an exfoliating agent and resurfacing serum), and either the lightweight SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture or intensely hydrating SkinCeuticals Emollience. The perfect pair – just like Edward and Bella.

The Retexturizing Activator exfoliates AND hydrates….in-the-know beauty babes know that it’s always one or the other. Bella can’t have both Edward and Jacob, and The Beauty Bug could never find a product that both resurfaced and replenished skin… until now. While a bit sticky, the pay-offs are well worth it (make sure to apply about 2 hours before going to bed to avoid going to bed feeling a bit sticky). Skin is smooth with improved texture,  radiant, supple and bright. The Beautuy Bug found Hers to be softer to the touch after just a few days of continuous use. Pores appear smaller and surface lines diminish in time. If you want to get technical, the results surpass those of a 20% glycolic treatment  - all in the comfort of your own bathroom with no redness or irritation.

Step 2 is Emollience. It’s a rich, restorative moisturizer formulated with natural extracts and oils.  The Beauty Bug applies it after the Activator both morning and evening, and it just melts into Her skin. The nutrient-rich Brazilian sea algae and grape seed oil help to battle the bitter cold streets of Boston and the wolf-packed, dry forests of Forks, Washington. You didn’t think that it was the blood that kept Bella’s skin perfect, did you?

And as if you even had to ask…The Beauty Bug is Team SkinCeuticals, of course.

SkinCeuticals is available at physician’s offices nationwide.

Disclosure: A press sample was provided to The Beauty Bug. 

The Beauty Bug can get behind that statement because, after all,  She should know. Below is one of Her very best friends, Edith Rose. Or just Edie for short.

Edith has a face only a mother can love. The Beauty Bug loves her signature wrinkles – only a bulldog can pull them off.  Bulldog’s Anti-Aging Moisturizer will help men to not look like Edith.

Hailing from Britain, the product line is slowly, yet surely, becoming royalty on its home turf.  Currently, they are the country’s first and largest natural skincare brand. Its creators, two pub-going thirty-somethings who barely had time to shave,  began ridding bathrooms in the UK of chemicals in 2006 by using only eco-friendly, all-natural ingredients (that means no parabens, sodium laureth sulfate, artificial colors, or synthetic fragrances).

Every dog has its day, and the two co-founders are hoping that their day is now. Late in July, the brand hit the states, launching in Whole Foods Markets in Boston. With bold packaging, affordable prices (ranging from $8.99-$13.99), and a solid, responsible philosophy, these two Brits are certainly making their mark in a dog-eat-dog industry!

Read Bulldog product reviews after the jump.

While strolling the aisles of Whole Foods, The Beauty Bug picked up the Shave Gel for Her Husband to try.  In his own words – ” it delivers.”  He notes the pleasant menthol/eucalyptus scent and the post-application cooling effect it brings, which he says is the product’s best attribute because it helped his skin to breathe.  While the gel is a bit different from the foamy lather he’s used to, it left his face silky soft and smooth (sans the Edith-like whiskers).

Beauty Bug correspondent, J, tested the Bulldog Face Wash and reports that paws down, it gets the job done.  He adds that the all-natural ingredient list reads like a folk festival (green tea [an anti-oxidant], bergamot, patchouli and tree moss) and contributes to its unique, yet non-overpowering scent. J says that best of all, Bulldog is gentle and doesn’t dry out his skin.

So men, the doghouse is calling. It may not be so bad to spend some time there.

Disclosure: The Beauty Bug paid $8.99 for the shave gel at Whole Foods!

While She was gone, She’s instituted a new morning skin care regiment.  With the recent change of seasons, it was necessary.  The new products in Her daily morning routine include Chanel’s Hydramax + Active Active Moisture Gel Cream and Chanel’s UV Essentiel Protective UV Care-Anti-Pollution SPF 30. Trust The Beauty Bug when She says that they are quite the dynamic duo.

She applies the Active Moisture Gel Cream first. It’s a refreshing, airy, pale blue gel/cream hybrid that glides on skin. The silky lightweight texture is ideal for applying under makeup as it’s absorbed into skin almost as quickly as it’s applied. The subtle floral scent is pleasant, yet doesn’t linger.  The  science behind the gel is Chanel’s Hydrabarrier System™ which traps water, helps to restore skin’s barrier function, and stave off water evaporation so skin’s moisture reservoir stays optimally filled. A must have for the spring and summer.

Step #2 – the Anti-Pollution SPF 30. Very versatile, it can be applied by itself, or mixed in with the moisturizer of your choice. Chanel’s new moisturizing formula , which protects against UVA and UVB rays, combines mineral and plant-based ingredients.  Key ingredients include licorice extract, which helps to eliminate damaging evidence of sun exposure, and Vitamin E, which aids in guarding against free radicals. Also great under makeup, the formula is transparent and matte.

Available on CHANEL.com, and at department and specialty stores, the Active Moisture Gel Cream is available for $70, and the Protective UV Care — Anti-Pollution SPF 30 is available for $48.

Had The Beauty Bug known that Suki Pure Skin Care was literally right in Her backyard when She was in college, She would have done everything in Her power to land an internship there soley to stock up on products. It’s clear that She missed Her chance, but hey, who thinks organically in college? Chances are, The Beauty Bug wouldn’t have even appreciated Suki’s scientifically-formulated, completely organic, aromatic approach.

Well, ladies, times have changed – The Beauty Bug is slightly older, and a whole lot wiser, and appreciates natural hand-made products and original blends. While the entire collection is rave-worthy, the stand out product with the deserved cult following is the exfoliate foaming cleanser. It smells (and tastes – but only when The Beauty Bug is messy and manages to get a bit in Her mouth) like you’re rubbing Lemonhead candies on your face. Made with lemongrass extract, natural sugar and natural aha (alpha bet hydroxy) and bha (beta hydroxy) treatments, the cleanser/exfoliant is a bit thick and granular at first, but after some scrubbing and rubbing, it dissolves, thins and mildly foams. Rub a bit between your palms to activate. Immediately after one use, The Beauty Bug’s skin feels softer and smoother, and refreshed, and the lemon scent is unique and calming. While the jar (scoop-out method) and the consistency may seem a bit unfamiliar/unconventional, that unfamiliarity will quickly turn to an addiction.

Some quick cleanser tips – take your time with this cleanser, enjoy the sweet, fresh smell, and let it do its work. If you’re not seeing any foam, you haven’t exfoliated enough, so keep those circular motions going and give it time to melt and foam into the skin. Also, make sure thoroughly wash it all off your face. Because it’s made with natural sugar, it can tend to be a bit sticky if even the slightest bit is left behind.

suki exfoliate foaming cleanser is available on sukipure.com.

To wrap up the Philosophy series, here are some fun facts about the brand:

• Amazing Grace is the #1 selling fragrance at Sephora.
• Their Cinnamon Buns Bath & Shower Gel is also coveted by men. If you don’t want to share, then don’t leave it in the shower!
• The Carrot Cake Bath & Shower Gel was formulated after a reader of Good Housekeeping Magazine entered a contest and submitted her carrot cake recipe.
• Use the Purity cleanser to clean makeup brushes or remove makeup from clothing.
• There are currently 2 free-standing Philosophy retail stores in Chandler, AZ. Philosophy plans an expansion in 2009 where they will open 5-10 more stores. The Beauty Bug hopes Boston will soon be the home of one of those stores!
• Philosophy was one of the first brands to market mineral makeup in the early 90′s.

So, what’s ahead for the brand in the coming months? In the fall, Philosophy will introduce Black Licorice and Spicy Pumpkin Muffin shower gel. Research shows that the two fragrances become an aphrodisiac when they are used together. After that duo, look for several new novelty kits for the holiday with new flavors including Snickerdoodle and Caramel Apple.

The crux of The Beauty Bug’s meeting with Philosophy was spent playing chemistry class. Everyone’s hands were lathered with cleansers, creams, lip exfoliants, and masks until they were smooth and glowing. The Beauty Bug will focus on the peels because She’s a huge fan of products that give instant results (who isn’t?!). Philosophy’s 4-step makeup optional regiment starts with a peel. For those who prefer smooth exfoliation, opt for the Oxygen Peel. It’s a 2-step hydrating and exfoliating peel for those with acne-prone or sensitive skin. Exfolation occurs when the capsule (step 1) turns to gel and is mixed with the oxygen foam (step 2). Reaction depends on body chemistry, but all the ladies in the room, including The Beauty Bug, saw a noticeable difference when they compared hands. The Beauty Bug heard lots of “Oooohh look at your hand!” and “You’ve got good foam going on” as everyone massaged the foam into the gel and revealed their brightened, smoother hands.

The microdelivery peel is for the scrubbers. The Beauty Bug is admittedly a scrub-a-holic. Similar to the oxygen peel, It’s also a 2-step peel that includes Vitamin C crystals coated with Vitamin C peptides to replenish skin (step 1), and an activator gel that cleans pores, dissolves the crystals and delivers the Vitamin C down into the skin. While it’s good for any skin-type, this peel is ideal for damaged skin.

Stay tuned for part 3 where The Beauty Bug provides some fun facts about the Philosophy brand, and gives you a sneak peak at some of their new products launching later this year.

Philosophy is 12 years old and was developed after its owner struggled with bad skin. To solve her problem, she developed Biomedic, a science-based skin care brand that was sold only in dermatologists and plastic surgeons offices. Who knew that Philosophy began as a cosmeseutical company? The demand for Biomedic products grew so high, that Philosophy was born to make the products readily available through retailers. Just as Biomedic did, Philosophy promises to treat sensitivity first, then treat the problem and deliver results.

Biomedic was sold eventually sold to La Roche-Posay, however two of the original Biomedic products remain in the Philosophy product line today – they are the Help Me retinol treatment (that recently won an Allure Editor’s Choice Award), and of course, Hope in a Jar.

Take a look at the old Biomedic pamphlet. The photo of the woman and baby is very reminiscent of the current Philosophy branding, no?

Stay Tuned for Part 2!

However, if She did have one, She’d tell you that Clean and Clear’s SOFT In-Shower Facial (STEAM) is like a spaaa for your showah. It’s a stellar, inexpensive product that leaves skin extra-soft, purified, and fresh. Just as The Beauty Bug was, you’ll be tempted to apply the product in front of a mirror to make sure you’re covering your face evenly. Resist the urge because the steam from the shower allows the product to get deeper into pores for a more thorough cleansing.

After applying in the shower, leave the product on your face for at least a minute. Tingling may start to ensue (this product is for your skin, what mint shampoo and conditioner are for your hair)  – it’s just the glycolic acid, clay,  white tea (an antioxidant) and natural fruit acids doing their jobs to break down those dead, tired skin cells. After the minute is up, gently massage the product into your skin. Skin feels soft, stimulated and smooth.

At a price point of $6.99, there’s really no excuse to not try this product.

Pair with Clean and Clear’s SOFT Purifying Cleanser (SCRUB), a gentle everyday exfoliating cleanser with microbeads.

Use the In-Shower Facial one to three times a week, and in no time, your skin will feel like buttah…..

Clear & Clear SOFT Purifying Cleanser and In-Shower Facial are available at drugstores for $6.99.

The gentle sulfate-free formula lathers into a rich, thick foam that dissolves makeup, dirt and oil. The Beauty Bug was particularly excited about this foaming action because so many foaming cleaners that She’s tried have been light, watery and separated easily.

Purity High-Foaming Cleaner shares the same recognizable, fresh scent as the original, and leaves skin soft hydrated, and most of all, refreshed. Think of it as Purity’s lighter, frothier cousin….

Even if you’re just an occasional foamer, this is a must-have for your cleanser repertoire.

foaming purity made simple is $21.50 (6 oz.) and $34.50 (12 oz.); both are available on philosophy.com, at sephora stores, sephora.com, nordstrom stores, other specialty stores.