FGW: Just in time for Cosmedicine’s special deal

I know skincare is usually Jen’s territory, but with a deal as good as 50% off I just had to seize my opening. Besides, great skin is truly the foundation to great makeup, so I think it’s totally appropriate. If I’m not back next week I guess that means Jen doesn’t agree

One of the items in the Sun Care Kit I bought from Sephora was Cosmedicine’s Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion. I have oily skin that is blemish prone, and I’m getting older, so I want something that can keep my skin clear, balanced, and help fight some of the outside factors that contribute to aging. Since I was so happy with the Medi-Matte, I picked up a First Measures ll For Oily to Oily/Combination Skin set at Sephora and took it for a spin. I couldn’t find the set on the Cosmedicine website, but it’s currently only $24 at Sephora, so it’s worth the jaunt to a store or a quick hop to Sephora.com.

The set contains 5 deluxe sample sized items: Healthy Cleanse Clarifying Cleanser & Toner-In-One, MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum, Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion (SPF 20), Opti-mologist Eye Cream with Light Diffusers, and Medi-morphosis Self Adjusting Exfoliator.

The Cleanser/Toner takes a little getting used to. Think of those hand soap pumps that dispense foam instead of just liquid soap and you’ve got an idea of what it’s like. It was quite a change for someone used to thick creamy cleansers, and I was skeptical, but it cleared away my makeup and left my skin nice and clean. The light feeling is really nice once you get used to it, though the smell is rather unpleasant. At least I know they’re not adding a bunch of unnecessary fragrances to their product, right? $35 for the full size product puts it well within the average price range, and once you stop overcompensating by pumping too much (guilty as charged) you’ll see that it really goes a long way.

The Medi-morphosis exfoliator is a bit grittier than I’m used to, but it works since the particles are much smaller than usual as well. I was really impressed with the even distribution of particles as I massaged my face, since usually everything will bunch up in one spot or another. It was surprisingly gentle, and even sensitive skin would love it, though if you are used to a more aggressive exfoliator you may want to use it 3 times a week instead of 2. At $42 for a full size tube, I find this a little on the pricey size for an exfoliator.

I’m not usually a proponent of eye creams, but since none of the other included items fit the bill as something I’d want to smear on my eyes, I gave the Opti-mologist Eye Cream a shot. I was really worried that it would leave me with greasy, shiny eyes, but it was a great product for my skin type. Just enough moisture so my eyes didn’t look crinkly, but it thoroughly absorbed quickly and left smooth skin that my concealer easily adhered to. $45 dollars for the tube is pretty average for an eye cream, but unless you really feel like you need the extra oomph, you could probably lose this product.

Next up, MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum. At $80, this is the real make or break product. Treatments and serums cost more because we expect them to do more, and with discoveries in ingredients and nano delivery systems, there’s no reason they shouldn’t. One of the things I really appreciated about this line is that it really focuses on prevention rather than just treatment, and MegaDose is no exception. Packed with antioxidants like Pomegranate and Vitamin C, as well as Dimethicone, which helps keep nasty stuff out and moisture in, MegaDose is a solid skin protector with extracts to help boost collagen. The feel is initially something like a good primer, but after a few minutes it’s absorbed and leaves a soft, smooth feeling. I appreciate that it isn’t overly heavy or greasy feeling, and I honestly feel the Medi-Matte performed better over this serum than on its own. Again, the scent isn’t great,but I’m willing to let that slide because it disappears quickly. The price is hefty, however, just a dab will do ya with this, and if you have the coin I recommend giving it a try.

The last product (and my favorite of the 5) is the Medi-Matte lotion. A thick feeling lotion, it can be smoothed on quite lightly and a pea sized amount will cover most of your face easily. It gives an extra layer of smoothing, and I’ve taken to skipping my primer altogether while I’ve been using this set. While my initial reaction to such a thick lotion would be to cringe and imagine zits aplenty later, this lotion proves that my immediate reaction isn’t always correct. Even when my skin does start to get a bit of shine, the Medi-Matte helps to keep everything in place and my perfectly applied face doesn’t slip off.

In my search for a new skincare regimen, this has been a delightful find. My skin feels a lot more balanced and the blemishes have been at a minimum. I felt like a little moisture was missing right when everything was applied, though my skin didn’t end up overcompensating with oil production so it can’t really be too bad. It was a pleasure to see a skincare line that realizes it’s not necessary to dry out oily skin and I’ve really liked what these products have to offer. Also available are collections for normal and dry skin types, so don’t feel left out if your skin isn’t oily. If you have experience with the other collections than please let us know how you liked them!!

Don’t forget! Cosmedicine just re-launched their web site and are offering a killer promotion. Enter COSLNH to get 50% off your purchase. One piece or twelve - the discount applies to your total purchase amount. It’s limited time only though - just to promote the launch (expect it to last two weeks or so).