Spa at Home: Ole Henriksen Micro/Mini Peel System

I love going to the spa.  I love the calming atmosphere, the soothing music, even the enchanting smells.  I just love the whole experience.  Unfortunately, going to the spa can get a bit pricey, so I am always looking for ways to bring that experience home with products that I can use over and over again for the fraction of the cost of one spa treatment.

One such product I recently discovered is the Ole Henriksen Micro/Mini Peel System.  I haven’t been to the spa or an aesthetician for a facial since 2009.  I see my dermatologist regularly and I do my own facials, without extractions, at home. 

The Ole Henriksen peel is a spa-grade, three-step, indulgent process that I can complete in the comfort of my bathroom.

It gets the skin seriously smooth, as well as enhances and renews the skin texture, even after one treatment.

I purchased the introductory peel, which included:

·         Almond polish .5 oz / 15 g

·         Lemon strip .5 oz / 15 g

·         Chamomile comfort .5 oz / 15 g

·         Two natural complexion sponges

·         Measuring spoon

After putting my little guy to bed, I closed my bathroom door (a.k.a. my beauty sanctuary), put on some music and cracked open the peel.  The three step process is a little time consuming, but it allowed me time to finish a heap of September issues along the way.

To start, I cleansed my skin with Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple face wash.  I wanted to use something gentle and soothing before applying the more potent peel.

The first step was the Almond Polish, which includes almond paste, oat kernel flour, bamboo stem powder, honey and orange peel.  This step is intended to exfoliate away debris and dullness.

Using the spoon, I scooped out a small amount, transferred it to my wet hands and using light, upward, circular motions, massaged it into my damp skin for 1-2 minutes, then rinsed it off using warm water and the cool discs that expand to full size complexion sponges when wet.

 

The next step is the Lemon Strip, which firms, softens and refines pores with a blend of lactic and glycolic acid, orange and lemon extract, algae extract, licorice and Vitamin E. 

Using the spatula, I scooped out a small amount and smoothed it all over my face, neck and under the eye (careful not to get any in my actual eye or tear ducts). 

No need to massage this step in.  I left it on for 3 minutes before proceeding to the third step.  The Lemon Strip is not rinsed off.

The last step is the soothing Chamomile Comfort.  This final step moisturizes and calms the skin with chamomile flower extract, bisabolol, borage seed oil, evening primrose oil, azulene and jojoba seed oil.

It is applied directly over the Lemon Strip and left on for 15-20 minutes, then rinsed well using warm water and the complexion sponges.

After completing the Micro/Mini Peel, I massaged on a small bit of Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil, which is AH-MAY-ZING by the way, to moisturize.

My skin felt clean, nourished and decadently pampered, all without leaving the house.  This product is definitely a great way to spa at home.

The Ole Henriksen Micro/Mini Peel retails for $95 for the full size and $45 for the introductory size and is available at olehenriksen.com.  Used once a week, the full size peel yields eight to 10 treatments.

Kiki

Good to the Last Drop

Right now I am LOVING Philosophy’s Take a Deep Breath Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer.  In fact, I love it so much that I just painstakingly scraped the last bit from around the jar this morning and had to add this moisturizer to my Sephora shopping list immediately.

This oil-free cream is nothing short of skincare heaven.  When I use it, my skin practically hums, it’s so supple and glowing.  This stuff just sinks into your skin.  It’s very light weight and breathable and the scent is very subtle.  It absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving behind a revitalized, brightened complexion.

But it is also chock full of antioxidants for detoxifying the skin, smoothing signs of stress and combating environmental factors like sun, smog and pollution. 

I have yet to try a Philosophy product I didn’t like.  In fact, just about every Philosophy product I have tried has become a staple in my skincare arsenal and I have a feeling this moisturizer will join the ranks.

Philosophy Take a Deep Breath Gel Moisturizer ($34) is available at www.sephora.com. 

The Little Black Book by Boscia

Boscia has package the bestselling products from their black collection into a convenient travel set.  The products in their Little Black Book work together to mattify shine and minimize pores.  It is intended for all skin types.

The set includes:

·         0.5 oz Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel

·         1 oz Luminizing Black Mask

·         0.35 oz No Pores No Shine T-Zone Treatment

·         1.7 oz Detoxifying Black Cleanser

I have been using the Luminizing Black Mask for several months and this set provided me the opportunity to give some of the other products in the black collection a try. 

Unfortunately, I have been a little underwhelmed by the set as a whole regimen.  After a few weeks, only two of the products have wowed me – The Luminizing Black Mask and the Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel. 

As I said, I have been using the Luminizing Black Mask for several months and it is great at reviving a dull complexion, especially if I haven’t exfoliated in a while.  It is great for deep cleansing and unclogging pores.  It definitely absorbs all the dirt, oil and impurities that can get trapped deep in the skin.  Plus, I enjoy entertaining my son by making silly faces and distracting my husband during his serious conversations while I have it on.

It’s really easy to use.  You just slather it on, wait for it to dry and peel it off, along with dead skin, impurities and excess oil.  I usually splash my face a few times with cool water to remove any of the mask that is left behind. 

The Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel is another fave that I will probably buy in full size.  I love moisturizers that actually sink into my skin and make a difference in its overall appearance. The Black Hydration Gel does exactly that. 

  It is a cooling gel moisturizer that is ultra-lightweight.  The cooling sensation feels great on freshly cleansed skin and it is very effective for clarifying and brightening skin. 

I like to go without makeup as much as possible, especially in the summer and this moisturizer makes my skin look glowing without any subterfuge, just fresh and hydrated.  

A unique combination of artichoke leaf extract, charcoal, glycolic acid, and Vitamin C serve to improve elasticity, absorb excess oil and impurities, clarify skin and brighten skin tone.

The Detoxifying Black Cleanser is a little “meh” in my opinion.  It is nothing special from other cleansers I have used, unless I use it with my Clarisonic brush.  It is advertised as a warming gel cleanser that deeply cleanses and detoxifies the complexion.  The warming action actually happens in your hands as you lather it, not on your skin.

It is formulated to open and de-clog pores by rinsing away surface debris, impurities, and excess oil. It is also purported to refine skin texture, brighten skin clarity, and minimize the look of pores over time.

It dispenses black but lathers white.  It is a decent cleanser, but cannot compete with my other regular cleansers.

As I simply never use mattifying or pore shrinking products, I only just used the No Pores No Shine T-Zone Treatment for this review.  It is intended to reduce the appearance of pores and mattify oil.  It is great for those with oily complexions who need all day oil control and it can be worn under or over makeup.

It also instantly tightens pores and treats blackheads while helping both become less visible over time.

It goes on really smooth and provides a silky, matte finish. 

Overall, the only products that really enhanced my skincare regimen were the Luminizing Black Mask and the Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel.  

To try the Little Black Book ($48) for yourself, visit boscia.com.

Boscia is one of the world's first preservative-free, botanically-based skincare lines and as such, used NO Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, GMOs or Triclosan.