beauty buzz: and the best new moisturizer award goes to…

I spend a lot of time testing products, friends. My bathroom (as the hubs would tell you) is positively littered with them, in fact. Of those zillions of products, most I use up as quickly as possible (I am positively flagrant in my excess use of serums), impatient for the next great thing to roll into my mailbox. But every so often, I get something really wonderful – and I hoard it like a squirrel in winter. I dole out miniscule, careful portions every day, I savor applying it, and I dread the day when I finally coax the last few drops out of the container.

Such is the new Extra Repair Balm from Bobbi Brown. I’ve been patiently biding my time to tell you about this newbie until it released this week, but I’ve been testing it for a while, and I’m hooked. My skin is finally back to its pre-winter state – no dry spots, no flaking, and maybe even a little bit of a dewy glow. After months of trying virtually every other option in my arsenal, this was all it took.

Naturally, nothing in life is perfect, and there were a couple of obstacles to overcome here. First, the scent. It’s kind of like an herbal, mellower rendition of Vick’s VapoRub. Not a bad thing, just not how I expect night cream to smell. Fortunately, it dissipates almost instantly…and after a week or so, I didn’t even notice any more.

Second, the texture is unlike any moisturizer I’ve ever used. It really is a balm, not a cream – the texture is almost like butter. So, you have to use a very tiny amount, and you have to massage it in lightly at first, so that it has a chance to melt into your skin. Once it does, and once your skin adjusts to this serious dose of moisturizer (which may take a couple of weeks), you’ll be sold.

A generous pot of this runs $90, but I’m guessing I’ll get at least two months of use, maybe three, since you use so little at a time. Oh, and Bobbi Brown has a great special running for Valentine’s Day – code VDAY12 will get you free shipping and two free samples.

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5 comments on “beauty buzz: and the best new moisturizer award goes to…

  1. kristina

    A skincare post with perfect timing – I was just thinking the other day that I need to ask you for a wrinkle cream recommendation. The crease on my forehead is getting deeper by the day. I had high hopes for my latest trial (Kiehls Wrinkle Filler) but it made me break out just like the one I tried before that (Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair). A line surrounded by bumps is worse than just a line!

    Any thoughts?

  2. Shopping's My Cardio

    kristina: My first question is how long are you using these products before you give up? I find just about every change I make gives me a couple of bad weeks, unfortunately. Next question – do your skin tend toward oily or dry in its natural state? Let me know, and I’ll try to give you a few more suggestions!

  3. Kristina

    If it’s a product that doesn’t make me break-out, I typically use it until the tube/jar is gone. I have a laundry list of things I’ve tried that either didn’t help at all, or did but not enough for me to buy again. (I realize at my age (31) that it’s an expression line and not a wrinkle. But wrinkle creams should work the same way to plump it, right?)
    If it makes me break-out I’ll stop using it for a week or until my skin clears up. Then I’ll start using it again to see if I have the same reaction (typically 3-4 days).

    I have combination skin. Right now my t-zone is pretty normal and my cheeks are dry. Come summer my t-zone will be oily and my cheeks normal.

  4. shoppingsmycardio Post author

    So, it sounds to me like you may not be giving these new products enough of a shot. Truly, you need *at least* two weeks for your skin to settle in to something new, maybe three. Backing off when your skin breaks out may be making things worse, not better. Try to power through if you can!

    Also, are you using a serum? I see much better wrinkle-reducing results from serums than moisturizers. Try Armani Regenessence, Caudalie Vinoperfect or La Mer.

    If you do try the Bobbi Brown, go easy on the oilier parts of your face, and focus more on the dry spots until things even out. And if this one doesn’t work for you, Clarins and Armani both make fantastic moisturizers as well that aren’t quite as concentrated, which may work out better for your skin.

    Good luck, K – keep me posted.

  5. Mary

    Love, love this cream, thank you for recommending it. It’s changed the texture of my skin, and usually nothing works on my very very dry skin. I actually really like how thick it is nd I don’t mind the scent, it’s worth it. I have also been loving chantecaille’jasmine hydrating mask. -Mary

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