Neutrogena products [classic article]

Neutrogena is available at drugstores, big box stores and many grocery stores across the US. When you’re traveling and need to restock – or crave a makeover while you’re on the road – you’ll be able to find them easily and at a modest price. Many of their products are classic – your parents and grandparents are probably well familiar with them. But the company has also grown up to include innovative skin preparations, chic color cosmetics, nourishing hair care. I was very happy to have been given the opportunity to get re-acquainted with this brand!

When you want to clear up your skin, but you don’t want to experiment with harsh, crazy products – who know what some of those things will do to already irritated skin – you’ll love the fresh and refreshing Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser and its companion, Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub. They’ve won so many awards from Allure magazine such as Best of Beauty 2011; Readers’ Choice 2011; Readers’ Choice Breakthrough 2009. Allure is the Holy Scripture of the beauty world, so the awards are significant. The wash effectively cleans without stripping or stinging. The gentle citrus really gets in there. The scrub is a modern (synthetic) scrub, unlike the harmful apricot shell scrubs of the past that abraded skin. This is more like a tapioca feel on the skin. Continued use of these will really help clear things up and prevent spottiness. They’re especially divine in warm, humid climates.

If you’ve ever messed up your hair over-coloring it or letting it fry in the sun, you know that in the past, it’s been an expensive, time consuming proposition to correct it. Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask is a game changer. You can pop into a 24 hour store near you and fix that texture before having to head out for the day! It comes in a jar, with lotion texture and sweet fruit punch scent. You don’t have to glop it on – in fact, it’s very rich.  Comb it through with a wide-toothed comb, leave it in 3-5 minutes. That’s it!  This what they say about it: Three naturally derived extracts work on the hair strand to defy dryness. Olive penetrates to the center, Meadowfoam Seed helps moisturize the middle and Sweet Almond wraps the surface. Treat your hair to intense moisture with this once-a-week conditioning mask.

Neutrogena Triple Moisture® provides specialized care for extra dry hair.

• Salon approved
• Non-waxy

There was a time when I did a great deal of reading about Ayurvedic healing, the ancient Indian holistic tradition.  Sesame oil is considered very beneficial to all skin types and is considered best for massage for several different “doshas”. Neutrogena body oil has sesame oil in it, available also in fragrance-free. It’s light and easily absorbed, but you’ll be surprised at what a great job of sealing in moisture it does.

Before you can even think of applying color to your lips, you might have to mend them from winter wear and tear! One of the products coming right out of its classic heritage line is Lip Moisturizer with sunscreen SPF 15, Norwegian formula. It imparts a smooth coating that lasts, but it’s not thick and waxy. Sunscreen is super important for unprotected lips, even – or especially! – in winter.

Once upon a time, there was a bright line difference between drugstore and department store cosmetics, in innovation, texture and color palates. Neutrogena has not only wiped away the line, it bests many lines. One of the biggest new lip product trends is the chubby pencil, where you can outline and fill in at the same time. Moisture Smooth Color Stick is self-sharpening, perfect for traveling. Who has multiple sharpener sizes in their travel pack, anyway? Unlike many of their competitors, the stick is softening and the color isn’t dead flat.

MoistureShine® Lip Soother SPF 20 is also quite an interesting product on the market. Color wise, they have similar flesh-toned base tones (opposed to white or neon-red bases) that a certain department store line that used to brag about its “tightly edited, brown-based colors”. Well, MoistureShine Lip Soother has such a better texture, it’s in another universe! This is what they say about it: “Neutrogena® MoistureShine® Lip Soother hydrates, soothes and protects dry lips on contact with beautiful high-gloss shine. The unique hydragel formula contains cucumber, chamomile and glycerin for intense moisturization.”

I realize that this might come off like a blind item in a Page Six article, but here’s an inside makeup scoop. I have appeared on national television on several occasions with a very famous woman newscaster. She always refused all makeup products, except for some dried out old lip pencil she kept in her pocket. I did see her shove away a makeup artist who was helplessly trying to put something more moisturizing and attractive on her. She looked like she was scribbling dried out clay on her mouth, making her look so old! Then, she got a bunch of plastic surgery. I was like, “No!!! You should’ve just used moister lip products!” She should have tried Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20. It comes in nature-inspired colors, has a low-watt sheen and lighter laydown. If you’re going for a sportier, easier look, this is the product for you.

If your style is more glam, MoistureShine® Gloss is definitely the way to go. It comes in a wide-range of fashion forward colors, has the finest micro-glitter – not teeny bopper/exotic dancer, but just an elegant sheen. It definitely compares to department store designer luxe brands that are quadruple the price. This is what they say about it: he super conditioning formula with a triple berry antioxidant complex–including Acai, Goji and Aronia berries–actually improves the healthy look, softness and smoothness of your lips over time. From soft neutrals to blushing pinks, shimmering mauves to rich plums, a single swipe of the wand applies a feather-light coat of glossy color that’s not sticky or tacky.