You're So Vain

I've consistently been using facial moisturizer for about a year now.

I didn't used to be this way. In fact, and at this admission my mother might disown me, I used to be the kind of girl that just washed her face with Ivory before heading out the door.

I've always had issues with acne, and I lived under the assumption that moisturizer would simply clog my pores and lead to more breakouts. This isn't true, but when you spend your teens with as much acne as I did you want as little as possible on your face for fear that it will worsen.

Anyway, I still have the occasional battle with adult acne so my dermatologist has me using Differin. Here is how it works: Differin® Gel normalizes the improper accumulation of skin cells that plug the pores, and effectively keeps them clear.

Before your pores begin to function properly, you first must experience "itching, dryness, redness, burning or peeling" so moisturizing is key.

In the last few weeks, I've even been using a "restorative" eye cream as part of my routine.

Aside from the acne, I was blessed with really good genes. I don't color my hair and I have yet to find a single gray hair (Thanks Mom!). I'm also relatively wrinkle frea. But, the skin around my eyes has always bothered me. I have dark circles that don't disappear no matter how much rest I get. So, I've been using this department store brand's under eye cream that lightens and brightens. It works fine, but I've been thinking I need to try a concealer when low and behold we recieved a flier in the mail advertising my brand's "free gift with purchase" offer.

For most of you, this is junkmail. For me . . . this is porn.

Those of you who know me, know that I don't wear makeup. My mother's last words to me will probably be, "You need a little lipstick." The truth is, my makeup drawer is more like a makeup trunk.

So, when the mailer arrived at my house you'd have thought it was Christmas. Not only do I get to buy makeup, but they are going to give me more makeup for spending $27.50+.

I already needed an eyemakeup remover, so that was $14.00. I just needed to find a good concealer for the dark cirlcles under my eyes, and that's when I saw it:
Clinique | Makeup | Concealers | All About Eyes Concealer

The perfect product: moisturizes, reduces puffiness and hides dark circles.

So, I headed out on a mission and when I got to the counter I couldn't find what I was looking for. I couldn't remember what it was called or what the packaging looked like. I hadn't thought to bring the mailer with me and, much to my dismay, they didn't have a copy of it at the counter . . . uhm, seriously?

All I could remember was that it was three products in one.

I kept telling one of the saleswomen, "I need an undereye concealer that's not so light it gives me that reverse racoon (when your concealer is lighter than your actual skin tone and it looks like you fell asleep in the sun with your sunglasses on) look . It's supposed to help with wrinkles (moisturize) and make me look more rested (reduce puffiness and hide dark circles).

She said, "But honey, you don't even have wrinkles."

To which I looked over my glasses at her and said, "Exactly."

With an, "Ahhhhhh . . . " she busily got to finding my product.

I know I was a huge pain in the ass.

I was one of those people in the library that tells the librarian, "I need help finding a book: it's read with black writing on the cover."

However, the Clinique girls handled it exceptionally well and an hour later I walked away with exactly what I was looking for AND my free gift with purchase.