Since we’re clearing out the list of awesome things I’ve been sent or bought lately, I thought I should wax poetic about this stuff.

It’s from Redken and it straightens my hair. Without a flat iron.

Well, not perfectly, but pretty darn close without the use of very hot objects. Of all the straightening stuff Redken sent me, this was the best.

Balms and such don’t usually work on my crazy mean Asian hair, but this…..will be bought after the bottle runs out.

Get the Redken – power tame 16

(Via .)

(Photo by Robert S. Donovan.)

I am obsessed with sunscreen. I wear it all the time. So, I got all excited when the EWG released their 2009 report.

You should check it out, then go shopping for a good, toxin-free sunscreen. You’ll need it. I see a sunburn right there on your shoulder.

2009 suncreen guide from the environmental working group

I got a new haircut. It’s pretty Asian, but I like the bangs.

My pick? Kimberly Sayer Organic Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer with SPF25.

Eye makeup must be removed every day. That’s a LOT of cotton pads/cotton balls. A lot. And cotton isn’t grown in the most eco-firendly way. So when I decided to green my bathroom, I had the choice of expensive organic cotton or reusable pads.

I had mine custom made on etsy, but I guess the seller has shut down. These identical little pads were made with flannel, just like mine. They work great. I have 15 and change them out every two or so days.

$4.85 for 5 pads.

Get the reusable cotton eye makeup remover pads

There’s a lot of nude lips goin’ round.

I’ve been looking for something that might be nude with a little touch of….something.

Three Custom Color, of course, has it. Whisper.

$21.50, lipstick or gloss

Get the Three Custom Color Whisper collection

I do most of these, except for coconut oil, which seems to make my skin itchy. They’re all great and have saved me tons of loot. We need it these days.

Check out the The Green Recessionista’s Guide to Beauty & Personal Care » Eco-Chick

The Claim:

Sagging, loss of firmness and elasticity are all signals of a breakdown in the connective tissues of the skin. These important tissues form the support structure for each individual skin cell. The sun, wind, harsh weather and the aging process breakdown these tissues. As a result, the skin loses firmness and begins to sag.

The Results:

Usually, I review skin products and sometimes I like them. Sometimes, they’re pretty good. But rarely do I see results in the 2-3 weeks that they’re on my face.

No joke, this time was different. I think it had to do with the combination of products I’m using as well, but these little capsules did something.

They remind me of the Elizabeth Arden capsules my mom used back in the day. They feel oily, almost slippery, but the tiny amount of liquid absorbs quickly.

A few weeks and my skin is definitely clearer and has more of a glow.

Get the Tripeptinon Facial Lift Capsules, $79

OK, yes, there have been lots of skincare things reviewed here lately. That is because my skin hates Los Angeles. It has freaked out, so I’m taking any and all offers to fix it. It’s so freaked out, I’m not even going to show you how bad it is.

The Claim:
The entire YBF line is lightweight and refreshing!
You’ll enjoy the change of pace from traditional skincare that’s heavy or waxy.

We kept oils to a minimum to help your skin stay clear and though our products use a combination of water and oil-based actives, it’s not at your complexion’s expense. Our latest addition, Quench Lip Treatment is however, oil based and perfect for your lips!

Great skincare products can be effective and still well-tolerated, which is part of the YBF appeal. We use effective, but gentle and healing ingredients.

The Verdict:
I will say first that I am a simple girl. I use cleanser, sunscreen and a night cream daily. That’s it. Maybe a mask or scrub when I remember.

The number of products I got was a bit overwhelming for me. The funny thing is, I liked the products that I generally don’t use best: Restore, an emollient eye cream and Quench, a lip balm.

Correct ($150) was nice and thick. I accidentally got it too close to my eyes once though and it didn’t end up well. My eyes are pretty sensitive. Quench ($15) is nice and thick and feels like a good layer of shea butter or something, but better.

The rest of the products (Restore, $120; Control, $160 and Defend, $120) were OK. I didn’t see any outstanding results, but I also had problems using all of these on a regular basis, so that might be the problem.

I will say that everything from this line smells great. It is a nice sweet scent that is pretty pleasant, not chemical at all.

Get Your Best Face Skincare