Review: Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick

                                                                                  

Because I am a makeup fiend and I love trying new products..I am constantly looking at foundations.  A girl can have more then one favorite foundation!  I was walking aimlessly through the mall when I came across the Bobbi Brown makeup counter.  Browsing her makeup is like a child in a candy store for me.  I just gotta have it all!  I was originally drawn to the brand, because her foundations have a yellow base, instead of pink.  I love all her books, follow on twitter and subscribe on Youtube.  Her looks on the runways blow me away.  She has a great eye and I love that her makeup gives woman a natural and healthy look.  This makes Bobbi Brown my favorite cosmetic line.

I have tried BB foundations in the past and but the formulation was sheer.  Natural (I LOVE) but sheer.  I needed to find something with more coverage for my hyperpigmentation & hypopigmentation.  As I am looking at the display, I see the foundation stick.  It is a cream foundation and offer's high coverage.  This foundation can be hard to blend with foundation brushes though.  I prefer fingers, so I can warm the product up and blend.  The BB associate tested a color on me and voila PERFECT match.  Blend, blend, blend.  Just the right amount of yellow undertones (but a little on the orange side).  My shade is "Golden".  The foundation looks natural, a bit shiny, great coverage, not too heavy, has not broken me out, and is almost perfect.  Bobbi Brown please make a light golden shade!  Golden is a tad too orange and oxidizes, honey is too light and warm almond is strange on my skin.

The foundation does seem to slip off my skin though, so make sure to set it with a powder.  This foundation is not meant for very oily skin and is great for dry skin & normal skin.  I look forward to trying her powders & bronzers next!

My Jessner Peel Horror Story

Jessner with caution! Before applying any peel a esthetician should take into consideration where the clients skin falls on the Fitzpatrick scale.  I, for example fall between 4-5.  They should also know the clients full ethnic background.  I am African American, Irish, German, and Native American.  Irish & German skin tends to be sensitive.  African American skin needs to be treated even more caution, because the more melanin, the more there is to damage.  Native American skin should also be treated with caution.  While in school, my beauty school instructor told me if someone has Native American background, their skin sensitivity will go up on the Fitzpatrick scale.  This makes my skin EXTREMELY sensitive.  She was right, my skin is very sensitive and should be treated thus.

 About 2 years ago I was looking around for a new spa.  I chose a medical spa to get a peel and asked to get something stronger then a glycolic.  We learn in beauty school that if a treatment is not right for a client, simply let them know that treatment is not appropriate for their skin.  Estheticians can turn away people from a treatment and educate a client on a better one suited for them.  The esthetician said I would be fine getting a Jessner (salicylic acid, lactic acid, resorcinal) and even do a couple layers.  I even got my upper back done. The esthetician added on my lower back, which I did not want.  My lower back had no scars, the skin was flawless.

After the peel my skin seemed fine, I treated it with extra care.  I asked my mom to take a look at my back because it was hurt, felt like a BAD burn.  She started crying and said it looked like I had skin cancer.  This pissed me off.  I told her about the peel and it should heal.  I emailed the esthetician, she suggested I use triple antibiotic on it.  I had no plans to let her "fix it" or make up for it, no thank you.  My upper back healed, but my lower back now has permanent light spots (hypopigmentation).  My FACE is damaged as well, I now have light spots on my cheeks, chin, jaw and some on my neck.  

I feel very angry that someone has permanently damaged my skin.  I take this experience as a greater motivation to educate clients on what is appropriate for their skin and what is NOT.  I am completely comfortable with losing a client, instead of damaging their skin.  I am here to help others, listen to them, and educate them.  Through this experience I have learned its easier and safer to explain why a gentle and less aggressive treatment is safer then a aggressive peel 2-3 layers.  Now that I am a Licensed Esthetician, I will never apply a Jessner on anyone over a Fitzpatrick 3.  I would not feel comfortable doing that.  I know now to take extra caution.